USA Presidential Election 2008 [Daily News]

[Maldini]

Analysis: Clinton Chooses Graciousness

 

By BETH FOUHY – 1 hour ago

 

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Hillary Clinton, the front-runner no more, sought to bury Barack Obama, but also to praise him in their latest campaign debate and revive her own White House hopes in the process.

"No matter what happens in this contest — and I am honored, I am honored to be here with Barack Obama," she said at the conclusion of the 90-minute forum. "Whatever happens, we're going to be fine."

 

It was an unexpectedly gracious moment in a debate that was supposed to be a game changer for Clinton in the run-up to crucial primaries in Texas and Ohio March 4. After losing 11 straight contests to Obama in a race now clearly breaking his way, the former first lady chose the high road and even delivered what sounded to many like the dress rehearsal for a campaign valedictory address.

 

Her remarks were "almost a quasi-concession speech," said Texas state Rep. Rafael Anchia, who backs Obama.

 

Clinton doubtless didn't intend her words to be taken that way.

In a round of television appearances Wednesday morning, Clinton said her remarks were intended as "a recognition that both of us are on the brink of historic change.

 

"I'm very proud that we have the two of us in this contest seeking the Democratic nomination, hoping to become our next president," she said on CBS's "The Early Show." She is seeking to be the first woman president, and Obama the first black president.

 

Clinton worked hard during the debate to draw contrasts with Obama on issues, pressing her argument that Obama's health care reform proposal would leave 15 million people uninsured. Obama has countered that Clinton's plan, which requires everyone to carry insurance, would force people to purchase coverage they can't afford.

 

But otherwise, Clinton steered away from any hard-hitting criticism of her rival. She agreed with him on most matters raised in the debate, including immigration policy and fixing the economy. She let pass a statement that he would be willing to meet with new Cuban leader Raul Castro "without precondition" after hammering him for making a similar comment in another debate last summer.

 

Clinton even sidestepped a question of whether the Illinois senator is ready to be commander in chief — an argument she makes clearly and forcefully before most campaign audiences.

 

"I will leave that for voters to decide," Clinton said, opening an opportunity for her rival.

 

"I wouldn't be running if I didn't think I was prepared to be commander in chief," Obama responded simply — winning back what could have been a breakthrough moment for the New York senator.

 

Obama, for his part, controlled the pace of the evening — calmly going toe to toe on issues with Clinton while forcefully challenging her argument that he is all promise and no results.

 

"The implication is that the people who've been voting for me or involved in my campaign are somehow delusional," Obama said. "The thinking is that somehow, they've been duped and they're going to see the reality of things."

 

Clinton's only attempt to get tough was a crack about Obama borrowing lines from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick — an argument pressed by her campaign this week, with little apparent effect.

 

"Lifting whole passages from someone else's speeches is not change you can believe in, it's change you can Xerox," Clinton said, eliciting a chorus of boos.

 

"She's somewhat boxed in: play nice and let the Obamomentum continue, or sharpen the attacks and risk a backlash. It's the Hobson's choice faced by all trailing candidates," said Dan Newman, a California-based Democratic strategist not affiliated with either candidate.

 

That's why the end of the debate and Clinton's generous praise of Obama stood out — an unprompted gesture that followed another poignant moment, when she acknowledged the pain of her husband's dalliance with White House intern Monica Lewinsky and his subsequent impeachment.

 

"I think everybody here knows I've lived through some crises and some challenging moments in my life," she said, winning applause and cheers.

Was it another example of Clinton "finding her voice" — showing the kind of flash of humanity that helped her win the New Hampshire primary last month?

Her advisers clearly thought yes.

 

"What we saw in the final moments in that debate is why Hillary Clinton is the next president of the United States," spokesman Howard Wolfson said. "Her strength, her life experience, her compassion. She's tested and ready. It was the moment she retook the reins of this race and showed women and men why she is the best choice."

[Nicko84]

I feel Bloomberg (who I do not like) might have some involvement somewhere in this election.

 

Just a thought....

 

If Bloomberg will enjoy the race, in my opinion means Obama( if he wins the democrat primaries) is not so appreciated by some lobbies, and McCain would need some help....

[rudy_o]

go obama!

[grids]

Obama Learning in Islamic school for two years then he turned to a Catholic school.

