Reflections on the Jeremiah Wright Controversy

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Tuesday April 01, 2008 · 2:01 PM PDT

2008/04/01 · 14:01

While I an Obama supporter, until this election cycle I've never registered as a voter of one party or another. Simply put, I've never felt particularly passionately about candidates from either side of the aisle.

Barack Obama disturbed my slumber enough to energize me into changing that "no party affiliation" status, since Florida has a closed primary. However, it's been with my level-headed independent nature that I've tried to absorb all sides of the controversy concerning his pastor, Reverend Jeremiah Wright, and assess the validity of their arguments.

Additionally, as an older black American, raised in the tradition of activist black churches, I can identify with the underlying issues raised in this round of tit-for-tat controversies.

More after the fold.

RaisingPaine

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Saturday February 23, 2008 · 7:45 AM PST

2008/02/23 · 07:45

The issue of VP choices for the Democratic nominee has been a point of conjecture on many liberal forums. We are now down to two candidates and Barack Obama is now the odds-on favorite.

Once Edwards dropped out of the race, the consensus seemed to be that if Hillary won, she would virtually have to offer the VP slot to Obama, whether he chose to accept it or not. I contend now that their political fortunes have reversed, Obama is, nonetheless, obligated to extend the same respectful gesture to a worthy adversary. There is no doubt they have made each other better general-election candidates.

The conventional wisdom is that Senator Clinton wouldn't accept a VP offer. Let's examine that premise after the fold.

Poll

340 votes Show Results

Whaddya think?

340 votes Vote Now!

Whaddya think?

Clinton COULD work as the VP nominee

76 votes

Clinton would be a boat-anchor, jeopardizing our chance to win

163 votes

Clinton would be better in some other role within an Obama administration

87 votes

While she can't bake cookies, I'll bet Hillary makes a mean pie -- I want some!

14 votes

Graham for Obama VP?

RaisingPaine

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Friday February 08, 2008 · 3:03 PM PST

2008/02/08 · 15:03

I have done some serious vascillating on the issue of a potential VP choice for Obama since the early days of his announcement. Over the past year, there have been a ton of names and faces which have come into my field of vision who have been impressive. However, each potential candidate has a nagging minus, suggesting maybe there's a better, yet unconsidered, choice out there. In my view, the ticket should be a unified whole, with the VP nominee bringing to the table whatever the presidential nominee does not.

So, although I'm sure I'll feel differently next week, inspired by NoahPinto's diary "Webb for Obama VP?", I now find myself back where I started. Namely considering former Senator Bob Graham of FL to be the best choice.

Follow my rationale below the fold.

RaisingPaine

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Thursday January 31, 2008 · 11:59 AM PST

2008/01/31 · 11:59

I was sitting here thinking about the importance of tonight's debate, and thought drinking myself into oblivion might be a fun way to get through the stress.

Since I can't be the only one anxious given all that's at stake, I'll throw out a few ideas to get the game started, but I appeal to the Kos braintrust to help us set a new standard, given we have two reasonably predictable candidates.

See u below the fold...

RaisingPaine

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Wednesday January 30, 2008 · 7:54 AM PST

2008/01/30 · 07:54

In wake of the Edwards drop-out, does he now become a leading candidate for a VP slot? Would that be part of the "talk" we hear about between the two campaigns?

More below the fold.

Poll

375 votes Show Results

Best VP Choice for Obama?

375 votes Vote Now!

Best VP Choice for Obama?

John Edwards

64 votes

Bill Richardson

54 votes

Kathleen Sebelius

63 votes

Joe Biden

44 votes

Hillary Clinton

12 votes

Blanche Lincoln

7 votes

Russ Finegold

29 votes

Dennis Kucinich

3 votes

Ted Kennedy

1 vote

Jean Napolitano

14 votes

Chris Dodd

19 votes

Other

65 votes

This isn't Diary-worthy, but here goes anyway... (w/poll)

RaisingPaine

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Tuesday January 22, 2008 · 3:06 PM PST

2008/01/22 · 15:06

I just heard from a little birdy that Obama is about to (or already started?) run a national ad (on CNN and perhaps other outlets), as part of his lead-up to Super-Tuesday. The Clinton campaign is positioned to call foul, since such advertising could be construed as breaking the no-campaign pledge in FL, since it will be shown here.

