Yes; The Hillary wars are over (and I certainly don't want to fight them anymore)! She should be repsected, for what's she's accomplished. But the speculation in the media, and by so many Hillary supporters, continues to push the meme (while many of us in net-roots continue to pull our hair out) that HRC would make Obama's best Vice President. I think it's over.

Well,even the informed citizens of the State of NY (which I am one), in the latest Rasmussen Poll says no to this!

Nearly one out of four voters (23%) in New York would like to see Hillary Clinton go away, and a plurality of unaffiliated voters would prefer she stay in the Senate than serve as Barack Obama's running mate.The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey in the Empire State found that 29% of all New Yorker voters think Clinton should become Barack Obama's running mate while 37% think she should remain a senator.

Half of New York Republicans (50%) would like to see the former Presidential hopeful go away. Among New York Democrats, 42% would like to see Clinton as Obama’s running mate and 42% think she should stay in Senate. A plurality of unaffiliated voters want the former First Lady to remain a senator.

Andrew Sullivan, the blogger over at The Atlantic Magazine, wrote a great synopsis of What he feels Obama has been doing the past week, that has so many "net-rooters" up in arms (go to body).

I posted a diary on Obama's response yesterday in Ohio, initially with out video. My comments (amongst others)at the time were:

We all know what Clark said was true. Many of us don't even know, Clark himself has earned over 30 medals, and was shot multiple times, saving members of his troupe (before he became a big time General Obviously). We also know John McCain is a bumbling, drinking, trolling, incompetent child of Military priviledge. And; Yes! The right guy said it, in General Clark! But Obama's trying to win an election, and Clark's message, though true was possibly ill-timed. That's all.".

http://www.dailykos.com/...

My post was followed up by Bob Sakamento's diary, "Obama to Gen. Clark: I got your back!"  (with video), that garnered over 700 responses yesterday. http://www.dailykos.com/...

Barack Obama, answering a question regarding the Wesley Clark "brouhaha"in Zanesville Ohio, (at approximately 1:45pm today) from a female questioner responded:

"there's been a lot of talk about this in the media". "But I was not referring to General Clark Yesterday. You can ask anyone in my staff, those remarks were written 2mos ago".

So there it its. Senator Obama was not addressing General Clark yesterday, and his comments were written in his speech, two months ago (and his staff can prove it, he says). Obama also responded to FISA:

Obama said

"FISA, wasn't a shift in position, but the best compromise, that was available at the moment".

. Mmmh. I know that will get some raised eyebrows here.

Obama also promised to maintain Bush's Faith Based Programs, but stated "programs, would not be doled out based on faith". Obama added, he would form some type of Faith Based Executive position, that answers directly to him.

I saw this on CNN.com Live. I provided the video clip below(when it was available) several hours later.

Let's turn it back on them!

Over the course of the past six months. we've all heard multiple discourse, accustions, memes, threats and doomsday predictions by the GOP.

Many of them we know know are far fetched, media/Republican driven wet dreams, that we all get tired of hearing.

Here are some responses (that' I've routinely stated to colleauges)I was thinking that Obama, Democrats, surrogates and all of us could say in response. Many of you, I'm sure may of thought/stated these retorts yourself, and feel free to suggest your own (there are too many to write/think of here).

A Simple return of fire, common sense and obliteration, of many Republican talking points, would do us good.

Not sure if this has been posted yet (I sure looked).

But the Uk's telegraph, Time's The Page and MSNBC, has reported that Barack Obama will travel (sometime in mid-july) to Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Jordan, France, Germany and England.

What a trip!

It looks like Obama has decided to brush up on his "International/Foreign Policy bonafides".

His extensive foreign trip – unusual at the height of a presidential campaign – is designed to burnish his comparatively thin foreign policy credentials.

Good for him.

Here's the Uk Telegraph articles, link.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/...

Wow!

Not sure if this was posted already (and I apologize if it was), but this can't be repeated enough.

In a interview with the Las Vegas Sun, McCain, in responding to a question on why he didn't pick Nevada Governor Jim Gibbons to be his state chair joked:

I didn’t mean to snub him,. I've known the lieutenant governor for 15 years and we've been good friends....I didn't intend to snub him. There are other states where the governor is not the chairman.

(Maybe it's the governor's approval rating and you are running from him like you are from the president?)

(Chuckling) And I stopped beating my wife just a couple of weeks ago....

.

Yes! He went there (again).

Here's the link to the Las Vegas paper:

http://lasvegassun.com/...

I'm not sure if this was posted yet.

Ok. It was. So I'll post my reflections on Obama, democrats, supporters, and apparent net-roots contreversy below, in the body.

