Jack & Jill Politics

TruthSeeker wrote: Obama has always bet on the American people, that they would be tired enough of the lies and ready for freedom. If they succumb to the emotional buttons and fear- mongering then maybe they're not ready....maybe they need to reach rock bottom first.


I don't know why exactly but apparently I needed to read just exactly that truth to settle and ground my fury right now. Thank you.



And Craig Hickman, yeah the Nixon/Clinton campaign has stirred this up for sure. That doesn't make it any less real, the way I see it. IMO Clintons are an embodiment of something real in the collective of "American people" and particularly the collective of white people. Not deviations, but part of the whole. Playing a role in the bigger picture and I guess we'll see if Senator Obama's bet on the people is correctly timed.

Obama understands that Networks have an interest in prolonging the primary. These campaigns are pumping millions of dollars into networks and affiliates. Also, network executives have political affiliations that make them favour one party/candidate over another. Obama's policies benefit people over corporations, it is crazy for him to do any debates in a corporate framework.


Obama has always bet on the American people, that they would be tired enough of the lies and ready for freedom. If they succumb to the emotional buttons and fear- mongering then maybe they're not ready....maybe they need to reach rock bottom first.

Teacher,


Re: Ayres. The case against him was dropped for prosecutorial misconduct, illegal wiretaps. He was in hiding for close to ten years and has been able to 'fly under the radar' where liberal academic apologists and like minded professors and political activists see nothing wrong with his behavior.



Who is to say that pressure will not now be brought on the university where he teaches to terminate his employment.



Obama supporters are willing to overlook any and every possible vulnerability in their candidate.



But don't be shocked when this stuff starts to stick. "It's in the past" "It's old politics" "It's just a distraction" No follow up press conferences, no more debates?



Obama is insulating and isolating himself from political reality. Before one can change the rules of the game, one has to know how to play.

"Obama will not debate Hillary any longer. And the reasons are pretty clear after last Wednesday’s debacle in Pennsylvania. Obama simply doesn’t fare well when forced to defend himself extemporaneously. He gets almost incoherent, and not just on the supposed “distraction” questions, but also on policy His answers on capital-gains tax increases had Hillary smiling and the rest of the nation wondering if he had bothered to study the issue at all.


Marc Ambinder, in the Atlantic.com believes that Obama just doesn’t want to give Hillary any more oxygen, but even that explanation has its problems in terms of Obama as a candidate. If Obama has to worry about Hillary gaining exposure at this stage, it doesn’t bode well for his ability to beat McCain in a similar fashion. The man who transcended experience to charge to the front of the Democratic race has to be able to go toe-to-toe with both the other candidates and the media on a national stage, and Ambinder’s explanation suggests he can’t do that in a competitive environment.



Even worse, after last Wednesday, it looks like a retreat. Obama got a bloody nose, and suddenly he doesn’t want to appear on national TV, even up against a cupcake like Katie Couric. The strategy may be sound, but only if one has no confidence in Obama’s ability to stand up to tough questioning. In fact, his withdrawal from the debate appears to be an admission of exactly that.



This won’t hurt him much in North Carolina, where he will win by a comfortable margin. It may affect Obama’s standing in other primary races if voters perceive him to be running a little scared. People who cast their vote on electability may wonder whether Obama has what it takes to go against John McCain in a general election, and may reconsider Hillary on that basis."

Because Obama is on the verge of winning, the Nixon campaign wants to bring us full circle and prey upon the fears many of us had to begin with:


Obama is Black. America is not ready. He can't win. Period.



While that remains to be seen, the Nixon campaign is lying.



Obama won the white ethnic blue-collar vote in Wisconsin and won the state by 17 points. Lest we forget, he got this win BEFORE the Clinton campaign went totally negative and starting fear mongering with the Red Phone.



Notice how the Nixon campaign didn't push Rev. Wright till after Texas and Ohio. Then Obama put his foot in his mouth and a mole publicized it just as Mrs. Nixon was getting killed over Bosnia.



I still don't know why the Obama campaign let that story go.



And now we've got Ayers and Hamas and a return to Farrakhan.



Barack Obama is a Black Muslim Terrorist, they say. He can't win.



And he has too much money because the people support him, so that makes him the establishment candidate, the elitist, the one out of touch.



And the Nixons $109M dollars makes them "earthy."



And the pundits say that this hasn't been a nasty election.



Yeah. Right.

And, before I go to sleep:


The Clinton campaign signaled Monday that it would not be shy in arguing that nominating Obama would risk alienating certain white voters. In a conference call with reporters, campaign pollster Geoff Garin spoke in blunt terms about how the racial divide in Democratic contests -- with working-class whites clearly preferring Clinton over Obama -- makes her a stronger general election candidate.



