January 30, 2008 Videos Featured On YouTube.Com

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Al Sharpton Tells Bill Clinton To Shut Up



CBS asks Ted Kennedy if he fears Obama assasination

John Edwards Drops Out...

Due to John Edwards dropping out of the Presidential primaries a recap of his endorsements will not be presented today as previously promised.

I do have to say, it is sad to me, that less than a week from Super Tuesday Americans are left with only two choices in the Democrat primary. Well, I take that back, people can always vote for Mike Gravel.

Barack Obama Endorsements

• Total Endorsements 1/15/08 through 1/29/08 = 5 + A number of newspapers with undisclosed dates of endorsement on www.barackobama.com.
• Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius
• Senator Edward M. Kennedy
• Rep. Patrick Kennedy
• Caroline Kennedy
• Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
• Newspapers:
• AL - Tuscaloosa NewsAZ - The Arizona RepublicCA - Black Voice NewsCA - Chico News & ReviewCA - Inland Valley Daily BulletinCA - Long Beach Leader CA - Los Angeles SentinelCA - Marin Pacific SunCA - Modesto BeeCA - North Bay BohemianCA - Palm Springs Desert SunCA - Pasadena Star-News/San Gabriel Valley Tribune/Whittier Daily NewsCA - Precinct Reporter CA - Riverside Press-EnterpriseCA - Sacramento BeeCA - San Diego City BeatCA - San Francisco Bay GuardianCA - San Francisco Bay ViewCA - San Francisco ChronicleCA - San Jose Mercury NewsCA - Santa Barbara IndependentCA - Santa Cruz SentinelCA - Tri County Bulletin CA - Stockton RecordCT - The DayFL - Gainesville SunFL - Palm Beach PostFL - Tampa TribuneFL - St. Petersburg TimesGA - Atlanta Journal ConstitutionGA - Atlanta Daily WorldIA - Ames Iowa State DailyIA - Des Moines El LatinoIA - Iowa City Press CitizenIA - Iowa City Daily IowanIA - Sioux City JournalIA - Logan Herald-ObserverIA - Ottumwa CourierIL - Chicago DefenderIL - Chicago TribuneIL - Daily HeraldIL - Belleville News DemocratMA - Bay State BannerMA - Boston GlobeMA - Daily News TribuneMA - The Springfield RepublicanME - Portland Press HeraldMO - Kansas City CallMO - St. Louis Post-DispatchNH - Littleton CourierNH - Nashua TelegraphNH - Portsmouth HeraldNH - Valley NewsNJ - The Trenton TimesNV - Las Vegas Review JournalNV - Reno Gazette JournalNV - Elko Free PressNY - New York ObserverPA - Philadelphia InquirerSC - The StateSC - The Rock Hill HeraldSC - The Greenville NewsTN - Tri-State DefenderTX - Dallas Morning NewsWA - The Seattle Times

Source:http://www.barackobama.com/

Tomorrow ....Barack Obama and John Edwards Endorsements

Get Out of Jail Free Card......

Or is it their one and only chance to escape the "Clinton Mafia" without getting politically executed. Check out these comments from Democrats about the Clinton campaign:

• Robert Reich, former Clinton labor secretary-“Bill Clinton’s ill-tempered and ill-founded attacks on Barack Obama are doing no credit to the former President, his legacy, or his wife’s campaign. Nor are they helping the Democratic party … Now, sadly, we’re witnessing a smear campaign against Obama that employs some of the worst aspects of the old politics.”
• Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy -“He is not helping anyone, and certainly not helping the Democratic Party.” (The Washington Post)
• Maureen Dowd-“It’s odd that the first woman with a shot at becoming president is so openly dependent on her husband to drag her over the finish line. She handed over South Carolina to him, knowing that her support here is largely derivative.” (The New York Times)
• Al Sharpton-“But I think that it’s time for him to just be quiet. I think it’s time for him to stop. As one of the most outspoken people in America, there is a time to shut up, and I think that time has come.” (On The View)
• Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, the Democrats’ 2004 presidential candidate-I think you had an abuse of the truth … I mean, being an ex-president does not give you license to abuse the truth, and I think that over the last few days it’s been over the top.” (On National Journal radio)
• Tom Daschle-“… this backbiting, bitter give-and-take that we’re beginning to see more and more of, especially from the Clinton campaign. It’s wrong. Everybody know it’s wrong and it’s got to stop … It’s not presidential. It’s not in keeping with the image of a former president.”
• Source: http://youdecide08.foxnews.com

Rudy Guiliani Endorsements.....

• Total Endorsements 1/15/08 through 1/29/08 = 3
• Broward County Florida Republican Party Leader
• Gelbart and Mark Lezell, prominent Jewish community activists
• U.S. Rep. Clay Shaw (R-FL)
• States represented = 1

Source:http://www.joinrudy2008.com

San Diego Voters Switch Party Registration

• According to http://www.signonsandiego.com/ 10,000 voters have switched party registration before the registration deadline for the Presidential Primary.
• They report the "most common changes in San Diego voter registration in the 45 days before the Jan. 22 deadline" were:
  Nonpartisan to Republican: 2,399
  Republican to Democrat: 1,460
  Nonpartisan to Democrat: 1,357
  Republican to nonpartisan: 977
  Democrat to nonpartisan: 814
  Democrat to Republican: 682
  Source: Registrar of Voters Office

Hillary Video on Gay Teens....

• Fast forward to 3:32 for Hillary's view on gay teens.
• I didn't know this was an issue in this campaign.

Text of Hillary's response:

Hillary Clinton: "It’s such a serious problem and I’ve done a lot of work on this in New York because I’m well aware of the depression and anxiety and frankly the high rate of suicide comparatively among gay teens. First number one, we’ve got to do everything we can to send a clear message that we value you. We value you as a person, you as a total person. And we want you to feel accepted and respected in your community. And you’ll certainly have a president who feels that way. There need to be more services. Sometimes it’s difficult in school and there’s not a lot of understanding or sensitivity. We’ve got to do more to help prepare school officials and frankly your peers in school. Just because somebody doesn’t understand doesn’t mean that they should be a bully. They need to really be taught and guided to be more accepting and that is something that I feel very strongly about. There’s even a school in New York that I have supported that is just for gay teens because it is very difficult in many areas for people to find any acceptance whatsoever. We need more health services. We need more mentoring and assistance so that you don’t feel so alone."

Source: Hillary Clinton.com

Hillary Clinton Endorsements....

• Total Endorsements 1/15/08 through 1/29/08 = 15
• American Nurses Association
• Kimora Lee Simmons
• Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell
• Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal
• State Senator Stephanie Takis (D-CO)
• United Farm Workers
• CA Assembly member Felipe Fuentes
• Former Indiana Governor Joe Kernan
• CA State Senator Alex Padilla
• Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III
• Kansas City Star Endorses
• Former Pueblo Congressman Ray Kogovsek
• AFT Connecticut
• Richardson Colorado Campaign Co-Chairs, Superdelegate, and Steering Committee
• Michael Adler
• Former U.S. Representative Butler Derrick (D-SC)
• Labor Rights' Leader and Activist Richard Chavez
• 6 States represented by these endorsements

Source:http://www.hillaryclinton.com

Mike Huckabee Endorsements......

