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Drop Out, Obama
I saw that. I was like, WTF?
Never in the history of A-merry-ca, has the LEADER been told to drop out.
I don't think so.
Lost their goddamn minds.
And he claims he's running a clean, respectful campaign. He's a fraud.
He also just said Obama doesn't know anything about the economy. Wonder why then two Nobel prize winning economists said that Obama's speech 3 weeks ago on the economy was great and that of the 3 candidates left, he would be best for the economy.
I'll say it again: McCain is showing his true colors.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120899521565139921.html?mod=todays_columnists
Cheer up, Democrats
Bill Clinton SHows His True Colors
Silly Season: Ayers, Obama, and Hyde Park
Obama Plans Voter Registration Drive
Even if far-fetched, it makes sense.
My contribution for the day:
Gen. Petraeus Picked to Head U.S. Central Command
We just attacked Iran.
And really, I wouldn't want that. I had my sights on Petraeus after McCain.
We did not attack Iran. We fired warning shots at two of their boats that got too close. Standard procedure.
It doesn't make sense as strategy because Obama said he's only running once. It's now or never for him.
They're already calling Obama a wimp who can't beat the girl, can you imagine what they would say if he dropped out???
</... is asking for folks to vote on the 30second ad contest for Obama.
I personally like the one with the kids making a mess trying to solve the problems of the country and the mom comes in and says who's going to clean up this mess, and one of the kids says, "We can hire Obama."
From First Read MSNBC
http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/04/25/946650.aspx
Barack's campaign manager puts it down
Thanks for the heads up on the Politico article.
It's possible that Obama already knows he's got this nomination wrapped up. As the article suggests, Obama might already have the critical mass of super delegates needed to put him over 2025, but they're just waiting for the right time. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
Looks like we're not the only ones who know the black vote is key, if not decisive.
From Politico.com:
"The critical mass of Democratic congressmen that has been prepared to endorse Obama when the timing seemed right remains prepared to do so. Their reasons, ones they have held for months, have not changed – and by their very nature are unlikely to.
Essentially, they are three:
(a) Hillary Rodham Clinton is such a polarizing figure that everyone who ever considered voting Republican in November, and even many who never did, will go to the polls to vote against her, thus jeopardizing Democrats down the ticket – i.e., themselves, or, for party leaders, the sizeable majorities they hope to gain in the House and the Senate in November.
(b) To take the nomination away from Obama when he is leading in the elected delegate count would deeply alienate the black base of the Democratic Party, and, in the words of one leading Democrat, “The superdelegates are not going to switch their votes and jeopardize the future of the Democratic Party for generations.” Such a move, he said, would also disillusion the new, mostly young, voters who have entered into politics for the first time because of Obama, and lose the votes of independents who could make the critical difference in November.
(c) Because the black vote can make the decisive difference in numerous congressional districts, discarding Obama could cost the Democrats numerous seats.
One Democratic leader told me, “If we overrule the elected delegates there would be mayhem.” Hillary Rodham Clinton’s claim that she has, or will have, won the popular vote does not impress them – both because of her dubious math and because, as another key Democrat says firmly, “The rules are that it’s the delegates, period.” (These views are closely aligned with Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s statement earlier this year that the superdelegates should not overrule the votes of the elected delegates.)"
http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=8215AA90-3048-5C12-0061C552DC2D1F07
Yeah, I know. I'm sure Carville will be calling him a Judas or something like that pretty soon.
Obama's campaign is working on a 50-state campaign to get out the vote.
I am behind him and want to support him, but I'm skeptical.
If I help register voters and the the spineless Democrats give the nomination to HRC, I would feel like the biggest fool alive.
I am not voting for Hillary and I'm not convincing other voters to register so they end up only having Hillary to vote for.
Clyburn will be on Countdown tonight.
This nomination is over.
This may help him in Puerto Rico. This is good...this is very good. I was reading over at DailyKos...very interesting.
