This "shifting to the center" meme is a right-wing smear to define BO as a flip-flopper.  Barack Obama has always held these positions.  Check the records; Read Audacity of Hope; Please check your issues.  BO did not shift to the center as many right-wing pundits are claiming. The followings are positions that BO has held for as long as we've known him:

On NAFTA - No change, BO is and has been a free-trader all along but wanted trade-deals with labor standards to protect American workers.

On Guns - BO has always supported the right to bear arm as contained in 2nd Amendment (that's why he won Idaho, Colorado, etc. in the primary)

On Abortion - his current position has always been his position (that's why they EMILY's list attacked him in New Hampshire).

On Death Penalty - Go and check BO's Illinois record, where he led the reform there not to ban death penalty but to ensure a transparent and judicious death penalty system.

On Faith Based initiatives - Read Audacity of Hope.  This has been BO's position all along.

On Iraq -  BO has always had this "one or two brigade a month withdrawal" for a 16 months timeline in consultation with Commanders on the ground.

So in conclusion, I give it to the Republican for having succeeded in fooling the Democrats and the Press to embrace their talking point.   They wanted to define BO as a flip-flopper the way they did against John Kerry.  Ask yourself, why were the Press and McCain campaign so fast to twist BO's reiteration of his Iraq position?  And this is the same position he's held since the first day he came up with "one or two brigade a month withdrawal" for a 16 months timeline.  Same position from September of 2007

So wake up folks; read your copy of Audacity of Hope; check BO's records to see that he's a pragmatic left-of-the-center democrat.

I subscribe to a few mailing lists, both liberal and conservative. This came from a liberal mailing list. I passed it on to my son and then decided to post it here. One could quibble over a few of these, but most of them hit home. Author unknown.

Note: I know this is mostly a cut-n-paste diary, but it's far too long to go into a comment thread. It's mostly meant in fun. (Sure it is...)

To be a Republican you need to believe that:

1. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

2. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's Daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.

reposted with permission

cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama

                               
                       michelle and barack leaving after watching their daughter's soccer game

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Ahhh, this read from politico, made me remember that one song from the wonderful musical, Music Man.

McCain got trouble, though not in River City, but say, his base or supporters or organizers or everyone?

While we watched the longest primary ever, one thing is true, during this time we built a great ground game in all 50 states.  And that is the gold standard from the primary going forward.

As we sloughed through each state, McCain had his "presumptiveness" in February.  Those that challenged him, Romney and Huckabee, bowed down and got the hell out.  They should have since Romney was paying for each primary and Huckabee was on a wing and a prayer.  But nonetheless, they turned out to be good Republicans and made up with McCain, publicly, and have been campaigning for him since.

So, why is McCain in a funk?  Various reasons.  I think he watched the Democratic Primaries and thought beating up on each other was enough to skate in, but now he has found out that Barack Obama is "that formidable candidate" that he just can't quite figure out.

It starts with Ed Rollins on morning joe last week, the video is here, not only did he blast McCain's Campaign but compared it to the failed campaigns of Phil Graham and Bob Dole.  OUCH.  Yes, this campaign is being run by that crew.

"McCain's campaign seems not to have a game plan. I don't see a consistent message," said Ed Rollins, a veteran of Republican presidential campaigns. "As someone who has run campaigns, this campaign is not running smoothly. But none of this matters if they get their act together."

Indeed, some Republican officials who spoke to Politico noted that there is still time for the campaign to find its footing and that no campaign is without its detractors. But the bulk of those interviewed expressed serious concern about what has appeared to be an aimless campaign so far, one that has failed to take advantage of a four-month head start on Democrats and has showed little sign of gaining traction.

I think this is why we see the McCain Campaign jump on Obama over this "Wes Mess", and continuing to whine about it, while his campaign is running on lack of money and lack of the basics, like grassroots organization?

"Here is where the problem is: We had a nomination gap between when McCain was nominated and the Democratic race completed," a swing state Republican Party chairman said. "I think [campaign manager] Rick Davis and his team did not have an understanding of how the grass-roots, organizational part of the party works. They did not use what the [Republican National Committee] had done, or how groups like the [National Rifle Association] could have helped the McCain campaign locally.

"They are just now opening up campaign operations in most states. The RNC was ready to go in most states in March," the state chairman continued, listing off grievances ranging from the campaign's "dictating" the members of various RNC committees to the state party's having been "threatened" that, though McCain "couldn't afford not to play in our state," the campaign would not "recommend us for resources" if the state party did not abide by its requests.