• Total Endorsements 1/15/08 through 1/29/08 = 4
• Arkansas Right To Life
• State and National Faith Leaders In Florida
• Mayor Tom Truex of Davie, FL.
• South Carolina Lieutenant Governor

Source:http://www.mikehuckabee.com

John McCain Endorsements......

• Total Endorsements 1/15/08 through 1/29/08 = 56
• Pasco County,Florida GOP Chairman Bill Hunting
• Former NASA Chief Sean O'Keefe
• Former Washington State Governor and Senator Dan Evans
• Former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr
• Florida State Representative Kevin Ambler
• The Montgomery Advertiser
• Florida State Representative Mitch Needelman
• Former Venezuelan Ambassador Otto Juan Reich
• Former Florida Congressman Lou Frey
• Major General Erneido Oliva
• General James J. Lindsay, USA (Ret.)
• General Carl Stiner, USA (Ret.)
• RNC Member Bruce Ash, Arizona, Sharon Giese, Arizona, John Matlusky, Delaware, Alec Poitevint, Georgia, Mary Jo Arndt, Illinois, Steve Cloud, Kansas, Alicia Salisbury, Kansas, Gary Emineth, North Dakota, Mary Jean Jensen, South Dakota, Chuck Yob, Michigan, and Holly Hughes, Michigan
• Brevard County Florida Community Leaders
• Former Senator Conrad Burns (R-MT)
• Former Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr. (R-TN)
• Florida Governor Charlie Crist
• Former Congressman Michael Bilirakis And Congressman Gus Bilirakis of Florida
• Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL)
• Florida State Senator Charles Dean
• Jeff Cloud, Chairman Of The Oklahoma Corporation Commission
• Florida State Representative Clay Ford
• Former FCC Commissioner Michael Powell
• The Polk County Democrat
• Louisiana State Representative John Labruzzo
• Sylvester Stallone
• Miami-Dade Commissioner Joe A. Martinez
• Palm Beach County Florida Area Leaders Beth Kigel And Laurie Cohen
• Florida Congressman Jeff Miller
• General Norman Schwarzkopf
• Orange County Florida Mayor Richard Crotty
• Jacksonville Area Community Leaders
• Oklahoma Speaker of the House
• Florida State Rep Stan Jordan
• Florida State Rep Carlos Lopez-Cantera
• Former New York Secretary of State Randy Daniels
• Florida State Representative Marcelo Llorente
• Connecticut State Senator Anthony Guglielmo
• Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC)
• The Daily Herald
• Senator Alfonse D'Amato (R-NY)
• The Sacramento Bee
• University Of Florida President Bernie Machen
• The Kansas City Star Endorses
• The Palm Beach Post Endorses
• The Orlando Sentinel
• The Gainesville Sun
• National Right To Life Committee Co-Founder Dr. Carolyn Gerster
• Nascar Legend Cale Yarborough
• Missouri State Representative And Iraq War Veteran Jason Brown
• The Rock Hill Herald
• The Charleston Post And Courier
• The Myrtle Beach Sun News
• Oklahoma Senator Tom Coburn
• Congressman Tom Davis (R-VA)
• Individuals and News Agencies from 21 states provided endorsements

Source: http://www.johnmccain.com

Ron Paul Endorsements...

• Total Endorsements 1/15/08 through 1/29/08 = 3
• Donald L. Luskin, Chief Investment Officer for Trend Macrolytics LLC
• Pro-Life Activist Norma McCorvey ('Jane Roe' of Roe v. Wade)
• Former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson

Source: http://www.ronpaul2008.com

January 29, 2008 Election Videos Featured on YouTube.Com

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Hillary Clinton Endorsed by NYT, Jamie Lynn gives up baby



Most Discussed:

Ted Kennedy Endorses Barack Obama

Ron Paul Defeats Hillary Clinton in First Straw Poll with Democrats vs. Republicans

• For a fee of $10.00 Middletown, CT residents participates in the first Democrat vs. Republican straw poll this campaign season.
• On the first ballot Ron Paul received 42%, Hillary Clinton 30% and Obama 20%.
• On the second ballot Ron Paul received 42%, Clinton - 32% and Obama - 22%.
• On the third ballot Ron Paul received 46% to 42%.
• Proceeds from the fee went to the Connecticut Breast Cancer Coalition

Source: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/press-releases/181/paul-defeats-clinton-in-clinton-country/

Endorsements Catching Headlines

• Since endorsements seem to be catching the headlines these days I thought it might be interesting to review endorsements for the Republican and Democract candidates as published on their websites from January 15, 2008 through today, January 29, 2008.
• Let's start with Mitt Romney.
• Total Endorsements During This Time Period = 14
• California State Legislators John Benoit, Bill Emmerson and Kevin Jeffries
• U.S. Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
• The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: "Romney Rises As Republican Choice" (1/27/08)
• Hartford Courant: "Mr. Romney For The GOP" (1/27/08)
• Salt Lake Tribune: "Executive Material: Mitt Romney Should Be The Republican Nominee" (1/27/08)
• Former U.S. Congressman David McIntosh (R-IN)
• Morton Blackwell, President of the conservative Leadership Institute
• Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS)
• Colorado Springs Mayor Lionel Rivera
• U.S. Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA)
• Georgia Senate President Pro Tempore Eric Johnson
• U.S. Congressman Ander Crenshaw (R-FL)
• Elko Daily Free Press
• Las Vegas Review-Journal
• Endorsements from individuals/news organizations in 10 states

Source: www.mittromney.com

According to New York State Chapter of NOW "Psychological Gang Bang of Hillary is Proof We Need a Woman President"

• The New York State chapter of NOW issued a press release titled "Psychological Gang Bang of Hillary is Proof We Need a Woman President"
• The following are some excerpts from the press release. For the full press release text go to: http://www.nownys.org/pr_2008/pr_011108.html
• "In short, gang raping of women is commonplace in our culture both physically and metaphorically."
• "This past week, we witnessed just such a phenomenon involving men who are afraid of a powerful woman. Hillary Clinton, in her quest for her Presidential nomination, has in fact endured infantile taunting and wildly inappropriate commentary."
• "Because they can't frighten Hillary they've decided to control her with the time-old trick of patriarchal ridicule. "
• "lives. By putting Hillary in the Oval Office we send that message loud and clear for all to hear. Little girls everywhere need to know that to be important they don't have to emulate Brittany Spears or other similarly-exploited women. "
• "Let’s put a stop to the psychological “gang banging” of women and girls."

