Obama Clips

100 Reasons to Subscribe to the Alzheimer's Reading Room

2011-03-07T11:55:00.000-05:00

“The Alzheimer’s Reading Room is clearly one of the most informative and unbiased Alzheimer’s blogs. Bob DeMarco provides information on all things Alzheimer’s. His blog covers the spectrum on Alzheimer’s issues, featuring everything from critical advice from someone who is on the front line caring for a loved one with the disease, to translating and reporting on the science and research that is leading the way to a cure. All of us in the Alzheimer’s community are fortunate that Bob has taken on this important work. At Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, we encourage people to follow the blog and rely on it ourselves to stay up to date and in touch.”
-- Tim Armour, President of Cure Alzheimer’s Fund

Read more at the Alzheimer's Reading Room

Maureen Dowd on Obama

2008-08-04T15:17:00.001-04:00

clipped from stasiaandbob.blogspot.com

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Barack Obama must continue to grovel to Hillary Clinton’s dead-enders, some of whom mutter darkly that they will not only not vote for him, they will never vote for a man again.

Obama in Iraq for talks with Iraqi leaders, military

2008-07-21T09:22:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.cnn.com

Obama is traveling with Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a leading Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican who serves on the Foreign Relations Committee and is an outspoken critic of the Iraq war. See the stops on Obama's trip »

Obama, in Iraq, Continues War Zone Trip

2008-07-21T09:19:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.npr.org

Listen Now [11 min 21 sec] add to playlist

Candidates Split On Homeland Security Spending

2008-07-21T09:18:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.npr.org

Listen Now [5 min 10 sec] add to playlist

Obama's paid staff dwarfing McCain's

2008-07-21T09:13:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.boston.com

Behind the headlines about the unprecedented success of Democrat Barack Obama's fund-raising machine lies a more prosaic truth - his campaign will need every penny of its $300 million goal to bankroll an unprecedented 50-state general election campaign with a massive army on the ground.

His campaign already has by far the largest full-time paid staff in presidential campaign history, and unlike Republican rival John McCain's, continues to grow by the day.

A Lifelong Republican

2008-07-17T13:18:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

Republicanism was instilled in her from an early age.

Well, I grew up in Oregon and my parents were rabid Republicans. I've been a Republican all of my life, until Obama came along and I said, "this is it".

He's a very unusual person, and of course the parties have changed too. I never just voted for somebody because he was Republican or Democratic. I changed my voter registration from Republican to Democratic, and that was surprising to me after having been a Republican for a lifetime. I wouldn't vote for John McCain if he was the only person on the ballot.

Is Obama ready to be chief?

2008-07-17T13:14:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

Back in January, I argued that the outcome of the Democratic nomination hinged on one question: To what extent can Barack Obama reassure primary and caucus voters that he is ready to be their president? Now, nearly five months later, the answer may determine the outcome of the general election.

Obama heads to Europe, Mideast
July 17: Presidential hopeful Barack Obama is heading on a five-country European and Middle East tour. NBC’s chief White House correspondent, David Gregory, reports.

Gore pitches 10-year shift to clean energy

2008-07-17T13:11:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

Just as John F. Kennedy set his sights on the moon, Al Gore is challenging the nation to produce every kilowatt of electricity through wind, sun and other climate-friendly energy sources within 10 years, an audacious goal he hopes the next president will embrace.

Obama becomes a gym rat

2008-07-17T13:07:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Twice on Wednesday and again Thursday morning, Obama traveled to a lakefront apartment building near his Chicago home to work out with a friend at his gym. On Wednesday night, Obama also spent an hour at the East Bank Club, a mammoth exercise facility just north of the city's famous business Loop where he is known to play basketball.

Obama's Speech On Iraq

2008-07-16T10:51:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

Obama: I'd consult on Iraq, but war needs to end

2008-07-16T10:49:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.cnn.com

"I am absolutely convinced that strategically it is time for this [Iraq] war to end," Obama said, adding he believes the United States can withdraw combat troops from Iraq within 16 months while leaving "a residual force to engage in counterterrorism activities" and protect diplomats.

Obama also repeated his pledge to push for the death penalty for 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden if he is captured. Watch Obama talk about his plans to hunt for bin Laden »

Romney: 'Zero Chance' of Being McCain's VP?

2008-07-16T08:07:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Romney gave an interview with CBSNews.com published today before opening an event in Michigan for McCain. He's now stumping for the Arizona senator - the two apparently consider themselves "good friends."

The report says Romney and those in his inner circle have insisted that he's not campaigning for the No. 2 spot and that the possibility of being asked to serve is highly unlikely. One former senior campaign adviser who remains in frequent contact with Romney insists that he "really believes he's got zero chance" of being asked, and wouldn't really want to play second fiddle to McCain anyway. Romney says he hasn't been asked to provide any personal information to the McCain campaign, either.

Obama says New Yorker insulted Muslim Americans

2008-07-16T08:04:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday that the New
Yorker magazine's satirical cover depicting him and his wife as
flag-burning, fist-bumping radicals doesn't bother him but that it
was an insult to Muslim Americans.

