NYT compares Obama to OJ Simpson's attorney Johnny Cochran; another own-goal from the New York media

Only the liberal wackos who last week refused to print John McCain's rebuttal to Obama's so-called plan for Iraq could come up with this surreal analysis:

1 McCain uses Paris Hilton in this ad about Obama...astonishingly NYT claims this was a racial attack.



2 According to the NYT, Obama called McCain on this "despicable ploy" and accused him of making a racist attack

3 Team McCain accused Obama of "playing the race card and playing it from the bottom of the pack"

4 NYT accuse Team McCain of playing the race card again, by using a phrase that was once used by OJ's white attorney Shapiro to criticize OJ's black attorney the late Johnnie Cochran in 1996.

Firstly the NYT just added further support to Documented LIE 93...they acknowledge Obama accused McCain of racial attacks...but claim self-defense. Wrong...Team Obama had already denied they accused McCain!

Second by linking Team McCain's comment to a long- forgotten 12 year old line used by an LA attorney all they've succeeded in doing is planting the seed that Obama is a big Bullshit Artist like the late Johnnie Cochran. You may recall, Cochran claim to fame was successfully defending an African American of murdering two white people, who was subsequently found RESPONSIBLE for the murders in civil court. Nice own goal by the NYT. With media support like that, I bet Obama wishes they wouldn't bother.

Seems not only can we not tell jokes about Obama, but also we cant use pics of him with white females for fear someone will conclude we're trying to connect him with OJ Simpson murdering the Nicole.

The ultimate irony of this warped world-view is the person who introduced the idea into the race was....Team Obama National Chair Jesse Jackson jr who compared Obama's victory over Clinton in Iowa to OJ murdering Nicole (reported in the WaPo 1/8/08)

Say What? John McCain, Barack Obama, and the “Race Card”

By The Editorial Board NYT

We know that operatives in modern-day presidential campaigns are supposed to say things that everyone knows are ridiculous — and to do it with a straight face.

Still, there was something surreal, and offensive, about today’s soundbite from the campaign of Senator John McCain.

The presumptive Republican nominee has embarked on a bare-knuckled barrage of negative advertising aimed at belittling Mr. Obama. The most recent ad compares the presumptive Democratic nominee for president to Britney Spears and Paris Hilton — suggesting to voters that he’s nothing more than a bubble-headed, publicity-seeking celebrity.

The ad gave us an uneasy feeling that the McCain campaign was starting up the same sort of racially tinged attack on Mr. Obama that Republican operatives, some of whom work for Mr. McCain now, ran against Harold Ford, a black candidate for Senate in Tennessee in 2006. That assault, too, began with videos juxtaposing Mr. Ford with young, white women.

Mr. Obama called Mr. McCain on the ploy, saying, quite rightly, that the Republicans are trying to scare voters by pointing out that he “doesn’t look like all those other Presidents on those dollar bills.’’

But Rick Davis, Mr. McCain’s campaign manager, had a snappy answer. “Barack Obama has played the race card, and he played it from the bottom of the deck,” he said. “It’s divisive, negative, shameful and wrong.’’

The retort was, we must say, not only contemptible, but shrewd. It puts the sin for the racial attack not on those who made it, but on the victim of the attack.

It also — and we wish this were coincidence, but we doubt it — conjurs up another loaded racial image.

The phrase dealing the race card “from the bottom of the deck” entered the national lexicon during the O.J. Simpson saga. Robert Shapiro, one of Mr. Simpson’s lawyers, famously declared of himself, Johnny Cochran and the rest of the Simpson defense team, “Not only did we play the race card, we dealt it from the bottom of the deck

Mainstream media's contributions to Obama and Dems around ONE HUNDRED times greater than to McCain and GOP

Big Media Puts Its Money Where Its Mouth Is
By William Tate of American Thinker

New York Times refusal to publish John McCain's rebuttal to Barack Obama's Iraq Op-Ed may be the most glaring example of liberal media bias this journalist has ever seen, but true proof of widespread media bias requires one to follow an old journalism maxim: Follow the money.

Even the Associated Press--no bastion of conservatism -- has considered, at least superficially, the media's favoritism for Barack Obama. It's time to re-visit media bias. True to form, journalists are defending their bias by saying that one candidate, Obama, is more newsworthy' than the other. In other words, there is no media bias. It is we, the hoi polloi, who reveal our bias by questioning the neutrality of these learned professionals in their ivory-towered newsrooms.

Big Media applies this rationalization to every argument used to point out bias. 'It's not a result of bias', they say. 'It's a matter of news judgment.' And, like the man who knows his wallet was pick-pocketed but can't prove it, the public is left to futilely rage against the injustice of it all.

The 'newsworthy' argument can be applied to every metric: one-sided imbalances in airtime, story placement, column inches, number of stories, etc. Every metric, save one.

An analysis of federal election records shows that the amount of money journalists contributed so far this election cycle favors Democrats by a 15:1 margin over Republicans, with $225,563 going to Democrats, only $16,298 to Republicans .

235 journalists donated to Democrats, just 20 gave to Republicans -- a margin greater than 10:1. An even greater disparity, 20:1, exists between the number of journalists who donated to Barack Obama and John McCain.

Searches for other newsroom categories (reporters, correspondents, news editors, anchors, newspaper editors and publishers) produces 311 donors to Democrats to 30 donors to Republicans, a ratio of just over 10:1. In terms of money, $279,266 went to Dems, $20,709 to Republicans, a 14:1 ratio.

And while the money totals pale in comparison to the $9 million+ that just one union's PACs have spent to get Barack Obama elected, they are more substantial than the amount that Obama has criticized John McCain for receiving from lobbyists: 96 lobbyists have contributed $95,850 to McCain, while Obama -- who says he won't take money from PACs or federal lobbyists -- has received $16,223 from 29 lobbyists.

A few journalists list their employer as an organization like MSNBC MSNBC.com, or ABC News, or report that they're a freelancer for the New York Times, or are journalists for Al Jazeera, CNN Turkey, Deutsche Welle Radio, or La Republica of Rome (all contributions to Obama). Most report no employer. They're mainly free-lancers. That's because most major news organization have policies that forbid newsroom employees from making political donations.

As if to warn their colleagues in the media, MSNBC last summer ran a story on journalists' contributions to political candidates which drew a similar conclusion: "Most of the newsroom checkbooks leaned to the left"

The timing of that article was rather curious. Dated June 25, 2007, it appeared during the middle of the summer news doldrums in a non-election year -- timing that was sure to minimize its impact among the general public, while still warning newsrooms across the country that such political donations can be checked. In case that was too subtle, MSNBC ran a sidebar story detailing cautionary tales of reporters who lost their jobs or were otherwise negatively impacted because their donations became public.

As if to warn their comrades-in-news against putting their money where their mouths are, the report also cautioned that, with the internet, "it became easier for the blogging public to look up the donors."

It went on to detail the ban that most major media organizations have against newsroom employees donating to political campaigns, a ban that raises some obvious First Amendment issues. Whether it's intentional or not, the ban makes it difficult to verify the political leanings of Big Media reporters, editors and producers. There are two logical ways to extrapolate what those leanings are, though.

One is the overwhelming nature of the above statistics. Given the pack mentality among journalists and, just like any pack, the tendency to follow the leader -- in this case, Big Media -- and since Big Media is centered in some of the bluest of blue parts of the country, it is highly likely that the media elite reflects the same, or an even greater, liberal bias.

A second is to analyze contributions from folks in the same corporate cultures.

That analysis provides some surprising results. Individuals who reported being employed by major media organizations made the following contributions:

NBC, NBC Universal: $104,184 to Democrats / $3,150 to Republicans

CBS: $45,508 to Dems / $966 to Republicans

ABC: $17,320 / $4,717

Turner Broadcasting, TBS: $30,161 / $3,950

Fox: $40,573 / $0

Fox News/Fox News Channel: $1,280 / $0

MSNBC: $210 / $282

CNN: $2,286 / $1,250

Associated Press: $2,550 / $545

Reuters: $10,745 / $3,450

Washington Post, Newsweek: $4,268 / $0

New York Times, NYT Co: $8,143 / $0

Time, Inc: $40,988 / $4,850 ($2,300 to Republicans was from someone identified as a jeweler, so the total may actually be $2,550)

Time Magazine: $1,250 / $0

USA Today: $6,067 / $0

Totals for the above:

$315,533 to Democrats ; $22,656 to Republicans -- most of that to Ron Paul, who was supported by many liberals as a stalking horse to John McCain, a la Rush Limbaugh's Operation Chaos with Hillary and Obama.

What is truly remarkable about the above list is that, discounting contributions to Paul and Rudy Giuliani, who was a favorite son for many folks in the media, the totals look like this:

$315,533 to Democrats, $3,150 to Republicans (4 individuals who donated to McCain.)

Let me repeat that: $315,533 to Democrats, $3,150 to Republicans.

A ratio of 100 : 1.

No bias there.

BHO denies accusing McCain of using race against him; ABC, NYT, confirm Obama did accuse McCain of making racial attacks

McCain savages Obama for playing 'race card'

8 hours ago

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Republican John McCain lashed out Thursday at his Democratic White House rival Barack Obama for playing the "race card," but was accused in turn of stooping to character attacks.

The presidential race took another nasty lurch as McCain's campaign reacted furiously to claims from Obama -- who is bidding to be America's first black president -- that his opponents will go after his name and appearance.

"Barack Obama has played the race card, and he played it from the bottom of the deck. It's divisive, negative, shameful and wrong," said McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis in a statement.

Asked if Davis's criticism was fair, McCain told CNN: "I'm sorry to say that it is. It's legitimate.

"There's no place in this campaign for that. There's no place for it and we shouldn't be doing it," the Arizona senator said at a stop in Wisconsin.

In Missouri on Wednesday, Obama had said McCain's campaign was mounting personal attacks against him to divert attention from what he said was a dearth of solutions to America's problems.

"You know, 'he's not patriotic enough, he's got a funny name. You know, he doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills, you know, he's risky,'" Obama said, ridiculing supposed attacks against him.

In a statement Thursday, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton said the Democrat had not intended to suggest McCain was exploiting race as a means to undermine Obama's historic shot at the White House.

"Barack Obama in no way believes that the McCain campaign is using race as an issue, but he does believe they're using the same old low-road politics to distract voters from the real issues in this campaign."

Even the Pro-Obama NYT admits Obama accused McCain of a "racial ploy"

When Obama said he Team McCain was attacking him saying, "He's got a funny name. You know, he doesn't look like all those other presidents on those dollar bills" any reasonable person would conclude that Obama accusing McCain of using his skin color and origins against him. That's because Obama was saying exactly that. Team Obama's rebuttal is simply not credible.

Here's Jakes Tapper's confirmation on ABC.News Politcial punch blopg

Did Obama Accuse McCain of Running a Racist, Xenophobic Campaign?

July 30, 2008 10:45 PM

"John McCain right now, he's spending an awful lot of time talking about me," Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said today in Rolla, Mo. "You notice that? I haven’t seen an ad yet where he talks about what he’s gonna do. And the reason is because those folks know they don’t have any good answers, they know they’ve had their turn over the last eight years and made a mess of things. They know that you’re not real happy with them."

Obama continued: "And so the only way they figure they’re going to win this election is if they make you scared of me. So what they’re saying is, ‘Well, we know we’re not very good but you can’t risk electing Obama. You know, he’s new, he’s... doesn’t look like the other presidents on the currency, you know, he’s got a, he’s got a funny name.'

"I mean, that’s basically the argument -- he’s too risky," Obama said, per ABC News' Sunlen Miller. "But think about it, what’s the bigger risk? Us deciding that we’re going to come together to bring about real change in America or continuing to do same things with the same folks in the same ways that we know have not worked? I mean, are we really going to do the same stuff that we’ve been doing over the last eight years? ... That’s a risk we cannot afford. The stakes are too high."

Obama made similar comments earlier in the day in Springfield, Mo.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but does it not seem as if Obama just said McCain and his campaign -- presumably the "they" in this construct -- are saying that Obama shouldn't be elected because he's a risk because he's black and has a foreign-sounding name?

The Obama campaign says no, no, no, certainly not, he was talking about his "opponents" in general, writ large, the talk radio hosts and smear artists and such.

Then in Union, Mo., this evening, Obama seemed to specifically accuse McCain and the GOP of peddling racism and xenophobia.

Obama said that "John McCain and the Republicans, they don’t have any new ideas, that’s why they’re spending all their time talking about me. I mean, you haven’t heard a positive thing out of that campaign in ... in a month. All they do is try to run me down and you know, you know this in your own life. If somebody doesn’t have anything nice to say about anybody, that means they’ve got some problems of their own. So they know they’ve got no new ideas, they know they’re dredging up all the stale old stuff they’ve been peddling for the last eight, 10 years.

"But, since they don’t have any new ideas the only strategy they’ve got in this election is to try to scare you about me. They’re going to try to say that I’m a risky guy, they’re going to try to say, 'Well, you know, he’s got a funny name and he doesn’t look like all the presidents on the dollar bills and the five dollar bills and, and they’re going to send out nasty emails.

"And, you know, the latest one they’ve got me in an ad with Paris Hilton," Obama said, referring to a McCain campaign ad launched today. "You know, never met the woman. But, but, you know, what they’re gonna try to argue is that somehow I’m too risky."

There's a lot of racist xenophobic crap out there. But not only has McCain not peddled any of it, he's condemned it.

Back in February, McCain apologized for some questionable comments made by a local radio host. In April, he condemned the North Carolina Republican Party's ad featuring images of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.

With one possible exception, I've never seen McCain or those under his control playing the race card or making fun of Obama's name -- or even mentioning Obama's full name, for that matter!

(The one exception was in March when McCain suspended a low-level campaign staffer for sending out to a small group of friends a link to a video that attempts to tie Obama not only to Wright but to the black power movement, rappers Public Enemy and Malcolm X.)

While I have no doubt there will be a bunch more racist, xenophobic, and other ignorant drek coming our way courtesy of the Internet and perhaps the occasional cable news network, it's important to determine where it's coming from. Is it from a specific campaign or party? A third-party group? A third-party group with direct ties to establishment figures? This all matters.

I've seen racism in campaigns before -- I've seen it against Obama in this campaign (more from Democrats than Republicans, at this point, I might add) and I've seen it against McCain in South Carolina in 2000, when his adopted Bangladeshi daughter Bridget was alleged, by the charming friends and allies of then-Gov. George W. Bush, to have been a McCain love-child with an African-American woman.

What I have not seen is it come from McCain or his campaign in such a way to merit the language Obama used today. Pretty inflammatory.

Biggest Obama Butt-Kisser: July Winner announced

Previous winners of the "Biggest Obama Butt-Kisser" (BOB-K) include Chris Matthews for

"Hearing Barack Obama's speech... my, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often."

Wolf Blitzer for his on-air melt down over Reverand Jackson's vulgarity about wanting to cut off Obama's nuts, and Mary Mitchell of the Chicago Tribune who accused Americans of being racist for not liking Michelle.

This month's winner is a columnist for the Seattle Times who wrote:

The thousands of my colleagues swarming Sen. Barack Obama's hometown were looking forward to the Democratic nominee's foreign-policy views as shaped by an eight-day tour through two war zones.

In reality, the man-who-will-be president can talk about anything he wants. This is Obama's world, the rest of us orbit it.

He deserves the status. Obama is a pragmatic and deep long-range thinker, qualities in desperate need {...}

Congratulation to Lynne K. Varner

Seattle Times editorial columnist wins the coveted BOB-K Award for July 2008

Train wreck or Jet crash? A conservative explains why an Obama presidency will see a Jumbo 747 falling out of the sky

By way of background, some conservatives have expressed the opinion that a short-sharp dose of Obama's Socialism will be the Pearl Harbor of the conservative movement. Current polls suggest that around 1 in ten Republicans are supporting Obama. Some of these think a President Obama will help America by reinvigorating conservatism. This self-proclaimed conservative, writer explains why they're playing with fire.

July 31, 2008 - by Kyle-Anne Shiver
Source Pajamas Media

There’s a “good” train-wreck theory circulating pretty far, and among a pretty wide swath of conservative-minded voters, concerning this presidential election. My husband has been an ardent proponent of this theory, as have been a sizable number of my own readers, who’ve written to explain it to me, some going into minute detail of how this theory will play out in 2008.

The condensed version, if I’m getting it right, goes something like this:

The 2008 election is a “wake-up” for the American people. We Americans are a very busy lot, say the train-wreck seers, who are very happy minding our own business, making a living for our families, and otherwise enjoying the benefits of living in the greatest country in the world. We Americans don’t get fully on alert unless we are involved in a sizable, far-reaching, societal catastrophe that affects nearly all of us very negatively.

An Obama victory, these theorists contend, would inevitably result in one heck of a big-blast train wreck. A wrecked economy. Jihadi wrecks all over the place. Judeo-Christian values tied to the tracks throughout the country. Taxpayers ready to tear up the very tracks and start all over.

And presto.

At the end of Obama’s four years, which these theorists explain will certainly produce a “Jimmy Carter four years on steroids,” we Americans will rise to the occasion and reclaim our liberties, our government, our pocketbooks, and our values. The second Ronald Reagan reformist will emerge in the form of Bobby Jindal or Sarah Palin or one of the other rising conservative all-stars. All will be well and a second wave of conservative reforms will inevitably return America to the course set by our founders.

Having been a tough-love mom and a stalwart advocate of logical-consequence parenting, I can certainly see the feasibility of this theory. If we are stupid enough to elect a man who, as Mark Steyn has so eloquently noted, has a resume that “would fit on the back of his driver’s license,” then we deserve to suffer the consequences.

And if Barack Obama were just an old-school, misguided, but still patriotic liberal, I would be sorely tempted to sit out this election, withhold my “safety-first” McCain vote, and let the chips fall where they may.

I’m a social conservative, an economic conservative, and a small-government conservative all rolled into one. I’m an at-all-times and in-every-circumstance conservative — in the brand of the original American patriots of 1776.

But Barack Obama, as I have painstakingly discovered, is no mere liberal. He proudly claims the progressive label, and makes no bones about his intentions to progress the internationalist socialist cause in America. In every policy sphere, from the redistribution of wealth to the federal government as nanny-caretaker, from an appeasement-first-and-always foreign policy to his plan for a national civilian security force on par with our U.S. military, Barack Obama clearly plans to change America into a country we would not even recognize as the land of the free and the home of the brave.

So, in my mind, Obama would not produce a train wreck, much less a “good” train wreck.

No, a Barack Obama presidency, coupled with a filibuster-proof Senate majority and a large House domination, is more akin to a Boeing 747 crash for America.

While folks do survive train wrecks and walk away to pick up the pieces and rebuild, surviving an Obama-style change jet crash, in my opinion, may not leave enough surviving elements of our Constitution, our economy, or our defense to allow for any sort of American renewal.

Progressive plan to rewrite Constitution through courts

In their book The Shadow Party, authors David Horowitz and Richard Poe painstakingly reveal much of what progressive revolutionaries and their prominent backers, including and especially George Soros, have been up to behind the scenes of the Democratic Party. Using campaign finance reform, which was heavily funded and advocated by George Soros, powerful 527 groups such as Moveon.org have orchestrated a veritable coup within the Democratic Party, and now exercise a heretofore unthinkable amount of control, operating as a shadow party, essentially pulling the strings on what the American public sees.

In April 2005, Yale Law School was home to an important conference, called “The Constitution in 2020.” Shortly after the conference, John Hinderaker wrote up the conference implications for the Weekly Standard, noting:

The essence of the progressive constitutional project is to recognize “positive” rights, not just “negative” rights, so that citizens are not only guaranteed freedom from specified forms of government interference, but also are guaranteed the receipt of specified economic benefits. The bottom line is that Congress would no longer have the discretion to decline to enact liberal policies. The triumph of the left would be constitutionally mandated.

We have seen the liberal/secular/progressive activism from the Supreme Court already imperiously revoke centuries of jurisprudence in cases like Roe, Lawrence, and a host of others, which have had profound, unprecedented effects on American culture, all without the approval of the electorate.

Progressives recognize that they face a center-right electorate, with no desire to exchange unique American liberties for the international socialist model, and know that their only feasible course is through the courts and aggressive judicial activism.

As the Weekly Standard summarized:

The left makes no secret of its intentions where the Constitution is concerned. It wants to change it, in ways that have nothing to do with what the document actually says. It wants the Constitution to enshrine its own policy preferences — thus freeing it from the tiresome necessity of winning elections.

The next president may have the opportunity to appoint up to three members of an aging Supreme Court. With Obama in the White House, a filibuster-proof Democrat majority in the Senate, and George Soros pulling his power levers offstage, we can certainly expect justices in the model of a Ginsburg or Souter, who have amply demonstrated their utter disregard for our own Constitution, while at the same time being enamored of international law.

Progressives could well do to America through a super-majority on the Supreme Court what they could never do through elections, and produce a catastrophe for our children on the scale of a mid-air plane explosion, not the kind of train wreck from which a recognizable America could walk away.

The forward march of Islamo-fascism

Whenever I try to imagine what life in America might be like under the jackboot of Islamo-fascism and the worldwide Muslim caliphate, it’s as hard for me to picture as it was for 1930s Germans to believe that in less than one decade, their freedoms could completely disappear. Tyranny in America is as hard for me to conceive of as it was for Cubans just prior to Castro’s era of change or for free Chinese hailing the changes Mao would bring. Right now in Venezuela, a free people are learning the hard way about change, Chavez style.

Think it can’t happen here?

Perhaps it was easy to miss last month, during Congressional hearings on oil company profits, when a proud member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Maxine Waters, made the public threat to “socialize our oil companies.” Consolidating government control of the economy is the fastest way, in my opinion, to make America vulnerable to foreign enemies.

Couple this driving desire on the part of “good” progressives everywhere with a completely naïve view of human nature, such as that of Barack Obama, who honestly believes that Islamic terrorism and war are merely the natural result of poverty, oppression, and inequalities among nations. The result is not only appeasement and a continuing drain on America’s economic resources, but a capitulation to evil that, unfortunately, Barack Obama and his backers do not even recognize.

Barack Obama has a plan that would effectively disarm America in the hopes that all others would follow suit. Gutting military programs in favor of global poverty initiatives is the left’s newest delusion, and one that promises to make us more vulnerable than ever to a nuclear 9/11, which has been the stated intention of al-Qaeda and Iran.

Safe or sorry?

I’m not a big believer in attempting to foretell the future. There is no reliable way for any of us to know, beyond doubt, the precise scope of changes an Obama presidency could produce. Nor is there any way for us to know whether the Islamo-fascist forces will make sufficient progress under a unilaterally disarmed America to bring us to our knees in relatively short order.

This much we do know, however.

The changes that progressives plan to make are huge, and unless Americans choose to mount a violent revolution to overthrow our own government and its court, then we would be stuck with the socialist vision, with no recourse to our legislative and executive branches.

The Islamo-fascists aren’t going anywhere. The money we give them, ostensibly to feed people, will instead be used to make more weapons with which to murder our families. Barack Obama is firmly convinced that his silver tongue can appease them.

As for me and my vote, we will elect to stay the course with America, proudly go with McCain, a known patriot, and be safe rather than sorry.

Obama's big problem; lunch-pail Ohio Democrats ask "Who on earth is this guy?" ; McCain gains in bellwether Ohio

Four articles to address whats happening to the self-proclaimed Messiah in Bellwether Ohio

1) The British Economist mag, a centrist-left publication provides an overview of why the State is critical to watch to understand the true state of the race

2) Today's Quinnepac polls shows the race is too close to call

3) Last weeks Ramussen poll explains how McCains numbers have shown big gains in the last two months of polling to the point where they believe he has a 10 point lead

4) What to watch for in Ohio...key to predicting the outcome by Jay Cost of Real Clear Politics

The big, bellwether battlefield

Jul 31st 2008 | COLUMBUS
From The Economist print edition

AP

BARACK OBAMA is doing everything he can to make it look as if the election is a mere formality, and adoring media types are keen to play along. Yet the latest USA Today-Gallup poll puts John McCain four points ahead, while the RealClearPolitics average of polls gives Mr Obama a meagre two-and-a-half-point lead. Optimistic Republicans recall that Michael Dukakis was 17 points ahead of George Bush senior in the summer of 1988, and still lost. So there is plenty of evidence to suggest that this election, like the previous two, could boil down to a tight race settled by close results in a handful of “swing” states.

Ohio is the quintessential battleground state. Bill Clinton won it by some of the narrowest of his margins for any big state—just two points in 1992 and six in 1996. In 2004 George Bush won Ohio, with its precious 20 of the 270 electoral college votes needed to secure the presidency, by a mere 118,600 votes. Had 60,000 Ohioans gone the other way, John Kerry would have been president.

Ohio is also a bellwether. It has voted for the winning candidate in all 11 presidential elections since 1960. In doing so, it has deviated from the national vote shares by only a couple of points. In 2004 it matched the national average exactly.

The reason is that it is such a microcosm of America. Ohio is a surprisingly diverse state—with everything from big cities to rolling fields, rustbelt industries to Appalachian poverty. In the Cup-o-Jo Cafe in Columbus, the state capital, 20-somethings sit around eating vegetarian food and talking about how much Mr Obama inspires them to hope for a better world. Out in the rural areas the signs on the road tell a different story—“Hell is real,” reads one, and then, a few miles later, “Repent!”.

Above all, Ohio reeks of “normality”. Not exactly in the statistical sense. Ohio’s median household income is 8% below the national average. Only 2% of the population is Hispanic. Median house prices are 23% below the national average. But it is average in a deeper psychological sense. Jason Mauk, the executive director of the Ohio Republican Party, says that “this is where national politicians go to get a gut check on middle America.”

The Democrats are optimistic about their chances of improving on their performance in 2004. In that year Mr Bush succeeded in making the election a referendum on national security and patriotism. This year support for the war is much softer than it was, and worries about domestic issues more pronounced. Ohio lost 236,000 manufacturing jobs during the Bush years. Worries about health care hit hard in a state where jobs are either threatened or disappearing.

