Noise: Obama's next pastor controversy - at inauguration

Who will be the most suspicious of this decision?

Will it be Evangelicals and other morally conservative Christians who know Barack Obama is extremely prochoice and generally pro-gay marriage. They know Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church, is not.

Or liberals, Christian and otherwise, who prefer to think of Obama as one of theirs?

Who will cringe at this proverbial reaching over the aisle the most?

All just noise.

Obama's next pastor controversy - at inauguration

Shoe-Throwing: Proof of George Bush's Effectiveness

You know the story. You saw the video. And you hear how Iraqis are cheering this incident. So am I. Why?

This guy might get fined, spend some time in jail. What if he threw a shoe at Osama bin Laden, or the former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein?

George Bush casually swats away at the shoes. He's not worried. He knows freedom opens this door.

I know there are Barack Obama fans shuddering at this, but you won't hear him say, "I would throw shoes at Bush too." No, he has more class than this, and while he very much disgrees with on international defense issues, he agrees freedom is better than suppression.

Shoe-throwing reporter headed to court

Want a Black Man in the White House? Buy a Ford

A Ford? What does this have to do with Barack Obama's race?

It relates in that Fords used to be a symbol of "Buy American." Now, cars have parts made everywhere. "Buy American" is a myth played by marketing agents to unwitting patriotic Americans. So was race in this election.

Barack Obama is 50% something Caucasian, and 50% Kenyan. His mom was from Kansas, but her ethnicity could be one or more of several European places.

That Obama's dad is Kenyan doesn't matter either.

Barack Obama is not black. He's not white. He is a man. His presidential legacy will be in the quality of man he is, nothing more. If he's a wise and good man, we'll know that in four years.

If you voted for Obama just because he was black, you voted with a racist mindset. If you voted against Obama just because he was black, you voted with a racist mindset.

The AP had an interesting, more in-depth look at this: (click to read entire story)
Obama's true colors: Black, white ... or neither?
By JESSE WASHINGTON, AP National Writer
A perplexing new chapter is unfolding in Barack Obama's racial saga: Many people insist that "the first black president" is actually not black.

Debate over whether to call this son of a white Kansan and a black Kenyan biracial, African-American, mixed-race, half-and-half, multiracial — or, in Obama's own words, a "mutt" — has reached a crescendo since Obama's election shattered assumptions about race.

Obama has said, "I identify as African-American — that's how I'm treated and that's how I'm viewed. I'm proud of it." In other words, the world gave Obama no choice but to be black, and he was happy to oblige.

Senate Seats for Sale: Obama's, What About Hillary's?

Elsewhere in the blogsphere, my influence can be found.

Newly Listed: Hillary Clinton's Seat (NY) : Fresh on the Market
For Sale: Barack Obama's Senate Seat (IL) : For Sale: Barack Obama's Senate Seat (IL)

Barack Obama Goes Pro-War, Pro-Life, and Tells Gays They Aren't Welcome

Barack Obama worries the left. They are now wishing they voted in hype-liberal John McCain, a man they know can be counted on to support causes popular with the Cindy Sheehan crowd. After all, John married a woman named 'Cindy', so it makes sense what Cindys wants, Cindys get. Planned Parenthood too, is worried business will drop. Fewer abortions in a tough economy means less money in the bank, and ---

Waittaminnut.

Barack Obama supports abortion, not the war, and, by all accounts is the most liberal president-elect ever. Yet, he is taking heat from liberals?

Smells fishy.

Obama worries liberals
Barack Obama's Cabinet moves and policy choices are drawing fire from the left.
» 'Cause for concern'
Liberals are growing increasingly nervous – and some just flat-out angry – that President-elect Barack Obama seems to be stiffing them on Cabinet jobs and policy choices.

Obama has reversed pledges to immediately repeal tax cuts for the wealthy and take on Big Oil. He’s hedged his call for a quick drawdown in Iraq. And he’s stocking his White House with anything but stalwarts of the left.

Tobacco Addict Barack Obama Talks About His Weakness

Addicted to tobacco, Barack Obama talks about his reliance on cigarettes. Young looking, energetic, Obama belies the impact his slowly ravaged lungs are taking.

No doubt, as he tackles health care issues, he will need to quit or remain a hypocrit on this matter.

Obama's smoking issue
Barack Obama faced tough questions from Tom Brokaw on his smoking addiction.
» 'You haven't stopped'

Alabama county names new holiday 'Barack Obama Day'

No word on whether or not John McCain supporters will choose to work.

Alabama county names new holiday 'Barack Obama Day'
MARION, Ala. – In central Alabama's Perry County, government workers already get a day off for President's Day, Martin Luther King Day, and Veterans Day. In 2009, they'll get one more: "Barack Obama Day."

The rural county, which overwhelmingly supported Obama in last month's presidential election, has approved the second Monday in November as "The Barack Obama Day." Commissioners passed a measure that would close county offices for the new annual holiday and its roughly 40 workers will get a paid day off.

Hillary Clinton Turns Down Secretary of State Cabinet Position

In an unexpected turn of events, Hillary Clinton told Barack Obama to, "Shove it," regarding his offer she become Secretary of State in the Obama cabinet.

"I was supposed to be president. The media promised me," and reminded reporters about their new houses and vacation time shares in Alaska.

Barack Obama released a statement:

I'm stunned. I was certain she would take whatever crumbs I offered. I needed a secretary. She needed a job. I thought, in my bid to help America's economy, I could hire her off the street, and keep her from skid row. Her insolence surprises me, especially after the sweet manner she ran her campaign. I needed a right hand man, and Hillary clearly was the one for it. Finding manly men in my party is hard, as we all know.

Barack Obama Begins the "I Love Hillary" Secretary of State Dance

No surprise here, but certainly politically complex. The media loved Hillary Clinton then hated her, loves Barack Obama, but now, all changes. As Obama backtracks on all the negative things he and his supporters said about her, he is now forced to reconcile politics with politics. All incoming presidents have had do similar things, but the polarizing Democratic primaries intensified both sides of the dilemma.

And wouldn't you know it, a woman gets into the cabinet at a high level, but winds up just a secretary.

Obama poised to name Hillary Clinton to State post
Reuters
By Ross Colvin CHICAGO (Reuters) - US President-Elect Barack Obama was poised to name his national security team on Monday, with former political rival Hillary Clinton in line to be picked as secretary of state.

E Pluribus Obamum: Barack Obama T-shirt

E Pluribus Obamum: out of many, The One The Chosen One has been called to lead. His name is Barack Obama. Voted in by the People, named by the angels -- he is the one who is all.

http://www.cafepress.com/Obamum (mugs, hats, thongs, you name it)

As an equal opportunity blogger, here's a Sarah Palin in 2012 shirt for you.

http://www.cafepress.com/Sarah_Palin2012

Religion in an Obama Era?

Peter Roskam Speaks at Wheaton Academy
How to work in the real world without compromising your faith.
by Anthony Trendl
Chicago Tribune

Peter Roskam, a senator in Illinois most noted nationally for taking over Henry Hyde's spot, spoke at a high school today.

...Talking about his Glen Ellyn roots and path into politics, he also candidly described the basis for his prolife views in the context of remaining consistent with his Christian faith. His theme was ethics, and thinking long-term when it comes to career while not separating faith and vocation, that a Christian is a Christian no matter what the job at hand is.
more

I gotta admit, I hardly expected one Christian Republican to survive this election, with so many Democrats seeking the big O, but this one did. He's not shy or dancing around his faith. He's either making this stuff up, or an actual decent man. This isn't a diss at Barack Obama's religion, but BO is playing all of this close to his vest.

