Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Sierra, SF — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:44:54 GMT

Time for Hillary to have Barbara Streisand do some duets with Wayne Newton ........

Is Sal Mineo still around ??

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

jerry/corpus christi texas — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:45:03 GMT

and as if Hillary doesn't have enough problems, now she has to deal with the big O.....

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Roberto, Wash DC — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:53:13 GMT

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2007/12/why-is-hrc-stooping-so-low.html

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Chuck,San D. — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:58:05 GMT

Sierra, why not flash those republican creditials ... more quotes from peg noonan, the reagan skunk.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Sierra, SF — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:01:44 GMT

From the LA Times:

Hsu associates touted his connections

Documents show how the fundraiser's network pitched the deals that allegedly turned his Clinton ties into gold.
By Robin Fields and Chuck Neubauer, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
December 3, 2007
Democratic fundraiser Norman Hsu reveled in his role as friend to Bill and Hillary Clinton.

As Hsu raised more than $800,000 for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's presidential campaign, the couple praised him at star-studded events and showered him with thank-you notes. Hsu often wore a bomber jacket that bore the presidential seal, a gift from the former president, he told associates.

But Hsu's turn in the political limelight was about more than ego gratification.

Documents obtained by the Los Angeles Times show how Hsu's business associates traded on his connections -- going so far as to claim that former President Clinton was a Hsu client -- to lure investors into a scheme that took in tens of millions of dollars nationwide.

A marketing brochure distributed by an Orange County firm to attract investors to Hsu's business claimed the 56-year-old Hong Kong native's "extensive political investment community includes former President Bill Clinton, who continues to invest to this day."

Howard Wolfson, a Clinton spokesman, denied that the former president had invested with Hsu. And Sen. Clinton's financial disclosure statements show no investments or income from Hsu for her or her husband.

Still, as a marketing tactic, the claim may have worked all too well: A Southern California couple recently filed a lawsuit saying they lost more than $3 million in a Hsu-run Ponzi scheme -- based in part on the brochure's promises.

In September, federal prosecutors charged Hsu, saying he defrauded investors out of $60 million and violated federal election laws for reimbursing political donors for contributions made in their names.

Investigators and investors have alleged that Hsu used his status as an elite Democratic Party fundraiser to give the appearance of legitimacy to his investment scheme, which promised big profits from short-term bridge loans.

"Hsu's political campaign fundraising activities were part of an effort to raise his profile and induce more people to invest in the Ponzi scheme," FBI Special Agent David A. Cardona said when Hsu was charged.

Hsu invited business associates to fundraisers, where they rubbed shoulders with celebrities and Democratic Party luminaries. Their word of mouth helped establish Hsu's bona fides with potential investors.

But the brochure and the lawsuit filed in October by Gregory and Joyce Adams lay out for the first time how Hsu's network pitched the deals that allegedly turned his Clinton ties into gold.

The lawsuit -- filed against Adams' investment advisor, Paul H. Heckler, and his firm, Yosemite Capital Management -- describes how Gregory Adams was approached by an acquaintance and given the brochure in December 2006.

The homemade booklet for Ashton & Associates, which pictured a bridge on its cover, emphasized Hsu's political resume. It included a partial list of his campaign contributions to Hillary Clinton and an array of congressional candidates.

The brochure's other claims carried equal weight with Adams, according to his lawyer, Jeffrey Tidus.

It said that the principals of Ashton & Associates and Ashton Investments, another firm handling the bridge-loan deals, had a relationship with Hsu that dated to college. And it guaranteed annual returns of up to 28%, stating that "through the past 17 years, not a single Ashton investment has failed to achieve its stated return."

A spokesman for Hsu declined to comment on whether Hsu knew of the brochure or approved its claims.

To Adams, whose wealth derived from the sale of his family's outdoor advertising company, the Ashton pitch satisfied his goal of having a high-yield, low-risk portfolio.

"He believed them when they said it was safe," Tidus said.

