In Endorsing Obama, Kennedy Anoints a Prince and Tells Clintons To Cool It
Democrats don't come much more traditional than Teddy Kennedy, the grand man of the Democratic Party. So his endorsement of Barack Obama--implicitly an anti-endorsement of Hillary Clinton--has punch. Endorsements routinely don't matter much in presidential campaigns--with a few exceptions. A politician who controls a machine--say, a governor--can come in quite handy on Election Day. In this case, Kennedy brings two piping hot dishes to the Obama potluck.
By awarding him the Kennedy Seal of Approval--with Caroline Kennedy (daughter of John) and Representative Patrick Kennedy (son of Ted) chiming in--Kennedy makes it official: Obama is the Next Generation leader of the Democratic Party and, in that role, has a lock on the vision thing. And by pledging to campaign arduously for Obama in the coming days, Kennedy will be assisting Obama's efforts to reach out to traditional Democratic voters: working-class Dems. Clinton has been faring better among that core demographic chunk of the Democratic electorate. Kennedy is no white knight who will rescue Obama on this front. But if Kennedy pulls a few votes here and there, it could be significant--only if Obama on his own can close the gap between him and Clinton on blue-collar Democrats and Latinos. It is too late for any candidate--or any set of endorsements--to change the fundamentals of the presidential race in time for Supersaturated Tuesday on February 5. And Ted Kennedy on the campaign trail is no match for Hillary Clinton's hit man: her husband. Yet any bit of Kennedy magic dust the Massachusetts senator sprinkles for Obama can only help.
Kennedy's endorsement speech--held before an enthusiastic crowd at an auditorium at American University--was a roar. He noted that Clinton and John Edwards were fine people and his friends. "But I believe," he said, "there is one candidate who has extraordinary gifts of leadership and character, matched to the extraordinary demands of this moment in history." He completely adopted Obama's own arguments: "He is a leader who sees the world clearly without being cynical. He is a fighter who cares passionately about the causes he believes in, without demonizing those who hold a different view." That last line, an echo of a remark Obama made on Saturday night after winning the South Carolina primary, was a dig at the Clinton camp.
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Continued From Above
Other digs followed: "We know the true record of Barack Obama. There is the courage he showed when so many others were silent or simply went along. From the beginning, he opposed the war in Iraq. And let no one deny that truth." The Clinton crew has been trying to undermine Obama's natural advantage on the war. (He opposed voting for it: she did not.) Kennedy was calling them out on this matter and essentially telling them to shut up.
And then Kennedy passed the torch:
With Barack Obama, there is a new national leader who has given America a different kind of campaign--a campaign not just about himself, but about all of us. A campaign about the country we will become, if we can rise above the old politics that parses us into separate groups and puts us at odds with one another.
I remember another such time, in the 1960s, when I came to the Senate at the age of 30. We had a new president who inspired the nation, especially the young, to seek a new frontier. Those inspired young people marched, sat in at lunch counters, protested the war in Vietnam and served honorably in that war even when they opposed it.
Obama can be the new Kennedy--John or Robert, take your pick. Who says so? Their brother. Such rhetoric might be easily dismissed by the cynical, but it is heady stuff. And Kennedy probably did not make the decision to anoint Obama in this manner lightly. He compared Obama to Clinton and found one inspiring, the other merely commendable. "What counts in our leadership," Kennedy thundered, "is not the length of years in Washington, but the reach of our vision, the strength of our beliefs, and that rare quality of mind and spirit that can call forth the best in our country and our people. With Barack Obama, we will turn the page on the old politics of misrepresentation and distortion."
Kennedy's red-hot endorsement can be read as something of a pushback to the Clinton gang's assault on the junior senator from Illinois. "Let us reject the counsels of doubt and calculation," Kennedy said loudly before the American University crowd. Whose doubt and calculation? The Clintons', of course. And he was not indirect:
There was another time, when another young candidate was running for President and challenging America to cross a New Frontier. He faced public criticism from the preceding Democratic President, who was widely respected in the party. Harry Truman said we needed "someone with greater experience"and added: "May I urge you to be patient." And John Kennedy replied: "The world is changing. The old ways will not do It is time for a new generation of leadership." So it is with Barack Obama.
In other words, take that Bill Clinton! Truman was wrong about JFK, and you're wrong about BHO. Kennedy did not step over any line in his speech. But while handing the family crown to a new prince, he was chastising the old king--perhaps warning the Clinton bunch it ought not go too far.
Kennedy, the old liberal lion, might not be able to hand-deliver many votes to Obama. But he can bellow on his behalf and provide a countervailing force to the former president, who has emerged as Obama's detractor-in-chief. Kennedy and his son and niece have bolstered Obama's narrative of change and vision. The question is whether Obama has sufficient time to put this anointment to full use.
Comments
Ted admitted his guilt. How many dearhs is GWB responsible for including 911 maybe?? JFK said "we must put a end to war or war will put an end to mankind". Reich Marshall Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg trials said The people can always be brought to the bidding of leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country. James Madison and other founding fathers said "Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few? No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare." -James Madison Now is this not the state of the US today?
