Obama's Big Day!!

Barack Obama is preparing to deliver a major address Tuesday on race, politics and unifying the country after being hounded by questions about his relationship to a pastor whose sermons have been laced with anti-American invective.

“I am going to be talking about, not just about Reverend Wright but just the larger issue of race in this campaign, which has ramped up over the last couple of weeks,” Obama told reporters after a town-hall meeting. “Part of what I’ll do tomorrow is to talk a little about how some of these issues are perceived from within the black church community, for example, which I think views this very differently.”
With the constant attention on Wright, Obama’s strategists planned the speech, deciding they could no longer ignore the percolating issues that are distracting from the candidate’s message of hope and change.
“Given the events of the past few weeks, and some of the statements that have been made, Senator Obama felt it was an important moment to address the issue of race, politics and how we bring our country together,” Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor said Monday. Good move on Obama's part. He will try to cool down the fire's that are about to burn, his chances for 08 race, to the ground. It appears that he is trying to get the negative news, of recent, out in the air and over with. This day could make or break him! How much do you think this will help him? Is it possible to silence some of the negative press?

TAKE COVER!! Obama's Full Assault, About to Begin !!!

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Hillary Clinton's White House campaign lashed out Sunday after a report said rival Barack Obama was preparing a "full assault" on her after unloading some embarrassments to his own campaign.
The feuding over the report in the Democrat's hometown newspaper, the Chicago Tribune, came as Republican nominee-elect John McCain polished his national security credentials on a surprise trip to Iraq.
"It is disappointing that a campaign that began by promising a politics of hope has come to this, that it is signalling and revelling in attacks on Senator Clinton's character," her communications director Howard Wolfson said.
"This is not the campaign they promised us," he said on a conference call.
The Tribune noted that Obama was now distancing himself from his fiery Chicago pastor, who argues in a newly unearthed video that the September 11 attacks of 2001 showed that "America's chickens are coming home to roost."

The Tribune report said Obama was "trying to air his dirty laundry ... as he prepares a full assault on Senator Hillary Clinton over ethics and transparency." It did not spell out what form that assault might take.
But earlier Sunday, Obama aides kept up a barrage of questioning over Clinton's tax returns, her records from her White House days, and possible ties to donors who gave generously to her husband Bill's presidential library.
"The Clinton campaign says she has been fully vetted but the truth is she is a veteran of non-disclosure," Obama chief strategist David Axelrod said.
"All of this has created a sense that there are things she wants the public not to know," he said.
And addressing the Clinton camp's battle to seat delegates from the pariah states of Florida and Michigan, Axelrod said: "You get the feeling they are literally trying to do anything to win this nomination."
The feistier tone between the campaigns belied a truce over Obama's pastor with Clinton supporters passing up repeating opportunities to decry the inflammatory language of Reverend Jeremiah Wright, who said in the newly disclosed video that the 9/11 attacks were brought on by US "terrorism."
House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the country's highest ranking elected Democrat, ruled out a "dream ticket" combining Obama and Clinton and said the party's nominee should be whoever leads in the final delegate count. Take cover, this is about to get ugly! Obama appears to be ready for an all out assault on Clinton. He is looking for the KNOCK-OUT PUNCH! I am betting this will be the hottest weeks of mud slinging we have seen yet. With Nancy Pelosi telling us there will be no "Dream Ticket" , then there no reason to play nice. Do you think this will take Clinton out of the race? Are you one of those that like to watch this showdown at high noon? Will this help McCain when it is all said and done?

TAX ME!!! PART TWO!!

Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are classic tax-and-spend liberals whose proposals would, if ever implemented, take money out of the pockets of virtually all taxpayers — including low- and moderate-income Americans.Yet the contenders for the Democratic Party nomination for president continue to insist that they would merely “tax the rich” while helping those with lower incomes.We’ll see — sooner than Obama and Clinton would like.This week, both cast votes in the Senate against continuing President Bush’s tax relief package. Soon, they will be voting on a federal budget bill proposed by Democrat leaders and supported by Clinton and Obama. According to published reports, that budget bill would, if enacted, increase taxes on individuals making as little as $31,850 a year and on families earning as little as $63,700. If that’s “rich,” it will come as news to tens of millions of middle-class Americans. Liberals in both houses of Congress insist that their budget plans are needed in order to reduce federal deficit spending. At the same time, they include massive increases in spending — made possible, of course, by higher taxes. The Democrat budgets specify spending increases in excess of the rate of inflation for virtually all domestic programs. President Bush’s budget proposal, on the other hand, calls for restraint in domestic spending — and taxation.If Obama and Clinton continue to support their party’s budget plans — as they have in the past — they will expose themselves for what they are: politicians whose plans include major tax increases on virtually all Americans. Tax me!!! Please, TAX ME!!! That is what about to happen to all of America, if the Democrats are to win the 08 race. I can't see how they can have all their promises of universal health care and many other social programs payed for. Raising taxes on the rich is not enough. The middle class will have to pay a good bit more. Ask the middle class if they fill rich today with the high gas prices. The average Joe would say hell no. But, under the Democrats, Mr. Joe will have his taxes increased a good amount. Even if the middle class taxes are increase just a little bit, they need a break. Middle America is under enough pressure with making house payments, filling the car up just go to work, and putting food on the table. Do you agree?

