Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

yay!

This race reminds me of how I used to run relays in high school track. I used to let my opponent run as hard as he could, as fast as he could, and then just snatch him on the back stretch. That's how I see Obama catching and passing Hillary. She lead all of the way and now the polls show him even nationally. This Tuesday will split and then Obama will pull away.

and apparently Obama is channeling Paul Wellstone...that can't hurt.

here's a link for that.

Obama Claims Wellstone’s Legacy

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/03/6821/

I came on this morning ready to yelp about "Obamamania" and the screaming fans of untalented rock stars, and then you went and used "Obamamania" in the article.

The only thing that is missing from those rallies is little teeny boppers with tears streaming down their face as they drool over their idol.

At some point would someone ask this man what he plans to do if he actually gets the job?

I promised myself I wasn't going to say anything more about this race, but Paul Wellstone was a hero of mine so I give you this quote to chew on.

From Common Dreams

“Obama’s deference to these boundaries was hammered home to me when our discussion touched on the late Senator Paul Wellstone. Obama said the progressive champion was “magnificent.” He also gently but dismissively labeled Wellstone as merely a “gadfly,” in a tone laced with contempt for the senator who, for instance, almost single-handedly prevented passage of the bankruptcy bill for years over the objections of both parties. This clarified Obama’s support for the Hamilton Project, an organization formed by Citigroup chair Robert Rubin and other Wall Street Democrats to fight back against growing populist outrage within the party. And I understood why Beltway publications and think tanks have heaped praise on Obama and want him to run for President. It’s because he has shown a rare ability to mix charisma and deference to the establishment.”

I repeat this line from the quote:

"He also gently but dismissively labeled Wellstone as merely a “gadfly,” in a tone laced with contempt for the senator "

Obama does "contempt" very well.

U. S. kills nine Iraqis including one child

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7225613.stm

Patsi, will you please give a link for that quote?

CBS Poll: Clinton, Obama Tied
The picture in the states voting on Super Tuesday is not nearly as close as the overall picture and offers some good news for Clinton. Among voters in those states, she leads Obama, 49 percent to 31 percent, with 16 percent still undecided.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/03/opinion/polls/main3783743.shtml

Good Morning.

I posted this on the last thread. Your either going to groan.... So get ready.

Excellent little piece of Snark By Marty Kaplan about Super Tues and worth the read.

"It Depends on What Meaning of "Win" Wins"

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marty-kaplan/it-depends-on-what-meanin_b_84661.html

Join us for the all-important Chesapeake state primaries on February 12! Stay with us for the make-or-break Texas and Ohio primaries on March 4! It all comes down to Montana and South Dakota on June 3! Get ready for D-Day in Denver! The first brokered convention in over half a century! Brought to you by Clean Coal ® - America's Fun & Friendly Power Source

Colleen

Here's a whole page of the Obama quote. Take your pick.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS211US212&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Wellstone+%22gadfly%22+Obama&spell=1

thanks, Jamie, I'll check it out, but I really do want the specific one Patsi quoted.

Renee,
Sorry about your Patriots.

So the young, inexperienced upstart, who nobody gave a chance, had a huge comeback in the 4th quarter to beat the seasoned experienced pro, who many thought was inevitable.

Was the SuperBowl a metaphor for the election?

That is the specific quote. It's just used in many many articles.

Also, NY Times "All You Need Is Hate"

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/all-you-need-is-hate/index.html?ref=opinion

Colleen, that quote came from the letters section of the link you provided.

And just to make sure I post a negative quote about Hillary as well:

"Look, the only people for Hillary Clinton are the Democratic establishment and white women. The Democratic establishment -- it would be crazy for the Democratic Party to follow an establishment that's led it to defeat year after year. White women are a problem, that's, you know -- we all live with that."

-- NYT columnist Bill Kristol

A Bill Kristol quote is a reason NOT to vote for Hillary? You are a very funny lady. :)

When I hear that Obama is pulling up in the race I get that same uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach that I had back in 2000. After that disastrous election I became a news addict. I get my news from a variety of sources since it is obvious that you just can’t trust the MSM. All you have to do is watch an event and then listen to how the media spins it. Fox News gets a lot of flack for misrepresenting the news but I see it everywhere especially during this election cycle. Even people I once trusted have let me down. What are their motives? I don’t know but I wish they would be specific if they have something they need to tell us.
It is the media, who have been labeled as liberal, who helped this president get into office and didn’t vet this war until it was way too late. They actually helped sell it. They didn’t even start really going after the president until his approval rating was in the dirt.
Obama says that Clinton voted for the war. Actually no one voted for us to go to war. They voted for authorization. At a time when we all needed to trust our president, most of us unfortunately did. It is certainly easier to criticize than to create. Obama had the safety of not having to make that choice at the time. He certainly didn’t take the same stand against the war when it came to funding it like Dennis and Ron Paul did. Look where their votes got them.
I have watched Hillary Clinton since Bill was elected president. I even wrote her in early 93 to express some of my concerns about the Health care system. I wrote her because I thought Bill would be way too busy to read a letter from a yahoo from way down south in La. Of course this yahoo has completed two MS degree programs in nursing and has been working in the health care industry for 36 years now. I was surprised that she personally wrote me back a handwritten note saying they would consider my ideas. Next thing you know she is working on healthcare.
I trust Hillary Clinton. As the first woman president I do not think she would dare let us down.
I appreciate that Obama has gotten the young people involved in politics. I wish they would have gotten involved a lot earlier when their brothers and sisters started dying in this war. I hope before they enroll in Obama college they do their homework and don't just listen to the sound bites.

Good morning

I am still wondering why BR won't give it up. He has always said from the beginning that endorsements do not sway voters...but, they do "mean" something to the candidates. Just like Edwards...what do they both know that we don't know? Or is the dem race too close to call and they will hop off the fence after Super, Duper FAT Tuesday.

