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The Idaho Statesman endorses Obama
October 19, 2008
Over the ensuing months, the Illinois Democrat has shown American voters something more subtle, but something more important. He has demonstrated the superior intellect and the calm command our nation needs now.
The Statesman editorial board endorses Obama in the 2008 presidential election.
This is not an obvious choice for a newspaper in a historically Republican state. Nor was it a unanimous choice. But we have to think about what's best for our nation, which is facing challenging and confusing times that call for even-tempered, clear-minded leadership. When the partisanship of this election finally subsidies, Obama is the man who can reach reasoned conclusions, reach across the political divides, and reach out to the common American.
In this partisan race, Obama has understandably - and, in many instances, rightly - laid much blame with the outgoing Bush administration. The economic collapse, Obama is fond of saying, renders "the final verdict" on eight years of failed policies. The costly war in Iraq, which Obama opposed from the beginning, now makes it more complicated for America to defend its interests in Iran and Afghanistan.
Obama's campaign has exploited hindsight to full advantage. Yet he has also emerged as the candidate who will move the country ahead.
Obama better understands the real economic fears gripping the middle class - and his tax and health care policies reflect that.
Obama better understands the kind of regulatory reform required to prevent a repeat of the financial market meltdown.
Obama is better equipped to build a diversified, versatile energy infrastructure, arriving at a strategy something more nuanced than a "drill, baby, drill" mantra.
Obama is better prepared to restore America's allies abroad, building the coalitions required in a turbulent world.
Obama has advanced an ambitious domestic agenda - and probably an unaffordable one. In fairness, neither he nor Republican nominee John McCain has been forthright about the tradeoffs required in the face of massive debt and deficit. We believe Obama can and will respond to fiscal reality, and apply reason and sound governing principles to the process of making tradeoffs.
After eight largely unproductive years, when a White House seemed unable to accomplish much with either a Republican- or a Democrat-controlled Congress, we believe either Obama or McCain will have a chance to get more done.
Campaigns may drag on too long for many of us, but the odyssey tests decision-making and temperament. Here, we believe Obama has passed.
When picking a running mate, Obama made a solid choice, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware. Biden gives an Obama administration a seasoned hand on foreign policy and a 36-year Capitol Hill veteran. For all the seductive campaign rhetoric about the value of an "outsider," the reality is that Obama is helped by having a running mate who can deliver results.
McCain countered with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who energized the GOP's conservative base and wowed many Americans with her speech at the Republican convention. Since then, though, the Sandpoint native and University of Idaho graduate has not convincingly shown she is ready for the White House.
McCain made a splashy but impulsive pick designed to court voters. Obama made a smart pick designed to build an effective governing team.
Obama and Biden have largely stayed on topic and unflappable, in the face of last-minute campaigning that has turned ugly. At their worst, Republicans have resorted to fear-mongering. In what, by comparison, pass for measured moments, McCain and Palin simply insinuate that the Democratic ticket is out of touch and elitist.
It's not only a bogus claim - given Obama's and Biden's backgrounds - but it's a silly form of reverse snobbery. Our nation has to stop equating intellect with elitism and viewing intelligence with scorn and skepticism. Considering the problems at hand, there is no better time than now to change our thinking.
McCain certainly furnishes a strong resume, and he certainly has a longer record than Obama, elected to the Senate in 2004. In theory, McCain's experience should translate into the serious, studied leadership the presidency demands.
In this campaign, however, it has not.
We applaud McCain's courage and service to our country. We do not dismiss the Arizona senator's 26-year tenure in Congress.
But we cannot dismiss what we have seen and heard during the long job interview that is a presidential campaign. Obama has earned our trust and our support.
http://www.idahostatesman.com/opinion/v-print/story/542582.html
It occurred to me today that I am seeing a leadership pattern in politics '08.