Ted admitted his guilt. How many dearhs is GWB responsible for including 911 maybe?? JFK said "we must put a end to war or war will put an end to mankind". Reich Marshall Hermann Goering at the Nuremberg trials said The people can always be brought to the bidding of leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country. James Madison and other founding fathers said "Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few? No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare." -James Madison Now is this not the state of the US today?
Three of the top ten stories on the New York Times homepage right now are pro-Obama/anti-Clinton op-eds (with none in the pro-Clinton camp). This is a huge day for Obama. Though the Times has endorsed Clinton, Obama is trouncing her among key opinion-makers as of late. The question, as David notes, is whether that will matter in time for Feb 5.
i believe that a president needs to be able to inspire and encourage others to excel. no president does everything on his own (in spite of what some Reagan followers think). (S)He inspires and pushes us to go beyond what we think is possible. is Barak Obama the man. Maybe. Maybe.
What is important here is that the Kennedys' recognize what is obvious to everyone who wants to see - that here is a man of vision and character that we should nurture and protect. Obama is miles ahead of his competitors in every area. Like the Williams' sisters, Oprah and others some people have to keep proving themselves again and again and again. The good news is that because these people have to fight so hard they ultimately become better than anyone else in their category
On a personal note, we got a call today that Katiebear and Jeff are being re-located to DeWalt's New Orleans office...
It seems there's a need for lots of tools in the all-too slow reconstruction of that Great, yet devestated historical town.
A little circle closed...was perusing pics from Jill's Katrina deployments (shhhh...she's to be honored at DMAT's Nashville convention...don't spill the beans!)
From relief to re-building...I am SO F-n proud of this family who found me!
-T
kc bolden, you beat me to it. Obviously Kennedy's endorsement counts for something or all three of the Democratic candidates would not have sought it so strongly, the Clintons, particularly. Bill Clinton, himself, contacted Kennedy in an attempt to keep him nutural if an endorsement wasn't in the cards.
I think the Clintons will win the day on February 5. I think Obama ran out of time. Hopefully I'm wrong.
Watching the State of the Union Address last night I had a dull, dead feeling watching Bush. I always have the same feeling when I see Hillary Clinton. They both seem souless, unispiring and unremarkable. They both have that same self-consumed quality that makes my skin crawl. Hopefully Kennedy can make some inroads with Latino, and blue collar Democrats. I think if the big glut of primaries coming up next week were still a few weeks off Obama would close the gap and come out on top. I'm afraid he has the momentum just not the time.
With an endorsement from Ted Kennedy and a quarter in your pocket, you actually have something of some value. A quarter!
Obama is such a clear choice. Crystal clear. He has got something special that a lot of people are recognizing--leadership. Did anyone read George Packer's New Yorker piece? Brilliant!
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/01/28/080128fa_fact_packer
Personally, I think Clinton's campaign has turned me off to voting for her at all. If she wins the general election, we're screwed. My friends will have to drag me to the polls.
I was very impressed by Obama earlier this year however I now take that back. As the campaign moves forward his platform becomes less and less effective. He's seems to be a republican in democrats clothes, pandering to the right far to much. When are we going to get a candidate with a spine? I don't want another republican in office but I also don't want someone who is just going to play all sides with out doing anything...
January 29th, 2008 - Tuesday
Obama has Ted, Caroline and Patrick supporting yesterday in a big announcement. So it was a great, 'Photo Op'. Ted was all fired up but not running for any office. Caroline was her normal impression of being there with a moment of a smile and Patrick was all excited. Now one who is a Democrat and had the honor to meet President John F. Kennedy when I was a young boy, it was an emotional moment to see three of the Kennedys on stage at American University yesterday. It almost brought a tear to one of my eyes for a brief second.
Obama is a very smart man. Ok, since I joined the NAACP in 1975 I have fought my whole life for Civil Rights. Been there when I was young child and seeing the hosing of Black Citizens in Birmingham and Dogs and Clubs going after them only because they wanted to be treated equal.
I asked my Grandfather I was with at the time, "Why are they doing this to the Black People on the sidewalks?" He was a Postmaster in a very racist town. My grandfather said, "Because of ignorance." For a man who had to deal with all the bigots and racist in the town he was a Postmaster, he still knew it was wrong what the Police and KKK were doing to fellow citizens of America.
It was from his statement to me witnessing these acts of torture to Black Americans for only wanting the same rights as anyone else, that no one is better than anyone else. We should all be treated equal and never be denied one's Civl Rights ever.
My Granfather was a very wise man and a Christian and there was nothing in the Bible that stated what was happening to the Black Citizens in Birmingham, Alabama to justified by what was happening to them. Nor has hatred ever been acceptable.
That stayed in my mind the rest of my life. It caused me to go into Social Work and Law Enforcement so I could make a difference for every American Citizen.
My 'Grandfather' planted the seed in me to know the difference between right and wrong.
Now as much as I admired President John F. Kennedy and Senator Robert Kennedy and Dr. King and Malcom X, to witness yesterday Obama having 3 out of the many Kennedy's supporting him for President is their choice.