Here's how different we are.

You can see a slight in Obama's quote.....I think,

and I see an indepth insight into his head and his senate offices. More a reason to like and trust him. I didn't see the quote as harmful at all.

I saw a piece from a jounralist that was sound and full of insight. Not slanting either way. I am also beginning to see Obama as having the same Charisma as Bill Clinton.

I don't find a slight from the quote because he didn't go into it further and "Gadfly" is so minor. He still said he was magnificent.

Thanks for the link.

So, is the Giant's victory parade tomorrow gonna have an impact on the NY primary?

This sure is exciting...I hope I am not searching online for a nose mitten on Wednesday morning.

My husband is voting for Hillary tomorrow...I am a registered Indie, but will be driving dems to the caucus locations. The repugs do not vote here until June, I believe.

Driving Ms. Demsy

Sheila,

It was the word 'contempt" that sold me. I've seen him look that way at others, almost as if they were a lower life form. Anyway, he's all yours. I don't have to worry about it until next Saturday.

Today's Savage Chicken

http://www.savagechickens.com/blog/2008/02/achieve-anything.html

BO stated before the New Hampshire primary that if he won New Hampshire, we would be looking at the next President of the United States?

Self fullfilling prophecy? Or was he a bit too cocky? I noticed that day he did saunter when he walked and he held his hand like Sammy Davis, Jr used to. I love Sammy Davis, Jr...he was one cool cat.

gadfly: In modern politics, gadfly is a demeaning term that is used to refer to folks who constantly complain about the political system just to hear themselves complain.

In local politics it is commonly used to describe the people who believe that they have to talk about every issue on an agenda. It is often used to describe those folks who constantly support the losing candidate.

jamie......No need to be concerned about Obama's plans. As one young supporter said, " He is THE MAN". What does that mean? I don't know. But it does illustrate the depth of many young/new voters.

Thanks for your take on it Jamie

also on der gadfly:
Gadfly" is a term for people who upset the status quo by posing upsetting or novel questions, or attempt to stimulate innovation by proving an irritant.

The term "gadfly" was used by Plato to describe Socrates' relationship of uncomfortable goad to the Athenian political scene, which he compared to a slow and dimwitted horse. The Christian bible also references the gadfly in terms of political influence. Specifically, the book of Jeremiah, chapter 46 verse 20. The term has been used to describe many politicians and social commentators.

During his defense when on trial for his life, Socrates, according to Plato's writings, pointed out that dissent, like the tiny (relative to the size of a horse) gadfly, was easy to swat, but the cost to society of silencing individuals who were irritating could be very high. "If you kill a man like me, you will injure yourselves more than you will injure me," because his role was that of a gadfly, "to sting people and whip them into a fury, all in the service of truth."
Wiki Pedia

I like the literal definition of Gadfly
1. any of various flies, as a stable fly or warble fly, that bite or annoy domestic animals.

Patsi, ha! You don't have to be"fair and balanced"!

I am not yet an Obamaniac. I'm still reeling from Edwards dropping out, and that was only after Kucinich was blackballed by corporate media. Any candidate who might eventually get my support has a lot of 'splainin' to do, Lucy.

Blond

Now there we agree. Sammy Davis Jr. was my all time favorite performer.

I wonder what the Gadfly on the wall in the Clinton/Richardson box heard?

so maybe Huckabee would be a ......godfly?

Jamie

I do miss him.

jamie remember that story you told about Sammy doing that fifties tv show where Kurt Vonnegut wrote the script? great story.

Sturgeone

ROTFLMFO -- Godfly!

Blonde wino,
"I wonder what the Gadfly on the wall in the Clinton/Richardson box heard?"

"Quit hoggin' the nachos..."

Or maybe Clinton told Richardson the Patriots had a "fairy tale" season ;-)

Blonde wino,
"I wonder what the Gadfly on the wall in the Clinton/Richardson box heard?"

"Hey Bill, Got a Big Mac For the Old Prez?" Oh Common....Hill's not around."

The more I read, the more I think ageism is playing a role in this campaign. The young people are drawn to Obama because he is young. What the hell good is that?

I do know that both Bills are cigar smokers...perhaps they smoked.

I while back I read some letters that were written by the teenage Hillary Clinton to an old friend. Even at that age she was very concerned about this country and politics. Now what was Obama doing as a teenager?

Or maybe Clinton told Richardson: "Hey Bill, wouldn't it be cool to have two co-vice presidents, both named 'Bill'?"

EuroTom

When I think BO, I fear the soylent green factories are not far behind.

Colleen: "I am not yet an Obamaniac. I'm still reeling from Edwards dropping out, and that was only after Kucinich was blackballed by corporate media."

Actually, although I am supporting Hillary, I am also still reeling over what the media did to Edwards. (And they REALLY ruined Kucinich. I was so pissed at Tim Russert asking that stupid UFO question that I could have puked. Actually, Kucinich answered it fine if you consider that a UFO simply means unidentified flying object. It doesn't necessarily mean space ship.)

And I really believe the corporate media systematically did Edwards campaign in...I liked hearing Edwards speak more than Hillary or Obama.

Patsi

I really think we will see Edwards in some role in the Presidency of either candidate. Oh, that just excites me to know that either one is going to be President!

EuroTom -- back a few threads ago you asked a question that appeared important to you. I set out to find an answer for you, spoke with someone who knew the person in question well. If you want to know about the conversation, email me at balecox at aol dot com.

Blond

Growing up in California at a time when there were no Paparazzi and movie stars were the people in front of you at the check out line, I've never been one for fandom. Some I like their work others I dont. Sammy was different. He was my birthday present every year that I was married because he did theater in the round about that time of year. He was the one whose appearance took me to Vegas. He was the one whose appearance on TV was a must watch, and he was the only one whose death made me cry. Somewhere along the line a man I had never actually met became a friend.

