By Larry Johnson
closeAuthor: Larry Johnson
Name: Larry Johnson
Email: larry_johnson@earthlink.net
Site: http://NoQuarterUSA.net
About: Larry C. Johnson is CEO and co-founder of BERG Associates, LLC, an international business-consulting firm with expertise combating terrorism and investigating money laundering. Mr. Johnson works with US military commands in scripting terrorism exercises, briefs on terrorist trends, and conducts undercover investigations on counterfeiting, smuggling and money laundering.
Mr. Johnson, who worked previously with the Central Intelligence Agency and U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism, is a recognized expert in the fields of terrorism, aviation security, crisis and risk management.
Mr. Johnson has analyzed terrorist incidents for a variety of media including the Jim Lehrer News Hour, National Public Radio, ABC's Nightline, NBC's Today Show, the New York Times, CNN, Fox News, and the BBC. Mr. Johnson has authored several articles for publications, including Security Management Magazine, the New York Times, and The Los Angeles Times. He has lectured on terrorism and aviation security around the world, including the Center for Research and Strategic Studies at the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris, France. He represented the U.S. Government at the July 1996 OSCE Terrorism Conference in Vienna, Austria.
From 1989 until October 1993, Larry Johnson served as a Deputy Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism. He managed crisis response operations for terrorist incidents throughout the world and he helped organize and direct the US Government’s debriefing of US citizens held in Kuwait and Iraq, which provided vital intelligence on Iraqi operations following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Mr. Johnson also participated in the investigation of the terrorist bombing of Pan Am 103. Under Mr. Johnson’s leadership the U.S. airlines and pilots agreed to match the US Government’s two million-dollar reward.
From 1985 through September 1989 Mr. Johnson worked for the Central Intelligence Agency. During his distinguished career, he received training in paramilitary operations, worked in the Directorate of Operations, served in the CIA’s Operation’s Center, and established himself as a prolific analyst in the Directorate of Intelligence. In his final year with the CIA he received two Exceptional Performance Awards.
Mr. Johnson is a member of the American Society for Industrial Security. He taught at The American University’s School of International Service (1979-1983) while working on a Ph.D. in political science. He has a M.S. degree in Community Development from the University of Missouri (1978), where he also received his B.S. degree in Sociology, graduating Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1976.See Authors Posts (874) on February 7, 2008 at 2:24 AM in Current Affairs
Let’s assume that come the general election, Hillary wins the states she has won and loses the states Obama has won. Similarly, Obama wins the states he has won so far and loses the states Hillary has won. Do the math and tell me who is the more viable candidate.
Hillary — 205 Electoral votes (FL, NH, AR, NV, MI, NY, NJ, TN MA, OK, CA, AZ)
Obama — 110 Electoral votes (IA, MO, GA, SC, ID, NM, AL, IL, AK, KS, UT, DE, ND, MN)
If you are math challenged, you are an Obama supporter.
UPDATE: How about these numbers? 8,781,090 vs 8,110,261. Hillary has almost 670,000 more than Obama in the electoral contests to date. I appreciate the points made by my buddy, Frank Naif, who points out that Hillary has baggage and gives some pause. I do not deny or ignore the baggage. But at least we know what the baggage is. No new surprises coming down the pike. Calls to mind the saying, “familiarity breeds contempt.”
However, as someone who used to live in the land of Hating Hillary, I am confident that if she is given the chance to truly introduce herself to the American people, she can defuse many of these issues and voters will be delighted to meet a woman who is very smart, very warm, and has the guts and toughness to fight back against groundless attacks. You can then understand some of the reasons Bill Clinton married her years ago. It was not a shotgun wedding.
Larry, I’ll take Super Delegates for 200 please?
The answer is…
Larry,
No offense man, but that’s a very silly construction.
For instance, virtually all the polling I have seen shows that between 71-73% of the primary voters for one candidate had a positive view of the opposing candidate.
Secondly, do you honestly believe that CA, NY, NJ, and MA would vote Republican in the general after 8 years of Bush?
You have any number of good arguments in support of HRC, but this isn’t one of them.
That isn’t the point, I believe….Its that HRC carried strongest in the states that will mean the most in November. Where as Obama carried states that don’t have sizable delegates. It need not mention “republicans”.
Well, since he specifically mentioned the “general election” in his post, I don’t think he was talking about the Socialist Workers Party as the opposition. Do you?
The cbs radio had a factoid that Hillary Clinton had more people vote for her than all the republicans combined on Tuesday.
Can anyone of any ideas why Barak Obama did better in the states with Caucuses? I have seen much on it.
