For Obama, a new state and more on change

Real change is not calling NAFTA a victory and saying how good it was for the American people until you decide to run for president, like Barack Obama did.

Obama defended NAFTA in his debate with Alan Keyes in 2004. I know. I was watching when it happened. Lately he has been blatantly lying on the campaign trail, telling everybody that he has always been against NAFTA. Why don't any of the "journalists" here call him on that? Or on any of his inconsistancies?

It is not correct to claim that Obama shuns lobbyists. The WSJ printed an article today (http://online.wsj.com/article_print/SB120433642148104761.html)
that identifies the senior advisors in the Obama campaign who are registered lobbyists. The article explains that lobbyists are important resources for political candidates because of their in-depth knowledge of policy issues.

Thanks to John McCormick for writing a fair, balanced article filled with facts or information attributed to a source.

Hillary started criticizing NAFTA long before she ran for President. In her run for Senate in 2000, she called NAFTA "flawed." In Sen. Obama's run for Senate in 2004, it was reported that Sen. Obama told a group of farmers that "the United States benefits enormously from exports under the WTO and NAFTA" and the U.S. should "pursue deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement."

I am hoping that the good people of Vermont, Rhode Island, Texas and Ohio will not fall for the latest Hillary tactics. She is divisive, manipulative and cares more about winning than the American people. She has been using the gender card quite liberally. Today, MSNBC broke a story about her refusing to return $170,000 in campaign donations from a company in which 103 women have a pending lawsuit accusing sexual misconduct, attacks and language. In addition, the owner of the company has been disbarred and has a criminal record. For a woman who runs on women's issues and championing their cause, what conceivable reason could she have for keeping these donations? I will tell you -- to win at all costs.

My heart is for America, the American people, the land, the future, the children. Obama's heart is sincere, & that means change. If he's not elected, then a price will be paid by everyone - everyone all over the world & the planet itself. It's your life, your future. Do something about it. Take responsibility. Act now!

Obama is not sincere. He has skeletons in his closet but yet he judges others. Look at Rezko and Obama's dealings with 1960's terrorist but yet he says its about "hope and change." Please dont vote for him. I have changed my own vote, I will be voting for Nader if he gets the democrats nomination. Forget experience, he is just power hungry because where did he come from. Obama could have put in more time in the senate and then run for president but he decided to run for president after just 1 year in the senate. Obama is breaking and spliting the democrat party and not hillary. Please check Obama's record before you make a decision. You should know who are electing!

Vote for hillary and change the country.

They say in Advertisng if someone says something at least 8X's people will start to believe it.

Obama mentioned Change, and that he would bring change you can believe in 27 times in one speech.

For all Obama's talk I have much more faith Hillary will deliver change.

Obama first said he didn't take and money from special interests and wehen the long list of 100's of millions that he did take was published, he said, "OK but look at Hillary, she takes more".

Hillary does not lie about it and that's the difference in my mind. At one time I thought Obama was OK and was impressed with his speeches, now he scares me and reminds me of a Christian Fundamentalist preecher, a talented one, that promises to deliver the Kindom here on earth (he actually said that to a church during his campaign) yet he is out there doing all the taunting, and swiftbaoting that he then claims Hillary is doing to him.

I trust Hillary to lead, and do not trust Obama's judgment. He should not have been so impatient to jump on the campaign trail with Oprah and should of spent some time in the Senate showing us what he's really all about.

I'm prown of Hillary and totally impressed with her leadership and grace under fire in this race, and I like her record for real change after 8 years in the Senate.

Hillary will win!
I trust Hillary's Leadership.

"Real Change" that will clean up politics--from a Chicago Democrat!

And from a buddy of Tony Rezko!

Hillary, sorry!
Not this time. After watching your speech, here and there, I realized that your unbalanced mood, your attacks, and sarcasm only proved that you're not ready to be the president of the US.

Go home, Hillary!

Because Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama has risen so far, so fast many voters are not as familiar with his background as they would like to be.
In his books Barack Obama has told the story of the family into which he was born, about a father from Kenya whom he barely knew, who left when Barack was age 2, and about his white American mother from Kansas who along with his father was a college student at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. By age 6 young Barack was already living in Jakarta with his mother and his Indonesian step father before moving back to Hawaii at age 10 to be raised by his maternal grandparents when his mother and her second husband divorced. His "birthright," says Barack Obama, was that he was given love, a good education, and hope.
Over the years Barack Obama had bonding experiences with white and black relatives and with Asian family members amidst an understandable struggle to find his own identity. Through it all he developed a keen ability to understand and to resonate with people of various ethnic backgrounds. Barack Obama worked his way through the racial complexities into which he was born to graduate Magna Cum Laude from Harvard Law School and become president of the Harvard Law Review. He worked as a community organizer in Chicago, a lecturer of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School, and a civil rights attorney prior to serving in the Illinois State Senate from 1996-2004 which ended with his 70% landslide election victory to the US Senate in 2004.
On a personal level Barack Obama over 46 years has learned how perceptions of ethnicity and judgments about race can sometimes divide people, and he is uniquely qualified and committed to develop a sense of unity and common purpose and higher purpose in America and its people. He has the background, the ability to communicate, and the intelligence necessary to appropriately reintroduce the world’s only superpower to the rest of the world. As President of the United States he would be emblematic of our great country and its two profound ideals of personal freedom and equality of opportunity.
In 1963 when Obama was just 2 years old Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I have a dream" speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. that included the familiar phrase of "not being judged by the color of one's skin but by the content of one's character." That speech, of course, helped prompt passage of the 1964 US Civil rights Act and the next year, King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. If the people of America elect Barack Obama their 44th President in November of this year King's dream will have become much more than just a dream.

