Health Care Reform Perspective

First, Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year. And if you celebrate other holidays, I offer my wishes for a fine holiday wherever you may be.

I remember when I was a kid my older brothers and some neighborhood kids were always wishing for more than they got. My oldest brother, for example, wished for a surfboard and got less expensive gifts instead. He grumbled but other kids in the neighborhood would have been delighted with what he got.

We need a better health care bill than the one that was passed in the Senate but at least we got one and that is more than we could have said a year ago. It's amazing that a combination of Republicans and a handful of Democrats can't see their way into the future. Too much emotion in politics I guess. That applies to both sides at times and I worry that Obama is focused more on the tensions than he is on explaining where we are and what needs to be done. One thing for sure is that shrillness from the left doesn't always help.

Over at Americablog, John Aravois and his blogging partners always seem to believe that more emotion is better than no emotion and a little spinning is acceptable since the other guys does it even more (or something like that).

Joe Sudbay on Thursday got sarcastic when he wrote about the health care bill:

Sounds good, some of those "special interest lobbyists" earned their money on this bill -- and they were aided and abetted by Obama's staff (e.g. that multi-billion dollar sweetheart deal for drug makers. And, insurance company lobbyists aren't unhappy these days either. But, apparently, we're supposed to overlook that now.)

I agree Obama should have helped more but the House and Senate are fully capable of passing a first-rate health care bill. The problem is that while Republicans have been drifting to the far right over the last thirty years, Democrats have drifted a little to the right themselves.

During the Nixon and Ford era Democrats passed some first-rate legislation despite the threat of veto. But then they sometimes had the help of a few moderate Republicans. The real problem, though, is twofold: First, Americans still do not understand how much big business pushes our government around these days and they do not understand how much Republicans give them everything they want. Second, Democrats have gone so long without dominating Washington they have lost some of their skills and some of their best legislators.

After all is said and done, we still have a health care bill that hopefully will reach Obama's desk.

Anyone who thinks Obama and a Democratic majority can turn Washington around in two years hasn't really been paying attention to how much our society has changed and how much work it now takes to bring about change.

I don't want to defend Obama too much on the health care bill. On the other hand, any number of bloggers have let their emotions override their judgment. John Aravois, the main blogger at Americablog, quoted a Washington Post article:

Obama said the public option "has become a source of ideological contention between the left and right." But, he added, "I didn't campaign on the public option."

Aravois then tried to give examples that aren't particularly convincing:

Sure you didn't. That's why there's video, and countless news stories with you talking about it over and over again.

(snip)

Obama to the Washington Post in 2008:

Every American has the right to affordable, comprehensive and portable health coverage. My plan will ensure that all Americans have health care coverage through their employers, private health plans, the federal government, or the states. My plan builds on and improves our current insurance system, which most Americans continue to rely upon, and creates a new public health plan for those currently without coverage. Under my plan, Americans will be able to choose to maintain their current coverage if they choose to. For those without health insurance I will establish a new public insurance program, and provide subsides to afford care for those who need them.

Aravois would be more convincing if there were better examples. The word "public" is not the same thing as the public option that has been discussed for eight months. What I remember is that Obama's health plan was always less ambitious than the one put forward by John Edwards and Hillary Clinton. There are times when Obama said he would accept the public option plan being discussed in the House but I never had the impression he was initiating such discussions or pushing hard for it. Fine. Shame on Obama for not working harder for healthcare reform. But the real shame falls on the Senate for not getting the job done.

Aravois has gotten shrill at times and emotional to the point of being off-putting. Yeah, fight for what you believe. But leave the spinning to the politicians.

The real fight is not whether Obama is progressive enough. The real fight is expanding the progressive movement and doing it in a smart way that pulls people in rather than expressing strong anger, resentment and outrage.

Researchers have now taught us a few things about emotion. We know it's part of politics. But Aravois needs to understand how it works. Strong emotion always appeals to the base, whether on the left or right. Well, strong emotions are important but they don't win arguments and in this age they don't necessarily win people over.

Aravois and others need a strategy that helps people see what's going on without all the emotional tripe that shuts down the ability of people to listen. Obviously the Republicans in Congress aren't interested in listening or accomplishing anything beyond obstructing Obama and progressives in Congress. Who will listen, however, are people who feel something is wrong but they aren't sure what. Screaming at them and telling half-truths is not the way to go.

People are turning away from politics. It's exhausting and Republicans are gleeful because their strategy works for their style of politics which ultimately is destructive rather than constructive as these guys continue to join big business lobbying firms after a few years in Congress.

Democrats need a more patient and intelligent tack that includes a passionate rhetorical style that draws people in rather than putting them off. In this season of fellowship and good will, it's something to think about.

This Election Is about Who We Want to Be

I hope Barack Obama wins. There is no question in my mind that John McCain will simply continue the policies of President Bush. The fact that Bush is trying to help McCain win is all the evidence any of us should need that McCain will continue business as usual. McCain is for more tax cuts for the rich and for more deregulation; those are the two policies that have created the financial mess we're in.

The polls appear to be tightening but I'm encouraged by the huge turnouts that Barack Obama is getting when he campaigns around the country (every state, every region, every city and town in the U.S. is pro-American and Sarah Palin should be ashamed of herself).

