Obama clinched the nomination last night and Clinton stopped short of withdrawing but pledged to help unite the party. Pejman at Redstate 
: "Finally--and this has to be written--congratulations to Barack Obama. ...For everyone who hoped that we would at long last begin to get over and beyond the mindlessness of racial prejudice, tonight was a very special night indeed, no matter who you end up voting for in the fall."
While our elections can seem chaotic at times, today brings a reminder from abroad of just how much we take orderly transitions for granted. "Zimbabwe police 
have detained presidential contender Morgan Tsvangirai, just weeks before the June 27 runoff election against President Robert Mugabe. The Movement for Democratic Change leader was picked up by officers on Wednesday because he was going to attend an unauthorized meeting in southern Zimbabwe, a police spokesman told CNN."
Open thread, to discuss elections or whatever else is on your mind.
__________________________
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
apparently Barack said some good things about Israel
in today's speech to AIPAC (Hillary and Pelosi also spoke in similar vein).
dkos story
Stuff like Jerusalem should be the undivided capital of Israel. Good first step. That kind of stuff could make him more likable to me.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
The comment threads there are hilarious.
People trying to reconcile their love of Obama with their pro-Palestinian stance. It's like yoga for the brain.
I figured there might be more coverage of the speeches there, since Clinton came down so firmly in support of Obama. Surprise, surprise.
__________________________Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
Consider them the Appalachia of the blogs
Are we expected to give the benefit of the doubt to the Appalchians and Southerners, and the hard working class whites, while ignoring the left? :)
Or do you hold the left to some higher standard?
I just listened to Obama's speech at AIPAC. It was quite remarkable and well received, getting many standing ovations.
One could take the position that true political leadership challenges entrenched views. Obama also mentioned the old alliance that was held between Jews, who have been victims of racial persecution and their history of marching with African Americans for civil rights.
Kudos to Hillary Clinton for taking the high road, and stating that Barack Obama is a true friend of Israel. That was truly gracious on her part and underscores her commitment to the democratic party.
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.
Obama and Kos are purple?
From that same dKos thread
No wonder I'm finding it harder and harder to have thoughtful conversations with my more liberal acquaintances. Objectivity is just a lost skill.
__________________________don't ask me, I'm just improvising
Political Compass Score: Econ L/R -0.12 Social Lib/Auth -1.33
Admin help, please
Seems as if my account info has been hacked. I am apparently now a communist who is pushing blackmarket Viagra. Who knew?
__________________________don't ask me, I'm just improvising
Political Compass Score: Econ L/R -0.12 Social Lib/Auth -1.33
Sorry, it happened to a few people
(including me) and I think you just have to change it back for now. I believe Ender is looking into upgrading the software, which might close such security holes.
__________________________Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
I've long suspected it, actually. n/t
Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
Damn
busted ;}
__________________________don't ask me, I'm just improvising
Political Compass Score: Econ L/R -0.12 Social Lib/Auth -1.33
fortunately I wasn't selling viagra
but my account was changed to a communist as well - apparently they've learned of my checkered history.
__________________________"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
LOL, another good one! :)
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
ROFL. dKos is mainstream? Laughable. Simply laughable.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Egypt
I have colleagues who are traveling to Israel for business. One of them remarked that his intern, who apparently graduated from Tel Aviv, was saying that the Saudis have been buying up Egyptian companies and instituting Islam based work rules (Burqas, no alcohol, etc.).
That's third hand information so be appropriately skeptical. I looked a little for any corroboration on google and I found a couple things but nothing really damning, which may mean it's a exaggeration or that that kind of small scale local info is hard to find in english (or that I don't know the right keywords to use).
However given the history and growing power of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt it seems plausible.
__________________________I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
When I saw McCain make last nights speech in front of a green
background screen, the first thing I thought of was wondering if he did it so that he could use CGI to project a different background image.
Funny thing too...I wasn't the only one to think that as SadlyNo! has it handled
in a very funny way. McCain should be grateful. There are significantly worse scenerios that someone could plunk McCain down in front of/being part of.....
The comparison between here and Zimbabwe
is stark, and for my money the single stupidest thing Clinton said on the campaign trail. Forget all the ambiguous "did she really mean?" supposed Muslim-baiting or whatever: calling the primary situation in Floridan analogous to Zimbabwe was grade-A offensive. Seeing them side-by-side shows why.
__________________________Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
Tony Rezko found guilty on 16 counts
Associated Press
__________________________I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
Hmmm.
