What Do We Need?

As I watch CNN and MSNBC each night, I become overwhelmed with the constant debilitating arguments amongst Democrats and Republicans about what kind of President our country needs. With the economy in the dumps and our country in line for a recession, it is clear our new President needs to be a realist, to see things for what they truly are and act on it. Optimism at the moment of defeat is moronic. We need A President that represents all of the American people, not just the poor or the rich, in uniting our country. We are a country of broken politics, scandals, and poverty. While the rich get richer, the poor starve and the middle class begin their decline to becoming poor. Home foreclosures have forced families out of their homes, in turn devastating the economy. We need a President that takes care of the issues at home, before creating tensions on foreign soil. America needs change and hope to believe that we can begin to progress as a country once again. We are a divided nation, separated by politics, racial injustice and social classes. Can we endure another 4 years of "business as usual"? I am afraid not. We need a President to focus on the issues that affect each an every American citizen. Politics as usual just doesn't work anymore and we need to move forward as a country. I ask all of you, what do we need in our next President?

Spouses in Depth: Michelle Obama

Michelle Obama, the wife of Democratic front runner Barack Obama, will continue to play a crucial role within her husband's campaign. In the media, you do not hear much about what Michelle Obama does behind the scenes in her husband's campaign compared to Bill Clinton's role in his wife's campaign. Obama was criticized for her statement that this election was the first time she can say she's proud of this country. Of course her statement was taken out of context and it is clear that she intended to say she was most proud of her country at this particular time in her life. A graduate of Princeton University, Obama has much in common with her husband's opponent, Hillary Clinton. Like Clinton, Michelle Obama is a lawyer who would make a more than qualified first lady. In a 2006, Michelle was slated to earn $273, 618 compared to Barack's $157,082 Senatorial salary. Aside from perhaps Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama has had the biggest impact on her spouses' Presidential bid. She has been less aggressive in her comments towards the Clinton campaign than Bill Clinton has towards the Obama campaign, earning her a lot of respect among voters. The way the election stands now, Michelle Obama may be in the same position Hillary Clinton found herself in 1992.

Clinton: Time to Quit?

I have always been a fan of Hillary Clinton. She possesses the drive and motivation each politician needs to be successful. She is an excellent public speaker and was born to be in the center of the political scene. However, I cannot help but feel that the time has come for her to step aside and allow Barack Obama to receive the nomination. Clinton is hoping for a big showing in Pennsylvania, which I am confident she will get, however it will be virtually impossible for her to catch Obama in the delegate count. The last thing many Democrats want right now is to have this battle go all the way to the convention, leaving whoever comes out with the nomination a short amount of time to prepare and plan a campaign against John McCain. Clinton has the opportunity to exit the race with her integrity and following intact. While John McCain has not take advantage of the time given to him thus far, several more months can only benefit him. If the Democrats prove to be indecisive now, it will hurt them later on. The fact of the matter is, Clinton's approval has reached a new low and even the Rev. Wright issue failed to hurt Obama's campaign in any significant way. Obama appears to have the support of the younger population. The question is, in the general election, will these younger voters actually come out to the polls and vote? This election has received a lot more attention from previous elections and it appears Obama and Clinton alike have made politics interesting again. All in all, it is time for one Democratic candidate to emerge as the nominee and begin the long preparation leading up to the election.

Obama and Bush: The Odd Couple

I discovered something I thought was definitely blog-worthy today. As it turns out, some researcher with a lot of time on his hands conducted a little genealogy of each of the three main Presidential candidates. Believe it or not, Senator Barack Obama is related to his old pal, good ole' George W. Bush. Now once I overcame the laughter inside of me, I thought to myself "this is too funny". The two are not closely related, but nonetheless Obama finds his tenth cousin on the opposite side of the political arena. Perhaps if elected, Obama will have the opportunity to fix all the mistakes his dear cousin has left for him. Senator Hilary Clinton has been tied to Angelina Jolie (Obama is related to Brad Pitt, I know it's too funny), Celine Dion, Madonna and Alanis Morissette and Jack Kerouac. Obama is also related to George H.W. Bush, Gerald Ford, Lyndon B. Johnson, Harry Truman, James Madison, Winston Churchill, Confederate General Robert E. Lee and Dick Cheney. So technically not only is Obama related to George Bush, but he is also related to Dick Cheney. I do see the connection however, the approval rating of George Bush plus the approval rating of Dick Cheney multiplied by 2 does in fact equal the rating of Obama, small world huh? In all seriousness, the link in lineage is so distant that no emphasis should be taken upon it. I just felt that sharing this little tidbit of information would be of interest to you all. You can visit the actual article here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23797072/

