AMERICA’S automobile industry is in desperate trouble. Financial instability, the credit squeeze and closed capital markets are hurting domestic automakers, while decades of competition from foreign producers have eroded market share and consumer loyalty. Some economists question the wisdom of Washington’s intervening to help the Big Three, arguing that the automakers should pay the price for their own mistakes or that the market will correct itself. But we must act: aiding the American automobile industry is not only an economic imperative, but also a national security imperative.

When President Dwight Eisenhower observed that America’s greatest strength wasn’t its military, but its economy, he must have had companies like General Motors and Ford in mind. Sitting atop a vast pyramid of tool makers, steel producers, fabricators and component manufacturers, these companies not only produced the tanks and trucks that helped win World War II, but also lent their technology to aircraft and ship manufacturing. The United States truly became the arsenal of democracy.

He then discusses the changing face of military defense spending saying that supersonic jets were ‘sexier’ and we therefore started paying less attention to improvements of ground vehicles…

But in 1991, the Persian Gulf War demonstrated the awesome utility of American land power, and the Humvee (and its civilian version, the Hummer) became a star. Likewise, the ubiquitous homemade bombs of the current Iraq insurgency have led to the development of innovative armor-protected wheeled vehicles for American forces, as well as improvements in our fleets of Humvees, tanks, armored fighting vehicles, trucks and cargo carriers.

In a little more than a year, the Army has procured and fielded in Iraq more than a thousand so-called mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles. The lives of hundreds of soldiers and marines have been saved, and their tasks made more achievable, by the efforts of the American automotive industry. And unlike in World War II, America didn’t have to divert much civilian capacity to meet these military needs. Without a vigorous automotive sector, those needs could not have been quickly met.

Oh, Wes, you’re good. I’ll give you that. Who else would have come up with that one?

More challenges lie ahead for our military, and to meet them we need a strong industrial base. For years the military has sought better sources of electric power in its vehicles — necessary to allow troops to monitor their radios with diesel engines off, to support increasingly high-powered communications technology, and eventually to support electric propulsion and innovative armaments like directed-energy weapons. In sum, this greater use of electricity will increase combat power while reducing our footprint. Much research and development spending has gone into these programs over the years, but nothing on the manufacturing scale we really need.

Now, though, as Detroit moves to plug-in hybrids and electric-drive technology, the scale problem can be remedied. Automakers are developing innovative electric motors, many with permanent magnet technology, that will have immediate military use. And only the auto industry, with its vast purchasing power, is able to establish a domestic advanced battery industry. Likewise, domestic fuel cell production — which will undoubtedly have many critical military applications — depends on a vibrant car industry.

No one could ever doubt Wes Clark’s deep love and dedication to the Army and to the troops who serve and sacrifice for our nation.

And I’ve got to hand it to him, he sure goes to bat for the Democratic Party. They are making their argument for the bailout of the auto industry and General Clark has made one of his own.

A man with 34 years of military service and more medals, knighthoods and honors from the U.S. and around the world than you could possibly pin on any one chest, like most in the Military he was an Independent during his long career, remaining neutral politically to better serve the current Commander in Chief, regardless of party. He retired in 2000, and in 2003, declared as a Democrat.

Though he hasn’t been with the party long, he’s certainly making up for lost time. Aside from his own Presidential candidacy in 2003-4, since then he has been campaigning tirelessly for down ticket Democrats, criss-crossing the country and making his case, using his political action committee, WesPAC, for the purpose.

Noble as that might be, I was infuriated that after his strong support and endorsement of Hillary, once the primary was forcibly brought to an end by cowardly super delegates bowing to pressure from Ms. Pelosi et al, Wes would once again take up the mantle of good soldier and good Democrat, preaching party unity and stumping for the inexperienced, disingenuous, and now, President elect, Obama.

Lo and behold, here is General Clark, first in his class at West Point and a Rhodes Scholar, once again chowing down on an extra bowl of Wheaties to think up an argument on behalf of the Dems’ position re the auto industry bailout. I have to say it is creative, if nothing else, and he does make a very good point.

But he conveniently ignores part of the reason the industry is in this mess to begin with – they have neglected and buried alternative technologies up until recently and were slow to embrace hybrids and buried the electric car, instead choosing to make Escalades and one big gas guzzling monstrosity after another. Cafe standards, anyone?

Uh, now they are not selling so well. And under the premise that we would be “helping the troops” we should now go bail them out?

While I would do whatever possible to help those brave souls putting themselves in harm’s way, once again, I feel we are being blackmailed into overlooking the wrongs perpetrated by the companies that got us into this horrid situation. Backed into a corner now, they tell us, we have no choice but to pony up for this, and other bailouts. When does it end? Who will ever have to answer for putting the American taxpayer in such a spot in the first place?

To be sure, the public should demand transformation and new standards in the auto industry before paying to keep it alive. And we should insist that Detroit’s goals include putting America in first place in hybrid and electric automotive technology, reducing the emissions of the country’s transportation fleet, and strengthening our competitiveness abroad.

On this point, Wes Clark and I wholly agree. In his capacity as a foreign policy commentator with various networks over the years, Clark always talks about the need to offer “a combination of carrots and sticks” to enforce performance.

Well I have had enough of bailouts in which we offer up all the carrots but don’t wield the stick first. We need to get assurances and policies in place that the industry, bank, or institution to be bailed out will have better oversight and act in our best interests – not to continue their reckless practices. If indeed, it is advisable to bail them out at all.

I am certainly no expert in this particular field, so I hope you will pardon my dust. But as a concerned citizen and taxpayer observing this situation and the debacle of our other bailouts this year, I can’t say that I have any faith that any transformation, accountability or oversight will happen in re the auto industry either, and therefore wonder at the wisdom of doing this.

General Clark closes with the following:

This should be no giveaway. Instead, it is a historic opportunity to get it right in Detroit for the good of the country. But Americans must bear in mind that any federal assistance plan would not be just an economic measure. This is, fundamentally, about national security.

Get it right? Yes, Wes, as usual, your heart is in the right place, but since the powers that be in the corrupt Democratic Party seem no more anxious to see you, a person of integrity, in a position of leadership, any more than they wanted Hillary Clinton there, who do you think is going to oversee that this is no “giveaway” and that we are now going to make Detroit follow up on their historic opportunity to “get it right?”

I never believe that the ends justify the means, so, no, I am not happy with our President-elect, even though that means we have Democratic leadership once again. By the same token, our fortunes are tied to his success in putting the right people and policies in place and figuring out how to govern effectively — if indeed that is possible. I don’t like having to make a decision from a place of desperation.

