Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi released a statement today marking the 4,000th U.S. casualty in Iraq. "Today, we mourn America's fallen heroes; the deaths of 4,000 American soldiers are a grim reminder of the enormous cost of war in Iraq: the human cost.
The Political Quotes of the Week
A collection of political quotes that you might have missed over the past week. This was a popular feature in my old column, so I decided to bring it back.
"They will do anything -- anything -- to get nominated."
--- An associate of the Clintons who was quoted by Bob Novak in his Washington Post column 3/24
Hillary Clinton Unveils Housing Crisis Plan
At a speech in Philadelphia, PA today, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton unveiled her four point plan to deal with the nation's housing crisis. "I will start by facing our economic situation as it is, not as we wish it would be.
Happy Easter: Watch Out For Lead
A study done last week by Ashland (Ohio) University chemistry professor Jeffrey D. Weidenhamer found that 13 of 45 Easter eggs and toys purchased at retail outlets contained lead. "We may like to think that lead contaminated toys have been taken off the shelves, but unfortunately the evidence shows that's not the case," said Dr. Marcia J.
Barack Obama’s Catholic Problem
One story and demographic that has been more or less constant for Barack Obama has been his struggle to win Catholic voters.
Did Bill Richardson Betray the Clintons?
James Carville thinks that Bill Richardson committed an act of betrayal when he endorsed Barack Obama on Friday. This got me thinking, what more did Richardson owe the Clintons?
Obama has a Big Advantage in the Money Race
Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama continue to raise staggering sums of money, while John McCain continues to wait for the funds to start rolling in. Obama raised $55,369,162 in the month of February. Hillary Clinton also had a great month. She raised $34,466,631. For poor John McCain, the money just isn't coming in very quickly.
Democrats Link Bad Economy to Iraq War
This week's Democratic radio address was delivered by Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and focused on the beginning the fifth anniversary of the Iraq war, and its costs at home and abroad. Menendez started by praising the troops then said, "When it comes to honoring and supporting our troops and their families, Democrats and Republicans stand as one.
My Five Favorite Ron Paul Quotes
Ron Paul will never be considered a quote machine; in fact on the surface it appears a little odd to some that this 71 year old man became the cult figure of the 2008 campaign. I think his appeal lies in the fact that candidates such as John McCain pretend to be mavericks, while Ron Paul is the real deal.
House to Investigate Passport Snooping Case
The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Howard L. Berman (D-CA) said in a statement that his committee will investigate the allegations that State Department employees improperly accessed the passport information of presidential candidates John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama.
Is Bill Richardson the Ideal Running Mate for Obama?
Today in Portland, OR former Democratic presidential candidate, and current New Mexico governor, Bill Richardson endorsed Barack Obama. His endorsement got me thinking that Richardson might be exactly who the Obama campaign needs shore up their weaknesses in a general election campaign. In the Clinton administration, Richardson was the U.S.
My Five Favorite Hillary Clinton Quotes
Sen. Hillary Clinton is many things to many people. To some, she is pioneer who could be America's first female president. To others, she is a political opportunist, who political views can change with the wind.
Poll Update: Clinton leads by 16 in PA
A new Franklin and Marshall College poll of the state of Pennsylvania released today found that Hillary Clinton has extended her lead over Barack Obama to sixteen points. Clinton now leads 51%-35%. She has gained nine points since the February poll, when she led, 44%-37%. Clinton leads among every demographic group except non-whites.
Dire Economy: Food Banks Struggling to Meet Demand
A statement released today by the nation's largest charitable hunger relief network stressed that the nation's food banks are having to deep into their reserves and ration food to recipients in order to meet increased demand. "The holidays have come and gone, and food banks continue to face one of the toughest periods in their history.
My Five Favorite Barack Obama Quotes
Introduction:
I love both politics, and the spoken/written word. I can appreciate a great quote, even if I personally disagree with what the speaker is saying. When I decided to put together a series where I listed my five favorite quotes from politicians both past and present, Barack Obama was an obvious choice for my first subject.
Why is Bear Stearns More Important than America’s Homeowners?
If the Bush administration is willing to bail out Bear Stearns, then why won't they help homeowners who are the victims of predatory lenders? According to the president of the non-partisan Center for Responsible Lending, Michael Calhoun, the Bush administration is not doing enough to help homeowners.
Transferring Bush’s War to John McCain
The Democratic Party's strategy for the general election is clearly to transfer ownership of the war in Iraq from President George W. Bush to Republican presidential nominee John McCain. Today, the Democratic National Committee released a new web ad titled Bush/McCain: Lockstep.
