Obama back to campaigning again yet? Where's he been this past week?

Obama/2008

Okay?

Really, is anyone excited about any of McCain's choices?

Or, for that matter...McCain?

http://strategy08.wordpress.com

The Huffington Post is reporting that the Administration has barred US Foreign Service Workers from attending the Obama speech.  Just another illegal partisan move by an administration has an 8 year history of infringing on the rights of Americans.

“The U.S. Embassy in Berlin has instructed Foreign Service personnel stationed there not to attend Sen. Barack Obama's public rally today, which the State Department this week labeled a "partisan political activity" prohibited under its regulations for those serving overseas.
Government employees serving in the United States are permitted to attend such events under the Hatch Act, which bars other partisan activity, such as contributing money or working in behalf of a candidate...
The American Foreign Service Association, the union of the diplomatic corps, objected to the ruling, calling it an "unnecessarily narrow interpretation" of the Foreign Affairs Manual. "The fact that you are working for the U.S. government overseas should not preclude political activity that you could engage in in the United States," one retired senior Foreign Service officer said.”

I was told that before the surge could start we had to surge without anyone else getting a chance to surge, that was the surge in strategy that surged us to the surging sucess that has resulted in a huge surge of confusion in the minds of the anyone who is still listening to me.

I just cannot see Portman.  He is not a major or relatively major national play, I don't think.  Would not a choice of Portman greatly undercut McCain's argument that Obama's inexperience is a risk?  Especially given McCain's age, it seems like letting the Democrats swing at a pinata w/o a blindfold.

Perhaps, I am in error with my thinking.

...and the winner of the VP states is Rob Portman.

This is the only way McCain can make news today that may step on the Obama speech.  If he's going to announce a VP this is as good a time as ever.

Does not McCain have to at a minimum pick a VP with more experience than Obama ...as a means of setting the bar in hopes that Obama with not meet it.

Likeability, that's what's going to win this thing.
American's vote for the face they want in their living room, some more strongly than others, but it is a common requirement.
Someone who can take a joke and laugh goes a long way towards winning us over in a very personal way. Bush is a terrible president and proved it in his first term, had he not been so relateable he would not have seen a second.
 In order for Barak to win this thing he has got to show he can laugh at himself.
Mccain is already past that point, he is personable and his age makes that easier for him.
I do want a wise and intelligent president like Barak, but he has to laugh at himself in order to connect with everyone on an important level.
Here is why that level is important:If there are two people who need roadside help changing a tire lets say, and you can only help one....
Well, lets just say there will be hesitation in the polling booth without that personable touch from Barak...
If your vote is the one that puts a guy over the top - your pick is a very personal decision (as they both need your help).

I'm being censored today - I removed the more crude joke and Gary, I am shouting out to your very funny comment yesterday to Jay, regarding no biting:
Gary, that is about the funniest thing I’ve ever seen posted on here - - - I am still chuckling while I am trying type.  Oh and another gem for you from yesterday - (of  Wednesday, July 23, 2008 1:31 PM fame), ask and ye shall receive:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9UiF6xvKYBo
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9vE_vW-KL1o&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q0C-4bm6Ilo&feature=related
I am sure there are others; but these should at least entertain.  (Pay it forward)
Billcurd: song was okay.  Lyrics were pretty good.  Here is a band that I adore.  Their album on Epic Records should be out this Fall (produced by the guy that did the Fray’s last album).  Getting good exposure and they are incredible live.  http://www.myspace.com/vedera  PS.  Local to KC and I am honored to call them friends.

McCain has had quite an amazing polling day too. Five polls, all from battleground states, all have found McCain progressing: he's grabbed his FIRST lead in Colorado and has gained in Michigan, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Wisconsin (all Kerry states): http://campaigndiaries.com/2008/07/24/mccain-progresses/

Battleground: Ground-game edgePosted: Thursday, July 24, 2008 9:15 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: States, 2008, McCain, Obama........

OHIO: It's a Republican full-court-press in the Buckeye State. McCain's there today, Bush is there next week, and RNC Chair Mike Duncan will be in Ohio tomorrow to rally state GOP leaders to McCain's cause......

UH OH... UPDATE:

From NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli
Looks like a change of plans, Rob Portman will join McCain at his event in Ohio tonight.
*********************************

Who's the understudy Senator McCain plans to shove on stage when Bush gets the hook at the last minute in Denver?