Rev. Wrights Comments: Completely Unnecessary

Don't get me wrong here, but Rev. Jerehmiah Wright was completely out of line with his recent comments just as Geraldine Ferraro was with hers. Wright makes a push to point out to us the adversities Barack Obama has overcome to get where he is today. But Mr. Wright, don't you think America is well aware of all Obama has accomplished? I mean, considering his books are among the highest selling in the country, his wide national support and oh yeah, there is the delegate lead. So while your comments may not be deemed racist to me, they are pointless. The comments put Obama on the defensive when in all actuality he should be on the offensive in his quest for the Democratic nomination. Both Wright and Ferraro should familiarize themselves with the concept of silence and staying out of issues that have no concern to them. If race is going to be continuously brought up, how can we, as Americans, put the race card aside? To Hillary Clinton's defense, the world wasn't exactly handed to her either. She, like Obama, used her education to better herself and get her to where she stands today. People fail to realize that there are rich and poor people of every color and overcoming adversity is praiseworthy regardless of skin color. It is comments like these that cause transgression amongst American progress. We do not live in a perfect world, but we live in the same world, breath the same air and suffer the consequences of each others poor decisions.

Random Political Headlines

The Presidential campaign of Illinois Senator Barack Obama has seemed to be rather interesting over the last few weeks. After weeks of being the front runner for the Democratic nomination, things seemed to change a bit after Obama's pastor made some questionable comments. Just a day ago, Obama received a key endorsement by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Richardson, should in all likelihood, help Obama gain votes among the American Latino population. Obama did the right thing standing behind his pastor, no matter the degree of ludicrousy of his comments, Obama showed that there actually is loyalty somewhere in the political world. Let's face it, nobody is perfect, especially politicians. However, it is good to see a candidate stand behind their decisions and not make excuses for their stupidity. If you are looking for a perfect candidate, one without any skeletons in their closet, you are about as dumb as Donald Trump is rich. If you have gazed at CNN or MSNBC over the last few days, you have seen the pastor chaos, Geraldine Ferraro spurting garbage and the faithful New York Governor auditions where two candidates have already been eliminated. Politics is about negative publicity, nobody has ever succeeded in politics praising their opponent. How can I forget to mention John McCain, who received very positive criticism over his well thought out comments concerning Iran. I'm sorry, that was a lie, even I can pretend I am a politician every now and again. It is pretty sad when a Presidential candidate fails to remember who the players are in the Iraq war. Perhaps, important knowledge is no longer relevant in politics.

Democrats Underestimating McCain?

The Democrats are indeed underestimating good old John McCain. While they mention him every so often, they cannot completely focus on him with the battle that is currently taking place within the party. John McCain currently has the opportunity to plan a campaign against both Obama and Clinton. While the two favorites are slugging it out, McCain can use the Democratic race to his own advantage. The general consensus is that whichever Democrat earns the nomination, will become President. However, not everyone is ready for "change" to the ultimate extremity. Last time I checked, this is indeed the greatest deal of "change" our country has seen since its inception. When John F. Kennedy became President, Americans looked to his Catholic beliefs as radical change. Well, lets just say that the amount of change religion entails pales in comparison to the change the 2008 election has the potential of representing. Old school Americans are both adamantly opposed to change and heavily in favor of it. Some elderly people have longed for the day of a woman or African American in the white house. John McCain represents the normality that many people, both young and old, are accustomed to. Change, while necessary, is often very intimidating to many. A vote for John McCain assures that change will not happen for at least another 4 years. McCain will reap the benefits of the old school American mindset, so perhaps it would be wise for the Democrats to set their sights on what he does in the upcoming weeks.

What You Talking About Hillary?

It appears as though Hillary Clinton is trying to leave the door open for Barack Obama to be her Vice President. Perhaps she has not checked the polls at all over the last 3 or so months because it is indeed Obama who leads in both pledged delegates and the popular vote. Obama made it clear he didn't run for President to give up while in the lead saying ""With all due respect. I won twice as many states as Sen. Clinton. I've won more of the popular vote than Sen. Clinton. I have more delegates than Sen. Clinton. So, I don't know how somebody who's in second place is offering vice presidency to the person who's in first place." I would have to say it would be a better strategy for Clinton to instead focus on actually winning the nomination before she starts making VP assumptions. In fact, Clinton's statement was so hilarious that I found myself laughing right after hearing it. However, I am willing to bet that somewhere out there a certain Senator from Illinois found himself laughing just a bit harder. With the way things are looking right now, it may be a good idea for her to stay on Obama's good side as well. Realistically, what kind of answer did she expect to receive from Obama? I like both Democratic candidates but it appears to me Clinton didn't really think this one through. Both candidates are in it to win it and any outcome less than the Presidency is a disappointment. Granted, if either Obama or Clinton become VP, they will have a strong chance of winning the Democratic nomination in 8 years. While an Obama/Clinton or Clinton/Obama ticket is viewed as a dream ticket by many Democrats, as this struggle drags out, it appears less and less likely. By the time we reach the Democratic Convention over the summer, these two are going to be so sick of one another, they are both going to be hostile towards the idea of potentially spending the next 8 years together.

