Hello everyone -- I will be leaving shortly for a brief mission trip (serving in a Navajo reservation in Arizona) and will return on July 14th. Unfortunately I will not have internet access during that time.
HOWEVER - upon my return you can expect, in addition to the regular news updates, the debut of my first Obama photomosaic poster. I've been collecting images of Obama supporters (I have about 2,000 at this point) and will be able to complete it shortly after the 14th, so please look forward to it!
Please bookmark this site so you can come back to it, and if you have any suggestions on how to improve it, please leave a comment. Thank you!
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Thursday, July 3, 2008
A Brief Respite
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
7/2 Evening News: Obama: Expanding Volunteerism
News Items
Obama talks new and expanded volunteerism
Democrat Barack Obama on Wednesday showcased plans to encourage volunteerism by Americans, his latest push to woo conservative voters also sought by rival John McCain. The Republican, meanwhile, was traveling in South America...
Related Articles:
ABC: Obama: Service to Be a Cornerstone of Presidency
ABC: George W. Obama
CBS FtR: Obama Highlights National Service
FirstRead: Obama's National Call to Service
The Obama Veepwatch, Vol. 5: Kathleen Sebelius
Source of Speculation: Obama himself. Speaking to the FOX affiliate in Missouri on Monday, the Democratic nominee was effusive--to put in mildly--in his praise for Sebelius. "I love Kathleen Sebelius," he said.
Obama Fist Bump Refusal? Not So Fast...
The child rose his hand in a fist to get Obama's attention as he asked for a signature – perhaps prompting the fist bump portrayal. Obama instead signed the autographs for the children in crayon on drawings they were working on during class.
Related Articles:
FOX Blog: The Fist Bump Fuss
CNN: Fist bump not gone?
The Caucus: The Dissed Fist Bump That Wasn't
Radio Spot Highlights Obama's Religious Side
A Political Action Committee overseen by the director of religious outreach for John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign is running an ad on Christian radio defending presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama.
Vetting Obama's Canine Companion
The Obama family has used the promise of a pet as a bargaining chip in asking their daughters, Malia, 9 and Sasha, 7, for their support during the long campaign season. The American Kennel Club (AKC) took it upon themselves to offer the Obamas some guidance...
McCain denies roughing up Sandinista
John McCain denied a Republican colleague's claim that he roughed up an associate of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega on a diplomatic mission in 1987, saying the allegation was "simply not true."
Related Articles:
CNN: McCain denies grabbing foreign official
FirstRead: McCain Denies Altercation
Politico: McCain denies grabbing Sandinista
McCain Campaign Shake-Up
Veteran Republican operative Steve Schmidt has been put in charge of day-today operations of Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign, with campaign manager Rick Davis keeping his title but focusing more on general strategy and long-term strategic planning...
Related Articles:
CBS FtR: Top McCain Aides Take On New Roles
CBS FtR: Changes Atop The McCain Campaign
CNN: McCain shakes up staff amid concern about 'unforced errors'
The Caucus: McCain Campaign Shuffle
NYT: McCain Orders Shake-Up of His Campaign
Politico: Schmidt takes over McCain operations
McCain Health Credit Could Morph Into Tax Hike
But if the cost of health care continues to outpace inflation in the economy at large, McCain's health credit would morph into a tax hike for those who currently receive a tax exclusion for employer-sponsored coverage...
McCain Abroad
He defended his trip right from the start, noting that it was just a quick trip, but he focused on the drug trade, not free trade or other foreign policy issues.
Related Articles:
ABC: McCain in Colombia: Just Say No (Seriously)
CBS: McCain Touts Free Trade In Colombia
CBS FtR: McCain Wraps Up Colombia Visit
FOX Blog: McCain Calls for ‘Hemispheric’ Trade Deal
CNN: McCain had advance knowledge of Colombian raid
McCain’s Temper Tantrum Tawdriness
Making the rounds in political circles today ... is an account in the Biloxi Sun-Herald where Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., says he witnessed a “physical confrontation” between Sen. John McCain and a Sandinista during a diplomatic mission in 1987.
