Obama to the GOP, "Lay Off My Wife"

From Good Morning America. This is in response to the Tennessee GOP putting up a skewed ad on their website, along with a press release. And Barack, "well said."




....and for your additional viewing pleasure, "The Real John McCain 2"

Iowa. The opening and the closing for Barack Obama.

cross-posted @ Daily Kos


The Iowa Winners: The Obamas

::

Barack Obama has taken us on an incredible ride. We are so high, that we are afraid to pinch ourselves because it may not be true. He is about to become the Democratic Nominee. And you want to know the best part about it? We put him there.

Iowa. Driving from Illinois to Iowa, I still have the route memorized. The wonderful people of Iowa. Their hopes, dreams, aspirations of change, propelled Barack to where he is today. We owe Iowa, not only a debt, but for being the state that lead the way to change.

I will tell you my story on walking towards the movement. It began with Katrina. The devastation was unimaginable. The horror, grief, shock of the Bush Administration and this country to have our citizens disrespected, dishonored and just dissed. That experience got me off my ass to say, enough of Bush.

So, in the process as the horserace began I was coy and standoffish. I wanted a candidate who can take it to the mat and all the way. I wanted someone different who can MOVE ME to a greater cause than me. I watch, waited and wondered if anyone would emerge. And he did, Barack Obama.

As much as I liked Barack, I needed to know if he was capable of withstanding the Clinton Machine. Let’s face it. The Clintons have run the Democratic Party, as is today, with an iron fist. Why should they withdraw or handover what they, themselves worked for to this date? That question is warranted. So, for me the first test was money.

Barack Obama shocked everyone with his first quarter haul of 26M and then shut everyone up with his second quarter haul of 32M. From that point, I knew I was with him all the way.

But you want to know what has been the most motivating experience of this primary season? The Obama Campaign’s capacity to make us responsible and inclusive of this campaign. They were accountable for every dollar spent. They listen to us. They provided the tools we have had to work with. The Obama Campaign empowered us, yes little old us, to make this campaign the best it could be. And this has not been easy.

Through all the ups and downs, the highs and lows, one thing I have admired about The Obama Campaign is their frankness and honesty. They told us we would not win every race, but that we must work hard. They told us we were the underdog, and we knew it. They provided us information to send to our friends, neighbors, about Barack because people were clueless about him. But for all that has happened this campaign has always lifted us up, when we felt extremely down.

There is something amiss and it smells like change. People want it more than anything, but before they grab it we must make sure they understand it. Change is a word that is hard for many. When you become accustom to the same old thing, the status quo, you begin to believe that you don’t deserve anything else. Folks, I am here to tell you, we deserve it all and more.

After the atrocious 8 years of the Bush Administration, and here is a short list of their greatest hits, if we ever want change we need to stand up fight and grab it.

Lastly, here is the speech that changed everything in Iowa, from the October 2007 Iowa Jefferson-Jackson Dinner. The speech that moved everyone towards Barack. Just sit back, listen and remember why we are doing what we are doing, why Barack and Michelle will be in Des Moines, Iowa on Tuesday, and why we must win this election in November.



I salute each and everyone of you. We did this together. It is not over. We need every single foot soldier for the huge mountain we must climb in November. And climb it to win, we must.

::

Obama Action Center
Donate Here
This Week With Barack Obama

This Week With Barack Obama, May 11-17, 2008

cross-posted @ Daily Kos


john edwards endorses barack obama in grand rapids, michigan




* drop-off locations for Oregon mail-in ballots, up until 8 p.m., Tuesday, May 20, 2008. ** if oregonians want to mail in their ballot it should have been postmarked, Friday, May 16, 2008, use the location drop-offs linked above

::



endorsement of john edwards for barack obama and complete transcript

Campaign Appearances

May 19, 2008 - Town Hall with Barack, Billings, MT
May 19, 2008 - Rally with Barack, Bozeman, MT
May 19, 2008 - Rally with Barack, Crow Agency, MT
May 20, 2008 - Rally with Barack and Michelle, Des Moines, IA
May 21, 2008 - Rally with Barack, Tampa, FL

obama in sunglasses, part two

What Went Wrong?
Obama's On-the-Wall Endorsement
500K African-American Votes in Play in Georgia
Obama Warns Republicans About Critical Ads
Is it now Obama's Party?
Wake Up and Smell the Disenchantment


obama at a rally on Saturday at Roseburg High School in Oregon

::

Obama promises no let-up in support for Israel

Democratic White House hopeful Barack Obama on Monday promised no let-up in US support for Israel, after his Republican foe repeatedly claimed he is the favored pick of the Islamist movement Hamas.


"You will not see, under my presidency, any slackening in commitment to Israel's security," Obama said in an interview with The Atlantic magazine online.


"My position on Hamas is indistinguishable from the position of Hillary Clinton or John McCain. I said they are a terrorist organization and I've repeatedly condemned them," Obama said.

"I mean what I say: since they are a terrorist organization, we should not be dealing with them until they recognize Israel, renounce terrorism." continue

Characteristics of an Obama, Vice-Presidential Candidate
A lot has been written lately of who should be Barack’s running mate, etc. Personally, we don’t know who that person will be for various reasons. Until we know the Democratic Platform, which is what Obama and his running mate will embrace, we don’t know who the candidate will be. In stating that there are a few things we can consider, due to how Barack has run his campaign.

First off, any vice-presidential candidate will have to embrace the one theme that has been constant throughout the Obama Campaign, change. This is easy because that is who and what Barack Obama represents, change. The vice-presidential candidate must not only embrace and represent, change, the person when he/she steps on the stage with Barack Obama, must look and be change. Any long time insider would not only contradict the message but bring doubt about the word change in whole.

Second, any vice-presidential candidate must be on the same wave length, thought process and democratic mandate as Barack Obama. There must not be any second guessing about the vice-presidential candidate, wondering if there is any personal agenda, etc. This person must back up Barack Obama and the mandate 150%. No questions and no wonderment allowed.

