It's here. Finally. At long last, after six long weeks, six crazy weeks, we get another vote today, the showdown we've all been waiting for, the Pennsylvania primary. (For what to expect today, see WaPo's Dan Balz and The Politico.) For what it's worth, Drudge (i.e., an offshoot of the Clinton campaign, or so it seems) is reporting that Clinton internal polling has … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Primary Day
“I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the president, we will attack Iran….”
That's a direct quote from Hillary Clinton. She said it on Countdown last night. She went on to suggest that we would not allow Iran to be a threat to Israel, and that we could "totally obliterate" Iran. And just in case anybody thought it was a slip, she reiterated it on Good Morning America. Whatever you may think of Iran, they are a sovereign nation. It's just a … [Read more...] about “I want the Iranians to know that if I’m the president, we will attack Iran….”
Iraq & Afghanistan: Why ‘Young America’ Is Not Angry?
It is said that American youth voters would play a crucial role in this US presidential election. But have we ever wondered that most of the wisdom pouring out in the media/blogs on Iraq and Afghanistan "wars", and other issues, is the monopoly of people who have possibly left their youth far behind? And these "wise" people may have basically lost what is called a zest for … [Read more...] about Iraq & Afghanistan: Why ‘Young America’ Is Not Angry?
Clinton v. Obama: Pin the tail on the donkey already!
Thinking about the outlook for today's Democratic presidential nominee primary in Pennsylvania is like being at a birthday party, blindfolded, wrist flexed back with a dart between your thumb and index finger, trying to decide where to pin the tail on the donkey. You just can't figure out, after having been spun around and around and around, where to place the darn dart. In … [Read more...] about Clinton v. Obama: Pin the tail on the donkey already!
Krauthammer’s Misplaced Proliferation Pessimism
Charles Krauthammer wrote in the Washington Post recently that, in the face of the advancing nuclear programs in both Iran and North Korea, the "era of nonproliferation is over." Not so fast, though. His analysis is devoid of some much-needed historical context. … [Read more...] about Krauthammer’s Misplaced Proliferation Pessimism
Bill Clinton Says Obama Memos Show Plan To Play Race Card On Him
On a Pennsylvania talk show, Bill Clinton accuses Barack Obama's campaign of playing the race card on him. He also contends memos show the Obama campaign planned to play the race card on him all along. Make sure you listen to the comment he makes at the very end when he thinks the phone is off. It's hard to tell what impact a radio interview will have on the campaign, … [Read more...] about Bill Clinton Says Obama Memos Show Plan To Play Race Card On Him
Pennsylvania: 8 Questions, 5 Things to Watch
The questions are posed by the WaPo's Dan Balz. The things to watch are outlined by Carrie Budoff Brown and Kenneth Vogel at Politico. Number two on their list: Don’t be fooled by early results. The cities and suburbs usually report their returns first, which gives the candidate favored in those areas a quick -- and sometimes fleeting -- lead. The conservative-leaning … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania: 8 Questions, 5 Things to Watch
So Much for Bipartisanship
The members of the ISG go their separate ways. I am curious, how does Ed Meese say the following with a straight face? McCain’s Iraq views are “by far” the closest to the ISG’s, says the former attorney general under President Ronald Reagan. “I think the principal, the primary, part of the report was we should go on to support the effort in Iraq and we should not cut and … [Read more...] about So Much for Bipartisanship
The Potemkin Village of Iraq
Now it's Condoleezza Rice's turn to take a hand in putting up the false front the Bush Administration is trying to construct and pass off as "victory." She follows President Bush last September, Vice President Cheney and the war's heir apparent, John McCain, last month in projecting a perception of peace with smoke and mirrors. In a surprise trip last weekend, the Secretary … [Read more...] about The Potemkin Village of Iraq
Pennsylvania: Of Lenapes & Luminaries