Ummmm.  When you are perceived to not knowing what to do and you come in and tell or threatened seasoned grassroots workers what the deal is, of course, you are getting no harmony.

Another thing, McCain had four months on us.  You mean to tell me they  are just opening up statewide offices?  McCain could have used this time to energize his base, listen to grievances, etc.  The only thing I can surmise is the lack of money to not move ahead, and this should have started when Huckabee got OUT.

"What's the political strategy when you allow your opponent, who has just had a grueling four months, time to catch their breath, regroup, fundraise and start to define himself?" asked a Republican strategist who helped lead a past presidential campaign. "It's politics 101."

So, what has McCain been doing?  Taking weekends off, of course, when he should have been organizing, campaigning vigorously, raising money and shoring up his base.  All that leisure is starting to anger the troops.

"Rather than trying to pull me in and make me an intricate part of the team they just told me what they wanted done, and said if you don't play ball we won't play ball," one state chairman said.

Those chairmen noted that the conservative base is far less riled, and significantly smaller, than its liberal counterpart. For this reason, GOP leaders generally believe they will have to be more efficient to overcome Obama's advantages.

"You are going to hear a lot of complaints from state party chairmen," one chairman said of his colleagues. "They are used to the Rove-Mehlman model. They were very good at finding the place they needed to win, down to the county they needed in Ohio.

Well, as much as we are in dissention, we are nowhere close to all that is going on with McCain.

If McCain can not energize his base, understand the basic fundamentals of grassroots organizing, underwhelming in the money game, what is his message to get folks not only to the polls but to vote for him?

Keep our eyes on the final PRIZE, in between arguing, that is.

::

Tip the Obama Jar, Here
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For Inspiration:  Yes.We.Can!!!

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icebergslim1047 (at) gmail (dot) com

cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama, reposted with permission

                                         john and cindy mccain in bogata, columbia

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Now this is how you get the Bush Tax Cuts to work for you.

After reading another juicy joint from politico, we have The McCains and trying to weave through their money thing.

I don't see how anyone at this JUNCTURE can point the finger at The Obamas for anything in the realm of elitism.  Not when you have The McCains with what 6, 7, 8 homes?

In recent years, a Politico analysis found, the McCain family appears to have tapped its fortune liberally.

While Cindy McCain, her dependent children and the trusts and companies they control made as much as $29 million - and likely substantially more - from her family's business interests from 2004 through last year, data from the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Senate, U.S. Office of Government Ethics and the Center for Responsive Politics also reveals that they spent $11 million purchasing five condominiums for the family, hired additional household help and racked up progressively larger credit cards bills almost every year.

Their credit card bills peaked between January 2007 and May 2008, during which time Cindy McCain charged as much as $500,000 in a single month on one American Express card and $250,000 on another, while one of their two dependent children had an AmEx card with a monthly balance as large as $50,000.

OK, the five condos do not include two other homes, and hey doesn't everyone in America have AMEX Cards and can spend up to 500K a month!!!  No biggie, not when you have accessible money like this, swiping the good old card, doesn't mean a thing.

Remember when John McCain's campaign was on exhaust fumes last year?  Well his travel sure wasn't or did you expect John to travel in coach?

Likewise, John McCain's presidential campaign benefited from Cindy McCain's fortune, using a legal loophole to travel the country in a jet owned by her company for cut-rate fares.

In fact, the cost of using Cindy's private jet to get around only cost:

For five of those months, the plane was used almost exclusively for campaign-related purposes, those records show.

Mr. McCain's campaign paid a total of $241,149 for the use of that plane from last August through February, records show. That amount is approximately the cost of chartering a similar jet for a month or two, according to industry estimates.

Yes, real perks when you are the ultra rich.

Remember all the fuss on Michelle Obama's 148.00 dress she wore on The View?  A dress she plucked off the rack?  For many that is still pricey, but there will be no plucking off the racks for Cindy.  No that just won't do.

For instance, in the June issue of Vogue magazine, Cindy McCain said she favors suits made by the German designer Escada, which typically retail for around $3,000-a-pop. If she becomes first lady, she told Vogue she may switch to an American designer, possibly Carolina Herrera, whose suits are comparably pricey.

Now we all expect our potential first ladies to dress appropriately, I mean we don't want them looking like dish rags, but who in American can afford suits from Escada that start at 3K a pop?  Yeah, I thought this would put you on pause.

NOBODY I KNOW SHOPS AT ESCADA.

Sorry, don't know anyone that does.  You got to be in that "ultra rich" area to afford luxury clothing, yes that is what it is.

