Donuts And Politics

SHOCKING new polls, in my opinion, if they hold up and if t hey show a trend that continues next week and in future polls. I’m skeptical that Obama can win Pennsylvania, but hey, the Giants won the Superbowl.

Some context, on March 8, Survey USA had Clinton up by 19 points.

Insider Advantage (4/2): Clinton up, 45% - 42%

Rasmussen (4/1): Clinton up, 47% - 42% (3/12: Clinton 51 - 38)

PPP (4/2): OBAMA up 45% - 43% (3/16: Clinton 56 -30)

Go Giants!

Real context (from the Chicago Tribune) for the Reverend Wright and his service  to our country, as compared to Cheney, Bush and even Bill Clinton:

By Lawrence Korb and Ian Moss

In 1961, a young African-American man, after hearing President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country,” gave up his student deferment, left college in Virginia and voluntarily joined the Marines.

In 1963, this man, having completed his two years of service in the Marines, volunteered again to become a Navy corpsman. (They provide medical assistance to the Marines as well as to Navy personnel.)

The man did so well in corpsman school that he was the valedictorian and became a cardiopulmonary technician. Not surprisingly, he was assigned to the Navy’s premier medical facility, Bethesda Naval Hospital, as a member of the commander in chief’s medical team, and helped care for President Lyndon B. Johnson after his 1966 surgery. For his service on the team, which he left in 1967, the White House awarded him three letters of commendation.

What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated.

While this young man was serving six years on active duty, Vice President Dick Cheney, who was born the same year as the Marine/sailor, received five deferments, four for being an undergraduate and graduate student and one for being a prospective father. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, both five years younger than the African-American youth, used their student deferments to stay in college until 1968. Both then avoided going on active duty through family connections.

Who is the real patriot? The young man who interrupted his studies to serve his country for six years or our three political leaders who beat the system? Are the patriots the people who actually sacrifice something or those who merely talk about their love of the country?

After leaving the service of his country, the young African-American finished his final year of college, entered the seminary, was ordained as a minister, and eventually became pastor of a large church in one of America’s biggest cities.

This man is Rev. Jeremiah Wright, the retiring pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ, who has been in the news for comments he made over the last three decades.

Since these comments became public we have heard criticisms, condemnations, denouncements and rejections of his comments and him. We’ve seen on television, in a seemingly endless loop, sound bites of a select few of Rev. Wright’s many sermons.

Some of the Wright’s comments are inexcusable and inappropriate and should be condemned, but in calling him “unpatriotic,” let us not forget that this is a man who gave up six of the most productive years of his life to serve his country.

How many of Wright’s detractors, Rush Limbaugh and Bill O’Reilly to name but a few, volunteered for service, and did so under the often tumultuous circumstances of a newly integrated armed forces and a society in the midst of a civil rights struggle? Not many.

While words do count, so do actions. Let us not forget that, for whatever Rev. Wright may have said over the last 30 years, he has demonstrated his patriotism.

The following was a post I found, so I can’t claim credit for it, but I entirely agree with its sentiments:

That’s what the Clintons want everyone to believe about Obama.  They are running commericials on it, saying it outloud, and even telling Bill Richardson he’s nuts for endorsing the man.  “He can’t win” in the general against McCain, Hillary allegedly told Richardson when Richardson gave her the courtsey of a phone call to inform her of his decision.

What’s that mean, exactly? Obama can’t win? I wonder…

Does he can’t win mean Obama can’t raise the money?  That’d be an odd claim, given his $40 million haul in March, adding to his $193 million already raised, meaning he’s well over $230 million for this cycle.  Which is, like, more than anybody ever raised for any office ever.

Does he can’t win mean he can’t win enough states for the Presidency?  Given he has won 30 states to Hillary’s 14, that doesn’t seem to make sense.

Does he can’t win mean he can’t get enough of the popular vote?  Given that 14.2 million have already voted for him in the PRIMARY (and that includes in Florida, where he didn’t even campaign), and given that there are approximately 142 million registered voters in the U.S. as a whole, meaning that he has already — in the PRIMARIES — gotten a full TEN PERCENT of the total U.S. voting population to vote for him…yeah, thinking that’s not the reason.

No, I think we all know what “he can’t win” is code for.  You see, Hillary left off the “because” in her thinking.  Finish this sentance: He can’t win because…

Because of Rev. Wright perhaps? Or the underlying theme that implies, because of his race?

Hillary, he can’t win is a losing argument from where I sit.  Obama already has proved he CAN win.  He is beating you, the inevitable candidate.

If you think he can’t win, don’t play games or be coy as to why.  And tell us why you can.

Because sidling up to John McCain isn’t exactly providing us a contrast of choice in the general election.

(taken from a post on DailyKos)