Third, the vice-presidential candidate is not the lead, the presidential candidate is. There must not be any questions or concerns about that. They must look as if they will work together but more importantly mean it.

Lastly, the vice-presidential candidate must be a partner and for all intention purposes, they must respect, admire and like each other. I know many say “look at JKF/LBJ”, I have and it was 1960, this is 2008. After the disastrous Bush II years, people do want and should be given candor, honesty and frankness and this must exude from the party’s ticket. These two people must trust each other, period. No back-biting, knife fighting, etc. This is what we are trying to run against, not trying to merge.

In the end it is Barack Obama’s choice of who his running mate will be. I am sure he knows how all factions feel at this time as the primary is winding down. But more importantly, he will choose a person whom he feels can win with him in November. Let’s trust his judgment; he has not done too badly thus far.


michelle in san juan, puerto rico

Audio/Video

Governor Katleen Sebelius (D-KS) on Vote for Change; Obama on serving our veterans; Obama at Civic Center Charleston, WV; Obama '08 - Vote For Change Video; Winner of 30 Second Obama Ad for moveon.org; Obama in Louisville, Kentucky; The Boys from Bend, Oregon; MSNBC's Pat Buchanan Complete Meltdown; Max Kennedy and actor, Dule Hule at Portland State University; NPR: Obama's Cash Machine, Built in Silicon Valley; NPR: Weekly News Roundup, Week of May 14, 2008

A Tale of Two Democratic Primary States
Top 10 Reasons Obama Defeated Clinton for the Democratic Nomination
The Obama Campaign's 'unsung hero'
Obama Over The Top: How New Voters Could Redraw The Electoral Map
Superdelegates put Obama within mathematical reach
How to end a presidential campaign






Keith Olbermann, Special Comment, "President Bush, 'Shut the Hell Up'"

Obama Cues Up to Play Pool

Senator Barack Obama continued the “regular guy who does regular guy things” portion of his campaign tour here, visiting a local billiards hall where he proved that his pool skills are better than his bowling skills.

But even in that light-hearted setting, he was confronted with his perceived vulnerability in this state: that white blue-collar voters here still have questions about his background.

During a short news conference right near the bar at Schultzie’s Billiard’s, a local television reporter for WCHS TV asked him about “The challenges of attracting voters in this state _ blue collar, white voters in this state.”

“They think you are un-American,’’ he said. “How do you get those voters? Democratic voters?”

Mr. Obama responded in detail: “We just have to get information out. Hopefully they’ll watch your program tonight. They’ll know that I’m a practicing Christian. They’ll know that my grandfather fought in World War II and I was raised to love America and all these phony emails talking how I don’t pledge allegiance are just political smears.”

A bit later, another reporter asked, “How problematic are those rumors that you were talking about earlier that you don’t pledge allegiance, that you’re a Muslim? They’re out there.”

Mr. Obama said, “They’ve been out there since the beginning of this campaign. This is something that has been systematically fed into the bloodstream. We notice these e-mails get sent out in each successive state that we were campaigning in, which indicates that it is not just a random sort of viral thing. I think you know this is a dirty trick that folks are playing on voters.”NYT continue

Vote for Change by SamGrahamFelsen
MS-01: If these voters don't care about Wright, which ones will? by kos
Five Reasons why 2012 is a No-Go for Clinton by poblano
Reality Sinks In by Al Giordano
Condescending to Voters, Playing to Perceived Racial Fears Does Not Work by Jonathan Singer
A Different Dream Team? Obama/Edwards? by Paul Rosenberg
Part I: Obama Roadmap to the White House by wizinit
Barack Obama, Champion of Children, Protecting them from Lead Poisoning by TomP




obama in macomb county, michigan

Endorsements

Congressman Tom Allen (D-ME); Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI); Dolly Strazar, DNC Hawaii; Idaho State Democratic Chair Keith Roark; Anita Bonds chair of the DC Democratic Party; Congressman Joe Donnelly (D-IN); Mayor Ray Nagin, Mayor of New Orleans (D-LA); Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson, Flips to Obama; Former Governor of Colorado and DNC Chair Roy Romer; Endorsed by Crow Nation and Fort Peck Tribes; College Democrats Endorsements; Three Former SEC Chairmen; Wisconsin Superdelegate State Senator Lena Taylor; Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Morgan; Indiana Congressman Pete Visclosky (D-IN); Democrats Abroad Chair and superdelegate Christine Schon Marques; NARAL Pro-Choice backs Obama; Wayne County Executive Bob Ficano; United Steel Workers Union; Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA); Congressmen Henry Waxman and Howard Berman (D-CA); Communication Workers of America Union and Larry Cohen, President Endorse Obama; Congressman Pete Stark (D-CA); Lexington Herald-Leader (KY) Endorses Obama; MD superdelegate Greg Pecoraro; DC Clinton Delegate Councilman Jack Evans is switching to Barack Obama

Obama defends his patriotism, quarrels with McCain
Obama's long country road
A Usually Legal Practice That Wears Black Eyes
Curious George publisher may sue over T-shirt
Republicans fear public has lost confidence


barack with sen. claire mccaskill (d-mo) in cape girardeau, mo

shoutouts:

The Stealth Campaign to Delegitimitize Obama by democrattotheend; What other murderous regimes does Cindy McCain profit from? by clammyc; "F*** yeah": Worse Than Abu Ghraib by Mash; Bill Moyers: The Meaning of Freedom by teacherken; NAACP picks young community organizer as new president by 174winchell; I'm a feminist, and that's why I don't support Hillary. by Queen Alice; I'm sick and tired by ebonyqueen; Bush Attacks Obama in Israel; Joe Biden Responds-"This is bullshit" by rikyrah; Huckabee thinks assassinating Democrats is funny by smintheus; Judiciary Committee Threatening to ARREST ROVE! by EmperorHadrian; Republican Radio Host DESTROYED by Chris Matthews on Hardball by AntonBursch; California Sup. Court Rules in Favor of Marriage Equality by UTBriancl; I Won't Do It. by RenaF; We need another attack - Rumsfeld by occams hatchet; Alaska will be competitive by kos; How to Market Obama to Your Republican Friends by Press to Digitate