But here's the real point I want to make: the polls don't matter. But voting does. Americans need to make a statement about our future. There's not a doubt in my mind that our country needs two political parties but one of those parties, the GOP, is broken; Republicans are stuck in the middle of the 20th century with a mean philosophy and an economic theory that makes no sense. These days, Republicans can't even win without playing games (see here and here). Until the Republican Party rebuilds itself and turns into a party with real ideas and real respect for average Americans, it is time to send the right wingers home. It is time for the Democrats and a change of course. This election is a referendum on George W. Bush and the failed policies of the Republican Party over the last eight years. There will be no change unless the Democrats have a mandate. If Barack Obama wins by a point or two with little change in Congress, our nation will continue to drift and people like David Broder will continue to make dumb assessments of where we are.

If you're young, vote like your future depends on it. If you're much older, vote for the sake of your children and grandchildren. Take ownership of the future. Vote. Vote for the party that has always cared about average Americans far more than protecting the privileges of the wealthy and well-connected. Vote for real change.

John Edwards Endorsing Barack Obama

I was a big John Edwards fan before I became a Barack Obama supporter. So for me it's good news that Edwards is endorsing Barack Obama. ABC News has the story:

Former Sen. John Edwards is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama's presidential candidacy Wednesday evening, in a dramatic attempt by the Obama campaign to answer concerns regarding Obama's appeal to working-class voters, several senior Democratic sources tell ABC News.

There is also more information from Daily Kos. David Bonoir, of course, was Edwards top man for his campaign and the real thing when it comes to the new progressivism of the Democratic Party.

The story about West Virginia is interesting but it is a part of larger story. Something to keep in mind is that Franklin Roosevelt did well in Appalachia and he did more for the region than any other president up that time. The truth is that Barack Obama is not doing all that well in Appalachia and Hillary Clinton is. If Barack Obama can find a way to reach the people of Appalachia, that would translate into better performance throughout the country. What close observers of Obama are learning is that he's a thoughtful man and a quick learner. I have no doubt that he's thinking about the issue. There are many issues for the Obama team to think about in the next few weeks. Can Obama broaden his appeal? Can he keep John McCain at bay? And people will have to ask themselves if Hillary Clinton or someone with similar credentials (such as Jim Webb) might help the kid from the state of Lincoln in the fall election by running with Obama as vice president.

No one should underestimate Barack Obama's abilities and hard work. Last fall, the senator with the funny name was the underdog while Senator Clinton was raking in the big money and was virtually the presumptive nominee. But Senator Obama and his team were organized and very successful at raising funds from small donors from all over the country from people with all kinds of background. The vast majority of Obama's donors read like Main Street, America. If Barack Obama wins the nominee and the election, it will be an extraordinary story of ordinary people putting a new face and new ideas in the White House. Obama is no radical. He is a pragmatist. Only a pragmatist could have run such an amazing campaign to overtake the favorite.

There's an outside chance that Hillary Clinton might pull off some last minute magic to take the nomination, but it's increasingly unlikely. Think of it. Hillary had the name, the experience, the smarts, the help of an ex-president, a large political machine and she had been running for president for almost eight years, ever since Bill Clinton left office. I can only say it again: something extraordinary is happening. Maybe, just maybe, our country is ready to take on the challenges of the 21st century.

The Continuing Uselessness of Sam Donaldson

The news is that Barack Obama is drawing large crowds. The news is that Barack Obama has something to say. In fact, the news is that most of the Democratic candidates (though Edwards and Obama in particular as far I'm concerned) have something to say. The news is that there is a leadership vacuum in Washington. The news is that the Republicans have run out of ideas. The news is that there are growing problems that the United States is facing while the Bush Administration pretends they don't exist. The news is that Democrats are beginning to focus on these problems and talking about solutions.

According to Sam Donaldson, however, the news is that a couple of old gentlemen fell asleep during Barack Obama's speech in Missouri in front of a crowd of 3,000 people. Here's the story:

A potentially embarrassing moment was caught on tape during a speech by Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama on Saturday. Video taken of the event in Kansas City, Mo. appeared to show at least two audience members sleeping.

Approximately 3,000 people attended the fundraiser for Obama, who is challenging Hillary Clinton and a handful of others for the Democratic nomination in 2008. ...

(snip)

A video clip of the event that aired on ABC News showed two older gentlemen sitting in the crowd, with eyes closed.

During a roundtable discussion on Sunday morning, commentator Sam Donaldson even pointed out the potentially embarrassing screen capture...

On one level, what an extraordinary non-story! This is the best that Sam Donaldson can offer his viewers? This is journalism? This is the kind of analysis that Sam Donaldson is being paid some 7 figures for? It's embarrassing to American journalism.

On another level, there is a major story here. It's evidence once again of useless overpaid journalists who have been asleep for the last twenty years. Edward R. Murrow is turning over in his grave. This is what he fought for?

Does Sam Donaldson understand the problems facing the United States? Does he understand the enormity of Bush's failures? Does he understand the growing energy crisis which has been largely ignored for the last thirty years and is now coming home to roost? Does he understand global warming? Does he understand what a fiasco Bush has given us in Iraq? Does he understand the growing economic stress Americans are facing? Does he understand there is a connection between economic stress and the desire to fix healthcare? Does he understand the complete uselessness of the current president? Does he understand the growing vulnerability of America's economy and strength? Does Sam Donaldson understand that the growing imbalance between the wealthy and everybody else is not healthy for our democracy? Does he understand there are people who believe we can tackle some of these problems? Does he understand the need to find capable people? Does he understand how bereft of ideas the current Republican Party is these days? No, Sam Donaldson would rather talk about a couple of older gentlemen who fell asleep during a speech. And people wonder why bloggers are disgusted with so much of the mainstream media.