I think Senator Ted Kennedy needs to focus on uniting our Democratic Party with a strong leader ready for the job. Caroline needs to go back to her duties at the Kennedy Center and causes she supports, that only takes a second for her to do. She hardly knew her father and has lived off being the daughter of a great President John F. Kennedy, which she is. She surely is nothing like her mother as Jackie would never compare her former husband to Obama if she was still alive. How could she, as President John F. Kennedy was a very skilled, brillant and experienced man who had also served his country in war. He also was the victim of being murdered as was Dr. King and Senator Robert Kennedy and Malcom X were also murdered. Caroline has always been a out of sight person other than for rare times to be at the Kennedy Center and projects she feels strong about. A Princes without a Castle. If her brother had not been in my opinion murdered, John John would surely be running for public office today and get elected. So Caroline surely does not reflect on what her parents stood for from the Op/Ed she wrote in the New York Times. She does not care to be out in the publics eye anymore than she just has to. To hear the Media talk about Camelot yesterday backing Obama can not be so. Since Camelot died when President John F. Kennedy was murdered and Jackie Kennedy died. There once was a Camelot in America and it was an amazing time to be alive and part of it.
Then we have U.S. Congressman Patrick Kennedy the son of Ted and Joan Kennedy. I remember when Patrick was a young teenager and now he is following in public office as so many Kennedy's have. Something Caroline could never accomplish. Still Patrick has the genes of his father and mother with substance abuse and is addressing it everyday. I give him great points for dealing with this. It takes a great person to over come substance abuse and be a better person for it. He represents his state of R.I. very well and I wish him the best for his future.
To see Ted, Caroline and Patrick standing on the stage yesterday supporting Obama sure showed how lost they are to be backing a man who has little experience behind him to become President at this time. He has yet to pay his dues on the job to be a President. Polish up your act Obama and maybe in 4 or 8 years you will then have behind you what it will take to be a class act President. As much as I want a Black President I do not want to back a person just because they are Black and been promoted as one of Oprah's Book of the Month! With having $1 Billion in Book sales to back it up.
So I have to look at the big picture. We have had a Fascist Dicatorship living in Our White House for the past 7+ years. George W. Bush or by his close friends he likes to be called Emperor Bush, has bankrupted America and put us in a real Depression. If anyone thinks other wise then look at over 4 million homes in Foreclosure. Over 30,000 troops have been paralyzed and disabled for life and over 4,000+ troops have died in the Unjust War in the Mid East greed for Oil for the 1% Rich. In fact this is how I feel about Emperor Bush.
"George W. Bush and his Dick as in shoot your best friend in the face Cheney have and continue to cause the 'Daily' Suffing and Deaths of American Poor, Disabled, Senior Citizens, Children, G.L.B.T. Community, Veterans and the Unemployed by Economic Deprivation. It leaves no finger prints at the crime scene."
Emperor Bush and his Dick have only Bankrupted America to the tune of $9 Trillion Dollars under their watch.
We have been asked to have a Bake Sale to help them out? I think Emperor Bush wants us to all go out and buy a Flat Screen TV or a Trip to Walt Disney World with what he wants to give 117 Million Americans to put money back into the economy. Then the $150 Billion this will cost has to be loaned. Emperor Bush just tells the Tres Dept. to fire up the printing machines and print some more worthless money. As he does this he calls up China for another loan? Or maybe he will cash in his love gifts from his resent trip to see the King of Saudi Arabia? All those bags of Gold & Diamonds the Secret Service had to carry aboard Air Force One and all those gold chains Emperor Bush had hanging around his neck. Do I hear a Royal Wedding in the making? Well Emperor Bush was a Cheer Leader in College. King and Emperor Request your presents at the Royal Wedding. Well, it could happen. After the divorce, Laura could be a Brides Maid. The Twins could be Flower Girls. Anything is possible today it would appear. They do say politicians make odd bed fellows.
With all that stated we are in deep trouble in America. Throwing the Crumbs to the Poor and Middle Class are not going to change the economy of America until the 1% Rich stop getting all the bonus gifts and huge tax breaks from this unbalanced person we have living in Our White House.
So were back to Obama's 15 minutes of fame yesterday in D.C. at American University. I guess Obama is going to have to do some fast talking to explain how he got his house for $300,000 under the market value from the man who has been his Banker to get him into the U.S. Senate 1st. Then how Obama was able to buy from this man some property the man owned next door to the house Obama and his family live in. Oh and that Banker for Obama it has been reported in the news arrested and indictment charges and this is going to blow up in Obama's face in real time. Who would want a person who has all this bagage to carry into the White House?
So the only thing I can see happening, is the person who has all the many years of experience and who can on the 1st day in office in our White House be president, is U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton. Oh yes and she is a woman, think of that! To finaly have the 'Good Old Boy Network' broken after over 230 years. Hillary is a natural born leader. She is qualified and not a Book of the Month Club. She can speak in complete sentences with substance not like Emperor Bush who reads his books upside down. She represents and acts on the needs of the Poor and Middle Class. Wow and we have the benefit of having a 1st Husband to be a former President of the United States when our economy was really great. When we could afford to buy groceries and gasoline and pay our bills. We did not have 4 million foreclosrues of homes under President Bill Clinton. We did not have an Unjust War going on costing America $500,000 dollars every 30 seconds.
