AMERICAblog.com

What are the new rumors, pray tell?'

Kerrey's own record on the war speaks for itself.
Susan | 12.17.07 - 10:45 am | #

I will say this again. We need all of this out in the primary. If he can defend himself and make it a non-issue, then he will earn my vote. If it is going to take him down - we need to know it in the primary as opposed to the GE.
DAGMAN | 12.17.07 - 10:48 am | #

For a seamless transition vote for Hillary:

-->B-->U-->S-->H-->I-->L-->L-->A-->R-->Y-->
Adrian Browne | 12.17.07 - 10:50 am | #

I will say this again. We need all of this out in the primary.

I agree completely.
but Kerry is still a knob.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 10:50 am | #

yawn.

isn't this how politics works? i am neither surprised, nor offended. although i do want to know is ms. obama ever fell into a k-hole or did a booty bump. now we are talking, girls.

love to all.
mother bottom | 12.17.07 - 10:51 am | #

Clinton is a closet republican
dad | 12.17.07 - 10:52 am | #

John do you think Obama is untouchable, I think not. If he is so fragile then he shouldn't throw barbs at others. If he is not doing it his wife Michelle is, but no one cares to cover that.

I would not vote for Obama because of the very fact the press has acted as a shill for him. He has lots of skeletons in his closet and believe me they need to come rattling out now.

If he can't handle the heat he should get out of the race....I'm voting for Hillary. And the last I heard Kerry wasn't working for Hillary, he simply endorsed her.
Marionette | 12.17.07 - 10:55 am | #

What did his wife do?
John Aravosis | 12.17.07 - 10:59 am | #

Maybe an Obama spokesman should praise Hillary for not divorcing her philandering husband; showing that she is realistic, flexible and able to manage a crisis.
Busboy | 12.17.07 - 11:00 am | #

Clinton is a closet republican
dad | 12.17.07 - 10:52 am |

Wow -- when did the Goldwater Girl go into the closet?
nicho | 12.17.07 - 11:00 am | #

Phone: 202-224-3542

Flood Harry Reid's office with phone calls telling him to abide by our constitutional right to privacy and support Dodd's hold.

I just called and let them know I was a lifelong Dem and supported this party through voting and contributions...and that I could not understand how Harry Reid could let Immunity for Telecom Companies even come to the floor...that in my opinion he should be fighting like hell to make sure that any company and/or person who had spied on me or my fellow citizens without a warrant and violated my 4th amendments rights should be charged with a crime, not forgiven.

Flood his office with calls. Talk to an assistant. Take a stand.
Jake In Music City | 12.17.07 - 11:00 am | #

and believe me they need to come rattling out now.

they will damn sure come rattling out eventually.
Bubba is right about that. that has always been the biggest fear for me even when I was supporting Obama. what the attack machine could and would do to him.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:02 am | #

from atrios:

Light'Em Up
Feingold (202) 224-2725 (202) 224-5323
Dodd (202) 224-1083 (202) 224-2823
Obama (202) 228-4260 (202) 224-2854
Sanders (202) 228-0776 (202) 224-5141
Menendez (202) 228-2197 (202) 224-4744
Biden (202) 224-0139 (202) 224-5042
Brown (202) 228-6321 (202) 224-2315
Harkin (202) 224-9369 (202) 224-3254
Cardin (202) 224-1651 (202) 224-4524
Clinton (202) 228-0282 (202) 224-4451
Akaka (202) 224-2126 (202) 224-6361
Webb (202) 228-6363 (202) 224-4024
Kennedy (202) 224-2417 (202) 224-4543
Boxer (415) 956-6701 (202) 224-3553
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:04 am | #

also from atrios:

One does wonder how Republicans have such superpowers, and Democrats do not.

Lott noted that technically, a hold is only a request from a senator to the party leader to be notified when a particular bill comes up. In real terms, "that's the same as shooting it in the head with a bullet," Lott said.

Wow! Except in Harry Reid's Senate, only Republicans get the bullets! Amazing!
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:05 am | #

also from atrios:
One does wonder how Republicans have such superpowers, and Democrats do not.

Lott noted that technically, a hold is only a request from a senator to the party leader to be notified when a particular bill comes up. In real terms, "that's the same as shooting it in the head with a bullet," Lott said.

Wow! Except in Harry Reid's Senate, only Republicans get the bullets! Amazing!
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:05 am | #

I would not vote for Obama because of the very fact the press has acted as a shill for him. He has lots of skeletons in his closet and believe me they need to come rattling out now.

If he can't handle the heat he should get out of the race....I'm voting for Hillary. And the last I heard Kerry wasn't working for Hillary, he simply endorsed her.
Marionette | 12.17.07 - 10:55 am | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
You're saying you're not voting for Hillary because Obama has been played up by the media, have you been around the last year? Up until a couple of weeks ago Hillary was the media darling.

Also, Obama may or may not have a "lot of skeletons" in his closet, but so far the best jabs that have lobbed against the guy are:

1. his middle name and Muslim ancestry
2. An essay he wrote about wanting to be President in kindergarten
3. He did a little cocaine in college.

Now, if these are the "skeletons", I'm not impressed or that worried. I think people keep saying they are "against" Obama and sighting reasons that doen't exist. Truth is, he isn't that much better or that much worse than any of the others I suspect, but if you're gonna frag the guy, let's do it based off something real.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 11:05 am | #

We have a skeleton for President, after all.
Dave of the Jungle | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:08 am | #

the fact that there are probably many things we dont know about Obama is real.
the fact that he wrote a book talking very knowledgeably about drug use is real, and a really big club for republicans to whack him with.
the fact that there is really probably very little we DONT know about Hillary is real.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:09 am | #

If this is just politics then, we need to get all the rumors out about the Clinton's. is it true that Bill still sleeps around? Why does their Library have Saudi Donors? Do they still have a marriage? Do they Still make love? how many times did he cheat on her? Who is going to get to stay in the Lincoln bed room? Can Hillary prove she isn't a lesbian? because the rumors will persist forever unless she can

You know these are questions Republicans are going to ask, I think we need Hilarys answer in the primary.
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 11:11 am | #

AT&T engineer says Bush Administration sought to implement domestic spying within two weeks of taking office
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:12 am | #

Michelle has made many remarks about the 1990's and we don't need a dynasty and such. She has made many remarks that have racial overtones going after the black vote, but when Hillary used the term "I'm your girl", suddenly she was pandering for the woman's vote. When Obama suddenly gets churchy no ones questions it, but when Hillary uses a southern drawl the press attacks.

If you cannot see the difference the press is making in the coverage then you should start paying more attention....The press agressively pushed Obama to go after Clinton, and when she fought back they began their attacks. Talk of her flub in the debate went on for weeks, but Obama's same mistake(only worse) was completely overlooked.

The Press has been a willing partner in the twisting of facts and sheilding for Obama. The Huffington Post is downright awful, please don't let Americablog go down that same path, it is my favorite place on the internet.
Marionette | 12.17.07 - 11:13 am | #

is it true that Bill still sleeps around? Why does their Library have Saudi Donors? Do they still have a marriage? Do they Still make love? how many times did he cheat on her? Who is going to get to stay in the Lincoln bed room? Can Hillary prove she isn't a lesbian?

actually, this illustrates my point perfectly.
if this is it, there is nothing to fear as far as Hillary is concerned. this is old old stuff. the whackjob 20% will listen to it. no one else.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:14 am | #

Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:12 am | #

forgot the link

http://rawstory.com/news/2007/ AT...ought_1216.html
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:14 am | #

Marionette | 12.17.07 - 11:13 am | #

you know
I agree.
Michelle works my nerves. I had not heard anyone else say that.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:16 am | #

"is it true that Bill still sleeps around? Why does their Library have Saudi Donors? Do they still have a marriage? Do they Still make love? how many times did he cheat on her? Who is going to get to stay in the Lincoln bed room? Can Hillary prove she isn't a lesbian?

actually, this illustrates my point perfectly.
if this is it, there is nothing to fear as far as Hillary is concerned. this is old old stuff. the whackjob 20% will listen to it. no one else.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:14 am | # "

Is it old stuff? will it not matter? we don't know, if any one has come close to bringing it up, they get attacked for repeating right wing talking points. So it isn't tested. Cult of Hillary thinks it is old stuff, but we don't know if the country will think so, no one has brought it up again.

Anyhow I'm more than happy for her campaign to pull this crap, this is why she keeps loosing supporters in Iowa.
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 11:18 am | #

Emily Chang of CNN this morning called Obama, "OSAMA" then corrected herself in her next statement but without any apology.

Margaret Hoover, now taking the guest chair this morning on "The View" says that Hillary has as much "baggage" as does Rudy Guiliani. She used to be a Rudy staffer. She is a direct descendant of President Herbert Hoover and was adamant that her great grandfather did not cause the Great Depression as some history books have written.

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 11:18 am | #

He has lots of skeletons in his closet and believe me they need to come rattling out now.

Name these skeletons. Don't get me wrong, I know about one or two possible scandales du jour involving local politics, but name these skeletons. Otherwise, you're no better than Shaheen and has-been Kerrey.

I'm getting really tired of these Clinton-inspired sideswipes at Obama by proxy. I'm sure other blacks are beginning to feel the same way, too. See, it would be different if Bill and Hill could get at Obama's Senate record or whether his accomplishments were padded. Going down this low is going to make blacks rethink their allegiance to the Clintons. Why? There's nothing that will make blacks jump faster to the other side than someone going down lower than a sidewinder on Obama about personal issues like the 'drug dealer' slur and now his name--something he cannot help. Granted, some blacks distrust Obama; however, if the nastiness continues, blacks are going to see it as nothing less than trying to attack a black man. And we have long memories about things like this. So if the Clintons are trying to impugn Obama by using Rovian tactics, or even trying to stir up the white yahoo vote (especially the ones in the Carolinas, where the Oprah-Obama Show had such a turnout), it's going to backfire on them in more ways than one. As one of my friends said, if they need us next November, some of us may be sitting this one out.
blksista | 12.17.07 - 11:19 am | #

Someone here at work told me Obama WAS muslim. I didn't say anything not knowing/caring WHAT religion he was.