This is one of the most inane discussion.
This is a PRIMARY and not a GENERAL ELECTION. I could make sensible analogies but it’s not worth it.
How many Obama primary voters in a General Election will vote for McCain instead of HRC? And how many primary voters for HRC will vote for McCain instead of Obama?
This is a classic case of mental you-know-what.
You think NY would go for certain without Clinton?
Look at the Obama states won. Most of them do nothing but vote for GOP in national and state races, most of them also polled well for Kerry in ‘04. Setting up someone for a fall is all those places register.
Two of his wins featured no republican votes that day so people could switch the polls, staggered races, and two others had no GOP voting at all on their caucus days so they could switch the balance his way and run against a weaker challenge.
mr. murder let me add one thing to your excellent post. the obama campaign has been actively soliciting “democrats for a day” to help inflate his numbers. i dont know about anyone else, but this old time democrat is pissed off about this strategy. obama is essentially telling anyone who will listen he will do anything to win … even disrespect the democratic party.
Holy CRAP, Larry!!!!!!!!!!!! Have you completely jumped the shark now? CA, MA and NY all going to the Repubs? Yah, sure, that makes sense….say, did Reagan rise from the dead? Seriously, did you even take a moment to think about this post? -
Wow! Very impressive.
I only made it through differential equations so I understand the math part, but am having some problems with the statistical analysis. What would be the Pearson coefficient of correlates to demonstrate any statistical association between winning a State’s primary by a specified plurality and the likelihood of winning that State in the general election?
Chuckle..and I only made it through quantum electrodynamic theory in my grad physics program (before i jumped ship to law)….I suppose there is some quantum function that predicts the the mathematical possibility of the above hypothesis.
I only made it through Solid Geometry - and with a tutor holding my hand.
English translation please?
Engrish transubstantion:
Hillary took the states that McCain took
Without Hillary heading the ticket, McCain will take NY, Mass, CA, MI, and NJ.
Obama took the states that Romney and Huckabee took.
Nader will win florida again.
Thanks CK - Now I get the comment above.
I do understand the math of the Electorial College - But when you start mentioning things like Differntial equations - my mind just goes blank.
LOVE your translation.
my my … what a wonderful question. i managed to pass three terms of stats while obtaining my degree … hardest damn thing i have ever done let me tell you …. and i have no frigging idea what you just said.
i would suggest the answer to your question would probably best be answered by studying voting history. if that doesnt work … hell start flipping quarters like the statisticans do!
bama_barrron,
I forgot Stats were considered Math. I also needed to use them. However after banging my head against the wall, this wonderful Korean graduate student showed me how to use a program called ‘Stat-Pak’.
He explained what the letters in the formulas meant - and then told me how they correlated with which keyboard button for the ‘Stat-Pak’ program.
It was magic - just put the numbers in front - push buttons in the correct order- and the answer done by the computer was right each time.
AHHH no more statistical math!
Stellaaa-
“Senator Obama talks fondly of his years as a community organizer. My assumption was that he would hold the interests of the community first and foremost. Yet, read his answer to the question below about the failure of the projects that Rezko developed.”
SunTimes
“Senator Obama basically blames the tenants and the community for the failure of the projects. This is about the most controversial aspect of his relationship. How could a community organizer, blame the community. Granted he was not one at the time, he was a State Senator and an attorney. Needles to say, the projects failed because they were not structured to have adequately funded reserves. Senator Obama as the attorney to the non profit or his law firm that was also representing Rezko, should have made sure the non profit, partner, and the project had reserves adequately funded from the developer fees. Rezko basically was not held accountable, took the money and Senator Obama blames the tenants.
If he did not care for the community in a small setting, how will he protect and pursue the democratic issues such as health care, economic reforms, environmental protection, etc.etc. I frankly based on this am scared about his competence to be put in charge of the US Government.
I don’t get it why this does not outrage anyone else. I guess I know too much about community organizing and affordable housing. Only NIMBYS (not in my neighborhood) types tall like this about affordable housing. I question all his words. If he did not know, so much the worse, community organizers have to be alert.”
I guess the discussion of the actual post wasn’t quite going your way, huh?
Why is it so hard for people on this blog to understand that others can, and may, agree with your arguments—and still point out fallacies in your reasoning?
thats a bit of a sweeping comment wouldn’t you say? Shall we call that Fallacy a Hasty Generalization?
“Hasty generalization”??
Ya gotta be fucking kidding me.
