Obama on Bill Clinton: 'I Want His Help'

While many political pundits and news outlets question why hasn't former President Bill Clinton endorsed Presidential hopeful Barack Obama yet, Senator Obama has said that he needs Bill Clinton's help this November and beyond. Obama said that Bill is brilliant politician and a great President. Now I would take this time to say that over the primary season, Obama criticized President Clinton's administration for so many things but the reality is that Obama can't have it both ways. He can't criticize you over the campaign trail and than praise you. Therefore I applaud him for wanting Bill Clinton's help and knowing that he needs both Clinton's to win this November.

Nonetheless, many should expect that during sometime in July or August before the Democratic Party Convention, Obama and former President Clinton will be on a national stage where the former President will give him a loud praise endorsement that is sure to bring a larger crowd than any other endorsement that has gotten thus far except for Hillary's. Barack and Bill share so much in common but like Hillary and Barack, the wounds have to be repaired and Barack has to be smarter on mending these bridges.

Like I said several weeks ago, Obama is trying to have it both ways in his campaign by criticizing his opponents one minute but than praising them and saying they are going negative not him However negative is negative and what Obama did during the 17 month Democratic Primary season is attack former President Clinton's policies and the 1990s. Regardless of what anyone can say under Bill Clinton's watch, the economy in America was great and gas prices were lower. While President Clinton didn't accomplish universal health care and some blame him for it, the reality is that the Clinton presidency was the best presidency for minorities in the White House until Bush came into office. President Clinton revived the Democratic Party, much like Obama is doing. However Obama has to be smarter going forward and learn that he can't have it both ways and if Republicans are smart they will capitalize on Obama's weakness of flip flopping on his praise and joy for the Clinton's.

The reality is that one can not say they are not being negative when they are and that's why Obama and the Clinton's are joined at the hip because they both need each other but Obama needs them more in order to secure a victory come November. So the media and other political pundits can be looking for the Clinton's to be sharing a stage with Obama real soon.

Can a Politician Be True?

Recently Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama was asked how can he stay true to the things he speaks about. So while responding to the question, Obama reached into his pocket to show how many things that people have given him while being on the campaign trail. Obama went on to speak of how you can't over promise things to people who are asking to trust you and vote for you. However it makes one wonder is Obama over promising during this election process. The truth is that Obama is making some bold promises and commits that realistically would be great for America.

But reality sets in for me and I look at what Obama might be inheriting and many political pundits and some wise politicians know that what Obama plans to do sounds good and looks good on paper. However can he make his bold promises happen due to the past 8 years of trouble that President Bush and Congress has got us in. Can America be repaired in the next 4 years or will it take Obama 8 years to really break even from what has happened. Even some mayors said that Obama's plan for helping America's metropolitan cities was a little bit too ambitious. While many in the Democratic Party don't want to say it but the truth is that Obama is making many promises that might not happen unless the Democrats took control of the Senate in a larger number than they currently have and take back the the House by even more of a larger margin.

Now at the same time, the question on whether politicians can be true, is that it depends on who you are and how much you stay involved in the political process. For me, I know a politician who is true and he is the co-chair to Obama's campaign in the state of Michigan. State Representative Bert Johnson is a true politician who tells his constituencies exactly how he feels. Bert represents Highland Park, Hamtramck and a part of Detroit but he let's them know exactly what is taking place in Lansing no matter if it is good or bad. In fact he speaks out against the so called Michigan Democratic Party leadership who are actually Republicans dressed in sheep's clothing. Yes Mark Brewer, Debbie Dingell and others who are top notch Michigan Democratic leaders are selling out the minority base of the Demcratic Party and Bert Johnson is letting the people know the truth.

Bert went to an Obama house gathering yesterday and not knowing one person at the house, he quickly gave speech on how Obama's candidacy will help America and how the current leadership in Michigan for the Democratic Party is selling Detroit and Southeast Michigan short. Bert told the people about how the Michigan Democratic Party is leading an effort called reform Michigan's government that is aimed at stripping Republicans of some of their power in Michigan without having a constitutional convention. However the impact of this reform initiative that will be on the ballot in November will literally wipe out the minority base of Michigan's House and Senate in terms of less African Americans, women and other races being elected to office. The only place where African Americans will come from will be the city of Detroit but the Michigan Democratic Party leaders are acting like they are not behind it and they know nothing about it.