So the smear is working. It's too bad being a certain religion is considered a smear.
Kerry | 12.17.07 - 11:21 am | #

cool
Im in the "cult of Hillary"
membership must be pretty damn lax seeing as how I have been bashing her for years.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:21 am | #

Kerrey is a knob job. Not Kerry.

Today on Amy Goodman, a voting expert says it is not clear that the Repukes fixed Ohio in 2004. Kerry won.

The new Secretary of State of Ohio, replacing that crooked Repuke oreo Blackwell, says that none of the electronic voting machines in Ohio can be trusted and they can be hacked with a Blackberry.
Tom3 | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:21 am | #

Hillary is upset that the American public has actually gotten past the fact that Obama rhymes with Osama.....

Us dumb little voters now need some more meaningless political trash shoved down our throats because we can't be smart enough to ignore the Hussein comparison as well could we?

Not that I'm a fan of Obama, but this cheap shot is an undeserved cheap shot..........
Anonymous | 12.17.07 - 11:23 am | #

Talk about damning Osama with faint praise.

This could be used for Repukes who are up for election like Larry Craig and Dave Vitter.

"I like the fact that Larry Craig cruises mens rooms and Dave Vitter is a nappy boy. There are many Americans who share these kinky perversions and I think that experience is a big deal"

(P.S. - Its not the gay sex thats perverse, its doing it in a public mens room thats pervo)
Tom3 | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:24 am | #

On a live interview this morning on CNN, Hillary was lauding the good economy of the "Clinton years" in the 1990's White House and said, "As a member of the Clinton team...." she appeared to be taking responsibility. Didn't know she was in on the cabinet meetings and a part of Bill's decision making.

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 11:24 am | #

I don't want to vote for Obama or Hillary but those are the only two Democrats the media even bothers talking about. John Edwards can beat any republican and will fight for the American people because he hasn't forgotten where he began. Hillary is still and always has been the Goldwater girl and Obama is not ready and may never be. I do have somewhat of a problem with the cocaine use as that shows a weakness. Being a child of the 60's I smoked my fair share of Pot but always drew the line. I always thought a couple of Doobies and a nice bottle of wine was as high as anyone ever needed to be unless you were having surgery.
Bluesage | 12.17.07 - 11:24 am | #

HUCKABEE STONED!

Yes, a Huckabee family member .....

Huckabee Squashed Charges Against His Son For Stoning, Hanging Dog

http://www.crooksandliars.com/20...ng-hanging-dog/
Anonymous | 12.17.07 - 11:24 am | #

I wonder why the GOP and many Democrats are absolutely terrified of Barack Obama. Could it be that he is tapping into something buried in the American political psyche? Could it be that we know deep down in our hearts that we have 'lost our way' and he is pointing to a path leading out of our ethical and moral corruption? Could be that his vision is igniting a flame in the hearts of common people? Is this what terrifies the political establishement?
Adam Baum | 12.17.07 - 11:25 am | #

Bluesage | 12.17.07 - 11:24 am | #

perhaps we should all start looking at Chris Dodd. the only spine in the senate?
just sayin.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:27 am | #

"look
what we are saying is that there MAY be skeletons in his closet. we simply dont know. for the simple reason that he has not been through the gauntlet, that IS what is it, of a national election and faced the Republican attack machine.
he has not done it. the Clintons have.
that all we are sayin.
and it is a fact."

yeah and with Clinton's we KNOW their are skeletons in their closet, and we know there will always be more. while Bill was able to come out stronger, Hillary never was, they actually hurt her. These Muslim rumors haven't hurt Obama they have only hurt Hillary. Like i said she is more then welcome to keep this crap up, she will come out on the loosing end.
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 11:28 am | #

What do you mean by "moral corruption?"

Religious Reich wingnuts have a completely different perspective on that phrase than I do.

They think moral corruption is gays getting married and having abortions.

I think moral corruption is torture, treason, and lying to start an unnecessary oil war.

Oh, and I think moral corruption is senator nappy boy and senator toe tapper having kinky fun.
Tom3 | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:28 am | #

Capt Howdy

I really like Chris Dodd. He's smart, likable and loads of experience. I could easily vote for him if he were the nominee.
Bluesage | 12.17.07 - 11:29 am | #

oops there goes the point.
missed it again!
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:29 am | #

Muslim muslim?

Muslim.

Muslin m-muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim.

Muslim muslim muslim muslim?

Muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim muslim . . .
Dhyana is a finger pointing at | 12.17.07 - 11:31 am | #

I, too, could vote for Dodd.

However, I think we need him too badly in the Senate.
A-mousloon | 12.17.07 - 11:31 am | #

He was born a muslim; his middle name IS Hussein (as if Barack and Obama weren't enough. You don't think the republicans aren't going to make an issue of this fact?!
This and his inexperience is why we must nominate Hillary Clinton!!
We Democrats must win in 2008 and Senator Clinton is the only candidate that can take us to victory!
L. Shaver | 12.17.07 - 11:32 am | #

better a muslim than a horse's ass.
constant comment | 12.17.07 - 11:33 am | #

L.Shaver - I think you are wrong that Hillary is the only one to take the Democrats to victory. The GOP machine will kick into full gear and tear her apart. She is a polarizing figure and will actually bring those morons out to vote. John Edwards is the only one that can beat any Republican they put up.
Bluesage | 12.17.07 - 11:34 am | #

Bluesage. The cocaine back in the day however was "nose candy" and not the rock cocaine that came about in the past two decades which has caused so many problems. Cocaine powder was relatively cheap and very prevalent. I used to go to parties at the Chateau du Jon "swinging singles" apartments near Houston's galleria, back in the day when George W. Bush also was known to haunt parties there (while in the Texas Air National Guard). It was not uncommon for a good host/hostess to have mirrors already cut with "lines" of coke for their guests.

I thought "blow" was overrated for the price and could get as "high" off a few pots of coffee. I do remember going home one night, staying up all night cleaning my apartment until you could see yourself in the tiles around my bathtub. I wondered later if my neighbors downstairs heard my vacuum sweeper running back and forth at 3 a.m.!

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 11:34 am | #

L.Shaver. Agreed, except for the last sentence:

Should be:"We Democrats must win in 2008 and John Edwards is the only candidate that can take us to victory"

Hillary OR Obama are dream candidates for the Repub party to rally support against. Want another close race?

Edwards has been out in the front on the issues for a Long,long while. Want another Lieberman Democrat>? Then vote Hillary. Edwards, over and over, has been supporting what is right and fighting the good fight while Obama and Clinton play games.
Fade | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:35 am | #

We Democrats must win in 2008 and Senator Clinton is the only candidate . . .

I dont agree that she is the only one who can win. I am however starting to think that Obama might be the only one who could lose.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:35 am | #

back in the day however was "nose candy" and not the rock cocaine that came about in the past two decades which has caused so many problems

do you honestly think mr and mrs unwashed amurka is going to be able to make that distinction?
honestly?
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:36 am | #

Grant - I too lived in Houston back in the day (70's) and probably went to some of the same parties (lol) but I still think it shows a weakness and it worries me a bit.
Bluesage | 12.17.07 - 11:37 am | #

Should be:"We Democrats must win in 2008 and John Edwards is the only candidate that can take us to victory"

Why because he is the only white male? You think he wont have his own problems?
Abandoning his dying wife to be president, getting 400 dollar hair cuts. isn't he kind of gay?

come on we all know the republican play book he wont be immune, just because he is a white male.
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 11:38 am | #

look
what we are saying is that there MAY be skeletons in his closet. we simply dont know. for the simple reason that he has not been through the gauntlet, that IS what is it, of a national election and faced the Republican attack machine.
he has not done it. the Clintons have.
that all we are sayin.
and it is a fact.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:24 am | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
And Hillary has been through this gauntlet? Let's be realistic, as the first lady she wasn't scrutinized nearly as much as her husband. My biggest problem is that people seem to automatically equate anyting Bill has done/gone through to her, and the reality is far different. Her two runs for Senate were pretty darn lopsided and THIS POTUS election is the first time Hillary, not "Bills wife", is squarely in the crosshairs and guess what, she's faultering big time under the weight of the scrutiny. I keep hearing "Clinton can take the Republican heat" but the reality is she can't even take the Democratic heat, and she's wilting under the non-pressure of her opposition (Obama and Edwards haven't really come at her with guns blazing).

Again, I don't know if Obama has some huge scandal in the closet, but unless someone is saving it for later, all we can do is go by the available evidence. The current indicators are that since 2004 this guy has been a virtual rockstar in the political world and it really makes me wonder why so many people can't see the fact that him being so close to Hillary in the polls (for the entire campaign) and now beating her in some is probably a much better indicator of potential performance in the generals than "we think he may not be able to do it". News flash, he is doing it. Isn't the point of the primary process to see who can run the strongest campaign? Right now, Obama is really coming on strong and Hillary looks like she's beginning to faulter a bit.

Now, in my mind, the guy I'm really waiting for is Edwards. I'd love to vote for the guy, but he's got to show that he can do more than just say the right things. He has a great message, but having a great message but not having the ability to run a winning campaign gets you nothing. I want to like Edwards but if he doesn't step up his game soon, Obama is definately looking like a good combination of message and appeal.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 11:38 am | #

Hillary's latest poll numbers:

50% UNFAVORABLE rating. Gallup, 12-2-07

That makes her unelectable.

Another reason I will not support her.
Tom3 | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:38 am | #

EDWARDS is looking like a better choice everyday.
HereinDC | 12.17.07 - 11:39 am | #

Grant, lol, you AREN'T Helping Obama...

