When it finally comes down to a single nominee, the Democratic Party needs to be ready for a united front. The voters sure are.
Comment: if you dont vote dont complain voting is the responsibilty of being free if you dont vote you may as well be a slave
Comment: Quoting shriramram: "I am PhD in psycology and I am 100% right." I don't know where you got your PhD but wherever it was, they forgot to let you read Freud, who tells us that when the father falls the eldest son steps to the front of the line and the mother moves into place behind him.
Comment: Most of you will agree with me on this. Say Democratic Party is a family. Mother(Hillary) and son(Barak) both are well qualified.for a position. Both are about 95% same on issues. Who should get the position? I think son should respect and render his duty by honoring the mother. But most America has lost family values and this may not work in America. However for the family (party) unity we must do this for America. Let Clinton be the president, period. Also look at over 80% of blacks blindly voting for Barak while most white men because Hillary is a woman and they are jealous of her voting for Barak. I am PhD in psycology and I am 100% right.
Comment: If we truly believe in Democratic values and principle and I am sure Democratic Party does, then we must sit down and make Clinton as President and Obama as VP. This will be sure win ticket and morally it is right. People are out of their mind. Obama is hiding many things first not telling his middle name. It is hussein so what? American people have right to know it. Secondly his Tony Rezco connection. However he can barely qualify for VP as most young has created Obamania or Obama fever in blind faith. God bless America. It will be injustice to America if Obama gets Presidential nomination. many of my friends will vote for McCain but I will not vote for anybody.
Comment: if you dont vote dont complain
Comment: HERE'S yOUR pROOF HALLOW. I AM VERy GLAD yOU ASKED THIS QUESTION.
THIS pROVES THAT OBAMA IS THE REAL DEAL SON.
Obama proved persuasive enough that the bill passed both houses of the legislature, the Senate by an incredible 35 to 0. Then he talked Blagojevich into signing the bill, making Illinois the first state to require such videotaping.
Obama didn't stop there. He played a major role in passing many other bills, including the state's first earned-income tax credit to help the working poor and the first ethics and campaign finance law in 25 years (a law a Post story said made Illinois "one of the best in the nation on campaign finance disclosure"). Obama's commitment to ethics continued in the U.S. Senate, where he co-authored the new lobbying reform law that, among its hard-to-sell provisions, requires lawmakers to disclose the names of lobbyists who "bundle" contributions for them.
Taken together, these accomplishments demonstrate that Obama has what Dillard, the Republican state senator, calls a "unique" ability "to deal with extremely complex issues, to reach across the aisle and to deal with diverse people." In other words, Obama's campaign claim that he can persuade us to rise above what divides us is not just rhetoric.
Avian flu: Obama was one of the first Senators to speak out on avian flu, back in the spring of 2005, when it was a quintessentially wonky issue, not the subject of breathless news reports. There's a list of Democratic efforts on avian flu here; Obama shows up early and often. He has sponsored legislation, including what I think is the first bill dedicated to pandemic flu preparedness. It's a good bill, providing not just for vaccine research and antiviral stockpiles, but for the kinds of state and local planning and preparedness that will be crucial if a pandemic occurs. (I was also very interested to note that it requires the Secretary of HHS to contract with the Institute of Medicine for a study of "the legal, ethical, and social implications of, with respect to pandemic influenza". This is actually very important, and not everyone would have thought of it.)
"We recommend that this administration work with Congress, public health officials, the pharmaceutical industry, foreign governments and international organizations to create a permanent framework for curtailing the spread of future infectious diseases.
There were death penalty abolitionists, some of whom worried that Obama's bill, by preventing the execution of innocents, would deprive them of their best argument. Vigorous opposition came from the police, too many of whom had become accustomed to using muscle to "solve" crimes. And the incoming governor, Rod Blagojevich, announced that he was against it.
THIS IS A pERFECT EXAMpLE OF WHAT OBAMA CAN DO AND HAS ALREADy DONE, BRING DIFFERENT FACTIONS TOGETHER TO ACHIEVE A COMMON GOAL.
Comment: o YEAH.. NOW THE MEDIA WANTS UNITED FRONT. PEOLE GIVE IT TO THEM IN NOVEMBER.
Comment: Good for you for supporting Hillary, Anna! Her 100% pro-choice voting record, plan to fund alternative energy research, and experience being in the public eye make her the stronger candidate.
Comment: As a liberal Democrat and feminist, who has never in 40 years voted for any Republican, if Senator Clinton is the Democrat nominee, I am staying home this November. I am not going to hold my nose and vote for this incredibly disgusting individual. The Clinton???s, as has our other baby boomer president, squandered their presidencies. The Clinton???s are attempting to bar the door to true transformation of this country. We should all pray that their fear and hate mongering does not succeed.
Comment: NEW - on YOUTUBE "OBAMA SONG PORTRAIT: WE ARE THE CHANGE by Bjarne O."
As the composer, Bjarne O., writes:
"I combined Latino Rhythms, Chinese Erhu, African- and Native-American Voices with the Contemporary Symphonic Orchestra - in the great spirit of Unity - for this Song in support of Obama's great and true message: "Our Time Has Come; We the People are the Change we've all been waiting for. We are the Hope for the Future - YES WE CAN."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCQYTu8u7Sg
CHECK IT OUT - AND SPREAD THE WORD
YES WE CAN - ALL OF US TOGETHER
Anne
Comment: I HEAR THAT THERE ARE SPEARS UNDIELESS PICTURES TOO. WHY STOP AT OBAMA HYPE.
Comment: I have to say, it's nice to hear someone speaking rationalese. I understand that Obama and Clinton are currently running against each other, but both need to look at the larger picture of the general election. If what the candidates really want is to help Americans then they need to stop attacking each other and show a little respect for each other and the party they are supposed to be representing.
Comment: As a Barack Obama supporter, I would have no trouble supporting Clinton in the general election if she wins the nomination fairly. However, if Obama is ahead after all the primaries and caucuses with elected delegates and Clinton pulls a fast one with the MI and FL non-elections and with superdelegates, then I will not vote in the general election. As a resident of WA state which had a caucus, I resent Clinton saying that my vote doesn't matter because it was a caucus. That is not the way to keep the party together. She may be competent and smart but she does not know how to heal a country that is hurting from all the hate politics of the past.
