The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

That's a pretty disparaging comment about American Samoa, you know.

As an American abroad I am more attuned to how non-continental Americans think of politics. I would LOVE to hear Obama give a speech in Hawaiian over poi at a luau, or see Edwards explain his immigration stance in Spanish on Puerto Rico. Wouldn't you like to see Hilary in a grass skirt addressing the Matai in Samoan?

This isn't even addressing the complaints of the disenfranchised of DC.

As much as I would like to see any of the above situations, we have to admit that white people in farm country would shish-kebab any candidate that appealed to the linguistic fringes, eh?

although i have always had the most respect for chris matthews .. I must agree .. his hardball show has finally gone to his head... when he met a friend of mine recently my friend said to him i really like you and ur shows.. to that he replied "YES IT IS GOOD TO BE ME">> nothing like an little ego trip .. he does try to undermine hillary's candidacy at every turn using his show as his soap box to do so ,,,,I met hillary personally at a small fundraiser in 2004 for kerry..she is bright ,resolute and will do a damn good job .. the time is now to elect a woman with experience and brains... obama is not making an issue of race but allowing his surrogates to embellish and misconstrue what bill clinton said watch the tape.. ithe comment had nothing to do with race but with obama claiming the high road on IRAQ plain and simple... GO HILLARY >> ur the one we need !!

Could it be that the Clintons are complaining about the *gasp* liberal media?

Hillary will not denounce B. Johnson for two reasons. 1. which is the most rediculous is that they are personal friends. 2, Because they are hoping that the comment about Obama made by johnson resonate with a few black voters. Her inentions are two divide and conquer. She wants the blac voter to get angry with Obama and getting the white voters to believe that it is now black against whites. Black should pay very close attention and don't fall for the game the clintons are playing. As I heard somone say last night on TV, the Clintons feel that if they don't get the nomination, they will screw it up for everybody else. They feel that it is owed to them. Don't fall for the trick black and white people.

A freshman Senator taking advice from her freshman daughter Now there is some wisdom for ya! I wonder how she will feel when Hillary is the next president? Oh was it, she wants to be the one to break the glass ceiling. Once again it brings me back to my old man. He told me a long time ago and I never forgot it. He said Rick it is a mans world because Men are loyal to men and women are loyal to men . Proof positive!

Blaming Obama for her stupid racist comments and not disowning Johnson's attempt at another racist putdown is the last straw for me and ever voting for Clinton. This life long Democrat who has never voted Republican will vote for McCain if he is the Rep. nominee and NOT for Clinton if she is the Dem. nominee.

John McCain For President!

When the British soldiers were shooting at us George Washington as a Commander in Chief was always on the Battle Front, on the line of fire, bullets were flying near his head, the sound of Cannons going off and dead soldiers all over the field.
A brave man George Washington was.
John McCain on his own words tells America how he will conduct this wars.
Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Wru8NRLdFE

rblackbird

I hear ya. I have no doubt that she is a very skilled, highly competent individual. It's not about her skills.

It's what she is willing to do to get what she wants. No other progressive would allow Mark Penn within 50 feet of them. The manner of attacks, including her hour long tirade against Senator Obama on Meet The Press was ridiculous. She is intentionally distorting his record against the war when everyone who pays attention knows that he gave a very public speech in 2002 against invading Iraq. Now, because he has voted to provide material support to our soldiers in appropriations, she would have everyone believe that there has been no difference between the two. Also, taking advantage of the 5 day turnaround between IA and NH, the Clinton camp sent out misleading mailers that claimed that Senator Obama didn't support choice. Planned Parenthood of Il came forward to defend his 100% rating on choice, but it got no media play and because of the quick turnaround, it couldn't be refuted. The best one was today when Bill, '...it depends on the meaning of is..' claimed to have a list of 80 attacks leveled by the Obama camp that to me, seem like policy disagreements. His tactic comes right out of the Rove playbook. Pin upon your opponent, your own weakest trait. 'He's for the war...', 'He's leveling personal attacks'. She also happens to be the only democratic front runner that takes money from pacs and entrenched interests. Add everything together with Mark Penn, Bill Shaheen, the lies about the madrassa, and Bob Johnson; if you are intelectually honest, you have to agree that there is a pattern emerging.

I know every politician is a megalomaniac, but I prefer benevolent megalomaniacs. These kinds of tactics make me extremely uncomfortable.