From NBC's Chuck Todd
One of the things that both Dem campaigns are always nervous about is defectors. In particular, Clinton is more vulnerable to this problem since she's the candidate that is trailing. Well, NBC News has learned that a major fundraiser for Hillary Clinton, former Amb. to Chile Gabriel Guerra-Mondragon is leaving the campaign to join up Barack Obama's campaign. Officially dubbed a "Hillraiser," Guerra-Mondragon raised nearly $500,000 for Clinton's campaign, according to some estimates. He has been informing people inside Clintonworld this week in what's been described as some tough conversations. A formal announcement of a role for Guerra-Mondragon on Obama's national finance committee will be made next week. Guerra-Mondragon was appointed Amb. to Chile by Pres. Clinton in '94 and served until '98.
Among the reasons for Guerra-Mondragon to defect, according to one informed source, was he was uneasy with the tone of the Clinton campaign and was beginning to worry about what this would mean for the general election.
It's unclear if this defection will lead to others; the Clinton camp has been particularly effective at getting folks to keep their powder dry. For Obama, this comes at a time when his campaign is trying to re-convince insiders that the math indicates he has the nomination virtually wrapped up. In addition, Guerra-Mondragon's defection could serve as a tipping point with some key Hispanic Democratic leaders that Obama is ready to start making a bigger effort to court Hispanics.
Enjoy the weekend all!
Craig,
I don't think the Puerto Rican vote can be lumped in with the rest of the "Latino" narrative we've seen in places like the Southwest.
Blacks and Puerto Ricans do have their differences. But I think we're more familiar with eachother than with any other Hispanic population.
First you've got the historical, pan-african ties between the two groups.
Second, you've got a great deal of intermingling (interracial relationships, etc.).
Especially amongst younger generations, blacks and latinos grow up together and basically live in the same neighborhoods.
Don't forget, Obama won the Latino vote in CT. Northeast Latinos are Puerto Rican and Dominican. Much closer to the black community than I think you'd find with other groups (e.g., Mexicans in the Southwest).
It's an interesting relationship. I don't mean to suggest it's all positive. But Puerto Rico could surprise a lot of people. Particularly if the youth vote is high.
Today the ramifications of debt slammed me hard...Solution: I got 2 make more $$$. I'm asking all of the upwardly-mobile JJP Saints to pray for me that I may be able to keep my broadband and continue to make comments on this site.
Puerto RIcans ain't Mexicans.
This was all about Wright and his ministry.
What a brilliant, humble man.
He was like, what are you all talking about? Obama has won this. Anything you're blathering about is delusional, because Obama IS the Democratic Nominee...he cracked me up.
So much for the Clinton's being the "best and loyal friends" of the black community.
@angela,
That black woman is Michelle Bernard. She's a conservative Independent (President/CEO of the Independent Women's Forum). However, she's been a very strong Barack supporter so far.
I've been impressed with her comments on MSNBC. She seems to get it. That there comes a point where identity and pride trumps political affiliation.
And she's spoken out against a lot of the Clinton race baiting as well as the race/gender dynamics that prevent Obama from attacking Hillary for fear of being labeled "the angry black man."
Now, she could disappoint me come November. But I have to give her credit where credit is due. She's been one of the bright spots in political punditry over the past few months.
I found it bittersweet because although it was great to learn more about him and the good things he has done involving his church, he also revealed that his congregation is being harrassed and they are getting death threats.
Webb, your post is hilarious! LOL!!
"I think not only a repudiation, but an apology for ever having anything to do with an unrepentant terrorist is due the American people," McCain said earlier today.
He also never bothered to contact the NC GOP and ask them to not run the Wright ads.
In 24 hours, he compared Obama to Hamas, Noriega, and Kim Jong-il.
He also said he'd consider tearing down the 9th Ward in New Orleans, and a day later said he doesn't remember saying it.
Teflon John is a liar, suffering from senility, or both.
