Obama announced that he will be the first Presidential candidate since the Watergate era reforms to forego Federal funds for the Presidential general election.
Patterico provides background on Obama's previous pledges to operate within the public system, as does The Politico. I like this from Obama's response to the Midwest Democracy Network questionnaire:
I have been a long-time advocate for public financing of campaigns combined with free television and radio time as a way to reduce the influence of moneyed special interests.
Apparently Obama has discovered that his vast network of donors is special, but not an interest. My guess is that none of Obama's supporters will care, and that the various media outlets that are bemoaning this today, such as the Times and the WaPo, will endorse him in October, even though John McCain has been the champion of McCain-Feingold. And after they do so, I presume they will continue to agitate for campaign finance reform, from a position of even more diminished credibility (Hmm, less than zero?).
The 2012 race will be interesting, unless Obama and a Dem congress can quickly re-write the rulebook to their own advantage. With the Times cheering them on, of course.
can anybody tell me any issue upon which obama hasn't flip-flopped?
Posted by: reliapundit | June 20, 2008 at 05:19 PM
Obama is now plain for anybody to see. He will say whatever it takes to get elected. And I do mean whatever.
Don't forget, this is the guy that out-Clinton-ed the Clintons .. remember that "middle-class tax cut" that never was. The Left should take a lesson from it too.
Posted by: Neo | June 20, 2008 at 05:38 PM
In 2000, it was any non-Clinton candidate, and America got Bush.
In 2008, it is the non-Bush candidate, and America will get what it deserves.
Posted by: Neo | June 20, 2008 at 05:39 PM
The Great Seal of Obamaland?
"Just above the eagle’s head are the words “Vero Possumus,” roughly translated “Yes we can.” Not exactly E Pluribus Unum (Out of Many, One), the motto on the presidential seal and the dollar bill. Then again, Mr. Obama is not the president."
Townhall has the new Obamaseal up now too.
Posted by: Tina | June 20, 2008 at 05:52 PM
"Mr. Obama said. “John McCain’s campaign and the Republican National Committee are fueled by contributions from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs."
Does anyone notice who's sitting next to him in the picture in the NYTimes?
Posted by: Tony | June 20, 2008 at 05:53 PM
Heh... From the sitemeter counter on my blog:
I sincerely hope they were distracted!
Posted by: hit and run | June 20, 2008 at 05:53 PM
"Just above the eagle’s head are the words “Vero Possumus,”??? Translates to "Real Possum".
Posted by: Buford Gooch | June 20, 2008 at 06:03 PM
Great site!
Would you like a Link Exchange with The Internet Radio Network? At the IRN you can listen to over 70 of America’s top Talk Shows via Free Streaming Audio! In addition you can email the President, VP and Congressional Leaders!!
http://netradionetwork.com
Posted by: Steve | June 20, 2008 at 06:22 PM
I can already envision the "Very Presumptuous" photoshops.
Posted by: Elliott | June 20, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Obama is now officially a "posseur."">http://www.informalmusic.com/latinsoc/verbs/poss.html">posseur."
Posted by: Elliott | June 20, 2008 at 06:32 PM
The Great Seal of Obamaland?
"Just above the eagle’s head are the words “Vero Possumus,” roughly translated “Yes we can.”
Since his pop is from Kenya shouldn't they change the critter to the African water horse then his motto could be "Hippo Possumus".
Posted by: Barney Frank | June 20, 2008 at 06:34 PM
Barney,
That might invite comparisons to a certain church father from Hippo, whose autobiography chronicled his dissolute youth and eventual conversion. Too close to home.
Posted by: Elliott | June 20, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Hey, does anyone recall a photoshop of the Obama "Hope" poster, with "hope" changed to "Obey"? If so, I'd sure love to find it again.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | June 20, 2008 at 07:57 PM
Over at the The Weekly Standard's blog, John McCormack asks, "Is Obama's Great Seal Illegal?"
Posted by: Elliott | June 20, 2008 at 08:30 PM
Great News For Congress!
There is absolutely no where to go but up. "Worst in 35 years" and running behind HMOs wrt public confidence is quite an achievement.
Nany and Harry must be very proud tonight.
