The Trail: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008

I continually am in wonder as to whether the statement that Republicans are voting for Obama to stop a Clinton candidacy are made in jest, in ignorance, or as I suspect in deceit. I am an Obama supporter. I am also a poli sci major and a all to long observer of the American voters and party politics. If anyone REALLY believes that the Republicans are not literally salivating at the opportunity to run against Hillary Clinton, you need to plugged and recharged! I think the thinking person realized early on the Clinton was the only candidate running who could probably not defeat whoever the Republican candidate would be, and it is ever more so now that McCain has emerged as the candidate. Republicans who are voting for Obama are voting for him because they support him. Republicans that are crossing over in an attempt to weaken the Democrats are going to be voting for Clinton.

Mr. Silvera: International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Your comments were very well stated..I add one observation: NO ONE EVER, EVER, brings up Bill Clintons absolute disgraceful non action regarding THE GENOCIDE IN RAWANDA. Someone should ask Hilary about that since she was co-president...

Mia,

I checked out that utube clip of Hillary and it was quite interesting.....actually rather hillarious! LMAO. I have sent the link to just about everyone that I could possibly think of. It's interesting how Hillary thinks that the American people are stupid and doesn't have common sense. She supported NAFTA...voted for CAFTA...The debate was just as hillarious as this website...No policies discussed only politics. I love the way Obama stays above the frey...he is definitely a CLASS Act and Hilary is definitely a CLASSLESS Act. It's going to be very funny to see how much her electibility rates fall since her attack on Obama(her fellow party member). No one trusts her, she's a liar..Obama had many times to kick her in the groin during that debate but he refused to do that and that's exactly what the American people really admire about his character. Hillary has no character...it's funny that she wanted to immediately go to a commerical break when Obama told the moderater that Hillary isn't vetted and amongst the bag full of garbage of a post Clinton era is explaining her husband's pardons shortly before leaving office. What a joke!

Dear America:

Why are we judging Barack Obama by the words of another man?

Reverend Jeremiah Wright served his country honorably as a U.S. Marine. As such, he has earned full rights under the Constitution of these United States of America. One of those rights is freedom of speech. This freedom of speech does not require consent or agreement from those being spoken to.

America must understand the point of view of a formerly enslaved and now oppressed people. When white men wrote the words to the Constitution that "all men are created equal" they saw fit not to include people of African descent who remained in enslavement. As a people who have felt the wrath of American Democracy for more than four hundred years, forgive us as a people.

After only forty years of freedom forgive us for sometimes thinking and saying what is perceived as "crazy" things yet all the while dying in every war ever fought for any and everything that resulted from Jamestown to Plymouth Rock including the army of the Confederate States of America through today's war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Though Crispus Attuck was the first to give his life and many others of African descent fought for Independence and in the War of 1812, in the Battle of 1815, the Civil War and the Spanish - American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, Vietnam and Gulf Wars I and II, we are still not fully accepted as truly loyal citizens of our country. We still live in a country that allows a symbol of insurrection and enslavement to continue to fly legally.

Did Senator McCain have to denounce his mother and her words regarding Mormons? Have we analyzed the past ten years of sermons by the pastors of Senators' McCain and Clinton? Have they ever said anything inflammatory or controversial that we should know about? Should those candidates be held accountable for what their pastors have said? Are those candidates even identified with any specific church? Should McCain have to renounce and denounce Pat Robertson or Hagee and other controversial pastors that have endorsed him? If Obama has to renounce Farrakhan and Wright, why is there no call for McCain to renounce and or denounce inflammatory preachers who support him?

What frailty does white America believe exists in the hearts and minds of the descendants of enslaved Africans; that like the rest of America, we can go to any church, pray to any God, be preached to by anyone; leave church and then ignore everything that was said by the preacher and break the promises we made to God.

For over forty years, our government knowingly and with purpose infected the descendants of the enslaved with syphilis. In light of the Tuskegee experiment as it was known, America must understand why we look at the HIV/AIDS infection rate among African Americans with a raised eyebrow. America should understand why the descendants of Africans see the greatness of America through a different prism; enslavement, Jim Crow, Ku Klux Klan, Dredd Scott, Plessy, lynchings, police brutality, inferior educational and employment opportunities.