 

oh wow.. so what religion is he? (sorry too privacy.. i just wanted to know for sure)

[Maldini]

oh wow.. so what religion is he? (sorry too privacy.. i just wanted to know for sure)

 

Christianty, and he emphasizing on that.

[grids]

Christianty, and he emphasizing on that.

 

oh okay i see.

this morning i was talked to my dad, described about obama when he was still lived in indonesia around 3-4 years. and i was stunned when my dad said that his first dad (i think he's from kenya) was separated with his mom. his religion was moslem and a few years later his mom married with the man from indonesia. and then obama followed his dad to study (around elemantary or primary). after that they've got separated again. his mom moved to hawaii and so obama.

 

i cant believed that obama ever lived in indonesia:D

[winigwl]

Ralph Nader enters presidential race

 

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Ralph Nader is entering the presidential race as an independent, he announced Sunday, saying it is time for a "Jeffersonian revolution."

Ralph Nader is running for president as an independent.

"In the last few years, big money and the closing down of Washington against citizen groups prevent us from trying to improve our country. And I want everybody to have the right and opportunity to improve their country," he told reporters after an appearance announcing his candidacy on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Asked why he should be president, the longtime consumer advocate said, "Because I got things done." He cited a 40-year record, which he said includes saving "millions of lives," bringing about stricter protection for food and water and fighting corporate control over Washington.

This marks his fourth straight White House bid -- fifth if his 1992 write-in campaign is included.

Nader said Thomas Jefferson believed that "when you lose your government, you've got to go into the electoral arena."

"A Jeffersonian revolution is needed in this country," he said.

Nader told NBC that great changes in U.S. history have come "through little parties that never won any national election."

"Dissent is the mother of ascent," he said. "And in that context I've decided to run for president."

Nader, who turns 74 this week, complained about the "paralysis of the government," which he said is under the control of corporate executives and lobbyists.

Nader was criticized by some Democrats in 2000 for allegedly pulling away support from Democrat Al Gore and helping George Bush win the White House. Nader has long denied that portrayal of his candidacy.

Long-shot GOP contender Mike Huckabee said Nader's entry would probably help his party.

"I think it always would probably pull votes away from the Democrats and not the Republicans, so naturally, Republicans would welcome his entry into the race," Huckabee said Sunday on CNN.

But Nader -- citing the Republican Party's economic policies, the Iraq war, and other issues -- told NBC, "If the Democrats can't landslide the Republicans this year, they ought to just wrap up, close down, emerge in a different form."

Nader's entry into the race did not come as a surprise to political watchers.

On Sunday, Sen. Barack Obama criticized him. "My sense is that Mr. Nader is somebody who, if you don't listen and adopt all of his policies, thinks you're not substantive," Obama told reporters when asked about Nader's possible candidacy.

"He seems to have a pretty high opinion of his own work."

Obama said Nader "is a singular figure in American politics and has done as much as just about anyone for consumers."

"I don't mean to diminish that," he said. "There's a sense now that if someone's not hewing to the Ralph Nader agenda, he says they're lacking in some way."

Responding to those remarks during his "Meet the Press" interview, Nader encouraged people to look at his campaign Web site, votenader.org, which he said discusses issues important to Americans that Obama and Sen. John McCain "are not addressing."

Nader called Obama "a person of substance" and "the first liberal evangelist in a long time" who "has run a good tactical campaign." But he accused Obama of censoring "his better instincts" on divisive issues.

He also said political consultants "have really messed up Hillary Clinton's campaign."

 

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/02/24/nader.politics/index.html

[Maldini]

Yes, Ralph again:rolleyes:

[Maldini]

Ralph Nader Running for President -- Again

 

He Says He's Ready To Take On Political Establishment One More Time

Ralph Nader speaks at a news conference in Reading, Pa. in this July 14, 2007 file photo. Nader has announced yet another run for the White House. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

 

By JAKE TAPPER and KIM RANDOLPH

Feb. 24, 2008

 

Calling Washington, D.C., "corporate-occupied territory," consumer advocate Ralph Nader launched his fifth campaign for the presidency Sunday.

 

"I'm running for president," said Nader in an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press." Nader downplayed the impact he might have on the ultimate outcome of the race, saying "if Democrats can't landslide the Republicans this year, they ought to just wrap up, close down, emerge in a different form."

