I have given a name to my pain, and it is Batman.

Listen Private, you need to follow the example of Sergeant Jessie Jackson and Corporal Jeremiah Wright. When those heroes time came, they didn’t hesitate to throw themselves on that grenade, or under that bus. They just did what had to be done.

Another Drudge-a-licious meme…legions of scorned lovers adoring fans will swoon. Waylon Jennings sure had a close call. Hillary even closer. Or maybe not. Regardless, this bodes well for Giuliani.

Cross-posted @ GFA51

Obama “puzzled” by Iraq comment frenzy
Sat Jul 5, 2008 6:19pm EDT
By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent

ST. LOUIS (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said on Saturday his plan to end the Iraq war was unchanged and he was puzzled by the sharp reaction to his statement this week that he might “refine” his timetable for withdrawing U.S. combat troops.

“For me to say that I’m going to refine my policies I don’t think in any way is inconsistent with prior statements and doesn’t change my strategic view that this war has to end and that I’m going to end it as president,” Obama told reporters on his campaign plane.

Obama, who based his drive to capture the Democratic nomination on his early and ardent opposition to the war, said earlier this week he might alter his plan to bring combat troops home within 16 months of taking office if conditions on the ground changed.

The comment drew heavy coverage and sharp criticism from some on the left and the right, with Republicans saying it showed he was vacillating on Iraq.

“I was a little puzzled by the frenzy that I set off with what I thought was a pretty innocuous statement,” he said on a flight from Montana to St. Louis. “I am absolutely committed to ending the war. I will call my joint chiefs of staff in and give them a new assignment and that is to end the war.”

Obama will face Republican John McCain, a staunch advocate of the war, in a November presidential race that is certain to focus heavily on the future of U.S. troops in Iraq.

“What’s really puzzling is that Barack Obama still doesn’t understand that his words matter,” said McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds.

(my emphasis added)

Let me unpuzzle this for you, Barack. By the end of 2007 you and your fellow Democrats in Congress had completely betrayed we the people who put you in office in such numbers the previous year. You fucked up on Iraq, Barack. Not your initial decision, but your continued support in blood and treasure. It’s a bad idea to fucking remind us of that right now with your waffling and nuancing.

How ever are we to leave now?

When he was dead broke, man I couldn’t picture this…

Because what everyone needs to hear is more about what Karl Rove thinks.

Forest or trees?

So it’s up to you to tell the truth about this country we love. It’s up to you to tell the truth about what’s happening to ordinary people. It’s up to you to remind us that democracy only works when ordinary people claim it as their own. It’s up to you to write the story of America that leaves no one out. - Bill Moyers

So sorry to have left you on such a pessimistic note. I don’t know how an honest life can be led without a good dose of cynicism and a sprinkling of pessimism. What I’m trying to achieve with this series of posts could best be described as a Clintonesque “third way.” On one hand I want to believe in the America that I thought I used to know. I want to believe in the America that inspired me to serve my country in the military, the America that towards the end of the 90’s appeared to be making strides to narrow the gap in areas like gender, economic, and racial inequality.

On the other hand I’ve seen the same things you’ve seen for the last seven years.

My solution. I endorse Barack Obama for President. McCain is the last thing this country needs…insult to injury. But I’m not voting for him. Call it “Strategic Voting.” I live in New York and have the luxury of deciding between Ralph Nader, Ron Paul, and Cynthia McKinney. Party politics and strict ideology has laid this country to waste and I want to see the two major parties struck down even more harshly. If I lived in Florida like Bryan, or Texas like Steve the equation would be totally different. I believe Barack Obama will be the next President–the first legally elected one in over a decade– as much as I also believe in the central tenant of his campaign that this election is about us engaging in our Democracy again. This is my way of doing it.

CBS Poll: Obama Leads McCain

…and it gets better:

While both McCain and Obama get to 200 when adding up their base and lean states, it’s clear to see that Obama has an early edge with the map. Not only does he have a stronger base than McCain does (153 votes vs. 116), but he also has more potential pick-up opportunities. When you add toss-up and “Lean McCain,” Obama has the potential for another 222 votes outside his favored states. By comparison, McCain’s toss-up and “Lean Obama” comes to 185. Of course, potential sometimes means just that — potential. At the end of the day, Obama will likely win few, if any, of those Lean McCain states. But his reach right now seems much longer than McCain’s.

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