My new favorite quote comes from this inteview with Charles Barkely:
"You have got to look at the bigger picture, because poor people are getting screwed. It would be selfish of me or other rich people to vote Republican to save a little money."
Obama will be on This Week with George Stephanolopolis
Important article for animal advocates from the Humane Society of the US:
Where Do the Veep Candidates Stand on Animals?
"As of today, the contrast could not be more clear: While Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) has been a leader in the Senate to protect marine mammals and exotic wildlife, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) has denied the threats facing polar bears and has led her state's efforts to gun down wolves from airplanes and helicopters.McCain announced this morning that the GOP ticket now includes Gov. Palin, who is a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and, despite her youth and good looks, is a throwback on animal issues. Having her one heartbeat from the presidency should strike fear into any animal advocate in the nation. The Palin Administration has waged an all-out war on Alaska's predators to artificially boost the populations of moose and caribou for trophy hunters, and has tried to pass legislation making it easier for state officials to gun down wolves and bears from the sky."
Please send this artcle to everyone you know who cares about animal advocacy. Thanks!
My enthusiasm for what I hope will be Sen. Obama's impending nomination, has been somewhat dampened by the constant veep speculation in the MSM revolving around who is or isn't owed consideration (i.e.: 'choose an HRC supporter for unity'), and the flawed notion of a so-called 'dream ticket'.
Enough is enough with the HRC unity speculation. If we want to win, neither of those scenarios will come to pass. For example, who can forget Gov. Strickland of Ohio standing behind HRC nodding in agreement while she delivered her now famous (and utterly ridiculous) 'shame on you, Barack Obama'? (Another user posted something similar in the comments recently as well, meaning it is on the minds of other Obama supporters). I think that eliminates them both for many reasons, not the least of which is the possibility of an instant GOP ad right there.
Okay, so putting all that aside and looking at it on paper, here are the only criteria that matter:
1) Reinforce the message: "Change you can believe in"
Candidates who have the potential to reinforce the message:
Claire McCaskill - has been Obama's most effective surrogate with MSM, always on message, rising democrat, having a woman on the ticket would enhance change message
Kathleen Sebelius - up and coming female Governor, rising political star, delivered response to state of the union, having a woman on the ticket would enhance change message
John Edwards - youthful, populist message, healthcare cred, poverty platform enhances Obama's bottom up approach
Jim Webb - up and coming Senator, switched from Republican so embodies the Obama change message, fighter in senate, strong on veterans issues, national security cred, Appalachia cred
Bill Richardson - would be the first Hispanic American to be on a major party ticket for the highest office so reinforces change message, popular figure, strong on economy, endorsed Obama at a politically risky time, showing courage, could change coalition with potential for add'l support from some Hispanic voters
Janet Napolitano - up and coming popular female Governor, having a woman on the ticket would enhance change message, unfortunately from same state as McCain
Tim Kaine - Popular Governor of Virginia, an early Obama supporter. His enthusiasm and energy would be a good match.
Chuck Hagel - Adding a Republican would underscore the unity theme, and would certainly represent change.
2) Complement or lend additional credentials to more than one critical policy area: foreign policy, economy, etc.
Bill Richardson: economy, experience, foreign policy
Jim Webb: foreign policy, Iraq
John Edwards: poverty platform, healthcare
3) Deliver a key state (bonus: turn a formerly red state blue)
Virginia - Jim Webb
Missouri - Claire McCaskill
Kansas - Kathleen Sebelius
Colorado
New Mexico - Bill Richardson
North Carolina - John Edwards (maybe better chance this time w/Barack's primary success there as well?)
Nebraska - Chuck Hagel (may not be a crucial swing state, but is there a potential impact on other nearby swing states?)
Summary: who meets all three criteria?
Bill Richardson
Jim Webb
John Edwards
Viola! Instant Veep Shortlist! :)
Politico reports that Sen. Obama will be giving his speech on Tuesday night in Iowa!
Link
It is brilliant for him to give his speech in the place that kicked off this nomination contest and gave him a critical win that laid the groundwork for rest of the campaign. Who can forget the electric excitement and hope the night he won Iowa?
Despite Saying they Were "Sponsoring and Harboring Terrorists"
I don't think petitions are always effective, but Color of change has a petition with an excellently worded letter; here is an excerpt:
"It has come to my attention that elected officials and party leaders are actually considering using their status as "superdelegates" to hand the nomination to Hillary Clinton against the will of voters, an action that would disenfranchise millions. Following this course would be a shocking attack on voting rights and democracy. It would also give your seal of approval to an "electability" strategy executed by stoking race-based fear and division among voters. We expect that from the Republicans; we fight them on it every year. But now the leadership of the Democratic Party is poised to cosign this strategy of division and disenfranchisement."
