Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

First! Good morning everyone!

Mojo is saying HRC should stay in after today. Surprise, surprise.

Hillary doesn't have a damn bit of experience. I wish someone would challenge her on that.

I feel that a big surprise is brewing.

If....Barrack loses Texas and Ohio, he will have lost all the big states.
What does that say?

If Hillary wins Tx, Oh and Ri, she will have the momentum and cary on to PA, PR etc.
I think this is the reason why Barrack is calling Hillary to pull out, he knows that the longer this goes on, the faster his chances diminsh, cause people will see that he is full of talk.
Hillary is on a mission since late. I see the confidence and the good.

Good Luck Hill
A black educated man salutes U.

More than 9 million people have voted for Hillary in this primary season so far (not counting Mi and Fl). The pollsters should ask us if she should go on.

This white uneducated (but not stupid) woman joins Jason in wishing you luck Hillary.

Yay Jason!

Go Hillary! The Force is with you today. I was making calls into Ohio last night and the response was great. A friend is one of the "Flag officers" traveling with Hillary in Texas -- he said they've been going to events with veterans and getting great response. She's ahead in Rhode Island -- isn't that Congressman Patrick Kennedy's (Teddy's son) homebase?

Let's keep a good thought for the weather to ease up in Ohio.

Oh Alpha, Alpha, Alpha -- I'm sending you lots of yellow today -- you seem to need it. Play nice now, okay?

Divalicias, When people have a deep emotional stake in a candidate or an issue, they'll say things which, if we were mere observers, would still seem outrageous.

I think I woke up in a parellel universe today - got gutsy and watched the first hour of Morning Jo, so far he's slapped both Mika & Schuester around about the big 'O', I think Mika is still a little dizzy that he's going after him.

Well, off for my monthly infusion which they may not administer because I've come down with bronchitis and laryngitis. I'll try to apply what little charm I have in an effort at having them acquiesce. At least my bride of 40-some years will be with me.

Good morning...

O.D....
"Oh Please...Hillary is a fighter..Don't assume she will crumble..We will stand with to the convention when she will be the Democratic nominee.
Obama's ice is beginning to crack."

If this goes to convention than the Democratic Party will lose half the party. As it is many have left because they felt that the party no longer represented them and were no different then the Republican Fascist Nazi's.

Only this time they will not come back and the Party will be destroyed.

Also while your all bashing each others candidate I read somewhere that Pelosi is getting ready to cave into Der Fuhrer Adolph Bush and give the telecom's immunity in the FISA bill.

I guess Reid was only giving cover to Hillary so she wouldn't have to answer for voting the the immunity that Der Fuhrer wants for his spies and himself by letting the bill expire.

As for myself, after seeing this crap go on and on I now will no longer vote for Hillary if she is the nominee and destroys the party.

I'd rather see our country destroyed than see more of the same old politics from an establishment candidate. Once were destroyed maybe we can finally try to rebuild an America that is far better than what we once were.

But than that only depends on if we actually have elections now doesn't it?

Anyway I wish all of you well and maybe I'll stop back someday, but for now I can no longer take part in watching Democrats eat their own.

Goodbye and ...

God Bless.

This isn't about the election , but it will have far more lasting effects. LOL!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080304/ap_on_en_tv/idol_stripper;_ylt=AkEQ77ghJtrMuNmYcOyQJvms0NUE

Good luck today Flatus

Alpha - many may agree with you, Hillary has limited experience beyond that of proximity. And BHO... has even less - while he does have Chicago back room experience.
If you think experience is the key then I know JM will like to have your vote

Obama Avoids Answering About Rezko

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

Will Today continue the crazy election period? Like the college football season,, If it follows then look for HRC to hold on today. Just like NCAA the favorite at the start did after an up and down and all around season did finish first

"As for myself, after seeing this crap go on and on I now will no longer vote for Hillary if she is the nominee and destroys the party."

Meaning, if I don't get my way I'm taking my toys and going home.

I posted this yesterday and dammit I'm going to post it again...men like Gary Hart saying "Give up, it's inevitable" is like the old "joke" -- "When rape is inevitable relax and enjoy it."

The hell with those guys.

Here's your link for immunity for the telecom's. Another sell out by the Democratic Party.

http://reconstitution.us/rcnew/?p=948

See ya.

Obama Shrugs Off the Press

http://taylormarsh.com/

NAFTA-gate the memo, the fight , the run away from press...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ME4Ir99gKPw

Anon -- how are you going to feel about Obama if he plays ball with the Repubs like he says he will?

"I think I woke up in a parellel universe today - got gutsy and watched the first hour of Morning Jo, so far he's slapped both Mika & Schuester around"
--econsmed

you "spoke" too soon...JS is now predicting Obama will sweep the states tonight 8(

I enjoyed the "christian" discussion between JS, MB and DS!!

Beautiful snow in big D last night, but it's gone already.
Can't wait for the campaign ads to go away, too.
I've seen about a million Obama ads, quite a few for Hil'ry and two Huckabees.

Hope the precinct convention is quick tonight, too.
Last time I did this, I ended up at the county convention as a Tsongas delegate & was gonna go to the state convention as an at large delegate promosing to support Clinton after Tsongas bowed out, but found an alternate to go for me. Very time-consuming and costly processes. The have pre-caucus meetings for everything, too.

mornin' all,

OK, I had to run out yesterday at about 11:30 - occasionally I actually have to work.

I went back to see what if any response alpha gave, and as I expected, alpha, you got it wrong because of your Obamabias. Craig did not assume the consequence in his blog comment yesterday, he questioned whether, based on historical precedent, one can win the general election without winning the Ohio primary, sort of applying that old adage about those who forget history... I'll ask the question again - what candidate has lost OH, NY, CA and PA primaries and gone on to win the nomination then the general election? Here's a hint - none from 1988 forward. Here's another one - look at Ohio.

Patsi, you go girl. Gary Hart certainly knows that inevitability isn't.

Obama talks a lot, but answers little

"SAN ANTONIO -- As Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) closed a combative press conference on Monday, where he was thrown seriously off message being asked about influence peddler Tony Rezko and why his campaign at first denied his economic adviser Austan Goolsbee met the Canadian consul in Chicago and talked about NAFTA, some reporters -- me included -- wanted him to take more questions."

http://www.suntimes.com/news/sweet/823939,CST-NWS-sweet04.article

Anon P raised an interesting point at 7:01.

