US Features
Obama seeking convention cure for summer slump
Aug 22, 2008, 4:57 GMT
Presumed U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama gives a speech during a rally at EC Glass High School in Lynchburg, Virginia, on 20 August 2008. EPA/DAVIS TURNER
Washington - Much rides on the historic Democratic convention opening Monday in Denver, Colorado.
US Senator Barack Obama, 47, the first African-American to secure a major-party presidential nomination, is a relative newcomer with four years in national politics, no executive experience and limited foreign exposure.
He is expected to use four days of prime-time broadcasts to fill in the gaps. He is aiming to convince voters that he's a patriotic American family man who can be trusted to make the right decisions about national security and lead the economy away from the brink of recession.
By the time Obama delivers his acceptance speech before 76,000 people at Denver's Mile-High Stadium on August 28, he will also have put a strong spotlight on Senator Hillary Clinton in a bid to heal the lingering wounds of their hard-fought primary campaign.
On the surface, this election is tailor-made for the opposition centre-left Democrats.
The country remains bogged down in the Iraq war, while mired in a slowing economy that coupled with rising inflation continues to erode the buying power of average Americans. Meanwhile, Republican President George W Bush's popularity ratings are among the lowest in the history of modern survey research in the United States.
Yet Obama has lost traction in national surveys in the last several weeks of summer, with his edge over presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, 71, trimmed to 1.5 percentage points in this week's average of the latest polls.
Analysts point out that there's nothing unusual about the tightening race, because most voters don't start thinking seriously about the presidential elections until after the two major-party conventions - the Republican convention is September 1-4 in St Paul, Minnesota.
Democratic officials are worried about the slump, which follows weeks of McCain's high pressure attacks over the whirlwind Obama tour of Europe and the Middle East and charges that Obama's ambition dictates his position on war and peace - a message seen by some as 'pretty tough stuff.'
Analyst Thomas Mann of the centre-left Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think, is optimistic that Obama 'retains the huge advantage of being a Democrat and member of the out party at a time of deep public discontent.'
Mann believes Obama is headed for a double-digit percentage victory in November if he is able to refocus the agenda 'away from him personally' and onto the economy, which according to a CNN opinion poll this month dominates nearly three-to-one as the issue that could sway voters on November 4.
Obama must do more to link McCain to Bush. The senator from Chicago needs to 'reassure people that he's able and has good judgement and is trustworthy with responsibilities of the office,' Mann said.
More a showcase for the party than a competitive forum for candidate selection these days, the Denver convention will be sculpted to put forward the best face of the Democrats, who have traditional advantages with ethnic minorities and women.
During the week, Democratic former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton are scheduled to speak, and the convention will see a videotaped message from iconic Senator Edward Kennedy, who is suffering from brain cancer.
As Democrats seek inroads with religious voters, among whom leftwing candidates have long done poorly, Obama's campaign has proposed a campaign platform that would soften the party's stance on abortion rights and open the door for more support for women who choose to have their babies, media reports said.
Both Nancy Keenan, president of Pro Choice America, as well as Senator Bob Casey Jr, an opponent of legalized abortion, will be speaking.
Notable by his absence for the first time in a generation will be civil-rights activist Jesse Jackson, a black minister who infamously spoke - during a break in a television show - of castrating Obama for his support of government funding for faith-based charities.
The gaffe laid bare a deep generational shift among the country's black leadership that has emerged with Obama's candidacy.
Two milestones in US political history will be observed during the convention week in the city at the foot of the Rocky Mountains.
Obama's Thursday acceptance address will be made on the 45th anniversary of civil-rights activist Martin Luther King Jr's I Have A Dream Speech. The 2000 Democratic presidential candidate, former vice president Al Gore, will speak earlier on the same night.
Earlier in the week, Hillary Clinton's address on Tuesday will be made on the 88th anniversary of passage of the constitutional amendment that gave women the right to vote. Obama's campaign has granted Clinton such prominence in response to demands that her history-making candidacy be recognized, after she became the first woman to come so close to a major-party US presidential nomination.
Clinton has already declared her support for Obama and campaigned for him, but many of her supporters have not made the transition.
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Older Talkback
page: 1
McCain is nothing without his advisors and 'surrogates.' Every time he opens his mouth he’s either sticking his foot in or spewing some sort of incoherent gibberish. He’s a puppet. It absolutely blows my mind that Americans would be duped into four more years of this garbage.