January 28,2008 Election Videos Featured on YouTube.Com

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Bill Clinton on Barack Obama



Senator Mike Gravel on the Oppressive Nature of Religion (Yes, he is still a candidate)



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Senator Mike Gravel on the Oppressive Nature of Religion for the second time and Barack Obama's victory speech for the second time. See above for Mike Gravel and previous post for Barack Obama.

Eve of the Florida Primary,Will Election Results Mirror the Polls?

• Tomorrow is the Florida Primary for the Democrats and Republicans.
• While the Democrats will not win any delegates to the national convention, it is a winner takes all state for Republicans who lost half of their delegates to the national convention due to the early date of the primary.
• Last week an average of polls compiled by RealClearPolitics.com showed Obama with 42.8% of South Carolina voters while New York senator Clinton was getting 30.6% and former North Carolina senator John Edwards was at 14.2%.
• Actual results came in at 55% Obama, 27% Clinton and 18% Edwards.
• Current RealClearPolitics.com polls average show McCain with 29.8% of Florida voters, Romney with 29.3%, Guiliani with 15.5%, Huckabee with 12.8% and Paul with 3.8%.
• Actual results for Florida ? Wait and see on Wednesday.

January 27, 2008 Election Related Videos on Featured on YouTube.com

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Ron Paul Progress



Victory Speech in South Carolina




Top Favorites:

UN-LINCOLN: clintons tear country apart(as they lynch Obama)

Second Break In at Mitt Romney's Campaign Headquarters

• On January 24, 2008 the Mitt Romney campaign headquarters was broken into for the second time in five months.
• The two men apprehended reportedly stole computers and a surveillance tape.
• At the prior break in that occurred in September of 2007 multiple laptop computers and a television were stolen.

Mike Huckabee, Widening I95 and Drug Dealers, Prostitutes, Pimps, Gamblers

Mike Huckabee had some original answers at last week's Republican debate in Florida.

When responding to what is needed for an economic stimulus package he responded as follows:

"But if we're going to spend $150 billion, I'd like to suggest that maybe we add two lanes of highway from Bangor all the way to Miami on I-95. A third of the United States population lives within 100 miles of that.

This nation's infrastructure is falling apart. And if we built those lanes of highways -- with American labor, American steel, American concrete -- I believe it would do more to stimulate the economy.

And the reason I say that is because when we were going through a recession in my state, we were in the middle of a billion-dollar highway construction program that brought about 40,000 jobs and brought a billion dollars of capital into the economy. That's a long- term stimulus package that I think would have more impact on the American long-term future. And it would keep social capital from being wasted, fuel wasted. A lot of people in Florida sit around in traffic every day, never getting to their kids' dance recitals or soccer games because they're stuck in traffic, and we've done nothing about it."

My favorite was part of his response with regards to question on the Fair Tax:

"Everybody gets in the economy -- no more underground economy. Drug dealers, prostitutes, pimps, gamblers, non-Republicans -- (laughter) -- all of those people out there will be paying taxes. Nobody's working under the table."

While Mike Huckabee is not my candidate I do have to give him kudos for stepping outside of the political talking points and voicing unique ideas.

Letter From 25 Prosecutors About Their Views on Guiliani

Text of the letter:

Rudolph Giuliani has claimed that he was the best of those who have held the prestigious office of United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Recently, on Meet the Press, he asserted that he had “turned around” the office. We are former prosecutors from the New York area, most of whom served in the United States Attorney’s Office. We are familiar with what goes on in New York law enforcement. We challenge Giuliani’s assessment of himself. As pointed out by Giuliani’s immediate predecessor as United States Attorney, former U.S. District Judge John Martin (OpEd, New York Times, December 15, 2007), the distinguished office, with its more than 50 year unbroken history of non-political excellence, hardly needed Giuliani to “turn it around.” Indeed, his performance as United States Attorney generated considerable criticism, much of which we believe to have been deserved.Giuliani performed creditably in many respects and, like all prosecutors, had his share of significant successes. But, unlike those who preceded and followed him in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Giuliani was repeatedly accused by judges, prosecutors, law professors and the defense bar of ignoring traditional professional standards, while improperly using his office to publicize himself.

For example, a number of federal judges, experienced in criminal law, publicly chastised him for his behavior, particularly the unlawful practice of “leaking” confidential grand jury information to the press. Such behavior violates the Canons of Ethics, Justice Department regulations and, under some circumstances, can be a criminal offense.

In May 1986, United States District Judge Whitman Knapp, formerly Chairman of the Knapp Commission and Chief Appeals Attorney under Manhattan District Attorney Frank Hogan, issued an opinion in which he found that Giuliani’s office was apparently leaking privileged information to the press:

'[U]nless the media was wholly irresponsible in continually asserting that the source of these revelations was someone in the Department of Justice who was asking not to be identified, it may well be said that such improper disclosure has been established by the sheer number of newspaper articles citing such an authority in providing information that turned out to be accurate …

It may well be that the Attorney General of the United States would be interested in ascertaining which of his employees was engaged in violating one of the statutes he or she was sworn to uphold, or the Congress might deem such an inquiry appropriate. United States v. Friedman, 635 F. Supp. 782, 785.'

On January 14, 1988, United States District Judge Kevin T. Duffy, formerly Assistant United states Attorney and New York Regional Administrator of the Securities and Exchange Commission, issued an opinion criticizing Giuliani’s efforts to force the Judge to remove himself from the highly publicized prosecution of Bess Meyerson. The opinion described how Giuliani caused another federal judge to contact Judge Duffy to encourage him to withdraw, an action which Hofstra University Law Professor Monroe Freedman described as “serious misconduct.” Judge Duffy concluded that Giuliani sought his withdrawal because the judge had imposed an order limiting publicity by the prosecution:'In the instant case it is interesting to note thatthe government was content to have me preside, even after I offered to recuse myself, until I announcedthat the court rule prohibiting one-sided publicitywould be enforced …

'The United States Attorney’s motion for my disqualification apparently arises out of my long-established and oft-stated belief that cases shouldbe tried in the courtroom and not in the newspapers.United States v. Meyerson, 677 F. supp. 1309, 1313.'

Judge Duffy denied Giuliani’s motion to recuse, but withdrew from the case, saying that Giuliani’s behavior had offended him so much that he was not sure he could be impartial.
On January 15, 1988, after Judge Duffy removed himself from the Meyerson case, the trial was assigned to Federal District Judge John Keenan, who had previously served as Special Prosecutor for Corruption, New York City Criminal Justice Coordinator, and Chief Assistant District Attorney in the District Attorney’s Offices in both Manhattan and Queens. Judge Keenan immediately issued instructions that neither the prosecution, nor the defense, was to speak to the press about the case. Within 10 days, Giuliani violated this order by personally granting a two-hour interview. Judge Keenan was forced to re-issue his directive as a formal written order. (Feb. 1, 1988 Order in U.S. v. Meyerson).

On March 6, 1989, United States District Judge John E. Sprizzo, formerly Chief Appellate Attorney and Assistant Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Fordham law professor and member of the Knapp Commission, dismissed the government’s charges against seven alleged drug dealers, declaring that Giuliani “should have run a training school for Assistant U.S. Attorneys, teaching them how to try cases.”