 

Assailing Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., as "the candidate for perpetual war" and Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, as someone whose "better instincts and his knowledge have been censored by himself," Nader said he was running to advocate positions he said were being ignored by McCain, Obama, and Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, whom last month he called a "political coward."

 

"All the candidates -- McCain, Obama, and Clinton -- are against single payer health insurance, full Medicare for all," Nader said, saying he also wanted to take on the "bloated military budget," labor law reform, repealing the Taft-Hartley Act, and corporate crime.

 

"One feels an obligation to try to open the doorways," Nader said. "Dissent is the mother of assent and in that context I have decided to run for president."

 

Nader, 73, has run for president as a write-in candidate on both the Democratic and Republican tickets in the New Hampshire primary 1992 as a "none of the above" candidate. He mounted more serious, if still quixotic, campaigns in 1996, 2000, and 2004.

 

Many Democrats resent his 2000 run, believing he sapped enough votes from then-Vice President Al Gore to hand the presidency to then-Gov. George W. Bush. In Florida, where Gore ultimately lost to Bush by 537 votes, more than 97,000 Floridians supported Nader, then on the Green Party ticket.

 

The Clinton campaign declined to comment on Nader's announcement.

 

Campaigning in Columbus on Saturday, Obama called Nader a "heroic" figure who "has done as much as just about anybody on behalf of consumers."

 

But Obama also assailed the consumer advocate as a stubborn egomaniac.

 

"My sense is that Mr.. Nader is somebody who, if you don't listen and adopt all of his policies, thinks you're not substantive," Obama said. "He seems to have a pretty high opinion of his own work …I do think there's a sense now that ... if somebody's not hewing to the Ralph Nader agenda then you must be lacking in some way."

 

Obama said the job of the Democratic Party "is to be so compelling that a few percentage (points) of the vote going to another candidate's not going to make any difference."

 

Nader, calling Obama "the first liberal evangelist in a long time," criticized the Illinois Democrat for having been "pro-Palestine when he was in Illinois, before he ran for the state senate" but now "supporting the Israeli destruction" of Gaza.

 

Nader said that those who would argue against his candidacy are displaying "political bigotry" against "all of us that think that the country needs an infusion of freedom, democracy and choice," suggesting they "should just sit on the sidelines and watch the two political parties own all the voters and turn the government over to big business."

[winigwl]

he better not screw the democrats like he did in 2000

[chuck kottke]

Unless something unusual happens, I think Nader will probably just draw attention to the problem of money corrupting politics (and this everything else down the line). The Democratic nominee will likey win (Barack Obama being the most likely in my hopes!). I had been a supporter of his in 2000, but then lost interest when the race tightened, and I felt then that he should have thrown his support behind Al Gore, by negotiating an improvement in reducing the money influence.

But, Ralph has to be in the spotlight.. and he really has done a great deal of good relating to consumer advocacy - just wish he would remain an advocate, rather than trying to get attention by running. He would be more effective by not running, and instead advocating for Campaign Finance Reform - at the grass roots level. Oh well - my 2 cents!;)

[Maldini]

Dodd Endorses Obama for President

Senator Barack Obama with Senator Christopher Dodd on Tuesday in Cleveland, Ohio.

 

By MICHAEL POWELL and JOHN SULLIVAN

Published: February 26, 2008

 

CLEVELAND, Ohio — Senator Christopher J. Dodd, a leading Democrat and an early candidate for the party’s presidential nomination, announced Tuesday that he was endorsing Senator Barack Obama.

 

Both Mr. Obama and his rival, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, had sought Mr.

Dodd’s support after Mr. Dodd dropped out of the race following the Iowa caucuses last month. Announcing his endorsement at a news conference in Cleveland, Mr. Dodd said he was concerned that the campaign has become too divisive and suggested it had gone on too long. Mr. Dodd said on Tuesday that he had spoken with Senator Clinton before the announcement.

 

“I don’t want a campaign that is divisive here, and there’s a danger in that,” Senator Dodd said. “Now is the hour to come together.

 

The endorsement comes as polls show Mr. Obama’s campaign is gaining strength. According to a recent New York Times/CBS News poll, Mr. Obama has moved ahead of Mrs. Clinton nationally, with 54 percent of Democratic voters supporting him compared with 38 percent for Mrs. Clinton.

 

Mr. Dodd said he was initially skeptical of a presidential campaign by someone in his first term in the Senate. But he said that “Barack Obama is a 21st century candidate who will express the aspirations and hopes of so many.”