Attacking Michelle and Defending Michelle
Florida, Michigan cannot save Clinton
Obama fires first shot in the real election battle
What should Obama do about the Clintons?
Can Obama, McCain get by on $84 mil. each?
A Subdued Clinton and Subdued Audience
Perfect Timing- Obama's Super Show Stoppers


obama at louisville, ky rally

PhotoBlogs

Barack returns to Eugene, OR! by The Great Gatsby; EDWARDS/ OBAMA (Now w/ After Party Pix & VIDEO !!) by Al Rodgers; Obama Visits Louisville; Obama in West Virginia; WV Field Offices for Obama by merrinc; BREAKING: Obama 51 - McSame 44 by Al Rodgers; Thank you Daily Kos, Lizardbox, and Indiana by foxsucks81; Nevada Convention Photos and Pencast by ThatPoshGirl

Michigan on Obama's map
Steeling Obama
A dreamier Democrat 'dream ticket'
Obama's success suggests we can transcend race
New Math for November
Obama Says Mississippi Election Proves He Can Withstand Republicans
Obama sports flag pin again after long absence


h/t Stroszek

Polls

New ABC/Post Poll--It's All Good by maxnyc; SUSA Oregon Poll-Obama up 54-43% by Parker2001; USAToday/Gallup: Obama 20% lead National by Canadian4Obama; SUSA & PPP "Hard-Working White" Oregon is Solid Obama Country by Steven R; Quinnipiac National Poll: Obama +7 Against McCain by Stroszek; ABC/WaPo: Bush At all Time Low (31), Obama Extends Lead Over McCain by DemFromCT; Whom Do You Trust? Not the GOP by DemFromCT

75K in portland, oregon

McCain Campaign Pioneers A First: Courting Lefty Bloggers
Obama says he'll reshape US foreign policy. But can he?
Is Obama Too Far Left on Taxes?
Obama compares housing crisis to Great Depression
Obama gets young people back in the race
Clinton’s huge West Virginia win changes little
‘Almost Nominee’ Status Keeps Obama in Limbo
PEJ Study: Media Declaring Obama the Winner


obama with advisor richard danzig

icebergslim’s last word: the playing of politics

We now are all aware of President Bush’s assessment and/or statement of Barack Obama and the Democratic Party as appeasers or playing “appeasement”.


While in Israel celebrating its 60th Anniversary, Bush compares Obama to Nazi Appeasers. Not only was this a crazy ass statement to make, but he was the one who ended up looking and sounding ridiculous. And he took major hits for this loose usage of language from the main stream media and print press.

"We have heard this foolish delusion before," Bush said in remarks to Israel's parliament, the Knesset. "As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: 'Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.' We have an obligation to call this what it is — the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history."

Then Obama Campaign weighed in:

"It is sad that President Bush would use a speech to the Knesset on the 6Oth anniversary of Israel's independence to launch a false political attack. It is time to turn the page on eight years of policies that have strengthened Iran and failed to secure America or our ally Israel."

"Instead of tough talk and no action, we need to do what Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan did and use all elements of American power -- including tough, principled, and direct diplomacy -- to pressure countries like Iran and Syria. George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists, and the President's extraordinary politicization of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people or our stalwart ally Israel."

Of course many Democratic Leaders weighed in, but it was Senator Joe Biden that really handed the Bush Administration their asses on a plate:

“This is bullshit, this is malarkey. This is outrageous, for the president of the United States to go to a foreign country, to sit in the Knesset ... and make this kind of ridiculous statement.”

Then John “McSame" McCain had something to say:

“Yes, there have been appeasers in the past, and the president is exactly right, and one of them is Neville Chamberlain,'’ Mr. McCain told reporters on his campaign bus after a speech in Columbus, Ohio. “I believe that it’s not an accident that our hostages came home from Iran when President Reagan was president of the United States. He didn’t sit down in a negotiation with the religious extremists in Iran, he made it very clear that those hostages were coming home.'’

The Bush Administration attempted to back peddle and state the remark was not towards Obama, but Obama put Bush and McCain on notice:



Finally, the icing on the cake is given to us, thanks to Chris Matthews of Hardball (MSNBC) and the right wing "talking idiot" Kevin James. Caution: Make sure you have your history in check before going on this show.



After watching that unloaded, talking point idiot, no wonder the Republicans have nothing further to say. The Republicans are as sorry as that talking no nothing “Kevin James”, and as one person wrote, “he calls himself a lawyer!!! Where did he graduate from? Rush Limbaugh U?”

We all got energized, legitimized, after viewing and listening to this idiot, for real.


well, the photo above reminds me of 'looking through the window'. when we look through the window, we see ourselves. we may not like what we see, or we may be proud of what we see. i say, barack is very proud of what he sees, as we all should be. he has run a great grass roots campaign, he has energized the democratic base, he has brought millions of new voters to the movement, and he is an honest, stand up guy. that is worth 'looking through the window'.

remember to stay involved, donate, and get ready for november. we need every single foot soldier for the huge mountain we must climb. and climb it to win, we must. h/t to al rodgers for the incredible slide show of the portland, oregon rally, below.

::



::

icebergslim1047 (at) gmail (dot) com
This Week With Barack Obama

Obama Puts Bush and McCain "On Notice"

h/t DCLaw

Dumber than a "Box of Rocks"

next time anyone goes on "Hardball" please know your HISTORY and know what the words "appeaser" and "appeasement" means. don't pimp a propaganda mini-series from ABC called, "Path to 9/11" which was panned by the critics for accuracy and bombed in the ratings. for your memory jog, this mini-series was shown before the 2006 mid-term elections and blamed the CLINTON ADMINISTRATION for what happened on 9/11. this lets everyone know that this right winged talkshow host, Kevin James, is truly "dumber than a box of rocks". view and enjoy!!!