Link to the petition:
http://www.colorofchange.org/dems/?id=1947-544651
Link to the article on Huffpo about the potential impact:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/02/black-issues-group-price_n_99759.html
Great article in the Washington Post about Sen. Obama's campaign management:
Obama at the Helm
Excellent article by former DNC Chair Paul Kirk on what the superdels need to do:
Former DNC chair Paul Kirk wrote an open letter in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette giving his advice to his fellow superdelegates. He urges them to do four things (all of which would benefit Obama, potentially, more than Clinton): 1): "Speak out now!": "No, I'm not suggesting we urge one candidate to step aside before the primaries run their course. But I am suggesting we urge both campaigns to cease the intra-party slurs. The problem is not the length of the calendar; it's the negative tone of the dialogue that will hurt our chances in the fall. Our candidate will be a weaker nominee in November if the bitterness continues. None of us should look back from November and ask: "Why didn't I speak out in April?" If your voice is to be heard at any time in this process, now is the time. Let's urge both campaigns to cease the slash-and-burn tactics and get back to the kitchen-table issues that worry America's families."
2) Resolve Florida and Michigan now! "In sports as in life, if you don't play by the rules you must pay a price. The same should be true of politics. One "price" being considered for Florida and Michigan, both having ignored party rules on the timing of their primaries, is to nevertheless count their votes at what could be a determinative moment late in the calendar. But every candidate knew that neither state held a valid election, so no candidate should be able to claim an advantage from it. ... The fairest solution is to divide their delegations equally between the two candidates. The campaigns can work with the state parties to assure appropriate demographic representation.
3) Stay focused. It's about the delegates! "Questions are floating as to the real measure of "winning" in the run to the nomination. Number of states? Big states? Popular vote? Electoral College? Helloooo? ...We have rules. Everyone understood them at the outset. This is not a national primary; it is not a red-vs.-blue, caucus-vs.-primary or big state-vs.-small state competition. It's a state-by-state contest (some primary, some caucus, some big, some small) by which delegates are selected in proportional representation to the popular vote in each state."
4) Close ranks before the Democratic Convention!
ABC News elaborates on HRC's attempt yesterday to falsely assert that she was against the war before Sen. Obama:
Good Dkos diary putting in perspective any HRC campaign spin of the Michigan and Fla primaries.
The Delayed Outrage for Florida and Michigan
I know this is Dick Morris, but, he has captured a sentiment that really rings true to me and it is very validating to see this written about. From the moment this campaign began, Sen. Obama has treated voters with respect and seems to understand that he had to earn our votes, while HRC has behaved with a sense of entitlement and has condescended to us as voters, assuming that we lacked the intelligence to see through her campaign tactics.
Hillary's Biggest Mistake
"We saw through her claims of experience and followed her twists and turns on Iraq. We realized that she was being propped up by lobbyists and special interests as a phony brand of change. And when we saw the real kind of change offered by Obama, we backed his candidacy."
A Clinton supporter states his case in the Boston Globe for rallying around Sen. Obama as the Democratic nominee:
Obama keeps cash lead
Barack Obama gets former Rep. Lee Hamilton's endorsement
Bill Richardson wrote a great response to James Carville's recent comments in the Washington Post:
"Loyalty to My Country"
E-mail a thank you note to Gov. Richardson! Link
Here's mine:
Dear Gov. Richardson:I am writing to express my sincere thanks to you for endorsing Sen. Obama yesterday. I cannot tell you how much your enthusiastic support meant to me and others. I have never been politically active before, but found myself volunteering for Sen. Obama's campaign both in New Hampshire and in my home state of Connecticut. I, like so many others, have been inspired by him, his message of hope and unity, and his historic candidacy. With so much negativity in the press lately I was beginning to fear that the powers that be might actually overturn the will of the people and nominate another candidate. Your endorsement truly matters to so many of us and really lifted the campaign up at a time when it was needed, so that those of us who have invested so much time, energy and emotion and who are hopeful for change can continue to believe that the Democratic party will not let us down. Thank you so much!Sincerely,BarbaraP.S. - I have never been to New Mexico but have always wanted to go. Your courage in endorsing Sen. Obama at such a pivotal time so impressed me that I am adding New Mexico to my shortlist for our family's next vacation destination. It will be an honor to spend my tourism dollars in your great state!
Eugene Robinson on Sen. Obama's Tuesday speech:
"But I believe he might have pulled off something that seemed almost impossible: He not only ventured into the minefield of race and made it back alive, but he also marked a path for the rest of us to follow."
