“…In all my time on the board, I have never seen so many excellent posts as in the past few days…And thanks again to some superb posters here.  Reminds me of this blog in the early days!” Mark Thieme (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 3:33 PM)
I couldn’t agree with you more, Mark.  Weekly shout out to Pat in Boston, Ira in NJ, Nashville Fan, Mark in Seattle, Donna (where are you from?), MI Chick, Gary in Montana, Paul Miller in VA, Pete in Albany, Amy in ME, BJ in CA – you guys rock (I know I am leaving off so many others – sorry).  Even Jerry, Corpus Christi – I celebrate your misguided passion – you show up every day and take your lumps for trying to prop up your team’s candidate – at times I sense you aren’t convinced; but, like Buchanan, “it’s all (sic.) you’ve got.”

I am honored to be amongst such solid company.

They can review this list at lunch time
http://www.bi30.org/wordpress/flipflopper.htm

I absolutely Love Obama and these summits he throws together.  VERY competent people of every walk.  He is going to make America great again!

and some other thoughts already today:

“Pat in Boston-I didn’t know you were such an elitist.
I have a MBA it doesn’t mean I am any better then my fellow man, but hey what do i expect from the bunch of Limo Liberals running with Berry fever these days.”  Biased (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 10:05 AM)
Okay, Biased, let's be honest - you've never really been to college, now have you?  I can tell because your sentence structure isn't even high school graduate material.
It is not elitist to celebrate academic achievement.  You neo-cons will scream and yell that America is the land of opportunity and everyone has an equal shot at making it.  And then, when someone does actually work within the confines of the system and has a break out success, you call them elitist.  The irony of your ignorance is not lost on me.  And here’s some more irony, James Dobson (Focus on Family) did an interview this weekend wherein he refused to endorse McCain until he picks his vice president.  However, he did state that he believed he shared MORE values with McCain.  This is the point where he lost me because, while my knowledge is limited, how does an organization who’s Name is Focus on Family support the candidate that left his first family for a millionaire?  And the candidate who is in a solid First marriage based on mutual respect and love of G-d, fail to blip on his radar?  There is no evidence as Dobson stated that abortions would go UP under an Obama presidency; however there is evidence to prove that they have not gone DOWN under the Bush Administration.  So how does Dobson reconcile such a complete fabrication of his belief system?  G-d talks to him, I guess.

greg, pinecrest fl (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 10:16 AM) not sure where to start; but those of you who continue to beat the ‘experience’ drum really are missing the boat.  Judgment is far more important in leadership than experience.  If you apply sound judgment, you have your bases covered.  Plus 40 years of experience using Jiffy Pop doesn’t mean microwavable popcorn isn’t revolutionary (and better).
Susan Roman Sanford,Fl. (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 10:02 AM) Do you read much?  I know you found your way to the internets, ‘cuz you managed to post your opinion; but have you gone to say www.factcheck.org OR www.snopes.com and actually read something about either candidate?  I highly recommend it.  While I get that you have an opinion, you look like an a** when you spew hate and lies.  Apparently the only thing you read are the spam e-mails.  Oh, you better go – I see Bill Gates is trying to send you some money for a Beta test.  Good luck with that.

MSNBC:  Note, as pointed out on culturethreads.com that if Hillary is speaking on the Tuesday of the convention, then it means she is NOT the VP pick.

What do any of them know?

McCain was right about the surge, dammit!

Looks like Obama is now firmly focused on "Issue #1"...The attendee list looks like he is asking for input from both sides of the issues in question...

Imagine that, a Presidential Candidate seeking bi-partisian consensus!!

Will all 300 of Obama's economic advisers also be in attendance?

A meeting of the minds to get this economy back on track...wonder who McCritic met with besides Rove and Bush?  

McCain will have his own economic advisory meeting today...he's going to sit down with Phil Gramm who'll just yell "deregulate" over and over again and tell McCain that Americans are a bunch of whiners.

let us hope that they can come up with a sensible practible way forward economicaly since bush/cheney/rove/mccant has produced biggest deficiet ever.

Quite an impressive list; let's hope they can come up with a economic plan that will help the country and blow McCain even farther down in the polls! I'm glad Senator Obama went right from his successful overseas trip into the USA economy. People are hurting and whoever comes up with the best idea to help them will win this coming November.

"Does he really think we are stupid or blind? You tell me!
Andrea, New York City (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 1:14 PM)"

I'm afraid that the answer is yes, he does.