Republicans Signing Up for Barack Obama

It's not unusual for business people of any political affiliation to contribute to one party one year and the other the next and to sometimes donate to both parties if a clear winner isn't evident. One could argue that it's a form of covering your bets. But it's curious that some Republicans are choosing Barack Obama early on. Truthout caught this story by Sarah Baxter of The Sunday Times:

Disillusioned supporters of President George W Bush are defecting to Barack Obama, the Democratic senator for Illinois, as the White House candidate with the best chance of uniting a divided nation.

(snip)

...last week a surprising new name joined the chorus of praise for the antiwar Obama - that of Robert Kagan, a leading neoconservative and co-founder of the Project for the New American Century in the late 1990s, which called for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

Kagan is an informal foreign policy adviser to the Republican senator John McCain, who remains the favoured neoconservative choice for the White House because of his backing for the troops in Iraq.

But in an article in the Washington Post, Kagan wrote approvingly that a keynote speech by Obama at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs was "pure John Kennedy", a neocon hero of the cold war.

(snip)

Disagreements on the war have not stopped John Martin, a Navy reservist and founder of the website Republicans for Obama, from supporting the antiwar senator. He joined the military after the Iraq war and is about to be deployed to Afghanistan.

"I disagree with Obama on the war but I don't think it is a test of his patriotism," Martin says. "Obama has a message of hope for the country."

(snip)

Not to be outdone, Hillary Clinton has many Republican defectors of her own, including John Mack, chief executive of Morgan Stanley, who helped raise $200,000 for the president's reelection, qualifying him as a "Bush ranger". He said last week that he was impressed by Clinton's expertise. "I know we're associated mainly with the Republicans but we've always gone for the individual," Mack said.

No doubt the motivations of Republicans and conservative independents supporting Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton or other Democrats can vary. Some may genuinely want to see a serious change. Some may be responding to Barack Obama's optimism and unity rhetoric. Some may want a Democrat who's Republican-lite. Some may be cynically supporting the candidate mostly likely to lose in the 2008 general election. Others may be just covering their bets. But it's worth watching in one of the oddest eras in American politics.

The Return of People Power

People really are tired of the corruption in Washington. Not only did the Democrats outraise the Republican Party and its deep pockets (don't forget Republican supporter Sam Fox and the $50,000 he donated to the dishonest Swift Boat group that smeared John Kerry; Bush just appointed him ambassador to Belgium), but they brought back the concept of people power. The Democrats can't compete with Republican billionaires and hucksters like Ralph Reed who manipulate good honest religious folks into donating for phony causes, but as the traditional party of the people, the Democrats can bring out the crowds. People want to do something to fix the corruption in Washington and waiting until November of 2008 isn't enough. So people are digging into their pockets and contributing to Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Barack Obama and other Democrats.

Hillary Clinton, with her years of Washington experience and major fundraising experience raised the most of any Democrat but just barely. Progressive newcomer, Barack Obama, almost matched Hillary in dollar amounts but the real message of his campaign is that he's reaching people. Here's the story from Jeremy Pelofsky of Reuters:

Democratic presidential newcomer Barack Obama said on Wednesday he has raised $25 million this year, almost matching his higher profile opponent Hillary Rodham Clinton and solidifying his bid for the party nomination.

Obama, a fresh face on the national stage who has served just two years in the U.S. Senate, fell only $1 million short of the New York senator...

Obama, 45, reported receiving more than 100,000 donations totaling at least $25 million, $6.9 million generated through Internet donations.

Clinton, 59, who has led the early national polls for the Democratic nomination in 2008, reported tapping 50,000 donors to raise $26 million. She raised $4.2 million via the Internet and added $10 million more from her most recent Senate campaign.

Since Hillary Clinton considers herself the moderate Democratic candidate, one can argue that Barack Obama and John Edwards are the progressive candidates and their combined total of contributions and contributors far surpasses Hillary Clinton. A 100,000 for Barack Obama and 40,000 for Edwards comes to 140,000 contributors, almost three times the number of those contributing to Hillary Clinton. Clearly, we have a wide open race. Of course, campaigns wax and wane, but I suspect people are in the mood for real change, not modest bandaids.

Jesse Jackson Backs Barack Obama

The Barack Obama bandwagon keeps rolling and keeps creating a buzz wherever the senator from Illinois goes. Although not entirely aboard the Barack Obama campaign, Rev. Jesse Jackson plans on voting for Barack Obama; the Saint Petersburg Times carries the story from The Washington Post:

The Rev. Jesse Jackson says he is supporting Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in his 2008 presidential bid, but Jackson is refraining from encouraging others to do the same.

"I will vote for him because he is from my state," Jackson, a civil rights leader who is influential in the African-American community, said in an interview Thursday. "He has the intelligence and the integrity and the strength of reasoning to make a tremendous impact. He has already inspired many people to get involved."

Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodman Clinton, D-N.Y., have been battling vigorously for the support of black voters. Jackson said he does not plan to join Obama's campaign yet.

For the record, Jesse Jackson's influence is not limited to the African-American community. Jackson is, after all, the founder of the Rainbow Coalition and has been active on a number of broad progressive issues for some years.

Barack Obama also visited Florida on Friday and was a hit; here's the story from S. V. Date of the Palm Beach Post:

Illinois Sen. and Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama brought his campaign to the state capital Friday, eliciting star-struck responses from lawmakers and ordinary residents alike.

"On behalf of the Capitol and behalf of the Democratic Caucus from both the House and the Senate, I want to welcome Sen. Obama and 'Starship Obama.' There's a lot of excitement here," said House Democratic Leader Dan Gelber, who along with other Democratic legislators met with Obama behind closed doors where he signed a table full of copies of his book.