General Clark has more faith than I do that this action will lead to a positive outcome.

Is he right? What say you?

Months ago, for the sake of my own sanity, I tried to view him with compassion and find some justification for his behavior. Perhaps his deep abandonment issues regarding both parents, coupled with having to choose between a black or white identity indicate that he has never really felt he belonged anywhere. And perhaps that is what makes him determined to fit in everywhere.

Didn’t he himself say that he is a blank slate onto whom others project their hopes or dreams? Quite the survival skill, eh?

He appears to be a man without a center, the ultimate people pleaser – charismatic, flirtatious, telling everyone what they want to hear. I have not witnessed him get upset about anything or any principle, nor has he ever been attached to any policy enough to expend any political capital on it. Unless, of course, he is being attacked, then it’s full steam ahead.

To protect his own name he will employ any and all means necessary – fair or foul. That is why his campaign has seen fit to play the race card constantly, and if that vile strategy works to deter all comers, so much the better. If it does harm to the electorate by stirring up divisiveness, racial tension or harms innocent people in the process, no matter. The ends justify the means.

For the life of me I cannot smell an underlying allegiance to any particular philosophy. How else could he meet with Israelis one day and Palestinians the next and tell each group exactly the opposite of the other – and get away with it. I still cannot figure out if he is the most radical lefty liberal or a closet Republican.

Some are under the impression he is not very smart. I disagree. I think it takes a great deal of energy and at least some intellect to so obfuscate every issue and every phrase so that we are all left scratching our heads at the end of the paragraph.

I have come to the conclusion that his halting, meandering verbal style (sans teleprompter) is a slick trick: his statements don’t come out not making sense because he is stupid. They come out not making sense because he wants it that way – so you can never define him on any issue. No, I never said that, what I really meant was…

That is why it never sounds like he is telling the truth. If you are making a true statement you don’t require fifty ers ahs ums aahs aaaaaaaaannnnd ands. What we are seeing is a man constantly trying to evade capture. If he just runs fast enough, you will never be able to pin him down.

That reeks of fear to me. As if he made one wrong decision, he would be irrevocably harmed. As Candy Crowley of CNN just reported, he will go nowhere without his teleprompter – not one mistake, Senator, not one organic or spontaneous phrase. Heaven forefend we see the real you.

Aside from his tactics, his disingenuousness, or his lack of a coherent, believable political philosophy or plan, there is an even more worrisome aspect to his persona that I find the greatest reason to not vote for him. The most dangerous thing about Senator Obama may not be that he believes in the crooked, divisive, radical people with whom he has allied himself in the past – but rather that he is just using them all just as he is using us.

But whether you believe he is driven by arrogance and ambition or a very specific endgame that yet remains hidden, I am not sure which is the more dangerous: to have a President of no philosophy or a President with a radical one? We require leadership, not someone who can be blown about with the prevailing winds. And if indeed he does have a more radical agenda, how would we ever determine it?

If he sat in Reverend Wright’s church for 20 years and never believed one horrid word that came out of Wright’s mouth, what was he doing there? You either believe the divisive rhetoric or you are just there for 20 years for political ‘street cred.’ There is no positive way he can spin himself out of that one.

Actually, he does have one overriding philosophy – and it is a through thread that holds true at all times – idol worship. He is very clear on the way he expects us to treat him. But how he is going to treat us – that’s where the waters get muddy.

Senator Obama ran to the left of Hillary to endear himself to the MoveOn.Org crowd, and once he had their votes in the primary, threw them under the bus along with his prior stances on FISA, NAFTA and public financing. He dumped them all without as much as a backward glance and then said blithely ‘I understand if it’s a deal breaker, but where else are you gonna go?’

Amidst this horrid financial crisis, Senator McCain made a bold move by offering up a mortgage restructuring plan, modeled after Hillary’s, which he gave her credit for. First Obama tried to pretend it was his. When that didn’t work, he trashed it, saying the plan will not work. Did he offer a plan of his own? No. He seems to have no concern for the good of the American people, just what gets him his own way.

In Pennsylvania, he just indicated that reforming health care and education are now in jeopardy because of the economic crisis and rescue bill. Just what he was waiting for – ‘gee, guys, I can’t do any of the other stuff I’ve been promising you either.’

When a man has no allegiance to the truth and or even to the ardent supporters who put him on the map, how can we trust that he will ever do anything he promises? The DNC doesn’t appear to have any need to hold his feet to the fire either but instead line up to be kicked in the pants and keep stumping for him.

Just ask Rep. John Lewis, who most unjustifiably played the race card on Senator Obama’s behalf even though he had previously been threatened with primary challenges by the Obama campaign, and was pressured into changing his support from Senator Clinton. Just ask General Wesley Clark who was unceremoniously thrown under the bus after taking on John McCain’s qualifications on Face the Nation. Yet Clark, too, is still out there, good soldier that he is, campaigning for this callous man.

The press treats Obama to a double standard unlike any I have ever seen. He flip flops on core Democratic principles with no consequences even from his own party in this ‘no-lose’ year for Democrats. What are they so afraid of, I wonder, that they indulge him like an angry child throwing a tantrum? Complete adulation is all he will accept. Anything else is tantamount to treason.

But live by the sword, die by the sword. If you pretend you stand for everything, ultimately you stand for nothing. His reluctance to stand for a tough vote and make a decision, his arrogance, coupled with the elusiveness that has propelled him so far in his career are precisely the things that will derail him in the end, either in November or down the road. It is impossible to look at a man for some 21 months and still have no idea who he is, unless he doesn’t want you to know.

That is not leadership I can believe in. I need to believe in more than the glory of a name. I need to believe in the person who is under it.

I ran across an interesting and entertaining item prepared by Albert J. Bernstein, Ph.D. called the Narcissistic Vampire Checklist and in closing, I thought I’d share it with you:

The smartest, most talented, all-around best person in the world test:

1. This person has achieved more than most people his or her age.

2. This person is firmly convinced that he or she is better, smarter, or more talented than other people.

3. This person loves competition, but is a poor loser.

4. This person has fantasies of doing something great or being famous, and often expects to be treated as if these fantasies had already come true.

5. This person has very little interest in what other people are thinking or feeling, unless he or she wants something from them.