Well Bert's a true politician who is educating others on what is really happening behind the scenes to the American people. Therefore while many believe in the Audacity of Hope, I believe in the Audacity of Believing and that's what Bert Johnson gives me. He is always willing to help others and he always does what he says he will do. Bert is Michigan's Barack Obama and I don't know what Michigan particularly Detroit, Hamtramck and Highland Park would do without him being in Lansing. Bert attends on average 41 community meetings in his district monthly and makes the drive from Lansing to Detroit every night no matter what. Thus Bert is the example of a politician staying true.

Bert is humble and real no matter what. Bert doesn't make promises he can't keep and doesn't say things that sound good to voters but he actually works to bring about change that will not hinder the elderly, youth and the poor. The reality is that if most politicians followed Bert's lead than American and the world would be a better place.

Ralph Nader talks trash about Barack Obama

Ralph Nader who is best known for his independent Presidential bid in 2000 that cost the Democratic Party the election, is running for President again but this time has talked trash about Senator Obama on where he stands on the issues.

Here's one of the Nader quotes from the article:
"There's only one thing different about Barack Obama when it comes to being a Democratic presidential candidate. He's half African-American. Whether that will make any difference, I don't know. I haven't heard him have a strong crackdown on economic exploitation in the ghettos. Payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, lead. What's keeping him from doing that? Is it because he wants to talk white? He doesn't want to appear like Jesse Jackson? We'll see all that play out in the next few months and if he gets elected afterwards."

While Nader's comments are true to some degree but one must understand that Obama is not running for mayor, state representative or any local office but he is running for President of the United States of America. While Obama has not necessary talked more specifically about those issues, he should be given credit for the idealistic plans he outlined at the recent Conference of America's mayors this past weekend where he listed several things that he wanted do for urban cities. However Nader's comments are true that Obama hasn't tackled these issues more hands on and no politician really deals with these issues on a national level. So Obama shouldn't be blamed for not doing so but everyone should be blamed for not doing so.

While such issues as the economic exploitation of ghettos, payday loans, predatory lending, asbestos, and lead are issues that plague urban communities particularly African American communities, they are issues that city mayors, city councils, state representative and senators need to address more. However I do agree that U.S. Congressional leaders--both Senators and Representatives-- and Presidential candidates need to talk about more and put plans into action to stop such things from harming our community but the reality is, they won't. The only time they will deal with these issues is when we as a people stand up and demand more from our elected officials. Nader is right that these issues need to be discussed but our local communities leaders need to start the discussions and start hammering elected officials and others on these issues.

Senator Barack Obama candidacy for the Presidency is historical but I cannot put everything on him for him to discuss because he's human. All these issues are not necessary Presidential issues but it would be good if they were tackled more directly but Obama is doing a good job at tackling some urban issues. However until the issues that Nader pointed out are seriously tackled that many in urban America will continue to live the way they live cause they are being exploited and taken advantage of due to the practices of payday loans and predatory lenders. Those places are only put in urban communities particularly African American and Hispanic American neighborhoods more so than suburban communities. Thus we have to stand for something and we can't allow such communities to continue to exist without us as a people standing against it.

Thus Nader's comments are true but Senator Obama should not be the only one discussing these issues and but Republican Presidential nominee John McCain should be addressing these issues as well. Until others address this issue more directly than I should not expect Obama to address it. While it would be nice, it is premature to expect more from Obama than you expect from his opponent or any other candidate running for any office this year.

References:

Ralph Nader, Who Asked You? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/25/ralph-nader-who-asked-you_n_109300.html

Obama using 'white guilt,' Nader says http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/25/nader.obama/?iref=mpstoryview

Will Obama's name help a Republican senator?

Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith, one of the most vulnerable Senate Republicans, is stressing his history of working with the presumptive Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama in a new campaign ad that hit airwaves Tuesday. Many experts feel that Obama's candidacy could help many Democrats win many U.S. Congressional and Senatorial seats as well as state and local elections in Republican controlled territories. Thus Smith is one of many vulnerable Republican Senators or Congresspeople who face a tough fight come November due to Obama's candidacy.

So while many know that Obama's candidacy will help many Democrats in November but now many Republicans facing tough battles in many states are trying to now make themselves seem more closer to being bi-partisan or at least trying to find ways to connect themselves to Obama in order to appeal to all voters in their district. Smith's commercial and his connection to Obama is one that puts the Republican nominee John McCain in a tough position. If more and more Republicans trend Smith's way than McCain's hopes of winning the Presidency could be slim to none before November even comes.

