Un-electability??

I return from my brief hiatus to discuss the electability of presidential candidates. Most people would agree that Obama has a lead in the race for the nomination. However, after many weeks of debates, campaign speeches, and news articles, I am wondering whether Obama has not shot himself in the foot.

Let me point out a few things. The first is that perhaps some of Obama's comments were taken a bit too far. However, I must note that this is a man running for the highest office in the land and perhaps he should choose his words more carefully. The second thing to note is that the longer the race draws on the more I find out about Obama including his ties to Rev. Wright, among other nefarious characters.

Obama's patriotism has even been called into question, and I know that his will be hammered home if he should win the nomination. I confess, I do not know Obama personally. I've never met the man, and for all I know he could be a good guy. However, in a country of around 3 million people I doubt many people know Obama personally.

Much like me they will be forced to read the news, and listen to the debates. I wonder after listening to all his rhetoric when people will start asking for answers. McCain has already started outlining some of his plans. Granted Obama has said some stuff, but I wonder how long the wave of "change" can last. After his comments in the past months, it looks more like it is Obama himself that is mired in the ways of old.

Michelle Obama to Colbert: "My husband has a better voice."

Click the picture to watch Michelle Obama's appearance on The Colbert Report.

McCain Tries to Show That He Does Understand the Economy

What Is In a Name? Everything.

I just blew the dust of my old, 7th-grade history book, and it tells me that the South's secesion from the Union was for the most part the result of the South wanting to maintain and expand the aberration that was slavery and the North not.

It also reminds me that the President of the South was a man by the name of Jefferson Davis. That, of course, makes him the racist of racists, bigot of bigots.

Well, yesterday a Geoff Davis apologized, as if that were enough, for calling Barack Obama—a 46-year old man—'boy' over the weekend.

Ain't that something.

In case you forgot, Southern whites degradingly called blacks 'boy' during the Jim Crow era to assert a position of superiority.

Geoff is a Congressman from Kentucky—a state that arguably seceded from the Union. But even if not, Kentucky had a pretty active lynch mob.

And with that, it all makes sense. The only difference between the President of the South and that Congressman from Kentucky is how they spell their first name.

The Colvin Report: I Am Bitter!

I find myself here, in State College, small town Pennsylvania, pondering why I am so bitter while I smell the sweet aroma of gun oil that lingers in the air as I clean my Glock 30 subcompact pistol with my aged white t-shirts.

I had just got off the phone, where I told my parents to pray for me and rejoiced over the blessings that my family has received over the past few years. You see, my 7 year old niece, who nearly died in a horrendous car accident, involving a run-a-way driver (who was probably an illegal alien), had just completed her last session of physical therapy. It was a blessing by anyones measures, or at least an ignorant bitter small town boy like myself.

After that, I couldn't help but complain about why I was still unemployed. Why did all the jobs leave Pennsylvania 30 years ago to never return? Why did George W. provide for a lower average unemployment rate than Bill Clinton, but I still didnt have a job?

Finally it came to me.... I would embrace the conservative party and cling to my bitterness as a way to solve my problems. Alas, I figured things out. Now I can put my gun back together, say my prayers, and go to sleep.

Thank God for Annie Oakley.

Completely Self-indulgent Post

I admit, this is only interesting to Obama supporters, like myself. But, this is another difficult test for Obama, and I think this is sharp, and funny, response. Again, self-indulgent, and totally biased post. Had to do it. (sorry, it's long, but try to watch the whole thing)

The Colvin Report: Finally, The Democratic Battle Solved

The World Wrestling Entertainment "WWE" has extended an offer to Obama and Clinton to finally finish things once and for all, the American Way -- in the wrestling ring.

“Forget about who’s better prepared when the phone rings at 3 a.m., and find out who’s better when the bell rings.”

Finally, an answer to our problems.

Someone Explain this McCain ad

This has got to be the worst political ad of the last 5 years. Individuals this ad reminds us of:

Thomas Edison (b. 1847)
Ted Williams (b. 1918)
Theodore Roosevelt (b. 1858)

Did McCain go to grade school with these guys?

And what the hell is with the multi-colored smoke? And the History Channel narrator? And the misquoting of the honor code? And the headless rockstar? Did McCain's media shop really make this?

D-Vitt avoids speaking about his "serious sin"

Slate's Deathwatch

McCain: 'I Made a Mistake'

Say what you will about John McCain, but the man gained some respect for me today when I glanced at my television, which was tuned to CNN, and saw McCain standing in a Memphis rain shower at what used to be the Lorraine Motel where Martin Luther King was gunned down.

