This morning, I paid a visit to CTV – the Canadian TV Network – to talk about election day, the campaign, and my thoughts on the outcome. After I finished with the interview, seen here, I walked around 2000 M Street N.W. and participated in a couple of other segments with Irish, Catalan, and the French Networks. It was amazing to hear the perspective of the foreign journalists. Almost everyone expressed a hope that Obama will win but none of them thought it was going to be decided quickly…and...

There are times when words do not or can not express loss in the soul of a person. As a chaplain in our nation’s armed forces, I am called upon to deal with issues that are very personal. My calling to these men and women in uniform is to try to help them find their spiritual center in their time of crisis. I read the stories about the passing of Senator Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, and I was taken aback at the poignant timing of her passing. Why would God allow this sorrow...

I woke up this morning to read the Gallup poll numbers that show an 11 point lead for Barack Obama. The amazing thing is the fact that so many people seem to be surprised by the double digit lead. In a post, two weeks ago, I predicted a win of 14 points. The surprising part of these poll numbers is that we have not seen the effect of Vice President Dick Cheney’s endorsement for John McCain. My lead question is “what happens if Obama does not win?” While I do not see this a likely...

Here are my predictions for Election Day 2008 and for the next four years. Two weeks ago, I wrote the following prediction for Election Day: “Three weeks is not a lot of time in politics and this was McCain’s last best chance in salvaging a close outcome on November 4th. Prediction: Obama will win by a landslide – 57% to 43%; Electoral College outcome – 315 to 223 (give or take 5 votes).” With five days left, I have to revise my earlier prediction. I don’t see the...

Last night, after the 30 minute Obama infomercial, President Bill Clinton joined Senator Barack Obama on the campaign trail in Florida. As I watched Clinton’s remarks, there were two thoughts that dominated my thoughts: where has Bill been and it would be a great race if those two were able to run against each other? Where Clinton has been is anyone’s guess and I’m sure some pundits have already spun the lack of a prior endorsement from Bill Clinton as a negative for Obama. However,...

First of all, as a former TV producer, I have to applaud the production value of Senator Barack Obama’s 30 minute campaign ad. My one negative issue was the beginning shot of Obama in the office. Visually, the Oval Office-esque backdrop was a bit much but probably only a few people put two and two together to understand the subliminal purpose of the camera shot. The transition from the taped to the live segment was a bit disjointed, including the tinting of his tie for a few seconds, the...

UPDATED: Question: What is the Alaska state law regarding special elections to replace a sitting United States Senator? Is it possible for Stevens to resign in the next day or so and Palin to name herself as his replacement BEFORE Election Day? If so, then read the rest of the post… You couldn’t write a better script for Sarah Palin’s quest for the White House in 2012. As I wrote previously, Palin will use the national stage to distance herself from the debacle of the McCain...

The tournament that started with almost twenty players has wound down to three people with significant chips in play at the final table: John McCain holding A-J, Sarah Palin holding 10-10 and Barack Obama holding K-K. Why do I mention Palin when she is not on the top of the ticket? I mention her because she has more to gain or lose over the next ten days than John McCain does. Senator McCain has run his last campaign for the Presidency. After November 4th, McCain will go back to his office on...

The Republican Exodus Continues… In the wake of Colin Powell’s endorsement of Senator Barack Obama last Sunday I wrote the following statement: “My gut feeling is that there will be a significant number of moderate Republicans who will endorse Obama over the next week or so. Four hours later, I wrote this update after Ken Adelman announced he was voting for Obama. “Ken Adelman is a bonafide Conservative. If he is able to vote for Obama, then the exodus is just beginning…” Scott...

What a revolting time to be a Republican. The fat lady has started rehearsing on the presidential race and the NRCC has given up any pretense of keeping the losses in House of Representatives to a respectable margin of defeat. Back In July, I wrote the following: “It is not a question of if the Democrat nominee will win but how the coattail effect will impact House and Senate races across the country. The Democrats could easily pick up 15 to 17 House seats, and with the indictment of Senator...

I know Western PA very well. I was born and raised in Beaver County, an alumnus of Blackhawk High School, Geneva College, the University of Pittsburgh, and a was former district staff person for two Members of the House of Representatives, Ron Klink and Mike Doyle (D-Pittsburgh), I have spent nearly 2/3 of my forty-two years in that part of the country. I read with interest Jack Murtha’s comment about Barack Obama’s chances in western Pennsylvania. Congressman Murtha has been in office...

The presidential campaigns of John McCain can be defined by the statement – Prisoner of W 1) Prisoner of George W. Bush In 2000 and 2008, John McCain has been dealt a severe blow by George W. Bush. In 2000, W sunk McCain’s chances for the nomination in South Carolina. In 2008, the administration of W handed McCain an uneven playing deck that McCain has not been able to overcome. 2) Prisoner of Wasilla In his pick of Sarah Palin as his running mate, John McCain became a prisoner of...