6. This person is a name dropper.

7. To this person it is very important to live in the right place and associate with the right people.

8. This person takes advantage of other people to achieve his or her own goals.

9. This person usually manages to be in a category by him or herself.

10. This person often feels put upon when asked to take care of his or her responsibilities to family, friends, or work group.

11. This person regularly disregards rules or expects them to be changed because he or she is in some way special.

12. This person becomes irritated when other people don’t automatically do what he or she wants them to do, even when they have a good reason for not complying.

13. This person reviews sports, art, and literature by telling you what he or she would have done instead.

14. This person thinks most criticisms of him or her are motivated by jealousy.

15. This person regards anything short of worship to be rejection.

16. This person suffers from a congenital inability to recognize his or her own mistakes. On the rare occasions that this person does recognize a mistake, even the slightest error can precipitate a major depression.

17. This person often explains why people who are better known than he or she is not really all that great.

18. This person often complains of being mistreated or misunderstood.

19. People either love or hate this person.

20. Despite this person’s overly high opinion of him or herself, he or she is really quite intelligent and talented.

SCORING: Five or more true answers qualifies the person as a narcissistic emotional vampire, though not necessarily for a diagnosis of narcissistic personality. If the person scores higher than ten, and is not a member of the royal family, be careful that you aren’t mistaken for one of the servants.

Please tell me if this reminds you of anyone?

At the start of 2008, I felt buoyed by a sense of hope. I took out the “Bush” countdown calendar someone had given my husband and actually started leafing through it. This was challenging in itself, because, unlike some stand-ups who use Bush-isms to provide endless fodder for their comic diatribes, I could not laugh. What he and his cabal have done to this country is too sad to be funny.

I was elated in January. Change is on the way. Hope is on the way. But hope for change did not come in the package of Mr. Hopey-Changey, Senator Obama, because it took me about ten seconds to figure out he was another snake oil salesman just like George Bush.

Hope for change was my Joan of Arc in a pantsuit, Senator Hillary Clinton.

Let’s not rehash the horror show of the last eight months. You can recite it yourselves in glorious detail, I am sure. My joy at the prospect of good, true Democratic leadership has been ruined. So let’s move on to what’s left and pick up the pieces. I have to look at the Democratic Party objectively, for the first time in my life, I might add, and ask myself if the corrupt fixers who are now in charge of the henhouse have anything to offer me.

Let’s see what they did offer me after kicking Hillary in the teeth in favor of the endlessly dissembling Barack:

1. Get over it.
2. Where else are you gonna go?
3. Vote for us or they’ll overturn Roe v. Wade.
4. Vote for us or they’ll appoint 8 more Scalias to the bench.
5. Vote for us or we’ll call you racist.

Nice.

I’m supposed to vote for a man guilty of filthy campaign tactics who has never governed anything, and spent 143 days in the Senate before running for President; something he said he would not do. I’m supposed to vote for a man who won’t produce his own birth certificate, medical records, senate or college records yet demands everybody else stand up and account for themselves thoroughly. Someone who flip flops on everything he ever stood for and appoints as his VP a good ol’ sexist of the Senate with a lobbyist for a son.

And now I am supposed to stand with a party that is vilifying, demonizing and trashing yet another woman – Governor Sarah Palin. And they are dragging her seventeen year old daughter through the mud. And they are dragging Governor Palin’s child with Down Syndrome through the mud as well.

I may never be a Republican, but both Senator McCain and Governor Palin have already shown they’ve got lots of grit in taking on the big boys and corruption. Whether I agree with their agenda or not, they each have more character in their little finger that Senator Obama does in his whole body.

It is not important to me that our leaders agree with me at all times. It is important that they can and are willing to make a good case to me for what they believe and what they are doing. It is important that our elected officials have a spine, and character to do the right thing when the going gets tough. We don’t have to agree on every issue to move this country forward.

Obama promising to filibuster FISA in February and capitulating six months later told me all I need to know about his grit, his honesty, his character – or his lack of all three.

I don’t need another Bush in office. Guess what? Obama is Bush3, a man lacking in humility. No one is anointed by God. I don’t need someone so arrogant that he does not bother to do his homework and suppresses all dissenting voices by playing the race card continuously. Nor do I need a leader who advocates gutting someone and pretends he had nothing to do with it, standing nobly above the fray with his nose in the air.

Rage. I feel rage.

Senator Obama and Pelosi, Dean, Brazile, Kerry, Richardson, Edwards, Dodd, Kennedy, Rockefeller, Reid, Clyburn et al have accomplished something I didn’t think any Democrat could ever accomplish.

They have enraged me MORE than George Bush.

Impossible you say? Let’s think about it. I expected to be betrayed by George Bush. I smelled that he is not a man of good character, therefore I was not surprised.

I did not expect my ideals to be betrayed by the Party that taught them to me.

We’re supposed to be the good guys: Democrats. Not the sexists. Not the demagogues. Not the liars. We are supposed to stand for something. When any Democrat goes the way of Rove-ian tactics and starts sounding more like Ann Coulter than anybody I’d recognize, I’d say it’s time to leave the Party. And I did.

I will not stand with anyone who stands for this type of behavior. There is an element of this Party that no longer represents anyone’s interests but their own. They have become what they abhor. If I vote for them or with them, then I become what I abhor, too.

I will not do it.

A dear friend, albeit a very apolitical one, just innocently passed along some propaganda about Palin that she received from MoveOn.org. I wrote back and set her straight. It is shocking to me that people who are so used to thinking that EVERY Republican is evil could never believe that ANY Democrat COULD be also. Hopefully, enough people will do their homework and find the real information before it’s too late.

The truth about McCain and Palin’s actions, policies, beliefs and record is nothing like the crap being spewed by the likes of the far left at the moment. But how to convince some of the blinded, kool-aid drinking Democrats, who, desperate for a win at any cost, have decided to adopt the filthy tactics of those such as Rove that got us here in the first place. And those desperate Democrats have taken to eating their own, as in the case of Hillary, or Wes Clark for that matter.

I remember the week before the 2004 Election, Wes Clark, Kevin Costner and Richard Belzer were the panelists on Real Time with Bill Maher – back when I watched that sexist pig’s show – before his sexism was as blatant. Wes took on Bush in a way I had never seen before, which was great and most everyone else was Bush-bashing and encouraging us all to vote for Kerry.

Costner, who I considered at the time to be a bit of an arrogant ass, was advocating voting for Nader and said that he might do so “if he had the balls”. I rejected this notion, saying it would be a wasted vote. He, too, like Nader, felt the parties were too similar and were both corrupt and too beholden to corporate interests.