Now back to real estate, Cindy purchases three condos, and two in the same building.  The condos are priced at 700K, 830K and 4.7M but it does not stop there:

Cindy McCain, through another family corporation, spent about $4.7 million in 2004 and 2008 on two condos in an exclusive building in Coronado, Calif., an affluent San Diego suburb noted for its high percentage of military retirees.

And it continues....

Through her trusts and other corporate entities, Cindy McCain also owns another three properties: a scenic ranch outside Sedona, Arizona, where John McCain has entertained staff, prospective running mates and political reporters; a three-bedroom Arlington, Virginia, condo that's been John McCain's Washington-area residence since 1993 and the La Jolla, California, condo on which the back taxes were due.

This real estate puzzle reads like the who's who of the rich and famous.  It really does.  With all this property comes staff, as in those that pick your shit up and clean up after you.

The McCains increased their budget for household employees from $184,000 in 2006 to $273,000 in 2007, according to John McCain's tax returns.

I don't know about you, but John McCain with Cindy surely has no reason to call the Obamas elitists.  Not when you are running around spending up to 500K a month on AMEX cards, paying upwards of 300K for staff in all of your palatial residences, a corporate jet at the touch of your hand, and clothing only at couture boutiques where suits start at $3500.00.

What about the Americans who are hurting with lack of health care, food costs soaring, gas at the pump is off the chain, jobs are leaving this country, lack of jobs, tuition costs unaffordable, losing their homes and those that can not cover their bills; I don't know anyone in America who can relate to the McCains extravagances.

I am tired of the same old type of candidate, who is ultra rich, ascending to the office of the presidency.  What change can they bring?  They have been fed with the silver spoon of trust funds, elitism, and prestige.  This is not the average American who has to get up every day and work to make ends meet.

John and Cindy McCain should not utter another word about Barack and Michelle Obama.  They never had to work hard for anything; it has always been given to them, from money to name recognition.

It is time for change, not keeping the same.

cross-posted @ This Week With Barack Obama, posted with diarist permission

                             
                                                      barack and hillary in unity, nh

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                                                       barack and hillary in unity

June 30, 2008:  End of Month

It is that time.  

What did you say?  Yes, that time to donate.  The Obama Campaign is not taking any public funding, so he won't get the grand total of 84M after the convention in August.  This campaign is totally depending on us, to fuel its current existence and through the November election.

While we are shedding away the primaries, which ended the first week of June, now we must revitalize and get engaged for the general election.  Remember the DNC, DCCC, DSCC also are depending on our donations.  Why?  The DNC must put on a convention, as in paying for it, and are in the trenches with Obama.  The DCCC must fund its congressional candidates, especially in some tough battleground districts.  The DSCC must fund its senatorial candidates, especially in some tough states, if we want to expand the senate.

All this must be done now, not yesterday, but now.

The Obama Campaign has some free giveaways with your donation.

For a 30.00 donation, you will receive a 100% cotton envirObama shirt.  Click on the image.

For a 30.00 donation, you will receive an Obama Logo shirt.  Click on the image.

For a 15.00 donation, you will receive an Obama Car Magnet.  Click on the image.

For the artist in you, the "Yes We Can" poster by Antar Dayal.  Part of the continuing artist series from the Obama Campaign.  If you don't like these items, shop at the Obama Store.  The only campaign with continuous items at an affordable price.

And donate to the DNC here, the DCCC here and the DSCC here.  We have good candidates, but they won't be elected without money.  Simple as that, donate.

                           
                                            Obama's speech at the 25th NALEO Conference

audio/video

Video speaking in Albuquerque, NM; John McCain webad against Obama, "Words"; Audio from Rolling Stone cover article; Obama with Ed Gordon from Black Enterprise; 25th Annual NALEO Conference; NALEO speech with Q&A;  John McCain's speech and Q&A at NALEO Conference; Change that Works for you Pittsburgh, PA; David Plouffe, Obama Campaign Manager, on Our Strategy; Change that Works for You, Las Vegas, NV; McCain, Obama and the Latino Vote; Obama Courts the Working-Class Vote; McCain Keeps Quiet on Weekends; Clinton, Obama Unite in Unity, N.H.; Analysis: Obama Edging Toward Center; Candidate's Wives Put Under the Microscope; Independent Voters Key to Winning N.H.; Obama's Coattails for Republicans

Obama supports supreme court reversal of gun ban
For Obama, a pragmatist's shift toward center
Obama tells women he supports equal pay
Way up north, Democrat targets Alaskan icon
Muslim Voters Detect a Snub From Obama
Obama Road Map to White House is a Nationwide Tour