'There is in your office – and I notice it notonly in this case but in other cases – a kind ofoverkill, a kind of overzealousness, which is noteven – from my viewpoint as a person who has beena prosecutor – rationally related to any legitimateprosecutive objectives. (Quoted in Manhattan Lawyer, 3/14/89).'Robert M. Morgenthau, respected District Attorney in Manhattan, and former United States Attorney, stated that he was “baffled” by a public attack Giuliani made on him in the course of improper discussions Giuliani had with reporters regarding a dispute with Morgenthau over jurisdiction (New York Times, 2/11/88).

Conservative New York Times columnist William Safire criticized Giuliani’s use of press leaks to threaten potential witnesses, charging that Giuliani would “do anything for publicity.”

'Apparently Mr. Giuliani sees himself as the new Tom Dewey, riding a crime-busting reputation to the governorship and a Republican Presidential nomination. In the exposure of fraud and bribery, “[he]” apparently figures, anything goes.' (N.Y. Times, 2/24/86, Page A - 15.)
In the current presidential campaign, Giuliani presents an inflated and sometimes seriously inaccurate picture of his achievements as a federal prosecutor. The major organized crime prosecutions which he claims to have originated were actually developed by the FBI, most of them during the term of his predecessor. The most important public corruption cases occurring during his tenure resulted from an investigation by the United States Attorney in Chicago, Illinois. The “Wall Street” cases were developed by the SEC, on a tip from a brokerage house. Under Giuliani, an unusual number of high profile cases began with skillfully manipulated fanfare, but ended in dismissals, acquittals or reversals.Giuliani’s claim that, as United States Attorney, he investigated the Palestine Liberation Army’s murder of Leon Klinghoffer is contradicted by the Justice Department prosecutor who handled the matter, as well as the Klinghoffer family attorney. Giuliani also falsely maintained that dragging two stockbrokers from their offices in handcuffs and arresting a third was “routine,” and that the arrests were “the tip of the iceberg.” In fact, such “show” arrests of federal defendants were previously unknown, and the cases against two of the arrestees in question were ultimately abandoned.
When asked during his mayoral race, about a case where a 62 year old survivor of Auschwitz was taken in handcuffs to a room in the United States Attorney’s Office and confronted with a blackboard bearing the words that had been inscribed over the gate at Auschwitz, “Arbeit Macht Frei – work shall set you free,” Giuliani at first denied any knowledge of the incident. When confronted with the fact that his office had investigated the matter, he acknowledged that he had known about it, but said that he had not personally followed up on it. The suspect was acquitted at trial.Giuliani’s performance as United States Attorney simply does not match his claims. In fact, we believe that the pattern of improper leaks to the media, excessive use of publicity, and other inappropriate conduct that he engaged in while serving as United States Attorney, together with the disingenuous way in which he now describes his service, casts doubt, generally, on Giuliani’s credibility and judgment.

Michael F. ArmstrongAssistant U.S. Attorney, Chief, Securities Fraud Unit S.D.N.Y.;Chief Counsel, Knapp Commission;District Attorney, Queens County, New York.
Thomas H. BaerAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.
John R. Bartels, Jr.Assistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.
Paul BergmanChief, Appeals, U.S. Attorney, E.D.N.Y.
James BrownAssistant District Attorney, Manhattan.Donald J. CohnAssistant U.S. Attorney, Administrative Officer S.D.N.Y.Anthony J. D’AuriaAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.Daniel DonnellyAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.David M. DorsenAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.Michael S. FawerAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y., Chief, Organized Crime Unit.Thomas J. FitzpatrickAssistant U.S. Attorney S.D.N.Y., Chief, Criminal Division.
Peter E. Fleming, Jr.Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.Martin R. GoldAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y. Paul R. GrandAssistant U.S. Attorney , Chief, Securities Fraud Unit, S.D.N.Y.Roger J. Hawke Assistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.Guy L. HeinemannAssistant U.S. Attorney, E.D.N.Y.Neal J. HurwitzAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.
Robert E. KushnerAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.Daniel R. Murdock Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.
Gerald E. PaleyAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.William O. PurcellAssistant District Attorney, Manhattan.Paul K. RooneyAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.Victor TemkinAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.Frank M. TuerkheimerAssistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y;.Associate Special Watergate Prosecutor;United States Attorney (W.D. Wis.).Max WildAsistant U.S. Attorney, S.D.N.Y.

Sources: http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/ny-usrudy0125%2C0%2C3018412.story and http://weblogs.newsday.com/news/local/longisland/politics/blog/2008/01/not_good_for_giuliani_25_exnyp.html

Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts, III Endorses Hillary Clinton After Non Profit Receives $1 million in Earmarks in December 2007 Spending Bill

• The day before Martin Luther King Day Hillary Clinton received an endorsement from Rev. Dr. Calvin Butts, III of the Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem.
• The Abyssinian Baptist Church of Harlem is reported to be one of the oldest black churches in the United States.
• CNS News.com reports that in December Senator Clinton, New York Senator Charles Schumer and New York Representative Charles Rangel obtained an earmark in the $555 billion spending bill that was passed awarding over $1 million to Abyssinian Development Corporation, a community development non-profit associated with the church.
• According to the group Citizens Against Government Waste "The New York Sun linked $123 million worth of earmarks championed by Sens. Hillary Clinton and Charles Schumer (both D-N.Y.) to the senators’ campaign contributors.[37]"

Update on New Hampshire Recount

• Ron Paul "Granny Warriors" to pay to complete Republican New Hampshire recount originally requested by Republican Albert Howard.
• The Republican recount started on January 24, 2008, 16 days after the New Hampshire Presidential Primary.
• The Democrat recount requested by Dennis Kucinich has been halted as of January 23,2008 because the state has exhausted the $27,000 paid by the Kucinich campaign. It should also be noted that Kucinich has withdrawn as a Presidential candidate.
• The New Hampshire Secretary of State website has links for both the Republican and and Democrat recount results.

Delegate Count Update

Democrats:

218-Hillary Clinton
127-Barack Obama
53-John Edwards

2,025 Needed

Republicans:

73-Mitt Romney
38-John McCain
29-Mike Huckabee
6-Ron Paul
2-Rudy Guiliani

1,191 Needed


Sources: CNN.com and Federal Election Commission

What Modern US President Are You Most Like? (Click the link to take the quiz)

You Are Most Like Ronald Reagan

People tend to think you're a god - or that you almost ruined the country. But even if people do disagree with you, they still fall victim to your charms!

What Modern US President Are You Most Like?

Technorati

Technorati Profile

First The New Hampshire Recount Request Now Obama And Clinton Campaigns File Complaint In Nevada

• Obama lawyer Robert Bauer sent a letter to Nevada Democratic Chairwoman Jill Derby alleging "early door closings, obstruction of voters and improper handling of voter preference cards" according to an AP article.
• Reportedly the Obama campaign received 1,600+ complaints.
• Clinton lawyer Lyn Utrecht also sent a letter saying that the Obama campaign and supporters "engaged in a planned effort to subvert the party's caucus procedures to its advantage."