Spouses In Depth: Bill Clinton

The first in our three part Spouses In Depth series, Bill Clinton is the perfect starting point. Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States, proves to be a strong part of Hillary's campaign thus far. Bill has held rallies and spoke all over the country in support of his wife's bid for the Presidency. Serving as President from 1993 until 2001, Bill Clinton is a very popular political figure. Thus far in the campaign, he has been widely criticized for his harsh remarks toward Senator Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton's Democratic competition. Under Bill Clinton's administration, the economy soared and unemployment rates drastically decreased. For the most part, life was pretty good during his presidency. Clinton left the White House in 2001 with an impressive 65% approval rating, the greatest such rating since the conclusion of World War II. What is even more impressive is the rating remained high despite Clinton's whole affair ordeal. Bill provides Hillary with a strong partner to attack the campaign trails with. Both are impressive public speakers and have White House experience. Another advantage for Hillary would be having her husband with her in the White House should she be elected President. Bill Clinton served in the same position for 8 years and has dealt with his share of issues over the years. There is no question, Bill Clinton is the biggest asset to his spouse as she continues her campaign for President.

Michigan and Florida: Key to the Nomination

The Democratic nomination for President is turning out to be more interesting than a debate featuring the eccentric Mike Gravel. While Gravel's chances of becoming President are slimmer than the odds John Kerry actually makes up his mind, the same cannot be said for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. With Clinton trailing Obama by a slim margin in the delegate count, people are beginning to wonder what will be done with the delegates that were not awarded during the original Michigan and Florida primaries. Due to the impatience of the state governments in both states, both primaries were moved up and the DNC stripped both states of their delegates. Now, as the delegates from both states appear to be crucial in deciding the Democratic nominee, what will be done? The first option is redo the primaries and redistribute the delegates using the new results. However, it will cost a whopping 30 million dollars to fund the new primaries and nobody seems too eager to cover the cost. The second option would be of course to split the delegates 50/50. This is definitely something neither candidate is really open to at the moment. With time counting down and a nomination announcement perhaps only a few months away, it should be interesting to see how it all unfolds.

Politics Today News

Call this a bit of PT house keeping. There are several things going on with Politics Today to note:

• We will be continuing our daily posts, some days may include multiple posts by the same or different authors. We want to offer you a variety of topics to hold your interest.
• We really are very happy with our daily visitor count, the numbers have been rather impressive to us so early within the first week of our blogs creation. However, we would like to hear more from you, our viewers. Feel free to comment and critique our articles. You are here to share your opinions and thats why we write our articles.
• If you would like to suggest a topic for our writers to cover, feel free to let me know. Also, if any viewers would like to submit a guest article, we can attempt to work a spot out to have your piece posted on the site.
• I will also be reading "The Audacity of Hope" and should be able to provide a book review and perhaps provide some more, less known, information about Obama using the book.
• Again, we just wanted to get a few things out to you all to let you in on a little of what we have going on here. I hope our articles have interested you thus far and hope you will tune in each day and let us know your opinions.

How Important is Experience?

Experience has always been something associated with the presidency. We as a country have had very experienced individuals elected to the Presidency and on occasion we have also had those that lack "experience". In my opinion, no matter how much experience you say you have or what your credentials state, the Presidency is a position like no other in the country. Character and personal traits are taken more into consideration when judging how well a candidate is suited for the Presidency, as experience is a transparent benefit. Americans can relate to character, much more appropriately than they can relate to political experience. In the 2008 election, opponents of Senator Barack Obama downplay his own political experience. I recall watching an episode of the Daily Show in which John Stewart replied something to this effect in response to Obama's supposed inexperience "What happened the last time an inexperienced Senator from Illinois was elected president?" Of course, he was referring to the legendary Abraham Lincoln, the President credited with ending slavery and closing the darkest chapter in American history. Lincoln, who succeeded James Buchanan to become President, was also considered mildly inexperienced. Buchanan, on the other hand, is considered to be one of the most experienced Presidents ever elected to office. We all know, it was the "inexperienced" Lincoln who cleaned up the mess the "experienced" Buchanan Presidency left behind. The same goes for Dwight D. Eisenhower, the least experienced President ever elected into office. With absolutely no political experience, just his military generalship, the Eisenhower Presidency goes down in history as perhaps one of the most successful in US history. So, as Barack Obama faces people who question his experience today, just remember that experience has failed us before and character has yet to let us down.