                                 
                                       michelle and former governor jeanne shaheen

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Kristol: Bush Might Bomb Iran If He `Thinks Senator Obama's Going To Win'
Michelle Obama's strategy to woo Clinton supporters and shape her role as First Lady
Corzine profile rises in Obama camp
Year of the Black Vote?
Obama kept Law Review balanced
The Democrats' Lieberman Problem
Obama says world not doing enough on Zimbabwe

                     
                                              obama at the springs preserve in las vegas, nv

polls

USA Today/Gallup Poll; Rasmussen New Mexico Poll; Rasmussen Pennsylvania Poll; PPP Michigan Poll; Zogby South Florida Poll; SUSA Indiana Poll; LA Times/Bloomberg National Poll; SUSA Missouri Poll; Quinnipiac University/Wall Street Journal/Washingtonpost.Com Poll for Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin; Franklin and Marshall National Poll; Texas Lyceum Poll; Rasmussen Mississippi Poll; Arizona State University Poll; SUSA Kansas Poll; AP/Yahoo Poll; Fairleigh Dickinson University PublicMind New Jersey Poll; Time Magazine National Poll; SUSA Ohio Poll; Rasmussen Texas Poll

Missouri Sen. McCaskill emerging as key Obama supporter
Larry Johnson's Strange Trip
Obama's New Energy Website
Obama's aim: 14 Bush states and local races
McCain and Obama on Patriotism
AFL-CIO endorses Barack Obama

                                 
                                         obama at the flying star cafe in albuquerque, nm

shoutouts:

We yield the floor to Color of Change by Prometheus 6; From our undercover agent in the Florida Obama campaign by Prometheus 6;Technology Companies Won't Hire/Train Workers Over 40, Says NYT, One Big Reason, Healthcare Costs by architek; Delaware Chooses Offshore Wind Instead of Offshore Oil. by Delaware Dem; DNC Sues To Stop McCain's Gaming Of Public Finance System by Adam B; "Obama is a Muslim," Origin Revealed by ourhispanicvoices; Frank Rich says the Emperor Has No Clothes by teacherken; Obama's Middle Eastern/European Tour by psericks; Newsweek: John McCain defaults on California home by nokona; Early VP Shopping with Barack by Maureen; Major Automaker To End Gasoline Car Production by dotcommodity; Simple Credit Card Advice For Everyone, Yes YOU! by Lava20; Educating Ralph Nader on Obama's "Blackness" by Muzikal203; Barack Obama Talks Him Some Serious White! by JeffLieber; Meet Auma Obama (W/Video). by rapcetera; Hawaii is first in the nation by Keone Michaels; State Polling Summary: June 16 - June 21 by fladem; Reality In The To Criticize Or Not To Criticize Debate by Chris Bowers

Conservatives Who Ripped Obama For `Race-Baiting' Now Silent In Wake Of Norquist's Racial Remark
Caroline Kennedy's new profile: Politics
Obama criticizes McCain on immigration
Pastor Who Officiated at Jenna Bush Wedding Launches Pro-Obama Website
A Candidate Runs to a G.O.P. Chorus of `Don't'
Obama aims to wrest West from GOP
Rap, rock, classical music to Obama's ears

obama with MIT president, susan hockfield and GM chairman, rick wagoner in pittsburgh

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icebergslim's last word:  unity
As many know, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton campaigned together for the first time in Unity, NH.  Showing solidarity within the Democratic Party.

Much of this solidarity has already started to move Obama's way by the recent polling, nationally and statewide, see under polls above.  While this unity was shown publicly, behind the scenes the bartering is hard and heavy.  First the Obamas maxed to Clinton for 4600.00 and the Clintons shot one back atcha to the Obama Campaign.  All this came about after Clinton introduced Obama to her fundraisers in Washington, D.C.

Apparently, the meeting seemed to go smooth.  Of course, there may still be angry folks, but all in all many realize that we are Democrats and if we want to win in November, we must forge alliance to make that happen.  Though some in the media are reporting, "no unity", this former Clinton backer promises to raise 10M for Obama.

After a hard fought campaign, of course the patches are rough and edgy, but we all realize that this is the Democratic Moment to seize and take back the White House, and increase our congress prospects.  To hang onto being angry, in the end just won't do.  It solves nothing and we can lose everything.

So, in this sentiment, I hope someone can clue Bill Clinton and Ralph Nader in on this.  First on the list is our former president who is apparently having a hard time accepting his wife's defeat, Bill Clinton.  All this utter nonsense, supposedly coming from him is not helpful or productive.  In fact, it makes our former president look more comical than the elder statesman of the party he is.  This type of distraction is not helpful for the party or unity, and I hope someone informs him of this.