Upon Leaving Colombia, McCain Hears About Rescued Hostages
“I just finished a phone conversation with President Uribe and he told me some of the details of the rescue – dramatic rescue of 15 people who were held hostage,” McCain told reporters on his campaign plane. “He says that they’re in good condition.”
Related Articles:
FOX: Presidential Candidates Hail Hostage Rescue in Colombia
Conservative evangelicals discuss backing McCain
Mathew Staver, a conservative Christian activist, convened a meeting of about 90 conservative evangelical leaders Tuesday night in Denver. Many evangelicals have been wary of McCain's commitment to their causes and his previous criticisms of movement leaders...
Related Articles:
CBS FtR: Conservative Leaders Unite Behind McCain
Veepstakes: McCain 'Pleased' with Romney
John McCain gave his fairly standard answer on Mitt Romney as a VP contender: “Mitt Romney is a great person, and he's done a great job for us, and we're really pleased at the cooperation and help that he's given us and he won millions of Republican votes...
Bipartisanship marks McCain's Senate tenure
His record of accomplishment is mixed, yet he has made his willingness to cross the political aisle a central theme in his campaign for the White House in an era when voters are plainly tired of partisan gridlock in the nation's capital.
Democrats not too 'swift'
OK, we get it. Barack Obama doesn't want to be John Kerry. That's been Obama's theme this week on the campaign trail. Speaking about his patriotism Monday in Independence, Mo., Obama made it clear that he wouldn't let anyone "Swift Boat" him.
RNC Plans Ad Assault
The Republican National Committee is planning its first round of advertising to support Sen. John McCain’s candidacy, with an initial wave of ads set to run this weekend in four swing states, Republican officials tell ABC News.
Related Articles:
CNN: RNC prepares for ad blitz
FOX: RNC to Spend $3 Million for Ad Campaign to Contrast Obama, McCain
FirstRead: GOP to Launch TV Ad Blitz Against Obama
Politico: RNC creates new expenditure arm
Veepstakes Watch
The question of the summer remains who Sens. McCain and Obama will pick to be their running mates. But almost as important as who the presumptive nominees choose will be when they choose them.
Mukasey Pledges Vigilance on Elections
With high interest in this year's elections, the Attorney General said that “one of my highest priorities” would be to ensure that the November elections are fair and smoothly run.
Major Union Maps General Election Strategy
One of the nation's most powerful labor unions will put tens of millions of dollars into helping Barack Obama and a variety of congressional candidates and governors win in November.
Iraq Politics
The McCain campaign is trying to put Iraq front and center in this campaign -- now hitting Obama surrogate Sen. Claire McCaskill for saying the presumptive Democratic nominee would not change position on Iraq.
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Polling Results
Gallup Daily: Obama 46%, McCain 44%
If the presidential election were held today, 46% of registered voters say they would vote for Barack Obama and 44% for John McCain, according to the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking results.
Poll shows Connecticut is Obama country
John McCain has the backing of Connecticut's Democratic-turned-Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman, but a new poll out Wednesday shows the state is decidedly Obama country.
Related Articles:
Rasmussen: Election 2008: Connecticut Presidential Election
Election 2008: New York Presidential Election
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.
As Independents Shrink, Democrats Gain
The extraordinary 2008 election year is proving to be quite ordinary in at least one respect: the downward trend in the percentage of Americans identifying themselves as political independents.
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Commentaries
True or False: We Need a Wartime President
Answer: False. At least according to NEWSWEEK columnist Fareed Zakaria. A must-read excerpt from his contribution to this week's "Big Ideas" edition of the magazine...
Analysis: The Obama Test
The formula for holding these seats is relatively simple: stay in touch with your constituents, stick to the well established liberal policy agenda, gain seniority, and use that seniority to convince voters they need your power in Congress. It’s worked. Until now.
Cafferty: How should McCain deal with Bush’s negatives?
