Using up my two-post maximum tonight on the issue of empirical evidence regarding HRC as VP.  A couple guys got in a pissing match in another diary about how HRC would impact a ticket.  One such poster was particularly "concerned" about "Obamacans."  PPP is the only other pollster to conduct VP polls besides SurveyUSA, which frankly produced polling results that should be considered suspect given the thirty-forty point gender gaps that such polls were showing.  Here's what I was able to find from some June PPP polling:

http://publicpolicypolling.blogspot.com/ 2008/06/michigan-impact-of-clinton-on-ti cket.html

So, she's a net plus for Obama in three of the four states polled: Ohio, Virginia, and North Carolina.  She's a net minus in Michigan, which may explain why her name was booed on the two occasions when Obama received a major endorsement in that state.

What also should be taken into consideration from the three states in which HRC is a net plus is that she was a greater net plus than Strickland in Ohio, Edwards and Easley in NC, and both Webb and Kaine in Virginia.  Therefore, she outperformed five prominent dems in their HOME states!  Only my main man Mark Warner outperformed her in the state of Virginia.

I'm sure someone will dig into the crosstabs and discover that independents and Republicans are less likely to vote for Obama if she's on the ticket and that most of the people answering in the affirmative to the question of "more likely to vote for Obama when HRC is on the ticket" are dems anyway.  Well, I'm of the belief that the preferences of those who took the time to register with this party need to be considered just as much, if not more, than unaffiliated voters who are constantly flip-flopping between parties or even worse, "Obamacans" who believe Ronald Reagan was a great president.

After ten hours of letting Maliki statements hang in a German newspaper, Centcom released a statement from Maliki's spokesperson claiming that Maliki's statements were not "accurately conveyed."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/1 9/almaliki.obama/

Of course, the statement doesn't indicate what part of his statement was inaccurately conveyed.  This guy must be pretty damn unlucky if he keeps on getting transcribed inaccurately (fool me once, shame on me, fool me twice?).  It sounds as if Bush got caught off-guard completely and had a little chat with his buddy Maliki.

Let's see if that German paper made a tape recording of this interview; it doesn't change the fact that Maliki is on record, in print, praising Obama's withdrawal plan....unless McCain wants to claim that there is some conspiracy in Europe in favor of Obama getting elected.  Let's see what Maliki has to say when Obama himself is in front of him later this week.

Sorry for this diaries brevity, but I really wanted to share this gem from Ambinder:

This could be one of those unexpected events that forever changes the way the world perceives an issue. Iraq's Prime Minister agrees with Obama, and there's no wiggle room or fudge factor. This puts John McCain in an extremely precarious spot: what's left to argue? to argue against Maliki would be to predicate that Iraqi sovereignty at this point means nothing. Obviously, our national interests aren't equivalent to Iraq's, but... Maliki isn't listening to the generals on the ground...but the "hasn't been to Iraq" line doesn't work here.

. . .

(Via e-mail, a prominent Republican strategist who occasionally provides advice to the McCain campaign said, simply, "We're fucked." . . . - http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/arch ives/2008/07/mccain_campaign_responds_to _al.php

I just saw CNN report on the White House email "accident" that was mentioned in the rec list, and I thank them for turning this into a story that could dominate news cycles through Monday. Usually weekend stuff can die a quiet death, but this statement by Maliki can really help frame Obama's trip in a positive light, and put McCain on the defensive.

Strange things are happening, president Bush may turn out to be a secret Obama supporter. The white house sent out an email referencing an article in which Iraq prime minister agrees with Obama timetable pullout

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/ 2008/07/white-house-acc.html

http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanma rtin/0708/White_House_blasts_out_Maliki_ proObama_story.html

Obama's comments about Suharto demonstate a sad lack of understanding about the Suharto years, his war crimes, and American complicity.

In 1960, during Sukarno's rule of Indonesia, he allowed the PKI, the Communist Party, to participate in the government and took a neutralist stand during the Cold War.  Neither of these positions sat well with American leaders who decided to suport General Suharto in a bid to seize power from Sukarno.

The U.S. supplied arms and advise and by 1965, Sukarno had been pushed into the background and Suharto became Dictator of Indonesia. After Suharto took power, he decided to eliminate the PKI and the Chinese living in Indonesia.  Over 600,000 people died and the slaughter is an act of genocide.

Der Spiegel:

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki supports US presidential candidate Barack Obama's plan to withdraw US troops from Iraq within 16 months. When asked in and interview with SPIEGEL when he thinks US troops should leave Iraq, Maliki responded "as soon as possible, as far as we are concerned." He then continued: "US presidential candidate Barack Obama talks about 16 months. That, we think, would be the right timeframe for a withdrawal, with the possibility of slight changes.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/worl d/0,1518,566841,00.html

BBC is reporting that Senator Obama has arrived in Afghanistan. Other than Afghanistan he is planning to visit Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain.

US Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama has arrived in Afghanistan, at the start of a campaign-season international tour. The countries he is also expected to visit include Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Germany, France and Britain.The Illinois senator flew to the Afghan capital, Kabul, as part of an official congressional delegation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7515 179.stm

"Toto, I don't think we're in Creationist Kansas anymore!"

Sean Tevis is an Information Architect and fellow netroots geek who decided to run against Arlen Siegfreid, the current State Representative.  

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