The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

there is the professional world of warcraft power leveling here. welcome.

I wish I could be in the States today. This is SO exciting. I am def pro-Obama. (But sometimes the preaching style is a bit too much for me.) Anyway, I hope to see more at the Biberach Independent Film Festival. There's a category for films about people like him.

IndependenceEveWonderlandBallroom:

I'm an Obama supporter and the comparison of legislative activity you have posted above is unfair The website you cite does provide comprehensive information, but it would take even a knowledgeable person a long time to sift through the results and summerize them in a meaningful way.

I doubt you meant the post to be misleading, but I'm afraid it is.

If anyone wants to investigate legislation sponsored by any Senator, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ More significantly, if you want to hear an inspirational message about the country's future go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf0x_TpDris

The enthusiasm inside the Obama volunteer movement is unbelievable. Regardless of the final outcome, I have never seen - never mind been a part of - a campaign like this. I definitely live in Obama country, but the number of volunteers we have here in my town is simply staggering compared to the total population.

Someone had posted this as a comment on another site - am reproducing it here:

On Legislative Experience:

Senator Clinton, who has served only one full term (6yrs.), and another year campaigning, has managed to author and pass into law, (20) twenty pieces of legislation in her first six years.
These bills can be found on the website of the Library of Congress (www.thomas.loc.gov), but to save you trouble, I'll post them here for you.
1. Establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site.
2. Support the goals and ideals of Better Hearing and Speech Month.
3. Recognize the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
4. Name courthouse after Thurgood Marshall.
5. Name courthouse after James L. Watson.
6. Name post office after Jonn A. O'Shea.
7. Designate Aug. 7, 2003, as National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
8. Support the goals and ideals of National Purple Heart Recognition Day.
9. Honor the life and legacy of Alexander Hamilton on the bicentennial of his death.
10. Congratulate the Syracuse Univ. Orange Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
11. Congratulate the Le Moyne College Dolphins Men's Lacrosse Team on winning the championship.
12. Establish the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution Commemorative Program.
13. Name post office after Sergeant Riayan A. Tejeda.
14. Honor Shirley Chisholm for her service to the nation and express condolences on her death.
15. Honor John J. Downing, Brian Fahey, and Harry Ford, firefighters who lost their lives on duty. Only five of Clinton's bills are, more substantive. 16. Extend period of unemployment assistance to victims of 9/11.
17. Pay for city projects in response to 9/11
18. Assist landmine victims in other countries.
19. Assist family caregivers in accessing affordable respite care.
20. Designate part of the National Forest System in Puerto Rico as protected in the wilderness preservation system.

There you have it, the fact's straight from the Senate Record.

Now, I would post those of Obama's, but the list is too substantive, so I'll mainly categorize.
During the first (8) eight years of his elected service he sponsored over 820 bills. He introduced
233 regarding healthcare reform,
125 on poverty and public assistance,
112 crime fighting bills,
97 economic bills,
60 human rights and anti-discrimination bills,
21 ethics reform bills,
15 gun control,
6 veterans affairs and many others.

His first year in the U.S. Senate, he authored 152 bills and co-sponsored another 427. These inculded
**the Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 (became law),
**The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, (became law),
**The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate,
**The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, (became law),
**The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill, (In committee), and many more.

In all since enter the U.S. Senate, Senator Obama has written 890 bills and co-sponsored another 1096. An impressive record, for someone who supposedly has no record according to the spin meisters and mindless twits.

Barack has demonstrated how he will govern from the way he has ran his campaign, efficiently, openly, positively and without Drama.

Check how Hilary/establishment team has bee paying street money to minorities and how the grassroots movement have upset the equation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oRJLS8bAv0

Turn the page AMERICA

I think Hillary and Bill revealed their true colors in SC. I have Clinton fatigue.

I voted absentee in California. My whole family voted for Obama. No more dynasties in the White House.

Hillary would be competent and capable but we need a visionary to bring this country together after seven years of hell with Bush.

I have already given $100 and will be giving more. This is just too important to not give or participate to the full extent of my capabilities.

HotNukes,

I don't think you're a racist (though you protest too much). I just think you are a bloviated, smug, know-it-all.

I'm so glad to have been favored by your wisdom. You and you alone know what's going to happen tomorrow. Millions should be listening.

Hillary's pathetic fund raising effort tells two things. 1) People don't believe in her lies anymore. 2) Most of her bundlers are behind bars, or are getting investigated.

She may not have any money coming into her campaign in February either. Regardless of how she does tomorrow on super Teusday, the trend and momentum has been set by Obama going into the next set of primaries. If Obama breaks even tomorrow or even comes close to breaking even, he essentially has won.

Bill has been making his prowls, telling more lies. He said a few days ago that Bush's no child left behind policy was supported by Ted Kennedy and some people in between. He did not say that Hillary supported it. But now he is back pedling saying that he asked her to vote for it even though it was not a good idea. What a liar. He thinks he can get away by saying anything. But thank god for the internet, everything is getting recorded.