This creates a real dilemma for McCain. The conservative Republican base is less than thrilled with McCain as the GOP nominee. And that's where the few remaining people who think President Bush is doing a good job reside.
McCain denies grabbing Sandinista
So here we are, balanced at the precise point where the bottom-up dynamics of Web 2.0 meets the top-down dynamics of an American presidential campaign.
Where is Bill? Wrong Question! -- Bill Clinton Doesn't Have to Answer
Don't think for one second Bill Clinton won't be doing whatever he can to elect the Obama as our next president. But it will be because he wants to, not be because he needs to rebuild his image.
Flip-Flopping, Obama, and Gun Control
I'm not crazy about the shifts Obama has made -- I only hope they're tactical and not sincere. It all comes down this: it's democracy, which means the voice of everyone, not just the folks you agree with.
Riding In A Fighter Plane And Getting Shot Down And What It Qualifies You For
How DARE left-wing pacifist Wesley Clark suggest that riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down doesn't automatically qualify someone to be president? It automatically qualifies you to be anything.
The Changing Times and the Equinox Voter
Can Obama win the white working-class voters in battleground states? Well, he didn't this spring, so that's our first clue. Another is the fact that neither Al Gore nor John Kerry won their support.
McCain's Lobbyist Loophole
McCain's policy ignores the problem with having a campaign run by corporate and foreign lobbyists: they are happy to abandon their lobbying work temporarily to get valuable chits with the potential future president.
Obama In Colorado Springs To Address "New Era Of Service"
The visit may include a speech at one of the region's five military bases and there is speculation that Obama may even meet with Evangelical Focus on the Family leader James Dobson.
Are They Experienced?
Clark's recent comments about the relevance of McCain's service has generated enough controversy that the broader point about what kind of foreign policy experience we should look for in a president has been lost.
Obama's Work Claim
Obama's latest ad repeats the claim that he "worked his way through college and Harvard Law." But the campaign provided information on just two jobs Obama had in those years.
Barack Obama's Potential: Will He Be Great, or Greatly Disappoint?
As a result of Obama's eclectic life experiences and upbringing, it is part of his nature to not only understand different people, but to make compromises to find solutions for the most complex issues.
Barack Obambi? Not Quite; Just Ask Alice Palmer
In 1995, deciding to run for an open congressional seat, state senator Alice Palmer anointed Obama as her successor. It was from that relatively lowly position that Obama launched his incredible political career.
Plugging the Patriotism Gap
Barack Obama yesterday kicked off a week of patriotic speeches. It's much more than the normal politician's July 4 oration - it's Obama's answer to a crucial test.
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7/2 Morning News: Leaning to the Center...
News Items
Obama Voters Protest His Switch on Telecom Immunity
Senator Barack Obama’s decision to support legislation granting legal immunity to telecommunications companies that cooperated with the Bush administration’s program of wiretapping without warrants has led to an intense backlash...
Related Articles:
NY Post: 'LEFT' IN THE DUST
Record ad spending near in presidential race
The 2008 presidential race, which has already drawn a record number of dollars and voters, is poised to shatter another record: the amount of money spent on television advertisements.
Obama Camp Hits McCain on Colombia Trip
John McCain hasn’t been in Colombia for 24 hours yet, but the Obama campaign is already taking jabs at his visit. At issue is the Colombia Free Trade Agreement, which McCain supports and Barack Obama opposes.
Obama Seeks Bigger Role for Religious Groups
Senator Barack Obama said Tuesday that if elected president he would expand the delivery of social services through churches and other religious organizations, vowing to achieve a goal he said President Bush had fallen short on during his two terms.
Related Articles:
Co. Springs Gazette: Obama will hold gatherings Wednesday, starting at UCCS
Cleveland.com: Obama promises that 'faith' will have a role in his White House
Team Obama Goes Cherry-Picking
In the weeks since Mrs. Clinton officially suspended her candidacy, the Obama campaign has recruited the services of the Clinton campaign’s director of national security, Lee Feinstein, as well as foreign-policy advisers Mara Rudman...