Quite the cast of characters associated with Obama. He's starting to make the Clintons look like lightweights in the organized crime a sleaze categories.
__________________________Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
except that Obama and Rezco had no ongoing relations
The Clinton's were pretty deep in the Whitewater. As I recall (and Wikipedia reports), Clinton's Lt. Gov and business partners were found guilty of fraud...and one of them went to jail rather than talk about Clinton's involvement (and was subsuquently pardoned by Clinton).
In contrast, Obama simply bought some land from Rezco -- they did not have an ongoing relationship. Furthermore, nothing in Rezco's trial indicated that Obama was involved in anything illegal.
I guess that's the benefit of being a politician without experience.
__________________________"You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man." --Frederick Douglas
"a prominent political fundraiser for Sen. Barack Obama"
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
blah blah blah blah blah
Obama is from Chicago. Obama is a communist. Obama is a socialist democrat. Obama is a radical. Obama is an apostate. Obama is a muslim. Obama is a far left radical Christian.
Blah blah blah blah blah.
You can find more of these talking points at NoQuarter, from Larry Johnson, one of the "very strong supporters" of Hillary Clinton.
Throw it against the wall and see if it sticks. Good luck.
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.
Hey, I'm just pointing out the facts.
You decide if they spell trouble. Given your reaction, it sounds as though you do.
__________________________Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Keep working it
It is the economy, stupid.
I have it on good authority
that Obama is a communist who is pushing blackmarket Viagra.
__________________________Saint, n. A dead sinner revised and edited. - Ambrose Bierce
"a political fundraiser" ... so?
The fact that Rezko is prominent, says nothing about his relationship to Obama.
He apparently collected $250,000 for Obama. So? I don't know how that compares to his total funding, and I don't see why a politician should have to send a private investigator after everyone who raises money for him.
I'm not political insider, but I have the impression that fundraisers choose their candidates, rather than vice versa.
__________________________"You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man." --Frederick Douglas
So it is interesting the type of people that choose to raise
money for Obama. It is equally interesting, if not more so, that Obama was OK accepting the money from him. I am not a political insider either, but I doubt that people just walk up to you offering $250,000 every day. Those are the people you need to check out before sticking out your hand.
And you don't think that $250,000 buys you any favors when you need them? I bet it does.
__________________________Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
He's guilty
of what every politician is guilty of, needing money.
Are you equally aware of the people behind the funds that were offered to George Bush, Rudy Guilliani, Bill Clinton? Or perhaps more importantly are you equally outraged by their impurities.
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.
Clinton's Lt. Gov
I just want to note that the Arkansas Lt. Gov is elected separately from the Governor...so the corruption of the Lt. Gov has no bearing on Clinton's judgement/associations.
__________________________"You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man." --Frederick Douglas
its over
well , its over and I am glad for that , it was seriously starting to wear on me !
I will support Obama , even though I think we have made the wrong choice, but Mc Cain would be worse!
I no longer believe in the common sense of the average American voter.... especially after 2004,
and I think the Media is again a big factor in who they are " selling " to us . Not many people are " blog a holics " like us , they watch TV for their news. Obama was for sure ' marketed " as the big inspiring HOPE , perhaps I am just old and cynical , but I think it takes more than fancy words , and I have always been wary of the " sales pitch " !
anyway , relief is the main emotion now .
__________________________sligowoman
politics is about organization
If you can't reach the voters, you can't get elected. There are assorted ways to do that (be a good speaker, raise millions for advertizements, or have a political machine)--but in the end, regular folk have very little to do with it.
Why should they bother?
__________________________"You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man." --Frederick Douglas
Take heart
We were united before the primaries and we will be united again soon.
Here is one take from Hillary Rosen, a strong Hillary supporter on passing the torch. She notes that she, was somewhat disappointed by the last weeks of Hillary's campaign. She emphasized that she is not a bargaining chip to be used against other democrats, but rather a democrat, who will now enthusiastically support Barack Obama.
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.
For what it's worth, I expect Hillary to have some
prominent role in an Obama administration -- either a cabinet position, or VP, or else leading important legislation from the Senate.
I'm also glad it's over and we can focus on defeating McCain.
__________________________Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Imagine the terror
it would strike in the hearts of the hard core partisan Republicans (like Kenneth Starr) IF Hillary Clinton would accept the position of Attorney General.
After the push by Karl's Shop that inserted so many Liberty University grads into the Justice Department, the Republicans would be apoplectic.
__________________________It is the economy, stupid.