Acropolis Review

Welcome to Acropolis Review

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 04:59:00 +0000

Acropolis Review is a global partnership between its authors and its readers. From a perspective in Washington, this partnership is committed to reviewing the connection between important global currents and the American tradition of liberal economics, pluralism and liberty for the individual as well as the multicultural gift of liberal democratic government bequeathed to us by the civic leaders of ancient Athens and Rome. Roots matter at AR. The progressive leaders who inspired the American Revolution – including Madison, Hamilton, Locke and Montesquieu – inform our view as we work under the great progressive charter known as the United States Constitution in pursuit of a “more perfect Union” of liberal democracy at home and in solidarity with individual freedom worldwide. Liberal democracy creates the best nexus between the rule of law and the vibrant functioning of free markets worldwide. The community of global business leaders plays an indispensable role in the expansion of the rule of law and the salutary ascendance of liberal democracy as a universal template for public governance. Whilst the United States of America occupies an indispensable role in this vast undertaking, the citizens of the great state of Texas occupy a pivotal place in the formation of national consensus in the United States of America and, therefore, in world affairs.

Acropolis Review is an independent undertaking which is not endorsed or authorized by any candidate for office.

Please note that articles at AR will be infrequent. Bookmarking the site or registering for one of the free subscription services in the lower left column is recommended if you are interested by what you see here. Feel free to share any articles published at Acropolis Review by making use of the “E-mail this post” feature at the end of each article or by clicking on one of the network logos appearing at the end of each post.

AR readers may be interested in the collection of books and films recommended in the Media Store at right.

Acropolis Review accepts the submission of thoughtful commentaries for possible publication here if they are convincingly written and are relevant to the issues listed at left. Commentaries in foreign languages are welcomed if they are accompanied by a true English translation.

Acropolis Review thanks all who have lent their support to this effort.

2008 Democratic Senate Candidate Races

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 06:35:00 +0000

The time has come for the United States of America to change course away from the Bush-Cheney era. Voters in Texas can take the lead in moving forward out of our current morass by electing Lt. Col. Rick Noriega to the seat in the United States Senate currently held by John Cornyn, III. Leaders of the business community in each of the states are uniquely positioned to contribute to the enormous task of changing course in favor of a progressive approach to accomplishing the nation's business. Domestic religious leaders may also offer their own illumination of the moral underpinnings of the salient issues the Democratic candidates for the Senate will seek to address. Most important, Republicans across the nation can play a decisive role in helping the nation change course definitively.

States with active races are Texas, Kentucky, Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi (2 races), Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming (2 races). Defending incumbents are running in Arkansas, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and West Virginia.

Take a look at the candidates running to represent your state in the United States Senate, or support one or more of the candidates from any of the states listed below.

Readers of Acropolis Review who are uncertain about which Senate candidate to support, can also make a secure contribution directly to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) HERE. Declared candidates for each active race are listed below by state.

TEXAS

Lt. Col. Rick Noriega vs. John Cornyn, III

Contribute HERE for Rick Noriega.

KENTUCKY

Bruce Lunsford vs. Mitch McConnell

Contribute HERE for Bruce Lunsford.

ALABAMA
Vivian Davis Figures vs. Jeff Sessions

Contribute HERE for Vivian Davis Figures.

ALASKA
Mark Begich vs. Ted Stevens

Contribute HERE for Mark Begich.

COLORADO
Mark Udall vs. Wayne Allard

Contribute HERE for Mark Udall.

GEORGIA
Jim Martin vs. Saxby Chambliss

Contribute HERE for Jim Martin.

IDAHO

Larry Larrocco v. Jim Risch

Contribute HERE for Larry Larrocco.

KANSAS
Jim Slattery vs. Pat Roberts

Contribute HERE for Jim Slattery.

MAINE
Tom Allen vs. Susan Collins

Contribute HERE for Tom Allen.

MINNESOTA

Al Franken vs. Norm Coleman [Embarrassing Video]

Contribute HERE for Al Franken.

MISSISSIPPI (2 separate races)

1) Ronnie Musgrove vs. Roger Wicker

2) Erik Fleming vs. Thad Cochran

Contribute HERE for Ronnie Musgrove.

Contribute HERE for Erik Fleming.