First of all, I was responding to Mr. Murder’s immediate diversion from the post under discussion when he seemed unable to muster a cogent argument in support of his, and Larry’s, position.
Second, I have been reading this blog, almost since its inception, beause of the valuable insight into, and intelligent discussions of, foreign policy and security issues. Those insights and discussions have, to a large degree, been replaced by Obama bashing posts and comments. I agree with many of those concerns and am disturbed by many of the allegations/facts.
However I am also disturbed by the scorched-earth policy many seem to have regarding Obama, and the oft-stated comments by many here that they would never vote for him.
I also find it less than compelling when silly, and sometimes intellectually dishonest, arguments are presented in opposition to Obama, or in support of HRC.
This post, and a previous one regarding the speed (or lack thereof) with which complementary language regarding Edwards was posted on the respective candidate’s websites, are examples of my argument.
It’s stupid. Please try and stop it.
Oh yeah, I’m a Hillary supporter and voted for her in my state’s primary.
Obama is running for President, a position which affects your areas of interest.
Obama appears to, no, ok, let’s say DOES have serious character flaws, serious issues of corruption, issues which may be harmful to the American government, say, particularly if he is psychologically unsuited for the Presidency, or has some connection to the 9.11 financiers, through Rezko, enemies of the American government.
It may be “just business” to Cheney, or Bush, Grossman, or Hastert, but it is harmful to our future sovereignty, as also the families that have been affected, Cheney’s fellow American citizens.
Right?
Oh man…..I suppose from professonial interest, I am compelled to answer. Mr. Murder, the fiasco here is that Obama was funded by a guy who was a slumlord, not that Obama somehow failed to be accountable to the tenants as a lawyer tangentially connected to these developments. The attorneys are responsible for completing the paperwork for the deal, not serving as guardians of the public interest.
Let me explain how these deals are done (in a nutshell). Basically, a nonprofit community group will form a new entity in partnership with a for-profit company. The for-profit brings the commercial know-how (allegedly) to rehab the building. The nonprofit is the partner necessary to receive special local, state or federal grants. Obama’s law firm will represent the new entity. The lawyers draft the purchase and sale agreement, the loan documents, the lien instruments, and the various corporate resolutions. The due diligence(i.e investigation of the for-profit) is conducted by the banks funding the rehab project (or in this case, the City. Typically, banks do it and the funds are guaranteed by a gov’t agency.) The lawyers are not involved in confirming bank statements, financial statements and other than a sniff test when the client walks in the door. Attorneys are not really that well equipped to read and understand balance sheets, nor is the client paying us to do so. After the deal is done, the lawyer moves on to the next project and/or client, and is not involved in the project again. We prepare the paperwork; we do not monitor the housing project.
Finally, Obama was a litigator! In other words, he is the last type of lawyer you want working on a complex real estate transaction/financing like this one. I would be surprised if he knew how to draft a mortgage, let alone the complex type of lien instruments needed for this transaction.
Now, does that leave him in the clear? Absolutely not. His people should have vetted this guy more carefully to prevent Rezko from holdings those contribution parties. But as to damning him as you did above, you just don’t the lawyer’s role in these deals.
As for the allegation of blaming the tenants/community, please be serious. South Chicago is not a very economically prosperous place. Blight begets blight.
jacek … your description of a lawyer’s role in this type of deal is generally correct i cant quarrel much with that part of your post. i do find obama to be rather disingenous at best when he talks about being a community organizer … from what i have read and what has been reported he was at best at tangential influence on these projects. that being said, i find it more then curious that patrick fitzgerald seems to think that the relationship between barack and the slum lord runs much deeper then what is generally accepted. patrick fitzgerald is no light weight political hack of a prosecutor … i have read numerous indictments issued by his office over the years … he doesnt make claims he cant prove.
finally, as an old community organizer type myself … i am perhaps a bit of a purist when it comes to my opinions and views on what constitutes community organizing. a reverse snob i might be. i think obama’s claims of his activities are over stated … and from what i can fact check … his day to day interactions with the members of the community in chicago were extremely limited. this probably doesnt mean anything in the big picture of public perception but it does raise a big red flag for me.
Stellaaa - or SOMEONE (Larry?) needs to diary this comment. I’ve never seen the quote but Stellaaa makes a terrific point and it needs to be seen/talked about a lot more.
ALSO, could someone chase this whole notion that the Clintons have been cold and calculating in their pursuit of personal goals but the Obamas are just wonderful, nice young people? That is just BS.
