A testimonial:  Dean is first.

Howard Dean is first.

Obama won Texas.

Karen

Politics is the same everywhere and Obama needs to be organizing for the General Election so his supporters best be involved in the local party so they can win the do over. I'd give it 50/50 odds and since Levin is the one who has been battling Iowa for being first for decades I have a bit of a clue. Hillary will need her Michigan delegates to win and they won't be seated the way things stand, so my guess is that since it is in both candidates interest it might be done whatever Levin or Dingell think about it. Governors have no special say in Party Rules either.

Clinton Comeback: Courtesy of Diebold

Bill Noxid
March 6, 2008




Once again we are supposed to believe that it was the leaked memo, or the red phone ad, or buyer’s remorse or some other such nonsense. In reality however, she won for the same reason George Bush has been president for eight years. She won because this country still uses Diebold and ES&S voting machines that have time and again altered the outcome of our elections. I don’t think I can say it any clearer than that.

It’s unfortunate that the American people still just don’t understand. It’s hard to watch them be so easily swayed by the endless mainstream nonsense while the truth is right in front of them. It’s by design of course, and the perpetrators have had a lot of practice at this.

Granted, this has been an ugly Democratic Primary season. I’ve seen things come out of the Clinton campaign that I would have never expected, and surely I’m disappointed. I would have hoped that the Clinton’s would have had more respect for the positive direction that the majority of the country is determined to take, rather than the pursuit of “winning” by any means. The fact that the Republicans have gleefully done all they can to ensure Hillary continues this behavior should be a clear indication of what side she is benefiting.

However, this is not why she won three of the four March 4th contests. Once again we are supposed to believe that it was the leaked memo, or the red phone ad, or buyer’s remorse or some other such nonsense. In reality however, she won for the same reason George Bush has been president for eight years. She won because this country still uses Diebold and ES&S voting machines that have time and again altered the outcome of our elections. I don’t think I can say it any clearer than that.

They Knew, But Did Nothing

The Sydney Morning Herald
March 8, 2008




According to the latest LIHOP account, most of the blame for "allowing" 9/11 to happen rests with Condoleezza Rice, Bush’s National Security Advisor at the time. How Condi made NORAD stand down and other peculiarities are not explained.

In this exclusive extract from his new book, Philip Shenon uncovers how the White House tried to hide the truth of its ineptitude leading up to the September 11 terrorist attacks. .

In the American summer of 2001, the nation’s news organisations, especially the television networks, were riveted by the story of one man. It wasn’t George Bush. And it certainly wasn’t Osama bin Laden.

It was the sordid tale of an otherwise obscure Democratic congressman from California, Gary Condit, who was implicated - falsely, it later appeared - in the disappearance of a 24-year-old government intern later found murdered. That summer, the names of the blow-dried congressman and the doe-eyed intern, Chandra Levy, were much better known to the American public than bin Laden’s.

Even reporters in Washington who covered intelligence issues acknowledged they were largely ignorant that summer that the CIA and other parts of the Government were warning of an almost certain terrorist attack. Probably, but not necessarily, overseas.

A while ago there was a bit on CNN from a caucus group in Cheyenne which had to move their caucus from its usual place to the auditorium.

Their caucuses start at 9 a.m. and you must be in line by then. They end whenever they are done -- that's it. Could be a long day. I saw no Hillary signs but plenty of Obama ones. Still, there were not many people in the room yet with a line outside two blocks long.

The Obama people have been in WY for days right up through last night giving instructions on how to run their caucuses. That will put them in charge I suppose.

Go Obama!

16.

*** cChalfonte***
Sat, 03/08/08

Reply to this


Personally, I think that both Hillary and Barack would have struggles against Caine. I don't see one as having an easier time of than the other.
==========================

What planet do you live on, cC?

Obama's surprising success in the Western red States tells a different story.

Hillary Clinton's name-recognition and Bill's baggage would have a unifying/motivating effect on Republicans.

Her Chauvinism a la Kyl-Leiberman, and the 2002 IWR, (dulls the contrast on that issue) makes her Repub-lite on anti-War votes.

All Obama has against him is his race and experience. Race is more than balanced out by activism for the same reason. American have poll for change over experience about 60/40.