Three Strikes and Obama is Out!!

STRIKE 1. Obama has had a friendly relationship with William Ayers. Ayers is a former leader of a radical 70’s group, the Weather Underground, that declared war on the U.S. government. In an excerpt of Ayers’ memoir, that ironically appeared in the New York Times on September 11, 2001, said, “I don’t regret setting bombs” and “I feel we didn’t do enough.”The Weather Underground “allegedly” bombed the US Capitol in 1971 and the Pentagon in 1972. Ayers was a leader. Obama met with Ayers and his wife in 1995 as he looked to get elected to the Illinois State Senate. STRIKE 2. Obama has been long time friends with Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr, former pastor at Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, who presided over Obama's wedding and supplied the "audacity of hope" line that has become one of the candidate's signatures, has been a source of controversy for Obama for months because of the inflammatory words and themes of some sermons. With a sermon that claim America deserved 9/11, that was the Sunday after the attack. Sermons with themes that attacked white people. STRIKE 3. Has not happen yet. Don't know where or when this will happen if it does. But, Obama will be out! The heart land of America is mostly white, and they voted for Obama. But, those voters are starting to rethink their votes after this latest news. Even if Obama beats Clinton, McCain will be ready to go toe to toe with him. What do you think of this news? Is this fair to Obama? Will the news media hound him to the end?

If Democrats Can't Get Their Primary Right, How Are They Going To Do Health Care Right?

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida Democrats on Thursday proposed a vote-by-mail presidential primary to solve the high-stakes delegate dispute while acknowledging the plan's chances are slim.
Democrats in Florida and Michigan have been struggling to come up with an alternative to ensure their delegates are seated at the national convention this summer after the party punished them for holding early primaries. The pressure to resolve the issue has increased amid the protracted fight for every delegate between Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama.
Karen Thurman, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, offered a mail-in/in person proposal for voting and urged state leaders, the national party and the presidential candidates to sign on. Under the plan, all of Florida's 4.1 million Democrats would be mailed a ballot. They could send it back, or cast a ballot in one of 50 regional voting centers that would be set up. The election would end June 3, a week before a Democratic National Committee deadline to name delegates.
The estimated cost is $10 million to $12 million.
Asked if the plan will be implemented, Thurman said, "I have a feeling that this is probably closer to not, than yes." If the Democrats can't get the Michigan and Florida primaries right, How are they going to do health care? Hell, how are they going to get us out of the Iraq war? This just plain old politicking at it's best. Howard Dean is the one is messing this up for the Democrats. He could have seen this happening a mile away. But, he is to stubborn , and is made that these two states thumb their noses at him. Therefore, he is trying to press his power around , and, in the end looking like he is incompetent of his job. Do you blame the states? Do you blame Howard Dean? HOW WOULD YOU FIX THIS MESS, BEFORE IT TOTALLY DERAILS THE DEMOCRATS RUN FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

McCain and " Fill in The Blank" For 08?

MANCHESTER, N.H. (March 12) - Republican presidential candidate John McCain said on Wednesday he has begun the process of finding a vice presidential running mate and wants someone who shares his views and can take his place.
Speaking to reporters on his campaign plane, the expected Republican nominee said he had seen news reports that a defeated rival, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, had expressed interest in the job, but he offered no comment one way or the other on whether Romney would be a candidate."I got that impression watching the interview last night," McCain said of Romney's interest in the No. 2 slot on the Republican ticket in November's election.Romney told Fox News Channel's "Hannity and Colmes" on Tuesday that "any Republican leader in this country would be honored to be asked to serve as the vice presidential nominee, myself included."Romney endorsed McCain in February after the Arizona senator defeated him in an often caustic campaign battle. McCain will face either Democratic Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York or Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois in November.McCain said he was just beginning to put together a search team to vet potential candidates and seek background checks on them. He joked that he has had "at least 100 volunteers to lead" the search for a No. 2.No decision was expected any time soon. Presidential nominees often wait until just before their party's nominating convention in late summer to announce their running mate.