Wow. If I had known then what I know now!

While I would not vote for Nader then or now, I owe Kevin an apology. He made a very good point: Sometimes you have to lose to win. He also felt that a President should run for only one term – without having the obligation of getting re-elected. That person could just get in there, clean up and be beholden to no one. Ironic that’s what McCain, the conservative maverick, says he wants to do. Picking Palin, the conservative spitfire reformer, was certainly a maverick move, too.

I’m not advocating voting one way or the other. Hey, McCain could be lying, too. But he certainly has a record of working across the aisle and of being a lot more honorable than my other choice.

And my rage tells me that if I acquiesce and vote for the sexist, homophobic, inexperienced liar Obama and put up with the DNC’s treatment of all of us – we render ourselves powerless. Our votes, our participation mean nothing.

We send the message that, not only can the Republicans game an election, the Democrats can do the same. Worse, we send the message that we will put up with it. And just keep bloggin’ on our blackberry and fillin’ up our gas tank and watchin’ American Idol.

No.

That’s not the America I know. That’s not the America I want to live in.

If I have to lose to win, so be it. A lesson must be taught and those with integrity must be encouraged. I can think of no better way to do that than to send every corrupt thug packing on November 4th.

I have long been a fan of General Wesley Clark and appreciated his early and very strong endorsement of Hillary Clinton, our rightful nominee. He worked very hard for her nomination but then, like so many, started singing the Unity Pony crapanola after the primary ended. Despite the lousy treatment he has received since, he is still playing the game to get Dems elected and what follows is excerpted from a letter I received from Wes yesterday:

… I can’t tell you how ready I am to head to Denver and join my fellow Democrats.

Personally I think Wes would rather stick needles in his eyes…

We’re a party loaded with talent. Like many of you, I’ve been thrilled by the speeches at the Democratic National Convention so far. Hillary Clinton was great last night. Her strength, her character, her call for unity. Her speech just proves once again that she is a great American and has many years of distinguished public service ahead of her.

OK. His comment about Hillary was the only piece of truth in his entire missive. And now, some drivel:

And what an inspiration Ted Kennedy was, as was Nancy Pelosi, our Speaker of the House…

Yes, I too am moved by people who ‘diss’ somebody’s record, achievements and legacy out of jealousy and a need for power. How inspiring. More…

And then there’s tomorrow. Our Party is so fortunate at this time in history to be nominating Barack Obama. After Michelle’s incredibly warm and personal speech on Monday, any American can see the strength of character in their family. It’s clear that when the Obamas become first family, they’ll definitely bring change to America.

I can’t wait to hear Senator Obama’s words in person.

Wes ‘can’t wait’?? If that last phrase doesn’t make you want to lose it, nothing will. Wes was dis-invited from speaking but is going to stand mute on the stage while the arrogant Obama is crowned Caesar tonight – while a lesser General speaks in his stead. Oh, Wes, I’m so sure you can’t wait to go to Denver!

Let’s call the following a bit of revisionist history, but this is my take on what Wes would say if he could say it:

I, Wes Clark, am here today to right a wrong. And the wrong is mine.

For 34 years, I proudly wore the uniform in service to my country. I rose to the rank of Four Star General, Supreme Allied Commander of NATO and probably have more medals and accolades from this great country and other nations around the world than I can count. I have served under many administrations, both Republican and Democratic. I was always a registered Independent as those of us in the military must pledge to support the Commander in Chief regardless of party.

After my retirement, I came to terms with my own Presidential aspirations and in 2003, was drafted to run myself. What my grass roots campaign lacked in money and organization, it compensated for in a progressive platform and heart. I watched as John Kerry wound up being named our nominee. Even though I noticed he had lifted some of my ideas, like a good, and newly minted Democrat, I worked tirelessly to get him elected to office. I did it because that’s how the Party works. That’s what you do. You work together for the common goal no matter who gets the nod.

That’s what I thought.

In 2005-2006, I crossed the country, campaigning on behalf of the seemingly hapless Democrats, hoping to finally achieve some oversight if we could take back Congress. We achieved that goal. Well, we achieved the election part. The oversight part was non-existent.

My brief 6 month run in 2003 was a great learning experience and yes, I had my own Presidential aspirations this time around, too, but quickly saw that I could not connect the dots. The dots connected for Hillary and as someone I have known and respected for 25 years, I gladly endorsed her bid for the Presidency. One year ago, I asked my own supporters to extend themselves to her in the same way they had for me. I did this because I know this woman has a spine of steel and the courage of her convictions.

I have seen up close and personal how she has fought for education, health care, veterans, women’s rights, first responders and children.

Imagine my surprise that my own supporters were split down the middle. Imagine my horror when I realized my own naivété and short-sightedness watching the appalling media coverage Hillary and her family were subjected to.

We campaigned together, I tooted her horn on every TV program I could, and finally after June 3rd, when the writing was on the wall and this primary was brought to a forced end by the Super Delegates, I did the unthinkable 2 days later: I made the statement on my website that we should all get behind Barack Obama and that he would make a great President. I did not realize what that statement would cost me in terms of my own credibility, or what would be the cost to my soul.

Once again, I was playing the good Democrat. And yes, ambition played a big part, too. I knew my name was being floated for VP so perhaps I thought I could ride to the rescue of this inexperienced man. I won’t go into any more detail than that. You can fill in the blanks for yourselves and attribute whatever negative or positive motives to me you want. You’ve earned that right.

For weeks I’d been riding Senator McCain about the fact that his military record did not prove his ability to lead or his understanding of policy. Then came that fateful day on Face the Nation when I uttered the words that “being shot down does not qualify you to be President.”

I expected the right wing freak show. It was the left wing freak show that blindsided me.

After spending five years tirelessly fighting for the DNC and being their go-to guy on foreign policy, I went from top of the VP list to bottom of the Dem elite heap. Even my old pal John Kerry saw fit to trash my name. And as for Barack, well, let’s just say I was left to suck on some arugula under his very big bus.

And now I have to answer for the mistake I made. The mistake had nothing to do with Senator McCain. My mistake was that I did not stand up and shout from the highest hill that the DNC is making a horrid blunder. Hillary’s your girl. She’s our girl. She’s the one to lead us out of this morass.

I watched her speech Tuesday night. Senator Clinton was amazing, gracious, powerful and presidential. Everything I know her to be. She reminded me why the hell I endorsed her in the first place. She is a public servant who is truly willing to put her own interests aside for the good of the American people.

