It started with a Clinton campaign worker in NH when they made a reference to Obama’s drug use, something that was covered in a book that he wrote telling of his youth. It was then continue on talk shows, the reference to coke was pretty frequent. And more surrogates started injecting more and more stuff about this and his race. As you would think, the Clinton campaign waited a couple of days for the media to pick up and drive the accusations home before they would come out against such messages.

And then along came Bill. you know the 1st Black president. At least that is what he has been labeled. Bill started with the position that everyone was piling on or picking on Hil. Most of this came to a head in NH. And then Bill made damn sure that he threw a couple of race comments out there. Oh, he would never do that, he was the first black president. Did you listen to his comments, I mean really listen to his comments. Not what the media told you he said, but the real comments.

Some in the media, mostly Hil fans, have said that some were wearing their race on their sleeve and that he did not intend it that way. Most of these were said a couple of days after the comment was made, again, giving the media time to drive the point home to the voters. His comment on why Obama won SC was because he was black. That is why Jesse Jackson won their in ’84 and ’88. That comment could not be taken any other way than Obama was black and that is why he won.

So which way is it? OK, I live in a state where civil rights has been an issue for 50+ years, and Bill was not speaking in code, he was well aware of what he was saying. He has been in politics long enough to know what he was doing. He said what he meant and in a way that it was intended. He is a surrogate for his wife. He was well aware how the black community would see his comments.

Bill and his mouth have erased years of his statesmanship. He has now been silent, but the damage to his lagacy has been done. Time for Bill to shut up.

Hunter–gone! Thompson–gone! Giuliani–gone! Kucinich–gone! Now Edwards–gone!

The media has done a helluva job picking the candidates for the public. Since their main concern was a popularity contest, a beauty contest, real messages were never allowed to be heard. Instead we get candidates that are vague at best.

The candidates were picked by the media for their ratings potential. Never for who would be best for the country and could possibly solve the problems we are facing. Look at the candidates solutions for the economy. Tax cuts and corporate incentives; these are hopes not a solution. These are vague and are something designed to get the people’s attention. They will not solve the overall problem.

Back in the 1920’s, an Italian theorist, said that the mass media would become the political hegemony, that is the media would control the political process. He was right! And this election illustrates it more so than those of the past. So Gramsci was a brilliant person he saw the power the media was going to have in society.

Sad that the people are ignorant enough to allow this to happen. They spend there time worrying about, what race a person is, or the gender or the party or…..use your imagination. Instead of forcing this lying ilk to give them specifics, they allow a general bullsh*t answer and then cannot understand what goes wrong. Time and time again, they fall for the crap!

Reagan! Reagan! Reagan!

Last night at the Reagan Library in Californian the remaining Repub candidates squared off for the final debate before Super Tuesday. And as usual, all want to claim the ghost of Reagan. What does that mean? That is another post at a later date. Of course, they were asked the typical Reagan question–Are we better off today? And just as predictable all but Paul said yes. Apparently, they do not live in the same US that I do.

The night was spent mostly allowing McCain and Romney go after each other and their stands. Which CNN seem to want. Huckabee, when he was allowed to talk, said something cute and humorous, but nothing of substance. Paul as usual was confrontational and said all the things that make Repubs squint.

so who won? Nobody, all it was to let the people see Mitt and John go at each other. Paul and Huckabee were just there trying to get some attention. CNN did its part of not allowing them to say too much. Mitt spend all night with a smirk on his face when McCain was talking. It was irritating.

All in all it was a McCain/Romney showcase for CNN. Nothing more than that. CNN as well as a lot of media outlets have chosen the candidates from both parties. Who lost the debate? The people. Not once did the question get asked as how they would change the economy. Only vague ramblings about tax cuts and corporate incentives. Which is a hope not a solution.

All in all a throughly forgettable experience. Thank you CNN for making it so.

I have been watching this drama play out and have noticed a few things that I do not like about the way it is being reported by the media. Why do I say this? Ok Edwards is still a viable candidate, he is still getting about 15% of the vote, but yet he is seldom on TV for interviews. He is consistently doing better than Huckabee but yet gets none of the opportunities that Huck gets. look at MSNBC’s Morning Joe, Huckabee is on there damn near everyday; I have seen Edwards on there twice. Why is this?

Edwards is an anti-corporation candidate–there is the best answer. He is fighting for the removal of poverty or at least most of it and he is an outspoken critic of the corporate strangle hold on Washington. Since most media outlets are owned by corporations, he is being marginalized by the networks. Only corporate friendly candidates seem to be the only ones acceptable.

Edwards stays on his message, but maybe he should pick up a bible and a bass guitar and maybe the media will be a bit more warmer to him. look at the last dem debate, Hil and Obama go after each for about 20 minutes and this after Blitzer said in the intro that the debate would be one on issues and yet he ignored Edwards and let the two duke it out. Edwards had to remind Blitzer that there were three candidates on the stage. Yet Blitzer still spent time massaging the corporate candidates. They did it with Kucinich and now they are zeroing in on Edwards. Because the voter is so lazy, this tactic will most likely work.

