BS: Popular Views on Obama

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: beardedbruce
Date: 05 May 08 - 02:51 PM

"Furthermore, to use so trivial an issue as an important campaign point is to intentionally and deliberately degrade the cognnitive quality of the electoral process and to substitute mudslinging histrionics for the democratic process. Why anyone would want to do so great a disservice to the American democracy escapes me, but it does not reflect well on their understanding of the Jeffersonian ideals of an informed electorate, nor, actually, of their patriotic intelligence.
"



Yes, I remember some of your comments at the last election, about Bush....

You know, if you establish that it is ok for ONE side to use such tactics, how can you complain when they are then used AGAINST that side?

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 05 May 08 - 04:04 PM

Go shake your big finger somewhere else, Bruce. Every charge I levied against Bush was substantiated by his egregious record of incompetence and political philandry. If you cannot see the difference between these two things, then no amount of rationalization will help.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: beardedbruce
Date: 05 May 08 - 04:08 PM

And every charge against Obama you have blown away without even looking at what the point is.

You have established that it does NOT take evidence, nor anything other than dislike in order to charge someone with crimes and treason.

So be it. Obama will have the same level of fairness that you chose to give the Bush administration.

I hope you enjoy it.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 05 May 08 - 04:42 PM

Bruce:

I am not aware of having blown off any substantive issues "against" Obama (although I don't like the zero-sum game of battle this phrase evokes). If I have ignored some points you thought were important, remind me what they were. The major issues raised against him have been spurious: Wright, lapen pins, madrassas, Muslimism, saying folks are bitter. Where is the beef I have overlooked? What is it about this man that you think makes him a lesser candidfate than John McCain, seriously?


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Bobert
Date: 05 May 08 - 05:00 PM

There are policy issues and there are personal issues... Bush has had some very screwed up policies and for the most part that is what Amos, as well as myself and others, have pointed out...

But what we have gotten back is not defenses of these policies buit twisted personal attacks when we haven't bought into the latest spin to sanitize Bush's failures...

This is the crux of the problems we have here between individuals... We start out talkin' policy, llogical twisted spin is thrwon back at us. we don't buy it and then the Bush folks, rather than accept the possibility that perhaps Bush has made a mistake, make it personal with screamuing and accusations....

That's the way all these end up because the Bush folks are not anle to admit even one single mistake their fearless leader has made...

You can't argue with "true believers"...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 05 May 08 - 07:52 PM

"For the last 2 weeks the Republican Party and a GOP front group, FreedomÕs Watch, has been pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into deceptive TV smears linking conservative Democrat Don Cazayoux to Rev. Wright via Obama. But last night Louisiana voters just scratched their heads and voted against the Bush Regime/McCain agenda. This is a district (LA-06)Ð centered on Baton RougeÐ that has a PVI of R +10 and gave Bush 59% of the vote in 2006. Cazayoux took 49,702 votes (49.20%) to extreme right-wing Republican Woody JenkinsÕ 46,741 votes (46.27%). This ups the Democratic margin in the House 235-198. You think the congressional Republicans are nervous? Keep this in mindÐ when Alf Landon only got 36.6% of the vote in 1936 so many Republican members of Congress were defeated that only 17 senators were left standing!"

From a blog

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 06 May 08 - 12:29 AM

A pointless but well put endorsement

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 06 May 08 - 01:55 PM

We are the Ones.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 07 May 08 - 09:57 AM

Is it over now?

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 07 May 08 - 11:29 AM

"BARACK Obama has edged closer to history and is now the clear favourite to secure the Democratic Party's nod to contest the November election as the first African-American US presidential nominee.

Senator Obama yesterday strengthened his mathematical lock on his party's White House nomination, but Hillary Clinton made clear her intention to stay in the race.

Senator Obama scored a commanding victory in the North Carolina primary but split yesterday's electoral spoils with the former first lady after she won Indiana.

Senator Clinton held on for a dramatic razor-thin victory in the rust-belt state after the counting of votes was stalled in Lake County, which borders Senator Obama's home state of Illinois.

Speaking in Raleigh, North Carolina, Senator Obama rallied Democrats and vowed the party would not be divided at the November general election by their protracted and bruising nominating battle.