Via Dan Collins at PW
Posted by: Rick Ballard | June 20, 2008 at 08:47 PM
The new politician, same as the old politician.
Posted by: Sue | June 20, 2008 at 08:55 PM
I wonder how much longer the Democrats will be able to cling to their claim that they are at a financial disadvantage compared to the Republicans?
(I know people who believe this.)
Posted by: qrstuv | June 20, 2008 at 08:58 PM
According to Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., Obama then said, “However, I need to make a decision in the next few months as to how I manage that since I’m running against John McCain, which takes a lot of time. If women take a moment to realize that on every issue important to women, John McCain is not in their corner, that would help them get over it.”
Via http://hotair.com/archives/2008/06/20/obama-to-clinton-supporters-it-would-help-if-youd-just-get-over-it/>Hot Air
Posted by: Sue | June 20, 2008 at 09:03 PM
Perhaps he wants women to assume their proper position in the revolution.
============================
Posted by: kim | June 20, 2008 at 09:12 PM
I see the eagle is still clinging bitterly to that bunch of arrows. Economic insecurity, no doubt. The olive branch must represent religion, then.
Posted by: Paul Zrimsek | June 20, 2008 at 09:13 PM
Charlie:
Hey, does anyone recall a photoshop of the Obama "Hope" poster, with "hope" changed to "Obey"? If so, I'd sure love to find it again.
I took a quick look and didn't find it. I do recall it, but can't remember where it was...
So, here's a quick stab at it. Not professional, but serviceable, and you are welcome to it...
Posted by: hit and run | June 20, 2008 at 09:56 PM
The seal may not be illegal but is shows what as ass he is and that he has no respect for the office of POTUS.
Nothing new to Hussein opting out of public financing. He just exercised his right as a democrat to be a liar, time after time. Not to worry, the democrat MSM will cover for him.
Posted by: Scrapiron | June 20, 2008 at 09:56 PM
I find the use of the seal offensive. But then, I find Obama offensive so I'm probably not objective on the issue.
Posted by: Sue | June 20, 2008 at 10:00 PM
I think his campaign is making such a play for the MTV crowd it risks looking positively adolescent--and then there are those 527 ads...urgh...
Posted by: clarice | June 20, 2008 at 10:05 PM
"In 2008, it is the non-Bush candidate, and America will get what it deserves."
That's true, and it will probably be McCain.
Posted by: ben | June 20, 2008 at 10:11 PM
Whinging about campaign artwork?
Well, if that's the best material you've got (and after seeing your candidate on the stump, I may have to join in that conclusion), I say, have at it.
link
---
Barack finally has his bounce. For weeks many political experts and pollsters have been wondering why the race between Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain had stayed so tight, even after the Illinois senator wrested the nomination from Hillary Clinton. With numbers consistently showing rock-bottom approval ratings for President Bush and a large majority of Americans unhappy with the country's direction, the opposing-party candidate should, in the normal course, have attracted more disaffected voters. Now it looks as if Obama is doing just that. A new NEWSWEEK Poll shows that he has a substantial double-digit lead, 51 percent to 36 percent, over McCain among registered voters nationwide.
--snip--
For now, however, Obama is running much stronger at this point in the race than his two most recent Democratic predecessors, Sen. John Kerry and Vice President Al Gore, who both failed in their bids to win the White House. In a July 2004 NEWSWEEK Poll, Kerry led Bush by only 6 points (51 percent to 45 percent). In June 2000, Gore was in a dead heat with Bush (45 percent to 45 percent)—which is essentially where he ended up when that razor-thin election was finally decided.
---
Posted by: eightnine2718281828mu5 | June 20, 2008 at 10:23 PM
Really, his fund raising is down..gallup has the two candidates in a dead heat, Michael Hirsh and Newseek are so full of it.
Posted by: clarice | June 20, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Except he only raised $22 million in May. Not on track for 1/2 billion in June?
Posted by: Sue | June 20, 2008 at 10:25 PM
---
Newseek are so full of it.
---
You like Rasmussen better?
link
---
The Rasmussen Reports Balance of Power Calculator (see methodology below) shows Barack Obama leading in states with 200 Electoral College votes while John McCain leads in states with 174 votes. When leaners are included, Obama leads 284-240. On Friday, June 20, Colorado moved from Leans Democratic to Toss-Up but Ohio did the reverse, moving from Toss-Up to Leans Democratic.