Time will tell on all of this but this is clearly a new way that many Republicans are trying to keep their seats in such a historical election year that could change the landscape of Politics not only the Presidential and national level but state levels and local levels. So stay tuned to all the action.

Reference:

GOP Sen. Smith Makes Grab for Coattails — Obama’s http://blogs.wsj.com/politicalperceptions/2008/06/25/gop-sen-smith-makes-grab-for-coattails-obamas/?mod=googlenews_wsj

McCain fills town halls with undecided voters

Republican Presidential nominee John McCain is going forward with his proposed town hall meetings that he put on the table for him and Democratic Presidential candidate should do together as well as travel together while doing these town halls. However McCain has continued to do these town halls and has packed them with undecided and non-partisan voters while Obama has decided not to do the town halls with McCain.

While I am not advocating support for McCain but I do like the idea of town hall meetings and I think it would still be a great idea. While giving speeches to large crowds can still happen for both candidates, town halls give a select group of people a chance to really get intimate with the candidates like one is at a coffee house or bar with them. Everyone knows that Senator Obama has done this type of campaigning before so enough is enough, stop trying to fund raise and start really connecting to voters like Senator McCain has done through these town halls. McCain's town hall proposal has been under the radar and many news outlets don't cover it cause it is not as attractive without Obama but many people who are attending these town halls and watching them as they are stream lived o the web, have found them to be affective as they gather more insightful information on the issues that concern them

Lastly McCain's town hall have really helped him in getting more closely connected with voters and dispels the myth that McCain is out of touch with voter's. While both McCain and Obama have been criticized for this, McCain surely has made much more of an effort to connect with voters by doing what he does best by hosting town halls and campaigning on a much more low scale level than Obama has who opts to have huge rallies in hopes of giving speeches that energize his base as well undecided and non-partisan voters. Nonetheless, I think McCain's approach is the better approach and I think more unscripted questions can be proposed in those type of formats and it allows one to see how the candidate responds when the camera's are not necessarily on like they are when one gives speeches or during debates.

Time will tell whether or not Obama will be involved in the town halls but it is clear that Obama and McCain are no where close on agreeing on this issue and if McCain's camp or surrogates were smart they would hammer on this issue every chance they can when they are on radio and television shows. But for now the debate continues: Town Halls vs. Large Rallies? Which one is better depends on the candidate and the particular voters who are interested in trying to get their message or concerns addressed.

References:

McCain aides seek undecideds, non-partisans for town halls http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-06-24-McCain-screen_N.htm

Evangelical Leader Attacks Obama on Religious Views

Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama has come under some criticism by prominent Evangelical leader James C. Dobson. Dobson, has sharply attacked Mr. Obama, accusing him of having “a fruitcake interpretation of the Constitution” and twisting the meaning of both the Old and New Testaments.

“I think he’s deliberately distorting the traditional understanding of the Bible to fit his own world view, his own confused theology,” Mr. Dobson said Tuesday in one of the regular radio broadcasts for the group he leads, Focus on the Family.

“He’s some kind of biblical authority?” Mr. Dobson also asked.

These criticisms come after Dobson had spoke harshly about Senator John McCain and him not being energetically outspoken on same sex marriage. Nonetheless, Dobson says both Senators don't give a hoot about the family. Some feel that Dobson is right in his message while others say this could only energize the younger generation of Evangelicals to vote for Obama more because they believe in his message more than they believe in McCain's. Either way, the religious base is a strong conservative base that Senator McCain cannot lose if he hopes of pulling an upset over Obama for the Presidency in the November general election.

Therefore time will tell on whether Dobson's comments will hinder Obama's candidacy. However, nothing shows that Obama is losing ground on the evangelical vote and he seems to be doing extremely well amongst the younger evangelicals which is why his candidacy could bring Evangelicals back in the Democratic fold as the Republican Party looks to redefine their party in this year's 2008 election.

References:
Dr. Dobson Has Just Handed Obama Victory
Victoryhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20080625/cm_huffpost/108989

Obama Asks Funders to Relieve Clinton’s Debt

I found this to be extremely interesting that Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama is asking his funders to relieve part of his former Democratic Presidential opponent Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton campaign debt. As a part of Party unity, Obama and Clinton are set to be at a couple of key events this week that could bring about fundraising dollars for both Senators as well as bring about true party unity. Nonetheless, Senator Clinton needs campaign help in paying off campaign debt and Senator Obama is willing to use some of his funders to help her since she is provided him with some of her biggest donors.