(snip)

"It's going to be a 50-state campaign. Oftentimes, over the last several years, there's been a tendency to just focus on one or two states," Obama said. "We also want to make sure that we're coming to states like Florida, not just to fund-raise, which has been the tradition, but also to provide community forums, access to ordinary folks, so that they get a chance to lift the hood and kick the tires."

He provided some brief access to those folks a short time later with a three-minute, impromptu speech to a crowd of 200 or so gathered outside the Challenger Learning Center, where several hundred supporters - including some Republican lobbyists - paid as much as $500 to listen to a speech in private.

I've noticed that Barack Obama has been giving a fair number of impromptu speeches outside various events where people show up hoping to catch a glimpse of him. He's clearly a political rock star and we'll know in a few months if he has what it takes to go all the way.

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama Speak in Selma, Alabama

Senator Obama and Senator Clinton gave good speeches in Selma, Alabama over the weekend. From what I hear, Barack Obama had the stronger reception but the truth is that both Democratic presidential candidates were well received. Here's the story from Richard Fausset and Jennie Jarvie of the Los Angeles Times:

Presidential candidate Barack Obama staked his claim to the African American experience Sunday, despite a personal background far from the bloodshed that was typified in this Deep South city during the struggle for civil rights.

Yes, the senator said, his grandfather was a Kenyan, but a racist system similar to America's limited him to work as a cook for whites. Yes, Obama said, his mother was a white woman from Kansas. But she learned colorblindness from the likes of Selma's 1965 freedom marchers, marrying the son of that cook in Hawaii.

All of that, Obama said, made him "the offspring of the movement" — and it made his first visit to Selma a sort of homecoming.

"Don't tell me I'm not coming home when I come to Selma, Alabama," the Illinois Democrat said.

(snip)

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, the Democratic front-runner, was also here to celebrate the anniversary of the Edmund Pettus Bridge crossing, in which black protesters were beaten by white state troopers on March 7, 1965.

Clinton brought her husband, the former president, a beloved figure among many black voters who was inducted into the hall of fame of the National Voting Rights Museum. She too claimed to be a beneficiary of the civil rights era — because it eventually led to advances for women.

Despite some serious questions I've raised about the Clintons and the Iraq war, I continue to think well of them. It's clear Hillary Clinton is still trying to figure out how to incorporate Bill Clinton in her campaign—in fact, that may become her biggest challenge. Given Wesley Clark's assertion that the Bush administration had considerable ambitions in 2002 in terms of taking on more than just Iraq, I continue to have questions about how much Bill Clinton knew about these things. What kind of discussions did he have, for example, with Tony Blair? And what kind of discussions with Hillary? I hope Senator Clinton doesn't think she can avoid some of the questions around her vote and around Bill Clinton connection to the Iraq policy by simply piling up enough money to simply overwhelm her Democratic competition. The Republicans will not be so easy with her if she wins the nomination.

I continue to like Barack Obama but I admit to worrying about how much is there beyond his rhetorical brilliance. He would be a good president but our nation is in trouble and we need the best president we can get. Let's hope if the senator from Illinois is still hot a year from now and is winning the nomination that he is what we hope he is.

I'm still puzzled by how Barack Obama is covered. There are people who seem to accuse Senator Obama of not really experiencing what it's like to be black since his father was African and he was raised in Hawaii, far from Alabama. But that's ridiculous too. Those who are black Americans share the same experience in school, jobs and elsewhere. Barack Obama also worked for a number of years in community organizing on the south side of Chicago; that's a powerful experience in itself.

I guess Republicans are finally beginning to worry about Obama though. They have recently pointed out that Barack Obama's family on his mother's side (who's white) were slaveholders way back when. Actually, since most African Americans have some white blood in their background, it's very common to have ancestors who owned slaves, if you go back far enough. I suspect most Americans, including whites, who can trace their family tree to those who were here in the United States before 1800 would find relatives on the family tree who were slaveholders. That happens to be true of one side of my own family.

Slavery was the one big issue our founding fathers wrangled with and could not solve when they wrote the US Constitution but it should be noted that they ended the trade and that many men of the constitutional convention would have preferred to end slavery. We forget too easily how far we have come and how much work there is to do. When conservative or right wing Republicans play games with the history of the law, people should remember that, in fact, we inherited the laws of kings and cavaliers in 1776, and not the laws of free men (and later, women). Despite the serious problem of not dealing fully with slavery, the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights moved clearly in the direction of real freedom. Now Republican movers and shakers talk about being free and etc. but when you scrutinize what they're doing, their objective is to protect the status of the wealthy and the privileged. It's 2007, and we are still creating the laws of a free nation and we still have a ways to go.

Barack Obama Pokes Cheney's Self-Importance

Why does the media still take Dick Cheney seriously? How many times has Cheney said something is true only to be contradicted by the facts? Why are right wingers with such a dark vision like Cheney even taken seriously? Has Dick Cheney gained us any friends in the last six years? No, but he has been the ugly face of America for six years; there is much that is good about America but Cheney is not to be counted among the best that America has to offer.

I haven't made up my mind who to support for the Democratic nomination but I like the way Barack Obama talks. The Washington Post has an Associated Press story by Kelley Shannon:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama ridiculed Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday for saying Britain's decision to pull troops from Iraq is a good sign that fits with the strategy for stabilizing the country.

Obama, speaking at a massive outdoor rally in Austin, Texas, said British Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision this week to withdraw 1,600 troops is a recognition that Iraq's problems can't be solved militarily.