Comment: and thanks for not mederating and censoring your comments like the facist Wolf Blitzer.
www.begup.com
Comment: I'm glad you're back. By that I mean with something I agree with 100%. That was an excellent article. There isn't much difference between Obama and Clinton and most voters vote with feelings and not fact. The candidate has to examine every word that comes out of their mouths because if you slip once you're dead. That's not a very rational way to pick who you're going to vote for. Now I have to google Pyrrhic to find out what the heck that means.
www.begup.com
Comment: From a scientific point of view, Quindlen???s statement that ???a significant number of voters didn't actually know what lever they would pull until the very last minute??? is not valid. That may have been be true for some people on Super Tuesday, but a ???significant??? amount? And, so what? Texas, Ohio & PA primaries are different and nivolve different people of different backgrounds. Plus, Quindlen employs fuzzy math to make her point. It???s erroneous. Quindlen had to have extrapolated ???signifcant??? numbers from any one or a number of polls from 2 weeks ago.
What really is telling is that she doesn???t even cite the poll(s) she is basing her article on. What kind of jouranlism is that? Bad? Biased? Slanted? Pro-Hillzilla? It certainly isn???t objectice or accurate.
I think we would all ackowledge that polls are neither reliable barometers or ???guranteed??? portents of things to come.
My main problem with Quidlen???s statement from above is that we have no idea how large the ???respondent group??? is, which is critical to understanding whether any (alleged) ???signifcance??? is real or not.
E.G., If Gallop polls 1000 people (and I have actually read some polls where only 500 people or less are asked exiting questions), neither of these numbers are ???significant??? considering there have been millions of people exiting voting stations so far.
As for NBC???s poll that ???reported that seven out of 10 Democrats said they would be happy with either one,??? again, I would really like to know the size of the sample or people polled.
Likewise, I think for Quindlen to cite NBC???s poll without telling the reader where and how NBC
got there ???allleged??? numbers is missleading and meaningless.
As Bubba has said, ???Give me a break!???
Comment: Every Congressional representative in the United States Congress and Senate have failed to serve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. This Bush Administration has held the American electorate hostage, via Iraq. Bipartisan Congressional allegiance to obstruction of justice in the Presidents Office and the Office of the Attorney General (three of them!) is a war waged against the American electorate.
9/11 was an inside job and the beneficiary's of those attacks are clear. The Pentagon Papers book is still in print.
Comment: Bipartisan manipulation of the American electoral process. Perversion of one cat, one vote, one beer is the Republican Party attempts to redesign the outcome of elections, engineering voting districts in order to create a 3 % margin. Just enough to rig the entire game. But hey, this is America and America is to blame for allowing George W. Bush's succesful coup d'etat in 2000 and 2004. Down the drain then and now. The Democrat Party is still unable to serve, protect, and defend the Constituion of the United States. Got war if you want it. George W. Bush and his entire Cabinet of Advisors are wanted for treason, Congress as well.
Comment: Here's what Hillary can do to regain momentum:
1)Have Bill compare Obama to Jesse Jackson to diminish and marginalize him. Oops, that didn't work
2)Argue that she is the real change candidate. Oops,that didn't work
3)Argue that Obama is peddling "false hopes". Oops, that didn't work either.
4)Argue that only she is ready from day one. Oops, that didn't work.
5)Smear Obama as an evil Reaganophile. Oops, that didn't work.
6)Return to her original message of go with me because I am the inevitable candidate. Oops, that didn't work.
What's left?
7) Release her tax returns. Oops, can???t do that, because of that little issue with Big Bill???s business interests with the Dubai royal family.
Remaining option: Go negative - you'll see it this week folks!
Comment: It is so sad that the Clinton campaign relies so heavily on the Hispanic "ignorance." Fellow Latinos, unite and strike out at the Clinton campaign who believes that people of Hispanic descent are not "evolved" enough to vote for a black man. I hope no one falls for this trick that Ms. Clinton and her campaign are trying to pull on us Latinos. It is ridiculous that Ms. Clinton's campaign is relying on our support but offers no confidence in Latinos to do the research and find that Mr. Obama is clearly the better candidate. The Clinton campaign believes that Latinos are so ignorant that they would "rather follow any white woman than a black man." No es cierto!!! I would rather follow the RIGHT MAN--Barack Obama.
Comment: AS Latino we can spot a Jive talker with no action so stick your beliefs about Latino's being ignorant and not voting for the jive talking black man.
Comment: Annabella;
I agree Hillary has this time at least proved a poor candidate - emotional, self-pitying, easily dominated by the opposition. No hard-hitting, just petty whining. Her good grasp of economic issues was overshadowed by all these failings.
Still, I think people - inckuding you - will think respectfully of her when the USA is in the hands of the boastful, vague Obama.
You ain't seen anything yet.
Comment: I can tell you one reason Hillary incites so many passions and most of the them seem to be negative. The positive ones seem predicated more on identification with her of a bizarre type.."Well I'm not all that likeable either, so she's fine by me. No one appreciates me for my full worth either, so I'll stick by her."
As for the negatives... she is a polarizing figure because she sees the world as Us vs Them. Remember when she teared up NH (no, there was nothing wrong with that or contrived) but then she said: "some of us are right and some of us are wrong." And of course she is never wrong about anything...why it would be like Bush and based on the same types of insecurities. All Hillary has been tested in is being attacked and surviving. There is no legislative initiative that is hers. There is nothing that she has managed well, including her own campaign. Remember the health care initiative that was totally her project. What a shambles. How can one hesitate for a moment when tyou compare her styke and record to that of a candidate of the intelligence, skill, decency and intekkectual honesty of a Barak Obama?
Comment: I'll tell you why some people think Hillary would be an awful President. After she teared up in NH (and I do not think it was fake and I do think it was a humanizing moment because she let herself react to someone's sympathy for her) but then she turned it: "some of us are right and some of us are wrong." It is exactly that kind of mentality that has gotten us into some of the trouble we are in as a body politic and also that kind of mentality that will preclude effective leadership. There is only one thing Hillary has demonstrated she is really good at: taking all sorts of hits and surviving. Lord, lord, is that what you want when you have a leader as skilled as Obama is proving himself to be? Yes she sure has been tested in that way. But where else has she demonstrated good judgment or for that matter any of the managerial skills she prides herself on? Look at her campaign... she has blown through $175 million in the last 7 years... and apparently didn';t even know she was blowing it. The suggestion that she stay in the Senate and model herself after Teddy Kennedy is an excellent one.
Comment: Can someone tell me why Hiliary incites so many passions in people(either love or hate) and why the media has not completely scrutinized Obama's record and given him a free pass??? Hiliary is well read, well-versed on policy, smart, quick on her feet...does anyone think that she dosen't have the ability to reach across the aisle? My vote is still undecided, but though she is "the establishment," she appears to be ready for the difficulties which lay ahead for the next President.
Comment: I will in all likelihood vote for Hillary if she wins the nomination although I support Obama. However, I must say I have difficulty understanding why supporters of Hillary would not like Obama. Obama has certainly captured a good cross segment of the "I Hate Hillary" demographic, but an "I Hate Obama" stance seems almost reactionary, as in "Oh yeah? Well I hate your candidate too."
