Here’s a sample of my latest PJ Media column – a look at what’s ahead in the campaign:
But regardless of how he achieved it, Obama’s victory is one of those “hinge” moments in American history where a door is opened and the country walks through it, leaving the past behind forever. Putting politics aside for one moment, the victory of this talented, passionate, brilliant man whose life story is perhaps even more incredible than his singular achievement in winning the nomination should be a source of enormous pride for all Americans. We should revel in it for a few moments, if only because there has been so little to truly unite us in recent years.
But once the sheen is off the novelty of the event, it’s back to business – the business of trying to figure a way to win enough states to get to 270 electoral votes. Nothing else matters from here on out and both candidates – John McCain and Obama – will mix and match the states on the electoral map, weighing every decision against how far it advances their plan for victory.
Last night saw the unveiling of the outline of those plans when both candidates gave speeches that, for all intents and purposes, kicked off the general election campaign. And for Hillary Clinton, last night was a strange and sad interlude. A campaign not suspended. A race not conceded. But a clear realization by the candidate that her consuming desire to be president would not be achieved.
Earlier in the day, she allowed her staff to mention that she would accept the Vice Presidential nomination if it was offered. But there is much more to that acknowledgment than meets the eye. One school of thought holds that she would not have put her name forward so aggressively if she thought it would be refused. Another side of the coin is that she allowed her name to be mentioned because she knew Obama would never choose her.
She doesn’t want to appear the supplicant begging for scraps from Obama’s table. But at the same time, she doesn’t want to be seen as thrusting herself forward either. It is a difficult position for her to be in, and over the next few days the two candidates and their staffs will probably feel each other out carefully, with Obama making the decision whether the “dream ticket” will become a reality.
2:33 pm
His “life story”? His story is of a life of privilege and unearned advantage; of having everything handed to him on a silver platter. It’s a story of being given everything but failing to be grateful for the gift and instead being angry, negative and vindictive toward the giver.
He is not “eloquent” so much as grandiloquent; he’s a fake and a conjurer. It appalls me that so many people have been taken in by Obama. It scares me, actually. Let’s hope the trend—of him losing badly—continues and he’s consigned to that ash heap of history we’ve heard so much about.
No matter what happens, we-including bi-racial me-will be called “racists” by Obama devotees, so how about we just tell the truth-and demand it, as well.
2:44 pm
rick,
though i am not an obama fan, i like you think that his nomination is a very pivotal and important victory for us as a nation, not that there will be any instant healing, but nonetheless i think we have crossed an important milestone in our short history. thank you for acknowledging it but staying on task as well.
6:41 pm
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11:36 pm
Well said. Rick.
You’re a good writer. You’re articulate. You’re against torture. You are gracious in Obama’s historic moment. That meant something to me when I read what other Conservatives are saying about him; the rumors and “he’s a Muslim” meems and the lies and horrific stories and photoshopped photos people send me about him. You seem like a rare bird amongst Republicans. You don’t make ad hominem arguments.
Well, yes you do.
But like only once a month.
You’re my kind of Conservative.
9:10 am
Rick, excuse me if I don’t bask in the “from the projects to the Presidency” view of Obama. He basically lead a charmed life with attending the most prestigous prep school in Hawaii (current tuition $14,000/yr). But how did he do that? His supporters tell me he was awarded a scholarship, but in his book he talks about his granny, a VP at a bank, rode the bus to work. Was she the forerunner of the “global warming” crowd? Or did she do it to be able to afford tuition? How about his entrance to Columbia? Affirmative action? Yes, no?
Harvard? Pure nepotism. His father was a Harvard graduate.
How many kids come out of the barrio in San Antonio, born of mixed parents, to have such a resume?
Obama was more the norm in Hawaii, not being a Hoale. “Kill Hoale Day” is still a school ritual in Hawaii.
Obama is less a brilliant candidate and more a brilliant P.R. campaign. Not since the nation was sold CocaCola has such a PR campaign been launched. His obvious talent is that he is comfortable standing in front of thousands reading his prepared speeches, written by someone else, from a teleprompter. And having the MSM in the tank for him, not willing to delve into his shady friends, his system of eliminating political opponents by the “total smear” tactic, accepting his weak “this is not the man I knew” excuse for both Wright and Rezko, Newsweek covers with halos around his head, and you have the New Messiah who will lead the nation from it’s darkness. The brilliance of Obama is not Obama himself, but his campaign management that has run his campaign the “Chicago” way. Why did the MSM not report on the shanigans that went on during the Texas caucuses where Hillary supporters were literally shut out of those caucuses and not allowed to vote by Obama goons who were blocking the doors so that Hillary supporters could not be inside by the closing hour? My aged mother has always been a Democrat and when she went to the caucus that night, she was asked by an Obama supporter who she was going to vote for. Being the feisty woman she has always been she told him “None of your business”. The next thing I know I get a call that she was in the ER after having been shoved to the ground by Obama supporters who were not letting Clinton supporters into the school cafeteria to vote during the caucus. She is in her 80’s. But no media coverage of that kind of tactics used on March 4 when Texas had it’s primary.
