This is the Presidential Campaign Thread.

Barack Obama Vs. John McCain.

Edited November 6, 200817 yr by Toups

Maybe they should change the name of the show to Mourning Joe. On "The Daily Show" last night, Jon Stewart played a few clips of TV pundits dissing Barack Obama's chances vs. Hillary Clinton a year or so ago. One of them was Joe Scarborough, pooh-poohing Obama's chances.

My search of the MSNBC site from that period uncovers more, from December 22, 2006.

Say it ain't so, Joe! Here is one highlight.

SCARBOROUGH: Even before the final votes were tallied in the 2006 elections, politicians started lining up for the 2008 presidential sweepstakes. Without further ado, let me kill Hamlet in the first act and tell you how your favorite candidate will fare over the next 12 months.

Barack Obama

Forget the fact this guy's middle name is "Hussein." Forget the fact he has been in national politics for less than two years. Forget the fact that Hillary Clinton will raise more money than God in 2007. Forget all of that, the Washington press tells us, because Barack Obama is none other than the second coming of JFK.

Yeah, right.

Barack Hussein Obama is more Johnny Bravo than John Kennedy. The vest fits and the fans scream while DC's star-maker machinery shifts into overdrive.

Like Peter Brady's Bravo, Obama's shot at the top will be short lived. But since BHO is young enough, dynamic enough and (just) black enough to whip official Washington into a frenzy, expect this stupid story to stick around for a while. Soon enough though, this year's model will be shouting, "Please give a warm Chicago welcome to the next President of the United States, Hillary Clinton!"

Then he went on to his Hillary assessment.

Cheering for New York's junior senator excites Democratic activists about as much as rooting for General Electric. Regardless of their hand wringing, Hillary Inc. will grind up and spit out any Democratic challenger that gets in its way.

Ms. Clinton has completed six ruthlessly efficient years in the U.S. Senate and avoided even a whiff of scandal since Bubba moved to a separate zip code. But that doesn't mean the problematic ex-president won't be her campaign's chief asset. Time and again throughout the next few years, Bill Clinton will make the difference on fundraising, networking and strategy. And 2007 will show that any politico who dares to cross Team Clinton risks being crushed into dust.

Crushed into dust? Uh, not quite.

From The Huffington Post.

Time and again throughout the next few years, Bill Clinton will make the difference on fundraising, networking and strategy. And 2007 will show that any politico who dares to cross Team Clinton risks being crushed into dust.

From The Huffington Post.

I find this part to be hilarious, it turns out BC was the poison to her campaign. HC would of been better off if he just stayed at home.

This is the reason that I see all the experts as being just like me with various opinions. Sometimes they guess wrong and sometimes they guess right. The same goes for all the experts on ESPN tv and radio. They can always pick the obvious when it comes to who will wind up in championship games and if some unexpected team gets in they have to scramble to get on board. What I look for is how interesting any of them are when they present their viewpoints.

As far as Scarborough goes the Hussein fixation was stupid. He wasn't expressing any sentiment that the other experts hadn't in terms of anyone's chances against HC. She even said it would be over Feb. 5th.

It just goes to show how much of an advantage Obama overcame and how right the people who saw something in him from the beginning.

I believe Senator Durbin was the only senator to support Obama for president and remained alone for the longest time.

This is the reason that I see all the experts as being just like me with various opinions. Sometimes they guess wrong and sometimes they guess right. The same goes for all the experts on ESPN tv and radio. They can always pick the obvious when it comes to who will wind up in championship games and if some unexpected team gets in they have to scramble to get on board. What I look for is how interesting any of them are when they present their viewpoints.

As far as Scarborough goes the Hussein fixation was stupid. He wasn't expressing any sentiment that the other experts hadn't in terms of anyone's chances against HC. She even said it would be over Feb. 5th.

It just goes to show how much of an advantage Obama overcame and how right the people who saw something in him from the beginning.

I believe Senator Durbin was the only senator to support Obama for president and remained alone for the longest time.

As a Detroit Tiger fan, I can appreciate the ESPN analogy. Scarborough is a former Republican Congressman who never has been the brightest bulb. Now why a guy is considered an expert on national presidential elections because for a short while he was a congressional backbencher elected from one of the most Republican districts in Florida is beyond me. The cable networks line up all these people with no real credentials, place em side-by-side and let them argue, and then tell us we have learned from the experts. Most of the time all I learn is that they give me a headache and that those so-called experts have incredibly poor manners. It really has just become a contest about who can interrupt the other speaker the most often and who can come up with the cutest little quips. Either let the real journalists, speak objectively and intelligently about the campaign or stop calling this crap news. Consider these the opinions of a liberal who is tired of the so-called liberal media.