Obama — the New Jimmy Carter
(Abridged)
By: Dick Morris & Eileen McGann
Last week raised important questions about whether Barack Obama is strong enough to be president. On the domestic political front, he showed incredible weakness in dealing with the Clintons, while on foreign and defense questions, he betrayed a lack of strength and resolve in standing up to Russia’s invasion of Georgia. This two-dimensional portrait of weakness underscores fears that Obama might, indeed, be a latter-day Jimmy Carter.
Consider first the domestic and political. Bill and Hillary Clinton have no leverage over Obama. Hillary can’t win the nomination. She doesn’t control any committees. If she or her supporters tried to disrupt the convention or demonstrate outside, she would pay a huge price among the party faithful.... But, without having any leverage or a decent hand to play, the Clintons bluffed Obama into amazing concessions.
Hillary will get to play a film extolling her virtues produced by Harry Bloodworth Thomason. Bill will speak on Wednesday night. Hillary’s name will be placed into nomination. She will get to have nominating and seconding speeches on her behalf. And, on Thursday night, the last night of the convention, the roll call will show how narrowly Obama prevailed.
So Obama gave away Tuesday night, Wednesday night and part of Thursday night to the Clintons. It will really be their convention. A stronger candidate would’ve called their bluff and confined the Clintons to one night on which both Hillary and Bill spoke (he would have outshone her). He would have blocked a roll call by allowing a voice vote to nominate by acclimation. He would have stood up to the Clintons and recaptured his own convention.
If Obama can’t stand up to the Clintons, after they have been defeated, how can he measure up to a resurgent Putin who has just achieved a military victory? When the Georgia invasion first began, Obama appealed for “restraint” on both sides.
He treated the aggressive lion and the victimized lamb even-handedly. His performance was reminiscent of the worst of appeasement at Munich, where another dictator got away with seizing another breakaway province of another small neighboring country, leading to World War II.
After two days, Obama corrected himself, spoke of Russian aggression and condemned it. But his initial willingness to see things from the other point of view and to buy the line that Georgia provoked the invasion by occupying a part of its own country betrayed a world view characterized by undue deference to aggressors.
We know so little about Obama. His experience is so thin that it’s hard to tell what kind of a president he’d be. While he nominally has been in the Senate for four years, he really only served the first two and consumed the rest of his tenure running for president and disregarding his Senate duties.
So we have no choice but to scrutinize his current transactions and statements for some clue as to who he is and what he’d do. In that context, his reaction to the first real-time foreign-policy crisis he faced as a nominee leaves his strength in doubt. So does his palsied response to the Clintons’ attempt to make Denver a Clinton convention.
Is Obama an over-intellectualizing Hamlet who is incapable of decisive, strong action? With Iran on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons and Russia resurgent, there isn’t much room for on-the-job learning.
'McCain is nothing without his advisors and 'surrogates.' '
McCain speaks off the cuff all the time, here is Obama off the teleprompter:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxBX8sz3tO8
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpGH02DtIws
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThEAO0lt4Dw
The ones worrying about Obama not having enough experience - he can't be as bad as Bush if he didn't have ANY experience!
liar + thief. NObama
Barack Obama as next President of The United States of America
The die is cast and for reasons that only a privileged few know, you Sir, will be the next President of the United States of America. Your next 4 years will be a turning point in US history and planet earth. CHANGE, your advisors and high stake investors offer the nation will undoubtedly be the same rhetoric and empty promises that make up a political campaign, that campaigns for appointment for any public office in America.
The White House will be the Black House to some, the Aryan Brothers of America will not be so happy, but yet will blame you and your staff if you fail, which will reinforce their belief that the Aryan Nation is the true leader for America. The religious zealots will be busy bees making nests to survive the onslaught of lies, corruption and deceit. Business enterprises and other competing nations will capitalize off of your inexperience in the art of corruption and murder. The organized crime organizations from different nations including our own will benefit from the lack of control over national crime.
Military governments including our own will test your tolerance to pain and deception and trick you into needless and profitable domestic and international conflict. You will no doubt attempt to colorize your staff to soften the race conflict once in office.
As President you will be President. Nations will respect you only for your title of office. Americans will soon see after your appointment as President that your intentions were manipulated by those that make the rules. You will fill the spot in history as planned, and nothing more.
You will never while in office be able to pull the troops from conflict in any land we are engaged in. As a matter of fact we as a nation will be engaged in a new conflict of war, which will galvanize Americans to seek a different form of government and a different and honest Congress.