The Ohio Democratic Party is also resurgent after a long period of Republican dominance. In 2006 Ted Strickland won the governorship by a 24-point margin, and Sherrod Brown easily dislodged a sitting senator. The Democrats also swept the board for statewide offices, giving them control of the state’s political machinery. In 2004 the Democrats argued, with some evidence, that Ken Blackwell, the staunchly conservative secretary of state, was not overzealous in ensuring that all Democrats could exercise their right to vote.

But the polls are nevertheless surprisingly close. RealClearPolitics gives Mr Obama an average 1.5-point poll lead. The most recent poll, for Rasmussen, gives Mr McCain a ten-point lead (this may be a rogue poll, but Mr McCain has been gaining in six other battleground states.)

Mr Obama, it seems, still has a problem connecting with the white working-class voters who hold the fate of Ohio in their hands—the people who dominate the old-manufacturing towns in the rustbelt around Cleveland and Akron in the north and the Appalachian countryside in the east. Mr Obama outspent Hillary Clinton by two to one in Ohio, running a blitz of ads attacking NAFTA. He had the benefit of a state-of-the-art organisation and considerable momentum from a string of victories. But he still lost the state by ten points.

Democrats argue that this was a pro-Clinton vote rather than an anti-Obama one. But this is optimistic. A quarter of Democrats nationwide tell pollsters that they are either leaning towards Mr McCain or undecided. The Ohio working class has a strong sense of tribal pride, often expressed in terms of suspicion of outsiders—particularly of the condescending coastal elites. The Democrats who have done well there have been southerners (Jimmy Carter and Mr Clinton), not big-city types or north-easterners.

Ohioans in places like Youngstown and Canton, where the landscape is littered with huge shuttered factories that once supported a prosperous middle-class, and where the only available jobs seem to be in Walmart or fast-food restaurants are cynical about mundane promises, let alone airy-fairy ones about change. They have heard it all before, and the jobs keep disappearing. One of the most common complaints you hear from lunch-pail Ohio Democrats is “Who on earth is this guy?”

This suggests that the fate of Ohio may be decided by exactly the same thing that it was in 2004—the relative strength of the party machines on the ground

Article 2 Winnepac shows Obama leads by 2 points which is within the margin of error and therefore too close to call (July 31 08)

1. If the election for President were being held today, and the candidates were

Barack Obama the Democrat and John McCain the Republican, for whom would you

vote? (If undecided q1) As of today, do you lean more toward Obama or McCain?

This table includes "Leaners".

LIKELY VOTERS...............................................

OHIO Tot Rep Dem Ind Men Wom Wht Blk

Obama 46% 8% 84% 43% 46% 47% 42% 89%

McCain 44 89 11 41 45 44 49 2

SMONE ELSE(VOL) 1 - 1 2 1 1 1 -

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL) - - - - - - - -

DK/NA 8 3 5 14 8 8 8 9

Obama gets 47 percent of Ohio women likely voters, to McCain's 44 percent. Men split with 46 percent for Obama and 45 percent for McCain. White voters back McCain 49 - 42 percent, but Obama sweeps black voters 89 - 2 percent. The Democrat also leads 57 - 35 percent among voters 18 to 34 and 48 - 44 percent among voters 35 to 54, while McCain leads 48 - 41 percent among voters over 55.

In the First Lady matchup, Cindy McCain tops Michelle Obama 33 - 27 percent. Women split with 32 percent for McCain and 31 percent for Obama, while men prefer McCain 33 - 23 percent.

Ohio voters back 55 - 40 percent drilling for oil in the Alaskan National Wildlife Refuge.

Looking for the best way to address the energy crisis:

• 57 percent call for renewable energy sources;
• 20 percent support drilling in Alaska and offshore sites;
• 7 percent back nuclear power;
• 7 percent say mandate higher mileage standards for cars;
• 5 percent say release oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Voters split on which candidate has a better energy policy, with 34 percent naming Obama, 33 percent naming McCain and 33 percent undecided.

"Not surprisingly, McCain's improved showing in Ohio stems from slightly better numbers among white voters. And, he has narrowed Obama's lead among women. This relatively small change in the horse race numbers is confirmed by a similar increased favorability for McCain and decreased favorability for Obama," Brown said.

Article 3

Rasmussen has McCain ahead by 10 points in Ohio

July 22 (most recent by Rasmussen)

John McCain has opened a modest lead over Barack Obama in the key swing state of Ohio. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the Buckeye State shows McCain attracting 46% of the vote while Obama earns 40%. Last month and the month before McCain held a insignificant one-point lead over Obama.

Seven percent (7%) of voters say they’d prefer a third party candidate over either McCain or Obama and another 7% remain undecided.

When “leaners” are included in the totals, McCain leads Obama 52% to 42%.

McCain is now viewed favorably by 57%, little changed from a month ago. Obama gets favorable marks from 50% of the state’s voters, down three points from June but up three points since May.

Nationally, the candidates are very competitive in the Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll.

McCain is supported by 88% of Republicans and Obama earns the vote from 74% of Democrats. Both candidates gain three points from within their own party when leaners are included. However, McCain’s lead among unaffiliated voters jumps from a nine-point advantage without leaners to twenty-three points with leaners.

Among white Democrats in Ohio, Obama leads 71% to 21% (with leaners).

Fifty-one percent (51%) of Ohio voters believe most reporters are trying to help Obama win the election. Just 13% believe they are trying to help McCain and 21% think the journalists are attempting to present unbiased coverage. These figures are similar to the results of a national survey released yesterday.

Economic issues are most important to 49% of Ohio voters while national security concerns are the top priority for 24%. Obama has an eighteen point advantage among those most concerned with economic issues while McCain leads 79% to 21% among those who focus primarily on national security issues.

Sixty-four percent (64%) support offshore oil drilling while 22% are opposed. These figures are close to the national average. Fifty-four percent (54%) say reducing the price of gas and oil is more important than protecting the environment. Just 28% disagree and say protecting the environment is more important. A recent national survey showed that Al Gore’s proposals for clean energy are viewed by voters as unrealistic and costly.

Fifty-five percent (55%) believe the U.S. and its allies are winning the War on Terror while 23% believe the terrorists are winning. Those figures are a bit more optimistic than the national average. However, across the nation, confidence in the War on Terror is near the highest levels of the past four years. Forty-two percent (42%) of voters say that Afghanistan is the central front in the War on Terror while 28% believe that front is in Iraq. These figures, too, mirror the national findings.

Article 4

What To Watch in the Buckeye State

(1) If the national vote is close, expect Ohio to be close. It's a bellwether.

(2) Watch the mid-sized cities. They tend to vote with the winner. If Canton, Dayton, Springfield, and metro Toldeo go for the same candidate - he'll have the edge.

(3) Watch Franklin County (Columbus). If recent history is any guide, it will go for Obama. The question is by how much.

(4) Watch the exurbs. Obama promises to appeal to Republicans. These Republicans here are probably his best bet. McCain should still win the exurban counties of Cincinnati and Columbus, but Obama will be in good shape if he can turn them pink.

(5) Watch the eastern border. There are lots of "working class whites" here, the ones Obama had trouble with in the primaries. But it's not the strong Democrats he needs to worry about. It's the swing voters. If they vote McCain, these counties will be a lighter shade of blue than what Obama needs.

(6) Watch the south. It voted heavily for Clinton in the primary, and there are good reasons to expect it to support McCain. The bigger the margins, the better for the GOP.

(7) Watch Hamilton County (Cincinnati). Obama promises game-changing GOTV efforts. If he delivers, the first sign of success should be here. Traditionally, Hamilton County votes Republican, but just barely (and by steadily decreasing margins over the years). If Obama amplifies African American turnout enough to flip it, that's a sign that his plan's on track.

Source Jay Cost RCP

As for Jay's last point about the African American turnout there may not such a direct correlation. In the Quinnepac poll Nine per cent of black voters indicated they did not know who they would support...compared to 2% that said they would support McCain. Is this the Jesse Jackson Effect? In other words are members of the African American community worried about Obama but unwilling to show their preference to a third party?

75% of us do NOT share Michelle's miserable view of America; 75% dont think Michelle fits their idea of what a First Lady should be

Every woman that I know, regardless of race, education, income, background, political affiliation, is struggling to keep her head above water.

Michelle Obama 4/16/07 Women for Obama lunch

What I've been struck by is the frustration of (the American people.) You know, I met a gentleman in Latrobe who had lost his job and was trying to figure out how he could find the gas money to travel to find a job. And that story, I think, is typical of what we're seeing all across the country.

Senator Obama seemingly listening to his wife's views 4/18/08 Philadelphia Democrat Debate

Michelle Obama begins with a broad assessment of life in America in 2008, and life is not good: we’re a divided country, we’re a country that is “just downright mean,” we are “guided by fear,” we’re a nation of cynics, sloths, and complacents. “We have become a nation of struggling folks who are barely making it every day,” she said, as heads bobbed in the pews. “Folks are just jammed up, and it’s gotten worse over my lifetime. And, doggone it, I’m young. Forty-f our!”

Source The New Yorker in an article

But according to the latest Quinnepac University poll in key battleground states only 25% of Americans claim their families financial situation was "falling behind"

Significantly the same poll indicates that only 1 in 4 Americans say Michelle Obama fits their idea of what a first lady should be. I wonder if its the same 25%?

Obama plays race card again; condemned as "divisive, negative, shameful, and wrong"

McCain wants the presidential campaign to be about Barack Obama — that's why he talks about him so much.

To that end, McCain is helping frame a not-so-flattering portrait of Obama for voters. His ads have become increasingly tough; a third of his commercials portray Obama negatively, a new study concluded.

Polls show that the race remains tight nationally and in key battlegrounds. New state polls by Quinnipiac University show Obama leading McCain in Pennsylvania, and McCain and Obama tied in Ohio and Florida.

No doubt Obama has fame. He fills political venues with people. He breaks fundraising records with a massive donor base. He does not have a name recognition problem. But Obama himself concedes that his challenge is getting voters to see him as president.

"It's a leap, electing a 46-year-old black guy named Barack Obama," he said Wednesday.

He also said McCain and his Republican allies will try to scare them by saying Obama, who is black, "doesn't look like all those other presidents on the dollar bills."

McCain campaign manager Rick Davis on Thursday said Obama, with that comment, had "played the race card." He said the remark was "divisive, negative, shameful and wrong."

In working to sow doubts about Obama, McCain and his campaign have worked on a specific story line that the Democrat is not tested, not ready to lead and too out of touch with the public.

Source extract from AP by Jim Kuhnhenn

While its true McCain appears to want to make the election a referendum about Obama, until this past week, when he was probably told by Axelrod on his return to the US that he had walked into a political trap, Obama had himself been anxious to make this a referendum about himself. Why? Apart from the his obvious conceit, I believe he was certain he could carry more than 50% of the voters on the strength of his own rhetoric. When it didn't happen by the end of June, I believe his campaign added Europe to his mandatory tour of Iraq and Afghanistan believing a speech in front of admiring Germans would convince another 6% of Americans that he was indeed the Messiah. Lets face it why would anyone even consider his opponent when Obama makes claims such as:

I am absolutely certain that generations from now we will be able to look back and tell our children that this was the moment when we began to provide care for the sick and good jobs for the jobless. This was the moment when the rise of the oceans began to slow and our planet began to heal." June 3 Minneapolis victory speech

If you believe his words, you'd be an idiot not to vote for someone who could create full employment with good paying jobs, heal the sick, heal all the troubles on
our terrorism plagued planet, and single-handedly put Al Gore out of business by stopping the tides rising. Of course, if you had concerns about his claims then you'd naturally want to make sure anyone but this snake-oil salesman was your next president.

Ever since Obama said June 3 was the moment when all this good stuff would start to happpen, I've been keeping track of his progress. Why? On June 26, I CONDITIONALLY endorsed Obama ...subject to seeing clear progress on all four issues before election day. While its true that gas prices have come down and June's economic data included some that indicate the economy is of improving, (with the rate of growth now on track to be just north of 2% in 2008, i.e. definitely NOT a recession, and certainly NOT the worst economic times since the Great Depression as Obama would have you believe,) I've seen zero progress in putting a stop to Al Gore's hysterical predictions of gloom. Even worse, while the Messiah was on his America Sucks World Tour, there were tragically hundreds of reported deaths from terrorism in parts of India and Turkey...which suggests he has made zero progress in healing the planet.


Americans are watching and taking good notes. Now that its clear his popularity has peaked below 50% he's desperately attempting to put the toothpaste back in the tube that he squeezed out when he unleashed his hubris on the American people. Now he's torn between accusing his opponent of being either racist or just too plain old to be President. He forgets that around a third of the population is already past 50 and probably not too keen to dismiss a candidate based solely on grounds of his age...something that would be completely unacceptable in the workplace. In any case, McCain's doctors have given a clean bill of health.

Making this General Election about anything but Obama is simply not going to happen. As I've written on numerous occasions, Obama's opponents had no need to produce a swift boat when Obama's mouth has been a self-destroying swift boat for many months. Obama started out by making this campaign a referendum on his miracle powers. His opponents have been only too willing to go along with his strategy. It too late to turn back now...he's already booked Mile High Stadium. Now Obama will have to live with the consequences of his hubris...and my advise to him would be to spend his time between now and election day delivering on his long and growing backlog of unfulfilled promises.

How Obama went from presumptive nominee to presumptious nominee

Even in the internet age, there is still some truth to the old adage that you never pick a fight with someone who buys ink by the barrel. Dana Milbank at the Washington Post is getting a little tired of Obama controlling his own media coverage, and he lets it rip.

Barack Obama has long been his party’s presumptive nominee. Now he’s becoming its presumptuous nominee.

Fresh from his presidential-style world tour, during which foreign leaders and American generals lined up to show him affection, Obama settled down to some presidential-style business in Washington yesterday. He ordered up a teleconference with the (current president’s) Treasury secretary, granted an audience to the Pakistani prime minister and had his staff arrange for the chairman of the Federal Reserve to give him a briefing. Then, he went up to Capitol Hill to be adored by House Democrats in a presidential-style pep rally.

Milbank thinks Barry may be getting just a little ahead of himself. And with sarcasm like this, I may offer him a job here at our little blog.

Inside, according to a witness, he told the House members, “This is the moment . . . that the world is waiting for,” adding: “I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions.”

As he marches toward Inauguration Day (Election Day is but a milestone on that path), Obama’s biggest challenger may not be Republican John McCain but rather his own hubris.

Some say the supremely confident Obama — nearly 100 days from the election, he pronounces that “the odds of us winning are very good” — has become a president-in-waiting. But in truth, he doesn’t need to wait: He has already amassed the trappings of the office, without those pesky decisions.

Seems like Obama may actually need some divine help getting over this small personality quirk.

On his presidential-style visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem last week, Obama left a written prayer, intercepted by an Israeli newspaper, asking God to “help me guard against pride and despair.” He seems to have the despair part under control, but the pride could be a problem.

Ouch. The left wing lapdog bites its master. But just as the press has elevated Senator Empty Suit (D-Arrogance) to his lofty heights despite an utter lack of experience in anything, it may now decide to put him back in his place.

But there are signs that the Obama campaign’s arrogance has begun to anger reporters.

In the latest issue of the New Republic, Gabriel Sherman found reporters complaining that Obama’s campaign was “acting like the Prom Queen” and being more secretive than Bush. The magazine quoted the New York Times’ Adam Nagourney’s reaction to the Obama campaign’s memo attacking one of his stories: “I’ve never had an experience like this, with this campaign or others.” Then came Obama’s overseas trip and the campaign’s selection of which news organizations could come aboard. Among those excluded: the New Yorker magazine, which had just published a satirical cover about Obama that offended the campaign.

Even Bush hasn’t tried that. But then again, Obama has been outdoing the president in ruffles and flourishes lately. As Bush held quiet signing ceremonies in the White House yesterday morning, Obama was involved in a more visible display of executive authority a block away, when he met with Pakistani Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani at the Willard. A full block of F Street was shut down for the prime minister and the would-be president, and some 40 security and motorcade vehicles filled the street.

Later, Obama’s aides issued an official-sounding statement, borrowing the language of White House communiques: “I had a productive and wide-ranging discussion. . . . I look forward to working with the democratically elected government of Pakistan.”

It had been a long day of acting presidential, but Obama wasn’t done. After a few hours huddling with advisers over his vice presidential choice, Obama made his way to the pep rally on the Hill. Moments after he entered the meeting with lawmakers, there was an extended cheer, followed by another, and another.

“I think this can be an incredible election,” Obama said later. “I look forward to collaborating with everybody here to win the election.”

Win the election? Didn’t he do that already?

The beginning of the end for The One?

Source Bill Dupray The Patriot Room

Vote Obama for American Idol; Nobama for President: watch McCain's new ad

"He's the biggest celebrity in the world," a narrator says, over chants of "Obama, Obama." The screen then shifts to shots of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton with paparazzi. "But, is he ready to lead? With gas prices soaring, Barack Obama says no to offshore drilling. And, says he'll raise taxes on electricity. Higher taxes, more foreign oil, that's the real Obama."

One of the final images is of Obama's face next to large type stating, "More Foreign Oil."

Obama's recent World Tour certainly played right into McCain's continuing message that Obama would be better suited for American Idol than POTUS.

Hillary accepts consolation prize for Denver; red flag she and Bill wont be on stage with the Obamas as the balloons come down

Hillary Clinton agrees to Denver keynote - sign she's not running mate

BY DAVID SALTONSTALL NY Daily News

Hillary Clinton has agreed to speak on Day 2 of the Democratic convention to commemorate the 88th anniversary of women's right to vote - a move seen by delegates as another sign she won't be on Barack Obama's ticket, the Daily News learned.

A top Obama aide told party leaders in a conference call last night that Clinton has accepted the offer to be the featured prime-time Tuesday night speaker, a high-profile slot that some of Clinton's own people have floated in recent days.

Aug. 26 is the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote in 1920.

That historical tidbit was shared by Obama aide Jennifer Koch, one of Obama's deputy political directors for the Northeast, in a conference call last night night with a group of Massachusetts delegates, among them DNC Rules Committee co-chair James Roosevelt.

Koch added that Obama's vice presidential nominee - whomever that turns out to be - will likely speak Monday and Wednesday evening as part of the traditional build-up to Obama accepting the nomination on Thursday night.

Some of those on the conference call concluded Clinton was not under serious consideration for vice president, and would instead be filling a more limited - albeit historically charged - role at the Denver convention.

"She said Hillary Clinton has accepted the role of speaking on the passage of the 19th Amendment," said Gus Bickford, a DNC member and superdelegate from Massachusetts who was on the call. "It really does send the signal that Hillary will not be the vice president."

Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, had no immediate comment on when or in what context Clinton might be addressing the convention, in keeping with a general policy on the planned Denver pow-wow. "We are not talking about any convention decisions," he told The News.

The jockeying comes as Obama and his team are said to be seriously vetting several potential vice-presidential picks, among them Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware and Evan Bayh of Indiana. All three men have been placed under the political microscope by Obama aides in a way that Clinton has not, insiders say.

Giving Clinton a prominent, prime-time speaking role - on a topic freighted with significance for Clinton, the first woman to almost win a presidential nomination - is a fitting consolation prize that should help to heal remaining tensions within the party, some said.

"For me, Barack Obama is the nominee and we all have to get together, because this is not going to be an easy election," said Bickford, a longtime Clinton supporter. "Having her be the keynote on one night is enough for me."

Twelve reasons Obama should be deeply disturbed by the end-of-July polls; why he's not

I was sad to learn the awful news that Robert Novak has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. Novak joins Senator Ted Kennedy as the second of our political household names to be inflicted with this horrendous ailment. I wish them both well.

Novak's duties as the writer of a regular inside the Beltway newsletter at Human Events have temporarily been taken over by Tim Carney. I used Carney's work from today's newsletter in the first half of this post on why the end-of-July National Polls should worry Obama.

National Polls at the end of July: The complete lack of movement in the national polls is bad news for Sen. Barack Obama, even as the Democrat continues to hold a modest lead. Here's why.

1. Lack of big mo

   First, a word of caution: National polls are generally given undue attention in the press. There is no national election, but rather 51 state elections. On that score, our Electoral College count shows a razor-thin Obama lead (273 to 265). Front runners usually lose ground in August, Sept, Oct based on history (Carter saw a 33% lead dwindle to a winning 2%; .Humphrey, Dukakis, Kerry saw leads turn to losses)

   The usefulness in national polls is in getting rough ideas of a candidate's popularity, and more importantly as a judge of momentum. It is on this latter score that Obama needs to worry. On June 4, Rasmussen Reports released its first daily tracking poll of the general election (3,000 likely voters over three nights, with a margin of error of +/-2%), and it showed Obama 47%, McCain 45%. Fifty-seven days later, the Wednesday, July 30 poll showed Obama at 48% to McCain's 46%—virtually no movement. In the interim, neither candidate has shown movement outside the margin of error.
   

   
   
2. Doing worse than his Party:

   The deeper significance of these national poll numbers is the way in which Obama lags his party and has failed to break 50% nationally, even while all the breaks go his way. In all corners of the country, it's good to be a Democrat and bad to be a Republican. Democrats are guaranteed double-digit gains in the U.S. House (with pickups possible even in places like Alabama and Idaho) and significant gains in the Senate (with no seriously vulnerable incumbents or open seats). On generic ballots, Democrats post 15% leads.

   
   
3. Unprecedented combination of youth, race, and inexperience

   Why does Obama lag his party? His unprecedented combination of youth, race, and inexperience makes many voters wary. Playing basketball well and often appeals to many voters, but it may come across to others as unpresidential, especially in combination with his thin résumé and younger-than-his-age looks.

   
   
4. Overseas trip gave him no bump

   Even more worrisome is the complete lack of a poll bump from Obama's overseas visit. He conducted himself well, and scored a coup with the "Maliki endorsement" (the statement by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki in favor of an Obama-like timetable for withdrawal from Iraq). The trip was specifically aimed at making him "look presidential."
   

   
   
5. His America Sucks World Tour had two downsides

   His utter refusal to accept that the surge was successful or to offer a credible counter-argument makes him look more like a demagogue than a pragmatist. Showing up in London, Paris, and Berlin could make him look more like jet-setter or Euro-rail-hopping student than a world leader. Declaring himself a "fellow citizen of the world," further feeds that perception.

   
   
   
6. Many undecideds in key states

   Regarding state-by-state polls, closer examination reveals more troubles for Obama than a surface examination would suggest. In many states where Obama is "ahead" in the polls, such as Nevada, there remain nearly 20% undecided or third-party voters. Almost all of these voters will eventually choose Obama or McCain. Obama's appeal has been so clearly on display, and Republicans are so unpopular already, that it's hard to imagine what Obama could do to win over the voters who are still undecided, especially in the states where Obama already campaigned hard in the primaries.

Oxy Moran adds six more concerns to Tim Carney's six

7 The McCain Whisperers

Obama supporters love to let you know how much they support Obama. Not only is this based on my own direct exposure to voters in a few states but also its supported by the poll numbers which typically demonstrate that Obama supporters are far more enthusiastic than McCain's backers.

On the other hand what that means is that most of the people who are Obama supporters have already declared their positions. The silent majority are therefore unlikely to break for Obama. Around the water coolers, its rare to hear someone say after giving it careful thought I've finally decided to vote for Obama. Obamatrons typically "get it" instantly based on his "Messiah-like charisma" or something. By contrast there are many whisperers out there who will admit to finally after "careful consideration" deciding to go with McCain often adding "he's the lesser of two evils" Even more worrying for Obama is that many of those whispers start out with "I've never voted Republican before in my life but..."

8 The Jesse Jackson Effect

Consistent with the McCain whisperers are what I call the Jesse Jackson Obama supporters. These are African Americans who due to peer pressure being forced to outwardly support Obama but who may not be willing to vote for Obama in the privacy of the ballot box. While its popular to dismiss Jackson's venom towards Obama as nothing more than the careless whispers of a jealous old man, I think that too easily dismisses the underlying issue.

There is a growing school of thought which believes an Obama presidency will make life worse of African Americans as it will lead to a growing movement to eliminate any form of racial preferences from affirmative action. Of course, what makes that a double whammy is that although he's being heralded as the first African-American nominee for President, Obama is 50% Caucasian. Of course this will not show up in the pre-election polls, but don't be surprised to see large discrepancies between exit polls and actual vote counts...the Jesse Jackson effect could be substantial

9 Age and cunning always beat youth and enthusiasm

The Presidential election is a Marathon not a sprint...the Republicans have a seasoned team that have an overall winning record in Presidential politics. Likewise Team Clinton had a winning record. Both teams know how to win. Until the primary, Obama had never competed in a major competitive election. A lot of the wisdom and attitude that goes with building a winning record is lacking in the relatively youthful Team Obama. That's why everyday we see a daily newsworthy screw-up. Simply stated, age and cunning will usually overcome youth and enthusiasm...especially in a General Election of 200 million voters and 50 States plus DC.

10 The VP difference

McCain will likely see a bounce from picking a VP that will be widely perceived as adding a talent that will help the country solve its economic issues. Obama's major selection criteria seems to be finding someone who wont overshadow him and devalue Brand Obama. Independents will reward McCain.

Obama's choice may also be a net negative, as whoever he picks he will likely upset supporters of rejected candidates. Indiana is rooting for Bayh; Virginia for Kaine; other candidates have groups of fans. Some are guaranteed to be disappointed.

By contrast, there has been little mystery about McCain's likely pick since March. Therefore, I doubt McCain's pick will add any of the 12% of Republican's that are not supporting him, but nor will it cost him any.

11 The Rise AND Fall makes a better storyline

The TV and News media loves nothing more than to build up a hero, so they can bring him down with a vengeance. With 97 days to go, astonishingly, much is unknown about Obama's background. Expect more revelations from September on and expect the MSM to be far more receptive than they were during the Primary season.

