The debate turned out to be a very polite conversation about the issues.  Both candidates pointed out the differences between their respective platforms in a very nonconfrontational way.  Both were able to give great detail about their policy on health care, the Iraq war, and immigration,  just to name a few.  Those tuning in to see fireworks were sorely disappointed.  I am sure that the pundits will pick and analyze every gesture to try and find hidden meanings.  However, for me, it was truly a historical moment.  For the first time in history, we had an african-american and a woman sharing the stage as the only two remaining candidates vying for the democratic nomination.  Progress!

According to the New York Times, Bill Clinton played a role in, and benefited from, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, a deal struck with Kazakhstan.  Apparently, Bill Clinton and a prominent Canadian financier went to a meeting in Kazakhstan.  A few days later the Canadian financier strikes a huge deal with the former soviet republic.  A few days after that, the Canadian financier makes a huge donation to Clinton’s charitable organization, over 30 million dollars.  Coinkydink…maybe.  At a press conference during Bill  Clinton’s visit, the former president made statements that were not only in contradiction U.S. Foreign policy, but also in direct contradiction of the stated position of his wife, Sen. Hillary Clinton.  The Canadian financier also later made an additional contribution to Clinton’s charitable foundation of 100 million dollars.  The New York Times reports:  Read the rest of this entry »

Tonight, Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton have their final contest before Super Tuesday.  This will be the first debate with just the two candidates.  The debate will air tonight at 8pm eastern standard time on CNN.  Wolf Blitzer will be moderating.  Both candidates have a lot at stake in this final contest before the ultimate contest on Super Tuesday.  To become the democratic nominee, the magic number of delegates needed is 2025.  A whopping 1700 of those delegates will be at stake on Tuesday.  Voters in 24 states will be able to speak loud and clear as to who they want to move on to be the democratic and republican nominee.  The debate will be held at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. 

Recent events indicate more and more that John McCain will be the Republican nominee.  The conservative base of the republican party is beginning the process of swallowing this very bitter pill.  Reports are circulating that the base is attemping to coalesce around what is shaping up to be a fait accompli.  The question for democrats is who is most electable against McCain.  Both republicans and democrats agree that McCain’s best chance of winning the White House in 2008 is with Clinton as the domocratic nominee.  Most are speculating that in a McCain-Clinton matchup, McCain would win and therefore the winner is determined at the outset of the race.  According to recent statements by McCain, I think he agrees.  Most republican and democrats believe that Obama will be a much better general election candidate because of his message and his huge draw of independents.  I have noticed that the media and other operatives are framing the match-up as McCain-Clinton.  Is this because they believe that we are the same unengaged, gullible, electorate of yesteryear?  An electorate that falls in line with whatever the pundits and media outlets profess? No no no, just because you say it louder doesn’t make it so.  In such a volatile race, anyone who can state definitively that it will be between two specific candidates, I question their/its motives.  Especially considering the extraordinary unpredictability of this race.  Therefore, whenever I hear such statements, I am immediately suspicious of the person or outlet. Recently, I heard an interview where Pat Buchanan stated that Hillary Clinton will be the democratic nominee.  I think that I heard this on the day that Teddy Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama.  In the midst of all the excitement surrounding what has been lauded as a historic moment, Buchanan still maintained that Clinton will be the nominee.  One might think that he was working for the Clinton campaign considering that at every opportunity, regardless of how well Obama is doing at the time, he insists that Clinton will be the nominee.  Now, I tend to be a little suspicious of life-long militant conservatives, who are so far to the right they’re left, pushing or helping a particular democratic candidate.  So I ask Mr. Buchanan…why are you pushing a Clinton candidacy so vigorously?  Especially because during Bill Clinton’s time in office, you were probably their most outspoken critic.  Guess what, we are on to you this time.  The tail will not wag this dog.  Electability is the order of the day. We will vote for the most electable person that best represents America’s possibilities.  If we are democrat, we will push forward, and vote for, the candidate who has the least baggage, and has the greatest chance of beating possible republican nominee John McCain.  If we are republican, we will push forward, and vote for, the person that can best face up to the democrats.  All in all, and most importantly, we will elect the person who can bring us together as a nation and repair our image with our foreign counterparts.  We will elect the President that best represents our dreams and hopes for America’s future.  Why you ask…..because that is progress.