Texas congressman coy about Obama veep chances
U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards was coy Tuesday about whether he has talked with the Barack Obama campaign about a No. 2 spot on the ticket a week after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi singled him out as the best House member for the job.
Sebelius — a blue star in red state
Democrats see in Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) an effective leader, not afraid to throw a punch or shake hands with her Republican opponents, all while being elected by sizable margins in a bright red state — twice.
Japan phone company pulls Obama 'monkey' ad
The commercial opens with a crowd rallying behind a well-dressed monkey speaking from a podium. The supporters are cheering and waving signs that say “Change.” In the ad, the monkey was encouraging users to change providers.
Obama over fist bumping?
The Illinois senator refused to bump fists with a boy as he was touring the Eastside Community Ministry in Zanesville, Ohio. As the boy outstretched his first, Obama said no and added, "If I start that …"
Obama Got Discount on Home Loan
Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said the rate was adjusted to account for a competing offer from another lender and other factors. "The Obamas have since had as much as $3 million invested through Northern Trust," he said in a statement.
Quayle Respects Obama, McCain Has Uphill Battle
Former Vice President Dan Quayle said Tuesday he respects Democrat Barack Obama "because he beat the Clintons" and fears Republican John McCain has an "uphill battle" to defeat Obama in November's presidential election.
Related Articles:
CNN: Quayle: I respect Obama 'because he beat the Clintons'
Barack Obama...Soccer Dad?
The Senator set up his chair on the sidelines and watched as his 9-year-old, clad in a red soccer jersey, ran up and down the field in the game. He flashed Malia a thumbs up, and jumped out of his seat, along with his wife, in unison, as she took control of the ball during one play in the game.
Former ‘24′ President Credits His Role for Obama Rise
“If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people,” said the actor, who has contributed $2,300 to the Illinois Democrat’s presidential campaign.
Streisand Offers Support to Obama
It wasn’t long ago that the Oscar-winning actress and singer called Hillary Rodham Clinton the next president of the United States. On Tuesday, with Clinton out of the race and now supporting Obama, Streisand endorsed him, too.
Improve Human Rights, McCain Tells Colombian
Senator John McCain pressed President Álvaro Uribe of Colombia to do more to improve human rights in a meeting on Tuesday evening here. Earlier in the day, he criticized ... Senator Barack Obama, for opposing a trade agreement between the United States and Colombia.
Related Articles:
Wash Post: McCain Stressing Trade On Latin American Trip
Newsweek: McCain to tour Colombian drug control efforts
FOX: McCain Fights Free Trade Criticism in Latin America
The Caucus: The Early Word: McCain's Foreign Trip
McCain: Obama Should Cut Wesley Clark Loose.
John McCain, taking questions from reporters aboard his Straight Talk Express: The Airplane Edition, said it was time for the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama to cut retired Gen. Wesley Clark loose.
Related Articles:
CBS FtR: McCain on Clark to Obama: "Cut Him Loose"
McCain on Obama: A difference of 30,000 feet
“Now he has switched, I mean remarkably, from saying that he would unilaterally renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement in the strongest possible terms in Ohio - he went to North Carolina and said well, I’m for free trade...” McCain said.
Congressman Cantor Listed As Viable VP Longshot
Currently serving his fourth term in the house, representing Virginia's 7th district, Eric Cantor's name has been out there as a possible VP candidate for John McCain, Monday being mentioned by Politico in a list of viable longshots for VP.
Rudy: I'm still the best, though John McCain is No. 2
"I thought I was best qualified, but I thought John was No. 2," Giuliani told CNN, his ego apparently overruling the message Team McCain wanted him to deliver in an escalating flap with Barack Obama's camp over comments from ... Wesley Clark, a retired Army general.
Swinging for Latinos
As New Mexico emerges as a key swing state in the 2008 elections, the two parties are increasingly focusing on the state’s Latino electorate as a key demographic.