Democrats, It Is Strategy Time: Don't Let the Bush Statements Fool You

::

I am not getting upset over these stupid Bush comments and I will tell you why.

The Republicans are shaking in their shoes after the third straight special election loss.

Why are the Republicans shaking? Because these special elections are a premise to how the electorate feels about you. The electorate sent the GOP a resounding answer, "we want the Democrat."

So, what does this have to do with the crazy statement of Bush about Obama's appeasement to terror groups? It gives the McCain Campaign a chance to respond and down the road distance themselves from George W. Bush, along with the rest of the Republicans who are running towards the fake John McCain "maverick" and "independent" label.

Democrats, expect not only this but more of this. This loss has awakened the Republican Party. They now realize, which I believe is "too little, too late", that George W. Bush and the Bush Administration is the sinking anchor around their necks. So, they are running and running to John McCain.

Democrats, the GOP are also trying to figure out how to run against Obama. Don't fool yourself that the Louisiana seat win nor the recent Mississippi seat win was not a test for how the GOP plan to run against Obama in the fall.

Prominent Republicans, from Mike Huckabee to Dick Cheney (apparently, they thought it would help) visited the district.

The NRCC, despite being strapped for cash, pumped in $1.1-million, mostly for television advertising.

Some of that advertising served as a test run for the upcoming Republican campaign. The attack ads linked Mr. Childers, a conservative Democrat who loves guns and hates abortion, with Mr. Obama and, of all things, Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

Losing this seat by running attack ads and linking Obama and Reverend Wright has just showed them, that tactic just won't do.

Democrats, the GOP have already started their viral email campaign against Michelle Obama. Now they are pointing the guns at her in Tennessee.

To welcome Mrs. Obama to Nashville and Tennessee, we asked a few Tennesseans to take a few moments to tell her what makes them proud of their country. Viewers will find their statements stand in stark contrast to two incidents in February when Mrs. Obama announced that for “the first time in my adult life” she was proud of America.

And while Mrs. Obama has trouble being proud of the country where she earned degrees from Princeton University and Harvard Law School and then became a multi-millionaire, her husband makes statements that belittle average Americans’ response to the difficulties of life, including his recent statement that, in tough times, “it’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations.”

While all the above is inaccurate, what else does the GOP have to validate their position?

They surely were complicit with the Bush Administration in destroying this country and backing the illegal War in Iraq. They surely stood on the sidelines while citizens of this country were dying in American streets, with no food/water from Katrina. They surely backed Bush in the illegal wiretaps. They backed bush voting NO for SCHIP. And the list is endless.

In other words, they have been cowards since Bush came into office in 2001. So, now they are afraid of the wrath of the American public in November and don't know what to do.

This is the Democratic Party. We are not going to allow Barack, Michelle, Sasha, Melia, or anyone in this party to become swiftboat victims.

Those days are OVER. They want to attack us on wedge issues, bullshit issues, try it. But in the end, Republicans, it is YOU, yes YOU that have to answer for the atrocities of the Bush Administration and why you stood by and said and did nothing.

Republicans, you have to defend The Bush Administration Record.

The Democrats Don't.

John Edwards Endorses Barack Obama

Pat Buchanan, MSNBC Analyst, "FULL MELTDOWN"

h/t JedReport

This is a 'Change' Election, not a 'Throwback' Election.

Congratulations to Hillary Clinton and her supporters for the win in West Virginia.

Clinton netted 137,410 of the popular vote.

Many estimated that West Virginians would vote upwards or over 500,000 to 600,000, but that was not the case.

The turnout was lower.

Moving on....

::

Today Clinton will use this West Virginia win for a few fronts.

One, to entice more fundraisers. Rumor has it that her campaign is deeply in debt and this is one of the reasons that she is still running, to appeal to voters for money. Simple as that.

She is appealing to superdelegates for another chance. Her argument is going to be the popular vote, again, with Florida and Michigan. This is an attempt to hold the horses in the barn for another week. Will this attempt be successful? I don't think so. The reason is that the math is insurmountable at this point. We all know that Clinton's only argument, again is the popular vote and Michigan and Florida. My take, Michigan and Florida will be solved and when it is Clinton is still behind in the popular and delegate count. Note: We must be clear about Florida and Michigan. Clinton said these votes do not count, it on record via audio and video. Barack Obama's name was not on the ballot in Michigan and neither campaigned in Florida. To seat these delegate as is, will not happen.

Everyone now are listening to pundits. Pat Buchanan is salivating at the mouth, rallying for Clinton until the earth cave in. We know the the Republicans, again, would rather run against Clinton versus Obama. Why? After the special election in Mississippi last night, the Democrat Travis Childers beat the Republican in a solid Republican district. You say, "so what"? The so what is that the GOP used Barack Obama and Reverend Jeremiah Wright, attempting to 'link' Childers to the 'liberal left'. Well, it failed miserably. Childers won by eight points. And the GOP need to rethink how to run against Obama. If they attempt race baiting, this is proof that not only was it a turn off, but the electorate voted for the other guy. Barack Obama is a transcending candidate and they don't know how to run against him.

For all intention purposes, this is a 'Change' election, not a 'Throwback' election which is why Hillary and Bill Clinton should not be on the ticket.

I don't know if Clinton wants on, but my gut tells me she does. Remember, the Clintons love the national stage, so why not the second spot. But it should not happen.

Obama supporters would be livid with Clinton on this ticket. Barack Obama has appealed to many across the board and his main theme from day one was change. For that alone, the Clintons are disqualified. 'Next".

If Clinton is offered the VP spot, it is not just her but Bill Clinton, too. Many are scratching their heads in wonderment about Bill Clinton. Can he take orders? Can he stay on message? Will his wife push 'his' agenda? And why would any candidate want a former president and first lady breathing down his neck as he tries to govern? All these questions, alone, is enough to say, 'next'.