Meanwhile, Sarah Palin has her fans selling t-shirts.

http://www.cafepress.com/Sarah_Palin2012

Even Hillary Would be Better

Look around -- I'm young, educated, suburban and care about issues like the homeless. Most of my friends are voting for Barack Obama. In fact, peer pressure to vote for him has been tremendous. That said, I know others who are so pro-John McCain that they cringe when I suggest that Obama will not ruin our country.

So I voted for John McCain. My writer friends, most whom care more about the homeless than actually spend time with them, think I am unintelligent.

Tomorrow, I will look out the window. If the world is still there, I will go to work. If not, I'll stay home and drink coffee.

January 21, I will repeat the process, if, as one friend suggests, I am not dead. If I am dead, I regretfully will no longer be blogging, nor looking out windows.

So I voted for John McCain. He is not my first choice, nor my second. Possibly, he is my third, but, really, Barack Obama is not on my list. Even Hillary Clinton is higher on my list.

270 electoral votes needed to win, 527 undecided?
Right. Poor old Barack is down in the first quarter, with John McCain up by five. The score is 8-3. The election is over, and was when I voted. Illinois' decisions were made long ago.

The upside is once Obama is run out of town, we can bring in a new senator, one committed to getting the job done.

And so, I voted for John McCain. Tomorrow, I'll be a tiny point in a million point spread, and next week, a minor, soon forgotten statistic for pollsters and analysts.

Barack Obama Still Campaigns: He's Afraid?

He leads in every significant poll. He has more more money than the richest Republican candidate. The media loves him.

And still, he campaigns.

He has nothing to be afraid of. His supporters love him as much as Ronald Reagan's supporters.

Why?

Why not?

A Half Century of Presidential Debate History

A Half Century of Presidential Debate History



As Barack Obama and John McCain prepare for the first of three presidential debates, take a look back at previous debates that have helped define elections. (Sept. 20)

Category: News & Politics

Tags: debates history century presidential debate

Hillary Clinton Write-In Candidate?

Barack Obama could be in trouble if this catches wind.

Hillary Clinton Write-In Candidate

Palin / Hillary Open (Tina Fey as VP Candidate Sarah Palin)

Palin / Hillary Open

Gov. Palin and Senator Clinton address the nation.

SNL - Saturday Night Live

Sarah Palin ABC Interview with Charlie Gibson

Sarah Palin talks with Charles Gibson of ABC about foreign policy and her level of experience.

Also, a quick look into Palin's hisory (Snopes and elsewhere) all refute the rumor she banned books.

Part 1


Part 2
Sarah Palin ABC Gibson Interview - Nukes, Iran, Terrorism

Part 3
Sarah Palin ABC Gibson Interview - Russia is our neighbor!

Part 4
Sarah Palin ABC Gibson Interview - Georgia Conflict

Matt Damon Disses Hockey Moms, Disney

Damon Condemns Palin



Did he really say he wanted to know Palin's views about dinosaurs ("I wanna know that. I really do")? Sounds to me like he needs to see what stop by Snopes.com to check out her banning books (did not happen).

Actor Matt Damon speaks out on the Republicans' choice of hockey-mom Sarah Palin for VP. Damon compares her rise to a 'really bad Disney movie' and says it's crazy that this woman could become President. (Sept. 10)

Barack Obama Calls Sarah Palin a Pig (But It Doesn't Matter)

You heard the soundbite. Barack Obama calls Sarah Palin a pig. The right wing is in an uproar, but it does not matter. Sure, he did, and all the Obama's yapping about how he was really calling John McCain a pig is pure bull hockey. Palin is not offended. McCain's campaign is just capitalizing on a stupid Obama remark.

Still, it does not matter. Also, it does not matter that Obama's dad was a deadbeat, or that McCain is a war hero. What matters is what they stand for:

Barack Obama: Quintessential liberal: strongly prochoice, progovernment, antiIraq
John McCain: Quintessential conservative: strongly prolife, small governmemt, proIraq

Both claim reform. Both have a newbie (Obama/Palin). Both have a Washington career politician (Biden, McCain). All, but Palin, are loaded financially, and she is hardly poor.

Big Tobacco Supporter, Barack Obama?

Unless Barack Obama is growing his own tobacco, then rolling it, he supports Big Tobacco. In his case, Marlboro.

Unable to quit, Obama's addiction plays counter to his healthy image. While support of the American tobacco industry will hardly impact Obama's chance, as his voters, including the ones Hillary Clinton told to vote for him, aren't ooking at this issue. John McCain would likely also find it not impacting him.

Too bad. Big tobacco needs to be a national issue, right there with the abortion industry and capital punishment.

"And [Obama's] team works overtime trying to hide Obama's dirty little secret. He is -- get this -- a cigarette smoker. The point is: What else do we not know about Barack Obama?" Despite Gibson's claim that Obama's smoking is "a dirty little secret," Obama told the Chicago Tribune in December 2005 that his smoking is "an ongoing battle," and his cigarette use was, in fact, known during his 2004 Senate campaign, when his wife told the Chicago Sun-Times that he smokes "about three Marlboros a day."

Hillary Clinton's Best Speech

I have written my share of speeches. Yesterday's speech by Hillary Clinton was the best I have ever heard her give. The content was perfect: a balance of transfering power to Barack Obama mixed with Carl Sandburg-style patriotism. She sharply avoided specifics -- John McCain himself could have said much of it (minus a few digs at Republicans, of course).

Her poise was perfect, as was her delivery, staying away from the staggered phrasings that marked her own faled campaign. She dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit, good look for many late middle aged women, hitting the skin tones nicely in the bright DNC convention all lights.

She avoided mentioning the wealth of John McCain, knowing both she and Bill, as well as Obama, are about as well-heeled as it gets. Instead, she talked about unions.

One surprising thing was way she dissed Joe Biden's wife by indicating she would only have a minor support role.

All of those things she said in her campaign, like how little we know about Barack Obama, she apparently never meant.

Start here:

Democratic National Convention - Official Site of the 2008 Convention in Denver

Democratic National Convention - Official Site of the 2008 Convention in Denver
Official site with volunteer details, the convention history, how to attend, press coverage, a weblog, and multimedia. August 25-28, 2008.

No surprises expected. Hillary hopes for cheers. Obama will say she ran a hard campaign, and thanks he for her support, and Joe Biden will be lauded as the great white hope against John McCain.

Obama Supporter Compares McCain to Hitler (not just any supporter)

John McCain compared Barack Obama to fellow celebrity Paris Hilton. Paris Hilton makes fun of this, claims she's now in the election.

Another celebrity goes a different route, and compares John McCain to Adolf Hitler. Hitler, of course, made his name infamous by slaughtering six million Jews during WWII.

The Anti-Defamation League, which, in part, fights racism directed at Jews, is mad as hornets about this.

ADL Condemns Madonna's Use of Hitler in Concert Photo Montage

Their press release:
ADL Condemns Madonna's Use of Hitler in Concert Photo Montage

NEW YORK, Aug 25, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned as "inappropriate and offensive" the use by Madonna of an image of Hitler as part of a concert photo montage that also included photos of John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe. The images were projected on a screen as Madonna launched her world tour with a live concert in Cardiff, Wales.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and a Holocaust survivor, issued the following statement:

Comparisons to Hitler have no place in a music concert, or in the presidential campaign.

Whatever Madonna's political or personal views, it is outrageous to invoke Nazi imagery in the context of John McCain's candidacy or to make a comment on American political leadership.