Rudy Guiliani's Daughter Supports Barack Obama..

• According to a cbsnews.com article and many others Caroline Giuliani listed herself as a member of Obama's Facebook group "Barack Obama (One Million Strong for Barack)."
• Miss Guiliani is the 17-year-old daughter of the Republican presidential candidate Rudy Guiliani

Source: www.cbsnews.com

Hillary Clinton, Ed Rendell Endorsement and Norman Hsu, All Related.....

• Philadelphia Governor Ed Rendell endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democrat Presidential nominee
• August 30, 2007 The Wall Street Journal reported that Hillary Clinton returned donations from felon Norman Hsu while Ed Rendell refused to return the $40,000 he received from Hsu.
• In addition to the $40,000 from The Wall Street Journal also reported that Hsu hosted a 10 course dinner for Governor Rendell at New York City restaurant Per Se where meals reportedly cost $250 per individual.

Sources: Newsday and Wikipedia

Possibly One of the Most Undereported Stories of the Week...

MLK’s Son to Edwards: ‘My Father Would Be Proud’

Letter to John Edwards from Martin Luther King, III:


January 20, 2008

The Honorable John E. Edwards
410 Market Street
Suite 400
Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Dear Senator Edwards:

It was good meeting with you yesterday and discussing my father’s legacy. On the day when the nation will honor my father, I wanted to follow up with a personal note.

There has been, and will continue to be, a lot of back and forth in the political arena over my father’s legacy. It is a commentary on the breadth and depth of his impact that so many people want to claim his legacy. I am concerned that we do not blur the lines and obscure the truth about what he stood for: speaking up for justice for those who have no voice.

I appreciate that on the major issues of health care, the environment, and the economy, you have framed the issues for what they are - a struggle for justice. And, you have almost single-handedly made poverty an issue in this election.

You know as well as anyone that the 37 million people living in poverty have no voice in our system. They don’t have lobbyists in Washington and they don’t get to go to lunch with members of Congress. Speaking up for them is not politically convenient. But, it is the right thing to do.

I am disturbed by how little attention the topic of economic justice has received during this campaign. I want to challenge all candidates to follow your lead, and speak up loudly and forcefully on the issue of economic justice in America.

From our conversation yesterday, I know this is personal for you. I know you know what it means to come from nothing. I know you know what it means to get the opportunities you need to build a better life. And, I know you know that injustice is alive and well in America, because millions of people will never get the same opportunities you had.

I believe that now, more than ever, we need a leader who wakes up every morning with the knowledge of that injustice in the forefront of their minds, and who knows that when we commit ourselves to a cause as a nation, we can make major strides in our own lifetimes. My father was not driven by an illusory vision of a perfect society. He was driven by the certain knowledge that when people of good faith and strong principles commit to making things better, we can change hearts, we can change minds, and we can change lives.

So, I urge you: keep going. Ignore the pundits, who think this is a horserace, not a fight for justice. My dad was a fighter. As a friend and a believer in my father’s words that injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere, I say to you: keep going. Keep fighting. My father would be proud.

Sincerely,

Martin L. King, III

Source: Fox News http://embeds.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/01/22/mlks-son-to-edwards-my-father-would-be-proud/

Today's Election Videos Featured on YouTube.com

Most Viewed:

Bill Clinton Falls Asleep During Martin Luther King Speech



A Stronger America With Veterans for Ron Paul (Part I)



Most Discussed:

Tensions Flare Between Obama and Clinton at SC Debate



Ron Paul: The Market Crash!


Enjoy!

Memory Lane

Barack Obama on Good Morning America 1-21-08



As I watched this interview on Monday and after having viewed the "fairy tale" video a few days ago I became a bit nostalgic for the Clinton years. Let's see there was Whitewater, China Gate, Waco, Elian Gonzales, Monica Lewinsky, Vince Foster, etc.

Here are some must watch videos found on YouTube.Com that will really bring you back:

Clinton testify



Elian Gonzalez Seized From His Miami Home, April 22, 2000




Chinagate - Lewinsky Deception


David Koresh at Waco



Got it? How bad does the Patriot Act sound now!

Louisiana Republican Caucus Today......

• Caucus is held today to determine "uncommitted" delegates for the state convention
• Delegates only go on to state convention if a Republican candidate does not get 50% or more of the vote in the primary on February 5, 2008
• Reportedly, Ron Paul is the only Republican candidate to campaign in Louisiana in the last few days
• Results and date of the Democratic caucus in Louisiana to follow

January 21, 2008 Election Videos on YouTube.com

Most Discussed:

Ron Paul MSNBC Discussion of 2nd Place Finish in NV



This was the only featured election video of the day.

Quote of the Day

At the Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter Mike Gravel said the following:

"I'm sure a lot of you have tripped out on alcohol," Gravel said. "It's a lot safer to do it on marijuana."

followed by:

"With respect to other drugs, if you've got a problem with coke, go to a doctor, get a prescription and get it filled at a drug store."

and then:

Go get yourself a fifth of Scotch or a fifth of gin and chug-a-lug it down and you'll find you lose your senses a lot faster than you would smoking some marijuana," Gravel said.


Source: chicagotribune.com

Time in Washington vs. Age

• Numbers presented youngest to oldest by party

Democrats

• Barack Obama, Age 46 - Years In Washington = 4 - % of life in Washington = 8.7%
• John Edwards, Age 54 - Years In Washington = 6 - % of life in Washington = 11.1%
• Hillary Clinton, Age 60 - Years In Washington = 16 - % of life in Washington = 26.7%
• Dennis Kucinich, Age 61 - Years In Washington = 12 - % of life in Washington = 19.7%
• Mike Gravel, Age 77 - Years In Washington = 15 - % of life in Washington = 19.5%

Does not include Barack Obama's 8 years in the Illinois Senate, Kucinich's years serving in City Council and as Clerk of the Court or Mayor of Cleveland.

Republicans

• Mike Huckabee, Age 51 - Years in Washington = 0 - % of life in Washington = 0%
• Mitt Romney, Age 60 - Years in Washington = 0 - % of life in Washington = 0%
• Rudy Guiliani, Age 63 - Years in Washington = 0 - % of life in Washington = 0%
• John McCain, Age 71 - Years in Washington = 26 - % of life in Washington = 36.6%
• Ron Paul, Age 72 - Years in Washington = 19 - % of life in Washington = 26.4%

Does not include Governor Huckabee or Romney's terms as state governors or Rudy Guiliani's terms as mayor.

By the numbers, if you want change from current Washington it looks like Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney or Rudy Guiliani is your candidate.