When I was a kid, I remember going to the drive in with my family and we saw this movie where this young guy becomes sort of a guru for the under 30 set. I can't remember much details, but somehow he becomes leader of the country and anyone over 30 is placed in these fenced camps. I remember him smushing a spider with his foot and I remember his mother yelling out because he even had her placed in a camp.

Does ANYONE know this movie???

ET

Oh and some creep named Fred Tellman or whatever was attacking the Clintons and the Dems and the "homosexual forces" This kind of comment burns my ass. It's one of the reasons that I left the USA. I got tired of people using gays as whipping posts to win elections. Demonizing people who are different is pretty pathetic. I wrote on the other page that Fred is probably part of the "love the sinner, hate the sin" brigade ("love" is used loosely here). I then wrote that I understood because I "love the bigot, hate the bigotry". Too bad Freddie didn't stick around to get called on his b.s. When you think about, people like him are the real enemies of freedom. The difference we have over WHICH candidate to support is almost not important when we see the religious right and ultra-right trying to take over this country.

Blond, Took me a bit to find it. - A blog article I wrote about the movie "Happy Feet"

http://jdurward.blogspot.com/2006/11/happy-feet.html

Karl Rove...................gagfly

Euro Tom

Wild In The Streets

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0063808/

Hey I got a cool email from my friend Tresy (Walter is his real name) . Met him and his girlfriend/now wife in mid 80s at protests against Oliver North, young republicans and illegal war in Nicaragua. Tresy is a cool guy. He and his wife, an ex-prosecutor both moved permanently to Canada after the 2004 election, concluding that civil liberties, basic freedoms and human rights were being so destroyed by Bushcheneywolfowitzabramsetal.. He just sent me this reply regarding Curt's dislike on Clintons re: Nafta and WTO.

Tresy:

Tom:

Interesting question re NAFTA, WTO et al.: what is Obama's position on
these? i didn't see any mention of these in his Blueprint for Change.
I should go back and check. I bet it's not there.

You know what else is not there? Any mention of affirmative action.
Interesting, eh? Unions get two passing references. As a progressive
document, it's not that much different from Hillary's, near as I can
tell. And Hillary's position paper at least has a separate section on
Women's issues. Obama has zilch, save for a passing reference to Roe
v. Wade (he's for it).

Also, if Obama were the candidate of change, he could have showed it
with some leadership on the telecom amnesty bill. Instead he (and
Hillary, and to a lesser extent Edwards) had to be shamed into showing
up to support Chris Dodd and those trying to stop it. It was all very
half-hearted, yet the issue is practically an instant litmus test of
one's seriousness about reversing the lawlessness of the current
corpocracy. I really have very low expectations for him; if they are
exceeded, I'll be pleasantly surprised, but I until then I'm remaining
skeptical.

Tresy

There was a Obama ad that came on around halftime of the game. I thought FOX said no political ads during the broadcast. The other camps should be yelling about this one.

Any of you have doubts about corporate media agendas? Then research JW's "Lost Boys". I can not be more specific for a reason.

Jamie...sorry, had to fetch the papers and feed the birds.

I can tell what you write about SDJ is from the heart. He was and interesting human...and a black, Jewish man. All we hear of this election are Black Christian or Black Muslim men.

Jamie, awesome. I was 9 years old when I saw that movie .. and I remember not understanding but also being freaked about people being locked up like that.

I am going to look it up.

CHEERS,

ET

Jamie...I have happy feet this morning.

ET

I's real good when someone says, "Go Fetch". :-)

While many here criticize Obama as only having support of youth, almost all his supporters I know- including the ones driving nearly two hours to canvass this past weekend- are sixty plus.

I thought I would include an except from an email today from a good 67 yr old friend- who was strongly for Biden then Obama after Iowa:

"Spent two days canvassing in Springfield as part of a minimal canvassing effort. There were 10 canvassers out in East Springfield. 7 of them were from Cheshire Co.
Some observations:
There is the same large proportion of people who will make up their minds on Election Day as there were here. Hispanic voters were all for Barack and were his most enthusiastic supporters. There will be no problem turning out black Obama supporters...they are aglow with pride. Very few Hillary voters. 2 elderly whites who seemed to be voting race. A feisty middle-aged woman "He's cute but he needs about 10 years more seasoning." ...."He's the same age as JFK."....."If I'd been alive, I probably wouldn't have voted for him either"

I ran into the "Barack Hussein Obama is a Muslim" amongst elderly black Christians. Rumor was easily dispelled. .

This was a low middle income area, primarily black with a sprinkling of whites and Hispanics. I think the turn out for Barack will be good but there are those nearly paralyzed undecideds. Everyone knows the election is important.

Contacted Obama campaign to get Massachusetts call #s. They promised they would send me 80. Joanne made 2,000 calls from Greenfield over the weekend."

Also, one of the first things that perked my ears towards Obama was Ted Sorensen"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hupgC1d-St8

From Kathy.

From San Francisco.

Not making the front pages, but interesting all the same because of her life long work for the poor and injustice.

Leader on a new journey

Editor - I have attempted throughout my life to give a voice to the voiceless, hope to the hopeless, encouragement to the discouraged, and options to the cynical and complacent. From Northern Ireland to Sarajevo to Latin America, I have sung and marched, engaged in civil disobedience, visited war zones, and broken bread with those who had little bread to break.