The fierce language, dog whistle tactics used through this campaign after Iowa makes many pause, even if you are a Clinton supporter. She has already stated Obama is only good for a speech, he is not ready to be commander in chief, he has not passed the commander in chief threshold, but she and McCain have. This alone is a 527 ad ready to go nationwide. Using Clinton's words against her ticket mate and watching Obama have to defend the words that Hillary Clinton used against him. Again, 'next'.

The Clinton baggage. I mean the greatest hits from the 90s will suddenly reappear and we are watching clips of memory lane being played, which was part of the reason we did not win in 2000. Do we need to go there? Again? Also, there is much curiosity and suspect about those donors of the Clinton Library and some shady money dealings of the Clintons. Folks, she has not been vetted for this and neither has Bill Clinton post his presidential years. For the Clintons to be apprehensive to not release tax records and refusing to give any information about the Clinton Library just makes one wonder if there is any 'there, there'. 'Next'

We need a Vice-Presidential candidate that can bring a red or purple state to the table. We will win New York. Simple as that, 'next'.

Hillary Clinton since entering this race has high negatives/unfavorables. This was from day one and continues now. She is revered in the Democratic Party, but once you poll outside the party it is a downward spiral. No one can say any Republicans will vote for her, in fact whatever polling there is must be scant. Yes, during this primary season we have had the usual 'Rush Limbaugh Voters' spoiling some of these primaries, but in actuality these voters will not vote for Clinton.

Finally, Hillary Clinton on the ticket will revitalize the conservative base of the Republican Party. John McCain is having issues right now with this faction of his party, with Clinton's name on it, folks will come out in droves to vote for McCain, being a vote against Clinton. We all know this to be true. Which is why all the republican pundits are swooning over Hillary Clinton. They want her badly. They know how to beat her.

Barack had a bad night last night. No two ways about it, but remember this is a primary not a general election. Why? A couple of things. As I indicated above in regards to the MS-01 special election, the Democrat won. This means that the person dragging the Republicans down is George W. Bush. People are livid and angry and they are turning their guns to the polls. Recent polling does not bear well for the Republicans, many have the economy as the number one issue and the public turned sour to the Bush Administration and the handling of the Iraq War fiasco.

This is a Democratic year. People in the end are going to vote on the issues in November, the Bush Administration, the GOP lack of leadership and George W. Bush.

In the end, November will be a referendum on the Republican Party and George W. Bush.

That is why Obama will be competitive and will bring states into play. He is running a 50 State Strategy, always have from the start.

Tonight I heard "unrealistic speak"...

cross-posted @ Daily Kos

from a candidate with no money, who and I agree has come into her own as a candidate, but is too many states, TOO LATE.

Now the campaign has turned into a divided party. And Clinton is doing just this.

I don't know what she wants, but after all she has done, she does not deserve the VP spot. In fact, all she has "said" will come back to bite all Democrats in the ass with the "527s ads", if Clinton is on the ticket.

Moving on....

::

She is on her last leg here.

She is clearly begging for the superdelegates to give her one more chance.

She is making several speeches.

One: Make me the nominee.

Two: I will support the candidate, the Democratic candidate.

Three: I need money.

First, she is fighting Obama. She is the one who is qualified.

Next, she is supporting Barack, the Democratic nominee.

Then she needs money.

All I can write Democrats is that Hillary Clinton is a hot mess. A very, unrealistic one. One who despises Obama, one who feel it is her right for this nomination, one who is shocked she is where she is at, one who is shocked there is no more money coming in, one who does not want to exit the stage.

But Democrats, exit the stage, She Must. And sooner than later.

I respect Clinton for staying in this race, but now it is time for her real advisors, the ones who care about her reputation and further existence in the party to tell her it is over.

And then tell Bill Clinton, the party is UP!!!

p.s. can't change the math in the middle of the game. for this, it is truly time for her to get out now.

Obama '08 - Vote For Change!

Obama '08 - Vote For Change!

and for your photo viewing or snatching, al rodgers



oh, oh, oh....here is obama's wheels, 757...dude got it goin' on


awwww, damn, sunglasses photo deux!!!!!!

The "O" Team

h/t to turneresq, click on the image for the story

This Week With Barack Obama, May 4-10, 2008

cross-posted @ Daily Kos


barack and michelle in raleigh, nc after winning the north carolina primary

::


we now know who the democratic nominee is going to be....

What Metric is Left? Reality Time.
A valid, on point, honest question is one that the Clinton Campaign cannot answer.

Sure, she is dragging this out and looks like a fighter, but in the end the math does not work. Even if she wins the rest of what? Six primaries? It won’t happen. Especially, since Barack won North Carolina by 15 points and lost Indiana by 0.8 points, this was not the game changer Hillary Clinton needed. The popular vote Barack won in North Carolina wiped out her gains in Pennsylvania. Indiana did nothing for Clinton, since the race was tight and the delegate count will be split down the middle. In other words, she gained nothing and ending up losing the delegate and popular vote battle Tuesday night. Lastly on this delegate and popular vote count, there are not enough states left for Clinton to catch up. She needs to beat Barack over 70% for the remaining six contests and it won't happen. Now the superdelegates are favoring Obama.

What Tim Russert said, and if you don’t know, look at the video above, was like a shot heard around the world. Everyone knows that Barack Obama is the Democratic Nominee and there is nothing else that the Clinton Campaign can do, it is a fact.

I have stated this many times, this primary is one that many pundits will write about. Primarily, how the formidable Clinton Campaign was shattered by a new kid on the block, named Barack Obama.

We know that Barack will not win West Virginia or Kentucky, but he will win Oregon on May 20, 2008. In winning Oregon, he will have secured the most pledged delegates, period. And it is technically, totally and finally over, at least for Barack.

What is the most important now is bringing the party together. The most important mission that we have is to win not only the White House, but more congressional and senate seats for a working majority to assist the next president.

Now it is time for Hillary Clinton to leave the stage, gracefully, she knows it as well as the rest of the country. We are now waiting for her to do so.