The test of whether we have made racial progress toward equality will be seen through future primaries. We must not allow the most segregated time in America to destroy the legitimate campaign of this African American, Barack Obama. No other candidate/citizen will have their love and patriotism questioned in this manner and overtone. African Americans believe that this is a negative legacy from the period of enslavement. What history suffers America to question the patriotism and loyalty of any Descendant of enslaved Africans. Only a Black person would suffer the indignity of being judged by the words of another.

If we have truly achieved equality, then we will judge Barack Obama solely on his character, his ideas and what we believe that he can offer in the rebuilding of America; and we will not use the words of one man to characterize the humanity of another, and all the while we continue to die for America.

F. Christophe Silvera, Secretary - Treasurer, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local #808 22-43 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101
Tel: 917-297-2241, email: fitzverity@aol.com

Dear America

Senator Obama's words regarding a portion of America as being "bitter" is accurate.

The Southern Poverty Law Center reports that hate groups have grown by forty eight percent (48%) between the years 2000 to 2007. This is a sign of increased bitterness in our nation. There are twenty six (26) recognized hate groups in New York State alone. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols are the tip of this bitterness that continues to grow as people lose faith in their government.

The vigilante actions by many on our borders with Mexico with guns in hand against workers trying to find work in America. These actions are being taken by citizens who have lost faith in their government's ability to secure the border. This is the anti-immigrant attitude that Senator Obama describes. The various local municipal ordinances being passed against undocumented workers are occurring mostly in small American communities not in the big cities.

The border was secure until President William Jefferson Clinton signed NAFTA and subsequently PNTR with China. These trade bills destroyed good union jobs with health benefits and pensions here in America. The North American Free Trade Agreement destroyed Mexican jobs and forced this mass migration north.

The New York Times reported that during the Carey Bush election of 2004, working class people were knowingly voting against their economic interests because of their religious beliefs. The "Hot Button" item at that time was Gay marriage.

The media has given a pass to Senator Clinton regarding her lying about her arrival in Bosnia. You do not forget being shot at and certainly not when you are being shot at with an AK-47 with your only child in tow. This is not a little white lie or the result of sleep deprivation. Her statement is a bold and clear lie. Like her husband before her, she is against trade bills until elected. Your key strategist is working to get a trade bill passed while you are opposed to said bill. Why is the journalist community giving her a pass while continuing to attack Barack Obama for what other people have said or done?

It is important to note that after the Million Man March, crime has gone down significantly. Minister Louis Farrakhan was seated at the White House with Ronald Reagan and recognized for using his influence in the Muslim world to secure the release of Lt. Robert O. Goodman on January 4, 1984. He was invited to Philadelphia by then Mayor Rendell to speak and help heal the racial divide; holding hands, singing and lavishing praise on April 15, 1997. On May 5, 2005, former President Bill Clinton praised Minister Farrakhan and the Millions More Movement describing it as a positive idea.

The media has become bottom feeders and have not helped to elevate the dialogue between the candidates. The American peoples' issues: Jobs, healthcare, social security, education and the war are more important than the mistakes made while speaking since all must admit to doing that.

F. Christophe Silvera, Secretary - Treasurer, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local #808 22-43 Jackson Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101
Tel: 917-297-2241, email: fitzverity@aol.com

I know many Republicans who are voting for Obama because just like Democrats, they are very ashamed of what Bush has done at home and abroad and know a change is needed in Washington. There are some loyal Bushies (approx 19%) who will defend him regardless of what he does. And I think most of them know Bush is a failure, they're just too stubborn to admit they were wrong. Too many people are reading way too much into Republicans voting for Obama. Sure there will be some Rush Limbaugh worshippers who will have a devious motive, but most of them are doing it at face value.

Obama not only has his rev but also bill ayers rezko and his wife alot of baggage do you think?Now his own words about him if elected would need someone who knew alot about military stuff smart guy some voters want in the White House funny msm does not bring these statement outseem kind of biasis

gee, obama is relying on repubicans to knock out Clinton.