It will surely take someone who is not going to be learning on the job for 4 years when America has become a 3rd World Country for the past 7+ years. Obama if you stay learning in office for more years in the U.S. Senate, then in 4 or 8 years then you will have the backing of experience you will need to be President. As of now you have to much baggage that is going to hit the fan and then you will be dealing with this for the next 4 years. That is why you have to get your house in order. America needs to get its house in order. This is why we need someone who can take care of this right now not in 4 more years.
So for all of those who were moved by Ted, Caroline and Patrick yesterday supporing Obama, enjoy those 15 minutes.
Right now we need U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton to be our next President of the United States of America. It always gets me when all the Corporate owned Media talk about Hillary as something different because she is a woman. That is because the Corporate Media have never focused on putting their Media Machine behind any woman for President. They can say things about men they appear to never say about a woman in the same way. They are not hard wired for this because most of the C.E.O.'s of Media owned Corporations are men. To think a woman will be President upsets them because this woman is smarter than the majority of them. She has a lot more experience and education then they do. She has been around the block more than any of them in their White Ivory Towers they hide out in when they are at work. She will not be playing golf or on a business trip to the Islands as these Corporate Media C.E.O's always are doing.
So Obama learn from this experience from running for President and polish up and fix your personal problems at home for now. Of course we will not have a Republican in the White House this election and for that we can be thankful as they have destroyed America for this generation and many generations to come. So my vote as most logical thinking Americans will be also voting for Hillary Clinton for 2008. Sorry 'Good Old Boy Club' but you will either have to tone down your rant in the locker rooms or fade away for the next 4 to 8 years and learn how to deal with a real leader with experience and who is also bright and has the ability to take charge on the 1st day on the job. Oh I forgot, if you have already, Hillary Clinton is a Woman and she can do 6 things at one time as us men can only do 2 things at a time.
I know with a woman in the Oval Office we will surely have someone who knows how to balance a check book. Knows the real needs of our children in American. Knows the needs of the Homeless and Poor and Education of our children. Knows the needs and concerns of the Disabled, Senior Citizens and G.L.B.T. Community and the Veterans coming home from an Unjust War and for all the Unemployed in America to develope jobs. She can even Balance a Budget! Hillary knows the medical needs that Americans need to have and supports every American to have medical care.
So step aside for the others running for President and remember to vote for Hillary Clinton for President for 2008.
I do not think we will need the experience of Katherine Harris to fix the votes as I feel this time after 8 years we will not have Emperor Bush's friends making the voting machines. Nor will we need the U.S. Surpreme Court to call the election and appoint Hillary Clinton. Nor will Blacks be turned away from the voting booths. No, this time were going to have an honest election and have the 1st Woman as President of America.
For a country as ours we have been behind the times for a long time as so many other countries have had women Presidents for a long time. So much for saying America is 1st in Leadership roles in the past. Yes we have women Governors and Congresswomen and as Senators and Mayors. WE have some even as C.E.O.'s of major Corporations. Gosh, not even a Vice President as a woman though. Just think of that. So move on over 'Good Old Boy Club' and make room for the new woman on the block at 1600 Penn. Avenue. She has been our 1st Lady and then a U.S. Senator. She has a daughter she and President Clinton raised into a smart and beautiful woman. I can never remember hearing about Bil and Hillary's daughter going out and getting drunk in some Texas Bar. They practiced what they preached in family values. It surely does take a Village. Something that has been denied Americans the past 7+ years.
While were at it we need to clean up past business and surely have Emperor Bush and his Dick Impeached for War Crimes and Crimes against American Citizens. That is why it is good to go to this web site to accomplish this last bit of business. No one gets a free ride forever and gets away with it. What are the 1% Rich going to do now in the 'Good Old Boy's Club'? Go on a long vacation? http://.www.impeachbush.org
Let's look beyond the color and sex of the candidates to the substance of their message. In that light Obama looks pretty good. Hillary has a built-in resentment across the isle and would find it difficult getting bi-partisan support for anything. Obama shows more promise of working with the Republicans. Hillary stumps about having 35 years experience, and I have to ask, doing what? Does being First Lady count? Exactly how would Obama benefit from 4 or 8 more years of experience? Another area every voter should investigate is campaign contributions. Follow the money and you'll get a pretty good idea of whose pocket the candidate will be in after they get elected. Hillary doesn't look too good in that light. I agree that Bush Cheney have been a disaster - the only good being they paved the way for the pendelum to swing to the left. It's too late for impeachment - there aren't enough votes in the House, so let's move on. Obama is looking better every day...
Wow. Well said. Well said, indeed.
I loved the "on the job training" reference to Obama.
Along the lines of your sentiments, I had written this post in response to a black woman's comment in the same vein as your post. It seems on topic here too, so I think I'll post it here!
Okay! A real exchange of thought on the election! Kudos to the woman who insists on thinking in more than one dimension!
I think it's time that glass ceiling shattered and a woman is elected President of the United States. After all, Think about American history -- how well has that been working for us with the good ol' boys in charge?