She did us all proud.

But the DNC did her dirty. I should have said as much. I have paid the price in the past for opening my big mouth. Since it wound up costing me anyway, better I should have paid the price for telling the truth than telling a lie.

I believe Hillary said recently at a dinner she was having with Terry McAuliffe that this is not the Democratic Party she knew. I certainly agree.

This Convention has been an exercise is turning upside down the values that we purport to defend. Since Wednesday night’s Convention theme was Securing America’s Future (ironic since it echoes the name of my PAC), but I was not invited to speak since I am under the bus sucking arugula – I would just like to remind you that it is Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton who has America’s interests writ large. I know she will continue to fight for the values and goals of people most in need in this country.

Whatever unity pony nonsense we all feel forced to spout, I hope you can forgive me for my lapse. I believe there’s a saying to the effect that evil thrives when good men do nothing. The political M.O. that got us to this place obviously needs to be thrown out with the bathwater. And those who are behind it need to be thrown out with it.

My deepest apologies to Hillary, who understands that politics is a blood sport, but she did not deserve to get bloodied by the likes of those I chose to unite with. I hope she can forgive me for boarding Obama’s disastrous bus before having done all my homework on this guy. No wonder I wound up under it. There are many things that qualify a person to be President but he is not possessed of those qualities.

And now that I have apologized, I’d like to also give thanks.

Thanks to the ungrateful, shortsighted DNC that has kicked the best and brightest political couple to the curb. P.S. – it didn’t work.

Thanks to the news media for doing their level best to once again pick the worst possible candidate in an effort to vaunt him to the Presidency. P.S. – I think enough people are awake this time and your ever decreasing credibility is much in evidence.

Thanks again to the elitist boobs in the party for telling us that 18,000,000 voters don’t matter. P.S. – they do.

But most of all, thanks to all of you for once again giving me the opportunity to say that the Hillary I know is the lady we want to follow. P.S. – I should have.

And I know you will.

Here’s to our rightful Presidential Nominee, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Besides Hillary Clinton herself, who would be the wisest choice for Obama to pick for VP, assuming he and his handlers have their brains lined up?

It’s actually a no-brainer for me and my good friends who have also worked for General Wesley Clark for 5 years now. Here’s why.

1. Wes Clark has the National Security and Foreign Relations creds that Obama totally lacks and apparently not that interested in because he has never called a meeting of his the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, of which he is chair. Oh, and, hello? We have a lot of foreign affairs problems perched on our deck.

2. Wes Clark is also a war hero who was gravely wounded in Viet Nam (a year in the hospital and rehab), neutralizing McCain’s huge advantage here.

3. Wes Clark’s Grassroots and Netroots minions remain strong, involved, and loyal, and are overseen by talented organizers.

4. Wes Clark has the gravitas (nationally as well as internationally) that Obama totally lacks. Check out International Honors, Civilian Honors, and US Military, Individual & Unit Decorations (see left-hand menu on main page) HERE and be prepared to be mighty impressed! (One of the pleasures of my life was researching and helping to put these pages together.)

5. Wes Clark is an exciting figure and an excellent speaker (and brilliant—first in his class at West Point). Bill Richardson and Tim Kaine, not so much.

6. Wes Clark has the leadership experience that Obama totally lacks. Many do not realize that being in charge of bases is like running a small government. One of my favorite stories is about his wonderful wife, Gert, informing him that there were potholes needing repair. So Clark is not only about leading armies.

7. Wes Clark is from Arkansas. A Southerner is badly needed to balance the ticket. At least hat is what they always say.

8. Clark is “outside the beltway,” and therefore not part of the old establishment that Obama claims has to be “changed” (which, by the way, would let Biden, Bayh, and Dodd out of the mix as well).

9. Wes Clark was also against invading Iraq from the beginning, believing that time was on our side with regards to Saddam. See his 2002 speech before the House Armed Services Committee
here.

10. Obama would be stupid to pick any other woman besides Hillary Clinton as that would send HRC supporters over to McCain by the hordes.

11. Wes Clark’s so-called “McCain gaffe” really wasn’t one, and Clark got a lot of support afterwards because the statement, even taken out of the context of Clark’s praise for McCain’s service and sacrifice, is factually correct. Getting shot down is not a sign of competence to be president. BO can figure out how to deal with personally tossing Clark under the bus afterwards. (How about an apology?)

12. Wes Clark is really good looking. Also very Presidential. OK—maybe that sounds shallow, but the fact is that better-looking candidates, all else being equal, also have a better chance of being elected. (Check with the social persuasion scientific literature.) (Photo by Dion)

Alas, it looks like the Obama campaign may be not only missing the boat, but also disrespectful (and perhaps scared of such an enormous talent). It appears that the good General was tossed under the bus for a second time.

So, unless Hillary is somehow pulled out of the hat, I think we had better prepare for another 4 years of Republican rule.

Who is your pick and why?

Furthermore, if you’ve ever been lucky enough to have turned on C-Span during one of the exceptionally well-organized forums that Steve sets up (which is what he does for a living), you have been in for a treat. One of our best regular readers — whose comments are always a must-read — is “Mr. Murder.” He sent me an e-mail on August 15th about Steve’s latest forum, “Scripting America’s Priorities: The Democratic Party Platform.” Go to Steve’s blog, and read all about this important forum. (And thanks to Mr. Murder for sending me his e-mail.)

Steve Clemons’ fealty to the “Golden Rule” is an amazing feat since he is very well-connected in Washington, D.C. and knows nearly all of the major players, and I can only imagine how difficult it is to stay true to himself in such a hardball city. It would be natural to become cynical and to indulge in the gossip common in that cut-throat environment. (A prime example is Sally Quinn, who with one hand proudly holds up her religious faith, and with the other cuts people like the Clintons to shreds because they don’t meet her rather snobbish criteria for inclusion in her inner sanctum. Her snobbery is a dishonor to her supposed faith.)

So, when I read this written by Steve Clemons at his fine blog, Washington Note, I know he has thoroughly checked this story, and that he knows whereof he speaks.

Furthermore, I sense, strongly, that Steve Clemons was very unhappy as he wrote this:

“Obama to General Wesley Clark: Your Services Not Needed”

General Wesley Clark is not attending the Democratic National Convention. I was told by General Clark’s personal office in Little Rock that he would not be attending.

Clark was informed by Barack Obama’s people that there was no reason to come.

General Clark has been given no role of any kind at the convention.