Source: The candidate's official websites

Hmmm.....Lawyers one of the most hated professions-CORRECTED

According to many opinion polls lawyers (and senators) are among the most hated professions. Interestingly enough many of this year's Presidential candidates are one or both.

• Barack Obama (D) - Lawyer and Senator
• Fred Thompson (R) - Lawyer and former Senator
• Hillary Clinton (D) - Lawyer and Senator
• John Edwards (D) - Lawyer and former Senator
• John McCain (R) - Senator
• Ron Paul (R) - Senator CORRECTION: Dr. Paul is not a Senator he is a Congressman in the US House of Representatives.
• Mitt Romney (R) has a JD but, never practiced.

2000 - 2008 Iowa Caucus Comparison

Iowa Caucus 2000 Results:


Republican




Democrat




Iowa Caucus 2008 Results:



Republican




Democrat

January 20, 2008 Top Election Videos on YouTube.com

The only election related video today was featured on the "Most Viewed" list:

Chris & Keith on Thompson

Upcoming South Carolina Democratic Primary

• Available Delegates = 45
• Candidates Appearing on the Ballot:

1. Joseph Biden - Biden withdrew from the presidential race in early January, after the ballots were programmed, so his name will still appear as an option.
2. Hillary Clinton
3. Chris Dodd - Dodd withdrew from the presidential race in early January, after the ballots were programmed, so his name will still appear as an option.
4. John Edwards
5. Mike Gravel
6. Dennis Kucinich
7. Barack Obama
8. Bill Richardson - Richardson withdrew from the presidential race in mid-January, after the ballots were programmed, so his name will still appear as an option

• Total number of registered voters in South Carolina = 2,246,242

Sources: http://www.sciway.net/ South Carolina Information Highway and South Carolina Election Commission

Funnies from this week's campaigning......

• Hillary Clinton in Compton (Los Angelas, California) “I know something about birthing,” Clinton said. “You need a president who will be a partner. Who says, ‘What is it I can do to make sure this birth is easy and successful?”‘
• After all of the hubbub over references from the Clinton supporters over Barack Obama's past drug use his website list the following scheduled events:

Kal Penn & Tatyana Ali College Tour in Columbia, SC (Official Event)
Thursday, January 17 at 12:15 PM
Benedict College (Columbia, SC)
Tatyana Ali "Ashley" from the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Kal Penn "Kumar" from Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle are coming to Vorhees...
View Event Details
Signup To Attend This Event
Report Objectionable Content

For those of you out there who don't know the movie Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle is about two young men with a serious case of the munchies after getting high.

• Huckabee - It's a toss up between frying squirrel and changing the Constitution so here they both are:

"(Some of my opponents) do not want to change the Constitution, but I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God, and that's what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards."

Correction: South Carolina Democratic Primary Date

• The Democratic primary is one week after the Republican primary on January 26, 2008.

Fairy Tales.........

American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This fairy tale
n.
A fanciful tale of legendary deeds and creatures, usually intended for children.
A fictitious, highly fanciful story or explanation.


(Download Now or Buy the Book) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Here is the context in which Bill Clinton uses the phrase fairy tale with regards to Barack Obama:

• More disturbing than the quote is Bill's demeanor


• The question posed had nothing to do with Oabama's voting record on Iraq


• The question was about a "chief strategist" being accused of being "out of touch with reality" with regards to expected "bounce" in Iowa


• After answering the question Bill moves on to Obama's judgement on the war and supposed changes in position (which I can not confirm or deny at this point)


• How did this morph into him asking the questioner "what did you think about Obama calling Hillary.." or the "Obama handout that was covered up, that the press never reported" calling Bill a crook?


• Wait, it gets better, somehow Ken Starr is involved......."he spent $70 million" and "indicted innocent people". What does this have to do with a question about bounce in Iowa?

Nevada Caucus Stats......

• Date: January 19, 2007
  
• What: Nevada Republican and Democrat Caucuses
• Delegates up for grab: 25 Democrats and 34 Republicans
• Democrat Candidates:
• Hillary Clinton
• John Edwards
• Mike Gravel
• Dennis Kucinich
• Barack Obama

• Republican Candidates:
• Rudy Guiliani
• Mike Huckabee
• Duncan Hunter
• John McCain
• Ron Paul
• Mitt Romney
• Fred Thompson

• Number of Campaign Events Scheduled per Candidate in Nevada prior to Caucus:
• Hillary Clinton - Information not published on candidates website
• John Edwards-4
• Mike Gravel- Information not published on candidates website
• Dennis Kucinich - Information not published on candidates website
• Barack Obama - 10
• Rudy Guiliani - 0
• Mike Huckabee - Information not published on candidates website
• Duncan Hunter - Information not published on candidates website
• John McCain - 1
• Ron Paul - Information not published on candidates website
• Mitt Romney - 2
• Fred Thompson - Information not published on candidates website

• Poll Results
• Does it really matter? Out of millions of voters the pollsters are only contacting 500-600 for each poll. Hardly a representative cross section of a states voters.
• Interesting Fact - Nevada Secretary of State only lists two caucuses. One for Democrats and one for Republicans. What do the Green Party, Libertarians, etc. do to select their candidate? No wonder it is so difficult for a third party to become viable.

Sources - Nevada Secretary of State, realclearpolitics.com, candidate's individual websites

Top Election Videos on YouTube.Com January 16, 2008

Featured Videos - No Election Related Videos

Most Viewed - No Election Related Videos

Most Discussed - Kucinich Weekly Update 01 14 08 "David v. Goliath"


Top Favorites - No Election Related Videos

My Opinion on Fox News.Com Article....

The following article is an excellent example of why I created this blog. I'm not a journalist or journalism student however, I find the editorializing and misplaced adjectives in these types of articles distort the facts. The tone is so tainted it is easy to neglect the facts presented and ponder those omitted.

Without further ado, here is the article with my comments:

Michigan Primary Could Make or Break Romney’s Presidential Run
by FOXNews.com
Monday, January 14, 2008

DETROIT — Mitt Romney looked to voters Tuesday in the economically troubled state of Michigan to salvage his faltering campaign to win the Republican nomination for U.S. president, while John McCain looked to strengthen his front-runner status.

NJ Comment - If the Romney campaign is faltering why does he lead his opponents in the delegate count? Note I do give them a pass on the "economically troubled" label due to the unemployment figures in Michigan.

Tuesday’s primary in Michigan could change the face of the Republican race.

NJ Comment - What is the face of the Republican race? There are 50 states and so far there have been two caucuses and one primary.

Polls showed Romney, a millionaire businessman and former governor of Massachusetts, in a tight race with McCain, an Arizona senator and former Vietnam prisoner-of-war. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a preacher-turned-politician popular with religious conservatives, was running third.

NJ Comment - Now really, can we do without the labeling? What part of news is that?

Of the three, Romney is most in need of a victory as he looks to restore at least some of the luster lost with second place finishes in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary. Romney and his top advisers insist he will stay in the race regardless of the Michigan outcome.