I would really be much more impressed with Hillary if she would cut out all the nonsense with Michigan and Florida and acknowledge a bad vote on Iraq rather than dancing around the issue (note to Hillary: I and a lot of other Democrats actually favored going into Iraq too, we forgive you). That said, she is by far the best candidate (after Obama) in my opinion and the fact that she finally got Bill to shut up is a huge plus.
frjiles1, I responded to your comment about that crazy website: http://www.newsweek.com/id/109589/output/comments
Comment: If it was reveresed and Obama had won Flordia and Michagan the media and Obama would be calling racisim.
Comment: In the past seven days Barack Obama has won primaries or caucuses in eighteen states, and with projected wins this week in Virginia and Maryland he will have won twenty states in eight days. He was won all over the country and in states with less than 10 percent African-American population such as Nebraska, Maine, and North Dakota, and states such as Washington and Minnesota with very few African-Americans. His appeal to all Americans of all colors and religions and all parts of the country is vast--and is growing. The Clintons' win-at-all costs, mean-spirited campaign of the politics of personal destruction and tearing down your opponent with rumors, lies, innunendos and race-baiting is wearing on the public. Clinton may be holding her base, but the more the voters get to know Barack Obama the more he expands his. The Clintons will stop at nothing to destroy this man, even if it means destroying the Democratic Party's chances of regaining the White House. Obama is running a campaign of hope, change, inspiration and working together to solve our nation's problems, while the Clintons' are running a campaign of tearing their opponents apart. The American people are smarter than the Clintons think, and all their mud-slinging and dirty campaigning is not going to stop Obama. The American voters see through what the Clintons are doing and are responding with their most powerful weapon: their votes!
If she loves our country as much as she says she does and is not just obsessed with being President, Hillary should return to the Senate, where she would essentially be able to maintain her seat for the rest of her life, and she should take a page from the life of Ted Kennedy. Senator Kennedy deeply wanted to be President, but he realized that was not in the cards. Love him or hate him, the fact remains that in the last forty-five years no other senator has had more legislation passed for children, minorities, healthcare, women, the environment, the disabled, the poor or for education than Ted Kennedy. Being President is not everything, Hillary, not if you truly do care for those you say you care about.
Comment: Anna, as usual I completely agree with you. However, and I don't know why, I am going to have a hard time voting for Obama if he emerges at the candidate. I understand that he is a new face and telling us things that we want to hear, I just don't have confidence in him. Guess I have too much of the Hillary addiction.
Comment: As an democrat/independent, if it's Hillary, many of the fervor will be gone along with the votes.
Comment: Anna Quindlen has it right. Hillary Clinton is the grownup in the room. Barack Obama is impressive -- I've read his first book, listened to his 2004 convention speech -- but his resume is thin for the presidency. His speeches all sound the same. I just don't think he has the depth which comes from experience. We've gone this route before and it has produced some very unsatisfying results for both parties.
Comment: When Michigan moved its primary up to January 15 in violation of rules established by the Democratic National Committee, Barack Obama and John Edwards withdrew from the race. Hillary Clinton left her name of the ballot and still trumpets this empty win running against "Uncommitted" (who made a pretty strong showing, by the way). It's pretty clear who had the best interests of the party in mind, and who had personal ambition.
Comment: Now I understand why the Clintons bought big house for a family of 3 after leaving WH. It is all intended to be a place for intimate party/fund raising/political planning for laying out the road map to Hill's coronation. Unfortunately for the super experience Clintons, they did not include a plan to knee cap an upstart rival and could not foresee such a rival could ever arise to challenge them. They never foresee that a brave young man would ever dare to challenge them, like how they cowered Nita Lowey into stepping out for Hill in New York. With events now out of their control, they still project a herculean power to resist the demand for releasing their tax returns now. Unfortunately for them, this will blow in their face and perhaps might forced her to abandon her coronation as this will continue to hound her wherever she goes later. It is the voters who will demand for it and not Barack and the voters are entitled to know who they are voting for. She can't link it to Barack's contributors as a rising demand from voters will consumed her time on the campaign trail.
Comment: Shout out to Lincoln President Lincoln biatches and Booth B####### when the South lost and was guilty of HORRIBLE crimes against the Union it's people, it's army and cities Lincoln let it go. He let it go. He is the one and only original G in front of conventional wise men and all the fluff and junk s###. He broke the cycle and when you open your door this morning and breath freely maybe (if it's your thing but don't have to) say thank you to God for him and think of him when you hold that 5 spot proud and may it stand strong and not dissolve in some inflationary attack.
Comment: "Raise taxes" so us hogs can support some of those struggling to live - ok.
"Lower taxes" so the little people like me can fend for ourselves while 100 million dollar yachts and more $ than you can spend in 10 lifetimes stuck in the dashboard floats by. -not ok.
Comment: "Win" in Iraq. Back to basics what does "win" mean? once we know we will know when we get there. my guess is the next generation would be lucky to see it.
Comment: Hillary/Obama positions:
1. Surrender Iraq to the terrorists,
2. Raise taxes,
3. Keep the borders open to illegal immigrants (including possible terrorists),
4. Force people to use government-run healthcare, and 5. Prevent people under 35 from ever getting Social Security benefits (even though they pay for it)
McCain/Huckabee positions:
1. Win in Iraq,
2. Lower taxes,
3. Protect Americans by securing the border,
4. Allow people to choose their healthcare provider,
5. Guarantee that people who pay into Social Security will one day be eligible for benefits
There is a clear difference here. Vote with these facts in mind.
Comment: I'm Democrat and I think I will vote Republican this year horrible canidates we have
Comment: Wrong is wrong. Death for death? put you in a box and insult you because you victimized and insulted me? Terrorize you because you terrorize me? When does it ever get better if that is the cycle? Since when does your child mess up and you straight kick em out on the street, naked and hungry saying THAT WILL TEACH YA AND LET IT BE A LESSON TO EVERYONE ELSE!!!! G's ain't afraid and real G's laugh at ya. Only problem is now a real G is on ya back and not covering it.