This is truly a historical Presidential election because I have never seen or heard of anything like this before but Obama and Clinton have made all types of firsts for this Presidency and they continue to do so with this latest result. While I do not agree with it, I want to be clear that if any of you Obama or Clinton supporters say to me that I can't get gas or I can't eat than my first question to you will be, have you given to either campaign and I will say that is where your hope and change went so hopefully your gas and food problem will be resolved by this time next year.

However not to be funny in any way, I am seriously upset with all the money both of these candidates have raised but our economy is still in a decline. Many pundits said that both Senators could perhaps create their own economic stimulus during this election cycle and this was back in February, however that has not happened and it makes me wonder, where is all this money truly going toward and why is our economy suffering while both of them have raised nearly $500-600 million in campaign dollars over the last 17 months. I am just amazed that one of them is in campaign debt and the other is bailing them out to a degree.

So I can only watch, think and wonder what Senators Obama and Clinton will do next as they help each other continue to raise millions of more dollars.

Department of Obama Image drops pseudo presidential seal

Senator Barack Obama and his campaign image department recently suffered major criticism for a pseudo presidential image that they unveiled for the Senator at a Chicago event. Campaign officials say the image was a once and a lifetime use and will not be used ever again. However before Senator Obama and his staff could make the image go away quick enough, they suffered major criticism for the image because it resembled too much like the current Presidential seal. Thus it has led many to believe that the accusations regarding Obama being an elitism to be true. In fact many of said that this only further proves that Obama is an elitism because the image makes it seem as if he is the President already.

Despite Obama having a Republican opponent in Senator John McCain, many polls show Obama beating McCain and many experts predict that Obama will win the popular vote by a huge margin over McCain. So the image makes people wonder whether or not Obama believes that the Presidency is a shoe in and that McCain, can no way whatsoever beat him. While the image is quite interesting to see, it is rather a good image despite its resemblance to our countries very own Presidential seal.

One can only watch to see as the image police continue to criticize the candidates on backdrops, seals, clothes and other things that have nothing to do with what they say or do. However this is politics and anything can be talked about according to some.

Clinton fulfills a promise to high school graduate

Who says politicians don't keep their promises? Well Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton kept a promise she made to a young lady when she was back in middle school. Senator Clinton told the young lady that if she graduates from high school that she would speak at her graduation and low and beyond, Senator Clinton fulfilled that promise. It is truly a blessing to her that one politician keeps promises. While it didn't hurt that Senator Clinton has known the young lady since she was 2 years old.

However the girl, Aleatha Williams, a campaign volunteer and the daughter of a supporter, introduced the senator to fellow graduates from Pelham Preparatory Academy in the Bronx as "my aunt."

Clinton said she had known Aleatha "and her wonderful mother, Patricia," since the girl was 2 and had promised her when she graduated from eighth grade that she would attend her high school graduation.

"Four years later, here I am with all of you," Clinton said. Now what caught my as interesting is the fact that Senator Clinton was referred to as my aunt by Aleatha. Now Senator Clinton is truly a great person for fulfilling her promise and I hope that other politicians follow in her footsteps. While I have always respected Senator Clinton, I respect her even more for what she has done in fulfilling this small promise and perhaps showing the young men and women who she spoke to that their word is their bond. That's the truth of the matter as I commend Senator Clinton and give her two thumbs up for what any average person should in terms of keeping our word when we say we are going to do something.

Senator Clinton is very much commended for this great deed because while she was on vacation after running an extensively long Democratic Presidential bid, she still made time to speak at Aletha's graduation which shows her commitment. I am proud of Senator Clinton!

News Flash: America Pulls Out of Iraq but sends all its forces to Afghanistan!

Well folks that's the reality that we may face in 2009 with an Obama Presidency. While many us want our troops out of Iraq and home, we might only get one half of that equation. Many sources in the Pentagon and even Senator Obama himself have said that a troop increase in Afghanistan is needed to fight the reemergence of the Taliban. With news reports all ready reporting that nearly thousands of Taliban soldiers were broken out or broke out of prison this past week than, this spells doom for the fight on Terrorism.

While American families want their sons, daughters, fathers, mothers and others home, it seems as if that will not happen because if America pulls out of Iraq under an Obama Presidency they will only be switching countries because they will go from Iraq to Afghanistan. Obama has said that he would bring our forces home from Iraq but supports a troop increase in Afghanistan and that is something that many news outlets are not reporting on. I briefly saw CNN talk about it today but they acted like it was not a big deal that we might see a troop surge in Afghanistan as talk of a troop withdraw or removal goes on about Iraq.