But Wow! Barack Obama is leading John McCain (again) in 4 new polls by Quinnipiac/WSJ in:

   * Colorado: Obama 49, McCain 44
   * Wisconsin: Obama 52, McCain 39
   * Michigan: Obama 48, McCain 42
   * Minnesota: Obama 54, McCain 37

With the Republican machine, already trying to spin the latest Newsweek, and Bloomberg polls (where Obama is up 12 and 15pts),what are they going to say now.

You can find the 4 polls here on Quinnipiac's website:

http://www.quinnipiac.edu/...

And the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/...

After begging, seeking attention, and twisting in the wind. John McCain finally gets an agreement from Barack Obama, regarding his idea of 10 town halls.

Obama has agreed to 2 townhall meetings, according to MSNBC.

Unfortunately, No time or date, has been announced yet.

I repeat. No Agreements, or particulars are set yet!

Could this be MSNBC jumping the gun again? We've already seen a lot of crazy estrapulations and talking points from their latest poll already (the infamous & dubious, White Suburban Moms)?

This was after McCain rejected a proposal from Obama for 4 debates and one joint townhall earlier today.

I guess there's something called equal time.

We know John McCain doesn't like to give speeches, because he's horrible with the teleprompter.

But how can he not, when Obama keeps putting the pressure on McCain with his own scintillating criticism's/speeches of the presmuptive Republican nominee.

You can't give a town hall to a small business group, which he's speaking today. You gotta give a speech. Way to put the pressure on him Senator Obama.

McCain started off his speech around 9:45, with that caustic, hilting laugh (as if he was in a town hall,and not a speech, smoozing with the locals off camera), to the point, where he interrupted his self several times (after being interrupted by hecklers at the start).

Hillary Clinton is strongly disliked by Independents and Republicans as VP in a new poll.

One of the most discussed subjects, the past few weeks has been "will Hillary be good for Obama as Vice President"?

Because of Clinton's strong performance in Appalachia, many pushing for Clinton have forgotten, her extremely high negatives with Independents and Republican's. That's exactly what the Associated Press and Yahoo found in their lastest poll (amongst others) below:

The intense dislike for Clinton suggests that besides support from women and others she could bring to the ticket, she might make it harder for Obama to win over some independents, a pivotal swing group in the November election against Republican John McCain. It also means she might push some Republicans and conservatives to vote against the Democrats — or donate money to the GOP — who might otherwise lack motivation to do so because of tepid feelings toward McCain.

Here's the poll via Real Clear Politics: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/...

While everyone is immersed in the "will she, won't she" Clinton saga/drama today. We also can't forget (I know, how could we) that Obama is involved in a general election campaign with the "Grande Ol Party".

Now the McCain of 2008, may not be the greatest candidate the republicans have sent to us recently. But he's still a republican with the requisite GOP dirty trick bag & operatives to pull from.

Talking points memo's, diarist KB, comments were recently published by writer David Kurtz, speculating on what the GOP could do, to level the playing field against Obama's huge crowd/oratory advantage.

Kurtz seriously thinks the diarist is on to something (but didn't state why), that the GOP may be up to.

If any of this could be true, now we know why John McCain wants to have 10 un-moderated "Lincoln Douglas" type debates so bad.

Is this a set up by McCain, to embarrass Obama all along.

Mmmmh?

Wow!

Barack Obama has talked at length earlier in the primary season,regarding his ability to attract evangelicals from republican voters, despite the fact that every interviewer probably looked at him with jaundice eye, quietly asking themselves, "C'mon now Barack. Don't you have enough of the young, blacks, independents, disgruntled republicans and liberal vote"? "Do you really want to go after white, republican evangelicals"? Whoaaa!

But there's a big time evangelical who thinks Obama has an opportunity.  Here's the Huffington Post:

"In a new interview with Dan Gilgoff for BeliefNet's God-o-Meter, Mark DeMoss explains the lack of religious enthusiasm for McCain and predicts a potential major shift to Obama."

What did he just say?  Obama can get evangelicals on his side? What's he smoking?

Who is this guy?

Huffpo continues

"With clients like Focus on the Family, Franklin Graham, and Campus Crusade for Christ, Mark DeMoss may be the most prominent public relations executive in the evangelical world. A former chief of staff to Jerry Falwell, DeMoss became then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney's chief liaison to evangelical leaders."

I think Virginia Democratic Senatorial candidate (and former Governor) Mark Warner, will be Barack Obama's Vice President.

Now, the state of Virginia will be hotly discussed as a "battle ground" this election season. The state hasn't voted Democrat since 1964, but they're are many democrats (including in Obama's camp)that feel the historically red states 13 electoral votes, can go blue in November.