By November, he'll be all scratched up and a whole lots gonna stick to him if he keeps going down this road.
The campaign did contact the NC GOP about the ad.
I don't understand why people keep thinking McCain is suddenly giving the GOP direction because he's the nominee. Expect Obama to be held to the same standard if he's the democratic nominee-and don't cry foul when it happens.
Hamas seems to have a liking for Obama. Wonder why that is?
Probably because he has stated that he would sit down and talk with our enemies, and hasn't bothered with bullshit hawkish posturing by threatening to obliterate a country and her people - innocent or not.
Hamas seems to have a liking for Obama. Wonder why that is?
..so does Canada, Egypt, Colombia, France, Brazil, Japan, Germany, Italy..
What's your point?
Rev. Wright had a chat with Moyers who did a good job of filling in the 'blanks' of the Reverend's life. Then, later Tubbs-Jones was on a CNN panel and did not miss the opportunity to twist the knife into Barack about Wright's comment that Barack was only saying what a politician says. She made sure to say that she, as a politician only tells the truth.
So much harm has been done to humanity under the mantle of religious righteousness and the ordinary men who take up that mantle. Really, how can you be wrong when you speak "God's word"? Nevermind if that "word" is killing you.
Beware of those who call themselves "shepherds" and you the "flock".
John McCain did not personally contact the NC GOP. He claimed he had done everything he could to get them to pull the ad.
He's a liar.
Tubbs-Jones is a, well.... I can't call her a domesticated animal because that would be terribly inappropriate.
Terribly.
She's an smart, intelligent Black woman, no?
She's also as well trained as my dog.
Al Sharpton and Pat Robertson talking about saving the planet? Liberals and conservatives coming together to enact change?
How timely.
And you know this...how?
Emails were sent from the campaign and the RNC to get the NC GOP to pull the ad. The state GOP organizations do not all take their marching orders from the RNC.
A different thought as to why Hamas wants Obama: possibly because he seems to love the idea of negotiating with terrorists and rogue states.
Course, when one of your closest associates is a terrorist himself....then it makes sense.
Tubbs-Jones is rabid in her support of Hillary. I don't know if the Clinton's have dirt on her or if they've promised her something. Anyway, her zealotry is not to be trusted.
I hadn't realized how many former Clinton donors had jumped ship to Obama; whereas, none of Obama's donors who've maxed out to his campaign, have donated to Clinton. The devil is in the details.
Party Fears Racial Divide
A different thought as to why Hamas wants Obama: possibly because he seems to love the idea of negotiating with terrorists and rogue states.
Ya know...your obsession with Hamas is a little suspect. Are you sure you're not a terrorist yourself?
One man's 'rogue' is another man's 'government'. Republican's have taken America to the brink of disaster. Everyone around the world can see that. It's time to wake up and let go of this insane partisanship before it's too late.
As someone who's stood on the line to protect this country, your comment's almost offensive.
What I am obsessed with is electing a president who is well suited-by virtue of his experience and knowledge- of the true threats to this country.
To blindly suggest that you're willing to meet with leaders who oppress their people (N. Korea), terrorize other countries (Hamas) or swear the destruction of other nations (Iran) does not inspire confidence.
This isn't about partisanship. This is about who is the best qualified to lead our nation to victory in the war against terror and jihadist thought.
Obama doesn't want to fight-much less win-that war.
OMG stop the guilt by association Bullshit! So that means everyone and I mean everyone that's come in contact with Ayers at a party, gathering, at UIC or that Starbucks clerk that chit chats with him everyday when he buys his elitist cappuccino is connected to his terrorist past?
He's as much a terrorist as Bobby Rush but then again Clinton defended Bobby Seales, so now who is really associating with supposed domestic terrorism.
Radical sixties domestic terrorists were mainstream and no issue (hint hint: Patty hearst) until now.