McCain said he and advisers have begun discussing "what was the process that was used in other campaigns, what process should we go through."He said his prime criteria is someone "who can take your place, shares your principles, your values and your vision and your priorities."McCain talked about his vice presidential search as he came to New Hampshire to hold a town-hall meeting in Exeter and say thank you to the state that revived his candidacy.McCain won New Hampshire in January and put him on track to seize control of the Republican race, months after he was given up for dead. McCain and Romney for 08! Just does not sound right to me. It seems to be that Mitt Romney would have better things to do. Is another white male on the republican ticket, going to be able to beat a Hillary and Obama ticket? Is there not a minority person able to get McCains interest? Do you think McCain will choose Romney? Would Mitt Romney, as Vice President, encourage you to vote for McCain?

Obama Full of Hot Air or Kitchen Sink Part 2

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton today attacked rival Sen. Barack Obama, contrasting his rhetoric and his actions on issues such as Iraq and free trade."If you're going to talk, you ought to mean what you say so people can count on it," she said at a rally in Harrisburg, Pa., six weeks before Pennsylvania holds its delegate-rich presidential primary on April 22.
On energy policy, Clinton disparaged Obama for promoting wind energy but voting for the administration's 2005 energy bill. On the Iraq war, she faulted him for pledging to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq while his former foreign policy advisor told European audiences to ignore the candidate's promise as politics. And on trade policy, she contended, Obama pledged to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement while a top economic advisor assured Canadians his promise was campaign rhetoric."There's a big difference between talk and action," she said.The Obama campaign responded immediately, saying that Clinton is trying to score "cheap political points" with "a kitchen sink of distorted and discredited attacks that she knows aren't true." Obama full of hot air, or is it the Kitchen sink part II? This is getting more and more intense by the day. Clinton is going to swing away , and it appears Obama is going to go toe to toe with her. Obama needs just a draw to win, while Clinton needs a few hard hits. This is the making for a legendary race for modern times. Is this turning you off of the Democrats front runners? Who do you think will win? Is it smart for Clinton to fire at will towards Obama? Should Obama be try to meet here blow for blow?

No, But Hell No!! Obama Speaks Out on Super Ticket!

Barack Obama touted his front-runner status in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination today and rejected rival Hillary Clinton's recent suggestion he might be her running mate.
``With all due respect, I won twice as many states as Senator Clinton. I won more of the popular vote than Senator Clinton. I have more delegates than Senator Clinton,'' Obama said while campaigning in Mississippi, which is holding a primary tomorrow. ``I don't know how somebody who is in second place is offering the vice presidency to somebody who is in first place.''
Obama, a senator from Illinois, said voters shouldn't think that somehow they can ``get both'' New York Senator Clinton and himself on the Democratic ticket.

``My argument throughout this campaign is that we need to change how business is done in Washington, and I don't think Senator Clinton represents the kind of change that's needed,'' he said when asked if he was ruling out running on a ticket with Clinton. Got to admit, Obama\Clinton or Clinton\Obama would be tough for McCain to run against. But, Obama appears to be not even haveing Clinton any where near him. Would you vote more for a Clinton\ Obama ticket or an Obama\Clinton ticket? Do you think Obama is messing up his chances to win the women vote , and/or the whole race, by dissing Clinton?

"Obama the Hypocrite"

Obama’s not really that against the Iraq war, and he’s a something of a hypocrite, was the message once again from the Clinton campaign. The Clinton campaign has hammered this issue over and over for months -- most famously, there was Bill Clinton calling his position on Iraq a “fairy tale.” But when (now former) top Obama foreign policy adviser Samantha Power told BBC that Obama "will, of course, not rely on some plan that he’s crafted as a presidential candidate or a U.S. Senator," the Clinton campaign found something tangible to seize on. They did it Friday in a conference call with reporters and did it again today -- this time in a conference call with Lee Feinstein, the campaign’s chief foreign policy adviser, Gen. Wesley Clark, Admiral Joe Sestak and Lt. Gen. Joe Ballard.
“Candidates should not tell voters one thing and have advisers tell BBC others,” said Communications Director Howard Wolfson said. “You should not hit another candidate for a position you hold. …This is something voters should be particularly concerned about.”Clinton herself has not set a date for withdrawal and has said she would take into consideration the advice of military personnel on the ground to assess the situation in Jan. 2009. But it’s not about that, the campaign said; it’s that Obama is being inconsistent. Once again, Clinton fires a shot off at Obama. This race is about to really turn really hot for the next few weeks. But, there is something here. This is the second time Obama has been caught saying one thing to the public, and then saying something else behind closed doors. Will this come back to haunt him? Can the American public trust what he is telling them? Due to Obama's lack of experience, it is his speeches that got him to where he is today.

