Posts Tagged clinton
6/4 News
Obama makes history
Barack Obama addressed a roaring crowd yesterday as he declared himself the Democratic presidential candidate after passing the 2,118 delegate threshold. Obama weathered an improbable 17-month long campaign against once likely nominee Hillary Clinton. He praised the New York senator for her hard work and tenacity, as she pledged to unify the party without actually stating she was dropping out.
Obama’s delegate total kicked off the general election, as Republican presumptive nominee John McCain admitted either candidate would bring change. “But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change, between going forward and going backward.”
Obama responded quickly with a similar tone, attacking McCain for supporting Bush’s policies.
“It’s not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95 percent of the time, as he did in the Senate last year. It’s not change when he offers four more years of Bush economic policies that have failed to create well-paying jobs. … And it’s not change when he promises to continue a policy in Iraq that asks everything of our brave young men and women in uniform and nothing of Iraqi politicians.”
The first-term Illinois senator addressed 17,000 fans in a St. Paul stadium, where the GOP convention will be held in September. The historic campaign kicked off with a surprising Iowa victory on January 3. That began a firefight between the two popular candidates, Obama standing for change and Clinton standing for experience. Obama attracted the support of blacks, younger voters, more liberals and more well-off voters while Clinton was popular among Hispanics, working-class and women.
Clinton stopped shorting of formally ending her campaign as she spoke in New York. She admitted she was open to vice-president during a conference call with a New Mexico representative.
There are mixed numbers about the strength of this “dream ticket.” Critics said he needs Hispanic, southern and female support and point to candidates like New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Nebraskan Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, Virginia Senator Jim Webb and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano.
Add comment June 4, 2008
It’s finally over
The exhausting, drawn-out Democratic Presidential primary has come to an end. After 54 contests and 35,000,000 votes, we finally have an unofficial candidate.
I say unofficial because Clinton hasn’t dropped out yet. What do you expect? A candidate this stubborn and egotistical doesn’t admit defeat easily. Sure, she will. But it’ll take some time, just like it took her time to realize the primary election wasn’t going to be a cakewalk.
The funny thing is that Obama was mathematically guaranteed the nomination by early March. But it kept going. Reverend Wright was brought up. Hillary slammed him to talking about “guns and religion.” Of course, Hillary and her husband haven’t exactly been grassroots for the past sixteen years.
Well now it’s assured. Every time she lost a front, she changed it. First it depended on delegates, then superdelegates, then popular vote. Every time she lost, she changed the goal post. Now Obama has won every front, and there’s nothing she can do.
I don’t think he’ll pick her as vice-president. There are a lot of people that don’t like Hillary Clinton. The kind of people that don’t like Barack Obama wouldn’t vote for him just because he has Clinton on his ticket. During this season, when one candidate loses, his supporters say they won’t support the other candidate. They always do.
So Barack Obama, don’t pick Hillary. Pick Bill Richardson. He’s a governor of a Hispanic state and Hispanic himself, he’s older, and has been Governor, UN Ambassador, Energy Secretary and Representative.
No one can top a beard like that.
Another pick, I think, is Chuck Hagel. Obama could fulfill his promise of reaching across the aisle by picking this Vietnam vet, former VA secretary under Raegan and Nebraska Senator. Hagel has said this will be his last term as Senator.
I think I’ll also plot my candidate support.
Q2 2007: Obama (Thought he was cool)
Q3 2007: Kucinich (Starting Digging)
Q4 2007: Paul (Kucinich can’t win)
Q1 2008: Obama (Paul can’t win)
And here I am. As you can see, I don’t care if they’re Democrats or GOP. Iraq war opposition, good economic policy and stricter foreign policy is what I care about.
Now that all liberals have a common opponent it’s time to throw our weight around. For years pundits have been saying that only a Democrat can win this year. They’re right. He leads in every poll.
YES WE CAN.
Add comment June 4, 2008
5/29 News
McCain staff leave Vets for Freedom
Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) left the independent organization Vets for Freedom after yesterday’s story surfaced about the group’s anti-Obama ads. The group aims to promote victory in Iraq and Afghanistan but McCain’s “Relevant” policy prohibits his campaign staff from being involved in any independent organizations that comment on presidential candidates.
McCain started the policy after his Virginia leader Craig Shirley was discovered to be a paid advisor to a group that attacked Obama also.
News Corp Chairman predicts Obama victory
Rupert Murdoch said at the Wall Street Journal’s All Things Digital conference last night that he thought Obama will win the election.
The Chairman of News Corps and the inventor of conservative media like Fox News called Obama a “rock star.” “I love what he is saying about education.” “He will win in Ohio and the election.” “I am anxious to meet him.”
Murdoch admitted he was a friend of McCain but cast doubt about his economic policy and long career in Congress.
DNC gives Florida and Michigan half of delegates
The Democratic National Committee’s legal team ruled yesterday that Florida and Michigan’s delegates can count for no more than half. The full count would’ve given Senator Clinton a huge boost in the delegate race. Both Clinton and Senator Obama pledged not to campaign in the states since they broke party rules and moved their primary too early. Obama had his name removed from the Michigan ballot.