A long time ago, I heard a voice calling for the end of the war in Iraq with a time table for withdrawal. Later I heard the call for meetings between the leaders of the various “Axis of Evil”countries. Afghanistan's conditions were pointed out, along with the need to make some movement to correct the problems concerning Pakistan. I heard a desire to improve our standing in the eyes of the world. Many discussions arose concerning the government's treatment of our military both at war and at home. For our military, reasonable life insurance, better hospital conditions, readily available medical treatment, a “GI Bill” with increased benefits were some of the items addressed.
Many Republicans including their presidential candidate disagreed with all these situations. They ridiculed, distorted and denied that these were needs our nation should address, but the pressure continued. (It is all on You Tube) Slowly we have seen changes in these areas and improvements with “Time Horizons” for leaving Iraq, meetings held between various hostile tribes and nations, more contact with our allies, the US has moved toward the hills and caves that harbor evasive enemies while acknowledging Afghanistan's needs, and recently the passage of the new “GI Bill”.
I heard a strong patriotic leader advocating these changes and leading our nation to address these conditions. This leader has persevered through smear campaigns and name calling attacks, while displaying a temperament for leadership. Our nation continues to “Follow the Leader”.
This leader is Barack Obama.
By STEVE QUINN and CALVIN WOODWARD | Associated Press Writer
JUNEAU - In two short years, Sarah Palin moved from small-town mayor with a taste for mooseburgers to the governor's office and now — making history — to John McCain's side as the first female running mate on a Republican presidential ticket.
She has more experience catching fish as a former commercial fisherwoman than dealing with foreign policy or national affairs.
Talk about a rocketing ascent.
In turning to her, McCain picked an independent figure in his own mold, one who has taken on Alaska's powerful oil industry and, at age 44, is three years younger than Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama and a generation younger than McCain, 71.
Palin's selection was a jaw-dropper, as McCain passed over many other better known prospects, some of whom had been the subject of intense speculation for weeks or months. She was on the radar but as a distinct long shot.
She brings a strong anti-abortion stance to the ticket and opposes gay marriage — constitutionally banned in Alaska before her time — but exercised a veto that essentially granted benefits to gay state employees and their partners.
Palin lives in Wasilla, a town of 6,500 about 30 miles north of Anchorage, with her husband, Todd, a blue-collar North Slope oil worker who competes in the Iron Dog, a 1,900-mile snowmobile race. He is part Yup'ik Eskimo.
Typically seen walking the Capitol halls in black or red power suits while reading text messages on Blackberry screens in each hand, Palin made a recent appearance in fashion magazine Vogue.
"At first they had me in a bunch of furs," she said of the photo shoot. "Yeah, I have furs on my wall, but I don't wear furs. I had to show them my bunny boots and my North Face clothing."
Palin's clean-hands reputation has come into question with an investigation recently launched by a legislative panel into whether she dismissed Alaska's public safety commissioner because he would not fire her former brother-in-law as a state trooper. Trooper Mike Wooten went through a messy divorce from Palin's sister.
The governor denied orchestrating the dozens of telephone calls made by her husband and members of her administration to Wooten's bosses. She says she welcomes the investigation: "Hold me accountable."
Palin, who led the Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter at her high school, could help McCain's standing with social conservatives who have been skeptical of him.
"It's an absolutely brilliant choice," said Mathew Staver, dean of Liberty University School of Law and founder of the legal group Liberty Counsel, who has sought to coalesce evangelicals around McCain. "This will absolutely energize McCain's campaign and energize conservatives."
Palin is "a woman of faith who has a strong position on life, a consistent opinion on judges," Staver said. "She's the complete package."
But Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York said McCain was taking a "roll of the dice" and declared that Palin's "lack of experience makes the thought of her assuming the presidency troubling."
Four months into her most recent pregnancy, Palin learned that the child would have Down syndrome, and she said she never had any doubts about whether she would have the baby.
"We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential," Palin told AP earlier this year in describing what she and her husband had confronted.
Alaska's first female governor arrived at the Capitol in 2006 on an ethics reform platform after defeating two former governors in the primary and general elections.