"The Obama campaign has simply not done a very effective job connecting with blue-collar and middle-income voters, and they are the heart and soul of the Democratic Party," Garin said. He added later that Obama's "appeal among white voters typically has been among the people who are the most affluent" and best educated. It is unusual for the campaign to talk so directly about racial divisions among Democratic voters.



Quote source, context and more spin and maybe (?) info in the article:



What to look for in the Pennsylvania primary

I am feeling pretty freaked out by Hillary Clinton's "obliterate Iran" statements. Hard to articulate. I just put a couple links and images about how I feel this here (one link on top of the pictures and one underneath them):


Liar Liar WORLD ON FIRE



I can't stand Hillary Clinton -- cannot STAND her very deeply -- but today is the first time I had to fight off physical adrenaline type panic when considering any possibility of her becoming president.

i am reading naomi klein's "shock doctrine: the rise of disaster capitalism."


it should be mandatory reading for every american citizen. it explains everything. everything.



i am still in a state of shock (and horror and rage) over it. it is stunning. and it is a call to action.



please read it, people. we will never get anywhere until we overcome corporate control of our governments world wide.

I have a book entitled Medical Apartheid: the dark history of medical experimentation on Black Americans from colonial times to the present by Harriet A. Washington. I haven't been able to start reading it yet, but I have read different parts of it. Has anyone else checked it out?


I'm not mad at Nutter. I think he's smart and likeable, even if misguided. I hope he is a good mayor. He is willing to work in behalf of Obama after he wins the nomination. Please be mindful that we will need to win the votes of the crushed and disillusioned. We need to have compassion, because we know how we would feel if Obama lost.



The other thing I've been thinking about is the Mormon situation going on in TX. For one thing, it offers a total redefinition of the Welfare Queen. The way they do it is that the man has one legal wife and the other ones are considered single women with dependents (by the state). About 65% of them are government aid recipients, if you can wrap your head around that one. Needless to say, I would never condone perversion, but if someone came and took my kids away, I would be inconsolable.

Anonymous in the chicago Tribune, I had never heard of Ayres or the Weather Underground until this story broke. If anyone should be ashamed, it should be the white justice system and power structure that FAILED to bring him to justice. This is a luminous example of white privilege. You are mad at Obama for doing what you & your people weren't willing to do? Ayres was never convicted or arrested. Obviously he is doing fine and living peacefully in Chgo. Obviously, he wasn't murdered in the night like the Black Panthers. A university is allowing him to be a professor there. Why aren't you sweating his university about employing him? If you aren't willing to launch a campaign demanding his termination from his university, you need to STFU. This isn't about affiliation. This is about your attempt at domination and control freakiness.


I think it really stinks that Hillbilly was on Keith Olberman's tonite and on Larry King. They are really giving her (broke ass) campaign the hook up. I think Keith was probably forced into it. He seems not to have his usual fire tonight. He asked her a couple of uncomfortable questions, but in general it appeared to be to her benefit. I hope voters noticed how hawkish she is.She's got her finger on the trigger.



I wish I could be in Philly tomorrow. I hope the weather will not be bad and I hope the Obama campaign will be offering to drive people to the polling places.I hope we win!!!!!



I read a news article the other day (I don't remember where-Daily Kos perhaps) about the forced sterilization of Native Americans happening as recently as the 1970's. The story made me scream in horror on the inside. My prayer is that we will be able to build bridges and coalitions and collaborate with others of color during the general election campaign. The world is way more than black and white alone. This could be a great opportunity.

Eugene Robinson on Race for the Whitehouse commented on Pat saying Obama and Hillary should be on joint ticket....Eugene asked Pat if he was going to be Barack's food taster.

"Nutter of Philly is a straight up Sambo.
-----------------------------------

ahahahahahahaha



It's funny but sho you're right! I saw him last night on CNN cooning with Rick Sanchez! Gaah!



Hey, he just don't get it and will get mad if you question his loyalty to Hillbillary!

I don't think it's a bad idea to skip a NC debate.


If Clinton had accepted in March - as Obama initially did - then maybe there would be room for the Clinton camp to complain.



No Response From Clinton

Rikyrah-


He may do a "jig" for Hillary and Bill if she wins tommorow.

Hillpatine uses Osama Bin Laden in an ad against Obama?


I'm not surprised.....

It is prudent to run away from a fight with a madwoman. Obama is neither coward nor fool.


BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA



Hilarious.



True, but hilarious.

It is prudent to run away from a fight with a madwoman. Obama is neither coward nor fool.

Ha, I guess all Catholics should repudiate the Pope because he was a Hitler Youth.


I hear Obama's on Jon Stewart tonight.

No and No.

Obama isn't going to debate in North Carolina. Does anyone think this is a bad idea? Does it make him look like he's running away from a fight?

