Your metaphor alert is a fantastic METAPHOR of what is wrong in the mainstream media. To me, that sounds like a JOKE. Not surprising, since Obama is pretty good at using humor in his speeches and on debates. In fact, he seems like a funny guy.

But no, the MSM continues parsing every single word looking for hidden meaning. Jeez, you guys astound me sometimes with your obtuse approach to reporting.

Hey, I'll be happy to buy Obama a steak in NYC...and I'll top it off with cheesecake at Juniors (I lived in NYC for 14 years before moving to CT).

Keep us wondering Barack and Bloomberg.

Recession yes or no, the downturn in economics is the big issue (I link it to Iraq, hands down those are the two biggies).

I listened online to Obama's speech. Very impressive. He gets it. Consequently he gets my vote.
Obama '08

Journalism 101:
The headline should lead in to the body copy. Hello, First Read! The entire copy exposed without clicking to go to the next page is about your poster boy...Very frustrating!!!
Campaigning 101:
It obviously gets those of us NOT interested in more about Obama to have to suffer through more fluff to get to the part about McCain and the GOP...

Wow, I have been waiting for this level of detail on the economy from Obama for some time.  During his speech, especially the parts dealing with the regulation of the financial markets, I found myself saying "Yes!  Finally!"

Barack Obama will make a superb president.

McCain is pragmatic and realistic about the economy and doesn't have pie in the sky ideas.  This comes from experience.  He is the obvious choice for president.

FirstRead. An Iraq thread might be timely.
Dien bien phu...er the green zone is burning, 16 rockets on Wednesday, several rounds this morning.
According to MSNBC 'tens of thousands of Shiites are protesting the crackdown by the Iraqi government.
Basra is in rebellion. A pipeline blast has interrupted oil flow. Do we need to Re-Surge or are
these just more growing pains of flowering democracy? Just a curiosity but is anybody in the press gonna shove this in the candidates faces? Especially McBushes?

just asking

I'm sure Clinton will attack Obama as being "naive" for using the "R" word "recession."

She's so stale at this point.  Every time she attacks him for not having experience, I think, "well neither do you.  it's just that he hasn't LIED about his decades of experience."

Regarding the technical definition of recession, the statement attributed to Obama that 'most economists agree that we are in a recession' was reported last week in the Wall Street Journal.  The current situation is much like the Titanic - the ship wasn't believed to be sinking until everyone's feet got wet.  For those who do not believe the US economy is in recession, I suggest they should find some dry socks.

Time to get past Hillary and get on with the General.  Obama is a strong candidate and will make a great president.

BTW - the Huffpost had a great illustration of the sniper fire incident that Hillary was involved with. See it here:

http://laststopmidwest.blogspot.com/

Ok we have a choice of Billary(Monica Lewinsky, Norman Hsu,Nafta, Paula Jones,Failed Health Care)or we have a choice of McBush(Lobbyist ties, 100 years of war, senile confusion of countries & extremists,embracement of Bush Policies, and knows nothing about the economy).Both of which approved this war which is  pulling us into recession. No thanks, I'll take the guy with the bad pastor!!!

Can we get some coverage of the content of Obama's speech today?  How'd it go over?  It seemed wide-ranging historical and showed a nuanced understanding of the conditions & decisions which led to our current economic state.

A Bloomberg endorsement for Obama would be great.  I even think that a position in Obama's administration could be good for the country as well.  Common sense would tell you that Mr. Bloomberg would not endorse Sen. Clinton because his Independent run at the Presidency was based on Clinton getting the Democratic nod.  He knew that her polarization and high negatives would create an opening for him.

In other news, First Read could you cover the Elton John fundraiser for Sen. Clinton that is breaking FEC regulations?  Technically Bubba also broke the rules because in taking those donations from foreign interests for his "library" and "charity" (read: funneled into Sen. Clinton's campaign by way of a $5 million loan).  I guess we won't know the complete answer to that last one until Sen. Clinton shows some transparency.