---
Posted by: eightnine2718281828mu5 | June 20, 2008 at 10:30 PM
Hang on to that thought. 89.
Posted by: clarice | June 20, 2008 at 10:35 PM
2004 anyone? Not that I think McCain will win. I just remember everyone saying the same thing in 04 about Kerry. However, the press has gotten better at propping Obama up.
Posted by: Sue | June 20, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Won't other Democrats be angry that Obama is taking money that might have gone to them? Doesn't his decision thus help the Republicans?
Posted by: Ralph L | June 20, 2008 at 10:39 PM
Newsweek failed to disclose to you, eightnine, that Obama's big lead was among voters registered Democratic.
============================
Posted by: kim | June 20, 2008 at 10:41 PM
Here's the report on May fundraising:
Obama: $22 million, $46 million cash on hand
McCain: $21 million, $31.6 million cash on hand
DNC: $4 million cash on hand
RNC: $53.5 million cash on hand
From the article:
Considering Obama had to outspend Clinton 3 to 1 in order to barely defeat her, and now he has to negotiate with her on a way to retire her debt, I'm thinking his lowest ever fundraising month this year is making him a little nervous.
Posted by: Porchlight | June 20, 2008 at 10:43 PM
Yup, campaign artwork is the best we got.
Well, that and using his race against him.
Oh wait. We don't do that. He only accuses us of it.
So, $22M in May for Obama. Well -- he won't be paying off Hillary's debt with that, and he won't be making up the shortfall for Denver. He spent $26M for the month.
Pathetic.
89, why are you so stingy? Get out your wallet and give until it hurts...
Posted by: hit and run | June 20, 2008 at 10:45 PM
Ralph brings up an interesting point. Isn't Obama taking money away from other democrats by not taking the public financing?
Posted by: Sue | June 20, 2008 at 10:46 PM
Well, gonna go watch a movie with the family.
Have a good evening, all.
Posted by: eightnine2718281828mu5 | June 20, 2008 at 10:54 PM
Elliott:
"Is Obama's Great Seal Illegal?"
A hefty fine and 6 months in the slammer sounds just about perfect, no? We've got yr poetic justice right here!
Posted by: JM Hanes | June 20, 2008 at 11:04 PM
ok 89 is back!
Dude..you do try so much..Numbers don't mean anything right now..The battle hasn't yet begun..The dance in front of the bon fire has yet to happen. Numbers mean absolutely nothing.
Some people think money will win an election..and it helps..But i think image and ideas win..But anyhoo..my trip to nashville this weekend got canceled and mrs.hoopsters trip to NY with the girls has long departed...Shopping in NY..oh lawd..WE did that so long ago...So my friends..I'm blogging here all weekend with several bottles of Napa Valley Merlots..( BV)
And prayying to gawd i don't say anything to get banned,, :)
Posted by: HoosierHoops | June 20, 2008 at 11:07 PM
"Barack finally has his Methodology bounce."
FIFY.
Posted by: JM Hanes | June 20, 2008 at 11:15 PM
Hoopster:
my trip to nashville this weekend got canceled
mrs hit and run and the kids just got back from Nashville tonight.
Posted by: hit and run | June 20, 2008 at 11:24 PM
Who would of thought that 89 had a family? That is scary.
They are probably watching RECOUNT on HBO. Ha Ha
Posted by: Ann | June 20, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Who would of thought that 89 had a family?
Don't most 14-year-olds have families?
Posted by: jimmyk | June 20, 2008 at 11:36 PM
hey hit!!
I'll bet all the oil in ANWAR that mrs. hit wasn't just returning from printers alley in Nashville.. :)
great web site you got hit...
Posted by: HoosierHoops | June 20, 2008 at 11:36 PM
Well you are right about that. She was suburbanizing it up out in Brentwood.
And thx for the compliment.
Posted by: hit and run | June 20, 2008 at 11:44 PM
Is an old joke about politicians worth a small animated .gif?
Of course, as Homer often said, it's funny because it's true.
Posted by: Jim Glass | June 21, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Hit, that was so perfectly what I was thinking about it kind of freaks me out.