Comment: ..had to cut it down waaay down i guess short and sweet is the goal here. at the end of the day are we going to be united and sober? When the delusion of easy 1-2-3 checkmate you suck i rule and everyone can just shut it wears off are we going to be even more isolated and alone?? When it all boils down we have WAAYYY more in common than different. imho we all get hung up on the little gramatical ommissions while the heart and soul fly by. i see it as a choice to continue down a widening divide of hate and ignorance or a here is my hand whether you like it or not i am here for you and isn't that how it is in reality not Real TV but reality / daily grind kind? i can admit that i would rather just die than live without my friends/Americans all around me. Go Hillary! i look around and everyone is doing their thing in concert and color and honoring Lincoln who was a UNITY at any cost - yes even a bullet in you and yours now for the sake of the future of this Union. Our country is rocking because of the sacrifices of generations before us and their resolve to ..... preaching at the choir. We all know we rock but the world better know. When they visit or listen in do they hear a i got ya back and you got mine and love/pursuit of hapiness to ALL. not love that runs and gets high or can't keep its hands off of the next generation pimping out our girls like they did not hold the future in their hands. a love that says to terrorism What is going on that you hate me so much???? a love that listens and seeks to understand first and to be understood only if lucky. a love that tells anyone brown, black, yellow, fat, thin, rich, poor, whatever you are into within reason and safety of others is ok and you are safe. a love that is not hypocritical that doesn't torture and mame animals at the hand of big business pharmaceuticals charging $1 to a foreign land and $100 to Uncle Sam and goes after #7 Quarterback homegrown heartland. Rocking the leader of the Eagles and a rockstar with their tighty pants and high $ lawyers i would NEVER expect. i would expect that bad behavior is handled discretely with punishment of course but not a brutal all out attack by media blood thirsty and maniacal taking down a rocking stud who was just behaving as the warrior he is and does not just penalize but rapes pillages and victimizes in the name of JUSTICE? What happens when all the real G's and quarterbacks are in the Pen?? Are we going to count on miss fancy pants and mr $ stamps to stand up to the punks on United flight whatever it be next - we'll see. my $is on homegrown power even if you don't like the sight of blood G. Free Michael Vick. Victory.
Comment: Thank you. Your column as well as others has reenergized me. I went to a Caucus for the first time and was startled by the verbal vitriol and nasty looks from Democrats at the Republicans as they made there way to their respective rooms. I'm an Independant who was embarrassed by the display from a party that calls itself inclusive, so I changed my mind and went to the Republican caucus and voted. Obama supporters were the worst and soured me on him right then and there and I will now vote for McCain. The outright hatred of your columns and the disrespect given to other Americans you do not agrre with makes you as bad as Limbaugh. Same cloth, different ends.
Comment: I talked to people who caucused in Iowa and there experience was just the reverse. Clinton voters bashing everyone and Obama supporters civil and inclusive. You might want to consider what he said at a recent speech... that what sorrowed him most was how uncivil the discourse had at moments become. You mean Hillary someone in the audience shouted... He held up his hand and said... no he meant everyone and that he too had to fight the impulase. The man has grace and honesty. We need far more of that to lead the crazies to a civil public discourse so we can solve the problems that affect all of us.
Comment: Your'e balaming Obama for his supporters behavior? It may have been the town/city in which you dwell. Here in Virginia, Democrats and Republicans vote in the same building and wait to vote in the same line( at least in my town). Everyone was civil except for one rough- looking white guy in the back complaining loudly about the wait. I do not know his candidate of choice, but judging from his grammatically incorrect ranting, he was probably a Hillary supporter seeking free healthcare while he keeps his over- priced cable, Friday night beer binges.
Comment: Thank you. Your column as well as others has reenergized me. I went to a Caucus for the first time and was startled by the verbal vitriol and nasty looks from Democrats at the Republicans as they made there way to their respective rooms. I'm an Independant who was embarrassed by the display from a party that calls itself inclusive, so I changed my mind and went to the Republican caucus and voted. Obama supporters were the worst and soured me on him right then and there and I will now vote for McCain. The outright hatred of your columns and the disrespect given to other Americans you do not agrre with makes you as bad as Limbaugh. Same cloth, different ends.
Comment: They should have a recount on the black votes(why) I bet many of them are on parole if they behaved in that manner.
Comment: Thank you. Your column as well as others has reenergized me. I went to a Caucus for the first time and was startled by the verbal vitriol and nasty looks from Democrats at the Republicans as they made there way to their respective rooms. I'm an Independant who was embarrassed by the display from a party that calls itself inclusive, so I changed my mind and went to the Republican caucus and voted. Obama supporters were the worst and soured me on him right then and there and I will now vote for McCain. The outright hatred of your columns and the disrespect given to other Americans you do not agrre with makes you as bad as Limbaugh. Same cloth, different ends.
Comment: Thank you. Your column as well as others has reenergized me. I went to a Caucus for the first time and was startled by the verbal vitriol and nasty looks from Democrats at the Republicans as they made there way to their respective rooms. I'm an Independant who was embarrassed by the display from a party that calls itself inclusive, so I changed my mind and went to the Republican caucus and voted. Obama supporters were the worst and soured me on him right then and there and I will now vote for McCain. The outright hatred of your columns and the disrespect given to other Americans you do not agrre with makes you as bad as Limbaugh. Same cloth, different ends.
Comment: "The problem for Clinton is that she attracts mainly Democrats. Obama, on the other hand, attracts new voters"
a problem maybe but true definitely not because i am one of those new voters i am one of the ones who has not had alot of political input and i am not attracted by Obama at all. As a matter of fact HE SCARES ME. He does not scare me because he is black (my first true relationship was with a most amazing black woman and i would rather hang with black people, listen to black artists and roll with black soilders) or Muslim (one of the best employees at my job is Muslim, he is conscientious, courteous, resourcefull and most over he is the harderst worker here) nor is it that he is a Democrat ( i am registered as a Republican love George Bush, voted him in and now cannot see my future without Hillary and her lovely famaily as my first family Democrat or not). The reason he scares me is i cannot see what i am getting, i cannot predict the future because i have no facts or substance to base it on, i have not heard how he will do this CHANGE thing. i have not heard if it is even going to be a good Change? or a bad Change? - no we all as silly little sheep assume the man running for office will mean good for us and by Change he means good change BUT i have not seen that in him and sorry i have been around a while and when a salesman says this is what you need it will be great i usually start to find my exit strategy and continue shopping as i feel demeaned and degraded. i ask humbly for the heart of the man who is going to take office BEFORE he takes it because then it is yes sir and that is it. No return policy like my favorite store Costco. No they say you are stuck - better luck next time and we all hang our head and hope for what may have been and what we had the power to see and be - for me i see Hillary and i am going strong into the next 4 years with resolve knowing i have a time tested product, a no hype hustler, a no nonsence trooper who will get it done just as her character has done in the past. Sorry for nothing - only sorry for sorry suckers.
