In a matter of days Obama will be heading off to Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, a meeting with Palestinian leaders and a stopover in Europe including Germany, France and Britain. According to Rachel Maddow this trip is risky but brilliant.
Obama’s mission is to broadcast a message back home. At the same time there are a million and one local interest groups keen to leverage a moment in the sunshine, and therein lies part of the risk. For Europeans – Obama represent a historic moment in American history, and, the end of George W. Bush. It’s a feel good moment and Americans will enjoy feeling the love. Perhaps also, this is the moment where anti-American sentiment could turn in favor of the cousins.
18-JUL-08 Kuwait.
19-JUL-08 Kabul, Afghanistan.
21-JUL-08 Iraq.
22-JUL-08 Jordan.
23-JUL-08 Israel.
24-JUL-08 Berlin, Germany.
25-JUL-08 Paris, France.
26-JUL-08 London, England.
541 replies on “Obama in Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq, Jordan, and Israel”
The Democrats should have a corresponding jump in the participating rate, whereas the Repugs should have a bigger slump in the voter participation rate. Because participation by the registered party members is much higher than your normal run of the mill voter.
Gaffhook and all, the Diebold electoral fraud story is refusing to go away. How Team Obi prepare for the potential E-Day chaos, could well determine the ease with which The Kid is swept into power. Certainly “McCain’s Brain”, Karl Rove understudy Steve “Schmuckens” Schmidt, will be all over the potential “angles of rort” like a “toucher” at an office xmas party.
http://www.electoral-vote.com/icon.html?
(cf. halfway down “News from the Votemaster)
Chris B, those recent Ohio figures giving The Kid an 8 point lead are most interesting. According to Votemaster’s mouse-over Ohio map on the above link, Obi’s advantage is a mere 1%.
They are tipping close to 1 million people to turn up to Obama’s speech in Germany, according to Der Spiegel.
301 Enemy Combatant Votemaster won’t include those figures till tonight. Then he has a formula which can be found here:
http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2008/Info/polling-faq.html
He is quite fair and reliable.
It seems to flatten out the swings and round abouts.
http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000002921763
My thoughts on it. If the tidal wave is big enough, any fish no matter how big, that is swimming in the opposite direction, will be swept along with tsunami.
Here is a list of web resources from the Democratic Strategist. Email it to your friends and mention You Tube so that they can make there own You Tube promotions. Including music video’s maybe even more Obama Girls, cartoons and satire, as well as political commentary.
http://www.thedemocraticstrategist.org/static/resource_web.php
McCain ad spoof on Youtube (from the same people who brought you Chairman Rudd):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYqcngB2k8Y
An important Senate poll that may not have been picked up is the Rasmussen poll in Alaska.
It has Begich (D) leading Sen. Stevens (R) 52-44. This is the biggest lead that Begich has had over Stevens and shows this Alaska senate seat is definitely in play come November.
The result also correlates with yesterday’s Research 2000 poll that showed Begich with a 2 point lead over Stevens.
Rasmussen link is below:
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_senate_elections/alaska/election_2008_alaska_senate
From Novak
Sources close to Sen. John McCain’s presidential campaign are suggesting he will reveal the name of his vice presidential selection this week while Sen. Barack Obama is getting the headlines on his foreign trip.
ENPR Special: Sources say McCain Veep Pick to Come This Week
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=27630
Unless he names Jesus as his running mate, I doubt it’s going to make the tiniest difference.
Fallon broke his silence on CNN on the Monday; BHO claimed the nomination Tuesday.
Now this:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/07/20/opinion/edfallon.php
And following my ‘conspiracy’…found this…
http://www.extremeink.com/awtk/2008/04/vice-president-william-j-fallon.html
Hmmm….
dogb
Perhaps the Pope. That would help his religious problems.
So how do you get away from a diebold machine;
Simply change the company name from Diebold Election Systems to Premier Election Solutions (Texas based)
Now instead of havin a good ole punch in lectronic vote that can be corrupted, you simply mark the ballot paper and scan it. This is then lectronicaly counted but there is a paper trail in case.
Of course the paper trail will never be used there you go.
The new system has a real good feel good name to it and no mention of diebold eh.
Get your Premier Election Solution vote here now!