And later those Republicans will vote for McCain.

Obama will do anything anything at all to win the nomination.

What I meant was:

President Barack Obama

You know, that was the first time I ever saw that:

I loved seeing that.

AIPAC must be very happy joyous that Barak will support Israel to defend its self against the weak destroyed and smashed Palestinians who are killed every day ( average 10 daily) by sending their troops every day to Gaza, like the apartheid rule in south Africa.

When even President Carter visited Israel last week, their Prime Minister and Foreign Minister did not even bothered to meet him because he wanted to resolve the Palestinian - Israeli tragic dispute since 60 years. Where Israel continued to impose total silence and cover-up of their occupation of the Palestinian Land.

Mia posts that same piece all over WaPo comment boards.

Your tinfoil hat is looking especially shiny today.

Read Campaign Diaries's debate analysis:

Will this debate trigger a backlash in favor of the candidate who was on the defensive, just as it did in NH, SC and OH? Or was it a replay of the previous Philadelphia debate, with reversed roles but the same narrative -- a front-runner is harassed and stumbles durably? A good case could be made for both scenarios: The questions were more one-sided than usual, yes, but Obama also looked much weaker than usual.

Read more: http://www.campaigndiaries.com/2008/04/philadelphia-debate-obama-takes-many.html

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Obama "won" the debates....to not "win" Obama would have had to lost, and he didn't.

...and his closing statement was good (!)

the polls will show it, Obama won

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I do not trust Ms. Clinton. She is always
talking in the "negatives".

WHO IS LARRY SINCLAIR? KEEP SEEING HIS NAME.

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LATEST POLL NUMBER

Question # 11 (of Democrats)

"has the better chance of getting elected president in November"

Answer:

Obama: 62%
Clinton: 31%

Washington Post ABC News Poll

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/documents/postpoll_041408.html?hpid=topnews

Peace and prosperity during Clinton years? CEO pay increased to 400:1 (lowest pay to highest) between 1992-2000. Minimum wage went from 4.25 to 5.35. What it should had gone was about 17 bux according to this math. The First Black Prez also slashed corporate tax on the Big Oil to a whopping 5%!!!
I personally didn't see any of this prosperity. Did you? No one I know got a piece of this prosperity pie. The real wages declined and continue to fall, although at a more alarming rate than in Clinton years.

.

The 44th President of the United States

PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

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VivaHillary posts:
"Hi Mia who just posted above. You're an anti-semite. good luck with that. do you think Mr. Obama understands and approves of your views? his supporters, people like you, make me infinitely less likely to even consider supporting him and I've never voted for a Republican in my life. "

What makes you think that this is a real Obama supporter? My guess is that it's a bogus post and a bogus affiliation, designed simply to create an anti-Obama frenzy. It wouldn't surprise me if the poster wasn't female and a McCain booster.

Whenever I see a "canned" post like this (and I've seen this one in multiple foruns over the last few days) my crap detector goes wild; but, your mileage may vary.

But do the Teamsters know who Larry Sinclair is?

Hi Mia who just posted above. You're an anti-semite. good luck with that. do you think Mr. Obama understands and approves of your views? his supporters, people like you, make me infinitely less likely to even consider supporting him and I've never voted for a Republican in my life.

Obama's appeal to Republicans is one of my big problems with him. Partisanship is a good thing. I disagree with Republicans because they advocate terrible policies that favor the rich and powerful. I want someone who will fight Republicans for universal healthcare, an economy that lifts all boats and a foreign policy that is tough, smart and diplomatic. Peace and prosperity. You know, kinda' like the nineties when another Clinton was president. Obama seems to love denigrating the the Clintons and the nineties. Those were pretty good times. Don't believe happy days will be here again without Hillary in command. On to PA!

This is Amazing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exsmFDYyK4U

Watch and forward to all your friends.

I don't totally agree with the poster about a Jewish Lynching of Obama, but what I do observe as a black man married to a jewish woman is that the interests of Isreal are of utmost concerns to Jewish Americans, especially to those over 60. Again it is the old strategy of dividing the minorities so the majority can stay in power.