Why should be surprised by linking Obama with a payback. He's a POLITICIAN just like all the rest of them. Maybe his supporters will sober up at somme point and realize that.

Whether or not the current economic situation(MESS)can be classified a true recession, the country is going down the tubes.  For those of us on limited incomes, it already is a recession. There is no way to gild it, life as we knew it is no more.  The struggle to keep our heads above the costs of every day living is truly difficult.  

Yet, what little extra I have, I will give to the Obama campaign to ensure his message will be heard by all who will listen.

why does Senator Obama,continue to refuse to have a new election in Michigan,when "everyone" else says let's do it to make it fair ?

Nccain should be watching the reports from Iraq instead of talking about subjects he has no knowledge of.The dreaded civil war is going on over his protests.

By the way check this out about Obama:

Barrack Hussein Obama and his "Connections"

Michelle Obama
The wife of Barrack Hussein Obama has made anti-American statements.   Mrs. Obama’s college dissertation, entitled "Princeton-Educated Blacks and the Black Community" was written under her maiden name, Michelle LaVaughn Robinson, in 1985.

Obama championed a $1,000,000 earmark for a Chicago area hospital in 2006.  It benefitted  Michelle Obama, that same hospital’s VP of Community Affairs.

“For the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country.”    Michelle Obama              
                                                                                                       
Stepbrother Abongo “Roy” Obama
Luo activist and a militant radical Wahabbi Muslim who argues that the black man must “liberate himself from the poisoning influences of European culture.” He urges his younger brother to embrace his African heritage.

Stepfather Lolo Soetoro
An Indonesian Muslim, a Wahabbi extremist

Raila Odinga
From Kenya.  1st paternal cousin to Obama. Son of a former leader Oginga Odinga.  
Luo Islamofacist and communist Oragne Democratic Movement (ODM) and the National Muslim leaders Formum (NMIF).  Odinga supports radical Sharia in Kenya.    
Obama campaigned for Odinga in August of '06.  Odinga is behind the genocide in Kenya.  
Odinga linked with Abdulkader al Bakri (al Qaeda) and Libyan Muammar Gadaffi.

Read Raila Odinga's Memorandum of Understanding with the Moslems in Kenya
Where he advocates turning the nation of Kenya into an Islamic state, and among other things:
• Within 6 months re-write the Constitution of Kenya to recognize Shariah as the only true law sanctioned by the Holy Quran for Muslim declared regions.
• Effective immediately, dismiss the Commissioner of Police who has allowed himself to be used by heathens and Zionists to oppress the Kenyan Muslim community.
• Within one year facilitate the establishment of a Shariah court in every Kenyan divisional headquarters.
• Popularize Islam, the only true religion, in the coast and north eastern regions, by ordering every primary school in Kenya to conduct daily Madrassa classes.

Antoin Tony Rezko
Federally indicted & arrested, currently on trial in Chicago
Formally charged w/ extortion, loan fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, soliciting a bribe, aiding and abetting bribery, and money laundering.
Campaign fundraiser for Obama campaign
Obama has had to return nearly $200,000 in dirty political campaign contributions linked to Rezko

“Barack Obama on Friday acknowledged that he had substantially underrepresented the cash raised for his earlier campaigns by indicted businessman Antoin “Tony” Rezko. But Obama's campaign said it could not donate to charity as much as $90,000 in newly acknowledged Rezko-linked contributions because the old campaign accounts were closed and the money spent. “
                 
                     article: Rezko role bigger than Admitted By KENNETH P. VOGEL Politico.com

To read more:  Article entiteld: Rezco Link Bigger Than Admitted

To read more about Obama association with Tony Rezko:  http://rezkowatch.blogspot.com/


William “Bill” Ayers
Is a former political terrorist (member of the Weather Underground) that bombed many state and federal buildings.  Ayers is now a Professor of Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago.  This is Obama's 'Weatherman' Connection.