Historical irony: I can see a situation where the GOP incumbent has blown it big time with the country, but his party unites behind a nominee many of them regard with suspicion because they HAVE to win against the Democrats.

Meanwhile, the Dems splinter and Hillary's remaining in the race until the convention and attacking the candidate with crossover appeal tears the party apart.

And it will.

McCain and his advisors must be watching this in pleased amazement.

Patsi: "Anon -- how are you going to feel about Obama if he plays ball with the Repubs like he says he will?"

I very much expect Obama to work with Republicans and anyone else to coalesce around best approaches and solutions to US problems. Most problems do not have a "Dem" or "GOP' right answer and will require a lot of sacrifice and clear thinking of the nonideological bent.

But I expect Hillary to fight fight fight fight.

And that's what a lot of people are just sick to their guts of -- they would like to see a cooler style of working with Americans -- Dems, GOP, independents, elected, citizens.

A change in tone and a turn to inclusiveness.

Many ppl have admitted there is not much difference in policies among Clinton, Obama, or Edwards.

Therefore, you are electing the messenger. The message is already there.

Gordo, You made my morning. LOLOL. Let's put the questions in proper order, though.

"You may still have questions, which I am happy to answer," Obama said to Marin, adding it is not fair to "suggest somehow" he has been trying to hide something.

Soon after he said, "If there is a specific question that you have, Carol, I'll be happy to respond to it."

Obama added as the press conference progressed, "If there are specific requests in terms of information that you feel that you don't yet have, we will be happy to talk about that."

And then there was the fourth happy. "If there is a specific question that you have, I am happy to respond to it."

"Guys," said Obama, who is campaigning on a platform that there should be more government transparency. "I mean come on. I just answered like eight questions," he said as he waved and left to a chorus of shouted questions. "

HAHAHAHA

Sounds just like Dumya when he's caught in the middle of a difficult press conference. Next Obama will start giving the reporters nicknames.

Pogo: I have to say: the Goolsby NAFTA conversation has been handled really badly, and it is not terrible to see someone have to learn how to deal with situations like it. The timing was terrible for the Obama campaign, but it's the first real bump he's hit.

Maybe it will in long run have been a good lesson to all.

Obama should think about the Dem party and not himself - he should drop out of the race. Can be VP.

No GORDO. No. He should not settle for VP. He's ready now.

The press conference shows he is not ready.

CNN is reporting that 60%(2 million) of the voters in Texas have voted early.

The press conference shows he and his campaign did not handle the NAFTA conversation issue well.

Further, there's not much else out to take focus off that story. HRC is plugging it and her fear ads for all they are worth.

Obama is very ready, and knows that making change requires a longterm vision and stamina.

dog, you have the gift of understatement. :-)

On that issue, Obama now is in the position of having his senior economic advisor make comments that suggest that the harsh talk on Nafta he is making in his campaign appearances in Ohio are the same old election year statements that the new politics decry and don't represent his views, which he is denying. They saw him say in the Ohio debate that he would renegotiate Nafta for a better deal for American workers - not better working conditions and environmental considerations in Canada. He is trying to have it both ways, and can't. The people aren't stupid and they aren't buying it. He didn't handle the Rezko questions any better. When the "bump in the road" is the press waking up and starting to ask the questions they should have been asking for the past two months, this does not help him.

And I have to say that I have heard that the primary fights would tear the party up for the forty some odd years I've been following democratic politics. It hasn't, it won't. It's part and parcel of the Democratic party, and I for one, do not want to see Hillary quit until it is mathematically impossible for her to win the nomination at the convention, and that will not happen before the primary season is completed.

GORDO...thanks for your 7:45 post 8)

It was fascinating to watch BHO walk away during a press conference, when the questions got tough.

This could be the start of the new/true BHO being revealed.

Hang in there, Hillary!!

dog, my dear, the fear ads are not very fearful, IMHO - they are pretty run of the mill campaign ads, and Abrams agrees. As he said, there's always something happening in the world, and it's legitimate to pose the question to the voters who they want to deal with what happens when the shit does hit the fan. Obama's campaign claiming "fearmongering" is getting tiresome. I did get a kick out of Abrams looking at both ads and saying that he hopes that someone will answer before the 6th ring. Notwithstanding his awful judgment that keeps Tucker on the air, I think he has become the honest broker on MSNBC to the extent there is one.

"A change in tone and a turn to inclusiveness."

I know what the Republican idea of inclusion involves. Submission.

Morning peeps

"I did get a kick out of Abrams looking at both ads and saying that he hopes that someone will answer before the 6th ring. "
--pogo

yeah...at least Dan was fair about the six rings.

On Hardball, CM focused on the six rings in HRC's ad...didn't mention the 6 rings in the BHO ad.

Also, I think KO has gone off the deep end. He actually criticized HRC for saying, "Live from New York it is Saturday night!!". He pointed out that she should have said "it's"...not "it is".

ROTFLMAO!!

AP (that is anon-paranoid not Associated Press) wrote: "If this goes to convention than the Democratic Party will lose half the party."

And I believe that after watching several Democratic "so called" leaders - MOST OF THEM MEN - sit on the Sunday (a few on Monday) talk shows and basically say that Hillary should drop out of the race after Tuesday when several Women came out and stuck up for her and said she should go on, I believe it is the bone headed men of the "so called" Democratic Party that will destroy the party not Hillary if she continues her campaign and allows all the states to have their say.

Shall we remember the statistic . . . more women vote in Democratic primaries than men. How is it going to look for the ole Democratic Party if a bunch of MEN are pushing a woman candidate out of the race just after she's won 3 primaries out of 4 (and this is after she lost 11 in a row and was out spent 2-1). Most of the upcoming states look favorable to Hillary. Those MEN know this and that's why they are DESPERATE to get her out of the race.

I sent a little more money Hillary's way yesterday and told her it was so she could press on after today towards PA at the end of next month. I'm hoping others will do the same.

As I said last night

Fight on to Victory
FIGHT ON!