The Obamas are in their mid-40’s and probably have used the Clintons as their role models…even to the point of having Barack decline lucrative (on their face) law firms for a small, community based law firm (that included Rezko as a client!) and Michelle, a Harvard trained attorney quitting her power job for public service. I mean, the trajectory is the same, but the Clintons have been dubbed “out only for themselves”.
Give me a break.
Better yet, please someone, give us a diary, or two!!
Mr. Murder
In 2003 there were problems with Chicago’s Public Transportation for Obama’s constituents in Hyde Park. According to complaints there were dilapidated stations, no bathrooms on the trains, and turnstiles and gates.
As an Illinois State Senator Obama wrote this letter in November 2003: http://www.hydepark.org/transit/obamatransitlet.htm
As you read it you will note two things:
1. He was using the canard of Racial Discrimination even way back then:
ockquote>It is discrimination that the Electric Line–one of 11 Metra Lines and the only predominantly African American one–is apparently the only line without bathrooms on the trains and the only one with gates that require passengers to pay before getting on trains. At all other Metra stations, passengers do not need to pass through pay gates.
2. Tying back to this statement in Sun-Times interview Senator Obama was not otherwise aware of financial and physical problems attributable to misconduct by Mr. Rezko - Is this statement in his November 2003 Letter My office and those of South Suburban legislators have been flooded with calls from upset commuters who had called Metra to complain about the service.
Obama’s constituents call his office to complain about run down Train Stations, and the lack of bathrooms on the trains, but are silent about apartments with no heat for 5 or 6 weeks, during the winter? YEAH right!
Sure hope Larry’s keeping a list of all those commenters who would be willing to buy that Bridge in Brooklyn.
Larry, enough of this wet blanket analytical shit! Obamists want sound bites, like calling him the Pope of Hope and the (Secret) Agent of Change. All of this pragmatic electoral vote counting is so Hillary. And it will be so reported on Fox News.
Live in NY and according to our paper, voters went heavily for Clinton and they feel she will win NY election night.
I hope so too.
She has done a good job for NY.
ANd I believe she can govern from day one.
What has Obama done?
It was smart of Obama to bring back that feel good feeling, but JFK had Camelot and would have had the Civil Rights Act and Vietnam had he lived. At that time, he would not have been popular president had he lived.
It is the unfulfilled dream that Obama is riding on and we cannot afford to ride that dream today!!!
My sense is that as the likelihood of Obama prevailing increases, a sad dynamic is going to start to work against him. The Party will now have to confront in a way it has not had to before the likelihood of going with a black man against McCain. Until now, it has been theoretical. It will have to confront the fact that he would not have been so competitive without blacks voting their race. I don’t like race rearing its head at all, but I think this is a dynamic going to start working against him for the first time.
A sad but (probably) very real fact. After SC I got very worried….the election is split into three parts - Repugs; Obamaphiles; and “all other” (not to demean Clinton or Edwards or any of the other Dems).
And while it’s wonderful to have a passion for a candidate, the demographics that are solidifying for the two remaining Dems are not healthy.
I worry so much about the existence of sexism and racism still in our country, today. The result of that could be McCain as POTUS. I do, however, think that Hillary’s demographics are better IF ONLY WE WOULD STOP eating out own and get off the Hillary-hatred that is running rampant among Dems. If Obama is the candidate I will vote for him. I will not have any passion for that vote, but I will vote for him. So many of his “supporters” are not saying that if Hillary is the candidate. Dumb.
This is absurd. First of all, Florida was not contested. Second of all, no Democratic presidential candidate is going to win Alaska, Idaho, Utah, etc. And he or she certainly won’t lose New York!
I know no one in New York who voted for Hillary except my grandfather. Perhaps the fix is in?
michael … if you were with the obama campaign … you could claim the people you know were secert bigots and racists … when the curtain was pulled they voted like a klan member.
i mean wasnt this the obama meme twenty minutes after the polls closed in NH? seriously, you might want to consider the fact, the people that you talked to … told you what you wanted to hear. think about it!
Oh yes Michael, I’m sure your grandfather voted a million times. No wait- the Clinton “machine” just manufactured a win to beat back the Rising Son, Saint Barack of Obama.
After all, if only one person you know voted for Hillary, surely that means something suspicious happened.
We shall see.
Why Obama Has the Upper Hand
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2008/2/6/123818/1286
He seems to be focusing on factors of relatively little importance, as opposed to the truth.
THAT analysis seems more a case of wishful thinking, the need to project what one wants, as opposed to the truth.
If I were Obama’s people, I would stop with the happy talk, and focus on why Obama lost California.
Because he didn’t spend enough time there AND early voters who supported Edwards and Clinton.