This has to be the most stupidest and dumbest thing I have heard. We are pulling out of one war in order to get into another war that we are already in. Let's face it people, we are fighting two wars and we will be in both of them for a very long time. We still have troops in Afghanistan and with many other countries such as Great Britain already increasing their forces in the country and others asking for the United Nations & NATO to increase troop presence than it seems that America will always be in a war despite what Senator Obama says. Our troops will not be coming any time soon if we are going to increase our forces in Afghanistan as many political pundits, Pentagon officials and world leaders say.

References:
German Minister Wants More Troops in Afghanistan http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,3429073,00.html

230 more British troops to be sent to Afghanistan, Browne announces http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/jun/16/foreignpolicy.gordonbrown

Casey: Army needs 3-4 years to recover from war http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jHeAAlvj2OYh-jspbj2s2FL3O67wD91E3B180

Official: Mugabe wins re-election after opposition pulls out

I have not be covering the international news so for those of you who have not heard about what is happening in Zimbabwe than here's the end result of it. Zimbabwe opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai said Sunday he would not participate in Friday's presidential runoff, provoking dismay from international observers and handing an apparent victory to President Robert Mugabe. Tsvangirai announcement comes out of fear of losing many of his supporters lives by Mugabe's army and his supporters. Mugabe will ultimately win re-election because he has oppressed his opposition with terror tactics and fear. If any of you thought that voting in America was hard well it is the like the 1960s and 1970s in America all over again in Zimbabwe as many people have lost their lives already or been thrown in jail for supporting the opposition party and the candidacy of Tsvangirai.

While many of us in America take our voting rights for granted, there are many countries across the world who would love the right to vote in peace. While America's voting system isn't perfect, it doesn't result in any one dying or being jailed now days for voting for an opposite party or supporting an opposite candidate than the current President of the country. Now in America, many people's right to vote has been taken but can you imagine your life being taken for voting or supporting the opposite party's candidate for President. Well in Zimbabwe, this is how it has been been at least a couple months since Mugabe reportedly lost office in the first election which is why a run off was scheduled for this Friday.

Due to the fact that Mugabe didn't release the actual voting results in full detail, it was no one way to dispute those election results that Mugabe claimed showed he won despite the fact that many observers predicted that Mugabe had lost that election. Therefore in a compromise with the world and his opposition party, Mugabe decided to have a run off but not without invoking fear in many Zimbabwe people. Many African countries leaders have advised Mugabe to stop with his terror raid but it seemed as if their talks with Mugabe went on death ear as he continued to increase his police forces to possibly prevent any riots that may occur if he wins re-election.

Now that Mugabe is ultimately all set to win re-election, it is apparent that he will make sure that those who oppose him again will feel his wrath much worse. However for the world's sake, only time will tell what's Mugabe's plan for the future of Zimbabwe.

Tom Ridge not ruling out a VP run

On Fox News with Chris Wallace on Sunday, Former Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, said he wouldn't rule out being Sen. John McCain's vice president — if asked — but would have to first discuss a policy position that sets him apart from the Arizona senator: Abortion rights. Ridge believes in abortion rights while McCain opposes it but Ridge said he would still support a McCain's administration because one issue doesn't mean McCain is not the better candidate for the job. Nonetheless, in an election year where the unthinkable is the possible, anything can happen or despite political pundits feeling that Ridge's stance hurts his chances as McCain's VP, it might not hurt him at all if he could garner McCain abortion rights and female support that he would not have gotten otherwise. Only time will tell on who McCain's choice for Vice President will be but Ridge is still in the running for now.

Senator: Obama's choice 'doesn't help' financing system

Senator Joe Biden has said that Senator Barack Obama's decision not to accept public finance funds hurts everyone else who uses public finance dollars. "In terms of undermining the public financing idea for everyone, it doesn't help," Biden said on NBC's Meet the Press. "It's going to be harder to make the case" for taxpayer funding." However Biden is not the only Obama supporter who feels the same way. Former South Dakota Senator Tom Daschle said the whole idea behind public finance is to reduce the role of special interests groups and that's exactly what Obama has done with his 1.5 million donors who gave an average of $88. Nonetheless, Obama's decision only helps him in terms of competing this year's election and it could rewrite the public finance system in more ways than one.