NEBRASKA
Scott Kleeb vs. Mike Johanns

Contribute HERE for Scott Kleeb.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Jeanne Shaheen vs. John Sununu

Contribute HERE for Jeanne Shaheen.

NEW MEXICO
Tom Udall vs. Unknown

Contribute HERE for Tom Udall.

NORTH CAROLINA
Kay Hagan vs. Elizabeth Dole

Contribute HERE for Kay Hagan.

OKLAHOMA
Andrew Rice vs. James Inhofe
Contribute HERE for Andrew Rice.

OREGON
Jeff Merkley vs. Gordon Smith

Contribute HERE for Jeff Merkley.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Bob Conley vs. Lindsey Graham

TENNESSEE
Robert D. Tuke vs. Lamar Alexander

Contribute HERE for Bob Tuke.

VIRGINIA
Mark Warner vs. Jim Gilmore

Contribute HERE to Mark Warner.

WYOMING (2 separate races)
1) Chris Rothfuss vs. Mike Enzi
2) Nick Carter vs. John Barrasso

Contribute HERE for Chris Rothfuss.

Contribute HERE for Nick Carter.

DEFENDING INCUMBENTS

Contribute to the DSCC HERE.

ARKANSAS

Mark Pryor vs. Unopposed

DELAWARE

Joe Biden vs. Unknown

ILLINOIS

Dick Durbin vs. Steve Sauerberg

IOWA

Tom Harkin vs. Steve Rathje

LOUISIANA

Mary Landrieu vs. John Kennedy

MASSACHUSETTS

John Kerry vs. Jeff Beatty

MICHIGAN

Carl Levin vs. Unknown

MONTANA
Max Baucus vs. Unknown

NEW JERSEY

Frank Lautenberg vs. Andy Unanue

RHODE ISLAND

Jack Reed vs. Unknown

SOUTH DAKOTA

Tim Johnson vs. Unknown

WEST VIRGINIA

John Rockefeller vs. Unknown

Top Reasons to Give Barack Obama Your Vote and Support

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 05:05:00 +0000

At the inception of this undertaking, it was not anticipated that drawing attention to the many strengths of Barack Obama's candidacy for the presidency would be a substantial focus. However, the difficulty of our times calls for progressive Americans to assess the contenders for the Democratic Party nomination dispassionately and to offer whatever support we are able to give so that preparations for November can begin with the necessary urgency. Below is a compilation of some of the many reasons to consider supporting Senator Obama's candidacy for the nomination and for the presidency.

Please feel free to share this collection with undecided friends in states which have not yet voted on the nomination by making use of the E-mail this post feature below.

A summary by Acropolis Review of several endorsements of Barack Obama’s fitness to serve as president of the United States.
Solutions [PDF] to our national challenges.

Courageous and wise leadership concerning the best national security approach for defeating Al Qaeda and the influence of Usama bin Laden.

Senator Obama’s understanding of the human and economic costs of the Bush-McCain-Cornyn-McConnell nation-building experiment in Iraq.

A patriotic vision of American foreign policy that pays tribute to historic American values.

Unifying leadership for a nation of many pluralisms.

The embrace of the leadership of several, powerful and distinguished women.

Preparedness to address Karl Rove’s impending lies and swiftboating vigorously.

Potential to re-draw the electoral map.

An ability to inspire the respect of principled Republicans in the South and around the nation.

Senator Obama’s pragmatic and just views on the illegal immigration issue.

Leadership - a demonstrated ability to deliver inconvenient truth.

Christian values that confuse many detractors who embrace fiction.

A new American name shared with colleague of President Ronald Reagan and leader of a strategic ally of the United States the late King Hussein I of Jordan.

Wall Street appears to have confidence in Senator Obama’s capacity to offer sound economic stewardship during a period of economic difficulty and strain for millions of Americans.

Inspiration of the citizenry.

Hope. Dum spiro spero.

You can securely support this unprecedented campaign for transformative change through a contribution HERE.

VIDEO: "Let's Get to Work"

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 02:58:00 +0000

Senator Obama's final appeal to the American people to carry on with working for the delivery of change and hope on November 4, 2008... Dum spiro spero.

VIDEO: Address of Senator Barack H. Obama at the DNC Convention in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 02:47:00 +0000

Senator Obama addressed the American people in his historic appearance in Denver, Colorado.