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jul/21/me-yes-i-scan-voting-is-safer-on-paper/
Meanwhile the GOP are concerned that they may lose Georgias 15 presidential voters because of Barr and Obi has distanced himself from Max Cleland, The Senator who lost Georgia to the diebold with a poll lead of 5%, who is now a lobbyist. Bami’s policy bit like Rudds, Say no to Lobbyists.
http://themoderatevoice.com/politics/democratic-party/21185/on-obama-cleland-and-georgia-voting-machine-fraud/
More polls:
Michigan (Detroit News): Obama +2
Georgia (Rasmussen): McCain +11
Alaska (Rasmussen): McCain +5
North Carolina (Civitas): McCain +3
New Hampshire (UNH): Obama +3
Ohio (PPP): Obama +8
National (Gallup): Obama +6
National (Rasmussen): Obama +1
All are pretty good for Obama. He probably wants to get a lead in NC sometime soon to justify why he’s spending so much money there – it’s been a couple of months since he led in a poll there (not counting the Zogby Interactive).
He would like the leads in NH and MI to be bigger, although the 8 point lead in OH is very good for him. Alaska is still in play, although Georgia still seems a bridge too far.
One more Senate poll:
Georgia (Rasmussen): Sen. Chambliss (R) +30
The Dems definitely don’t have a chance of picking this seat up…
Chris B’s post released from dungeon.
308 Swing Lowe That’s a very good example of Australia being involved in the Democrats campaign.
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=LYqcngB2k8Y
309 Swing Lowe I wasn’t expecting an early swing. Not till after Obama’s European tour, but hey, we’ll take it. Keep an eye on Maine and Minnesota.
[comment removed at Catrina’s discretion]
I bet that quote about Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson comes back to haunt him. All people have to do is have there own You Tube account, then submit copies of McCain doing that quote. Even you kids can do it. Tell your friends, the more different people submit it the better the coverage. (Each person will use different key words) so don’t copy anyone else, use your own words. If you can’t do it, get your kids to do it.
[comment removed at Catrina’s discretion]
Andrew and Chris – comments removed at 319 and 321.
I have just caught up with this article on the BBC site. It is on an old subject, but still worth reading.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7470764.stm
Article over on the NYT detailing reaffermation of Iraq administration support for Obama’s position.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/us/politics/22assess.html
In another NYT piece – this one on the McCain’s stopover at former President Bush, George H. W’s place … and in the article are some funny things about live within the McCain Campaign. Here is an extract from the article following McCain complaining about Obama coverage:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/22/us/politics/22mccain.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/jul/22/barackobama.uselections20081
It would be interesting to note how many American’s read the UK online papers. They are stronger in their opinions of this election.
Dan Abrams doing his ‘win Loose Draw’ thing – and apparently Obama’s apparent endorcement by the Iraq administration is a loose for McCain. Gosh!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/25789699#25789699
Keith Olbermann and Chris Hayes look into the hole created by McCain’s reference to the Iraq Pakistani border:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/25789373#25789373
Later on, Kieth chats with Rachel Maddow about Obama’s first couple of days in the Middle East.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/25789450#25789450
322 Catrina
Andrew and Chris – comments removed at 319 and 321.
Can I ask why? Not critical just curious.
Verboten topic?
330 dogb – Comments were related to comments over on PB which is something I don’t want us to get into.
Fair ‘nuf.
IMHO, good call.
High moral ground and all that. 😉
330 dogb I’m happy with that.
Want to read a very good partisan report on the U.S. election?
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/07/22/senate_roundtable/
COMMUNITY NOTICE
A page has been added up on the top left with the title ‘Editorial Policy’. The purpose of the page is for suggestions and/or comments on editorial actions.
Good article Chris. I’m a bit disappointed they’re only talking about +7 for the Dem in the senate.
Obama is going to have a hard time cleaning up the chimps mess. He could really use a filibuster proof senate
Catrina This is a brilliant in depth article on the US election. I think it is worth putting it on our blogroll.
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/07/22/senate_roundtable/index.html
336 dogb Yes, I think 14 is possible, North Carolina is talked about regularly, and it is red on votemaster. Maybe they don’t want to look too cocky, which is fair enough.
Chris B at 337
Your wish is my command. I have created a new category in the list up on the right – title ‘Opinion’ – a place for good articles as and when they arrive. In addition to you recommendation I have also added an article from Hardball title ‘History in the Making’.
338 Chris B Maybe they don’t want to put their neck out too far and get it chopped off. Whereas I’m willing to stick my neck out and call it as I see it. I did that in 2006, and was only 1 seat out in my prediction, (to myself). Tennessee.
#339 Legend in my own lunchtime, like my senate predictions in 2006 as well.
After the huge mess that the Republicans have made of the economy. Anyone who supports, McCain or the Republicans is a danger to the economy.
Amphibious Obi:
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/56559
Astro-Physics for Imbeciles. Every Black Hole has its own Time Event Horizon.