George Clooney is speaking to the U.N. today regarding the continued crisis in Darfur.   Mr. Clooney appears as a UN designated messenger of peace from Darfur.  The actor has just returned from a technical assessment mission of the current situation in the Darfur region.  Mr. Clooney, along with fellow actor Don Cheadle, has been very involved in educating people about the devastation occurring in the region.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, will endorse John McCain.  The California governor is expected to make the official announcement tomorrow.  If the endorsement of Florida governor Charlie Crist is anything to judge by, Romney needs to ramp it up a notch!

John Edwards is expected to announce that he is pulling out of the 2008 presidential race.  The candidate will not immediately endorse either Clinton or Obama.  Edwards plans to make the announcement from New Orleans, the same place that he announced his candidacy.  The soon to be former candidate is also expected to say that he will be “suspending” his campaign so that he can continue to pay his hard working staff.  Edwards did place a call to Obama and Clinton informing them of his decision.  The next question is which of the the remaining candidates benefit?  Depends on who you ask.  There is a whole new block of democratic voters in play.  Many speculate that Edwards campaign message is more akin to Obama’s message than Clintons.’ David Mudcat Sanders, Edwards campaign advisor, said that “he will do everything in his power to make sure that Edwards does not endorse Senator Clinton.” Apparently Mr. Sanders is not a fan of the Clintons.

Hillary Clinton has won the beauty contest in Florida.  Unfortunately for the Clinton campaign, Florida has been stripped of all its delegates.  After Obama’s momentous win in South Carolina, the Clinton campaign decided that Florida is hugely important. Most report that the sudden interest in Florida by the Clinton campaign is an attempt to eclipse or break Obama’s momentum going into Super Tuesday.  Because we recognize the obviousness of this campaign strategy, I ask…can you be a bit less obvious?  News flash to the candidates…we are a pretty bright electorate once we decide to engage.   This Clinton win has been reported as based purely on name recognition.  All of the democratic candidates, including Clinton, signed a pledge to boycott the Florida primary after Florida moved up its primary date in violation of Democratic National Committee rules.  However, the Clintons have been in national politics for twenty years.  Therefore, and by default, when voters go to the polls and they have not had a chance to get to know the two other candidates, they are more likely to choose what is familiar, i.e., Hillary Clinton.  Therefore, because the Clintons have a built-in advantage in that they are more famous and have been on the national political scene a lot longer than the other two candidates, any win in Florida does not represent a true decision or endorsement by Floridians.  All the candidates agreed not to campaign in Florida, and Edwards and Obama specifically, were prohibited from familiarizing Florida voters with their policy agenda.  Because none of the candidates were able to explain why each would be the best candidate to represent Floridian interests in the general election, the Clinton win is disingenuous and hallow and does not represent a true victory in an informed voter or substantive sense.  Note:  The majority of voters who voted a month ago, and before Iowa or South Carolina, overwhelmingly voted for Hillary.  However, the majority of voters who voted after Iowa and South Carolina went overwhelmingly for Obama.

John McCain takes Florida and is awarded a whopping 57 delegates!  This has been a pivotal race for all of the republican candidates due to the significant amount of delegates at stake.  Before the Florida primary, the total delegates for each candidate were: Romney 59, Huckabee 40, McCain 36, Paul 4, and Giuliani 1.  With the Florida win, McCain now has a total of 97 delegates. This is also a big win for McCain for other reasons.  Because McCain’s campaign is reported to be running on fumes, this win will provide enormous fundraising potential for the candidate.  Now that McCain has demonstrated that he can win a closed republican primary, as opposed to an open primary where republicans and independents are permitted to vote, republicans are a bit more convinced about his candidacy.  This will provide a much needed boost for McCain into Super Tuesday.  However, the republican race is far from over.  Because it was such a close race, Romney will most likely continue through Super Tuesday.  Both candidates are preparing for the California debate, which is the final debate before Super Tuesday.