[last two lines of the USC Fight Song]

:-)

I just have one question if Obama feels the "phone call was fearmongering then why did he put one up also? Double standard. Funny the media did not address that. Surprise surprise!
I am holding signs for Hllary today at noon and I saw her Sunday and Bill on Friday it was awesome.
She already has my vote 2 weeks ago.
She will take Ohio, by a nice margin and also will take TX.
McCain is the fearmonger.
I am a HillStar
Go HILLARY in Ohio,

Ping Pong wrote: "Just like NCAA the favorite at the start did after an up and down and all around season did finish first"

Well...Ping...ummm...I love your analogy...umm cuz...I know it's in favor of Hillary but .... ummm.... as a USC Trojan I have to correct you. USC was ranked #1 at the beginning of last season...and ummm... well...so...ummm...harumph...never mind....I like your analogy better...

Carol: where are you in Ohio and how is the weather? How is turnout today?

Carol
I agree with you that HRC will win Ohio.
I'm pessimistic about Texas.

"I'm pessimistic about Texas."

Yeah -- the system there is too bizarre, more disenfranchising caucuses.

Dog wrote: "And that's what a lot of people are just sick to their guts of "

Do you think the Republicans that are actually in Congress are sick of it?

If only O' could take all of you to Washington with him and have you take your seats in Congress...what a wonderful world it would be.

Any of you planning to run for office?

Just curious.

"I just have one question if Obama feels the "phone call was fearmongering then why did he put one up also? "
--Carol

Well, BHO obviously thought it was a creative ad, so he had to copy it. It's just like in the debates, when HRC answers a question and BHO answers the exact same question, by saying, "she's right...".

Wendy
The calls from Sunday for HRC to drop out was designed to suppress the HRC vote.
It gave the impress that a BO victory was inevitable and it was time to coalesce around his candidacy.

"I very much expect Obama to work with Republicans "

I think that statement brings up the real question of an Obama presidency.

How much is he willing to give up to reach an agreement with the Republicans.
From what I've seen the Republicans in congress are not interested in getting along in a bipartisan way. Even the moderates march in lock step on the really important votes.

So Dog how much do you want him to give up just to have your "peace and love".
Is total surrender and pass the Republican agenda enough? That is certainly what is going on right now.

One side can not have bipartisan agreement unless they are willing to engage in total surrender. It takes two parties and I don't see the Republicans interested in being bipartisan except if they get their way.

The amusing thing, for me, about Obama supporters is the ability to sing the praises of working together with the Republicans in one breath. Then in the next condem the Clinton administration for "triangulation". What was triangulation? Working in a bipartisan manner. It is almost psychotic.

Jack

The real problem with Texas is not so much the primary/caucus kerfuffel (although it is a nightmare) but rather that the congressional districts were gerrymandered under the influence of Tom Delay to disenfranchise minority voters, and conservative judges and justices put in place by Reagan (those that are still alive in TX) and the Bushes just couldn't see that there was anything wrong with that. Which is why, no matter who wins the dem primary, all you dems need to vote for the dem nominee.

Hi Vivian:

I've enjoyed your inside insight on all of this - I agree definitely designed to suppress the vote. I still think it looks REALLY bad for the Democratic Party as a whole to have a bunch of MEN go on talk shows and call for her to get out of the race.

Those MEN are going to ruin the party.

How strange it was to listen to a bunch of MEN talk about "healing the party". Nobody believes them...

Jack, your next round is on me.

Patsi...

"I'm pessimistic about Texas."

Yeah -- the system there is too bizarre, more disenfranchising caucuses."

Bill Clinton won both the Primary and Caucus in Texas in both 92 and 96.

He didn't think it was unfair than. The only reason they say it is unfair now is because Obama is doing better than Hillary is.

God Bless.

All of the candidates in both parties are promising to bring more jobs to the states they are campaigning in. Certainly NAFTA has been responsible for the loss of jobs in areas of the country. I believe that China has been responsible for the loss of the most jobs. One thing we have not heard from any of the candidates is a theme of "Buy American " and save American jobs. Labor costs are rising in China and sooner or later the costs of their products, due to energy costs, transportation costs, etc. will rise as well. If more Americans would do everything possible to buy American products we could at least help to preserve the remaining manufacturing jobs and send a signal that we want to support more jobs for our own citizens rather than for the citizens of China. Do others who visit this site try to buy only American made products? We have only a few things in our home that aren't made in the US, countries of our ancestors, and countries who we believe have good intent in their relations with us. Its difficult to do but it also has the result of keeping more money in our pockets as we purchase less (as less and less is available) and keeping a paycheck coming for American workers. It is also a comforting feeling to look around the house and think of all the hard working Americans who made our belongings.

Vivian - thanks for the Tom Delay alert....should have known that weasel was in this....

Jack -- you are so right.

Even if Hillary were to loose all 4 contests today, I still think she would continue?

U know why?
Because the big O is starting to show signs of cracking....

People will remember the state of the union snub, and will link it to the arraogance of leaving the press conference..
If he somehow will winthe nom, dems are over....

Then it is another 4 years of repubs in office.

But, as I said earlier, Hill will make a comeback today. She has to win Texas even if it is by 0.0001%. Allready calculating Ohio and Rhode Island in

Can I get an Amen?

anon -- Whoops! Here's a deal for you to check into! A woman justcalled in to C-Span and told some story about a Committee 300 which was Prescott Bush's plot to poison 50 million people on this earth!

Lordy!

Amen!

Jason - here is the good news...she's not going to loose all 4.

Here are my predictions for today:

OH - to Clinton by 12% - 16% (yes you heard me)

RI - to Clinton by 5% - 10%

TX - to Clinton and Obama (Clinton wins the primary by 5% and Obama wins the caucus by probably more than that)

VT - to Obama by a lot maybe 20%

We'll be here tomorrow...same time...same bat channel...watching the Obama as it cracks in half and sinks to the bottom of the sea.

and Jason . . . AMEN!

AP, when has winner ever challenged the system he/she won in? Neither of the current candidates have won TX yet. And please, design a worse, less representative system for TX, please. Iknow, get rid of the primary part of it and have the caucuses in inconvenient places within the congressional districts. That might be a little worse.