"You know, there are wonderful Muslim Americans all across the
country who are doing wonderful things," the presidential
candidate told CNN's Larry King. "And for this to be used as sort
of an insult, or to raise suspicions about me, I think is
unfortunate. And it's not what America's all about."

Analysis: GOP, Dems using wars to define Obama

2008-07-16T08:02:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Democrat Barack Obama wants to prove he's ready
to be a wartime commander in chief. Republican John McCain hopes to
sell the idea that his rival is not.

The return of Iraq and Afghanistan to the forefront of the
presidential campaign illustrates how both sides increasingly seem
to view the race as largely a referendum on Obama, a first-term
Illinois senator trying to become the first black president.

"I will end this war as president," Obama said of Iraq and
promised anew that he would redirect U.S. efforts to Afghanistan.
The likely Democratic nominee struck a stately pose Tuesday as he
delivered a lengthy foreign policy address ahead of an upcoming
overseas trip. He spoke from a podium that said "Judgment to
Lead" set up before an array of American flags.

Obama Leads by 8 Points In Poll

2008-07-16T07:56:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.washingtonpost.com

Sen. Barack Obama holds his biggest advantage of the presidential campaign as the candidate best prepared to fix the nation's ailing economy, but lingering concerns about his readiness to handle international crises are keeping the race competitive, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

New Yorker editor defends controversial Obama cover

2008-07-15T14:57:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.cnn.com

The editor of the New Yorker on Monday said he has no regrets about running a cover illustration that portrays Barack Obama in Muslim garb and wife Michelle Obama as a gun-toting militant, despite widespread criticism of the image.

The New Yorker cover published Sunday shows Barack and Michelle Obama with a flag burning in the fireplace.

Satire in Politics: When Does It Go Too Far?

2008-07-15T14:53:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.npr.org

Audio for this story will be available at approx. 6:00 p.m. ET

A newspaper vendor holds up a copy of the New Yorker magazine cover showing Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama dressed as a Muslim and his wife as a terrorist. AFP/Getty Images

"America's Leadership"

2008-07-15T14:48:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

"A New Strategy for a New World"

2008-07-15T14:46:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

Barack delivered a speech on the war in Iraq and national security in Washington, DC this morning. He laid out his strategy for making America safer: ending the war in Iraq responsibly; finishing the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban; securing nuclear weapons and materials from terrorists and rogue states; achieving true energy security; and rebuilding our alliances to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Bush vetoes bill to stop doctors' Medicare cut

2008-07-15T14:42:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

President Bush on Tuesday vetoed a bill designed to protect doctors from a 10.6 percent cut in their reimbursement rates when treating Medicare patients.

"A striking lack of recollection"

2008-07-15T14:40:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.dailykos.com

Describing a "striking lack of recollection" by White House and military officials, a House committee announced yesterday that they still can't determine who was responsible for turning Pat Tillman's death by friendly fire into a political pep rally in 2004. Yes, quite the mystery, isn't it?

Obama says will end "single-minded" focus on Iraq

2008-07-15T14:37:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

"By any measure, our single-minded and open-ended focus on
Iraq is not a sound strategy for keeping America safe," Obama
said in a speech designed to lay out his views on the war ahead
of his planned trip to Afghanistan and Iraq soon.

"As president, I will make the fight against al Qaeda and
the Taliban the top priority that it should be," Obama said.
"This is a war that we have to win."

Was Jimmy Carter an energy prophet?

2008-07-15T10:56:00.001-04:00

As I listen to President Bush suggesting that Americans turn down their thermostat and use less gasoline I have to ask myself, Was Jimmy Carter a prophet??

Most people don't know it but Jimmy Carter wanted to set a goal of obtaining 20 percent of our energy from solar power by the year 2000.

clipped from www.ajc.com

Can we now acknowledge that Jimmy Carter was right all those years ago?

Americans, who hate to be told they must change, roundly condemned Carter's memorable "Crisis of Confidence" speech of July 15, 1979. In it, Carter outlined a program for achieving energy independence: "On the battlefield of energy we can win for our nation a new confidence, and we can seize control again of our common destiny."

He was right in seeking to raise the fleet auto mileage standard to 48 miles per gallon by 1995. (Even U.S. automakers admitted at the time that they could easily achieve 30 mpg by 1985.)

Carter was right in exhorting Americans to turn down their thermostats, even if he did look nerdy in a cardigan while urging us to do so.

In his July 1979 speech, he was right when he said, "I am tonight setting a clear goal for the energy policy of the United States. Beginning this moment, this nation will never use more foreign oil than we did in 1977 —- never." That worthy goal quickly went by the board.

Obama Wants Tax Credit for Small Firms Offering Coverage

2008-07-15T10:38:00.001-04:00

clipped from blogs.wsj.com

Barack Obama shed some new light on his health-care proposals this weekend, suggesting a $6 billion-a-year plan to offer tax credits to small businesses offering health insurance to employees.

Our Washington Wire blog notes that Hillary Clinton had made a similar proposal for small businesses, whose problems providing health insurance are among the biggest hurdles to universal coverage. The big annual Kaiser Family Foundation survey on employee health benefits found that 59% of firms with 3-199 workers offered health benefits in 2007, compared with 99% of firms with 200 or more workers. The issue was more dire for firms with 3-9 employees, where 45% offered coverage.