His campaign is now expected to urge uncommitted party leaders to back his candidacy. "

AUstralia's Herald Sun

'

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 07 May 08 - 01:05 PM

As a presidential candidate, Clinton wasn't always elegant, but she was often impressive. She cast an uncompromising spotlight on her rival's weaknesses. Time may very well show that she was right in many respects.

But the majority of Democratic voters didn't flock to her on Tuesday. Her combative nature impressed many, but it scared away at least as many others.

With her defeat in North Carolina and a narrow lead in Indiana, the race is over for Clinton. Barring a miracle, Barack Obama will become the Democratic Party's nominee. His lead may be narrow, but it's a gap that can no longer be closed.

Hillary Clinton II has come a long way. Now it's time for her to return to her old self.

(Der Spiegel)

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 07 May 08 - 03:32 PM

Yes We Did

Dani in NC

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 07 May 08 - 03:34 PM

THANK YOU, NAWTH CAROLINA!!!!!



A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 07 May 08 - 04:25 PM

Veteran Democratic Party figure George McGovern dropped his support for Hillary Clinton on Wednesday and endorsed Barack Obama, saying the Illinois senator seemed certain to win the party's nomination ...

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Bobert
Date: 07 May 08 - 05:04 PM

Now they are sayin' that in the bsckroom the Clinton and Obama folks will soon be talkin' about a gracefull exit for Hillary but what I don't like hearing is that part of the deal may have the the Obama camp havin' to take on Hillary's debt!?!?!?!??........

Like ain't the Clinton's worth $100M??? Let ''um pay their own friggin' debt, gol danged it... I mean, this is a slap in the face to millions of folks who chiped in $25 to find that their $25 went to pay off the PR folks that have trashed Obama relentlessl for the last several months...

I donno what the heck is going on where that would be part of some deal... Sounds stinky...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Charley Noble
Date: 07 May 08 - 10:21 PM

Bobert-

I'll donate a dollar.

Let the one without sin cast a stone instead!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Little Hawk
Date: 07 May 08 - 10:58 PM

I'd donate a dollar to get Hillary to quit now. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 07 May 08 - 11:25 PM

"Political pressure on Mrs. Clinton to withdraw is growing. A widely known supporter of Mrs. Clinton, former Senator George McGovern of South Dakota, the 1972 Democratic nominee, announced on Wednesday that he had switched his endorsement to Mr. Obama and believed that Mrs. Clinton should drop out because it was mathematically impossible for her to win the nomination.

The Obama campaign also announced four new superdelegate endorsements, those of Jerry Meek, chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party; Jeanette Council, a member of the Democratic National Committee from North Carolina; Inola Henry, a member of the national committee from California; and Jennifer McClellan of the Virginia House of Delegates. Ms. McClellan also switched from Mrs. ClintonÕs camp."

NYT

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 07 May 08 - 11:29 PM

Very early Wednesday morning, after many voters had already gone to sleep, the conventional wisdom of the elite political pundit class that resides on television shifted hard, and possibly irretrievably, against Senator Hillary Clinton's continued viability as a presidential candidate.

The moment came shortly after midnight Eastern time, captured in a devastatingly declarative statement from Tim Russert of NBC News: "We now know who the Democratic nominee's going to be, and no one's going to dispute it," he said on MSNBC. "Those closest to her will give her a hard-headed analysis, and if they lay it all out, they'll say: 'What is the rationale? What do we say to the undeclared super delegates tomorrow? Why do we tell them you're staying in the race?' And tonight, there's no good answer for that."

It was not exactly Walter Cronkite declaring that the Vietnam War would end in stalemate. But the impact was apparent almost immediately, starting with The Drudge Report, the online news billboard that is the home page to many political reporters in Washington and news producers in New York. It had as its lead story a link to a YouTube clip of Russert's comments, accompanied by a photograph of a beaming Obama with his wife, Michelle, and the headline, "The Nominee." ...

International Herald Tribune

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 08 May 08 - 10:43 AM

May 08, 2008 6:45 AM

ABC News has learned that David Bonior, the campaign manager for the 2008 presidential race of Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, will endorse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, today.

Bonior, a former Michigan congressman, was once the second highest ranking Democrat in the House, and is influential with labor unions.

Tuesday night's results were said to be key to Bonior's decision -- specifically the fact that Obama's lead over Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, appears insurmountable.