Obama I feel was a put up job, a rookie who could play the race and charm cards to try to keep Hillary out of office. I've watched his mannerisms carefully and, to me, he broadcasts "waffability", due to a lack of true self-assurance and an obvious lack of credentials to actually do this job.
You can't really fault him for that...remember when you were his age?
He's "fakin' it."
And, well, he DOES look like a republican, somehow...
But, the wisdom to function WELL as President will come with age and experience. I think he will be quite a viable successor to Hillary's term(s) in office.
Obama was the "Obama who?" candidate, virtually unknown until Oprah took him for a ride on her coattails.
Hmmmm....
Okay, to me that was a suspicious action.
Her motives were unclear. I didn't buy the obvious race thing. So I started thinking....
1. When have you ever heard Oprah speak out against the heinous behavior of our current administration?
so
2. Why all of sudden did she go political on us?
3. Oprah (whose show I have often watched and enjoyed) has made her billions working for corporate America. And the Democratic Party has corporate America in its cross-hairs.
So, a weaker candidate will be more easily foiled, frankly. OR easily influenced. So let's trot out this nice young black man.
Not saying she is fronting for the corporate mob, at least, not consciously, but...it WAS slightly weird.
Obama appears, in this Presidential stump, insecure enough to convey to ME that he may be "malleable", and easily influenced by powerful people. Makes me antsy. REAL antsy.
Notice how he always seems to tilt his head when he talks. He rarely holds it upright, and he looks out from UNDER his eyelids, seemingly not directly AT his targeted person/audience.
To me, that conveys either a falseness or a lack of assurance in what one is saying.
Also,my gut feeling is that he is "masking" something,somehow.
Another subprogram echoes in my head when I see him, "Don't pay any attention to the person behind the curtain", a la the wizard of Oz.
I sense somewhere there WILL BE a wizard that will be pulling the strings.
[ I just looked to the left border of this site at the pics of people in the news, and there is Obama...head tilted, looking out from under his eyelids. See what I mean? LOL]
Just my sixth sense telling me, "Uh uh. Not Obama yet."
SO it's Hillary for me this time, and Obama, if his image is not tarnished, will be quite electable following her administration.
Underneath it all, though, I respect John Edwards and would love to see a Hillary-John combo in the White House. A woman and a populist in the White House! Now that's AMERICA!
The NEW Kennedy? WoW! Dang! I thought we were already involved in the new VEITNAM (iraq) and Bay of PIGS (afganastan), so who's the blonde bimbo? Jamie Lynn?, Paris? Sheeeit! I AM A died in the BLUE democrat. Everybody knows a.. Let's go by CHAPAQUITIC TED is death blow. WAKE uP AMERICA!!!
By the way,
that "WELL SAID, Well said, indeed," comment was directed
to
OFFICER THOMAS A. PORTER, DPO.
An outstanding post that reflects what many, many Americans believe.
I'd like to make one comment:
I'm hopeful that when Hillary and/or John get into the White House, the oil companies that have been profiting from the war in Iraq, those robber barons who have taken advantage of the situation so shamefully as to post their OBSCENELY inflated profits quarter after quarter while American blood runs into the Iraqi sands,
THEY need to have their feet held to the fire.
And each and every person who has stock in their retirement portfolios should immediately dump their shares and go for an HONORABLE profit in some other company's stocks.
To do otherwise is to put greed above honor. Profit from blood will never bring happiness.
Keep in mind that none of these good peaple running for office actualy got us involved in our long national nightmare. Both clitnon and obama said we would be in IRAQ until 2013. Read! Read! Read! Listen! Listen! Listen! My daughter moved to Ohh Canada with her mother, thank JESUS, she can't be drafted!
Senate experience has never been a plus. Check your facts - how many senators have been elected president?
Bill was a darn fine president (all things considered) and he had no "experience" and surprise surprise - he was up to doing the job on day one, do you see?
Porter: Thank you for your very reasoned post. Here is something else which I have been wondering about with Obama and that is his $1.9 million book deal. He did not, in my opinion have a $1.9 million story to tell at the time, but it did give him enough money to buy the almost $2 million house. So many on the right own much of the media and publishing which makes me wonder if they gave him a book deal to prop him up. We need to pull the curtain back and find out who the wizard (s) are behind Obama. As always, it's follow the money.
I don't feel the "magic" of Obama that seems to have infected the general public, the MSM and the Kennedys.
I felt the media has done the democratic process so much harm during this campaign. In the debates, the polls and the comments from the pundits all showed favoritism to some while excluding others.
From the beginning I did not understand why anyone wanted to continue with this corporate dominated dynasty with another Clinton term.
Obama; although a great speaker; projected little or no substance and the details I need to hear.
And while I applaud Mr.Edwards humanitarian efforts he also left me feeling less than impressed that he would actually make what I consider progressive change.
I really had hopes for Mr. Kucinich but as time went on and the media dismissed him as not being a viable candidate, his message and the exposure he desperately needed wained. It was becoming clearer that perhaps Kucinich was giving up when he urged his Iowa followers to select Obama as their "second choice".