WATCH: The Bottom Line on the '08 Race

2008-07-03T10:33:00.002-04:00

clipped from abcnews.go.com

WATCH: The Bottom Line on the '08 Race

Scientists: Watermelon yields Viagra-like effects

2008-07-03T10:10:00.001-04:00

I thought I would shoot this in here in case you missed. The active ingredient is found in the flesh and rind of the watermelon. As you know this is not the tasty part. On the other hand, a lot cheaper then Viagra.

Have a great July 4th weekend everyone!

clipped from news.yahoo.com

A slice of cool, fresh watermelon is a juicy way to top off a Fourth of July cookout and one that researchers say has effects similar to Viagra — but don't necessarily expect it to keep the fireworks all night long.

Watermelons contain an ingredient called citrulline that can trigger production of a compound that helps relax the body's blood vessels, similar to what happens when a man takes Viagra, said scientists in Texas, one of the nation's top producers of the seedless variety.

Found in the flesh and rind of watermelons, citrulline reacts with the body's enzymes when consumed in large quantities and is changed into arginine, an amino acid that benefits the heart and the circulatory and immune systems.

Obama on Clark: This is more like it.

2008-07-02T10:54:00.001-04:00

A good concise post from the Daily Kos.

clipped from www.dailykos.com

Via Ben Smith at Politico:

"I guess my question is why, given all the vast numbers of things that we’ve got to work on, that that would be a top priority of mine?" Obama said, responding to a reporter who asked the candidate why he hadn’t called on Wesley Clark to apologize for his remarks yesterday. "I’m happy to have all sorts of conversations about how we deal with Iraq and what happens with Iran, but the fact that somebody on a cable show or on a news show like Gen. Clark said something that was inartful about Sen. McCain I don’t think is probably the thing that is keeping Ohioans up at night."

Deal lets U.S. drones strike bin Laden

2008-07-02T10:50:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.washingtontimes.com

The United States has a standing agreement with Pakistan that CIA-operated Predator drones may strike Osama bin Laden's hide-out without prior permission from Islamabad, according to people familiar with the arrangement.

Measuring McCain And Obama's Bipartisan Efforts

2008-07-02T10:46:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.npr.org

If there's one thing the two presidential candidates have in common, it's that they claim to be leaders in creating a new kind of politics.

Listen Now [7 min 35 sec] add to playlist

1972 or 1976

2008-07-02T10:44:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

I'm struggling to find within myself a gut feeling for how this election is going to shake out. This is odd for me. I usually have a definite opinion and people who know that I am into politics are used to receiving a definite answer. My problem is that I like reading about history, especially political history, and this election is really close to either 1972 or 1976, and it could shakeout either way depending on which context matches best.

Election 2008 Theme Song

2008-07-02T10:42:00.001-04:00

great car.

clipped from news.aol.com

So if any of you Democratic or Republican convention planners need a good theme song this year, I've got one for you: "It's Your Life" by 23-year-old Francesca Battistelli.

Wonkopshere

2008-07-02T10:37:00.001-04:00

clipped from wonkosphere.com

McCain down 2% ,Obama up 2% on Jul 02 03:00 MST

Current metrics for all candidates. Change between Jul 01 23:00 MST and Jul 02 03:00 MST, if any, shown in parentheses.

Candidate Buzz Share Liberal Tone Conservative Tone
Obama 58 (+2%) average (-) high
McCain 38 (-2%) average low
Clinton 4 high average (+)
Paul 1 average average

The Death of Equities and the Housing Abyss

2008-07-02T09:27:00.001-04:00

clipped from efhutton.blogspot.com

File this under food for thought.

This Business Week cover entitled the Death of Equities appeared August 13, 1979. It took about 3 years and then the market bottomed and started its big bull run.

Here is the July 7, 2008 cover of Business Week.

To you read about The Housing Abyss following the link.

1992

2008-06-30T16:43:00.001-04:00

clipped from krugman.blogs.nytimes.com

Bill Clinton, accepting the Democratic presidential nomination:

We didn’t get into this mess overnight, and we won’t get out of it overnight. But we can do it- with commitment, creativity, diversity and drive.

We can do it. We can do it.

We can do it. We can do it. We can do it.

We can do it. We can do it. We can do it.

But we didn’t. Will 2008 be different?

Consider this an open thread for today’s column.

Daily Kos: The Chameleon

2008-06-26T13:01:00.001-04:00

The Daily Kos can be very entertaining. If you haven't been there, take a look.

clipped from www.dailykos.com

With the Republican brand in tatters, the President's approval ratings below freezing, and an angry electorate demanding change, the toxicity of the current political environment for Republicans is one not seen since the days of Tricky Dick:

Just 29 percent of voters say they have a positive view of the [Republican] party, compared with 51 percent who say the same about the Democrats; just 24 percent of voters say they have a positive feeling about Bush.