Maybe he lost California because people can see through his BS?
Same with New York.
The more metropolitan areas seem hip to Obama’s spool, as do the working classes.
The only ones buying his gas are the little girls.
My goodness, doesn’t it seem he has turned into David Koresh?
Will we see a Waco, blogs incinerating themselves as the FBI and ATF move in?
And me?
Well, I’ll be playing George Jones, on the PA.
White Light-in, to start.
Cee any idea why race is a factor in BooMans artical? I am curious why there is a difference in the outcome of Caucus states, having never experienced such a thing.
Teak,
I don’t know why.
I am curious why there is a difference in the outcome of Caucus states
No voting machines to change the result? Obama hasn’t lost in those, correct?
You and I both know, at this point that electronic votings machines, are not reliable.
That aside, I was pondering the Human element of a caucus, as a opposed to the solitude of a voting booth…from SusanUNpc’s and others’ experience and watching them, it would make for an interesting “study”. I hear pundits say Obama does well in the caucus but not why.
Anybody with psychology backround at NQ care to take a shot?
Actually, I’m curious to know why you’re not mentioning Obama’s connection with Nadhmi Auchi, who, through his wife and a Panamanian ( it’s always Panama, isn’t it?) company named FINTRADE, (a subsidiary of Auchi’s British multinational corporation,) donated directly to Obama, according the London Times.
Auchi was Sadaam’s right hand man, a close personal friend of Rezko, an investor in the Chinese laundry trade, a fugitive from a french banking chain gang, and an all around money slut.
Speculation is Rezko’s friendship with Auchi might have influenced Obama’s position on the Iraq.
Inference is Obama helped the convicted French banking terrorist to obtain a visa, POSSIBLY, for a trip to MI.
Auchi, Saddam and Osama all shared the same bank.
Think this should be looked into, before any more Americans, and others, are murdered, in the name of the french banking industry?
I do.
So, what about it?
More gas?
Are you going to blatantly ignore these FACTS?
The internals showed he made gains in states where Republicans were not on the ticket, with voters not likely to be Republican, or in staggered states, and on the whole outside of Illinois, in caucuses.
None of which are representative of the ability to deliver the votes when it matters most.
Utah went 90% Romney on the republican side. You really think they’re going to landslide Obama instead?
Those are where his gains were made, paper tiger territory.
And Clinton did not campaign heavily in those areas, perhaps as a matter of experience she is aware that would be unproductive.
The idea happy talk spin in regard to the good news about Iraq, ahem, I mean, Obama’s losses on Super Tuesday, will affect voter perception is unrealistic. The truth would appear to be Obama did not do as well as expected in California, and the blogs are foaming, light as air.
They look kinda of stupid.
Perhaps they were manipulated?
Who knew they would foam in the way of Rove, when suffering a defeat?
Is this denial, a weak attempt at psychological control?
So now we know their behavior is predictable, choosing to use a TEMPLATED, RECURRENT manipulatable method of spin, or THOUGHT, GROUP THOUGHT, as it is, as opposed to encouraging and confronting hard truthful analysis. Whether misguided or not, facing truth is not an option for them, and this is an important fact to know about your opponent.
Well, you say, it’s only for the public?
Ah, but it’s not, the need to hide the truth is a secret, now, and indicative of failure, denial, fear, and shame, the principal needing to deny the truth from himself.
Is it such a shame to lose California?
Of course not.
So, the principal now has a secret, is ASHAMED of loss, and this knowledge can be used against him, asymmetrically, to further game him, if someone were so inclined. Are you losing, Obama, of course not, you’re doing the right thing? Obama doesn’t know what to think, say, on one hand believing the spin, on the other knowing it’s false, setting up an internal conflict he cannot resolve, or his organization, can’t.
And the real problem remains unsolved.
Generally, with individuals that stupid, I have read you only need give them enough rope, they hang themselves, eventually collapsing from the internal chaos of a dysfunctional intellect and psyche, the kind of person who would torture, or bomb non threatening entities.
So say, next week, Obama wins LA, and again, they will foam, further reinforcing incorrect perceptions.
Generally, with individuals stupid enough to try to quantify thought into a PR system, say, I have read you only need give them enough rope, they hang themselves, eventually collapsing from the internal chaos of a dysfunctional intellect and psyche, the kind of person who would torture, or bomb non threatening entities, say, the type of individual who would underestimate the intellect of his audience.
The truth is the hardest to fight, even when it doesn’t go your way, it’s still the best weapon.
I apologize, editing is just not in the cards today.