"Now if Tony Blair can understand that, then why can't George Bush and Dick Cheney understand that?" Obama asked thousands of supporters who gathered in the rain to hear him. "In fact, Dick Cheney said this is all part of the plan (and) it was a good thing that Tony Blair was withdrawing, even as the administration is preparing to put 20,000 more of our young men and women in.

"Now, keep in mind, this is the same guy that said we'd be greeted as liberators, the same guy that said that we're in the last throes. I'm sure he forecast sun today," Obama said to laughter from supporters holding campaign signs over their heads to keep dry. ...

Cheney may know how to wield power behind the presidential curtain but he's been clumsy and paranoid when it comes to foreign policy. Somebody needs to tell Bush he hired the wrong man to be vice president and send him packing before he does more damage.

Now, to be honest, rhetoric isn't enough to qualify someone to be president, but I like Obama. He's a fighter.

Barack Obama Generating News Stories

I've been trying to even up the coverage on the Democrats running for president in 2008 but it's a little difficult to blog about the other candidates if the buzz is mostly about Barack Obama at the moment. I truly believe we have a wide open primary and if the media somewhat continues to ignore other candidates, I'll deal with that as it becomes more obvious. For now, here's a story about Senator Obama's visit to South Carolina by Aaron Gould Sheinin in The State:

He fought his way through the crowd, shaking hands and posing for pictures.

When he finally reached the square stage reserved for him, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama took the crowd from jubilant to frenzied.

“How you doing South Carolina! Look at this! Look at this! Goodness gracious!” he called out.

(snip)

Finally, Obama called on the crowd to maintain enthusiasm and spirit through the long campaign ahead. He invoked the name of the late Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., who once remarked that the “arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

“So, South Carolina, let’s get busy. Let’s get to work. Let’s organize,” he said.

I like what I see and hear when Barack Obama gives speeches or interviews but I have to admit that he's so new on the scene, I hardly know quite what to make of him. Every presidential race ought to have its fresh faces and there was a time when people made an early run just to introduce themselves. Going from nowhere three years ago to the White House is still a big leap.

Elsewhere, the McClatchy Washington Bureau's Steven Thomma has a story on Obama:

Watching Barack Obama launch his presidential campaign, you'd never know he's from Chicago.

He staged the dramatic kickoff downstate in Springfield, far from his adopted hometown. He barely mentioned Chicago. And he didn't share the stage - or the spotlight - with any of the well-known Democratic politicians from Chicago. Not Gov. Rod Blagojevich, not Mayor Richard M. Daley. Not the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

His seeming slight of Chicago shouldn't be a surprise. For while Obama is from Chicago, he's not of it. At least not its politics.

The story is just a little odd since Senator Obama is getting considerable support from politicians in Illinois and that includes some from Chicago. But the point may be that Barack Obama is an appealing candidate who can easily run as an outsider. In 2008, outsiders may do well but only if they can show they understand the problems our nation is facing and can show at the same time that they can build a broad consensus. The Illinois senator who was born in Hawaii and went to law school in Massachussets and who has a mother from Kansas seems to cover the bill. Of course, the Clintons also have a reputation for consensus building and Hillary Clinton has thrived well in several places, but the senator from New York cannot run as an outsider. Will being something of an outsider make a difference in 2008? Within a year, we'll begin to get the answer.

Rolling Stone on Barack Obama

Today, I was tossing out some old magazines and came across an issue of Rolling Stone that featured Bush as the worst president ever. Then later this afternoon I came across a long Barack Obama article by way of The Huffington Post and it was in the Rolling Stone—the contrast between the two articles couldn't be greater; so here's an excerpt from Ben Wallace-Wells profile on Barack Obama:

...Washington has plenty of wonks, and Obama wasn't going to distinguish himself through diligence alone. He came to the Capitol equipped with his own, swelling celebrity; the Senate was not a perfect fit. Beyond his considerable charm, Obama can be righteous and cocky. He came to Washington pushing the hope that politics could be better -- but now he can give the impression that he'd rather be just about anywhere other than in Washington. "It can be incredibly frustrating," he tells me. "The maneuverings, the chicanery, the smallness of politics here." Listening to a bloviating colleague at his first meeting of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Obama slipped a three-word note to a member of his staff: "Shoot. Me. Now." On a recent day, as Obama made his way through the Capitol's corridors, his fellow senators seemed like good-natured sportscasters, jolly and easy with their power, bantering about the fortunes of baseball teams in their home states. . Obama is aloof and quiet. He prefers to listen, attentive as a rector, not quite of this world, silently measuring it. "The typical politician pushes himself on people to get them to pay attention," says Frank Luntz, the Republican campaign strategist. "Obama is quieter. He doesn't push -- he has a laid-back feel that pulls you in. That is so rare."

It's a great article but I notice that the article paints Barack Obama as very liberal, though he clearly has the ability to reach across the aisle. Senator Obama is a force to be reckoned with and sometimes real leadership trumps all other issues, but it's worth pointing out early that it may be easy for the Republicans and the media to paint Barack Obama as 'too liberal' in the general election. On the other hand, although John Kerry received 9 million more votes than Al Gore, some argue that the Democrats got too cautious by picking Kerry. Conclusion: Barack Obama will stay in the top three but the Democrats should keep all options open.

Barack Obama Doesn't Triangulate

Hillary Clinton is one of the three leading candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination. But she is vulnerable on the issue of 'triangulating,' meaning she's overanalyzes how her position will play with voters rather than simply doing what's best for the country. Of course, Senator Clinton is correct that a president has to be able to unify the country and that means building a broad consensus. But I suspect the country wants politicians who talk straight like Senator Jim Webb.