If there was a bias, Pat Buchanan would have been shipped back along time ago. Sometimes he can barely hide his feelings and his bias.

Then there is the Republican expert, Brad something. I can't think of his last name, but he is so partisan that you know what he's going to say before her says it.

I have respect for true conservatives who can call out their party on their BS......or true liberals who can do the same thing. Jess, I see your point. Sometimes it not enough to have a certain type of person on a panel....

You have to have the right kind.

Wednesday on the Senate floor, Barack Obama pulled Joe Lieberman aside for a three minute conversation that, according to their body language (someone call BillO!), got pretty intense.

Furthermore, during a Senate vote Wednesday, Obama dragged Lieberman by the hand to a far corner of the Senate chamber and engaged in what appeared to reporters in the gallery as an intense, three-minute conversation.

While it was unclear what the two were discussing, the body language suggested that Obama was trying to convince Lieberman of something and his stance appeared slightly intimidating.

Using forceful, but not angry, hand gestures, Obama literally backed up Lieberman against the wall, leaned in very close at times, and appeared to be trying to dominate the conversation, as the two talked over each other in a few instances.

Still, Obama and Lieberman seemed to be trying to keep the back-and-forth congenial as they both patted each other on the back during and after the exchange.

Afterwards, Obama smiled and pointed up at reporters peering over the edge of the press gallery for a better glimpse of their interaction.

Well, when someone in your own party says stuff like this about you, they should expect a strong reaction.

Good for you, Senator Obama.

What did lieberman say about obama?

Is Lieberman the traitor?

Obama gave a very good interview on CNN and basically told eve3ryone to just calm down about this VP nonsense. It sounds as if the decision will not be made in the near future. I like that attitude in him. So calm.

Lieberman is mad because the Dems backed another candidate when his Senate seat was up, and he lost the Democratic Primary in his state. So......he went to being an Independent and kept his seat, and he votes Demcratic, even though he's helping JM with his POTUS run.

Obama had given a speech and JL attacked him, while defending JM.

Is there a video clip of this Roman?

Haven't found one.

Go to Crooks & Liars. I thought I saw the story that led up to this there.

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/20...-confronts.html

The link to the talk is in the middle of the interview.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/...s-organization/

Lieberman launches grassroots organization

Posted: 03:20 PM ET

From CNN Associate Political Editor Rebecca Sinderbrand

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Joe Lieberman – who has taken on increasingly high-profile campaign roles on behalf of presumptive Republican nominee John McCain – announced Thursday that was launching and heading a new grassroots organization, "Citizens for McCain," with a direct appeal to Hillary Clinton’s disappointed supporters.

“The phones at the campaign headquarters have been ringing with disaffected Democrats calling to say they believe Senator McCain has the experience, judgment, and bipartisanship necessary to lead our country in these difficult times,” Lieberman wrote in a message sent to the Arizona senator’s supporters. “Many of these supporters are former supporters of Senator Clinton.”

Over the past few weeks, some supporters of Hillary Clinton – whose campaign announced Wednesday that she would be suspending her presidential run this weekend — have said that they would consider voting for McCain if she were not the Democratic nominee.

Lieberman highlighted McCain’s “very good working relationship with Senator Clinton” – which he said would continue in the future – and his comments praising her in a speech at a Louisiana campaign event Wednesday.

"Senator Clinton has earned great respect for her tenacity and courage. The media often overlooked how compassionately she spoke to the concerns and dreams of millions of Americans, and she deserves a lot more appreciation than she sometimes received,” said McCain. “As the father of three daughters, I owe her a debt for inspiring millions of women to believe there is no opportunity in this great country beyond their reach. I am proud to call her my friend."

He called on supporters to “reach out to Americans who are not currently involved in the campaign.

“Will you help us by recruiting your friends, family, and co-workers who may not consider themselves members of the Republican Party and ask them to join the Citizens for McCain organization?” wrote Lieberman.

“I am confident we will find many Democrats and Independents who, like John McCain and me, put country before political party and will support a leader with a real record of bipartisanship…. Together, we will make history.”

On Wednesday — the first day of the general election campaign – the very first Republican conference call attacking presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama featured Lieberman.

Lieberman, has been increasingly critical of Obama. The Democrat-turned-independent has been a strong supporter of President Bush's Middle East and Iraq policies.

Obama endorsed Lieberman in his 2006 Democratic primary battle against challenger Ned Lamont. But after the Connecticut senator lost and decided to run as an independent, Obama switched his support to Lamont, who shared his opposition to the Iraq war.

It would make my day if the Clinton supporters and Hillary herself told that little turncoat jackass to stuff it. He stayed Independent/Democrat to keep power in the Senate. If the Republicans had controlled the Senate the little snake would have been a Independent/Republican.