Comment: Enter Your Comment This is the Change Jessie jackson VP, Louis farakon Secretary of Defense, Al Sharpton Seceretary of State, Attorney General Clarence Thomas
Comment: "The problem for Clinton is that she attracts mainly Democrats. Obama, on the other hand, attracts new voters"
a problem maybe but true definitely not because i am one of those new voters i am one of the ones who has not had alot of political input and i am not attracted by Obama at all. As a matter of fact HE SCARES ME. He does not scare me because he is black (my first true relationship was with a most amazing black woman and i would rather hang with black people, listen to black artists and roll with black soilders) or Muslim (one of the best employees at my job is Muslim, he is conscientious, courteous, resourcefull and most over he is the harderst worker here) nor is it that he is a Democrat ( i am registered as a Republican love George Bush, voted him in and now cannot see my future without Hillary and her lovely famaily as my first family Democrat or not). The reason he scares me is i cannot see what i am getting, i cannot predict the future because i have no facts or substance to base it on, i have not heard how he will do this CHANGE thing. i have not heard if it is even going to be a good Change? or a bad Change? - no we all as silly little sheep assume the man running for office will mean good for us and by Change he means good change BUT i have not seen that in him and sorry i have been around a while and when a salesman says this is what you need it will be great i usually start to find my exit strategy and continue shopping as i feel demeaned and degraded. i ask humbly for the heart of the man who is going to take office BEFORE he takes it because then it is yes sir and that is it. No return policy like my favorite store Costco. No they say you are stuck - better luck next time and we all hang our head and hope for what may have been and what we had the power to see and be - for me i see Hillary and i am going strong into the next 4 years with resolve knowing i have a time tested product, a no hype hustler, a no nonsence trooper who will get it done just as her character has done in the past. Sorry for nothing - only sorry for sorry suckers.
Comment: Ultimately the conundrum is that Hillary is running for the votes of the democratic base, while Obama is running for the votes of a part of the democratic coalition, but is actively and openly recruiting independents and disaffected republicans -- and the large number of open primaries has allowed these people to play a role in his rise in the democratic primary race. If Obama doesn't win, these latter parts of his coalition are *not* natural supporters of Hillary Clinton, and could opt for McCain. That's a significant problem for Clinton, I think.
Comment: The problem for Clinton is that she attracts mainly Democrats. Obama, on the other hand, attracts new voters, independents, Republicans. That is why it is easier for Clinton supporters to say that they would probably vote for Clinton and not vise versa. Obama, by attracting more than just Democrats, is attracting people who would be willing to seriously consider McCain.
The Democrats have a decision to make. Go with the establishment candidate and risk losing these new voters, independents and Republicans or invite these new supporters into the fold.
Frankly, both candidates are very smart people. Brilliant, even. Their positions do not differ much at all. In that realm, it then comes down to character and integrity. Unfortunately for Hillary, she is quite lacking in inspiration. She reminds me so much of Al Gore (back in 2000) and John Kerry. Policy wonks, all of them. A bit too controlled by the polls, so they seem to drift in the wind. But the ability to get a real mandate to actually get all those well planned out proposals passed? The Al Gore of 2000 did not have it. Neither did John Kerry in 2004. Bill Clinton even lost the Democratic majority in the House and Senate. Hillary Clinton is just more of the typical Democratic presidential candidate. The only thing that sets her apart? The fact that she happens to be a woman.
Obama has a consistent message, a thoughtful and engaging manner, and operates from a set of core principles. Those are the kinds of things that attract new people to the Democratic Party. They do not have to agree with everything he wants to do, but they feel he can be trusted to listen to the other side and to tell the truth. And, yes, he can give a speech like no other person in the history of American politics for the past few decades.
So, given the choice in the nomination process, who does this independent choose? Obama, because I think he has more than enough intelligence to hit the ground running on day one and will have the political will of the people behind him. If Hillary wins the Democratic Primary, as a non-party member, there is nothing to keep me from seriously considering John McCain.
Comment: The Democratic Party is United....REMEMBER....The Media (You All) will feed their Family....will keep this HYPE going as long as you can. We know Obama won California & Nevada, You know those "States" would not ask for a RECOUNT! THE VOTING MACHINES DID NOT WORK PROPERLY (2008, ALSO!!!) NEW MEXICO HAS NOT FINISHED COUNTING SINCE """LAST SUPER TUESDAY"""" THEY NEED TO BE HONEST, ALSO....TELL IT! BARACK OBAMA WON NEW MEXICO!!!
WE THE PEOPLE!! WE THE PEOPLE OF THE 'UNITED' STATES OF AMERICA, IN ORDER TO FORM A MORE PERFECT UNION MUST BE HONEST....
Comment: EIght years ago we were at peace because the Clintons did absolutely nothing the many times we were attacked, which emboldened the enemies and enabled them to attack the Twin Towers and the Pentagon (and the White House, had it not been for some very brave souls). Oh, wait... Clinton did bomb an aspirin factory in the Sudan the day Lewinsky was going to testify. And he formed a mightly Caribbean coalition to attack Haiti. I forgot about those two stellar foreign policy achievements.
Comment: I believe that the comments made here ring true as the writer of this article points out, we have not been here in a long time. I am a female baby boomer that is so Republican weary that either Democratic candidate would be reason for me to go running to the polls on Election Day. Our leaders need to lead and be able to speak to the country with motivation and inspiration. We need to make peace with our neighbors. This has the makings of great things. This is a place in history for those of us Americans who are ready to make the sacrifice for great change in our country. We have not been given a job to do as citizens of our country. I believe we are ready for that as a country.
While I yearn for an eloquent statesman to replace our representative commander in chief I recognize that either candidate would prove a drastic improvement. We do not need another saber rattler that is head-strong in conviction without introspection. A Republican in the Whitehouse for another four years would disconnect me even further from the country I love. I am ready for the Democrats and the job they want me to do as a citizen, either Hillary or Barack. I say lets pick a horse and ride.
Comment: yes we can !
Comment: The benefits of the competition between Hillary and Obama outweighs the costs. It allows the candidates to sharpen up their message and be heard by more people.
The problem is the superdelagate and Florida/Michigan issue. For me, the Superdelagate can go ahead and do what they want. Of course, they must consider the backlash of its consituencies and all. But its part of the game.
No doubt, to date, the Superdelagates favor Clinton because she is the established candidate. Justifiably, that means Obama has to try that much hard as the newcomer. It should mobilize his supporters.
But if Florida and Michigan delegates get counted, then that is changing the rules midstream. It will be sick and unfair to Obama. Florida and Michigan knew the rules. Thus, their delegates should not be counted. End of story. However, again, the controversy should rightfully push more people toward Obama because Hillary is trying to change the rules in her favor.
Comment: For the reasons Anna states, I would urge the older generation of democrats to show some wisdom and consider the very real positive impact that choosing Obama as our nominee would have on the prospects of the party going forward. Obama has attracted hundreds of thousands of young people to his campaign. Even if you think they just like him because they think he's "cool" (which sells them short in my view), the fact is that he has not only attracted them, but has motivated them to get involved and to VOTE. If Clinton is the nominee, I would venture to say that a good many of those young people might be turned-off by politics for a good long time. I say this notwithstanding that I'm a female late baby boomer. Expanding the base of the democratic party would be good for all of us. And inspring young people to take an active interest in politics is no small feat. Telling yourself that Obama is all inspiration and no perspiration is belied by the evidence that he's getting those young people to perspire heavily for him and it's producing results. It would be a shame win the battle but lose the war.
