Obama in Iraq

Presumptive Democratic Nominee Barack Obama inside helicopter with General David Petraeus above Baghdad on July 22, 2008.

Dems choose Obama.

Obama @ Iowa Jefferson Jackson Dinner: 11.10.07

The Tipping Point

Hillary Clinton bombed last night's debate. Big time. Edwards was the most forceful in pointing out her inconsistencies, with Obama gracefully aluding to her lack of honesty and candor. MSNBC moderated the debate, exposing the real Hillary Clinton. My prediciton is this. Last night's debate will start a national dialogue in the press about her questionable votes, plans, and judgment. I will label last night's debate as the Tipping Point. Hillary Clinton has peaked and bound to lose some of her national lead. We'll see Obama rise. Edwards did perform well last night, as did Joe Biden. I can see him as a potential running mate, or Dodd. Unfortunately Tim Russert asked Kucinich about seeing UFO's, which put another nail in his coffin. Rule #1: never admit to seeing a UFO on TV as part of a political debate.

Fox Business Debut

Today Fox Business hits the airwaves. The new TV channel, part of Rupert Murdoch's media empire, will focus just on business. The question is, in what way? Fox Business will rival mainstay CNBC on television. The new cable channel benefits from News Corp.'s recent acquisition of the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones. They will incorporate editorial from the Journal on the station, plus benefit from the brand. It looks like they have a few hot chicks to report the news! A reason to tune in?

Gore's Trifecta

Al Gore rounds out a good year by taking home the Nobel Peace Prize. Earlier this year he won an Oscar for 'An Inconvenient Truth' and an Emmy for his cable channel Current TV. Gore will be awarded the top prize on December 10 in Norway. Rumors of his jumping into the Presidential race are both wishful-thinking and based on speculation. His efforts to curb global warming are not, however. He has been recognized for helping to address the most pressing issue of our time. It's too bad the Supreme Court stopped the recount in Florida seven years ago. The world might look a lot different today.

3 Months is a Lifetime

After getting my head together today with the help of a few cups of coffee, I feel an urge to write to everybody here about the importance of Barack winning the Nomination. It's important on two fundamental levels:

1. Taking on the Republican Nominee (whether its Rudy, Romney, McCain or Thompson).

2. Starting fresh in 2009 with a real leader, a person who can turn America great again.

We've got "the guy". We've got the support. We've got the money. And we've got the infrastructure.

So, what's the problem? The problem I presume is the Media. It's the media that's telling the story of who's gonna be the Democratic nominee. They're overlooking the tight race in Iowa, the overall Primary process. They're jumping the gun and already talking about the General Election. Hillary can easily lose Iowa. She could lose New Hampshire and fall from there. So without crystal-balling, the facts are this: Iowa is in 3 months. Wars have been waged and won in less.

So everybody, fill up that coffee pot and get to work. Now, more than ever, our involvment via blogging, online activism, fundraising, and media influence will play a part in the outcome of the early primaries.

This may seem like yet another "pep talk", but perhaps we need it. I know I do.

Obama adds $20 Million

Barack Obama is more than just hype. He's more than just good TV. He's a real candidate for the presidency and may just get the Democratic nomination. This weekend Newsweek released a new poll showing his lead in Iowa - ahead of Clinton by 4 points. Today Obama's campaign released their 3rd Quarter fundraising numbers. $20 million with $19 million to be used in the Primary!

People aren't donating for charity. People believe Barack's the best candidate - with the right experience, judgment and intelligence to run the country. People want a fresh voice. Money is not the most important aspect of the race but it's indicative of the real desire for change.

Door to War with Iran Swings Wide Open

This is the most pressing news of the day.

By a vote of 76-22, the Senate passed the Lieberman-Kyl amendment, which threatens to “combat, contain and [stop]” Iran via “military instruments.” Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) called the amendment “Cheney’s fondest pipe dream” and said it could “read as a backdoor method of gaining Congressional validation for military action.”

UPDATE: Before the vote today, changes were made to the original amendment, with paragraphs three and four taken out completely. This paragraph was also added at the end:

“Secretary of Defense Robert Gates stated on September 16, 2007 that “I think that the administration believes at this point that continuing to try and deal with the Iranian threat, the Iranian challenge, through diplomatic and economic means is by the preferable approach. That the one we are using. We always say all options are on the table, but clearly, the diplomatic and economic approach is the one that we are pursuing.”

UPDATE II: The roll call for the vote is here. The following senators voted against the amendment:

Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Brown (D-OH)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Dodd (D-CT)
Feingold (D-WI)
Hagel (R-NE)
Harkin (D-IA)
Inouye (D-HI)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Klobuchar (D-MN)
Leahy (D-VT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Lugar (R-IN)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Sanders (I-VT)
Tester (D-MT)
Webb (D-VA)
Wyden (D-OR)

Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Barack Obama (D-IL) didn’t vote.