Posted by: Charlie (Colorado) | June 21, 2008 at 01:11 AM
"My guess is that none of Obama's supporters will care, and that the various media outlets that are bemoaning this today, such as the Times and the WaPo, will endorse him in October, even though John McCain has been the champion of McCain-Feingold."
The Times is doing more tut-tutting than bemoaning:
Am I the only one who missed that invitation? What are these ominous "shadow groups known as 527s"? Apparently, they didn't seem so slimy back when they were spending that thar money on sliming Petraeus in the NYTimes. Our favorite Editorial Board must feel so conflicted! They know they've got to say something: And the Times' condemnation is quite possibly even less than half-hearted. They give Obama a pass on opting out of the half that's not broken with a stern admonition to....Russ Feingold! They are "counting on Mr. Feingold’s vow to hold Mr. Obama to his promise to make public financing reform a high priority if he wins." That's the ticket! Lest they seem harsh: You got that right? Republican shadow ops are slimy, liberal shadow ops are freewheeling. Allow me to translate: Why should Obama have to shoulder the blame for dealing the death blow to public financing when we can find a way to pretend that McCain is equally responsible?The forthright Washington Post supplies a welcome palette cleanser:
When they dispense with admirable/commendable/understandable qualifiers altogether, I'm guessing the thrill is gone. Perhaps the Post's endorsement will not be the gimme we expect.Posted by: JM Hanes | June 21, 2008 at 01:25 AM
"Barack finally has his Methodology bounce."
A Registered voter poll with 23% Republicans and 89 has the nerve to show his face here with that weak carp. No wonder he hightailed it out of here. Drop a turd and run.
Posted by: JB | June 21, 2008 at 01:44 AM
"Barack finally has his Methodology bounce."
A Registered voter poll with 23% Republicans and 89 has the nerve to show his face here with that weak carp. No wonder he hightailed it out of here. Drop a turd and run.
Posted by: JB | June 21, 2008 at 01:44 AM
Obama throws his public financing pledge under the bus. His presidency can be defined as throwing stuff under busses.
Posted by: Barry Dauphin | June 21, 2008 at 01:48 AM
This further confirms my paranoia that Obama is getting some extra financing from some unsavory rich sources somewhere, perhaps some of it questionable. Maybe not on purpose, but it might be "no questions asked", just like he seemed to be unquestioning throughout his whole political life. Chavez, the election medler comes to mind, or Soros, or Arab oil money, the Euros, lots of possibilities. But he is def getting big bucks, an unusual amount, from somewhere, and I don't think it's all broke college students.
Posted by: sylvia | June 21, 2008 at 02:44 AM
OT, Bailout Angelo Bill, but Conrad's angry by the bad PR
Conrad angry about negative publicity
Posted by: Topsecretk9 | June 21, 2008 at 03:01 AM
This is rich. Guess who the Times was probably talking about when they commended Obama for having "discouraged donors from helping the freewheeling, 527 shadow operations of liberal sympathizers"?
MoveOn To Close Its 527 In Response To Obama's Candidacy
Per Jim Geraghty, those small donations could look attractive for a lot of different reasons:
sylvia:Perfect timing! I immediately thought of you, and the questions you posed a couple of weeks ago, when I was reading the Geraghty piece I quoted above.
Posted by: JM Hanes | June 21, 2008 at 04:17 AM
I read that article also and was amazed. Sure sounds like there could be some funny business going on. PayPal comes to mind quickly.
Posted by: glasater | June 21, 2008 at 04:44 AM
In the UK a couple of thieves who'd stolen credit cards had used them to contribute to Obama's campaign.
Maybe JOM should start it's own 527 for McCain..
Posted by: clarice | June 21, 2008 at 07:00 AM
**its own**
Posted by: clarice | June 21, 2008 at 07:00 AM
Soros has moved his money to other pro Obama groups. The MSM should get on to this.
Posted by: davod | June 21, 2008 at 07:00 AM
The problem with any dirty work going on is that nothing will be done to correct it until after the elections and the penaltiy will be a slap on the wrist.
You can win the Presidency fraudulently and get away with it.
Posted by: davod | June 21, 2008 at 07:02 AM
Sorry for the multiple posts.