Some have said that Barack Obama's opposition to America initiating the Iraq war is a "fairytale" and that his position on the war has been "inconsistent." But on October 2, 2002 at the Federal Plaza in Chicago Senator Barack Obama, then an Illinois state senator, delivered these remarks:
"I stand before you as someone who is not opposed to war in all circumstances. The Civil War was one of the bloodiest in history, and yet it was only through the crucible of the sword, the sacrifice of multitudes, that we could begin to perfect this union and drive the scourge of slavery from our soil.
I Don't Oppose All Wars
I don't oppose all wars. My grandfather signed up for a war the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, fought in Patton's army. He fought in the name of a larger freedom, part of that arsenal of democracy that triumphed over evil. I don't oppose all wars. After September 11, after witnessing the carnage and destruction, the dust and the tears, I supported this administration's pledge to hunt down and root out those who would slaughter innocents in the name of intolerance, and I would willingly take up arms myself to prevent such tragedy from happening again.
Opposed to Dumb, Rash Wars
I don't oppose all wars. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other armchair, weekend warriors in this administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne. What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income, to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression. That's what I'm opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.
On Saddam Hussein
Now let me be clear: I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power…. The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him. But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors…and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history. I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda. I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars. So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message to the president.
You Want a Fight, President Bush?
You want a fight, President Bush? Let's finish the fight with Bin Laden and al-Qaeda, through effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings. You want a fight, President Bush? Let's fight to make sure that…we vigorously enforce a nonproliferation treaty, and that former enemies and current allies like Russia safeguard and ultimately eliminate their stores of nuclear material, and that nations like Pakistan and India never use the terrible weapons already in their possession, and that the arms merchants in our own country stop feeding the countless wars that rage across the globe. You want a fight, President Bush? Let's fight to make sure our so-called allies in the Middle East, the Saudis and the Egyptians, stop oppressing their own people, and suppressing dissent, and tolerating corruption and inequality, and mismanaging their economies so that their youth grow up without education, without prospects, without hope, the ready recruits of terrorist cells. You want a fight, President Bush? Let's fight to wean ourselves off Middle East oil through an energy policy that doesn't simply serve the interests of Exxon and Mobil. Those are the battles that we need to fight. Those are the battles that we willingly join. The battles against ignorance and intolerance. Corruption and greed. Poverty and despair."

Barack Obama delivered his powerful speech at the Federal Plaza in Chicago October 2, 2002 against the US beginning war in Iraq while later that same month Hillary Clinton voted for the authorization to begin US military action in Iraq. Once US troops were actually in Iraq and fighting a war, of course, it would be irresponsible for Obama to be against funding the troops. The key is that Barack Obama had the judgment to see the dumbness of the war in October 2002 and had the courage to clearly say so. Hillary Clinton did not and voted for funds authorizing the start the Iraq War. Judgment and courage are part of Barack Obama's character, and so is a belief in a united America, in its people and in its future.