Through all those years, I chose not to engage in party politics. Though I was asked many times to endorse candidates at every level, I was never comfortable doing so. At this time, however, changing that posture feels like the responsible thing to do. If anyone can navigate the contaminated waters of Washington, lift up the poor, and appeal to the rich to share their wealth, it is Sen. Barack Obama. If anyone can bring light to the darkened corners of this nation and restore our positive influence in world affairs, it is Barack Obama. If anyone can begin the process of healing and bring unity to a country that has been divided for too long, it is Barack Obama. It is time to begin a new journey.

JOAN BAEZ

Menlo Park

I laugh when I read what i wrote about that movie. It's totally from my 9-year old memory... I was shocked when he killed the spider, and now I think the mother was really supportive of the son and he turned on her... I just remember thinking he was evil and I didn't want my grandma to have to go there. My Mom still had a year left I think. LOL

Oh kathy hi!

Question for the posters:

What if anything have you done for your candidate in this election? Curious about the link between blogging and action.

all these super liberal endorsements could be making it tough for Obama in the long run......

Hi kathy.

Between Monatary donations all year.....yep! One of those small givers.

I have become a pert of a neighborhood group. I also made 100 phone calls this last weekend in the state of California. I have done letters to the editor this last year. Door to door in my locale. just little things since I don't have too much time.

I have done blogs from Europe and tried to pass them along to friends in the USA and MySpace friends. I don't believe anymore in giving money to campaigns after reading how much money Bob Shrum, Tad Devine and the other consultant got for the losing Kerry campaign. They each got millions. That did it for me.

One more question for Jamie. Something else just popped in my head re: Wild in the Streets. Weren't the over 30 crowd required to wear some drab uniforms or something and wasn't Shelley Winters pulling on barbed wire at the end of the film, cutting her fingers in the process? Again, my memory of this is from when I was 9 years old.

My friend Curt has written an impressive piece called "This American Moment" I could forward it to anyone interested on behalf of Curt... eurotom at g mail dot com.

Cheers,

Tom

I'm more interested in seeing what the country is going to do in '08 than I am in pushing for the country to do one thing or another.......for instance, what good would pushing for Kucinich have done.......or Richardson.....it was a set up from the start

ET

I was telemarketed by Donations for Dems for Congress last week...I do agree with you about the Presidential campaigns, but I did pledge $$ to Congressional races. The house heads are totally forgotten this year.

Here's some Sammy for you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khGC7MX0mX0

Corey

One for My Baby...fabulous. Too bad BO doesn't think the sixties were worth much.

RE: active campaigning

Donations, small though this year...not flush like when I had money to give Wellstone or Harold Ford. Doesn't sound like much, but I wear my Hillary Clinton jacket everywhere, and at first expected negatives. Only a few of those. (One red faced guy walked up to me in a restaurant and reminded me that people were coming to kill us.) But it always causes people to talk politics!

Did phone calls one day. Talking to party regulars who were on the fence. That made a difference because many knew I had been critical of Bill for his centrist policies, and in fact don't think Hillary is as liberal as I'd like. But in any talks I have had, I make it clear that I support the party's candidate, no matter who it is.

I got a robo-call yesterday from Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith. Probably the greatest wide receiver in Broncos history. Most robo-calls you can tell from the start it's a robo-call, but this one was so conversational I almost started talking before I realized "why would Rod Smith be calling me?"

Oh, BTW, he wants me to caucus for Obama.

I was really cool for JFK......they shot him.
I was behind LBJ for his civil rights work.......then he threatened to send me to the jungles and kill people
I hated Nixon with a passion somewhat akin to that of Hunter Thompson
I voted for Jimmy Carter, but they all turned on him and he just couldnt get it done, and Ted Kennedy finished him off.
Reagan? Alzheimered Actor ? no thanks
Bush 1? Oy.
Clinton......I got absorbed again....it looked good for a change.......and then they found out about the blowjob and another one bites the dust......
And then Al Gore............I got up briefly with Howard dean, but then he screamed and they handed us Kerry. Ho hum.

And just when I thought it could hardly get any worse.....Bush and Cheney........

Now? It's a test. Where will this country go from here........

I can speak for Dog since she is not here.

Dog is active on the Obama campaign moving from state to state. She was in SC and now is in Delaware. She is active in the Arlington VA Obama Headquarters.

Hey Craig...how come some of us have that head and shoulders with a balloon next to our nik names? May I get mine changed to a wine glass?

Did you get my email with my snail mail address for the book plates? I know you are hugely busy and we haven't heard how the leg is doing?

How did a Obama ad appear on the superbowl based on the following:

The reasons: The show is sold out and equal opportunities couldn't be provided to all candidates, even if some additional time could be found for one to buy in.

Fox is saying it will comply with Federal Communications Commission rules.

"We comply with all legal requirements when it comes to selling time to candidates, including any requirements that might apply to a unique broadcast like the Super Bowl," the network said.

Sources close to the situation said that because ad time in the Super Bowl is essentially sold out, Fox will choose to not sell time to a candidate, citing an FCC ruling that a network can reasonably refuse to sell political time in "unique, one-time-only" broadcasts where equal ad time can't be offered to all candidates.

vadaryl,

It seem unequal, but Clinton has made a great move herself. She is having a town meeting on the Hallmark Channel tonight?

Great move and so your complaint is what? 30Seconds versus 1 or 2 hours.....sounds like the Clinton Campaign had a great idea and it will probably work.

Obama was binging on the Males, or which he is weak.

From one of your hit & runners to Imus fans
Sunday NY Times week in review article about Imus'
return., which may be of interest.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/weekinreview/03steinberg.html?_r=1&ref=weekinreview&oref=slogin

As far as politics, here in Fairfield County, CT, Hillary
will be at Yale to an invited group only & Obama to have
an open rally in Hartford

TV ad wars here Obama has been on the air for at
least two weeks, Hillary started just last week & his ads
here outnumber hers about 3 to 1.