Comment: Anna states the hard core facts here... the passions among the two camps of Obama and Clinton are creating a very unhealthy situation for all of us democrats. The feelings are so deep and you can read about it, hear it, and see it in the media daily. It is so energizing to have this excitement, but it is dividing us into tow distinct camps. I can tell by the Obama supporters that they are going to be "sulking" if Clinton is nominated. As a Clinton supporter, I know I am turned off by the unwillingness of the Obama supporters to realize that Clinton or Obama would be better than McCain. I will vote for Obama if he is nominated... but I won't do it with passion and I don't think all of our Clinton supporters will vote for Obama because of the things that have been said. I'm not sure the same can be said for the Obama supporters. The dems will not win in Nov without both camps are together. I don't believe that Obama or Clinton can unite the two camps when the nomination is over unless they both are on the ticket. Very scary!!!
Comment: Thank you. :)
Comment: They don't need to attack us on our soil now. Bush has given them a blank check to slaughter us wholesale in Iraq and Afghanistan. Between 9/11 (which was on Bush's watch, regardless how you may like to spin it) and the GWOT, nearly 7,000 Americans have died. Could any of the casualties from the '90s hold a candle to the carnage Bush has engendered?
Comment: First he's a Muslim, then son of an Atheist, then people start calling him Hussein from putting his hand on the Koran. Now some guy post a video on Youtube saying that Barack and him had oral sex 4 years ago.
So he goes from a Muslim to Atheist to Hussein and then gay, why don't they just use the N word and be done with it?
All of the information are unsourced, has no witnesses or reliable evidences and can be counted as BS. Idiots who jump to conclusion based on taloid headlines like these are the reason we are in Iraq right now. I won't feel bad if he loses to Hilary because she beats him decisively in votes or debate but I'll lose a lot of faith about this great country and its people if his loss comes from the smear campaign.
And to dear Obamaholics, I support the guy too but I don't believe he can change everything or be the second coming, Obama himself said that no one is perfect and none of our hands are clean, frankly it's the most sincere word that I've ever heard from a politician for a long long time. I'd rather focus on the fact that he can inspire me to do something greater than myself for others and the good of all.
PS. The Christian right are neither Christian nor Right
Comment: "eight years ago, when...the country was at peace". NO. The country was NOT at peace. Al Qaeda was hitting us 2-3 times a year (e.g. the first World Trade Center bombing in '93; the debacle in Mogadeshu, the bombing of our marine barracks in Saudi Arabia, the bombing of our embassies in Africa, the bombing of the USS Cole; etc, etc), and the previous Clinton administration did nothing about it. It was the peril of having a defense policy centered around opinion polls that culminated in the 9/11 attacks.
Both Democratic candidates rail against the Bush administration supposedly using fear to promote his aggressive defense policies, yet it's them (Obama and Clinton) who keep making the patently false assertion that we're "less safe" now than before 9/11. Well excuse me, but since 9/11, have we suffered any of the Al Qaeda attacks that were so common place during the Clinton Administration?
To all left-leaning pundits: Please stop peddling this lie that America was at peace before George W. Bush. There's a big difference between being at peace and turning a blind eye when the going gets tough.
Comment: politically incorrect
The attacks during the Clinton administrations does not stem from his presidency or that he'a bad president alone. If you look further back into history and do some research you'll find that they are mostly blowbacks from the Foreign policies this country has been using for the past 50 years.
World Trade Center bombing in '93; the debacle in Mogadeshu, the bombing of our marine barracks in Saudi Arabia, the bombing of our embassies in Africa, the bombing of the USS Cole are all the works of Al-qaeda and these guys don't just spring up from nowhere. It's because of the Raegan, Carter administration's decision to supply and train Bin laden's group in the first place. Such consequences are called blowbacks.
The notion that the enemy of our enemy is our friend doesn't come from the dems alone, we supplied Saddam during the Iran-Iraq war because he was enemy of the Ayatollah (Who may not be able to take power and use islam as a tool in the first place if another of our less evil puppet, the Shah didn't **** up his country so bad). The list goes on and on around the world and it's not the policy of any particular party. It's just that Bush 2nd is the most recent example.
Just look at what goes on in Iraq right now, we struck a deal with that lunatic Muqtada Al-sadr to maintain peace and makes the surge look good, that can't last forever and someday there might be another war. Pakistan and Musharaf is another good example
You can't raise a viper to fight another viper because sooner or later it's gonna bite you in the back. We must encourage good to prevail.
Iran is not a country of suppervillain, most of the youth there are progressive, they don't even like the mullahs and the Sharia but as long as Ahmadinejad can distract them with "the great Satan" he could manipulate them forever. Think what will happen if China build their bases in Venzuala on the same clause.
World politics is not black and white,right and wrong it has and always will be machivellian(and I wholeheartedly agree), the important thing about being machivellian is that you must never fall into your own propaganda.
Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11 everybody knows that now(the shias and sunnis hate each other more than they hate the west), the report on Iran's nuke capability is exaggerated and the terrorists don't have the means to attack America in force anyway.
Afghanistan is a just war even though in part we are there to clean Reagan, Carter's mess and should be fought to the end until Bin laden is found. Iraq has to be handled responsibly (nearly 4,000 boys on our side is tragic but don't forget about the Iraqis, all those dead ain't terrorists). However, But Iraq is an example of a failed doctrine that must never be repeated again.
I still believe that America is the best country to lead the world but that will never matter if the world don't trust us and flock to China or Russia to strikea balance to what they perceive as evil and arroga
Comment: politically incorrect
The attacks during the Clinton administrations does not stem from his presidency or that he'a bad president alone. If you look further back into history and do some research you'll find that they are mostly blowbacks from the Foreign policies this country has been using for the past 50 years.
World Trade Center bombing in '93; the debacle in Mogadeshu, the bombing of our marine barracks in Saudi Arabia, the bombing of our embassies in Africa, the bombing of the USS Cole are all the works of Al-qaeda and these guys don't just spring up from nowhere. It's because of the Raegan, Carter administration's decision to supply and train Bin laden's group in the first place. Such consequences are called blowbacks.
The notion that the enemy of our enemy is our friend doesn't come from the dems alone, we supplied Saddam during the Iran-Iraq war because he was enemy of the Ayatollah (Who may not be able to take power and use islam as a tool in the first place if another of our less evil puppet, the Shah didn't **** up his country so bad). The list goes on and on around the world and it's not the policy of any particular party. It's just that Bush 2nd is the most recent example.