The tactic of trying to characterize Obama's position against the war as "a fairy tale" is typical of many politicians who will say and do virtually anything to discredit their opponent in attempting to get themselves elected and is a perfect example of why America so deeply yearns for the enormous breath of fresh air Barack Obama brings to politics and can bring to the highest elective office in our great country.
Senator Hillary Clinton claims "35 years of experience” which is the entire length of time since her graduation from Yale Law School in 1973. But what kind of experience? For 9 of those 35 years she worked as a lawyer, for 11 years she was the spouse of the Governor of Arkansas, and for 8 years she served as the First Lady of the United States. Only during the past 7 years since her election to the US Senate in November 2000 in her adopted state of New York has Hillary Clinton in her own right actually been an elected official accountable to voters rather than the spouse of an elected official.
Barack Obama’s experience has been different. Since graduating from Harvard Law School in 1991 he returned to his home in Chicago to direct a voter registration drive and work as an attorney representing community organizers, working on voting rights cases and on civil rights cases. In 1993 he became a lecturer of constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School and in 1996 was elected to the Illinois State Senate where he served 8 years prior to his election to the US Senate in November 2004. With his combined service as an Illinois State Senator and US Senator Barack Obama has been an elected official accountable to voters for the past 11 years.
Previous presidential candidates have been charged with not having enough experience. Senator John Kennedy during the 1960 Democratic primary elections was told he was too inexperienced to be president by such notable members of the "old guard" at the time as Eleanor Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Adlai Stevenson, and Lyndon Johnson. Kennedy was told to wait his turn! But, of course JFK became the Democratic nominee for president in 1960 and went on to defeat Richard Nixon in the general election despite Nixon's protest that "Kennedy is too inexperienced to be President." It wasn't true then about John F. Kennedy and it isn't true now about Barack Obama.
Abraham Lincoln was not an old hand in Washington prior to his being elected the16th American President in 1860. Abe Lincoln had previously served 8 years in the Illinois State Legislature from 1834-1842 during which time he taught himself law and was admitted to the bar. In 1847 he was elected to US House of Representatives serving a single term from 1847-1849 before returning to private law practice in Illinois. On October 16, 1854 a 45 year old Abraham Lincoln delivered a powerful speech against Slavery in Peoria, Illinois and in 1858 was elected to the US Senate, just 2 years before being elected President of the United States. Not much prior “Washington Experience” for “Honest Abe” but he sure made a great American President.
Could it be that the amount of one’s prior “Washington Experience” is far less important to being a great president than is having sound judgment, courage, and strong character? Barack Obama had the good judgment to be against the U.S. initiating war in Iraq and had the courage to forcefully say so October 2, 2002, while later that same month both Senators Hillary Clinton and John McCain voted in favor of President Bush’s request for funds authorizing the beginning the Iraq war.
Senator Barack Obama has served in Washington long enough to understand that it needs to be changed and unlike his opponents he has already begun making changes. By refusing to accept money from lobbyists and political action committees Barack Obama is proving that one can become elected President of the United States without being beholden to money peddlers. He raises the money necessary for his campaign directly from the people to whom he is accountable, people like you and me.

Hillary's handling of the healthcare task force in the 1990s, vote for the war, and mismanaging her campaign make nonsense of her alleged claimn of experience.

Sen. Obama is all talk, but very little action and that results in talk only. He has been on the Europe committee of the Senate and could have held hearings on NATO. So far, Sen. Obama has had excuses and talk, but no action. So much for any action on national security. Then Sen. Obama tries to belittle Sen. Clinton's health care mandate by scaring people she is going to fine people who do not sign up. Sen. Clinton has made it very clear that she is going to have a sliding fee schedule so it is AFFORDABLE. From health care, school programs, energy independence including the development of green collar jobs, to knowledge on foreign countries, there is no doubt that Hillary Clinton should be our next President. She ia a fighter and the one who has reached across the parties to bring children's health care and VA benefitsw to millions. When that telephone rings at 3:00 A.M., I want Hillary Clinton to answer the phone. Please join me in supporting her with your vote on March 4, 2008.

Please can the Clintons just go away and all their paid staffers that write half these blogs?

The more Hillary reminds the voters of her experience, Obama makes us consider her judgment. Hillary voted for the war so she could not be criticized as being a "dove", a pacifist or a 'yellow' liberal. She did it for political reasons and now it is the cause of her political demise.

She voted for the war in Iraq-case closed. That is the enabling of the worst foreign policy decision in American history. Why trust her with anything when she foiled the most important?

America wants a leader. We are voting for the person who has shown the best judgment and leadership ability to preside over our nation. Who can look at the campaigns and say that Hillary's experience has proved to work for her? Her campaign showed its lack of judgment when she chose to run on experience when the nation wants change. She showed her lack of judgment by hiring old style boiler maker Democrats like Penn Grunwald and Maggie Williams who are best when they are negative. She showed her lack of judgment by begging for debates they made her look like she was quitting and whining. She showed her lack of judgment when she sent her husband out to play the race a card polarizing their campaign from Blacks moving Blacks to support Obama 90%-10%.
She showed her lack of judgment when she chose to proclaim the worth of NAFTA before she chose to oppose it.

Go ahead Hillary attack, attack, attack. It makes you look like the Commander-in-Cheap!

Dear American people, please, think twice before you even consider to vote for someone like Hillary. She's proved again and again, that her real motive is gender oriented, rather than working on behalf of the American people. Unfortunately, there some gullible women who have been bewitched by her tactics and manipulative behaviour. How can we trust in such a character? Never, never, never. Beware of sheetas' in sheep's clothing. Not Hill.
Good night!

Angry candidate, angry president. It's quite scarry to have someone (bitter, gender-oriented) as commander-in-chief in presendency of the US like Hillary. Have the American people ignored these flaws? I don't think so.
So, "no" to Hillary

Angry candidate, angry president. It's quite scarry to have someone (bitter, gender-oriented) as commander-in-chief in presendency of the US like Hillary. Have the American people ignored these flaws? I don't think so.
So, "no" to Hillary

It is so clear that Hillary followers like to accuse Obama of the very weaknesses Hillary brings to the election. They try to undercut his authenticity. They disclaim whether his speaking matters. They say he has flip flopped on issues. These are flaws so much more applicable to Clinton. We can tell where she is weak, by the claims her people make about her competitor. And the more outlandish the claim, the more it tells us more about Hillary's desperate desire to win than about the competitor she supposedly respects.