Maybe cocaine was some harmless little hors d'oerve for you, but I've got about a hundred examples of bad cokeheads that ruined their lives with that shit because they didn't have the brains to do as bluesage did, (and I myself) and draw the line.

We've got one ex-cokehead in office. That's enough for me to swear them all off.
Fade | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:39 am | #

Nobody denies that Obama's father was Muslim and took family names from Kenya for his son, but his father left the marriage when Barack was only 2 years old. How does one get "born" any religion? One may be indoctrinated growing up, but one doesn't become a member of a religion until the age of reason.

Barack Obama is a long time member of the United Church of Christ, one of the most liberal, and gay affirming of all Christian denominations.

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 11:39 am | #

Marionette, a good name for a Hillary supporter.
naschkatze | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:41 am | #

It is increasingly clear, Edwards is our best chance at getting the country back. Please contribute so he can have a strong finish in Iowa and NH. Now is the time to take action.

https://johnedwards.com/action/co...contribute/ form
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 11:42 am | #

Yeah, Obama showed his gay-affirming ways by sucking up and promoting that bigot Donnie McClurkin.
NewOrleanian | 12.17.07 - 11:42 am | #

Shillary Farts During Live Debate.
http://www.politicaltruthusa.com...ive- debate.html
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 11:42 am | #

Edwards overwhelmingly beats each Repuke candidate. He's the only one that can beat any one of those idiots.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 11:43 am | #

if Obama get the nomination I will vote for him work for him and pray for him.
until then I will oppose him.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:45 am | #

What childish shit. That is all that is. Childish shit thrown at a childish nation.
Bostonian Queer in Dallas | 12.17.07 - 11:45 am | #

do you honestly think mr and mrs unwashed amurka is going to be able to make that distinction?
honestly?
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:36 am | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Actually, I was watching some of the Sunday talk shows and a lot of even the Republican analysts hit on the fact that what is seen as a weakness in the political world doesn't translate to the general population. Seems like a lot of people think (and I agree) that his disclosure of his experimentation in college while not under duress (in his book) was actually a very savvy move and that most people in the US won't think too much of it because it was a long time ago and there are a lot of societal acceptance of some amount of that kind of activity at that age.

Think of it this way, that disclosure has been out the entire length of his campaign and does anytone her have any evidence that it has hurt his campaign one bit? In fact, I would daresay his numbers have gotten even stronger since it was "inadvertently" raised by clinton in recent weeks.

Again, I wish people would look at current reality versus feeding on their fear of the "great Republican monster". No matter who runs they will be scrutinized and probably lied on.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 11:45 am | #

Mari Culver, Iowa's First Lady has endorsed Edwards.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 11:45 am | #

I don't see anything that is not true.. What are we susposed to do, lie and let the Republicans expose the truth?
bystander | 12.17.07 - 11:46 am | #

And J.Garza- If Edwards $400 haircut is the worst they got against Edwards, well, hell...

Elizabeth is the best defense against the true slur that Edwards abandoned her. These "Slurs" against Obama are all truths, correct? He's got family members that are muslim and he's got a fairly popular muslim middle name. Doesn't bother me in the least. But I do believe that most Amerkuns will have a problem with that.

One positive note is that the people most likely to vilify Obama for this are the same people that would never vote for a black candidate, anyway. Obama will have to ratchet up his christianity to counter the muslim claims- and unfortunately- that's a big turnoff for non-religious types like myself.
Fade | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:46 am | #

Fade. Should the mistakes we make as teenagers be used against us as adults? George W. Bush used cocaine in his mid-20's after Yale and Harvard so should have known better. Plus he wasn't living on the streets of the ghetto either.

I only tried coke a couple of times in a social setting in the 60's. I wasn't impressed with it and declined it thereafter. I do know that those who injected it and later got started on crack cocaine had a much harsher experience and addiction. But the "blow" of the 60's wasn't regarded anymore taking a risk as many other drugs like LSD.

I would rather have somebody who admits taking a drug like Obama and then rejects it than somebody like Dubya who continues to lie about his past use to this day.

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 11:46 am | #

News flash, he is doing it.

heres another newsflash.
the Republicans have not even taken a turn at him yet. everything so far has been namby pamby inter party stuff.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:47 am | #

Howdy, me too, but I want to start working hard to ensure Edwards wins the primary. It is going to take money and awareness.
Those voting for the candidates who don't have a chance to win, please think of voting for Edwards. I want my country back.
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 11:47 am | #

Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 11:42 am |

Ha! that does it. i'm voting for Hills.
tlsintx | 12.17.07 - 11:47 am | #

Who knows how much the metrosexual Mit Romney spends on haircuts and make-up?
Nobody seems to question how he keeps his pretty boy looks at age 60.

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 11:48 am | #

Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 11:42 am | #

THAT WAS FUNNY!!!!!!
Firebrand | 12.17.07 - 11:48 am | #

At least Obama is honest about toking up and snorting coke.

Chimpy has never come clean on this. And I think he is still using, alcohol anyway.
Tom3 | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:48 am | #

Obama cannot win, and it's all due to the Muslim slurs and the Hussien thing, it isn't fair that's for sure, but I have no doubt he cannot win because of that. That's just the way this ignorant country works.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 11:48 am | #

I would rather have somebody who admits taking a drug like Obama

the problem is that you are not exactly the target audience.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:48 am | #

Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 11:48 am | #

sadly agree. we live in shitty times.
like I said earlier, I fear he is the only one who could lose.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:49 am | #

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 11:46 am

I can agree with that.
Fade | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:50 am | #

At least Obama is honest about toking up and snorting coke.

Finally something he hasn't blamed on low level staffers.
NewOrleanian | 12.17.07 - 11:50 am | #

Chimpy is a republican Tom.
they exist by different rules.
just ask Harry Reid and Chris Dodd.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:51 am | #

Edwards overwhelmingly beats each Repuke candidate. He's the only one that can beat any one of those idiots.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 11:43 am | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
I like Edwards but he's not even running the best campaign of the democratic field, so I can't see why he is any more qualified to beat the Republicans than Obama or Clinton, except for the fact he is a white male. Up until last week I was firmly going to support Edwards, just for that reason (because somehow to me that was more electable) but now I'm coming to realize that that makes me just as bad as the Republicans. Truth be told, I want to like Edwards, but I think he needs to honestly WIN the nomination by running a stronger campaign, not simply get the nomination because the two people who ran better campaigns were the wrong color or the wrong sex. I can no longer justify that arguement and call myself a progressive. Truh is, pretty much any of the democratic candidates is better than the republicans in terms of ideology, intelligence, and character, but what we need to send is someone who is a better campaigner. Right now, Edwards isn't getting it done.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 11:51 am | #

If I didn't have three kids to take care of I'd be in Iowa knocking on doors for Edwards right now. No one to shuttle my kids around so I'm stuck here, and I'm a nervous wreck. Would much rather be doing something!
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 11:51 am | #

NewOrleanian. When did Obama "PROMOTE" McClurkin? Allowing him to appear among a band of entertainers at a rally comes nowhere near what Huckabee has said about homosexuals, and about which he doesn't recant and still reaffirms.

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 11:52 am | #

Nobody seems to question how he keeps his pretty boy looks at age 60.

on that subject, I heard Edwards say over the weekend that he is my age.
the man has had some work done.
be sure we will hear about THAT.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:52 am | #

JGarza - I have no problem voting for a woman or a black man but I want it to be the right woman or right black man. And just maybe, with our country going down the tubes faster than any of us could have imagined, this may not be the best time to try to make a statement with the wrong people.
Bluesage | 12.17.07 - 11:44 am | #

How is flip flopper John Edwards going to win? He was to the right of Obama and Hillary last time, the only reason he has this new found populism is because that is where there was room left in the political spectrum. He claims he can compete in the south, but he didn't make Kerry competitive any where else, he cant even win the primary in his home state.
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 11:53 am | #

Kerrey's enough of a nut for this to not matter at all.
Moonbat | 12.17.07 - 11:54 am | #

If Obama has the press in his pocket, why is it that Clinton is the one who can get on all 5 Sunday talking head shows on the same day or on all 6 morning shows at the same time as she is doing this morning? I have not seen anyone other candidate with this kind of clout. BTW, Clinton is trying to conjure up a "kinder, gentler" image of herself on these talk shows while her surrogate Kerrey is reviving the same old smear which has been disproved. I guess Obama is guilty until proven guilty.
naschkatze | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:54 am | #

"He was born a muslim"

This is wrong and patently ridiculous. No child is born a Muslim, a Christian, a Jew or any other religion. The child may be born to to parents who claim to adhere to a particular faith. The child may eventually be indoctrinated into a given faith. But no child is ever born into a faith.

.
EdNSted | 12.17.07 - 11:54 am | #

I would vote for Edwards or Obama, but NOT Hillary.

Hillary is AIPAC and DLC. She's a DINO.

And Hillary has a 50% unfavorable rating.

Half the country hates Hillary. She is unelectable.

Dump Hillary.
Tom3 | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:55 am | #

The only things those of us outside Iowa and NH can do to help Edwards win is contribute, talk about him, remind people what he stands for and how he "CAN WIN". There is no dirt on his boots.
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 11:55 am | #

Bob Kerrey is a prick. Not much more to say about that.

Since we're talking about Obama, I thought I would throw out an observation about his race. The media, and very few people for that matter, never describe Obama as white. Why is that? (hypothetical question). They don't hesitate to describe him as black but you never hear them describe him as white. It's race shit like this that reminds me this country has a long ways to go concerning race issues.
scottinsf | 12.17.07 - 11:56 am | #

John Edwards CNN Focus Group Winner, beats each Repuke candidate handily, the only Dem candidate to do so.
http://www.politicaltruthusa.com...oup- winner.html
Edwards Can Win Iowa, due to rural support
http://www.newsweek.com/id/78238
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 11:56 am | #

naschkatze | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 11:54 am | #

and you think that Obama could not do the same round of media if he wanted?
thats funny.
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 11:56 am | #

I've always had a hard time telling Billary from a Rethug, but it gets harder all the time. Can anyone really believe for one moment that this series of racial/religious attacks on Obama by Billary's people are not planned and coordinated by Billary? Disgraceful. Let's find a real and especially a decent Democrat, not just some Democrap that pundits think can win. There is one in the race......but he's not photogenic and he is not acceptable to the Rethugs or their allies the Democraps.
texasbob | 12.17.07 - 11:57 am | #

Huckabee, according to those who study such things supposedly has the "best body language" that is endearing him to voters. Mit Romney smiles so much he may appear to be phoney. Too much watching the Osmonds??? Edwards needs to lighten up.