You will attempt to shore up Americas problems with false promise and lies, because you cannot directly affect the CHANGE you promised.
Your frustration will be your downfall while in office, and your co-dependence on those that you trust will also add to your demise.
Our Armed Forces in rank will respect you as good soldiers they are, but those under them will not, and for good reasons, that only a good soldier knows.
America will not be America until its government respects the People, and tells the truth. America is a Republic, not a Democracy or Fascist Government or is it?
Until you can walk thru the streets and neighborhoods of America unaided by Secret Service or any other law enforcement agency you will not be respected by the many, only by the fearful and selfish few. Americans can protect their leaders if they are honest and respectful of the people they were elected to serve. Our Government has forsaken us for many hundreds of years, and now we will wait until your 4 years are finished for us to come to fruition.
CHANGE FOR AMERICA FOR AMERICANS!
The American Republic
A Sovereign Republic
Liar + thief.
How many houses do I own? I don't - my wife owns them all!!!
...how many blow jobs did I get?...I don't recall getting anyh!
...I do not remember marrying..
...I do not remember taking money for influence
Your repeated comments are signs that you are in the same catagory!
...it's funny, no matter who you are!
Hey idiot, Bill Clinton is not running for President!
... not with you.
You consistently make idiotic, nonsensical, and immature posts, full of hate-filled name calling ... then being the blatant hypocrite you are SP4, you admonish everyone else to 'grow up and do better than resort to name calling'.
YOU SP4, are the joke ... we all get it.
...if ol Johnny has a memory lapse, I'm happy to remind you of other former, successful, president's lapses, to illustrate how inconsequential they are to the candidate!
Laughing at me??? Nothing compared to the chuckle I get when I read your bitch-like responses! By all means, feel free to retort!
'Hey idiot, Bill Clinton is not running for President!'
Hey Idiot, neither is George Bush.
...I should have said that!
The American Republic returns on September 11, 2008, Revised
A Letter to The United States Congress and to The American People
Americans have lost their way by choice and coercion propagated by those that wish to have it all. Americans that have plenty are not bothered by the confusion and rape of the land and its people. The Americans that outnumber the wealthy are the ones that suffer in America. The idea of a Republic of America was an original perfect form of government. The ones that made the choice to write on paper their ideas for a perfect form of government were themselves imperfect. The document called the Constitution is a promise on paper and in spirit to Americans to protect and to serve Americans, our Nation with truth. That has not happened, thus the discord and confusion within our nation to Americans.
Our Nation, our Homeland has been sold, raped, and ravaged by many outsiders and insider traitors, which have allowed our eagle our National symbol to be locked in a cage with little sustenance. Our Star our symbol of truth has been buried in the sand with the trash of other nations.
This is not acceptable, and will be resolved.
Our current Congress has forsaken our nation by giving little and taking so much for themselves and their financial supporters. Congress has allowed Capitalist Businesses from within and out to take over our Nation and rule by the power of selfish money and lies.
Our Great and once powerful Military are ruled by those that give false and deceptive orders coupled by untruthful commands. They, the soldiers of our fortunes are engaged in ambiguous battle campaigns fighting under and for False Flag counter intelligence fueled by deceptive propaganda rhetoric. Human lives on all sides are dying for the few that have lost their way thru choice.
Our President, our leader of our Nation has with his advisors and financial empire brokers reinforced the ultimate crime to humanity by lying to himself, his family and his country. Our business leaders have lied to our Nation and prostituted our ingenuity to others for unnatural profit.
There are too many Americans that have some or little or none, and that Ladies and Gentlemen is not acceptable. Congress and others have failed to provide even the basics for our Nation to thrive. Too many selfish secrets, many which are known amongst a few, are tearing our Nation and Planet apart. By allowing those that know what lies behind the looking glass, to control the masses at will is an affront to GOD.
There is too much advertised hatred and racial prejudice fed by ignorance and choice. Religions have taken front seat to freedom and truth, thus confusing those that wish to know the truth, by self-choice.
On September 11, 2008, in Los Angeles, California, United States of America, we Americans can and will make a choice to free our Eagle from its cage of captors, allowing it to be stronger and fly higher than ever before, and unearth and restore our Star to its rightful brilliance from the sand of trash of other Nations, and take back our country from those that have stolen it from us all. Annuit Copetis.
We have learned from the past, and we have learned from the present, now we will make a choice to either continue with America as is, or Change America to a True Republic that truly represents the sincere interests of its people and other Nations. It is not an impossible task to overcome; all it takes is an honest choice and the will to sacrifice.