Barack Obama has proved himself in several ways, but the most impressive may be the way he has encouraged young voters to care, get involved and vote. Not since JFK has there been a presidential candidate (Democrat) who has so energized people under 30. He is eloquent, intelligent and honest.

Obama defended NAFTA in his debate with Alan Keyes in 2004. I know. I was watching when it happened. Lately he has been blatantly lying on the campaign trail, telling everybody that he has always been against NAFTA. Why don't any of the "journalists" here call him on that? Or on any of his inconsistancies?

Posted by: MJ | March 1, 2008 5:13 PM

Look, I realize that most Republicans are generally a little short in the IQ dept but you sir, take the cake.

"The news reports on Obama's position on NAFTA are inaccurate and in no way represent Senator Obama’s consistent position on trade. When Senator Obama says that he will forcefully act to make NAFTA a better deal for American workers, he means it. Both Canada and Mexico should know that, as president, Barack Obama will do what it takes to create and protect American jobs and strengthen the American economy -- that includes amending NAFTA to include labor and environmental standards. We are currently reaching out to the Canadian embassy to correct this inaccuracy," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

On balance, I'm strongly inclined to believe the Obama camp on this one. He's a guy who has said he's been against NAFTA since he was a candidate for the Senate, and has taken heat for it. The Canadian officials quoted are conservative, pro-NAFTA politicians with an interest in tamping down the push to reform our trade policies. And the article itself is very thinly sourced. My guess is Obama's campaign at some point contacted the Canadian embassy as a courtesy, and that was spun into this story - without direct quotes, of course - claiming his rhetoric would not be followed through on.

Bottom line, however - this story, though likely inaccurate, highlights the need for us all to keep the pressure on both candidates, and ultimately, on the new Democratic administration and Congress in 2009. If we want to reform trade policy, we're going to have to really hold all politicians' feet to the fire.

:From the Politico's Ben Smith - a repudiation of the story now from the Canadian embassy:

A spokesman for the Canadian Embassy to the United States, Tristan Landry, flatly denied the CTV report that a senior Obama aide had told the Canadian ambassador not to take seriously Obama's denunciations of Nafta.

"None of the presidential campaigns have called either the Ambassador or any of the officials here to raise Nafta," Landry said.

He said there had been no conversations at all on the subject.

"We didn't make any calls, they didn't call us," Landry said.

"There is no story as far as we're concerned," he said.

I trust Hillary to lead, and do not trust Obama's judgment. He should not have been so impatient to jump on the campaign trail with Oprah and should of spent some time in the Senate showing us what he's really all about.
I'm prown of Hillary and totally impressed with her leadership and grace under fire in this race, and I like her record for real change after 8 years in the Senate.
Hillary will win!
I trust Hillary's Leadership.

Posted by: Cass | March 1, 2008 5:45 PM

It has really been bothering me - all the BS desperation charges from Hillary and Johnny McDoubletalk, that Obama is all talk and no action. Those of us who support him and have reviewed his record know there is no basis to this charge, but just to make sure, I went to the Congressional Record (www.thomas.gov) and did a search for bills sponsored or co-sponsored by Senator Obama in his three short years in the US Senate. I searched the 109th and 110th Congresses which cover the years 2005-2007.

In a nut shell I found:

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.

Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.

His record is in fact quite impressive for a junior Senator from Illinois.

Below I summarize Senator Obama's legislative record in the US Senate.

First I list the bills he sponsored that have become law.

Next I summarize the bills that he has sponsored or cosponsored since he became a US Senator in 2005.

I have only included major pieces of legislation and have not summarized continuing resolutions or naming post offices, for example.

His record suggests several priorities and the bills he supports address many of our most pressing problems.

Most of his legislative effort has been in the area of Energy Efficiency and Climate Change (25 bills), health care (21 bills) and public health (20 bills), consumer protection/labor (14 bills), the needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces (13 bills), Congressional Ethics and Accountability (12 bills), Foreign Policy (10 bills) Voting and Elections (9 bills), Education (7 bills), Hurricane Katrina Relief (6), the Environment (5 bills), Homeland Security (4 bills), and discrimination (4 bills).

Of the 15 bills Senator Obama sponsored or co-sponsored in 2005-7 that became law:

Two addressed foreign policy:
Promote relief, security and democracy in the Congo (2125)
Develop democratic institutions in areas under Palestinian control (2370).

Three addressed public health:
Improve mine safety (2803)
Increased breast cancer funding (597)
Reduce preterm delivery and complications, reduce infant mortality (707).