Rubbing salt in the wound even more, the “theme” of Wednesday’s Democratic convention agenda is “Securing America.”

Wesley Clark’s PAC also happens to be called SECURING AMERICA.

This speaks volumes about Barack Obama. As the person who sent this article to me added, Barack Obama “holds grudges and is petty.” That is true. Furthermore, it is just plain stupid. One of Barack Obama’s glaring electability issues is his complete lack of experience in the essential arena of NATIONAL SECURITY. Barack Obama needs Gen. Wesley Clark FAR MORE than Gen. Clark needs Barack Obama. This rebuff demonstrates not only pettiness, it proves that Barack Obama lacks common sense.

Here is more from Steve Clemons about the Obama’s campaign notice to Gen. Clark that he is not welcome at the convention in Denver:

This is a mistake in my view. There are a lot of perspectives and competing agendas about how to direct America’s next national security posture — and General Wesley Clark should be one of the top tier names and personalities at the table. …

Please read all of Steve Clemons’ article. And consider the heavy heart with which I sense he wrote this.

[NOTE: I hope that our cartoonist PatRacimora also writes about this. PatRacimora knows Gen. Clark and has long been involved in his campaign activities and his PAC. She will add an important personal touch to this disappointing story.]

During the primaries, Steve Clemons made every effort to be fair to all of the candidates, including both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. He was also critical of all of the candidates when he felt they deserved to be criticized.

He told it like it is. Always. There were a couple times when I wrote to him about columns he published that were critical of Hillary Clinton, and he always — always — wrote me a thoughtful reply.

He is an honorable person. To his core. And so is General Wesley Clark.

In other words, his blog operates as an even-minded resource in the blogosphere — a true rare instance of “objectivity” these days when, frankly, we hunt and choose which stories to write about based on our own feelings and prejudices. I’m as guilty of that as anyone, at times. But Steve never is.

And now, let’s consider how this makes General Clark feel. He was a devoted partner to Hillary Clinton throughout her primary contests. Then, as soon as she suspended her campaign, he went to bat for Barack Obama. Because of one statement he made about John McCain, he became persona non grata to the Obama campaign.

There are other FINE PATRIOTS who have been similarly treated by the Obama camp. Former ambassador Joseph Wilson, a true American hero who campaigned in several states for Hillary Clinton, immediately CALLED Barack Obama’s campaign and offered his services in any way he could. He has never received a call back.

When heroes such as these are cast aside by a presidential campaign, one must ponder what the campaign is really about.

When such EXPERTS in national security are ignored, one must ponder if Barack Obama has any common sense. He needs these patriots’ advice. Desperately.

Aside from winning, that is.

It is a bit understandable that, for a while, the Obama campaign might be wary of General Clark’s services after his sincerely unintended “faux pas” regarding John McCain, which he in NO way meant as an insult but simply as a statement of fact. (It was unfortunate, but what’s past is past. And General Clark has such a distinguished record that the WHOLE of his professional and personal history must be honored.)

And why ignore Joe Wilson? Why ignore Valerie Plame Wilson? Why not appreciate and promote these fine Americans who have given their careers — and in both instances have paid a high price for sticking to their true American values — to protecting this nation and trying, always, to do the right thing?

Barack Obama has long been his party’s presumptive nominee. Now he’s becoming its presumptuous nominee.

Obama campaign’s arrogance has begun to anger reporters.

Yah think? Begun to anger? Welcome to the club, Dana – it’s been angering us for quite a while. Ironic this is bothering you now, though. I thought you thought the sun rose and set on Obama’s inexperienced behind.

Fresh from his presidential-style world tour, during which foreign leaders and American generals lined up to show him affection, Obama settled down to some presidential-style business in Washington yesterday.
…
Along the way, he traveled in a bubble more insulating than the actual president’s.
…
Capitol Police cleared the halls – just as they do for the actual president. The Secret Service hustled him in through a side door – just as they do for the actual president.

This is my favorite:

Inside, according to a witness, he told the House members, “This is the moment . . . that the world is waiting for,” adding: “I have become a symbol of the possibility of America returning to our best traditions.”

He said it himself! He has become a symbol!! Do symbols know how to govern anything or do they just prance around acting symbolic.

Remember when Wes Clark talked about George Bush “prancing around on the deck of that aircraft carrier” declaring Mission Accomplished!

So all that prancing apparently doesn’t work out so ‘good.’

As he marches toward Inauguration Day (Election Day is but a milestone on that path), Obama’s biggest challenger may not be Republican John McCain but rather his own hubris.
…
He has already amassed the trappings of the office, without those pesky decisions.
…
Obama was even feeling confident enough to give British Prime Minister Gordon Brown some management advice over the weekend. “If what you’re trying to do is micromanage and solve everything, then you end up being a dilettante,” he advised the prime minister, portraying his relative inexperience much as President Bush did in 2000.

So let me get this straight, he’s actually taking PM Gordon Brown aside and telling him how one ought to govern? Oy, somebody get the hook, please. When he figures out how many states we actually have in our union and that his uncle didn’t actually liberate Auschwitz and that they don’t speak Arabic in Afghanistan, and the small details of coming up with a health care policy that actually works, and learns what a capital gains tax is, among many other things, well that might be a start…

Unless Il Duce is too busy getting fitted for his crown. Whoever is assigned the awful task of designing that crown is going to have a heckuva time – Obama’s head is growing larger every day.

On his presidential-style visit to the Western Wall in Jerusalem last week, Obama left a written prayer, intercepted by an Israeli newspaper, asking God to “help me guard against pride and despair.” He seems to have the despair part under control, but the pride could be a problem.

The problem is Americans like an underdog. They don’t respond well to hubris. Certainly not at the voting booth.

The Obama mass marketing strategy seems to be to act as if you already have the thing, brainwashing the public into believing you do.

As Captain Picard used to decree on Star Trek: “Make It So.”

Obama acts like McCain is but a fly in the ointment. Obama treated Hillary the same way. But considering Obama and McCain are basically tied at the polls while Kerry was waaaaaayyyy ahead of Bush at this time in 2004, this does not bode well for the anointed one.

Dana, your fellow reporters note he is: “acting like the Prom Queen” and one also said, “I’ve never had an experience like this, with this campaign or others.”

And as for your colleague, Eugene Robinson, who keeps spreading the memo that calling Barack “arrogant” is like saying he’s “uppity,” Eugene should be ashamed of himself for using such a horrible manipulation. Arrogance is arrogance, no matter the race, gender or age of the person displaying it. Anyone else but Barack would be excoriated for this behavior.