These are poll numbers that make the GOP's blood boil: 66% of Americans support health coverage for all, even if it means raising taxes; 76% of Americans think global warming in "a proven fact"; only 16% of Americans think abortion should be completely outlawed; 77%of Americans believe we should meet with leaders who are hostile to the United States; 57% of Americans support either gay marriage or civil unions; and 85% of Americans say a candidate's position on Iraq is "extremely important" or "important" to their vote.

AFL-CIO endorses Obama for president

2008-06-26T12:57:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

The AFL-CIO has endorsed Barack Obama for
president, uniting the nation's 15 million union workers behind the
presumed Democratic candidate.

The AFL-CIO already has been campaigning against Republican
nominee-in-waiting John McCain. The federation will now use its
$200 million in campaign money to also promote Obama's candidacy to
its 10.5 million members.

Standing United Against the Politics of the Past

2008-06-25T20:57:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

Once a former Sen. Clinton supporter herself before she met Sen. Obama in April 2007, Arna of Rockledge, Florida, thought it was important to welcome former Hillary supporters just joining our team.

Also listed in:
National Women for Obama

Video: Barack on the Economy and Energy

2008-06-25T20:55:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

Clinton says her husband determined to help Obama

2008-06-25T20:52:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Hillary Clinton brushed off
suggestions on Wednesday that her husband, former President
Bill Clinton, does not seem to share her enthusiasm for
campaigning for Democratic White House candidate Barack Obama.

"He has said he will do whatever he can and whatever he is
asked to do," Clinton said, a day after her husband's spokesman
issued a one-sentence statement of support for Obama, who will
face Republican John McCain in the November election.

Fifth, Sixth, orSeventh Tour of Duty

2008-06-25T20:46:00.001-04:00

If you are in the military you better get ready for your Fifth, Sixth, or Seventh Tour of Duty if MCCain becomes president

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

McCain: Only World War III would justify draft

Only World War III would prompt Republican presidential candidate John McCain to bring back the military draft, McCain said on Tuesday.

Many Americans are fearful the U.S. government will be forced to reinstitute the draft given the prolonged Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Asked about that possibility by a potential voter in Florida during a telephone "town hall meeting," McCain said: "I don't know what would make a draft happen unless we were in an all-out World War III."

The Political Junkie Raps on Race vs. Age, Campaign Finance

2008-06-25T20:42:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.npr.org

Talk of the Nation, June 25, 2008 · Two polls on the upcoming presidential election are out this week, both showing Sen. Barack Obama with a lead over Sen. John McCain, but by different margins. One of the polls also broached the issue of race. While a vast majority of white voters said they'd be comfortable with a black president, the number of overall voters comfortable with a 72-year-old president entering office was far less.

Meanwhile, how big of an issue will money be in this campaign? The Political Junkie — NPR's Political Editor Ken Rudin — talks about campaign finance, the poll numbers and whether race or age are an issue to voters. Fred Wertheimer, president of the nonprofit group Democracy 21, and Republican strategist Tony Fabrizio join the discussion.

Listen Now [29 min 50 sec] add to playlist

Lucas: Obama is a Jedi

2008-06-25T20:35:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.examiner.com

“Star Wars” creator George Lucas used his expert opinion to compare some of his famous characters to famous politicians Tuesday morning.

Lucas, who was on Capitol Hill to testify at the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Telecommunications and the Internet subcommittee hearing on universal service, was totally nonpartisan when it came to President Bush, declining to weigh in on our question: “Who is President Bush more like: Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader?”

“It’s up to the viewer,” he responded.

Lucas did, however, have one definitive answer: Barack Obama would most certainly be a Jedi. “I would say that’s reasonably obvious,” he said.

Unite for Change: Your Comments

2008-06-24T21:17:00.002-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

As the Unite for Change events get closer, supporters are sharing their comments about their excitement for this Saturday. Here are some of your comments...

Saturday is only four days away, but there is still time to sign up to attend a Unite for Change event in your city. After signing up, invite your friends and neighbors to join you.

A Serious Energy Policy for Our Future

2008-06-24T21:15:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

What we are seeing here – from the solar panels that power this facility to the Bombard workers who built it – is that a green, renewable energy economy isn't some pie-in-the-sky, far-off future, it is now. It is creating jobs, now. It is providing cheap alternatives to $140-a-barrel oil, now. And it can create millions of additional jobs and entire new industries if we act now.

Read the full text of Barack's opening remarks, as prepared for delivery . . .

Over 100,000 Citizens Have Declared Their Independence

2008-06-24T21:00:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

This is your chance to join them.

Panel seeks testimony from Rumsfeld aide

2008-06-24T20:53:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

A congressional subcommittee voted Tuesday to subpoena an adviser to former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld about the Bush administration's harsh interrogation policies toward terror detainees.

Douglas Feith, former undersecretary of defense for policy, had agreed to testify but changed his mind hours before he was to appear last week at a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing.

Feith is believed to have been instrumental in drafting government interrogation policies in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, policies that critics say led to torture.

Obama Youth Vote

2008-06-24T20:51:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.npr.org

Obama dismisses Dobson criticism about Bible

2008-06-24T20:45:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Barack Obama said Tuesday evangelical leader
James Dobson was "making stuff up" when he accused the presumed
Democratic presidential nominee of distorting the Bible.