McCain's commercials, including this latest one, is in heavy rotation in our local media market.  I think that casual observer, or the LIV's, will believe this gunk.  That's who they are appealing to.  They figure they've lost the people who follow politics and can do their own research of the facts, so it's to manipulate those who don't read FirstRead, HuffPo, etc. and just believe what they see in 30-sec blurbs.  

I have seen a few Obama ads, but it seems like the McCain ads get twice as much airplay.  This is also a heavily conservative area.  On the plus side, though, Obama's campaign has just opened like 4 or 5 local campaign offices in Western Michigan, so hopefully those volunteers will offset the misinformation playing on the airwaves.

____________________________________________________________

You know just to top things off for the Idiot from Illinois.
Frank from Illinois (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 1:30 PM)

Really?  You were on MTP, Frank?  LOL.

____________________________________________________________

BTW - did anyone else watch ABC News last night?  They interviewed McCain (I don't remember which reporter) and he said that he would RAISE TAXES to fund the war.

Hasn't he been slamming Obama for wanting to RAISE TAXES?  

Is there a position that McCain doesn't waffle on?

Is this the list that McCain thinks is Obama's economic staff of 300 or so????

Obama's campaign strategy on foreign policy - his recent trip - and now this impressive economic meeting is brilliant.

Wow the best and brightest!!!  That is what true leader does!  These guys are successful because they know the economy!

Imagine that! Instead of chasing down McCain with negative comments and payback, Barack is getting together an economic conference to get good ideas about our fixing our broken economy.

I have more respect for Obama everyday.

This is an impressive line up - here's hoping that they are able to come up with something that will actually bring some economic relief - things are getting tight out here in the "real world"! :)

P.S. Why no mention of the study showing that over 70% of the coverage Senator Obama gets is negative?

Why no mention of John McCain's appearance with George Stephanopolous where he didn't rule out raising taxes to save Social Security - you know the program he called a disgrace that he gets money from monthly?

Why did Morning Joe give the CBS softball team more coverage for canceling their softball game than they gave the story of CBS editing John McCain's answers to give the false impression that he knows what he is talking about?

Why no mention of the fact that the Pentagon created controversy about Senator Obama visiting the troops in Germany had absolutely nothing to do with cameras being present, since there was never any intent to bring cameras in the first place?

Things that make you go hmmmmmmmmm.

McCain will be holding an economic summit at Winn Dixie.  The main focus will be how to ignore the annoyed stares from the people behind you in line as you present all your 10 cent off coupons.

Thankyou First Read for this exciting list. The Obama campaign is a well oiled machine. Off the plane form Europe, they've hit the ground humming right along.

*****************************************

However, we are being told to make bricks without straw by McCain, and his toadies.

For your consideration:

After Moses’ stick swallowed the snakes conjured by the magicians of Egypt, Pharaoh in his rage commanded The Children of Israel to make bricks without straw; (a seemingly impossible task). As the most striking portrait of power, and arrogance in the narrative of The Bible, the lesson here is the king was not very bright. Given the astonishing sign that Moses, and his brother Aaron had demonstrated, Pharaoh should have realized that if they could produce one miracle, surely they could produce others.  Though the fear mongering edict was meant to punish the people, and crush the mission of freedom, it failed.

The vast majority of the American people want to be delivered from the past 7 ½ , and G-D forbid, 4 more years of Bush’s failed policies, and malfeasance.  We have been blessed with a candidate sent to help us. Senator Obama’s overseas trip last week swallowed up the inane images of the McCain trips abroad, and those at home. (Remember, Moses’ serpent ate a brace of the magician’s). In the aftermath, Barack, and his supporters are being told to make bricks, (voter confidence), without straw,(factual reporting devoid of spin, slight of hand, and misdirection ). Senator McCain, ‘Joe’, Brokaw, Buchanan, and the neo cons et al, would have us glean the stubble of the fields by night, barred from their well lit forums. So be it.   G-D Willing, our word of mouth enthusiasm as we battle on the ground, the blogs, and with our prayers will see us through.

The plagues are already upon the McCain camp. The hurricane, the oil spill, (water turned to blood), and the locust like gaffes chomping away at his image for three weeks in a row; ‘psychological relief‘, ‘mental recession‘, ‘nation of whiners’, ‘Czechoslovakia’, ‘Iraq/Afghan border’, ‘surge facts served scrambled with cheese‘,  Maliki, Bush, and soldiers killed in Afghanistan  forced McCain to flip on his 100 years in Iraq to having to align his talking points with Obama’s on both fronts.