McCain would beat Obama in most every State Bush took in 2004 (and probably puts New York and California in play too): http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/electoral.college/

If Hillary wins more delegates tomorrow it will mainly be due to the impact of absentee balloting. Obama has come from 20 points behind to near-even in three weeks and many absentee voters who voted Edwards or Hillary two weeks ago would have voted Obama tomorrow. I know this because my wife and I have been phoning voters for the last three days.

While Hillary may have a current advantage with super delegates, those commitments are not in stone and those delegates are going to be fully aware that the general election will be held in the future, not three months ago when Hillary was ascendant. They will be aware that there is a huge amount of concern from Dem congressional candidates that Hillary will drag the ticket down. Indeed, Hillary currently runs 15 points behind the Dem party and 15-20 points behind generic polling for the Presidency. She is the weakest Dem and the Repugs know it.

In addition, Clinton has run one of the worst campaigns in American history, and Obama one of the best challenges to the Dem establishment ever. That's why Obama has climbed 20 points against Clinton and why he would be the toughest Democrat for the Repugs to beat.

Billary will cry a few more tears which should be good for a few more million. The thought of 24 years of the bush/clinton families makes me cringe.

FYI: here's more of McAuliffe's interview:

Russert: Last month. You guys raised $10 million.

McAuliffe: We won the fourth quarter and the third quarter. We actually raised more in '07 than Barack Obama did.

Russert: How's your money holding up?

McAuliffe: It's good. I mean, he -- you said 10. We actually about did about 13 1/2, which I was very proud of. We had more cash on hand at the end of '07. He had a great January. Hats off. I've been raising money for a long time. All the compliments in the world to the Obama campaign. They raised a lot of money on the internet. I heard over $25 million on the internet. Congratulations to them. No one should be worried about Hillary Clinton, though. We will always have our resources to get our message out.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Clintons_January_135_million.html

If Obama stays close tomorrow -- winning 40-45% of delegates -- he will have both the growing momentum and the money on hand to put Clinton away in March or April. The Obama Movement is growing. It's just a matter of time.

Thanks for the links! Part of why Obama appeals to me is purely generational -- hence the perspective he has seems to be far more inline with how look at the world. Also, I believe he is consciously committed to addressing and overcoming voter apathy in the country, which is a great silent threat to any functional democracy. We must all take interest and become involved in our government, otherwise it's a democracy in name only. Hillary, as much as I respect her, is coming from the entrenched establishment perspective that seems to say "trust me to do this for you" -- which is a perspective I'd like to see dissipate in the 21st century.

blackheart, try these two links...

Hillary
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?id=N00000019&cycle=2008

Barak
http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/summary.asp?id=N00009638&cycle=2008

Hopefully they will add the Q1 data soon.

Do any of the Clinton supporters have FACTS on number of individual donors? B/C that is the story of Obama's January haul -- he's now had over 650,000 people donate to his campaign, and he's kept pace with Hillary but without accepting Lobbyist$$$. I respect and admire Hillary, but Obama is a man of the people who has the perspective I'm looking for in the next POTUS.
Peace.

IANAA (I am not an accountant)

If you take the Q4 2007 numbers from here...

http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.asp

Subtract the debts from the cash on hand and then add the Q1 numbers given here you get:

Clinton $46,460,449.00

Obama $49,833,567.00

I think the real telling is in Obama's gain over time, not just the fact he appears ahead.

No doubt both candidates have spent large chunks of money in the past few days though.

Eyzwidopn:

I was considering supporting Obama in the general election too, but I still fail to see how NOT supporting him because he is pro-choice is my "mind's eye" (or a "bad reason" as the article doesn't address that objection at all).

I gave for the first time right after NH and I believe they said that was one of their largest single days. Look, people actually believe in this campaign. That's why you see more individual donors than the other campaigns, and a lower percentage that have maxed out.

Obama detractors, that which you fear the most... is your mind's eye.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/03/AR2008020302526.html

Charlie Tre and Johnnie Chung where are you ? Its your old friend Bill on line 3......

Does anyone believe ANYTHING McAulliffe says?
Same old. Same old. Slick Willie, Terry and the Pirates and the Hildebeast.

Bad day in the polls. Hillary tears up. Chinese invade. Hillary tears up? Economy goes to hell. Hillary tears up? This from someone who wants to be leader of the Free World? Maybe it worked in New Hampshire,Hillary, but I don't think that's gonna do Super Tuesday.

FWIW: I wish I could have my donation to Obama's campaign back . . .

He's just catching up. He was WAY behind. He's managed to brainwash a bunch of people with his speeches. Reminds me of some scary preacher or dictator, frankly.
Clinton will prevail!

Once people learned that Obama could win (in Iowa) everything changed. No one could ever imagine raising $32 million in one month, especially pre-Super Tuesday and pre-nomination.

Hillary's January fund raising not impressive since she raised much less than half of Obama during that month. No wonder she was reluctant to admit sooner.