Obama added, "I think you'll see that he was just making stuff
up, maybe for his own purposes."

Four years of home gains have been wiped out

2008-06-24T10:56:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.marketwatch.com

Home prices in 20 major U.S. cities have dropped a record 15.3% in the past year and are now back to where they were in 2004, according to the Case-Shiller home price index released Tuesday by Standard & Poor's.

Prices in the 20 cities are now down 17.8% from the peak two years ago. The biggest declines were seen in Las Vegas, Miami and Phoenix, with prices falling by 25% or more in the past year. Prices in 10 cities have fallen by more than 10%.

Prices were lower in April than they were a year earlier in all 20 cities tracked by the Case-Shiller index. Home prices in Charlotte, N.C., which was the last holdout, have now slipped 0.1% in the past year.

Home prices surged in 2003 through 2006, climbing by a cumulative 52%. Since then, however, the housing and credit bubble has burst and home owners have given up half of their gains from earlier in the decade.

Rove: Obama's the Guy at the Country Club Holding a Martini Making Snide Comments About Everyone Else

2008-06-23T23:10:00.001-04:00

clipped from blogs.abcnews.com

ABC News' Christianne Klein reports that at a breakfast with Republican insiders at the Capitol Hill Club this morning, former White House senior aide Karl Rove referred to Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, as "coolly arrogant."

"Even if you never met him, you know this guy," Rove said, per Christianne Klein. "He's the guy at the country club with the beautiful date, holding a martini and a cigarette that stands against the wall and makes snide comments about everyone who passes by."

McCain proposes $300M prize for new auto battery

2008-06-23T19:13:00.001-04:00

Note to John McCain. If someone can come up with a better automobile battery they won't need a $300 million prize.

I have an idea. How about we give $300 million to Warren Buffet or Bruce Covner and get them working on solving the Social Security problem. They will probably be early investors in the new battery anyway and the returns will be better.

clipped from apnews.myway.com

Republican presidential candidate John McCain said Monday that the search for alternatives to the country's dependence on foreign oil is so urgent that he's willing to throw money at it.

The Arizona senator proposed a $300 million prize for whoever can develop a better automobile battery, and $5,000 tax credits for consumers who buy new zero-emission vehicles. The latest proposal is in addition to his support for overturning the federal ban on offshore oil drilling.

Iraq to award oil contracts to foreign firms

2008-06-22T15:25:00.001-04:00

Mission Accomplished?

clipped from www.breitbart.com

Iraq will award contracts to 41 foreign oil firms in a bid to boost production that could give multinationals a potentially lucrative foothold in huge but underdeveloped oil fields, an official said on Sunday.

They cover Kirkuk field (Shell), Rumaila (BP), Al-Zubair (ExxonMobil), West Qurna Phase I (Chevron and Total), Maysan province development (Shell and BHP Billiton) and the Subba and Luhais fields (Anadarko, Vitol and the UAE's Dome), according to a previous media report.

3 in 10 Americans admit to racial bias

2008-06-22T15:21:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

As Sen. Barack Obama opens his campaign as the first African American on a major party presidential ticket, nearly half of all Americans say race relations in the country are in bad shape and three in 10 acknowledge feelings of racial prejudice, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Overall, 51 percent call the current state of race relations "excellent" or "good," about the same as said so five years ago. That is a relative thaw from more negative ratings in the 1990s, but the gap between whites and blacks on the issue is now the widest it has been in polls dating to early 1992.

How Twitter Can Change the Presidential Debate

2008-06-22T15:19:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.npr.org

Andrew Rasiej, founder of the Personal Democracy Forum, a Web site that focuses on the intersection of politics and technology, talks about the Twitter debate between presidential hopefuls John McCain and Barack Obama. He also discusses the forum's upcoming conference.

Listen Now add to playlist

Barr scares GOP

2008-06-22T15:16:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Bob Barr's Libertarian Party bid for the White House is the
longest of long shots, but political experts say he may be able to
exploit the unease some die-hard conservatives still feel about
Sen. John McCain, the Republican nominee-in-waiting. Combined with
the surge in turnout among Democrats during the primaries and a
difficult political climate for Republicans, they see what could be
a recipe for trouble for the GOP.

"Bob could be the Ralph Nader of 2008," said Dan Schnur, a GOP
consultant in California who worked on McCain's 2000 campaign but
is not involved in this year's contest. Consumer advocate Nader is
the third-party candidate many Democrats blame for helping George
W. Bush narrowly win in 2000.

Obama on 9/11

2008-06-22T15:13:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, Barack Obama shot back at scare tactics coming from the GOP (h/t Carpetbagger Report). "The other side likes to use 9/11 as a political bludgeon," he said, "Well, let's talk about 9/11." Here's Obama talking about 9/11:

clipped from news.aol.com

Michelle Obama at The View

2008-06-22T15:11:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Comfy New Commuter Bikes for Getting Around Town

2008-06-21T13:46:00.001-04:00

When I read this article I had four immediate thoughts. How do we make money from this trend? Twenty years from now are we going to look like China looked about 20 years ago? How is this going to effect oil prices? And, I wonder how many pounds American's are going to lose in the next ten years?