Bonior is also said to like Obama's general positive tone, as well as Obama's message of change and stance against taking money from federal lobbyists.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 08 May 08 - 03:45 PM

Tuesday night must have been almost as much fun for John McCain as for Obama. The Republican brand has been badly smudged by recent foreign and domestic policies, which are the only kinds there are, so McCain's hopes rest on the still-unattached cohort called "Reagan Democrats," who still seem somewhat resistant to Obama.

McCain's problem might turn out to be the fact that Obama is the Democrats' Reagan. Obama's rhetorical cotton candy lacks Reagan's ideological nourishment, but he is Reaganesque in two important senses: People like listening to him, and his manner lulls his adversaries into underestimating his sheer toughness -- the tempered steel beneath the sleek suits.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 08 May 08 - 08:03 PM

I hate it when I agree with George Will.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 09 May 08 - 03:26 AM

I also agree with "The Economist".

IN CARTOONS there is often a moment when a hapless character, having galloped over a cliff, is still unaware of the fact and hangs suspended in the air, legs pumping wildly, until realisation dawns, gravity intervenes and downfall ensues. Hillary Clinton's campaign looks a bit like that this week.

full article

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: beardedbruce
Date: 09 May 08 - 07:19 AM

Washington Post:

Sticking Points for Obama
By Michael Gerson
Friday, May 9, 2008; Page A27

Barack Obama -- the charismatic, weakened, patronizing, soaring, prickly, historic, inevitable nominee of the Democratic Party -- is now left with two related problems.

First, Obama's own missteps, amplified by Hillary Clinton's negativity, have defined a narrative likely to follow him until Election Day.

In politics, a narrative -- the widely held, sometimes unfair shorthand that marks a candidate -- is difficult to shift. For Dan Quayle, it was fresh-faced intellectual vacuity. For John Kerry, it was a combination of hauteur and inconstancy.

The Obama narrative is intellectual and ideological (not social) elitism. Humble roots have never been a guarantee of intellectual humility, especially when a mind comes to flower at Columbia and Harvard. Obama's dismissal of small-town views and values as "bitterness," "fear" and "anger" -- his dismissal of the Rev. Jeremiah Wright as a relic of an angry generation -- comes across as, well, dismissive. His first instinct -- the academic instinct -- is to explain and analyze, which is impressive to political writers who share that particular vocation. But this approach always places the explainer in a position of superiority. The arrogance of the aristocrat is nothing compared to the arrogance of the academic.

The issue of the lapel flag pin is a good illustration. Obama's explanation for its absence -- that it had become a "substitute" for "true patriotism" in the aftermath of Sept. 11 -- is perfectly rational. For a professor at the University of Chicago. Members of the knowledge class generally find his stand against sartorial symbolism to be subtle, even courageous. Most Americans, I'm willing to bet, will find it incomprehensible after 20 additional explanations, which are bound to be required. A president is expected to be a patriotic symbol himself, not the arbiter of patriotic symbols. He is supposed to be the face-painted superfan at every home game; to wear red, white and blue boxers on special marital occasions; to get misty-eyed during the most obscure patriotic hymns.

The problem here is not that Obama is unpatriotic -- a foolish, unfair, destructive charge -- but that Obama has declared himself superior to an almost universal form of popular patriotism. And this sense of superiority, revealed in case after case, has political consequences, because the Obama narrative reinforces the Democratic narrative. It is now possible to imagine Obama at a cocktail party with Kerry, Al Gore and Michael Dukakis, sharing a laugh about gun-toting, Bible-thumping, flag-pin-wearing, small-town Americans.

And this has led, in part, to a second problem -- Obama's disconnect with white religious voters (African American religious voters are overwhelmingly supportive). He lost the white Protestant vote by 26 points in the Indiana primary and by 37 points in North Carolina. He lost the white Catholic vote by 26 points in Indiana and 17 points in North Carolina. Among Catholics in particular, this represents an improvement over Obama's dismal results in Pennsylvania and Ohio. But this religion gap remains a general election challenge.

It is also a striking reversal of fortunes. Obama is easily the most religiously fluent and informed Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter. But, over time, Obama has assumed a much more familiar Democratic electoral profile -- the candidate of the young, the educated and the secular (he has consistently won religiously nonaligned voters), who also gets nearly universal support from African Americans. He increasingly resembles Bill Bradley or Gary Hart -- a candidate of new liberalism -- with this additional element of black enthusiasm.