           "William Ayers, in the age of terrorism, will be Barack Obama's Willie
            Horton."
                                                      -Former counterterrorism official Larry C. Johnson,
                                                                 The Huffington Post, Feb. 16, 2008

To view Ayers mug shot visit: Bill Ayers Mugshot

Khaleel Ahmed
Indicted and arrested for conspiring to commit terrorist acts against American military personnel in Iraq, as well as others abroad, in an Islamic holy war against the United States and its allies.  He contributed $2000 to Obama for Illinois Senatorial campaign.  Connected to Mohammad Zaki Amawi, Marwan Othman El-hindi and Wassim Mazloum

The New Black Panther Party
Reverse Racists Endorse Obama.   Apparently, after the organization endorsed Obama, The New Black Panther Party logo was posted on Obama’s official campaign website.

Jeremiah Wright
Pastor Trinity Church espouses Liberation Theology.  Anti-American speeches were made during   his career.  He awarded the “Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. Trumpet” Award to Louis Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam.  Wright is an Afrocentrist, friend and spiritual advisor of Obama.  He was the pastor at Obama’s wedding and baptized Obama’s children.  According to their tax returns, The Obama’s donated $22,500 to this church in 2006.

Louis Farrakhan
Radical Islamofacist, Afrocentrist and Anti-Semitic Leader of the Nation of Islam.
Proclaimed white people the blue eyed devils.  Obama’s Church gave Farrakhan the Dr.
Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. Trumpet Award in 2008.

Al Sharpton
Extremist agitator, anti-semitic, Friend of Obama and Friend of Louis Farrakhan.

Jesse Jackson
Anti-Semitic.  In 1984 described New York City as "Hymietown" and in 1979 complained
he was sick and tired of hearing about the Holocaust. Friend of Obama & Farrakhan.

Che Guevara
Camp Obama adores him
               
Nadhmi Auchi
An Iraqi billionaire embroiled in a corruption scandal in France.  He loaned 3 million to Antoin Rezko to buy 2 residential Mansion properties next to each other. Rezko "sells" one property to Obama.  Involved in at least one power generation contract involving Chicago-based tycoon Antoin Rezko and Iraq's Former Minister of Electricity, Aiham Alsamarrae, who has been convicted over corruption charges in Iraq and is now living in Chicago.  Nadhmi Auchi was charged along with Saddam Hussein for conspiring to assassinate Iraqi President Abdul-Karim Qasim in 1959.  Qasim was injured while his bodyguard was killed; Saddam managed to flee the country.  Auchi was arrested for delivering weapons to the assassins but was later pardoned by President Qasim.

Aiham Alsammarae Alsamarra
Former Iraqi Electricity Minister in former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's Cabinet.  In October, a few days after his conviction, he fled but was later apprehended at the Baghdad International Airport carrying a Chinese passport. He was accused of squandering $2 billion in public funds for contracts to rebuild Iraq’s electrical infrastructure. He was convicted on corruption charges and sentenced to two years in prison.  In 2006 Alsammarae made two escapes from the Baghdad jail which is located within the Green Zone. Several Iraqi politicians rejected the reports of Samurai’s escape; instead, they accused U.S. forces of storming the prison and freeing him.  Alsammarae is still wanted by Interpol for the theft of $650 million in Iraqi reconstruction funds stolen from the Coalition Provisional Authority between 2003-2006.

Several letters were sent to Obama's Office to help him get out of jail.  

Gregg Steinberg
Political fundraiser, currently being indicted on federal charges.
Contributed to Barack Obama's campaign.

For more information on THE Steinberg indictment visit: Gregg Steinberg indictment at:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=416056

that maybe the text book definition for recession. but that is not required for a recession to be declared. there is a economic cycle dating committee which is a part of nber, which officials dates the start and end of a recession.
their url: http://www.nber.org/cycles/main.html has more info on this.

“As I said on Tuesday, I believe the role of government is to help the truly needy,"  

I am voting for Obama but this opeing line of this quote thrills my republican friends.  McCain is a pro immigrantation & Pro social program "Conservative."  This is why democrats are falling over themselves to vote for him.