US politicians find ways to play on racial fears
Democrats distribute fliers accusing the Republican of wanting a statue to honor the founder of the Ku Klux Klan. The only black justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court is defeated after his rival runs an ad with the justice's picture next to that of a black convict...
Clinton attacks against Obama vanish on Web
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has scrubbed all negative ads from her campaign Web site and YouTube page, leaving visitors with only the warm and fuzzy moments from her bid for the presidency.
Rezko calls straw-donor claim reckless
Lawyers say there isn't evidence Rezko reimbursed an associate for a contribution to Obama’s Senate bid.
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Polling Results
Daily Presidential Tracking Poll
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Wednesday shows Barack Obama attracting 46% of the vote while John McCain earns 40%. When "leaners" are included, Obama leads 49% to 44%.
Poll: Obama beats McCain as barbecue guest
Men are about evenly divided between the two while women prefer Obama by 11 percentage points. Whites prefer McCain, minorities Obama. And Obama is a more popular guest with younger voters while McCain does best with the oldest.
Poll: Michelle Obama Twice as Disliked as Cindy McCain
The public hasn’t taken to Michelle Obama yet, especially whites. And it’s got a question about Cindy McCain: Who is she?
Related Article:
CNN: Poll shows Americans cool to Michelle Obama
Hispanic Voters Solidly Behind Obama
Hispanic registered voters' support for Barack Obama for president remained consistent and strong in June, with Obama leading John McCain by 59% to 29% among this group.
Poll: Terrorism fears are fading
As Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama battle over who has the best approach to national security, a new CNN poll finds Americans' concerns about terrorism have hit an all-time low for the post-September 11 era.
Partisan Trends
During the month of June, 41.0% of Americans considered themselves to be Democrats, 31.5% said they were Republicans and 27.5% were not affiliated with either major party.
President Bush Job Approval
During June, President Bush’s Job Approval ratings fell for the fifth straight month and set a new all-time low for the third straight month.
Most Americans Proud of U.S. History, Say Other Nations Should Follow America’s Lead
As the country approaches its 232nd birthday this July 4 (Friday), the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 75% of U.S. voters declare themselves proud of America’s history. Only 13% say they are ashamed of that history, with the rest undecided.
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Commentaries
First Thoughts: Can The Center Hold?
So what do we make of Obama’s week so far? On the one hand, he’s made a big push to seize turf that the GOP has owned. At the same time, however, he has received a considerable amount of criticism from the left...
Cindy’s fortune: An asset and a liability
In 2004, Republicans demanded fuller disclosure about the considerable fortune of Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. Now, the GOP is reaping what it sowed.
Getting Ahead of the Gotcha Game
Oh, wait. Nevermind. My bad. It was, in fact, John McCain who confused Somalia and Sudan yesterday afternoon--on the eve of his trip to Columbia and Mexico...
Obama Win Offers Brand America a Global Lift: Frederick Kempe
The U.S. would profit globally from a failed Obama presidency more than it would from a successful McCain presidency. That's the sort of provocative, but plausible, statement that lies at the heart of the famous Oxford Union debates. Disagree?
The Note: Serve Somebody
So let's get this straight: One candidate is swiping a policy page from President Bush . . . As well as a page from Karl Rove's playbook . . . And is trying to swipe a Bush Cabinet secretary . . . while The Wall Street Journal editorial page places him as the president's heir...
Starting Gate: Politics As Usual
Win the nomination by appealing to the base, then run to the center for the general election. It’s one of the most overused and tired clichés in presidential politics and is obviously an oversimplification of very complicated political calculations.
Dem "Strategists": Use These 8 Points and Learn How to Discuss Taxes or Don't Go on TV
The Republicans will lie -- they will claim that Obama is going to raise everyone's taxes. Today, I heard several people on TV dubbed "Democratic strategists" just fall for it.
The Politics of Patriotism
Should John McCain have to "defend" his military record? Of course not. But the fact that he served in the military, with distinction, does not mean he's qualified to be president.
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