12 Even Jon Stewart's Jokes about McCain are getting stale

McCain's most vicious media critics Messr Stewart and Colbert make Obama's nemesis The New Yorker cover artist seem like a glad-handler. For an hour every night on the Comedy Channel these two men command audiences of affluent college kids and use that time to mercilessly rip McCain for his age and aging appearance.

Yesterday, for example, Stewart claimed a fly landed on McCain during an interview with George Stephanopolis...implication that he's so old that his carcass is attracting the flies. Hilarious stuff...for some...but fast wearing thin.

The problem...Obama's media domination makes it harder for Stewart and Colbert to find new angles. In fact in yesterday's show Stewart resorted to inventing slap-stick material...claiming McCain's pants fell down while he was making a speech to conference of Trouser Manufacturers Who's Pants Dont Fall Down. Funny? Or act of desperation?

Compare this to my daily routine. I wake up; check my mail files and am abundantly blessed with material about Obama's lies, gaffes, acts of hypocracy etc. The most difficult job is deciding what to exclude. Why? Obama's mouth is self-destructing swift boat. That is unlikely to change as Obama becomes more desperate in the fall.

The announcement that Obama has already started his transition planning to the White House tells us he's far from worried.

Why? Part blissful ignorance; part hubris

1) He so inexperienced he doesn't know what he doesn't know.
2) He's so arrogant he believes his own press releases.
3) His judgment is so poor he doesn't recognize the importance of having gray hair on his team.

Exactly the wrong characteristics for our Commander-in-chief. Three compelling reasons to just say no deal to Obama

Obama directs his aides to begin planning his transition to the White House; did I miss the vote?

"The political lesson of Watergate is this: Never again must America allow an arrogant, elite guard of political adolescents to by-pass the regular party organization and dictate the terms of a national election."

President Gerald R Ford

Now read on

Obama Team Begins Work On Presidential Transition

With less than six months to go before he would be sworn in as the nation’s 44th president, Sen. Barack Obama has directed his aides to begin planning for the transition.

"Barack is well aware of the complexity and the organizational challenge involved in the transition process and he has tasked s small group to begin thinking through the process,” a senior campaign adviser said. “Barack has made his expectations clear about what he wants from such a process, how he wants it to move forward, and the establishment and execution of his timeline is proceeding apace.”

Last month, the Post’s Shalaigh Murray reported that campaign advisers were sounding out John Podesta, a former White House chief of staff to President Bill Clinton and currently the president of the Center for American Progress, for his advice.

An aide confirms that Podesta will probably be asked to head the transition team, which would take over from the campaign if Obama wins in November, and would be tasked with ensuring a smooth handover of power.

Podesta’s Center for American Progress is working with the Third Way think tank on a Homeland Security Presidential Transition Initiative; its director is Michael Signer, a former senior policy aide to Ex-Sen. John Edwards.

Cassandra Butts, a longtime Obama friend who is a CAP executive vice president, is working closely with Podesta.

Butts, via e-mail, would not confirm her participation in the project.

Podesta remains a close friend of both Clintons and his participation will help assuage the concerns of Clinton-era Democratic policy and political appointees who might have felt abandoned in an Obama administration.

New Presidents have only three months to complete a herculean remaking of the equivalent of ten of the world's biggest companies. Most presidential candidates don’t spend precious campaign time thinking about to do, so the questions come fast and furious: how do you your turn your ideas into policy? What do you do first? What does Congress expect? What last-minute executive orders should you overturn? What will your first 100 days look like? How will you vet and when will you appoint major cabinet secretaries and political appointees? What’s he proper balance of power between executive department? Budgets, costs, logistics?

A campaign spokesperson confirmed that transition planning had begun but would provide no further details. An adviser said that the campaign wants to keep the process as low profile as possible in order to minimize distractions.

A public announcement is planned for the fall.

“Given the myriad challenges that will face the next president, Barack would encourage Sen. McCain to begin to undertake a similar process,” the adviser said.

A McCain spokesperson said the campaign would not discuss the subject with reporters.

Atlantic.com

HUBRIS HUBRIS HUBRIS ARROGANCE HUBRIS HUBRIS HUBRIS ARROGANCE HUBRIS HUBRIS HUBRIS before the fall.

"The political lesson of Watergate is this: Never again must America allow an arrogant, elite guard of political adolescents to by-pass the regular party organization and dictate the terms of a national election."

President Gerald R Ford

Ludacris's new rap calls Hillary an "irrelevant bitch"; lyrics are sexist, racist, & anti-American: will Obama condemn favorite rapper?

Rapper related stories

1. Rap artist Nappy Roots entertained the crowd before Obama speech

2. Ludacris's new rap calls Hillary an "irrelevant bitch"; lyrics are sexist, racist, & anti-American: will Obama condemn favorite rapper?

3. First Obama calls women "Sweetie"; now its "Bro's before Ho's" T-shirts

4. Obama compares the Virginia Tech Massacre to the verbal violence of Don Imus

6. One of Obama's favorite artist's Ludacris releases this highly offensive Pro-Obama music video: WARNING EXPLICIT LYRICS

Vanity Fair names Michelle Obama "Commander-in-sheath"; what have condoms got to do with it?

USA Today (the 100% Pro-Obama newspaper) is reporting that the 100% pro-Obama magazine, Vanity Fair, has placed Michelle O on its best-dressed list. Significantly, the elegant Mrs McCain is not on the list...this is how you know the Obamatron media are getting truly desperate to revive Michelle's free-falling approval ratings.

Michelle Obama makes the best-dressed list at 'Vanity Fair;' not Cindy McCain

Conservatives don't seem to have made the cut for the 69th annual International Best Dressed List unveiled this morning by Vanity Fair.

But Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential hopeful Barack, is on it. Why? "Because she's our commander in sheath," VF says. Cindy McCain, wife of GOP contender John, isn't on the list.

According to medical net

Definition of Condom

Condom: Although the word "condom" usually refers to the male condom, there is also a female condom. Both male and female condoms are barrier methods of contraception.

Female condoms: The Reality Female Condom was approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 1993. It consists of a lubricated polyurethane sheath shaped similarly to the male condom

I'm thinking Michelle may not want to be known as the Commander-in-Sheath...but what do I know?

Obama is perfect in every way: 69 pics

Also see

OBAMA ILLUSTRATED: Denver Commemorative Edition: Price $2300 or 2 for $4900 (cash in small bills only)

Exhibit 69

Choking in the polls?

Exhibit 68

The Portagate Affair: Team Obama places toilets on top of a Memorial to 25 fallen Portland Police, with its flag at half mast over Memorial Weekend. The Police were pissed.

Exhibit 67

Change whether you want it or not, under the direction of the woman Obama calls his co-conspirator

Exhibit 66

Turns out Obama's polling numbers were overstated by one

Exhibit 65

Not one flagpin...but two flagpins. Wonder who he's about to talk to?

Exhibit 64

One of the two Big Al's in Obama's cabinet

Exhibit 63

One of his Step-mothers in Africa

Exhibit 62
Exhibit 61
Exhibit 60

Indonesian school

Exhibit 59

Rep Conyers who is leading the Slavery Reparations Bill in Congress and Keith Ellison who was sworn on the Koran

Exhibit 58

Planning a Takeover of the World?

Exhibit 57

Whats in Obama's mouth?

Exhibit 56

Embarrassingly limp

Exhibit 55

Ayers and Dohm of the Terrorist group The Weathermen

Exhibit 54
Exhibit 53

Obama's new energy policy?

Exhibit 52

Obama endorser and the second Big Al destined for Obama's cabinet

Exhibit 51
Exhibit 50

Surprisingly this DVD is no longer being promoted by the money-grabbing Obamas. Wonder why? Maybe he doesn't want us to realize just how focused he is on the African continent?

Exhibit 49
Exhibit 48

Obama's career sponsor Tony Rezko is behind bars for a long time. Obama looks worried

Exhibit 47

Wonder where the New Yorker came up with idea of the burning flag in the Oval Office? Obama sponsor and friend, Pentagon Bomber Bill Ayers

Exhibit 46

Exhibit 45

Being briefed in Iraq while he listens to Ludacris calling Hillary an "irrelevant b*tch" on Mp3 player

Exhibit 44

Plagiarizer?

Exhibit 43

Uniter?

Exhibit 42
Exhibit 41

Exhibit 40

Obama seals his place in the Presidential Candidates Hall of Shame with this "wannabee" seal

Exhibit 39

Its easy to laugh about gas prices when you fly everywhere in luxury and have chauffeur driven limos waiting for you at the airport...all at tax payer expense

Exhibit 38

Michelle in her teens

Exhibit 37

Half-brother Bernie, described by the UK Sun as "a Muslim and avid Manchester United supporter" is tracked down to UK Public Housing Project 46 miles from London: Bernie says he's looking forward to visiting the White House

Exhibit 36

Exhibit 35

B H Obama: Sheriff of New Gaffe City

Exhibit 34


Exhibit 33
Exhibit 32

The Iraqi Information Minister knows Barack Obama is a better liar and quickly surrenders.

Exhibit 31

Obama's key to success: affirmative action.What was Ferraro thinking?

Exhibit 30
Exhibit 29

Barack Obama campaigning for American Idol in Germany

Exhibit 28

Obama's mental health councillor. He regularly meets his health councillor.

Exhibit 27

This guy is voting for Obama to become Chancellor of Germany. Hmmm.

Exhibit 26
Exhibit 25


Exhibit 24

Obama Sr, Mom, and THE ONE

Exhibit 23
Exhibit 22

Exhibit 21

Saint Obama visits Britain's PM

Exhibit 2o
Exhibit 19

Exhibit 18

Dressed to kill

Exhibit 17

Exhibit 16

Bill told Obama to Kiss my Ass; Obama kissed his ass

Exhibit15

Obama's Cabinet

Exhibit 14

CNN subsequently apologized for the confusion

Exhibit 13

Obama released his personal prayer to the media before he placed it in the Western Wall

Exhibit 13

Team Obama insensitively place posters at the Western Wall

Exhibit 12

Obama/Kaine 08?

Exhibit 11

Obama with his pal, criminal fundraiser, Stuart Levine who admits he frequented male prostitutes and indulged in drug-fueled orgies

Exhibit 10

Michelle announces its $500 for a photo with her

Exhibit 9

Some of his Kenyan family

Exhibit 8
Exhibit 7
Exhibit 6

Where's Jesse's other hand?

Exhibit 5

Young Obama wants to meet Iran's President

Exhibit 4

Exhibit 3

Exhibit 2

Notice the subtle coordination between Obama's tie and Superman's pants

Exhibit 1

Al Sharpton ran for President in 2004 and advises Obama two to three times a week. Looks a safe bet for the Obama Cabinet


Also see

OBAMA ILLUSTRATED: Denver Commemorative Edition: Price $2300 or 2 for $4900 (cash in small bills only)

"Talking Big. Doing Nothing. Vote Obama"; Help Obama choose from these 20 campaign slogans

Help Barack Obama choose his new campaign slogan

Obama's return from his America Sucks World Tour

Source Ben Shapiro at World News Network

Obama's return has meant jubilation in the streets. Demure virgins wave palm fronds over the triumphant conqueror as he wanders the highways and byways of the campaign trail. Obama gracefully offers them water bottles when they are overcome – and they are miraculously healed.

Obama has it all. All except for one thing: a new slogan. Hope and change are all well and good, but they seem tired. After a year and a half, hope and change begin to wear thin, despite the Holy One's profound enunciation of those shallow incantations.

And so I, a humble member of a planet dedicated to the glory and power of Barack Obama, offer the following suggestions:

1. When Experience, Knowledge and Honor Just Aren't Good Enough. Vote Obama.
2. Hope. Change. And All That Other BS. Vote Obama.
3. More Experience Than a Fifth Grader. Vote Obama.
4. Standing Up For the Power of Horse Manure. Vote Obama.
5. Talking Big. Doing Nothing. Vote Obama.
6. This Election Is All About You. Voting for Me. Vote Obama.
7. Sure, I Remember Voting In the Senate That One Time. Vote Obama.
8. Kim Jong-il, Hamas and Fidel Castro Can't Be Wrong. Vote Obama.
9. Pass the Arugula. Vote Obama.
10. You Say Corrupt Land Deal. I Say Creative Financing. Potaytoe, Potahtoe. Vote Obama.
11. The Man With The Iraq Plan. Yeah, The Plan That Didn't Work. So What, Racist? Vote Obama.
12. Flag Pins Are Stupid. But I'm Not Unpatriotic. You Racist. Vote Obama.
13. Don't Like My Pastor? Shut Up, Racist. Still Don't Like Him? I Guess I Don't, Either. Vote Obama.
14. Watch the Oceans Recede. Watch the World Make Peace. And Watch As I Saw This Woman In Half! Vote Obama.
15. Fooling All of the People All of the Time. Vote Obama.
16. Cut Military Funding. Dictators Are Nice. Vote Obama.
17. Yes We Can. Or Rather, I Can. Vote Obama.

Barack Obama will not adopt any of these slogans any time soon, I admit. But here's the irony – he could adopt such slogans and still win the election. That's because his followers do not hear a word he says. They watch him wave his arms; they scream and cheer as he fist-bumps his wife; they keel over in the aisles when he coughs, and jump up and down when he sneezes. He's part Neville Chamberlain, part Rolling Stones. His devotees are all moonstruck teenyboppers.

Back in March, Obama spoke in Wisconsin. "People question if words matter," he thundered. "Words do matter. Words challenge us to reach higher. Words are a catalyst for change and words motivate us to chase our dreams." Obama was wrong. When it comes to his campaign, words don't matter in the slightest. Obama could perform mime, and his followers would applaud wildly. All that matters is the Obama persona. And that persona doesn't rely on words, ideas or policies. It relies on stupidity. And where his followers are concerned, stupidity is in no short supply

Source Ben Shapiro at World News Network

My humble offerings to add to Ben's:
18) Jesus saves; Barack spends. For Big Gov vote Obama

19) For tax to the max; vote Obama

20) Obama's new slogan: "People of Earth! Stop Your Bickering. I Am From Harvard, And I'm Here To Help." (Jonah Goldberg)

Also see

Bumper stickers nailing Obama are as tasteless and offensive as the Obamatrons' sexist "bro's before ho's"

Obamatrons register ficticious, underage, voters in VA; The Registrar agrees and Police make arrests: Gov. Kaine says GOP fraud claim is "ridiculous

Kaine Enters Dispute Over Vote Fraud Allegations (WaPo)

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) slammed Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick, the chairman of the Virginia Republican Party, this morning for saying on Monday that groups trying to register new voters are engaged in "a coordinated and widespread effort to commit voter fraud."

In a conference call with reporters, Del. Jeffrey M. Frederick (R-Prince William), the chairman of the state party, seized on the arrests last week of three paid canvassers charged with submitting false names on voter registration forms in Hampton.

The controversy comes during one of the most aggressive efforts in a generation to register new voters, especially African Americans, in Virginia.

Convinced that there are tens of thousands of unregistered African Americans and otherwise Democratic-leaning Virginia residents, the Democrats are trying to register 151,000 new voters before the Oct. 6 deadline. A dozen other private organizations have sent canvassers into the streets to register voters. Democrats think this is their best chance of carrying the state in a presidential election since 1964.

Frederick said the criminal charges in Hampton prove that some groups are trying to register voters through fraudulent means. "Unfortunately, there appears to be a coordinated and widespread effort in Virginia to commit voter fraud," he said.

Frederick said the state Republican Party has obtained an affidavit from a Richmond woman who contends that her Social Security number was used by someone who was trying to register to vote.

Frederick made a public plea for people not to register when approached by a canvasser because of the risk of falling victim to identity theft. "Identify theft is a serious problem. . . . Virginians should exercise caution when approached by a stranger who asks for their information" to register to vote.

Local election officials and police were surprised by Frederick's comments. They said they have found no evidence of fraud or attempts to steal personal information by the presidential campaign of Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) or other organizations trying to register voters.

Virginia Democrats said Frederick and the GOP are trying to suppress efforts to register voters because they are afraid the new voters could tip Virginia into the Democratic column on Election Day.

...Volunteers, including members of the Obama campaign, do much of the work. But a group called the Community Voters Project has been paying some of its canvassers based on how many registration forms they turn in.

Last week, Hampton police arrested three of those canvassers and charged them with voter fraud.

"These people involved were not meeting their quotas, so they started making up false information," said Cpl. Allison Good, a police spokeswoman. The city registrar's office and officials at the Community Voters Project noticed the discrepancies and contacted police, she said.

In an interview on WTOP radio, Kaine called Frederick's (Prince William) assertion "ridiculous."

"I think that is slandering the reputation of hardworking Virginians who care about elections and who want people to care about this process," Kaine said. "You know, I don't like to see folks doing things in the heat of a tough election to suggest they are trying to winnow down turnout and that is what I view (Frederick's) effort as."

Gerry Scimeca, a spokesman for the Virginia Republican Party, responded in an interview by rhetorically asking Kaine if he is "against people breaking the law," referring to the arrests last week of three canvassers in Hampton Roads charged with submitting false names on voter registration forms.

"All we are saying is, with the spotlight on Virginia in this election, we need added scrutiny for some of these voter registration projects that we have," Scimeca said. "With increased activity, comes increased opportunity for fraud and mischief."

Scimeca added, "I would think the Democrats would agree with us that the elections should be free of fraud and criminal activity - by any party."

As the debate continues, Frederick and the Republicans are not only ones raising questions about potential mischief when it comes to registering new voters.

Last week, J. Kirk Showalter, the general registrar in Richmond, sent a letter to elections officials saying she was "very concerned about how some of these drives that are paying people to do voter registration are conducting business."

"To date, we have identified 18 applications taken since June 11 where the address given was a fictitious address," Showalter said in the email, which was obtained by the Washington Post.

Showalter also mentioned that her office recently discovered that a 16-year-old high school student almost made it onto the voter rolls because he stated on his registration form that he was 18.

But Rokey Suleman, Fairfax's general registrar of voters, said the irregularities do not appear to be widespread, at least not in his county.

"Whenever you have a large voter registration drive, you are always going to see some voter registration cards that are not authentic," Suleman said. "But for the most part, registrars and the boards of elections catch those before they ever make them onto the books, so the system works.

Source WaPo 7/29/08 and 7/28/08

Its starting to become clear why Kaine has emerged as the front-runner to be Obama's Veep pick. Both men clearly share the same vision of winning elections by any means possible. Clearly, the appropriate response from the Governor who has sworn to uphold his State's constitution in a case where someone in his State has been caught cheating in voter registration activities should be condemnation. But Kaine chose to attack the people who identified the fraud. Nuff said.


Related Story on Voter Fraud

1. 4/22 Pennsylvania: Obama takes commanding lead in early exit polls
2. 7/31 Obamatrons register ficticious, underage, voters in VA; The Registrar agrees and Police make arrests: Gov. Kaine says GOP fraud claim is "ridiculous
3. 8/10 Obama vote fraud: ABC reports DNC paying cash to people in Virginia as incentive to register; 66% of new voters are under 35
4. 8/13 Key battleground states find evidence of illegal aliens and non-citizens on voting lists; Obama's ACORN may be a factor
5. New Mexico: county finds over 1100 "suspicious" voter registrations: duplicate names; DA notified; Obama's ACORN involved
6. Students registering in multiple locations being weeded out with use of the Post Office's National Change of Address Directory; double voters face felony charges
7. 11/2 Mac files suit to make sure VA counts absentee ballots from US military overseas; VA sent ballots out LATE: FL flashback
8. 11/2 Bogus voters stealing the election in Ohio; Obama donors inside Justice Dept refuse to stop obvious vote fraud says Rep. Boehner
9. 
   

Obamatrons flummoxed by the "Obama 20 Issues Quiz"

Not only has the Obama WTF 20 Issues Quiz got the Obamatrons seriously flummoxed but also its got them scrambling to regurgitate everything they were taught at the Obama indoctrination boot camp. Rather than attempt to defend their Messiah's positions, seems the Obamatrons are being forced to go immediately to their mindless "Bush Lied..." and "McCain is 71." I'm sure any Independents reading their response will recognize that the Obamatrons are clueless about their Messiah,

Here's a brief extract from one forum where it had been posted.

The opening poster, Lightoftruth, who reveals that he is not a great fan of either McCain or Obama, lists the questions and shares his opinions. Several non-Obama, non-McCain supporters reply by sharing their opinions. Here's one example.

Freaks1932 New York
I'm not an Obama supporter but just out of curiousity I'll run down them.



All the LINKS are HERE

A recent poll by Pew Research reported that 55% of those people who were supporting Obama claimed what they liked most about him was his “stand on the issues.” Really? Taking this short quiz may help you double-check.

Indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements:


1. ILLEGAL immigrants should be given drivers licenses. Disagree.

2. If following an attempt at an abortion, the baby is born alive, we should kill him or her. Disagree.

3. Our new president should immediately hold a conference for the leaders of all Muslim nations so we can listen to their concerns. Agree.

4. A “Marriage” can be between a man and woman, or a man and man, or a woman and woman. Agree.

5. If America wants to be respected in the world, we can’t drive our SUVs, and eat as much as we want. Disagree.

6. After September 11, I immediately thought it was important to understand what causes such madness. Agree.

7. People in small towns in Pennsylvania and the Mid-West are bitter, which explains why they cling to guns and religion. Disagree.

8. Even though doubling capital gains tax will result in less revenue for the government we should do it anyway. It’s about fairness...some people make too much money. Disagree.

9. A church whose magazine publishes a claim in June 2007 that Jews invented a bomb which only targets Africans and Arabs is actually not that controversial. No opinion although disagree with the claim.


10. We cannot continue to rely on the US military to achieve homeland security. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as WELL-FUNDED. Agree and disagree.

11. We should commit the US to cutting global poverty in half by 2015 at an estimated cost to US taxpayers of around $800 billion. Disagree.

12. It’s unreasonable to expect a nominee for President to vet the people he/she asks to conduct a search for a Vice President. No opinion/Don't care.

13. We should slow down our development of future combat systems for the US Military. Need more details on the subject.

14. It’s OK to make a fundamental promise to use public finance during the general election in order to win a Primary, and then to break the promise at the start of the general election because its all about winning. No opinion.

15. It’s OK for a candidate for president not to pay parking tickets for 20 years, as long as he/she pays them off at least two weeks before announcing a run for president. Disagree.

16. We should never criticize the words spoken by a candidate’s spouse, even if that spouse is actively giving speeches promoting the candidate, talking about policy and other political issues. Disagree although not all that concerned either.

17. A church whose Senior Pastor condemns the US government for creating HIV to kill African- Americans, is actually not that controversial. No opinion/disagree with claim.

18. For a Presidential candidate’s National Campaign Chairperson to compare a Primary between an African-American male and a Blond White Woman, to OJ Simpson murdering Nicole is OK. I don't think that really has much to do with Obama.

19. Child sex-abusers should be considered for early release. Disagree.

20. Iran is not a threat..., it spends less than one hundredth of what the US spends on Military. Disagree.

The more statements you agree with the more likely your views are in line with the positions held by Senator Obama.

All 20 questions reflect statements made/positions held by Senator Obama… click on the links if you want to check on the actual wording and context.

For those with many disagreements, this may provide more reasons to just say no deal to Obama.

As you think about your friends, family and colleagues, are there some who would appreciate receiving a copy of this quiz in their Email? Remember: the facts will set them free.

All the LINKS are HERE


http://www.plnewsforum.com/index.php/forums/viewthread/36712/

A couple more people give their opinions, and then here's what happens in the four posts that start when two Obamatrons, Merrill and JeffersonCarter show up.

Post 1 merrill writes: All links = crap sites = no substance Obama is correct that a surge is not working and he should not concede otherwise. A brilliant position to stand by. The whole Iraq fiasco was a failure because it was never justified by substantial hard evidence. While terrorists may be a problem, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran are not necessarily terrorists. There may be some who want to be terrorists, however that does not make the countries themselves terrorists. The greater majority of world populations do not support wars and killing innocent people. American imperialism is not accepted as a means to an end. It is not welcome anywhere in the world. However the USA must clean up its' own act before declaring others terrorists for we have terrorists in the PNAC White House....that continue to spy on americans. If there is action necessary to deal with terrorists then small-scale covert activity seems to be the answer. ONLY with worldwide participation, not the USA being the world cop unaccountable to no one. How exactly is any Bush illegal action working is the question? It isn't working in Pakistan,Iraq,Iran or Afghanistan. Why? Because BUSHCO imperialism is not acceptable to the world powers. Once again I stand by Obama that a surge is not working and he should not concede otherwise. The whole Iraq fiasco was a failure because it was never justified by substantial hard evidence. Post 2 lightoftruth Member The only thing you are exposing is this>>>>>>
lightoftruth Member Joined: Wed Jun 14th, 2006 Location: Lord Che' Obama, The Lemming King, Pennsylvania USA Posts: 24436 Status: Offline	Posted: Mon Jul 28th, 2008 03:13 pm
	Amazing the lack of libs willing to go on the record. Why, I thought the followers of lord OOOOOobaaaaama the messiah, peace be upon him, would be all over this in agreement touting these fine positions........
Post 3 jeffersonCarter Member Joined: Sun Aug 8th, 2004 Location: Colorado Posts: 3407 Status: Offline	Posted: Mon Jul 28th, 2008 03:30 pm
	And a 71 year old presidential candidate who graduated at the bottom of his class, dumped his wife for a rich, young, beauty, bungles the differences between Sunni and Shiites, Al qaeda and Iranian terrorist and trumpets the third surge in Iraqi is finally working, is preferred to a 47 year old, loyal husband, intelligent, graduate of Harvard Law school, who suggested from the beginning that invading Iraq would be a mistake. And you call yourself the "lightoftruth"?
Post 4 lightoftruth Member Joined: Wed Jun 14th, 2006 Location: Lord Che' Obama, The Lemming King, Pennsylvania USA Posts: 24436 Status: Offline	Posted: Mon Jul 28th, 2008 07:44 pm
	A simple test is so upsetting to you, that you must go off topic???? Telling...

Great effort by Lightoftruth!

