George W. Bush and the GOP has taken our nation far off the track and into the ditch on the right. I don't expect anyone to be able to quickly and dramatically repair the functioning of our government or the horribly tainted image we currently project to the rest of the nations on the planet. I think Hillary would bring the greater executive skills to the Presidency and Barack would bring the most inspiration.

I recognize strong attributes in both, but I will support Obama because I believe America needs a fresh face with a strong voice that can inspire our nation to begin the pursuit of higher ideals than what Bill Clinton, George Bush or Hillary Clinton possess. [More]  . . read more

At the Victory Column in Berlin's Tiergarten, Obama extracted Old Glory from the burn-pile and gave Brand America a desperately needed shot of adrenaline. 200,000 ecstatic Germans jammed the streets in what turned out to be the political shindig of the year. Many of them were waving American flags and chanting, "Obama, Obama, Obama". It was like Jack Kennedy had risen from his moldy sepulcher and made his way across the pond for one last rousing ovation. Obama has the very same affect on crowds. Its a gift and he knows how to use it to great advantage...

What can we say about Obama's oratory skills that hasn't already been said? He is one of those unique characters who knows how to tap into the collective psyche and put them under his spell. He is the closest thing to a Pied Piper we've seen in the last half century. Whatever one thinks of his politics, his speeches are a welcome reprieve from the simian blabbering of President Dimwit. [More] . . read more

Now I don't know what Obama has in mind to try and turn things around for these good people, but it's a start that he's at least talking to them, not down, but honestly. His talk in response to attacks on his statement about rural residents being "bitter and frustrated" is as good as anything Ralph Nader has said about the power and mendacity of the ruling political elite in America...

If Obama sticks to this rhetorical approach in the coming weeks, he will nail this nomination in spite of a concerted attack on him by the corporate media and by the combined forces of the Clintons and McCain. And if he does win the nomination, and resists the siren calls of the Democratic Party leadership to "move to the middle," and instead hones this populist message, he will go on to win the presidency. [More] . . read more

The latest Michigan poll gives Obama a 5% gap putting the state with Obama instead of being a Tossup. CNN now gives Obama a 9% gap in Pennsylvania (Joe Biden was born there & represents next door Delaware). These 2 states give the Obama camp 255 of the 270 electoral college votes they need. The New York Times still lists another 6 states as Tossups (Ohio, Virginia, New Hampshire, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada & Arizona) but Florida has also come into play with a 48%:48% CNN poll.

So, as long as the electoral votes in his camp stay steady, there are now 4 independent pathways to an Obama victory. If he wins either Ohio (ahead) or Florida (dead-even) he wins straightup. If he wins Virginia (ahead) and any other tossup state he wins. Or, the long shot, if he wins New Hampshire (ahead), Colorado (ahead) and New Mexico (behind), or any other ‘red’ state, he wins without needing Ohio, Virginia or Florida.

Of course standing against those pathways is the Supreme Court and a mass of extremist media outlets like Fox News. On the other hand there is a 5th way he might win – any combination, or all, of the above and they’ll start to call it a landslide. An Obama victory won’t solve the planet’s problems but it might give America a chance to avoid destroying itself and taking the rest of us with it. It’s a chance. The rest of the world hopes you take it.  . . read more