Sorry.
If troll A, say throws out statistics in an attempt to obfuscate, predictably, to action B, I know if I can get player B to initiate action B, troll A will post statistics.
And with some, it is that easy, a level one, a level two, and a level three.
And then it gets scary for them, and they attack.
But it’s predictable, and can be prepared for, if not even conditioned.
But see, no civil liberties need be repressed, at all.
give them enough rope…
This maybe true, but time is also part of this.
Depends when the egg timer quits.
Yes, so true. And just caught Obama’s website as he asks for donations and a “generous donor” will match any donation up to $2300 and double the donation. And oh yes, send you a personal thankyou. Imagine this is Oprah.. Obama is grinding it out and while I agree with your analysis of voting patterns, it will all come down to super delegates who are comprised of both fickle and Obama disposed governors and elders like teddy/Kerry and co. This worries me.
If this happens Obama will get the nomination by default. We haven’t even contemplated the Michigan/Florida mess.
Help? I need it.
I was also struck by the Electoral College angle, more so because Charlie Cook said that his data indicated that she could pick up Texas and Ohio as well. If she can pick up Pennsylvania as well (and why not, it’s distant from the Chicago Machine) it —to one versed in electoral history— CA, TX, FL, OH, NY & PA should be a lock.
But people with money aren’t behaving that way:
She is having problems getting money at a time when Kerry’s campaign spending went up asymptotically. This is reflected in the lousy odds she’s currently getting overseas.
We may be facing yet another Mondale Moment.
Absurd statement on the face of it, isn’t it? Yet these idiots managed to elect Bush twice.
Exactly and nearly verbatim the point I heard Bill Clinton make just before the Iowa Caucuses.
Anyone with a brain can see an almost cult likeness with Obama supporters! One needs to take a wonder at why the media is behaving the way it is also during this campaign season!
No one looks at the facts in the Obama relaity, just the self proclaimed myths!
Obama states he will get it right on day one! This from the guy who said he made a bonehead mistake involving Rezko in his home purchase! He hasn’t got it right before day one why would he on day 1?
Obama states continually he voted against the war! How could he have? He wasn’t in the US Senate when the voting took place, he was just a corrupt Illinois politician then!
Then there is the Tim Russert statement about voting on the war and Obama stating he “doesn’t know how he’d vote if in the Senate”! Which he continually ignores responding to when asked and his supporters still blindly follow him!
Why hasn’t the press reported on Obama’s Auchi link? It is obvious the press wants to Republicans to stay in and to keep the tax credits for the rich! So keep the people unaware till the GE then Swiftboat him!
Why hasn’t the press pressed Obama on his ties to the Luo party in Kenya that is slaughtering people there? See above!
Why was the Rezko trial postponed when Rezko wanted it moved up? Political interfearing to keep Obama out of the press on it until the next 9 primaries are done with?
Why is no one confronting Obama about his real record, with his ignoring slum tenant complaints?
Why is no one confronting Obama about his ties to all the dirty money?
Why is no one confronting Obama over Maytag and his lack of involvement, yet his involvement in taking money from a board memeber of Maytag?
Why is no one confronting Obama over the fact that Obama got to the US Senate on the back of dirty money and everyone tends to let this go!
This is a person running for the office that puts his finger alone on the button of the deadliest weapons on earth, the largest economy on earth and the largest army on earth and people are trusting him like they did in Jonestown and PTL Club and every other cult known to man! How blind is America? How ignorant is America? How intellectually deprived is America?
How can people who listen to stumps and ignore who is making the stumps expect anything to come true from the stumpster? He has continually lied and yet everyone swallows it with pride! Sen Obama I tip my hat to you, you have proven just how gullible a vast amount of the population in America really is!
Great list of questions Mel - In summary why are the Obamacons refusing to VET him?
Why was the Rezko trial postponed when Rezko wanted it moved up?
Did this delay come a schedule issue of the court or did Fitzgerald file a motion?
If Fitzgerald filed for a continuance does this imply he has other leads to nail down or his case is weak?
To suggest that Fitzgerald would delay a trial for anyone would be a first. For someone who can pick off a crooked pol at 200 yards, blindfolded, he has to have a reason.
We must be able to figure out a way to pool all of our found knowledge of Obama’s scuzzy cunning tactics in the political cesspool od Chicago Daly politicos.
The media hates Hillary and loves Obama. No one except for The Daily Mail in England, The Chicago Sun Times and Chicago tribune, anong with New York Times has seriously demanded vetting and looking into this very damaged candidate.