Here is the real story about the McCaskill endorsement. (transcript from the conference call)

Senator McCaskill: Let me speak briefly to Barack's role to the ethics legislation because I had a front row seat. Before I went to Washington as a freshman senator, I got a call that Senator Obama wanted to have a conference call with all the freshman senators and of course we all did that and we all got on the phone with Senator Obama. And he was calling to ask us to help him on the ethics legislation and he warned us that when we got to Washington that there would be some of the more senior members of the Senate that would act like they wanted to pass the ethics legislation, but he explained to us that they really didn't want to pass it. And that it was going to take a lot of pushing and pulling to get this ethics legislation done and that the freshman class was going to be essential in that. And he recruited us to be monolithic in our support of the provisions that he was pushing. I frankly thought that he was exaggerating at the time. I hadn't obviously taken my seat in the senate yet. I got to the senate and it turned out that he was right. There was a lot of wink, wink, nod, nod going on around the floor on some of the provisions of the bill. Most notably that the idea that senators could take corporate airplanes anywhere they wanted in the country for pennies on the dollar. And I watched as the more senior senators tried to maneuver and keep that provision out of the bill. And I watched Barack Obama stand in the well and refuse to kind of back off on that and we helped. And we did so because he prepared us and urged us to back his position for real ethics reform. Was the bill perfect? No, it wasn't. Can we do more? Of course we can, and of course we want to. And I know as president Barack will help us set a standard for ethics in Washington that will bring a new day. But to belittle that legislation really is not appropriated because it was substantial, it was real and it was hard fought and Barack Obama was at the fulcrum and was the one actually carrying the load to get it across the finish line.

ellenhamm: "No, Mrs. Clinton, you haven't earned it. You married it."

Priceless.

I keep hearing Hillary say that she has 35 years of experience but Ihaven't haven't heard her give anexplanation of what her experiences has been to be president than first lady. Nor have I heard any of the news org. pin her down and ask her, what was her experience as first lady makes her experience to be president.

Why are the young people's hope for a better future being portrayed here as blind idealism? I am in my 30's, from DC, have a son of my own, and have been watching this game being played my whole life. Dems point at Reps and say they are the reason for every problem in this country, and the Republicans return the favor. Now here is a guy that comes along and wants to end the partisan bickering that has gridlocked politics since I can remember, and every "progressive" Dem blasts him for naivete and idealism. Older people: you (we) have screwed this system up for long enough.

Why do we have any credibility that our experience of doing things the completely wrong way is justification for our continued leadership?

Can we, as adults, accept responsibility for giving our kids a dysfunctional system and pretty horrible circumstances, get out of their way, stop playing what we all thought was a brand of republican politics, and stop acting as if we know what is right and wrong. We don't know any better than anyone else, and if we did, then why is this country so messed up?

C'mon. Hillary owes her entire political career to Bill. She's a smart, capable woman who may have been able to get elected on her own had she tried before Bill was elected President. But she didn't. She was elected to the NY State Senate solely due to her name recognition, connections and "experience" as first lady. To believe otherwise is just foolish.

The idea that Hillary has only succeeded because she is married to Bill Clinton is a crock.

She had a brilliant record before she married Bill. Marrying him and going off to a poor southern state limited her opportunities in a legal career and public service. Bill Clinton himself has admitted this. That she is the only first lady to get elected and reelected to the United States Senate and the only one to run a serious campaign for President, indicates high intelligence, fortitude and political skill that came from within herself, not from her husband.

Why is it so important for so many not to accept this?

I'm from St. Louis, I voted for Sen. McCaskill and will be voting for her again and again because I've been impressed with her smarts and her leadership on the Armed Services Committee, among others.

I believe that she made this decision because she cares about this country and she cares about the democratic party in Missouri. We have a stupid governor in Matt Blunt (son of Rep. Roy Blunt, so we know how corruptive family dynasties can be.) I am proud of her and, contrary to some comments on this blog, I believe she took a principles stance, against special interests (Emily's List) and voted her conscience.

I am a 55 y.o. female- a democrat for all of my life-who actually battled for equal rights in the '70's and '80's so I remember those wars. I wrote to her to ask her to endorse Obama. I am not her daughter or a teenager, yet I am for Obama.

I am disgusted by the campaign of Hillary Clinton. I hear Hillary Clinton's voice and what I hear is "Get out of my way, this is my time and I've earned it!" No, Mrs. Clinton, you haven't earned it. You married it.

Barack Obama has worked all of his life for other people, mostly for poor people. It is not his own voice he hears, it is his constituents. He uses his talents for others and has done so for over 20 years. That is the reason he is running for President, because he has learned and listened to others and he wants our politics to become more responsive. When he says that we need to change our politics and that governing with a 50% versus 50% is not working, I am willing to support him in his quest for dynamic shift in the way Washington does its business.