Only time will tell on whether Obama's decision will hurt the entire public finance system or not but the truth of the matter is there are pros and cons to any decision someone makes but time as well as history will tell whether Obama's decision to opt out of the public finance system was good or bad for him as well as others. It might turn out to be a good decision for him and a bad decision for future candidates than again it might turn out to be a bad decision for him and a good decision for other candidates. Only time and history will know the real deal. So stay tune and wait.

Obama meets with mayors to unify party

At the U.S. Conference of Mayors in South Florida, Senator Barack Obama met with many mayors who supported Senator Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Party Primary season in order to unify his party and former Clinton supporters behind him for President. While the meeting was sponsored by Chicago Mayor's Richard M. Dailey, a huge Barack Obama supporter from the get go, helped bridge the gap between former Clinton supporters and Obama. Sources at the conference say the meeting was very productive. However while the speech helped bridge the gap in terms of party unity, many mayors at the conference felt Obama's speech was more so ambitious than realistic.

However in his Miami speech, Obama hit notes intended to resonate with mayors of urban cities in tough economic times: "You know what happens when Washington puts out economic policies that work for Wall Street but not Main Street, because it's your towns and cities that get hit when factories close their doors and workers lose their jobs and families lose their homes because of an unscrupulous lender. That's why you need a partner in the White House." Obama promised to increase federal funding for local law enforcement and education, as well as grant money for housing programs and aid for homeowners facing foreclosure.

Despite all the promises and the rhetoric that Obama gave in his speech, some of the Democrats in the audience felt the long list of promises seemed unrealistic. "I think the speech was wonderful," said Don Slesnick, mayor of Coral Gables, Fla. "I also think it was very ambitious -- a little too ambitious." Therefore, the meeting really helped in unifying the party and is a step in the right direction for the Democratic Party despite how the speech was perceived.

Clinton praises Obama's greenhouse policy, sort of

Former President Bill Clinton gave Obama's greenhouse policy plan praise as he told reporters that he preferred Obama's plan of reducing greenhouse gases by 80 percent over McCain's plan of reducing them by 70 percent. While reporters wanted to know when the former President was going to endorse Obama publicly, Clinton just went about his business as usual like he didn't hear the reporter's question. Nonetheless, it is stories like this that continue to fuel speculation that is not needed by the Democratic Party. The headline says it all and brings into question whether real Party Unity can fully be achieved by the Democratic Party if the news media continues to make attempts as if the Clintons are bitter or mad for Hillary not getting the nomination. Only time will tell but if headlines like this continue than this year's election is one for history books in more ways than one.

GOP frets Barr could play spoiler in prez race

Former Congressman Bob Barr could play spoiler for the GOP in 2008. The fiery former GOP congressman who gained national prominence for doggedly pursuing the impeachment of President Clinton, Barr has some Republicans worried that he'll play spoiler in a tight presidential contest and could ultimately cost Republican Party nominee John McCain the Presidency. In fact many observers say that Barr might cost McCain the state of Georgia where Barr is still well known and with Obama's raising black population vote, Georgia is not as guaranteed as many Republicans want to believe this year. Georgia could perhaps swing from red to blue in this year's Presidential race and that is an option that scares many Republicans.

Not only is Barr's Libertarian Party on 30 state ballots already but they are trying to get on the 20 states ballots and this could present major problems with the GOP if it occurs. 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, they see what could be a recipe for trouble for the GOP. This is all similar to the 2000 Presidential race where Ralph Nader played spoiler for the Democratic Party and much like 1992 when Ralph Nader played spoiler for the GOP. Either way, Barr's candidacy is poised to play a significant role in this year's election and only time will tell on how much of an impact it will be.

For McCain's sake, Barr's candidacy better be only talk and he shouldn't garner no more than 1% of the vote. However recent polls show him with 4% of the vote in national polls but Barr's biggest impact may be in his home state of Georgia where McCain is beating Obama by the slimiest of margins, 46% to 45% with Barr picking up nearly 3% or more of the vote. If polls in the state of Georgia continue to look like this than Barr's candidacy as a threat to the GOP nominee will be more than just talk but it will a reality that the GOP and their nominee John McCain will have to derail by any means necessary.

However right now it is only talk and only time will tell all things so let's just see how polls continue to look a couple of months from now.

Recall Kwame! it's not the white boogey man

I looked on Youtube today and found this video called Recall Kwame! it's not the white boogey man. I found it to be quite interesting for those of us who stay in the city of Detroit. The time for change is right here, right now and here is your opportunity. For those of us who want Kwame gone than don't sit back and watch as he continues to get his money but instead start recalling him by getting a petition now. Let's face it, the city is constantly losing money while Kwame continues to hire lawyers to fight off City Council, police officers suing him and the perjury charges that he faces from Wayne County Prosecutor Kim Worthy's office.