Its worth noting when
merrill writes: All links = crap sites = no substance
he's showing he hasn't even looked at the links. Why? Because all the links go to a single site...ie Obama WTF...not to multiple sites! Reminds me of when the Chicago Tribune said the List of Lies was ALL false.


As you think about your friends, family and colleagues, are there some who would appreciate receiving a copy of this quiz in their Email? Remember...unless they are IQ-challenged like the two Obamatrons we just saw posting mindless retorts which were completely off-topic... the facts will set them free.

"I Hate Yankees" scores an own-goal and provides decisive reasons not to vote Obama

Came across this "insightful" debate on a global political forum.

Given the first poster's love for socialized medicine in countries like Britain where waiting 1-2 years for non-critical ops is routine, and where patients frequently go overseas to countries like the US for serious treatment, you should quickly figure out why I believe the poster known as I hate Yankees makes an incredibly COMPELLING set of arguments why we simply CANNOT follow his advice and vote for Obama.

My guess is I hate Yankees and his friend Bludney Plud would each achieve perfect scores of 20 on the Obama 20 Issues Quiz !

Source


From I hate yankees on July 21, 2008 at 1:39 am.

You yanks that spew your vitriol and stupidity on these sites need to do some research before November.
1. USA has third rate public health, education and welfare systems compared to commonwealth countries like UK, Canada and Australia. Note that social democracy DOES NOT equal socialism, for example a McCain type politician would never be elected in a commonwealth country because they would be evaluated as being indifferent to the needs of their electorate.
2. Republicans are perceived internationally as being owned by the military-industrial multinationals - the big oils and big corporates - that have too much say in the worlds affairs just so they can garner extra profits. If Iraq was an ethical invasion - why was Blackwater in the country?, and why is Halliburton still in the country?
3. The rest of the world would prefer a man that more closely matches European and Commonwealth countries leaders in terms of education, professional ability, age, positive outlook and political views - we do not share your yankee obsession with electing a marginal candidate just because he is white, older and ex-military - indeed elsewhere in the world McGaff would be discretely sidelined by his own party.
4. Obama is now only a few points in front in your biased yankee polls - despite obviously being better equipped for the presidency. Look how your corrupt mass media is looking for just one Obama slip-up to sink him - yet McTwit gets away with stuff up after stuff up.
I do not agree with everything about Obama - FISA is a concern given that Obama is a constitutional lawyer and he has promised to look at this again - but most of the Western world looks at McCain as Bush reloaded with the emphasis on reloaded. Therefore do the rest of humanity a favour and at least research the issues before you vote.

From Bludney Plud in reply to I hate yankees on July 28, 2008 at 4:14 pm.

Spot on. But remember - we are all yanks here, and some of us are voting for Obama. Me, for example.

By the way, to you, all Americans are yanks. To Americans, Yankees are people from the Northeast. To Northeasterners, Yankees are people from New Hampshire. And as far as New Hampshirites are concerned, a Yankee is someone who still poops in the woods.

See? Everything is relative!

Oxy Moran says, "Hope neither of these two is my relative."

Nevertheless I do agree with one thing "I hate Yankees" said:

"at least research the issues before you vote."

Arrogant Obama launches his own version of Facebook: check out his sleazy friends at BarackBook!

GOP launches Facebook parody mocking Obama

July 29, 2008 (Computerworld) The Republican National Committee today launched a parody of Facebook called BarackBook that attempts to discredit Obama by highlighting as his "friends" people who may reflect badly on his presidential bid.

The site, whose template is similar to that of popular social networking site Facebook, lists former Obama fund-raiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko as an Obama friend. Rezko was convicted last month of 16 felony corruption charges, which BarackBook chronicles through various news articles detailing his indictment and conviction. BarackBook also has similar profiles of other Obama "friends" including Nadhmi Auchi, an Iraqi billionaire with ties to Rezko.

The site also contains videos bashing Obama on a variety of issues.

The RNC did not respond to a request for comment on the site. However, the committee noted in a press release that the site was created to highlight some of Obama's "notable associations" throughout his career.

"Leveraging the popularity of social networking sites, BarackBook allows voters to explore Obama's connections with these individuals as well as their connections to one another using video and news articles," the RNC press release noted.

The RNC added that it plans to update the site routinely between now and Election Day. Users can receive automated updates when the site adds new information or invite others to view BarackBook by installing a BarackBook Facebook application distributed by the RNC. As of today, 18 Facebook users had signed on to use the BarackBook application on Facebook.

The Obama campaign did not respond to a request for comment on the RNC effort by press time.

Michael Turk, a blogger at TechPresident, which chronicles the intersection between Web 2.0 and politics, noted that, while he has argued often that the RNC has not fostered a "sense of creativity or innovation" when it comes to its Web operations, he liked BarackBook.

"It's not quite an exact rip-off of Facebook's profile page, which would have been easy enough to do, but I suspect they were trying to make it different enough so that they wouldn't get sued," Turk noted. "Some might argue that mocking Facebook is a bad move given that Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes is running my.BarackObama.com. It may call attention to the fact that Obama has attracted some big tech names to his side. I disagree."

But he noted that the site's popularity might be hampered by the inability to easily spread the content of the site to other users and sites.

"[The RNC should] add an option in the upper left to 'Add Friends' and provide the opportunity for visitors to virally promote the site," Turk added. "Regular Facebook users would likely click on the link just to see what what's behind it."

Source Heather Havenstein - Computer World

How Barack Obama gamed the Primary system to BUY Superdelegates; money, money, money

This video from Team Clinton tells the story of Obama's Hopefund. Find details see the Story at Documented Lie #13

By wrongly attacking McCain on the Surge, Team Obama shows its clueless on Military Affairs

Team Obama seems to be becoming more desperate. Now they're inventing gaffe's in a frantic push to declare Senator McCain to be equally inexperienced as their Messiah.

Most recently, this tactic involved false claims that John McCain had credited the Jan 07 troop surge with the so-called Anbar Awakening which occurred 6 months earlier. I love it every time they attack John McCain on military issues...because its an area where Team Obama is clueless

Hardly surprisingly, this one is coming back to bite them in the ass. In making this allegation they are simply showing their complete and total ignorance of the lexicon and strategy of fighting the type of guerrilla insurgency that been seen in both Palestine and Iraq.

Marc Ambinder of Atlantic.com reports that John McCain was asked by a reporter about the kerfuffle surrounding his comments on the surge and the Anbar Awakening:

“First of all, a surge is really a counter-insurgency strategy," McCain said. [...]

Colonel McFarland, in Anbar province, McCain said, "had already initiated that strategy in Ramadi by going in and clearing and holding in certain places. That is a counter-insurgency. And he told me at that time that he believed that that strategy, which is quote the surge, part of the surge, would be, would be, successful. So then, of course, it was very clear that we needed additional troops in order to carry out this insurgency. Prior to that -- counter insurgency. Prior to that they had been going into places, killing people or not killing people, and then withdrawing. And the new counter-insurgency, the surge, entailed going in and clearing and holding, which Colonel McFarland had already started doing. And then of course, later on, there were additional troops, and General Petraeus said that the surge would not have worked, and the Anbar Awakening would not have taken place, successfully, if they hadn’t had an increase in the number of troops."

"So I’m not sure frankly that people really understand that a surge is part of counter-insurgency strategy which means going in, clearing, holding, building a better life, providing services to the people. And then clearly a part of that, an important part of it, was additional troops to help insure the safety of the sheiks, to gain control of Ramadi, which was a very bloody fight, and then the surge would continue to succeed as a counter-insurgency.’’

Ambinder makes an important observation: "Most of us equate the surge with troop levels, but for McCain, it has always been about a strategy; to executive the strategy, more troops were needed."

That's exactly right. Here's how McCain described the proposed change in strategy on January 5, 2007--five days before the "surge" was ordered by President Bush:

The mission of these reinforcements would be to implement the thus-elusive hold element of the military's clear, hold, build strategy, to maintain security in cleared areas to protect the population and critical infrastructure, and to impose the government's authority: essential elements of a traditional counterinsurgency strategy.

We are talking about the fundamental elements of counterinsurgency strategy here

Lest you forget how much of an expert Obama is NOT on Miltary Affairs check out this classic video documenting Obama's changes of position on Iraq

LIE #91 Obama claims he's "not being political" when "he's flip-flopping"; timing and direction of major flip flops shows he's lying

Obama wants us to believe that his shocking series of flip flops on issues such as FISA, Iraq, Public Finance, NAFTA, Gun control ALL OF WHICH OCCURRED SINCE HIS JUNE 3 victory over Clinton are not being done for political reasons to present him as a moderate candidate in the General Election.

For such a series of fundamental changes to have occurred in the space of the last 5-6 weeks and to then ask us to believe its not for political gain, is asking for us to suspend every ounce of comman sense in our heads. Does he really believe he can FOOL ALL 300,000,000 Americans ALL THE TIME?

I believe this man would sell his grandmother for a vote...oops ...forgot he already did.

By Caren Bohan

POWDER SPRINGS, Georgia (Reuters) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama rejected charges on Tuesday that he has shifted positions on Iraq and other issues as part of a move to the political center now that he is his party's nominee.

As he positions himself for the battle against Republican John McCain, the Illinois senator softened an earlier vow to reopen the North American Free Trade Agreement, did not oppose a Supreme Court decision striking down Washington's gun ban and said he would support expanding the government's wiretap authority.

Most recently, he signaled greater flexibility on his pledge to quickly pull U.S. troops out of Iraq, telling reporters last week he might "refine" his views based on what happens on the ground.

Asked about his Iraq policy at a town hall meeting in Powder Springs, Obama rejected claims he was softening his insistence on a withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country.

He also said he hoped he could more generally counter "this whole notion that I am shifting to the center or that I'm flip-flopping or this or that."

"You know, the people who say this apparently haven't been listening to me," Obama said.

The McCain campaign has eagerly accused Obama of shifting position for political expediency -- a tactic Republican President George W. Bush used against Democrat John Kerry successfully in his 2004 re-election campaign .

"I think there's been definitely shifts in position, and one of them is Iraq," McCain told the Fox News Channel on Tuesday.

Obama, who has a single-digit lead over McCain in the polls heading toward the November election, has also been criticized by some liberal supporters, particularly over his support for electronic eavesdropping legislation.

Pundits believe he is attempting to position himself closer to the center in hopes of winning over independent voters, moderate Democrats and some Republican voters who have grown disenchanted with Bush.

'LURCHING' TO THE RIGHT?

In an opinion piece in Tuesday's New York Times, columnist Bob Herbert accused Obama of "lurching" away from liberal positions. "Senator Obama is not just tacking gently toward the center," Herbert said. "He's lurching right when it suits him, and he's zigging with the kind of reckless abandon that's guaranteed to cause disillusion, if not whiplash."

But Obama said he wanted his supporters to know that although he might not agree with each of them on every issue, when he differs it is not because he is playing politics.

"One of the things that you find as you go through this campaign is that everybody became so cynical about politics that the assumption is that you must be doing everything for political reasons," he said. "Don't assume that because I don't agree with you on something that it must be because I'm doing that politically."

Obama wants us to teach "age-appropriate" sex education in kindergarten! Dont believe it? Watch Romney rip Obama in the video

Whats on the video?

After Obama attacks Allan Keyes for attacking him on this issue during the 2004 US Senate campaign, he reaffirms his position to introduce sex education for Kindergartners (0-30 secs)

ABC News' Teddy Davis and Lindsey Ellerson Report: Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., told Planned Parenthood Tuesday that sex education for kindergartners, as long as it is "age-appropriate," is "the right thing to do."

"I remember Alan Keyes . . . I remember him using this in his campaign against me," Obama said in reference to the conservative firebrand who ran against him for the U.S. Senate in 2004. Sex education for kindergartners had become an issue in his race against Keyes because of Obama’s work on the issue as chairman of the health committee in the Illinois state Senate.

"'Barack Obama supports teaching sex education to kindergarteners,'" said Obama mimicking Keyes' distinctive style of speech. "Which -- I didn’t know what to tell him (laughter)."

"But it’s the right thing to do," Obama continued, "to provide age-appropriate sex education, science-based sex education in schools

Looks like the video was unfairly curtailed to miss out Obama's "age appropriate" caveat...but to make up for it, the clip acknowledged his caveat in the later comments by Governor Romney

Romney says in his experience as Governor not one parent of a 5 year old child ever demanded any form of sex education. And Romney was Governor of one of the Nation's most liberal states, Massachusetts! (31 sec to 90 sec) "What's age appropriate for a 5 yr old?" asks Romney rhetorically..."nothing"


Here's some of the comments that went with the initial posting of this material on an ABC.com site in mid 2007

this reminds me of a south park episode...i remember learning the differences in anatomy in preschool...so in kindergarten does it need to go any further than that? if one cannot come up with details of the proposed "age appropriate" sex education for kindergartners..then it becomes difficult to decide which side of the fence to be on.

Posted by: MissShooter | Jul 18, 2007 2:27:56 PM

oh the horror!! sex education!! bring back the abusive nuns who would lash our pupils hands into bloody pulps for even asking!! the more you lie to the youth about sex, they more they will explore and figure it out on their own, at younger and younger ages. GROW UP AMERICA, AND EDUCATE YOUR KIDS, NOT INDOCTRINATE THEM.

Posted by: J | Jul 18, 2007 2:46:49 PM

Am I the only one who thinks that sex education for kids in kindergarten is crazy? I respect Obama, but I have to disagree with him. Before puberty, what purpose could sex education serve? At what point does teaching sex education to pre-pubescent kids become absurd? Should we teach sex education to children who cannot walk or talk? There is nothing appropriate about this. The fact that he needs to re-explain himself on this issue, should have been a hint that this idea is half-baked. This is a dumb position for Obama to take. Good luck on formulating a curriculum. Let kindergarten kids be curious. Don't indoctrinate them.

Posted by: Sean O'Brien | Jul 18, 2007 4:22:22 PM

Teaching sex education to Kindergarteners is totally inappropriate!

Posted by: MJ | Jul 18, 2007 5:57:22 PM

Just one more reason not to send your kids to public schools.

Posted by: mickey | Jul 18, 2007 6:30:39 PM

J...I think it's hard to lie about sex when children don't ask about it at that age. Of all the things that can be taught in a limited school day, sex ed in kindergarten doesn't seem that necessary...if this is Mr. Obama's solution to decreasing teen pregnancy rates (which are already at record lows) than I think his urban agenda may have some problems.

Posted by: taylor | Jul 18, 2007 6:32:16 PM

This is the case of another politician who think he knows how to teach your kids better than you...

Posted by: tom S | Jul 18, 2007 6:32:27 PM

Here's an idea- leave it completely up to parents.

Posted by: mmljg | Jul 18, 2007 6:32:56 PM

Wouldn't it be more valuable to teach them the ABCs and how to add?

Posted by: Steve | Jul 18, 2007 6:33:17 PM

To J, it seems to me that there was less teen sexual activity decades ago and I don't think that it was due to additional instruction in the classroom at early ages.

Posted by: B | Jul 18, 2007 6:34:03 PM

...and why can't a teacher just tell a child who asks the where do babies come from question to talk to their parents??? Heaven forbid they have any say on how a child learns about sex.

Posted by: taylor | Jul 18, 2007 6:34:11 PM

Bwaaaaaaa! LOL!!! Ahhhh ha hah ha ha ha! This clown thinks children 4, 5 and 6 need to learn about sex?
Right, forget about being a child, playing with toys, learning to share and to interact and reading, writing and math we should get our children to be promiscuous “progressives”. What an idiot, I can’t believe there are enough delusional people in this country to give this fraud a chance.

I don’t recall ever hearing about sex education until high school but then my generation was not pregnant at 14 and sporting 4 different children from 4 different fathers, gotta love “progressives”.

Posted by: Liberal Fruitcake | Jul 18, 2007 6:35:10 PM

Reminds me of Kindergarden Cop:
"Boys have a penis, girls have a vagina."
And THAT IS sex ed in kindergarden.

Posted by: Justa Thought | Jul 18, 2007 6:35:12 PM

I simply can not understand how anyone could think that anything to do with sex would be relevant to a KINDERGARTNER. Unfortunately, there is an assumption out there that a "curriculum" can solve social ills. How much money has been poured into "educating" people about AIDS and everthing else? It does not work. The government can NOT be the answer. We don't even trust government with our money! Why would we trust it with a decision such as this?

Posted by: GregPierson | Jul 18, 2007 6:36:06 PM

You have to be kidding. Sex Ed for 5 and 6 year olds. This is a perfect example of what is wrong with this country. Why don't we give 5 year olds condoms?

Posted by: gary | Jul 18, 2007 6:36:08 PM

Funny thing about all the opposition to abstinence based education- the most recent meta-study- which examined programs of abstinence and non-abstinence based sex ed programs in both suburban and inner city schools - found that the kids in ALL groups had the same rate of knowledge, condom use, STD diagnosis rate, pregnancy rate- and SO DID the kids who got NO SEX ED IN SCHOOL !
So when does THAT hit the headlines so we can stop wasting money on what parents should be doing, and start buying math books ???

Posted by: Kit | Jul 18, 2007 6:36:29 PM

don't be silly. like he said. age appropriate. It is VERY IMPORTANT that you LISTEN to words. That you READ them to understand what the person is actually SAYING. Age approproate means very vague, very general, not at all explicit or physically descriptive.

eg. "Babies come from mommy's tummy." Case closed. Job over. Kindergartener curiosity satisfied.

Posted by: Sam | Jul 18, 2007 6:36:48 PM

I send my kids to school so that they can learn how to read, write and do math ... not to learn how to multiply (pun intended).

Let me teach them about sexuality at home. Its my responsibility as a parent, not the state's.

Posted by: paul | Jul 18, 2007 6:37:03 PM

This man will NEVER be president. He is very disturbed. Liberalism is a MENTAL DISORDER!!!

Posted by: Suzanne LePonte | Jul 18, 2007 6:37:37 PM

Schools have a hard enough time just teaching the basics let alone trying to teach 6 year olds about sex. I've never understood the concept of sex education in school in any grade level. I am sure it is a complete waste of time and for Obama to say kids who don't have this in school will grow up getting sick and pregnant and perhaps dying is pathetic and condescending.

Posted by: Mark | Jul 18, 2007 6:37:58 PM

I respect Alan Keyes. He didn't make a fool of himself EVER, and Mr "mocking" Obama just lost one vote.

Posted by: Raina | Jul 18, 2007 6:38:40 PM


Why can't parents teach their kids this information in the way they deem appropriate?

Posted by: JD | Jul 18, 2007 6:40:12 PM

Yet another instance of how Liberals believe they can better educate and raise your children better than you can.
No thanks.

Posted by: Kevin | Jul 18, 2007 6:40:22 PM

Yet another example of a politician out of touch with the majority. Sex-ed for 5 year olds? I wonder if that would have helped Bill Clinton... hmmmm.

Posted by: Normal Majority | Jul 18, 2007 6:41:15 PM

Mr. Obama supports state legislation with "opt-out" provisions. Why, as a parent, should I have to intervene to protect my children from idealogues? (See comment from "J") Why don't government schools adopt "Opt-in" provisions for the parents who shirk the responsibility of providing the moral base upon which their children will stand? I have no objection (other than having to pay for it) to a father or mother wanting government indoctrination for his or her child, but I have major objections to anyone desiring government indoctrination for my child. Why do people fear those of us who desire liberty?

Another compelling reason to just say no to Obama

Obama wants to grant preferential treatment based on race: (FAQ: The difference between Racial Preferences and Affirmative Action?)

• Obama and racial preferences

1. Obama's divisive view of race consistent with liberal record
2. Liberal Stealth Candidate; affirmative action, abortion,
3. Obama wants to grant preferential treatment based on race: (FAQ:The difference between Racial Preferences and Affirmative Action?)
4. Obama's strong support for racial preferences may well cost him key battleground states
5. Angry Michelle is weighed down by boulder-size chips on each of her shoulders; admits scores too low for Princeton, Harvard
6. Obama concedes he “undoubtedly benefited from affirmative action” ; what a surprise
7. Michelle says "If my future was determined by SAT's I wouldn't be here"
8. Obama accused of raising millions & putting most into White community; power struggle within BHO's special interest coalition
9. Canadian worries US Whites are ignoring red flags about Obama's socialism & shady associates to relieve feeling of guilt over slavery

1. 
   

1 Obama supports Racial Preferences.
This issue is likely to come to a head in the next few days. Why? The State of Arizona has an initiative on the ballot to eliminate Racial Preferences.

The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting.

2 Obama v McCain

McCain supports the initiative to ban Racial Preferences. The State of California passed a similar initiative a few years ago

Obama's response, on Sunday, July 27 2008

Obama said he was disappointed that McCain has endorsed a ballot initiative in Arizona that would ban preferences based on race and gender in that state

3 Whats the difference between Racial Preferences and Affirmative Action?

Affirmative Action and racial preferences are not the same
The following extract comes from University of Maryland School of Public Affairs's comprehensive paper on this complex topic

3a) Nonpreferential Affirmative Action

The basic idea of affirmative action was simple: motivate firms to carry on continuous, conscious appraisal of their procedures and rules to detect and eliminate those that excluded minorities and women without appropriate justification. The mechanism to embody this idea was the ubiquitous affirmative action plan, imposed on all federal contractors by Executive Order 11246. Make a plan, the government told firms in 1972, that includes these steps:

Step 1. Take action to make sure your selection pool is expansive.

Step 2. Given the racial composition of the expanded pool, predict the results over time of your selecting nondiscriminatorily from it. Your prediction constitutes your affirmative action "goals." They give you a benchmark against which to compare actual outcomes.

Step 3. At intervals, compare your actual selections with your "goals." If you are not meeting your goals, then reexamine your rules and procedures to see what is causing the problem.

If your selections match your "goals," the government went on to say, we are not going to look your way. But if your selections fall short of your "goals," we will come to inquire why. If the inquiry shows that your firm has made "good faith" efforts to carry out your affirmative action plan, you will suffer no penalties. After all, your requirement under the law is not to select the predicted number of blacks, but to select without discrimination. Since the predictions are often based on crude assumptions, there can be many legitimate reasons why the actual outcome wasn't the predicted outcome. But still, we will ask some hard questions: you had better have some very good answers.

This was nonpreferential affirmative action. Nonpreferential affirmative action was a color-conscious, self-monitoring device to aid firms and institutions in achieving nondiscrimination. And it was also a device enforcers of the law could use to measure compliance.

3b) Racial preferences

By contrast Racial Preferences involves deliberately favoring one race over another in for example recruitment hiring. In the seventies, in some cases this was blessed by the Courts to overcome deeply ingrained racism. California has passed an initiative banning any form of racial or gender preferences.

4) Why Senator Obama supports the continuation of Racial Preferences.

Obama supports Racial Preferences
Friday June 13, 2008

posted by Michele McGinty
Source

How is that post-racial? If Obama believes that race doesn't matter, then why make it a factor when an applicant applies for a job or college? Ward Connerly looks at Obama's position on preferences and is disappointed because he was hoping that he really was post-racial:

Mr. Wickham, who had interviewed the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, wrote that "Obama believes America can keep its promise to women and blacks without dashing the hopes of working-class whites. He doesn't think opportunity guarantees made to one group must come at the expense of another." Then he went on to quote Obama campaign spokeswoman Candice Toliver, who said that "Senator Obama believes in a country in which opportunity is available to all Americans, regardless of race, gender or economic status. That's why he opposes these ballot initiatives, which would roll back opportunity for millions of Americans and cripple efforts to break down historic barriers to the progress of qualified women and minorities."

[...]

The rationale for using race preferences to "eliminate historic barriers," upon which Mr. Obama relies as his primary justification, has been rejected consistently by the Supreme Court since the Bakke decision in 1978. Only the pursuit of "diversity" by higher education meets the strict constitutional test for race preferences. As a lawyer, I am sure that Mr. Obama must know this.

He must also know that blacks and whites are not the only racial groups in America. Every year there are more than 48,000 applicants for one of the 4,500 seats at the University of California campus at Berkeley. Before the passage of the initiative in that state to outlaw race preferences, thousands of Asian students were denied admission so that a greater number of "underrepresented minorities" could be admitted.

Similar circumstances exist across the nation, because college admissions, public jobs and government contracts are the ultimate "zero-sum" game, and race and gender should not be the determining factors in picking winners and losers. It simply stretches credulity to argue that an "opportunity" given to one, on the basis of race, is not discrimination against another for the same reason.

The issue that troubled many Americans about the widely publicized sermons of Rev. Jeremiah Wright was his view that America is an "institutionally racist" society. This view lies at the heart of the defense advocates of race preferences make for "affirmative action." It is also at the core of Black Liberation Theology.

By supporting race preferences, Mr. Obama is unmistakably attaching himself to despicable ideas like Rev. Wright's. And, if he believes in those precepts, how does he reconcile his impressive political success and that of Mrs. Clinton with this perspective? Thirty-six million Americans didn't vote for the two of them because the majority of the American people are racist and sexist.

Post-racial means we get beyond the issue of race and unite together. Connerly's right, Obama's candidacy shows that we are not a racist nation and we need to stop institutionalizing racism in our colleges and government jobs by denying an application because of race.

5 Obama and his media friends will try to confuse the public on this issue

Powerline Blog warns

The MSM can be counted on (1) to ignore the issue as much as possible (2) when discussing it, to obfuscate by casting the matter in terms of "Affirmative Action," not Racial Preferences and (3) if all else fails, to accuse McCain of playing the race card. Thus, McCain must focus on the wording of the specific proposition that Obama won't support: "The state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in the operation of public employment, public education, or public contracting."

.

Stanford Professor of Economics says Obama is "startlingly economically illiterate": his plan will REDUCE some AFTER-TAX wages one THIRD

Obamanomics Is a Recipe for Recession

By MICHAEL J. BOSKIN WSJ
July 29, 2008

What if I told you that a prominent global political figure in recent months has proposed: abrogating key features of his government's contracts with energy companies; unilaterally renegotiating his country's international economic treaties; dramatically raising marginal tax rates on the "rich" to levels not seen in his country in three decades (which would make them among the highest in the world); and changing his country's social insurance system into explicit welfare by severing the link between taxes and benefits?