Make bricks without straw? The Children of Israel managed, and so have we. Obama is up 9 points in the polls.

For those of you who will decry my Biblical analogy as scary, wrong headed, or inappropriate, my response is this; abandon your kindergarten approach to the Scriptures. The lessons there are much more than stories relating to a time long, long ago. They have been given to us for guidance, and encouragement for all time.

Wow. Just wow.  
That looks like an economic Dream Team!
The adults are finally going to take charge.
W, hand over the remote!

WOW WHAT A SURPRISE
you mean someone who isn’t happy with President Bush is going to be there???
Get out...You don’t say....
OK is the sarcasm coming through?

Gee, I haven't heard of McCain having ANY summits on ANYTHING.  Obama has had quite a few - on many topics.  He'll be ready to hit the ground running on Day One.

Consultation, bi-partisan consensus, and action.
The smell of competency.
I could cry with relief.
One can assume their will be no talk of whining Americans and imaginary recessions.

economic people that cover the gambit of different perspectives.

While McCain has.... Phil Gramm.

"Why would he travel across the globe just to blow it near the end of a supremely successful trip? The decison not to go was most risky for his political career."       Donna(sent Sunday, July 27,2008 4:09PM)
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Donna, I respectfully disagree with you on this. This as we all know was a case of 'you be damned if you do, you be damned, if you don't'.  Obama made a decision and nothing can take away the fact that he had an excellent trip. The haters will always be with us, he'll never do it right in their sight! Nobody could have done it better!


margaret,baltimore,md. (Sent Sunday, July 27, 2008 4:56 PM)

**********

Margaret,

Thank you for your comment. I am sorry I did not make myself clear. What I was trying to articulate was that Obama took the riskier path, because it was the most moral, in seeking to protect the troops. I thought he showed great decency in his willingness to take it on the chin in order to protect the troops.

He proved again he is the real deal. We can trust him.
My post was one of support for Senator Obama's decision, not a criticizm.

I'm with you Margaret.

That is definitely an all star lineup! I don't see any one of them calling Americans "Whiners"

Wow, what a brain trust!  This is great for the Democrats to combat the idiocy of Phil Gramms 'trickle down', 'deregulate everything' philosophy.  Yes we can.  

Obama 08

What we are watching is Obama's style or approach to management.  Bring experts together, find concensus, develop a plan, present your plan to the American people.  Bush and McCain are totally clueless about how to run a country.  The McCain attack that Obama is not American enough will simply not work.  What will be facinating to watch is the Obama strategy to help the rust belt states of Penn, Mich, Ohio.  

Those are some great folks; I really like seeing him talking to people who want to be fiscally responsible and look at the long view.

I would love to know just how much the various folks in that group generally agree on economic policy...

I'm glad Obama's pivoting to the economy.  It should be all-economy-all-the-time now.  

A braintrust is great, but it's also time for him to learn to speak about the economy in a way that connects with voters.

Luckily, he's going up against the world's most incompetent candidate, one even GOP strategists call pathetic:

http://strategy08.wordpress.com/2008/07/28/gop-strategists-call-mccains-campaign-pathetic/

Obama is having a meeting with a bi-lateral committe of "talking heads" about the economy. Where is McCain? Making another "surge" commerical in front of the cheese aisle.

Wow, that's an impressive group of people.  Major props to Barack and his campaign. What is McBush doing today???


Obama '08

Nice.  I think this will begin the nonstop dialogue about how to return this country to some sense of normalcy in regards to economic policy and strength.  

All I see and hear from McSurge are "Obama hasn't done this" and "Obama hasn't done that."  Lately, its "Obama wants to sacrifice the war for political victory" and "Obama doesn't care for the troops."  

McSurge, stop talking about Obama.....tell us....in great detail.....how you plan to rescue our nation.  If you want to talk about surges, tell us your plan for a surge for the American people.

Can this guy do anything without 100 advisors?  

I am impressed with the initiative because we need help with this economy be you repubican, democrat, or independent. Here is hoping they can help.

Straight Talk On The Economy?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVVIw7oZEyk&eurl

Oil Industry Floods McCain With Cash After Offshore Drilling Reversal
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/26/AR2008072601891.html?nav=rss_politics

Obama vs McCain on Taxes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNyNv_UfFUo

Obama Will Raise Your Taxes: Anti-Meme Ammunition
http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/14/3111/53739

Well, thank you Clara....