McCain's Gain or Lost?

Publicly, McCain shrugs when asked whether the Democratic battle helps or hurts his nascent general election campaign. Some senior GOP strategists, including former White House adviser Karl Rove, fear that the red-hot Democratic contest could make McCain look irrelevant, forcing him out of the daily news reports."Mr. McCain becomes less interesting to the media. Stories about him move off page one and grow smaller. TV coverage becomes spotty and short," Rove wrote in an opinion article published Thursday in the Wall Street Journal.But top McCain advisers think it is a gift, and the push to raise money — verging on desperate after Obama's $55 million haul in February — has already been unleashed."We have to raise money," said Charles Black, a top political adviser to McCain. "Probably the biggest advantage that this time gives us is that, while they are spending their money on each other, we can go out and raise money and put it in the bank" John McCain is 50/50 over this fight between Obama and Clinton. Yes, he is relaxing and enjoying the othere two fighting each other. But, you know the saying,"Good press and bad press= Good press". Obama and Clinton or getting all the eyes for now, and, they are getting battle harden. Do you think McCain will be able to capitalise on this? Will Obama or Clinton be able to have any fight left in them after this?

Clinton Attacks, Obama to Defend!

Obama's defeats this week at the hands of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, there is frustration and anger among his supporters, advisers and contributors about the Clinton campaign’s attacks on him — and still-unresolved tension about how far he can go in striking back without sacrificing his claim to be practicing a new brand of politics.
The conflict was given new life on Friday when Samantha Power, a close friend and a senior foreign policy adviser to Obama, resigned after referring to Clinton as “a monster.”
While Power, who won the Pulitzer Prize for her book on policy called A Problem from Hell: America in the Age of Genocide, apologised for remarks she called “inexcusable,” the incident underscored the hard feelings.
Obama, who did not publicly acknowledge Power’s comment when he arrived here Friday on the eve of the Democratic caucuses in Wyoming, privately admonished members of his staff to avoid being drawn into an unnecessary negative back-and-forth with rivals.
Asked about the incident by a reporter at a campaign stop here, he said he had not “been drawn into a knife fight.”
Yet after losing in Ohio, Rhode Island and Texas — following days of being pummeled — advisers to Obama conceded they had to take a sharper tack as the Democratic nominating fight slogs forward in a delegate-by-delegate battle.
The Clinton campaign has, since Bill Clinton ran for president, mastered the art of the “war room.”Even as they counter punched, Obama’s aides cast themselves as reluctant participants in the brawl.
“There are people that will always do politics as usual better than we will,” said Robert Gibbs, the communications director for Obama. “That’s why people want something different.”
The comments from Power came in an interview with a Scottish newspaper in which she characterized Clinton as a desperate candidate. “She is a monster, too — that is off the record — she is stooping to anything,” Power was quoted as saying.
While the comments were unauthorized and immediately condemned, they also drew attention to other remarks on Iraq Power made in an interview with the BBC. This is continue for a few more weeks. Will it work for Clinton or Obama? Will this make them better when they face McCain? Or, will McCain be given a road map to win by?

Obama on the ATTACK!!

Barack Obama on Wednesday turned to hardball tactics after Hillary Clinton's comeback wins staved off extinction for her Democratic White House bid, as President George W Bush embraced Republican candidate John McCain.
Obama aides vowed to fight fire with fire, after Hillary's withering scrutiny of his integrity and national security mettle helped her break his 12-contest win streak in three of Tuesday's four nominating showdowns.
"The vetting of Hillary Clinton has yet to start. The hard questions haven't been asked of Senator Clinton," said Obama strategist David Axelrod.
The Obama campaign demanded in a conference call that Hillary immediately release her tax returns, which opponents accuse of her trying to cover up.
Axelrod also accused the former first lady’s camp of initiating a “search and destroy” mission against Obama, over a hard-hitting ad campaign questioning his capacity to handle a late-night foreign policy crisis as President. It is round two for Obama and Clinton. Will we see more of the same old nice guy? Will this race turn into a death match with every ounce of fire from each other? Would you be turned off from a more aggressive campaign?