So the time to be heard is right here, right now. Call 313-879-5045 and be apart of the movement to recall Kwame Kilpatrick. If you are sick and tired of being sick and tired than do something about it right here, right now cause y'all's boy just ain't getting the job done like he should have.

Vice presidential picks: What really matters?

This article caught my attention because what really matters in a vice presidential pick. There are several criteria that they mentioned but to name a few:

-- Qualified to be president.

-- Shares the agenda of the boss. "Whoever's in the White House doesn't want to have to look over his or her shoulder at the vice president to make sure they're not marching off in some different direction," Galen said.

-- Shores up the candidate's weak spots. For Obama, this would be experience and national security. For McCain, age and the economy.

-- Sends a message: A female or minority pick would signal inclusiveness and boldness for either candidate. Picking Clinton would be a direct appeal to her supporters from Obama. Picking former rival and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee would send a message from McCain that he embraces Christian evangelicals.

-- Helps the Electoral College math. This is a last consideration, only after others are met and a candidate is really struggling in a must-have state such as Pennsylvania or Florida. Such calculations often fail. Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry lost North Carolina in 2004 despite having that state's Sen. John Edwards on the ticket.

This is what Senators John McCain and Barack Obama must consider in choosing a Vice Presidential nominee. The position of VP is a position that is dreaded but the reality is that recently it brings a lot of perks and the position carries a lot of weight within an administration. Bush Sr. brought weight to Reagen's ticket and Al Gore literally redefined the position of Vice President while Dick Cheney has strengthened the position with his policy decisions the last 8 years. Nonetheless, a Vice President can help you win an election like in did for JFK when he choose LBJ as his Vice President. Nonetheless, such cases of a Vice President helping a ticket are slim because clearly in 2004 John Edwards didn't help John Kerry as much as people would have taught.

However the choosing of a Vice President is just one part of the equation. The second part of the equation is how do you use your Vice Presidential candidate. In 2004, I believe the Kerry camp didn't strategically use Edwards right in the campaign. Edwards is a natural statesman but the Kerry camp didn't use his strengths in the right direction so that he could win some of the southern states. If Kerry really wanted to win in 2004 than he would have allowed Edwards to campaign more vigorously in southern states like his home states of North Carolina and South Carolina as well as Tennessee, Florida and Kentucky in hopes of trying to redraw the electoral map back in 2004. Nonetheless, that was not the case.

Therefore my best advice to Senators Obama and McCain is to use your Vice Presidential pick strengths to your advantage. Allow your VP choice to be what made you choose them in the first place. If you don't use the strengths of your VP choice than why have him or her on the ticket in the first place. Now don't get me wrong, some VP choices are just safe picks like Dan Quayle, Joe Liberman or Dick Cheney but others like Edwards, LBJ, Al Gore and Bush Sr., have mass appeal that can be used just like they were President. So use your VP choices wisely once you figure out who your Vice President will be.

Obama Plans National Push on Ads and Turnout

Democratic Presidential nominee Senator Barack Obama is launching a 50 State national campaign effort aimed at ads and voter turnout. This should not be a surprise but since the news media and print news are making a big deal about it, I wanted to weigh it. This is what am Presidential candidate should do in order to win the White House. However in recent Presidential races, the Democratic Party usually focuses on swing states and states that they know they can win. However Obama plans to redraw the Electoral College map and he believes he can win all 50 states and with his wealth of money, he can really compete in all 50 states. The Democratic Party started a 50 state campaign under the new leadership of DNC Chairman Howard Dean when he took over the DNC. Upon taking over the DNC Dean has sought to establish the Democratic Party in all 50 states and his plan could really aid Obama in his efforts of making Republican Presidential nominee John McCain and the Republican Party play more defense than offense in this year's 2008 Presidential race.

Obama has already released his first national ad in 18 states with 15 of them being Republican states and many of those states are state that Obama and his camp believe they can possibly win. Nonetheless, Obama's plan for a National Push on Ads and voter turnout is critical because this year, Obama has to depend on a higher voter turnout in a lot of swing states in order to pull off the victory in November. Otherwise, history could repeat itself with Obama winning the popular vote by a very large margin but losing the electoral college. The possibility of this happening is slim but it is still a possibility that Obama and the Democratic Party faces.