'First Barack Obama made misquoting John McCain's remark on how long the U.S. could have a presence in Iraq a recurring part of his stump speech. Then he went on to quote half of a McCain statement on the economy.


Now it's the DNC ad, which so obviously mangles a McCain debate answer that the AP headlines their story, "New Democratic Party ad edits McCain's response on economy."



ANALYSIS: The video of McCain's response is edited to exclude the remainder of his answer, where he acknowledged that "things are tough right now." This type of selective quoting has become commonplace. Obama, in criticizing McCain on the economy last week, used only a portion of a McCain answer to Bloomberg Television.



This selective quoting has become commonplace among the Democrats. McCain hasn't run a negative ad yet, and to the best of my knowledge, I don't think he's quoted either of his opponents on the campaign trail. (If someone remembers McCain offering a similar half-quote of Obama, let me know*.)



Is this the way they're going to play it? They can't score points on what McCain actually argues, so they have to take part of his answer, cut off the rest, and hope nobody notices?'



Isn't this 'old politics?'

As expected, McCain was also sowing more doubt about Obama's connection to Ayers on a weekend political show interview. He called it an "open question."


I'm waiting for the pictures of 7-year-old Obama on his mother's lap at a Weather Underground meeting 40 years ago.

Gina at WAOD has blogged about an horrific death of a black girl at the hand of two teenage black boys in Philly.


http://whataboutourdaughters.blogspot.com/

"I feel you on that. John McCain is pandering to black southerners with civil rights rhetoric. I was just watching him on CNN making a speech about civil rights and African Americans to an all white crowd.


He praised John Lewis and danced and hugged old black church ladies.

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



He has no shame! And even after he admitted to voting against a King Holiday!



How dare him try to drum up votes!

Craig, Truth


McCain didn't know about what was going on during the 60s or who King was; he must be a quickstudy.

Craig-


I feel you on that. John McCain is pandering to black southerners with civil rights rhetoric. I was just watching him on CNN making a speech about civil rights and African Americans to an all white crowd.



He praised John Lewis and danced and hugged old black church ladies.



I'm suprised that their were no photo ops of him kissing black babies.



I would love to see him come to Harlem, South Side of Chicago, Bed-Stuy, or Brownsville out here in BK or Oakland. I think he may be too scared to make that trip...lol.

truthseeker, that McCain article is one of the most disgusting things I've ever read.


My blood is boiling.

Yes, I just saw it on Daily Dish - he was the first person I had in mind:)

I emailed Daily Dish.


Andrew posted it already.



He's the most read individual political blog on the Internet.

Craig! Excellent find! I am emailing this everywhere - especially the powerful bloggers that everyone reads. Even if it doesn't make the evening cable news "loop" hopefully some of those wavering superdelegates will see it.


Here is an April 15, 1997 New York Times article about the event.



Philadelphia Mayor Joins Farrakhan to Calm Ethnic Tensions



As the keynote speaker before an enthusiastic audience of more than 3,000 at the Tindley Temple United Methodist Church, h Mr. Farrakhan praised Mayor Rendell, a popular Democrat, for ''his courage and strength to rise above emotion and differences that might be between us or our communities.'' Mr. Farrakhan added: ''I believe, Mayor Rendell, that history will applaud your efforts.''

Mr. Rendell, whose speech preceded Mr. Farrakhan's, commended the Nation of Islam for its emphasis on family values and self-sufficiency.

He told the audience that many people had warned him against ''sharing a platform'' with a figure as controversial as Mr. Farrakhan.

But, he said, the incidents that prompted the rally -- the attack on a black woman, her son and nephew by a group of white men in February, and the fatal shooting of a white teen-ager by two black men in a robbery in the same neighborhood a month later -- have taken a toll on the city.

''The real risk would be not to be willing to talk about our differences,'' he said.

If Obama gets the nomination and campaigns in November with Ed Rendell behind him, I guarantee that video will get a lot of play.

Obama's up 7 in the Gallup Poll


Gallup Poll

And, they've got VIDEO, Craig Hickman. But, considering I'm not into suicide, I won't hold my breath waiting for THAT video to be shown on an endless loop.

I guess Hillary Rodham Nixon has a fundamental Farrakhan Problem. A HUGE one.


Gov. Rendell praises Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam, in Farrakhan's church in his very presence



Send this to the MSM and see if they report about it.

CNN, especially, and MSNBC is in full court press mode to promote Mrs. Nixon.


And they're not even trying to be subtle about it.



The internal polling must not look good.



Mrs. Nixon will be on Keith Olbermann tonight. That ought to be interesting, to say the least.

That's the Red Phone ad without the red phone. I find it interesting she's comparing herself with Harry Truman. He dropped the A-bombs. Mrs. Nixon wants a "nuclear umbrella" in the Middle East and promises "massive retaliation" if any Arab country attacks another.