AP

The first name that came to mind would probably not be Barack Obama, possibly our nation's next president. Yet despite his obvious general intelligence, and uplifting and motivational eloquence, Sen. Obama reveals this startling economic illiteracy in his policy proposals and economic pronouncements. From the property rights and rule of (contract) law foundations of a successful market economy to the specifics of tax, spending, energy, regulatory and trade policy, if the proposals espoused by candidate Obama ever became law, the American economy would suffer a serious setback.

To be sure, Mr. Obama has been clouding these positions as he heads into the general election and, once elected, presidents sometimes see the world differently than when they are running. Some cite Bill Clinton's move to the economic policy center following his Hillary health-care and 1994 Congressional election debacles as a possible Obama model. But candidate Obama starts much further left on spending, taxes, trade and regulation than candidate Clinton. A move as large as Mr. Clinton's toward the center would still leave Mr. Obama on the economic left.

Also, by 1995 the country had a Republican Congress to limit President Clinton's big government agenda, whereas most political pundits predict strengthened Democratic majorities in both Houses in 2009. Because newly elected presidents usually try to implement the policies they campaigned on, Mr. Obama's proposals are worth exploring in some depth. I'll discuss taxes and trade, although the story on his other proposals is similar.

First, taxes. The table nearby demonstrates what could happen to marginal tax rates in an Obama administration. Mr. Obama would raise the top marginal rates on earnings, dividends and capital gains passed in 2001 and 2003, and phase out itemized deductions for high income taxpayers. He would uncap Social Security taxes, which currently are levied on the first $102,000 of earnings. The result is a remarkable reduction in work incentives for our most economically productive citizens.

The top 35% marginal income tax rate rises to 39.6%; adding the state income tax, the Medicare tax, the effect of the deduction phase-out and Mr. Obama's new Social Security tax (of up to 12.4%) increases the total combined marginal tax rate on additional labor earnings (or small business income) from 44.6% to a whopping 62.8%. People respond to what they get to keep after tax, which the Obama plan reduces from 55.4 cents on the dollar to 37.2 cents -- a reduction of one-third in the after-tax wage!

Despite the rhetoric, that's not just on "rich" individuals. It's also on a lot of small businesses and two-earner middle-aged middle-class couples in their peak earnings years in high cost-of-living areas. (His large increase in energy taxes, not documented here, would disproportionately harm low-income Americans. And, while he says he will not raise taxes on the middle class, he'll need many more tax hikes to pay for his big increase in spending.)

On dividends the story is about as bad, with rates rising from 50.4% to 65.6%, and after-tax returns falling over 30%. Even a small response of work and investment to these lower returns means such tax rates, sooner or later, would seriously damage the economy.

On economic policy, the president proposes and Congress disposes, so presidents often wind up getting the favorite policy of powerful senators or congressmen. Thus, while Mr. Obama also proposes an alternative minimum tax (AMT) patch, he could instead wind up with the permanent abolition plan for the AMT proposed by the Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D., N.Y.) -- a 4.6% additional hike in the marginal rate with no deductibility of state income taxes. Marginal tax rates would then approach 70%, levels not seen since the 1970s and among the highest in the world. The after-tax return to work -- the take-home wage for more time or effort -- would be cut by more than 40%.

Now trade. In the primaries, Sen. Obama was famously protectionist, claiming he would rip up and renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). Since its passage (for which former President Bill Clinton ran a brave anchor leg, given opposition to trade liberalization in his party), Nafta has risen to almost mythological proportions as a metaphor for the alleged harm done by trade, globalization and the pace of technological change.

Yet since Nafta was passed (relative to the comparable period before passage), U.S. manufacturing output grew more rapidly and reached an all-time high last year; the average unemployment rate declined as employment grew 24%; real hourly compensation in the business sector grew twice as fast as before; agricultural exports destined for Canada and Mexico have grown substantially and trade among the three nations has tripled; Mexican wages have risen each year since the peso crisis of 1994; and the two binational Nafta environmental institutions have provided nearly $1 billion for 135 environmental infrastructure projects along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In short, it would be hard, on balance, for any objective person to argue that Nafta has injured the U.S. economy, reduced U.S. wages, destroyed American manufacturing, harmed our agriculture, damaged Mexican labor, failed to expand trade, or worsened the border environment. But perhaps I am not objective, since Nafta originated in meetings James Baker and I had early in the Bush 41 administration with Pepe Cordoba, chief of staff to Mexico's President Carlos Salinas.

Mr. Obama has also opposed other important free-trade agreements, including those with Colombia, South Korea and Central America. He has spoken eloquently about America's responsibility to help alleviate global poverty -- even to the point of saying it would help defeat terrorism -- but he has yet to endorse, let alone forcefully advocate, the single most potent policy for doing so: a successful completion of the Doha round of global trade liberalization. Worse yet, he wants to put restrictions into trade treaties that would damage the ability of poor countries to compete. And he seems to see no inconsistency in his desire to improve America's standing in the eyes of the rest of the world and turning his back on more than six decades of bipartisan American presidential leadership on global trade expansion. When trade rules are not being improved, nontariff barriers develop to offset the liberalization from the current rules. So no trade liberalization means creeping protectionism.

History teaches us that high taxes and protectionism are not conducive to a thriving economy, the extreme case being the higher taxes and tariffs that deepened the Great Depression. While such a policy mix would be a real change, as philosophers remind us, change is not always progress.

Mr. Boskin, Professor of Economics at Stanford University

Obey Obama... Obey Obama ...Obey Obama

Democrats ditch stubborn delegate

Source Chicago Tribune 7/27/08
The Tribune's Tim Jones on the party's message to zealous Clinton backers: Get in line or get out

It's one thing to be upset when your candidate loses, but it's another matter entirely to openly talk about consorting with the enemy.

Debra Bartoshevich, a supporter of Sen. Hillary Clinton during the presidential primary season, learned the hard lesson of that indiscretion when Wisconsin Democrats bounced her as a delegate to the party's national convention because she said she'd vote for Republican Sen. John McCain in November.

The 41-year-old nurse and mom of two from Waterford seen at right, was a pledged delegate to Clinton who told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after Clinton dropped out that she would vote for McCain, not Sen. Obama

The damage was compounded when McCain's campaign used her remarks.

Unlike the tight primary race between Clinton and Obama, Bartoshevich was buried by a party committee, which voted 23-0 to strip her of her delegate status on Friday.

Two-faced Michelle didn't know if she would vote for Hillary; suddenly she cant stop gushing about HRC's greatness

Remember a few months ago on Good Morning America, when we saw the real mean-spirited Michelle saying she had concerns about Mrs Clinton's tone, policy etc





Well now in exactly the same way as Barack deletes his failed policies on Iraq from his official website, Michelle has deleted all her earlier criticism of Senator Clinton from her stump speech. If only life was that simple, Michelle might have become First Lady.

Posted July 28, 2008 4:44 PM

by John McCormick

As she has campaigned on her husband's behalf over the past 18 months, Michelle Obama often talks about the rigors of daily life for an American mother.

There was extra pressure in the room Monday, however, as she headlined a fundraiser in Chicago that had included an earlier speech by healthy eating guru Alice Waters, who runs the Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, Calif.

"You can't just make a dinner," Michelle Obama said. "It's got to be a nutritious dinner, grown with good, fresh, clean food. That takes time. Trust me."

The line was one of many that drew applause for Michelle Obama in her appearance before a crowd of more than 800 at the Palmer House Hilton that included her mother, Marian Robinson.

The event for the Obama Victory Fund raised an estimated $750,000, with tickets ranging from $250 to the limit of $28,500. The joint committee has higher contribution limits and is run with the Democratic National Committee.

In her appearance before the "Women for Obama" group, Michelle Obama also gave the obligatory nod to Sen. Hillary Clinton.

"My husband is a better candidate because of her. My daughters will think of themselves differently because of her. All of our children, our girls, will believe in the possibility of something bigger because of her," she said. "She has been nothing but gracious and open and warm and generous in this effort."

You can not be serious! Gallup/USA Today poll gives MCCAIN a 4 point lead; another Obama fundraising gimmick?

As I've repeatedly warned, there's too many uncertainties and games being played with the polls to rely on them for anything but overall directional information. This latest poll, the first to ever show McCain ahead, follows yesterday's daily tracking poll from Gallup which showed Obama had a NINE point lead.

What does it mean? Directionally Obama has probably lost ground in July. How much? Don't know. But I'm also very aware that USA Today is 100% pro-Obama, and I wouldn't be surprised to see this poll being used by Obama to hustle up donors as the Campaign heads into its end of the month drive to hit its sales forecast.

Gallup/USA Today Poll: McCain +4
Posted by TOM BEVAN | Real Clear Politics

This one should set the tongues wagging:

Republican presidential candidate John McCain moved from being behind by 6 points among "likely" voters a month ago to a 4-point lead over Democrat Barack Obama among that group in the latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. McCain still trails slightly among the broader universe of "registered" voters. By both measures, the race is tight.

The Friday-Sunday poll, mostly conducted as Obama was returning from his much-publicized overseas trip and released just this hour, shows McCain now ahead 49%-45% among voters that Gallup believes are most likely to go to the polls in November. In late June, he was behind among likely voters, 50%-44%.

This is the first poll showing McCain with a lead over Obama since a May 1-3 Gallup/USA Today survey showed him with a slim 1 point lead. A Fox News poll at the end of April had McCain up 3.

With today's Rasmussen and Gallup tracking both ticking down for Obama (-2 and -1, respectively) and a new Dem Corps poll showing Obama up five, the new RCP National Average has Obama's lead over McCain dipping to 3.2

Here's the story in the Pro-Obama USA Today with a picture of its accompanying "Warning"

Gains for McCain in latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll

Republican presidential candidate John McCain moved from being behind by 6 points among "likely" voters a month ago to a 4-point lead over Democrat Barack Obama among that group in the latest USA TODAY/Gallup Poll. McCain still trails slightly among the broader universe of "registered" voters. By both measures, the race is tight.

The Friday-Sunday poll, mostly conducted as Obama was returning from his much-publicized overseas trip and released just this hour, shows McCain now ahead 49%-45% among voters that Gallup believes are most likely to go to the polls in November. In late June, he was behind among likely voters, 50%-44%.

Among registered voters, McCain still trails Obama, but by less. He is behind by 3 percentage points in the new poll (47%-44%) vs. a 6-point disadvantage (48%-42%) in late June.

Results based on the survey of 791 likely voters have margins of error of +/- 4 percentage points -- so McCain's lead is not outside that range. Results based on the survey of 900 registered voters also have margins of error of +/- 4 percentage points.

Gallup editor Frank Newport tells Jill that "registered voters are much more important at the moment," because Election Day is still 100 days away, but that the likely-voter result suggests that it may be possible for McCain to energize Republicans and turn them out this fall.

Who is a likely voter? In this poll, Frank says, that was determined by how much thought people have given to the election, how often they say they vote and whether they plan to vote in the election in November.

He says the number of likely GOP voters is up for now, probably in part because of Obama's trip and the "laudatory" media coverage of it. "At least in the short term it may have had the side effect of energizing Republicans," he says. Also, he says that McCain's sharp words about Obama and the media last week may have energized his faithful.

Check Pollster.com's charts to compare the USA TODAY/Gallup results to those from other pollsters. Other recent polls of likely voters had Obama slightly ahead.

The USA TODAY/Gallup Poll is separate from Gallup's daily "tracking" poll on the presidential race, which this afternoon shows Obama ahead by 8 points among registered voters -- 48%-40%.

Frank says that while the tracking poll indicates Obama may have gotten some gains from his overseas trip last week, any benefits may be short-lived. That tracking poll of 2,674 registered voters was also done Friday-Sunday and the margins of error on the results are +/- 2 percentage points.

As for the difference between the tracking and USA TODAY/Gallup polls, Frank says not to read too much into it. "Statistical noise" may be largely to blame.

Watch for more from the polls and analysis of the results later today at USATODAY.com and in tomorrow's print editions of USA TODAY.

Hollywood's Jon Voight deviates from Tinsel Town's pro-BHO script; Obama, Wright, Farrakhan, Ayers want SOCIALIST America

Oped in Washington Times by Jon Voight

My concern for America is that Obama is planting the seeds of socialism in our young children

We, as parents, are well aware of the importance of our teachers who teach and program our children. We also know how important it is for our children to play with good-thinking children growing up.

Sen. Barack Obama has grown up with the teaching of very angry, militant white and black people: the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Louis Farrakhan, William Ayers and Rev. Michael Pfleger. We cannot say we are not affected by teachers who are militant and angry. We know too well that we become like them, and Mr. Obama will run this country in their mindset.

The Democratic Party, in its quest for power, has managed a propaganda campaign with subliminal messages, creating a God-like figure in a man who falls short in every way. It seems to me that if Mr. Obama wins the presidential election, then Messrs. Farrakhan, Wright, Ayers and Pfleger will gain power for their need to demoralize this country and help create a socialist America.

The Democrats have targeted young people, knowing how easy it is to bring forth whatever is needed to program their minds. I know this process well. I was caught up in the hysteria during the Vietnam era, which was brought about through Marxist propaganda underlying the so-called peace movement. The radicals of that era were successful in giving the communists power to bring forth the killing fields and slaughter 2.5 million people in Cambodia and South Vietnam. Did they stop the war, or did they bring the war to those innocent people? In the end, they turned their backs on all the horror and suffering they helped create and walked away.

Those same leaders who were in the streets in the '60s are very powerful today in their work to bring down the Iraq war and to attack our president, and they have found their way into our schools. William Ayers is a good example of that.

Thank God, today, we have a strong generation of young soldiers who know exactly who they are and what they must do to protect our freedom and our democracy. And we have the leadership of Gen. David Petraeus, who has brought hope and stability to Iraq and prevented the terrorists from establishing a base in that country. Our soldiers are lifting us to an example of patriotism at a time when we've almost forgotten who we are and what is at stake.

If Mr. Obama had his way, he would have pulled our troops from Iraq years ago and initiated an unprecedented bloodbath, turning over that country to the barbarianism of our enemies. With what he has openly stated about his plans for our military, and his lack of understanding about the true nature of our enemies, there's not a cell in my body that can accept the idea that Mr. Obama can keep us safe from the terrorists around the world, and from Iran, which is making great strides toward getting the atomic bomb. And while a misleading portrait of Mr. Obama is being perpetrated by a media controlled by the Democrats, the Obama camp has sent out people to attack the greatness of Sen. John McCain, whose suffering and courage in a Hanoi prison camp is an American legend.

Gen. Wesley Clark, who himself has shame upon him, having been relieved of his command, has done their bidding and become a lying fool in his need to demean a fellow soldier and a true hero.

This is a perilous time, and more than ever, the world needs a united and strong America. If, God forbid, we live to see Mr. Obama president, we will live through a socialist era that America has not seen before, and our country will be weakened in every way.

Jon Voight is an Academy Award-winning actor who is well-known for his humanitarian work. He is father to Angelie Jolie

Obama criticized on MSNBC ( MSNBC is NOT, repeat NOT, a typo): condemned for lying about why he blew off the troops in Germany

Mark this day on your calender. I just witnessed a once in a life-time event on MSNBC at around 2.10 EDT, July 28 2008.

The anchor, Contessa Brewer, started by playing McCain's new ad which she claimed showed his desperation as he had used video of Obama playing basketball with troops in Kuwait to attack the fact that Obama had blown off visiting wounded troops in Germany



After showing the video , Brewer asked MSNBC's new White House correspondent, Julie Mason of the Houston Chron, the loaded question whether she thought McCain had made an error by using video of Obama playing in the gym with troops to suggest he had blown off the wounded troops in Germany.

Mason shocked the anchor by answering NO...Obama's team left themselves open to it by not only canceling the visit, but also by offering two conflicting explanations.

No word on whether Julie still has a job on MSNBC

But I just googled on her name and found this on the pro-Obama Democrat Underground:

"she is COMPLETELY INEPT as a journalist. I remember her basically saying once that it was completely arrogant for Obama to be focusing his attacks on McCain (this was around April), because he was "casting himself as the presumptive nominee"."

The blog gave out her email address and urging visitors to campaign against her...(or "to correct her errors").

Any more room under the bus?

She can rest assured that she is being considered for Obama WTF's coveted award for July's Straight-Shooting Journalist award. (Julie in July has a certain ring to it.)

#90 Obama claims he made a direct call for Germany to help in Iraq; Berlin speech transcript proves he's lying

In lie #90, Obama lies to make out he's willing to deliver the tough message.

Here's what he claimed he said in his speech,during an appearance on NBC Meet the Press on Sunday (as reported in the LA Times 7/28/08)

Obama also sought to rebut charges that his speech in Berlin, to an enthusiastic crowd estimated at more than 200,000 people, was largely free of substance or any specifics that would displease his audience.

He pointed out that he had called on Germany to do more in Afghanistan and Iraq, and had decried the reflexive anti-Americanism in Europe.

"That wasn't an applause line in Germany," he said

Here's what he said according to the speech transcript

And despite past differences, this is the moment when the world should support the millions of Iraqis who seek to rebuild their lives, even as we pass responsibility to the Iraqi government and finally bring this war to a close.

He did not call on Germany to do more in Iraq. He did make a vague call to help Iraq in its renewal but significantly he addressed it not to Germany, but the world. HUGE difference. Calling on Germany demands a response from Germany. Calling on the World does not. Its a meaningless general statement such as "the World must address world hunger..." exactly the type of worthless generalities we typically hear from participants in the Miss World beauty pageant.

Lie #89: Obama admits he underestimated the decline in violence from the Surge; falsely claims McCain made same mistake

Obama once again proves he's a narcissistic liar. Even as he is finally forced to admit he made a huge error of judgment he tries to deflect it by claiming McCain made the same mistake. To add insult to injury he says President Bush and McCain had made the same mistake,...in other words following Axelrod's coaching to put their names together whenever possible.

For the record, it was President Bush who approved the surge with express goal of stopping the violence and McCain who was the only candidate for President to support him.

Obama admits drop in Iraqi violence was more than he had anticipated

But it's not just due to the increase in U.S. troops, he says. Meanwhile, McCain backs away from comments about a 16-month military withdrawal plan.

By Paul Richter and John L. Mitchell, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
July 28, 2008

CHICAGO -- In his first public appearance after his whirlwind overseas trip, Sen. Barack Obama on Sunday praised U.S. troops for reducing violence in Iraq, warned of worsening conditions in Afghanistan and said other nations were eager to see the United States work with them on mutual issues.

It is crucial, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee said, "that we project ourselves on the world stage with a sense of humility and a sense that we are listening. . . . We are very clear about our own interests, but not so clear about other people's interests."

The Illinois senator's remarks came at the close of the Unity '08 Convention, sponsored by a coalition of African American, Asian American, Latino and Native American journalism groups. His Republican counterpart, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, was also invited to speak but declined, citing schedule conflicts.

Obama said Europeans were "hungry . . . for American leadership that's not a matter of unilateral action, but a matter of engaging countries and peoples all around the world around our common challenges but also our common opportunities."

"When you think of the big problems that we face here at home, they are connected to the problems we face abroad," he said. "If we can get more support [from other countries] for actions in Afghanistan, those are fewer troops in the United States that we have to send or it's less money that we have to invest in those efforts, which frees up money for us to invest in keeping folks in their homes here."

Obama reiterated that he would have voted against the troop "surge" in Iraq even knowing that many, including McCain, credited it with the recent reduction in violence. "It is fascinating to me to hear you guys reemphasize this over and over again," he said. "I have not heard yet somebody ask John McCain whether his vote to go into Iraq was a mistake."

Earlier Sunday, in an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," Obama acknowledged that he had failed to anticipate the sharp decline in attacks in Iraq, but he contended that President Bush and McCain had made the same mistake.

Meanwhile, McCain insisted in an interview on ABC's "This Week" that he had not shifted his position against setting a date for U.S. combat troops to leave Iraq, despite comments he made Friday that the 16-month withdrawal plan espoused by Iraq's prime minister was "a pretty good timetable."

Addressing what has become one of his most difficult campaign issues, Obama said that the violence had "gone down more than any of us have anticipated, including President Bush and John McCain."

Yet he said the decline was brought about not just by the U.S. troop increase but by a combination of factors, including Iraqi Sunnis' decision to turn against the Al Qaeda members in their midst.

"To try to single out a single factor in a messy situation is not accurate," he said, also emphasizing that U.S. combat forces had made "an enormous difference."

Obama also sought to rebut charges that his speech in Berlin, to an enthusiastic crowd estimated at more than 200,000 people, was largely free of substance or any specifics that would displease his audience.

He pointed out that he had called on Germany to do more in Afghanistan and Iraq, and had decried the reflexive anti-Americanism in Europe.

"That wasn't an applause line in Germany," he said.

Obama, who has often faulted the Bush administration for failing to mobilize a full effort for Middle East peace until 2007, praised the Bush team for its efforts since last fall toward creation of a Palestinian state.

He said that the administration had "moved the ball forward" since last fall, though it may leave an unfinished job that the next president will have to "move quickly" to complete. He said the next president would also need to move quickly to deal with the threat from Iran's nuclear program.

McCain's comments on the timetable for withdrawal from Iraq were prompted by comments in a CNN interview Friday in which he had been asked to explain why Prime Minister Nouri Maliki generally supported the 16-month timetable endorsed by Obama.

Maliki "said it's a pretty good timetable based on conditions on the ground," McCain said in the Friday interview, before adding, "I think it's a pretty good timetable."

Obama's campaign hailed the comment as a sign that McCain, like Maliki, was moving toward the Democrat's position -- even though McCain immediately appeared to modify his remark, referring to "horizons for withdrawal" instead of a timetable, and saying that a decision would "have to based on conditions on the ground."

McCain insisted on the ABC program Sunday that he would be flexible about the timing of a troop withdrawal as long as it was justified by improved conditions in Iraq.

"I like six months, three months, two months. I like yesterday. I like yesterday, OK? That seems really good to me. But the fact is, the conditions on the ground have not dictated it," he said.

McCain said he was not questioning Obama's patriotism last week when he charged that the Democrat had been willing to lose the war if it helped him with the political campaign.

"I'm not questioning his patriotism. I'm questioning his actions," McCain said. "All I'm saying is, he does not understand. . . . He made the decision that was political in order to help him win the nomination of his party.

LA Times Source

How Obama simultaneously "insults" the African -American community and commands 94% of its vote

Many people are wondering how Obama has been able to diss people such as Jeremiah Wright sr Farrakhan, and "Black fathers" yet still maintain overwhelming 94% support among the African-American community. This article from the Chicago Tribune gives us a clue.

Here the Chicago Tribune allows Obama to communicate two different messages on the same topic

He says one thing on National TV --he denounces Farrakhan's anti-semitic comments

His supporters at the Chicago Tribune communicate a totally different message to the African American community -he 'denounced' Farrakhan ...with the speech marks telling the story...and the tag line "but most blacks understand"...ie wink wink

Columnist Mary Mitchell, who wrote this next column is one of the Messiah's biggest fans. She recently condemned Whites for being racist after Poll numbers revealed Michelle's disapproval rating was a record high.

Why Obama 'denounced' Farrakhan

It wasn't candidate's best move -- but most blacks understand

March 2, 2008

BY MARY MITCHELL Sun-Times Columnist

When Sen. Barack Obama "rejected" and "denounced" the support of Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan during the MSNBC debate last week, it wasn't his finest hour.

Fortunately for Obama, most black people understand the game.

No matter how many times Farrakhan explains, defends or refutes anti-Semitic comments that have been attributed to him, his kiss is still the kiss of death.

Hours after Farrakhan praised Obama during his annual Saviours' Day speech last Sunday, the Obama campaign moved to distance the candidate from Farrakhan, telling the Associated Press that it did not solicit Farrakhan's support.

In responding to questions during the debate, Obama took a much stronger approach.

"I have been very clear in my denunciation of Minister Farrakhan's anti-Semitic comments," Obama told Tim Russert, NBC Washington Bureau chief.

"I did not solicit his support. ... I obviously can't censor him, but it is not support that I sought. And we're not doing anything, I assure you formally or informally, with Minister Farrakhan."

That wasn't good enough for Russert.

He then dragged the Rev. Jeremiah Wright into the debate. Wright, who is retiring after 36 years as the head pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, accompanied Farrakhan to Libya in 1984 and once said the Nation of Islam leader epitomizes "greatness," Russert pointed out.

Stakes are too high

The point here, of course, is that these men -- one the pastor of an 8,000-member congregation where the church roll reads like a Who's Who of the Chicago black elite, and the other the leader of an organization that has historically saved young men from crime and drugs -- are unfit to even speak of Obama.

After Sen. Hillary Clinton challenged Obama, saying "denounce" wasn't strong enough, Obama told Russert he would "reject and denounce" Farrakhan's support. The whole exchange made me ill.

Although Obama scored points for defusing a political bomb, his answer was insulting.

Yet the stakes are too high for African Americans to lose faith.

That's why on Thursday, Farrakhan issued the following statement:

"Those who have been supporting Sen. Barack Obama should not allow what was said during the Feb. 26 presidential debate to lessen their support for his campaign. This is simply mischief making intended to hurt Mr. Obama politically."

As one of Farrakhan's closest advisers put it, "At this point in the campaign, a 'pebble' can become a 'boulder.'"

"We are trying to focus on the motive," said Leonard Muhammad, chief of staff for the Nation of Islam.

"We know the motive is to have some negative effect on Obama's campaign, and we know the minister is not all those things that they have accused him of being for the last 20 years."

'It is just unfortunate'

Other longtime supporters of the Nation of Islam are willing to forgive Obama for playing into the hands of his staunchest critics.

"There is a new level of political maturity that one can observe going on in the black movement," said Conrad Worrill, a professor at Northeastern Illinois University Jacob Carruther's Center, and a co-founder of the National Black United Front.