Edwards is being screwed by the media, please voters, DO NOT let the corporations decide who your candidate will be. If you like what Edwards has to say, then by all means, vote for the man. The control of the media is not what a democracy is all about. The people need to wake up and smell the cow pie.

Edwards is the ONLY candidate for the Dems that has a different message to deliver to the voters. I say to the Mainstream Media, Let John Edwards Be Heard! And what is it about Huckabee that makes him a more viable candidate than Edwards. Cute sayings are NOT a platform!

I know, am I an Edwards supporter? If by liking his message makes me a supporter then yes. Will I vote for him? Since my state primary is in March, it will depend on what he does between now and then.

Let edwards Be Heard!

Afterword: Never mind! a few hours after I wrote this piece it was announced that edwards was leaving the race of the Democratic nomination. He has not endorsed anyone as of this writing.

Looks like it will be a really good year for anal statements. It is one one month into the year and already there are 4 contenders. God, I Love My Job!

This submissions comes from Rudy Giuliani’s concession speech after finishing a distant 3rd in the Florida Repub Primary.

Rudy said, “return to honesty and substance in our political process….” Giuliani in Fla.

Has anyone been watching the primaries and the campaigns? Have you seen any honesty and substance on either side of the political spectrum? I have not. Maybe I missed something. NOT!

Well it is over in Florida–McCain wins 36% to Mitt’s 31% to Rudy’s 15% and Huckabee’s 13%. The win gives McCain a huge lead in delegates. After all the fiery exchanges between Huck and Mc were good political theater. It has been conformed since Rudy spent 10+ months in Florida and the best he could do was a distant 3rd, he will drop out of the race and will endorse McCain. The endorsement will be made at the Republican debate on Thursday 30 Jan 08. Huckabee has vowed to stay in the race and to search for delegates that he may use for leverage at the convention. His presence will most likely help McCain to Romney’s chagrin. But for now, McCain will be the front runner simply because of his lead in the delegate count.

On to the Dem side. Since the DNC has stripped Florida of its delegates, this race meant absolutely nothing! Hillary won 50% of the vote, Obama won 33% and Edwards won 14%. There was one interesting fact coming out of this race. Clinton’s support and votes were before SC and Obama’s was after….most likely she won on name recognition only. Hillary gets to make a victory speech and make a photo-op and grab some headlines away from Obama. That is all she accomplished by the win. She gets NO delegates, but the race was important. But she won in Mich that had its delegates stripped and she did not make a big deal out of it. Publicity is all she won.

Ok now on to Feb 5th, Super Tuesday, or Super duper Tuesday or Tsunami Tuesday, whatever you want call it, will show who is the true front runner in both parties. It will be fascinating to see what types of campaigns will be run. recently they have been negative and nasty on both sides.

Fun stuff–cannot wait!

Here is another good one for consideration. It is from last nites State Of The union speech by Pres. Bush.

Bush said: “as long as we continue to trust the people our nation will remain strong……….”

This from the group that gave us the Patriot Act. Does it mean we do not really need it?

Yesterday Sen. Ted Kennedy announced that he was supporting Barak Obama in his bid to become the president of the US. His speech was very good and inspiring. Over the many years I have been watching and analyzing politics, it was one of the best.

Bill Clinton has been throwing around many accusations and innuendo’s about Obama and his campaign. His has been very skillful at these attacks. After years of Washington and lying he was trying desperately to sabotage Obama’s campaign. But the bright spot in Kennedy’s speech was that he incorporated most of the negative attacks and basically threw down the gauntlet to say that he had Obama’s back. So now when Bill tries to be cute, there will be someone to act as a surrogate for Obama and Ted is an expert at this stuff.

But will Ted’s endorsement help? IMO, it will. Why? First, Ted is a big draw with Latinos in the West, because of his support and friendship with Cesar Chavez of the Immigrant worker movement. Second, Blue collar workers gave always had a love affair with the Kennedys and that could translate into support at the ballot box. Lastly, Ted brings 40 yrs of experience into the Obama campaign, so that should quieten the no experience bs.

On Sunday, Caroline Kennedy, the daughter of JFK, endorsed Obama also. She said that she did so because Obama inspired people the way her father did and that a new generation should take over the leadership of the country. that was something her father said many years ago.

Will these endorsements assist Obama? I say yes it will. The Kennedys will hit the campaign trail and talk up Obama, especially out West. we will see come Feb 5th and Super Tuesday. hopefully, the appearance of Ted, especially, will shut Bill up. He is using race and this from the man some called our first black president.

I will be brief, for I am sorry that by now it has been analyzed to death. Bush spoke and spoke and spoke and…..still did not hear anything that was uplifting. So, here is my analysis:

YAWN
Bullsh*t
Sounds like unresolved New Year’s resolutions
A basic list of admin failures
SNOOZE

The only way that this speech could have been less boring was if the Pres had fell off the stage. We can only hope that 2009 will bring true change and true democracy. I did however, get an anal-ocity out of this speech. I will post it later.