This whole process seems broken and somewhat perverse.
I was not looking forward to voting for another D.I.N.O. or republican lite.
Ted Kennedy may have been responsible for an accident that claimed a woman's life, and so have many, many other people. Having been in a very bad auto accident once where I was forced off the road I do know one thing, if you lose consciousness for just seconds, you have no memory of impact, and total confusion reigns afterward. He made a mistake, and I know people as I am sure you do that have made a similar mistake. After 40 years, do you think you might let this go....ever???
I've said it before, recently, and I'll say it again:
I find Obama very shallow and disappointing. He seems to have borrowed Guliani's 911 strategy: a verb, an adjective and 911. In Barack's case, it's verb, an adjective, and "Hope".
If he wins the nomination and goes on to take the White House, I more than suspect his administration will likewise be based on hope.
He and his staff will hope he can manage the country, hope he can manage foreign policy, hope he can manage the economy, all, while he, the hoper-in-chief, hopelessly refuses to view bills, reports, white papers, intelligence estimates and other vital printed matter until 2 seconds before he thinks he needs them "because I might misplace them."
Frankly, I think he's giving "Hope" a bad reputation. I just hope he doesn't cause it to be deleted from the dictionary.
A lot of people are against Obama because of his percieved lack of experience. I'd rather have someone who hasn't already learned all the shady crap that's been going on for years. Sure he's idyllistic, but he's more trustworthy (IMO) than Hilary, who seems to be more supportive of the Corporate interests.
How about meeting Obama before you spew the rhetoric.
Maybe he isn't really the breath of fresh air, but frankly, the Clintons certainly aren't. They showed their true colors with their distortions of the facts. And sure they have experience and all the wisdom that came with it. It's just that, well... Bush has all of that too, and frankly I'm tired of it.
Time to give somebody new a chance. We certainly can't do any worse.
I'll wait for a women who values truth over distortion and lies before I vote a woman into the White House.
Thanks anyway.
Sharon:
You are trying to dig up dirt where none exists. His first book was published in 1995 -- a year before he became state senator. It was favorably reviewed by the NY Times etc., and made a profit.
And, btw, if you've not read it, its a very compelling and well-written book, worth a read even if the person in question had never reached national prominence.
His second book, more recent, is the work of a prominent figure and author who has a proven sales record.
Trying to find something shady in that is low. I notice you regularly post, but never seem to have any actual arguments for your candidate, only consistent slander and disinformation.
Kennedy (talks well; always backs down) and Kerry (does the same and) argued w/Edwards against fighting the last vote fraud during his own campaign because as w/Bush he is a member of Skull/Bones, and they do not "fight" ea other... hello: he is not a maverick!!
Besides: many other of the kennedys -- those that work in the "trenches" w/the environment, underpriviledge children, etc. have endorsed Clinton -- she has worked for years w/these organizations to do better for all --
I see the other campaign blaming/twisting the Clinton campaign for their own political gain and headlines... I really don't see the Clintons doing what the media is saying they've done; truth is -- nobody I talk w/sees it that way either...
truth is: the media (and the GOP) want obama to be the candidate... easier to beat. I guarantee you that if he becomes the candidate, mud will be flying all over him... Hillary is true to heart and obviously very focused/independent -- that has pissed a lot of people off, so what!!
-- but she is a fighter and she will come through for the good of all -- I am starting to resent all this "lets beat Hillary up" crap -- what the hell are you guys thinking! The union in NV has lawsuits against it by its own members for intimdation -- that is what the teachers were arguing... "the ingroup/ outgroup phenomenon" put upon their own members, which is "intimidation"!!
the media has gone on and on about S Carolina's win for obama... but Hillary is double digits ahead almost everywhere... the media ignores...
I think it is pretty simple to see the writing on the wall.
Each of us has a right to be for the candidate of his/her choice -- but shame on a lot of you!
Again: get a clue -- if you don't quit the rest of us will be saying, "I told you so..." just like we did after the last two elections... problem is -- we're all running out of time.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-dreier/hillary-clinton-should-be_b_8...
"the example of Ted Kennedy, who has been the most effective progressive in the Senate for many years -- before and especially after he lost the Democratic nomination for president to incumbent Jimmy Carter in 1980."
"When the Democrats have been in the majority, Kennedy has been an outstanding offensive quarterback. When his party was relegated to the minority, Kennedy learned how to maneuver to stop bad legislation from getting adopted. He has occasionally miscalculated, such as his alliance with President Bush on the No Child Left Behind Act, but more often he succeeds by moving the ball forward, showing extraordinary legislative skill. He knows when to hold out and when to forge compromises when needed to get things passed.
Other senators -- including Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Barbara Boxer of California, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, and the late Paul Wellstone of Minnesota -- may be equally progressive, but no senator has Kennedy's track record of legislative accomplishments on behalf of those Americans left out of the mainstream.
When someone finally writes an honest history of the Kennedy family, it should be Ted Kennedy who gets the most pages -- not only because he outlived his older brothers, but because he accomplished much more in American politics than either John or Robert."