In the primary, Palin defeated incumbent Gov. Frank Murkowski, who also had 22 years of experience in the U.S. Senate.
Her task didn't seem any easier in the general election, but she handily beat Tony Knowles, a popular Democrat who had served two earlier terms as governor.
During her first year in office, Palin moved away from the powerful old guard of the state Republican Party and has refused to kowtow to the powerful oil industry, instead presiding over a tax increase on oil company profits that now has the state's treasury swelling.
Palin also asked Alaska's congressional delegation to be more selective in seeking earmarks after what came to be known as the "Bridge to Nowhere" turned into a national embarrassment and a symbol of piggish pork-barrel spending — thanks to McCain's relentless criticism of the now-abandoned project.
Before becoming governor, her political experience consisted of terms as Wasilla's mayor and councilwoman and a stint as head of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.
"Sarah Palin for her entire political career has been underestimated," said Paulette Simpson of the Alaska Federation of Republican Women. "She's tough, she's tenacious. I believe that she does have what it takes to get out there. Again, her ability to connect with voters and make a case is very, very, very strong."
Palin's confrontations with the state GOP began when Murkowski named her chairwoman of the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission. There, Palin exposed current Alaska Republican Party Chairman Randy Ruedrich, who was also on the commission, for ethical violations.
In 2005, Palin co-filed an ethics complaint against Murkowski's longtime aide and then attorney general, Gregg Renkes, for having a financial interest in a company that stood to gain from an international trade deal he was helping craft.
The Palins have five children: Track, 19; Bristol 17; Willow 14; Piper, 7, and Trig, who was born in April.
Track enlisted in the Army in 2007 on the sixth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, and has been assigned to Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks.
Palin was born Feb. 11, 1964, in Idaho, but her parents moved to Alaska shortly after her birth to teach. She received a bachelor of science degree in communications-journalism from the University of Idaho in 1987.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/obama.asp
YES WE CAN !!
Great Article:
Why McCain would be a Mediocre President
By Rex Nutting, MarketWatch Last update: 3:53 p.m. EDT Aug. 7, 2008
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/why-mccain-would-mediocre-president/story.aspx?guid={4914192B-12AF-4623-AB18-5EFE91204B04}&dist=hplatest
"The bottom line
http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/markets/marketfeatures/10432435.html?cm_ven=YAHOO&cm_cat=FREE&cm_ite=NA
Good Background on the stock market and the election.
John McCain is a "D" student and can't use the internet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srbX26vp57c&eurl=http://www.webtvhub.com/john-mccain-was-a-d-student-video-admits-he-graduated-894th-of-899/
John McCain's You Tube Nightmare
" He never would have been treated as a president-in-waiting by heads of state or network talking heads if all he offered were charisma, slick rhetoric and stunning visuals. What drew them instead was the raw power Mr. Obama has amassed: the power to start shaping events and the power to move markets, including TV ratings. (Even “Access Hollywood” mustered a 20 percent audience jump by hosting the Obama family.) Power begets more power, absolutely."
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/opinion/27rich.html?hp
"THE best thing to happen to John McCain was for the three network anchors to leave him in the dust this week while they chase Barack Obama on his global Lollapalooza tour. Were voters forced to actually focus on Mr. McCain’s response to our spiraling economic crisis at home, the prospect of his ascension to the Oval Office could set off a panic that would make the IndyMac Bank bust in Pasadena look as merry as the Rose Bowl."