There are mumblings from the Giuliani camp that the former Mayor of New York will drop out and endorse McCain as early as tomorrow.  It’s official, Giuliani will drop out tomorrow evening and endorse John McCain.

Expect your refund checks in the mail.  Many believe that this may be too little too late.  However, I wonder if the government expects many of us to spend the refund check long before we receive it in the mail. Therefore, the effect of the Stimulus Package will be felt immediately or at least much sooner than the media is predicting.  The bill is now expected to go the Senate for it’s approval tomorrow.  The Senate has hinted that it may have issues with the current version of the bill.

Presidential candidate Barrack Obama received the endorsement of Governor Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas.  Governor Sebelius has been touted as an up and coming star of the democratic party.  Governor Sebelius is most recently known for giving the Democratic response to President Bush’s State of the Union address last night.  Kansas is also one of the Super Tuesday states.

In the Democratic party you have delegates (the popular vote of the State), and then you have Super Delegates who are allotted a heaping portion of delegates and are Democratic party leaders (members of Congress, democratic governors, and elected members of the Democratic National Committee).  Super Delegates can vote for whomever they choose and are not beholding to the popular vote of his or her state. The total number of Super Delegates in the Democratic Party is 796 and make up about 20 percent of the entire convention. On Feb 5^th , several states delegates will be up for grabs.  For the Republicans, 975 delegates are at stake, and for the Democrats, 1681 delegates are at stake.  The Democratic National Committee awards delegates on a proportional basis, which means that all of the candidates will pick up delegates if they clear the 15% viability threshold.  The Republicans have a combination of proportional and winner-take-all system.  In winner-take-all, if a candidate wins by just one vote he receives all the delegates for that state.  There are 22 Super Tuesday states for the Democrats and 21 for the Republicans.  The Democratic National Committee stripped Florida of all its delegates because the Sunshine state moved up its primaries in violation of DNC rules.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters of California has just endorsed Hillary Clinton for President.

The republicans are battling for delegates in Florida.  McCain and Romney are currently neck and neck in the polls.  Currently McCain is polling at about 33%, Romney at 31%, Giuliani at 14%, and Huckabee at 13%.  A million people in Florida have already voted.  Voter turnout is expected to be about 2 million. Whichever candidate wins the Florida primary will receive a huge boost of momentum going into the Feb 5th primaries, i.e. Super Duper Tuesday.  Most are speculating that whomever wins Florida will most likely win the nomination.  In terms of delegates, unlike in the Democratic primaries, in the Republican primaries, the winner takes all.  This is a huge deal for the Republican candidates and the two front-runners, McCain and Romney, are not holding any punches.  Both  candidates have accused each other of being the “L word,”  that would be liberal.  Both McCain and Romney are laying it all the line for what is turning out to be a crucial win.

Ted Kennedy, one of the longest serving senators in US history, has endorsed Barack Obama for President.  This comes on the heels of Obama’s stunning victory in South Carolina.  Apparently, Bill Clinton, not Hillary Clinton, made the call to Ted Kennedy on behalf of the Clinton campaign begging him not to endorse Obama.  This is a huge win for the Obama campaign considering Kennedy’s longstanding ties with the latin community.  Kennedy has been a proponent of favorable polices affecting the latin community and continues to be one of it’s main allies in Washington.   This must be a huge slap in the face to the Clinton campaign considering the friendship and longstanding collegial relationship between the Clintons and Ted Kennedy.  Both the Clinton and the Obama campaign have been relentlessly courting Ted Kennedy for his endorsement.  Even though Kennedy communicated his endorsement decision to Senator Obama on Thursday of last week, Bill Clinton’s comment on Saturday most likely strengthened his resolve.  When asked by a reporter last Saturday ”what does it say about Obama when it takes two of you [Bill and Hillary] to beat him,”  Bill Clinton responded, or nonresponded ”Jessie Jackson won South Carolina twice in 84 and 88.”  In other words, and what is being confirmed by those inside and outside the Clinton campaign, attempting to belittle Obama’s achievement.   Bill Clinton made the statement even though the two campaigns are not related in any way except that both candidates are african-american.  Not to mention that Obama’s victory in South Carolina was a two to one margin over Clinton.  Jessie Jackson never came close to hitting those numbers.   Kennedy is said to be ”appalled” at the ”racial and negative overtones”  of the Clinton campaign.  Ted Kennedy’s endorsement, unlike other endorsements, is hugely significant because Kennedy is a completely disinterested bystander.  Ted Kennedy does not want to be Secretary of State or vice president; the endorsement is completely personal for him as oppose to political.  Kennedy has been quoted as saying that he really believes that Obama can unite the country and “make America good again from sea to shining sea.”.