"Right now, people are exercising political discipline as it centers around the goals of the black electoral empowerment movement. In the '60s, '70s or '80s, if this kind of condemnation had taken place by one of our revered leaders, there would have been a verbal bloodbath," he said.

"But the more we engaged in verbal rhetoric, the more our enemies used it against us. It is just unfortunate that at this moment in history we don't have the kind of power as a people to keep us from capitulating to forces that have their own agenda."

At 74 years old, Farrakhan has paid his dues in the battle against racial oppression and hatred. Over the years, a lot of black people have disagreed with Farrakhan on his stance regarding Israel, and many of us have regretted his ongoing controversy with powerful Jewish leaders.

Yet Farrakhan's appeal to masses of African Americans is that he is not a politician. And he is free to speak his mind because his organization does not depend on outside support.

Obama should have found a way to escape Russert's trap without denigrating Farrakhan's legacy.

But, like I said, we understand.

Obama's campaign manager David Axelrod has strong relationships with all Chicago media outlets according to Obama's biographer David Mendall. Mendell also notes that Chicago is also the national center of the African-American community; this allows for community groups to distribute messages sent to the Chicago media around the country relatively easily. Axelrod's relationship were built in tharly party of his career when he was a reporter with the Chicago Tribune. No wonder the Chicago Tribune editorial board dismissed Obama's List of Lies as "all false"

Related story: Radio Islam confirms Farrakhan is leading the intafada against the Jewish occupation of the USA

Tight-fisted Obama throws the Kenyan orphans under the bus; grandfather was a witch doctor

Barack Obama's broken promise to African village

David Cohen, Source Evening Standard London UK

It is an extraordinary sight to walk into a basic two-room house under a mango tree in rural east Africa and discover what is essentially a shrine to Barack Obama.

SEE RELATED STORY Obama makes great speech about lifting Bangledeshi Kids out of poverty; McCain quietly did

The small brick house with no running water, a tin roof and roving chickens, goats and cows is owned by Sarah Obama, Barack's 86-year-old step-grandmother. Inside, the walls are decorated with a 2008 Obama election sticker, an old "Barack Obama for Senate" poster on which he has written "Mama Sarah Habai [how are you?]", a 2005 calendar that says "The Kenyan Wonder Boy in the US", and more than a dozen family photos.

But this bucolic scene in his father's village of Kogelo near the Equator in western Kenya conceals a troubling reality that, until now, has never been spoken about. Barack Obama, the Evening Standard can reveal, after we went to the village earlier this month, has failed to honour the pledges of assistance that he made to a school named in his honour when he visited here amid great fanfare two years ago.

At that historic homecoming in August 2006 Obama was greeted as a hero with thousands lining the dirt streets of Kogelo. He visited the Senator Obama Kogelo Secondary School built on land donated by his paternal grandfather. After addressing the pupils, a third of whom are orphans, and dancing with them as they sang songs in his honour, he was shown a school with four dilapidated classrooms that lacked even basic resources such as water, sanitation and electricity.

He told the assembled press, local politicians (who included current Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga), and students: "Hopefully I can provide some assistance in the future to this school and all that it can be." He then turned to the school's principal, Yuanita Obiero, and assured her and her teachers: "I know you are working very hard and struggling to bring up this school, but I have said I will assist the school and I will do so."

Obiero says that although Obama did not explicitly use the word "financial" to qualify the nature of the assistance he was offering, "there was no doubt among us [teachers] that is what he meant. We interpreted his words as meaning he would help fund the school, either personally or by raising sponsors or both, in order to give our school desperately-needed modern facilities and a facelift". She added that 10 of the school's 144 pupils are Obama's relatives. Obiero was not the only one to think that the US Senator from Illinois, who had recently acquired a $1.65 million house in Chicago, would cough up. Obama's own grandmother Sarah confidently told reporters before his visit: "When he comes down here, he will change the face of the school and, believe me, our poverty in Kogelo will be a thing of the past."

But the Evening Standard has heard that the promises he made to help the school as well as a local orphanage appear to have been empty.

Seven months ago I travelled to Iowa to cover the start of the US primaries and was impressed by Obama's charisma and integrity as he kicked off a thrilling battle with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Presidential nomination. Now, with only John McCain standing in the way of him making history as America's first black President, and amid the fanfare over his current world tour, nowhere is this possibility more eagerly awaited than in Kogelo, the place where his father and grandfather are buried. Yet there is disappointment and hurt here, too. Granting us access to the school and its records, Principal Obiero, 48, tells us: "Senator Obama has not honoured the promises he gave me when we met in 2006 and in his earlier letter to the school. He has not given us even one shilling. But we still have hope."

The letter Obiero refers to - dated 22 June 2005, signed by Obama and addressed to her - was written after his election to the US Senate in 2004 and hangs, framed, on the wall of her spartan office alongside photographs of Obama's visit to their school. It says: "I am honoured that you have decided to rename the Kogelo School in my name.

The land that the school is built on was donated by my grandparents and I am proud to carry on the tradition of supporting the school."

Obiero and her board of governors followed up his letter offering " support" with a bald, formal request for funds in the form of a nine-page proposal, a copy of which has been provided to the Evening Standard, laying out their ambitions for the school. In it they ask for 8.2 million Kenyan shillings (approximately £65,000) to upgrade the school. The money would be used, they say, to bring water to the school by sinking a borehole and building a water tank, erect a perimeter fence, complete the science laboratory and add muchneeded new classrooms, additional latrines, and a school dining hall.

Obiero recalls: "When the US Ambassador William Bellamy came to visit the school for the official renaming ceremony in February 2006, we gave him two copies of the proposal, one for the Embassy and one to give to Senator Obama. But we have not heard anything from either of them since."

Recently, she adds, she gave another copy of the proposal to Obama's Kenyan half-sister, Auma Obama, who recently returned to Nairobi after living in England and working in children's services in Reading. Auma had been married to a British man but they are now divorced. "Auma also promised to pass it on to her brother," says Obiero.

When we ask an Obama spokesperson in Kenya, who is also a family member, why no support has been forthcoming, he says: "We have no comment, the family are not doing any interviews at this time."

However, the school's senior teacher Dalmas Raloo, 41, who is often used as a translator for Obama's grandmother who only speaks Luo, and is a friend of the family, says the family are mystified by what they are calling "Obama's lapse". "If you ask whether Obama's family think he should give something to the village and to the school, the answer is 'yes, definitely'. But they feel it should come from him spontaneously. They don't want to ask him for it."

During Obama's visit to the school, he opened their half-finished science laboratory (built with £4,900 raised by the community) and wrote in the visitor's book: "Congratulations on the new laboratory!" Today, the lab has been mothballed because they ran out of funds to equip it and because, critically, there is no running water. "We must pay the man with the donkey to fetch us water from the river four kilometres away," says Obiero. The situation in the school mirrors that of Kogelo village where the people live without water, electricity or access to proper healthcare and on average incomes of less than $1 a day. Yet they remain diehard fans of the man who has put their rural community on the map and have even renamed the beer, called Senator, in his honour: locals now order "an Obama".

Obama's "lapse" is all the more difficult to understand given that he wrote in his 1995 autobiography, Dreams from My Father, that Kogelo occupies a special place in his heart as being where he reconciled the diverse parts of himself - American and African, white mother and black father. Obama wrote how he fell to his knees, sobbing, between the graves of his father and grandfather at the family compound.

"When my tears were finally spent," he wrote, "I felt a calmness wash over me. I felt the circle finally close. I realised that who I was, what I cared about, was no longer just a matter of intellect or obligation, no longer a construct of words. I saw that my life in America - the black life, the white life, the sense of abandonment I'd felt as a boy, the frustration and hope I'd witnessed in Chicago - all of it was connected with this small plot of earth an ocean away."

Obama had visited Kogelo for the first time in the 1980s after attending Columbia University and then again in 1991 to research his memoirs after graduating from Harvard Law School. He would later become a civil rights lawyer and community organiser before going into politics and serving in the Illinois Senate in 1997 and then the US Senate in 2004.

On those two voyages of personal discovery to Kogelo, he learned that his grandfather, Hussein Onyango Obama, who lived to 105 according to his gravestone (1870-1975), had been a respected elder and witchdoctor. But it was the road travelled by his estranged father, Barack Hussein Obama, that inspired and intrigued him. His father had transcended his roots as a goat herder to get a PhD at Harvard and work for the Kenyan government before falling from grace and dying in a car accident in 1982 at just 46.

Barack's father, an economist, had split up with his white mother, Ann Dunham, from Kansas, when Barack was two. Apart from a month-long visit from his father when he was 10 years old, Obama would know him only through letters. As an adult he learned there was a darker side to his father, reflecting in his book that he had apparently also been "a bitter drunk", "an abusive husband", and "a defeated, lonely bureaucrat". But during this process of soul-searching he came to know and adore the elderly woman who had raised his father, his step-grandmother Sarah Obama.

We had been told that Sarah's house, which is adjacent to the school, was patrolled by two armed security guards - who pays their wages is not clear - but when we visited the home, Sarah was away in Nairobi and we were shown in by one of Obama's young cousins.

The house is basic with a concrete floor, an outside kitchen, latrines and no running water. The only sign of modernity is the recently installed solar power unit that provides electricity for lights and a television set. Chairs are neatly laid out around the sides of the living room, each with an embroidered cover and as you enter, there is a photograph of a young Barack Obama bent over under the weight of a sack of maize.

THE graves of Obama's father and grandfather are in the yard, and Obama's cousins and uncles, including Said Obama, 41, his father's younger brother, also live on the compound in smaller one-room houses. Behind the house there is a thriving maize plantation and a clump of banana trees in addition to the giant mango trees that dominate the property. Villagers say that despite her age, Sarah Obama still comes to market where she sells her homegrown fruit and vegetables.

The market is where we head next to speak to villagers about their hopes for an Obama victory in November and what it might do for their village. Mary Manasse, 40, who runs the Mama Siste Mini Shop selling staples such as bread and cow's milk (packaged in old Coke bottles) says she has a photograph of Obama shaking hands with her on his 2006 visit.

"Back then I was looking after 40 orphans at the orphan centre," she recalls. "We faced a desperate shortage of money and Obama told us that he especially liked special, dedicated projects like ours and wanted to help. We thought he would give funds to help our project but we got nothing. A few months later we were forced to shut down the orphan centre because of lack of funds. Just a million Kenyan shillings [£6,000] would have kept us going another year. I feel disappointed that he did not come through."

A few stalls away mango-seller Gladys Anyango, 60, does an impromptu Obama impression to the amusement of her fellow peddlers. She places her hands on her hips, gazes into the middle distance and, mimicking his deep voice, says: "How are you, people of Kogelo?" Her friends collapse with laughter. She also takes off Obama's wife, Michelle, who had accompanied him on his visit along with his two daughters, Malia and Sasha.

"Oh, but there will be a big party here when Obama wins," she adds. "We still have hope that he will bring electricity and build schools so the children have a good education. Maybe when he's President of America, he'll remember his roots and look after his community in Kenya."

FAQ #1 Is Obama a Muslim? What's The Facts? (updated for new revelation from Obama's half-brother in UK Sun)

Is Barack Obama a Muslim? What follows is a comprehensive summary of the answers to all aspects of the #1 FAQ at Obama WTF.

1) Is he currently a Muslim?

No. He says he is a devout Christian.

Obama was born a Muslim, as his father Obama Sr was himself a Muslim. His father abandoned him at 2 yrs old. (see Q 8 below)

After his mother remarried , to a second Muslim, Obama was raised in Indonesia from 6 to 10 where he visited Mosques, learned Koran and went to a Muslim school for 2 years. (see questions 3 -7 below)

From aged 11 - around 22 Obama claims he had no religion

He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ from the mid eighties until May 2008. His mentor was the controversial pastor, Jeremiah Wright, who according to Obama's first autobiography brought him to the Lord in 1991; consecrated his house; married he and his wife; baptized Obama's daughters. In June 2007, Obama described Wright as a "Great leader"

In May 2008 Obama quit his Church and has not joined any Church since then.

2) Why did the New Yorker cover portray Obama as a Muslim?

The editor claims the cover (at right) was a spoof of Obama's opponents who have created and distorted the story about Obama's Muslim roots and connections.

But Obama's opponents have not invented the story about Obama's Muslim roots and connections as you'll see in the responses to Questions 3 -10. This may be the reason so many Obama supporters are angry and threatening to boycott the liberal New Yorker magazine. While venting their anger at the magazine, Obama supporters would do well to consider why the question of his Muslim heritage is coming up at this late stage. They will discover the answer lies in Obama's refusal to come clean with the American people. To this day he maintains on his official site that he practiced no religion before Christianity...(his site has backed off an earlier claim he had never prayed in a mosque.) Its this attempt to deceive, including such despicable acts as removing Muslims from his rallies to avoid association that has caused the issue to cling to his candidacy.

3 ) Why is Obama portrayed wearing Muslim garb?

In February 2008, Matt Drudge published a photo at left of Obama wearing Muslim garb during a trip to Kenya.

4) Has he ever prayed in a Muslim Mosque?

Yes according to the LA Times and confirmed in an Indonesian newspaper dated July 9 2006, six months before the Senator even announced he was running for President.

Here's a translation of the newspaper

Obama small still was remembered by his teammates in Jakarta. Barry, the Barack call during small, flexible and easy-going. Apart from often played marble and football, he was active to the prayer room.

Barry was previously quite religious Islam. His birth father, Barack Husein Obama was the Muslim economist from Kenya. Before marrying Ann Dunham, Husein Obama married Kenyans and produced seven children. All the relatives of Barry's father were religious Islam. "We previously often asked him to the prayer room close to the house." If with the sarong, he looked funny , said Rony Amir, Barry's teammate when living in Street H Ramli, the region Menteng Dalam, Jakarta. In fact, without wearing the sarong, Barry also appeared funny. This was because his body was fat, tall, and he had curly hair. Ronny when remembering the memory with Barry always laughed. "Funny no matter what," he said.

Also confirmed in this research from Daniel Pipes a US terrorism expert

5) Did Obama ever study the Koran?

Yes according to the LA Times and confirmed in an Indonesian newspaper dated July 9 2006
and confirmed by Daniel Pipes a US anti-terrorism expert
The LA Times wrote:

Obama was registered by his family as a Muslim at both schools he attended. That registration meant that during the third and fourth grades, Obama learned about Islam for two hours each week in religion class

6) Did Obama ever attend a Muslim school?

Yes, per Daniel Pipes, in third and fourth grades according to the LA Times ,confirmed in an Indonesian newspaper dated July 9 2006

7) Is there anything in writing showing he admitted being a Muslim?

Yes, according to anti-terrorism expert Daniel Pipes research and confirmed in Indonesian newspaper dated July 9 2006 (as translated)

In the beginning of the life in Jakarta, Barry the school in the Franciscan PRIMARY SCHOOL. Here he was registered by the name of Barry Soetoro. He entered this PRIMARY SCHOOL with the serial number 203. In his report, Barry was written was born in Honolulu, on August 4 1961. In the school document, Barry was written as the Indonesian citizen.

Barry entered the Franciscan PRIMARY SCHOOL on January 1 1968 and sat in the class of 1B. Again Barry that was written in the document was Islam.

8) Were his parents Muslims?

His father, Barack Hussein Obama sr was raised a Muslim. See here for Obama's lie about his father's religious upbringing

His mother Anne was atheist

His step-father ...was a practicing Muslim in Indonesia a country which is home to the world's largest Muslim population

9) Are there any living Muslims in Obama's family?

Substantially all his overseas family are practicing Muslims.

Little has been shared by Obama about his fourth step-mother, and his youngest half-sibling George

Source Indonesian paper

His brother Roy of whom Obama writes in his autobiography "that he is proudest" is a devout Muslim who calls on his brother Barack to renounce the poison of European wayss

His brother Bernard says he's a Muslim and that his father, Obama sr was also a Muslim

10) How much are Obama's Muslim roots helping his campaign for President?

Obviously, there is no way of knowing unless Obama is seen with people who are openly Muslim.

But despite the fact that Obama appears to have gone out of his way to distance himself from Muslims during his campaign there are many signs that he is receiving significant help

A) Team Obama Physically removed two Muslim women from a rally in Detroit as they were wearing Jihabs and were sitting where they could be seen by the TV cameras

B) Obama rejected a public meeting with the Imam of the Nation's largest Mosque, instead specifically requesting a PRIVATE meeting with the Iman

C) A Muslim journalist wrote "With a nod and a wink Muslims work incognito for Obama, their perfect candidate"

D) Obama has effectively been endorsed by Hamas

E) Obama has effectively been endorsed by Minister Farrakhan who described him as the"hope of the entire world." Obama has not renounced Farrakhan. Obama worked with Farrakhan as a Chicago-based organizer of the Million Man March

F) Obama retains several members of the Nation of Islam on his campaign. These were highlighted in this 2008 article.

G) Obama has not yet submitted any information on over 100 million dollars of campaign contributions from individuals giving no more than $199.99. Several major watchdog organizations have expresed concern and written requesting more information.

H) Libya's leader Qaddaffi refers to Obama as our Muslim brother and claims in a speech that Africans and Arabs have made contributions to his campaign

I) Al Jazeera ran a news story about Muslims in the Gaza strip working for Obama during the primary

J) Obama has already announced as soon as he is elected he will hold a conference for Muslim leaders so we can listen to their concerns

K) Obama omitted to mention a three week trip he took to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan until it slipped out during a debate with Senator Clinton in April 2008. This omission is difficult to understand as he had previously cited all his overseas visits in debates as evidence of his foreign policy experience.

L) One of Obama's first pieces of legislation in the Illinois Senate was to propose a Muslim Community day.

Summary of SR0110

---

Senate Sponsors:
OBAMA.

Short description: 
11/1/97-ISLAMIC COMMUNITY DAY     

Synopsis of Bill as introduced:
Declares November 1, 1997 to be  South  Shore  Islamic  Community
Center Day.

M) Many of Tony Rezko's friends were born in the mid-East and according to a Palestianian American journalist were defrauding the State of Illinois for the purpose of funding radical terrorists determined to destroy Israel. Tony Rezko is now in jail. He was Senator Obama's largest fund-raiser for around 12 years

N) Obama is listed on Muslim America website as a Muslim "personality"

O) He is officially endorsed by Muslims Americans for Obama 08

P) In a recent Spanish language ad Obama said he never forgot his roots

Q In Germany Obama claimed there were walls between Christians Muslim and Jews. There is no walls between Jew and Christians. He did not acknowledge Bin Ladins Fatwah against Jews and Christians Pandering to Muslims

R) Pandering to Arab Americans Obama claimed American gov. was rounding up Arab american families for no reason.

S) Obama visited Israel in July 2008, and chose to go visit Abbas, President of Palestine

T) Obama's Pakistani friends/fundraisers wont talk for fear of stoking rumors Obama is a Muslim; one accompanied BHO to Pakistan

U"Obama should embrace his Muslim heritage" says Director of Council of Islamic Organizations in Chicago: Obama's NOT Muslim

V NYT lib: Obama praised Muslim call to prayer as,“One of prettiest sounds on earth...”; sings it from memory: NOT Muslim

W Obama refuses to release his records from Harvard and Columbia: doesn't want to disclose poor academic scores: Al -Mansour Saudi links?

X First interview post victory- Obama plans to reach out to Muslim world; claims his heart will remain in Governor Blagojevich's Chicago

We know less about Obama than any candidate in history; his women reveal he hates America

Yesterday, the Sun in the UK uncovered the fact that Obama had been lying about his father's religion...turns out he was raised Muslim (not an agnostic as Obama claimed).

This revelation reminded me of an excellent piece that I first blogged in late February, which among other revelations pointed out how little we know about Obama

Obama's women reveal his secret: he hates America.

Source Asia Times Online

Cherchez la femme," advised Alexander Dumas in: "When you want to uncover an unspecified secret, look for the woman." In the case of Barack Obama, we have two: his late mother, the went-native anthropologist Ann Dunham, and his rancorous wife Michelle. Obama's women reveal his secret: he hates America.

We know less about Senator Obama than about any prospective president in American history. His uplifting rhetoric is empty, as Hillary Clinton helplessly protests. His career bears no trace of his own character, not an article for the Harvard Law Review he edited, or a single piece of legislation. He appears to be an empty vessel filled with the wishful thinking of those around him. But there is a real Barack Obama. No man - least of all one abandoned in infancy by his father - can conceal the imprint of an impassioned mother, or the influence of a brilliant wife.

America is not the embodiment of hope, but the abandonment of one kind of hope in return for another. America is the spirit of creative destruction, selecting immigrants willing to turn their back on the tragedy of their own failing culture in return for a new start. Its creative success is so enormous that its global influence hastens the decline of other cultures. For those on the destruction side of the trade, America is a monster. Between half and nine-tenths of the world's 6,700 spoken languages will become extinct in the next century, and the anguish of dying peoples rises up in a global cry of despair. Some of those who listen to this cry become anthropologists, the curators of soon-to-be extinct cultures; anthropologists who really identify with their subjects marry them. Obama's mother, the University of Hawaii anthropologist Ann Dunham, did so twice.

Obama profiles Americans the way anthropologists interact with primitive peoples. He holds his own view in reserve and emphatically draws out the feelings of others; that is how friends and colleagues describe his modus operandi since his days at the Harvard Law Review, through his years as a community activist in Chicago, and in national politics. Anthropologists, though, proceed from resentment against the devouring culture of America and sympathy with the endangered cultures of the primitive world. Obama inverts the anthropological model: he applies the tools of cultural manipulation out of resentment against America. The probable next president of the United States is a mother's revenge against the America she despised.

Ann Dunham died in 1995, and her character emerges piecemeal from the historical record, to which I will return below. But Michelle Obama is a living witness. Her February 18 comment that she felt proud of her country for the first time caused a minor scandal, and was hastily qualified. But she meant it, and more. The video footage of her remarks shows eyes hooded with rage as she declares:

For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country and not just because Barack has done well, but because I think people are hungry for change. And I have been desperate to see our country moving in that direction and just not feeling so alone in my frustration and disappointment.

The desperation, frustration and disappointment visible on Michelle Obama's face are not new to the candidate's wife; as Steve Sailer, Rod Dreher and other commentators have noted, they were the theme of her undergraduate thesis, on the subject of "blackness" at Princeton University. No matter what the good intentions of Princeton, which founded her fortunes as a well-paid corporate lawyer, she wrote, "My experiences at Princeton have made me far more aware of my 'Blackness' than ever before. I have found that at Princeton no matter how liberal and open-minded some of my White professors and classmates try to be toward me, I sometimes feel like a visitor on campus; as if I really don't belong."

Never underestimate the influence of a wife who bitch-slaps her husband in public. Early in Obama's campaign, Michelle Obama could not restrain herself from belittling the senator. "I have some difficulty reconciling the two images I have of Barack Obama. There's Barack Obama the phenomenon. He's an amazing orator, Harvard Law Review, or whatever it was, law professor, best-selling author, Grammy winner. Pretty amazing, right? And then there's the Barack Obama that lives with me in my house, and that guy's a little less impressive," she told a fundraiser in February 2007.

"For some reason this guy still can't manage to put the butter up when he makes toast, secure the bread so that it doesn't get stale, and his five-year-old is still better at making the bed than he is." New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd reported at the time, "She added that the TV version of Barack Obama sounded really interesting and that she'd like to meet him sometime." Her handlers have convinced her to be more tactful since then.

"Frustration" and "disappointment" have dogged Michelle Obama these past 20 years, despite her US$300,000 a year salary and corporate board memberships. It is hard for the descendants of slaves not to resent America. They were not voluntary immigrants but kidnap victims, subjected to a century of second-class citizenship even after the Civil War ended slavery. Blackness is not the issue; General Colin Powell, whose parents chose to immigrate to America from the West Indies, saw America just as other immigrants do, as a land of opportunity. Obama's choice of wife is a failsafe indicator of his own sentiments. Spouses do not necessarily share their likes, but they must have their hatreds in common. Obama imbibed this hatred with his mother's milk.

Michelle Obama speaks with greater warmth of her mother-in-law than of her husband. "She was kind of a dreamer, his mother," Michelle Obama was quoted in the January 25 Boston Globe. "She wanted the world to be open to her and her children. And as a result of her naivete, sometimes they lived on food stamps, because sometimes dreams don't pay the rent. But as a result of her naivete, Barack got to see the world like most of us don't in this country." How strong the ideological motivation must be of a mother to raise her children on the thin fair of government assistance in pursuit of a political agenda.

"Naivete" is a euphemism for Ann Dunham's motivation. Friends describe her as a "fellow traveler", that is, a communist sympathizer, from her youth, according to a March 27, 2007, Chicago Tribune report. Many Americans harbor leftist views, but not many marry into them, twice. Ann Dunham met and married the Kenyan economics student Barack Obama, Sr, at the University of Hawaii in 1960, and in 1967 married the Indonesian student Lolo Soetero. It is unclear why Soetero's student visa was revoked in 1967 - the fact but not the cause are noted in press accounts. But it is probable that the change in government in Indonesia in 1967, in which the leftist leader Sukarno was deposed, was the motivation.

Soetero had been sponsored as a graduate student by one of the most radical of all Third World governments. Sukarno had founded the so-called Non-Aligned Movement as an anti-colonialist turn at the 1955 Bandung Conference in Indonesia. Before deposing him in 1967, Indonesia's military slaughtered 500,000 communists (or unfortunates who were mistaken for communists). When Ann Dunham chose to follow Lolo Soetero to Indonesia in 1967, she brought the six-year-old Barack into the kitchen of anti-colonialist outrage, immediate following one of the worst episodes of civil violence in post-war history.

Dunham's experience in Indonesia provided the material for a doctoral dissertation celebrating the hardiness of local cultures against the encroaching metropolis. It was entitled, "Peasant blacksmithing in Indonesia: surviving against all odds". In this respect Dunham remained within the mainstream of her discipline. Anthropology broke into popular awareness with Margaret Mead's long-discredited Coming of Age in Samoa (1928), which offered a falsified ideal of sexual liberation in the South Pacific as an alternative to the supposedly repressive West. Mead's work was one of the founding documents of the sexual revolution of the 1960s, and anthropology faculties stood at the left-wing fringe of American universities.