Before investing, Adams said, he met with Ashton & Associates President Mark Cheshire and Ashton Investments President Kevin Cornish at Ruby's Cafe in Tustin. He brought along Heckler.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Dante — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:02:35 GMT

http://robertreich.blogspot.com/2007/12/why-is-hrc-stooping-so-low.html

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Bee — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:06:49 GMT

Folks, Hillary is in big trouble. The "O" effect is a big factor and Hillary doesn't know how to deal with it.

The Clinton's machine is in a huge swing to publish their bogus opposition research regarding their biggest opponent. I won't be surprise if Washington Post help them publish their political hit job.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

jerry/corpus christi texas — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:09:57 GMT

Time for Hillary to have Barbara Streisand do some duets with Wayne Newton.....

Wayne's got health issues....
better get a replacement.........

There is always that guy who sang the theme to "The Love Boat".

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:11:14 GMT

Can someone please tell me what qualifies Barrack Obama to be President?
Hey jerry.....how 'bout that "Rappin' Rudy 'G,' The Gigolo Who Lived off The N.Y.P.D.?"
(Guffaw, cackle, laugh, snicker, giggle, tsk)
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Eliot, Hollywood CA — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:12:30 GMT

If even one person votes for any candidate because some celebrity told them to do so....then this country is in worse shape than anything GWB has managed to do in his eight years in office. I support my candidate, Hillary Clinton, because I did my homework and believe her to be the best choice. It is one thing to use your celebrity to help the poor or raise awareness of problems in third world countries....but the right to vote is a just that a right given to us...and if people forfeit that in the name of Oprah or anyone else...then that is a very sad commentary.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

vanreuter, NY NY — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:20:04 GMT

A look at the dozens of posts from the two least read and least credible posters on this site makes me wonder who's campaign is supposed to be desperate?

Oprah will be interesting to watch. Celebs tend to have their own agenda, and celebs as big as Oprah are wont to go off script, to the horror of the campaign that uses them. While I don't really think that Oprah will have any effect at all in persuading voters, she will have dozens of reporters following her everywhere, with her every word and move analyzed on the trail, leaving her open to say or do something that distracts from the Obama campaign. That's what celebs usually are in a campaign, a distraction. Everyone loves when the circus comes to town...

Van

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Don, TX — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:21:26 GMT

If there is one candidate, other than Chuck Norris, who can prove to bypass the "who cares what a celebrity thinks" aura surrounded some endorsements, it is Oprah.

A fine lady with the trust of millions and millions of Americans for her judgment and thoughts endorsed a candidate for the first time ever because of the magnitude of what's really at stake. This isn't just a Clinton-romp fest of inevitability, but a potential time to FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE America for the better.

Obama has answers, if you can see past Hillary's lies.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Nashville_fan — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:22:46 GMT

*Patiently waiting for the Clinton campaign to attempt to discredit Robert Reich*

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

PollM, Dallas TX — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:30:10 GMT

Star Celebrities, effective Presidential campaigners or not?

http://www.youpolls.com/details.asp?pid=1175

.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

MK,MO — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:35:06 GMT

is ophra a positive?

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Lyn, MD — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:40:31 GMT

Van...Oprah embarass Obama by going off script with her own agenda...like Bill.

You Hope....keep dreaming.

BTW Hillary wishes she had her on or off script

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Monica L, D.C. — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:42:18 GMT

Oprah is going to smack down Hillary so hard; it's going to be the color purple all over again.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

James G., Oak Park, MI — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:42:22 GMT

JMS -

According to the Constitution, the only requirements to be President are to be a native born citizen and 35 years old. Everything else is gravy! No experience required....Makes sense since none can be acquired prior to actually having the job.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Sierra, SF — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 21:54:54 GMT

Chuck,San D.: '...Sierra, why not flash those republican creditials ... more quotes from peg noonan, the reagan skunk....'

Sorry, Chuck....
I'm a leftie...
A leftie who doesn't like the DLC or 'corporate friendly' 'Democrats'....
Bill, Hillary, Al Gore and Joe Lieberman are all DLC skunks !!
They sold us out wtih NAFTA and WTO and the Millenium Communications Act (see media monopoly).
Let's take back the Democratic Party !!
Edwards or Obama would do just nicely
Who needs Washington insiders....

PS Chuck, Hillary's campaign startegist is Mark Penn
Penn is a 'union buster' and the inventor of 'astro turf' or phoney grass roots
Mark Penn is a Karl Rove wannabe !!