I hope Clinton supporters realize that had she won and Obama lost, the little weasel would have been writing the same note to Obama's supporters. Yep I'm pissed. Liberman is a war-monger.

Edited June 6, 200817 yr by Jess

WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton met late Thursday with Barack Obama, a day after saying she would end her quest for the Democratic nomination and endorse the Illinois senator.

A senior Obama campaign official confirmed to NBC News that Obama delayed his departure from Washington Thursday night to meet with Clinton at her home here.

Earlier, Clinton had disavowed efforts by some supporters who have urged Obama to choose her as his running mate.

"She is not seeking the vice presidency, and no one speaks for her but her," communications director Howard Wolfson said. "The choice here is Senator Obama's and his alone."

Clinton was planning an event in Washington Saturday to thank supporters and urge them to back Obama's candidacy. But as she was bowing out of the race, supporters in Congress and elsewhere were ramping up a campaign to pressure him to put her on the ticket in the No. 2 spot.

Bob Johnson, the billionaire founder of Black Entertainment Television and a Clinton supporter, sent a letter to the Congressional Black Caucus Wednesday urging the group to encourage Obama to choose Clinton as his vice presidential pick. He said he was doing so with her blessing.

Obama is seeking to become the first black president.

Clinton has told other friends and supporters she would be willing to be Obama's running mate. But her immediate task is bringing her own presidential bid to a close.

High stakes

In an e-mail to supporters, the New York senator said she "will be speaking on Saturday about how together we can rally the party behind Senator Obama. The stakes are too high and the task before us too important to do otherwise."

Clinton expressed the same sentiment in a conference call with 40 members of her national finance committee, whom she urged to begin raising money for Obama and for the Democratic National Committee.

"She was in good spirits and totally supportive, without qualification, of Senator Obama and his campaign," finance co-chairman Alan Patricof said of the call.

It was a shift in tone by the former first lady, who announced 17 months ago that she was "in it to win it." Many of her supporters want her as the vice presidential candidate, in their minds a "dream ticket" that would bring Obama her enthusiastic legions and broaden his appeal to white and working-class voters.

But Obama indicated he intends to take his time making a decision.

"We're not going to be rushed into it. I don't think Senator Clinton expects a quick decision and I don't even know that she's necessarily interested in that," Obama told NBC in an interview.

June 5: A Hardball panel debates whether Sen. Hillary Clinton lost her chance as the potential vice presidential candidate by waiting so long to drop out of the nomination race.

Hardball

Clinton's move to formally declare that she is backing the Illinois senator came after Democratic congressional colleagues made clear they had no stomach for a protracted intraparty battle. Now that Obama has secured the 2,118 delegates necessary to clinch the nomination, Clinton had little choice but to end her quest, and sooner rather than later.

Some of Clinton's closest supporters — the nearly two dozen House Democrats from her home state of New York — switched their endorsements to Obama Thursday.

The public announcement from the 23 New York followed two days of private phone calls weighing her options.

"She was just as spunky as ever," Rep. Charlie Rangel said of Clinton's mood on the calls, as her friends and supporters urged her to come to a decision "sooner rather than later."

Many of the lawmakers said it was important for them, as New Yorkers who are close to Clinton and helped launch her presidential bid, to work together to repair some of the rifts in the party.

"We're Democrats. Dammit to hell we fight. When it's over, we come together and go out there to win," said Rangel, the dean of the New York delegation.

The New Yorkers, said Rep. Gregory Meeks, have a duty "to lead this transition" to full party support of Obama.

Another of Clinton's most prominent supporters, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, also announced his "wholehearted and enthusiastic support" for Obama Thursday.

Exit strategy

The move to end her campaign came Tuesday, when Clinton told House Democrats during a private conference call that she would get behind Obama's candidacy and congratulate him for gathering the necessary delegates to be the party's nominee.

The only degree of uncertainty was how. Clinton is exploring options to retain her delegates and promote her issues, including a signature call for universal health care.

The announcement closed an epic five-month nominating battle pitting the first serious female candidate against the most viable black contender ever.

Obama on Tuesday night secured the delegates needed to clinch the Democratic nomination. But Clinton stopped short of acknowledging that milestone, defiantly insisting she was better positioned to defeat McCain in November.

"What does Hillary want? What does she want?" Clinton asked, hours after telling supporters she'd be open to joining Obama as his vice presidential running mate.

But by Wednesday, other Democrats made it abundantly clear they wanted something too: a swift end to the often bitter nominating contest.

Her decision to acquiesce caught many in her campaign by surprise and left them scrambling to finalize the logistics and specifics behind her campaign departure.

Chuck Todd of NBC News and The Associated Press contributed to this report