It is inappropriate and offensive to compare any current or former world leaders with the man ultimately responsible for the death of six million Jews and the suffering of countless others during the Holocaust. Doing so trivializes the history of the Holocaust and is an insult to the memories of the victims and their families.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

SOURCE Anti-Defamation League
http://www.adl.org

Barack Obama's Massive War Chest Not Enough to Shut Down John McCain

Barack Obama has more money. The media loves him. His speeches are as powerful as a TV evangelist's. He was leading the polls over John McCain by a massive margin.

Then, he goes before a church with McCaIN -- not a debate, but to answer questions that matter to churchgoers when it comes to voter. Was it his evasive replies on moral issues? Or, was it the news of Georgia being invaded by Russian troops, and what many believe was a weak response by Obama? Could it be that Hillary Clinton support is not jumping ship to jump on the Obama bandwagon?

What happened? Isn't this the easiest election for a Democrat to win? It is a slam dunk. George Bush hatred has never been stronger.

The Wall Street Journal thinks they know.

How One Man Gets Around: John Edwards Admits Cheating on His Wife

Remember John Edwards? He tried running for president based on his Hollywood good looks, only to be beaten by Barack "Mr. Hollywood" Obama himself. Obama, however, hires better men than Edwards hires women. Edwards hired those Catholic bashers, while when Obama's Muslim campaign coordinator was found to be in cahoots with a terrorist group, he had the good sense to get out.

Get out of here John Edwards. We don't need your kind around. If we need a politician to have an affair, we'll just get Jesse Jackson. He's already fathered a child out of wedlock.

Edwards admits to extramarital affair

(CNN) -- Former U.S. senator and Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards admitted to an extramarital affair in an interview with ABC News, the network reported Friday. He denied being the father of the woman's child, as had been alleged in tabloid reports.

Speaking to the network for a story to be aired Friday night, Edwards acknowledged the affair with 42-year-old Rielle Hunter, which began after she was hired to make documentary videos for his campaign, ABC said.

Obama's Lead Begins to Sink

Media overload? The Paris Hilton factor?

Poll: Trouble Signs in Obama's Lead

Paris Hilton Responds to John McCain Ad

Paris Hilton Responds to John McCain Ad

Barack Obama left silenced, having missed the opportunity to respond.

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Barack Obama Ignores Hillary Clinton as VP

Barack Obama is ignoring Hillary Clinton for all the expected reasons, and her supporters are ticked, for all the expected reasons.

A new concern are that the ObamaGlow is getting dimmer. John McCain is nicking away at that, explaining that Barack is not as big as his celebrity shine would indicate. McCain's even suggested Obama is playing the race card.

'Dream Ticket' Meets Reality: Obama Looks Beyond Clinton'
ABC News
By JENNIFER PARKER and SUNLEN MILLER Some supporters of Hillary Clinton are voicing anger that Barack Obama may choose another woman for his vice presidential running mate.

USA TodayPoll: McCain Shrinks Obama’s Lead in Three Battleground States

Barack Obama: Obama website's opposition to successful surge gets deleted

• Changing his mind?
• Changing his tune?
• Forgetful?
• Or just politicking to a naive voter base?

At YouTube, the poster says:
On May 30, 2008 Obama chief strategist David Axelrod claimed Obama "never disputed" that the surge would reduce violence in Iraq. But in January 2007, when the surge was announced, Obama said no amount of troops would reduce violence and no "expert on the region" or "military officer" disagreed.

At the LA Times: Obama website's opposition to successful surge gets deleted

Tony Snow dies (Former Bush spokesman)

Politics aside, this is a loss.

Former Bush spokesman Tony Snow dies

Bernie Mac Goes Low-Brow Barack Obama event

Is this the course of Barack Obama's campaign?

Why is his campaign finding supporters who are racist (Wright and Pfleger), anti-religious (Jesse "The Reverend" Jackson) and off-color, (the otherwise funny Bernie Mac)?

Yup. The Mac went low: menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity, and used occasional crude language.

This was a trendy, $2300 a person event drawing in Chicago's economic elite.

Comedian Bernie Mac makes off-color joke at Obama event

According to the AP story linked above, Barack Obama responded:

"We can't afford to be divided by race. We can't afford to be divided by region or by class and we can't afford to be divided by gender, which by the way, that means, Bernie, you've got to clean up your act next time. This is a family affair. By the way, I'm just messing with you, man."

Jesse Jackson Shows off His Christianity (Not) in Rant Against Obama

The so-called Reverend Jesse Jackson wants to cut off parts of Barack Obama's manhood. This disgraceful side of Jackson, not unfamiliar to Chicagoans, shows us not all of Obama's supporters are good men.

Jackson apologizes, as he should, and rightly noted by various media people is that this will have little impact on Obama's campaign.



PlusJackson Apologizes for Comments About ObamaJackson Apologizes for Comments About ObamaThe Associated PressThe Rev. Jesse Jackson has apologized for what he calls 'regretfully crude' comments he made about Barack Obama's speeches in black churches. Jackson made the comments during what he thought was 'a private conversation'. (July 9)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] Chicago, IL(video of Jackson entering news conference) Rev. Jesse Jackson is caught on tape saying negative comments about fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama. Jackson's off air remarks with Dr. Reid Tuckson were recorded during Fox and Friends and later broadcast on The O'Reilly Factor (sot)Credit: The O'Reilly Factor/Fox NewsJackson: "See, Barack been, um, talking down to black people on this faith based (pause), I want to cut his nuts (bleep nuts) out."Jackson: "Barack (pause) he's talking down to black people."(video of Jackson at news conference) Jackson immediately went on the defensive at his Chicago based Rainbow Push Coalition headquarters.Rev. Jesse Jackson "It was in the studio and it was the mic was hot. And whether there was hot mics...it's my responsibility. It's not yours you do with the mic what you want to do. What I want to get clear is my support for Barack and his policies are long standing, broad based, and deep and unequivocal."(video of Jackson news conference)Jackson has apologized to the Obama campaign and campaign spokesman Bill Burton released a statement saying Obama has accepted his apology.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, "They were hurtful and wrong. That's the whole point. And when you make mistakes you should not equivocate you should be quick to go on the offensive and not try to be evasive. And if it was said to him personally or in some public forum then they would be even more hurtful than this case. Whatever it was, was spun into a question into a live mic. When he does here them they will not be helpful, they will be hurtful. But we have a relationship that can survive this. Reverend Jackson is now the 3rd Chicago pastor who has made headlines for saying comments that hurt the Obama presidential campaign. Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright was the first, then pastor Michael Pfleger became the second when he was a guest preacher at Obama's church and spoke negatively about Senator Hillary Clinton. Mark Carlson, AP, Chicago.

Let Freedom Ring! The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

Our early leaders, though war ached their hearts, stood fast against tyranny in favor of freedom. Do our leaders now have the same sober valor?

originally posted here: Let Freedom Ring! The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:

Column 1
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton

Column 2
North Carolina:
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton

Column 3
Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton

Column 4
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean

Column 5
New York:
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark

Column 6
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple
Massachusetts:
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire:
Matthew Thornton

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence
http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/rolling.html

Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

Barack Obama Campaign Gear

In a desire to be an equal opportunity blogger, after posting a lot of pro-Hillary campaign materials, I though posting some Barack Obama campaign t-shirts might be in order.

Apparel

Barack Obama Black Clothing Women's Long Sleeve Dark$24.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Women's V-Neck Dark T-$20.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Maternity Dark T-Shirt$24.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Women's Plus Size V-Neck$25.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Dark T-Shirt$19.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Women's Plus Size Scoo$25.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Long Sleeve Dark T-Shi$24.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Women's Dark T-Shirt$20.09

Barack Obama Gets the Nomination

Barack Obama Gets the Nomination

This means Hillary Clinton does not. The numbers do not matter.

John McCain vs Barack Obama.

