Thread: US Presidential Campaign 2008

MSNBC Meet the Press says Obama is losing with the gun owners, hunters and bowling teams in PA, but neck and neck with Hill among the beer drinkers.

^That is very surprising. The blue collar white male has been the most difficult vote for Obama.

^ But he has more funds to buy beer.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

But he has more funds to buy beer.

huh?

while i realize this is an attempt at humor (albeit a lame one), you're factually inaccurate .....the clintons are much wealthier than the obamas.

Here's an interesting diversion while we wait for the Pennsylvania results.

How Iran Sees the US Primaries

From President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's office and the sitting rooms of high-ranking mullahs to university campuses and the Farsi-language blogosphere, Iranians are following the American presidential race more avidly than ever before. That's partly because they're eager for the exit of President Bush, who branded Iran part of an "Axis of Evil" and implicitly raised the possibility of a military strike against the country over its alleged nuclear weapons program. But the Iranians' interest is also driven by a sense among many Iranians that the candidacy of Barack Obama offers real hope for repairing the U.S.-Iranian relationship. Commenting on the Iranian preference for a Democrat in the White House, Sergei Barseghian, a columnist for the reformist Etemad Meli newspaper noted that in Farsi, the words Oo ba ma would translate as "He's with us."

But Obama isn't the only candidate drawing careful scrutiny in Tehran. Some Iranians are also intrigued by John McCain, pointing out that Henry Kissinger, a "realist" McCain adviser, recently called for "direct negotiations" between the U.S. and Iran. Nonetheless, many consider McCain a hawk and fear his experiences as an American POW in the Vietnam War may hardwire him for hostility towards revolutionary governments. All Iranians seem aware of McCain's "Bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" Beach Boys imitation, and many take it as an indication of his inclinations. Yet many anti-regime Iranians are praying - albeit quietly - for a McCain victory. Some Iranians believe that Ahmadinejad also favors McCain, in the belief that continued confrontation with the U.S. - as long as it stops short of all-out war - will enable Iranian hard-liners to rally popular backing against reformists who seek to improve ties with the West.

Iranians are divided on Hillary Clinton, largely basing their views on the record in the Middle East of her husband, who Iranians expect would effectively be her senior foreign policy adviser. Mohammed Atrianfar, an adviser to former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, argues that Bill Clinton has a "peace-seeking image" among Iranians. Then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, now a Hillary adviser, publicly accepted American responsibility for involvement in the 1953 coup in Iran and subsequent support for the repressive regime of the Shah. Iranian diplomats complain, however, that Clinton also imposed economic sanctions on Iran.

But it's Obama's declared willingness to engage in "aggressive personal diplomacy" with the Iranian leadership that has generated the most interest among senior officials in Tehran, since this would mark a sea-change in Washington's approach. "Obama is a man of engagement, a man of negotiations," one Iranian official told TIME. Amir Mohebbian, an analyst close to Iranian conservative politicians, argues that "the mentality of Iranian decision makers is ready for that."

And precisely because of the attributes they find most positive in Obama, many Iranian leaders believe he's unlikely to be elected. Iran's Vice President Esfandiar Rahim Mashaee, whose daughter married President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's son last week, told TIME that Obama "seems not a bad person" and said that, if he were an American voter, he might even cast a ballot for the Illinois Senator. But Mashaee thinks Iran will more likely be facing McCain or Clinton in the White House. "It's far-fetched that he will be allowed to become President," Mashaee insisted. Pressed to elaborate, Ahmadinejad's deputy declined to specify whether it was because of Obama's race or other factors. He just laughed and exclaimed, "Let's make a bet on it!"

How Iran Sees the US Primaries - Yahoo! News

Originally Posted by raycarey

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

But he has more funds to buy beer.

huh?

while i realize this is an attempt at humor (albeit a lame one), you're factually inaccurate .....the clintons are much wealthier than the obamas.

Come on Ray, pull your head out. She's referring to Obama's outstanding fundraising efforts. He's got jillions more than everyone else combined. Why do you try to find fault in some posters' statements, regardless of what they say?

If I claimed, "Obama is the best candidate and will should be the nxet president."
You'd be all over that typo. Your single-mindedness is your biggest weakness.

Originally Posted by Texpat

"Obama is the best candidate and will should be the nxet president."

typo.

^I greened Ray for that too. Finally showing us a funny side. "He's with us."

Commenting on the Iranian preference for a Democrat in the White House, Sergei Barseghian, a columnist for the reformist Etemad Meli newspaper noted that in Farsi, the words Oo ba ma would translate as "He's with us."

If this isn't unrefutable proof that Obama is a puppet of international militant Islamism, I don't know what would be.

Meanwhile, Obama's affiliation with Bill Ayers is his next stumbling block:

...Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) stoked debate over a ’60s radical’s ties to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday, saying Obama’s defense “borders on the outrageous.”

William Ayers — a former member of the Weather Underground, which embraced bombing in its effort to end the Vietnam War — became an issue in the Democratic nominating race at last week’s debate. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) said Obama’s past meetings with Ayers are part of a “larger set of concerns about how we are going to run against John McCain.” Republican sources said McCain plans to make a major issue of the connection in the months ahead.