Two addressed openness and accountability in government:
Strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (2488)
Full disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds (2590)

Two addressed national security
Extend Terrorist Risk Insurance (467)
Amend the Patriot Act (2167)

One addressed the needs of the Armed Forces
Wave passport fees to visit graves, attend memorials/funerals of veterans abroad (1184).

Of the 570 bills Senator Obama introduced into the Senate during the 109th and 110th Congress (Senate Bill numbers are in parentheses), they can be summarized as follows:

25 addressed Energy Efficiency and Climate Change
Suspend royalty relief for oil and gas (115)
Reduce dependence on oil; use of alternative energy sources (133)
Increase fuel economy standards for cars (767, 768)
Auto industry incentives for fuel efficient vehicles (1151)
Reduce green house gas emissions (1324)
Establish at NSF a climate change education program (1389)
Increase renewable content of gasoline (2202)
Energy emergency relief for small businesses and farms (269)
Strategic gasoline and fuel reserves (1794)
Alternative diesel standards (3554)
Coal to liquid fuel promotion (3623)
Renewable diesel standards (1920)
Reducing global warming pollution from vehicles (2555)
Fuel security and consumer choice (1994, 2025)
Alternative energy refueling system (2614)
Climate change education (1389)
Low income energy assistance (2405)
Oil savings targets (339)
Fuel economy reform (3694)
Plug-in electric drive vehicles (1617)
Nuclear release notice (2348)
Passenger rail investment (294)
Energy relief for low income families (2405)

21 addressed Health Care
Drug re-importation (334)
Health information technology (1262, 1418)
Discount drug prices (2347)
Health care associated infections (2278)
Hospital quality report cards (692, 1824)
Medical error disclosure and compensation (1784)
Emergency medical care and response (1873)
Stem cell research (5)
Medical Malpractice insurance (1525)
Health centers renewal (901, 3771)
Children’s health insurance (401)
Home health care (2061)
Medicare independent living (2103)
Microbicides for HIV/AIDS (823)
Ovarian cancer biomarker research (2569)
Gynological cancers (1172)
Access to personalized medicine through use of human genome (976)
Paralysis research and care (1183)

20 addressed Public Health:
Violence against women (1197)
Biodefense and pandemic preparedness and response (1821, 1880)
Viral influenza control (969)
End homelessness (1518)
Reduce STDs/unintended pregnancy (1790)
Smoking prevention and tobacco control (625)
Minority health improvement and disparity elimination (4024)
Nutrition and physical education in schools (2066)
Health impact assessments (1067, 2506)
Healthy communities (1068)
Combat methamphetamines (2071)
Paid sick leave (910)
Prohibit mercury sales (833, 1818)
Prohibit sale of lead products (1306, 2132)
Lead exposure in children (1811, 2132)

14 address Consumer Protection/Labor
Stop unfair labor practices (842)
Fair minimum wage (2, 1062, 2725, 3829)
Internet freedom (2917)
Credit card safety (2411)
Media ownership (2332)
Protecting taxpayer privacy (2484)
Working family child assistance (218)
Habeus Corpus Restoration (185)
Bankruptcy protection for employees and retirees (2092)
FAA fair labor management dispute resolution (2201)
Working families flexibility (2419).

13 addressed the Needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces:
Improve Benefits (117)
Suicide prevention (479)
Needs of homeless veterans (1180)
Homes for veterans (1084)
GI Bill enhancement (43)
Military job protection
Dignity in care for wounded vets (713)
Housing assistance for low income veterans (1084)
Military children in public schools (2151)
Military eye injury research and care (1999)
Research physical/mental health needs from Iraq War (1271)
Proper administration of discharge for personality disorder (1817, 1885)
Security of personal data of veterans (3592)

12 addressed Congressional Ethics and Accountability
Lobbying and ethics reform (230)
Stop fraud (2280)
Legislative transparency and accountability (525)
Open government (2180, 2488)
Restoring fiscal discipline (10)
Transparency and integrity in earmarks (2261)
Accountability of conference committee deliberations and reports (2179)
Federal funding accountability and transparency (2590)
Accountability and oversight for private security functions under Federal
contract (674)
Accountability for contractors and personnel under federal contracts
(2147) Resctrictions awarding government contracts (2519)

10 addressed Foreign Policy:
Iraq war de-escalation (313)
US policy for Iraq (433),
Divestiture from Iran (1430)
Sudan divestment authorization (831)
Millennium Development Goals (2433)
Multilateral debt relief (1320)
Development bank reform (1129)
Nuclear nonproliferation (3131,977,2224).