When former Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., gets angry, his eyes narrow, his nose wrinkles and his mouth curls in disgust. But Hill says there's a disconnect with voters who remember him as the smiling, upbeat purveyor of "One America" in the 2004 campaign.

"He's the Barry Bonds of anger," Hill said. "He was full of sunshine, and now he's so angry."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story....le/ 5382161.html

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 11:59 am | #

My main issue with Obama -- and the reason I will not support him -- is his inability to support Ned Lamont after Lamont won the Connecticut primary in 2006. Because Obama (and many other Democrats) preferred the good ol boy network, we now have Lieberman endorsing McCain. Many Democrats, including Obama rewarded Lieberman for ignoring the results of the Democratic primary.

This goes directly to character and clear, Obama has failed the test.

.
EdNSted | 12.17.07 - 11:59 am | #

NewOrleanian. When did Obama "PROMOTE" McClurkin? Allowing him to appear among a band of entertainers at a rally comes nowhere near what Huckabee has said about homosexuals, and about which he doesn't recant and still reaffirms.

Who gives a shit about Huckabee! He isn't seeking the fucking Democratic nomination! I expect Republicans to suck up to bigots - not Democrats!
NewOrleanian | 12.17.07 - 12:00 pm | #

Good job pulling the old Novak two-step; there are rumors, but I won't tell you what they are! That way, Clinton (like Obama in the Novak case) has no chance to respond.
Jesse Holmes | 12.17.07 - 12:01 pm | #

Anyone who's not angry about the direction our country has taken is a damn fool. Edwards has shown some anger against what has happened to our country and that is a good thing. He might actually be willing to fight for us.
Bluesage | 12.17.07 - 12:02 pm | #

You can't compare Voting for John Edwards 4 years ago to today...if you do that then ask in the same question would you vote for George Bush again this year?
HereinDC | 12.17.07 - 12:03 pm | #

How is flip flopper John Edwards going to win? He was to the right of Obama and Hillary last time, the only reason he has this new found populism is because that is where there was room left in the political spectrum. He claims he can compete in the south, but he didn't make Kerry competitive any where else, he cant even win the primary in his home state.
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 11:53 am | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
And reality is spoken. Edwards record and performance don't match expectations many have of him here. He's a one term Senator who participated in a losing campaign against George Bush in 2004. Today he is running 3rd in the polls and unless something changes in the next couple of weeks isn't expected to catch fire.

Again, the only thing Edwards has making him so appealing IMO is the fact that he's the "right" color and the "right" gender which makes me encourage people here to re-check their progressive credentials real hard.

It's bad enough our politicians are running scared of the big bad Republicans now we are doing the same. Based almost exclusively off the "potential" for an effective smear campaign we are willing to write off our two leading candidates. I would say that the Republican smear machine perhaps is that powerful that so many are now considering endorsing the 3rd place contestant because he seems safe. Kerry seemed "safe", Gore seemed "safe". I say that whoever runs the strongest campaign and wins the most primaries wins, end of story. If that's Edwards, fine, if not, I'll vote for whoever. For now, it seems we should be asking what all of these people stand for and not so much what we think can be found (or manufactured) about them and see the smear as an inevitable fact for all of them.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 12:03 pm | #

Never was a Bob Kerry fan....however if BHO doesn't like people saying his name he has a problem. He could have or should have changed his name if it didn't fit him.

I know the suttle messages the Hillary camp is trying to use but it's fairly lame as to what the Repukes would use on him.
henry wallace | 12.17.07 - 12:04 pm | #

In Iowa, one key to determining the results of Jan 3rd will be "Where do the Richardson supporters end up after they must abandon him?"

Richardson is at roughly 9% in Iowa right now. That means in most precincts his supporters will not achieve viability and so will be forced to choose a second candidate who is viable.

Now if they split evenly, it's anybody's guess but if they tend to choose one of the leaders over the other, that 9% could make the difference.

.
EdNSted | 12.17.07 - 12:04 pm | #

Tiger Woods is one-half Thai, one quarter white and Native American, and one quarter African but he still gets called "black".

Americans still abide by the old "one drop rule" used in the Old South where the smallest amount of African heritage made one a full-blown black person. As our society becomes more blended racially, we should drop such racial (racist?) characterizations.

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 12:05 pm | #

Anyone who's not angry about the direction our country has taken is a damn fool. -Bluesage

Damn straight! A lot of people are mad as hell. And like it or not, that's exactly whats fueling the Ron Paul movement ....
Firebrand | 12.17.07 - 12:07 pm | #

tlhwraith - Edwards has run a very good campaign in Iowa and has very loyal caucus goers but the MSM has given him very little coverage because they are so hung up on a horse race for ratings. They will do everything they can to saddle us with Hillary or Obama as our nominee and we will lose.
Bluesage | 12.17.07 - 11:56 am | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
If ratings are their motivation then it would be in their best interest to talk up Edwards too. On paper he would have a lot of media appeal and a 3 way race is even more "sensational" than a 2 way. But, go ahead and make excuses for Edwards lackluster performance.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 12:08 pm | #

tlhwraith, I have supported Edwards from the beginning. I do not want Hillary or Obama. It has nothing to do with his electability or scare factor. I want a president for the country this country can be, not a president for the country this country has become.
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 12:08 pm | #

I'm damn glad Edwards is angry!!! If you aren't angry you don't love America!!!! I'm so pissed I can't see straight anymore.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 12:09 pm | #

I remember Teresa Heinz Kerry "correcting" one of the Edwards children at their first photo-op after Edwards was brought aboard that campaign. You could see in Elizabeth's face that she didn't appreciate Teresa reprimanding her child.

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 12:09 pm | #

tlhwraith, you obviously didn't even look at the links I provided, much less did you even read them.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 12:10 pm | #

God Bless Bob Kerrey.

He is telling the truth! All u whiny Dems who bitch about people criticizing Obama have no idea what he's gonna get from his opponents in the future. He's the GOPers wet dream candidate!
WashDCInformant | 12.17.07 - 12:05 pm | #

What are all those Saudis who gave to the Clinton Library going to get? can she prove she isn't a lesbian? Do her and bill still make love? is he still cheating on her? If possible republican attacks are par for the course in the Dem primary lets get them all out about everyone.
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 12:11 pm | #

NewOrleanian. When did Obama "PROMOTE" McClurkin? Allowing him to appear among a band of entertainers

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 11:52 am |

Really -- do you really think that McClurkin was just standing in the back row humming along? He was the headliner! He got center stage to promote his anti-gay crapola.

Imagine if Hillary had given David Duke a half hour to tell her fans how black people can act more like white people.
nicho | 12.17.07 - 12:11 pm | #

Grant, I don't think I would have liked it either. I am not a fan of Teresa Kerry. It bothered me when she went on and on about her dead husband at the Democratic Convention. It was uncomfortable and tasteless.
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 12:11 pm | #

I don't think I need to check my progressive creditials as someone said earlier. I will have no problem voting for a woman when it is the right woman. I just don't think Hillary is it. And I would have no trouble voting for a black man but I don't think Obama is the one for this time. If it was Charlie Rangle I would be living in Iowa right now.
Bluesage | 12.17.07 - 12:12 pm | #

And reality is spoken. Edwards record and performance don't match expectations many have of him here.-
tlhwraith

BINGO. John Edwards seems like a nice guy. I doubt he'll be president though.
Firebrand | 12.17.07 - 12:12 pm | #

I get tired of the media, talking heads and even blog posters always only telling one cherry picked part of something that illustrates their point while ignoring the rest of it.

Case in point...

All the talk about Hillary using the kindergarten presidential dreams of Obama against him to show his presidential quest isn't as new as he claimns it is.

The kindergarten story isn't something the Clinton campaign dug up with their own investigation. It was a story published by the AP in January of 2007. And it was one of several examples used by the Clinton campaign to illustrate how long Obama has been planning his presidential run. There were also quotes from his law school classmates, his brother-in-law and other stories that had all been published in major media outlets in the past. These were not new revelations brought up by Clinton. they were just previously published examples highlighting how Obama's claim to have not been running for president all his life aren't completely accurate. Since the Clinton campaign listed the kindergarten thing last in the list, I take them at their word that it was intended as a bit of a joke and/or jab at the end of the list.

But, if you listen to what the media has had to say about this since it happened, you would come away thinking the only charge Clinton made against Obama was what he said in kindergarten.
anon-no-more | 12.17.07 - 12:13 pm | #

Edwards could definitely win in Iowa. Not that winning Iowa would propel him to the nomination, but if the Richardson supporters leaned towards Edwards or, if the weather plays a major factor, Edwards could come out on top.

.
EdNSted | 12.17.07 - 12:15 pm | #

Do you want February,March,April, May,June,July,August,September,October trash talk about Clinton and Obama???
The MSM WOULD LOVE THAT!!!!!

What?..... all they have is a
lawyer with a haircut to diss about Edwards.