Off topic

Under the "it is a different world" column

Last week I tried a different tactic for advertising my newly remodeled rental house.
I need a better renter pool than I had, so I decided to place an ad in the local liberal weekly.
I went on line to get a contact number. I was able to place an ad online and buy a print ad.
I did the online thing a few years back with little result, so I went ahead and bought the print ad. I wasted my money.
I got a large response from the online ad, I got a quality tenant within 3 days, all on line.
I called the paper yesterday to cancel the print ad that won't come out until tommorrow.
The world keeps changing.

BTW, the response was all women.

Jack

Jack, that last line explains the better pool of renters! LOL

I've got some small things to do to the rental
Talk to you all tonite.
Later

Jack

For anyone who wants to start calling for Hillary to get out of the race because she doesn't win by . . . enough. . . let me remind you of something.

James Clyburn the other day said the superDs should not take who is in 2nd place in the pledged delegate count and put them into 1st place UNLESS the person who is in 1st place is not..."panning out" [his words]

Let's look at what "not panning out" might mean:

1) Has lost the momentum going into the convention after outspending his opponent by 2-1

2) Has lost CA, OH (key swing state in the Fall), MA, NY, PA

3) Has alienated FL voters (a key state for Democrats in the fall) by continuing to call for their disenfranchisement.

4) Looks stupid walking out on reporters that want him to finally answer tough questions - which will most definitely continue to dog him and be a distraction for the November election

5) Has been caught in a lie over talks with Canada regarding NAFTA which will also be a distraction and used against him in a November election.

and the list...I'm sure...can and will go on before August.

I would say...that would all go towards "not panning out".

:-D

Fight on to Victory!
FIGHT ON!

good morning everyone

i have a thought about why HRC should take this to the convention
the dem party needs to wake up and change their system.....this system is set up for a disaster as this campaign has turned out to be.......proportional delagates and caucus's make it almost impossible for a candidate to reach 2025 delagates if the dem party is split on the 2 candidates as they are .and having open primaries where outsiders have a say in the parties selections is also stupid...by going to the convention maybe they will learn that this crazy system should be changed ...for example if they were winner take all like the repubs have hillary would have a 400 delagate lead after super tuesday.......her electoral vote lead would be way up also.....taking one stae like wisconsin where the dem vote was 50 to 49 in favor of obama ..because of GOP and independents it ended up obama by 17.......outsiders made it a big win for obama......this is not a way to pick a candidate....the dem party has to wake up and change the system

This is kind of funny:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lesley-m-m-blume/camelot-20_b_89759.html

"Another day, another Obama-as-JFK article...And of course there were those endorsements from the remnants of the Kennedy clan, which scattered the dusty glitter of yesteryear on Illinois' golden boy..."

If you can't stand the heat type of situation. http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2008/03/04/2008-03-04_angry_barack_obama_bombarded_by_media.html

Back again for a quickie post before AI have to get back to work. People are so worried about Hillary's continuing to fight for the nomination and how it will "break the Democratic Party" should consider that, according to the most recent Pew survey, Hillary has a big lead among Democrats. Barack's lead has mostly come from Independents and GOPs who are voting in DEM primaries and caucuses. The people who are voting for Barack do not consider themselves DEMs so the have no interest in the current or future health of the DEM party. They may even be working against the health of the party -- given that cross-over voting seems to be part of the new Rove/GOP strategy to turn this country into a one-party nation. What's that about two of Bush's biggest donors are pumping money into the Obama campaign? Gordon -- I think it was in that excellent article you posted the other day -- "Bamboozled."

No worries kids -- the DEM party is alive and well -- and we're voting with Hillary.

Once again - The Candian Embassy says:

"In the recent report produced by the Consulate General in Chicago, there was no intention to convey, in any way, that Senator Obama and his campaign team were taking a different position in public from views expressed in private, including about NAFTA. We deeply regret any inference that may have been drawn to that effect."

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onpolitics/2008/03/canadian-offici.html?csp=34

Regretfully, Clinton supporters keep making wild inferences about this story - because they are "fighters" - remember who and what you are fighting against. A man and a movement that want the same policies as you!!

But SOME of you have the attitude that if it is not Hillary who gets credit for ushering in change - then we would rather have McCain and seen our country go to hell in a handbasket...

You know, all this stuff about the damage it does to the general election hopes of the dem party is hooey. John McCain is now the target for Clinton, Obama, the DNC, dem 527s and every other dem leaning organization out there. While HIllary and Barack wage war with each other, they will also be throwing brickbats at McCain. The others should be doing the same instead of wringing their hands about the two dem candidates.

hmmmm...an indication of....buyers remorse?

"Two-thirds of Democrats say a victory in either Ohio or Texas would be reason enough for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) to keep her historic bid for the party's presidential nomination alive..."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/03/04/ST2008030400004.html

Might be too early for this but . . . quote of the day?:

"When Obama declared the press conference over, one reporter yelled that he was dodging questions just minutes after claiming he wasn't."

From article Fry linked.

wendy
have you noticed obama;s press conference has not been mentioned on MSM

Wendy, Carol, Linda, Jason, & fellow Hillary supporters,

Your enthusiasm is infectuous. Small indications that she may be turning momentum towards her are encouraging, but she needs those wins in her column.

Interesting wapo/abc poll stating that 2/3 of democrats say she should stay in the race if she wins either ohio or texas, contrary to the drumbeat from the Obama supporters that she needs to leave now regardless.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/03/04/ST2008030400004.html?hpid=artslot

Do you think that the SNL skits exposing the media bias against her may have contributed to the slight turn in her favor that recent polls seem to be picking up?

Is it coincidence that the media has started to question Obama or might they have been shamed into actually doing their job because of the SNL skits?

Wendy:

"1) Has lost the momentum going into the convention after outspending his opponent by 2-1"

-Lost momentum by pulling even in states that (i) were made for Hillary in terms of demographics, and (ii) where she had 15-20 point leads a month ago. What is your definition of momentum?

"2) Has lost CA, OH (key swing state in the Fall), MA, NY, PA"

-Obama's support has grown since Super Tuesday. Can we also stop talking about NY - it was a gimme for Hillary and it will never go red. If she wins OH and PA - it will be by only a few points. And don't forget the 15-20 states where Obama beat Hillary by 15-30 points (oh - I forgot - in the Clinton camp - those states don't matter - talk about disenfranchisement).

"3) Has alienated FL voters (a key state for Democrats in the fall) by continuing to call for their disenfranchisement."