Hillary is also vulnerable on the issue of her vote for the Iraq resolution. Something to keep in mind is that she is technically correct that the vote was not a full authorization for war. In fact, there were calls just before the war for another vote on Iraq but a proper vote never took place. But perception is critical in politics and Bush took full advantage of the perception at the time that the October Iraq resolution gave him all the authority he needed to deal with Iraq. That was where the blunder was made by a majority of the members of Congress, both Republicans and Democrats.

Senator Clinton didn't run for reelection to the Senate until 2006; if she were truly against the war or had serious doubts, she would have had four years to defend her position if she had voted no. Now I'm really not one of those holding such votes against the candidates; it was a bizarre situation that involved a great deal of deception and strong arming on the part of the Bush Administration (I'm speaking specifically about what happened to the career people in the military and CIA). But it's a simple fact that Hillary has some explaining to do and she's now fudging her explanations the way Bill Clinton used to fudge. I voted for Bill Clinton twice but we're in a different era now and Senator Clinton needs to understand that.

Whether it's a wise move or not (sometimes it's better to let the media or even bloggers handle these things) Barack Obama is taking Senator Clinton to task on her Iraq position; here's the story from the Telegraph of the UK (the Telegraph is a British paper but even they might be slanting the story somewhat; on the other hand, there are similar stories elsewhere):

[Barack Obama said,] "I feel good about the fact that my judgment was we shouldn't be proceeding and I think that speaks hopefully to the kind of judgment I'll be bringing to the office of president."

Mrs Clinton, he charged, was also vague about how she would end the war beyond promising to bring it to a close if she were elected. "How she wants to accomplish that, I'm not clear."

Mr Obama, 45, who has been criticised by the Clinton camp for a lack of experience, showed that he was not going to let his main opponents off the hook.

(snip)

Mrs Clinton, campaigning in New Hampshire at the same time, had to field hostile questions about her vote from disgruntled Democrats. Mr Obama also took Mrs Clinton's early campaign slogan of "I'm in it to win it" to suggest she was interested only in getting elected.

"I am in it to win it," he said, responding to calls from a Davenport crowd. "Hold on. But I want you to understand that I'm also I'm in it to transform the country."

At a breakfast in Iowa Falls, he appeared to take another shot at Mrs Clinton, who is often accused of excessive ambition. "I'm not one of those people who decided at the age of seven that I wanted to be president."

The campaign is young. Democrats need to be careful that while it's perfectly legitimate to stake out their turf, they need to make sure they're not getting too negative. Barack Obama has a good wit and it's important, I suspect, that he keep his potshots on the light side. The Senator from New York could also do a better job of lightening up and being straighter with voters. But my judgment stands and it's loud and clear: the Democrats have strong candidates for 2008 and that certainly includes Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Barack Obama Makes It Official

We knew it was coming—Barack Obama is running for president and his poll numbers put him in a good position. And it's going to be a first: a serious presidential candidate who was born in the state of Hawaii shortly after the islands became the 50th state. 2008 is going to be a wide open contest for the presidency. Here's the story from Sarah Baxter of Times Online:

AS Barack Obama officially launched his campaign for president in Springfield, Illinois, the home town of Abraham Lincoln, his team was quietly beefing up his security. Mindful of the fate of the 19th-century president, who abolished slavery and was assassinated, friends say that new measures are being taken to ensure Obama’s protection on the campaign trail.

At the Old State Capitol building, comparisons with the gaunt, top-hatted president were inescapable. Springfield is where Obama, like Lincoln, served for eight years as a state legislator before entering national politics.

Thousands of eager spectators thronged the square in freezing temperatures waving Obama ’08 banners as he stepped on the stage and hugged his wife and young daughters, who were bundled up in hats and scarves.

Setting out what is likely to be his signature theme, he urged Americans: “Let’s be the generation” for change. “I know it’s a little chilly, but I’m fired up.”

(snip)

Obama was aware of the personal risks he was taking, Davis said. “He recognises that we have some very extreme elements in this country. His campaign is wisely not discussing their security precautions publicly, but they know Barack’s candidacy creates a dimension that is different to the others and are taking steps to deal with it.”

I may or may not jump on the Barack Obama bandwagon during the Democratic primaries but I celebrate his candidacy. Announcing in Springfield was a smart choice. Lincoln was the most literary and poetic of our presidents and of all the current candidates, Barack Obama is by far a superb wordsmith and speech maker. Even with all of Bill Clinton's gift for politics, Barack Obama has a gift for language that we haven't seen since John Kennedy. The one thing that has already impressed me about Obama is the strong support he's getting from Democrats in Illinois. He's obviously well regarded.

One sobering note is about Barack Obama's security arrangements. I picked up my local paper today to read that Elie Weisel, the author of numerous books and winner of the Nobel Peace prize was attacked in a hotel in San Francisco by a Holocaust denier. We need to be careful. We could easily be entering another era of the crazies coming out of the woodwork. I hope all the candidates have adequate security. And yes, even Nancy Pelosi needs security as well and right wing Republicans should stop playing games. As it is, Republicans have work to do to rebuild their party. Bush's radical conservative agenda has failed our nation and we need to talk seriously about where our nation goes from here. I look forward to hearing what Barack Obama has to say.