MSNBC had her 50/40 behing Obama in national polls for who can beat McCain with 10% undecided.

from the last thread...

as far as raising $$ for the DNC, I don't think they'll have a problem come time for the general election.  there are hordes of new voters who will contribute (esp. if it's Obama).  I would bet that there are many holding back but seeing for themselves every day now just what the 50 state strategy is doing and will be ready to open their wallets for the DNC.  and I'm sure there are a lot of folks, especially in Congress, who think that 'The Clintons can't lose' or perhaps feel a bit of loyalty (or real political pressue) so are waiting to see how this shakes out.  

and... found a new website while trying to find out more about the Stan Lee fraud case - looks interesting!  The Hillary Project - Reporting the news about Hillary Clinton that the media refuses to:

http://www.hillaryproject.com/?/en

Sleeping Girl in Hillary's Red Phone Ad is Obama Supporter

Obama's surprising success in the Western red States tells a different story.===========

They are competing amongst their own, in our primaries, fred. The general election is a different ball game.

All Obama has against him is his race and experience. =======

These will be significant factors in the GE, fred.

I support him, 100% but I'm not kidding myself about the hurdles we face, whether it's with Obama or with Hillary.

from the last thread..
52.

Phil Specht
Sat, 03/08/08

Phil Wrote:
Free Fire Zones violated the Geneva Conventions too. VietNam had been fighting colonialism for decades before we got there and defeated the Chinese Army who invaded after we left. It is a fantasy to say we could have ever "won" there.

-------------------------------------------------------

I can make an argument that our entire involvement in VN was illegal from day 1; long before the mythical Tonkin Gulf incident.

McCain is not the only vet who says we should have just ramped the killing up. They said if we just kept at it, all who oppose us would die. This is true, but the country would be a ghost town. The McCain future is endless killing of innocent people. He never really acknowledges the Iraq dead and suffering just like he stopped acknowledging the suffering of the Vietnamese people.

The FreeFire zones were to remove ambiguity telling the good guys from the bad guys. Anyone we saw had to be bad so we had orders to kill them. It supposedly sanctioned and legalized our illegal activty. Yeah, right. Most of the populace in the Mekong never got the word and if they did, just what were they supposed to do? We went stomping thru village after village gunning down anyone we felt like. A few units combined rape patrols with the killing. Any courtmartials came from raping women; not for murdering the populace. I never saw one even filed. We mechanized the slaughter by just calling in napalm raids first. If we didn't outright kill them, we broadcast antipersonel bombs all over the place. They are the gift that still keeps on giving.

The Iraq events have a long way to go before they catch up to the horrow we inflicted on the VN people. But with abu Graib, the infrastructure destruction, random torturing, murder and who knmows what else I can't think of, we are certainly closing the depravity "gap" with the VN activity.

I would bet that there are many holding back but seeing for themselves every day now just what the 50 state strategy is doing ====

Trouble is....we don't know what it's doing yet...or if it will deliver on its promise. The 50-state strategy is a general election strategy...not a primary election strategy....Gov. Dean had in mind....winning against the Republican Party when he developed the 50-state strategy.

Hillaryproject.com. I'm going to check out its origins. I always suspect Republican ratfvcking when I see sites like this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratfucking

ok. really gotta run. Late now!
Ciao!

CNN's Fact check on Clinton's foreign policy claims

Story highlights

"Was she negotiating treaties or agreements, or was she handling crises during this period of time? My sense is the answer is no," Obama said Wednesday.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/03/06/clinton.foreign.fact/

http://securingamerica.com/ccn/node/14952

6.

*** cChalfonte***
Sat, 03/08/08

All Obama has against him is his race and experience. =======

These will be significant factors in the GE, fred.

==========================================

I suspect gender would be an even bigger factor than race with most republicans, especially the RR and hillbillies.

Don't forget Colin Powell and Obama have about the same shade of darkness and Powell had more desirability numbers for running as POTUS back in the 1990s, than Bush or anyone else - among Republicans as well.

We Michiganders will never pay for another primary...period. The head of the state Dem party is Mark Warner and he was against the idea. I think Granholm suggested it and got both parties, thru the legislature, to move their primaries up. Granholm still insists it was a good idea because it got economics into the discussion. This is the first time I am totally against one of her actions.
The DNC has no choice but to bar the delegates from the convention; as they are allocated now. Maybe the best way out of this mess now is to allow them to caucus at the convention.
A nationwide primary has to be debated as it too has flaws.

