Barack Obama for President: Media Observation

A Half Century of Presidential Debate History

2008-09-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

A Half Century of Presidential Debate History

As Barack Obama and John McCain prepare for the first of three presidential debates, take a look back at previous debates that have helped define elections. (Sept. 20)

Category: News & Politics

Tags: debates history century presidential debate

Hillary Clinton Write-In Candidate?

2008-09-17T23:11:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama could be in trouble if this catches wind.

Hillary Clinton Write-In Candidate

Palin / Hillary Open (Tina Fey as VP Candidate Sarah Palin)

2008-09-15T07:56:00.000-07:00

Palin / Hillary Open

Gov. Palin and Senator Clinton address the nation.

SNL - Saturday Night Live

Sarah Palin ABC Interview with Charlie Gibson

2008-09-12T09:55:00.001-07:00

Sarah Palin talks with Charles Gibson of ABC about foreign policy and her level of experience.

Also, a quick look into Palin's hisory (Snopes and elsewhere) all refute the rumor she banned books.

Part 1

Part 2
Sarah Palin ABC Gibson Interview - Nukes, Iran, Terrorism

Part 3
Sarah Palin ABC Gibson Interview - Russia is our neighbor!

Part 4
Sarah Palin ABC Gibson Interview - Georgia Conflict

Matt Damon Disses Hockey Moms, Disney

2008-09-10T14:29:00.000-07:00

Damon Condemns Palin

Did he really say he wanted to know Palin's views about dinosaurs ("I wanna know that. I really do")? Sounds to me like he needs to see what stop by Snopes.com to check out her banning books (did not happen).

Actor Matt Damon speaks out on the Republicans' choice of hockey-mom Sarah Palin for VP. Damon compares her rise to a 'really bad Disney movie' and says it's crazy that this woman could become President. (Sept. 10)

Barack Obama Calls Sarah Palin a Pig (But It Doesn't Matter)

2008-09-10T11:02:00.000-07:00

You heard the soundbite. Barack Obama calls Sarah Palin a pig. The right wing is in an uproar, but it does not matter. Sure, he did, and all the Obama's yapping about how he was really calling John McCain a pig is pure bull hockey. Palin is not offended. McCain's campaign is just capitalizing on a stupid Obama remark.

Still, it does not matter. Also, it does not matter that Obama's dad was a deadbeat, or that McCain is a war hero. What matters is what they stand for:

Barack Obama: Quintessential liberal: strongly prochoice, progovernment, antiIraq
John McCain: Quintessential conservative: strongly prolife, small governmemt, proIraq

Both claim reform. Both have a newbie (Obama/Palin). Both have a Washington career politician (Biden, McCain). All, but Palin, are loaded financially, and she is hardly poor.

Big Tobacco Supporter, Barack Obama?

2008-08-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Unless Barack Obama is growing his own tobacco, then rolling it, he supports Big Tobacco. In his case, Marlboro.

Unable to quit, Obama's addiction plays counter to his healthy image. While support of the American tobacco industry will hardly impact Obama's chance, as his voters, including the ones Hillary Clinton told to vote for him, aren't ooking at this issue. John McCain would likely also find it not impacting him.

Too bad. Big tobacco needs to be a national issue, right there with the abortion industry and capital punishment.

"And [Obama's] team works overtime trying to hide Obama's dirty little secret. He is -- get this -- a cigarette smoker. The point is: What else do we not know about Barack Obama?" Despite Gibson's claim that Obama's smoking is "a dirty little secret," Obama told the Chicago Tribune in December 2005 that his smoking is "an ongoing battle," and his cigarette use was, in fact, known during his 2004 Senate campaign, when his wife told the Chicago Sun-Times that he smokes "about three Marlboros a day."

Hillary Clinton's Best Speech

2008-08-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

I have written my share of speeches. Yesterday's speech by Hillary Clinton was the best I have ever heard her give. The content was perfect: a balance of transfering power to Barack Obama mixed with Carl Sandburg-style patriotism. She sharply avoided specifics -- John McCain himself could have said much of it (minus a few digs at Republicans, of course).