Let the fight, and mudslinging, begin.

Huckabee Wants to be McCain's VP

Of course Huckabee wants te job. There are reasons to believe he'll get it. It is hardly a done deal. Age, viewed as more morally conservative, and that he's a leader in the south (he's from Arkansas). All of this will attract John McCain.

Huckabee wants to be McCain's VP

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, having failed in his own bid for the Republicans' White House nomination, said Sunday he wanted to run as John McCain's vice presidential pick.

On the Democratic side, Senator Joseph Biden said he could not refuse an offer to run as his party's number two, while Senator Jim Webb was coy about his own ambitions.

Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister popular with the religious right, told NBC television: "There's no one I would rather be on a ticket with than John McCain."

He said that during his unsuccessful primary campaign against McCain, "there was no one who was more complimentary of him publicly and privately" than himself.

"But whether or not I do the best for him, that's something that only he can decide," added Huckabee, 52.

"I'm going to support him because I think he's the right person for America. I think he has the kind of seasoning and maturity that this country needs."

Colin Powell: Too Old? Too Military? Too Male? Too Republican? Too Black? Too Uninterested?

Colin Powell: Too Old? Too Military? Too Male? Too Republican? Too Black? Too Uninterested?

Colin Powell is black. I'll get that out of the way. While you probably noticed that, so will the American voter. Since Barack Obama has a few followers voting on his race, this could impact the competition.

Unless, what if, Barack Obama picks Powell? He's military, but Obama is not.

Powell is respected, a true leader. Most of his career we never heard of him, then, wham! He's in the public eye thanks to becoming Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor followed by appointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, then, as George W Bush's Secretary of State. However, he hardly launched into those positions from nowhere, and served in leadership, but quietly.

Wise? Loaded with wisdom. As military people go, he is as diplomatic as you'll find.

What matters in any vice presidential candidate are his views. While in these days, we hardly expect that a VP will step up into the role of president, it can happen. We want a VP to represent what America, on the whole wants. Though Republican, some of his views will appeal to the more liberal side. These could alienate the conservative crowd, as well as evangelicals and Catholics who would prefer an anti-abortion White House.

• Pro-choice
• Supports affirmative action
• Favors some gun-control
• Supports the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

Where he stands on the Iraq War is not as simple as for or against. While he seems to agree with Bush that Iraq is a source of future terrorism, and wants a peaceful Iraq, he disagrees that the USA military is capable of getting the job done. However, he'll concede that war will continue when we're gone. All said, I think, if in charge, he would send in a wave of troops to settle what could be quickly settled, then pull out, but leave advisers.

Views are not enough, though.

Race, of course, will be a strength and weakness. As many people out there who, as closet racists, will vote for him because he is black, there are as many, or more, who are equally racist, and not vote for him because of skin color. With Barack Obama running, though, this leaves the KKK crowd (and their subtler brethren) with the choice only not voting, voter for a this party, or voting against what they believe.

Meanwhile, he's 71. Ageism is a factor for some voters. Powell looks very alive, and younger than chronology suggests. He would be 75 after the first term. Two terms seems unlikely.

My guess: if offered, he would turn it down. His life as been the military, not domestic service. He's been a desk leader, as well as in the trenches. Capable as a leader, but his focus has been different. He has not pursued an office since 2005, and, will not this time. He's retired.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Powell

First seen here: Colin Powell: Too Old? Too Military? Too Black? Too Uninterested?

Obama Starts VP Search

Is this news? No. Both Barack Obama (Democrat) and John McCain (Republican) have known they have been the nominee for their respective parties for months. With Obama, it took longer to seal the deal, but no surprises.

Give both of these men credit. Each has a long and short list of running mates. They are not the kind who will be unprepared.

CNN reports, "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, was surprised Thursday to hear Obama has started a search." T which I say, "Good thing you aren't running."

Obama Starts VP Search

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Barack Obama is beginning his search for a running mate, but Sen. John McCain's campaign denies speculation that he's interviewing vice presidential candidates at his home this weekend.

Sen. Barack Obama has quietly begun searching for a vice presidential candidate, a source says.

A veteran Democratic activist told CNN that former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson has accepted Obama's request to begin a screening and selection process for the No. 2 spot.

Johnson performed a similar role for Democratic presidential nominees Walter Mondale in 1984 and John Kerry in 2004.

Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is hosting top party figures at his home in Arizona this weekend, fueling speculation he is starting his own search for a running mate.

Ted Kennedy Faces Brain Cancer and Grim Future

Democrat Ted Kennedy has brain cancer. Malignant and fatal, it looks like he will be dead within five years.

As a Kennedy, and with that, great wealth, he can afford the best treatment available, but it is no less serious. There is no cure. Just the same, we can only wish him the best of health these remaining days.

What is next for him? No doubt, he is in shock, and unsure. He is 76.

The Kennedy era, filled with scandal, death, money, and power, will soon end. No heir to their dynasty truly exists. From his brother's (President John F Kennedy) murder, to his other brother's (Robert Kennedy) murder, to his own trouble with the death of Mary Jo Kopechne in his car (the infamous Chappaquiddick incident), tragedy has surrounded his family.

Eloquent and influential, Kennedy has served as a leader among Democrats since the early 1960s.

His presidential endorsements have not gone well. In 1988 he supported Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis to win the nomination. In 1992, he backed former fellow Massachusetts Senator Paul Tsongas. In 2000, he backed Vice President Al Gore. In 2004, it was Massachusetts Senator John Kerry.

Currently Kennedy is supporting Illinois Senator Barack Obama, his best shot recently in picking a winner. This was a key endorsement, which, no doubt, impacted Hillary Clinton's chance of securing the Democratic nomination.

Abortion Group Endorses Obama

NARAL Pro-Choice America endorses Obama

NARAL believes Barack Obama will better serve the pro-abortion community than John McCain. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, says her group has always considered McCain pro-life as well.

NARAL, of course, was founded as National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws by Bernard Nathanson and others. Their single agenda: abortion will be freely available to all women, all ages, no questions asked. It is, for them, a medical procedure, not the killing of human life.

Bernard Nathanson, like Sandra Cano ("Mary Doe") and Norma L. McCorvey ("Jane Roe"), is now a vocal pro-life activist, convinced that his efforts were based on misinformation, "I confess that I knew the figures were totally false, and I suppose the others did too if they stopped to think of it."

NARAL founder Bernard Nathanson discusses abortion in the documentary below

Pick Obama's and McCain's VP

Two new blogs to stir up conversation.

Pick Obama's VP
Who should be Barack Obama's Vice President Running Mate?

Pick McCain's VP
Who should be John McCain's Vice President Running Mate?

Plus the often updated and objective Media Analysis of the Hillary campaign.

Lemmings in an Era of Individuality: Limbaugh, Coulter, Colbert, Colmes, Stewart

Is there a Limbaugh factor? I could not say. I avoid all talk radio. The liberals and conservatives alike are filled with gassy self-righteousness. Some try to be funny, others are so serious that only bran cereal will fix their problem.

Rush Limbaugh, maybe the best known of all political radio hosts, is smart, but his agenda is not about focused, objective analysis. He is all about being against whatever the Democrats are scooping. One recent campaign was to cause chaos in the Dems primaries, to skew the numbers by convincing Republicans to vote Dem, then switch back. This isn't playing fair, but it is legal.

Easy toss out arguments against Limbaugh influence, "He's been busted for drugs," "He's arrogant," "He's conservative and stupid." Sorry, that just means you dislike him. Just like when Bill Clinton was playing with Monica Lewinsky's cigar, people ignore personal lifestyle choices.