There are many possible reasons for the opening of a religion gap, in addition to Obama's off-putting aura of superiority. Bill Galston of the Brookings Institution suggests that Catholics may be more attracted to bread-and-butter issues than elevated calls for change; more likely to be political "regulars" instead of reformers; more apt to identify age with leadership. Both white Catholics and white Protestants seem to have been disturbed by the Rev. Wright's vigorous reassertion of black liberation theology -- not because it is black, but because it is radical. And at least some Americans are concerned by the unreconstructed liberalism -- on abortion and other issues -- beneath Obama's post-partisan approach.

Going forward, the main political question is this: Can John McCain turn this disaffection into Republican votes? Given his instinctual populism, policy moderation and moving life story, perhaps he is the only Republican who could. Given the distemper of the country, the public preference for Democrats on nearly every policy issue and the destruction of the Republican brand among the young, perhaps no Republican could.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: beardedbruce
Date: 09 May 08 - 07:22 AM

Also from the Post ( excerpt from longer article)

"Lower-income white Democrats may well defect to John McCain in the fall if Obama is the nominee, Clinton is arguing, whereas African Americans -- who have been choosing Obama by 9 to 1 -- are going to vote for the Democratic nominee no matter what. Thus, she claims, she can better knit the party back together.

Let's examine those premises. These are white Democrats we're talking about, voters who generally share the party's philosophy. So why would these Democrats refuse to vote for a nominee running on Democratic principles against a self-described conservative Republican? The answer, which Clinton implies but doesn't quite come out and say, is that Obama is black -- and that white people who are not wealthy are irredeemably racist.

The other notion -- that Clinton could position herself as some kind of Great White Hope and still expect African American voters to give her their enthusiastic support in the fall -- is just nuts. Obama has already won a majority of the Democratic primary contests; within a couple of weeks, he almost certainly will have won a majority of the pledged convention delegates and will be assured of finishing with more of the popular vote. Only in Camp Clinton does anyone believe that his supporters will be happy if party leaders tell him, in effect, "Nice job, kid, but we can't give you the nomination because, well, you're black. White people might not like that."

Clinton's sin isn't racism, it's arrogance. From the beginning, the Clinton campaign has refused to consider the possibility that Obama's success was more than a fad. This was supposed to be Clinton's year, and if Obama was winning primaries, there had to be some reason that had nothing to do with merit. It was because he was black, or because he had better slogans, or because he was a better public speaker, or because he was the media's darling. This new business about white voters is just the latest story the Clinton campaign is telling itself about the usurper named Obama. "

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: beardedbruce
Date: 09 May 08 - 07:25 AM

from another Post article...


"But going left proved disastrous for Clinton. It abolished all significant policy differences between her and Obama, the National Journal's 2007 most liberal senator. On health care, for example, her attempts to turn a minor difference in the definition of universality into a major assault on Obama fell flat. With no important policy differences separating them, the contest became one of character and personality. Matched against this elegant, intellectually nimble, hugely talented newcomer, she had no chance of winning that contest.

She tried everything. Her charges that he was a man of nothing but words came off as a petulant, envious attack on eloquence. The power to inspire may not be sufficient to qualify for the presidency, but it is hardly a liability.

She tried a silly plagiarism charge, then settled for the experience card. In a change election, this was not a brilliant strategy. It forced her to dwell on the 1990s, playing candidate of the past to Obama's candidate of the future. Her studied attempts to embellish her experience led her into a thicket of confabulated Bosnian sniper fire.

It wasn't until late in the fourth quarter that she found the seam in Obama's defense. In fact, Obama handed her the playbook with Jeremiah Wright, William Ayers, Michelle Obama's comments about never having been proud of America and Obama's own guns-and-God condescension toward small-town whites.

The line of attack is clear: not that Obama is himself radical or unpatriotic, just that, as a man of the academic left, he is so out of touch with everyday America that he could move so easily and untroubled in such extreme company and among such alien and elitist sentiments.

