I was interested to see Obama in this situation because I thought it would be a good opportunity to see how he would function with subordinates as President. There is a very good chance that these guys could be working for him in ten months time. I couldn't help but have a little bit of sympathy for them in that respect. I definitely felt that Clinton's approach was more confrontational. She more talked at them and didn't do much to try to bring them around to her side - Not that she has to. But Obama talked with them leading them into a conversation of what an achievable success might look like. He started a conversation that involves them. I thought he exhibited good management style and leadership. After Crocker stumbled over the "it's complicated" line I couldn't help but feel from their body language but that they were saying "OK, I think we can work with this guy." After all the years of working for Bush&co. I would think it would be wonderful to have someone offer clear and realistic objectives. I hope I wasn't just seeing things I wanted to see. Obama will need these guys not to work against him once he is President.

Posted at April 8, 2008 9:38 PM in response to Obama: We Have to Apply "Measured, But Increased Pressure" on the Iraqis

According to AP, he is not a superdelegate. Still a big plus for Obama.

Posted at April 2, 2008 12:37 AM in response to 9/11 Commission Co-Chair, Rep. Lee Hamilton, Endorses Obama!

The problem as I see it is that the Wright story makes Obama seem more distant to most whites. In some ways it is similar to Romney's Mormanism "problem". Both the black church and the morman church are hard for the majority of americans to understand. They seem foreign. I suppose jewish politicians would face a similar issue. I think a big part of Obama's appeal is his accessibility. It is easy to feel like you know him, but his relationship with Wright makes one question this assumption. This is sad. And sad for the United Church of Christ that I always felt was one of the most open and friendly faced churches out there.

JFK faced this problem with his Catholicism and overcame it to the benefit of catholic inclusion. Let's hope Obama is as successful in his speech.

Posted at March 17, 2008 3:01 PM in response to So White People Can Freely Talk About Black Problems Angrily...and Blacks Can't?

How about drafting Al Gore at the convention ...

Seems far fetched, but the further this goes on the better the idea seems.

Posted at March 13, 2008 9:43 PM in response to Have We Reached a Point of No Return?

I keep on hearing how Hillary is such a fighter. Could someone please provide some good examples of this, please? She certainly did not fight Bush on his war and she capitulated on health care (setting that cause back ten years in the process). What big issues has she ever successfully fought for?

The primary reason I lean Barrack is there I see a tenacious fighter - just look at his record. And if he wasn't such a good fighter he would not be still in the race now - and leading at that. He has proven that he can handle himself just fine in the political ring. He just doesn't fight the way people expect and that is his great strength. People just keep punching at him until they wear themselves out. He just brushes himself off and moves on.

Posted at March 13, 2008 4:14 AM in response to Poll: Hillary Up By 18 Points In Pennsylvania Primary

I keep on hearing how Hillary is such a fighter. Could someone please provide some good examples of this, please? She certainly did not fight Bush on his war and she capitulated on health care (setting that cause back ten years in the process). What big issues has she ever successfully fought for?

The primary reason I lean Barrack is there I see a tenacious fighter - just look at his record. And if he wasn't such a good fighter he would not be still in the race now - and leading at that. He has proven that he can handle himself just fine in the political ring. He just doesn't fight the way people expect and that is his great strength. People just keep punching at him until they wear themselves out. He just brushes himself off and moves on.

Posted at March 13, 2008 4:14 AM in response to Poll: Hillary Up By 18 Points In Pennsylvania Primary

What strikes me about Hilary's whole campaign is that it is loaded with references to Bills accomplishments. Who is really running, Hillary or Bill? This is particularly relevant to the 3a.m. phone call add. What is this add really about? It is about who is in the bed with Hillary there to help. This is the hidden message in that add and it really rubs me wrong.

Posted at March 8, 2008 7:23 PM in response to Nobel Peace Prize Winner: Hillary's N. Ireland Claim "silly"