A few days ago, I asked about which celebrity bamboozled you into voting for their guy. The most notable celebs to announce were not Republicans, but two very wealthy Hollywood Democrats.

Say what you will about extremist right-winger Limbaugh using his celebrity voice to influence to impact an election. Look at the highly publicized Jack Nicholson and Tom Hanks endorsements.

We are lemmings.

The Limbaugh Factor (story paste from the Washington Post). Interesting thoughts.

Our Readers Who Comment have also expressed special interest (or disgust) with a story that asked if conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh's "Operation Chaos" -- in which he urged Republicans to vote for Clinton in the Democratic primary -- actually held down Obama's totals. Limbaugh called off the operation yesterday, Alec MacGillis and Peter Slevin report, saying he wants Obama to be the party's pick, because "I now believe he would be the weakest of the Democrat nominees."

Limbaugh is a polarizing figure and has supporters in the comment string today, but most of those who bothered to write are not fans; many remind us that Limbaugh has had drug abuse problems, and several wonder if my colleagues at WaPo have lost their way in even bothering with the story, which I really liked.

Barack Obama Must Have Two Brains (or three?)

With Barack Obama having both found love among the media and the people of North Carolina (not so much love in Midwest Indiana), he's moving on to be the Democratic candidate for presidency.

For Hillary to win, she must have supporters come out of the woodwork, and vote Chicago-style. She cannot spare a remaining state. She has not lost, but she is not winning.

Can she do it? Yes. Will she? No. Her voters are just voters, no more committed to her than an average voter would be.

John McCain naturally prefers Hillary to win, believing fully that he can beat her more easily.

As long as she runs, Obama must continue to fight her. He'll start running again McCain this week, but his attention is divided. He needs two brains, two tongues: ones says to Democrats, "I'm liberal," the other says to Republicans, "But not that liberal," with a third one to independents, "I'm more independent than John McCain." He'll need to be more Bill Clinton than Bill Clinton, but look like Ron Reagan while he does it. He needs all of his charm, but needs now to look sagely, and reduce the criticism that he has not spoke about hard issues with depth.

Appearance is everything.

BBC News
Obama takes big step ahead in Democratic race
Washington Post
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Barack Obama took a big step toward the Democratic presidential nomination with an easy victory in North Carolina on Tuesday, and Hillary Clinton vowed to keep her struggling campaign ...

Beginning of the End

• 492 delegates remain.
• 218 are decided today via Indiana, North Carolina
• West Virginia, Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana, South Dakota all have their primaries in upcoming weeks, finishing June 3.
• 274 votes from these remaining states after today.

When will it be decided, really? There's the whole super delegate thing later.

When Tom Hanks delivered his announcement, he knows it will impact voters. Some voters are dumb enough to say, "I like him, so I will vote for hi guy." He spent the money to announce because he knows in some of these states, Hillary Clinton has a chance to win. He's afraid her voters will show up at the polls, and that too many Obama voters will play hooky. Tom looked at his money and decided it was not as well spent giving to a homeless shelter.
.
John McCain is quietly building an infrastructure in the meanwhile

see http://politics.nytimes.com/election-guide/2008/primaries/democraticprimaries/index.html

Which Candidate Does Your Media Hero Support?

Tom Hanks made his call for Barack Obama. Who supports McCain? Hillary?

Support Obama if you like, but remember that if you choose a candidate based on celebrities decisions, you qualify as an idiot. Choose a candidate because what they stand for, you stand for.

Now before I get mail telling me about which candidate I support, know that I am undecided.

Tom Hanks uses MySpace page to announce support for Obama
NEW YORK - Tom Hanks is supporting presidential hopeful Barack Obama.

Hanks has taken to his MySpace page to pledge his support for Obama, who is competing to be the first black president. Obama, who faces rival Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic nomination, has also been endorsed by Oprah Winfrey, Bruce Springsteen and Scarlett Johansson.

also see: A Joker Stumps for Hillary Clinton (and Batman is Ticked Off): Jack Nicholson On Hillary

Obama Divorces His Former Pastor, Bigot Jeremiah Wright

Divorce is never nice. Barack Obama had no choice. He must divorce, and is divorcing himself from his connection with über-bigot Jeremiah Wright.

Whatever excuse he had before was no longer useful. Obama is handicapped in that he is running for president, and that Jeremiah Wright is his former pastor and a friend. Dissing a friend is never good, and only sometimes right. This time, it is right. Wright is no good for Obama, no good for blacks, and no good for America.

Maybe they are not friends now, but what matters is that Obama is not willing to shuffle out platitudes.

Wright's personal hatred of white people bubbles through when he speaks, and he is willing to let Obama's presidential hopes suffer. Not a good friend, and Obama knows it.

Give Obama points for this one.

Obama says he's outraged by former pastor's comments
By MIKE GLOVER

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday he was outraged and appalled by the latest comments from his former pastor, who asserted that criticism of his fiery sermons is an attack on the black church and the U.S. government was responsible for the creation of the AIDS virus.

The presidential candidate is seeking to tamp down the growing fury over Rev. Jeremiah Wright and his incendiary remarks that threaten to undermine his campaign.

"I am outraged by the comments that were made and saddened by the spectacle that we saw yesterday," Obama told reporters at a news conference....

"I gave him the benefit of the doubt in my speech in Philadelphia explaining that he's done enormous good. ... But when he states and then amplifies such ridiculous propositions as the U.S. government somehow being involved in AIDS. ... There are no excuses. They offended me. They rightly offend all Americans and they should be denounced."

Wright recently retired from the church. He became an issue in Obama's presidential bid when videos circulated of Wright condemning the U.S. government for allegedly racist and genocidal acts. In the videos, some several years old, Wright called on God to "damn America." He also said the government created the AIDS virus to destroy "people of color."

Score 1 for McCain: Saddam Hussein's deputy PM faces trial

Politics, and its related victories, are often based on perception. John McCain supported our going into Iraq. So did Hillary Clinton. Barack Obama never wanted us in the war.

All that aside, both Obama and Clinton want us to leave the Iraqis to fight Al-Qaeda alone. And John McCain believes America should help them in this fight.

True? Not that simple, but that's a common view. Ask around, and not just your friends (who might already agree with you). We do not keep a scorecard based on nuance, but on ballpark ideas, often based on part of a quoted speech, or the way they gave that speech.

Now, Tariq Aziz faces trial. Saddam Hussein has already hung. People cheered. Expect cheering again if Aziz is found guilty, and if he is killed as a result.

When the evidence is replayed, do not shield your eyes. Whatever sentence Aziz may be given, or if he is delivered into freedom, we cannot ignore reality. For or against our presence in Iraq, one reality is that tens of thousands of people were killed.

Just like watching Holocaust images, or videos of the 1956 Hungarian fight for freedom, it is reality. So are the 9-11 images. We hate it so much we want to turn our head, let it go away. Aziz's trial will force us to watch.

When the trial gets underway, whomever the American voter sees as better able to counter such hideous violence will score points. It could be that Obama, the supposed argent - or agent, as the case may be - for peace, ala a better version of Jimmy Carter and diplomacy. Or Clinton, with her vast experience internationally, may be seen as the one who can foresee the future. Or McCain, who will likely carry on a card saying, "not in my backyard, punk."

My money is that McCain sees a spike in support. He will be seen as part of the reason Aziz is on trial. Clinton, nor Obama can make this claim, having divested themselves of the war's inception.

Saddam Hussein's deputy PM faces trial
CNN
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The trial of Tariq Aziz, one of the best-known faces of Saddam Hussein's former regime in Iraq, and several other former regime officials is scheduled to begin on Tuesday.

Aziz and seven other defendants are standing trial for their alleged role in the execution of 42 Iraqi merchants in 1992.