9 address Voting/Elections
Prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections (453)
Voter access to polls and services in Federal elections (737)
Voter intimidation and deceptive practices (1975)
Senate campaign disclosure parity (185)
Require reporting for bundled campaign contributions (2030)
Election jamming prevention (4102)
Campaign disclosure parity (223)
Presidential funding (2412)
Integrity of electronic voting systems (1487)

11 addressed Education
Increase access of low income African Americans to higher education (1513)
Establish teaching residency programs (1574)
Increase early intervention services (2111)
Middle school curriculum improvements (2227)
Public database of scholarships, fellowships and financial aid (2428)
Summer learning programs (116)
TANF financial education promotion (924)
Higher education (1642)
Build capacity at community colleges (379)
Campus law enforcement in emergencies (1228)
Support for teachers (2060).

6 addressed Hurrican Katrina
Hurricane Katrina recovery (2319)
Emergency relief (1637)
Bankruptcy relief and community protection (1647)
Working family tax relief (2257)
Fair wages for recovery workers (1749)
Gulf coast infrastructure redevelopment (1836)

5 addressed the Environment
Drinking water security (218, 1426)
Water resources development (728)
Waste water treatment (1995)
Combat illegal logging (1930)
Spent nuclear fuel tracking and Acountability (1194)
Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act (Introduced in Senate)[S.726.IS ]

4 addressed Discrimination
Claims for civil class action based on discrimination (1989)
Domestic partnership benefits (2521)
Unresolved civil rights crimes (535)
Equality or two parent families (2286)

4 addressed Homeland Security
Judicial review of FISA orders (2369)
National emergency family locator (1630)
Amend US Patriot Act (2167)
Chemical security and safety (2486)

Next time some idiot like this guy (see above post) asks you "where's the beef" in Senator Obama's Senate record, please feel free to send the link to this list.

I am one of those who have waffled through this election finally coming to the conclusion that Barack Obama is the correct choice. He has the intelligence that has been sorely lacking during the current presidential term, the willingness and the ability to bring people together, and the determination to do what is right not what is politically expedient. I wish that Hillary Clinton were not such a polarizing figure because she could be a wonderful president, but her baggage hurts us all. My twenty something son pointed out to me that he is tired of the Bushes and the Clintons. They have been the only ones in power since he has been alive. He said, "The United States is supposed to be a democracy not a dynasty." I couldn't agree more.

Look, should Obama become President, even if he doesn't accomplish all of the change he talks about, I'll still vote for him because I think regardless of how possible people think his change message is, I know he's not some charlatan.

Hillary, however, hasn't proven anything to me. All you casual feminists out there need to understand that Hillary's running in itself has set a new precedent, and there will be other, far more competent female candidates in the elections to come.

Hillary's plan to force everyone to buy health insurance is nonsense. I'm for universal healthcare, but not on the principle alone. Sorry Hill, but claiming the rates will be affordable offers no assurance to me, especially seeing as how whatever the rate, your good friends in the health insurance industry are bound to profit.

Let's say nothing of very abstract reserve of utterly vapid laurels. You know, the whole "experience" claim. I think every politician would enjoy executive privilege's complimentary muffin basket, so they too could travel to different countries and take some tour, and then be put in charge of voicing America's annual displeasure at China's dubious human rights record. Bravo. Really, that's diplomacy I can take to the bank. I suppose these are the "lots of different issues that are important to America's national security" she alluded to on the Ohio debate.

Say what you will about Obama, call him a snake-oil salesmen, say his shifty Chicago ties instantly make his campaign platform nil, say that he's unvetted, but he has always stood by his essential convictions. Oh sure, maybe currently he's undecided on lobbyist money, but the bedrock of his platform has remained unchanged.

Alternatively, that snide, petty, moneyed gorgon has jockeyed and postured this entire election for the sole purpose of fulfilling something she's felt personally entitled to because her husband turned out to be a schmuck. Well, I suppose if a hard time forms the essence of our credentials, let's just give the nomination to one of the millions of America's poor.

Obama's rhetorical verve has brought me and all my other twenty-something friends into the world of politics and issues like never before. Even if he fails to live up to his promises, he's set a bar and lit a personal fire inside me that won't go out.

I believe Obama, above all, will be a considerate and conscious president, who will listen. Hillary looks out for Hillary, she ignored the plea of those sexually harassed campaign contributors after she got their money, so how will she treat the American public after she's gotten their vote? We already know how she feels about the people who didn't vote for her: we're insignificant and unimportant.

You may call it naive to find comfort in a president who you feel will listen to the people, but having lived under an government who has shown such obvious disregard for public opinion, I think at this point even the semblance would be an improvement.

Here a nice sampling from this thread.

-She is divisive, manipulative and cares more about winning than the AMERICAN PEOPLE. She has been using the GENDER CARD quite LIBERALLY.

liberally huh...

-If he's NOT ELECTED, then a price will be paid by everyone - everyone ALL OVER the WORLD & the PLANET itself. It's your life, your future.

the world is a planet...

-He's proved again and again, that her real motive is GENDER ORIENTED, rather than working on behalf of the AMERICA PEOPLE. Unfortunately, there some GULLIBLE WOMEN who have been BEWITCHED by her tactics and manipulative behaviour.

this is quite a bewitching attempt...