Wyoming:

35% reporting

Obama 56%

Clinton 42%

GOP's 'Cybersquatter' Edge
by J. P. Green, March 7, 2008 07:07 AM EST

Lest anyone entertain delusions about the GOP taking more of a high road in campaign '08, The New York Times has an instructive article by Kitty Bennett, "R.N.C. Snaps Up Domain Names". Bennett explains:

At least 25 domain names related to Hillary Rodham Clinton have links to the Republican National Committee: the names were either registered by the R.N.C. last year or showed up on servers the committee uses...The party has also begun preemptively registering domains that could be used to attack John McCain, like mccainamigos.com, voteagainstmccain.com, flipflopmccain.com and hatemccain.com.

Bennett notes the GOP's edge in 'cybersquatter' warfare:

The Democratic Party and the campaigns have shown little of the verve and creativity of the R.N.C. ...The party has been focused more on the national convention, registering variations of denverdemconvention08.com in February, but so far apparently no domains related to Mr. McCain.

The election has “triggered an avalanche of cybersquatter activity,� according to NetNames, a domain name management service. Speculators have registered nearly 2,000 domain names related to presidential candidates as of last week. Names related to Mrs. Clinton’s candidacy made up over half of the registrations, followed by Mr. Obama with 635 and Mr. McCain with 269.

It would be a mistake to overstate the importance of hogging domain names as a political tactic, and it's hard to see how it will affect many votes. But it does show that there is not much the Republicans won't fund to help muzzle Dems' messaging resources.

Although it's a stretch to attribute all of the tactical lag to the Democrats superior moral ground, no one should be surprised that the GOP has a stronger proclivity for purely obstructionist tactics (some history here) and an edge in deploying them. The DNC might benefit by setting up an internet-savvy task force to anticipate such shenanigans and respond accordingly.

dog soldier

Michigan could caucus at their District Conventions on March 31st at no cost. none, not one red cent. It is how Iowa actually elects the National delegates we have. It is a known and traditional way in may states. And I think both candidates would prefer to seat Michigan delegates. The State Party has to stand up to Levin and eat a little humble pie and appeal to the DNC. Howard has said he is open to suggestions.

WYOMING

43% reporting

Obama 66%

Clinton 33%

The DNC has no choice but to bar the delegates from the convention; as they are allocated now

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

on that I am in full agreement

Governors have no special say in Party Rules either.

Phil~ Governor Granholm is a big player here. She may not have say in party rules but she has huge influence in the Dem party and she is also a Clinton supporter.

Again, setting everything else aside, there will be no do-over here.

I am one of the few who think it is a good thing Dems are having problems deciding who the nominee is going to be. People are still engaged in the debate with BO and HC. BO is smart enough to focus on JM also. Every word the two Dems utter is spread across the media and analyzed. There is nothing Repubs can do that the two Dems haven't done.

Posted: Saturday, March 8, at 10:41 am

By Sarah Kugler

Democratic presidential contender Hillary Rodham Clinton tried to backpedal Friday from comments she made in October suggesting Mississippi was a backward place for women's progress.

Speaking to radio station WJZD-FM in Gulfport, Miss., the former first lady said the comments she made about the state in the run up to the Iowa caucuses "were not exactly what I said," even though they came directly from an interview she gave to the Des Moines Register in October.

http://www.hillaryproject.com/index.php?/en/print_story/hillary_backpedals_on_mississippi_comments/

We Michiganders will never pay for another primary...period. The head of the state Dem party is Mark Warner and he was against the idea.

dog soldier~ You're absolutely correct!  There will not be another primary in Michigan! period.!

btw,  Mark Brewer is head of Dem party. :o) 

Karen

It is because it is in Clinton's interest to seat Michigan delegates that there will be a do over, and because of Levin's stubborness if there isn't. The State doesn't have anything to do with Party Rules in any State in the Union. It doesn't even have to cost a single penny. Just to eat a little bit of crow.

Jo

Thanks for the link. As you can see I cut and paste something from there that I thought interesting. Somebody's doing their homework at that project.

We Michiganders will never pay for another primary...period.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

no one is asking you to, just to acknowledge that the first one was flawed since only Clinton left her name on the ballot

the former first lady said the comments she made about the state in the run up to the Iowa caucuses "were not exactly what I said,"

Depends on what is *IS*!!

dog wrote "The head of the state Dem party is Mark Warner and he was against the idea."