Not one piece of mail nor any phone calls from either
& my home contains only registered democrats.

Correction;

Obama was pinging on males for which he is weak.

All the other candidates should be upset over the ad based on what was said

Pushed for RFK, Eugene McCarthy, and Geo. McGovern........nada but landslides for the other guy......
The only way Clinton won in the first place was Ross Perot decided to skewer Bush 1.......this politics game for the leaders of our nation is screwed. One more chance. We'll see how it goes.

vadaryl,

just politics. It wasn't a hate add. I was an inspirational one. Very strong on to the point thought, but not the beat all end all.

Not his best by far and I'm a supporter. I thought he could have done better.

Corey,

Thank you for the clip. The movie he is talking about with Fred Astaire is a wonderful old B/W "The Sky's The Limit".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_for_My_Baby_(and_One_More_for_the_Road)

The Bills watched the game at a private residence in Red RIver, New Mexico. MO is visiting Las Cruces today near NMSU. None of this info was in the Las Cruces Scum News, but found in El Paso Times.

Blonde......how about the old Desert Sun night club....is that still there? (in cruces)

I am surprised that FOX ran a DEM ad to begin with, but based on what the rules where how did one candidate get there ad aired.

there's Obama Rolls? with jelly and butter? I want two please.

yo soy Horsedooty!

Looking forward to Super, Duper FAT Tuesday eve...the talking heads should be fun this evening.

I will be munching on celery (it's good for keeping the blood pressure down)...I am sure I will be close to boiling. Popping my cork, so to speak.

See ya later.

vadaryl

From a comment this morning , my understanding on the Obama ad: He did an end run around the network by buy ad time on individual affiliates. Sneaky but legit. Time is alotted to the local stations for commercial sales and where that wasn't sold out, Obama made a buy.

Fox is pushing for Obama? Hmmmmm........food for thought.

I agree the Hallmark thing is a good move. If you have the money go for it. There is no rules preventing a candidate from doing anything today. There was one yesterday. That is what I am complaining about

Sturgeone

Fox has been doing a virtually unending push for Obama and saying anything nasty they can think of about Clinton.

Sounds pretty much like MSNBC only nastier adjectives.

I did not like the rule to begin with. I thought all the candidate should of been able to have an ad on if they could afford it

Jamie........aye..........

I guess FOX Noise is all caught up in the hype so down the road they can go in for the kill

Sturgeone...no Desert Sun is no longer in business.

I really have to run.

If you want to compare Liberal voting records

http://nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/lib.htm?o1=lib_composite&o2=desc#vr

Just to give you an overall idea

Kennedy is a 93.7

Obama is an overall 86.0

This is made up of: Economic 87; Social 77; Foreign 85

Clinton is overall 70.2

This is made up of Economic 63; Social 80/ Foreign 62

She is more of a social liberal than he is, but much more conservative on Economic and Foreign Relation issues.

If any other candidate chose not to run an ad then it's fine. Does anybody know what happened in this case

mornin' all.

Our primary isn't until May - I've done nothing for Hillary in the POTUS race. I've donated and bent a lot of ears to try and get a friend elected Circuit Judge and get rid of one of the 3 judges here - the one who was a poor lawyer and is not any better as a judge.

Congrats to Eli and the Giants - I'm just glad I don't bet on football., or politics for that matter.

Well, seems like the Dem race has gotten as tight as Dick's hatband, and god help us, McCain seems to be riding his newfound momentum to a slight edge, statistically insignificant, against either Dem. I do not like the way this is shaping up.

I thought it was a network ad, but if it was a local one then he pulled off a good one. Interesting the rest did not try that.

VaDaryl

The way the network ads work is that there are contract negotiations with various national advertisers. They negotiate for time slots and programs on an annual basis. The Super Bowl is the single most expensive slot in the year and the time is usually sold out way in advance which is why commercial time has been pushed into the warm up and wrap up shows to get that captive audience.
The Network really, really doesn't want to sell to political candidates that would supplant any of those network buys and by law they can't say no to one without saying no to all.

Obama just found a way to buy time by doing it on a station by station basis in chosen markets. Now if any of those individual stations refused time to another candidate but ran the Obama commercial, they could be in trouble.

How many stations ran the ad?

Sturg,
"Fox is pushing for Obama? Hmmmmm........food for thought."

And Hannity and Coulter for Clinton. Time to put on the tinfoil hat.

You don't have to worry until Fox supports the Sturg '08 ticket.

Interesting only one candidate ran an ad that I heard of. Mitt has plenty of money to spend. It just seems fishey to me

Memo To Pundits: New Poll Finds That Number Of Dems Who Like Idea Of Bill Back In White House Hasn't Budged
Sixty eight percent -- exactly the same percentage that answered this way back in October of 2007. The number of Dems who said they "dislike" this idea is now at 12% -- a statistically insignificant two points higher than October 2007. The poll also finds that Bill's "favorability rating also has not slipped from where it stood in late December
Even more interesting, despite the roar of commentary denouncing Bill for playing the race card, the poll also finds that Bill's favorability rating among blacks has remained stable
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/horsesmouth/

Pogo -- about the game....I tuned back and forth to it and it looked pretty good. I didn't have a dog in that fight though since the Broncos or the Chiefs weren't there....

But I couldn't stop myself from rooting a little for the underdog...I miss the good old days when my son and his football team gathered at our house for those big games. On one huge play they started jumping up and down so hard that a large framed watercolor fell off the wall and busted glass all over the floor....

Look at the exit polls in FL, no matter how you hide it race will be an issue tomorrow. But Bill takes all the heat.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080204/ap_on_el_pr/obama_super_bowl

Obama runs ad during Super Bowl

Obama, neck and neck with Hillary Rodham Clinton heading into Tuesday's nominating contests, aired ads during the Super Bowl in television markets serving 24 states that are in play on Super Tuesday and beyond.