I trust that those who have open ears and minds and hearts, who love this country will give him a chance. That is all he asks of us.

Yes We Can, Yes We Can, Yes We Can and Yes We Will!

Never let anyone tell you what you can't do. Always believe in yourself and your accomplishment. I tell my 2 son's that each and everyday. They are fine young men with a purpose, each of them have graduated from college and are getting their master degrees; they are both in their early 20's.

I have always encouraged them to do their very best, and never let anyone tell them that they are not good enough. I also live by example. My husband and I are so proud of them. We have talked about how Barack Obama, has inspired a nation of people to look at themselves and believe that "Yes they Can," because, "God" said that you can! Sometime, we have not because we ask not!

So, for those who don't believe in what they are seeing and hearing ask your self a question? Is it because the status quo has told you that you can't? Then ask yourself why not? Know one ever said that "Standing Up" would be easy, you just have to believe that "YOU CAN, and then Do IT"

We need to start believing that we have the right to Change, Have Hope, and the Faith that with "God" on our side that we can achieve the Impossible and make it Possible! Yes We Can, and Yes We Will"!

Excuse me!

Did Senator Obama disclose at the Illinois senatorial campaign that he intended not to finish his first term as a senator and would become a presidential candidate at the earliest opportunity?

As far as I recalled, even one year after his election he promised that he won't be a presidential candidate. In the second year he changed his mind and betrayed the people who elected him to the Senate.

Can people still trust him?

Would she have rather listened to her donors and put her loyalty to "Emily's List, the pro-choice Democratic women's group that invested in her race against former GOP Sen. James Talent", than to do what is right?

She could have taken the easy road by doing what her sponsors wanted, to support HRC, but there comes a time in one's life that you have to take a stand for what you really believe, come what may.

By endosring Obama for president, she is putting her political future on the line and it takes a lot of soul searching to do that.

I am proud of you Senator McCaskill for doing what is right and not what is politically expedient.

America deserves people who will say the truth and are not tied to the apron of their political sponsors.

This is the new America we dream of, and this is the new America we will have come November, where leaders do what is right and not what is politically correct.

My daughter is in law school now, and was at the rally in St. Louis for Claire McCaskill when she received support from Bill Clinton. My daughter has been watching the Clintons since age seven and has been politically active ever since on some level.

Do I listen to her opinions? Of course I do, she's an amazing, intelligent, independent, and accomplished young woman. And if she (at age 22) asked me to support Obama, I would have to rely upon my own "experience" and let her know that he is not the right choice.

He is a bright and articulate speaker, who speaks of change as if it is a topic. Well change is a given, so lets stop overusing the word as if it is a platform, because without defining that change with substance, it sound much like the emporers new clothes.

So, as a 47 year old professional woman and mother of three adult children, and being a public servant for the past 18 years, I will exercise my own judgement based on my "experience" and vote for Hillary Clinton. Not because she is a woman, but because she has the wherewithall to bring this country out of the mess that has been made under the Bush administration. I believe she has the knowledge, experience, and the heart to repair the economic disparity, and the political savy and international standing to begin to repair the damage to our global standing as a country.

In short, in conversations on this topic with our children, let us teach our children by our wisdom brought by our experience while admiring them for their idealism. I call this responsible parenting.

I don't think that McCaskill meant that her dughter contribted totally to her decision, just that she helped her get off the fence. There are a lot of young voters participating in the process. As far as HRC is concerned, she emits the aura of entitlement and really frustrates me. Also, I believe that she has injected race into this campaign and blaming Obama for doing so. Rememebr, you can't unrang a bell, that is what she and others in her camp is doing after they make particular comments about their rival, Obama.

I am from Missouri and I supported McCaskill, but I am extremely disappointed she has allowed an 18 year old child to influence her decision on whom to support for president. The girl has no clue what women of past generations have done so that she has the freedom to vote, own property, etc and all that has gone before with women's liberation. Too bad Claire, you have disappointed one Missourian!

Did she really say her 18-year-old daughter made up her mind for her? Is that really what's going to decide this election? hopefully, her daughter was better informed than the young people polled during one of Dobbs' surveys who, when asked why they were voting for Obama, had to say that they really didn't know where he stood on the issues - just that he was for CHANGE. Well, me too, but.......