Obama: Yeah, I-- I was disappointed by that language. You know, John McCain and I disagree on policy. You know, we disagreed on going into the war in Iraq. We disagreed, until recently, about the need to get more troops into Afghanistan. But I've never questioned-- that he wants to make America safer. And for him to suggest that I don't-- for him to suggest that somehow -- I'm less concerned about the safety of my wife and daughter-- than he is I think -- was -- was unfortunate.

******************
McCain's comment was despicable -- right now, there is no veep he can choose that could possibly make his candidacy palatable to the American People.

By contrast, Obama is classy and really intelligent.  One seems more and more like a cranky bus driver; the other gets more presidential by the day.

http://ilfamilypolitics.blogspot.com

I can feel the excitement?

This is playing right into the hands of John MCCain, Obama Fatigue is setting in, the media is trying to say too much about Obama and people are not going to listen much longer, just look at how much McCain ahas come from behind. I advise the Media Not to keep cramming Obama down our throats. Its about to backfire

This is obviously an attempt to make this more significant, but it's just another titillating tactic to get some attention. There won't be any VP announcement, but they won't deny speculation.

Average American Citizen 1:  Who is Rob Portman?
Average American Citizen 2:  I've never heard of him
Average American Citizen 3:  I think he's that guy that worked for Bush
Average American Citizen 2:  But I thought that McCain was supposed to be distancing himself from Bush
Average American Citizen 1:  Hmmm. He worked for Bush.  And on economy-type stuff too?
All 3:  That's a dumb pick!

Portman will not pull any state and he will only tie McCain closer to Bush.  It doesn't matter who McCain picks because the one person that could probably help him (Ridge) would erode his support in other places.

1) Obama is BAD
2) Surge is GOOD.

I can't see how that degree of shallowness will win John McCain anything in November.

Dennis Mcd. Hillsborough NJ
===========

It is simplistic, but McCain needs to keep things at this level because he's trying to get some liberals to vote for him.

John McCain's explanation on what is the surge boils down to:
It depends on what the surge is surging - the counter insurgency or surge in troops. One has been going on since 2005 and the other started in 2007.
Just like it depends on what the definition of is is.

That's why we have a devalued country after 8 years of this kind of leadership.

“A surge is really a counter-insurgency strategy, and it’s made up of a number of components,” McCain said. “This counter-insurgency was initiated to some degree by Colonel McFarland in Anbar province, relatively on his own.”

“General Petraeus said that the surge would not have worked, and the Anbar Awakening would not have taken place, successfully, if they hadn’t had an increase in the number of troops,” McCain added.

Ok. Change of plans means flip flop.  I can see myself winning the flip flop contest now.

Funniest posts so far today: (with just a tiny edit).
********************

Now Jim, lets not talk about HOW the oil spilled lets just look to the future and figure out how to get out of the mess.
No one can disagree that McCain was right all along in his conviction that messes should be cleaned up. It is just counter productive to talk about the root cause of any situation.
Reaction is the key.
It's not like we can take the time to analyze past mistakes in order to prevent missteps. Thats sissy talk.

So heres to you McMister McMan of action who can't be held accountable for huge flub ups cuz yer to busy trying to figure a way to surge yourself out of the swamp.
This Buds for you!

Gary Schear, bozeman Montana (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:27 AM)
***********************

I think Teflon John should keep his date with Jindal and do a press conference On the oil rig, IN FRONT of the oil spill, to ENCOURAGE off shore drilling. If a picture speaks a thousand words than that would definitely sum up McCain's campaign.
Diane from Illinois (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:29 AM)
*************************

With a hurricane, a tanker, and an oil spill as  straight men, the spoiler imagery though tragic, is in this case hillarious!

There is a very good chance that McCain will win.

Unfortunately, the republicans prey on all the negative instincts of man: fear, bigotry, intolerance, anger - the list goes on.

They wrap all this all up in a red white and blue, morally superior package and present it to the public in a fashion that makes it seem OK to vote for.

I'm afraid we will be stuck again, because to the republicans, winning is far more important the making this country better.

Desperation usually is excruciating.  Just watch Morning Panic. I started counting how many times Joe said Obama and surge. I lost count when I was distracted by the glare reflected by the sweat on his forehead.
Gary Schear, bozeman Montana (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 10:34 AM)
********************

Add this one too! Laughed out loud!

Chris Matthews called this one!!!! CM is a very smart guy....