Thanks for the url about the ad. Case closed

So Sorry RR
I recommend a good sulk
At least in football there is always next year.

Politics not so much. A mistake this time around will be not so easy to correct.

I don't think Obama practices "new politics" at all.
It's the same old same old and in some cases much worse.

It is hard to overcome a the bandwagon effect.
Obama fans should remember in the general Tweety et al will be swooning over Johnny Mac not Obama .

Pogo it's early daze. If the youth issue is as important as it has seemed so far, I doubt McCain will do so well in that dynamic. Assuming Hillary wins, it could be Clinton/Obama and if Obama wins it could be Obama/Clinton. I don't think that McCain/Romney or McCain/Hukabee would be a great sell. Maybe Ruuds wants the job.

Sheils, darling, with all due respect- 30 seconds broadcast to 100 million viewers during the Superbowl is likely to have more impact than 1-2 hours broadcast to 250 people on the Hallmark channel.

Fox is in full Clinton hate mode- my take is that it is for two reasons- the first is that the entire Fox management and talent lineup hates Bill, and since Hillary is married to him they hate her too.The second reason is probably that no matter what the polls say, they thinkany Rep candidate can beat Hillary in Nov. All that said, I couldn't care less what Fox thinks - I won't even watch GretaVan Susteran anymore, and I used to love her show.

that Bill's favorability rating among blacks has remained stable

remained stable at 79%.
remained stable at 79%.

FOX Fair and Balanced, Right!!!!

We Report you Decide. Interesting

Having PC problems.

It would seem to me if FOx thinks any REP could beat Hillary then they would try to build her up.

No way would they want to build her up after years of beating her down. Hannity saying anything nice about her. No way!

Pogo Dawling.

I don't know about that. You thinkin like a man and I'm thinkin like a woman. The numbers for women could and will probably impact Clinton in a possitive way.

Obama for 30 secs in front of people while drinking.......well, I don't know about you, but the BUD commercials were more fun!

Hannity is chopping at the bit to tare into Obama

EuroTom

A Clinton/Obama ticket would make some sense as it would look towards a 16 year control of the White House. Because of age and position within the Senate, an Obama/Clinton ticket would not be a good idea.

I hate to see what Hannity is going to come up with against Obama. He's got nothing left on Hillary. He's working McCain pretty good.

The United States presidential election of 1972 was waged on the issues of radicalism and the Vietnam War.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._presidential_election,_1972

Hey Rebel Renee
I hope you were able to drown your sorrows in a nice old vine zin.

that would be nice a 16 year run. What would Hannity do then?

If Bush and he messed up crew would of handled the war correctly would this Yes/No vote even be an issue

Isn't Maya Angelou supporting Hillary? I would put her endorsement up against Oprah's anytime.

HRC got the endorsement this weekend of the Chief of the Cherokee Nation....which is huge in Oklahoma and states that have a large Cherokee population...

My new motto: Don't trust anyone UNDER 30.

My new motto: Don't trust anyone UNDER 30.

dnd, if Hannity says he's for Clinton he is bullshitting - I heard him giving Coulter hell Friday over saying she would support Clinton instead of McCain because she is a bigger conservative than McCain - he assured her he would convince her not to support Clinton. Hannity was in full delusion and denial modes.

ET, yep, it's early and the Dem candidate is still up in the air - and McCain is not as appealing a candidate IMHO as the McCainiacs seem to think.

Patsi, I did watch most of the game - kudos to the Giants'defense for pressuring the crap out of Brady. I thought it was a good game, although low scoring, and didn't really care all that much who won. I did think the ads were a cut above this year.

Gordo - Bill's support among democrats is the same more or less as it was in the fall, but his suport overall is less. I actually find this hard to believe since repucblicans have been in high Clinton hate since '93. I suppose the negative coverageof him has lost him some support among indies.

No Country for Majesties

There are no majesties in America. No Kings. No Queens. No Potentates. So people who talk about how much we owe Bill Clinton fail to understand that the only people who "must" vote for Hillary Clinton because of Bill Clinton are those who owe him political family favors.

On one hand are people like John Lewis who cited his long relationship with Bill Clinton as the chief factor in his backing Hillary Clinton. Or entrenched political figures like Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid flexing muscle in Nevada, and David Dinkins and Charlie Rangel pulling straws in New York. Everyone else, however, is fair game. Yet with the former camp trading bulk constituencies and talking about "feeding mouths" versus "feeding emotion", some may wonder how Barack Obama has managed to lead Hillary Clinton in the delegate count.

It is because the folks who put the Establishment in power have reasoned differently. Having inherited her candidacy from a political dynasty, Hillary Clinton is less convincing when she rests her argument for further power on experience. People understand that by voting for Hillary because of Bill, we risk replicating the same dysfunctional system that needs change -- a system that is gridlocked because political predators are fighting over scarce capital. They understand that another Clinton presidency and "change" are contradictory terms. Indeed, Clintons’ switch to the change band wagon after the Iowa Caucus was a not-so-subtle maneuver that, like the experience argument, quickly wears thin. She won the Nevada caucus but Senator Obama won more delegates. In other words, she won with entrenched political machines but lost with the people.

People choose Obama for a number of reasons. First, we know the Obama name in the first instance due to his electoral experience. Obama has served for 11 years as an elected official – 8 years in the Illinois Legislature and 3 years in the US Senate. His record – whether concerning healthcare, crime or civil rights – is rather weighty. His current call for universal health care by 2012 can be linked to one of the 832 bills he sponsored as a State Senator - a proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution to establish a legal right to universal health care coverage and a passed 2003 law to extend health care coverage to low-income individuals in Illinois. Concerning crime and civil rights, State Senator Obama both won the unanimous endorsement of the police and got officers to support racial profiling studies and legislation mandating police videotape interrogations of criminal suspects.