Press coverage of the recent string of high-profile Obama endorsements -- Sens. Johnson, Nelson, McCaskill and Gov Napolitano -- in red/swing states demonstrates that these centrist Democrats are terrified at having Hillary Clinton at the top of the ticket. 2008 should be a banner year for Democrats -- maybe even in red states -- but having Clinton at the top of the ticket is the only thing that would energize Republicans, significantly depressing potential Democratic gains.

I had decided to vote for Obama in the California primary. I greatly admire him and the hope he represents. However after New Hampshire and the kind of comments being made about Hilary Clinton I'm off the fence and will vote for her in Feb. and November. Many other women are feeling the same way. I don't take to her personally but she has been a good NY Senator, winning reelection by a greater margin than for her first term, 67%.

Another Clinton endorsement to add to the list was that of the former African-American US congressman for over 25 years, Ron Dellums, now Mayor of Oakland, CA.

Congresswoman McCaskill should recognize that her daughter is not of the generation of women who had to overcome so much resistance to women's rights. I am. Perhaps an historical perspective might have convinced her daughter to support Clinton.

A mature mother (Senator), listening to her
daughter advice/plead to vote for a 'rock star'? What's at stake here: a rock concert or the future of a country ?

You know what I've noticed? Clinton's endorsers invariably explain their support by saying something like she's ready, it's her turn...in the sense that she should be The Decider (as Bush would say).

Obama's endorsers stress his ability to get people to work together on whatever middle ground they can find. They point out his experience in community organizing and teaching constitutional law (especially the need for checks and balances!)

Hillary had it right when she said "it takes a village to raise a child". The last several years have reminded us, here and elsewhere, that "it takes everyone in a country to make democracy work."

Surely that's what Ben Franklin meant when he said of the new United States, "We have given them a republic (democracy), now let's see if they can keep it."

That's why I support Obama. Right now, we need his kind of experience, knowledge and vision of the future. It's not that Clinton is totally wrong, she's just not right for what we as a country need to do today. She just doesn't seem to 'get it' that this is 2008, not the 90's any more.

Go Claire McCaskill! Go Barack Obama! Go U.S. citizens!

There is this angry sense of entitlement emanating from HRC and her supporters, as if she were the incumbent President running for reelection or the sitting Vice President seeking to replace the President: i.e. other candidates are "light weights" or "unqualified" or "not ready" and the Press is being "unfair." She and her supporters should knock it off. It's bad for her -- it's why she lost IA and, after she seemed like an underdog, won NH. It's bad for the Democratic Party. STOP.

Get over it Phillips. The fact is that Senators will follow their strategy, and a good strategy would be to stick with your PAC or other supportive group (Emily's list). Her daughter isn't going to care about this kind of loyalty because when you're young, the only thing that matters is loyalty to your own beliefs. You don't have to worry about whether or not the people who got you elected will care about you endorsing another candidate.

McCaskill clearly decided to go with her inner beliefs rather than her advisers' campaign strategy. I think that's a good thing. It shows her independence, both within the Democratic Party and in politics and general.

It's going to help Obama in that state - yet another that will go for him on Feb. 5, along with my home state, Idaho (completely and utterly in the bag for Obama).

Can a neutral observer tell us why Hillary was wearing a wire today on "Meet The Press" with Tim Russert? Is she having a dialogue with the American people or is she getting coached in real time by Ann Lewis or Bill? I guess the other question is: why did NBC News allow her to be wired? She doesn't need it to hear the questions Tim is asking; so was that wire part of the deal Hillary wanted before she would permit this interview?

As far as Clinton endorsements from the first Clintonista poster, the majority of them look like "meal tickets" - i.e. party establishment people who want a piece of the action when Bill and Hillary have access to the Lincoln Bedroom again.

But back to "the debate" that Hillary had with Russert. She seemed to not want to let him develop his line of questioning,. She continued to talk over him and to drown him out . Very rude and combative style of leadership we have coming our way if she's elected.

Can a neutral observer tell us why Hillary was wearing a wire today on "Meet The Press" with Tim Russert? Is she having a dialogue with the American people or is she getting coached in real time by Ann Lewis or Bill? I guess the other question is: why did NBC News allow her to be wired? She doesn't need it to hear the questions Tim is asking; so was that wire part of the deal Hillary wanted before she would permit this interview?

As far as Clinton endorsements from the first Clintonista poster, the majority of them look like "meal tickets" - i.e. party establishment people who want a piece of the action when Bill and Hillary have access to the Lincoln Bedroom again.

But back to "the debate" that Hillary had with Russert. She seemed to not want to let him develop his line of questioning,. She continued to talk over him and to drown him out . Very rude and combative style of leadership we have coming our way if she's elected.