Mark Warner?  Was there a coup d'etat at the MDP?

re: The 50-state strategy is a general election strategy...not a primary election strategy....

I somewhat disagree - I happen to think that some of the increased turnout this year has been not so much to do with the candidates as with the infrastructures having been built up in the states.   jmho.

6.

*** cChalfonte***
Sat, 03/08/08

I support him, 100% but I'm not kidding myself about the hurdles we face, whether it's with Obama or with Hillary.

============
While I disagree with you that BO and HC have an equal challenge, I share your sentiments regarding overconfidence and the need to campaign hard against McCain.

Lest we forget, there were many who thought Kerry should have been a shoe-in.

BO is a tougher street-fighter than Kerry, but I have to admit, the dilemma of his "uniter" identity poses challenges for a swift-boat-type attack.

no one is asking you to, just to acknowledge that the first one was flawed since only Clinton left her name on the ballot

Karen wrote "There will not be another primary in Michigan! period.!"

My prediction is that there will be.

Phil posted:

User Conduct

You understand that all postings and communications you make through the Service are your sole responsibility. This means that you, and not DFA, are entirely responsible for all content you post. You agree to not use the Service to:

1. upload, post, email, transmit or otherwise make available any Content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortuous, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable;

So, then...

would Sitka's copy/paste of a comment of mine and then calling me Homer be

contrary to the User Conduct Rules?

Well? 

I think so, but I've seen it many times before.

Of course, I am no angel. 

I think we are going to see Obama campaigning againt BOTH Hillary and McCain in the coming weeks. It would be ingenious, both looking presidential, and getting the jump on the Republicans, in spite of our present disunity.

Michigan wouldn't do another Primary under any scenario, that we can agree on. The timing for Clinton to get a bounce into PA ; and if Obama wins Pennsylvania no one will bother with Michigan, but they will be given a chance to go to Denver if they want one. They just won't get to have the final say in who is the nominee if they don't. 

Sorry...wrong Mark...It is Mark Brewer..not Mark Warner (guy from Virginia).

Brain fart time.

"We need our race to end so that we can begin to prepare for the general." 

We need to let ALL the states partcipate this time.  To discount any of us now would be a flagrant dismissal of voters' rights and a slap in the fact of *democracy.*

******************

Here's all the repugs in the gen'l will have to do to win.  Just keep hammering away that BO (if he's the nominee), who claims to be anti war, voted every time in the US Senate to keep funding the war.  Add to that his quotes about "winning the war in Afghanistran" and reserving the right to go into and bomb Pakistan w/o permission of the Pakistanis if he has "actionable intel."  Add to that, his comments that any country who is a threat to the US or our "special friend" will be dealt with.

When the starry eyed, impressionable and hopeful youth learn this truth, they'll stay home and not vote in the gen'l.  He'll also be attacked for lacking foreign policy experience which he's now calling HC on..a fact I find drole and amusing, since his is prolly about the same - practically zip.

Yesterday, I heard him say that he was anti-war in "05, 06,07 and 08."  The crowd cheered while he was telling half lies/truth.  You can't be anti-war and vote for its continuation at the same time while continually talking about going into Afghan. to "end the war" and possibly into Pakistan and Iran.  And what the heck does "win the war in Afghan" mean?  How many more years and lives?   These are the facts.  BO fans need to face this reality cuz the repugs will be hammering away at this.

Both of these less than stellar candidates will be hard pressed to beat McCain once the gen'l starts and some facts come out...as well as more lies.  Ås cC said, the gen'l is a different ball game.  Right now we have a backlash against putz and war.  Later, it's gonna get real ugly, no matter who's running against McC.

****************************

*****************

Anni, que te diviertas!  Have fun!  Take care and beware the *almost impossible to refuse* charm of the Latin guys.  But enjoy the hand kissing.  LOL Now that you've seen a show, you understand my love and passion for the dance - the music, the romance, the challenge, the heartbreak, the inescapable metaphor of tango as relationship...tango as meditation..tango as life and breath itself.  I'm headed that way shortly.  :-)

I'd give Michigan 50/50 odds Tom. We will know in the morning when Levin appears with Howard on Face the Nation

Michigan wouldn't do another Primary under any scenario, that we can agree on. The timing for Clinton to get a bounce into PA ; and if Obama wins Pennsylvania no one will bother with Michigan, but they will be given a chance to go to Denver if they want one. They just won't get to have the final say in who is the nominee if they don't.   