Just look at what goes on in Iraq right now, we struck a deal with that lunatic Muqtada Al-sadr to maintain peace and makes the surge look good, that can't last forever and someday there might be another war.
You can't raise a viper to fight another viper because sooner or later it's gonna bite you in the back. We must encourage good to prevail.
Iran is not a country of suppervillain, most of the youth there are progressive, they don't even like the mullahs and the Sharia but as long as Ahmadinejad can distract them with "the great Satan" he could manipulate them forever. Think what will happen if China build their bases in Venzuala on the same clause.
World politics is not black and white,right and wrong it has and always will be machivellian(and I wholeheartedly agree), the important thing about being machivellian is that you must never fall into your own propaganda.
Iraq has nothing to do with 9/11 everybody knows that now(the shias and sunnis hate each other more than they hate the west), the report on Iran's nuke capability is exaggerated and the terrorists don't have the means to attack America in force anyway.
Afghanistan is a just war even though in part we are there to clean Reagan, Carter's mess and should be fought to the end until Bin laden is found. Iraq has to be handled responsibly (nearly 4,000 boys on our side is tragic but don't forget about the Iraqis, all those dead ain't terrorists). However, But Iraq is an example of a failed doctrine that must never be repeated again.
I still believe that America is the best country to lead the world but that will never matter if the world don't trust us and flock to China or Russia to strikea balance to what they perceive as evil and arrogant.
Comment: Thank you Draconiz. Smart, relevant and unbiased. Good stuff.
Comment: "Have we suffered any of the Al Qaeda attacks that were so common place?"
Hmm. . .No. Not unless you count the two or three attacks that occur WEEKLY in Afghanistan. They don't need to come here. We went there.
Don't get me wrong. I firmly support taking out Al Qaeda in Afghanistan. I would say I support "our efforts" there, but our efforts have been crap. While we've spent a trillion bucks in Iraq chasing oil instead of Al Qaeda, our true enemy has QUINTUPLED in number, our allies have lost confidence in us and are running scared, we've squandered the post 9/11 support from the rest of the world and Osama Bin Laden is laughing at us from his cozy little cave. I suppose you've found a way to twist things in your mind to make all of that Clinton's fault also.
Let's face facts. There ARE more terrorists now than there were in the 90's. Nobody disagrees with that; not even George. Horrendous mistakes have been made in the war on terror. Somehow we decided that the best way to fight the terrorists was to find out where they were at . . . and go in the opposite direction! Brilliant!
Makes you wonder. . .Does George W really want to win the war? Maybe what he really wants is to extend it as long as possible. You know. Get a few more contracts for Haliburton before he leaves office and cashes in with his cronies. I don't know if this is his plan, but if so, he couldn't have done a better job.
By now we could have found Bin Laden. We could have had Afghanistan on the road to recovery. We could have had Pakistan free of Al Qaeda. And we could have done it for far less than the TRILLION bucks we've blown in Iraq. But no. Bad ole Billie Clinton screwed it all up. Yeah. It's all Clinton's fault.
Comment: Hey, you racist whisperers, Obama is not now and never has been a Muslim. You are lying when you say that. The only question is, are you lying out of ignorance, or did someone pay you to say that.
This is Obama's REAL biography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama
If you are REALLY worried about Obama and Israel (and not some slimeball doing character assassination) here is what Richard Cohen from the NYT said about that issue. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/opinion/l11cohen.html?hp
Comment: Liberalguy, you should heed your own advice
"Before you vote for any candidate I'm sure you can search the internet
and find out about all the candidates"
Everything that you said in your post has been refuted online, and in the news.
Comment: Wow Mr rosenberg, looks like you have some issues you have to deal with before you make comments about candidates. You may want to attend some inner faith meetings to clear up some stereotypes you seem to hold against people. Also, it looks like you cut and pasted a lot of the mess you spewed out and claimed to be your own. In the future at least come up with your own bigoted ideas and not just paste someone elses up.
Comment: as a jewish american I ammn afraid of muslim factor,sincerely dave rosenberg
Comment: Barack Hussein Obama was born in
Honolulu,
Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama, Sr., a black MUSLIM from
Nyangoma-Kogel, Kenya and Ann Dunham, a white ATHIEST from Wichita,
Kansas.to me its not about race its about religion, look what happening in dauffur sudan white arabs are killing black christians, I have a problem with religion, if harold ford of tennesse a black american christian were running I would vote for himin a heartbeat, even if muslim was blonde hair and blue eyes and he was running against the darkest black man who happened to be a christian I would vote for the black man, if you want to call me a religious bigot then do so, but I am afraid that the very existence of israel would be in jepordy with obama presidency, I feel hillary will be much strong in protecting out country.if she looses my second choice will be john mccain a rockefeller liberall republicananyssways he would be good
Obama's parents met at the University of Hawaii. When Obama was two
years old, his parents divorced.
His father returned to Kenya. His mother then married Lolo Soetoro, a
RADICAL Muslim from Indonesia.
When Obama was 6 years old, the family relocated to Indonesia.
Obama attended a MUSLIM school in Jakarta.
He also spent two years in a Catholic school.
Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim.
He is quick to point out that, "He was once a Muslim, but that he also
attended Catholic school."
Obama's political handlers are attempting to make it appear that
Obama's
introduction to Islam came via his father, and that this influence was
temporary at best.
In reality, the senior Obama returned to Kenya soon after the divorce,
and never again had any direct influence over his son's education.
Lolo Soetoro, the second husband of Obama's mother, Ann Dunham,
introduced his stepson to Islam.
Obama was enrolled in a Wahabi school in Jakarta.
Wahabism is the RADICAL teaching that is followed by the Muslim
terrorists who are now waging Jihad against the western world.
Since it is politically expedient to be a CHRISTIAN when seeking Major
public office in the United States, Barack Hussein Obama has joined
the
United Church of Christ in an attempt to downplay his Muslim
background.
Let us all remain alert concerning Obama's expected presidential
candidacy.
The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside
out, what better way to start than at the highest level - through the
President of the United States, one of their own!!!!
ALSO, keep in mind that when he was sworn into office - he DID NOT use
the Holy Bible, but instead the Kuran (Their equivalency to our Bible,
but very different beliefs)
Obama also refuses to pledge allegiance the the USA flag. How can
someone who wants to be president refuse to commit to the USA.
Before you vote for any candidate I'm sure you can search the internet
and find out about all the candidates
Comment: "The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside
out"
Is that what they say? All 1.5 billion of them? Oh my! How scary. Thanks for the info.
It sure is nice for you to clarify the position of 20% of the world's popultaion. I can't help but wonder though. . .How exactly have they failed to make their message clear while you have succeeded so admirably?
Could it be that you are cherry picking sentiments from the 1.5 billion Muslims of the world in order to support your radical religious views? Nah. That would be hypocritical and disingenious.