Her poise was perfect, as was her delivery, staying away from the staggered phrasings that marked her own faled campaign. She dressed in a bright orange jumpsuit, good look for many late middle aged women, hitting the skin tones nicely in the bright DNC convention all lights.

She avoided mentioning the wealth of John McCain, knowing both she and Bill, as well as Obama, are about as well-heeled as it gets. Instead, she talked about unions.

One surprising thing was way she dissed Joe Biden's wife by indicating she would only have a minor support role.

All of those things she said in her campaign, like how little we know about Barack Obama, she apparently never meant.

Start here:

Democratic National Convention - Official Site of the 2008 Convention in Denver

2008-08-25T15:57:00.000-07:00

Democratic National Convention - Official Site of the 2008 Convention in Denver
Official site with volunteer details, the convention history, how to attend, press coverage, a weblog, and multimedia. August 25-28, 2008.

No surprises expected. Hillary hopes for cheers. Obama will say she ran a hard campaign, and thanks he for her support, and Joe Biden will be lauded as the great white hope against John McCain.

Obama Supporter Compares McCain to Hitler (not just any supporter)

2008-08-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

John McCain compared Barack Obama to fellow celebrity Paris Hilton. Paris Hilton makes fun of this, claims she's now in the election.

Another celebrity goes a different route, and compares John McCain to Adolf Hitler. Hitler, of course, made his name infamous by slaughtering six million Jews during WWII.

The Anti-Defamation League, which, in part, fights racism directed at Jews, is mad as hornets about this.

ADL Condemns Madonna's Use of Hitler in Concert Photo Montage

Their press release:
ADL Condemns Madonna's Use of Hitler in Concert Photo Montage

NEW YORK, Aug 25, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today condemned as "inappropriate and offensive" the use by Madonna of an image of Hitler as part of a concert photo montage that also included photos of John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and Zimbabwean dictator Robert Mugabe. The images were projected on a screen as Madonna launched her world tour with a live concert in Cardiff, Wales.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director and a Holocaust survivor, issued the following statement:

Comparisons to Hitler have no place in a music concert, or in the presidential campaign.

Whatever Madonna's political or personal views, it is outrageous to invoke Nazi imagery in the context of John McCain's candidacy or to make a comment on American political leadership.

It is inappropriate and offensive to compare any current or former world leaders with the man ultimately responsible for the death of six million Jews and the suffering of countless others during the Holocaust. Doing so trivializes the history of the Holocaust and is an insult to the memories of the victims and their families.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.

SOURCE Anti-Defamation League
http://www.adl.org

Barack Obama's Massive War Chest Not Enough to Shut Down John McCain

2008-08-18T10:59:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama has more money. The media loves him. His speeches are as powerful as a TV evangelist's. He was leading the polls over John McCain by a massive margin.

Then, he goes before a church with McCaIN -- not a debate, but to answer questions that matter to churchgoers when it comes to voter. Was it his evasive replies on moral issues? Or, was it the news of Georgia being invaded by Russian troops, and what many believe was a weak response by Obama? Could it be that Hillary Clinton support is not jumping ship to jump on the Obama bandwagon?

What happened? Isn't this the easiest election for a Democrat to win? It is a slam dunk. George Bush hatred has never been stronger.

The Wall Street Journal thinks they know.

How One Man Gets Around: John Edwards Admits Cheating on His Wife

2008-08-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

Remember John Edwards? He tried running for president based on his Hollywood good looks, only to be beaten by Barack "Mr. Hollywood" Obama himself. Obama, however, hires better men than Edwards hires women. Edwards hired those Catholic bashers, while when Obama's Muslim campaign coordinator was found to be in cahoots with a terrorist group, he had the good sense to get out.

Get out of here John Edwards. We don't need your kind around. If we need a politician to have an affair, we'll just get Jesse Jackson. He's already fathered a child out of wedlock.

Edwards admits to extramarital affair

(CNN) -- Former U.S. senator and Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards admitted to an extramarital affair in an interview with ABC News, the network reported Friday. He denied being the father of the woman's child, as had been alleged in tabloid reports.

Speaking to the network for a story to be aired Friday night, Edwards acknowledged the affair with 42-year-old Rielle Hunter, which began after she was hired to make documentary videos for his campaign, ABC said.