Getting to Know Barack Obama

A quick caveat. I try hard to find stories that seem reasonably accurate about the various Democratic candidates that I have been profiling for the 2008 presidential race. I don't want just cream puff stories (nor do I wish to avoid friendly stories) so I find myself very cautious when I come across negative stories by people I don't know. Rush Limbaugh, of course, is easy; very little he says is reliable. Nevertheless, I have to note that there is a growing noise coming from the right that is designed to obscure who the candidates are. The recent fabrication about Barack Obama's education in Indonesia is a classic example of the Republican Party's breakdown when it comes to integrity and accurately informing the public. Swiftboating, for example, will always be associated with the Republican Party of this era. The GOP, as it is now constituted, has nothing to run on and must turn to other 'methods,' so I expect it will be increasingly difficult to sort through stories on an excellent line up of Democratic candidates. But I'll do my best.

Here's a friendly story from Chicago Defender about Barack Obama when he was in Hawaii in the 1970s:

He was known as Barry Obama, and with his dark complexion and mini-Afro, he was one of the few black students at the privileged Hawaiian school overlooking the Pacific.

Yet that hardly made him stand out.

Diversity was the norm at the Punahou School, one of the state's top private schools. The 3,600 students came from a wide variety of backgrounds, with a blend of Polynesian, Asian, European and other cultures. Everybody in Hawaii is a minority.

At Punahou, Barack Obama was known primarily for his appealing personality, his honesty and his aggressive play on the basketball court.

(snip)

By his senior year, Obama was part of a talented team with at least three college-bound players. As a backup forward, Obama helped Punahou win the state championship in 1979. Teammates described him as charismatic, a somewhat quiet leader and outspoken with coaches when he didn't agree with them or understand their methods.

"He wasn't afraid to challenge authority," Lum said. "Sometimes I couldn't believe he would say it, but I would be thinking the same thing. I remember him being honest and courageous. I respected him for that."

Well, we haven't had a president from Hawaii yet. Maybe it's time. Senator Obama, of course, represents Illinois and the best president we ever had came from there.

McCain Slipping in Polls Against Edwards and Obama

As Americans increasingly realize that McCain isn't the man we thought he was, his numbers continue to fall. Here's the story from the Argus Reid Global Monitor concerning the results of the poll by Rasmussen Reports, a polling firm frequently cited in the past by Republicans:

Republican John McCain trails two prospective Democratic presidential nominees in the United States, according to a poll by Rasmussen Reports. 47 per cent of respondents would vote for Illinois senator Barack Obama in 2008, while 44 per cent would support the Arizona senator.

In a contest pitting McCain against former North Carolina senator John Edwards, the Democrat holds a three-point advantage. In December, McCain held leads over both Obama and Edwards in presidential trials.

The poll has John Edwards at 46% and McCain at 43%. Here's the politics link to Rasmussen Reports.

Ford Gives Advice to Barack Obama

Increasingly, right wingers show they haven't learned a thing in the last couple of years. After more than two decades successfully defining politics in our country, Americans simply aren't buying Republican fictions like they once did. This time it was Insight Magazine (a Rev. Moon enterprise) and Fox News (a Rupert Murdoch enterprise) who tried to smear Barack Obama with a ridiculous story about his childhood education, but it didn't work.

Barack Obama is made of strong stuff but recent candidate Harold Ford has some advice for the senator from Illinois; here's the story from AP reporter Nedra Pickler in The Washington Post:

Former Rep. Harold Ford Jr., has some advice for his friend Sen. Barack Obama: Don't be afraid to take your presidential campaign anywhere in this country, no matter what the racial politics.

Ford lost a close bid last fall to become the first black senator from a Southern state since Reconstruction. Some blamed the loss in Tennessee on racial politics, but Ford said Thursday other factors, including a rival who spent his own money, contributed to his defeat.

He said Obama, son of a white mother and an African father, can't control how his race will affect his candidacy.

"As long as he works hard, is honest ... and is not afraid to take his message anywhere in the country, he'll do fine," Ford said.

Pickler also mentions that Steven Spielberg and others are holding a fundraiser for Obama next month. I like Spielberg and of course all the candidates are going to have these big fundraisers but let's hope the American people are paying attention in 2008 and that they select the best candidate and not the candidate with the most money like they did with George W. Bush. And I mean both the general election and the primaries. In any case, Barack Obama clearly is among the top four or five presidential hopefuls on both sides of the aisle and would be a vast improvement over the last six years.

Barack Obama Smeared By Right Wingers

Republicans have spent more than twenty years telling fictions about Democrats. For the record, Barack Obama is a Christian and attends a Baptist church. The school he attended in Indonesia was open to people of all faiths. Barack Obama was barely of school age at the time.

If a 'revelation' about a Democrat suddenly makes the news, watch out. CNN has the story on the phony terrorist school/Barack Obama story:

Allegations that Sen. Barack Obama was educated in a radical Muslim school known as a "madrassa" are not accurate, according to CNN reporting.

Insight Magazine, which is owned by the same company as The Washington Times, reported on its Web site last week that associates of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-New York, had unearthed information the Illinois Democrat and likely presidential candidate attended a Muslim religious school known for teaching the most fundamentalist form of Islam.

Obama lived in Indonesia as a child, from 1967 to 1971, with his mother and stepfather and has acknowledged attending a Muslim school, but an aide said it was not a madrassa. (Watch video of Obama's school )

Insight attributed the information in its article to an unnamed source, who said it was discovered by "researchers connected to Senator Clinton." A spokesman for Clinton, who is also weighing a White House bid, denied that the campaign was the source of the Obama claim.

He called the story "an obvious right-wing hit job."

Notice that this story supposedly included a tip from the Clinton campaign. There are honest Republicans running for office but I've already seen signs that right wing Republicans, who have difficulty winning a contest honestly on an even playing field, are trying to sow suspicions among their opponents and confusion among the voters. I have a suggestion, if you can afford it: every time a Democrat is smeared, send them ten bucks. If nothing else, click on their websites to let them know they're appreciated. Give Barack Obama a visit.