A fork in the road.

In this 2008 election voters are coming out in mass numbers to have their voice finally heard. Why you may ask are people so passionate about politics when for the past two decades voting has been viewed as more of a chore than a civic duty and a privilege? The answer is simple. These Americans are all huddling around one single premise that seems to have found a place on the democratic candidates political platforms. The idea of change is appealing to almost all voters in this upcoming election. After eight years of George Bush's failed policies America's citizens are looking for a leader with the inept ability to carry us to this new world where America is the true super power that it is quite capable of being. The question is who is more apt to bring about change in government? Hillary Clinton with her recent surge from Tuesday's primaries and caucuses seems to be pushing the message of change to the working class and the elder electorate. However, Barack Obama has inspired the crucial youth vote with his inspiring speeches, his determination, and his mindset .that together we can overcome; as his campaign phrase states"Yes we can." Change itself is not an easy premise. As Barack and Hillary have both stated "change" comes from the bottom up. The divide among Democrats mostly comes from their opinions of Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Obama has frequently been scrutinized over his "lack of public service" and experience if you will. Although in our past as a country revolution and change has never come from those who live with outdated mindsets. Change comes from those who challenge the norm. Barack Obama has also been heavily scrutinized for his position on foreign policy. In a very bold and powerful move he has publicly stated that as President of these United States of America he will meet with foreign leaders face to face and rather than using brute foolish violence. He will follow the teachings of some of the greatest presidents and peace bringing people this country has ever seen and push diplomacy farther than hate. Mrs. Clinton however stands by the policy that we should not recognize our enemies and "give them the satisfaction" of acknowledging them. However, only through compromise can change happen. In the upcoming election the issue of experience will surely come up again. It is arguable to say that Barack Obama has legions of experience working with the downtrodden and desperate of Chicago as a community organizer. However, Hillary Clinton has had eight years of experience alongside her husband, former President Bill Clinton. In this upcoming election the vote will not be easy but we as Americans must see past skin color, gender, religion, and the past in order to look to the future with the man, or woman, who will take us there as brothers and as fellow citizens of this great country.

March 4th Primary: The Aftermath

With the results in from the March 4th Primaries, one thing is very clear. Although Hillary Clinton is still trailing Barack Obama by a substantial margin, she has the momentum. The Obama campaign issued a message saying that Clinton's attempts failed, were they watching CNN last night? Clinton's success last night will indeed carry on to the primaries that are fast approaching. Obama is still the front runner, do not get me wrong, but is it fair to say Clinton failed? Yes, she only marginally gained in the delegate count but she proved she is a serious candidate that can never be counted out. I hate hearing people say "Clinton should drop out so the Democrats can unite behind one candidate and focus on McCain". What people fail to understand is that the Democratic power struggle has made this election. The Democrats themselves do not need to focus on McCain, they need to bask in their moment under the spotlight. This election will be remembered as the Democratic election, where the Democrats alone brought politics back some of the glory it has lost under the Bush administration. Under the Bush administration, politics has been tarnished. Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have brought life to the Democratic Party and back to the white house. With record voting turn out and overwhelming support, the Democratic Party has everything to be thankful for in 2008. As Clinton regains her political appeal, the Democratic race is potentially shaping up to be more interesting than the actual Presidential election itself.

March 4th Primary Update: Part 1

As the results of "Super Tuesday Take Two's" are beginning to trickle in, their are some very important early updates to note.

Democrats:

Hillary Clinton has been projected the winner in both Rhode Island and Ohio as of right now. Barack Obama has also claimed victory in Vermont. With Texas too close to call, it is clear that perhaps some of the momentum has shifted back to the Clinton campaign. For both candidates, a victory in Texas will without question prove increasingly important. I personally feel, given the information provided thus far, that Hillary Clinton will claim victory in Texas and ultimately re-establish herself as a candidate with a viable shot at earning the Democratic nomination. In preparation of her push for a strong March 4th showing, Clinton went on the offensive. Her ads targeted Obama and his "lack of experience". Clinton's 3 A.M. ad gained her a significant amount of support and was very well received. Obama cannot assume that he is the frontrunner or that he has the nomination wrapped up. Previously Clinton made that mistake and it has taken her a substantial amount of time to regain ground. All in all, today's primaries proved to us that the Democratic race is still very much alive.