Gee, I'm a US Senator, and my 18 year old daughter tells me who to support.

This little comment will come back to haunt her when she runs for relection. I'll bet MIssouri and national GOPers are dancing with glee.

She can expect to see that comment in all the media in Missouri in a few years. Way to self destruct, Senator.

I am really curious who could right now dare to endorse Clinton, when she is under investigation because of NH voting fraud, and with about 99% of probability would be convicted, as nobody else could have committed this fraud, but she and her associates on her orders. I can't feel "gender closeness" to heavy criminals on the death row, only because they are feamales, like I am. I can't feel compasion and closeness to swindlers, who do not hesitate to break the entire election's system of USA political machine to get to the top Executive Position, which these criminals do not deserve and can't reach by honest means. Mrs. Clinton is criminal. She belongs to prison or other seclusive place, not to White House.

Small town mayors and state legislators don't tend to draw much attention when they endorse someone. Obama just got the support of two white women who hold statewide office in critical swing states. When John Lewis came out for Clinton, that got the requisite deserved attention.

big deal. it's healthy for people to take sides on personal or philosophical grounds.
but underneath a veiled undercurrent for the media to go with the flow or outright expression of their personal preference, they usually opt to take sides in cherrypicking news that, intentionally or unintentionally, will impact the outcome of this contest in the Democratic party's nomination. There has never been a "fair and balanced" report over the course of this political process from talking heads, pundits and political commentators who never hesitated to show their disdain over Hillary's candidacy.
The media, while expressing support for one candidate, should refrain from attacking the other opponents. They are knowingly doing our nation a disservice. Chris Matthews of MSNBC is the worst poster child of this down and dirty group of commentators taking on a personal smearing crusade to say anything to undermine Hillary's presidential campaign. To say that Hillary's becoming a senator and aspiring to run for presidency because "her husband messed around" is disgusting and despicable. it's so filled with venomous animosity that only reflected his unambiguous hubris and megalomania no matter which way he spins it to justify such contemptible statement.
Chris Matthews has morphed into the likes of other bullies such as Bill O'Reilly and Rush Limbaugh. Shame on you! Fox's door is wide open for you Chris.

Wow I can't believe the press didn't report on Hillary's endorsement by the governor of American Samoa and several state senators!

There's a reason why these Obama endorsements are getting coverage. Many of them are coming from the major democratic player in a RED state! It shows Obama's strength, and not just in the dark blue areas of the country.

When Hilary cried, what did she mean that she "doesn't want to see this country fall backward?". We excuse you Hilary, you are stuck in the past, you were ready to lead in 1992, you have made change since 1971. We believe it, but thats not what we are looking for. This is America, we believe in what is possible, no one makes change, we accomplish it. We are the axis that rotates this globe, the googles, the yahoos, face-book and yes, new just and peaceful world order.

Its our time, Obama time, change we can believe in

Hillary endorsements that have not seemed to get too much press:
January 2008
1/12 Stamford Mayor Dan Malloy Endorses Hillary Clinton for President
1/11 American Samoa Governor Tulafono Endorses Clinton
1/11 Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi Endorses Hillary Clinton for President
1/10 Hillary Gains 4 New SC Endorsements Following Iowa Caucus
1/10 Henry Cisneros and Edward Romero Endorse Hillary for President
1/10 State Senator Bob Coffin Endorses Clinton
1/10 State Senator Bob Coffin Endorses Clinton
1/9 Congresswoman Shelley Berkley Endorses Clinton
1/9 Delaware Governor Ruth Ann Minner Endorses Clinton
1/9 Clinton Campaign Announces Endorsement of Former Missouri Governor Warren Hearnes and First Lady Betty Hearnes
1/6 Former Biden Supporter State Representative Bill Hatch Endorses Senator Clinton for President
1/6 Former Biden Supporter State Representative Jim Webber Endorses Senator Clinton for President
1/5 EL Mundo Endorses Hillary Clinton for President
1/5 McClintock, Domenech Endorse Hillary Clinton
1/4 Clinton Campaign Announces Endorsements of Virginia Delegates Adam Ebbin and Jennifer McClellan
1/4 Clinton Campaign Announces Over 125 Additional Members to Georgia Campaign Leadership
1/4 Clinton Campaign Announces Endorsement of Former North Dakota Governor and First Lady, George and Jane Sinner
1/1 New Jersey Rep. Donald Payne Endorses Clinton

Wonderful to see McCaskill's endorsement! But I seriously doubt it was due to her daughter. A nice side note, but nothing more. Onward and upward for Barack!