Clipmarks | Obama Clips

Clip for MyGov Watch

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:42:30 GMT

clipped by: altaloman

14 Science Questions for Would-Be Presidents

A group called Science Debate 2008 continues to push candidates John McCain and Barack Obama to have a debate solely on science. To that end, they've sent the presidential contenders a list of 14 questions they'd like such a debate to cover. The Wired Science page prints the questions, which cover subjects from energy to stem cells to space exploration.

Web pick posted by Neil Savage, Xconomy.com

THE Bigot is Dead

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 01:24:15 GMT

clipped by: zasel
clipper's remarks: Jesse Helms was a disgraceful representation of an elected official in our country. He despised blacks, gays, lesbians, hispanics and everyone who did not look like him or believed as he believed.

While I never take pleasure in the death of another human being, it is my sincere hope that with his death, another layer of bigotry in the U.S. is buried with him. I have to think that maybe seeing Obama on the brink of the presidency may have been just too much for his aging heart to take.

Clip Source: blogs.villagevoice.com

Jesse Helms, an unrepentant supporter of unnatural causes throughout his life, died of natural causes this morning at the age of 86.

The death of Helms is just about the best birthday present the United States could wish for on July 4. Free at last — of Jesse Helms.

As a senator, he explained that he voted against Roberta Achtenberg, President Clinton's nominee for a Housing and Urban Development position, "because she's a damn lesbian."

In 1990, Helms stayed away in protest when Nelson Mandela addressed a joint session of Congress.

While the networks and most of the press will soft-pedal his virulent racism and reckless disregard for the First Amendment in his hounding of artists, foreigners and many others, Helms stayed his divisive course until the bitter end — at least until the end of his public career.

And it's fitting that he should die during a presidential race that features young black man Barack Obama.

Obama Disappoints on FISA

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:37:45 GMT

clipped by: Wisco
clipper's remarks: The piece goes on:

"This was not an easy call for me," he wrote. "I know that the FISA bill that passed the House is far from perfect. I wouldn't have drafted the legislation like this, and it does not resolve all of the concerns that we have about President Bush's abuse of executive power... But I also believe that the compromise bill is far better than the Protect America Act that I voted against last year. The exclusivity provision makes it clear to any President or telecommunications company that no law supersedes the authority of the FISA court."

I think a lot of idealists out there are learning a couple of lessons; 1. If you want a candidate who believes exactly what you do, you're going to have to run. 2. In American Democracy, you pretty much wind up voting for the adversary you'd most want to have.

Clip Source: blog.washingtonpost.com

In recent days, Sen. Barack Obama has been targeted by supporters on his own social networking site, MyBarackObama.com, because of his stance on the FISA compromise. One backer formed a group on MyBO, as users call Obama's site, named "Senator Obama Please Vote NO on Telecom Immunity - Get FISA Right."

Today, that group has grown to more than 16,000 members, making it the single largest group on Obama's site.

In response to the group and a growing online controversy over his FISA stance, Obama took to his blog this afternoon to address concerns about his support for the intelligence surveillance bill.

Tags: news

Obama's own words

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:18:19 GMT

clipped by: naturelady
clipper's remarks: A new interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount.

Sorry, I couldn't get the hyperlink to work but you can look it up in Obama's own book..

Clip Source: www.frcaction.org

St. Obama and the Sermon on the Mount
If you missed Saint, errr, I mean Senator Obama's comments on how the Sermon on the Mount justifies same sex civil unions and held more sway then "obscure passages in Romans" it surprisingly was not the first time he has made this rather outrageous argument. In an obscure passage of his book "Audacity of Hope" from 2006 (pages 222-223) he pontificates: "For many practicing Christians, the inability to compromise may apply to gay marriage. I find such a position troublesome, ...

more >>

A Historical Look at the Presidential Candidates

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:16:49 GMT

clipped by: missjackson
clipper's remarks: This 4th of July, America celebrates its 232nd year of Independence, its break with the monarchy of England, and the start of a republic lead by a democratically elected president. In November, we will continue celebrating this democracy by electing our 44th president. Here are some historical and family photographs of each of the two major candidates (in alphabetical order), John McCain and Barack Obama. (23 photos total)

Clip Source: www.boston.com

Presidential candidates

This 1936 file photo, provided by the McCain Presidential Campaign, shows Republican presidential hopeful, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., in the arms of his grandfather, John Sidney McCain, right

John McCain, left

Navy Pilot John McCain

This Oct 26 1967, file photo provided by the Library of Congress shows Navy fighter pilot John McCain, center, being captured by Vietnamese civilians

John McCain is administered to in a Hanoi

In this Sept. 14, 1973

1973 Interview with Lt. Commander John S. McCain

U.S. Navy Commander John S. McCain

Navy Captain John McCain

Arizona State Representative John McCain,

President Ronald Reagan

US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama

Barack Obama with his Father

US Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama

This 1972 photo

Barack Obama with his maternal grandparents

This undated photo

Handout photo from the Harvard Law Review

This photo released by Obama

Illinois

In this Aug. 26, 2006

In this Aug. 16, 2007

McCain gets busy, the media gets spun, and Obama gets screwed

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:54:27 GMT

clipped by: ratilfar
clipper's remarks: So no change....