Clinton finally understood the way to run against Obama: back to the center -- not ideologically but culturally, not on policy but on attitude. She changed none of her positions on Iraq or Iran or health care or taxes. Instead, she transformed herself into working-class Sally-get-her-gun, off duck hunting with dad. "

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: beardedbruce
Date: 09 May 08 - 08:16 AM

CNN

Obama: World wants to see U.S. lead

Highlights
Obama says he thinks U.S. influence has been diminishing

Candidate downplays notion that he is already the Democratic nominee

Obama says it's too early to discuss potential running mates

Clinton camp says she's "fighting hard" to be nominee, not running mate

   
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Sen. Barack Obama said Thursday that the most important thing he could achieve as president would be to deal with Iraq and the threat of al Qaeda in Afghanistan while improving "our influence around the world."


In his first interview since the North Carolina and Indiana primaries, Obama said he thinks the United States' influence around the world has been diminishing.

"The world wants to see the United States lead. They've been disappointed and disillusioned over the last seven, eight years," he told CNN's Wolf Blitzer in an interview on "The Situation Room."

"I think there is still a sense everywhere I go that if the United States regains its sense of who it is and our values and our ideals, that we will continue to set the tone for a more peaceful and prosperous world."

Obama said he thinks the way the war in Iraq has been handled has kept the United States from focusing on key issues like energy policy, global warming and the economy.

Americans want to succeed, he said, "but we're going to have to make some investments and ensure that the dynamism and the innovation of the American people is released."

"It's very hard for us to do that when we're spending close to $200 billion a year in other countries, rebuilding those countries instead of focusing on making ourselves strong," he said.
Obama downplayed headlines and stories, such as the cover of Time magazine, that have declared him the Democratic presidential nominee.

"I don't want to be jinxed. We've still got some work to do," he said.

Obama predicted that he and Sen. Hillary Clinton would probably split the remaining contests and said Clinton would win the upcoming primary in West Virginia by a "big margin."

Obama won North Carolina by a 14-point margin Tuesday. Clinton squeaked out a win in Indiana by 2 points.

In the days after those contests, some top Democrats have called on Clinton to step aside.

Obama deflected a question about a potential joint ticket with the New York senator, saying it's too early to start thinking about running mates.

"Sen. Clinton has shown herself to be an extraordinary candidate. She's tireless, she's smart, she's capable, and so obviously she'd be on anybody's short list to be a potential vice presidential candidate," he said. "But it would be presumptuous of me at this point ... to somehow suggest that she should be my running mate." Watch viewer responses to question: Should Obama offer Clinton the No. 2 spot? »

Terry McAuliffe, a former Democratic National Committee chairman and a co-chairman of Clinton's campaign, commented Thursday on the possibility of a joint ticket.

"I think what she's interested in being the nominee of the party. ... We're fighting hard for it. This woman has been working tirelessly through this campaign. ... Hillary has earned the right to do whatever she wants to do."

Obama said he's ready for what would be the next phase if he becomes the nominee: a matchup against Sen. John McCain, the presumptive GOP candidate.

Obama said he was offended when McCain said last month, "It's very clear who Hamas wants to be the next president."

"I think it's disappointing because John McCain always says, 'Well, I'm not going to run that kind of politics,' and then to engage in that kind of smear I think is unfortunate, particularly since my policy on Hamas has been no different than his," Obama said.

"And so for him to toss out comments like that, I think, is an example of him losing his bearings as he pursues this nomination."

When asked to respond to McCain supporters -- such as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney -- who have said Obama is not ready to be commander in chief, the senator from Illinois said he thinks what people are looking for is "good judgment."

"I think I've consistently displayed the kind of judgment that the American people are looking for in the next president," he said. Watch Obama say why he's qualified to be president »

Romney responded later on "The Situation Room," saying "The truth of the matter is just as I said, that he doesn't have a record of accomplishments in the private sector or in the governmental sector ... hasn't pushed a major piece of legislation.

"He seems like a charming guy who's very well-spoken. But in terms of actually having led, actually having accomplished something, actually having a kind of leadership that America needs at a critical time with our economy ... he's untested. ... Frankly, Sen. McCain is someone who is tested and very proven," he added.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 09 May 08 - 08:26 AM

I think Hill has tested him. And Chicago has tested him.

McCain "proven"?

How?

Even W could fly a plane, he says.

McCain demonstrated character by surviving Vietnam. And he's done some good political acts.

Obama demonstrates character and has done some good political acts.

Maybe Mitt is talking through his butt?