Obama's Lead Begins to Sink

2008-08-06T15:47:00.000-07:00

Media overload? The Paris Hilton factor?

Poll: Trouble Signs in Obama's Lead

Paris Hilton Responds to John McCain Ad

2008-08-05T19:05:00.000-07:00

Paris Hilton Responds to John McCain Ad

Barack Obama left silenced, having missed the opportunity to respond.

Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Adfunny videosFunnyOrDie.com

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

Barack Obama Ignores Hillary Clinton as VP

2008-07-31T11:14:00.001-07:00

Barack Obama is ignoring Hillary Clinton for all the expected reasons, and her supporters are ticked, for all the expected reasons.

A new concern are that the ObamaGlow is getting dimmer. John McCain is nicking away at that, explaining that Barack is not as big as his celebrity shine would indicate. McCain's even suggested Obama is playing the race card.

'Dream Ticket' Meets Reality: Obama Looks Beyond Clinton'
ABC News
By JENNIFER PARKER and SUNLEN MILLER Some supporters of Hillary Clinton are voicing anger that Barack Obama may choose another woman for his vice presidential running mate.

USA Today Poll: McCain Shrinks Obama’s Lead in Three Battleground States

Barack Obama: Obama website's opposition to successful surge gets deleted

2008-07-16T06:22:00.001-07:00

Changing his mind?
Changing his tune?
Forgetful?
Or just politicking to a naive voter base?

At YouTube, the poster says:
On May 30, 2008 Obama chief strategist David Axelrod claimed Obama "never disputed" that the surge would reduce violence in Iraq. But in January 2007, when the surge was announced, Obama said no amount of troops would reduce violence and no "expert on the region" or "military officer" disagreed.

At the LA Times: Obama website's opposition to successful surge gets deleted

Tony Snow dies (Former Bush spokesman)

2008-07-12T07:25:00.000-07:00

Politics aside, this is a loss.

Former Bush spokesman Tony Snow dies

Bernie Mac Goes Low-Brow Barack Obama event

2008-07-12T07:08:00.000-07:00

Is this the course of Barack Obama's campaign?

Why is his campaign finding supporters who are racist (Wright and Pfleger), anti-religious (Jesse "The Reverend" Jackson) and off-color, (the otherwise funny Bernie Mac)?

Yup. The Mac went low: menopause, sexual infidelity and promiscuity, and used occasional crude language.

This was a trendy, $2300 a person event drawing in Chicago's economic elite.

Comedian Bernie Mac makes off-color joke at Obama event

According to the AP story linked above, Barack Obama responded:

"We can't afford to be divided by race. We can't afford to be divided by region or by class and we can't afford to be divided by gender, which by the way, that means, Bernie, you've got to clean up your act next time. This is a family affair. By the way, I'm just messing with you, man."

Jesse Jackson Shows off His Christianity (Not) in Rant Against Obama

2008-07-10T00:06:00.000-07:00

The so-called Reverend Jesse Jackson wants to cut off parts of Barack Obama's manhood. This disgraceful side of Jackson, not unfamiliar to Chicagoans, shows us not all of Obama's supporters are good men.

Jackson apologizes, as he should, and rightly noted by various media people is that this will have little impact on Obama's campaign.

PlusJackson Apologizes for Comments About ObamaJackson Apologizes for Comments About ObamaThe Associated PressThe Rev. Jesse Jackson has apologized for what he calls 'regretfully crude' comments he made about Barack Obama's speeches in black churches. Jackson made the comments during what he thought was 'a private conversation'. (July 9)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] Chicago, IL(video of Jackson entering news conference) Rev. Jesse Jackson is caught on tape saying negative comments about fellow Chicagoan Barack Obama. Jackson's off air remarks with Dr. Reid Tuckson were recorded during Fox and Friends and later broadcast on The O'Reilly Factor (sot)Credit: The O'Reilly Factor/Fox NewsJackson: "See, Barack been, um, talking down to black people on this faith based (pause), I want to cut his nuts (bleep nuts) out."Jackson: "Barack (pause) he's talking down to black people."(video of Jackson at news conference) Jackson immediately went on the defensive at his Chicago based Rainbow Push Coalition headquarters.Rev. Jesse Jackson "It was in the studio and it was the mic was hot. And whether there was hot mics...it's my responsibility. It's not yours you do with the mic what you want to do. What I want to get clear is my support for Barack and his policies are long standing, broad based, and deep and unequivocal."(video of Jackson news conference)Jackson has apologized to the Obama campaign and campaign spokesman Bill Burton released a statement saying Obama has accepted his apology.