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said “We don’t think it’s fair to seat them fully,” but “we’re willing to give some delegates here.”
DNC falling short of convention fundraising
The DNC is having trouble raising money for it’s August convention in Denver. It’s still $15 million short of the roughly $40 million needed for the convention. The party is planning to give corporations a way to underwrite the convention. Many insiders partially blame the prolonged primary race for stealing Democrat donors.
New York to recognize gay marriages and unions from other states
New York Governor David Paterson pushed state agencies yesterday to recognize gay unions and marriages made in other states. Currently California and Massachusetts are the only states to allow gay marriage, while some states like New Jersey allow gay unions. Paterson called the measure “a strong step toward marriage equality.” Former governor Elliot Spitzer failed to get a gay-marriage bill passed last year.
Add comment May 29, 2008
5/26 News
Carter leaks Israeli nuke count
Former president Jimmy Carter said yesterday that Israel has 150 nuclear weapons and that the US should start talking to Iran about it’s nuclear program. It’s surprising because Israel, nor any US official has ever admitted that Israel has nukes.
Carter has been very involved in Israel-Palestine relations since he left office and has criticized Israeli settlers on the West Bank and Israel’s refusal to talk to Hamas.
Fox analyst jokes about Obama assassination
Hillary Clinton is not the only one taking flak for her Obama assassination comment. Sunday journalist Liz Trotta appeared on Fox News and made this comment:
Trotta: “And now we have what some are reading as a suggestion that
somebody knock off Osama, uh Obama. Well, both, if we could.”
Not only is this unbelievable after Clinton’s massive damage control regarding RFK, but Trotta went so far as to not only confuse Obama with Osama, but actually suggest that Obama be assassinated.
She apologized this morning:
“Yes, I am so sorry about what happened yesterday and the lame attempt at humor. I
feel all over myself, making it appear that I wished Barack Obama harm or any other
candidate, for that matter, and I sincerely regret it and apologize to anybody I have
offended. It is a very colorful political season, and many of us are making mistakes
and saying things we wish we had not said.”
McCain returns to immigration reform
John McCain has attracted his share of criticism for changing his beliefs, but apparently hasn’t had enough. Before the election heated up, McCain was the forerunner of bipartisan immigration reform. By November of last year, he tried to please unsold conservatives by abandoning his own bill. Now that he has the nomination wrapped up, he appears to be going to “maverick” McCain.
“I believe we have to secure our borders, and I think most Americans agree with that,
because it’s a matter of national security. But we must enact comprehensive immigration
reform. We must make it a top agenda item if we don’t do it before, and we probably
won’t, a little straight talk, as of January 2009.”
Minister fights Bush library
A Methodist minister is launching a campaign to fight the construction of George Bush’s presidential library on Southern Methodist University’s campus. The minister says the agendas the Republican think tank will promote like interrogation conflict with Methodist teachings.
2 comments May 26, 2008
5/21 News
Ex-Guantanamo prisoner testifies in Congress
Only a handful of legislators listened to German-born Murat Kurnaz’s testimony of his imprisonment yesterday. Kurnaz was arrested by Pakistani authorities while visiting the region in 2001. US authorities “purchased” Kurnaz for $3000 and incarcerated him in Guantanamo Bay for five years, despite being determined to have no terrorist links in 2002.
Yesterday, he traveled to Congress to testify about his experience there but after technical difficulties only about half a dozen lawmakers remained to hear his story. Kurnaz recently published a book about the experience, “Five Years of My Life: An Innocent Man in Guantanamo.”
Bush promises Saudi nuclear support
President Bush pledged Monday to continue to assist Saudi Arabia with their nuclear power program, including providing enriched uranium and even protecting oil reserves. President Bush has attracted criticism for a possible double nuclear standard regarding Iran, and even recently admitted the majority of 9/11 attackers were Saudis.
Israel and Syria come to talking point
Israel and Syria announced they resumed peace talks early this morning after an eight-year break. Identical statements released by Israel, Syria and Turkey confirmed that the talks began earlier through Turkish mediators.
Many problems exist between Israel and Syria. Syria has been isolated from world diplomacy and been called an “axis of evil” by President Bush. Israel is concerned about Syrian support of Hezbollah and Palestinian militants. The US is unusually not involved in the peace talks.
Obama is clear fundraising winner
Barack Obama added to his impressive total of $268 million dollars with April donations topping $31 million. The monthly amount was a slight decrease from March’s $40 million but Obama still has the overall financial lead. Hillary Clinton raised $22 million the same month, her highest during this campaign and brought her total to $262 million. Obama’s strategy focuses on millions of small donors, a model Clinton has had to adopt after her early donors maxed out.
Guantanamo prisoner
Saudi enriching
Israel and Syria
Obama fundraising
Add comment May 21, 2008