How about the right shut down the midwestern Militia groups, Christian fundamentalists that send kiddies to summer camp to train them as soldiers of god or anti-abortion groups that threaten and terrorize women and doctors, not to mention??
Those people are doing shit in the here and now...where's the outrage, where's the decry for them to stop, where's the Justice in that...??
Disingenuous
If you had an ex con brother does that disqualify you from being Attorney General?
Does anything your family, friends and associates do disqualify you from having any job, when YOU are not the one participating in or enabling such acts?
Please, challenge Obama on his U.S. Senate record and State Senate record but tying him to Hamas and terrorism is just too fucked up for words.
1. Hamas has stated-publically-that they would like to see Obama become president. That's not falsehood, it's fact.
2. Unfortunately for the Obamaists, the company he keeps is now being called into question. Does anyone really believe Obama's a terrorist? Probably not.
But to associate-and do so closely, unlike someone who serves Mr. Ayers coffee or any other of the scenarios listed above-with someone who advocated the violent overthrow of our government is a problem.
I find your suggestion that Obama is suspect because of Hamas statements highly offensive. So, you stood on the line only to turn around and smear a fellow American because a foreign government is complimentary? And for what? Just so your party can win? This is patriotism of convenience. This is a patriotism that cannibalizes it's own. Who is the TRUE enemy?
Your government may be overthrown, but it won't be violent. It will be the Chinese, quietly, gently calling in their loans while you're busy accusing fellow Americans of guilt by association. How stupid is that?
You're a terrorist because I said so.
Thanks. Been called worse by less. When you've worn the uniform of this nation, then you can question my patriotism.
Obama was suspect before Hamas came around.
I call into question ANYONE-regardless of party-who does not understand who we fight, why we fight, and what happens if we lose.
We can can solve the China problem, God willing, without firing a shot.
But when you've stared across a cell at someone who believes it is his religious duty to kill you and your countrymen, then you're left with no doubt of who the true enemy is.
I've had that experience. Have you?
Oh no. No. I can't not say something about this one.
Israel -- a place where I supposedly have "right of return" as a Jewish-ancestry person, assuming they got over the "not if you're gay" part which I have heard they have -- is in my eyes an illegitimate nation-state. Because a European Christian colonial power "gave" this state to European Jews in the context of Europe terrorizing us for centuries and dominating the Middle East during a particular time period where we could be used by Western Christian nations for their purpose (and we agreed, I'm sorry to say).
For whatever reason, whether it was that we had become more European than anything else, or because of the context of being terrorized by European Christians and wanting to be on the side of powerful ones even though they had hurt us so much -- the state of Israel has made a terrible bargain with the very type of powers that have hurt Jews in the past. Israel functions as a Western and US proxy in the Middle East. Like the US, it acts like a terrorist.
My own memory is long. I understand that the fear and reaction to being terrorized by European Christians has, for some European-ancestry Jews at least, been channeled into fear of *the Arabs.* And then a struggle created by actual takeover of land in a colonial context gives apparent reality to this threat that becomes justification for more violence against the very people who have been wronged (but they're less than human, right? I've heard that before).
And this redirection pushes the current struggle outside of current and historical reality for some of us ... and into a fake landscape where Hamas is a terrorist attacking Israel, Israel has a temporary mantle of "not a threat" in the Western Christian eyes, and some of us might look to white Christians like Hillary Clinton to "protect" us (I know her kind and she would be happy to hurt us if it helped her aspirations). And it's just fine to take people's lands and homes and hurt them and if they have the audacity to *object* to this and even fight back well then they are terrorists and bad.
I see the flow of this illusion and it upsets me for a lot of reasons. Including the fact that it lets European Christian nations and their cultural offspring (the US) totally off the hook because all of a sudden European/white Christian nation-states are supposed to be our friends (despite their ongoing terrorist acts against us over and over throughout Europe for centuries).