-ANGRY candidate, ANGRY president. It's quite SCARRY to have someone (BITTER, GENDER-ORIENTED) as COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF in PRESIDENCY of the US like Hillary. Have the American people ignored these FLAWS? I don't think so.
So, "no" to Hillary

-Hillary, however, hasn't proven anything to me. All you casual FEMENISTS

-Hillary looks out for Hillary, she ignored the plea of those sexually harassed campaign contributors after she got their money, so how will she treat the AMERICAN PUBLIC after she's gotten their vote? We already ?KNOW? how she feels about the people who didn't vote for her: we're INSIGNIFICANT and UNIMPORTANT.

EXAMPLES OF THE FIRST TO PULL OUT THE WE ARE A VICTIM OF FEAR MONGERING, USING FEAR MONGERING TO SWAY VOTERS.

And right on time Obamabots. I was beginning to feel lonely while you were busy getting your orders, staking out the competition, based on what people were throwing at Obama. You've managed to spin it nicely. So nicely you've manage to make you're argument as usual emotionally overcharged and at ANY COST. You've managed to question her patriotism and public work for the American people, you've managed to tap into the hate of those against the "feminism movement," and liberalism in general.

OBAMA: WILL SAY ANYTHING TO GET ELECTED.

Must. follow. Messiah. Must. follow. Messiah.

Ok if Obama would have lost 11 straight wins he would be splitting the democratic party, however Hillary lost and she is still in, therefore I believe she is the one splitting the party and will continue to do so. She gets away with a lot because of her last name and gender if you want to get serious. Sara and Ethel, you both should do some reviewing of both of the candidates history. The only reason Hillary has more experience is because she was married to Bill. Yes that is experience, but you are limiting elected officials opportunities to those of inheritance and stature. Sara, you say that Obama has skeletons in his closet yet he should wait to run later. Why if he has these skeletons would you vote for him then? As far as these so called skeletons, what do you know? He gave the money back that Resko donated when it came to his attention that he was a criminal. This is ridiculous argument on your behalf saying that you believe these tactics now but would vote later. You are the pawn that these politicians like Hillary prey upon, so that you will vote for her. She says anything to get a vote, remember that. Obama speaks from his heart and people that have heart realize that. Hillary has been planning this her whole career. Obama came from nowhere, yes, but that doesn't mean he has no grounds. Tactics work on voters like you. This is the old way of politics that he takes no part in. All I've ever heard him say as far as attacks are responses to the attacks she fired at him. You people need to get real, like Hillary said about the Obama supporters. Hillary has already been there, thats not change thats the same. She wants to be the first woman persident more than she wants to be president. He wants to be president for the accessibility to washington for opportunity to change washington. This country needs him. Obama won 11 straight victories and everyone acts like that didn't happen.

Will some one ask the Messiah how much change the likes of Ted Kennedy and Jay Rockefeller will be bringing to his Whitehouse?Change PLEASE He is as corrupt as all the rest of Chicago politicians. Ask Rezko and the Iraqi businessman who sponsored him. The guys who wanted to voice an opinion not to invade Iraq. Not all that altruistic when you look beyond the smokein cocaine veil of Change.

"Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah CHANGE" and the crowd cheers. "Blah, blah, HOPE, blah, blah, blah, blah CHANGE" and the crowd cheers and people are fainting. "Blah, blah, blah CHANGE NEW DIRECTION". "And in closing, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah HOPE and CHANGE".

Seriously what is he going to change? He is a part of the problem. Since he's been in Washington what has he done to fix the problem from the inside, NOTHING. He is a part of the problem, not the solution. How many votes has he missed since taking office? Look it up, he has a very, very poor voting record because he has been too busy trying too be our saviour. How does that make you people that voted him into office feel? He hasn't done anything for you except use your vote as a stepping stone for his own personal gain. Don't you feel used and betrayed? He has not been in Washington fighting for you, he has been out galavanting around the country on a quest to become President. Do you think he's going to remember you once he becomes President? No, he doesn't care about you now, what makes you think he would care about you IF he were elected President. To answer that for you, HE WOULDN'T!

All of you Sheep that are falling for this, be careful what you wish for. If you think it's bad now, you just wait.

Obama will be an OK President. But, he will be making a lot of rookie mistakes before he can make progress.

If anyone's still undecided in Rhode Island, these views might be helpful:

http://acropolisreview.com/2008/02/endorsements-of-barack-obama.html

George Bush: "If I was running for president this year, I'd be for change too."

"Real change isn’t voting for George Bush’s war in Iraq and then telling the American people it was actually voting for more diplomacy," he said. "The title of the bill was 'A Resolution to Authorize the Use of the United States Armed Forces Against Iraq.' That sounds like you were voting for authorizing armed forces against Iraq."

Hillary Clinton and John McCain ready on day one.

To sell out America!!!

Lou, are you serious?