The information out there has no legs as the TV media refuses to address it We have to think creatively and get this information out and there is a LOT from Rezko, Maytag,Exelon, and more.
Mr. Teflon cannot continue to get a pass. Imagine the likes of Teddy Kennedy talking about Obama’s
“character”?
H E L P !
Whoa! These numbers are way off. NM seems to be going for Hillary.
I think Hillary puts Red states like AZ and Texas in play in a way that Obama can’t. Granted, Hillary may not with either–though AZ probably looks good–but she would definitely make Johnny Mac defend there. I also assume that Arkansas, Ohio and Florida go to Hillary (and definitely NM). That means a pretty substantial electoral college win.
Regarding Larry’s post more generally. The states where there are more people–and are generally more Democratic-are voting for Hillary. I guess this explains why Obama has been so willing to sell out Social Security and universal health care: to win “Red America”. Cause he sure as heck can’t win much in “Blue America”.
Why do you assume that those of us who are Democrats who happen to reside in “red” states share Republican politics? Even though we’re a minority, we’re often very liberal. My caucus experience seemed to indicate the liberal wing of the local Democratic Party went heavily for Obama, and the conservative, afraid of terra Democrats went for Clinton.
I resent the assumption that seems to be implied in your comment that I’m a conservative who hates Social Security and universal health because I happen to live in “Red America.”
gqmartinez:
I also assume that Arkansas, Ohio and Florida go to Hillary
What is your assumption based on? Because I don’t see those states as automatically in the bag for any Democrat.
States like California and NY are going to go Dem no matter who the nominee is. States like Utah and Idaho are going to go Rethug. in the general election. Some former red states like Colorado, New Mexico, and Missouri, are probably up for grabs.
This is not a serious analysis.
All Right Folks, Let’s Look at REAL Numbers, Shall WE?
FYI my personal bias HC, but only as of just recently
(previously Edwards, before that Dodd)
Having said that, look how polls show either Clinton or Obama competing against McCain and note how Obama often shows better
NOTE that Romney just dropped away today, so McCain is the strong GOP likelyhood going forward
ALSO NOTE we don’t yet know what if anything Pat Fitzgerald will come up with for Rezko/Obama
from:
Bottom Line: take all with a grain of salt, there’s still NINE months to go
http://www.pollingreport.com/wh08gen.htm
Time Poll Feb. 1-4, 2008
McCain Clinton
46 46
McCain Obama
41 48
CNN/Opinion Research Corp, Poll Feb. 1-3, 2008
McCain Clinton
47 50
McCain Obama
44 52
Cook/RT . Jan. 31-Feb. 2, 2008
McCain Clinton
45 41
McCain Obama
43 45
ABC News/WashPo Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2008
McCain Clinton
50 45
McCain Obama
48 47
FOX News/Opinion Dyn Jan. 30-31, 2008
McCain Clinton
41 41
McCain Obama
43 44
NPR Jan. 29-31, 2008
McCain Clinton
48 45
McCain Obama
48 47
Obviously the above polls ignore the Electoral College factor, as they are just raw opinions, but on the other hand, it’s really too early to call November just yet.
Meantime, there’s real work to do.
Obama threw everything but the kitchen sink into California, and was thumped. If he is the nominee, McCain might well take the state. Similarly in Florida there was a level playing field, and he lost badly again. At least two big states might be McCain fodder if Obama is the nomineee.
What a tool you are for the corporate-imperialist candidate Hillary.
It didn’t take long for me to notice the recommendation for the Confederate-related book on your site and make it obvious why you have such a negative view of Obama. Jerk.
Yes, yes the KKK is very fond of the Clintons.
Look up your hero’s background in Illinois and do some vetting, silly.
America is about to be snookered for the third time with star quality and bullshit sentiment, as Obama followers trash common sense,experience and we will again suffer for this. A cult is born!
We’ve fallen for the patriotic corn of Geo Bush twice, and are being overhyped by the inspirational swetness of Obama who makes his followers feel at ease and know only what Obama wants them to know about him.
Obama is seriously ethically challenged and should be thoroughly vetted. NY Times story 2/2/8 about EXELON the nuclear energy power operators from Illinois [USA’s largest} have given $227,000. to Obama. EXELON’s lobbyist gave this directly to Obama who has told us he doesn’t take any money from lobbyists directly.
He lies. He has had much dealings on the record in senate with EXELON, and his lobbyist money taking along with curious votes tell us again….
Obama says one thing and does another. His besotted followers are willing to overlook this and many other patently dishonest acts that it’s stomach turning.