The Clinton campaign could respond by launching a late ground-campaign in FL, taking the whole race to DEFCON 4.

Poll below the fold...

Poll

129 votes Show Results

Would Obama's national ad constitute a violation of the no-campaign pledge?

129 votes Vote Now!

Would Obama's national ad constitute a violation of the no-campaign pledge?

Yes

25 votes

69 votes

Maybe

11 votes

Pie

24 votes

Going Deeper into "Dems Winning '08 Ticket"

RaisingPaine

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Wednesday January 09, 2008 · 12:51 PM PST

2008/01/09 · 12:51

I was about to reply to theal2's diary entitled "The Dems Winning '08 Ticket", where the diarist waxes on the unbeatability of a Clinton/Obama or Obama/Clinton ticket.

I had previously thought these two in any combination unworkable for a variety of reasons, but in experiencing my change of heart, thought the rationale might be worthy of it's own diary, given other Kossacks may have harbored (be harboring?) the same reservations.

RaisingPaine

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Monday January 07, 2008 · 11:55 AM PST

2008/01/07 · 11:55

While there is still a good ways to go in determining the Democratic nominee, it's not unreasonable to begin speculating on VP choices.

Conventional wisdom might have Obama select from the current crop of presidential candidates, but there are several other arguable choices not running.

Who do you think would make the most logical choice for Obama as a running mate?

Poll

1469 votes Show Results

Some of the usual (and a few unusual) suspects:

1469 votes Vote Now!

Some of the usual (and a few unusual) suspects:

Hillary Clinton

100 votes

John Edwards

217 votes

Joe Biden

124 votes

Bill Richardson

173 votes

Chris Dodd

44 votes

Dennis Kucinich

21 votes

Jim Webb

266 votes

Wesley Clark

171 votes

Chuck Hagel

71 votes

Janet Napolitano

49 votes

Bob Graham

15 votes

Phil Bredesen

11 votes

Dick Gephardt

16 votes

Mark Warner

72 votes

Other

119 votes

Is Bill Clinton Really Helping?

RaisingPaine

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Monday December 17, 2007 · 4:33 PM PST

2007/12/17 · 16:33

OK, I know this kind of insignificant tidbit isn't necessarily worthy of a diary, but it's so illustrative of how Hillary's surrogate is twisting himself into a pretzel to make the anti-Obama argument that it's beyond funny.

From the AP article Clinton '92 vs. Obama '08

Bill Clinton says Sen. Barack Obama is a callow, highly ambitious political prodigy who is asking voters to "roll the dice" and elect him president.

He should know — that's a fair description of Clinton when he sought the presidency in 1992.

Ouch! More irony after the fold...

RaisingPaine

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Thursday December 13, 2007 · 1:16 PM PST

2007/12/13 · 13:16

According to Ben Smith at The Politico, the Clinton campaign has announced that Bill Shaheen is stepping down as co-chair of the Clinton campaign in NH.

RaisingPaine

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Wednesday December 12, 2007 · 3:29 PM PST

2007/12/12 · 15:29

As a further sign of Democrat momentum shift, Barack Obama has received four new political endorsements in the last 48 hours. While endorsements were slow coming out of the gate, Obama's increasing assault on Hillary Clinton's lead in key early states seems to be convincing-enough evidence for some that his campaign is nationally-viable.

More below the fold...

RaisingPaine

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Thursday December 06, 2007 · 9:17 AM PST

2007/12/06 · 09:17

Strategic Vision just published the results of a 3-day poll taken in Iowa between November 30th and December 2nd, putting Barack Obama at 32% with John Edwards and Hillary Clinton tied at 25% with a 4.5% margin of error.

More below the fold...

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RSS

Reflections on the Jeremiah Wright Controversy

Why NOT Obama-Clinton '08? (w/Poll)

Graham for Obama VP?

Dem Debate Drinking Game

Obama: VP Choices? (w/poll)

This isn't Diary-worthy, but here goes anyway... (w/poll)

Going Deeper into "Dems Winning '08 Ticket"

Speculation: Obama VP Choice (w/Poll)

Is Bill Clinton Really Helping?

(Updated) Breaking: Shaheen Steps Down

Obama: Four New Endorsements in 48 Hours

Latest Poll: Obama Expanding Lead in Iowa, Closing Gap in SC