Phil~ BINGO, I AGREE! :o)

dog soldier:

My first, and perhaps greatest love, came back from Nam alcoholic and drug addicted.  Treatment programs failed twice and he died horribly.  He wouldn't talk to me about Nam except to say, "the horror, the brutality" and then he'd trail off...and pick up a drink.

After high school, he was offered a scholarship in drama to Northwestern U.  His *army* father made him go into the service. He was a brilliant actor. And dead so young..........

We need a REAL anti-war candidate, alas, and don't have one...unless you call scaling down Iraq and sending troops into Afghan and elsewhere anti-war.  I don't.

now gone 

seashell

You will get to have a vote that counts, when does early voting start in Oregon?

Check out MichiganLiberal for all the wacky stuff going on here.

http://www.michiganliberal.com/

There are all sorts of things going on.

Brewer blames Obama for the delay...Obama sez he will go along with the DNC...Levin sez no to do-overs...Carville sez he can raise $15 milion to help offset the cost of another primary. Wants Obama to match. I think Carvelle is bluffing as Hillary was near broke with a long campign trail left. Obama should call him on it. HC loses to JM in Michigan...

Enjoy reading about our wacky state.

re: and reserving the right to go into and bomb Pakistan w/o permission of the Pakistanis if he has "actionable intel." 

sea - what he said was he would go after al queda, NOT that he'd 'bomb Pakistan'.  nothing was mentioned of what force he would or wouldn't use, yet this has morphed into what you wrote - and that simply is not what he said.

We will know in the morning when Levin appears with Howard on Face the Nation 

Phil~ Levin is just a *prop*. Howard will chew him up and spit him out! 

Enjoy reading about our wacky state.

dog soldier~ ROTFLMAO!

wacky is putting it mildly!! :o)

Seashell,
Sorry for the death of someone so close to you.
I know a lot of vets in his condition ( some days, I am like that).

I wish we had a candidate that was more antiwar also.

My problem is how to deal with the hand that we have now.
BO is doing a slow pullout. We all now the brigade per month has been acknowledged as the fastest the military can move. They cannot afford to leave their equipment behind as it is all they have. They should leave the non-military stuff behind.
HC is doing an exit by committee thing which will result in nothing.
Both leave troops behind to do fraudently things like protect embasseys and train folks. Utter nonsense.

To me, Afgan is a different story. Maybe I am wrong but the folks who brought us 9/11 are still doing business there. We need a presence there but we need a more non-military effort.
We can't kill our way out of this and we need a more police and political strategy.
BO has stressed political and social measures to combat terrorist extremists.

So what is the international box score so far?
Iraq: Destroyed
Iran: Empowered.
Pakistan: Where are the nukes?
Jordan: Going broke with Iraq refugees.
Israel: Weaker then before.
Afgan: No better off then before.

To all who are wrapped around the axel about taking out Al Queda in Pakistan.

1 - It would be an act of War against Pakistan. Since Pakistan has overthrown Muscharrif, and is showing glimmers of a more Democratic country, bombing Pakistan throws them back to the hardliners.
2 - If done properly, it would meet the just war requirements of the Catholic Church. Limited, precise, getting someone who is really bad...
3 - The trouble is..define properly. How many civilian deaths are allowed before their number becomes excessive?
4 - The smart move is to ramp down the violence and up the bribes. Pakistan needs an infrastruture. The populace supports al Queda. Make massive monetary deals and enforce them for once.

MI and FL dont actually have to pay for 'do-over' primaries. Soft money can be used.

It would only take a Walmart, for example, to come forward and pony up the cash for either or both states. That's what NPR was reporting a couple of days ago.

Walmart buying, I mean paying for primaries...is that scary, or what ??

Oh yes, the NPR story didnt mention Walmart specifically... I did.

Wyoming
Updated 1 minute ago




Obama

3,060

58%

0

74%
reporting

Clinton

2,168

41%

0


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AND BTW, Romney won at 74%, 100% reporting. . . .

Whoduthunkit..Diplomacy wins.

http://thebluevoice.blogspot.com/2008/03...

What are these guys? A bunch of wimpy hippies?