The Clinton camp has done this by making arguments all over town that by seeking to follow the rule as the candidates agreed to - Obama is disenfranchising voters. Another tactic that is good for the Clintons and bad for the Dems. Why do you think the GOP Gov. has taken her side.

"4) Looks stupid walking out on reporters that want him to finally answer tough questions - which will most definitely continue to dog him and be a distraction for the November election"

-Clinton has created distractions that prevent Obama from talking about his message. Good for her - since that is the only way she can win. She tried out the "experience" and "ready on day one" arguments - and she lost all over the country. Now it is time to destroy and distract. Have fun with that...

"5) Has been caught in a lie over talks with Canada regarding NAFTA which will also be a distraction and used against him in a November election."

-See my above post.

Warren...we all read the Canadian govts back pedaling out of the story after saying the meeting never took place.

We all also saw O' walk out of a press conference when reporters pressed him on the issue

We all also read the memo obtained by the AP that clearly indicated Goolsbee said some things he probably shouldn't have.

We all saw Obama lie.

thanks for the link to something we've all read. It's still fishy and O' won't come clean.

I'm sure the O' supporters would be writing it off as a big misunderstanding if it had been Hillary's top economic adviser named in the memo.

Hope O's sump pump is in good working order.

:-D

FactCheck on the Obama-Canada connection.

"On this one, you’ll have to be the judge."

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/the_facts_about_nafta-gate.html

Coreen:

I think it's a number of things...I think SNL has helped - and her showing up there helped show a lighter side to her - that she can laugh at herself.

I also think that O's problems with Canada the last few days have people digging deeper. So while they're digging they've decided to go ahead and dig a little more on Rezko. The reporters that have been following the Rezko story since the beginning and have been trying to get O' to sit down are now starting to speak out and get more attention - so other reporters - besides them - are joining in the chorus of answer questions.

I actually also think that those male Democrats coming out on the talk shows this weekend did them no favors with Women...we'll have to see how the exit polls break down tonight to see how much of an effect.

"should not take who is in 2nd place"

Wendy... careful your modesty's beginning to show.

warren, you're an attorney. What are you gonna believe - the fact that Obama denied the meeting occurred initially, then denied that they discussed Nafta, then denied that Goolsbee said that Obama's posturing was more politics than policy, which is what the memo said, or accept at face value Obama's denial and the Consulate's post hoc explanation that diverge from what the memo said about the meeting? This whole thing sounds like Emily Litella's rants just before she said "Never Mind." At best, Obama comes out of this spinning like a dervish, which is what his campaign is supposed to be a departure from unless I misread his campaign message.

On a different note, kiss any reasonable expectation of privacy goodbye.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2008/03/03/democrats/index.html

Ah Rezdog - no the realist in me.

I fully expect Hillary to be very very close in pledged delegates by the convention but to not completely over take him...although it is not mathematically impossible...it is also probably not realistic.

I do suspect that her superD support will put her ahead of him and then it is a matter of getting the other superDs to go along.

What if they are within 20 or so pledged delegates and Obama is not "panning out" and Hillary's superD support is standing firm with her? She won't have the magic number so the other superDs are going to have make a deal to put her over the top.

O' should just get ready to accept the VP slot and start getting his O' and O' 2016 stickers ready.

Texas has always tried to find ways to disenfranchise voters since the Repubs took over. Me, my husband and my 87 year old Mom who uses a walker are going to the caucus after having all voted early (my mom by mail). It will be our first time at a caucus, we are independents. We never knew there were caucuses in Texas until this primary. Mom said if she can vote for Hillary twice legally, she wants to do it. Now that everyone knows about the Texas two-step, they will probably change it. Same as the income tax, when the middle-class starts taking the loopholes, they close them.
BTW, I could never vote for Obama. He burned that bridge when he trashed the Baby Boomers.
Caucuses For Hillary!!! What a shock that would be. Wish us luck

Is America Ready for a Woman President? - YXY News

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdgblV7JzSY

Wigs - I'm off to work but wanted to wish you and your family luck at the caucuses today.

Go WIGS and WIGS' mom-in-law!

Go HILLARY!

sorry Wigs - I mean GO WIGS' MOM!

misread the my husband...you know...

Hillary doesn't have a damn bit of experience. I wish someone would challenge her on that.

Posted by: alpha1906 | March 4, 2008 6:08 AM

She has more than Barack... sorry, but in the national realm she does. Someone should challenge him on "yes we can" and on his almost Sermon on the Mount preaching.

Wendy

Agree that it has been a combination of forces coming together to have finally forced the media to do their job,
but I believe that the SNL skit was the much needed catalyst to shake the media from its fawning over o.

That Obama male supporters, Kerry, Durbin (Richardson although he did not have the courage to
say he is an o supporter) implied that she needs to leave did not help those of us who know there is gender bias at work here.

Anyone hear the McCain camp, when they invited Obama to step out of the past ?

It was really effective.

Thanks for the Factcheck link, Fry. Note, the denial came from the Canadian embassy in Washington, not from the Canadian Consulate in Chicago. I know what my take is - Obama got caught in a false denial, tried to shade it and got blindsided by the memo and came up with an unconvincing explanation at variance with the memo. Best case for him - it was technically accurate that the initial CTV report of someone from the Obama camp called someone at the embassy to discuss Nafta was wrong . That's pretty poor parsing (consulate v. embassy, Chicago Consulate v. Ottowa Embassy, Goolsby v. staff member, telephoned v. met with, Wilson v. Rioux) for the Obama camp IMHO since Goolsby certainly knew of his meeting with Rioux and didn't apparently do anything to let the campaign know about it and get out front of this and spin the meeting before the memo became public.

Wigs said this, "Texas has always tried to find ways to disenfranchise voters since the Repubs took over."

When I was a kid, Tx had a "Poll Tax" that was designed to keep the poor (read Blacks) from voting. I don't remember exactly when that was changed but it might have been when in the mid 50's or 60's.

(according to Wikipedia) The 24th Amendment, ratified in 1964, outlawed the use of this tax (or any other tax) as a pre-condition in voting in Federal elections.

I am back,

yo soy Horsedooty!

I'd rather see our country destroyed than see more of the same old politics from an establishment candidate. Once were destroyed maybe we can finally try to rebuild an America that is far better than what we once were.