NJ Comment - I hate to be redundant but, Romney has the most delegates and is the only one to finish in either the 1st or 2nd spot in the last three contests. How is he "most in need of a victory"?

McCain, winner of the New Hampshire primary, is hoping a Michigan victory can lock him in as the party’s front-runner — a remarkable turnaround after his campaign nearly collapsed last year. But if Romney prevails, the race would become even more uncertain, with three different winners in each of the first three major contests.

NJ Comment - No comment here. I don't have enough info on the near campaign collapse!

In campaign stops Monday, both Romney and McCain pledged to lead a revival for a state and an auto industry ravaged by recession as worries about the U.S. economy are replacing the Iraq war as the main issue among voters. Michigan has the highest unemployment rate in the United States at 7.4 percent.

The Democrats, who are not campaigning in Michigan because of an internal party dispute, were gathering in Las Vegas for a debate Tuesday night with polls showing a tight contest in Saturday’s Nevada caucuses.

Democratic front-runners Hillary Rodham Clinton, the New York senator and former first lady, and Barack Obama, the Illinois senator, stepped back from a controversy over race Monday night, agreeing that a prolonged clash over civil rights could harm their party’s overall drive to win the White House.

NJ Comment - "front runners" Hillary was third in Iowa, that means Edwards was second. Why isn't he considered a front runner?

Obama, bidding to become the first black president, was the first to try and quell the controversy that flared in the Democratic campaign in recent days, calling reporters together to say he did not want the campaign “to degenerate into so much tit-for-tat, back-and-forth that we lose sight of why all of us are doing this.”

NJ Comment - One white parent, one black, does this qualify?

Referring to his Democratic rivals, Clinton and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards, he said that while they may have disagreements, “we share the same goals. We’re all Democrats, we all believe in civil rights, we all believe in equal rights.”

Clinton’s campaign issued a statement in the same vein about an hour or so after Obama spoke, saying it was time to seek common ground. “And in that spirit, let’s come together, because I want more than anything else to ensure that our family stays together on the front lines of the struggle to expand rights for all Americans,” she said.

For all the maneuvering, Democrats are without a contested election on Tuesday in Michigan.That was in contrast to the Republican campaign, where McCain and Romney battled in a Michigan primary that neither could afford to lose.

NJ Comment - What maneuvering were the Democrats doing in Michigan? Once again this is the third contest out of 50 states, the US Virgin Islands, Guam, etc.

Romney, despite the millions of dollars he spent on his own campaign, has generated little national support. Opponents question his commitment to conservative causes and some voters are wary of his Mormon religion. But Michigan is his home state and he is the son of a popular former governor. He tells voters that his personal history and his background as a business consultant and venture capitalist give him the skills to help reverse the job losses in the state.

NJ Comment - What is the determining factor for national support? What opponents, what conservative causes and what voters are wary?

“I will not rest until Michigan is back,” said Romney, who jabbed at McCain for saying many jobs among the thousands lost will never return.
“If I am elected as president of this great land, I will not need a compass to tell me where Michigan is, and I won’t need to be briefed on what’s going on in the auto industry or what’s happening to Michigan’s economy,” he said to cheers at the Detroit Economic Club.
McCain also acknowledged the state’s economic woes. “We will create new jobs,” insisted the senator, who also favors improvements in federal programs for laid-off workers. “We have the innovation, the talent, the knowledge and the ability … to regain Michigan’s position as the best in the world.”Huckabee has less at stake in Michigan than either of his two rivals, and hopes to attract votes from those hard-hit by the state’s economic troubles, as well as from evangelical Christians, who powered him to victory in the Iowa caucuses.

Why does Huckabee have less at stake? He's currently 2nd in the delegate count?

He, too, campaigned on economic issues Monday.
“Some of the toughest competition your company faces is from its own government, whose tax policies, whose regulatory policies, the threat of litigation, makes it real tough to stay in business,” he told employees at a Demmer Corp. plant near Lansing that makes armored personnel carriers for the military.

Complicating Romney’s task is that Democrats and undeclared voters can participate in Michigan’s Republican primary. That could boost a candidate like McCain who has proved attractive to non-Republicans. McCain was tied with Romney in one weekend poll but trailed him by 5 percentage points in another.

McCain won the Michigan primary eight years ago against George W. Bush on the strength of independent voters. He has regained the lead in the national polls that he enjoyed months ago — before his campaign nearly came apart over the summer.

Among other Republicans, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson is making a last stand in South Carolina, which has its Republican primary on Saturday. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who led national Republican polls for most of last year, campaigned Monday in Florida, where he hopes to resurrect his flagging campaign in that state’s Jan. 29 primary.

NJ Comments - Really to both...did their campaigns issue statements to this effect or is just more punditry?

The top Democratic candidates are sticking to pledges not to campaign or run ads in Michigan after the Democratic party stripped the state of its national convention delegates for breaking rules related to scheduling the primary. Obama and Edwards, who is third in the polls, took it a step further by removing their names from the ballot.

Clinton and Obama have been locked in a tight race following Obama’s unexpected victory in Iowa. Clinton, who is trying to become the first woman president, later won the New Hampshire primary, confounding political observers who had predicted an Obama victory.

NJ Comment - "unexpected" Obama polled strong in Iowa, how could his victory be so unexpected? Hillary on the other hand confounded New Hampshire voters because she was not strong in the polls.

Now try reading the article without the red text. Sounds a little different doesn't it!

Michigan Primary Comparison of Number of Voters in 2000 and 2008

• 1.3 million votes in 2000 when John McCain won Michigan primary
• 1.4 million votes cast for Republican and Democrat candidates in 2008

New Hampshire Recount Story...

Video From Russia Today:

Latest Headlines on the New Hampshire Recount...

NH Secretary of State gives candidates estimate of re-count costBoston Herald, United States - Jan 14, 2008By AP CONCORD, NH - New Hampshire’s Secretary of State’s office has given Republican Albert Howard and Democrat Dennis Kucinich estimated costs to re-count ...

Secretary of State gives candidates estimate of re-count costBoston Globe, United States - Jan 14, 2008CONCORD, NH—New Hampshire's Secretary of State's office has given Albert Howard an estimated cost to re-count last week's Republican presidential primary: ...

Representatives mull vote recount in New HampshireTaipei Times, Taiwan - Jan 13, 2008New Hampshire officials said on Friday they would conduct a hand recount of the state's Democratic and Republican presidential primaries at the request of ...

Candidates say they can pay for recountsNashua Telegraph, NH - 12 hours agoBy KEVIN LANDRIGAN CONCORD – A pair of defeated Democratic and Republican presidential candidates have to come up with $127200 between them by Tuesday ...

News Minute: Here is the latest New Hampshire news from The ...WCAX, VT - 15 hours agoAP - January 15, 2008 2:25 AM ET CONCORD, NH (AP) - Two presidential hopefuls asking for a re-count in the New Hampshire primary have until this 3 this ...

January 15, 2008 on YouTube.com...