Can you realy believe how he defines the role of government: to help the truly needy.  Even if the Dems lose the Progressives win and the conservatives lose.

Go Obama, or Clinton, or McCain.  All three will serve McCains defined role of the Government. Help the Truly Needy.

McCain has as much credibility to talk about economic issues as [fill in the blank] in view of his Keating 5 days, and his own statement he doesn't know much about economics.  McCain is the same do-nothing approach as Bush, except make things worse with inaction, and this rediculous continued financial commitment in Iraq.  He will bankrupt us all for sure...

I've been mulling the possibility of an Obama/Bloomberg ticket for awhile now. Obama needs to move to the right just a bit and he needs more economic clout. Bloomberg will also firm up the independent vote and be a great foil to McCain.

I am totally against Hillary Clinton on the presidential ticket at all. She is devisive and self serving. I do not think she and Obama will make a cohesive team and Bill Clinton's mouth during the general will be no help at all.

Obama/Bloomberg 08

Of course McBush would not know anything about how to help people with their forclosures or anything else to do with the economy.  He has said on more than one occasion that he needs to be "educated" on the subject of the economy, and that it is not his strong point.  How in the world can you be President of the US and not know anything about how to run a 12 trillion dollar budget?!?  

Would John McCain consider the needless war in Iraq a big government program that socks it to the face of American taxpayers? Considering Saddam Hussein had no responsibility for the attacks on 9/11 and did not possess WMD, we have lost thousands of lives (not to mention Iraqi lives) and close to $1 trillion dollars.

Why isn't John McCain upset over the big government program that we have going in Iraq?

WHAT IS A LENDING INSTITUTION IF NOT A BANK?

http://twocanpete.blogspot.com/
Illegal aliens in, jobs out. Great econmomic plan by all three candidates.

You're splitting hairs. Send your pollsters out to any gas station, grocery store, pharmacy, or medical facility, and consult the citizenry whether or not they agree with Senator Obama's assessment. The technicalities of our economy don't make a whole- heck-of-a-lot-of-difference to them. He is after-all addressing the layperson, not economists. If he were to make his message full of difficult facts, and figures he would lose most of us. George Bush comes across as untruthful when he nit-picks about the sad state of our financial nightmare. Both McCain, and Clinton were tough to follow when they delivered their speeches on the economy this week.  The economist's definition can stand a little tweaking on this one. It is what it is.


Pulling for Obama '08

I must say that while listening to Hillary give her speech I find her overall tone really annoying. It sounds like she is reading a story to a bunch of preschoolers....Does everybody get a gold star at the end?

McCain has it right: Bailing out the loan companies that scammed the vulnerable consumers into prime lending loans in the first place is disgusting and absolutely CRIMINAL! Obama and Clinton are on the wrong side of this one. I lost my home a year ago, so I know what's what here.

“... what is not necessary is a multi-billion dollar bailout for big banks and speculators ..."

Isn't that exactly what the gov't did for Wall Street?

Paul Krugman, economic afficiando extraordinaire, has a few choice words for Hillary's economic "plan"
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/all-stars/

All-stars

OK, this is pretty dumb. Hillary Clinton wants a high-level commission to analyze ways to resolve the mortgage crisis — including Alan Greenspan.
Yes, I know people still listen when Greenspan speaks — and John McCain once joked about taking Greenspan’s advice even if he’s dead. But for those in the know, AG is a key villain in the whole affair.
I mean, why not add Charles Prince, Stanley O’Neal, and Angelo Mozilo to the commission?
---


Hillary's modest proposal (to wreck the housing market)
The current mortgage mess requires a more intelligent approach than the buzzsaw plan floated by Hillary Clinton.
By Jon Birger, senior writer


--

Fortune Magazine Chief Editor calls Clinton's housing proposal "disastrous"

http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/16/commentary/birger_clinton.fortune/index.htm?postversion=2008011617
Hillary Clinton's proposal to freeze interest rates for five years could be disastrous.
(Fortune) -- Hillary Clinton is no dummy. Even her detractors know that. And yet in last night's Democratic presidential debate in Nevada, Clinton floated what is perhaps the dumbest solution to the current mortgage mess I've heard from a top presidential contender.