Clip Source: www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com

The more the presidential campaign unfolds, the more it resembles a Twilight Zone episode in which reality has no meaning at all.

For over a year, Barack Obama’s position on Iraq has been entirely consistent — a flexible withdrawal timeline, over 16 months, with one to two brigades a month. He would consult with commanders on the ground about how best to execute this policy, and would consider conditions on the ground, but Obama is committed to a withdrawal policy. He’s said this over and over again.

In fact, conditions-based flexibility has always been a hallmark of Obama’s policy. Asked earlier this year if he’d refine the timeline based on events on the ground, Obama said he would. Asked if he’d guarantee that all the troops would be out of Iraq, no matter, what 2013, Obama demurred.

So, yesterday, when Obama repeated the exact same policy he’s emphasized for over a year, the McCain campaign and the national political media

Tags: obama, mccain, policy, war, iraq, statements, facts

Why isn't this on MSM?

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 21:10:27 GMT

clipped by: sillysam

Clip Source: townhall.com

Obama Flips and Flops

So why is he back to sporting pseudo-patriotism on his chest? Need you ask? The primaries are over. While seducing the hard-core MoveOn Democrats that delivered him the caucuses -- hence, the Democratic nomination -- Obama not only disdained the pin. He disparaged it. Now that he's running in a general election against John McCain, and in dire need of the gun-and-God-clinging working-class votes he could not win against Hillary Clinton, the pin is back. His country 'tis of thee.

In last week's column, I thought I had thoroughly chronicled Obama's brazen reversals of position and abandonment of principles -- on public financing of campaigns, on NAFTA, on telecom immunity for post-9/11 wiretaps, on unconditional talks with Ahmadinejad -- as he moved to the center for the general election campaign. I misjudged him. He was just getting started.

San Dimasc Jazz

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:38:17 GMT

clipped by: dezeray

Clip Source: my.barackobama.com

Jazz Fest West Info/Voter Reg booth (Voter Registration Drive)

JazzFest West - July 19 & 20, 2008 Bonelli Park - San Dimas, CA Join the Obama Campaign by helping staff a booth for this year's Jazz Fest West, known for incredible music, dancing, shopping, tasty food & catching up with old friends. This year's event will feature an eclectic mix of music; Jazz, R&B, Vocals, Funk... and everything in between! There will be four shifts each day, each shift is a separate "event" so please sign up for the event that best suits you availability. Thanks so much!

Tags: music, obama events

Rove's Third Term

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 18:02:34 GMT

clipped by: debbyski

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Al Gore never claimed that he invented the Internet. Howard Dean didn’t scream. Hillary Clinton didn’t say she was staying in the race because Barack Obama might be assassinated. And Wesley Clark didn’t impugn John McCain’s military service.

Scott McClellan, the former White House press secretary, titled his tell-all memoir “What Happened.” But a true account of modern American politics should be titled “What Didn’t Happen.” Again and again we’ve had media firestorms over supposedly revealing incidents that never actually took place.

Yet the Clark affair did reveal something important — not about General Clark, but about Mr. McCain. Now we know what a McCain administration would represent: namely, a third term for Karl Rove.

Will Rovian tactics work this year?

In 2002 and 2004, Republicans were so successful at playing the patriotism card thanks to a combination of compliant media and cowering Democrats.

What did I say last year?

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:16:14 GMT

clipped by: papananook
clipper's remarks: The really sad and outrageous thing is, for the troops anyway, and innocent Afghanis, is that they all will be sent to Afghanistan to continue the war. And Iran?

Clip Source: www.nytimes.com

Senator Barack Obama said Thursday that he might “refine” his policies for Iraq after meeting with military commanders there later this summer. But hours later he held a second news conference to emphasize his commitment to the withdrawal of all combat troops from Iraq within 16 months of taking office.

His two statements in Fargo, N.D., reflected how the changing dynamics in Iraq have posed a challenge for Mr. Obama, who is trying to retain flexibility as violence declines there without abandoning a central promise of his campaign: that if elected, he would end the war.