I read something a while back which indicated McCain might have a problem opting out out of federal funding because of the loans he received when he had little money. The problem was he ouldn't get a ruling from the FEC.
Why? because there are not enough members on the FEC to make a ruling and the Dems won't seat anyone else.
Posted by: davod | June 21, 2008 at 07:06 AM
JM,
I'm unclear. Did Moveon do this at the request of Obama?
Posted by: Sue | June 21, 2008 at 07:23 AM
Good Morning guys! Don't look now, but it's summer!
I've long-since smelled a rat in the Obama finance thing. Then again, I smell a lot of rats this campaign season.
Posted by: Jane | June 21, 2008 at 07:46 AM
Sue, by law candidates are forbidden to coordinate with 517s.
The entire federal campaign financing law is a gift to lawbreakers especially this year with no real FEC --though whatever they do when operational is too little too late.
Posted by: clarice | June 21, 2008 at 07:58 AM
OT,
Obama says Republicans will use race to stoke fear
It doesn't matter how clean a race McCain runs - this is what he'll get in return.
No matter what happens in November, it appears that Obama has a long, long career ahead of him as a race hustler.
Posted by: Porchlight | June 21, 2008 at 09:11 AM
***527s****
Posted by: clarice | June 21, 2008 at 09:29 AM
I'm with Sylvia on the Obama money suspicions.
About that Obama seal. Any campaign supporter with a little artistic talent could create that and place on the web and no big deal. I think, though, there is something almost buffoonish about a candidate placing it on his dais and being photographed with it while he speaks to a supposedly serious group of supporters. He comes off looking so cartoonish. Y'know, yuck yuck, and all.
And, finally Porchlight, I think Barry O has been a race hustler all his life, no reason why he won't continue to carry on that tradition.
I see Obama not as the Manchurian Candidate, but the Soros Candidate. Time will tell if he pulls it off and, so far, it looks as though he may.
Posted by: centralcal | June 21, 2008 at 09:46 AM
Porchlight,
He's just laying more groundwork for the career which he will pursue after his defeat. Well, he'll pursue it unless Fitz puts him in a cell next to Rezko and Blag. Or maybe Sharpton - it looks like the Feds are going to make his life interesting for a bit.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | June 21, 2008 at 09:47 AM
Rick, why didn't oil prices drop after the Saudi announcement that they'd pump more oil?
Posted by: clarice | June 21, 2008 at 09:58 AM
Clarice,
It's not just the Saudi announcement. You have to toss in the cut in subsidy by India, China and several other Asian nations. Then set the actual reduction in consumption in the US on top of that. Then add in the additional production scheduled to come on line in '08-'09 (including some 400 kbd from domestic producers in the GOM).
Then put the estimates that the world economy is at a "pause point" at the moment as a cherry on top.
I believe we're about to find out if the whiz kids running the black boxes at the commodities hedge funds are any brighter than the ones who set up all the nice mortgage and debt swap investments which made Bear Stearns what it is today.
Alternatively, it's a new world in which trees really can grow clear to the sky.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | June 21, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Yes But so far..nada..I think it inexplicable.(I'm about to float the notion that this is a plot by energy producers to force Congress off the dime on ANWR and OCS drilling and to elect McCain.)
Posted by: clarice | June 21, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Ann, Rick,
Yes, I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that "new kind of politics" just means "new kind of race hustling."
Poking around on Lexis last week I came across a transcript of an NPR by Obama from 1994, responding to The Bell Curve. Here's a sample:
Sounds familiar, huh?
Posted by: Porchlight | June 21, 2008 at 11:52 AM
Sorry, that should read "of an NPR audio piece" - I don't know what to call it, it's not an interview, more like an editorial.