Make it easier for all of us, Edwards would make us proud.
HereinDC | 12.17.07 - 12:15 pm | #

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 12:05 pm |
---------------------
That's exactly what I wish more people would think about. Part of the reason I brought it up was because I had just read a ridiculous diary at Kos where the writer was trying to make the case that Americans (repugs AND dems) will not elect a black president. It kind of got me worked up.
scottinsf | 12.17.07 - 12:16 pm | #

Obviously a refresher course is needed here. Edwards was not the nominee in 04, John Kerry was, and thus had little say in how things were done. John and Elizabeth have both spoken out many times on how unhappy they were at how that campaign was run.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 12:05 pm | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
So Edwards gets up and says that he was unhappy to be part of a losing election, and somehow the logic train says that today we should support him? What did he do after 2004 to be a stronger candidate or take the country in a better direction? Did he run for office and effect policy change? Do like Gore and become a major advocate for an issue close to him? No, when Edwards lost the 2004 campaign he simply became a professor and partner in an investment group, not exactly inspiring me with deep concern for the average man. Suddenly when he started campaigning again he developed this deep concern for the average joe and is some quasi-populaist? I think he's going to need to bolster his words with a much stronger campaign performance to get my vote. I'm willing to overlook the disconnect between his actions and his words, because I think he does want to do something positive, but he's got to show he's a stronger contender.

I squarely blame the lost in 2004 on him as much as anyone. VPOTUS candidates are specifically chosen for their ability to attract votes, they really have no other major use. His and Kerrys campaign lost ergo he failed. It is that simple.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 12:17 pm | #

Clinton ally repeats "Muslim" slur about Obama, uses his middle name "Hussein"

slur? what did kerrey say that was a slur? uses obama's middle name? LOL. who cares? it's his middle name.
jose | 12.17.07 - 12:17 pm | #

Carter was a nice guy and he got elected.
Indigo | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 12:18 pm | #

I'm damn glad Edwards is angry!!!-Progressive Troll

Well it about bloodly time. He needs to get a lot angier in order to catch up us regular folks.
Firebrand | 12.17.07 - 12:19 pm | #

I'd expect more from Hillary's camp - since we're constantly told how much more experience she has. Has she taken to hiring the ship jumpers from W's camp?
lfrank | 12.17.07 - 12:19 pm | #

If ratings are their motivation then it would be in their best interest to talk up Edwards too. On paper he would have a lot of media appeal and a 3 way race is even more "sensational" than a 2 way. But, go ahead and make excuses for Edwards lackluster performance.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 12:08 pm |

There is simply no denying that the media has focused on the two supposedly "exciting" Democratic candidates to the exclusion of Edwards.

Would a three-way race (which in fact is what exists in Iowa) be more exciting? Of course, but the media elite don't think you can juggle three thoughts in your head at once, so they dumb it down by focusing on the two that they think will sell the most soap.

I wouldn't count Edwards out. He has a strong presence in Iowa, the race is within the margin of error in most polls, too close to call really. If he manages to wind up 1st or even a strong showing it could change the way things play out in NH and onwards.
Maxed Bandwidth | 12.17.07 - 12:19 pm | #

What "anti-gay crapola" did McClurkin spout at the Obama rally? I thought he only sang! That Obama is a active member of the most gay-affirming protestant church means more to me than such nit-picking. Edwards, a conservative Southern Baptist, and Bill Richardson, a Roman Catholic were most uncomfortable at the "gay debate" fielding questions from Melissa Etheridge.

Obama scores high on the Human Rights Campaign scorecard. He supports civil unions but not gay marriage so is in line with every other candidate except Kucinich and Gravel.

http://a4.g.akamai.net/f/4/ 19675..._ReportCard.pdf

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 12:19 pm | #

me "this country has a long ways to go concerning race issues."
scottinsf | 12.17.07 - 11:56 am | #
*******************
You are absolutely right!! Anyone who refers to Obama's race as black is race baiting..... Obama genetically is just as much white as black. Why don't you ever see anyone refer to him as "white"? It is because we live in a racist society pure and simple.
Adam Baum | 12.17.07 - 12:20 pm | #

The kindergarten story isn't something the Clinton campaign dug up with their own investigation. It was a story published by the AP in January of 2007. And it was one of several examples used by the Clinton campaign to illustrate how long Obama has been planning his presidential run. There were also quotes from his law school classmates, his brother-in-law and other stories that had all been published in major media outlets in the past. These were not new revelations brought up by Clinton. they were just previously published examples highlighting how Obama's claim to have not been running for president all his life aren't completely accurate. Since the Clinton campaign listed the kindergarten thing last in the list, I take them at their word that it was intended as a bit of a joke and/or jab at the end of the list.

how is that kool-aid tasting?
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 12:20 pm | #

Didn't we all want to be president when we were in elementary school? Didn't our teachers tell us we all could be?

Grant in Houston | 12.17.07 - 12:22 pm | #

tlhwraith, you really don't have a clue about how campaigns are run. That election was Kerry's to run and win or lose. And he did a fair job, he won the damn thing after all, but if Edwards would have been the nominee and ran the damn thing, he would have had the votes counted, he would have won and wouldn't have let them steal it. Go ahead and vote for a loser, I don't give a damn. I'm voting for the best candidate for the job, the guy with the experience to win, the guy that has proven in the polls that he can win. That's Edwards. You have the right to vote for whomever you want, just stop spewing over things you don't have a clue about. I provided the links with the proof, I absolutely hate it when someone doesn't read what I provide and keeps making an argument that is disproved and doesn't provide anything to back themselves up.
Edwards all the way baby!!!!!
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 12:23 pm | #

remember when John Kerry said Mary Cheney is a lesbian... guess what.. he told the truth..

when bob Kerrey says Obama's father is a muslim and there are a billion muslims in the world, and his middle name is hussein and this might lead the Muslim world to view him more favorably... what is he doing wrong..

isn't he a calling a spade a spade..

POLITICS IS POLITICS.. obama defenders are sooo sensitive....

he has said Nominating Clinton amounts to fighting the wars of the 90's when we are in a new century.. there is nothing wrong about that either..

to me.. OBAMA is too green.. IN 2005-and 2006 he missed 33% of his votes. Contrast that to Clinton who only missed 20% even though she was running for relection in New York.

When Clinton says she worked for change, while OBAMA hopes for it, their senate attendance record gives credence to that. PLUS change = standing up to the Bush Administration, and their voting record indicates that Clinton actually stands up more against Bush then Obama.
sadhana khan | 12.17.07 - 12:25 pm | #

Carter was a nice guy and he got elected.

yeah
those were the days, ay?
Capt Howdy | 12.17.07 - 12:26 pm | #

It's great that Obama wrote 2 books and got everything out there... But why are we now not susposed to say anything about any of it, we are just to take his spin on it with no questions asked?
Will somebody tell the Republicans about these rules..
bystander | 12.17.07 - 12:26 pm | #

She votes like a republican, now she campaigns like one.... this is exactly why we want change in Washington.

All those Black leaders who supported Hillary early on, (I'm sure they thought Obama didn't have a chance) There must be a few of them looking for an excuse to jump ship and work for Obama. This may be the excuse they've been looking for. It's one thing to campaign against your opponent and say he's 'too young' or needs 'more experience' but going at his character.. using dirty politics?? I'm not sure they'll back a campaign that plays dirty with the best black candidate for president that could actually win.
bluecayuga | 12.17.07 - 12:27 pm | #

Huh? I don't get it. What's the offense here? Stating facts about someone is not a bad thing.
JES | 12.17.07 - 12:28 pm | #

Here's a great article about why Edwards IS The best candidate from truthdig...

http://www.truthdig.com/report/i...nd_the_haircut/
Fade | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 12:28 pm | #

Thanks for posting that Fade.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 12:29 pm | #

it's a great article... Edwards is standing up for Middle America, while Hillary is just standing up for herself, and I've yet to see just what or who Obama is standing for...
Fade | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 12:31 pm | #

POLITICS IS POLITICS.. obama defenders are sooo sensitive....

so is she or isn't a lesbian, the rumors persist?

What are the Saudis getting for the money they gave her library?

Do her and bill still make love? is he still cheating on her?

Is this the kind of politics and questions we want in the democratic party? if it is lets be fair and ask it about all our candidates.
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 12:32 pm | #

kind of like those cocaine rumors.. all you have to do is say cocaine and obama in the same sentence, and its repeated 5 million times.

the clintons accused obama of being a drug dealer. they are very desperate.
Chris from Maine | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 12:34 pm | #

Who cares about if she and Bill make love?

Of all the things in the world I'm utterly disinterested in, that surpasses even Edwards' haircut.

I mean, really.
Maxed Bandwidth | 12.17.07 - 12:34 pm | #

My idiot treasonous Gov. is in real trouble and that becomes even more obvious when his campaign resorts to ads on a progressive blog. Good luck to you Matt Blunt, you piece of shit. You'll have to come up with even better tricks to steal the thing this time around. And tell your daddy Roy to go $#@^ himself too.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 12:34 pm | #

tlhwraith, you seem to be suggesting we should consider Obama, not for "his" record or lack of a record, but for his what? Charisma, blackness, friendship with Oprah? What?
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 12:17 pm | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Obama is smart in one respect, he is running primarily on the message that he is a change candidate and isn't jaded by the Washington establishment. IMO that means that my criteria for him is how charismatic he is, how well can he sell people on his direction, and do I think he has the toolset to actually move in the direction of change. In all those respects, I'm comfortable with how well Obama is doing and quite frankly I'm shocked as heck that he is being as accepted as readily as he is in some communities. On paper his ethnicity and religion would appear to be huge problems, and you would think that would be reflect in his support, but the guy really does have a lot of mass appeal and is making a lot of people think twice about him that wouldn't have given him a second thought. In short, yes Obama is not the prototype of what a typical successful candidate in the past has been, but isn't part of this kind of that we are looking for, something new?

Edwards sells himself as a populist in a lot of ways. Nothing wrong with that, I think that is something this country needs, a POTUS that actually is trying to do right by the people. However, like I said, aside from the campaign trail Edwards hasn't done a whole lot to show his populist core. Post Senate he pretty much did what a lot of other well connected types do, join some think tanks, become partner in an investment group, and just generally rake in cash. His Senate career wasn't exactly a standout of populist ideology and just like Hillary he supported the Iraq War resolution (hell he co-sponsored it) and the Patriot Act (and a simple I'm sorry later doesn't wipe that all away).