Ralph Nader.  Who does not know him?  Mr. Consumer Advocate.  But recently with his outrageous rant about "Obama trying to 'talk white'" was straight out of the book of Geraldine Ferraro.  Nader must have read her blue print and decided to be the Geraldine Ferraro of the general election.

What I don't understand about Nader is that his explanation of this is totally a generational gap.  He tries to insist that Obama is not speaking like Jesse Jackson, lacks that hubris, when in fact Barack Obama is not a civil rights advocate.  Never was and never will be.  Which brings us back to how backwards Nader is, especially in his assumption of lumping all African-Americans in a bowl, which clearly is a no can do.  For the record Obama denounce this silliness of Nader and the claim on "white talk".

Nader has been laughed at and obliterated for his comments and Bill Clinton either get on the bus or watch history and his legacy pass him by.

Both have a choice, but the public has a choice too, that is to ignore them both.  Sometimes making someone irrelevant is the best thing one can do.  Just brush this dirt off your shoulder, definitely Nader and hopefully not Bill Clinton.

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Clark hits McCain's military credentials

Gen. Wesley Clark, acting as a surrogate for Barack Obama's campaign, invoked John McCain's military service against him in one of the more personal attacks on the Republican presidential nominee this election cycle.

Clark said that McCain lacked the executive experience necessary to be president, calling him "untested and untried" on CBS' "Face the Nation." And in saying so, he took a few swipes at McCain's military service.

After saying that "I certainly honor his service as a prisoner of war. He was a hero to me and to hundreds of thousands and millions of others in the armed forces, as a prisoner of war," he added that these experiences in no way qualify McCain to be president in his view:
"He has been a voice on the Senate Armed Services Committee. And he has traveled all over the world. But he hasn't held executive responsibility. That large squadron in the Navy that he commanded -- that wasn't a wartime squadron," Clark said.

"I don't think getting in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president."  continue

What Obama means for business
Tastes in sports, food divide McCain and Obama
McCain Aide Regrets Terror Comment
Republicans recycle Clinton's Obama barbs
Obama To Hammer McCain On Offshore Drilling "Gimmick"
In L.A., the stars line up for Obama
Obama disagrees with high court on child rape case

well the above slideshow does make one smile, but our main person to support is barack obama, our democratic nominee.  it is also important to support and fund the dnc, who as obama is not taking pac and federal lobbyist dollars.  unity is wonderful, but faux unity won't work.  so, while things are being worked out, i hope hillary clinton has good faith to release her delegates, understand the importance of campaigning for barack, won't demand her name is released on the convention floor for potus, and not asking for outrageous air time at the convention.  this is a sore point, but this is what is being demanded and right now we have one boss who won this primary and that is barack obama.  we all want unity, but we also don't want this continued drama.  who needs it?  i hope everyone attended the unity for change meetings, this weekend.  i did and it was right in my neighborhood!!!!  there is real hunger for change out here and we are four months away from voting for it...keep the spirit up and remember to focus on obama and not the drama...

::

Tip the Obama Jar, Here
Get Involved Here
For Inspiration:  Yes.We.Can!!!

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icebergslim1047 (at) gmail (dot) com
cross-posted @This Week With Barack Obama

Look, I am all for informed discussion on the issues and am fine with reasonable criticism of our nominee. I am also okay with former Hillary supporters who are getting on board, but are hesitant or lack enthusiasm for the nominee. I respect the fact that not everyone feels the way I feel about Barack Obama and I respect the fact that many are disappointed, for many different reasons, that Hillary did not win the nomination.

None of those people are who this diary is aimed at though.

This diary is a shout-out to the people who post the same comment over and over again.

This diary is a shout-out to the people who like to use the phrase "flip-flop" and other Republican buzz words to describe
our nominee.

Thats right, this diary is a shout-out to the trolls.

Well, he's not completely out, but the Republican Texas lawmaker will officially end his bid for the presidency at a rally outside of the state's GOP convention next week.  He remains in as an advocate of sorts for libertarian-focused conservatives in local districts nationwide, as part of the "Campaign For Liberty."  ABC News confirms his exit:

My friend emailed me another video that he made.  He said he was inspired by the history making Democratic primary and by Senator Clinton's speech on Saturday.  I just have one word for this video:  Amazing.  

It was so powerful and wonderfully captured the spirit of how we are currently living in a time that is truly making history.  Not many of us could truly say that before now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiV4p1AQr 4E

Check out the video...if it is something that resonates with you, leave a comment!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiV4p1AQr 4E