Posted by: Porchlight | June 21, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Could be clarice, More likely it was a play by Soros and possibly Buffett connected funds to stoke discontent, among the American people. an American variant on the
blockade that provoke the Chilean trucker's strike in '72-73. It's not surprising that Soros has come up with a 'excuse" as a concept to hide these maneuvers'reflexivity'
89 is distressing not for his hack work, that's to be expected; but for his lack of
erudition that be the hallmark of a Soros
organization (the bankrollers of Air America
Radio, CAP and the Keith Olbermann Primal
Scream Therapy Hour; otherwise known as CountDown) One recalls, that once upon a time, in the column that coined the term
'laphamization' because it reported on events which hasn't happened yet. The scion of San Francisco miners, posited the old
right wing conspiracy chestnut; with one example Joe Scarborough, being the beneficiary of the "evil" Richard Mellon Scaife; that apparently didn't last long as
he was spouting the same uniformed drivel
with 8 monthes, including the Katrina apocalypse dirge; except for the cannibals at the Superdome, and the RPGs at the landing pad
Posted by: narciso | June 21, 2008 at 11:53 AM
I've said before, and I'll say again, Obama's whole campaign is based on racism. The problem is that it is a strategy designed to appeal to the guilt of white liberals, big surprise. One of the reasons that Obama is having trouble with working class whites is that almost all of them have had plenty of workplace exposure to black people and they have absorbed the lesson that it is the content of your character, not the color of skin, that is important. These people are appalled that Obama could use such a backward attitude as he has, and insulted that he thinks they haven't changed.
But shhhh. Don't tell the Dems that. I want them to appeal to white liberal guilt. It's a loser.
===================================
Posted by: kim | June 21, 2008 at 12:26 PM
Via HotAir, Mark Shields rips Obama on opting out of public financing:
Brooks shows more sympathy toward Obama than Shields does in this clip. Pretty tasty stuff, esp. considering it's PBS (!).
Posted by: Porchlight | June 21, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Don't tell me what I will do, 'cos I won't
Don't tell me to believe in you, 'cos I don't
Be on your guard, better hostile and ha
--don't risk affection
Like flesh to the bone in the no-go zone
you're still looking for the resurrection
Come up to me with your "What did you say?"
and I'll tell you straight in the eye
D.I.Y. D.I.Y. D.I.Y. D.I.Y. D.I.Y. D.I.Y. D.I.Y. D.I.Y.
do it yourself
Everyone want to be what he not, what he not
Nobody happy with what he got, what he got
You function like a dummy with a new ventriloquist
do you say nothing yourself?
Hanging like a thriller on the final twist
--you know you're getting stuck on the shelf
Come up to me with your "What did you say?"
and I'll tell you straight in the eye
D.I.Y. D.I.Y. D.I.Y. D.I.Y.
When things get so big, I don't trust them at all
You want some control -- you've got to keep it small
D.I.Y. D.I.Y. D.I.Y. D.I.Y.
do it yourself
Posted by: Neo | June 21, 2008 at 12:52 PM
OT...thought you'd enjoy this from an environmental activist.
Thank goodness for men like Al Gore!
Posted by: Rocco | June 21, 2008 at 12:53 PM
Here's the kicker, those working class whites are already looking past the color of Obama's skin, and seeing the content of his character. This is a huge national joke, completely missed by the blindered media.
========================
Posted by: kim | June 21, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Rocco, sounds a lot like The Great Leap Forward. And look how that turned out.
Posted by: Porchlight | June 21, 2008 at 12:58 PM
Oops, I meant the Great Leap Forward in reverse. A modern industsrialized economy going backwards to DIY agriculture.
Posted by: Porchlight | June 21, 2008 at 01:00 PM
Intentional poverty only appeals to guilt-ridden liberals.
================================
Posted by: kim | June 21, 2008 at 01:02 PM
They can have my molars when they pry them from my cold dead mouth.
Posted by: Rocco | June 21, 2008 at 01:24 PM
Narciso--I've wondered about the Soros and oil connection for some time regarding what his hedgefund is able to do. But that would take a very serious amount of money.
Posted by: glasater | June 21, 2008 at 01:28 PM
"vero possumus" Gotta mean the true possum, and great philosopher, Pogo, who once said, "We have met the enemy and he is us."
Posted by: Larry | June 21, 2008 at 01:43 PM
Porchlight,
That's a great find. Also, I think I linked to it before, but here's Ward Connerly on Obama:
If you need to get your blood pressure up, read the section on Missouri from this City Journal article.
Posted by: Elliott | June 21, 2008 at 01:44 PM
So much for BHO holding the line against lobbyists.