If (and I do mean IF because frankly I don't see much of it so far) Senator Obama is willing to speak about and treat Hamas and others like actual humans instead of cardboard cut-outs and symbolic lightening rods for various kinds of fear and guilt and projection -- I support him doing that. In fact I wish he would do more of that, because he hasn't near done enough about this and has in some ways evaded the situation.
So if I have any criticism of him on this it's that he hasn't done enough. And still he gets criticized and held to the usual impossible standards in which he is suspect by default.
And about the Middle East: it makes me sick when people in power talk about hurting other nations implicitly or explicitly on "my" behalf. The dynamics are complex. I know in my bones that the very same ones who claim, in their white Christian benevolence, to be about helping and protecting Israel (functioning symbolically as "the Jews") by hurting other peoples and nations will, if and when the time comes, happily let it function as the scapegoat and let "the Jews" take the rap for all of the horrors that Western Christian nations are doing supposedly to help us.
Lots of illusion to cut through. Lots and lots. Senator Obama hasn't done near enough on this, in fact he has said things that IMO perpertuate the illusion (the one part of his race speech that made me cringe was the part about radical Islam).
But despite his actual stance, he STILL gets hit with associations with supposed "terrorists." It's part of the same pattern. Ugh.
That 'I wear the uniform so I'm entitled' bullcrap is not gonna fly.
For those who've stared across a cell at a religious fanatic and are traumatized by it...should get therapy and not unleash that trauma on the nation at large.
I know it because I heard the head of the NC GOP say it on MSNBC.
September 16, 2001
Weekend of Heartache: Let Us Honor the Dead; A Different Landscape
To the Editor:
Re a Sept. 16 New York Times Magazine interview with me and your Sept. 11 Arts pages profile:
The barbarism unleashed against innocent human beings on Sept. 11 has in an instant transformed the complex landscape of American consciousness. I'm filled with horror and grief for those murdered and harmed, for their families and for all affected forever.
''Fugitive Days,'' the memoir I've written about my participation in the Weather Underground and the antiwar movement and the events of 30 years ago, is now receiving attention in a radically changed context.
My book is a condemnation of terrorism in all its forms. We are witnessing crimes against humanity. The intent of my book was and is to understand, to tell the truth and to heal.
BILL AYERS
Chicago, Sept. 14, 2001
The Letter
One of my best friends in college had a Palestinian mother and a Jewish father.
I spent many Thanksgivings in their Philadelphia home, and I heard many many versions of your essay from his entire family.
If I'm a "warmongerer" because I believe my country should take proactive steps to end the threat of extremism to our country, I'll be that.
I don't make my points to scare people. I make them so that you all realize what one part of the bigger picture is: that regardless of whether you feel it's an imminent threat or not, our way of life IS under attack.
I don't think Rev. Wright would disagree with that. Hell, I don't think most of you-if you really stopped to think about it, and read some of the things al-Qaeda has said about wanting to destroy democracy-would disagree either.
"When you've worn the uniform of this nation, then you can question my patriotism."
Okay--I can't let this go. Weren't people questioning Rev. Wright's patriotism, and he was a marine? But it doesn't matter because he's Obama's pastor.
Who said that?
You are entitled? So no one is a better American than you. Well I don't boast about "wearing the uniform but... I am a veteran too, I joined the army out of highschool in 95 and thank gawd I got out of that shit before this dumb Iraq war came around.
So whose more entitled you or I...is it only Iraq the sequel war veterans...or any veteran? Everyone else should stay home and not vote because only you and those like you deserve a say in this country's direction.
Also to your earlier comment. You tell me what the private discussions were between Obama and Ayers then your guilt by association would have some merit. Were they plotting to take down the American government...were they making pipe bombs in Obama's basement?
I mean if you are going to insinuate then go all the way, but this is typical...float a bit of nonsense out there and then claim you are only asking reasonable questions.
How does Ayers actions and statements from 1968 relate to the man Barack Obama in 2008?
Are black panthers terrorists?