Let's get some REAL DEMOCRATS, this time
Remember Bobby Kennedy ? How about Ted Kennedy ?
Paul Wellstone ? Tom Harkin ? Fred Harris ?

Don't be a Clinton Cry baby !!
There is a REAL Democratic Party....
It has nothing to do with the Clintons

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Sierra, SF — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:03:30 GMT

J. Merle Stanley, Westchester, NY: '...Can someone please tell me what qualifies Barrack Obama to be President?...'

Merle, you sound calm and rational !!
Congratulations ......

As to your question......
Obama opposed the Iraq War FROM THE BEGINNING !!
Unlike Bill Clinton, Obama publicly spoke out against the Iraq War !!

Obam also OPPOSES WAR with IRAN !!
Unlike you-know-who.....

Welcome back, Merle
Don;t make those men with the nets come get you, again, Merle

Hillary Clinton, cold, calculating, dishonest, unethical

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

jerry/corpus christi texas — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:03:55 GMT

How about Ted Kennedy ?

If he hadn't murdered a woman.....
drank like a 39 chevy swallowing gasoline......
had a family that would make the Clinton's look republican....

Might have had a chance......

But if you can't beat Jimmy Carter.....
then the jig is up...

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Sierra, SF — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:14:09 GMT

jerry/corpus christi texas: :'...Wayne's got health issues....
better get a replacement.........

There is always that guy who sang the theme to "The Love Boat"....'

jerry, a few weeks ago, 'The Soup' had Wayne on 'Dancing with the Stars'....
He was doing this thing with his hands....

How about 'Tatto' from the Love Boat ??

van: '....the two least read and least credible posters on this site....'

Who could match your gravitas, van ??

I don't post: 'We love you van' or 'van is the most intelligent poster on this site' or 'keep postiung van' like you do, van
I don't try to impersonate my own fan club......
Whatever turns you on,m van

Hillary Clinton, 125 years of dishonesty, scandals and divisiveness

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

vanreuter, NY NY — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:14:41 GMT

Some people can't help embarrassing themselves with their endless stream of nastiness. Some people wouldn't have anything at all to say if they couldn't attack someone else's comments. This place would be better off without them, whichever candidate they support.

Van

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

George, Laconia, NH — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 22:55:43 GMT

Oprah's endorsement as a celebrity is meaningless. Her endoresement as a humanitarian, leader, empowered minority person, and voice of reason is unparallelled.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Eas I. Leyled — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:49:23 GMT

I'm going to vote for whom ever Sean Penn tells me to vote for!

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Chuck,San D. — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 23:49:57 GMT

Obama VOTED FOR every warfunding bill he ever saw.

he's as anti war as Karl Rove

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Elizabeth Sullivan, San Diego, CA — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:07:05 GMT

OBAMA IS NOT JESUS.
OPRAH IS NOT THE VIRGIN MARY.
They are human beings. Relax.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

truth13 — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 00:54:26 GMT

you elect a presidential candidate such as Barack Obama based upon an endorsement by someone who endorsed scams which bilked large amounts of money from the public? How about an endorsement from someone who endorses people who champion violent terrorists, mass murderers and slave owners? Maybe not, but what if the endorser is very well known and has her own television show? OK, well, I can't be talking about Oprah Winfrey, Right?... but I am. I am speaking of the Oprah Winfrey Cult. Before you go to the next comment thinking that I am exaggerating or making reckless and baseless comments, take the deepest breath of your life and read on just a little bit more to see the justification.

