The Moderate Liberal

As if we haven’t had enough of the injustice that the Bush administration has institutionalized at the “Justice” Department:  Justice Department officials blocked liberals and people with Democratic Party ties from a highly selective program that funneled young lawyers into government jobs, according to an internal investigation just released.

My friends, if you do not think that the 2008 Presidential Election is the most important election ever in America’s history, think again.  Four more years of McCain-Bush will absolutely destroy this country and the freedoms that its people have worked so hard to secure.

The Justice Department has been politicized to unprecedented levels.  The only way to stop this is to change the presidency and our congress.

Another example of how far out of touch the Republican Party is with the rest of America and the world.  Senate Republicans today blocked a global warming bill that would have required major reductions in greenhouse gases.

Remember when Republicans were always threatening to use the “nuclear option” to overcome then minority Democratic opposition to Bush court nominations?   Hmmm. It was a good idea then, perhaps after this next election of a permanent Democratic majority, it will be time to do away with these obsolete Republican obstructionists once and for all.

It’s over.

Barak Hussein Obama has clinched the Democratic nomination for President of the United States of America. Congratulations, Barak.

Instead of moving to heal her party, Clinton chose to immediately place intense pressure on Barak through the media and party hacks to choose her as his running mate.  Clinton speaks of  gaining “respect” for her “18 million” followers, all the while wielding them like a weapon against the party.

Meanwhile, Obama has consistently given Clinton nothing but respect, sweetie!  His June 2 speech in St Paul, MN was full of kind words and respect for Clinton. But Clinton doesn’t realize she must give it to get it.

Clinton has been, and continues to be incredibly disrespectful of Obama and his supporters.  The public pressure they are now attempting to lay on Obama is horrendously disrespectful.  All the while she is publicly crying out for the Veep spot, she has yet to even acknowledge Obama’s victory.

Unless a respectful Clinton moves immediately to heal the Democratic party, Obama will not have her as his running mate.

During this campaign I have come to understand this about Obama: he will not be bullied.

Clinton missed her moment last night to heal the party, and to make herself a serious candidate for vice president.  Instead, she choose to use the stage to issue veiled threats like she was a schoolyard bully.

Now, with each hour that passes, what Clinton will do or not do becomes less and less important.  The race is now quickly moving on without Clinton, and her influence is waning fast.

I am fully confident that Obama will do what needs to be done to win this election. Obama has shown us all that he is smart, resiliant, a strong leader, and capable of making good decisions. If Obama wants Clinton as his running mate, then it shall be so because it is good for America.  If not, and he chooses someone like Jim Web or John Edwards, then I will happily accept that decision as well.

What about those angry Clintonista’s who say they will slash and burn the Obama campaign with their votes?  Will they truly be so petty as to vote for McCain or stay home, simply because their team lost? 

First, I have to believe that deep inside, these supporters are true Democrats, and not cultish followers of Clinton. If I am wrong, and such behavior does come to pass, and the uneducated voters in West Virginia who may have trouble voting for a “black man” cause America to miss this amazing historic opportunity to elect a great leader, then I can truly say with all honesty that this will be the first time in my adult life that I am truly ashamed of my country.

Bill Clinton, speaking in Milbank South Dakota today, said, “I want to say also that this may be the last day I’m ever involved in a campaign of this kind (i.e., a presidential campaign).” 

Reading between the lines, which is what you always have to do with The Clintons,  here’s what I hear him say: “If Hillary doesn’t get the nomination, then I won’t support Barak Obama’s presidential campaign. He’s on his own.”  You could also infer that Clinton would turn his back on the Democratic party, since this will be the last time that he is “EVER” involved in a campaign like this.

No political rant today. What’s the point.

Instead, I blew off time by going out to Craigslist.org to search for a fishing boat.  I like to fish. 

I didn’t find what I was looking for, but I did see a link to “Best of Craigslist.” Check it out, its addicting.  I especially enjoyed the post about the “found cat.” The note to the “Person with wooden leg who lives above me,” was also good.

Yes, there are many surprises and experiences to be had in this world.  Cheap boats, apparently, are not among them.

Peace

My liberal buddy Jason from Up North in Canada called today.  He’s a Clinton backer. He thinks Obama is not long on details.

I tried to explain that after 8 years of being completely uninspired by Bush that Obama’s lofty visioning exercise is exactly what I (and many other Americans) needed to get me back in the political saddle. I think Jason feels that Clinton is a known quantity, and Canadians always seemed to like the Clintons.

My view is that American can do better than to recycle the good ol’ days of the Clinton administration. I’m ready for a break with the past. I am ready for woman President, don’t slap me as a misogynist. Nothing against Hillary, except that she’s married to Bill. No, I can’t separate the two.    Hill would bring in a plethora of old Clinton administrators; one only need to look at her campaign staff and advisors to understand this.  With Clinton, we’ve been there, done that. Time to move on.

America needs a real change, change we can believe in.  America needs a new vision. America needs Obama.  What Canada needs, I could give a shit (just kidding Jason). 

Jason frets that McCain is getting lots of “positive” spin up in Canada from all of his personal appearances. He notes that McCain actually seems likeable.