Nonetheless, his efforts right now could combat that possibility because his political war chest is groundbreaking and could even get even bigger. So if Obama can continue to raise money at the pace he is raising it and plays offense in many states considered red than it could force the RNC and Senator McCain to spend more money than they planned in many red states that they thought were safe. Such a plan would force McCain to be on the defensive rather than the offensive which could ultimately hurt him in many swing states such as Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Either way, Obama's strategy is smart and it just may pay off in an election year where the race for President will rewrite history books for at least 4 years until the next election comes around.

DPS Superintendent & School Board are Idiots!

How can anyone in their right mind talk about laying people off but are still hiring people. As of June 16, 2008, Connie Calloway, superintendent of Detroit Public Schools recently signed off on at least hiring about 30 or more employees mostly teachers and promoting approximately 30 or more to different positions as well as declassifying some. However at the exact same meeting where a lot of this took place, her and the Detroit Public School Board are talking about laying off nearly 1,400 DPS employees with a possible 800 or more of them being teachers. So I ask you how stupid or how much of an idiot are they to be hiring new teachers but talking about laying off others.

What is going on Detroit? Why are we standing by as Detroit citizens, teachers unions, and other unions in the city of Detroit as idiots continue to make bone head decisions. Thant he justification that our superintendent and the board will give for the new hires, promotions and reclassification's are that they are unnecessary employees. What in the world is an unnecessary employee? Is an unnecessary employee even needed in a district that is crying it broke. If we are hiring or promoting unnecessary employees than are we saying that the teachers and others who are facing being laid off are necessary employees.

Okay excuse me, maybe I am twisting Superintendent Calloway's words or our school board members words. Maybe they might to say that the nearly 1,400 DPS employees that might be laid off, they are unnecessary employees and the ones that they are hiring, promoting and reclassifying are necessary employees. So now they are telling us that firing nearly 800 plus teachers is justifiable because those teachers are unnecessary and can be replaced. Now I was sitting at a luncheon today with educators and administrators and many of them said that it was a point in time when the district needed qualified teachers and made regular subs or emergency subs permanent teachers. Now in 2008, we are saying that teachers no matter if they are qualified or not are unnecessary employees.

I guess the employees that work down at the at all three school center building locations are necessary employees because I don't hear about any of them losing their jobs. I guess any of the people that came in with Superintendent last year are necessary employees because there is no talk about any of them losing their jobs or perhaps taking a pay cut. The reality is that Superintendent Calloway and the School Board don't care about any one but themselves and their friends because any time you can sit up and fire two teachers in front of a packed audience when we already lost one lawsuit to them, brings me to question how in the world, can we cry broke but in the same breath disobey a judges order. Now we are going to face an upcoming lawsuit thanks to our unloved School Board and Superintendent for firing Steven Cohen and Heather Miller who are married and participated in a May 1, 2007 protest that resulted in hundreds of students being maced by Detroit Public School Security.

Yes a judge ruled in favor of Cohen and Miller saying DPS had to accept them back to work and pay them in back pay. However DPS accepted them back but put them on leave and paid them while they were on leave this year. Thus the married couple told the board and Calloway to make a decision on their future for next year now because they were ready to go back to work. However our idiot board and dumb superintendent decided to fire them rather than reinstatement fully.

Now our broke Detroit Public School District not only faces losing 1,400 employees with majority of them being 800 teachers but we will be facing a lawsuit that could have been avoided. I don't know what's worse in the city of Detroit, our school board or our Mayor & City Council. In fact I am going to say both and the citizens of Detroit are even worst for accepting this type of stupidity. We need to jail all the idiots on our school board and Superintendent Calloway and while we are at it jail Mayor Kwame Kilpartick and all our City Council members for the mismanagement of tax payer dollars. Where is the RECO act when you need it? I'm tired of hearing about the Federal Government coming to Detroit to investigate the financial happenings that have occurred but we need to do something now to make a difference and it starts with us the citizens taking back our school board and city by not electing any more idiots and by recalling all the idiots that we currently have in office.

References:
2 Detroit teachers fired after protest thttp://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080620/SCHOOLS/806200407/1026

DPS board unlikely to approve budget http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/NEWS01/80619036/1003/news

Hundreds of union members protest proposed Detroit school layoffs http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/SCHOOLS/806190488&imw=Y

DPS nixes budget plan, aims to fix deficit http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080620/NEWS01/806200325&imw=Y