Chief Judge Raouf Rasheed Abdul Rahman said the proceedings were expected to start 5 p.m. local time (10 a.m. EDT). He said the trial was delayed for a few hours for "procedural reasons," a reference to the process of gathering the defendants and bringing them to court.

One of the seven facing trial is Ali Hasan al-Majeed, also known as Chemical Ali. An Iraqi government official said Chemical Ali was not attending the trial on Tuesday because of health issues and the court was not forcing him to attend.

Al-Majeed, who was a top Baathist official during the Saddam Hussein era, is awaiting execution for genocide in connection with the Anfal campaign.

Below, Saddam Hussein being prepared to be killed. I show this not to horrify, nor to titillate, nor to vindicate. As a matter of record: I morally against willful execution in a cases, whether the most evil criminal or the most innocent unborn child.

Two Will Lose: Inevitability in the 2008 Presidential Race

A friend described to me what he is thankful for, and, what many American voters are struggling with -- there is one certainty in this election: When the election in November is over, when the 2008 Presidential Race has finished, two candidates will have lost.

While many Barack Obama supporters are calling the Hillary Clinton campaign racist, and while many Hillary Clinton supporters are calling the Barack Obama campaign sexist, we see that neither camp respects the other. This means that when they join forces, after the Democrat super delegates are done being kissed on like some New York whore, lies begin.

Which lies? The ones which begin, "Wow, what a tough campaign (fill in name of winner). I (the name of the loser) respect you, trust you, and fully support you." They, then, will bear the other's love child.

Meanwhile, conservatives will be forced to vote for John McCain. They do not want to, but given their choice, whether Hillary or Barack, they are stuck.

Many Christians have found themselves stuck compromising one way or another. Many are choosing Obama if for no other reason his strong leadership reminds them of George Bush, despite his pro-abortion and pro-gay perspectives (Obama promises to dedicate presidency to homosexual activism, the Catholic News Agency quotes Obama, ""As your President, I will use the bully pulpit to urge states to treat same-sex couples with full equality in their family and adoption laws," Obama said.")

Yet, likewise, wanting to remain prolife, who do they vote for? John McCain, a man whose campaign was quoted by the Huffington Post, "In a response to a question about the religious right, an important component of the Republican coalition, he said that it was, indeed "a serious problem...""

So then there is Hillary Clinton, who all but makes love to organizations like Planned Parenthood, who, along with Sen. Barack Obama and Elizabeth Edwards, chased pro-abortion voters.

At least two of the remaining candidates will lose. Well, yes, there's that. So will America. Damned if they vote for (X), and damned if they don't? That depends on what 'damned' means, which no doubt, each candidate would accuse the other of doing.

Clinton leads Obama in early precinct count

Has the fat lady sung?

Clinton leads Obama in early precinct
Associated Press
Clinton leads Obama in early precinct count
By DAVID ESPO and BETH FOUHY – 53 minutes ago

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton edged ahead in the Pennsylvania primary Tuesday night in a fight for survival against Barack Obama, her rival in a Democratic presidential race growing steadily more negative.

Early precinct votes from across the state showed the former first lady running ahead in the western part of the state, including Pittsburgh, as well as the area around Scranton with large numbers of blue-collar voters.

Obama was ahead in Philadelphia and the populous surrounding suburbs.

The last of the big states to vote, Pennsylvania had 158 delegates at stake, the largest prize remaining in a primary season that ends on June 3.

If USA Is Attacked, John McCain Wins

Would an attack relatively close to the US Presidential Election in November ensure John McCain is elected?

Do Americans really have the confidence that either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama are well-equipped with both conviction and skill-set to extract us from Iraq, and protect us here stateside?

While it appears we Americans are disinclined toward being in Iraq, we felt as we felt before 2004 as well, and yet elected George W Bush for a second term with record popular votes.

This is not 2004, and wannabe John Kerry cannot be compared to today's Democratic candidates. He misses the charm of Obama and the experience of Clinton.

And, also important, McCain is not as hated as Bush. McCain misses the personal, evil bitterness that many Democrats feel against Bush, but he also misses the easy-going "Let's get the bad guys," swagger our current president enjoys. McCain is harder to hate, and harder to love.

Where will it land?
As Al Qaeda pretends that they care about Muhammad (there is no peace upon him), or his teachings, and wipe their sacrilegious excrement across the world, they threaten Western Europe. Europe will barely be noticed by the USA, but the smallest burp in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania will be returned with the fastest six guns in the western world.

See what CNN is saying.

Al Qaeda No. 2: Attacks on Western nations in works
CNN
CAIRO, Egypt (AP) -- Al Qaeda still has plans to target Western countries involved in the Iraq war, Osama bin Laden's chief deputy warns in an audiotape released Tuesday to answer questions posed by followers.

Hillary Clinton - Barack Obama Philadelphia Democratic Debate (John McCain Won)

Score?

John McCain 1.0
Hillary Clinton 0.0
Barack Obama 0.5

Why? Obama is more skilled debater than Hillary, but so much of his replies were lacking depth. Hillary's also lacked depth, but was less eloquent.

Eloquence will get Obama the nomination, and being relatively clean (if not entirely) of corruption, will keep the motion going. Choosing someone besides Hillary as a running mate might get him serious support. Expect him to choose a straight talking, slightly southern, white male who is viewed as more middle of the road on moral issues.

Both kept calm. That's Obama ace-in-the-hole. He has yet to lose his cool. Hillary often does. Her weakness is she loses it when she gets frustrated. McCain can counter Obama here, but Hillary cannot.

Why did McCain win a debate he had no voice in? While Obama clearly beat Hillary with brilliant punch and runs (like when bringing up her 1992 comment about not staying home and making cookies, then saying he knows she really isn't the way she was portrayed), he did not provide much new to talk about, while Hillary gave the pundits more dirt on Obama. No McCain dirt.

John McCain will face heat soon enough, but tonight, the victory is his.

Ageism from the Aged: Murtha says McCain too old to be president

Murtha says McCain too old to be president?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080416/ap_on_el_pr/murtha_mccain

So he says.

Consider John McCain old? Read what the AP is saying. While I doubt anyone can publically say Obama is too black, and Hillary is too female (nor should they), apparently saying someone is too old is OK.

Trust no one over 30, Mr. Murtha?

By NEDRA PICKLER, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Democratic Rep. John Murtha said Wednesday that Republican Sen. John McCain is too old to be president. Murtha is 75, four years older than McCain. He says they are nearly the same age, and the rigors and stress of running the country is too much for guys their age.

"I've served with seven presidents," Murtha told a union audience. "When they come in, they all make mistakes. They all get older."

"This one guy running is about as old as me," he said, drawing laughter and applause. "Let me tell you something, it's no old man's job."

Republicans Are Winning By Not Losing

The race was, and is, the Democrats' to lose. If for no other reason, there was enough absolute hatred of George W Bush (and for some, this hated included the war in Iraq) that all a Democrat had to was wait until election day, and poof, anyone they nominated was in.

No longer. While John McCain has locked nothing up, he has more than a fighting chance to win. The Democrats famously imploded organizationally and elected, by default, George Bush instead of what they wanted (anybody but George).

Implosion issues included Barack Obamas unwilling to work under female Hillary Clinton, Hillary Clinton unable to shake the ghost of Bill Clinton, but tiny things are eating at them as well. Obama's church is racist. He may be as PC as the next black man, but his church is not. Hillary and Bill made massive amounts of money, distancing them from the average man they are appealing to. These things and more are ticking away at their invincibility. John McCain has, so far, been safe from such.