[snip]
The nearly week-long crisis between Colombia on the one hand and its neighbors Venezuela and Ecuador on the other has been resolved. It's an amazingly daring idea. They decided to get together and talk instead of going to war! Talk and even hug, if you can believe that.

Gees..if everyone stops fighting, there will be no one to buy our military hardware?
Where is the profit in that?
We need to sell more things that kill people. That is the American way.

Instead of saying, "That is wicked cool" here in New England

people have taken to saying, ;-)

"That is monster cool."

 

Jo*in*Vermont
Sat, 03/08/08

Reply to this

*********************************************************

Obama's attention to states where he can both compete and help Democrats running for other offices was one of the points which make him a superior candidate to Clinton. Strategically, he is employing Howard's policy.

And, as always . . . . . .

or is that 'Creature Cool'?

Starting up a lemon meringue pie here, mmm mmmm.

3:47 pm est

And Terry McAuliffe and Clinton would be playing the same old "campaign in 25 states" strategy.

Hey David :-) Yep, they would. And all because they think the other states 'don't count/matter'.

3:50 pm est

I suspect gender would be an even bigger factor than race with most republicans, especially the RR and hillbillies.========

Your "suspicions" just aren't informed, fred. They are....suspect, lol;)

Seriously, professionals look at data when seeking an answer to a suspicion/theory:

http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_plank...

Ignoring the title of this article by John Judis, give it a read, I suggest, respectfully.

Perhaps someone might ask Senator Clinton whether she proposes to continue the arms policies of the earlier Clinton administration:

In fiscal years 1993 and 1994, the executive branch (and Congress) signed-off on a staggering $100 billion of government and industry-negotiated arms deals. Moreover, the administration actively assisted industry by subsidizing marketing activities, lobbying foreign officials to "buy American," and financing several billions of dollars of sales.

The "new" guidelines call for business as usual: "the United States continues to view transfers of conventional arms as a legitimate instrument of U.S. foreign policy-deserving U.S. government support when they enable us to help friends and allies deter aggression, promote regional stability, and increase interoperability of U.S. forces and allied forces."

Instead of restraint, the policy emphasizes openness in exports. Instead of limiting sales and technology on a regional basis, it promotes "responsible" exports: the U.S. will export only to those countries which it favors and discourage exports by others to those it disfavors. Instead of de-commercializing weapons exports, the government will now explicitly consider the impact on the arms industry in deciding whether to approve a sale. Finally, export decisions will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis, meaning export of anything to anyone is possible.

Starting up a lemon meringue pie here, mmm mmmm.===

My very favorite pie:)

chili, that would be 'wicked scary' if a corp. were to offer to do that.

3:53 pm est

puddle, that's great news. I'd really like him to definitively win this primary. We need to move on.

The argument for a "redo" in Florida is back alive today with Bill Nelson right in the middle of it. CNN pundit claiming that if we do not have one, John McCain could win the election. Jeesh!

These arguments always state that "the voters of Florida" as if all voters are in agreement with the argument.

About 40% of Florida voters are Democrats. Estimating that about half at this time are Clinton supporters and half Obama supporters. Only the Clinton supporters are concerned about the redo, which means only 20% of Floridians would be supporting a redo -- hardly all the voters of Florida.

chili, that would be 'wicked scary' if a corp. were to offer to do that. ====

DITTO!:(

Wyoming w/ 78% reporting ~

Obama 59%
Clinton 40%

Hoping MS follows suit on Tuesday :-)

4:04 pm est

straight from BO's mouth...

******************* 

"On September 25, 2004, just three days after Iran began converting tons of uranium into gas--a crucial step in making fuel for an atomic reactor or an atomic bomb--Obama told the Chicago Tribune that the US should first take the issue to the United Nations Security Council and try to persuade the international community to apply economic sanctions on Tehran.

However, if those measures fall short, the US should not rule out military strikes to destroy nuclear production sites in Iran, Obama said.

He asked: "The big question is going to be, if Iran is resistant to these pressures, including economic sanctions, which I hope will be imposed if they do not cooperate, at what point are we going to, if any, are we going to take military action?"

Missile strikes might be a viable, though not "optimal" option, he said, adding that the war in Iraq more or less ruled out the possibility of a land invasion of Iran.

http://chinaconfidential.blogspot.com/2007/09/nuclear-flip-flop-obama-talked-about.html 

Obama takes WY (wade thru this thread--yikes).

http://tinyurl.com/2737gk

Another "insignificant" (uber-red state) caucus state pulls thru.