Let the Moderate Republican Exodus Begin. Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama is one of the big tea leaves of this election cycle. There are a lot of disaffected moderates in the Republican Party that have waited for an important figure to be a Maverick and come out publicly to endorse Obama. This morning, the inevitable smear machine is on overdrive with Pat Buchanan and George Will stating the Powell is endorsing Obama because of race. The only thing that Buchanan and company...

This is from the article I wrote on Thursday: Well, now it is time for Powell to make his move. I expect this decision to be made public in time for the Sunday talk show circuit this weekend. Powell’s endorsement will clear the Independents and moderate Republicans from the fence post that they have been sitting on for the last six weeks. As I listened to Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama this morning, one recurring thought came to mind: you can only have new leadership if you have...

As you have probably heard, Colin Powell is scheduled to be on “Meet the Press” tomorrow. The rumor mill is suggesting that Powell may endorse Obama. I have written several posts about Powell and Obama and, while I think Powell will eventually endorse Senator Obama, I have been told by a reliable source (who knows Powell very well) that Powell will probably not endorse anyone tomorrow. In our conversation, I was told four very interesting facts: Statement #1: “Powell has a high...

I just got done with my last lecture on Martin Luther today and a colleague of mine told me to read about the endorsement of Obama by The Washington Post. I have to say that the editorial is pretty close to my thoughts on the choice for President in 2008. There are two quotes that stand out for me. On the economy: “Mr. McCain has little interest in economics and no apparent feel for the topic. His principal proposal, doubling down on the Bush tax cuts, would exacerbate the fiscal wreckage...

Many of my colleagues have written after-action reports on the third and final debate tonight. I agree with most of them who state that Barack Obama is clearly in the drivers seat in the presidential campaign. Three weeks is not a lot of time in politics and this was McCain’s last best chance in salvaging a close outcome on November 4th. Prediction: Obama will win by a landslide – 57% to 43%; Electoral College outcome – 315 to 223 (give or take 5 votes). However, the most interesting...

Tonight, John McCain has promised the Republican base that he is going to “kick his (Barack Obama) you know what.” Senator McCain, with all due respect, this is what Obama has been waiting for and your demeanor will prove to be the nails in your coffin. There is new information on the recent ties of John McCain and the Republican Party to Walter and Leonora Annenberg (who have funded Ayers and given money to Republican candidates including McCain) as well as McCain being on record as...

In 1988, the Democratic Party got its proverbial head handed to them in the selection of Michael Dukakis and Lloyd Bentsen. The overwhelming rejection of their ticket caused their party to re-evaluate how they pick candidates, and more importantly, how future Democratic campaigns would communicate to the American people. The result of this lesson was the emergence of the Democratic Leadership Council to leadership positions in the party and a win for Bill Clinton in 1992. Today, Republicans face...

While I agree with Bill Kristol that Senator McCain should fire his campaign staff, it is not for the reasons given by Kristol, the reason McCain should fire his staff is because they have wasted six months of our time and his energy. This campaign was done before it even began. First, we know that McCain is hampered by the policies (or lack of) of the Bush Administration. However, it was McCain’s staff that did not come up with a message that resonated with the American people. George W. Bush...

In Star Trek VI, Captain Kirk meets the Klingon Chancellor Gorkon on the Enterprise. After a rocky diplomatic dinner, Gorkon says the following to Kirk, “You don’t trust me, do you? I don’t blame you. If there is to be a brave new world, our generation is going to have the hardest time living in it.” Before I continue my post, I have to say that John Lewis was WAY out of line comparing Senator McCain with George Wallace. Rep. John Lewis, and other leaders of the Civil Rights...

It is Friday and I am happy that this week in American politics is almost over. One of the things that has bothered me is the underlying current of racism in this election cycle. In an effort to bridge the racial gap for my readers, I would like to present my humorous take on the ridiculous notion that a Harvard educated, United States Senator is going to drastically change this country. So, for your reading, I present my… Top Ten Reasons Why Some White Folks Fear President Obama 10. Thanksgiving...

Yesterday, in response to Senator McCain’s “That One” comment, I advised the supporters of Senator Obama to let it pass. Someone must have gotten my blog to the Obama campaign because Michelle Obama followed my advice by letting the comment go (Good for you, Mrs. Obama). Unfortunately, a reporter caught up to several African-American Democrat members of the House of Representatives and they couldn’t keep their mouths shut. A simple “no comment” would have sufficed...

I do not know why those words were spoken by Senator John McCain last night. It could be simply that John McCain does not agree with Senator Obama on the issues or it could be as Wolf Blitzer commented that McCain has a clear disdain for Obama. It was a poor choice of words and once again the questions this morning are not about the issues that matter to the American people, but rather, if McCain’s words were racially motivated (in or out of context). For the record, I think John McCain is an...

My dear friends… If I heard that line one more time, I would have been seriously blitzed. But seriously, tonight’s debate had the makings of an all-out slugfest, but turned out to be pretty one sided. Obama answered questions and McCain gave platitudes straight out of Ronald Reagan’s handbook…the only problem is that America is not a shining city on the hill anymore. We have serious problems that even “The Great Communicator” would have problems dealing with...