From Robert Novak
Posted by: glasater | June 21, 2008 at 02:39 PM
Thanks for that link, Elliott - I had no idea about those initiatives. Thank goodness for Ward Connerly. Will be very interesting to see how it plays out in Missouri, especially.
Posted by: Porchlight | June 21, 2008 at 02:48 PM
A new NEWSWEEK Poll shows that he has a substantial double-digit lead, 51 percent to 36 percent, over McCain among registered voters nationwide.
---
“Let’s talk a little media bias here. The media, I think, wants Kerry to win. And I think they’re going to portray Kerry and Edwards — I’m talking about the establishment media, not Fox — but they’re going to portray Kerry and Edwards as being young and dynamic and optimistic and all. There’s going to be this glow about them that some, is going to be worth, collectively, the two of them, that’s going to be worth maybe 15 points.”
— Newsweek Assistant Managing Editor Evan Thomas on the July 10 Inside Washington.
Posted by: eightnine2718281828mu5 | June 21, 2008 at 03:34 PM
Narciso,
I do think there is a fair chance that Soros and either Buffet or someone like him (say, a Desmarais) instigated the run up. I still believe that the President Day weekend ploy was a serious attempt to crack the worldwide economy. If the Fed had not stepped in on Sunday and Monday, we could have easily seen a 1,000 point single day drop with some very negative worldwide consequences.
That said, I don't think Soros is still throwing money at oil at the moment. The market appears to be floating on "house money" earned in the runup. Toss in some "mad money" from the $17 trillion in privately managed pension funds chasing speculative returns and you wind up with oil sitting in thin air like Wily E. Coyote.
Posted by: Rick Ballard | June 21, 2008 at 03:47 PM
Via HotAir, Mark Shields rips Obama on opting out of public financing
I'm glad Shields provides the 527 info in his column. I went searching for same just the other day and was astonished to learn that in 2004 only four of the top 20 527s were pro-Bush (the four took five slots on the list since Club for Growth was listed twice for some reason, but really the Swift Boat Vets were anti-Kerry rather than pro-Bush). Warmed the cockles to see all that spent money and effort for naught.
And the hits keep on coming: Obama’s Halo Seriously Flickering
Posted by: SukieTawdry | June 21, 2008 at 06:14 PM
Oddly, when I first saw this Obama-seal, the first thing I thought of was that the shade of blue that was used seemed to make it fit so well into the 1984 Apple Macintosh commercial.
Now if somebody can make the woman look like Cindy McCain and affix the Obama seal to the main screen .. priceless.
Posted by: Neo | June 21, 2008 at 08:13 PM
The whole Osama as Messiah talk reminded me of Mario Puzo's mostly forgetable Last Kennedy novel; written in 1990. It featured
a wunderkind law professor, supported by some mysterious former intelligence figures
who waged a conflict in the middle east, against some Arab regime, that was protected
by American mercenaries. There was a nuclear plot that figured into it; and a failed interrogation, and it ended with an
assasination by some lone gunman.
Posted by: narciso | June 21, 2008 at 08:32 PM
Well, Narciso--guess I won't be tracking that book down any time soon:-)
Posted by: glasater | June 21, 2008 at 11:11 PM
"what is to stop someone from working around the $2,300 per candidate per race limit by donating, say, $19,900 in a hundred donations of $199?"
Exactly JM Hanes. I wonder who will look into this, if anyone. Probably no one. And I'm sure they studied the laws enough to squeak by on a technicality anyway, without any smoking gun.
Posted by: sylvia | June 22, 2008 at 07:11 AM
And not only that, with rich sponsors, there is probably a way for them to squeak in getting you the organizational help you need. Low paid advisors, etc, with some top talent and experience, paid in the promise of future favors. Research gathered. Networks to tap into. Could this be one reason Obama, a relative newbie, ran a campaign that was so famously organized?
Posted by: sylvia | June 22, 2008 at 07:19 AM
Is there a law that Allah's annointed one, the Mahdi, the Dalibama must be consistent? Where is it written that he must honor his promises to dhimmies? The annointed one is not flip flopping, only serving a noble cause and uniting us in a way that Rev. Wright would approve us.
Blessed be the Dalibama, messanger of Allah.
Yes we can!
Posted by: Thomas Jackson | June 26, 2008 at 12:04 AM