I wondered if I'd had too much to drink last night.

You see, it's no secret that Republicans don't court the black vote, almost snubbing those black Americans who might share their ideals--a move that troubles me to no end, but that's a subject for another post.

To see McCain standing in what for him is hostile territory giving a speech and humbly admitting to a mistake was impressive and admirable.

If you don't know, over 20 years ago McCain voted against an MLK Holiday. Today he called this move a mistake, and his admission drew boos, rightfully so, from the crowd. One lady, though, can be heard saying "We forgive you." Another man can be heard saying, "We all make mistakes."

I commend John McCain for his candor. As I watched his speech, what I saw was not just a tense situation to which he was willing and brave enough to subject himself, but I also saw a manifestation King's dream.

I saw an attempt at reconciliation on the very day in which 40 years ago the most resounding voice that ever dared our nation to make good on its promise was silenced.

What is undoubtedly true is that racial tension is rooted in misunderstanding. Many whites don't understand blacks and their perspective, and many blacks don't understand whites and their perspective. To know this to be true, I need only look back to Rev. Wright's comments and the backlash that ensued and to what I saw McCain doing on television today and the boos I heard as he was doing it.

What is important, then, is that we do our part to move beyond racial impasse to understanding. And though that'll never be easy, that it is not will never mean that we shouldn't try which is just what King would want us to do.

Today, McCain tried.

Remember the Man, Live the Dream

Fourty years removed, I imagine that it is easy to take for granted, or maybe even forget, what it is that this man did not only for black America but for all of America.

I imagine that it is not easy to comprehend the ridicule, the difficulties, the plain hatred that he endured and the passion that, despite these things, wouldn't allow him to sit idly, that wouldn't deny him the wherewithal to first go against the grain and then to do it not violently, not angrily but peacefully.

King died fourty years ago today, but his dream lives on.

He was and is the greatest catalyst for social change that our nation, that our world has ever seen, and but for his being bold enough to stand for justice and but for his audacity to dream that dream, I, a black American, wouldn't be where I am today.

We must not forget, though, that King dreamed not in black, white and brown. Rather, King dreamed in red, white and blue.

And on his beliefs, his teachings, his words and his dream we, America, shall overcome.

Obama and Race

To me, the most interesting stats related to race and primaries:

Solutions in Iraq

Given the recent outbreak of violence in Iraq, I think it is time the U.S. reevaluated its position and reduced its push to make a "full democracy" from the ashes of Iraq. The Bush administration seems bent on making Iraq a democracy in the mold of the U.S. However, I wonder if Bush or those close to him have ever opened a history book.

What many fail to realize is that before the federal form of government we enjoy today, the U.S. was governed by an "Articles of Confederation" where all states were equal and each State was entitled to one vote. Back in the day, citizens of New York would have been just as angry about being lumped together with South Carolinans as Shites are at being put together with Kurds and Sunnis. For awhile, we plodded along under the Articles of Confederation until we woke up and realized a system where one vote couold be a veto was senseless. We came together in Philadelphia and realized we had much more in common than we previously thought.

I propose we let Iraq follow the same path. Right now Iraqis identify with their regional association whether Kurd, Sunni, or Shite. If we let them form 3 states they would probably be happy. They could work together under a United Iraq much like we did under the Articles of Confederation. Given several years, I would bet that many of them would start to remember that they have more in common than they think they do right now.

We seek to impose a federal form of government on a nation that has little experience with such things. In doing, so we seem to have forgotten where we came from. We had to create a nation from the ground up much like Iraq is trying to do now. We formed a federal form of government after we realized that was the best thing. Even embodied in that document are the compromises of our forefathers. Slavery, although the scourge of the Constitution was a product of compromise. Same thing with the Senate and the House of Reps. We need to let Iraq work through their problems the same way we had to. The time has come to look at history and realize the struggle it takes to form a "more perfect Union."

The Colvin Report: Bill Clinton at Penn State

After hearing the former President I have solidified my belief that Hillary would make a good President. Of course I want McCain to win, but HIllary really has done a lot for this country.

Some of Bill's main sticking points involved her grassroots efforts with disabled children to follow their health care, being the first to act in aiding Katrina victims when FEMA failed, and the great things she has done for womens rights all around the world.