File this under food for thought.

clipped from health.usnews.com

If $4-a-gallon gas has you looking for relief, consider: A concerted effort is underway to attract casual bike riders into the fold. The lure is a range of new commuting bikes that promise to make everyday travel by bicycle as comfortable and fashionable as it is cheap.

Meantime, a bill that will allow employers to offer financial incentives to bicycle commuters is winding its way through the House and Senate.

The Trek Lime, for example, one of a series of coasting bikes designed for especially easy riding, has an automatic shifting system powered by a generator on the front hub, as well as old-fashioned pedal brakes designed to make the riding experience carefree. It runs slightly under $600.

The Breezer Villager, which features a light aluminum frame and a seven-speed shifting system, was recently named best commuting bike of 2008 by Bicycling Magazine.

Beginners and older riders might like Electra Bicycle Co.'s Townie

Video: Barack on Offshore Oil Drilling

2008-06-21T13:35:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

Artists for Obama: Limited Edition Antar Dayal Print

2008-06-21T13:31:00.001-04:00

You can click the link and then listen to a brief video of the detailed production of this print. Look down the page for the link

clipped from my.barackobama.com

We are excited to announce the third print in our Artists for Obama Gallery at Store.BarackObama.com.

Message from Barack: "Declaring our independence"

2008-06-21T13:26:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

Analysis: McCain hampered by campaign missteps

2008-06-21T13:23:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Sen. John McCain is hampered by missteps and
self-generated controversy in the early days of the general
election campaign for the White House.

Tuesday, he criticized his rival for proposing a
windfall profits tax on the oil industry. The attack was
complicated by McCain's earlier statement that he would consider
the same thing.

The following day, he met with a group of Hispanics in Chicago.
Aides who had kept word of the event secret were placed on the
defensive within hours after one participant criticized some of
McCain's comments.

On Thursday, the Arizona senator flew to Iowa, a likely
battleground state in the fall, where he expressed sympathy with
victims of severe flooding and pledged support for federal recovery
aid. The event was overshadowed by President Bush's appearance
elsewhere in the same state on the same day.

Even some Republicans have cringed in recent weeks at the
campaign's efforts to ramp up for the fall campaign, although they
will speak only privately.

Analysis: Rejecting public funding won't hurt Obama

2008-06-21T13:19:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.cnn.com

Sen. Barack Obama's decision to reject roughly $85 million in public financing -- as well as the strict spending limits that would accompany those funds -- did not come as a surprise to most political observers.

The decision was criticized by his opponent, some Democrats and public interest groups.

But does the public really care? Probably not.

Live Election Coverage

2008-06-21T13:16:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.cnn.com

Barack Obama speaks to U.S. Conference of Mayors in Miami
Watch Now: Live on CNN.com »

Obama Speaking

2008-06-21T13:13:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

Video: In his own words
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., speaks to the primary themes of his presidential campaign.

Obama Cartoons

2008-06-21T13:12:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

Cartoons: Obama
MSNBC.com's editorial cartoonists weigh in on Obama's candidacy.

Play the Veepstakes

2008-06-21T13:10:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

Interactive
Play the Veepstakes!
Who will be the No. 2 on the tickets? It's your turn to play pundit and predict.
NBC News

The Week in political Cartoons

2008-06-21T13:08:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

The week in political cartoons

Ready to attack Obama, if some money arrives

2008-06-21T13:05:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

A Bible verse taped to a whiteboard in Floyd Brown’s office that he uses to track his efforts to attack Senator Barack Obama reads, “That is why for Christ’s sake I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.”

Mr. Brown, 47, a 6-foot-6 bear of a man is perhaps best known for his involvement with the Willie Horton television advertisement that helped sink Michael S. Dukakis’s candidacy in 1988. Mr. Brown has had much in his career to be delighted about as the source of scores of conservative assaults on Democrats that have earned him their lasting enmity.

Mr. Brown is back to his trade of bludgeoning a Democratic candidate for president, producing an innuendo-laden advertisement that is being televised this week in Michigan, albeit sparsely on cable, questioning Mr. Obama’s religious background.

White House dismissed legal advice on Gitmo

2008-06-21T12:58:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

Senior lawyers inside and outside the Bush administration repeatedly warned the White House that it was risking judicial scrutiny of its detention policies in Guantanamo Bay if it did not pursue a more pragmatic legal strategy that considered the likely reaction of the Supreme Court. But such advice, issued periodically over the past six years, was ignored or discounted, according to current and former administration officials familiar with the debates.

In August 2006, for example, the top lawyer at the State Department told senior officials at the White House that unless they won a congressional mandate that broadly supported their system of detaining terrorism suspects, their goal of keeping the detainees locked up was in jeopardy. "I can virtually guarantee you, without a legislative basis, federal courts are not going to be willing to uphold the indefinite detention of unlawful combatants," John B. Bellinger III warned in an e-mail.