Campaign Appearances

May 12, 2008 - Campaign Event with Barack Obama, Charleston, WV
May 12, 2008 - Rally with Barack, Louisville, KY

Why Clinton will not be his running mate
Obama Camp Blasts McCain on Economy
Hillary fades as Barack runs hot
'Super' surge for Obama
What went wrong for Clinton?
Clinton's end: time to yield and unify
Face it, HIllary: It's over
Republicans Give Mixed Reasons for Obama Votes
Edwards: Obama Will Be the Nominee





obama and brian williams of nbc nightly news

Video/Audio

Donna Brazile on CNN Primary Night; Barackula, the Musical; Obama in Eugene, OR; Obama Speech in Indianapolis, IN; Indiana Jefferson-Jackson Dinner; Obama Top Ten on Letterman; Dirt Off Your Shoulder Music Video; Obama in Beaverton, OR; Barack and Michelle on the Today Show; Obama in Bend, OR; NPR: Perceptions of Obama Shift with Strong Week; NPR: Week in Review: Obama Surges Forward; Meet the Press in Indianapolis

Feminists sharply divided between Clinton, Obama
Clinton's diminishing of black votes
What if Clinton had Obama's lead?

::

Edwards Raises Doubts About Clinton's Chances

John Edwards, a former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, cautioned Sunday that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton “has to be really careful that she’s not damaging our prospects” by staying in the contest against Senator Barack Obama.

While Mr. Edwards, a onetime senator from North Carolina, has not endorsed either candidate, he made it clear on the CBS News program “Face the Nation” that he saw little chance that Mrs. Clinton could manage a come-from-behind victory.

“You can no longer make a compelling case for the math,” Mr. Edwards said, referring to delegate totals that increasingly favor Mr. Obama. “The math is very, very hard for her.” continue

obama accepts jersey from university of oregon coach, ernie kent

The Super Delegate March to Inevitability by maureen
Two more Black writers unload on Clinton by teacherken
vote for change by kid oakland
On the ground in West Virginia for Obama by Carnacki
Obama hits McCain HARD: He's "Losing his bearings"! by jkennerl
Rasmussen Calls the Democratic Race for Obama by Walt starr
It's amazing that Barack has even Made it this far by jenontheshore
We have a race problem..... by Elise


obama and abel valladares at luis's taqueira, woodburn, or

Photo Diaries

VOTE for CHANGE -- 1,400 New Yorkers take to the streets! UPDATED with video by casperr; Photoblog: Obama Voter Registration in Austin! by kath25; Barack in Indy on Election Eve w/ photos! by Debby; Yes We Can: A Photoblog of Young Obama Supporters in Indianapolis by BillyZoom; Making it happen in NC (w/photos) by merrinc; From Obama Blog: Barack visits University of Evansville, IN; From Obama Blog: Barack and Michelle visit Kempton, IN; Obama Rocks Assembly Hall Bloomington Indiana Photo Diary by HeartlandLiberal; From Obama Blog: Barack and Michelle in Noblesville, IN

Michelle Obama talks about her role if she is First Lady
Painful period for Clinton campaign
Party Like It’s 2008
Gingrich Warns G.O.P. Swift Change Is Needed
Obama's Next Big Challenge
Obama Takes Superdelegate Lead


a chorus of millions

Clinton Aides Doubtful About Future

After failing to win the decisive sweep in North Carolina and Indiana that could have reshaped the Democratic race, disappointed aides to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton conceded it would be difficult for her to catch Sen. Barack Obama in either delegates or overall votes in the six remaining contests.

The outcome caused the candidate and her campaign to intensify their efforts to persuade party leaders to include the results of disqualified contests in Michigan and Florida, both of which she won. The Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws committee is scheduled to meet on May 31 to consider two challenges pending on whether, and how, to seat delegates from those states.

"Absent some sort of miracle on May 31st, it's going to be tough for us," said a senior Clinton official who spoke on the condition of anonymity in order to be frank. "We lost this thing in February. We're doing everything we can now . . . but it's just an uphill battle." continue

victory speech in raleigh, north carolina

shoutouts: Yes to Unity. But Let's Not Go Overboard. by wmtriallawyer; Cheers to Hillary is 44, Taylor Marsh and MyDD by Morgan Sandlin; Mark Penn Denies Being an Idiot by BarbinMD; Mothers Day Message from Teresa Heinz by Teresa Heinz; Feminisms: McCain and Women by Elise; Countdown to $200 oil (4) - It's scheduled for 1/20/09 by Jerome a Paris; Breaking: FBI Raids Office of Special Counsel by aravir; Why can't Clinton win independents? by kos; Clinton's Race-Baiting Continues by dnA; Jeralyn Merritt "Obama For Hill's A-G..." by Mithrandir Istari

obama and wolf blizter going to the situation room

Endorsements

Tom Hanks Endorses Obama; Martin Sheen Endorses Obama; Nine Superdelegates Endorse Obama; 4 More Superdelegates Backs Obama; Kaylan Free, Superdelegate Supports Obama; Portland Mayor Tom Potter Backs Obama; Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) Backs Obama; Kristi Cummings Superdelegate (UT) Endorses Obama; David Bonior, Former Congressman (MI) and John Edwards Campaign Manager Backs Obama; Congressman Rick Larsen (D-WA) Endorses Obama; Congressman Brad Miller (D-NC) Backs Obama,; Florida House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber Backs Obama; Congressman Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) Endorses Obama; Myrlie Evers-Williams, wife of slain civil rights activist Medgar Evers, Endorses Obama; Two Virgin Island Superdelegates flip to Obama; Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D-HI) Endorses Obama; California Superdelegate Crystal Strait Backs Obama; Kentucky Lt. Governor Dan Mongiardo Endorses Obama

Obama Seeks To Unify Party For November
For Hillary Clinton, no 'clear path to victory' -- nor to an exit
Jews for Obama, Oy Vey!
Pragmatic Politics, Forged on the South Side
The Cynic and Senator Obama


Larry Levine from Hinton, WV, part of Obama's small donor coalition

Obama's Results Center
5 Mistakes Clinton Made
Barack on iTunes
Clinton won't quit; Obama doesn't care
Obama rises from political obscurity to verge of history


OBAMA: The Audacity of Hope

Fund Race: Obama Outflanks 'Hillraisers'

A key component in the Democratic presidential race is all but decided: In fund raising, victory belongs to Sen. Barack Obama.