Posted by: anon-paranoid | March 4, 2008 7:01 AM

You know, I don't mean to be insulting, but this comment sounds almost like James Watt's reasoning for destroying our natural resources. His view was the sooner we were destroyed, the quicker the rapture would come.

Cheerio.

ET

This isn't about the election , but it will have far more lasting effects. LOL!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080304/ap_on_en_tv/idol_stripper;_ylt=AkEQ77ghJtrMuNmYcOyQJvms0NUE

Posted by: Corey Abdul Jabbar | March 4, 2008 7:18 AM

Corey that is so hot!

ET, AP has been known to make rather extreme statements that many here did not agree with. I'd say this is one.

Divalicias

"Barack's lead has mostly come from Independents and GOPs who are voting in DEM primaries and caucuses. The people who are voting for Barack do not consider themselves DEMs so the have no interest in the current or future health of the DEM party."

I switched parties from Democrat to Independent because the Democratic Party left me. I didn't leave the Democratic Party, repeat they left me.

I vote Democrat 99% of the time. So according to you Independents need not vote for any Democrat because they don't care about the future of the Democratic Party.

So according to you no Independents need to vote for a Democrat in the General Election since the Democrats don't need no stinking Independents to win an election.

God Bless.

Look at you Clintonites! You haven't won a primary in so long that you're almost giddy. Well, you'll probably get some wins today. Just not enough delegates. So watch the battle, but don't get confused about who is going to win the war.

Obama 08!

“I have yet to hear him (Obama) discuss what he will do for Black people in particular since he has so many gripes with our community. I feel as though he is talking in code to white and other voters when he criticizes the Black community like this in the most stereotypical ways. I have yet to hear him acknowledge some of the REAL problems in our community and what he will do and trust me it ain't popeyes chicken.

He has pissed me off and I am not the only person pissed off because of this. He stepped over the line.”

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4840252

alpha, after your nonsensical post at 6:08, I doubt that yoru predictions of the future are any more reliavble thatn your assessment of the past and present.

@ Coreeen:

Things happen when they NEED to happen. I believe in a higher power that turns things at the right moment.

Look, watch and assess.
See how Hillary is finally just herself. Just being herself.
See also how Barrack is being himself now adays..

This is it folks. This is it!

You be the judge....

Am going home now, the anxiety is too much.
She needs TX, at least the popular vote!
for the rest I am content.

If she won all big states that makes a statement to those bullies sitting in the top. That shows that she is a champion.

Go Hill..

This black man again slautes u.

Last night I watched Eva Longoria. Darn it...that Tony Parker. darn it

p.s.: If she wins Ohio, what can be said about the influence of the Kennedy clan???? (Massachusetts, California and Ohio)

Pogo:

I am an attorney and I know a sideshow/distraction when I see one. It sure as hell isn't news to me that a candidate is going to go to extremes on the campaign trail and then back-pedal when they get into office.

This is how people have been getting elected since the days of Washington.

And for your information - the new types of politics that Obama speaks of does not fall to pieces because of this story. The new type of politics is more about not destroying your political opponent or their ideas. Like when Obama points out the agreements he and Clinton have at debates - and when he chooses not to trash Clintons ideas even though he agrees with simply to score political points.

Yes - you should draw contrasts where you disagree - but you should also not be afraid to point out places where you agree - because this is how you actually move things forward.

"He burned that bridge when he trashed the Baby Boomers."

That's about the time I got jacked up, too, Wigs.

And Euro -- ROFL on the James Watt post!!!!

good morning gang....
thanks for the laughs with all the name changes last night..... haven't laughed that hard with this blog in a while.....

Wendy..... YOU are one fighter, girl..... you go!...
and Patsi.... your posts have been great lately..... you go too!

No Country For Old Men was a stunner of a movie....
great acting..... very violent.... and hurray for no hollywood ending....
it helps to understand the movie if you're familiar with Cormac McCarthey's work.....

no hot tubbin' today..... gonna watch the election returns....

"I switched parties from Democrat to Independent because the Democratic Party left me. I didn't leave the Democratic Party, repeat they left me."

Zell! Is that you or Joe Lieberman?

Look at you Obamanites... You haven't been challenged on anything is so long that you have assumed the nomination is assured. Well, you'll probably get a win or two today. Just not enough delegates. So watch the battle, but don't get confused about who is going to win the war.

Hillary Clinton 2008

Just changing a few words to show the absurdity of this statement.

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

Look at you Clintonites! You haven't won a primary in so long that you're almost giddy. Well, you'll probably get some wins today. Just not enough delegates. So watch the battle, but don't get confused about who is going to win the war.

Obama 08!

Posted by: alpha1906 | March 4, 2008 11:22 AM

Alf -- I'm not making any predictions about today or any other primary. And you may be right to say that Obama will be the candidate. But it will NOT be because a bunch of men like Hart and Kerry bullied her out of the race "for the sake of the party." Screw that. She has every right to be there.

Renee, hope the prunin' continues apace.

alpha, you are in the minority re: Hillary's experience.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/104752/Public-Divided-Whether-Obama-Has-Necessary-Experience.aspx

And the rest of you who think Hillary should get out - you're out of touch with Democratic voters. Too much Obamamania.

http://www.abcnews.go.com/images/PollingUnit/1062a1TheDemocraticRace.pdf

And now I must go relieve Mrs. Pogo, who is caring for our sick Prince.

"When I was a kid, Tx had a "Poll Tax" that was designed to keep the poor (read Blacks) from voting."

Doots ---- Then they just elected Tom Delay to handle things....huh? Jeez, he makes my blood boil every time I see him on television....

doom and gloom...

I did not hear what the McCain camp said to Obama....

but if it's about the fact that Obama can only talk about 2002 when discussing the Iraq war.... I'll have to agree with McCain....

all that "candidate of the future" stuff is laughable when Obama talks about the war, IMO....

Renee, maybe you could move a tv to a window and watch the results from the tub. Just thinkin'.

ET, we call that "correcting your typos" here.

Imagine Hillary ends up being the canidate of choice for the general....

Where does that leave the Kerrys and Harts, and all the others, that are currently trying to push her out?

On the "sh*t out of luck" list, I'd say

Back to work peeps. And fight on - but just don't forget who the real enemy is.