Resignations Continue for McSame Campaign1. Phil Gramm McCain Co-Char, resigns after whiners comment Jul 18, 2008 (Wrote McCain’s present Economic Policy)2. Tom Loeffler, McCain Co-Char, resigns over lobbying entanglements May 19, 20083. Doug Goodyear resigned because of junta ties May 20084. Doug Davenport, lobbied Myanmar's military junta resigned May 20085. Eric Burgeson Lobbied energy companies resigned May 20086. Craig Shirley involved in a 527 group resigned May 2008So who is left in McCain’s Campaign?Rick Davis, whose past clients have included a Russian industrialist. The campaign says that Davis had not taken any money from his lobbying firm since 2006 and works on an unpaid basis for the campaign. ??Charles R. Black, Jr. commented that another terrorist attack inside the U.S. would "be a big advantage" to McCain in the November presidential election. Black's history shows he was a high profile Washington lobbyist with domestic and foreign clients. He works on an unpaid basis according to the campaign information.I read somewhere that McCain added several "Bush" campaign people but I'm not sure whom they are. I imagine Rove is slithering around somewhere in the background without declaring his input and assistance. Just listen to the words the campaign says and you'll recognize Rove and his tactics in the shadows. (Your not paranoid if they are really out to get you!)Is there anyone else left in leadership roles in the McCain Campaign? Who are they? Where do they come from? What did they do previous to the campaign? This is all so interesting.....
UPDATE: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/us/politics/08mccain.html
Mr. McCain is uncomfortable firing people or banishing them entirely. His orbit remains filled with people who have been demoted without being told they are being demoted, like Mr. Davis, who continues to hold the title of campaign manager even as Mr. Schmidt manages the campaign. Yet, Mr. McCain inspires uncommon loyalty in those who serve with him — hence the willingness of Mr. Murphy to consider coming back into the McCain campaign, despite his own rather brutal history of enmity with Mr. Davis.
Here is a guide to the forces and personalities to watch through the campaign and, presumably, into a McCain White House:
STEVE SCHMIDT A veteran of President Bush’s re-election campaign in 2004 who had been traveling around the country with Mr. McCain, Mr. Schmidt was sent back to headquarters and put in charge of, well, just about everything that matters. Mr. McCain characterized this as no big deal; others in his campaign said it was indeed a major shift as Mr. Schmidt in effect dislodged Mr. Davis.
Mr. Schmidt is working without compensation from the campaign, a way of signaling to people that he is prepared to return to his family in California should this latest shake-up not work. His ties with Mr. McCain are not as deep as those who worked in Mr. McCain’s first presidential campaign, and who are suspicious that Mr. Schmidt is something of a proxy for Mr. Rove.
MIKE MURPHY He has been in Mr. McCain’s orbit since he ran for president in 2000; it seems safe to say that few people understand Mr. McCain as well as Mr. Murphy does. He has on several occasions offered Mr. McCain blunt advice about how to fix his campaign. Mr. McCain has told two friends in recent weeks that that he would like Mr. Murphy as his senior strategist, and before the most recent shake-up that put Mr. Schmidt in charge, Mr. Murphy told at least one associate that he was interested in coming back.
It is not clear how Mr. Schmidt, among others, would react to that. Mr. Murphy and Mr. Schmidt had their differences when they worked together for the re-election of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger of California, though by all accounts, those are mild compared with Mr. Murphy’s differences with other people in the various factions at Mr. McCain’s headquarters.
Mr. Schmidt did not return an e-mail message seeking comment. Mr. Murphy, while declining to comment about the possibility of his joining the McCain campaign, said that he admired Mr. Schmidt and that there were no differences between them.
“Steve Schmidt has been a friend of mine since I originally helped recruit him into the Arnold world back in 2005,” Mr. Murphy said. “Steve and I are friends, and we get along fine.”
One other potential hindrance to Mr. Murphy coming in: He is a founder of DC Navigators, a lobbying firm whose clients include insurance firms and the Indian Gaming Association, to name a few. Mr. McCain said he did not want any working lobbyists in his campaign. Mr. Murphy said his role at the firm was not as a lobbyist. “I’ve never been registered in my life,” he said. “I told my partners months ago that if I did McCain, I’d leave the firm.”