Republicans:

Today, the inevitable has finally been accomplished as Senator John McCain has officially clinched the Republican nomination for President. Now as the Democrats continue to battle it out, the Republicans and McCain have the opportunity to set their sights on the election. McCain now can explore potential Vice Presidential candidates and use the Democratic power shift to strengthen his campaign. With the outcry of support for both Democratic candidates very evident, McCain can use all the help he can get.

Obama's Surprising Success

Senator Barack Obama’s success has been a very interesting development over this past year politically. As he decided his enterance into the political race, Obama was not the odds-on favorite to win, nor was he even projected to make it too far into the running. Although there were many doubts about Obama’s running for presidency, he has shown that he is a strong individual, and can take a little criticism and realize that there was an immense amount of work ahead of him.

It has been quite obvious that Obama’s ethnical background has brought about some controversy as to him being fit for office. He has overcome these obstacles and has still managed to keep his agenda in order. He is solely focused on his campaign and is getting support from the nation to become the United States’ next President. Obama has proved that he can take a swift climb up the political ladder and become a favorite for the Democratic nomination in this year’s presidential election. He is currently the front runner for the Democratic nomination, but Hilary Clinton is not far behind, and things can change at the drop of a hat.

Potential VP's: John McCain GOP

As election day is approaching and John McCain has all but sealed the Republican Nomination, it is time to take a look at who he potentially may choose to balance his ticket. McCain lacks with the conservative base and needs to select a candidate that appeals to conservative voters and independents alike. Several leading candidates for the nomination include:

Joe Lieberman: Does Joe Lieberman really have a chance to be named VP? If McCain plans on winning, probably not. The independent buddy of McCain, Lieberman has a history of strong foreign policy appeal. However, being a left winged independent, a Lieberman selection will not please conservative Republican voters. With that in mind, it appears McCain's best buddy will remain off the ticket.

Mike Huckabee: I had to throw Huckabee's name into the mix here. Huckabee should be applauded for his "comeback kid" mentality, however he has to know when enough is enough. While a Huckabee oval office seems pretty unlikely, Huckabee may still have a chance to appear on the Republican ticket, as John McCain's running mate. Huckabee has adequate support among conservatives and tremendous support among Evangelicals. However, many conservatives who dislike him, also dislike McCain. While Huckabee may be a good choice for VP, he doesn't quite balance the ticket.

Marsha Blackburn: Quite the intrigueing pick, Blackburn hails from Tennessee and carries quite a bit of conservative support with her. Like Rice, Blackburn has the opportunity to steal some of the overall momentum the Democrats could have going into the election. Republicans view her as a "rising star" and she is definitely someone to watch come nomination time.

Rudy Giuliani: The former Republican front runner may get some consideration from McCain but personally I feel he carries too much baggage to get the nod. Giuliani will become a tool that the Democrats will pick apart if he is indeed selected. I have the feeling that "America's Mayor" won't become America's Vice President, at least for another four years.

Condoleezza Rice: The current Secretary of State poses to make the 2008 election even more interesting. Imagine the possibility of a white male presidential candidate and an African American female pitted against an African American male and a white female (or vice versus). Rice has the experience, serving under both George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. However, her connection to Bush proves to be her biggest downfall.

Tim Pawlenty: The youthful governor of Minnesota, Pawlenty has adequate conservative support and could potentially help McCain win the state of Minnesota come election time. His support for McCain at a very early stage in his candidacy could potentially help him gain consideration. Overall Pawlenty stands a fair chance at getting the nomination.

Another notables include:
Jim Demint
Colin Powell
Mitt Romney
Mike Pence

Clinton Campaign Faltering?

A mere six months ago, Hillary Clinton came across as the clear front runner to receive the nomination to represent the Democratic party in the upcoming election. Isn't it funny how campaigns seem to work? Now locked into a virtual tie with the surging Barrack Obama, the balance of power has seemingly shifted. On March 4th, Hillary Clinton will find herself in either a much better position or presumably defeated. Although Texas and Ohio were previously favored to go her way, Obama has gained a lot of ground over recent weeks. Personally, I find it hard to believe that Clinton finds herself in this situation. Hillary has been hit hard by Obama's energetic and empowering campaign and promise for change. She finds herself on the defensive time and time again and for the very first time must gain ground herself. The biggest question is whether or not Clinton will drop from the race if she fails to win both Texas and Ohio. I respect both Clinton and Obama and am really up in the air over who I intend to support. Both candidates represent something many Americans find very appealing, but Obama's "words" appear to have the greater effect on the majority of Americans. I guess it is best to let time take its course.