Rev. Jesse Jackson, "They were hurtful and wrong. That's the whole point. And when you make mistakes you should not equivocate you should be quick to go on the offensive and not try to be evasive. And if it was said to him personally or in some public forum then they would be even more hurtful than this case. Whatever it was, was spun into a question into a live mic. When he does here them they will not be helpful, they will be hurtful. But we have a relationship that can survive this. Reverend Jackson is now the 3rd Chicago pastor who has made headlines for saying comments that hurt the Obama presidential campaign. Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright was the first, then pastor Michael Pfleger became the second when he was a guest preacher at Obama's church and spoke negatively about Senator Hillary Clinton. Mark Carlson, AP, Chicago.

Let Freedom Ring! The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

2008-07-03T08:56:00.000-07:00

Our early leaders, though war ached their hearts, stood fast against tyranny in favor of freedom. Do our leaders now have the same sober valor?

originally posted here: Let Freedom Ring! The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription

The Declaration of Independence: A Transcription
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 56 signatures on the Declaration appear in the positions indicated:

Column 1
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett
Lyman Hall
George Walton

Column 2
North Carolina:
William Hooper
Joseph Hewes
John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge
Thomas Heyward, Jr.
Thomas Lynch, Jr.
Arthur Middleton

Column 3
Massachusetts:
John Hancock
Maryland:
Samuel Chase
William Paca
Thomas Stone
Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe
Richard Henry Lee
Thomas Jefferson
Benjamin Harrison
Thomas Nelson, Jr.
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Carter Braxton

Column 4
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris
Benjamin Rush
Benjamin Franklin
John Morton
George Clymer
James Smith
George Taylor
James Wilson
George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney
George Read
Thomas McKean

Column 5
New York:
William Floyd
Philip Livingston
Francis Lewis
Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton
John Witherspoon
Francis Hopkinson
John Hart
Abraham Clark

Column 6
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett
William Whipple
Massachusetts:
Samuel Adams
John Adams
Robert Treat Paine
Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins
William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman
Samuel Huntington
William Williams
Oliver Wolcott
New Hampshire:
Matthew Thornton

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Declaration_of_Independence
http://www.bobdylan.com/songs/rolling.html

Like a Rolling Stone by Bob Dylan

Barack Obama Campaign Gear

2008-06-10T08:31:00.000-07:00

In a desire to be an equal opportunity blogger, after posting a lot of pro-Hillary campaign materials, I though posting some Barack Obama campaign t-shirts might be in order.

Apparel

Barack Obama Black Clothing Women's Long Sleeve Dark$24.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Women's V-Neck Dark T-$20.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Maternity Dark T-Shirt$24.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Women's Plus Size V-Neck$25.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Dark T-Shirt$19.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Women's Plus Size Scoo$25.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Long Sleeve Dark T-Shi$24.09
Barack Obama Black Clothing Women's Dark T-Shirt$20.09

Barack Obama Gets the Nomination

2008-06-03T19:25:00.000-07:00

Barack Obama Gets the Nomination

This means Hillary Clinton does not. The numbers do not matter.

John McCain vs Barack Obama.

Let the fight, and mudslinging, begin.

Huckabee Wants to be McCain's VP

2008-05-22T14:08:00.000-07:00

Of course Huckabee wants te job. There are reasons to believe he'll get it. It is hardly a done deal. Age, viewed as more morally conservative, and that he's a leader in the south (he's from Arkansas). All of this will attract John McCain.

Huckabee wants to be McCain's VP

WASHINGTON (AFP) — Former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, having failed in his own bid for the Republicans' White House nomination, said Sunday he wanted to run as John McCain's vice presidential pick.