In the Global South, anthropologists went into the field and took matters a step further. Peru's brutal Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) guerilla movement was the brainchild of the anthropologist Efrain Morote Best, who headed the University of San Cristobal of Huamanga in Ayacucho, Peru, between 1962 and 1968. Dunham's radicalism was more vicarious; she ended her career as an employee of international organizations.

Barack Obama received at least some instruction in the Islamic faith of his father and went with him to the mosque, but the importance of this experience is vastly overstated by conservative commentators who seek to portray Obama as a Muslim of sorts. Radical anti-Americanism, rather than Islam, was the reigning faith in the Dunham household. In the Muslim world of the 1960s, nationalism rather than radical Islam was the ideology of choice among the enraged. Radical Islam did not emerge as a major political force until the nationalism of a Gamal Abdel Nasser or a Sukarno failed.

Barack Obama is a clever fellow who imbibed hatred of America with his mother's milk, but worked his way up the elite ladder of education and career. He shares the resentment of Muslims against the encroachment of American culture, although not their religion. He has the empathetic skill set of an anthropologist who lives with his subjects, learns their language, and elicits their hopes and fears while remaining at emotional distance. That is, he is the political equivalent of a sociopath. The difference is that he is practicing not on a primitive tribe but on the population of the United States.

There is nothing mysterious about Obama's methods. "A demagogue tries to sound as stupid as his audience so that they will think they are as clever as he is," wrote Karl Krauss. Americans are the world's biggest suckers, and laugh at this weakness in their popular culture. Listening to Obama speak, Sinclair Lewis' cynical tent-revivalist Elmer Gantry comes to mind, or, even better, Tyrone Power's portrayal of a carnival mentalist in the 1947 film noire Nightmare Alley. The latter is available for instant viewing at Netflix, and highly recommended as an antidote to having felt uplifted by an Obama speech.

America has the great misfortune to have encountered Obama at the peak of his powers at its worst moment of vulnerability in a generation. With malice of forethought, he has sought out their sore point.

Since the Ronald Reagan boom began in 1984, the year the American stock market doubled, Americans have enjoyed a quarter-century of rising wealth. Even the collapse of the Internet bubble in 2000 did not interrupt the upward trajectory of household assets, as the housing price boom eclipsed the effect of equity market weakness. America's success made it a magnet for the world's savings, and Americans came to believe that they were riding a boom that would last forever, as I wrote recently

Americans regard upward mobility as a God-given right. America had a double founding, as David Hackett Fischer showed in his 1989 study, Albion's Seed . Two kinds of immigrants founded America: religious dissidents seeking a new Promised Land, and economic opportunists looking to get rich quick. Both elements still are present, but the course of the past quarter-century has made wealth-creation the sine qua non of American life. Now for the first time in a generation Americans have become poorer, and many of them have become much poorer due to the collapse of home prices. Unlike the Reagan years, when cutting the top tax rate from a punitive 70% to a more tolerable 40% was sufficient to start an economic boom, no lever of economic policy is available to fix the problem. Americans have no choice but to work harder, retire later, save more and retrench.

This reversal has provoked a national mood of existential crisis. In Europe, economic downturns do not inspire this kind of soul-searching, for Europeans, richer are poorer, remain what they always have been. But Americans are what they make of themselves, and the slim makings of 2008 shake their sense of identity. Americans have no institutionalized culture to fall back on. Their national religion has consisted of waves of enthusiasm - "Great Awakenings" – every second generation or so, followed by an interim of apathy. In times of stress they have a baleful susceptibility to hucksters and conmen.

Be afraid - be very afraid. America is at a low point in its fortunes, and feeling sorry for itself. When Barack utters the word "hope", they instead hear, "handout". A cynic might translate the national motto, E pluribus unum, as "something for nothing". Now that the stock market and the housing market have failed to give Americans something for nothing, they want something for nothing from the government. The trouble is that he who gets something for nothing will earn every penny of it, twice over.

The George W Bush administration has squandered a great strategic advantage in a sorry lampoon of nation-building in the Muslim world, and has made enemies out of countries that might have been friendly rivals, notably Russia. Americans question the premise of America's standing as a global superpower, and of the promise of upward mobility and wealth-creation. If elected, Barack Obama will do his utmost to destroy the dual premises of America's standing. It might take the country another generation to recover.

"Evil will oft evil mars", J R R Tolkien wrote. It is conceivable that Barack Obama, if elected, will destroy himself before he destroys the country. Hatred is a toxic diet even for someone with as strong a stomach as Obama. As he recalled in his 1995 autobiography, Dreams From My Father, Obama idealized the Kenyan economist who had married and dumped his mother, and was saddened to learn that Barack Hussein Obama, Sr, was a sullen, drunken polygamist. The elder Obama became a senior official of the government of Kenya after earning a PhD at Harvard. He was an abusive drunk and philanderer whose temper soured his career.

The senior Obama died in a 1982 car crash. Kenyan government officials in those days normally spent their nights drinking themselves stupid at the Pan-Afrique Hotel. Two or three of them would be found with their Mercedes wrapped around a palm tree every morning. During the 1970s I came to know a number of them, mostly British-educated hollow men dying inside of their own hypocrisy and corruption.

Both Obama and the American public should be very careful of what they wish for. As the horrible example of Obama's father shows, there is nothing worse for an embittered outsider manipulating the system from within than to achieve his goals - and nothing can be more terrible for the system. Even those who despise America for its blunders of the past few years should ask themselves whether the world will be a safer place if America retreats into a self-pitying shell

Hypocritcal Obama opposes "school choice" for public schools; sends his own kids to expensive private school

The Greatest Scandal
July 28, 2008

The profound failure of inner-city public schools to teach children may be the nation's greatest scandal. The differences between the two Presidential candidates on this could hardly be more stark. John McCain is calling for alternatives to the system; Barack Obama wants the kids to stay within that system. We think the facts support Senator McCain.

"Parents ask only for schools that are safe, teachers who are competent and diplomas that open doors of opportunity," said Mr. McCain in remarks recently to the NAACP. "When a public system fails, repeatedly, to meet these minimal objectives, parents ask only for a choice in the education of their children." Some parents may opt for a better public school or a charter school; others for a private school. The point, said the Senator, is that "no entrenched bureaucracy or union should deny parents that choice and children that opportunity."

Mr. McCain cited the Washington, D.C., Opportunity Scholarship Program, a federally financed school-choice program for disadvantaged kids signed into law by President Bush in 2004. Qualifying families in the District of Columbia receive up to $7,500 a year to attend private K-12 schools. To qualify, a child must live in a family with a household income below 185% of the poverty level. Some 1,900 children participate; 99% are black or Hispanic. Average annual income is just over $22,000 for a family of four.

A recent Department of Education report found nearly 90% of participants in the D.C. program have higher reading scores than peers who didn't receive a scholarship. There are five applicants for every opening.

Mr. McCain could have mentioned EdisonLearning, a private company that took over 20 of Philadelphia's 45 lowest performing district schools in 2002 to create a new management model for public schools. The most recent state test-score data show that student performance at Philadelphia public schools managed by Edison and other outside providers has improved by nearly twice the amount as the schools run by the district.

The number of students performing at grade level or higher in reading at the schools managed by private providers increased by 6.1% overall compared to 3.3% in district-managed schools. In math, the results for Edison and other outside managers was 4.6% and 6.0%, respectively, compared to 3.1% in the district-run schools.

The state of California just announced that one in three students in the Los Angeles public school system drops out before graduating. Among black and Latino students in L.A. district schools, the numbers are 42% and 30%. In the past five years, the number of dropouts has grown by more than 80%. The number of high school graduates has gone up only 9%.

The silver linings in these dismal clouds are L.A.'s charter high schools. Writing in the Los Angeles Daily News last week, Caprice Young, who heads the California Charter Schools Association, noted that "every charter high school in Los Angeles Unified last year reported a dropout rate significantly lower than not only the school district's average, but the state's as well."

On recent evidence, the Democrat Party's policy on these alternatives is simply massive opposition.

Congressional Democrats have refused to reauthorize the D.C. voucher program and are threatening to kill it. Last month, Philadelphia's school reform commission voted to seize six schools from outside managers, including four from Edison. In L.A., local school board members oppose the expansion of charters even though seven in 10 charters in the district outperform their neighborhood peers.

It's well known that the force calling the Democratic tune here is the teachers unions. Earlier this month, Senator Obama accepted the endorsement of the National Education Association, the largest teachers union. Speaking recently before the American Federation of Teachers, he described the alternative efforts as "tired rhetoric about vouchers and school choice."

Mr. Obama told an interviewer recently that he opposes school choice because, "although it might benefit some kids at the top, what you're going to do is leave a lot of kids at the bottom." The Illinois Senator has it exactly backward. Those at the top don't need voucher programs and they already exercise school choice. They can afford exclusive private schools, or they can afford to live in a neighborhood with decent public schools. The point of providing educational options is to extend this freedom to the "kids at the bottom."

A visitor to Mr. Obama's Web site finds plenty of information about his plans to fix public education in this country. Everyone knows this is a long, hard slog, but Mr. Obama and his wife aren't waiting. Their daughters attend the private University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, where annual tuition ranges from $15,528 for kindergarten to $20,445 for high school.

When the day arrives that these two candidates face off, we hope Senator McCain comes prepared to press his opponent hard on change, hope and choice in the schools

WSJ 7/28/08

Beyond Chutzpah! Phony Obama gave a copy of his PERSONAL PRAYER to Media before placing it in Jerusalem's Western Wall

Thursday 7/24/08 5 am Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama made a predawn visit to Jerusalem's Western Wall, a symbolic gesture that capped off his trip to Israel where he repeatedly stressed his commitment to the country's security. Obama, 46, was flanked by aides and Secret Service agents as he placed a prayer he had written earlier in a crack in the wall, Judaism's holiest shrine. Dozens of people lined up to shake his hand, while one heckler shouted `Jerusalem is not for sale.'
Source Bloomberg


Since last Thursday pm Israeli newspaper Maariv has been under attack for publishing a copy of the personal prayer Obama placed in the Western Wall. I agreed it was highly insensitive to publicize what is supposed to be a private communication between a visitor and his Lord, and therefore chose not to republish the prayer on Obama WTF.

Shame on me for not guessing the truth about what had happened.

According to Haaretz newspaper in Israel , Maariv's response to their outraged critics many of whom are advocating boycotts, included the following tidbit:

Obama's note was published in Maariv and other international publications following his authorization to make the content of the note public. Obama submitted a copy of the note to media outlets when he left his hotel in Jerusalem.

In other words, Obama gave the note to the media before he gave it to his Lord.

This takes political campaigning to unprecedented levels of phoniness, disrespect and opportunism.

Double checked the story in the Jerusalem Post
According to The Jerusalem Post, Obama's prayers were "released to the media before he even left the hotel, and were crafted for media and political play more than for a prayer. A Ma'ariv spokesman said that "Barack Obama's note was approved for publication in the international media even before he put in the Kotel, a short time later"

Shockingly, Obama had himself only just set the new mark for phoniness, disrespect and opportunism. This was reported last Friday on Obama WTF under the headline "Chutzpah!" and involved the news that Team Obama has placed "Obama posters" specially prepared in hebrew at the Western Wall, the holiest place in the Jewish religion.

I'm out of superlatives to describe the audacity and narcissism of the Democrat nominee. "Beyond Chutzpah" was the best I could come up with.

Top 152 Videos: rated XXX for content embarrassing to Obama

All 152 movies are rated XXX to protect the Mainstream Media. Some video clips contain scenes embarrassing to Senator Obama, including blatant sexism, sweetie. Some contain the vulgarity, "n*ts", or contain the use of racial epithets. In every case the vulgarity and racial epithets are spoken by African-American pastors which makes them according to BHO "actually, not that controversial".

1. Obama fails the Commander in Chief Test
2. Name one Obama achievement
3. Obama's plans for US military
4. Obama let Latinos down in Chicago: promises but no action; enterpreneurial Latinos worry about plan to raise taxes on Small Biz
5. Ad exposes Obama's interference in negotiations to bring our troops out of Iraq; BHO put political gain ahead of troops' lives
6. Obama admitting his punishing tax plan is to "spread the wealth around"; chilling Marxist response to Joe the Plumber
7. McCain's ad has a devastating sting in the tail for Barack Obama: I had to applaud
8. Obama cant give a straight answer (Wolf Blitzer)
9. BHO back-stabs Israel over Jerusalem
10. Lying about Iraq positions on TV 04 and Teamsters 03
11. Obama calls female professional "sweetie
12. Michelle's frightening UCLA speech: wants to save your soul
13. Katie Couric forces cocky Obama to eat crow on his Iraqi surge misjudgment
14. Obama takes the money from the nuclear lobby and dumps his voters
15. Obama crucified: McCain's new video nails The One; funny and right on point
16. BHO concedes he's not ready to be President
17. Obama shows he's not ready to attack Al Qaeda even if they attack two cities simultaneously
    
18. Watch Obama lying lying lying about Pastor Wright
19. Nader says obama is deceiving people: he takes big business contributions more than any candidate
    
20. Obama's 57 States
21. Michelle's not sure if she could vote for Hillary, if HRC wins the nomination
22. Obama introduces "the next President"... Joe Biden..
23. Obama tells the Israelis he's a member of the Senate Banking committee...he's lying
24. Vote Obama for American Idol; Nobama for President: watch McCain's Paris ad
25. Palin v Obama: watch the Alaska Maverick ad
26. CNN: How Obama screwed civil rights activist Alice Palmer
27. Iraqi war veteran sends respectful message to Obama; Stop dissing our troops!
28. Palin rips Obama's experience in her Acceptance speech
29. CNN does a useful analysis of Obama's callous vote which justified the charge of infanticide; James Carville can't defend BHO
30. Obama failed his first 3 am moment: watch video of his airhead response to the outbreak of war between Russia and Georgia
31. Obama v McCain on EVIL; the wimp v the statesman: America sees McCain own Obama on this video
32. BHO shows narcissism as he forgets to ask for donors to help HRC
33. No Obama Carter 08: When you're trying to fix a problem, there's nothing more stupid than making a change that makes the problem worse
34. Native Americans say no deal to Obama; every time they called for help, BHO's line was busy
35. Kerry on why vote Obama: inspire people in Egypt, Jordan, Saudi
36. Howard Dean calls McCain's party "The White Party"
37. Obama talks the talk; McCain walks the walk
38. ABC's 3 minute segment outs racist pastor on 3/13
39. Obama gives a special shout-out to a great leader Pastor Wright
40. Obey Obama, Obey Obama, Obey Obama: Victim of Obama's heavyhandedness comes back to haunt him
41. Obamatrons support for Obama is based NOT on the ISSUES but on the TISSUES; watch The One in nose-blowing action
42. Obama tells a 7 year old there's no Santa Claus
43. Elitist Obamas thinks everyone else is ignorant
44. Michelle's Marxist agenda: sharing the pie
45. Clueless Obama claims "properly inflating tires" will save as much energy as we could drill
46. BHO mind numbing changes in position on Iraq
47. Obama states he'll meet all the worlds rogue leaders during the Democrat debate
48. Obama met his Waterloo at Saddleback; BHO was so feckless even the rabid Obamatrons at Kos declared Obama the LOSER: video
49. Listen to Obama making his speech in the Illinois Senate against the protection of Born alive "Aborted" babies
50. Its 3 am ...no time for on-the-job training for inexperienced Obama
51. Appeasement: Ahmadinejad agrees with Obama's Pastor Wright; US invented HIV
52. Obama lies claiming he always said the surge in Bagdhad would work
53. Libyan leader calls Obama his Muslim brother; illegal money?
54. BHO attacks Imus and talks about white folks' greed
55. Have you joined The One's Fan Club? Watch McCain's new video about Obama
56. Letterman Top Tens Obama Uhs
57. Al Jazeer shows a Gaza based, Palestinian citizen campaigning
58. "For tax to the max, vote Obama" (2 mins to Beatles Taxman)
    
59. Obama voted to raise taxes on some people making $42000; plans more taxes for some small business owners
    
60. Obama doesn't know what State he's in
61. He's worse than a flip flopper
62. Obama lies about Rezko's involvement in his house
63. The Taxman cometh 30 sec McCain ad
64. BHO attacks Lou Dobbs for causing doubling in hate crimes on Hispanics: CNN slam BHO
65. I wont wear that flag pin: Lying in Iowa
66. Jesse Jackson sr wants to cut off BHO's nuts
67. BHO 7/2/08 Denver wants a civilian national militia as well-funded as military
68. Pfleger at Trinity wants reparations; curses American whites
69. Axelrod's unsinkable candidate - surely people aren't this gullible
70. Michelle Obama claimed Hillary was not fit to be President because Bill cheated on her
71. Truth hurts: Did thin-skinned Obama exclude Hillary from the ticket because she told Americans the facts about him?
72. Obama goes to Africa: DVD available
73. Use of "studio tech difficulties" to avoid explaining flip flop
74. Inner city residents exploited by Rezko ignored by Obama
75. Obama forgets which State he's in; admits 8 mths in Iowa led to confusion
76. Father Pfleger picks up where Wright left off'
77. The One on the Road to Denver
78. Senator Obama has not been faithful to our troops; BHO voted to cut-off funding; denied them credit for the Iraq's success
79. Obama Messiah speech in Minneapolis
80. The radical ties of Senator Obama (13 mins)
81. Obama's Pastor's hate filled speech to Press Club (4/28 complete)
82. Obama's Pastor loses the plot at NCAAP (4/27 complete speech)"
83. Michelle's not been proud of America
84. Obama's Pastor Greatest Lies and Racist Slurs
85. HYPE: trailer to Obama doc exposes the ultimate weapon of mass deception
86. Obama campaign song: Carly Simon's, "You're So Vain"
87. Video shows he lied about not advocating single payor Healthcare system
    
88. Obama pandering to Arab Americans; showing off speaking Latin
89. Obama wants us to teach age appropriate sex-education to kindergarteners
90. How Barack Obama gamed the Primary system to BUY Superdelegates
91. Obama ignores military service in Memorial Day Commencement Address; Wolf shocked
92. Clueless Obama claims "properly inflating tires" will save as much energy as we could drill
93. Obama strongly condemns offshore oil drilling before he flip flops and supports it
94. 7 minute montage of Obama's uh's from Amman Jordan
95. NYT says there is nothing funny about Obama: really? Listen to Obama's gaffes and jokes about The One
96. The first Truth Boat is swiftly revving up to expose Obama: Episode 1 Bill Ayers
97. Biden is blinded by hatred for the President: overreacts to the President's comments in Israel about Nazi appeasement
98. Biden claims Obama shows up clean to work
99. Biden brags my State was a Slave State
100. Biden: You cant go to a Dunkin Donut or 711 unless you have an Indian accent.
101. Gaffe 41: Obama announces he's in St Louis when he was actually in Kansas City
102. Obama says Iran is no threat to America; watch new McCain ad
103. Gaffe 42: Obama without teleprompter at Convention; change doesn't start top-up
104. McCain sends clear message to Obama hours before of his Acceptance speech
     
105. Hurricane Guiliani devastates Obama
106. Detroit's convicted mayor and friend of Obama stars in two attack ads
107. Gaffe 44: BHO refers to himself as President
108. Unelectable is what you are you...Obama
109. Gaffe 43 Making a speech in New Philadelphia, Obama renames the Ohio town, New Pennsylvania
110. Obama: "If you put lipstick on a pig its still a pig": who was he referring to?
111. Packs of attorneys target Palin: watch latest McCain ad decrying Obama's attacks on Palin
112. Barack America v President Biden: race to be America's #1 Gaffe-machine is too close to call: funny and highly revealing video
113. "Obama is a fading star" says new McCain ad; video
114. It started with a kiss; Obama and Jill Biden at the DNC in Denver; five seconds of passion?
115. Shame on you Barack Obama; Clinton rips Obama's despicable campaign tactics
116. CNN shows Obama kissing Pelosi...no word if he turned into a toad; DNC lovefest
117. Obama said he'd meet unconditionally with Leader of Iran: now claims he "didn't have Ahmadinejad in mind"
118. Why cant Obama resist racist pastors and radical socialists? Video titled, "Judge a man by the company he keeps"
119. Congressman compares Obama to Jesus; implies Governor Palin is Pontius Pilot; video of more Dem craziness
120. McCain and General Petreus rock wimpy Obama with hard one-two punch over his Iraqi flip flops
121. Obama receives advice from Franklin Raines CEO Fannie Mae; McCain ad
     
122. CEO of Fannie Mae called Obama and Dems "family" in this shocking 2005 video; more evidence Obama's prints are on the housing meltdown
123. Obama wants more big government to help the economy; McCain's ad says this is nonsense; points to higher taxes to pay for it
124. Obama's pastor of 22 years "G-damns" America in Michigan 527 ad
125. "Hillary" and "Sarah" make joint appearance on SNL; stunning similarity to Sarah; diss Obama
126. Gaffe 52 Obama admits that he's the champion of the irrelevant personal attack ad; watch video
     
127. Biden gets it! Admits Hillary would been a better Veep pick for Obama; video
128. NRA ad: Obama interfering with the NRA way of life
129. Why bring dirt of Chicago sewer politics to DC? Not all change is good: McCain ad focuses on Obama's Rezko Daley
130. Hugo Chavez tells Yankees to go to hell: Obama says he wants to meet with Chavez without conditions: bad idea
131. NRA Ad attacks Biden's record on banning guns
132. Iraqi vet fought for freedom and now finds Obama wants to take away his guns
133. "Hunter" NRA ad points to Obama's support for raising taxes on gun ammo and vote to ban guns
134. Obama's double-talk on taxes; change you can believe in?
135. Obama and Biden: each takes a different side of the coal argument; change you can believe in? Video
136. Judge Obama by the company he keeps: Wright, Ayers feature in 527 ad
137. Whats the difference between Joey Isuzu and Joey Biden? One's a used car salesman; the other appeared in 80's TV commercials
138. Video: Hours before Palin debate a College activist fires up the troops; Palin delivered & confirms its far from over: Biden gaffes
139. Independents loved Palin: deem Biden the loser: here's a video of Frank Luntz's focus group
140. Shocking video! Bill O'Reilly loses it with cowardly Barney Franks when Franks says Dems have no responsibility for the Housing Crisis
141. Grand Theft US Treasury: video to show America how Obama and the Dems caused the housing fiasco
142. Video 2004: Dems say there were no problems at Fannie Mae; accuse Republicans of racism when they raised red flag
143. Seven major arguments against voting for Barack Obama; keys facts supported by video
144. Obama wants your sweat to pay for trillions of dollars of his new spending: watch "we are all Joe the Plumber" ad
145. Why wont Obama release his US birth certificate? Watch vid about Dem's lawsuit claiming BHO's not eligible to be POTUS
146. Obama "lacks political courage" says Democrat Rep. Nadler; caught on video!
147. Biden can't handle questions about Obama's socialism; Obama campaign accuses experienced female interviewer of being "unprofessional"; watch vid
148. Hear Obama talking on radio in 2001 about how to share the wealth with "previously dispossessed peoples"; deeply engrained socialist
149. Pastor Wright stars in 527 ad
150. Obama's plan to BANKRUPT the coal industry caught on tape
151. Why wont Obama release his US birth certificate? Watch vid about Dem's lawsuit claiming BHO's not eligible to be POTUS
152. Black Panthers intimidate voters at Philadelphia polling station: Police intervene; Video of news report

152 reasons to just say no deal to Obama

Brainwashed Obamatrons dutifully repeat Obama lies to raise money for their Messiah

Here's a blog entry from an Obamatron's personal blog. It reminds me of the hundreds of emails I receive in my spam file telling me I've won a lottery or that a Nigerian Prince wants to give me a billion dollars.

Help Me Raise $10,000 for Obama

John McCain is getting millions of dollars of unpaid media support, especially from ABC News, Fox "News", and all of his other fans in the corporate media. The Republicans are going to throw about $400,000,000 at Obama as well. The primary battle with Hillary soaked up a lot of Obama's contributions. He needs YOUR HELP! I urge you, my dear friends, to contribute to Obama via my personal contributions page right.

I really do need to feel a part of this great fight to help save America from the disaster of four more years of radical right-wing government. Please give whatever you can. I thank you, and America's Future will thank you as well.

How many lies, gross exaggerations, and deceptive omissions can you spot? Where does this nonsense come from? Team Obama talking points to Obamatrons.

Obama is not running a political campaign...he's running a multi-level pyramid scheme...that's why the blogger is desperate for his readers to send money through his "personal contribution page." For $10000 raised, he probably gets to stand outside in the parking lot at the Mile High Stadium in Denver on August 28 and watch Obama drive past two hundred yards away in a limo. Maybe for each $1,000,000 raised, he gets a photo with Michelle. Sad to see the Harvard-educated Obama milking the masses in this deceptive way.

President Clinton told friends, Obama needs to "kiss my ass"; today Obama kissed his ass: Dream ticket back on?

Earlier this month, Obama WTF reported this story from Britain's Daily Telegraph

President Clinton: Obama needs to "kiss my ass"

According to Britain's Daily Telegraph which along with the Times of London is widely considered one of Britain's two quality national dailies, President Bill Clinton is so bitter about Barack Obama's victory over his wife Hillary that he has told friends the Democratic nominee will have to beg for his wholehearted support.
Bill Clinton; Bill Clinton says Barack Obama must 'kiss my ass' for his support
AP

Bill Clinton is still very bitter that Barack Obama beat his wife Hillary

Mr Obama is expected to speak to Mr Clinton for the first time since he won the nomination in the next few days, but campaign insiders say that the former president's future campaign role is a "sticking point" in peace talks with Mrs Clinton's aides.

The Telegraph has learned that the former president's rage is still so great that even loyal allies are shocked by his patronising attitude to Mr Obama, and believe that he risks damaging his own reputation by his intransigence.