In short, Edwards says hes a populist, but without the credibility of a populist it's only words. Obama is running as a outsider/change agent which admittedly is a much easier pitch because his record isn't as relevant, but then he has to be able to show he has enough personal charisma to convince people of his ideology. I think Obama is performing amazingly well at convincing people and excuding charisma/appeal (key to his presentation), Edwards really doesn't have a strong history of being a "man of the people" and isn't running a campaign that convinces me that he could finish strong in the generals.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 12:35 pm | #

Capt Howdy,

Do you have any proof that Edwards has "had some work done"? Some people just naturally age more slowly than others do. If you look at pics of Edwards in his college years you will see he looked much younger than his years even then.

I am also 54 years old but could easily pass for 44. It has been that way all my life. It wasn't too easy when I was in my 20s and still looked 16 years old. But, I am getting the benefits of it now in my older years. I'm assuming the same of Edwards.
anon-no-more | 12.17.07 - 12:38 pm | #

Bob Kerry is a colossal asshole and always has been. This is nothing new.
urizon | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 12:39 pm | #

When Clinton says she worked for change, while OBAMA hopes for it, their senate attendance record gives credence to that. PLUS change = standing up to the Bush Administration, and their voting record indicates that Clinton actually stands up more against Bush then Obama.
sadhana khan | 12.17.07 - 12:25 pm | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Granted, attendance records are important, but I think it's only part of the picture. We have to ask ourselves WHAT people voted for, not just that they showed up for the vote. Hillarys voting record leaves an awful lot to be desired, I would daresay she's been on the wrong end of a lot of issues I agree with (Iran and Iraq for one).

Also, in my mind attendance records can easily be spun as a negative. If Obama is casting himself as an outsider/change agent, what easier way than to say that while Hillary was inside the Senate doing "politics as usual" he was out actually meeting with people and talking about vision. I say this to illustrate a point moreso than anything I personally believe. In my world given all the perks of being a Senator it should be constitutionally mandated that they all have 100% attendance records unless they are sick or dying. If I missed 33 or even 20 percent of my work, I'd be fired pretty darn quick.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 12:42 pm | #

Yes, tlhwraith, you obviously didn't read the links I provided you, yet you continue to make an argument that makes no sense with nothing to back yourself up.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 12:42 pm | #

OMG grow up people. This is politics. Stop being such fucking pussies. The Republicans are going to use the same tactics as all the fuckin people in the primaries. At least you know what is coming.

Secondly, anyone who says Bush and Hillary are the same thing are either congenital liars or fucking insane. I can't believe we're fighting over who's going to be the goddamn nominee when the country is still going to handbasket and both Senator's Clinton and Obama are not doing a damn thing to stop it.
Eric | 12.17.07 - 12:42 pm | #

Howdy was just pointing out what the Republicans will say about Edwards in the general election if he is the Dems choice.
I don't personally give a rat’s ass if he has had cosmetic surgery. Huckabee used to be fat – stomach staple? Should that be brought up in the election? Hillary has a butt on her now. Should that be brought up?
None of those things have shit to do with being president.
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 12:43 pm | #

Capt. Howdy, my point was that Obama nor any of the other Democratic candidates have that option available to them, do they?
naschkatze | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 12:45 pm | #

Grant in Houston,

Obama is very two faced in my opinion on gay rights issues. The McClurkin thing pointed that out for me. I wouldn't describe McClurkin's appearance at Obama's campaign event as just "letting him appear". That whole thing was a fiasco the way Obama handled it once it started to cause trouble in the gay community.

Compare that to the way Obama handles any "racial" issue that comes up. Barak automatically calls for administration officials to be fired whenever that happens. But, when the issue is homophobic bigotry he calls for tolerance of the bigots view points and for meeting with the bigots to find common ground. You know because they may be homophobes, but they are good christians. So, we need to discuss it with them. I'm sure the racists he calls out also consider themselves to be good christians. So, why don't we need to sit and discuss their racisim with them and look for common ground?

Why does Obama consider racial bigotry to be so repugnant, but bigotry agains gays, not so much?
anon-no-more | 12.17.07 - 12:45 pm | #

Somewhere in my record collection is an album called "Sun City," a project put together in 1985 by Steve Van Zandt, Miles Davis, "News Dissector" Danny Schechter and others to protest the apartheid regime in South Africa. Please click on the clip below — if you haven't seen it before, you'll be amazed. It might be the greatest music video ever made. It's certainly the most socially conscious.
http://medianation.blogspot.com/...y-sun- city.html
Michael1 | 12.17.07 - 12:45 pm | #

tlhwraith, you are not show why we should support Obama. He is smart? That's your reason? How do you know he is smarter then Edwards? If your only consideration is brains, Edwards has been a successful attorney - brains? The other stuff you threw out there is MSM talking points on Edwards.
Obama has no record to scrutinize. He is not ready for prime time.
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 12:39 pm | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Actually, I wasn't necessarily trying to show why you should vote Obama because if you read my posts you'll see I'm still not convinced of it. My real point is to say that I think Obama is doing a better job with the type of campaign he is promoting. He is promoting himself as a young, bright eyed, change agent, and he is running a very effective campaign based on that. Edwards is running as a populist and since his campaign is lackluster I figured at least maybe his record could support his views and make his campaign more appealing, it doesn't. So, in short, people have said Edwards isn't #1 in the polls because of money or his campaign style, fine, but if you are then going to turn around and say he's still the best hope, I would like to hear why. The burden of proof is clearly on Edwards supporters because at the very least Clinton and Obama can easily say that they have demonstrated they are capable of running the best overall campaigns.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 12:46 pm | #

Eric, where do you get we are pussies? As we go into the primaries these discussions need to take place. Only a pussy would NOT want to hear or discuss it.
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 12:47 pm | #

"The burden of proof is clearly on Edwards supporters because at the very least Clinton and Obama can easily say that they have demonstrated they are capable of running the best overall campaigns."

tlhwraith, that, my friend, is subjective.
By using that logic, Ron Paul should win because he has raised so much money over the weekend, so obviously his message is more clear.
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 12:50 pm | #

I'm getting more and more tired of the whininess of the Obama campaign. It's been said before in this thread, but it bears repeating -- if Obama can't handle it now, he'll COMPLETELY FAIL when the GOP spin machine dishes it out.

The Clinton campaign is treating him with kid gloves compared to what the GOP will do to him.

This is the GOP people -- no blow is to low for them, no trick is too sneaky, every scrap of mud will be flung, at whoever gets the Democratic nomination.

If Obama doesn't handle this better in the primary, and if he gets the nomination anyway, he will look weak in the general election, and we'll have another 4 years of the Bush agenda, just with a new face.

Obama needs to "man up" if he's going to have a prayer.
Mike H. | 12.17.07 - 12:50 pm | #

Gotta run. Later
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 12:53 pm | #

tlhwraith, you obviously didn't even look at the links I provided, much less did you even read them.
Progressive Troll | 12.17.07 - 12:10 pm | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
You mean the one about Hillary Clinton farting during a speech, no I didn't read that one.

If you are referring to the CNN focus poll one, yes I did read it, but I'm sure with a 20 second google search I could find about 100 that say Obama or Clinton are just as electable. If we are going to be using focus groups and polls as the criteria, than I think that's a losing fight for an edwards supporter. For every poll/group you find that says Edwards is group I'm pretty comfortable saying you'd probably find many more that says he is a second or third place choice. For polls and the like, a single result is irrelevant and you have to look at the overall trend. In this case, clearly Hillary has been the big favorite so far. My big problem is that Edwards isn't the #2 guy nationally, he's third!
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 12:53 pm | #

Media propaganda, privatized electronic voting machines, the majority lacking paper receipts, etc, felonious operations behind the scenes, all will come together to select the next pResident - I hardly think for one minute that '08 will be anything close to a fair, free and open election.

2000 and 2004 was not. What changed? The 2006 election? The only reason the Dems won was because major Dem cities held their vote count until the last minute momentarily tripping up the theft of the election in several states. Won't happen again.
Louis | 12.17.07 - 12:55 pm | #

We all know that this isn't over by a long shot.
Butch | Homepage | 12.17.07 - 12:56 pm | #

I like the fact that Bob Kerrey took part in the slaughter of a VietNamese Village and hid the truth for decades.

They need that kind of experience in the Clinton Campaign.
anon | 12.17.07 - 1:00 pm | #

tlhwraith, that, my friend, is subjective.
By using that logic, Ron Paul should win because he has raised so much money over the weekend, so obviously his message is more clear.
karol with class | 12.17.07 - 12:50 pm | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Karol, we all know why Ron Paul got the money, people are pissed at the direction of the country and he's a lightening rod for that anger. His platform is very radical and has a visceral appeal to some of the zealots.

Of course my point is subjective, show me any one that isn't. Politics is not rocket science, even the "quantitative" data is still subjective. However, taking all of the available "data points" we have today (fundraising, polling performance, etc) Edwards still looks like an "also-ran". All I'm saying is that people here really should step up and give a really compelling reason why there is this clear consensus that somehow Edwards is more electable than Obama and Hillary, when he is running against them right now and losing! If he wins Iowa and a couple of other primaries, hey, I will vote for him with no reservations, I honestly like his message. However, I think many people here are falling into the same trap I did of supporting Edwards simply because we think he is more palatable than the others because of his color and sex. If that were true, he'd be the frontrunner right now as well, and that just isn't the case by any reasonable consensus of the available measurements of overall standing.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 1:01 pm | #

I had high hopes for Edwards in the 2004 run as Kerry's VP. But, I was very disappointed in Edwards' performance in his debate against Darth Cheney.

Edwards was promoted as being a great debater because of his skills with convincing juries as a lawyer.