VIDEO: Address of Senator Joseph R. Biden, Jr. at the DNC Convention in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:53:00 +0000

Senator Biden addressed the American people in his historic address in Denver, Colorado.

VIDEO: Rick Noriega for Texas vs. John Cornyn

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 22:35:00 +0000

In the aftermath of the foreseeably disastrous banking crisis incumbent Senator John Cornyn helped create through his lockstep support of George W. Bush's philosophy of casino economics, and in the equally catastrophic case of John Cornyn's costly national security policy misjudgements that have cost and will cost the United States dearly in lives and dollars while Usama bin Laden still ranges free, the choice for Texas is clear. So far the Noriega campaign has not managed to draw these essential national security and economic policy contrasts of values in the clearest terms possible for the benefit of voters across Texas.

It is time for some of the leading strategic communications firms to offer their services at low rates to this promising candidate if they care seriously about changing the course of our nation away from the record of devastation recorded by John Cornyn and George W. Bush. Is Mark Penn listening?

In order to deliver his message of change, Rick Noriega needs your vote and your support everywhere across Texas today. Make a secure donation HERE.

Noriega vs. Cornyn in Debate

VIDEO: Ret. General Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:05:00 +0000

Retired General Colin Powell, who advised former Republican President Ronald Reagan, former Republican President George H. W. Bush and current Republican President George W. Bush has endorsed Senator Barack Obama in his campaign for the presidency.

General Powell achieved fame through his application of what has been termed the Powell Doctrine of overwhelming military force against enemies, which should be used only after the complete exhaustion of every tool of American diplomatic power. Use of the Powell Doctrine in the first Gulf War of 1991 resulted in swift military victory against Iraq, mission accomplishment, low costs in precious lives and low economic costs to the American taxpayer for that military undertaking. This is in stark contrast to the costly approach taken in the current effort in Iraq.

George W. Bush, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Senator John S. McCain repudiated the true intent of the Powell Doctrine in the critical period between August of 2002 and March of 2003. Colin Powell's endorsement is far reaching, dispassionate and sober in its expression of pragmatic Republican conceptions of wise national security and economic policy leadership for the nation. Video below.

The Senate: Andrew Rice for Oklahoma

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:04:00 +0000

Andrew Rice is running hard for Oklahoma to defeat James Inhofe and his record of lockstep support for Bush-McCain-Inhofe economics and national security policy failures. Progressive, centrist, moderate and not so moderate Republican voters all across Oklahoma are rallying to Andrew Rice. You can support his candidacy by making a secure contribution HERE.

Andrew Rice will offer better economic policy for Oklahomans - including tax relief for those who need it - and a change of course away from the failed and costly national security misjudgements of James Inhofe, John McCain and George W. Bush.

In light of the heavy travel burden which Senator Obama and Senator Biden must bear in the days ahead, hopefully former Senator Max Cleland can find a little time to help this promising candidate for the Senate.

Feel free to ask other Oklahomans and friends of Oklahoma to support Andrew Rice's candidacy for the United States Senate by making use of the E-mail this post and other share features below to help broaden his base of support. With your help, Andrew Rice will be on his way to victory on November 4th.

The Senate: Scott Kleeb for Nebraska

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:54:00 +0000

Scott Kleeb is running hard for Nebraska to defeat Mike Johanns and his record of lockstep support for Bush-McCain economics and national security policy failures. Progressive, centrist, moderate and not so moderate Republican voters all across Nebraska are rallying to Scott Kleeb. You can support his candidacy by making a secure contribution HERE.

Scott Kleeb will offer better economic policy for Nebraskans - including tax relief for those who need it - and a change of course away from the failed and costly national security misjudgements of John McCain and George W. Bush.

In light of the heavy travel burden which Senator Obama and Senator Biden must bear in the days ahead, hopefully former Senator Max Cleland can find a little time to help this promising candidate for the Senate.

Feel free to ask other Nebraskans and friends of Nebraska to support Scott Kleeb's candidacy for the United States Senate by making use of the E-mail this post and other share features below to help broaden his base of support. With your help, Scott Kleeb will be on his way to victory on November 4th.