A senior Democrat who worked for Mr Clinton has revealed that he recently told friends Mr Obama could "kiss my ass" in return for his support

Obama must have received the President's message loud and clear. Today he went on National TV and dutifully kissed President's Clinton's ass

Obama listed the qualities he’ll be looking for in a Vice President: “I’m going to want somebody with integrity. I’m going to want somebody with independence — who’s willing to tell me where he thinks, or she thinks, I’m wrong. And I’m going to want somebody who shares a vision of the country: where we need to go — that we’ve got to fundamentally change not only our policies, but how politics work, how business is done in Washington.”

In an interview taped in London for NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Tom Brokaw asked Obama about the “old rules” of picking a ticket mate based on electoral strength in some region, and “someone who is stronger in some policy area than you are.”

“I think the most important thing, from my perspective, is somebody who can help me govern,” Obama said. “I want somebody who I’m compatible with, who I can work with, who has a shared vision, who certainly complements me, in the sense that they provide a knowledge base or an area of expertise that can be useful. Because we’re going to have a lot of problems and a lot of work to do."

“I’m not interested in a vice president who I just send off to go to funerals,” he continued. “I want somebody who’s going to be able to roll up their sleeves and really do some work.”

Obama made complimentary remarks about both Clintons, even breaking his self-imposed rule of not talking about his “short list” for vice president.

Hillary Clinton would be on anybody’s short list,she is one of the most effective, intelligent, courageous leaders that we have in the Democratic Party. … I would love to have Bill Clinton campaigning for me.

How much further up the President's rear end could Obama place his lips?

On the surface, it sounds like he's leaning towards Clinton as his VP. Of course, with this particular political animal, what comes out of his mouth today usually results in completely different action tomorrow. I certainly would not place a bet on Obama/Clinton. His use clumsy use of " he thinks, or she thinks" reveals that he added the SHE as an afterthought. The more normal usage would be "he or she" thinks. I also think his use of the word "would" as in HRC "would be on anybody's shortlist"....as opposed to HRC is obviously on my shortlist, shows he's not being sincere. And his comments about "changing the way politics get done" again seems to eliminate the old Clinton guard.

As I've written many times, having Clinton's in the White House would scare him to death for fear Brand Clinton would outshine Brand Obama...which it obviously would. That's why Senator Evan Bayh is the bookies favorite right now...he has the perfect lackluster, clean, profile. But Bayh does not share Obama's vision; he was a Clinton supporter.

On the other hand, Obama's use of the word GOVERN may reveal his true intentions...along with obviously faux denial that geography is in any way important. That leads me to believe his VP choice may be a governor from a battleground state. Governor Kaine of Virginia fits the bill. Obama certainly knows him well. Gov. Kaine did 10 campaign appearances for Obama in Iowa and South Carolina . Kaine is one of Obama's "National Co-Chairman." And most important to money-grabbing Michelle, Brand Kaine wont devalue Brand Obama.

Kaine of Virginia and Bayh of Indiana are well out in front of Clinton...as I suspect are most of the Democrat governors and Senators, at least in Michelle's mind. Probability of Dream Ticket...extremely low.

"Wake Up America! Is any one listening to ...Obama's liberal drivel"

by Vincent Gioia Source Houston Post Chron

It is incredible and disgustingly sad at the same time that the American people are not completely turned off by this guy even though some of Obama's comments are actually reported in the main stream press.

While his trip to Europe is viewed as the second coming, Obama's stance on foreign policy issues of importance go largely unabsorbed by infertile minds.

For example, in acknowledging the devastating blow inflicted upon the United States on 9/11, Obama said the 9-11 attacks were carried out because of al Qaeda's lack of "empathy" for the suffering of others. Can you imagine, these ruthless sub-humans have a lack of "empathy" which is the reason why they kill innocents, chop off heads and sacrifice children's' lives?

Messiah Obama also said after 9/11 that al Qaeda's terrorist ideology "grows out of a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair." In essence, we are responsible for the suicide killing of thousands of Americans on U.S. soil because we have done nothing to alleviate "poverty", "helplessness" and "despair" of the terrorist Cretans. The fact that Islamists want to take over the world for a future Caliphate, and are willing to kill and do anything else they can think of to achieve that goal, is unknown to Obama – or he chooses to ignore it.

WorldNet Daily reminds us

"Obama went on to imply the September 11th attacks were in part a result of U.S. policy, lecturing the American military to minimize civilian casualties in the Middle East and urging action opposing ‘bigotry or discrimination directed against neighbors and friends of Middle-Eastern descent'."

Obama wrote in a piece about 9-11 published on Sept. 19, 2001, in Chicago's Hyde Park Herald."

"Even as I hope for some measure of peace and comfort to the bereaved families, I must also hope that we, as a nation, draw some measure of wisdom from this tragedy""

Is this the person Americans want to lead the nation as we battle for survival against an implacable enemy bent on killing and destroying our country?

If you are still not convinced we should not place our trust in Obama, here is more of the liberal drivel the Democrat presidential candidate spews on us:

"We must also engage, however, in the more difficult task of understanding the sources of such madness. The essence of this tragedy, it seems to me, derives from a fundamental absence of empathy on the part of the attackers: an inability to imagine, or connect with, the humanity or suffering of others. Such a failure of empathy, such numbness to the pain of a child or the desperation of a parent is not innate; nor, history tells us, is it unique to a particular culture, religion or ethnicity. It may find expression in a particular brand of violence; it may be channeled by particular demagogues or fanatics."

"Most often, though, it grows out a climate of poverty and ignorance, helplessness and despair."

"We will have to make sure, despite our rage, that any U.S. military action takes into account the lives of innocent civilians abroad. We will have to be unwavering in opposing bigotry or discrimination directed against neighbors and friends of Middle-Eastern descent. Finally, we will have to devote far more attention to the monumental task of raising the hopes and prospects of embittered children across the globe – children not just in the Middle East, but also in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe and within our own shores."

As like other liberals, Obama believes that our enemies can be dissuaded from killing innocent people and inciting resurrection where ever possible by understanding "the root causes" of their actions and treating them as poor innocents who lacked love as children while they lived in poverty "across the globe". Without doubt this thinking is behind Obama's desire to smoke the peace pipe with Iranian thugs and maybe hold a love-in "without preconditions" so they may succumb to his messianic message of "change". Diplomacy will somehow change the hearts and minds of those who would slit his throat without any qualm under different circumstances.

Thank God for the internet; only there is the truth available, since the main stream press doesn't want Americans to know the character and beliefs of the person chosen to be the next U.S. president. We got to see the cover of the New Yorker magazine which aptly described the next first couple; Michelle Obama in terrorist fatigues and AK-47, the future president dressed as a Muslim, the American flag burning in the background and a picture of the other "Osama" (bin Laden) hanging on the wall in the oval office. Of course this was not editorial comment by the liberal magazine; it just accidentally described the true nature of these two and their arrogance about the intellect of the folks.

Michelle Malkin in her usual excellent style wrote in National Review Online:

"Is this man for real? Osama bin Laden's murderous legions are plenty able to 'imagine' the 'suffering of others.' Go watch an al-Qaeda beheading snuff video. Just Google it or surf You Tube. Imagining the suffering of infidels is covered amply in basic Jihadi Training 101."

Robert Spencer, director of the Jihad Watch website, also had it right:

"What Obama could not, and apparently cannot, allow himself to do is to investigate the nature of Islam, to find out what it teaches about Believers and Infidels. I can help out a bit. I can tell him, right now, right here, that Islam is based on a clear division of the universe between Believers and Infidels."

Abe Greenwald in Commentary Magazine wrote, "[P]overty and ignorance, helplessness and despair.' Strange, considering our attackers were wealthy and educated, connected and ecstatic. You know, if Obama is going to keep ex-terrorists around, he should at least utilize them. He could have asked Bill Ayers, 'Bill, did your 'failure of empathy' stem from your impoverished upbringing as the son of the CEO of Commonwealth Edison?"

Last year WorldNet Daily conducted an interview with am unsuccessful suicide bomber and inquired if the terrorist act he wanted to commit was due to his desperation out of living in poor conditions. No, that was not the case,said the disciple of jihad; he was persuaded to do this to "satisfy Allah and his instructions. No money interests, nothing. No brainwash, no pressure; it is my decision."

"[It] became stronger when I understood what status I will have in heaven if I scarify myself for Allah."

When asked about media reporting Palestinian suicide attackers are acting in response to occupation or poor living conditions, the defender of Allah said those media claims are "lies" and "Israeli propaganda."

Wakeup America! We must not put Barack Obama in the White House; our lives and the life of the country as we know it is in the balance.

Obama receives big bounce from MSM news of his America Sucks World Tour; McCain loses like Adlai Stevenson

Sunday's Gallup tracking polls show Obama received a 7 point bounce since his pre-"America Sucks" World Tour polling numbers. He leads by 9% over McCain.

According to one polling expert, Larry Sabatos, of the Center for Politics Crystal Ball this is the beginning of the end for McCain who he concludes will suffer the same ignominy as Adlai Stevenson in 1952...remarkably similar sentiments to those expressed by Time Magazine earlier this week. Of course, nowhere do either of these articles address the liberal's "Bradley Effect"...presumably saving that one in case their predictions go wrong...nor the Operation Chaos effect...nor the fact that Adlai Stevenson didn't have millions of dollars of 527 money itching to air post convention and expose his opponent's lack of experience, judgment and integrity. Of course, in any case, Ike was a war hero and that made Adlai's fate even worse...hmmm...
I'm blogging all these predictions so we can hold the experts accountible on November 5.

THE MYTH OF A TOSS-UP ELECTION

By Alan Abramowitz, Thomas E. Mann, and Larry J. Sabato

"Too close to call." "Within the margin of error." "A statistical dead heat." If you've been following news coverage of the 2008 presidential election, you're probably familiar with these phrases. Media commentary on the presidential horserace, reflecting the results of a series of new national polls, has strained to make a case for a hotly contested election that is essentially up for grabs.

Signs of Barack Obama's weaknesses allegedly abound. The huge generic Democratic Party advantage is not reflected in the McCain-Obama pairings in national polls. Why, according to the constant refrain, hasn't Obama put this election away? A large number of Clinton supporters in the primaries refuse to commit to Obama. White working class and senior voters tilt decidedly to McCain. Racial resentment limits Obama's support among these two critical voting blocs. Enthusiasm among young voters and African-Americans, two groups strongly attracted to Obama, is waning. Blah, blah, blah.

While no election outcome is guaranteed and McCain's prospects could improve over the next three and a half months, virtually all of the evidence that we have reviewed--historical patterns, structural features of this election cycle, and national and state polls conducted over the last several months--point to a comfortable Obama/Democratic party victory in November. Trumpeting this race as a toss-up, almost certain to produce another nail-biter finish, distorts the evidence and does a disservice to readers and viewers who rely upon such punditry. Again, maybe conditions will change in McCain's favor, and if they do, they should also be accurately described by the media. But current data do not justify calling this election a toss-up.

Consider the following.

Except for a few days when the Gallup and Rasmussen tracking polls showed a tie, Barack Obama has led John McCain in every national poll in the past two months. Obama's average margin has consistently been in the 4-6 point range during this time. By contrast, the polls in 2000 and 2004 showed much more variation over time. State polling results have also consistently given Obama the advantage. According to realclearpolitics.com, Obama is currently leading in 26 states and the District of Columbia with a total of 322 electoral votes; McCain is currently leading in 24 states with a total of 216 electoral votes. Obama is leading in every state carried by John Kerry in 2004 along with six states carried by George Bush: Iowa, New Mexico, Ohio, Indiana, Nevada and Colorado. A seventh Bush state, Virginia, is tied.

Obama is leading in 11 of the 12 swing states that were decided by a margin of five points or less in 2004 including five of the six that were carried by George Bush. And while Obama has a comfortable lead in every state that John Kerry won by a margin of more than five points in 2004, McCain is in a difficult battle in a number of states that Bush carried by a margin of more than five points including such solidly red states as Indiana, Montana, North Dakota, Virginia, and North Carolina.

And remember these June and July polls may well understate Obama's eventual margin. Ronald Reagan did not capitalize on the huge structural advantage Republicans enjoyed in 1980 until after the party conventions and presidential debate. It took a while and a sufficient level of comfort with the challenger for anti-Carter votes to translate into support for Reagan. If Obama's performance over the last eighteen months is any guide, a similar pattern could unfold in 2008.

Aside from the horserace results, there is evidence of a growing Democratic party advantage in the electorate. A recent analysis by Rhodes Cook of voter registration data in 29 states and the District of Columbia that permit registration by party shows that since November of 2004, Democratic registration has increased by almost 700,000 while Republican registration has declined by almost one million.

Democrats now enjoy a substantial lead over Republicans in voter identification. According to the Gallup Poll, the two parties have gone from near parity four years ago to a 12 point Democratic advantage in the first half of 2008. And polling data continue to show that Democrats are more satisfied with their party's nominee than Republicans voters and more highly motivated to vote. While Republicans normally benefit from higher turnout among their supporters, that may not be the case this year.

In order to defeat Barack Obama, John McCain will have to convince a lot of currently disgruntled Republicans to turn out and vote for him. Yet mobilizing the Republican base, a strategy employed successfully by Karl Rove in 2002 and 2004, won't be enough for McCain to win in 2008. He'll also have to convince a majority of independents and a substantial number of Democrats to vote for him. That's a task that proved too difficult even for Rove in the 2006 midterm election and it may be still more difficult in 2008. That's because since 2006 the political environment has gone from bad to worse for Republicans.

It is no exaggeration to say that the political environment this year is one of the worst for a party in the White House in the past sixty years. You have to go all the way back to 1952 to find an election involving the combination of an unpopular president, an unpopular war, and an economy teetering on the brink of recession. 1952 was also the last time the party in power wasn't represented by either the incumbent president or the incumbent vice-president. But the fact that Democrat Harry Truman wasn't on the ballot didn't stop Republican Dwight Eisenhower from inflicting a crushing defeat on Truman's would-be successor, Adlai Stevenson.

Barack Obama is not a national hero like Dwight Eisenhower, and George Bush is no Harry Truman. But if history is any guide, and absent a dramatic change in election fundamentals or an utter collapse of the Obama candidacy, John McCain is likely to suffer the same fate as Adlai Stevenson.

For the record (source Wiki)

During the 1952 campaign Stewart Alsop, a powerful Connecticut Republican and the brother of newspaper columnist Joseph Alsop, labeled Stevenson an "egghead", based on his baldness and intellectual air. Alsop used the word in a column describing Stevenson's problems in wooing working-class voters and the nickname stuck. His running mate was Senator John Sparkman of Alabama. In the 1952 presidential election against Dwight D. Eisenhower, Stevenson lost heavily outside the Solid South; he won only nine states and lost the Electoral College vote 442 to 89.

Hammer Obama: 31 ZINGERS capture Obama in a nutshell

31 ZINGERS which capture the essence of BHO with great verbal efficiency and, occasionally, a wisp of wit.

1 "Mr Obama is spectacularly under-qualified to be President; he's been in the Senate for 25 months... there are probably craftsman repairing things in that building who have been there longer."

Tim Hames, in Times of London, 2/12/07... writing about why America can't make Obama President

2 "As Obama's campaign is based on words... not on a proven track-record... if his words are not supported by facts, there’s nothing left but an empty blue suit."

Oxy Moran in Obama WTF, 2/12/ 2008...writing about the need to scrutinize Obama's empty rhetoric

3 "Obama's words are silken and honeyed; for McCain, words are unnecessary, his actions speak volumes."

Peter Worthington, Toronto Sun: 6/15/08...writing why he cant understand how Jews can vote for Obama

4 "For all his talk about change, Obama remains a product of a Chicago political culture renowned for corruption and filled with characters who range from felonious to just outrageous."

Chicago Tribune, 6/22/08 ...writing about how Obama's Chicago friends are killing his campaign to present himself as Mr Clean

5 "I want to cut Obama's nuts off"

Jesse Jackson Sr, father of Obama's National Campaign Chairman on 7/6/08 whispering on a hot mic about his retribution for Obama's talking down to African Americans

6 "Barack Obama has the worst luck with preachers of everybody I know"

Jay Leno, 7/9/08 talking on his show after the announcement of Jesse Jackson's vulgar remark.

7 "Hearing Barack Obama's speech... my, I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don't have that too often."

Chris Matthews 2/12/08 on MSNBC demonstrating the mainstream media's physical inability to report objectively.

8 "Lifting whole passages from someone else's speeches is not change you can believe in, it's change you can Xerox."

Senator Hillary Clinton, 2/22/08 talking about Obama plagarizing Governor Deval Patrick during a Primary Debate

9 "Fast Eddie Obama, the promise-breaking, tough-minded Chicago pol who’d throw you under the truck for votes."

David Brooks, 6/20/08, New York Times, writing after Obama broke his promise to use public financing which he had made the initial foundation of his campaign

10 "We can take Obama out of Chicago, but we cant take Chicago out of Obama"

Oxy Moran,6/28/08 in Obama WTF, after Obama said he would remove the ongoing Federal oversight of the Teamster's Union which had been imposed after corruption convictions

11 "It is hard to imagine, how Mr. Obama can truly distance himself from Mr. Wright.... the Christianity that Mr. Obama adopted at Trinity has infused not only his life, but also his campaign."

Jodi Kantor. 4/30/07 New York Times after writing story about Pastor Wrights radical views

12 ""Why say you're for a new tomorrow, then do old-style Chicago politics to remove legitimate candidates?"

Jackson/Long writing in Chicago Tribune 4/3/07 about an interview with Gha-is Askia a Democrat for State Senator in 1996 who was disqualified after Obama challenged the validity of her signatures. This was the same election when he got Alice Palmer disqualified on the same grounds.

13."There appears to be no issue that Barack Obama is not willing to reverse himself on for the sake of political expedience"

Alex Conan 7/5/08 quoted by AP on Politico

14 `Obama's a politician, I'm a pastor. We speak to two difference audiences, `I do what I do. He does what politicians do."

Jeremiah Wright jr 4/25/08 talking to Bill Moyers about Barack Obama's tendency to say what people want to hear.

15 "Obama’s always wanted to be president,”

Valerie Jarrett, a close friend of Obama’s, shortly after his 2004 Democrat Convention speech
"Obama" David Caldwell

16 "I think Obama can be ready, but right now I don't believe he is. The presidency is not something that lends itself to on-the-job training.'

Sen. Biden on ABC's "This Week," 8/19/07

17 When there is a crisis and when the phone rings ...whether it's 3:00 a.m or 3 pm in the White House, there is no time for speeches and on the job training...Senator McCain will bring a lifetime of experience to the campaign...Senator Obama will bring a speech he gave in 2002.

Senator Clinton CNN's "Newsroom," 3/8/08

18 Over the past few days, Senator Obama's assertions about foreign and military affairs have been, frankly, confusing and confused... he's made threats he should not make and made unwise categorical statements about military options."

Senator Dodd Washington Post 8/2/07

19 Obama's other side: his imperious, mercurial, self-righteous and sometimes prickly nature, each quality exacerbated by the enormous career pressures that he has inflicted upon himself.

D Mendell "Obama" Biography 2007

20 Barack Obama's levity-free reaction to the now-famous New Yorker cartoon leaves one reluctantly wondering: Is he humor-challenged?

Kathleen Parker Indy Star 7/21/08

21 I have had some personal contact with Obama on a serious human rights issue and seen that his fancy rhetoric is so much wind

Dr Richard Harkin of Chicago writing in the Weekly Blitz 7/22/08

22 Senator Obama would rather lose a war than lose an election

Senator McCain referring to Obama's refusal to support the surge in Iraq 7/22/08

23 Whether Obama has 300 "foreign policy" advisers or 300 "foreign" policy advisers is unclear; either way it shows he's clueless

Oxy Moran in Obama WTF July 24 2008 to news that Team Obama includes a bloated bureaucracy telling Obama how to react to foreign news

24 McCain has dedicated his life to serving, improving and protecting America: Obama spent an afternoon in Berlin talking about it

Tucker Bounds quoted in AP on July 24 2008

25 Optimism without reality isn't eloquence, it's just Disney...in Berlin Obama's act jumped the shark

David Brooks writing in NYT on July 25 2008

26 Most of the Berlin speech was substantively as content-free as Obama's other campaign pronouncements

John Bolton (ex US ambassador to UN) writing in the LA Times 7/26/08

27 Obama has grown up with the teaching of very angry, militant white and black people; Wright, Farrakhan, Ayers and Pfleger... Obama will run this country in their mindset.

Hollywood's Jon Voight op/ed in Washington Times 7/28/08, worrying about a Socialist America

28 The Democratic Party, in its quest for power, has managed a propaganda campaign with subliminal messages, creating a God-like figure in a man who falls short in every way.

Jon Voight op/ed in Washington Times 7/28/08

29 We need to vet this man; he's dangerous with the abundance of ties he has... Rezko, Odinga, just to name a few... with friends like those, who needs al Qaeda?

Cristi Adkins, Your World w/Neil Cavuto, 7/28/08

30 Voting for Obama is like signing up for a bungee jump...without a cable

Gov.Tim Palawnee talking in Iowa 8/1/08 about the riskiness of voting for Obama

31 Obama concedes he's "undoubtedly benefited from affirmative action in his career"; what a surprise

Oxy Moran on Obama WTF reacting to NYT's discovery of a 1990 letter in which Obama admitted receiving racial preference.

"Content-free, ...confused and nearly incoherent": UN Expert ridicules Obama's Berlin gig

One world? Obama's on a different planet

The senator's Berlin speech was radical and naive.

By John R. Bolton source LA Times
July 26, 2008

SEN. BARACK OBAMA said in an interview the day after his Berlin speech that it "allowed me to send a message to the American people that the judgments I have made and the judgments I will make are ones that are going to result in them being safer."

If that is what the senator thought he was doing, he still has a lot to learn about both foreign policy and the views of the American people. Although well received in the Tiergarten, the Obama speech actually reveals an even more naive view of the world than we had previously been treated to in the United States. In addition, although most of the speech was

substantively as content-free as his other campaign pronouncements, when substance did slip in, it was truly radical, from an American perspective.

These troubling comments were not widely reported in the generally adulatory media coverage given the speech, but they nonetheless deserve intense scrutiny. It remains to be seen whether these glimpses into Obama's thinking will have any impact on the presidential campaign, but clearly they were not casual remarks. This speech, intended to generate the enormous publicity it in fact received, reflects his campaign's carefully calibrated political thinking. Accordingly, there should be no evading the implications of his statements. Consider just the following two examples.

First, urging greater U.S.-European cooperation, Obama said, "The burdens of global citizenship continue to bind us together." Having earlier proclaimed himself "a fellow citizen of the world" with his German hosts, Obama explained that the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Europe proved "that there is no challenge too great for a world that stands as one."

Perhaps Obama needs a remedial course in Cold War history, but the Berlin Wall most certainly did not come down because "the world stood as one." The wall fell because of a decades-long, existential struggle against one of the greatest totalitarian ideologies mankind has ever faced. It was a struggle in which strong and determined U.S. leadership was constantly questioned, both in Europe and by substantial segments of the senator's own Democratic Party. In Germany in the later years of the Cold War, Ostpolitik -- "eastern politics," a policy of rapprochement rather than resistance -- continuously risked a split in the Western alliance and might have allowed communism to survive. The U.S. president who made the final successful assault on communism, Ronald Reagan, was derided by many in Europe as not very bright, too unilateralist and too provocative.

But there are larger implications to Obama's rediscovery of the "one world" concept, first announced in the U.S. by Wendell Willkie, the failed Republican 1940 presidential nominee, and subsequently buried by the Cold War's realities.

The successes Obama refers to in his speech -- the defeat of Nazism, the Berlin airlift and the collapse of communism -- were all gained by strong alliances defeating determined opponents of freedom, not by "one-worldism." Although the senator was trying to distinguish himself from perceptions of Bush administration policy within the Atlantic Alliance, he was in fact sketching out a post-alliance policy, perhaps one that would unfold in global organizations such as the United Nations. This is far-reaching indeed.

Second, Obama used the Berlin Wall metaphor to describe his foreign policy priorities as president: "The walls between old allies on either side of the Atlantic cannot stand. The walls between the countries with the most and those with the least cannot stand. The walls between races and tribes; natives and immigrants; Christian and Muslim and Jew cannot stand. These now are the walls we must tear down."

This is a confused, nearly incoherent compilation, to say the least, amalgamating tensions in the Atlantic Alliance with ancient historical conflicts. One hopes even Obama, inexperienced as he is, doesn't see all these "walls" as essentially the same in size and scope. But beyond the incoherence, there is a deeper problem, namely that "walls" exist not simply because of a lack of understanding about who is on the other side but because there are true differences in values and interests that lead to human conflict. The Berlin Wall itself was not built because of a failure of communication but because of the implacable hostility of communism toward freedom. The wall was a reflection of that reality, not an unfortunate mistake.

Tearing down the Berlin Wall was possible because one side -- our side -- defeated the other. Differences in levels of economic development, or the treatment of racial, immigration or religious questions, are not susceptible to the same analysis or solution. Even more basically, challenges to our very civilization, as the Cold War surely was, are not overcome by naively "tearing down walls" with our adversaries.

Throughout the Berlin speech, there were numerous policy pronouncements, all of them hazy and nonspecific, none of them new or different than what Obama has already said during the long American campaign. But the Berlin framework in which he wrapped these ideas for the first time is truly radical for a prospective American president. That he picked a foreign audience is perhaps not surprising, because they could be expected to welcome a less-assertive American view of its role in the world, at least at first glance. Even anti-American Europeans, however, are likely to regret a United States that sees itself as just one more nation in a "united" world.

The best we can hope for is that Obama's rhetoric was simply that, pandering to the audience before him, as politicians so often do. We shall see if this rhetoric follows him back to America, either because he continues to use it or because Sen. John McCain asks voters if this is really what they want from their next president.

John R. Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the author of "Surrender Is Not an Option.