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 09 May 08 - 01:21 PM

Sen. Barack Obama moved into the lead today in the last category that Sen. Hillary Clinton had claimed to have an edge -- support among the Democratic Party's superdelegates.

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has taken the superdelegate lead over Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., in their battle for the 2008 Democratic nomination.
(AP Photo)The Illinois Democrat grabbed the superdelegate lead thanks to a switch by New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne and an endorsement from previously uncommitted Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon.

Those two votes gave Obama a 267-266 lead over Clinton. That is a huge shift since the days when Clinton boasted about a 60-plus vote lead among the party's pros back on Super Tuesday...

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: GUEST,Jack the Sailor
Date: 09 May 08 - 02:10 PM

Where did you get that Amos? Most counts I see put Obama 3.5 or four behind still. Not that that is shabby.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 09 May 08 - 02:35 PM

Time's New Cover features Obama as "THe Winner".


A hopeful sign.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 09 May 08 - 02:38 PM

Jack:

From here:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4818637&page=1

A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 May 08 - 08:55 PM

Well, we live in interesting times, and this will be a Presidential Election to remember, and hopefully savour!

Hillary Clinton might settle for Secretary of Health and Welfare.

Bill Clinton, I'd recommend sending as Ambassador to Somalia.

Chelsea deserves a vacation.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 10 May 08 - 04:14 AM

LBANY, ORE -- Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton each insisted Friday that the race for the Democratic presidential nomination wasn't over, even as Obama racked up at least nine more superdelegate commitments -- including another Clinton defector.

While Clinton contrasted their healthcare policies and Obama took aim at presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, media and supporters pressed the Illinois senator on whether he would ask Clinton to join his ticket and help retire her campaign debts....

LA Times

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 10 May 08 - 10:55 AM

The trump card Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton held in her faltering bid for president Ñ her support among the superdelegates who can control the fate of the Democratic nomination Ñ began slipping from her grasp on Friday as Senator Barack Obama moved into the lead on this front, with uncommitted delegates declaring their allegiance to him as others deserted her.

(NYT)

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 10 May 08 - 12:58 PM

"WASHINGTON (AP) Ñ Barack Obama focused his campaign message against likely Republican nominee John McCain amid mounting signs that the historic monthslong battle with Hillary Rodham Clinton for the Democratic nomination was coming to a close.
Obama has almost tied Clinton in the crucial superdelegate count that she once dominated, a sign that her financially strapped campaign with its dwindling support is nearly over.

Obama's quiet, and increasing, confidence that the nomination is his was evident in his campaigning Friday in Oregon, where he aimed his criticism at McCain and largely ignored his Democratic rival. He planned to continue campaigning in the state on Saturday.

"I'm gratified that we've got some superdelegates who are coming our way. And I think we've got a strong case to make that I will be a nominee that can pull the party together and take on John McCain," Obama told reporters in Woodburn, Oregon.

After a sometimes bitter and acrimonious campaign, the Democratic race entered its final weeks, with electoral math the deciding factor. Clinton, unlikely to be able to erase Obama's 1,859.5 to 1,698 lead in delegates, needs massive support from those superdelegates Ñ party leaders free to vote as they chose Ñ who have yet to declare their preference.

(USA Today)

At this point the consensus is that Obama is confronting John McCain, and the rest of the democratic process for nomination is almost just housekeeping. Let us hope that Hillary does not complicate it or become a distraction from this confrontation.

A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 May 08 - 04:47 PM

Goodness sakes, no! That would spoil the big playoff game in November. You can't have a good playoff series if you can't narrow it down to the last 2 teams. The fans get confused if you give them more than 2 things to think about.

Some get confused even when it's down to only 2.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 10 May 08 - 05:27 PM

"emocratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has overtaken his rival Hillary Clinton for the first time in endorsements from super-delegates.
Four super-delegates - party and elected officials - pledged to support Mr Obama, including two who previously supported Mrs Clinton.
Mr Obama also has a strong lead in delegates won in state primary and caucus votes.
The Democratic super-delegates look set to decide who wins the nomination.
Added to the nine who came out in support of Barack Obama on Friday, he now has a slim margin of super-delegates.
'Likely nominee'
Mr Obama won a convincing victory in Tuesday's North Carolina primary; while Mrs Clinton narrowly won in Indiana.
Six more states hold primaries before the Democratic Party officially declares at its nominating convention in August who will take on presumptive Republican candidate John McCain.
The nearly 800 super-delegates automatically attend the Denver convention and can vote for whomever they choose."...