Even though you misguided liberal fools will be paying heavily in taxes and higher gas prices and higher food prices and higher medical costs under a democratic controlled White House and Congress, I have to admit, I have never seen more people who are willing to sacrifice their lives and their children to make liberalism work.  I know for a fact this coountry will sink into total disrepair (as well as another major terrorists attack) under an Obama administration, but it is good that we have these debates here in First Read, no matter how wrong and misguided you liberals seem to be.

This will ot get posted, but here goes

What do any of them know?

McCain was right about the surge, dammit!
Johnny-gon-crazy for president

Thank GOD for the Surge
we all owe our lives to the surge
The surge will lower gas prices
The surge will save the economy
The surge will cure cancer
The surge will lower infant mortality
The surge will make my hair stop receding
The surge will replace Viagra
The surge will bring peace to DARFUR
The surge will allow the first manned mission to mars
The surge was the turning point in the revolutionary war
The surge preceded D-DAY
The surge will bring back Jesus
The surge is omnipotent

Give me a break

Clara, thanks! I did the same Saturday afternoon to you and everyone else, but I was too late.

Keep on fighting.

This is our moment. This is our time.

McCain/Rove or
Obama/TBD

Apart from Reich, who is an academic, how many of this list is against free trade or NAFTA?  I don't see many.

Or will they just confirm what Obama already believes?

Seems like a good time to mention that GWB has an MBA from Phoenix U, or Wytech, or one of those big-name schools.

"Can this guy do anything without 100 advisors?"

Damn straight! I like a president that makes decisions on his own - whether he has any notion of what's going on, or not. (Taking orders from a few well-placed underlings or "uber-citizens" is also acceptable.)

does anyone else get the feeling that Obama is going to just ignore McCoo-Coo from here on out?  It seems like Obama knows that the line of attacks are so unbelievable, that he won't even acknowledge the old bat

I know many republicans and not just a few here in Oklahoma have expressed a liking for Obama.  They can never quite put a finger on exactly why and that's when I say it's because he's meant for the presidency...he's aroused something in the country beyond the regular political mentality.  John McCain and the republican party seem to blind to what people are hungering for.  As a one time republican I think it's sad that they're so out of touch with the 21st century.

Meanwhile, McCain is holding a meeting with Karl Rove, Mark Penn, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Ari Fleischer, Bob Novak, Steve Doocy, the ghost of Spiro Agnew and all the Swift Boaters to formulate his "economic message."

WOW!  I finally feel hope for this country.  Obama has put togather, regardless of ideaoogy, a group of people who actully can make a difference.  THAT'S THE SIGN OF GREAT LEADERSHIP.

"Apparently the only thing you read are the spam e-mails.  Oh, you better go – I see Bill Gates is trying to send you some money for a Beta test.  Good luck with that. "

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
lol Clara! I admit, it took me a minute to catch on, but once I did - I literally laughed out loud! YOU ROCK! :)

P.S. The rest of the post was SPOT ON too - count yourself among the cream of the crop on this blog!

McCain is an embarrassment to the entire country. I can't believe that this is the best that the GOP could produce. It's quite sad! He sounded so childish on Late Edition yesterday, how many times can he say "Senator Obama doesn't understand" maybe he's seriously losing his memory and can't remember minute to minute what he says. I know it's hard for him to do interviews alone without his mouthpieces but this was just pathetic!

Obama needs to get on the ball with his TV ads to counter McCain's Rove-type ads of negativity and lies...Kerry waited too long to respond, and that's one reason he lost the election in 2004.  Obama should learn from this, and get his ads out there in greater number, frequency, and yes, tell people the way it is with McCain - a failed soilder who graduated in teh bottom of his class with no real military experience except getting shot down out of the sky...that he's a hot head and war monger...that's he's marrying himself to the religious right...that he doesn't know his Shiite from his Sunni...and that he's just too old to be president.

Brilliant team of advisors...

Brilliant Presidential candidate

This is a team that will win the hearts and minds of the public and get the job done.

Go Obama 2008

Pass the Arugula (Sent Monday, July 28, 2008 11:19 AM)

I'd be more afraid of someone as dumb as McCain who was trying to be an expert on anything.  McCain is too stupid to know exactly how much he really doesn't know.

Obama is smart enough to know when to call in expert opinions.  

A leader is a listener first.  

Obama 08

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