Georgia on His Mind

2008-06-21T12:53:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.blog.newsweek.com

Barack Obama must be pleased as a peach.

another morsel of good news for the Land of Lincolner: a poll from Atlanta-based Insider Advantage
showing McCain with 44 percent of the Peach State vote--and Obama with
43. For those of you keeping score at home, that's a tie.

McClellan: Bush Embraced Political 'Game' Too Often

2008-06-21T12:49:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.npr.org

Morning Edition, May 29, 2008 · Former Bush Press Secretary Scott McClellan dropped a bombshell on the White House on Wednesday. But he insists in an interview with NPR that his new behind-the scenes book is not simply the work of a disgruntled ex-employee — as some of his former colleagues have argued — but a stab at truth-telling to help clean up Washington.

McClellan states in the book that the Bush administration used a "political propaganda campaign" to sell the Iraq war, managing the lead-up to the conflict in a way that almost guaranteed that the use of force would be the only feasible option.

Listen Now [4 min 49 sec] add to playlist

A Whole New First Wives Club

2008-06-21T12:46:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.npr.org

Obama will be the first candidate of either party ever to turn down public money for the fall campaign. He's counting on his new, Internet-driven strategies for raising cash.

"We've won the Democratic nomination by relying on ordinary people coming together to achieve extraordinary things," he told supporters in a video Thursday.

That's true of Obama's 1.5 million donors today. But Fred Wertheimer, head of the watchdog group Democracy 21, says it didn't start out that way.

In 2007, when Sen. Obama was raising the money that was essential for him to become a serious candidate, "54 percent of his contributions came in contributions of a thousand dollars or more, and much of that money was raised by bundlers," he says

A Whole New First Wives Club

2008-06-21T12:44:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Who would have thought that Barack Obama's seemingly-subtle spouse would garner more headlines in the final days of the Democratic primary than Hillary Clinton's certifiably-sensational hubby? Yet, Michelle Obama has proven herself as subtle as a shotgun, and has caused no small degree of rancor for her candidate-paramour. However, with a newly edited (read: softened) stump speech, an appearance on "The View" yesterday and an upcoming spot in Us Weekly, Mrs. Obama is widely viewed as undergoing a personality makeover.

On the other hand, the GOP ticket has been particularly reserved with regard to Cindy McCain. The Beer Baroness has rarely spoken at length and has provided little grist for the rumor mill. Of course, Mrs. McCain has battled her demons, and she is potentially vulnerable in a general election due to her fabulous wealth - but as the wife of a long-standing senator, her story has already been told.

Obama and Clinton to Campaign Together

2008-06-21T12:41:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

The Obama campaign sent out the following press release this morning, via email:

Chicago, IL – Senators Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton announced today that they will campaign together on Friday, June 27th. Further details to be announced soon.

That's it, that's the whole thing. Remember, you heard it here first.

Hagel Open to a VP Offer From Obama

2008-06-21T12:38:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Republican Sen. Chuck Hagel said Friday he
would consider serving as Democratic presidential candidate Barack
Obama's running mate if asked, but he doesn't expect to be on any
ticket.

Hagel's vocal criticism of the Bush administration since the
2003 invasion of Iraq has touched off speculation that if Obama
were to pick a Republican running mate, it might be Hagel. Hagel
said in an interview with The Associated Press that after devoting
much of his life to his country - in the Senate and the U.S. Army -
he would have to consider any offer.

Obama Running Mate Contenders
AP / Getty Images (4)
Barack Obama's hunt is on for the right person to join him on the Democratic ticket. Click through the photos to see some the likely contenders.
Play Veepstakes: Vote for the Best Picks
1 of 18PHOTOS

Obama says Republicans will use race to stoke fear

2008-06-21T12:28:00.001-04:00

clipped from news.yahoo.com

Democratic presidential
contender Barack Obama said on Friday he expects Republicans to
highlight the fact that he is black as part of an effort to
make voters afraid of him.

"It is going to be very difficult for Republicans to run on
their stewardship of the economy or their outstanding foreign
policy," Obama told a fundraiser in Jacksonville, Florida. "We
know what kind of campaign they're going to run. They're going
to try to make you afraid.

"They're going to try to make you afraid of me. He's young
and inexperienced and he's got a funny name. And did I mention
he's black?"

'Did I mention he's black?'

CNN

Pentagon's 9/11 Memorial Puzzle

2008-06-20T10:13:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.washingtonpost.com

Pentagon's 9/11 Memorial Puzzle

Gallery
The Nation's First 9/11 Memorial
The journey for 184 stainless steel memorial benches will begin in Pevely, Mo., and continue to Elk Grove Village, Ill. But their final destination is where it all began - at the Pentagon.
» LAUNCH PHOTO GALLERY

Obama team weighs Nunn, Edwards as running mates

2008-06-19T19:55:00.003-04:00

clipped from news.aol.com

Former presidential candidate John Edwards and former Georgia Sen. Sam Nunn are on a list of potential running mates for Democrat Barack Obama, according to a Michigan
congresswoman.

Rep. Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, who leads the Congressional Black Caucus, said Thursday members of her caucus suggested the two at a meeting with the officials vetting candidates. The vetting
team, Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder, indicated the two were on the list.