Portman is not that appealing no matter who his ancestors are. Straightforwardly speaking, Black neutralizes the liberalism; Gramm, the Enron Architect, mortgage Crises Architect, amongst other scams neutralizes economic issues. And for those reasons McCain will not put $10 billion to $12 billion a month, $200 billion into Afghanistan or America’s economy. It seems to me McCain will loss the political campaign and the Bush/McCain war.

Btw: did you see he standing ovation from our troops?


-------------------------
jerry/corpus christi texas (Sent Thursday, July 24, 2008 9:37 AM)

Of course, that will all change if Obama and his liberal friends have their way about it.  More job losses and more misery for ordinary Americans, but the Liberal congress could care less.

Liberalism is a disease.

========================================================
You are so sick! You don't know anything about the guy's finances. Are you jealous he couldn't  afford to eat?

===========================---------------------
Cocky, closet republican Andrea Mitchell, can you say confident and self- assured?

From Huff post.....
The McCain campaign implied on Wednesday that Barack Obama's commitment to preventing a future genocide was not sincere, attacking the Democratic candidate during his appearance at the Israeli Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem.

In an early morning press release, entitled "Obama on Genocide," McCain aide Tucker Bounds emailed reporters a quote from Obama's appearance in which the Illinois Democrat reiterated the cry "never again." He followed that quote with one taken a year ago from an interview that the Senator gave with the Associated Press in which he said that genocide or humanitarian crises were not a prerequisite for keeping U.S. troops in Iraq (a statement he has since walked back)

"Well, look, if that's the criteria by which we are making decisions on the deployment of U.S. forces," said Obama, "then by that argument you would have 300,000 troops in the Congo right now."

The message was fairly explicit: Obama's commitment to stopping future Holocausts is in doubt. Asked for clarification, McCain aide Michael Goldfarb responded:

"Today he says 'never again.' A year ago stopping genocide wasn't a good enough reason to keep U.S. forces in Iraq. Doesn't that strike you as inconsistent?"

It's a heavy charge to make, not least because Obama had just wrapped up his visit to the Holocaust memorial. In addition, there are, for better or worse, outstanding implications when discussing genocide when it comes to Jews -- and the insertion of the issue into the presidential campaign will border for some, on the taboo. Moreover, on the topic of Iraq, Obama has said he would leave a residual force to intervene in potential humanitarian crises and that he reserves the right to intervene militarily with international partners in order to "suppress potential genocidal violence within Iraq."

"I'd love to know more about Obama's residual force," said Goldfarb, when asked about it. "How big is it, where is it based, what is its mission, how long will it remain in Iraq? Nobody knows the answers to those questions, and I'd encourage the Huffington Post to inquire further with the Obama campaign."
******************************************************
There are so many things horribly wrong with this I don't even know where to begin. To suggest that Senator Obama's opposition to the war in Iraq means he supports genocide is ridiculous. I would like to know what the McCain camp considers the definition of genocide to be. In my humble view, Illegally occupying a soveriegn country which results in hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians being slaughtered or forced from there homes is genocide. So if anyone is pro-genocide it's the Bush Administration and there supporters like John McCain.
And now all of a sudden the GOP is interested in exacts troop levels and timelines concerning residual forces after we leave? I was under the impression that we were supposed to leave these decisions to the commanders on the ground. I've been told for 7 1/2 miserable years that providing that kind of information will enable the terrorists to plan and act accordingly. Do these idiots even know what they stand for anymore?

To quote "The Dick" Cheney...SO?

I give up trying to post anything here. You type a post, wait 3 hr's (sometimes) never get's posted. Maybe things will change as we get closer to November(i seriously doubt it tho). I'll be content to just read the post that seem to get thru, whether there hate-filled( such as J.merle, david anders-tx)(ind-tx) or actually well thought out post filled with fact's.Not gonna waste My valuable time, just so Chuck,Mark, Domenico can trash what they want.

I'll stay an avid reader tho!!!!!

Barack Obama for POTUS!!!

Sen McCain pointed out the Ohio will be a key state in the upcoming election since it borders Iraq.

If McCain is really against torture, why has he consistantly supported Bush's torture program?

Sen McCain pointed out the Ohio will be a key state in the upcoming election since it borders Iraq.

Sorry First Read . . .!  Nobody care about McCain right now.  Obama is about to speak.  Eat your heart out McCain!