Hillary has proven Obama's "bitter" statement to be true. Bitter at losing the democratic nominations, she's now clinging to guns and religion. lol

Are Jews the reincarnation of modern day KKK?

The powerful rightwing Jewish Lobby including [AIPAC] American Israel Public Affairs Committee is vexed, frustrated and displeased with Barack Obama's refusal to accept special interest money. The concern is that the Senator's policy prevents them from exerting influence or extracting favor from his administration should he become the next President. Senator Obama has offered his assurance to Jews that he is not a foe- yet this does not seem to allay their resistance to his candidacy.

Hillary Clinton's campaign saw an opening to exploit the Jewish community's apprehension and began stoking the anti-Obama fire behind the scenes. In collaboration with the Clintons, they [the Jewish Lobby] dispatched a number of "candidacy assassinators" including former Clinton special counsel, Lanny Davis, Florida congress woman, Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, California congress man, Brad Sherman, CNN news anchor, Wolfe Blitzer, Senator Joseph Lieberman and others to torpedo Obama's nomination bid. The above mentioned Jews continue to fan the flame of hateful passions against the Illinois Senator using demagoguery and pushing the Reverend Wright issue so that it remains in the foreground. The strategy is to convince the voters and the Democratic Super Delegates that Obama would be unelectable in November due to his optics and simultaneously promote Hillary as the only friend of Israel. It is also reported that Democratic Jews are being counseled to vote for John McCain- should Senator Clinton not get the nomination.

Take a look at the YouTube video where Rachel Maddow from Air America recently discussed the topic on her show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdYzGzvXO0U

Civil Rights and black organizations have dubbed the Jewish Lobby's anti Obama campaign, "mean spirited" but so far have opted to remain tentative. Elected Democrats have also taken note and are increasingly becoming frustrated with Senator Clinton's controversial tactics. They are appalled with her alliance to hawkish groups including John McCain to annihilate a democratic colleague and worry that it provides damaging ammunition to the republicans that could derail Obama's candidacy should he become the nominee. Some Democrats are even calling the conduct treacherous and privately accuse her of deliberately trying to sabotage the Democratic Party because of the unlikely odds of her fairly winning the nomination. The question is- who is willing to bell the Cat? Thus far, a healthy concern for political reprisal has prevented any of the party leaders from offering any public criticism. The Jewish Lobby for decades has effectively manipulated the holocaust to keep politicians beholden to their agenda. Those who oppose are usually labeled anti-Israel or Bigots in order to gain their compliance. In this instance, however, they run the risk of having the tables turned against them if blacks are able to expose hypocrisy in what many view to be a Jewish lynching of Senator Obama.

Bring down fuel prices......

This is just a bit more evidence that Obama can win PA in the fall, as Governor Ed Rendell says. Clinton won't pick up too many delegates or a popular vote net in her big state and in the fall the democratic ticket will win PA. Some teamsters may have missed the details of primary rules, but they know who they want in the fall. A lot of people do it seems.

The results from Pa. are going to be very deceiving, since the change of Registration by Repubs in their effort to stop Hillary and vote for Obama is something like 10 to 25% of the estimate votes he will get from various reports I've seen. I had thought early on this would be 10 or 15% of the total vote for Obama and a few weeks ago upped it to 25% or more based on reports I've seen. The Delagate count is also skewed as to where the majority of voters are, and again this is an advantage for Obama.

i think this article covers it best... Only people that are polital junkies are paying attention to politics. The people are not even paying attention to the tit for tat at this time. So all of you that say "I will not vote for "x" if "y" is nominated are just upset. The vast majority of people won't even make a decison until late Oct or even in the actual voting booth. This will actually cancel out any votes not being cast out of protest. The Republicans know how to play the system. Are Democrats up to the challenge this time? Time will tell.

remember when they asked kucinich if he ever disagreed with any union ,he thought for a moment, then said "yes,i disagreed with the teamsters over drilling in anwar." need i say more ?

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