The state is also currently blessed with 3 excellent, and much discussed Vice Presidential candidates for Obama. The state boast, early Obama supporter, and National co-chair, Governor Tim Kaine, 1st term Senator Jim Webb, and maybe the most popular politician in Virginia, former Governor (and current Senatorial candidate), Mark Warner. Those are three difficult picks from one state alone. I love them all!

Congratulations to Barack Obama on winning the Democratic nomination last night. I also would like to congratulate Sen. Hillary Clinton for a hard fought campaign as well.

But something happened yesterday. From early morning, it was quite clear that Senator Hillary Clinton, wanted to spoil Obama's party, by floating the idea (through her NY delegation surrogates) that she wanted to be Vice President. "How insulting", many pundits, and Obamamanics felt it was for Clinton to "do this" on "Obama's day".

You know it's a true "alternate universe" when President Bush compliments Obama on his nomination, before Senator Clinton does.

But the serious discussion of the punditry, as Chris Matthews said

"what is Hillary going to do with her army of 18million people. Is she going to turn them over to Barack or is she going to hold on to them"

I don't think Hillary has an "army" to give, hold back or strong arm the VP slot from Obama. It's all bunk! I will explain below

What is wrong with the media?

Granny doc wrote a excellent diary, discussing the call for Obama to show "grace and dignity", in light of his imminent nomination (despite the fact as she argues, "all Obama has ever done is show grace and dignity". How dare them!).

Now the AP reports, that Clinton will concede tonight. But there's a twist. To seemingly spite the media (and Obama) the Clinton's put out a statement, stating "she won't concede tonight". Now I truly believe the Clinton's had all intentions of conceding tonight (and they may still do), but once it was reported they would (probably from some loose inside source). They wanted go out their way to spite the media and Obama.

Chuck Todd said: "They want to go out on their own terms. They don't want to feel forced out"

While discussing this on the air, host Tamryn Hall asked Chuck Todd (fresh off of her antagonistic interview with Harold Ickes),

"is it fair to the Obama people, especially when race, was such a hot topic, that when Obama finally gets the nomination, he has to share with Hillary"?

This weekend in Washington, DC, under a carnival of spectators, reporters, protestors, cable newsmen & assorted anti-Obama/Clinton supporting weirdo's and dead-enders. The 30 member Democratic rules & by laws committee, laid down the gauntlet, and finally rectified the Florida/Mich conundrum (we hope).

During the RBC meeting, we wittnessed several interesting moments and fireworks (Robert Wexler & Donna Brazille's WWF-type smack-downs, for instance. Wexler,who when challenged, pawned Clinton operative, Harold Ickes head on a platter, and Brazille, the CNN analyst, who  seemingly channeled her Inner Mama, when provoked by a Clinton advocate reference to their own mother & Carl Levin's reasoned Mich approach, along with former Clintonite Don Fowler's, surprising support of the Obama position).

This has not been a good week for John McCain.

The Presumptive GOP nominee had to purge lobbyist, he forgot what troop levels were in Iraq, former White House mouth piece, Scott Mclellan comes out with his "Callus Belli-like" tell all book (including the President's decision to start a sexed up war), he called the dangerous Iraqi city of Mosul safe, when earlier in the day 30 Iraqi's had actually died there. And now this! More embarrassing McCain lobbyist connections, after a seemingly continuous jettisoning of them the past several weeks!

The Straight Talk Express, continues to lose it wheels (or bearings)!

Talking Points Memo reported Friday that McCain campaign manager Rick Davis' lobbying firm worked for a client with ties to the much discussed, George Bush described "Axis Of Evil" nation, Iran, according to the Huffington Post.

I am a big fan of the Ed Shultz show; mainly because it's one of the few outlets of progressive info I can get on radio/during the day (especially when the cable news shows are "acting up")here in NY.

Shultz gives a male, western, progressive viewpoint, with a forceful, animated, republican style delivery, to good ratings. That's a postive to many. He's also been a strong supporter of Barack Obama.

But today, at the beginning of his show (broadcast 12pm here in NYC) Ed Shultz just played right into the Corporate medias hand.

He started his show on Fri, by eviscerating the latest alleged/burgeoning Obama "Pastor Disaster", Father Flagler, who said some not so kind (but some feel honest) things about HRC, and her sense of "white-Clinton" entitlement at Trinity this past Sunday.Ok. That's understandable.

But now Shultz wants Obama to leave Trinity?

Who is Ed Shultz to tell Obama where to go to church?  He should know better! If the MSM media, is not sure what to make of this story yet (they've been relatively reserved in light of Hagee's pastor disaster,and Clinton's recent assassination comments). Why would Ed Shultz give it legitimacy by asking Obama "to leave Trinity Church"?