McCain even with Obama, leads Clinton: Reuters poll
Reuters
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain runs even with Democratic rival Barack Obama and narrowly leads Hillary Clinton in potential match-ups in November, according to a ...

Barack Obama Insults Small Town People, Religious People, Clinton and Bush Supporters, Gun Supporters

Obama's "Bitter" Comment Halts His Momentum

One of two things happened: Barack Obama either himself wrote a very stupid speech, or, approved one written by someone who believes as Obama believes.

And no, it is not true, John McCain and Hillary Clinton did not team up to hack into his laptop to alter a speech that originally said, "Those hardworking men who are proud to be American." This is not American Idol, which changed a famous Christian song Shout to the Lord to be as deep as Kumbaya.

What is the Hubbub?
According to the Washington Post, Barack Obama said,
"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton Administration and the Bush Administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are going to regenerate and they have not. And 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."

In one tiny paragraph, he insults small town people, religious people, Clinton supporters, Bush supporters, gun supporters. He also insult these small town people directly for having voted for George W Bush because, by suggesting they fell through the cracks under George H W Bush, and Bill Clinton, plus George W Bush (first term), he says that after 16 years of falling through the cracks, they came and voted for George W in record numbers this last time.

What has happened is a grave mistake for Barack Obama, and support for John McCain. It does not make sense that most of the people he insulted would vote Democrat after this, especially for Obama.

Will this fade away? You bet. The Obama supporters need this to go away. They'll play it as no a big deal, and point out apologies.

Loser Mike Gravel leaves Democratic Party to join the Libertarian Party (but no one cares)

Mike Gravel leaves Democratic Party to join the Libertarian Party

"I look forward to advancing my presidential candidacy within the Libertarian Party, which is considerably closer to my values, my foreign policy views and my domestic views," he said.

What he means is, "Hillary and Barack will not let me play because no one loves me."

What is the truth?

Gravel, 77, has been excluded from recent Democratic debates because he failed to meet fundraising or polling thresholds.

What poor Mike Gravel has not realized is that the Democratic Party has no time for losers. They have enough trouble fending off Republican John McCain.

Gravel will be blogged about today and forgotten. He reality is, he is too old for Barack Obama's Facebook perspective and Hillary Clinton's, "Chelsea's mine and Bill's product of conception, not Monica's" college campaign.

Religion and Politics: We are all hypocrites

Barack Obama's faith is, presently, an enormous issue, because, in his case, his faith is affiliated, directly, with a man who appears unapologetically race-focused. Obama himself makes no apologies, like Bill Clinton and George W Bush, when he says he is a born-again Christian.

Obama's pastor is under fire for two questions: is he racist, and, is he using the pulpit to promote a specific political candidate. One is wrong ethically, and the other is illegal, so the questions are valid.

The correlating question: is Obama the same as his pastor in matters of disrespecting those who are not black? The Wall Street Journal thinks so, claiming Obama's own white mother would not be welcome at his church.

Obama tried to address all of this yesterday. He may lose the presidency through this issue, or win triumphantly. His speech might be the edge he needed to win over whatever remaining delegates or super-delegates, or sink him entirely. The issue gave him a platform to do what he his famously strong for, and famously criticized for: giving powerful speeches that have nothing to do with public policy or international issues.

Meanwhile, Republicans, often be courted by various faith-based groups and people of faith, have taken hits for letting this dominate their platforms and affiliations, and have, along the way, have been accused of the same thing Obama's pastor is being accused of.

Hillary Clinton, in the middle of it all, is, for all intents and purposes, a humanist. She has though, in Little Rock, been a Sunday school teacher and hob-nobs with the leadership of the United Methodist. However, she has not known, nor has been suspected of, being a person who makes decisions from her Christian perspective. She's laying low on this issue, having just ousted Geraldine Ferraro from her campaign for pointing out that Barack Obama is black. Hillary is happy no one is talking about this.

John McCain, meanwhile, is Baptist, yet clearly does not claim to be born-again. As with Hillary, though, no one looks at him and suspects a deep man of faith has walked by. He is happy because he has nothing to do with this issue, and is able to actively campaign without putting out religious or racial fires.

Obama, for all the heat he is taking for the irresponsible comments his pastor has said, is playing the "I'm a Christian" gambit the loudest. And, in my observations, Christians who otherwise disagree with him on his moral issues, are buying it. I don't know if this is nationally true, or merely my small circle.

In other words, if the claims of the candidates are true as to what they believe, atheist candidates who vote for one of the two major parties, no matter who wins the Democratic nomination, for a self-claimed Christian. Each of these three of the remaining candidates has gone out their way to be visible as Christians, and each has gone out of their way to hob-nob with their church's leadership.

Christian Republicans. Cliche? As long as Democrats are playing this concept up, but themselves doing speeches in pulpits, it is not only cliche, but disingenuous.

All of this leads to the fundamental issue: religion in politics. What of it? It, in America, is all over the place, from Reverend Jesse Jackson to Barack Obama's pastor to Mike Huckabee's former job.

We say we do not want religion as a motivator to vote, but then, we vote against a guy because of what he, or his pastor believes. Or we vote for the same person. Religion, or the absence of it, motivated us, and intrigues us enough to explore the candidates and what others are saying about their faith.

If it didn't, you wouldn't be reading this post. :)

How to Poop on Voters (Re-do an election)

I'm not sure about Glenn Beck, but I generally agree with this regarding the Michigan vote re-do.

Politics are not the same as life - mercy and grace are especially important when a life is directly involved (mercy toward unborn kids, imprisonment might be two overlaps, certain lawsuits against an individual by the State).

This, though, is not the same. However, whatever a political party wants to do is fine by me. If the Democrats want a do-over, do I care, really? Same if the Republicans want to. Either way, if they make a dumb decision, I might not vote them next time. That's where my care will show the most.

Play games with voters? Expect 'game over' the next election.

Obama Crushes Clinton in Mississippi

Barack Obama takes down Hillary Clinton, which is just as well for Obama fans. Obama has declared he would not work for anyone. He pointed out clearly that if he was in the White House, Hillary would be working for him, or he wouldn't be there.

Obama beats Clinton in Mississippi
Reuters
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama beat rival Hillary Clinton in Mississippi on Tuesday, giving him new momentum in their increasingly nasty presidential fight as they head into the next critical ...

Democrat Spitzer Is Linked to Whore Ring

Spitzer Is Linked to Prostitution Ring

Sex, lies, and it's all for sale, so saith New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

How will this affect fellow New Yorker Hillary Clinton? If she's on the ballot in November, it can't possibly help.

Ya Win Some, Ya Lose Some: Obama and Hillary Share the Love

Clinton-Obama? Or Make That Obama-Clinton? Wall Street Journal

Clinton won primaries in Texas, Ohio and Rhode Island, halting Obama’s winning streak. Obama won in Vermont. In Texas, Democratic party officials plan to resume counting caucus results today after they’d suspended their count around 2 a.m. EST. Obama was the preferred candidate of 54% of caucus-goers in the handful of caucuses reporting.

It is no secret to the less than numb observer that Hillary is shooting to be VP. Once this is ratified by the top Dem dogs, half of the world will cheer. The rest will poke away at the ebbing question, "Are these two together too liberal for today's America?"

In other words, I think John McCain will see new support from moderates who might have supported just Hillary, or just Obama and a more conservative running mate. Together, an Obama-Hillary team might concern them on key issues like support in Iraq, abortion and homosexual issues (gay marriage and so forth).

