Reason Over Ideology

President Obama has signed an executive order to reverse the ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research, reversing 8 years of regressive policy under the Bush administration. Watching Obama's speech, I was struck by his respect for the value of scientific research, and his commitment to protect it from the muzzle of religious doctrine.

"Medical miracles do not happen simply by accident," Obama said in a ceremony Monday. "They result from painstaking and costly research — from years of lonely trial and error, much of which never bears fruit — and from a government willing to support that work," he said.

After nearly a decade of suffering through Bush's theocracy, Americans can finally look forward to an era of decisions based on facts and reason, not ideology. As expected, the God-squad propagandists are not amused (yawn...)

Harpama

"They really, at a basic level, have quite a bit in common," Harper spokesman Kory Teneycke told The Canadian Press, pointing out that both come from "outside the political establishment."

Obama is a young, charismatic, energetic and genuine young leader who has captured the imagination of his country and the world by embodying the virtues of reason, intellect and bipartisanship.

Harper is a fat, dorky, boring political opportunist who has failed to win a majority government despite non-existent opposition, stood in the way of international climate change initiatives, denied economic problems as late as last November, and displayed a hyper-partisan streak so pathological it nearly sank his own government.

Yeah, Kory, they're virtually twins.

Obama Hates America

In a move bound to enrage Pennsylvania bitters and Joe Sam the plumber tax cheat war correspondent douchebag, President Obama has backed away from "Buy American" provisions in his economic stimulus bill. Perhaps realizing that a widespread trade war over such a measure would likely damage the American economy and prolong the global economic downturn, Obama today took a step away from protectionist policies.

Mr. Obama said any parts of the bill that could spark retaliation from U.S. allies should be removed. [...] “I think it would be a mistake ... at a time when worldwide trade is declining for us to start sending a message that somehow we're just looking after ourselves and not concerned with world trade,” Mr. Obama said on the Fox television network.

Somewhere, Lou Dobbs is weeping softly.

Their Guy, Our Guy

'Nuff said.

YES HE DID!!

They Went There

For those of you that had any lingering doubts about whether or not Republicans would resort to the lowest, sleaziest swiftboat ads to derail Obama in the waning days of their miserable lie-filled campaign:



In fairness (and it's hard to be fair to such lowlifes) John McCain did not officially "approve" this ad, as it was released by a GOP political action group. But it does highlight the stunning desperation of the Republicans as McCain's so-called path to the White House becomes increasingly difficult.



On a related topic, who precisely are the "undecided voters"? Have these people not received enough information in the course of this seemingly interminable race to make up their damn minds? There are ONLY TWO CANDIDATES, for Christ's sake! How hard can this possibly be?? CHOOSE!

Presidential Debate #3

This picture basically sums up the debate, and the state of the campaigns.

Pretty much everyone (including the Fox News focus group) is calling this one another win for Obama. Too bad for Grampy McSame and Winky Mainstreet.

And The Winner Is...

Joe Biden! Let the swiftboating begin...

Full Metal Pantsuit

She fought hard. She fought long. But in the end, Hillary Clinton was simply unable to catch Barack Obama. Although her most ardent supporters will point accusatory fingers at the media and the DNC, the reality is that her campaign was flawed from the very beginning. At the outset, she suffered from the complacency and arrogance that accompanied her frontrunner status. Everyone assumed the nomination was Clinton's to lose. And lose it she did. Her greatest strength was supposed to be her experience. But Obama smartly picked up on voter disdain for eight years of Bush and Cheney, and delivered a promise of "change". His youth and inexperience suddenly became virtues. Hillary, on the other hand, was transformed into a representative of the old guard. While the Clinton campaign focussed on a "big state" strategy, Obama plugged away in smaller states, midwest states, and caucus states. His grassroots level fundraising was a resounding success. And by the time Hillary's team had figured all of this out, Super Tuesday was over, and Obama had a delegate lead he would never relinquish.

Now the only question is: will she be the veep?