But, he let Cheney walk all over him and even let him get away with outright lies during that debate. Edwards had many opportunities in that debate to show Cheney as either a liar or just too old to be able to remember anything accuratlt. But, he didn't do it. I just don't think he was able to think on his feet well enough.

These primary debates are nothing compared to what a real debate will be like in the general election. And, I would hate to see Edwards perform like that again.
anon-no-more | 12.17.07 - 1:01 pm | #

"OMG grow up people. This is politics. Stop being such fucking pussies. The Republicans are going to use the same tactics as all the fuckin people in the primaries. At least you know what is coming."

Again lets apply this to all our candidates!

Will she please address the lesbian rumor, it persists, she should address it or else republicans can use it.

Hey didn't think Clinton's force some guy to kill himself?

Is bill still cheating on her? Do they still have a marriage? do they make love? How often are they together? sleep in the same bed? If she can't be honest about her marriage how can we trust anything she says?
She really needs to address this now so we can see how she will handle it int he general. She needs to be tested, because you know these are out there. it is for our own good that she answer them.
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 1:14 pm | #

Agree.

If Edwards was stronger in 2004, I'd probably be supporting him now.

It was a shame too, because he started out well. Had his game face on (very serious looking) and hit one of Cheney's lies right out of the park.

I figured, "Great. We're going to see this tough attorney I've been reading so much about."

Then, he sort of lost it for some reason. Started smiling more, laughing occasionally, while Cheney was just ripping off one lie after another.

I was disappointed.
Bush Bites | 12.17.07 - 1:19 pm | #

I will say this again. We need all of this out in the primary.

I agree completely.
but Kerry is still a knob.

Also agree completely. I also find it most interesting that this is coming from the same guy who back in '92 (when running against him in the primaries) noted that Bill Clinton was very, very good at lying.
oddjob | 12.17.07 - 1:19 pm | #

Is bill still cheating on her? Do they still have a marriage? do they make love? How often are they together? sleep in the same bed? If she can't be honest about her marriage how can we trust anything she says?
She really needs to address this now so we can see how she will handle it int he general. She needs to be tested, because you know these are out there. it is for our own good that she answer them.
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 1:14 pm | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
It always amazes me how much people seem to care about who politicians are screwing. Collectively they are the least attractive bunch of folks on the planet yet there seems to be some morbid fascination about their mating habits.

Quite frankly just thinking about who Bill or Hillary is boinking makes me want to hurl chunks all over my keyboard.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 1:19 pm | #

Media attention certainly helps a candidate run an effective campaign. The corporate media early on drilled into the public consciousness that there were only two viable Democratic candidates: Obama and Hillary. This helped them to raise much more money and allowed them to buy much more airtime then Edwards.

As far as Edwards' populist credentials, how's this?

Democrats' war on corporate greed: Mostly bluster

Clinton and Obama both have deep ties with supporters and contributors in corporate America

With the exception of Edwards, it's unlikely that the leading Democratic candidates would govern with that level of frothing animosity toward business leaders.

http://money.cnn.com/2007/12/14/ ...sion=2007121411

Obama's my senator. It's funny how his rhetoric hasn't exactly matched his voting record or some of his actions. After giving an anti-war speech before an anti-war crowd in the anti-war city of Chicago, he was elected to the Senate where he proceeded to vote for every war funding bill and where he made little noise about the war until the American public turned against it. Obama said that he wanted to repeal the Patriot Act and then voted to renew it. Obama was for fast track authority for trade agreements before he was against it. Quote: "I plan to be president, I want Fast Track, but willing to constrain myself in Fast Track to make sure that we've got strong labor and environmental protections." He just recently stated that he would have voted for the Peru FTA (he was a no-show) that is opposed by labor unions in Peru (and many in the U.S., including SEIU) and by Peruvian farmers. And then there was his embrace of Holy Joe. Overall, Obama has not made a case for my vote.
old dem | 12.17.07 - 1:20 pm | #

It always amazes me how much people seem to care about who politicians are screwing. Collectively they are the least attractive bunch of folks on the planet yet there seems to be some morbid fascination about their mating habits.

Quite frankly just thinking about who Bill or Hillary is boinking makes me want to hurl chunks all over my keyboard.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 1:19 pm | #

I agree and i feel the same way about weather or not Obama is related to a Muslim, but by Hillary's standards, since there are some people some where who do think it's important and will bring it up, we have to talk about it now, so lets get to talking!
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 1:24 pm | #

anon | 12.17.07 - 1:00 pm |
--------------------
It is kind of interesting (and confusing to some) that former Senator Bob Kerrey and Senator John Kerry were both swiftboat leaders in Viet Nam.
scottinsf | 12.17.07 - 1:27 pm | #

It feels slimy. Am I wrong about this?

No.

...To prove persuasive in the face of rivals like him and Edwards, Clinton needs to show why her greater experience matters, why it would make her a more capable change agent and a bigger, more promising leader.

And she and her campaign need to be careful about resorting to arguments that only make her look small.
oddjob | 12.17.07 - 1:29 pm | #

old dem | 12.17.07 - 1:20 pm | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
OK, but the article you pointed to just reinforces what I said before, Edwards talks a good game, but there's absolutely nothing in the article to indicate that he's ever done anything about it. Obamas voting record definately has some issues that I find upsetting (not voting on the Iran resolution being one of them), but like I said before, he's running a campaign not on his record, but on his charisma. Since Obama does have charisma, it works. Edwards is running a campaign as a populist, without some populist cred there's not a whole lot to run on.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 1:29 pm | #

Bob was a Navy Seal.

Did they run Swiftboats too?
Bush Bites | 12.17.07 - 1:29 pm | #

Guess so.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Kerrey
Bush Bites | 12.17.07 - 1:30 pm | #

Bob was a Navy Seal.

Did they run Swiftboats too?
Bush Bites | 12.17.07 - 1:29 pm |
---------------------
Yup. Google Thanh Phong Massacre.
scottinsf | 12.17.07 - 1:32 pm | #

Yeah, I found it on Wiki.

Didn't realize that.
Bush Bites | 12.17.07 - 1:33 pm | #

Isn't Kerrey the guy who mowed down an entire hamlet in Vietnam? He'd know about experience with foreigners.
V. Nagarajan | 12.17.07 - 1:42 pm | #

Shillary...SUCKS!
UFL | 12.17.07 - 2:00 pm | #

A vote for Shillary is a vote for the GOP and the continued status quo in DC
UFL | 12.17.07 - 2:02 pm | #

tlhwraith, Kerry/Edwards WON in 2004.

All Hillary will do is provide another razor thin margin for the GOP to steal another election with little fuss from our cowards in Congress. Is that what you want? You'd really risk another 4 years of Republicans out of some crazy loyalty? No candidate is worth that. Keep Hillary in the Senate where she is needed and concentrate on taking back the White House.

Edwards beats every Republican by double digits (except McCain- he beats him by 8%, outside of the margin of error). He is the only candidate we have that does that.

This election is for all the marbles and the other side will not hesitate to steal another one. Think a trial lawyer is going to let them get away with it again? They lucked out last time, Kerry refused to let John contest the Ohio vote. Not again.
midwestvoter | 12.17.07 - 2:04 pm | #

Believe it or not Obama is riding on thin ice even ahead in poles and with Oprah’s endorsement. Why? As the next few weeks move along Obama will be challenged about his Arabic name. Barrack Hussein Obama is not African. It is very Arabic and given him by his very Muslim father.

These are not smear situations only honestly not good situations. Obama said his father was a Christian. I don’t think so. Even Chris Mathews made a snit slip comment Obama has the “MO”. In Islamic circles that Mohammad shorted Islam is “MO”. And Islamics are furious because of his denial.

Actually Obama maybe very lucky to be reelected as a senator after the Republicans rework this misinformation about his father’s faith for the next Illinois election. It’s my personal opinion and knowing a few in Iowa I don’t think Iowa is going to vote in Obama not because of prejudice, but choice, it was very clever for the Republicans to put Allen Keyes in the final debate, out standing idiot to vote against as a black challenger. Now you know why Illinois voted for Obama Allen Keyes frightened everyone.

Bet your ballot Islam is waiting on the side lines praising Allah Barrack Hussein Obama is nominated president. All the while Republicans lather up getting ready for this cake walk. The Republicans will make the Democrats appears as pandering to the enemy. Easy stuff to do. From Saddam Hussein hung out in public view in Iraq to B. Hussein Obama nominated by the Democrats. Praise be to Allah leads America.
joze46 | 12.17.07 - 2:11 pm | #

Kerrey threatened to kick the ass of anyone that didn't favor SS privatization
jr | 12.17.07 - 2:15 pm | #

jozw46,

Hey, I'm pretty sure that Chris Matthews comment about Obama having "MO" meant "momentum". I can't imagine anyone thinking it was short for Mohammed. That would be a real stretch...
anon-no-more | 12.17.07 - 2:19 pm | #

It's his middle name - is Obama Hussein ashamed of it?
Anonymous | 12.17.07 - 2:24 pm | #

this its not a theme today she is talking about suicide missions:

“I’m running against three other senators and one former senator — none of them have more than one other senator supporting them, and some have none,'’ she said. “I have nine, from states as diverse as California and Hawaii. Why? Why would experienced and knowledgeable Democrats support me if they thought that was true? They are not on a suicide mission. They want to win, and so do I.”
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 2:25 pm | #

let me correct myself
is this her theme for today? Now she is talking about suicide missions:

“I’m running against three other senators and one former senator — none of them have more than one other senator supporting them, and some have none,'’ she said. “I have nine, from states as diverse as California and Hawaii. Why? Why would experienced and knowledgeable Democrats support me if they thought that was true? They are not on a suicide mission. They want to win, and so do I.”
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 2:25 pm | #
JGarza | 12.17.07 - 2:27 pm | #

Bill and Hillary could make as musch as ten million bucks from their interest in 3 offshore companies run by one of their big contributors..
I'm sure as president these offshore companies wouldn't get any special treatment...