Liberalguy. . .you're part of the problem. The problem doesn't lie with Islam, Judaism or Christianity. The problem lies with radicalism; and if you have any knowledge of history or current events, you'll realize that Islam has no monopoly on radicalism. Far from it. Throughout history radical religious groups have performed the same chicken little routine your performing now. They cry "The Muslims are coming! The Muslims are coming!" (Substitute Christians, Jews,or any other religion.)
Last century a little man with a funny mustache in Germany spewed the same sort of crap, but instead of demonizing Muslims, he went after Jews. Six million murders later the Germans realized their fears were misplaced. It wasn't the Jews they should fear, it was the Jew haters.
But your different right? After all, you have "facts" to support your diatribes. Facts like "The Muslims have said they plan on destroying the US from the inside out" or "he DID NOT use the Holy Bible, but instead the Kuran". Spare me. You're an idiot.
You're worried about where the greatest threat to America is coming from? Worry no more. You'll find it right at home. You'll find it in your mirror.
Comment: The last two thirds of this email are almost a direct copy of an email that has been circulating for a while now, with a few new additions I hadn't seen yet. This is full of half-truths and outright lies. I am amazed at the number of people who will forward or reprint things on the internet without taking the time to find out if they are true or not. This is either laziness or dishonesty, or possibly both. I would point people who love to pass on things to Snopes.com, a site that researches urban legends and things on the internet and does a good job of sorting fact from fiction. I'm sure you can find something on the internet to back up pretty much any claim you want to make- that doesn't make it true. Don't be lazy- you don't want to unknowingly help promote lies. Don't be dishonest- the ends do not justify the means.
Comment: I am one of the 7 of 10 who will vote for either one. I admire and respect Clinton, but I lean toward Obama primarily because I live in a red state. My neighbors, most of whom seem ordinary on the surface, but are really wing-nut, neo-con, evangelical haters, just froth at the mouth at the mention of Clinton's name. I don't have a clue why she deserves this, but we must remember we are dealing with people who believe in intelligent design, fixate on gay marriage and still think that Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden are the same person.
When you mention Obama to them, they sort of mellow out and say they could stand him. Again, don't know why, I've just seen it on several occasions.
I really think people on the coasts don't get red state mentality. Heck, I live here and I don't get it. It's hard to imagine seemingly intelligent, successful people who think Democrats are destroying America. But, honest to God, I know physicians and business owners who are wing-nuts. There are lots of them here. I wish I could say something about their believe system made sense, but the only way it makes sense is if you start from a position of pure hate. And, pure hate with incredible zeal, describes their reaction to Clinton.
Our country is in a world of hurt right now....we need someone who doesn't put salt in the wound for the other side (even if the other side is made up of crazy people).
Of course, soon the fake terror alerts will start and many voters will freak out and decide we can't change direction in war time and we need a military person to run the country -- I hope it doesn't become 2004 again, but, if it does, we get what we deserve.
Comment: Oh, and another thing. The Republican Party will be looking for a distraction from the economic woes and the war in Iraq. Having Clinton as the dem nominee allows them to change the subject to how she is such a polarizing figure. The media will eat this up too. Having Obama as the nominee allows the Dems to concentrate on the issues better than Hillary. Obama is like a boot pressing down on their necks and the Republicans are terrified by this prospect. Let's ensure that Barack Obama is there to crush the Republicans' necks until they can't breathe.
Comment: Thanks Anna! You always light my fire. Your style of journalism is a big plus over other lasts page commentators.
Passion may lead to a blinded vision of reality, but passion-less life is pretty dull and sometimes unsavory. The reality lies somewhere in between the extremes. How often we are stuck with such polarizing choices, that the voting public just stays home on election day? Does anyone remember that President Clinton tried to move the Democratic Party toward the center? And all of the naysayers who thought his approach would sound the death knell of the party were proven wrong.
Now, more than ever, those who believe in the leadership of Presidents Jefferson and Jackson should focus on uniting the party and that may mean nominating a third person rather than the current two contenders. But I'm a supporter of the Democratic Party and its "liberal" platform and am willing to support whomever the delegates approve for our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates.
Comment: "Unfortunately, Hilary comes with too much baggage."
I would say fortunate and may i help you in any way Madam President. Honor to serve you.
Comment: Hillary Clinton starts out with 47% of the electorate already against her. This is a pretty big obstacle to overcome, especially with the Republican smear machine working at full tilt. Why would anyone want to saddle themselves with these challenges by voting for her? Even if it were true that Hillary has more experience than Obama (which I would contend with) the independents will give him the benefit of the doubt. This country is still split 47%Dem/47%Repub....we need all the independents we can get. I don't see how it becomes more complicated than this.
Comment: If Hilary's name was "Harold" we wouldn't be seeing the passion from white Dem females that we've seen so far. The white, Dem females would say that "Harold's" vote for the invasion of Iraq was simply enough to not support "him" against Obama. Barack Obama is a once-in-a-generation candidate and we need him to unite the party this November. He even gets the vote of disillusioned Republicans...when has that ever happened before?!? Unfortunately, Hilary comes with too much baggage. If she becomes the nominee, every Republican, their second and third cousins, and their pets will salivate at the opportunity to vote against her. The Repubs could have Screetch as their nominee in November and they could eek out a win because the independents would drift to the Repub side. The independents are looking for an alternative to the Bush/Rove style of dirty politics and, with Hillary, we get more of the same. If Hillary were to win the election (which she couldn't really against McCain anyway), starting on January 21st, 2009 and until January 21st, 2013 we would have constant bickering between Hillary and the Repubs in Congress. It would be Clinton/Republican Ultimate Fighting Championships round two.
Comment: Do you think she would have jumped out to such a huge lead in superdelegates if her name wasn't Clinton?
Probably not but back to reality and the i know this is the way it is and not the o glory if only it was state of affairs. When we all get to heaven we can know what it is like to be perfect but until that day bring out the big boys who aren't afraid to spill a little blood. I am so proud of our boys over in iraq, everyone predicted that we would go and run as soon as casualties started running up like a Somalia style outa here retreat, Somalia is lucky someone up in power had bigger fish to fry and player haters who bet on our boys to run know what it is like to run Black hawk down style. So go Giant from NY don't be afraid of the bullies on the playground who call foul when you punch back square in their faces like you will whenever our REAL enemy comes against us - let the whole world gang up against us ( i hope they do not ) but it is better to be right alone than to be wrond dancing to the beat of an anti-christ Communist merry go round f####### machine.
Comment: It's my opinion Senator Clinton knew about the race baiting techniques that were used by Bill Clinton. Comments like " now the fun part begins" from Senator Clinton in reference to the nasty part of campaigning were revealing. If Senator Clinton has so much