She has been the first to see things, developed plans, and acted on numerous occasions but I cannot say the same things for Obama. Really, he hasn't done anything constructive for leading legislation in the US senate and his Chicago record only shows failed initiatives at extreme gun control.

Obama doesn't even give to Charity and to me that is important. He didn't give over 1% of his AGI until 2005 when he was a US senator and even then his controversial church was the main benefactor. If you are worried about helping those less fortunate that seems like an easy outlet. The Clinton's have always helped the people.

While I don't believe we should unconditionally pull out of Iraq, I have to share this analogy Clinton gave.

If your neighbors house burns down, anyone in here would let them stay for a week, a month, or maybe even 6 months but when it comes to 5 years, its not about the fire, its about being comfortable on the couch. To some extent I think that is right, the Iraqi military and government has become complacent and has not met our bench marks. They need to realize that they need to rebuild their own house.

As Clinton pointed out, the President is the most fortunate civil servant in the United States and they can't forget that... they can't forget the people.

Delaware Courts: Stuck between a Fed and a Hard Place

By now I'm sure that everyone has read about the JP. Morgan bid to aquire Bear Sterns. JP Morgan is set to bid for 39.5% of the Bear Sterns outstanding shares, and recently increased the offer from $2 per share to $10. Presumably, JP. Morgan thought this would alleviate any concerns by shareholders in approving the transaction.

However, several organization including pension plans has filed a tempory restraining order against Bear Sterns alleging that the deal is "preclusive and coercive" and in essence avoids a shareholder vote and entrenches management. The action was filed in DE chancery court because Bear is a DE company.

Ultimately, the Delaware courts are faced with a tough decision. Apply the law or do what the Fed wants. On one hand the DE law dictates that if the deal is preclusive of other deals then the transaction should be overturned. On the face, the deal seems preclusive becuase JP Morgan is given the option to buy the Bear Sterns building as an asset acquisition even if the deal falls through. Additionally, JP Morgan has pushed the deal through swiftly as a result of the Fed backing the deal. Furthermore, Bear is precluded of looking for other bidders.

However, the Fed is promoting the deal. In fact trading hit highs after the announcement of the deal. However, I wonder if another bidder could be found. JP Morgan agreed to acquire Bear as a result of the Fed promoting the transaction. Did such Federal promotion squeeze out other potential bidders that now believe they can't acquire Bear? Should Bear executive at least be allowed to shop for higher offers? It would seem not considering the deal is set to close very quickly, and many Bear executives want to approve the deal. However, this squeezes out minority owners. The last time I checked, directors owe a duty to all shareholders.

It seems that the Fed. might have over meddled, and might force DE law to change. I wonder is someday in the future, I will be reading another acquisiton attempting to apply the "Bear Sterns Exemption"

The Colvin Report: Gallop Poll Says My Dem Or McCain

According to a new Gallop Poll democrats say they will either support their democratic candidate or they will vote for John McCain and back the GOP. Of course there is still time for party unity, but this should worry democrats.



Among people who identified themselves as Hillary Clinton supporters, 28 percent said they would vote for McCain if Obama is his opponent.

The same poll found that 19 percent of Obama supporters would switch sides and cast ballots for McCain if Clinton is the Democratic candidate.

The survey interviewed 6,657 Democratic voters nationwide between March 7-22 and had a margin of error of 2 percent.

Does Hillary want Obama to lose?

Read and discuss...

"To inflict serious damage on the likely nominee in order to pursue a one-in-ten chance of securing the nomination is, ipso facto, an act of extreme selfishness. Whether she sees the damage to Obama's prospects as a feature or a bug is interesting but beside the point."

Backlash?

Guilt by association. So convincing, maybe we should write it into the constitution next time.

But seriously, if you've ever heard anything offensive, or intimately know anyone offensive, bring your earmuffs to politics.

Update: Here she goes... Bring this one, Hillary. Make yourself look like a fool.

To Carville, Richardson Like 'Judas'

I'm sure you've heard by now that former Presidential candidate and Governor of New Mexica Bill Richardson has endorsed Barack Obama.

Likewise, I'm sure you've heard that in response Clinton supporter and strategist to the Bill Clinton Presidential campaign James Carville likened Richardson, who serverd as Ambassador to the United Nations and as Secretary of Energy under the Clinton Administration, to Judas.

Ok...

What's most troublesome, though, is not that Carville likens Richardson to Judas, but that in doing so he likens Hillary to Jesus Christ.

Yikes.