The Senate: Vivian Davis Figures for Alabama

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:52:00 +0000

Vivian Davis Figures is running hard for Alabama to defeat Jeff Sessions and his record of lockstep support for Bush-McCain-Sessions economics and national security policy failures. Progressive, centrist, moderate and not so moderate Republican voters all across Alabama are rallying to Vivian Davis Figures. You can support her candidacy by making a secure contribution HERE.

Vivian Davis Figures will offer better economic policy for Alabamans - including tax relief for those who need it - and a change of course away from the failed and costly national security misjudgements of Jeff Sessions, John McCain and George W. Bush.

In light of the heavy travel burden which Senator Obama and Senator Biden must surely bear in the days ahead, hopefully former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton or former Senator Max Cleland can find a little time to help this promising candidate for the Senate. Alabama is ready to look seriously at her offer of change.

Feel free to ask other Alabamans and friends of Alabama to support Vivian Davis Figures' candidacy for the United States Senate by making use of the E-mail this post and other share features below to help broaden her base of support. With your help, Vivian Davis Figures will be on her way to victory on November 4th.

The Senate: Kay Hagan for North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:51:00 +0000

Kay Hagan is running hard for North Carolina to defeat Elizabeth Dole and her record of lockstep support for Bush-McCain-Dole economic and national security policy failures. Progressive, centrist, moderate and not so moderate Republican voters all across North Carolina are rallying to Kay Hagan. You can support her candidacy by making a secure contribution HERE.

Kay Hagan will offer better economic policy for North Carolinians - including tax relief for those who need it - and a change of course away from the failed and costly national security misjudgements of Elizabeth Dole, John McCain and George W. Bush.

Feel free to ask other North Carolinians and friends of North Carolina to support Kay Hagan's candidacy for the United States Senate by making use of the E-mail this post and other share features below to help broaden her base of support across the state.

The Senate: Jeanne Shaheen for New Hampshire

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 22:50:00 +0000

Jeanne Shaheen is running hard for New Hampshire to defeat John Sununu and his record of lockstep support for Bush-McCain economic and national security policy failures. Progressive, centrist, moderate and not so moderate Republican voters all across New Hampshire are rallying to Jeanne Shaheen. You can support her candidacy by making a secure contribution HERE.

Jeanne Shaheen will offer better economic policy for the people of New Hampshire - including tax relief for those who need it - and a change of course away from the failed and costly national security misjudgements of John Sununu, John McCain and George W. Bush.

Feel free to ask others across New Hampshire and friends of New Hampshire to support Jeanne Shaheen's candidacy for the United States Senate by making use of the E-mail this post and other share features below to help broaden her base of support. With your help, Jeanne Shaheen will be on her way to victory on November 4th.

Elwyn Tinklenberg for Congress

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 17:04:00 +0000

A Minnesota patriot, Elwyn Tinklenberg, needs support from like-minded, patriotic Minnesotans who want a member of Congress to represent Minnesota's sixth district with attention to the district's real needs and a member who will work to ''perfect our Union" in keeping with the best progressive ideals of the American tradition - a great American tradition which his opponent, Michele Bachmann, strangely despises. (Katrina vanden Heuvel portrays Michele Bachmann's extremism in vivid terms in her recent appearance on MSNBC.)

Elwyn Tinklenberg offers unique insight into the macroeconomic infrastructure needs of the nation, which can be improved through policies that promote job growth in the midst of the Iraq Recession Michele Bachmann helped create through her support of lax regulation of the financial sector and her poor understanding of national security. You can offer Elwyn Tinklenberg your support securely either HERE or HERE.

VIDEO: Joe Biden Slams John McCain's Confusion over Strategy & Tactics

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:05:00 +0000

In authoritative and vintage style, Democratic Vice Presidential candidate Joe Biden demolishes the myth of Senator John McCain's understanding of strategy and tactics in the management of American power for our national security policy objectives.

VIDEO: Barack Obama Defeats John McCain on National Security

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:50:00 +0000

Senator Obama won the first presidential debate, which focused on national security and the colossal costs of the Bush-McCain-Cornyn consensus on how and where to use American military power. Highlights of the contrasts in national security judgement between Senator McCain and Senator Obama are presented in this video by Jed Lewison.