Obama is the Teflon Don of the political world. And now we are stuck with him. And if you listen to his speeches (which never say how he is going to acheive all the wonderful things he proposes) he is pure Saul Alinsky.
So the real question is not how someone who makes George McGovern look like a rabid right winger managed this coup, the real question is what is happening to a nation of independent thinkers that came from pioneers willing to cross the Rockies for their chance at the American dream and when did it make a hard left turn?
4:18 pm
It’s the same old tired rhetoric of division and victimology, horse patties covered with hollandaise sauce but horse patties nonetheless. BHO is already wearing out his welcome with the American people and despite the heavy lifting of the mainstream sycophants, I think this election will go to McCain. Let’s be very realistic, Obama is about as thin-skinned as they come. And McCain has been around the block more than a few times and knows how to slap this ignorant whelp down firmly without looking “mean” – leaving Obama whining about McCain and looking foolish. McCain picks a good running mate, we have more than a horse race on our hands!
Rick – the first campaign I worked on was the first Eisenhower campaign. Trust me on this one!
4:48 pm
Just read the reviews of McCain’s speech the other night and compare them to the reviews of Obama. Obama is articulate and intelligent. McCain makes gaffes constantly. He doesn’t know the difference between the Shias and Sunnis. The other day he said that the US force level was below the pre surge level. He was wrong and off by 23,000 soldiers. McCain is a dottering old man who is well past his prime and could no more run this country than he could spit wooden nickels.
Gayle, please Google the polls I gave you a few days ago.
Obama is not wearing out his welcome.
He is welcome. Very welcome.
And thankfully, he will be the 44th president of United States of America!
A Liberal.
A Democrat.
A man of color.
Thank God for this grand moment. Thank god.
As a matter of fact, get on your knees this very second and thank God you’re an American, and thank Jesus for sending this incredible leader to us who will start th e process of healing we need in this country.
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—Statements and implications by the President and Secretary of State suggesting that Iraq and al-Qa’ida had a partnership, or that Iraq had provided al-Qa’ida with weapons training, were not substantiated by the intelligence.
—Statements by the President and the Vice President indicating that Saddam Hussein was prepared to give weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups for attacks against the United States were contradicted by available intelligence information.
—Statements by President Bush and Vice President Cheney regarding the postwar situation in Iraq, in terms of the political, security, and economic, did not reflect the concerns and uncertainties expressed in the intelligence products.
—Statements by the President and Vice President prior to the October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate regarding Iraq’s chemical weapons production capability and activities did not reflect the intelligence community’s uncertainties as to whether such production was ongoing.
—The Secretary of Defense’s statement that the Iraqi government operated underground WMD facilities that were not vulnerable to conventional airstrikes because they were underground and deeply buried was not substantiated by available intelligence information.
—The Intelligence Community did not confirm that Muhammad Atta met an Iraqi intelligence officer in Prague in 2001 as the Vice President repeatedly claimed.
From
“Report on Whether Public Statements Regarding Iraq by U.S. Government officials Were Substantiated by Intelligence Information”
“Report on Intelligence Activities Relating to Iraq Conducted by the Policy Counterterrorism Evaluation Group and the Office of Special Plans Within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy”
Holy Mother of God what a twerp! What an absolute gasbag! Barack Obama is HUMAN. You treat him as if he is a god. You are nuts, whacko, 2 shakes short of a completed martini.
Wow. Just wow.
ed.
Google these and read ‘em and weep.
7:35 pm
Gayle lives in a fact free world
so I thought I’d introduce some facts for you gayly. Inconvenient truths.
this is from the national Intelligence Estimate that reveals we did not find any WMDs Gayly
Now read this and get on your knees girl and pray for forgiveness
—Statements and implications by the President and Secretary of State suggesting that Iraq and al-Qa’ida had a partnership, or that Iraq had provided al-Qa’ida with weapons training, were not substantiated by the intelligence.
—Statements by the President and the Vice President indicating that Saddam Hussein was prepared to give weapons of mass destruction to terrorist groups for attacks against the United States were contradicted by available intelligence information.
—Statements by President Bush and Vice President Cheney regarding the postwar situation in Iraq, in terms of the political, security, and economic, did not reflect the concerns and uncertainties expressed in the intelligence products.
—Statements by the President and Vice President prior to the October 2002 National Intelligence Estimate regarding Iraq’s chemical weapons production capability and activities did not reflect the intelligence community’s uncertainties as to whether such production was ongoing.
—The Secretary of Defense’s statement that the Iraqi government operated underground WMD facilities that were not vulnerable to conventional airstrikes because they were underground and deeply buried was not substantiated by available intelligence information.
—The Intelligence Community did not confirm that Muhammad Atta met an Iraqi intelligence officer in Prague in 2001 as the Vice President repeatedly claimed.
From
“Report on Whether Public Statements Regarding Iraq by U.S. Government officials Were Substantiated by Intelligence Information”
“Report on Intelligence Activities Relating to Iraq Conducted by the Policy Counterterrorism Evaluation Group and the Office of Special Plans Within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy”
Google these and read ‘em and weep.