As recently as a few months ago, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton had a seemingly invincible money machine -- a political ATM of well-connected followers who could raise tens of thousands of dollars with a few phone calls. But just as Sen. Obama has topped her at the polls, the Illinois senator's Internet-driven fund-raising model has eclipsed the one favored by the Clinton campaign.

Sen. Obama overtook Sen. Clinton in total fund raising in February and has raised more since. The New York senator, meanwhile, has loaned herself $6.4 million in the past few weeks, her campaign acknowledged Wednesday. continue

obama in 'da house....'

::

A blast from the past by kos
Clinton debt HUGE
Republicans Crossing Over to Vote in Democratic Contests
Obama Campaign Chief Sees End Of Nomination Fight
Sit Back, Relax, Get Ready to Rumble


the empire strikes barack



icebergslim’s last word: prepping for the general election

Yes, it is that time. Yes, it is here, finally. Getting ready and pointing our guns to the Republicans failed policies and John McCain.

For all intention purposes, the primary is over. Now it is just about going through the semantics until Clinton exits. So, while we are waiting, Obama is already in the general election mode with a new stump speech focused on McCain.

As we wait for the six remaining contests to end, Barack is planning on visiting the swing states with town hall meetings. His first stop is Missouri on Tuesday, with more states in between the finale of the primary. Barack has also expressed interest in participating in focus groups around this country with John McCain to talk about the issues that the American public want to hear from these two candidates.

Also, the Vote for Change Movement was a huge success, this past Saturday, May 10th. This effort was to register voters in all 50 states for the upcoming general election. This will be an ongoing process throughout the summer and early fall to get people registered to vote. Remember, 60% of the new voters participated thus far in the primaries. This is critical for us to win in November that we know our voters and get them to the polls.

The Obama Organizing Fellows is a program designed to train folk on the grassroots level in organizing, messaging and other activities vital to make a campaign successful and winnable. Applications for this program end on May 15, 2008.

There is much coming up that will be unfolded for massive participation. So, there is no excuse not to get engage.

Lastly, this is an exciting time in American politics. This is a first on many levels. First, for the social networking of political activity. First, for the explosion of youtube in the campaigns, to reach millions of voters. The phenomenal participation of voters on the ground and through the internet by donating to Barack’s campaign has been astounding. And hopefully an end to divisive, old fashioned, top down politics.

The people have spoken and they are taking the Democratic Party back, their country back with the 'presumptive nominee', Barack Obama.

It is exciting indeed.

p.s. remember to continue to donate and remember to continue to remain engaged in this campaign. thanks.


looking at this picture, it reminds me of that ll cool j song, 'mama gonna knock you out'. well, mccain, 'obama gonna knock you out'. this was a fantastic week for barack. he showed his strength in two fold. he prepared and had has troops in north carolina and indiana wayyy ahead of clinton and got folks to vote EARLY. it mattered. especially for north carolina where he ran the numbers up. now since wisconsin, we all have said 'this is over' the pundits and networks are now stating, 'it is over'. they are ready to move onto the real story, 'obama vs. mccain'. as always, stay focused on obama and not the drama.....peace...

We are almost at the finish line, Democrats.

Karen Tumulty of Time Magazine has an excellent piece surmising what went wrong with Hillary Clinton's campaign.

This article relates to exactly what I was looking for in the next Democratic Nominee.

I did not want an insider of Washington. After Katrina, I believe anyone reading this will concur; Washington works for itself not the people of this country.

I did not want the same old politician. I can get that locally from my state representative that lives down a few blocks from me. The same old speech, the same old pitch, the same old request for a check.

I wanted a politician who will tell the truth, whether I agreed or disagreed, I wanted to hear it straight, no crap.

That is why Hillary Clinton was disqualified for me.

::

This article hits many nails on the head. For example:

That was probably her biggest blunder. In a cycle that has been all about change, Clinton chose an incumbent's strategy, running on experience, preparedness, inevitability — and the power of the strongest brand name in Democratic politics.

This is the main problem that the Clinton Campaign did not get. But I did. All you have to do is speak to your neighbors, your mechanic, your salesperson, etc. No matter what party affiliation, people are tired of what George W. Bush and Dick Cheney did to this country. Period. They made the rich, richer and made the poor, poorer by their policies. They bankrupted this country by their selfish, alpha male ego antics by invading Iraq, an illegal war. In doing so, everything else, meaning the citizens of this country suffered either directly or indirectly.

People want a change. No one can argue this point.

Clinton picked people for her team primarily for their loyalty to her, instead of their mastery of the game. That became abundantly clear in a strategy session last year, according to two people who were there. As aides looked over the campaign calendar, chief strategist Mark Penn confidently predicted that an early win in California would put her over the top because she would pick up all the state's 370 delegates.

The Clinton Campaign did not master the rules, and remember rules that they put their people in place at the DNC to write and implement. When things exposed itself after Super Tuesday, people really saw a campaign riddle with incompetence of management and a candidate that put those persons in their jobs to do such.

I don't care what anyone writes, or says from here on out, for the Clinton Campaign to not actively organize, participate in all of the states on the Super Tuesday calendar and all of February was just shocking. Yes, she won big states but allowed the Obama Campaign to run up the score in the "little, insignificant" caucus and primary states to draw a dead heat after Super Tuesday. This strategy will be one that many books will be written about, and how the grassroots and netroots got people, ordinary people and inactive people off their couches and out of their homes to back Barack Obama. I am waiting to read ALL of these books.