I was walking to work today and had the following thought.

You can of course rely on any reason to vote. There are plenty of reasons - personal, professional, patriotic, etc.

But the stupidest reason - would no doubt be: I don't know too much about Obama - but I am going to vote for McCain because some anonymous jackass on the internet - who supports Obama - offended me.

But again - people can vote for any reason - so keep this in mind Obamaians...

oh yes Pogo, thank you. I was a secretary once for the Dean of Library Services at The Evergreen State College. Typo correcting went with the territory. :-) I haven't been lambasted here yet today. Waiting til the sparks start to fly.

Tom Brokaw announced this morning on MoJo that there were 50 SDs waiting in the wings to endorse BO.
Hope after the results are in tonight they will continue waiting in the wings!

Pogo...
need a break from the chlorine today....

there's been a record amount of snow up here.... the piles are incredible!.... it's like walking and driving around in a maze....

we were told that the ski areas have saved a mini fortune from not having to make much snow this year....

we are expecting a huge ice storm tomorrow, so Rick will take the day off from skiing and we both will enjoy the hot tub then....

Larry Norman, Singer of Christian Rock Music, Dies at 60 ---

I remember him from my teenage born-again days...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/arts/music/04norman.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries&oref=slogin

Doots ---- Then they just elected Tom Delay to handle things....huh? Jeez, he makes my blood boil every time I see him on television....

Posted by: Patsi | March 4, 2008 11:42 AM

Patsi, Tom, the bug killer, DeLay was elected by people on the gulf coast not us up in the North Texas area. He is a devious bastard. Gerimandering is his specialty.

yo soy Horsedooty!

Whiskyjack,

A piece in today’s Columbus Dispatch by Jonathan Alter, who I feel is fair and moderate, addressing just the topic you brought up at 9:33am:

"I very much expect Obama to work with Republicans " I think that statement brings up the real question of an Obama presidency.”

One paragraph from the piece:
“For instance, archconservative Sen. Tom Coburn routinely puts a hold on dozens of bills (yes, a single senator can obstruct the whole process). He put one on a bill cosponsored by Obama and GOP Sen. Richard Lugar to clean up conventional weapons scattered across the former Soviet Union. According to Lugar's office, it was only Obama's unlikely friendship with Coburn that persuaded the Oklahoman to lift his hold. The two senators from opposite sides of the spectrum go out to dinner (along with their wives) and clown around in the cloakroom, with Obama teasing Coburn that he can muss his hair, but Coburn can't muss back. Deploying this kind of charm might seem trivial, but it's an important reason FDR and Reagan got so much through.”

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2008/03/04/alt04.ART_ART_03-04-08_A13_LJ9HDI5.html?sid=101

Hey ET

Capt. Sarah said to say hello!

Don't blame me I voted for Obama!

oh I meant to add Patsi, my fellow neighbors voted in Kay Bailey Hutchinson whose main qualification was as a high school and college cheerleader. Fortunately we will not have to deal with her in Washington after her term is up. She is quitting to run for Gov of Texas.

yo soy Horsedooty!

Euro Tom said, "Larry Norman, Singer of Christian Rock Music, Dies at 60 ---

I remember him from my teenage born-again days..."

so the born-again thing didn't take I guess?

yo soy Horsedooty!

BTW, the weather throughout most of Ohio is lousy today.

http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/04/CAMP04.ART_ART_03-04-08_A1_A79HDUK.html?adsec=politics&sid=101

so the born-again thing didn't take I guess?

Posted by: Horsedooty! | March 4, 2008 12:10 PM

You are correct.. I will sometime tell the story of my "faith healing"... I actually have a lot of resentment towards fundamentalism and "christianity". Talking "love" but preaching "hate". Yet I culturally feel a kinship to christianity, specifically Lutheranism.

Delusional voter, which Sarah? I know quite a few :-) Is Capt. Sarah someone I may have worked with? :-)

I am off to watch some show called LOST and then an episode of HEROES. Personally, I prefer THAT GIRL, but gotta give in sometimes! ;-)

Later...

latest Zogby Poll - says Hillary is leading in Tx and a tie in Ohio

http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews.dbm?ID=1461

"Value of neutrality
Reed and Casey are among 23 senators – almost half the caucus – who have not endorsed either of their Senate colleagues for president. And they, like all the other Senate Democrats, are also highly valued superdelegates."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23464823/

Patsi...

"I switched parties from Democrat to Independent because the Democratic Party left me. I didn't leave the Democratic Party, repeat they left me."

"Zell! Is that you or Joe Lieberman?"

Go ahead Patsi and call me names. I wondered how long it would take to personally attack me for my views. It seems that you like the Politics of Personal Destruction.

God Bless.

Barack Obama said on television yesterday that he has done well in big states.

He cited Illinois, his home state..

Then he cited Washington. He said more than once that Washington is a big state. Yes, geographically it is a big state, but not population wise.

It is also interesting that while O beat Hillary handily in the Washington causuces, when real people voted two weeks later he won a slim 50-47 margin..

Wendy,

While I appreciate your predictions, what does it say about the candidate when she may win with percentages 60% less than where they were less than 4 weeks ago?

10% in RI is embarrassing for her considering the Clintons have campaigned there since the mid 1990's. WJC took 47% in 1992 and then 59.7% in 1996. The only state he pulled a higher percentage in 1996 was Mass. where he got 61.1% of the vote. Those percentages were in 3 way races. Everyone in the state hierarchy is a Clinton supporter except Patrick Kennedy, who doesn't have a ton of sway and the AG. The state is set up for her to win big is she didn't screw up with her choice of a state campaign chair.

If you are trying to appeal to union voters, you don't pick as your chairman, the mayor of Providence, who has refused to negotiate with the Firefighters for the last 6 years.

I am including a link to the demographics of the state and that overwhelmingly lines up in her favor.

She needs to win RI by 20% for it to really mean something.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/02/20/rhode-island-primary-facts-and-figures.html

"Where does that leave the Kerrys and Harts"

Praying that the Clintons believe in "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer", otherwise they won't see a favorable decision or appointment for the next eight years.

Obama spin...A Hillary win is not a win unless she wins by more than 20points..

Looks like some of the choir are getting a bit nervous.

Keep fighting Hillary...We are with you all the way through the convention!