"I have a plan - a moratorium on foreclosures for 90 days [and] freezing interest rates for five years, which I think we should do immediately,"

"The definition of a recession, as CNBC's Maria Bartiromo pointed out on Meet the Press this past Sunday, is two consecutive quarters of negative growth."

Because she is using Wall Streets metrics which fortunately has the backing of the Bush Administration

Sooooo, is he critical of the BS bailout or not?  Did the Feds do the right thing or not according to this standard of thinking?  
Sounds to me like the same ol' same ol'...protect Wall Street and lecture the Consumer for not reading the fine print on page 374, Section A, Article 57.
Typical...nice display of trickle down economics.

John McCain:  "There is a tendency for liberals to seek big government programs that sock it to American taxpayers while failing to solve the very real problems we face."  Oh really???  So Bush's TRILLION dollar failure in Iraq, currently running $12 BILLION a month is a liberal program?  The same war program John McCain wants to continue for the next 100 years?  For that kind of money (and a lot less) real problems faced by Americans could be addressed like healthcare, roads, bridges and infrastructure, education, medical research, energy independence - the list is endless.  Instead, McCain wants to perpetuate the endless war in Iraq, costing untold billions with no way of paying for it.  The war only benefits the war contractors, not the American taxpayer.  And so it goes with the Republicans:  More war, less taxes, God willing.

Larry Again -

Don't blame Obama because the Dems in your state KNOWINGLY broke the rules. I live in Florida and I can't blame anybody but the democratic voters in Florida who didn't speak up when they saw on the news for weeks that their votes wouldn't count if the rules were broken.

I'm sure Clinton will attack Obama as being "naive" for using the "R" word "recession."

She's so stale at this point.  Every time she attacks him for not having experience, I think, "well neither do you.  it's just that he hasn't LIED about his decades of experience."
Scott (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:39 AM)

-----------------------------------------------
Experience is something BO is lacking.

He has lots of WRIGHT experience but he has no love  for AMERICA!

I'm sure Clinton will attack Obama as being "naive" for using the "R" word "recession."

She's so stale at this point.  Every time she attacks him for not having experience, I think, "well neither do you.  it's just that he hasn't LIED about his decades of experience."
Scott (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:39 AM)

-----------------------------------------------
Experience is something BO is lacking.

He has lots of WRIGHT experience but he has no love  for AMERICA!

Larry again, quit LYING. The MI election is dead because it would be illegal for any Republicans who already voted to crossover & vote again. In an open Dem primary, this would give an unfair advantage to Clinton. The decision was not in Obama's hands to make.

The polls show the people can see thru the Clinton spin, so plz give it a rest.

Come on MSNBC.

You guys dont like Hillary or McCain.

I did not say anything until now because I do not like Hillary either.  But seriously, you guys have tried to wipe her out.

This is getting ridiculous.  I have seen know that you guys are switching to hitting McCain hard.  Your word choices for his statements are obviously biased.  I have never been a big fan of McCain, but you guys are pushing me toward that in your obvious hatred of him.

Please try to be fair.  Do not use words like "strike"  and "attack" so loosely.  Hillary and Obama do much worse to each other without the same headlines.


A few more times of bias and I am going to have to start reading Fox news.

why does Senator Obama,continue to refuse to have a new election in Michigan,when "everyone" else says let's do it to make it fair ?
Larry again (Sent Thursday, March 27, 2008 11:47 AM)
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Hey Larry, instead of repeating lies from the Clintons, why don't you go do some research and ask the Michigan legislators why they moved up the primaries when they KNEW they would loose their delegates?   Obama didn't force them to do this.

ALso while you are at it, why don't you ask Your Girl Billary why she didn't care so much about Michigan and Florida back when she went along with stripping the delegates and signed the pledge.

Of course you would NEVER want to ask her that because she would just spew more LIES.

Too bad she is FOOLING YOU!!!!!!