As far as Ted Kennedy, let's put something into perspective:
http://www.amazon.com/Conspiracy-Plot-Destroy-Kennedys-Stop/dp/080652701...
As a book reviewer put:
"President Kennedy murdered. Ted Kennedy in serious plane crash that killed others an almost killed him. Robert Kennedy murdered. Ted Kennedy's presidential ambitions destroyed when a dead woman is found in his car. President Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy almost destroyed when carefully planned events make it look like they were involved. Coincidence? Uh, no. Kennedy curse? Uh, no. Ruthless CIA who hate the Kennedy's peace-mongering ways? Yeah. Peace doesn't make Brown and Root rich. So the peace loving Kennedy men have been systematically slaughtered. And at least two women have been murdered in attempts to frame them.
This book describes how the CIA has hunted and destroyed the Kennedy men for years, how they took over the US gov't in the bloody 1963 coup and we never got it back.
One of the few books to show patterns and context and draw the obvious logical conclusions.
Oh, and look at the review history of some people who slam this book, and an agenda becomes obvious. This book is highly recommended to anyone who is partial to the truth."
Want some proof? http://www.tomflocco.com/Docs/Jfk/PresJfkBush.gif
Videos are here:
http://www.myspace.com/truth51469
At this point you can rent The Men Who Killed Kennedy and see pictures of the men behind the grassy knoll, pictures of the bullet holes at the Ambassador, showing more shots were fired than could have come from Sirhan Sirhan's gun, and on my page you can see suppressed news reports of reporters pointing out the holes in the official JFK Jr. story. So what are the odds that Teddy was discredited to take him out? At least 50/50. Ya know, kind of like they tried to black mail MLK for his infidelities in order to neutralize him.
Your comment on the accidental death of Ted Kennedy's friend is evil. Soon after Ted Kennedy was elected to the Senate, two of his brothers were assasinated in cold blood. Where is your humanity? The man has spent going on fifty years as a distinguished leader and fighter in the Senate to make your life and mine better. He is to be regarded with dignity and honor.
I stil morn the loss of Paul Wellstone - he was a man of the people.
You echoed many of my own thoughts and feelings--"antsy," yes; I've thought "Manchurian candidate of the corporate puppeteers,"? I'm puzzled by people who say Obama "clearly" is a leader/visionary. What do we REALLY know other than that he has a gift for charismatic speech and looks good?? What has he REALLY said about what he believes about the ISSUES, so he could be held accountable if elected? People are seeing what they want to see, and dang, it's scaring me. Jim Jones inspired people, too. Even George Bush did.
If mother jones goes to the effort to write an article about Obama receiving backup from a Kennedy, makes me realise that the Kennedys still have a word of power in politics.
Are these people peparing for a new assasinated president of USA, or are they getting ready to aprove interracial adoptioin?
As far as Ted Kennedy, let's put something into perspective:
http://www.amazon.com/Conspiracy-Plot-Destroy-Kennedys-Stop/dp/080652701...
As a book reviewer put:
"President Kennedy murdered. Ted Kennedy in serious plane crash that killed others an almost killed him. Robert Kennedy murdered. Ted Kennedy's presidential ambitions destroyed when a dead woman is found in his car. President Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy almost destroyed when carefully planned events make it look like they were involved. Coincidence? Uh, no. Kennedy curse? Uh, no. Ruthless CIA who hate the Kennedy's peace-mongering ways? Yeah. Peace doesn't make Brown and Root rich. So the peace loving Kennedy men have been systematically slaughtered. (including JFK Jr.) And at least two women have been murdered in attempts to frame them.
This book describes how the CIA has hunted and destroyed the Kennedy men for years, how they took over the US gov't in the bloody 1963 coup and we never got it back.
One of the few books to show patterns and context and draw the obvious logical conclusions.
Oh, and look at the review history of some people who slam this book, and an agenda becomes obvious. This book is highly recommended to anyone who is partial to the truth."
Folks. Who is the ONLY Democrat to do anything on a national level in the last 28 years? Bill Clinton! Stick with the winners. What have the Kennedys done? We need somebody that's not going to take Sh*t from the Republicans. Gore and Kerry took the high road and where did it get them?
By branding Obama as his protege, Teddy Kennedy has just RUINED Obama's chances of drawing moderates or independents or Reagan Democrats back to the party.
Like it or not, leftist liberals do not get elected.
CENTRISTS do.
You don't have to like that, but it's a fact.
Teddy Kennedy's endorsement is the kiss of death for Obama out in Peoria.
Given a Kennedy sponsored Obama vs McCain in the general, the moderates, independents, and Reagan Democrats will choose McCain.
And the Democratic Party will have cut off its nose to spite its face.
As usual.
Teddy is not just ethically challenged as we all know, he's just another Kennedy also ran who is a basic wealthy blowhard in a power struggle for his spineless party and cohorts of Kerry and co.
The Medicare RX mess with the DonutHole is one of Teddy's failures. He was snookered by the GOP and never saw the democrat's defeat masterminded by Delay and Hastert who wrung hands until 3AM on house floor where they bought off the weasel democrats who let this lousy
bill emerge as a present to the Insurance industry.