VIDEO: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton at the 2008 DNC Convention in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:31:00 +0000

In a robust endorsement of Senator Obama's campaign for the presidency, resplendent in the color of the recent progressive evolution in the Ukraine and deeply in touch with her progressive values, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton gave a magnificent address at the DNC Convention in Denver which rivals her gracious concession speech of this past June following her historic race for the presidency. Invoking the example of Harriet Tubman, Senator Clinton laid out the stakes in this election to leave no doubt about which candidate for the presidency represents the best of traditional, American progressive values concerning our national security portfolio, the Supreme Court and the economy.

Two of her best lines:

"No way, no how, no McCain."

and

"We have a lot of work ahead of us ... the Supreme Court in a right wing headlock."

Senator Clinton will be a powerful force in the remaining weeks of the campaign season, whether speaking on behalf of Senator Obama in Texas or anywhere else around the country. She will remain an important figure in our national conversation for years to come.

The full text of Senator Clinton's speech is available HERE, HERE, and HERE.

VIDEO: Michelle Obama at the 2008 DNC Convention in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:14:00 +0000

Following an introduction by her brother Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama gave a moving portrait of her husband, Senator Obama, of their family together and of their shared progressive values in her address at the DNC Convention. Michelle Obama will be warmly welcomed in Texas and all across the country as First Lady of the United States.

VIDEO: Vice President Al Gore at the 2008 DNC Convention in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:52:00 +0000

Favorite son of Tennessee and former Vice President Al Gore gave a comprehensive and stark presentation on national security, the climate threat, the stakes for the Supreme Court, the Bush-McCain Republican Assault on Reason, and progressive values in his address to the DNC Convention in Denver in support of Barack Obama's candidacy for the presidency. One of Al Gore's best lines: "I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous."

No, the earth is not flat, and "inconvenient truths must be acknowledged if we are to have wise governance." Let us acknowledge the essential role of the 24 million residents of Texas in finding solutions to our national challenges.

VIDEO: President Bill Clinton at the 2008 DNC Convention in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:19:00 +0000

Former President Bill Clinton gave one of his strongest speeches supporting the vision for our national security offered by Senator Barack Obama and Senator Joe Biden and of the colossal economic costs of the Bush-McCain-Cornyn-McConnell approach to managing our national security portfolio. Colorado has not been forgotten. Let us not forget Texas as part of the solution to these challenges.

VIDEO: Howard Dean at the 2008 DNC Convention in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 22:02:00 +0000

Chairman Howard Dean spoke on behalf of the Democratic Party and the Obama-Biden ticket. He also spoke of the importance of registering new voters in Georgia and around the country. Let us not forget Texas.

VIDEO: John Kerry on Patriotism at the 2008 DNC Convention in Denver

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 21:16:00 +0000

Although his important address was ignored by CNN in favor of fatuous chatter, in his commentary concerning our national security and the American tradition of patriotism at the recent Denver Convention, as noted by Huffington Post, Senator John Kerry "hammers McCain and Bush on foreign affairs, charging that their policies have left 'Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban and dictators everywhere...on the march.' " Please share this video with others.

The full text of his remarks appears below the video.