And on top of it, she's calling Obama a lightweight.



Very Maggie Thatcher, as Andrew Sullivan points out.

Ooookaaayyyy....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDap46WOCmA

Since it is an open thread....


Any of you bloggers or blog readers over 50?



Please come participate in a survey.



Ronni Bennet writes "Time Goes By", on aging. She refers to any blogger over 50 as an "elderblogger" -- even if their blog does not address aging issues.



She is conducting a survey on the universe of bloggers over 50:





"The goal is to find out what elderbloggers are like how we may be similar and how we are different, how we relate to technology, how we came to be bloggers or blog readers, how we feel about it and what our demographics are.



There are 57 questions, many of which are required so that there is the largest possible population from which to draw conclusions. They are straightforward questions, mostly multiple-choice, and it shouldn’t take longer than about 15 minutes to complete.



NOTA BENE: This survey is for elderbloggers and elder blog readers who do not keep blogs. Readers and commenters are as important as bloggers to the elderblogging community and help equally to make it as lively and compelling as it is."



Here's the direct link to the survey: Elderblogger Survey



Thanks!

Rev Wright to appear on Bill Moyers friday.


May I introduce John Hagee, this guy is scary!



but see this link



http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/03072008/watch.html

IN THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE, Steve Chapman on Obama's terrorist associates:


It's not as though Ayers and Dohrn have denied or repudiated their crimes. After emerging from years in hiding, they escaped federal prosecution because of government misconduct in gathering evidence, but they don't pretend they were innocent. In 2001, Ayers said, "I don't regret setting bombs. I feel we didn't do enough."



Dohrn has likewise rationalized the explosions, claiming that "our acts of resistance were tiny and symbolic." She even went to prison for refusing to testify about an armored-car robbery involving her confederates. That crime was not tiny or symbolic to the two police officers or the security guard who were shot to death in the process.



All this is public record, and Barack Obama would have to be in a coma not to know it. Yet he showed no qualms about consorting with Ayers and Dohrn.



It's hard to imagine he would be so indulgent if we learned that John McCain had a long association with a former Klansman who used to terrorize African-Americans.



Doesn't look like this is going away...

I figured Hillary's supporters wouldn't be happy about her 109 million tax returns. It just makes sense that women - many poor - who had been skipping lunch to sacrifice for victim Hillary, would be furious when they found out how much she's worth. Awww, she had to LOAN her campaign 5 million..shucks...why wouldn't she INVEST in her own campaign? Are those poor women getting their money back.


I wonder too, what people in States who've already voted for Hillary think now, in light of new revelations about her character. If a re-vote was held now, would she win some of the states she already did?



Cryptkeeper Barbara Walters is simpering to Cindy McCain...if you look closely, you'll see dollar signs in Barb's eyes. Barbara loves people with lots o' cash. I can tell she's mortified by Whoopi especially and Elisabeth a little bit. We've got to be on our best behaviour girls, Cindy's here!

Even if you don't believe the poll, this diary has some great slideshows of Obama:


BREAKING: Obama +3

My new blog on housing and community development goes live today.


Housing and community development activity, which profoundly effects the way largely minority communities grow is void of African-American and other minority professionals in positions of significant influence.



Here , I will discuss, opine, and share ideas on housing and community development issues and hopefully spark greater interest and involvement particularly among African-Americans.

Here's a comment from the Paglia article. I almost spit out my coffee:


I am a 60 year old white male who has never registered with any political party. The character and record of the individual candidate the only issues that count. Paglia, an astute political observer and cultural historian, has given us a penetrating insight into Hillary. She is constantly morphing her costume, hair, and public statements to maximize the political outcome. At her core one finds a moral vacuum surrounded by vanity. Her only "principle" (if on can call it that)is a delusion of intellectual superiority to all, men and women alike.

On the question of experience, Hillary has had a healthy taste of the possession of power, but she has never wielded that power to create anything of tangible and lasting value.

Come November, after all the nominating conventions are over, if Hillary is the Democratic candidate, the choice is easy. McCain, a Republican, long-established public servant and war hero, will provide the balance for the Democratic majorities in both House and Senate which will almost certainly result. Should Barack Obama emerge as the candidate, a genuine decision will be necessary. The press will deeply probe his background, achievements and failures. A comparison will be made, and the two men will be judged.

My choice has not been made should the Obama-McCain situation obtains.

One thing is certain. If Hillary and her motley revenue of residual trailer-trash retainers from Arkansas and the new cadre of star-struck guileless youth enters the White House, the USA will sustain a tragedy exceeded in its magnitude only by the Civil War.

This is excellent:


Camile Paglia: Why women shouldn't vote for Hillary Clinton

McCain is giving a speech at Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.


Just saying



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Michael Moore - My Vote's for Obama