Teddy has grandiose ideas about who he is, and considers himeslf the party Elder in charge of democratic dignity. Teddy & Kerry who would rather cave than endure a principled fight.
Interesting that these two democrats who have lost and are part of the past considcer Bill's behavior just SHOCKING!
Omygod they have no idea as to real politics. Did they think it ok for Obama to rudely bait Hillary, and Michelle trash her? And did they really find it ok to pull an Oprah and laud Reagan as they threw Bill under the bus and put him in the same company as Nixon.
Obama was deplorable, and it is obvious that the Teddy wing wants Obama. Some how they are stupidly convinced that Obama posing as Mr Pure can ride out his ethical lapses in Chicago with Tony Rezko]now in jail], and that anyone mentioning this is unholy.
The Rezko scandals show Obama's appalling lapse of morals and personal greed even huristic enough to take a sweetheart land deal for private property. Yes. And all of this as Rezko was being investigated by feds and Patrick Fitzgerald [yes of Libby trial]. It's all in today's Salon.com and the Chicago Sun Times has this story for two years, as well as the New York Times story about Obama's purchasing stock
in '05. Article in 3/07 titled "In '05 Investing, Obama Took Same Path As Donors".For more info on this go to: www.suntimes.com
and access Obama archives.
Many indies and dems will choose McCain over this peddler of rhetorical feel- good generalities of ethical positions that don't match his resume.
Obama is a fake. His resume in Chicago is not pretty. He sold out his poor constituents in the 3rd ward by accepting patronage from Tony Rezko who is now in jail and trial 2/25/. Rezko was Obama's main patron right into Illinois legislature and 15 years later into major fundraising into the US Senate.
Salon,com has just some of this story today...the rest and it is not expected of Mr Pure is to be seen at Chicago Sun Times stories by Tim Novak and investigative teams.
Can be accessed at: www.suntimes.com go to Obama archives and read about Obama and Tony Rezko's sweetheart real estate deal. Barack's judgement is terrible. He accepted favors from Rezko as he was under federal investigation that enriched Obama of over $300.000.
This is a man who thinks Teddy is ok? Our young know nothing as they don't read and don't want their bubble to burst. Believe me the GOP will be and already is all over it.
Thanks for your great post.
Arthur Schlessinger, Jr's newly published Diaries bear out everything you say.
Distinguished historian, speech writer, and major policy advisor of RFK, he mentions at least three occasions when speaking to Jackie about Hillary and wanting her opinion of Hillary.
Caroline's mother Jackie Kennedy thought Hillary brilliant, interesting,& lots of fun to be with. At another time she tells Schlessinger how impressive Hillary continues to be and how much she admires her and loves
to talk with her.
Wan Caroline with her uptightedness should learn something her mother knew. Caroline should run the Kennedy center, write her family style books, and stop pretending she has any sense about real politics.
And, oh yes, Hillary should become our President.
Obama now belongs to the corrupt and useless Teddy Kennedy power group [grab] in Party.
He will have to pay for this in real time just as he has in the past in Chicago when he kissed butt and took $300,000. in sweetheart real estate scheme from Tony Rezko.
Read all about your hero in Chicago paper, the Sun Times which has been been telling story of his patronage and betrayals of 3rd ward tenants that Obama was elected to uphold.
go to: www.suntimes.com access the Obama archive
Ted Kennedy is a has been who is supporting a man who says he's the future and represents change. Nonsense.
Obama is a vessel for rhetoric that has given rise to celebrity euphoria that I see as dangerous. No one has really challenged his Chicago resume rife with scandal. An O.J. mentality has descended upon us and he is protected by the religiosity of purity that he shills. His own ethical lapses remain unexamined and even MoveOn has gotten on the bandwagon.
Obama will be Teddy/Kerry's poodle for a while until his imperial presidency allows him to forget them.
Hopefully we will not see a Teddy endorsed poseur in the White House.
The sickening power play from worn out ethically challenged Kennedy is more than I can tolerate.
Ted Kennedy was not in an "auto accident". He was drunk. He was with a young aide that he was sleeping with and driving drunk late at nght in his car. He was married at the time. He was so drunk that he drove off a small bridge I know well in Edgartown and it plunged into the water. He ran away and hid and came up with a story after a long next day. He abandoned Mary Jo and she was left for dead without any attempt to help her. He is a coward.
He is a burnt out pol looking for power with Obama as he would like to crown him in defiance of the Clintons, and for power he has never really had on his own.
That Ted Kennedy thinks he's the elite of the "Elders" of the party is absurd. And with loser extrodinaire Kerry they make a fine pair.
Obama if elected will be their poodle until he migrates to the next echelons of power.
The democrats are blowing the best opportunity they've had to put the party back in WHouse.
Obama's Chicago resume is so ethically challenged with slumlord Rezko that the GOP will eat him up.
Teddy always a klutz, has just elected McCain. The only people smart enough and experienced enought to get us out of the huge hole we're in is the Clintons, but americans are so politically childish that they continue
to screw up.
Even if elected Obama will owe his old burnt out buddies.He is an opportunist and phoney and I can see an Imperial Presidency.
The children is screwing up.