Thank you so much. Four years ago, you gave me the honor of fighting our fight. I was proud to stand with you then, and I am proud to stand with you now, to help elect Barack Obama as President of the United States.
In 2004, we came so close to victory. We are even closer now, and let me tell you, this time we're going to win. Today, the call for change is more powerful than ever, and with more seats in Congress, with more people with more passion engaged in our politics, and with a President Obama, we stand on the brink of the greatest opportunity of our generation to move this country forward.
The stakes could not be higher, because we do know what a McCain administration would look like: just like the past, just like George Bush. And this country can't afford a third Bush term. Just think: John McCain voted with George Bush 90 percent of the time. Ninety percent of George Bush is just more than we can take.
Never in modern history has an administration squandered American power so recklessly. Never has strategy been so replaced by ideology. Never has extremism so crowded out common sense and fundamental American values. Never has short-term partisan politics so depleted the strength of America's bipartisan foreign policy.
George Bush, with John McCain at his side, promised to spread freedom but delivered the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time. They misread the threat and misled the country. Instead of freedom, it's Hamas, Hezbollah, the Taliban and dictators everywhere that are on the march. North Korea has more bombs, and Iran is defiantly chasing one.
Our mission is to restore America's influence and position in the world. We must use
all the weapons in our arsenal, above all, our values. President Obama and Vice
President Biden will shut down Guantanamo, respect the Constitution, and make
clear once and for all, the United States of America does not torture, not now,
not ever.
We must listen and lead by example because even a nation as powerful as the United States needs some friends in this world. We need a leader who understands all our security challenges, not just bombs and guns, but global warming, global terror and global AIDS. And Barack Obama understands there is no way for America to be secure until we create clean energy here at home, not with a little more oil in five, 10 or 20 years, but with an energy revolution starting right now.
I have known and been friends with John McCain for almost 22 years. But every day now I learn something new about candidate McCain. To those who still believe in the myth of a maverick instead of the reality of a politician, I say, let's compare Senator McCain to candidate McCain.
Candidate McCain now supports the wartime tax cuts that Senator McCain once denounced as immoral. Candidate McCain criticizes Senator McCain's own climate change bill. Candidate McCain says he would now vote against the immigration bill that Senator McCain wrote. Are you kidding? Talk about being for it before you're against it.
Let me tell you, before he ever debates Barack Obama, John McCain should finish the debate with himself. And what's more, Senator McCain, who once railed against the smears of Karl Rove when he was the target, has morphed into candidate McCain who is using the same "Rove" tactics and the same "Rove" staff to repeat the same old politics of fear and smear. Well, not this year, not this time. The Rove-McCain tactics are old and outworn, and America will reject them in 2008.
So remember, when we choose a commander-in-chief this November, we are electing judgment and character, not years in the Senate or years on this earth. Time and again, Barack Obama has seen farther, thought harder, and listened better. And time and again, Barack Obama has been proven right.
When John McCain stood on the deck of an aircraft carrier just three months after 9/11 and proclaimed, "Next up, Baghdad!", Barack Obama saw, even then, "an occupation of "undetermined length, undetermined cost, undetermined consequences" that would "only fan the flames of the Middle East." Well, guess what? Mission accomplished.
So who can we trust to keep America safe? When Barack Obama promised to honor the best traditions of both parties and talk to our enemies, John McCain scoffed. George Bush called it "the soft comfort of appeasement." But today, Bush's diplomats are doing exactly what Obama said: talking with Iran.
So who can we trust to keep America safe? When democracy rolled out of Russia, and the tanks rolled into Georgia, we saw John McCain respond immediately with the outdated thinking of the Cold War. Barack Obama responded like a statesman of the 21st century.
So who can we trust to keep America safe? When we called for a timetable to make Iraqis stand up for Iraq and bring our heroes home, John McCain called it "cut and run." But today, even President Bush has seen the light. He and Prime Minister Maliki agree on - guess what? - a timetable.
So who can we trust to keep America safe? The McCain-Bush Republicans have been wrong again and again and again. And they know they will lose on the issues. So, the candidate who once promised a "contest of ideas," now has nothing left but personal attacks. How insulting to suggest that those who question the mission, question the troops. How pathetic to suggest that those who question a failed policy doubt America itself. How desperate to tell the son of a single mother who chose community service over money and privilege that he doesn't put America first.
No one can question Barack Obama's patriotism. Like all of us, he was taught what it means to be an American by his family: his grandmother who worked on a bomber assembly line in World War II, his grandfather who marched in Patton's army, and his great uncle who enlisted in the army right out of high school at the height of the war. And on a spring day in 1945, he helped liberate one of the concentration camps at Buchenwald.
Ladies and gentlemen, Barack Obama's uncle is here with us tonight. Please join me in saluting this American hero, Charlie Payne. Charlie, your nephew, Barack Obama, will end this politics of distortion and division. He will be a president who seeks not to perfect the lies of Swift boating, but to end them once and for all.
This election is a chance for America to tell the merchants of fear and division: you don't decide who loves this country; you don't decide who is a patriot; you don't decide whose service counts and whose doesn't.
Four years ago I said, and I say it again tonight, that the flag doesn't belong to any ideology. It doesn't belong to any political party. It is an enduring symbol of our nation, and it belongs to all the American people. After all, patriotism is not love of power or some cheap trick to win votes; patriotism is love of country.
Years ago when we protested a war, people would weigh in against us saying, "My country right or wrong." Our answer? Absolutely, my country right or wrong. When right, keep it right. When wrong, make it right. Sometimes loving your country demands you must tell the truth to power.
This is one of those times, and Barack Obama is telling those truths.
In closing, let me say, I will always remember how we stood together in 2004, not just in a campaign, but for a cause. Now again we stand together in the ranks, ready to fight. The choice is clear; our cause is just; and now is our time to make Barack Obama the next President of the United States.
Thank you.