The second reason is a quite calculated bet that principled and honest leadership will lead to an effective mandate. Back in 2002, Obama opposed the Iraqi war at its outset, calling it "an ill-conceived venture which would require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undermined cost, with undetermined consequences." Call correct. In January 2007, he introduced the Iraqi War De-Escalation Act, a plan the necessity of which is slowly sinking into the minds of even the strongest proponents of the war. Nor is Obama withdrawing from the fight against terrorism: he has called to maintain sufficient forces to target al Qaeda within Iraq while strengthening diplomatic channels and pursuing a more sophisticated counter-terrorism operation in the Middle East. While the Iraq war cannot be won with fear and sloppy logistics, Senator Obama shows that peace can be achieved with the right leadership.

The third reason is simple: Obama connects with ordinary folks because he knows how to listen to them. He has no sense of wounded entitlement; and he bears no traces of the divisions that stopped the U.S. government for weeks in 1994. Rather, his leadership style traces directly to work in the community. Before serving in the State Senate, Barack Obama was a community organizer in the inner cities of Chicago, working at $13,000 a year to rally communities on issues such as steel mill closings and housing. One newspaper comments that "Obama the presidential candidate still shows his roots--a faith in ordinary citizens, a quest for common ground and a pragmatic inclination toward defining issues in winnable ways."

On Race and Politics

The final reason the Obama campaigns portends a Presidency is that he knows how to unify people. And on this point, I would like to discuss race. It has become very popular among certain segments of the American populace to bring up the divisions within the black Community. But folks who care about the Community understand the significance and potential impact of an Obama Presidency. It is not just because Obama has overcome obstacles and then returned to the battleground of poverty to fight for the working class. It is also because, despite all he has accomplished, he cherishes who he is.

An Obama Presidency matters in the eyes of someone who needs a reason to keep moving forward despite the obstacles in the personal lives or the skepticism of political wrangling. It matters even more to the child who does not yet know that a black person cannot become president. In other words, Senator Obama transcends whatever notions we may empty into the psyche of blackness and elevates to hope.

And hope was precisely Dr. King’s legacy: to acknowledge that race is an important issue, fight it whenever it rears its ugly head, but that ultimately seek to be judged apart from it. That we can retain our differences while celebrating the overwhelming commonalities among us is perhaps the most amazing thing about America. In the Promised Land Speech, Dr. King said: [T]hat’s all this whole thing is about. We aren’t engaged in any negative protest and in any negative arguments with anybody. We are saying that we are determined to be men.

Meat-and-Potatoes

As we move past South Carolina, Senator Obama shows more than ever that he does not rest on the laurels of "a black man who speaks well." Senator Obama has begun to convince greater swaths of Americans that, among other things, he can (a) balance his criticism of the Iraq war with a credible plan to stabilize the Middle East (b) reform healthcare without starting an untenable and unaffordable standoff between the socialized medicine vs. free market camps and (c) shore up the economy in ways that add more meat-and-potatoes to our plates.

That (partial) lot is a tough gig that no "magical mystery tour", but hard grassroots work and deft political maneuvering, has accomplished. However young though he may appear, Obama is a tough and wise politician who has thrived in and against entrenched political machines. Yes, we can match Bill with Ted, Reid with Leahy, Dinkins with Patrick, and Rangel with more than half a dozen members of the Black Caucus. But that is hardly the point of the Obama Campaign. It is the promise that he can be responsive to those who desire a "reality check", and also to those who understand that a little hope and transformation of current realities may just be what we need.

vadaryl,
With all due respect, I don't think you get it. Hannity (Rush, Beck, Ingrim, etc.) need an enemy to rail against. That's what attracts their listeners.

So now they're supporting Hillary and vilifying McCain, who they think will get the nod. This way they have an enemy no matter who wins.

"Yes we can"? Is that a stealth Obama endorsement?
John | 02.04.08 - 9:40 am | #

The Farm Workers Union has endorsed Senator Clinton. Simply using the slogan doesn't make you "The Man"

I stole this from comments from another blog.

Obama is easier to beat in the General. That is why corporate media wants to defeat Hillary now.

Hey Warren

As we move past South Carolina, Senator Obama shows more than ever that he does not rest on the laurels of "a black man who speaks well."

What about Florida. Oh right if Obama doesn't win something he ignores it or claims there was somewrong with the electorate or the election itself.

A big thank you to everyone who contribute musicians for my questions about the blues. Here is the result

http://jdurward.blogspot.com/2008/02/i-woke-up-this-morning.html

Shiela, honey pie, you do have a point about us thinkin' differently - try as I might, I can't seem to get that thinkin' like a woman thing down very well. I still think that of the 100 milion viewers, drinking or not, more than the 250 Hallmark channel viewrs, over half of whom probably already support Hillary, will wake up and remember seeing Obama and confuse his commercial with one of the beer commercial and think maybe he ain't so bad after all. But sweetheart, you are right, the beer commercials were a lot more fun (and aren't you still supporting him?). Oh, & BTW, great post at 6:58.

ET, great new motto.

ET,great new motto. :-)

Colleen: "and apparently Obama is channeling Paul Wellstone...that can't hurt."

I knew Paul Wellstone. Barak Obama is no Paul Wellstone....

Is this Hannity person the one would do the "fair and balanced" newscasts with the statement "120 days until the re-election of President Bush"? I was shocked. The "news" media would have never dared do something like that back when I lived in the states. grrrrrrr.

QUESTION: ANY WAGERS ON WHO WILL GET THE MOST DEMOCRATIC WINS TOMORROW? ARE YOU ALL AS "ON EDGE" AS I AM?