Remember at debate in SCarolina when he pounced on Hillary and accused her of working with WalMart and being on their Board?
GUESS WHAT?
Michelle Obama served on WalMart Board for years. Resigned when Obama was going to US Senate. When WalMart asked for explanation for resignation…
Michelle fudged it.
Michelle ws also placed on Chicago City Planning Commission by Rezko/Obama connections and guess what?
She found a great landmarked mansion in Planning records in Kenwood that cost a million six, but Obama’s needed cash. So..Rezko his new neighbor to the rescue. Helped finance and had Rita Resko buy adajacent plot for $625,000. and sold it to Obama for $104,000. They closed a few months later on same day.
There’s a whole lot more than 133 “present” votes that Obama claims he pushed “the wrong button in error 6 times”. “Present” buttons are clearly marked yellow. Obama voted “present” 133 times.
Oy, does Obama need to be vetted, and oy, is he afraid to debate Hillary! He’d have to answer some tough questions and will do anything to slither out of this. He has been cunning and devious in Illinois, so this comes as no surprise.
There should be a groundswell of complaint about this cowardly excuse to avoid exposure.
To me it’s all about Florida and Ohio.
Clinton will fare much better in Florida. Enough to win? I think so.
Ohio? Who knows?
Illinois, NY, Calif, are foregone conclusions.
As is Texas.
Pennsylvania, I don’t know for sure but think Democrats.
Recall Bush making a few arm twisty phone calls to the state and lost? before Florida fell in to the Ocean? If Mccain is the “one” the keystone state will go dem.
How about these numbers? 8,781,090 vs 8,110,261. Hillary has almost 670,000 more than Obama in the electoral contests to date. I appreciate the points made by my buddy, Frank Naif, who points out that Hillary has baggage and gives some pause.
Even with Hillary’s so-called ‘baggage’, Barack is STILL losing the popular vote to her.
Mr Unity isn’t as uniting as he thinks he is.
http://www.270towin.com/
Interactive electoral college map.
Hope someone smarter than me has at it.
Or better yet, Mr. Larry Johnson would plug his numbers in and we cold see where we stand.
None of that matters - none of the red states, none of the blue states. What matters? Florida. Florida clearly chose Hillary over Obama.
Mara,
I agree but does Florida choose Hillary over McCain?
I think so but honestly don’t know.
The New Republic
With Friends Like These … by Marin Cogan, Melanie Mason, and Barron YoungSmith
Everything you ever wanted to know about the Clintons’ shadiest donors
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=076fd56f-4aca-4683-a9d1-3c55d748946e
I cancelled my subscription to The New Republic last year because every issue was another episode of Let’s Bash Hillary And Pump Up Obama, and I was sick to death of it.
BTW, TNR endorsed Joe Lieberman for President in 2004. Remind yourself of that whenever you read a TNR article on politics.
So your saying all the facts in the article are not true and TNR is just making it all up to slam Hillary?
So it is okay on this blog to trash Obama day after day but it isn’t okay for the TNR to trash Hillary?
So I am also supposed to condemn the TNR to the trash bin because they endorsed Joe Leiberman what kind of close minded logic is that?
I got off this blog for awhile because instead of any real info about any meaningful subject it has become a pro Hillary anti obama rag with daily increasingly hateful accusations and useless arguments.
If Larry and susan want it that way then thats the way it will be because it is Larry’s blog.
But what is disappointing is that when we Democrats should be fighting the Repugs we are fighting amongst our selves. This is exactly what will guarantee the Repugs retain the WH. Its called the old divide and conquer strategy. If they can keep us fighting among our selves then when the bloody battle at the convention is over there will be nothing left to to commence the real battle with McCain.
Too bad.
Is Hillary knowingly associating with a man who was Sadaam’s favorite launderer, involving himself as a main player in the french banking industry, convicted of money laundering, a reputation for illegal arms trade, with forays into Africa, perhaps even Kenya?
And if it turns out she did, you know, she’s just as guilty.
What makes Obama SO creepy, though, as compared to the rest, is he seems so closely related to this, and he lies so easily, and you just buy it without a second thought.
As opposed to this blog which has turned into a daily “let’s bash Obama and pump up Hillary” site?
OK.
No one is bashing Obama, unless that is what they’re calling truth these days.
What about the Rezko and Auchi connections?
Minor?
A lapse in judgement?
If you ignore it, it will go away?
That’s not true, now, is it?
And Hillary is, of course, squeaky clean and above reproach in every possible way.
I think she human. Has anyone spent 60 million dollars looking at Obama’s past?