I really hope it won't be a Romney/McCain ticket.  McCain's childish, nasty attitude toward Romney in the debates was disgusting.  I could never vote for a commander in chief who behaved like that.  I hope Romney doesn't bring himself down to McCain's level.

However, it is true that Romney can bring something to the Republican ticket (other than MI) - energy.  There's a reason why he has such huge fundraising capabilities.  Whoever was his PR guy for his presidential run needs to be fired.  When you let Romney do his thing and speak from his heart, he is very inspiring.  Inspiration is something the Republican party is in desperate need of right now.

I think John McCain should parade Cindy around and let her speak on his behave.

I am certainly not a supporter of John McCain and I certainly don't mean any disrespect.

But - Cindy is hot!!

I know that the headline here is in reference to Portman joining McCain for the Ohio appearance, but I'd like to comment on the original change in plans that involved McCain canceling his scheduled appearance in New Orleans.
That change in plans was allegedly due to weather in New Orleans having been threatened by Hurricane Dolly.

I think that the real reason for the cancellation was the huge oil spill from a barge right in front of of the New Orleans river front. McCain was going to urge more offshore drilling and having that story juxaposed with an oil spill story was avoided by the move.

All it did in New Orleans and the nearby Gulf that day was rain a little more than is normal. In the summer it is common for a thunderstorm to rise up in the afternoon and we don't close the airport or cancel political events!

I have seen nothing on this view of the New Orleans cancellation in the MSM.

I'd say the pros outweigh the cons. Its not like its a secret that McCain has similar policies and views as Bush. So there's little downside left there. But Portman is from Ohio and brings perhaps some economic credibility, so seems like a good choice.

'...Obama "appears to be even more popular" with Latinos than Sen. Clinton...'

(Make that 12 million (not 18))

'...66 percent versus 23 percent ...'



From HuffPost:

'...'Sharp reversal' for Obama with Latino voters

Pew Hispanic Center poll taken from June 9-July 13 of Latino voters

Poll shows an overwhelming majority support Barack Obama over John McCain

Obama "appears to be even more popular" with Latinos than Sen. Clinton, poll finds

Issues like education, health care and jobs rank high amongst this voting bloc

   
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A new poll released Thursday shows overwhelming support from Latinos for Sen. Barack Obama over Sen. John McCain.


A new poll out Thursday shows strong support for Sen. Barack Obama among Latinos.

Obama's approval rating with registered Latino voters, the nationwide Pew Hispanic Center poll found, is at 66 percent versus 23 percent favoring McCain.

Obama's "strong showing in this survey represents a sharp reversal in his fortunes from the primaries, when Obama lost the Latino vote to Hillary Clinton by a margin of nearly 2-to-1," according to Pew Hispanic Center associate director Mark Hugo Lopez.

Obama's favorability among Latinos is slightly up from a Gallup Poll summary of surveys taken in May, which showed Obama with 62 percent of Latino voters nationwide, compared with 29 percent for McCain.

"He now appears to be even more popular than Hillary Clinton among Latinos," Lopez said.

Pew Hispanic Center's deputy director, Susan Minushkin, added that Obama is "enjoying broad-based support among Hispanics who don't see great differences by age, by gender, by education, by income."

In comparison, a CNN "poll of polls" from July 16, shows Obama holding a 6-point lead over McCain among general registered voters.

It shows Obama at 47 percent and McCain at 41 percent; about 12 percent said they are undecided.

The poll of polls includes surveys from Gallup, CBS/NY Times, ABC/Washington Post, Quinnipiac, and Newsweek.

The survey also shows more than three quarters of Latinos who said they voted for Clinton in the primaries, now indicate they are likely to vote for Obama in the general election.

On Super Tuesday, Obama received only 38 percent of the Latino vote, while former rival Sen. Clinton received 58 percent, according to CNN exit polling.

Only 8 percent said they are likely to vote for the presumptive GOP presidential candidate. Read the full poll (pdf)

"This means that Obama is doing better among Hispanic Clinton supporters than he is among non-Hispanic white Clinton supporters, 70 percent of whom now say they have transferred their allegiance to Obama while 18 percent say they plan to vote for McCain," Lopez said, referring to a recent Pew Research Center for the People and the Press survey.

CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said past voting history among Hispanics has favored Democrats.

"Since 1972, Democratic candidates for president have, on average, won 64 percent of the Hispanic vote. So a 66 percent mark for Obama is pretty much what you would expect a Democratic candidate to get from Latinos," he said.