Cheeks Kilpatrick said, "Former Sen. Sam Nunn's name has come up, as well as John Edwards' name has come up among our CBC members. I reported that to them and they had both of those names
on their list."

Americans drive 4.5 billion fewer miles in April

2008-06-19T19:29:00.001-04:00

Interesting trend. It will be interesting to see how this effects oil imports and retail sales in the months ahead.

clipped from www.breitbart.com

Americans drove around 4.5 billion fewer miles in April compared with the same month last year, marking the lowest mileage clocked on US roads for the month since 2003, a report showed Thursday.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHA) said in its monthly report that the number of vehicle miles driven in the United States fell by 1.8 percent, to 245.9 billion, based on preliminary data from the state highway authorities across the United States.

Obama's The Country I Love

2008-06-19T19:20:00.003-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

Obama opts out of public campaign finance system

2008-06-19T13:08:00.002-04:00

clipped from news.yahoo.com

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said Thursday he'll bypass the federal public financing system in the general election, abandoning an earlier commitment to take the money if his Republican rival did as well.

Richardson on Obama VP prospects, Clintons

AP

Obama: No public financing

CNN

Google Maps mashups

2008-06-18T23:43:00.001-04:00

If you've been following politics (or our blog) closely this year, you may have seen some Google Maps mashups from the Iowa Caucus, Super Tuesday, and the US state primaries--including an extra special primary map in Pennsylvania. We've recently discovered several other elections map mashups on the web that are just as interestingand we couldn't help but share.

clipped from google-latlong.blogspot.com

In order to better showcase these maps to you, we've created a Google Maps Elections Gallery that will serve as a collection of the best political maps mashups during the US campaign season. Here's a sneak peek at what's inside:

Primary Results: Take a look back in time as you view the final outcome of the United States primaries. Check results down to the county level and measure how close the final votes were between democratic candidates Clinton and Obama.

Fundrace: The Huffington Post brings you a map that tracks campaign donors by party, candidate, and location. Already have the Earth API plug-in installed? Try switching on the Earth mode for an even richer experience!

Campaign Trail: A one-stop shop that showcases each candidate's next campaign stop.

you now have the opportunity to further engage yourself (and your readers) with the 2008 elections by adding any of these maps to your site.

McCain: 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030

2008-06-18T23:35:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

Sen. John McCain called Wednesday for the construction of 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030 and pledged $2 billion a year in federal funds "to make clean coal a reality," measures designed to reduce dependence on foreign oil.

Obama promises tuition tax credit

2008-06-18T13:46:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama recalled paying off his own mountain of student loan debt and promised struggling college students Tuesday he would help them pay for school.

Obama said he would give students a $4,000 tax credit to help pay tuition and fees in exchange for 100 hours of community service. The campaign said the program would cost $10 billion a year.

"You get a hand living your dreams, and then you help your fellow citizens live theirs," the Illinois senator told a small group of students in a courtyard at Wayne County Community College. He listened as they told stories of balancing family demands, high fuel prices and school costs.

DNC wants McCain investigated

2008-06-18T13:44:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.msnbc.msn.com

WASHINGTON - Democratic Party officials plan to file a new lawsuit to compel federal regulators to investigate whether Sen. John McCain violated election laws by withdrawing from public financing.

The Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday it will sue next week in U.S. District Court. It will ask the court to order the Federal Election Commission to examine, within 30 days, the legality of McCain's decision to reject $5.8 million taxpayer funds.

By turning down the money, the presumed Republican nominee was able avoid strict spending limits between now and the GOP's national convention in September.

Michelle Obama preps for general election close-up

2008-06-18T13:41:00.001-04:00

clipped from www.cnn.com

Michelle Obama, wife of Sen. Barack Obama, is honing her message for the fall, aides say.

"Michelle wrote her own stump (speech). And you know, she's refining it now I think as we're going into the general election," said senior Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett.

Her new speeches will include more details about her family and humble upbringing on Chicago's South Side, aides said.

Michelle Obama graduated from Harvard Law School, was a vice president at the University of Chicago and landed a job as a health care executive making $275,000 a year.

Be honest, we all wish to be VIPs

2008-06-18T13:39:00.001-04:00

Count me in.

clipped from www.cnn.com

We are a nation that loves anything VIP. Come on, don't sit there and try to be so righteous. If you had an opportunity to be a part of the program, you would jump at it.

OK, fine. Let's do something on a smaller scale. Do you remember when you were in high school and you found out that you had a buddy working at the movie theatre, your first thought had to be, "Cool! I get to get in free!"

Ever been to a club and you were one of the unfortunate folks standing behind the velvet rope? It must burn you up to see these flashy folks walk to the front of the line and have the beefy security guard, who unceremoniously turned you away, welcome them with open arms.

That, folks, is the VIP treatment. And no one standing in that line likes it. But in their minds they are saying, "Now what do I need to do to be like them?"

Over One Million Supporters on Facebook

2008-06-18T13:34:00.001-04:00

clipped from my.barackobama.com

Today we crossed an important threshold: one million supporters for Barack Obama on Facebook. The Obama page has by far more supporters than any other page – whether it’s a politician, celebrity, or band – on all of Facebook.