McCain questions Obama radical ties - Ryan Grim and Mike Allen - Politico.com

Originally Posted by stroller

Meanwhile, Obama's affiliation with Bill Ayers is his next stumbling block:

obama was 8 years old when ayers was in the weather underground. obama has called ayers past actions 'detestable'.

ayers is now a well respected academic at the U of chicago, who hosted a fund raiser for obama in '95----13 years ago. he and ayers also once served on the board of directors of some charity for 3 years.

even foxnews can see through this manufactured 'scandal'....

Fact Check: Obama’s Relationship with William Ayers - America’s Election HQ

Was Obama ever interviewed by Richard Quest? Might be some mileage there too.

Enough drivel. When are they going to get to the real issues. How much are my taxes going to rise?

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

When are they going to get to the real issues.

you mean like if he's wearing a flag pin?
or what his wife wrote in her thesis 20 years ago?
or how many hesitation devices she uses when she's interviewed on tv?

is that what you mean by 'real' issues?

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

How much are my taxes going to rise?

from what you've posted before on this forum you're a guest in the US...if you don't like the tax structure....leave.

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

Enough drivel. When are they going to get to the real issues. How much are my taxes going to rise?

Got that right, Jet.
Aside from Osama's...whoops - I mean Obama's Marxist sympathies, it boils down to TAXES...

Originally Posted by raycarey

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

When are they going to get to the real issues.

you mean like if he's wearing a flag pin?
or what his wife wrote in her thesis 20 years ago?
or how many hesitation devices she uses when she's interviewed on tv?

is that what you mean by 'real' issues?

Originally Posted by Jet Gorgon

How much are my taxes going to rise?

from what you've posted before on this forum you're a guest in the US...if you don't like the tax structure....leave.

Sorry, I was saying "my taxes". As I work for a US firm, it does have an effect on me.

Exactly, Ray. The Dems are tittie tattieing, so I called them on it -- flag pins, preachers, phony sniper attacks at airports. For them, those have been the issues, not taxes, etc. I saw Hill on an MSNBC interview last night and she said oil prices have risen to $112/bbl and when Bush took office it was $20/bbl. Oh, like that's Bush's fault. Then she said she'd show the foreign oil providers by making America switch to alternative fuels and make them bring prices lower with the lack of US demand 5555 -- that'll bring the price of oil down. Fek, no mention of China and India, who are major oil consumers now.
Oh ya, and her security umbrella over the Middle East. We must ensure Iran knows we will defend Israel if they try to attack with nukes. Our warning will be enough to deter Iran. 555555555555

Well, no surprise, but Clinton won Pennsylvania, 53 to 47 over Obama. So, she is giddy with her new lease on life, and we can look forward to continued nastiness, personal insults, and inventive name calling. (No, I'm not talking about Ray, I mean Clinton vs. Obama).

Obama did put on a good show and shaved the lead from 20 to 6, so he proved he does have legs in the important rust belt, geriatric, Archie Bunker swing states.

Clinton scored her victory by winning the votes of blue-collar workers, women and whites in an election where the economy was the dominant concern. More than 80 percent of voters surveyed as they left their polling places said the nation was already in a recession.

Clinton defeats Obama in Pennsylvania primary - Yahoo! News

Clinton's focus on the economy seems key. Obama should take a page from her playbook.

^ Yes, I think there will be more personal insults, innuendo, and immature behavior. Primarily by HRC.

Her latest statement about using nuclear weapons against Iran is a perfect example.

An embarrassing election. 6 more months....puh-leaze.....

I must have read a different viewpoint- basically, it said Hillary needed to win by safely over ten points to retain any meaningful chance to be Democratic nominee- so too little, too late. Obamas loss was obviously widely expected in Penn- whether the Obama team is pleased that they managed to close the gap substantially, or mildly disappointed that they didn't close it by more, I guess we'll never know.

Here's my daily Dig at US electioneering, from the Yahoo link above:-

"She showed her blue collar bona fides one night by knocking down a shot of whiskey, then taking a mug of beer as a chaser. Obama went bowling in his attempt to win over working-class voters."

Has it come to this?

Incidentally, I spent a very nice day out in the Valley Forge area of Pennsylvania- it's just a short drive from Princeton NJ, where I stayed for a couple of months. Beautiful area- and this ain't no rust belt full of embittered, beer bellied bowlers left behind by progress and technology! On the contrary, full of affluent, educated types who appreciate the beauty and history of the area in which they live.

I think this emphasis on painting a state or region of the US as a particular stereotype is demeaning, both to the diverse population of that region, and the country as a whole.

Originally Posted by Milkman

Her latest statement about using nuclear weapons against Iran is a perfect example.

Yeh, that propels her straight into the Bush/ McCain school of how not to conduct a foreign policy. Buffoon.

I would have thought a statement like that would give many educated Jewish voters reason to rethink what has basically been a slam dunk for Hillary so far.

Originally Posted by Norton

The win in Pennsylvania should help but will it be enough to convince super delegates to overturn Obama's numbers going into the convention?

there's the rub.

if obama wins both indiana and NC it will be interesting to see if any of the heavyweights come out for him...IOW, a signal for clinton to step aside.

if she wins indiana, IMO this is going all the way to puerto rico.

Just read an opinion piece by an AP writer. He claims the inability by Obama to "close the deal," "deliver the knockout punch," or otherwise put away Clinton is the very reason the superdelegates are so reluctant. He has not proven he has the knockout punch yet.