 

Mr. Dodd, a former chairman of the Democratic National Committee who was first elected to the Senate in 1980, is also a Democratic superdelegate.

 

The endorsement also comes just before Tuesday night’s Democratic debate, the last before a spate of critical primary contests, including those next Tuesday in Texas and Ohio. The debate, at 9 p.m. at Cleveland State University, comes after days of both campaigns increasing their attacks.

 

Mrs. Clinton has launched a concerted effort to question Mr. Obama’s credentials and his experience. In a speech on Monday, Mrs. Clinton compared Mr. Obama’s foreign policy experience to that of President Bush, saying “we’ve seen the tragic result of having a president who had neither the experience nor the wisdom to manage our foreign policy and safeguard our national security.”

 

Mr. Obama has countered with criticism of Senator Clinton’s record, including her support for the war in Iraq.

 

The topic that has drawn the most attention is a photograph posted on The Drudge Report showing Mr. Obama in ceremonial African clothing. Matt Drudge said that the photo was sent by someone in the Clinton campaign, prompting blistering criticism from Mr. Obama’s camp. David Plouffe, his campaign manager, called the photo “the most shameful, offensive fear-mongering we’ve seen from either party.”

 

It has not been independently verified who sent the photo. Mrs. Clinton’s campaign responded by charging that Mr. Obama’s campaign “should be ashamed” to suggest the photograph was offensive.

 

At the news conference, Mr. Dodd warned that such infighting could cripple the party’s chances against the Republicans in November.

 

“I know the temptations of campaigns,” he said. “It can get a little out of control, and we’ve seen a little bit of that this week.”

 

Standing on the podium near Mr. Dodd, Senator Obama offered a truce over the photograph.

 

“Do I think that is reflective of Senator Clinton’s approach to the campaign,” Mr. Obama said. “Probably not."

[winigwl]

good for dodd

[chuck kottke]

Once again - the future of the world rests to some extent on our goofy ways of electioneering - is it this goofy elsewhere in the world, when campaigns are being run?? Do candidates accuse one-another of plagiarizing quotes, or resorting to repeating someone's middle name, if it's the same as a deposed dictators? Sheesh, what ever happened to debates about issues, substance, and what each candidate has to offer for solutions?

[grids]

i prefer the young people for president (but not really young as me :rolleyes:, maybe around 40)

[Nicko84]

If Nader will run for the white house...there will be troubles for obama....

[winigwl]

well hopefully those who voted for nader in 2000 will realize what they did. they made bush our president.

 

i prefer the young people for president (but not really young as me :rolleyes:, maybe around 40)

I disagree. At 40, you probably lack experience. My favorite candidate Joe Biden has been in senate for 33 years. Thats the kind of experience i want

[Nicko84]

will you vote, justin?

[Maldini]

Nader Announces V.P. Pick

 

By Ariel Alexovich

 

Ralph Nader was last to jump into the presidential race, but he’s the first to find a running mate.

 

He announced his “first choice” for vice president, Matt Gonzalez, a San Francisco lawyer, at a Washington news conference on Monday. Mr. Nader added that he and Mr. Gonzalez would not seek the Green Party nomination and instead would run as independents.

 

Mr. Gonzalez’s greatest claim to fame is his second-place showing in the 2003 San Francisco mayoral race. As a Green Party candidate, Mr. Gonzalez lost 53 to 47 percent to Democrat Gavin Newsome, who had a considerably larger budget and the outspoken support of Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Nancy Pelosi.

 

The two anti-war, anti-NAFTA men met “at various public conferences in 2000 and then we campaigned against the Iraq War in 2005, and we’ve kept in close touch since,” Mr. Nader told The Caucus, adding that he made his decision to run with Mr. Gonzalez about a month ago.

 

Mr. Gonzalez, 42, a Democrat-turned-Green-Party-member-turned-independent, is a practicing civil rights lawyer with a background in criminal justice. He’s a native Texan but earned his political stripes in San Francisco, where he’s served as the deputy public defender and president of the city’s Board of Supervisors.

 

“He has great character, a great personality, steadfastness in his principles and a lot of good experience,” Mr. Nader said. “He’s not that old, but criminal justice in the courts, urban policies, and election reform — those are three important areas.”