Comparing Clinton and Obama’s Remarks and Ideas on Iraq
What becomes obvious at first glance is that both campaigns chose to focus on Iraq in a different way. Clinton wanted to focus all blame on the Republicans, while looking presidential. This is a strategy aimed at the general election. "The mistakes in Iraq are not the responsibility of our men and women in uniform but of their Commander-in-Chief.
Bush Still Insists That Iraq War was Worth It
The White House has released early excerpts of a speech President Bush will be giving at the Pentagon on Wednesday to mark the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq. The president does acknowledge that the war came at a high price, but also continues to maintain that the U.S. is winning.
What Can We Learn From the Ron Paul Campaign?
In a video posted on his website almost two weeks ago, Republican Rep. Ron Paul hinted at the obvious. With John McCain clinching the GOP nomination, his presidential campaign is over. The Ron Paul phenomenon of 2008 is interesting because it revealed a great deal about where the Republican Party has been, and quite possibly where it is going.
Poll Update: Clinton Widens Her Lead in PA
A new Quinnipiac University poll of the state of Pennsylvania released today found that Hillary Clinton has widened her lead over Barack Obama to 12 points. This represents a doubling over her lead in the previous February 27 poll, but Obama has still managed to cut into the 18 point lead that Clinton enjoyed on February 14.
Obama Delivers in Address on Race
After discussing America's racial history, and describing his mixed race background, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said that the concept that we are the sum of our parts is seared into his genetic makeup. He discussed the racial tensions surrounding his campaign. "This is not to say that race has not been an issue in the campaign.
Hillary Clinton Voted on to Mount Rushmore
The members of the new women's online community wowOwow.com voted on which four women they would like to see on Mt. Rushmore. As a man, I think that three of the choices make perfect sense. Eleanor Roosevelt, Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks would, to me, all be worthy of this type of recognition. They are all Americans who made great contributions to our society.
Study: Pastor’s Sermons Could Cost Obama Support
A new national study by HCD Research of 798 Democrats, Republicans, and Independents found that an across party lines majority said that they were less likely to support Barack Obama after viewing video segments of sermons given by his pastor Jeremiah Wright.
Pelosi Urges Bush to Help Struggling Americans
Today, House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi issued a statement urging the President Bush to do more to help Americans struggling under the weight of the current economy. "While there is no quick fix to repair our struggling economy, more must be done to begin to reverse the economic mismanagement of the past seven years.
Clinton Attacks McCain and Obama on Iraq War
Democratic Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton gave what was billed as a major policy address at George Washington University today on her three part plan for ending the war in Iraq. Clinton spent an unusual amount of time during the early part of her address attacking both John McCain and Barack Obama.
Vice President Dick Cheney sets out to shock and awe us all with a surprise visit to Iraq
The White House wouldn't give any details on Cheney's trip except to say that he was there in an effort to build political unity in the country. Does anyone else find it ironic that an administration which has thrived on political division and secrecy, now finds itself in the position of having to unify Iraq?
Could a Brokered Convention Actually Help the Democratic Party?
The conventional wisdom says that the Clinton/Obama battle hurts the Democratic Party the longer it drags out, but I disagree. I think that whoever emerges as the nominee could be in a prime position to ride a wave of momentum the whole way to the White House.
Nader Talks about Clinton, Obama, and Electoral College
In the new issue of Newsweek, which hits newsstands tomorrow, Howard Fineman interviewed Ralph Nader and asked him a wide range of questions about Eliot Spitzer, the Democratic candidates, and the role of reform minded politicians. Nader was asked if personal behavior should be a test of how we measure public officials and candidates.
Can Barack Obama Win the Presidency With Emotion?
Barack Obama continued his campaign based on the promise of emotional renewal for both the Democratic Party and the United States. Obama retold the story of Bobby Kennedy's speech in Indianapolis shortly after the death of Martin Luther King.
Study: Most Democrats Disagree With Ferraro about Obama
An HCD Research national study of 431 Democrats found that most of them disagree with Geraldine Ferraro's statement that, "Barack Obama would not have made it this far if he was a white man." The study was done to analyze voter perception of video segments of Ferraro on Fox News where she defended her comments about Obama.
Bush Defends Stimulus Package, and Housing Crisis
Today, President Bush used his weekly radio address to defend his administration's policies towards the housing crisis and the economic stimulus package. The president continued to put a happy face on the terrible state of the economy.
House Passes FISA Bill with No Immunity for Telecom Companies
Today the House of the Representatives passed a Democratic bill that would set the rules for the surveillance of the emails and phone calls of people within the United States. The bill was passed among mostly partisan lines, 213-197.
June 3 Could Be the Date for a Possible Michigan Do-Over
Four key Michigan Democrats have been discussing with the Clinton and Obama campaigns a plan to hold a do-over primary in the state of Michigan on June 3. The four Democrats include Sen. Carl Levin, Rep. Carol Cheeks Kilpatrick, the president of the United Auto Workers, and a member of the Democratic National Committee.