..

---

Senator Obama needs slightly fewer than 200 delegates to pass the winning post and there are more than enough pledged delegates remaining to be elected, and super-delegates waiting to put him over the top.
What is important about Indiana and North Carolina is that Senator Clinton was not able to damage Mr Obama.
The Illinois senator showed himself to be resilient in the wake of three weeks or so of crisis and, much more importantly, he got back on the winning track. This is the evidence that some super-delegates have been waiting for.
Many of them - most of them - had clearly made up their minds that they would not support Mrs Clinton, and so this had become a case of whether or not Mr Obama could close the deal. That is what appears to have happened last night....

(BBC News, two stories)

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 11 May 08 - 07:09 PM

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said it is likely Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) will be his party's nominee, and he warned Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) against hurting the party's chances in the fall by staying in the race.

"I think it is likely, certainly, at this point, that Senator Obama will be the nominee," said Edwards, a former North Carolina senator and two-time presidential candidate.

He added on CBS's "Face the Nation," "I think the one thing that [Clinton] has to be careful about ... is that, if she makes the case for herself, which she's completely entitled to do, she has to be really careful that she's not damaging our prospects, the Democratic Party, and our cause, for the fall."

Edwards said Clinton has been making "a pretty compelling case for her candidacy," but "you can no longer make a compelling case for the math." Obama on Saturday took a lead among Democratic superdelegates, and he already led among pledged delegates.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 11 May 08 - 07:34 PM

From Real Clear Politics:

"WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Close-in supporters of Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign are convinced he never will offer the vice presidential nomination to Sen. Hillary Clinton for one overriding reason: Michelle Obama.

The Democratic front-runner's wife did not comment on other rival candidates for the party's nomination, but she has been sniping at Clinton since last summer. According to Obama sources, those public utterances do not reveal the extent of her hostility.

A footnote: Support is growing in Democratic ranks for Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland as vice president. He would bring to the ticket maturity (66 years old), experience (six terms in Congress) and moderation (rated "A" by the National Rifle Association). He is very popular in Ohio, a state Republicans must carry to elect a president."

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 11 May 08 - 11:19 PM

From Andy Borowitz. Please note this is a parody and not an actual report.

Bill Clinton Switches to Obama

Latest Superdelegate Defection for Hillary

In what some Democratic Party insiders are calling a particularly ominous sign for Hillary ClintonÕs presidential campaign, former president Bill Clinton today became the latest superdelegate to switch from Sen. Clinton to her rival, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill).

Sources close to the former president said that Mr. Clinton had been mulling such a defection for weeks, as early as the night of the Iowa primary, but that he only decided to make his decision public today.

ÒThe American people want change,Ó Mr. Clinton said at a press conference in New York. ÒLord knows I do.Ó

The former president said that Òsometimes, at the end of a race, you have to put an old horse down,Ó adding, ÒIÕm not speaking metaphorically.Ó

Mr. Clinton fueled speculation that he was seeking a role in an Obama administration, saying, ÒI know my way around the Oval Office, and I know how the super-secret double-lock works.Ó

The former president said he would relish a return to the White House, calling his tenure there Ògood times.Ó

For her part, Sen. Clinton said that the defection of her husband would not deter her from staying in the race, adding, ÒTo my knowledge, heÕs the only white voter Sen. Obama has.Ó

The New York senator denied that she was playing the race card, arguing, ÒEvery other member of my family is supporting me, and by the way, theyÕre white.Ó

Elsewhere, a defiant John McCain said that his wife will not release her tax returns, Òand neither will my girlfriend.Ó

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Ron Davies
Date: 11 May 08 - 11:32 PM

Just classic, Amos. Borowitz has outdone himself again. I especially liked the part about Hillary stating, that Bill's defection provided Obama with the first white supporter he's had. And that the rest of her family support her--and are white. Since that seems to be rather important just now.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 12 May 08 - 04:02 PM

Democratic Party Delegate Count

Candidate
Total
Delegates since May 6

Obama
1,863
118

Clinton
1,697
89

Edwards
18
0


Uncommitted
49
0



Needed to nominate    2,025
Total delegate votes    4,049
Chosen thus far          3,627
Yet to be chosen            422

---

If Hillary got 80% of the uncommitted delegates she'd barely have the nomination. (2034).