Superdelegates, why are you letting this drag on? Pick the winner and lets get on with it.  Time is awastin’.

But just look at what Obama has done. He has activated millions of new voters. He has shown that he can raise money by the hundreds of millions, not from giant donars, but from tiny little people. That is grassroots support that Clinton has not been able to build in her 30 years.  Clinton and McCain represent yesteryear politics.  Obama is the future, and the future is now.

Get used to it, Jason!

Read all about it.  Our prayers and well wishes to Senator Kennedy.

No word yet on what, if anything, this could mean to the Democratics ultra-slim Senate majority. Mass’s Democratic governor would presumably appoint a Democrat to fill Kenned’ys unexpired term. 

News from the DSCC:

North Carolina:  We’re Winning

Think we can’t win red states like North Carolina?  Look at the latest poll.

                North Carolina Senate Poll
                Kay Hagan (D)              48%
                Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R)    47%

That’s right.  After last week’s huge primary win, Democratic State Senator Kay Hagan has surged ahead of endangered Republican incumbent Elizabeth Dole in the latest survey.

We weren’t kidding last week when we called this the sleeper race of 2008.  North Carolina voters are ready to reject Dole’s brand of George Bush Republicanism.  

Dole is against increasing the minimum wage.  North Carolina voters are for it.  Dole is against expanding health care for kids.  North Carolina voters are for it.  Dole is even against the kind of serious ethics reform that would limit the influence of her special interest friends.

Dole is against getting defeated in November.  Once again, North Carolina voters are all for it.

Texas:  We’re (Almost) Winning

Think we can’t win red states like Texas?  Look at the latest poll. (Noticing a theme?)

                Texas Senate Poll
                Sen. John Cornyn (R)    47%
                Rick Noriega (D)        43%

Four points.  That’s the margin in this and another poll released last week.  In both polls, Republican Senator John Cornyn is below the key 50% threshold that signals a highly vulnerable incumbent.

The bottom line is that we can win in Texas.  Cornyn has the same sordid record of pushing the policies of George Bush and Dick Cheney that plagues every Republican incumbent.  Specifically, he’s been a key ally in the right-wing effort to pack the federal courts with Antonin Scalia wannabes.

Remember, Texas had to put up with Bush as a governor for six years.  They’ve suffered quite enough, don’t you think?  Now, they’re ready to celebrate George Bush’s retirement by putting one of his top lieutenants in the Senate out there with him.

Mississippi: We Already Won

Think we can’t win red states like Mississippi?  Look at the results of Tuesday’s special congressional election.  (We told you there was a theme here!)

                Mississippi Special Election
                Travis Childers (D)   54%
                Greg Davis (R)        46%

Republicans have held this seat for 14 years and George Bush won here with at least 59% of the vote in both 2000 and 2004.  Childers’ victory means that Democrats now hold 3 of the 4 Mississippi congressional seats.

This week’s huge victory also bodes well for Democratic Senate candidate Ronnie Musgrove.  The popular former governor is running to take over Trent Lott’s old seat this fall.

Don’t you think Trent Lott will be hopping mad when Democrats win again in Mississippi on Election Day?  Won’t it be great?

Colorado: How much are you paying for gas?

How much are you paying for a gallon of gas?  $3.75?  $4.00?  Even more?

Then do you really think it makes sense to put an oil industry shill like Bob Schaffer into the United States Senate?  Neither do we.

After all, when he served in Congress, Schaffer voted to authorize billions in extra tax breaks for the oil and gas industry.  After leaving the House, Schaffer immediately went to work as an oil executive, earning more than $1 million for his trouble trying to maximize oil profits.

Remember what happened the last time we put an oil executive in a position of power?  George Bush basically ruined our international reputation and our economy.  Let’s not make that mistake again.  

If we really want to lower gas prices, then we need to elect Democrat Mark Udall in Colorado in November.  It’s as simple as that.

Colorado (again): Blooper of the Week

Things go from bad to worse with Bob Schaffer.  Earlier this week he made a bold claim in a new TV commercial.  “Colorado is my life,” he said.

Problem is, he said it in front of a rugged mountain backdrop showing Mt. McKinley - in Alaska!  Schaffer was forced to pull the ad, but not before he betrayed just how little he really cares about Colorado.

We wanted to show Colorado voters the true scope of Schaffer’s real passion: showering attention on the special interests.  So we rushed to create a brand new web ad detailing all the times he’s put someone else ahead of Colorado voters.   It goes way beyond a simple video-editing gaffe.

Click here to see our new web ad.

Remember, this is the guy who went parasailing on the dime of a Jack Abramoff front group and who likes to brag that he’s done more for Ukraine than for working families in his own district.

That’s OK, though.  Schaffer will have plenty of time to go parasailing in about six months - right after Election Day.

Clinton has been moderating her attacks the past few days, in preparation for an inevitable withdrawal from the race. Her wise words to her supporters that they must support the eventual party nominee are tantamount to an endorsement of Obama.

If Clinton had not become so vitriolic in her attacks against Obama, educated moderate liberals may not have left her standing alone at the house party drinking beer with the bubba’s.

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