His remarks came as Republicans — including his all-but-certain opponent this fall, Senator John McCain of Arizona — have been arguing that Mr. Obama would most likely change his position on the phased withdrawal. They suggest that with violence dropping in Iraq, bringing the troops home would risk erasing the fragile gains that have been made.

The evolving situation in Iraq has, in fact, tested both candidates.

Jihad Watch Blog entries for 7/2/08 & 7/3/08

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 15:37:01 GMT

clipped by: Charlie Martel 732AD

Clip Source: jihadwatch.org

South Korean police bust drug ring shipping heroin-processing chemical to Taliban

Geert Wilders: Prisoner of Islam

Obama a victim of "Islamophobia"!

"He yelled Allahu Akbar and hit the gas"

The truth depends on who's listening

"When Christians kill Muslims, it's the Crusades. When Jews kill Muslims it's murder, and when Muslims kill Muslims, it's like talking about the weather. Nobody really cares about it"

"The truth is that the biggest enemy of Islam is the Muslims themselves, because they have relinquished all decency in dealing with others, as well as the courage to oppose oppression"

Prisoner Rehabilitated; Fifty Million Die

35 suspected al-Qaeda recruiters arrested in Morocco

Chadian sheik declares jihad on Christians and atheists "as far as Denmark"; 70 followers killed in clash with government forces

Conviction of New York missile plot jihadists upheld on appeal

Tags: terrorism, jihad, islam, islamofascism, islamanazism, blogs

OBAMA AS COMMUNITY ORGANIZER

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:27:07 GMT

clipped by: bbdevil08

Clip Source: directorblue.blogspot.com

If I didn't know better, I'd think this was Beirut in the nineteen seventies. But, in reality, it's the current state of the housing for which Barack Obama claims responsibility as a "community organizer." It turns out the developers enriched by his government-funded subsidies did a heck of a lot better than the folks who once lived here.

The poor people living here have gotten the shaft from Obama and his developer buddies. And the mainstream media couldn't care less.

CRISIS IN ENTITLEMENTS

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:17:21 GMT

clipped by: bbdevil08

Clip Source: www.examiner.com

The SAFE concept, championed by Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va., and Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., is also supported by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, who warns that mandated entitlement spending will only drive the federal deficit higher. Congress will soon have virtually no discretionary funds to spend, because entitlements already consume 60 percent of the federal budget and will explode as the baby boomers retire in coming years.

There is little encouragement on this issue from the presidential campaign. An analysis by the National Taxpayers Union found that the new programs proposed by Barack Obama would increase federal spending by $343.6 billion, while John McCains’ would push expenditures up by $68.5 billion.

Highlights of Rebuttal to Obama on FISA

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:11:14 GMT

clipped by: seriousnews
clipper's remarks: Just a few highlights of a thorough, entertaining rebuttal to Barack Obama's latest justification of supporting the FISA Amendments Act.

Clip Source: irregulartimes.com

The FISA Amendments Act is itself a law that supersedes the authority of the FISA court. It strips power from the FISA court, making them impotent to stop spy programs initiated by the Attorney General.

You know what has happened as a result of that Inspectors General report that the Barack Obama campaign says so proudly will serve as a model for investigating George W. Bush’s warrantless wiretapping program? Two newspaper articles about the report were written. Then, 29 blog articles were written about what was revealed in those newspaper articles.

Scrambled eggs with arsenic, mercury and broken glass is better than scrambled eggs with arsenic, mercury, broken glass, anthrax spores and plutonium on the side. That doesn’t mean that you should eat the scrambled eggs with arsenic, mercury and broken glass. Saying that one thing is better than another ought not to convince anyone that the better thing is any good at all.

Tags: fisa amendments act, barack obama, rebuttal, spying, constitution, freedom, senate, vote, election

Passport Snooping by Government Workers

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 04:07:48 GMT

clipped by: Kelika

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

Government workers repeatedly snooped without authorization inside the electronic passport records of entertainers, athletes and other high-profile Americans, a State Department audit has found. One celebrity's records were breached 356 times by more than six dozen people.

The audit, by State's inspector general, was prompted by the discovery in March that three of the department's contract workers had peeked at the private passport files of Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain and that a State Department trainee had examined the file of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Investigators found that 20,500 government workers and contractors had access to the electronic system that maintained the records. Most of them worked for the State Department or the Department of Homeland Security.

some workers were motivated by fascination with the private lives of celebrities

One employee told investigators he simply liked looking up the records of professional basketball players.