A Joker Stumps for Hillary Clinton (and Batman is Ticked Off): Jack Nicholson On Hillary

The Hillary Clinton Campaign released a video starring Jack Nicholson today. The spot consists of a statement from Nicholson along with him in character as The Joker, Col. Jessup (A Few Good Men), and Jake Gittes (Chinatown). Watch it:



Commissioner Gordon, Batman, and Robin all declined comment. Barack Obama is said to be preparing a video response dressed as Bat Girl, to appeal to his more liberal fans. John McCain was quoted as Sylvester Stallone's character, John Rambo, "Remember who drew first blood." His YouTube video response will presumably be done with him dressed as president.

Personally, I think "One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest."

Al Qaeda, the Mafia and the Black Gangster Disciples: Brothers of the Same Cesspool

Al Qaeda shows off its playground bullying attitude, showing kinship with the Mafia and ocal thugs like the Black Gangster Disciples in its tit-for-tat perspective:

"No chief of ours had died of a natural death, nor has our blood been spilled without a response," Zawahri said in the video posted on an Islamist Web site, referring to the killing of Abu Laith al-Libi.

Which president is ready to fight this murderous slug?

I think none, not one, not Hillary, Barack, not John.

Hilarious - Mike Huckabee on Saturday Night Live

Hilarious - Mike Huckabee on Saturday Night Live.

All politics aside, Huckabee is quite funny, with a great sense of self-depreciation, timing and wit.

Always a Bridesmaid: Nader announces new bid for White House

With Ralph Nader's announcement, Ron Paul is sweating it out. So is Michael Bloomberg. Mike Gravel too. John McCain has safely virtually locked up the Republicans, and Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are chasing down remnant dibs on the Democrats.

The only loser here is Mike Huckabee. He looks like a contender, but is realistically, at this point, in the Ralph Nader group.

Nader will be blogged about, and so his ideas will be heard. Huckabee has said what he's going to say, so any new speech, barring a miraculous comeback, will go to the wind.

This is Nader's week. Supporters of independents and quasi- independents like Paul may shift and so they too will be debated in blogland, but Huckabee's not talking to independents, and is unelected man walking.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080224/ap_on_el_pr/nader
http://www.nader.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Nader

By HOPE YEN, Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON - Ralph Nader said Sunday he will run for president as a third-party candidate, criticizing the top White House contenders as too close to big business and pledging to repeat a bid that will "shift the power from the few to the many."

Nader, 73, said most people are disenchanted with the Democratic and Republican parties due to a prolonged Iraq war and a shaky economy. The consumer advocate also blamed tax and other corporate-friendly policies under the Bush administration that he said have left many lower- and middle-class people in debt.

Violence in Belgrade: Looting on Video: Kosovo za patike

In America, we contend with a lot, but among the things we have is peace. I agree that Serbia is not all like this, and doubt these thieves even realize the political opportunitists they have become. I hope they are arrested, and prosecuted accordingly.

Originally called "Swapping Kosovo for a pair of sneakers" Kosovo za patike.

(Note: original video was taken down by the poster, so I have replaced it with another copy someone else posted)



As posted on YouTube by the video owner: gvantanamo
Dear viewers, seeing how this video has become hugely popular I think that is my duty to explain the whole situation.

The first part of the video is happening in a store at Slavija square in Belgrade, Serbia at the time of the torching of a McDonalds restaurant near by, when I by accident recorded these two girls. Two hours later, at Terazije square, I recorded two other girls ("Jesi li nasla broj?"), and shortly after I ran into the blondes from earlier who were emptying a store in Sremska Street. Astonished by their persistence on getting new clothes on a 100% off sale, I decided to further record them.

I would like to thank everyone for their support, and to Albanians, Croatians, Muslims, Germans... Martians and all others who are gloating after this happened, I would like to say that these are only marginal appearances, and that the huge majority of citizens of Serbia are normal and honest people, and I am proud to be one of them.


Postovani gledaoci, uvidevsi da je ovaj video za kratko vreme postigao ogromnu popularnost smatram da mi je duznost da celu situaciju objasnim.

Prvi deo snimka se desava u prodavnici na Slaviji za vreme paljenja Mc Donalds-a i tada sam sasvim slucajno snimio ove dve devojke. Dva sata kasnije na Terazijama sam snimio druge dve devojke ("jesi li nasla broj?"), a nedugo zatim pononovo srecem plavuse sa pocetka koje pustose lokal u Sremskoj ulici. Zaprepasten njihovom upornoscu da dodju do novih krpica na popustu od 100% resio sam da ih detaljnije snimim. Zahvaljujem svima na podrsci, a Albancima, Hrvatima, Muslimanima, Nemcima, ... Marsovcima i svima ostalim koji likuju nakon ovoga zelim da kazem da su ovo ipak samo marginalne pojave, a da su gradjani Srbije u ogromnoj vecini normalni i posteni ljudi i ponosim se sto sam jedan od njih.

Hillary Clinton Steps Off National Stage?

Hillary Clinton looks to be quitting the race. Like my thoughts for Mitt Romney, I think Hillary has begun the fight for Vice President.

Barack Obama has been clear: he will not serve as Vice President. It is, for him, all or nothing.

Not for Hillary. She wants the White House, and is a fighter. Behind her smiling teeth are gritted teeth, and a snarl. She isn't giving up; she's focusing.

The big question for Obama: Will she help or hinder him? Or, would someone like John Edwards, very white and somewhat male bring in the Archier Bunker vote?

BREAKING NEWS: Police officer in Hillary Clinton motorcade killed in crash

BREAKING NEWS: Police officer in Clinton motorcade killed in crash
A police officer in Hillary Clinton's motorcade was killed Friday morning in a motorcycle accident on the way to a campaign rally, the New York senator said ...Los Angeles Times

A Dallas police officer died Friday when his motorcycle struck a pillar on the Houston Street viaduct as he was escorting Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to a rally in Oak Cliff.

The motorcade was heading south on the viaduct when the officer apparently lost control of his bike about 9:20 a.m.

"He just lost control and hit the pillar," said Assistant Chief Ron Waldrop, commander of the criminal investigations bureau.

Fidel Castro Joins Quitters Row (And The World Is Happy)

Fidel Castro, that old Cuban dictator, has realized he has become too old and feeble to rule with his famous iron fist over Cuba and has quit.

It is too bad he waited this long, but his ego is such that it took a near-death experience for him to see the light. As a leader, he is now useless, but sadly, Raul Castro will likely step in the role. Raul is equally a dictatorial ass.

Fidel Castro is resigning after nearly a half-century as Cuba's president. The ailing leader says he will not accept a new term when the newly elected Cuban parliament meets on Sunday. (Feb. 19) - AP

Profile on Castro by the Associated Press

Fidel Castro Falling on His Face (with special thanks to Benny Hill)


unrelated: Bloggers may be glad to see Blogger is fixing some bugs.

Romney Will Be VP? Mitt Romney Supports John McCain

The news that Mitt Romney is endorsing John McCain means one thing to me: Romney is McCain's choice for vice president.

I can see it. McCain asked Romney to step down, and a deal was made.

With this, if true, any Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama arrangement will be very hard to imagine.

If the ticket is McCain/Romney, then the Clinton/Obama folks will have just lost the election in November. McCain will attract the moderate liberals who hate Hillary and are so-so for Obama. Romney will attract conversatives, since no one, deep down, buys into the "McCain is a true conservative" blather. Evangelicals will begrudgingly vote for McCain/Romney over Hillary/Obama. Only evangelicals who accept with Obama's prochoice/progay/anti-Iraq views will support him with another candidate.

Mike Huckabee is still in the race to keep it interesting. He is a just a sparring partner now, a foil to McCain's speech making. Take him out of the game, and the attention swings to the Democrats. He's probably in on the schtick, as he is far more sophisticated than the "He's a Huckster" crowd would naively like to believe.