In the beginning of 2007, Oprah Winfrey had a number of shows dedicated to a scam known as "The Secret". On Oprah's show and other shows hosting by others, this "The Secret” promoted pyramid schemes and made either misleading or outright false claims about their product. This is the same crowd who blamed the workers at the Twin Towers for their own deaths because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time because of their "bad thoughts”. The proof of these false "Secret" claims were made on countless websites, and respected magazines such as Newsweek and Nightline. Oprah not only endorsed this snake oil known infamously as; “The Secret" but she championed it and placed herself at the top of the pyramid of lies and deceit. "The Secret" used Oprah's shows as shameless infomercials and propaganda, and Oprah pandered endlessly to them. "The Secret" also praised a slave owner numerous times. While it may seem out of character for Oprah to allow uncontested praise of slave owners by the guests on her show, keep in mind that these slaves were white and not black--which may have made the difference for Oprah. Oprah is quick to use the race card such as when she was in Paris and demanded that a fancy store stay open just for her and when it didn’t recognize her as the head of the Oprah Cult—cried racism against her. Not that I am suggesting that Oprah is a racist, but put this together with the fact Oprah only will support a black candidate (Barack Obama) without due consideration of other candidates. Moreover, Oprah supports Obama despite the fact that Obama shares a stage with a well known bigot. So it makes one wonder about whether Oprah is a racist in her support of Obama. Or perhaps Oprah is a very poor judge of character as witnessed by her championing of; “The Secret" which is now the subject of world wide criminal fraud investigations and lawsuits. Consider another choice of guest endorsed by Oprah. The fake doctor, who performed surgery on Kanye West's mother and then later died, was booked on Oprah and endorsed. Consider also Oprah’s choice of child abusing employees for her school. In either case, Oprah's endorsement of Obama has no meaning beyond a tv personality cynically trying to whip up some more interest in her tv show ratings, while pretending to show interest in humanity.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Bob Johnson City, TN — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:39:14 GMT

I agree with Eas I. Leyled's approach to this election. I'm not going to make a stupid mistake. I'll wait until I have heard what Rosie, Cloony, Harry Belefonte and Al Frankin tell me what I ought to do.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Nashville_fan — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 02:51:15 GMT

truth 13 . . . wow - now OPRAH is bad too? Who is next, Elmo? lol

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Jack, Greenville, SC — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 04:23:35 GMT

I think that she will have a positive effect in that it seems that when people get a chance to hear Obama speak in person, they tend to come away with a positive impression. She draws a crowd. She's Oprah.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

glissade preda — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:09:59 GMT

Why is it that white people can support white candidates for hundreds of years but when a black person supports a black person it is racist?

What kind of bigotted flawed reasoning is that?

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

Pole Porter — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:41:16 GMT

Latest poll. Oprah is winning in Iowa. Closely followed by Babs.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

RuthieM — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:59:06 GMT

We must all realize Oprah is a person. She's a famous person. She's a famous person who's become passionate about this election. She's a famous person who's become passionate about this election SOLELY because of Barack Obama. So what Oprah will be doing will be REAL. Yes, this famous person who has now become passionate about this election, about changing her America, about putting the best candidate in the white house, is on the move for him. And just like all Obama's other endorsers, backers, supporters, IT IS GREAT and it can only help him get there! If more black people stopped being afraid to back black people and opened their eyes, removed their mental shackles, they too would support Barack. Thanks Oprah! Obama '08!!

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

marina — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:31:30 GMT

if we vote for obama and oprah, for sure no one has to marry anymore. just live together, be happy and pretend to care for somebody else kids not your own, because giving birth is just too hard...lets make our own whitehouse and share our favorite things to our favorite country like africa. good right?

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

ExpatStudent3, Tokyo, Japan — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 18:40:11 GMT

wow, you guys are lame to get so worked up over Oprah. almost makes me want to join the rest of the ppl at my and stop voting again. (that is sarcasm,btw) I was hoping for some Chuck Norris joeks actually.

Did you know that Chuck Norris' tears can cure cancer? Too bad he's never cried.

Building on the 'Oprah Effect'

BADE MO — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 20:07:28 GMT

Saying of the wise man "A tree deos not make a forest" Oprah can only do the little for her candidate of choice. Why is it a treat to all of you negative people, I believe you're all scare your favourite candidate is going to lose if she support Obama.

Everybody should understand that whoever destine to wear a crown will surely wear a crown. No single person support cannot make it possbily if it has not been destine for the such candidate.
Please confirmed it for me now who is going to be president out of those 16 candidate, that is where God Almighty is most supreme than us. If you have phychological feeling that your candidate is going to lose against Obama and Oprah that doen't promt you to write negative assumption about Oprah, sheis human being and she not perfect.