Pelosi to Cheney: Negotiate Oil Prices
Ahead of Vice President Dick Cheney's trip to the Middle East Democratic Speaker of the House Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wrote him a letter asking him to negotiate with OPEC to reduce oil prices.
Democrats Vote to Kill Most Bush Tax Cuts
Today both the House and Senate voted to let many of the Bush tax cuts expire in 2010. The House Democrats budget plan would increase spending on domestic programs, and pay for it by letting all of the Bush tax cuts die. The Senate was much choosier. It extended $340 billion worth of tax cuts for middle and upper income people, businesses, and those inheriting large estates.
The Return of the Flip-Flopper
In 2004, President George W. Bush was able to win reelection in part based on his campaign's ability to characterize his opponent John Kerry as a flip-flopper, a.k.a. a politician who changes his views as easily as the wind blows. Bush famously characterized Kerry as being for the Iraq war before he was against it.
Geraldine Ferraro Leaves the Clinton Campaign
Geraldine Ferraro sent a letter to Hillary Clinton this afternoon informing her that she was stepping down from her post on Clinton's finance committee. "I am stepping down from your finance committee so I can speak for myself and you can continue to speak for yourself about what is at stake in this campaign," Ferraro wrote.
Conyers May Propose Net Neutrality Legislation
At a House Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, Committee Chair Rep. John Conyers said that net neutrality must be preserved, and stated that he is willing to propose legislation to do so. "I am concerned that if Congress stands by and does nothing, we will soon find ourselves living in a world where those who pay, can play (on the Internet), but those who don't are simply out of luck," Conyers said.
Was Geraldine Ferraro Correct About the Media and Obama?
The latest political firestorm between the Clinton and Obama campaigns centers on some comments that Clinton supporter and former Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Geraldine Ferraro made to the Daily Breeze newspaper of Torrance, CA last Friday. Ferraro said, "If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position.
How the Media has Labeled Barack Obama the “Black Candidate”
I was watching MSNBC this afternoon when they had their political director Chuck Todd on for a segment. Usually, Mr. Todd provides the standard look at some poll numbers or data. It is pretty straightforward stuff, but today he said something that got me thinking.
Oh, Those Tricky Clintons!!!
After their victories in Ohio and Texas last week, the Clinton campaign started publicly stating that they are open to the idea of selecting Barack Obama as her running mate. When asked about running with Obama Clinton said, "Well that may be where this is headed but we have to decide who is top of the ticket. I think the people of Ohio very clearly said that it should be me."
Eliot Spitzer Takes Stupidity to a Whole New Level
Even though the media is using terms like "shocking" and "bombshell" to describe the revelations that Democratic Gov. Eliot Spitzer had used the services of a high end prostitution ring, it isn't really much of a surprise that another powerful politician is caught up in a sex scandal. In my mind, Spitzer's anti-crime crusader rhetoric is no different than Sen. Larry Craig being vehemently anti-gay, or Sen. David Vitter being a staunch public defender of marriage and family values all the while cheating on his wife with prostitutes.
Clinton, Obama, and Political Branding
Is it a coincidence that Hillary Clinton frequently uses the word experience while campaigning, or that Barack Obama's campaign is identified with the need for change? How about the identification of John McCain as a candidate who will stand strong on national security? 2008 has become the year when campaigning has gone beyond identification of candidates with issues and personalities, and in to the area of branding.
Bush Defends Torture in Radio Address
Today, President Bush used his weekly radio address to defend his veto of a bill that would have banned the use of waterboarding and other forms of torture by the CIA. The president's first point was to remind America that al-Qaeda is out there and wanting to attack. "Al Qaida remains determined to attack America again.
There Are No Do-Overs in Politics, Or Are There?
On Thursday DNC Chair Howard Dean made all the rounds on the cable news networks and morning talk shows suggesting that it may be possible to hold "do-over" primaries in Michigan and Florida. Both states decided to violate Democratic Party rules and hold their contests before the allowed date of February 2.
Obama campaigns in Ohio
Obama in Ohio:
The Joker Endorses Clinton
Jack's You Tube ad for Clinton:
Obama on a roll.
Barack Obama
What Me Worry
Today President Bush took the phrase out of touch to whole new level, by suggesting during his Thursday press conference that the economy isn't heading into a recession, preferring instead to call it an economic slowdown. When asked if the bad economy will lead to the defeat of John McCain in the fall, the president said, "I'm concerned about the economy because I'm concerned about working Americans, concerned about people who want to put money on the table and save for their kids' education. That's why I'm concerned about the economy. I want Americans working.