As a veteran, you should be a bit upset by anyone who'd question your patriotism...unless you joined up for a benefit and really don't care about the country.
(and if that's true, fair enough: you'll lose no respect from me)
Agree or disagree on the war, veterans share a certain perspective that is lost on civilian life.
I haven't once said Obama is a terrorist because he hung out with Ayers. Part of our judgement of people is by the company they keep. If I put my picture with Karl Rove up here, there's no telling what'd be said about me. (ok, I KNOW what would be said....)
Far as the Black Panthers...I'd have to check the definition of terrorism. It's possible they would be considered terrorists, but I'm not sure.
suffice it to say, miat is not fond of the Clinton's.
Video
~ Sepia
Charlene Fernandez of Arizona
His 241st Superdelegate endorsement
@angela,
That black woman is Michelle Bernard. She's a conservative Independent (President/CEO of the Independent Women's Forum). However, she's been a very strong Barack supporter so far.
I've been impressed with her comments on MSNBC. She seems to get it. That there comes a point where identity and pride trumps political affiliation.
And she's spoken out against a lot of the Clinton race baiting as well as the race/gender dynamics that prevent Obama from attacking Hillary for fear of being labeled "the angry black man."
Angela,
B-serious is correct.
Michelle Bernard has criticized Obama -ON POLICY.
She's a Republican, so she's SUPPOSED to criticize him ON POLICY.
But, PERSONAL ATTACKS?
I think I've seen every one of her appearances on MSNBC in the past six months - she has NEVER attacked Obama -PERSONALLY.
I've written before about her.
It's quite obvious that, as a BLACK WOMAN, she has a lot of pride about Obama's run. And, she has made it clear in the language that she uses about Obama...
She's called him ' The American Dream'...a Black ' Horatio Alger'...representing ' the best and brightest'. She has routinely shown a great deal of pride about Obama's run. When she's had policy differences, she's brought them up. But, she's been far more respectful of Obama than ANY of the HHH. I told you that she called a spade a spade last week on David Gregory's show and said that the Clintons would pull THE RACE CARD in explaining away a North Carolina win by Obama. She was very contemptuous of The Clintons, and how they were dismissive of the Black vote.
Hillary Strangelove
I caught the last half of it and what I saw was true and to the point - a less guarded speech on race and an explanation of the black church.
Bravo!
Some folks aren't going to like it and the pundits will of course pick it apart, but they won't forget it.
Your description of Michelle Bernard is on point.
She is the only Republican pundit who I have seen thus far who has not disrespected SBO at all for any reason, even their policy differences.
She is clearly proud of him and feeling all of our angst about the race-baiting, and, not afraid to speak loud about it.
I don't think I'll ever get the image of the Ron Paul supporters chasing Sean Hannity down the street - literally - in New Hampshire out of my head. They cracked me up.
Bill vs. Barack
I just read that Bill v. Barack story and I really understand just how pissed the Clintons are. At first, I thought it was just politics; I thought they were just playing the game to get votes, but now I understand how much they really don't like Barack Obama.
I never heard about what Bill said when he thought he was off camera.
@ Rikyrah
I just watched that on YT. I don't know dissent tickles me so.
McCain calls Obama insensitive to poor people
Now, nevermind that Obama is the only one who actually worked IN THE PROJECTS.
The thought of saying this at a $2300/ticket fundraiser in CORAL GABLES....
Unbelievable.
yeah, it's pure hate. Bill has been showing his ass for some time now. What people are seeing in Barack..attracting crowds and what not is what they saw in him back in the day. And he is not happy.
The phone conversation was hilarious. I wonder how he feels about Clyburn speaking out.
Bill might just lose it after this.
I would like to know what that Clinton adviser knows.
I think Bill WILL lose it by the end of the run. Then man has doubled the number of campaign stops and maximized his schedule...so...that leaves no room to think or breathe. That fool is going to blow his fuse on camera.
Sigh......