 

Mr. Nader also said in the interview that his 2004 running mate, Peter Miguel Camejo “told me he’s run so often that he’s just tired” and wasn’t interested in another go-around.

 

Back in December, Mr. Nader endorsed John Edwards for president, and he still holds the former candidate in high esteem. Mr. Nader said he hasn’t heard from Mr. Edwards or his old advisers since he threw his hat in the ring — but he said he’d welcome Mr. Edwards back to the race.

 

“I would think he’d be a leading candidate for V.P. again, for Obama, if I would guess,” said Mr. Nader of Mr. Edwards. “The more the merrier. You can’t have too many progressive forces in this country. You can’t have too many efforts to advance justice.”

 

But during the press conference Mr. Gonzalez had harsh words to say about Mr. Obama and John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee. Mr. McCain was slammed for calling for “perpetual war,” and Mr. Obama for not committing to have all U.S. troops out of Iraq by 2013.

 

Both men acknowledged they have a tough road ahead of them, but that they’re standing firm in their fight to get on the ballot in all 50 states.

 

“I have no illusions about what is happening here today,” Mr. Gonzales said at the news conference. “I understand what stands before us. But let me also say that I’ve never entered a political contest with the idea that it couldn’t be won. And it’s cynical to say that the American people are incapable of hearing the truth in casting a vote for someone that they believe in.”

 

And, yes, Mr. Gonzales voted for Mr. Nader in 2000 and 2004, he told The Caucus.

[Maldini]

Bloomberg: I'm not running for president

 

By SARA KUGLER, Associated Press Writer Thu Feb 28, 7:16 AM ET

 

NEW YORK - Mayor Michael Bloomberg has squashed the notion of running for president this year, declaring that he will not seek the White House but might put his support behind another candidate who embraces bipartisan governing.

 

Apparently ending a dance of presidential speculation that began more than two years ago, the 66-year-old billionaire businessman said in an op-ed piece in Thursday's New York Times that he will not launch his own bid but will work to "steer the national conversation away from partisanship and toward unity; away from ideology and toward common sense; away from sound bites and toward substance."

 

"I listened carefully to those who encouraged me to run, but I am not — and will not be — a candidate for president," he wrote. "I have watched this campaign unfold, and I am hopeful that the current campaigns can rise to the challenge by offering truly independent leadership."

 

Bloomberg aides and associates had been assembling the framework for an independent campaign, and if he had decided to run, a $1 billion operation would have been ready to go. Instead, Bloomberg hinted that he may lend his wealth and weight to someone else.

 

"If a candidate takes an independent, nonpartisan approach — and embraces practical solutions that challenge party orthodoxy — I'll join others in helping that candidate win the White House," he wrote.

 

A close Bloomberg associate told The Associated Press that the mayor had been wrestling with a decision until very recently, reaching a conclusion only in the last few days.

 

Several factors influenced him, according to the associate, who requested anonymity to discuss internal decisions. One of Bloomberg's main reasons for staying out is that he believes the presidential race has the potential to become a centrist contest, primarily because of the rise of Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain, both of whom have championed bipartisanship.

 

Centrist leadership would have been Bloomberg's chief selling point as a presidential candidate, and it was looking less likely that he would have been able to stand apart from the most likely major party candidates, the associate said.

[Maldini]

Results: Democratic Delegate Count

 

Barack Obama: 1,303.5 64.4% of the 2,025 needed

 

 

Hillary Clinton: 1,212 59.9% of the 2,025 needed

 

Results: Republican Delegate Count

 

John McCain: 845 70.9% of the 1,191 needed

 

Mike Huckabee: 205 17.2% of the 1,191 needed

[Nicko84]

Results: Democratic Delegate Count

 

Barack Obama: 1,303.5 64.4% of the 2,025 needed

 

 

Hillary Clinton: 1,212 59.9% of the 2,025 needed

 

Results: Republican Delegate Count

 

John McCain: 845 70.9% of the 1,191 needed

 

Mike Huckabee: 205 17.2% of the 1,191 needed

 

1303.5?why that half?....:stunned:

[Black Rose]

1303.5?why that half?....:stunned:

 

Due to the dwarf :laugh3:

[winigwl]

1303.5?why that half?....:stunned:

 

possibly a superdelegate who changed his mind?

[Black Rose]

What's the difference between a superdelegate and a delegate?