We are a Legion of many, who will live a life of peace, and have respect for all living things, while having considerations for those who are different, and look for ways to truly accommodate those who are slow in understanding.
We support the poor, helpless, and defenseless people. We support the freedom of Women, we support the sane treatment of animals and the environment, and we support the freedom of religion and expression. We do not support ignorance, period.
We are a growing nation of people that encourage all Americans to become part of the New American Republic!
CHANGE FOR AMERICA FOR AMERICANS!
NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM
Judah Ben-Hur, Sui Juris
Ambassador
The American Republic
Diplomatic Mission: North America
A Sovereign Republic
Re: 'Hey Idiot, neither is George Bush.'
Uh, sorry to have to point out the distinction to you on that ...
... but nobody keeps bringing George Bush up in this discussion, as SP4 repeatedly does with Bill Clinton (hence the reminders to SP4 that Bill Clinton isn't running for president).
Your response is not related to diddly in this article or the posted comments.
But thank you for the reminder that Bush will soon be gone, never to return to the WhiteHouse again (smile)
Obama's novelty is over, so he needs a new vehicle for his rise. This will be the convention. Here, they can get plastered on the liberal media for 5 days and try to regain the momentum. They know they have a problem with white voters, plain and simple, especially the white male, blue colar worker. This is the democrat's most important constituancy, no matter what anyone says. It got Reagan in, and Bush one, out. It got Carter in and Bush two in. He has got to pull them in.
Obama has about 10 weeks to git er' done and if he can do that, he can win. Otheriwise, if he misses his chance, or Hillary fudges up the convention, he comes out damaged goods.
'Uh, sorry to have to point out the distinction to you on that.. but nobody keeps bringing George Bush up in this discussion'
Well gee, lookie lookie, you are wrong again:
'Chief Aug 22nd, 2008 - 13:13:30
The ones worrying about Obama not having enough experience - he can't be as bad as Bush if he didn't have ANY experience!'
Which is what started the whole comparison thing.
'Your response is not related to diddly in this article or the posted comments. '
Wrong, wrong, wrongy wrong. You are incorrect, mistaken, ill informed, and just plain WRONG. Sooooo... Shut your pie hole Miss. Wrong W. Wrong-O.
Your little happy dance above is laughable ... And in the style I'd expect from a 3 yr old filled with boundless joy after finding a piece of bubble gum in his bubble gum ice cream.
My comment was (paraphrased) ' no one keeps bringing George Bush up in this discussion as SP4 does with Clinton'
One mention of Bush is hardly a comparison to the endless repetition of Clinton smear posted by SP4.
One little mention ... Against many.
You miss the point entirely ... But I'm not surprised. It was above the level a 3 yr old could grasp.
'Your little happy dance above is laughable ... And in the style I'd expect from a 3 yr old filled with boundless joy after finding a piece of bubble gum in his bubble gum ice cream.
'
If so you have been proven WRONG by a 3 year old :-D
'
One mention of Bush is hardly a comparison to the endless repetition of Clinton smear posted by SP4'
It got the ball rolling there Wrongie.
'.. But I'm not surprised. It was above the level a 3 yr old could grasp.'
How does it feel to be proven WRONG by a 3 year old?
page: 1
Another Obama terrorist palAug 22nd, 2008 - 07:55:30
Code Pink co-founder and Brack Obama campaign fundraiser Jodi Evans attended a mock war crimes trial in Istanbul Turkey, which ended in a declaration that The Iraqi Insurgency 'Deserved The Support Of People Everywhere Who Care For Justice And Freedom.'
In addition to expressing Code Pink's support for the insurgency, Evans personally published a statement from Istanbul endorsing the insurgency that has killed thousands of American troops and free Iraqis.
Evans has a close relationship with the Obama campaign. She hosted Obama's first Hollywood fundraiser in February 2007 and is listed on the Obama website as having bundled between $50,000 and $100,000. She has also contributed the maximum $2300 to his primary campaign, according to FEC records.
In addition to supporting the insurgency in Iraq, Evans recently expressed her agreement with Osama bin Laden's reasons for attacking America on September 11, 2001 in an interview broadcast June 3, 2008:
Jodie Evans:...'We were attacked because we were in Saudi Arabia, that was the message of Osama, was that because we had our bases in the Middle East, he attacked the United States.'
Evans: 'Sure. Why do we have bases in the Middle East? We totally violated the rights of that country. Why do we get to have bases in the Middle East?'
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