Keep sending her money though.  She needs to pay herself back the 5 mill she lent herself.


Hahahahahahahaha!!!!!

It's obvious that McCain doesn't get it.

The hole freakin' economy needs a bail out right now. Big Banks and lendees.

We can't let banks fail, we can't let homeowners fail. Simply stating that this is a complex issue doesn't cut it. That's what you say when you have no idea how to fix it.

I'm surprised nobody is lumping healthcare into the economy. It's one of the biggest strains on the economy and it's headed toward disaster.

If there's no money to lend, no houses being sold, and banks close to failure, the last thing we need is to experience inflation on the healthcare front. WHICH WE WILL.

McCain is just making stuff up. We're at a point where the hole system needs to be overhauled before we're in a depression.

To all the posters who are against the MI re-vote.  Just remember that they get a second chance in November (as will FL).  You tell me who they will vote for then?  McCain or the guy who used surrogates to ensure that they did not get a vote to decide who was the Democratic nominee?

Liberals want big government solutions to problems, McCain????  Really?   This comming from the party that under Bush oversaw the largest expansion of the size, cost and power of the federal government in history!!  You got to be joking.


How can any republican try to blaim "big government" policies on democrats with a straight face?

What a joke.

I could not help but notice MSNBC covered all of Obama's speech today, which was about 30 to 35 minutes but after less than 10 minutes of Clinton's speech MSNBC lost the connection, but picked it up later for about 5 minutes. CNN did not do much better. I watched all of Obama and he sounded quite informed. But I was not given the chance to watch all of Clinton's.

If Obama can't take a punch in the primary maybe he should drop out and find a different occupation.

Maybe these superdelegates will lean on McCain to go easy on their man.  Yes, let's make it a gentle election campaign.  Let's forget about the Obama racist ties to Wright and the rest of his blunders as well as his wife's.

As for the the sick posts above - get a life.

'...Obama/Bloomberg 08
AP from IL...'

Be careful what you wish for, AP
I understand that Bloomberg is as big a hawk as Clinton and McCain

I want Obama to run with a 'progressive' running mate
Sen Kohl or Sen. Reed

Might also be better to placate women.....
Obama/Napolitano or Obama/Sebilius or Obama/Murray



'...not big banks and speculators that acted irresponsibly. I again call on our lending institutions, where possible, to step up and help Americans who are hurting in this crisis.”...'

Bear Stearns acted irresponsibly
We bailed them out
Apparently, if your bakn is big enough, it won't be allowed to fail....

Shouldn't there be SOME regulations on the big banks /Investment banks ?

Bear Stearns had a margin of 30 to 1 or more
Shouldn't there be some margin requirements for banks if we have to bail them out ?

Can't a steak sometimes just mean a steak?

Regarding McCain's League of Democracies, will Iran be included? They used to be a democracy until we ran that coup that installed the shah. And today their sorta kinda a democracy again.

We can guess that Cuba won't be invited. Of course we couldn't have anything to do with them because their not a democracy, like our good friends the Saudis.

So what would McCain's proposed league look like? NATO?

Wow. It looks like the Clinton Kool-Aid has been served in overwhelming portions this morning. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that the polls that were "supposed" to be in downward spiral for Obamamania because of the Wright Sham. Sorry Clintonistas, the Bosnia Lie was worse. NEXT.

To concerned (reactive, racist) American:

wow - what a list. It might have taken you quite a bit of time to compile this nutty stuff all about others than the Sneator himself.

I would suggest, however, that this would not even fill a chapter in the Hillary Clinton boook of scandals and foul play that she herself has been responsible for.

“As I said on Tuesday, I believe the role of government is to help the truly needy,"   ...

I guess if you consider the truly needy people who were stupid enough to think that they could buy $500K houses on their $50K/ year salaries, then Obama is for helping the truly needy.  However, this strikes me as a middle class welfare bailout for people who should have known better.  People and companies ought to have to face the consequences for their actions.  To bail them out just rewards bad behavior and poor decisions.

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