Vindictive God Crushes Huckabee's Hopes

Despite an organized prayer campaign by some of his supporters, a bewildered Mike Huckabee was finally forced to drop out of the Republican Presidential race tonight after losing big to John McCain in all 4 contested states.

Said God, "Yeah, I heard the prayers. But I was like, 'Dude...buy a calculator...do the math'. It ain't gonna happen".

So long Huck.

Meanwhile over on Democrat side, Hillary has stopped the bleeding with wins in Ohio and Rhode Island. At the time of this blog post, Vermont has gone to Obama and Texas is too close to call. It seems that no matter what happens in Texas tonight, Obama will maintain a lead in delegates. Nonetheless, Hillary has earned some much needed relief from the Obama machine, and has ensured that the drama will continue for at least another few weeks. Is this good for the Dems or bad? Some say that all publicity is good publicity, others that a bitter campaign will only create divisions within the party. Time will tell.

Random-Ass Irrelevant Newspaper Endorses Hillary!

In perhaps a telling sign of the way in which the Clinton campaign has been going, this "hot-off-the-press" release directly from her website:

If You Read One Thing Today: Vermont Woman Newspaper endorsed Hillary.

That's right - if you read only one thing today, make sure it's Vermont Woman. With a circulation of nearly 20,000, it's only slightly easier to find than the Okachobee High School Reporter.

Meanwhile, Obama's website is also touting his latest newspaper endorsement:

[Cincinnati] Enquirer endorses Obama on Democratic side

As I said, it's a reflection of the difficulties Hillary has had finding her footing in an increasingly desperate battle to stay competitive with an Obama campaign that has somehow taken on a life of its own. The rhetoric has been cranked up, and not always to Clinton's benefit. Witness this bizzarre press-release from Hillary's campign braintrust, brilliantly dissected by Wonkette:

Anything the Hillary Clinton camp says these days on teevee, to reporters, to anyone who is a human being, rapidly erodes the entire
campaign and her legacy. In their latest memo, which must have been written in crayon and targeted at the Cro-Magnon community, Team Clinton says that sinceObama has done everything correctly, any loss in the future would finalize his defeat.

To: Interested Parties

From: The Clinton Campaign

Date: Friday, February 29, 2008

RE: Obama Must-Wins

The media has anointed Barack Obama the presumptive nominee and he's playing the part. With an eleven state winning streak coming
out of February, Senator Obama is riding a surge of momentum that has enabledhim to pour unprecedented resources into Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont. The Obama campaign and its allies are outspending us two to one in paid media and have sent more staff into the March 4 states. In fact, when all is totaled, Senator Obama and his allies have outspent Senator Clinton by a margin of $18.4 million to $9.2 million on advertising in the four states that are voting next
Tuesday. Senator Obama has campaigned hard in these states. He has spent time meeting editorial boards, courting endorsers, holding rallies, and - of course - making speeches. If he cannot win all of these states with all this effort, there's a problem. Should Senator Obama fail to score decisive victories with all of the resources and effort he is bringing to bear, the message will be clear: Democrats, the majority of whom have favored Hillary in the primary contests held to date, have their doubts about Senator Obama and are having second thoughts about him as a prospective standard-bearer.

Translation: Barack Obama has won eleven straight contests, raised more money (because people like him), campaigned brilliantly and thoroughly in Texas and Ohio -- thereby marginalizing Clinton's long-held leads in those states -- won most endorsements and made legendary speeches at his overpacked rallies. Clinton has lost eleven straight contests, is consistently on the verge of bankruptcy, has run poor, indifferent campaigns in Texas and Ohio -- states she led by double digits only a couple of weeks ago -- lost every endorsement and cannot speak. Obama sure has dug his own grave with this "doing well in the election" strategy this election season.

And a new Zogby poll shows Obama now ahead in Texas, and closing a once double-digit gap in Ohio.

Texas

Clinton - 42%

Obama - 48%

Ohio

Clinton - 44%

Obama - 42%

Should be an interesting Tuesday...