Delegates do add up--that's what's integral. 100 pennies equal $1.00.

Billary had no early staff on the ground, natch; and perceives that a few stump speeches will do it. Nada.

"Presumptive" idiot.

New thread

Mainefem, you are really hung up on that word, "presumptive".

Barack Obama is now our "presumptive" nominee. He's the one with the momentum.

For months, Caine was the Repub's presumptive nominee. Now he's their nominee.

What's the big deal about that word?

cChalfone

Did you see my response before you left B4.

Colon Powell had 90% approval among Republicans, before George Bush was President in the mid-1990s.

The only reason he did not run was because his wife has nervous breakdowns when he isn't around and had severe mental problems with moving and being on the road - she cracked when his son died in an accident.

Heavy storm exposes Russian Syria-based spy ship off Israel shore

February 25, 2008, 7:56 PM (GMT+02:00)

Rescued Russian spy ship in Greek port

DEBKAfile’s military sources reveal that the Russian Amur 1 Class PM 138 naval boat, caught up in the heavy storm raging across the Middle East and Mediterranean last week, flashed a distress signal Tuesday Feb. 19. The vessel was on its way from a Syrian port to Sevastopol on the Black Sea when it was thrown off course by the high seas. A Greek Navy frigate responded to the call and escorted the PM 138 to the island of Chios.

The Russian Navy spokesmen said the ship’s crew numbered 99. It was unarmed and was heading for home port after a long stay at one of the Syrian Navy’s Mediterranean bases.

Certain facts were accidentally disclosed as a result of the storm, DEBKAfile’s military sources point out:

1. Russian naval vessels are spending long periods running into months at the Syrian military bases of Latakia and Tartous.

2. Witnesses in Greece say the vessel, described officially as an auxiliary repair craft, boasted an unusual number of antennas for gathering intelligence. Its mission was clearly to gather information on Israeli military and naval movements while cruising opposite the Israeli coast.

Our sources add that, in recent months, the Russian Admiral Kutznetsov carrier with 47 Su-33 fighter-bombers and 10 helicopters on its decks visited one of the Syrian naval bases, along with the huge Moskva missile cruiser.

Israel officials prefer to ignore this mounting Russian naval presence to the north so as not to mar relations with the Russian president Vladimir Putin.

both looking presidential,

Fred, 

I will have to completely disagree with you on that point. If arrogance, flailing arms often reaching to the heavens, ridiculously overdone laughs, condescending and nasty attitude, horrible choice of clothes, terribly run campaign, a woman who puts up with a wandering, womanizing husband, shall I go on . . .

If that's what it takes to look presidential then Obama is in big trouble. He looks too -- presidential.

Colin Powell is a Republican, fred. The repubs have been more than happy to promote/elect persons-of-color....as long as their politics are straight up Repub. Clarence Thomas is but one example.

Their predisposition along those lines does not inform us about Barack Obama's run at the presidency.

Different deal.

Don't complain that you never get any news:

Merkel and Sarkozy Find ‘Club Med’ Compromise (Der Spiegel, 4 March 2008)

Colon Powell had 90% approval among Republicans,========

Yes, CP is a REPUBLICAN.
(and if he's actually registered as an Independent, that does not matter--his politics are Republican, always.

I find this Eurabia business amusing since Rumsfeld and co. were convinced that the European Union was defunct.  And then, of course, there was that proposal for the Greater Middle East floated by Bush at the G8 Summit on Sea Island.  Remember that?  Went nowhere.

The "No" Administration still seems apt. 

The overwhelming majority of Repubs will vote for their party's candidate, fred.

what is your theory? That Obama will win the GE in a landslide because Republicans decided to vote for him over their own candidate?

To gain the support of the Republican Party, an African American must:

1. Be a Republican.

2. Denounce Affirmative Action and tout boot-strapping, tell a story about how they overcame their own difficulties via "their own bootstraps"
.
3. Be anti-choice and a member of various anti-choice groups.

4. Be a church-going member of some organized xtian religion.

at a minimum...this is what it takes for an African American to gain Repub support today.

The only reason he did not run was because his wife has nervous breakdowns when he isn't around and had severe mental problems with moving and being on the road - she cracked when his son died in an accident.=======

So...the woman in his life really messed it up for him, huh?