While Clinton based her strategy on the big contests, she seemed to virtually overlook states like Minnesota, Nebraska and Kansas, which choose their delegates through caucuses. She had a reason: the Clintons decided, says an adviser, that "caucus states were not really their thing."

As I wrote above, that mentality came back to bite the Clinton Campaign in their asses. Nuff said on that one.

For a decade or more, the Clintons set the standard for political fund-raising in the Democratic Party, and nearly all Bill's old donors had re-upped for Hillary's bid. Her 2006 Senate campaign had raised an astonishing $51.6 million against token opposition, in what everyone assumed was merely a dry run for a far bigger contest. But something had happened to fund-raising that Team Clinton didn't fully grasp: the Internet.

Money. This campaign relied on heavy, old school money. I truly believe, until she was in financial strife, that they did not use the internet and raising funds as they could have.

We saw Obama outreach to not just ask for a small donation but to make its patrons feel as if they were part of the process of the campaign, as if we were decision makers and the Obama Campaign listens.

Many books will be also written about Barack Obama's ability to raise money and create a movement, simultaneously. The Clinton Campaign did not do this. They relied on heavy consultants and ran an old fashioned, machine style, top down campaign. Not enticing, educating, or involving its members, unless they gave $2300.00 on up. Then you got some attention. Sad, but true.

Clinton's strategy had been premised on delivering a knockout blow early. If she could win Iowa, she believed, the race would be over. Clinton spent lavishly there yet finished a disappointing third. What surprised the Obama forces was how long it took her campaign to retool.

Iowa was a game changer for Clinton and Obama. For Obama, he knew he could win. For Clinton, scared shitless coming in third and the wild horse has raced out of the barn. Thus her whole campaign changed to the attack mode on Barack Obama, at no costs or care.

And she did not have a plan post Super Tuesday. We all witnessed it as Barack Obama won 12 straight. We then witnessed a broken, back biting campaign, and one with lack of funds.

All the above is true. And guess what, it is still going on.

For all that is written, Barack Obama has rewritten the book and the rules his way but following them, something the Clinton Campaign has not mastered to do.

This will all be over with soon. Many are weary and just tired of it all. I believe we can come together, and we must to win in November.

There are going to be some great days ahead and some very hard ones. The McCain Campaign and the "I don't condone 527s" are going to go after Michelle Obama, Barack's patriotism, and use outright racial slanders to secure the White House, again for the Republicans.

I am going to write this. And remember it. The Republican Party's leader is the one currently occupying the White House, George W. Bush.

The way things are going right now in this country, it does not take a rocket scientist to know that people don't like him, don't trust him, or the Republican brand. They lost all of that, and just read this to understand what I am saying.

I know Hillary Clinton thinks, believes that she is the only qualified candidate currently. But she failed to do all the above to follow the mood of the country, to listen to the citizens of the party, and to adjust accordingly. The last thing you want to run as is an "incumbent" and that is what her campaign has been about.

It is just that vision that Americans are rejecting. We want change, a new face, new ideas and a new leader.

That will be Barack Obama.

Don't Fall for the Expectations: MEDIA HYPE

icebergslim, here.

on break in indiana, here.

to tell you all this: DON'T FALL FOR THE MEDIA HYPE

I don't know how many diaries must be written or trounced into heads here, but don't fall for it.

Here is why, below the fold:

::

Al G (that is what I call him), over at The Field has broken it down, brillantly.

Basically, it is a reminder that we have been through this drill already. That this is the 47th and 48th primary/caucus and by now we should know the DRILL.

I know many get excited, just reading the "Did I vote thread....", but the reality is this, a ground game.

This is a ground game, pure and simple. I don't expect Obama to win Indiana, so let's take that one out of our "yippeeee" column. I do expect him to win North Carolina, since it is a closed primary and Indiana is open. And yes, I expect mischief from the "Limbaugh Dummies", but not much in Indiana. Also, Obama did the one thing that Clinton did not do, due to lack of money, that is get his ballots cast early.

Now to what we should know.

We should know that Drudge ALWAYS leak Clinton expectations.

We should know that some nitwit from the Clinton Campaign goes on the cable shows and repeat expectations that were leaked.

We should know that the exit polls always show an Obama surge. And by now none of us should believe any exit polling.

We should know that Drudge then posts the Clinton "leaked exit polling".

We should expect the "why Obama can not close the deal". Yes, the cable pundits are nothing but desk clerks who read from a teleprompter and haven't been in the field, like forever. So, they are nothing but talking heads who in the end are full of nothing. We know this.

If Clinton wins Indiana, another plea for money for a not going nowhere campaign. And what did she raise last month? Haven't heard any bragging rights from that camp on money.

It will be torn apart, tomorrow by the desk clerks that Clinton has again cooled superdelegates heels, while the Obama Campaign continues to announce superdelegates in their CAMP tomorrow. Yes, desk clerks will look stupid.

In other words, we know better by now. We do.

Tomorrow there will be more superdelegates than remaining delegates for this primary. What does this mean? The backroom, smoking pits, deal joints have emerged and are working HARD. That is what is means.

North Carolina is the LAST big state left.

This is OVER, by every metric given. And if Obama blows out in North Carolina and stays close in Indiana, expect the supers to move rapidly, starting tomorrow.

So, Obama Supporters, stop drinking the same kool-aid every primary. We have won this already, now is just going through the steps. We know what the media will say, they have been carrying Clinton's water since, "see me in Texas and Ohio."

Unless Indiana is an upset, I don't expect it to be, but expect all the above. Stop getting caught up in the bullshit hype. You know what will happen.

And thanks to Al G at The Field, for keepin' it real.

This Week With Barack Obama, April 27-May 3, 2008 by Al Rodgers

Since I am in Indiana, Al Rodgers was kind enough to fill in.

Please click on the link below and enjoy, especially the fabulous pictures and video.

This Week With Barack Obama

See you on Sunday.

icebergslim