The poll, taken June 9-July 13, also examined the effect of race in the 2008 election.

By a margin of about 3-to-1 respondents said Obama's race would help him as opposed to hurt him with Latino voters. Fifty-three percent said his race wouldn't be a big factor in their support.

By a margin of 2-to-1 respondents said McCain's race will hurt rather than help his chances. Fifty-eight percent said McCain's race will "make no difference."

The survey shows kitchen table issues like education, jobs and health care weigh heavy on Latino voters.

Ninety-three percent of those surveyed said education was the top issue, followed by jobs, 91 percent, and health care, 90 percent.

"By a margin of 3-to-1, Hispanic registered voters believe that Obama will do a better job than McCain of dealing with education, jobs ... health care," Lopez said.

In comparison, a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. Poll taken June 26-29 of registered voters ranked election issues:

Economy: 58 percent
Iraq: 50 percent
Gas prices: 48 percent
Health care: 47 percent
Education: 44 percent
Immigration: 34 percent...'


Does this mean that Latinos are smarter than 'bitter, but hard working' white people ?

Obama SI !!
McCain NO !!


Obama/Edwards '08

It seems to me this old, bitter, out-of-touch man would send money to the senseless, dumb, Iraq War; rather than focus on the economy and the Afghan/Pakistan border.
Oops, I forgot the maverick meant Iran/Pakistan border. Looks like the maverick cowboy should change his name to desperado or Gabby Hayes.

Off post message I know - But I have to get this in if I can:

It's hysterical that Sen McCain and surrogates are bashing (or trying to) Sen Obama for his overseas trip.  A month ago they were urging him - John McCain even offered to go through him.  How quickly they forget - and how absolutely hypocritical!

Really - after the absolute appalling turn the McCain campaign has taken this week - it's almost impossible to remember that Sen McCain is running for President.  Instead, he sounds like a bitter, aging, self-pitying man, desperate to win.  He keeps saying he puts his country before himself -- he sure doesn't sound like it this week -- no matter how his campaign might try to spin it!   It has been appalling and sad to listen to and see - really sad.

If he/they think this stategy is working -- I can just say from my little corner of the world - it most definitely is not!  I live in a pretty conservative, rural part of NY - and I can state without hesitation - that Sen McCain is turning far more people off than he is winning.  And around here - that is hard for a Republican to do.  Now, I can here people saying, it doesn't matter - NY is solidly Democratic.  But I have to think - if it is happening here - it's happening elsewhere.  The final straw for many - was the comment that Sen Obama would rather win an election than win a war.  I was sitting with a veteran when he heard those remarks and this gentleman was angered by those remarks.  Very angry.  He walked away.  

So, just from this small story I took heart.  Because I think the American people are smarter than Sen McCain and his camp are giving them credit for.  Much smarter.

I just wanted to tell this story  - and to say that I'm proud to be a supporter of Sen Obama.  Very proud.

Obama '08

Rob Portman? rob Portman? Where have I heard the name before? Oh yeah, he was a flack for the bushleague economic policies...how are those policies working for everyone?

here's accurate polling for you.. florida is a toss up and without it... McCoo-Coo is cooked!

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

Obama will win Colorado and it won't be close.

Who cares about McCain and his old ideas?  Anyway, if Obama really wants to choose Hillary Clinton as his running-mate and wants to solve the Bill Clinton issue, all has to do is to ask Governor Patterson of New York to appoint Bill Clinton to Hillary Clinton's NY Senate seat.  Senator Bill Clinton would make a great Senator and if President Clinton is loved anywhere--it's NY state.

A Surge in a counterinsurgency.......Not the Surge in Iraq. That was an increase in US Forces. Seems someone keeps trying to alter the facts.

John McCain does not need to make a media circus.  He is sure of himself and respectful to the idea that we have a currently sitting president.  I think Obama is like a rock star - and has about as much to offer the US as a rock star would.  Hey, I have an idea, let's put a rock star on the ticket???

Who cares about McCain and his old ideas?  Anyway, if Obama really wants to choose Hillary Clinton as his running-mate and wants to solve the Bill Clinton issue, all has to do is to ask Governor Patterson of New York to appoint Bill Clinton to Hillary Clinton's NY Senate seat.  Senator Bill Clinton would make a great Senator and if President Clinton is loved anywhere--it's NY state.

Who's going to join McCain next door in Iraq?

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