On the Democratic side, Senator Joseph Biden said he could not refuse an offer to run as his party's number two, while Senator Jim Webb was coy about his own ambitions.

Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister popular with the religious right, told NBC television: "There's no one I would rather be on a ticket with than John McCain."

He said that during his unsuccessful primary campaign against McCain, "there was no one who was more complimentary of him publicly and privately" than himself.

"But whether or not I do the best for him, that's something that only he can decide," added Huckabee, 52.

"I'm going to support him because I think he's the right person for America. I think he has the kind of seasoning and maturity that this country needs."

Colin Powell: Too Old? Too Military? Too Male? Too Republican? Too Black? Too Uninterested?

2008-05-22T14:06:00.000-07:00

Colin Powell: Too Old? Too Military? Too Male? Too Republican? Too Black? Too Uninterested?

Colin Powell is black. I'll get that out of the way. While you probably noticed that, so will the American voter. Since Barack Obama has a few followers voting on his race, this could impact the competition.

Unless, what if, Barack Obama picks Powell? He's military, but Obama is not.

Powell is respected, a true leader. Most of his career we never heard of him, then, wham! He's in the public eye thanks to becoming Ronald Reagan's National Security Advisor followed by appointment as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, then, as George W Bush's Secretary of State. However, he hardly launched into those positions from nowhere, and served in leadership, but quietly.

Wise? Loaded with wisdom. As military people go, he is as diplomatic as you'll find.

What matters in any vice presidential candidate are his views. While in these days, we hardly expect that a VP will step up into the role of president, it can happen. We want a VP to represent what America, on the whole wants. Though Republican, some of his views will appeal to the more liberal side. These could alienate the conservative crowd, as well as evangelicals and Catholics who would prefer an anti-abortion White House.

Pro-choice
Supports affirmative action
Favors some gun-control
Supports the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy.

Where he stands on the Iraq War is not as simple as for or against. While he seems to agree with Bush that Iraq is a source of future terrorism, and wants a peaceful Iraq, he disagrees that the USA military is capable of getting the job done. However, he'll concede that war will continue when we're gone. All said, I think, if in charge, he would send in a wave of troops to settle what could be quickly settled, then pull out, but leave advisers.

Views are not enough, though.

Race, of course, will be a strength and weakness. As many people out there who, as closet racists, will vote for him because he is black, there are as many, or more, who are equally racist, and not vote for him because of skin color. With Barack Obama running, though, this leaves the KKK crowd (and their subtler brethren) with the choice only not voting, voter for a this party, or voting against what they believe.

Meanwhile, he's 71. Ageism is a factor for some voters. Powell looks very alive, and younger than chronology suggests. He would be 75 after the first term. Two terms seems unlikely.

My guess: if offered, he would turn it down. His life as been the military, not domestic service. He's been a desk leader, as well as in the trenches. Capable as a leader, but his focus has been different. He has not pursued an office since 2005, and, will not this time. He's retired.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_Powell

First seen here: Colin Powell: Too Old? Too Military? Too Black? Too Uninterested?

Obama Starts VP Search

2008-05-22T14:05:00.000-07:00

Is this news? No. Both Barack Obama (Democrat) and John McCain (Republican) have known they have been the nominee for their respective parties for months. With Obama, it took longer to seal the deal, but no surprises.

Give both of these men credit. Each has a long and short list of running mates. They are not the kind who will be unprepared.

CNN reports, "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, was surprised Thursday to hear Obama has started a search." T which I say, "Good thing you aren't running."

Obama Starts VP Search

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Barack Obama is beginning his search for a running mate, but Sen. John McCain's campaign denies speculation that he's interviewing vice presidential candidates at his home this weekend.

Sen. Barack Obama has quietly begun searching for a vice presidential candidate, a source says.

A veteran Democratic activist told CNN that former Fannie Mae CEO Jim Johnson has accepted Obama's request to begin a screening and selection process for the No. 2 spot.

Johnson performed a similar role for Democratic presidential nominees Walter Mondale in 1984 and John Kerry in 2004.

Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, is hosting top party figures at his home in Arizona this weekend, fueling speculation he is starting his own search for a running mate.