How nice to tune in and see David A. Stevenson.  Hmmm. i think i'll try putting a picture here. 

My "hangup" w/the verbiage inherent in 'presumptive' is to jab the Clintonistas. As sarcastically as is possible.

They perceived that Super-Duper Tues. would wrap things up (after IA & NH).

Wrooooooooooooooong.

They had no staffers in place in (to any extent) in any of the following states; and only swoop in for a few stump speeches.

Doesn't work...people know when they're being bamboozled.

That's insulting as hell to residents who reside in those states.

Caucuses are comsuming as hell--you have to be an organized & outrageously patient person to plan one; let alone--to attend one!

To be further chastized by Penn/Schrum as "insignifanct" is even moreso insulting.

It's the progressive hardcore activists (not the campaigns, or state parties) who turn out the #s at caucus.

WY's registration closed on Feb. 22nd, methinks; so no open enrollments today for unenrolleds, etc.

Read the _Rolling Stone_ articles by Wenner fmi.

Obama's staffers are using bottom>up; as they know it's the only way it can be done (esp. in rugged individualistic states, like ME, VT. & WY). None give a shit about "outsiders" swooping in.

We know our districts, thanks--we take care of it, as long as we're given what we want, re: resources (hassle-free).

I hope Obama goes 60% or above, vs. current 59% in WY-it's moreso psychological in nature.

Hell, WY's been starving to death since '68 for Pres. visits.

Long overdue--not exactly a Bohemian state!

I'm enjoying the hell out of this--go, MS!

One of the poorest states in the nation--a great place to discuss Big Dog's welfare deform (federally subsidized misogyny & racism), etc.

So much for Ms. Presumptive's "first black President" womanizing/sexual harassing husband.

She could give a shit about working class stiffs.

I want to see the DLC stopped dead in its tracks, that's what.

"Do-overs" don't happen in caucus states (one advantage); and those seemingly small delegate counts do eventually add up--to supercede the so-called "big states" (and bode well for ongoing GOTV in the general, too).

Smack Hillary down this weekend--relentlessly.

74.

*** cChalfonte***
Sat, 03/08/08

So...the woman in his life really messed it up for him, huh?

================
Not really - his LOVE for her was the problem. He could have dump her like Newt did.

I read the book. The boy was her favorite child. He and his mother were very close and enjoyed each other's company.

69.

*** cChalfonte***
Sat, 03/08/08

Reply to this

Colon Powell had 90% approval among Republicans,========

Yes, CP is a REPUBLICAN.
(and if he's actually registered as an Independent, that does not matter--his politics are Republican, always.
=============================

My point being that being An African-American with Haitian immigrant parents was not an obstacle, even for Republicans.

And neither will it be for Obama.

WY doesn't allow absentee balloting weeks in advance (we certainly do), which would've accomodated those who weren't at the caucus venues in time (even when arriving over an hour early).

You have to actually convene the damned things, despite how many are lined up around umpteen blocks.

This is a state party issue--they knew they'd be mobbed; and should've had additional notaries on hand/larger venues, etc.

http://tinyurl.com/2kt3lc

Good to see WY finally receiving nat'l media attention.

Hopefully, it'll psyche 'em up thru the general.

New thread mainefem - bring your common sense on over!

73.

*** cChalfonte***
Sat, 03/08/08

The overwhelming majority of Repubs will vote for their party's candidate, fred.

what is your theory? That Obama will win the GE in a landslide because Republicans decided to vote for him over their own candidate?

To gain the support of the Republican Party, an African American must....

================
These mitigating factors you list were not things that Powell was big on. I admit he was the "hero of Desert Storm" - but

White, black, or female, these ideological difference you mention will be present with any Democratic candidate. Race is irrelevant. I don't know where you going with this this, but the original debate was how much race would be an obstacle.

Well, for almost anyone who would vote Democratic, it would not be, and for the general public, the remarkable polling results Colin Powell got proved it would not be among non-liberals.

Powell's 90% approval (for nomination) was among ALL Americans, not just ideological Republicans that agreed with him. In fact, a meeting took place between Obama and Powell some months back, and I would not be surprized if Obama had been inspired pver the years by that remarkable polling back in the 1990s in favor Powell. It might be one place from which he draws his laid-back confidence.