Maybe Obama shouldn’t measure the White House for new drapes just yet. The Republicans have not yet begun to fight because they are waiting to see who the REAL nominee is going to be at the Convention. Trust me, they have more than enough ammunition. And they will not be intimidated by Barack’s interior designers.

Dana, it looks like your chickens have come home to roost.

We have been screaming from the highest hills for six months now that this guy is an arrogant, disrespectful empty suit who changes his policies like he changes his socks.

You treated us, and Hillary, like garbage.

Now Obama is treating you the same way.

Pride goeth before a fall.

Let’s hope he falls before the Fall.

We’d still like to win in November.

NoQuarterUSA Action Of The Day: We ask that you take part in the I Own My Vote Virtual Platform Committee Meeting now! It takes five minutes. Click here to start. If you have not yet signed the pledge, click here to do so.

The better question is, why does Jack Cafferty still act clueless when he surely has a college education? Is common sense optional at CNN?

The drive by hit squad media can resist no opportunity to treat Hillary Clinton or her 18,000,000 voters dismissively and disrespectfully. Jack, your latest piece is no exception.

But since you asked, we have a problem voting for Obama, the newbie Senator from Illinois, when Senator Clinton is ten times more qualified. We do not like, trust or believe in him. The country is in too much of a mess to hand it over to a disingenuous flip-flopper.

What he lacks in experience he more than compensates for in arrogance — a dangerous combination we have endured eight years of with George Bush to devastating result. Can you blame us for not wanting to relive the experience with the ‘Democratic’ version of the same. Although now, Obama is acting more and more like a Republican, reversing his positions on FISA, public financing, gun control, women’s rights, the death penalty, Iraq withdrawal, the Iran threat, Israel and more.

Are you really trying to tell us we should just blindly vote for someone who behaves this way simply because he has a (D) after his name?

Here’s one of your viewer’s on air comments:

Clinton supporters and others who are trying to derail Senator Obama are unhappy with their own lives. Mr. Obama is confident, intelligent, and knows how to galvanize the population.

We are quite happy with our lives, I can assure you. What we are afraid of is that his inexperience, his cluelessness on foreign policy, his fondness for Reaganomics, his capitulations on important issues and all around whiffle-waffling will give us reasons to be unhappy.

Actually, as to the viewer’s comments above, I think the reverse is true. A wise friend correctly pointed out that many of Senator Obama’s supporters are looking for something outside themselves to complete them or solve their problems. They think he is the answer, although they have no logic for their reasoning.

I have yet to hear anyone make a cogent argument to me for supporting him that has anything to do with his qualifications or his true policies. As I believe Wes Clark, of all people, said months ago while campaigning with Hillary in Texas: “We are not electing student council president here.”

Once, at a church service, I remember the Reverend saying, ‘be involved, not enthralled.’ Truly, I feel compassion for those enthralled to this false messiah because I have learned the long way that the romance of the thing is very different from the reality of the thing.

As to your thesis that PUMA members wish to derail Obama, I posit: Do we need to?

He is doing a bang up job of derailing himself.

Obama has a huge financial advantage, and the press swooning over him like high school cheerleaders. If he is so able to “galvanize the population,” why is he still in a dead heat with a 71 year old Republican without much of a platform? In a year when the Republican brand should be all but demolished…

This should tell you that we are not the folks who are derailing Obama. PUMA is not the problem. We are only a few bitter voters, after all, who should take a chill pill according to you. The problem is that many Americans are awakening from the kool-aid induced stupor of his lovely speeches and they are starting to notice that the media is thoroughly in the tank for him.

Contrary to your statement, Barack Obama did not ‘win. No one ‘won.’ Neither Senators Clinton nor Obama have enough pledged delegates to reach the nomination. Super Delegates can ‘pledge’ whatever they want now. Those pledges mean nothing until they vote at the Convention. Jack – surely you know this. Why do you pretend otherwise?

In another sign of political shortsightedness, Senator Obama has not made any efforts to reach out to the many voters that he and his campaign insulted throughout the primary. Instead, he has dismissively instructed us to “get over it”. Six weeks after the fact, this has not changed. So who is it that is “cutting off their nose to spite their face?”

Jack: throughout this primary, you have behaved just as rudely toward Senator Clinton as the worst of Obama’s college-aged paid bloggers, who have called Hillary and her voters every filthy name in the book.

You and they might be wise to reflect that such behavior is a very big reason we do not wish to support him. If this is the unity, hope and change such a person inspires — we want no part of it.

Senator Obama, on his Rockapalooza tour of the Middle East and Europe, is now taking time out from photo ops and playing hoops (you know, while Afghani women were being executed) in order to issue a ‘fatwa’ of his own: He is forbidding the press corps to wear green.

From Politico:

Mohamad Bazzi, a professor of journalism at New York University and former Middle East bureau chief for Newsday, called the instruction “very strange.”

“I guess green is the ‘Hamas color’ — but it’s also the color of Islam!” Bazzi said in an email from Beirut. “That’s one way for the Obama campaign to alienate 1.4 billion Muslims worldwide.”

Why stop now, Senator. You’ve already alienated ‘bitter’ voters, Asian voters, Italian voters, rural voters, women voters, gay voters, FL, MI, WV, KY, OH, to name a few… but wait, there’s more!

James Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, said:

“I’ve never heard of that before,” he said, adding that nobody had ever suggested avoiding the color on his satellite television show, which airs weekly in the Arab world. “This is an overreach on somebody’s part,” he said. “It’s not going to insult anybody, nor is it going to offend them if somebody does wear green.”

“Our folks in Jerusalem and the USA have no idea what this is about,” said an official of one major American Jewish organization. “We have not ever suggested that people not wear the color green.

Is Obama afraid of being associated with being a Muslim? Why? He’s a Christian, no? Why the abundance of caution? Doesn’t he realize this could be construed as him protesting too much – again?

Just as he did with his faux “outrage” at the New Yorker cartoon of he and Michelle…

I mean, if there’s really no smoke, why make a fire? But this is not the only fire…

We recently had the Obama campaign ‘uninviting’ Senator Max Cleland from a campaign event. You remember Max – the man who lost three limbs in the Vietnam war and fights to help other veterans’ recovery; one of the icons of the Democratic Party. Well, the Obama campaign says he’s technically a “lobbyist” and they wouldn’t want to open themselves up to criticism. Uh-huh.