Barack Obama Creates Exploratory Committee

It's like baseball. Tony Gwynn just got into the Hall of Fame so let's use him as an example: Tony Gwynn is expected to play today. Tony Gwynn is in the lineup. Tony Gwynn is getting his bat out of the rack. Tony Gwynnn is on the steps of the dugout. Tony Gwynn is in the batter's circle. Tony Gwynn is at the plate and now officially in the game. Creating an exploratory committee is pretty much being on the steps of the dugout and that's where Barack Obama is at the moment.

Here's Bill Lambrecht of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch in the Kansas City Star on Senator Obama's announcement:

Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's newly formed presidential exploratory committee will work to build anticipation for what is likely to be full-blown candidacy for the Democratic nomination while gathering financial commitments for next year's fast-breaking primary season.

With primaries and caucuses bunched earlier than ever next year, a presidential aspirant might need as much as $40 million to $50 million to compete just through next January, predicted Steve Elmendorf, a senior adviser to two Democratic presidential hopefuls in 2004.

(snip)

Obama's inexperience is viewed as a possible obstacle in the race, particularly if national security emerges as a principal issue in 2008.

By the same token, Obama would hope to deploy his freshness and lack of involvement in questionable Washington decision-making as an asset.

"Challenging as they are, it's not the magnitude of our problems that concerns me the most. It's the smallness of our politics," Obama said in his statement Tuesday.

"America's faced big problems before. But today, our leaders in Washington seem incapable of working together in a practical, common-sense way. Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we can't tackle the big problems that demand solutions," he added.

If we stay with the baseball analogy, Barack Obama has proven he can get hits in the big leagues, but he needs to convince people that he can hit a home run and win the game, meaning the White House.

Barack Obama Has Friends in Illinois

Barack Obama hasn't announced whether he's running for president or not, but his book is still on the bestseller list and the buzz continues. It also looks like Senator Obama has powerful friends in Illinois who would like to give his potential bid for president a helping hand; here's the story from Christopher Wills of the AP in The Guardian:

The powerful speaker of the Illinois House said Wednesday he wants to help Sen. Barack Obama's possible presidential bid by moving up the state's primary, figuring it will give the Democrat an early win.

Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan proposed moving the March 18 Illinois primary to Feb. 5. A long list of states have primaries scheduled that day, but only four states - Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire and South Carolina - would be earlier than Illinois.

``These states are not representative of mainstream America. They're clearly not as representative of America as Illinois would be,'' Madigan said. ``But if Barack is a candidate, recent history tells us the selection process may be finished before it reaches the Illinois primary.''

Barack Obama has been busy now that the Democrats have some clout and now that the first two years of his freshman term are over. The senator is also finding friends in new places as reported by ABC News:

Potential presidential rivals John McCain and Barack Obama are joining with newly independent Sen. Joe Lieberman on a plan they say would reduce annual global-warming gases by two-thirds by mid-century.

Their bill, being announced Friday, is intended to cut the heat-trapping emissions by 2 percent a year. It is sure to produce a contentious debate on climate control in the new Democratic-run Congress and draw strong opposition from the White House and industry.

Now if Senator Obama can talk Lieberman and McCain out of supporting Bushism and World War Three, he'll be the next president for sure. Kidding aside, it still takes skill to work with others and to build a consensus and Barack Obama has that skill. That's something George W. Bush never learned.

Barack Obama's New Admirer and Interview

While nervous Republicans and clumsy cable news technicians have caused Barack Obama some grief this week, he's finding new admirers; Mike Flannery of CBS2Chicago has the story on Ethel Kennedy:

Ethel Kennedy, the widow of Bobby Kennedy, told CBS 2 she would support Obama in a presidential run. Many people often compare Obama with Kennedy.

Kennedy said she thinks Obama should run for president. When asked why, she said, while walking next to Obama, "He's so adorable. Because he's got it all."

US News, one of the few conservative magazines that hasn't completely caved in to the far right tries to keep up with politics across the aisle; here's part of a recent interview:

[U.S. News:] What are you learning about the mood of Americans during your travels around the country? [Barack Obama:] I think there is a great hunger for change in the country–and not just policy change. ... What I also think they are looking for is change in tone and a return to some notion of the common good and some sense of cooperation, of pragmatism over ideology. I'm a stand-in for that right now. I'm not the only one. There's Deval Patrick in Massachusetts, Brian Schweitzer in Montana, Eliot Spitzer in New York [all Democratic governors]. ... There is something new that is out there, but it hasn't fully expressed itself.

[U.S. News:] How much of the current ferment is due to "baby boomer fatigue"? [Barack Obama:] There is a weariness with the ideological battles and cultural wars of the past. Too much of our policy is framed in terms of the debates of the Sixties.

[U.S. News:] What's gone wrong with the Bush presidency? [Barack Obama:] This has been the most ideological administration in my lifetime, even more so than the Reagan administration. The Reagan administration, despite the rhetoric, could be pragmatic.

U.S. News also has two other stories on Barack Obama here and here. The senator from Illinois hits the right notes with nods towards 'pragmatism,' 'the common good,' and a 'hunger for change.' With two bestsellers, there's no question he has a gift for words and a way of thinking about things that resonates with people. If he runs, he needs to find a way to show that he can convert those good thoughts into deeds. If Barack Obama does not end up the Democratic nominee, he would make a potent addition to the ticket in the number two slot.