Pennsylvanians go to the polls today mindful that they may well be voting for the next president of the United States. My inclination was to give the whole thing a rest for the day, but that would be elitist, so herewith an excerpt from a chapter on the early -- as in really early -- history of Northeastern Pennsylvania from my forthcoming book. That once beautiful but largely … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania: Of Lenapes & Luminaries
WIFI
Jiho, France … [Read more...] about WIFI
A Modest Proposal for Presidential Debates
Happily, there will be no debate between Senators Clinton and Obama in North Carolina. Their twenty-one previous confrontations have, above all, proven the vacuity of the debate form as developed in the television age. We either need to get rid of debates altogether or radically change them. (In addition to reducing their number dramatically.) I would suggest the … [Read more...] about A Modest Proposal for Presidential Debates
Disenfranchised by Banality
What kind of logic says that because Clinton has won the primaries in large states (such as CA and NY), that she is better placed than Obama to win those states in a contest with McCain? How does this even pass the smell test? How does a general election, which is a competition between parties, played out among voters of all political stripes, resemble an intra-Democrat … [Read more...] about Disenfranchised by Banality
Reducing Farm Subsidies
Since I recently wrote a post dissing the GOP's commitment to managing the budget I want to offer a modest atonement by acknowledging the White House for taking a position to reduce the cap on how much farm subsidy one entity can receive. Regarding the proposed Farm Bill One White House proposal is to deny crop subsidies to anyone with an adjusted gross income above … [Read more...] about Reducing Farm Subsidies
The Bushed Generation
Tomorrow's Pennsylvania primary will most likely settle nothing, but there is an outside chance that the results could end it all. If Barack Obama wins by even one vote, it's over. The slice-and-dice demographics show Hillary Clinton running strong among blue-collar voters, gun owners and bowlers, but there is a less obvious layer of the electorate that could surprise the … [Read more...] about The Bushed Generation
Howard Dean conference call re: Neighborhood Volunteer organizing
"New tools" can mean many different things these days and often involve social media of some type. But in a conference call today, Democratic National Committee chair Howard Dean described "the rollout of a new field effort and Neighborhood Volunteer organizing tool" as one that emphasizes face-to-face contact between neighbors. (Also referenced was a new ad called called, … [Read more...] about Howard Dean conference call re: Neighborhood Volunteer organizing
(UPDATED) Can You Spare Six-and-a-Half Minutes?
If you can spare those 6.5 minutes, watch this video. It features former Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell -- now Governor of Pennsylvania and a prominent supporter of Sen. Clinton's -- speaking in April 1997 to a packed audience at Tindley Temple United Methodist Church, where he shared the stage with Louis Farrakhan and had glowing words of praise for the Nation of Islam. Given … [Read more...] about (UPDATED) Can You Spare Six-and-a-Half Minutes?
Courting Moderates
Today I received a solicitation for funds from the Republican Leadership Council - representing the moderate wing of the GOP. The central plea was to help stop the Democrats from raising taxes. While it may be appropriate to inflame party regulars by appealing to stereotypes it doesn't appeal to me as an independent. I am more interested in supporting leaders who will … [Read more...] about Courting Moderates
Hamas Hudna Hoax
Credulous, likely-senile Jimmy Carter had tea with the terrorist group Hamas and now, according to MSNBC, Hamas is asking for a 10-year "truce" while refusing to recognize the State of Israel on the condition that said State of Israel return to the nearly-indefensible 1967 (read 1949) borders. This is nothing new from Hamas, which would love to import offensive weaponry for … [Read more...] about Hamas Hudna Hoax
Hillary Clinton’s New “Who Do You Think Has What It Takes” Campaign Ad Shows Osama bin Laden (UPDATED)
The details are HERE. In case some folks have short memories: For years Democrats have SOUNDLY condemned any attempts by the White House or GOP to use bin Laden images to suggest that Democrats are soft on terrorism. But now a Democrat does just that -- and there is silence from many Democrats. So in 2008 if some Republicans use the same "Vote for us or die" … [Read more...] about Hillary Clinton’s New “Who Do You Think Has What It Takes” Campaign Ad Shows Osama bin Laden (UPDATED)