Warren, couldn't you have posted that piece on your own blog or give us the link?

That Warren Buffett, he posts everywhere ;-)

I do not have a blog.

Hey Cracker - is that really all you can resort to. Your statement is not backed up by recent polls that show Obama closing in on Clinton's lead everywhere....including New York.

I think the superbowl is a great analogy. Clinton is like the Patriots. A football machine, a juggnaut that no one that could be defeated. Everyone that a Patriots victory was inevitable...

But the Giants won with hard work and determination. Just how Obama is succeeding with good old-fashioned grass roots political work and inspiration.

Finally, defense wins championships. And great leaders, that can appeal to all, win presidential elections.

Warren must be trying out for a job at CQ. Look out Crawford's younger intern who might work for less at the door.

yo soy Horsedooty!

I imagine this has been posted before - but if not, here's Krugman's take on Cinton & Obama's health care plans:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/04/opinion/04krugman.html?em&ex=1202274000&en=15e3ef55ea8cce37&ei=5087%0A

"But the Giants won with hard work and determination. Just how Obama is succeeding with good old-fashioned grass roots political work and inspiration."

Warren,

It would be nice if somewhere admidst all of that grass roots inspiration and determination he included just a few specifics of what he planned to DO other than HOPE

I know they need an enemy to rail against to get the ratings, but Hannity supporting Hillary for anything, even that, no way. I have a problem with anybody on the air asking their listeners to come up with any dirt they can. Freedom of sheech is one that but that is crossing the line.

Freedom of speech is one thing but that's crossing the line

Bleh. Morning Load has shown the Obama commercial umpteen times this am. They've totally have lost all objectivity if they ever had any int he first place.

I spent the weekend making calls for HRC at her national HQ in Arlington. What a revelation -- an entire floor of an office building in Ballston Commons filled with a diversity of people -- all ethnicities, ages young and old, both genders well represented.

Some of the states were were calling are supposedly owned by Obama (according to media reports) and I found the opposite to be true in the hundreds of people I spoke with. It's exciting to call up a stranger and talk with them just one voter to another telling them why I support Hillary Clinton for the DEM nomination. It's good to connect with fellow Americans. I told one man in Minnesota that I only knew two people in his state -- and he said "Well now you know three, because I consider you a friend." Wow. Several people who have gotten multiple calls over the past few days still thanked me for calling them yet again.

I did come across a few cranky Obama people -- including a couple of men who said that they definitely would not vote for HRC because she's a woman and the presidency is a "man's job." This is the politics of change?

What shadie things has he done in the past. Maybe we should do the same thing to him

ET, I'm learning not to bet, but I'd bet that Clinton wins more states and delegate votes tomorrow. And yes, it's that Hannity person. Consider yourself fortunate to be spared his simplistic political analysis and wholly fake attempts to present both sides of any issue. He has joined the Rush Limbaugh Shameless Self Promotion Club, and is a fucking moron.

pogo,
With all due respect to Krugman, Clinton's plan is a handout to the health insurance oligopolies. Obama's isn't universal. Both suck. Kucinich had a good one. But it doesn't make any difference. Presidents don't make law. Congress does.

Gee Warren

Those are the facts. Obama lied to the voters of Forida and said there might be a problem with the voters in NH

What's the matter can't hand;le the truth.

And this smear of the Senator Clinton and former President Clinton was an old style hit.

I believe there is a bandwagon effect in politics and it does not always result in the best choice.

So when Obama does not win a plurality of votes in Californina will be we hearing about the Bradley effect again.

Free air play for that ad. great move on Obama's team part. See the others should of done the same thing. Maybe Hillary will come up with something different tonight that will get played over and over on super tuesday

vadaryl - who are you talking about doing shady things? Hannity? Obama? Bill?

What's the bradley effect?

hannity

dnd, I don't disagree about your take on the UHC proposals. Short of an expansion of Medicare to cover the currently uninsured, I believe any plan that moves people into commercial health insurance policies will effectively operate as a windfall for the insurance industry.. I just had not seen Krugman's column and generally find his analyses to be helpful to financial dunderheads like myself.

Divalicias, you're doing a good thing. Thanks. Keep it up.

Hillary's got the old Dems who just want to win, and think "she's the best we can do." She's the queen of the status quo.

But Barak's got the young, the idealistic, the progressives: the Democratic wing of the Democratic party. He's a pocket full of change.

Barak's got the Obam-entun.

Listen all, I know things get pretty heated in these on-line forums - basically because those actively participating have pretty much made up their minds. So we can trade points all day long and it probably won't make much of a difference. But I hopped on the Obama bandwagon a long time ago because of his steadfast committment to ending the partisan politics of Washington. Now, of course you can point out "negative attacks" made by the Obama campaign, but in large part he had to respond to the Clinton attack machine. Also, I think that pointing out that Hillary is a divisive and polarizing figure is an important fact that voters, especially Democrats need to consider.

Anyways, the point is that Obama presents the best way forward past the partisan bickering. Policy differences don't mean as much if you can't get any legislation through the gridlock.

Moreover, I am by no means a fan of George Bush, but I was always troubled by the dissappointment and hostility he creates in Democrats. I hate to watch a State of the Union address and hear people jeer and slander our President. Unfortunately, there is a significant part of America that would feel similar hostility to Clinton - each time she gets up there to speak to the nation. While Obama can get up there and address the entire country and let us, and the rest of the world know, America is back.

And Clintonites - don't fear. Hillary is not going anywhere. She will still be on the Senate floor where her wonkish knowledge of policy will serve her well in moving the Democratic agenda forward under the leadership of Obama. I think she will be far more effective there than driving Republicans batty in the White House and creating the same media soap opera of personal attacks and partisanship that we have grown so accustomed to.