If Obama got 38% (160) of them, he would have the nomination.

Oh my, it is soooo close...which is likely?


A

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Charley Noble
Date: 12 May 08 - 09:07 PM

Amos-

Geez, math was never my strong point, especially this kind of differential calculus.

Won't you at least PM me a few hints?

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 12 May 08 - 10:24 PM

Garin's admonition did nothing to halt the steady drip-drip-drip of superdelegates to Obama, with four more announcing they were endorsing him yesterday. Clinton's once-commanding lead among supers has evaporated, with Obama now leading by 281 to 271.5, according to an Associated Press tally.

Obama, who is now about 150 overall delegates short of the 2,025 needed for the nomination under party rules, could hit that mark before the end of the primary season June 3 if the superdelegate trend continues.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 13 May 08 - 09:21 AM

Obama is clearly the Songwriter's Candidate:

Obama leads field in unsolicited campaign songs
By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY – 1 hour ago

NEW YORK (AP) — Barack Obama is closing in on the Democratic nomination for president, but he clinched the race for the best campaign soundtrack long ago — no superdelegates needed.

John McCain and Hillary Clinton also have plenty of musical support in the first presidential election of the YouTube era. But from will.i.am's star-studded viral hit "Yes We Can" to amateur odes folk to Spanish-language tunes and even a Jamaican reggae tribute, Obama is the leader in what observers are calling a new form of political campaigning.

"Songs about candidates have really taken off," says Steve Grove, head of YouTube.com's news and politics division. "They've found a new way to support their candidates. ... it stretches from regular average voters all the way up to somebody like will.i.am in terms of being kind of like a new, broader trend in political video."

Annie Palovcik is one of those regular people. She penned the prideful folk tune "Illinois Boy" for Obama when he first came to national prominence a few years back — then put it on the Web when Obama became a serious presidential contender this year.

"The concepts of his character and the place of Illinois filtered through my mind into this allegorical country song," said Palovcik, a songwriter and manager of two musicians.

"He is energizing those around him, daring them to look for a new way to dream," she says...."

AP

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 13 May 08 - 11:13 AM

Christian Science Monitor:

"Whatever happens in today's primary in West Virginia, Sen. Barack Obama looks to be headed for the top of the Democratic ticket in November. And when the book about Senator Obama's improbable drive to the presidential nomination is written, a chapter or two is likely to include his campaign's organizational skills.

While Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton came into the 2008 race with experience and the vestiges of her husband's campaign team from the 1990s, it is Obama who has repeatedly shown an organizational advantage in the primaries.

From his ability to win in caucus states, which generally require more advance work, to his grass-roots efforts in places such as Philadelphia and its suburbs (as Patchwork Nation has noted), he's shown a knack for well-laid plans that may extend back to his beginnings in politics as a community organizer.

Tomorrow the media and the candidates will shift their focus to the next stops on the Democratic primary circuit, Kentucky and Oregon. Both campaigns have been on the ground in those states for some time, but e-mail accounts we have set up for "pseudoresidents" in our Patchwork Nation locales show how the Obama campaign has done a better job of using the Web to establish its presence in primary battlegrounds than has Senator Clinton's campaign...".

Examples follow in the rest of the article.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Amos
Date: 14 May 08 - 11:16 AM

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton is running out of primaries, delegates and money in her last-ditch effort to overtake Sen. Barack Obama, who is tantalizingly close to clinching the Democratic nomination in June when party leaders say the marathon race will effectively end.



Having vowed repeatedly that she will stay in the race until the last primary ballot and available delegate has been counted, the New York senator will probably remain a candidate through the final five primaries — Kentucky, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Montana and South Dakota.



But then, if Mr. Obama's nearly 200-delegate lead holds, Mrs. Clinton must face the end of her campaign for the White House and concede the race to the freshman senator from Illinois, even if all of the delegates are still not apportioned, a top Democratic party strategist and Clinton supporter said yesterday.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: Riginslinger
Date: 14 May 08 - 06:12 PM

It looks like Edwards just clinched it for McCain.

Subject: RE: BS: Popular Views on Obama
From: John O'L
Date: 14 May 08 - 07:44 PM

Most of you have probably seen this, but just in case, here's Monday's Non Sequitur