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/ne...CSHo& refer=home
Busboy | 12.17.07 - 2:42 pm | #

This election is for all the marbles and the other side will not hesitate to steal another one. Think a trial lawyer is going to let them get away with it again? They lucked out last time, Kerry refused to let John contest the Ohio vote. Not again.
midwestvoter | 12.17.07 - 2:04 pm | #

-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
A trial lawyer let it happen already! Hate to wake you and the Fred Thompson folks up, but this isn't law and order, just because you are an attorney (or play one on TV) doesn't mean you have the stones to actually stand up for the rule of law in the face of stolen elections. If there was such obvious cheating for Bush in 2004, Edwards could have spoken out then, but he didn't. So much for the "trial lawyer" theory.

Not to be mean, but stop drinking the koolaid. Use whatever excuse gives you warm fuzzies, Bush was sworn in as President in 2004, that makes him the winner, end of discussion. Did he probably use dirty tricks, sure, but as in most things in life fair and honest makes your soul feel good but doesn't make the lose any less like losing.

As per Edwards the "trial attorney" being a good bet, again, sounds nice, but all emperical evidence has you dead wrong. If Edwards is such a sure thing he wouldn't be trailing behind so far in the primaries. What is so hard to internalize about that?

If Edwards is such a great candidate he'd actually be the frontrunner and not an also-ran. Instead, we have a bunch of delusional people making him out to be "the great white hope" but his performance so far is more reminiscent of the Kerry v Bush rematch, and we know how that one turned out.
tlhwraith | 12.17.07 - 2:44 pm | #

A friend of mine says Oprah is a closet Gay.

Anyone know for sure?
joze46 | 12.17.07 - 3:04 pm | #

How is stating facts a slur or a smear? Obama's middle name is Hussein and he does have relatives who are Muslim. Facts are hard to get away from. He should accept them and move on. There is a big difference between facts and "rumors."
sam | 12.17.07 - 3:19 pm | #

I am getting a tired of Obama and his supporters crying about everything. Fight. Don't whine.
Terry Green | 12.17.07 - 3:24 pm | #

Old Dem, I am from Illinois as well and voted for Obama to represent our state in the U.S. Senate.However, I will not vote for him in the Illinois Democratic presidential primary and I will not vote for him for re-election to the U.S. Senate. My reasons for not supporting the "favorite son of Illinois" is that during his time in the U.S. Senate he has done nothing to help the state that he was elected to represent. In Illinois mass transit is in desperate need of funding,as is health care and infrastructure repair, yet while other states' representatives are able to "earmark" funds for their states, for Illinois Obama is A.W.O.L. Illinois deserves full time representation in the U.S. Senate and we are not getting it from Obama.
George | 12.17.07 - 3:25 pm | #

...knocking Obama for having the middle name of one of the most hated men in America

Obama's middle name is 'Dick Cheney'?
Kyle | 12.17.07 - 3:29 pm | #

Supporters of HRC cannot have it both ways...

One on hand it is apparent part of the support is based on your belief can "take it to" Republicans. That years of attacks have steeled her do do this.
However,; you must also embrace recent actions by her campaign. Does anyone believe was Kerry said was not at least vetted if not written for Kerry?

I am an Edwards supporter. As such, I tell that man with a history of Dem causes .."Keep it up!"

Seeing this Bullshit for what it is?
A major difference between Dems and Repubs is exactly this?

Again Clinton and supporters cannot have it both ways.
If her campaign is one of discipline then these actions are co-ordinated and purposeful...and despicable.

If these actions are the continued result of loose cannons...Then this is not the disciplined campaigned needed to win in November...
nogo war | 12.17.07 - 3:33 pm | #

Okay Obama supporters - I don't care what his middle name is I just want one of you to tell me why it is that Obama has not accomplished more as a U.S. senator.
He has a message of "I will bring the parties together" I am the one who will do things differently (whatever that means) and he can bring this divided country together and make everyone like each other.
So I ask why doesn't he go to the Senate where he has an office and start working with the repulicans to override the SCHIP veto. We have had two of them and I don't see Mr. Obama doing anything to get the few Republicans necessary to cross the aisle and vote against Bush. If he can do this I'll take another look at him. If he can get Republicans to work with Democrats to get a timeline for troop withdrawal, I'll take a second look. I want to see what he can do, I want to see him put words into action.
And BTW as someone who practices law in the state of Illinois and has spent my fair share of time in Springfield, Barak Obama was not a heavy hitter in the Democratic party during his time there. And the only reason he is a US Senator is because he ran against Alan Keyes - remember him he made a showing at the Republican debate last week. Keyes was a throw away candidate when Jack Ryan dropped out of the 2006 race. Otherwise Obama would have had a much, much more difficult race and may well have lost.
grandmother | 12.17.07 - 3:37 pm | #

I have to laugh at all these comments. Seriously folks, Obama cannot win the country. People are over Edwards he had his shot. People I know who liked him in 2004, including myself, cannot stand him now. Hillary Clinton will surprise you. She can and will win this election. It is either her or guiliani, huckabee or romney or gasp, mccain! If we don't nominate Senator Clinton then I will sit back and watch the republicans continue to destroy the country and realize we handed them the election!
Hillary Clinton 2008!
L. Shaver | 12.17.07 - 3:49 pm | #

A friend of mine says Oprah is a closet Gay.

Anyone know for sure?
joze46 | 12.17.07 - 3:04 pm | #

Thats what they say about Hillary too, any one know? Can she prove she isn't, if not you know the "right wing machine" is going to sue it to beat her, so i think she need to address this! Us democrats have a right to know she can disprove this.
Julian | 12.17.07 - 4:14 pm | #

julian

the right wing machine has thrown so much crap at ms. clinton over the years that if it hasn't stuck already, it ain't gonna stick now. i doubt that a "i am not a gay american speach" will be on anyone's radar screen next year.

i am more concerned with ms. hussein obama's booty bumps, k-holes and the like. her drug use is new terroritory that we may be better off not dealing with in the general election.
mother bottom | 12.17.07 - 4:26 pm | #

John: I think you, like Kos, have your preferences and biases as do most commenters. But don't tie every negative comment about Obama or Clinton, made by a supporter to the candidate. Candidates can't stop supporters from sounding off. There is free speech. I might not like what someone says about Obama's Muslim heritage or Clinton's triangulating (which is often a lazy was to criticise her often serious points).

But to pick a fight about every single thing just pushes it along. Look: Obama is now being criticised for never having convened a single hearing on Foreign Policy as he chair of a sub-committee on Europe. Is that a fair point to raise? I think so given Clinton's rather good record on committee hearings. This information goes to round out the profile. But I would not attack Obama for not holding hearings. But I might just ask myself why he has not held one.

I really look to you and Kos to have a level 5 understanding of how complex campaigning is. Don't be a Tweety Matthews or a Anne Kornblut and that now pompous Joe.

A colleague pointed out that Zbigniew Brezinski is advising Obama. I see his daughter Mila commenting on FP on Morning Joe. Now, if she says something positive about Obama and negative about Clinton on a FP issue do I accuse her of voicing her father's preference? This is all getting too silly for words.
Alan Bennett | 12.17.07 - 4:27 pm | #

Wow, I never thought I'd be as annoyed with Americablog as I consistently am with Dkos.

The blind faith in Obama you have recently assumed is disturbing. It's fine to support him, but to see anything said about him as a negative is the kind of cult of personality that got Bush "elected."

Hillary isn't perfect, and yes she is my candidate because I can't stand Obama's inability to stand for anything. But i'm shocked at how QUICKLY you have come around on him after he did nothing to lessen his support of the ANTI-GAY, reparative therapy, preacher.

Band-wagon, much?
chrisnyc | 12.17.07 - 5:02 pm | #

My two cents:
I don't like Kerrey.
He may have been trying to stick a shiv into Obama---not sure yet.
However, I hope the Obama camp thinks seriously about whether they want to accuse anyone who utters his middle name of using a slur.
That seems to me to be a very foolish response
Anonymous | 12.17.07 - 7:10 pm | #

I don't understand at all how spreading rumors about Hillary is the same as saying what Obama's middle name ACTUALLY IS. His middle name is ACTUALLY Hussein! He ACTUALLY has Muslim heritage. If it's an issue now, wait 'til the general.
Josh | 12.17.07 - 7:36 pm | #

julian

don't sell mrs. clinton short - she is not losing the primary - most likely will be the nominee. as dems we MUST rally around her -- barrack has too many unknowns to role the dice -

love to all, julian.
mother bottom | 12.17.07 - 7:59 pm | #

Why do so many people get offended when the truth is said about obama. His middle name is hussein and he is biracial and he did have a muslim father. I don't believe he is a muslim and that is of no importance. But his middle name is hussien.Why doesn't he ever use it. Clinton mentions it. Is he ashamed or is it that it doesn't fit his political agenda.
NCTL | 12.18.07 - 12:55 am | #

Comment Policy / Terms of Service
AMERICAblog has a large and diverse readership. We encourage free speech, and do not care if you are a Republican, Democrat, or even French. We therefore assume no responsibility for what is written in our comments sections -- the comments in this forum express solely the views of the comments' authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of AMERICAblog or any of its staff. We are interested, however, in fostering a respectful debate and community. We have therefore added site monitors to patrol the comments. The monitors will delete comments, and ban commenters, in a timely manner when we are notified that a comment violates our terms of service. Violations of our terms of service include, but are not limited to, posting comments that are perceived as: personal attacks on other members of our community; violent/threatening; bigoted/discriminatory; slanderous; hurtful to members of this community; and/or intended to disrupt the debate. Spam and "sock puppet" comments will also be deleted and banned. We also reserve the right to delete any comment, and ban any commenter, for any other reason we deem appropriate. Decisions are final, and not open to debate. By posting in our comments you agree to accept and abide by these terms.

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