Can we really afford "a lot of rookie mistakes"?

Think about how delicate many of our foreign relations are. This is a man that said he would invade Pakistan. A "friendly" ally at this time in the fight against terrorism. A country that posses nuclear weapons. A country that does not want us "invading" their country. What do you think a mistake like that would cost us?

I want change as much as the next guy. But I am realistic. BHO is making promises that he is not going to be able to keep. He is going to create a bigger divide in this country. Not only racially but religiously and economically.

I have been to his website and studied his plan. It is not good, it is a bunch of hype and it is socialistic. His mentor is a communist. I have been to his church's website. It is racially dedicated to the advancement of African Americans. America is a melting pot, his church should be ALL inclusive. We are a country 'under one God, indivisable'.

Change is good, but change can be bad, very, very bad.

No one man can make the changes necessary to create a better America. But, one man can make the change to make this a weaker, less stable America.

It is up to us to make the change.

I believe that Barak is very sincere. That he would do his best as President. I also believe that, were John Kennedy alive today, JFK would have learned the economic lessons of the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's. Seems like the Dems don't understand that the laws of economics hold the same power over us as the laws of gravity. You speak sincerely of healthcare for all americans. You reach out eloquently to masses of poor people, or those displaced by NAFTA -imperfect but one that is the best choice for a country who's economics are tied to the rest of the world and one that has produced a NET IMPROVEMENT for America, and say that you were always against NAFTA. But you don't understand that some changes are both natural and inevitable. You, Barak, need to take some economic classes to learn that the Laffer curve is a scientific analysis of economics that demonstrates why lowering taxes for businesses and not overtaxing the rich actually produces jobs and improved living conditions for Americans. And then you say you want to be President? If you really want to be compassionate to the poor and underpriviledged, then don't speak in fairy tales that defy the laws of economics. Rather, understand those laws, work with compassion and encourage personal responsibility. Ask the people to be compassionate with each other. But please, Barak, do not speak of "change", offering up proposals that have been proven through the science of economics to be unworkable. Else, jump off a building and defy the laws of gravity. Then you might get my vote.

Look, I realize that most Republicans are generally a little short in the IQ dept but you sir, take the cake.

Posted by: super duper double happy hour | March 1, 2008 6:16 PM

First of all, stupid, I'm not a Republican. Secondly, you can't just brush aside facts that conflict with your delusions.

FACT: Obama has been saying recently that he has "always" been opposed to NAFTA.

FACT: Up until at least 2004 Obama was on record defending NAFTA.

Here's another fact sure to get your undies in a knot:
Obama says that he doesn't take money from federally registered lobbyists... but he does> accept money from these lobbyists' business associates and spouses. And he accepts money from lobbyists who are not registered with the federal Govt.

"[Obama] won't take money from federal lobbyists but accepts money from employees of firms and corporations that lobby, and he uses lobbyists and other government relations professionals as advisers."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-lobbying_bdfeb10,0,7215849.story

"[Obama] won't take money from federal lobbyists but accepts money from employees of firms and corporations that lobby, and he uses lobbyists and other government relations professionals as advisers."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-lobbying_bdfeb10,0,7215849.story

News outlets are reporting that a top Obama aide had contacted the Canadian ambassador to reassure them that Sen. Obama's promise of pulling out of the current NAFTA agreement was just politics.

What's going on? Does any know anything about this story? I think it's important to voters of Ohio, like myself, to know what's going on. Can anyone direct me to any credible sources about this?

YOU MIGHT BE AN IDIOT:-)

If you think Barack Obama with little or no experience would be better than Hillary Clinton with 35 years experience.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can fix an economy on the verge of collapse better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) led the greatest economic expansion, and prosperity in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience fighting for universal health care can get it for you better than Hillary Clinton. Who anticipated this current health care crisis back in 1993, and fought a pitched battle against overwhelming odds to get universal health care for all the American people.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience can manage, and get us out of two wars better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) went to war only when he was convinced that he absolutely had to. Then completed the mission in record time against a nuclear power. AND DID NOT LOSE THE LIFE OF A SINGLE AMERICAN SOLDIER. NOT ONE!

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience saving the environment is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) left office with the greatest amount of environmental cleanup, and protections in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with little or no education experience is better than Hillary Clinton. Whose ;-) husband (Bill Clinton) made higher education affordable for every American. And created higher job demand and starting salary's than they had ever been before or since.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that Obama with no experience will be better than Hillary Clinton who spent 8 years at the right hand of President Bill Clinton. Who is already on record as one of the greatest Presidents in American history.

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think that you can change the way Washington works with pretty speeches from Obama, rather than with the experience, and political expertise of two master politicians ON YOUR SIDE like Hillary and Bill Clinton..

You Might Be An Idiot!

If you think all those Republicans voting for Obama in the Democratic primaries, and caucuses are doing so because they think he is a stronger Democratic candidate than Hillary Clinton. :-)

Best regards

jacksmith...