OK, now that he’s offended all veterans. What else do we have…

Throwing Jesse Jackson under the bus. Why worry? I mean, Jesse Jackson hasn’t earned his stripes in the civil rights movement or anything, has he?

Throwing – actually, hurling General Wesley Clark under the bus. By the way, at the Netroots Convention this weekend, I think the General got a little of his own back – but I’m not sure the crowd got the reference. In thanking the Netroots Nation for sticking up for him after being skewered for his comments about John McCain, Clark said:

I was at a Washington dinner with James Carville, … I said, “James, …how are we going to convince the American people that just because we’re in a time of war that they don’t have to vote Republican? How are we going to get them to understand that Democrats have a pretty good national security record?”

[Carville] said, “You’ll never get the American people to believe that Democrats will defend them until Democrats stand up and defend each other.”

The Netroots crowd cheered, not realizing General Clark was probably criticizing Obama for not defending him.

Obama also threw Hillary Clinton’s 18 million supporters under the bus and then told us to “get over it,” with his inimitable groupie, Nancy Pelosi echoing his every turn of phrase. You remember Nancy – the House Speaker with the 14% approval rating – once again unable to keep her foot out of her mouth insulting Hillary’s voters re the possibility of her being selected for the VP slot…tossing out Gov. Kathy Sebelius’ name in the same breath – cause you know, all us gals are interchangeable.

Then there’s his audacity at wanting to campaign in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Germany. No offense there.

I now understand Senator Obama thinks our military isn’t enough and wants to employ a civilian national security force? Can you say Blackwater? Does this scare anyone else?

And now he may be offending all Muslims, too?

This is odd considering none other than Senator John Kerry said that Senator Obama is uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between us and the Muslim community. Not so much now, huh, John?

By the way, Senator Kerry, how did it feel to see your friend Max Cleland kicked to the curb by your favorite wunderkind, Obama? Are you going to make a public statement about that one and speak out for your dear old friend, Max? Or is your new friend, Barack, more important?

And then there is the good relationship Obama’s says he’s going to build up with Europe over the next eight to ten years. Ten years? Did the length of the presidential term just increase while I was out for dinner or something? How about eight years? Never mind, eight, ya gotta make it to the first four, Barack…or is that just a technicality?

Right now, considering how damaged the Republican brand is, with Obama’s enormous financial and press advantage, how is it that he’s in a dead heat with Senator McCain? I mean, he should be 20 points ahead, shouldn’t he?

Hank Sheinkopf, a respected political consultant, was interviewed on Lou Dobbs radio show last week, and said Obama ‘just needs to keep his head down and his mouth shut till the Conventioin and then he’ll get a bump.’ Wow. I thought we wanted to hear Senator Obama speak. I thought his strength was his communication skills. Maybe the first term is not such a sure thing after all.

Perhaps that is why Obama is terrified to face John McCain at a town hall meeting.

Hell, he won’t even meet with his own press corps. You know, the ones who aren’t allowed to wear green.

From Andrea Mitchell on Hardball, July 21st:

Let me just say something about the message management. He didn’t have reporters with him, he didn’t have a press pool, he didn’t do a press conference while he was on the ground in either Afghanistan or Iraq. What you’re seeing is not reporters brought in. You’re seeing selected pictures taken by the military, questions by the military, and what some would call fake interviews, because they’re not interviews from a journalist. So, there’s a real press issue here. Politically it’s smart as can be. But we’ve not seen a presidential candidate do this, in my recollection, ever before.

Don’t complain Andrea – you vomited all over Hillary at every turn so you could help this guy get the nomination. Happy now?

Maybe if the press corps asks Senator Obama what his favorite color is and wears that, they’ll actually be granted a real press conference and get to ask, you know, like eight questions or something?

And now the ultimate insult. Senator Obama has put his logo on a plane that is flying overseas instead of the American flag. We have troops risking their lives every day. He is there representating our country and by America’s leave, with America’s protection. We fly our colors.

Does he think he is bigger than the United States of America?

I find this man and his campaign so deeply offensive, words fail at his latest act of hubris and disrespect. So I will simply end here.

Qualifications:

1. Ability to parrot the same three talking points ad nauseum while pretending to say something new, deep and valuable. Yes we can!

Senator Obama:

a. Is a great communicator
b. Has good judgment
c. Brings people together

2. Position features no pay for your trouble. Necessitates barking like an attack dog to rip Senator McCain a new one, all the while pretending it has nothing to do with the newbie Senator from Illinois, who, as you know stands nobly above the fray at all times.

3. Ability to think fast on your feet is a must. Since the Senator has no real qualifications for the job of President and a sketchy, brief Senate record at best, be prepared to improvise.

Sample talking points:

a. I can’t point to anything specific, I dunno, there’s just something special about the guy. (ref. Gov. Richardson)
b. He’s so fresh. (ref. Speaker Nancy Pelosi)
c. His inexperience is actually a plus. (again, that Pelosi lady – wow, she’s good!)
d. He’s clean. He’s got the whole package. (ref. Senators Biden and Reid)

4. Surrogate must be ready, willing and able to be thrown under the bus at the first sign of trouble for the campaign. Must supply your own protective gear.

Warning:

a. May necessitate you being left hanging out to dry with your drawers down around your knees, flapping in the breeze on national TV.
b. The Senator will disavow all knowledge of your actions and insult you publicly.
c. Your character and credibility may be besmirched permanently as a result of your risky behavior pertaining to the campaign.

A personal note to you from the Senator who shall not be named:

This attractive job offer is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Rejecting this offer may label you ‘racist’. You will be ostracized once my billion dollar war chest buys me the Presidency and you are on my sh*t list.

Since we are now on board with President Bush’s faith based initiatives (Ssshh, don’t mention Bush’s name when you talk about this stuff), we’ve got some neat new Hopey/Changey concepts for you to add to your daily mantra.

Chant these to yourself before all public appearances:

I hope voters don’t see that all my stuff about change is a bunch of b.s. Ommmm.

I hope the Super Delegates don’t change their minds by the Convention. Ommmm.

I hope Rezko doesn’t change his mind about protecting my identity for a shorter sentence. Ommmm. Ommmm. Ommmm. Ommmm. Ommmm. Ommmm. Ommmm. Ommmm. (This is a big one)

I hope the media keeps pretending they don’t notice me change my positions on all my campaign promises. Ommmm.

See how easy this is?

Hop aboard the hope/change train now!

I’ll need your answer by close of business today or we’ll run you out of office when you’re up for re-election.

Obama for President: Risk you can believe in.