In a letter to the New York Times endorsing Barack Obama, Caroline Kennedy writes:

January 27, 2008

Op-Ed Contributor

A President Like My Father

By CAROLINE KENNEDY 

OVER the years, I’ve been deeply moved by the people who’ve told me they wished they could feel inspired and hopeful about America the way people did when my father was president. This sense is even more profound today. That is why I am supporting a presidential candidate in the Democratic primaries, Barack Obama.

My reasons are patriotic, political and personal, and the three are intertwined. All my life, people have told me that my father changed their lives, that they got involved in public service or politics because he asked them to. And the generation he inspired has passed that spirit on to its children. I meet young people who were born long after John F. Kennedy was president, yet who ask me how to live out his ideals.

Sometimes it takes a while to recognize that someone has a special ability to get us to believe in ourselves, to tie that belief to our highest ideals and imagine that together we can do great things. In those rare moments, when such a person comes along, we need to put aside our plans and reach for what we know is possible.

We have that kind of opportunity with Senator Obama. It isn’t that the other candidates are not experienced or knowledgeable. But this year, that may not be enough. We need a change in the leadership of this country — just as we did in 1960.

Most of us would prefer to base our voting decision on policy differences. However, the candidates’ goals are similar. They have all laid out detailed plans on everything from strengthening our middle class to investing in early childhood education. So qualities of leadership, character and judgment play a larger role than usual.

Senator Obama has demonstrated these qualities throughout his more than two decades of public service, not just in the United States Senate but in Illinois, where he helped turn around struggling communities, taught constitutional law and was an elected state official for eight years. And Senator Obama is showing the same qualities today. He has built a movement that is changing the face of politics in this country, and he has demonstrated a special gift for inspiring young people — known for a willingness to volunteer, but an aversion to politics — to become engaged in the political process.

I have spent the past five years working in the New York City public schools and have three teenage children of my own. There is a generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative. But too many of them are also hopeless, defeated and disengaged. As parents, we have a responsibility to help our children to believe in themselves and in their power to shape their future. Senator Obama is inspiring my children, my parents’ grandchildren, with that sense of possibility.

Senator Obama is running a dignified and honest campaign. He has spoken eloquently about the role of faith in his life, and opened a window into his character in two compelling books. And when it comes to judgment, Barack Obama made the right call on the most important issue of our time by opposing the war in Iraq from the beginning.

I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.

I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.

Caroline Kennedy is the author of “A Patriot’s Handbook: Songs, Poems, Stories and Speeches Celebrating the Land We Love.”

Liz Cheney, the daughter of vice president Dick Cheney, has joined the Romney campaign as Romney’s senior policy advisor.  Cheney has previously and most recently worked on Middle East affairs for the current Bush administration State Department.  This is probably well received by many conservatives. 

Barack Obama proves yet again that his message of unity and hope resonates with your average american.  The final tally of the votes adds up to a significant loss for Clinton in the Palmetto state.  This gives Obama a definite lead in delegates and significant momentum going into super tuesday.  The final tally was Obama 55%, Clinton 27%, Edwards 18%.

Is it me or were the Rupublicans salivating at the prospect of running against Hillary Clinton?   The republican candidates mentioned Clinton’s name several times as though she were already the democratic nominee.  Do you think this is a strategy on the part of the republicans.  All the candidates were eerily civil to  each other last night.  During the democratic debate, the democrats, unwittingly pushed McCain to frontrunner status by invoking his name as a fete accompli for the general election. Did the republicans intentionally do the same?  The candidates last night were very jovial and and very polite. I felt like I was on the 19th hole of the golf course rather than a presidential debate.  It’s almost like they agreed before-hand that they were going to do the exact opposite of the democrats.  Are they trying to lull the democrats into a false sense of security?  Do they continue to invoke Clinton’s name as the nominee because she is the easiest person to beat?  Most of the pundits speculate that Clinton is the most polarizing of all the democratic candidates and the candidate most likely to galvanize the republican base.   Are the republicans in fact simply trying to increase the possibility of extending their stay in the White House?  Something to think about…. 