RICK DAVIS Mr. Davis is nothing if not a survivor. He managed to emerge from the staff wars of the McCain campaign last year as the manager — escaping blame as the campaign collapsed under the weight of its debt and was forced to lay off most of his staff. Mr. Davis without question deserves some credit for helping to steer Mr. McCain from the brink of withdrawal to securing the Republican nomination. Yet his management (and survival) skills do not necessarily translate into what it takes to run against a candidate like Senator Barack Obama; Mr. Davis came under fire as Mr. McCain’s campaign became characterized by missteps and squandered opportunities. He lost power after Mr. Schmidt went to Mr. McCain and warned him that he needed to make changes in his operation, or accept the fact that he is going to lose.
KARL ROVE You thought we were going to write a story about the internal dynamics of a Republican presidential campaign without mentioning Mr. Rove? The chief strategist for Mr. Bush in 2000 and 2004, Mr. Rove is not directly involved in the McCain campaign, but his presence there can be seen in the number of his protégés who now hold central roles there. Mr. Schmidt tops that list; coming in a very close second is Nicolle Wallace, who was communications director for Mr. Bush in 2004 and in the White House.
All of this intrigue breeds discouragement among even those former McCain associates who do not dispute the notion that voters now might be getting an early glimpse of the messy, unstructured way in which a McCain White House might be managed. They are hard-pressed to explain why Mr. McCain tolerates this — or encourages this — or why he has trouble cutting ties with people who have not served him well over the years.
“I can’t answer the why,” said John Weaver, who was one of Mr. McCain’s closest advisers before being forced out in a shake-up last year. “It is just that way and for his own sake, he needs to finally, firmly decide where he wants to take this campaign.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNyNv_UfFUo
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/416143.html
The face of the Idaho Democratic Party became younger and more colorful this weekend, as Barack Obama supporters dominated the choice of delegates to the national convention.
Party Chairman Keith Roark's voice broke with emotion Saturday as he spoke to a diverse group of more than 300 delegates at the DoubleTree Hotel Riverside in Garden City. "I wish each one of you could come up and share what I'm looking at from here. These are the people that are going to restore the Democratic Party to its former glory."
The 23-member delegation includes five African-Americans, three Native Americans, a Hispanic, an Asian, a gay man and a lesbian woman - all categories in party affirmative-action goals. Hispanics are Idaho's largest minority group, with 9.8 percent of the population; Native Americans represent 1.4 percent, Asians 1.2 percent and African-Americans 0.8 percent.
Former Democratic National Committee member John Greenfield lost his chance to be a national delegate because a coin toss determined the slot he had campaigned for must go to a woman. Party rules require an equal split between genders.
But Greenfield, a 64-year-old Boise lawyer, said it's time for older, white men to defer power. "It's the healthiest thing that ever happened to this party."
Eight of the delegates are under 35, exceeding the party goal of six in that category. A new group, Idaho Young Democrats, had about 50 of the 332 delegates at the convention.
Among them was Steven Mercado of Twin Falls, elected as a national delegate. Mercado is of mixed race and stood to read his speech from his Apple laptop. "I've been hoping for unity and healing in this country for years, and we finally got it," Mercado said.
Obama will send 19 delegates to the Denver convention: Mercado; Mayor Dave Bieter, Gail Bray, Grant Burgoyne, Kassie Cerami, Rep. Nicole LeFavour, Frances Jones, ReBecca Suits and T. J. Thomson, all of Boise; Estella Zamora of Caldwell; party Chairman Roark of Hailey; James Fletcher and Matt Kopydowski of Pocatello; Debu Majundar of Idaho Falls; Maj StormoGipson of Coeur d'Alene; Jeanne Buell of St. Maries; Richard Hill of Moscow; Paulette Jordan of Plummer; and Albert Wilkerson of Athol.
Three Hillary Clinton delegates were elected: Megan Nagel of Nampa, Ryan Robinson of Coeur d'Alene and Jeanette Wolfley of Pocatello. Former Congressman Richard Stallings of Pocatello was elected as an unpledged delegate.
Salon.com Relax Liberals..you've Won...
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/06/10/liberals/index.html?source=rss&aim=/opinion/feature
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6VfZ4h0uZ4
