I dunno, there's just something apropos about this story:
Jan Schakowsky told me about a recent visit she had made to the White House with a congressional delegation. On her way out, she said, President Bush noticed her ‘Obama’ button. ‘He jumped back, almost literally,’ she said. ‘And I knew what he was thinking. So I reassured him it was Obama, with a 'b.'
What is it women are saying about a male candidate wouldn't be subjected to ridicule for his appearance? That's one ugly monkey.
Marietta, Georgia, bar owner Mike Norman thought it was "cute" to sell T-shirts with Obama as a monkey eating a banana. Even though he is a southerner and would presumably be well-aware of the history of these types of images, he sees "nothing racist" about the T-shirts.Barack Oblogger: Newsflash: Southern Redneck Sells Racist Obama Gear
When President Bush -- thousands of miles away in Israel -- decided to fire his thinly veiled shot at Obama yesterday, it was a giant gift to the Illinois senator and his campaign. Why? One, it essentially kept Clinton on the sidelines just two days after her big West Virginia victory. Two, Obama’s opponent was no longer Clinton or McCain, but the man with the 27% job-approval rating. And three, it rallied Democrats to Obama’s side. Even neutral Dems, like Joe Biden, Rahm Emanuel and Harry Reid, quickly leapt to Obama’s defense. Some Democrats might be deeply divided right now. Pro-choice women are angry at NARAL’s endorsement of Obama; Clinton supporters are upset that Obama is looking like the eventual nominee; and some African Americans are unhappy with the Clintons. But what’s the best way to unify them all? Give them an excuse to turn their attention to Bush. And this will all play out another day -- and will likely extend into the weekend -- as Obama will respond this afternoon to Bush at his rally with Tom Daschle in South Dakota, NBC’s Andrea Mitchell reports. Obama will react to both what he considers Bush's politicization of foreign policy and the substance of Bush's attack.
Victoria Switzer, a retired social studies teacher, who could take only one night on an Obama phone bank in the nearly all-white Susquehanna County, Pa.: “One caller, Switzer remembers, said he couldn’t possibly vote for Obama and concluded: ‘Hang that darky from a tree!’ ”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote about complaints of racism after a bar in Marietta, Ga., began selling an Obama 2008 T-shirt with a picture of Curious George peeling a banana.
I'm not exactly sure why--it would be revealing of my psyche to know--but of all the issues this election year the recent gas tax debate has most irritated me. I suppose because it is such obvious pandering, which I would expect of Hillary (can you say Clintonian?) but expected more of McCain. They must know it is bad policy--Clinton could not name one economist who believes the gas tax holiday is a good idea (McCain doesn't seem to know any economists at all). Lower prices always result in increased demand, which would only lead to even higher prices. The average savings per consumer simply isn't enough to justify the unintended consequences rippling through an already weakened economy.
The pander bears must also know that the fact it is a bad idea doesn't matter since there isn't a chance of being enacted. Even Bush is smart enough to veto such folly. The pandering is a truly cynical ploy designed to snare votes.
If Clinton is really concerned about high gas prices she will quit making threats towards the Middle East. Anyone who has paid much attention knows uncertainty in the oil market drives speculation and prices.
The gas tax holiday pandering reminds me of the scene from Tim Burton's Batman where the Joker Jack Nicholson parades through the streets of Gotham distributing free money, all the while poisoning the masses. Money, money, money, hubba, hubba.
Democrats, who philosophically believe government spending is an answer, are infamous for promising the moon and stars for a vote. But McCain? At least closet Republican Clinton realizes the giveaway should be paid for; Mr. Hold-the-Line-on-Spending would just put us go deeper in debt. That is if he didn't know there's not a chance of getting such legislation passed.
Obama seems to have survived his near-death experience, throwing under the bus his buffoon of a pastor who earlier in the week had thrown him under the bus. The Rev. Jack in the Box hasn't popped back up since the scathing denouncement, but so effective were Obama's efforts that it is difficult to conceive how Wright can continue to be used as an issue. Even Morning Joe Scarborough, who usually takes the opposite, cynical tack on such matters declares Obama has turned the corner on Wright.
Now the buzz is that if Obama can clear this obstacle, what could arise that would more damaging and justify denying him the nomination? In other words, the thing that most superdelegates have been holding back for what just happened. Expect the landslide of superdelegates to Obama to begin. As if on cue, the former Democratic National Committee Chairman, Joe Andrew, a Clinton stalwart, declared today for Obama. His reasoning is illuminating:
In a lengthy letter explaining his decision, Andrew said he is switching his support because "a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote to continue this process, and a vote to continue this process is a vote that assists (Republican) John McCain." . . .
Just when I thought it was safe to get out of the political waters. Last time I said there was no way Obama was going to be denied the nomination unless he was found in bed with a dead girl or live boy. Add to that an insane pastor.
I was home ill yesterday morning and just happened to catch the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's speech at the National Press Club. The speech itself wasn't too bad; while certainly disagreeing with much of what Wright said, I found myself to some extent understanding what Obama found appealing about the man. But then, during the Q&A, Wright went Cuckoo-for-Cocoa Puffs—once literally even flapping his arms like a bird. He high-fived an attendee after offering yet another epigrammatic response to a serious question, as if he had slammed one home. Suddenly I found myself wondering how Obama tolerated this buffoonery for more than fifteen minutes.
This is Wright's fifteen minutes of fame, something it was obvious he recognizes and intends to avail himself of his opportunity. In his megalomania he is bigger than Obama. He is convinced he is the brave defender of the black church. He boasted that he told Obama as soon he was elected they would be on opposing sides, for it is clear Wright perceives the government of the United States as his enemy. It is a strange thing indeed to consider that this black leader may very well wreck the first viable opportunity for a black man to wield ultimate power in these United States. Obama has overcome everything only to be undone by his own minister.
This is Shakespearean in scope. Not even those masters of tragedy, the Ancient Greeks, could concoct such a tale. How could I stay away?
"The voters haven't embraced Clinton, so I don't see any reason why I should endorse him," Mr. [Congressman Dennis E.] Eckart said. "Look at the exit polls. People have terrible doubts about this guy, and we're talking about Democrats."
Rarely do you find irony (note the above is from 1992) so layered; except, of course, with the Clintons. I'm going to miss them, I really am.
Let's face it, this thing is over. Unless they find a dead girl or live boy in Obama's bed in the next few weeks, he will be the nominee. Politco's Elizabeth Drew has succinctly summarized why:
This points out a marvelous irony:
WHEN people one day look back at the remarkable implosion of the Hillary Clinton campaign, they may notice that it both began and ended in the long dark shadow of Iraq.
It’s not just that her candidacy’s central premise — the priceless value of “experience” — was fatally poisoned from the start by her still ill-explained vote to authorize the fiasco. Senator Clinton then compounded that 2002 misjudgment by pursuing a 2008 campaign strategy that uncannily mimicked the disastrous Bush Iraq war plan. After promising a cakewalk to the nomination — “It will be me,” Mrs. Clinton told Katie Couric in November — she was routed by an insurgency.
The Clinton camp was certain that its moneyed arsenal of political shock-and-awe would take out Barack Hussein Obama in a flash. The race would “be over by Feb. 5,” Mrs. Clinton assured George Stephanopoulos just before New Year’s. But once the Obama forces outwitted her, leaving her mission unaccomplished on Super Tuesday, there was no contingency plan. She had neither the boots on the ground nor the money to recoup.
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