"some anonymous jackass on the internet - who supports Obama - offended me."

Warren! We don't think you're a jackass! Misguided maybe....:)

Oregon

"O beat Hillary handily in the Washington causuces,". I don't know if you saw any of the reports from the folks here in WA. Obama did run a good ground game for the caucus that the Clinton folks were just not prepared to match. It is a grossly unfair system that freezes out everyone not physically able to get to the caucus site. The primary didn't count so a lot of Democrats simply didn't vote. I firmly believe that if the Democrats had gone half and half as the Republicans did, Senator Clinton would have won the state. BTW, the caucus isn't final yet as there are still two more layers for delegates to attend.

OD:

"It is also interesting that while O beat Hillary handily in the Washington causuces, when real people voted two weeks later he won a slim 50-47 margin."

Isn't this type of margin the best HRC can hope for in TX and OH. According to your math - she might have to drop out even if she wins TX and OH - albeit by small margins that apparently mean it is not a win.

Bear,

It means she has taken one whale of a hammering from both press and opposition and is not only still standing but coming back. Let's see if Obama does half as well when his poll numbers start dropping like rocks from here on out.

" If more Americans would do everything possible to buy American products we could at least help to preserve the remaining manufacturing jobs and send a signal that we want to support more jobs for our own citizens rather than for the citizens of China. Do others who visit this site try to buy only American made products? "

Kate -- I too try to buy as much American as possible....damn it's getting harder by the day!

What's up with this Boeing/Airbus dustup? Anyone know the real story?

Patsi:

I am much more of a jackass than I am misguided. I have been taking it easy on you Clintonites - except of course for EuroTom - but he asks for it...

Doots -- Most of my Texas friends are from Houston. They all say, "Don't blame us! It's those a-holes in Suger Land!"

Oregon,

I am not nervous for Obama...I am nervous for her. I know that electorate and it's not a good sign for her campaign if she pulls less than that number...

It means she bled support from a once solid area and not living there, I can't identify what it is....

If you have the entire state party machine at your disposal and if you have built up 15 years worth of relationships in a state. If the same state was the second highest percentage of vote for your husbands reelection campaign and he is still worshiped there and you don't even come close to matching his vote percentage, then I am concerned for her.

Sorry to go Texan here, but Y'all are missing the point. The same arguments can be made by both sides with regards to vote totals and expectations.

The way everyone is acting, we have a circular firing squad going and the only people benefiting are the NRA because they are selling some guns and ammo and McCain, because he looks more viable by the day since his opponents are acting like children.

" Obama teasing Coburn that he can muss his hair, but Coburn can't muss back"

That sounds like code to me! Outrageous! (just kidding...)

""Zell! Is that you or Joe Lieberman?"

Anon -- do you hate these two? Is the fact that they said the same thing about the party a personal attack?

Now go find out about Prescott Bush wanting to poison 50 million people!

Patsi,

The Boeing/ Airbus dustup is over a contract, Northrup/ EADS, the parent of Airbus just one for the next generation of mid air refueling tankers.

Even though Boeing had a plane that could produce for $35 Million per unit less, the Air Force picked the Airbus plane because it was much bigger than the Boeing offering.

This is apparently the contract that was rebid after it was learned that a couple of years ago it was previously awarded to Boeing under questionable circumstances.

A lot of people are upset that a foreign company would win a contract for US military items, but a couple of years ago the contract for Marine One was won by a Euro company. If memory serves me, I believe that Airbus has committed to manufacture parts of the plane in Alabama...

Obaak would make a horrible Veep. That's only one step away from an office he is to inept to hold. Hil'ry has practically endorsed McCain over Boramalama-ding-dong.

BO is just soooo George W Bush.

Linda - And yes, from the coverage I saw before and after the last debate, KO has a severe case of Obama fever. Quite hateful to HRC and seems to be incapable of hiding it. Saint KO is another one who has said he doesn't vote because he's a journalist and doesn't want to show bias. Baloney. His vote is nothing compared to having a show. However, his show only plays to the Dems (but even I grew tired of it), so he is setting up a Rep win in November by undermining Clinton. I know that I won't be voting Dem in the fall if BO is at the top of the ticket.

-sorbet-

I do believe I heard that Craig Ferguson will be doing the WH dinner this year.

"I am much more of a jackass than I am misguided."

ROFL, Warren...

You miss the point Warren..
I'm not saying Obama did not win Washington.
His allusion to the state as a "big" state like New York and Callifornia is the point..A win is a win is a win.

From postings on this site, you would think Obama is slaughtering Hillary..simply false.

I do prefer real elections to caucuses. I also prefer Democrats selecting the Democratic candidate, not independents and Republicans.
In my state only Democrats vote in the Democratic primary and only Republicans vote in the GOP. That is the way it should be.

If BHO was in the Illinois Senate in 2002, then he could not of voted on the war, right? But if I heard him right for the last few months, he voted against the war. How can that be? Yes he voiced his opinion he was not for the war back then.

Allowing an opposing party to have any say (vote) at all as to who your nominee will be is crazy-stupid, it's no wonder Republicans think they are smarter.

It's called lying.

is it my imagination or have the last 10 cauci been in mostly red states that have little or no hope of going blue in November?

is there even a snowball's chance in hell that Texas could go dem in November?

before everyone demands that HRC quit, it might be an idea to look ahead to who can win what in November... and i think it's time for the party (and i guess i mean both candidates) to start talking about supporting Dems no matter who wins the nomination.. it's so important...

By vadaryl @ 1:13 pm

"If BHO was in the Illinois Senate in 2002, then he could not of voted on the war, right? But if I heard him right for the last few months, he voted against the war. How can that be? Yes he voiced his opinion he was not for the war back then."

Get it correct if you are going to comment. Obama never said he voted against the war. He made speeches about not being in favor of the war. Some of that can be read at the link as well as other links, if you are so inclined to search for correct information. Disclaimer: Taylor Marsh probably not a good site.

"I don’t oppose all wars.

And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism.

What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perles and Paul Wolfowitz and other arm-chair, weekend warriors in this Administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne.

What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Roves to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone thru the worst month since the Great Depression.

That’s what Im opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics."

http://www.lessig.org/blog/2008/01/barack_obamas_2002_speech.html