President Bush just announced that Congress and the Executive office has reached an agreement on the best way to implement the economic stimulus package!  American taxpayers will receive a check for several hundred dollars!!!  Thanks Feds!! If you are an individual making under $75,000 a year, in May or early June, you should receive a rebate check of $600.  Married couples making under $150,000 should receive a check for $1200.  If you make $3000 or under and you do not pay any income tax, you should receive a rebate check of $300.  Married couples making under $6000 should receive a rebate check of $600.  Aaahhh…..the spirit of compromise.

It is my sincere hope that all of the candidates realize that it’s a new day in Washington.  This presidential campaign, more than any in history, demonstrate that voters are concerned with competence and vision rather than ideology.  The proverbial line that has always existed between democrates and republicans is now blurred and no longer dictates how a constituent will vote.  Change is the order of the day…and I must admit, it’s time.  Not just rhetoric to win a presidential nomination, but real gut renching change.  I believe that this 2008 election represents an end to the polarization of parties and dogmatic ideologies that have only divided our country.  Trust me when I say, the powers that be in Washington are not coming along willingly, as evidenced by the the ongoing Clinton Obama debate regarding former president Ronald Reagan.  It’s very sad that a candidate cannot compliment a politician from an “opposing” party without being labeled as a betrayer of his/her own party.  As voters, we don’t care about statements of praise made about fellow politicians. Our focus, as voters, is on solutions.  We don’t care about where a good idea came from, we only care that it is a good idea.  Regardless of the source, ”liberal” or “conservative,” it does not matter.  What does matter is coming together and working toward solutions. The sort of rigid  ideologues of our past are no longer acceptable to this new generation of american voters, we want to know how you can make our lives, and our country in general, better.

The Clinton campaign continues to take shots at the Obama campaign.  There are a number of accusations being made by each of the primary opponents about his/her praise of Republican ideas.  However, according to Annenberg Political Fact Check, Obama did not praise the ideas of Republicans but praised the political prowess of Ronald Reagan.  Both candidates have praised Reagan’s political skills.  Hillary in Tom Brokaw’s book, and Obama to the Reno Newspaper editorial board.  However, Obama never said that the Republican party is the party of good ideas as reported by the Clinton campaign.  As for the personal barbs that were being traded back and forth on debate night, according to Annenberg Political Fact Check;  Hillary was a board member of Walmart and was paid $18,000 a year for six years, $1500 a meeting and left with $100,000 worth of Walmart stock.  Obama did do some work for a law firm that represented a community housing group, not for Rezko directly,  that was going to partner with Rezco in order to build low income housing on the south side of Chicago. Later Rezco became a big campaign contributor and the Obama campaign states that he returned all of that money.  As for the third candidate in the race, and the one that has been reported as the one who probably benefited most from the Clinton Obama dogfight,  Edwards stated that the last CNN poll that all three candidates were pitted against John McCain showed him being the only one that could beat John McCain in the general election.  However, the poll that Edwards is referring to was taken in early December.  The latest poll taken about three weeks ago did not list Edwards at all and showed both Obama and Clinton beating John McCain.

On this very special day, I am reminded of all the sacrifices that Martin Luther King Jr. made so that every American can live free without the shackles of racism and bigotry that permeated our country during his brief time with us.  This day I am humbled by the sacrifices of all those who came before me. All the African-Americans, all the caucasians, all the Latinos, all the Asians, all  the women and men, who were a part of the Movement of the 1960’s that gave opportunities to our generation that prior generations never dreamed possible.  Because of the vision, dedication, and perseverence of Dr. King, we have an African-American and a woman as serious contenders for the highest office in our nation.  So I say with the greatest admiration and gratitude…thank you Martin for your relentless dedication to equal justice for all Americans.  How long, not long….