Featured Videos - No Election Related Videos

Most Viewed - No Election Related Videos

Most Discussed - "I got a crush on Hillary" Day Two - See Video in prior post

Top Favorites - No Election Related Videos

Slow day on youtube.com so here's a little gem.....Penn and Teller on Polling. Don't watch you're sensitive to the "F" word.

New Hampshire Secretary of State Press Release

http://usgovinfo.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?site=http://www.state.nh.us/sos

Today on YouTube.com....

Featured- No Videos

Most Viewed

"I Got a Crush...On Hillary" (take that obama girl!)


Ron Paul Limo Ride - Second Day - See prior post for video

Most Discussed

Frank Luntz Issues a Warning to Ron Paul Supporters!


Top Favorites- No Videos

Low Hanging Fruit......

Disclaimer: This is an opinion post.

• The media seems to have taken the low hanging fruit and have focused today's campaign news on the racial tensions between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
• An interesting but, under-reported story is the New Hampshire recount. The New Hampshire Secretary of State issued a press release on Friday authorizing the recount.
• The recount is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, the 16th, the day following the Michigan Primary.
• Rudy Guiliani skipped campaigning in Michigan and instead went on a 700 mile bus tour of Florida.

www.youtube.com Feature, Most Viewed, Most Discussed and Top Favorite Videos

I'm not entirely sure how I got started down this path but, everyday I check www. youtube.com's Feature, Most Viewed, Most Discussed and Top Favorite videos to see which candidates are ranked. The results surprised me. On most days Ron Paul has two to three and the other candidates are not mentioned at all. Here are today's results:

Featured: No Candidate Videos

Most Viewed: No Candidate Videos

Most Discussed: http://www.youtube.com/v/laU9j1Cb7l0&rel=1">

Top Favorite: Ron Paul Limo

Ron Paul, Down Fox ( Movie About Ron Paul And Fox News)

Hillary on Obama's Iraq Record

Today's count:
Ron Paul - 3
Hillary Clinton - 2

Michigan Poll Update....

Mason-Dixon Polling & Research

Polling Dates=January 9th through 11th, 2008

Voters Polled=400 "likely" Republican voters

Margin of Error= +/- 5%

Mitt Romney 30%
John McCain 22%
Mike Huckabee 17%
Fred Thompson 7%
Rudy Giuliani 6%
Ron Paul 5%
Duncan Hunter 1%
Alan Keyes 1%

American Research Group

Polling Dates=January 9th through 11th, 2008

Voters Polled=500 Republican voters and 100 Independents for a total of 600

Margin of Error= +/- 4%

John McCain 31%
Mitt Romney 30%
Mike Huckabee 15%
Ron Paul 8%
Rudy Giuliani 7%
Undecided 6%
Fred Thompson 3%
Duncan Hunter 0%
Alan Keyes 0%

So the plot thickens....

In an effort to put the candidates views on the issues in perspective I thought it would be relevant to post the Democrat and Republican party platforms. So often the political rhetoric is centered around which candidate is a "real" fill in the blank (Republican, Democrat, Conservative, Progressive, etc.)

My first stop was http://www.rnc.org/. I easily found the party platform under the "About The GOP" link. Surprisingly it was 90+ pages long. Not what I expected but, then again a symptom of the bureaucracy our nation faces. Imagine any public company with a mission statement 92 pages long. I do believe the message would be lost. What is worse is that in my eagerness to discover what the platform was I completely skipped the title of the document and started reading. By page two I realized my error. This platform was written for re-electing President George W. Bush in 2004. Going back to page 1 I now noticed the document was clearly titled "2004 Republican Party Platform: A Safer World and a More Hopeful America".

On to the Democrats now. Not surprising http://www.dnc.org/ is in step with the http://www.rnc.org/. The website navigated in a similar fashion. Under the "Our Party" link I clicked on the "What We Stand For" and then the "Party Platform" link. This time I paused to read the title "The 2004 Democratic Party Platform: Stronger at Home, Respected in the World". Alas, it is only 43 pages long compared to the Republican's 92.

Now that my interest is peaked it is on to the Libertarian and Green Parties. At http://www.lp.org/issues/printer_platform_all.shtml the Libertarian Party Platform adopted in 2006 is posted. It is two years more current then the two major parties and is 10 pages long. Lastly, at http://www.gp.org/platform.shtml the Green Party Platform adopted in 2004 is posted. It is 76 pages long.

It should be obvious from the name of this blog that I intended to provide fast, factual information about the election. Who knew it would be so hard to find!

Iowa and New Hampshire Results

I was hoping to give you a few facts on the results of the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary however, official results could not be found. First I tried a google search for the official or certified results with no luck. I then went directly the Secretary of State websites for both states. Neither reported the results of the recent caucus / primary. I'm not sure what source the other news organizations are reporting from but, I'll keep checking for the official results and post them when available.

Michigan...The next contest

• Hillary Clinton is the only Democrat running in Michigan after other Democrat candidates dropped out of the race due to the state party violating national party rules and scheduling its primary early
• Democrat Michigan voters can choose to vote for her or vote uncommitted
• Mitt Romney and John McCain are said to be in a dead heat. The Detroit News/WXYZ Action News poll this was based on asked 604 likely Republican voters and hard a margin of error of 4%.
• The Detroit News/WXYZ Action News poll reported the following: John McCain 27%, Mitt Romney 26% and Mike Huckabee 19%.
• More to follow......stay tuned.

YouTube.com 1-17-08 Top Election Videos

"Most Discussed" videos listed on youtube.com's homepage features:

Obama: Reagan Changed Direction; Bill Clinton Didn't


"Top Favorites"

Hillary: Who is ready on day one?

Certified List of Presidential Candidates Published by California

http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/election_2008/certified_list_pres_primary.pdf

8 Pages Long!

Delegate Count

Democrats:

• Barack Obama - 30 Delegates (Iowa 18 - New Hampshire 12)
• Hillary Clinton - 28 Delegates (Iowa 17 - New Hampshire 11)
• John Edwards - 21 Delegates (Iowa 17 - New Hampshire 4)
• Bill Richardson - 7 Delegates (Iowa 0 - New Hampshire 7)

Republicans:

• Mitt Romney - 24 Delegates (Iowa 12 - Wyoming 8 - New Hampshire 4)
• Mike Huckabee - 18 Delegates (Iowa 17 - Wyoming 0 - New Hampshire 1)
• John McCain - 7 Delegates (Iowa 3 - Wyoming 0 - New Hampshire 7)
• Fred Thompson - 6 Delegates (Iowa 3 - Wyoming 3 - New Hampshire 0)
• Ron Paul - 2 Delegates (Iowa 2 - Wyoming 0 - New Hampshire 0)
• Duncan Hunter - 1 Delegate (Iowa 0 - Wyoming 1 - New Hampshire 0)

Note: Wyoming's Democrat caucus will be held March 8, 2008

Sources: CNN.com and Federal Election Commission