The Quote of the Month: Obama's Ohio Onus

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:53:00 +0000

From August's Politico:

It's going to be tight," said Jack Lynch, 80, of Wesley, OH. "There's some
folks around here, they wouldn't vote for a black man if he came walking across
the water with Moses and Christ."

Helen Stricker, 83, said she'd been working on her friends to support
Obama, to no avail.
"I'm old and I would like to ask [the Obama campaign] how
to convince my old relatives and classmates to vote for him," she said. "They're
racist and they're prejudiced and they're going to vote for McCain."

Following the remarkable, unifying success of the Denver Convention, this burden has been lightened to a degree that will become fully apparent on November 4th through the hard work and fairness of the good people of Ohio.

VIDEO: Governor Brian Schweitzer at the 2008 DNC Convention

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:36:00 +0000

PoliticsTV links AR to video of Governor Brian Schweitzer's stirring address to the 2008 DNC Convention in Denver, Colorado, which endorsed Senator Barack Obama's nomination to represent the Democratic Party and ended with these words: "That's it, baby, let's go win this election!"

Endorsements of Barack Obama

noreply@blogger.com (Acropolis Review) — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:01:00 +0000

A summary presented by Acropolis Review

Three Women: Governor Kathleen Sebelius, United States Senator Claire McCaskill, & Governor Janet Napolitano, The Wall Street Journal, February 4, 2008.

Former United States Senator William W. Bradley, reported in The Guardian Deadline USA Blog, January 6, 2008.

Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, reported in The New York Times, March 28, 2008.

The Hon. John R. Edwards (video), May 14, 2008.

United States Representative Thomas C. "Chet" Edwards (TX-17), February 18, 2008.

Ms. Susan Eisenhower, The Washington Post, February 2, 2008.

The Hon. Mayor of Atlanta Shirley Franklin, reported in the Seattle Times, January 9, 2008.

The Hon. Texas State Representative Peter Gallego, reported in the Rio Grande Guardian, February 10, 2008.

The Hon. Texas Representative Charles A. Gonzalez (TX-20), reported in the Express News, February 11, 2008.

Governor Christine O. Gregoire, reported in The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 8, 2008.

United States Representative Raul M. Grijalva (AZ-7), reported in the Arizona Daily Star, January 29, 2008.

Ms. Lorna Brett Howard (video), January 2008.

Ms. Caroline Kennedy, The New York Times, January 27, 2008.

United States Senator Edward M. Kennedy (video), January 28, 2008.

Ms. Ethel S. Kennedy, The Huffington Post, February 2, 2008.

Ms. Rory E.K. Kennedy, The San Francisco Chronicle, February 2, 2008.

United States Senator John F. Kerry, reported in The New York Times, January 10, 2008.

Ms. Toni Morrison, reported in the New York Observer, January 28, 2008.

United States Senator Claire McCaskill, reported in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, January 12, 2008.

Ms. Kate Michelman in the Huffington Post, February 3, 2008.

Governor Deval L. Patrick, The Boston Globe, January 5, 2008.

Governor Kathleen G. Sebelius (video), February 2008.

Service Employees International Union, February 15, 2008.

California First Lady, Maria O. Shriver (video), University of California, Los Angeles, February 3, 2008.

Mr. Theodore C. Sorensen, The Guardian, July 25, 2007.

Mr. Andrew M. Sullivan, December 2007.

Mr. Cass Sunstein, The Independent, March 2, 2008.

Former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul A. Volcker reported in Bloomberg News, January 31, 2008.

The Hon. Chief Judge Patricia M. Wald, February 9, 2008.

Ms. Alice M. Walker (video), 2007.

Ms. Oprah G. Winfrey (video), University of California, Los Angeles, February 3, 2008.

The Hon. Mayor William Wynn of Austin, reported in PressMediaWire, February 18, 2008.

Editorials

Atlanta Journal-Constitution, January 20, 2008.

Austin American-Statesman, February 2, 2008.

Boston Globe, December 16, 2007.