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/56568
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/56586
Tip for helping out in this election campaign, get thumbnail links for EC’s cartoon’s. Pick 6-8 and send them to your friends in an email. This way they will eventually get back to the USA in the 100’s of thousands. You start it and people will follow on. Maybe say in the email, pass it on and you can change the world!
EC at 343
That first link is so consistent with my #325 post. Apparently according to the McCain campaign people – Obama is ‘The One’ and your link just throws that into perspective (at least a perspective that makes sense if your working inside the McCain campaign).
This site seems to be a new one. Every political site counts, so add your weight to it. I’m the only one on it so I am getting a bit lonely!
http://www.thedemocraticstrategist.org/strategist/2008/07/greetings_from_austin.php
Jon Stewart does a hoot of segment on Obama’s trip, and slips in McCain’s “Iran PaKistan border” moment for good measure.
Is Macca senile? Or is he just pretending?
Cheers, comrades Cat &Chris. Riding the zeitgeist is like a Poevian descent into in a maelstrom. All it takes is a keyboard, a cuppa and a shackleless mind.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Descent_into_the_Maelstr%C3%B6m
cf. plot summary.
But many meek suckers eke out their span
following the same tedious path every freakin’ day of their bland existences.
These mules of the mediocre are not our people; poor, sad ungulate too afraid to burn out, they pitifully rust and die wondering why they didn’t buy the ticket, why they didn’t take the ride.
With thanks to uncles: Edgar Alan, Neil and Duke.
———————-
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/56576
From Culture of Complaint to Whiner Nation:
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/56554
Oh, too funny!
Eddy is now blackmailing Catrina:
#
165
Edward StJohn Says:
July 22nd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Catrina,
Today’s actions are a start, but my minimum conditions for posting remain. You know what is required.
EStJ
…on PB.
Is he suffering attention deprivation syndrome, or something?
Catrina, “sweetie”; tonight’s the night…
“GG, I’ll post it tomorrow night.”
Catrina, you wicked; not moonlighting with the Pekinese pajama petal are we?
Update: “Catrina, Today’s actions are a start, but my minimum conditions for posting remain. You know what is required. EStJ”
Do tell.
KR at 349
Look – I don’t want to facilitate any divergent discussions on things happening over on PB and I’ve already slapped Chris and Andrew for raising the subject. Thing is I just have to respond to this with the note:
“ESJ – GET A LIFE”.
Apologies to Andrew and Chris for my double standards.
351 Catrina
That’s just hysterically funny Cat, he’s so twisted he cannot let go!
OK. I’ll not mention it again. I just thought it was amusing.
cheers
McCain can’t handle rejection either:
In rejecting McCain’s submission, New York Times Op-Ed editor David Shipley said that he wasn’t “going to be able to accept this piece as currently written,” and explained his rationale by saying: “The Obama piece worked for me because it offered new information (it appeared before his speech); while Senator Obama discussed Senator McCain, he also went into detail about his own plans … It would be terrific to have an article from Senator McCain that mirrors Senator Obama’s piece. To that end, the article would have to articulate, in concrete terms, how Senator McCain defines victory in Iraq.”
Salon
…but his essay would begin: “One hundred years hence…victory!”
P.S. KR – any chance of an OP ED piece for the next thread?
Casa Blanca to some; White House to others:
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/56591
Non-Attention Deficit Syndrome:
http://editorialcartoonists.com/cartoon/display.cfm/56594
Kirri 353: “…but his essay would begin: “One hundred years hence…victory!”
http://cartoonbox.slate.com/hottopic/?image=0&topicid=160
Don’t know whether you saw this one,Kirri –
Juan Cole’s take on the success of the “Surge” in Iraq,etc.
Interesting how the White House is in damage control.
Good on Der Spiegel!
http://www.juancole.com/2008/07/obama-in-iraq-der-spiegel-proves-al.html
“KR – any chance of an OP ED price for the next thread?”
Oh…. So HE gets paid, eh ??
Ecky, one for you:
http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2008/07/22/tomo/
354 Catrina
Love to Catrina, tomorrow OK?
KR at 359
Works for me!
356
I’d not read Cole until you posted it (I usually fly past his blog once a day, and have done so since BEFORE the war).
I loved this:
This denial was issued through CENTCOM!
…says everything really.
I knew it smelled funny when the ‘denial’ was put out on the weekend, and said it had George’ paws all over it.
Too easy, isn’t it? After nearly 8 years of these twisted scumbags you’d think they’d realise we’re on to it! LOL
Mon July 21:
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/patoliphant;_ylt=As03HCyoF9BPWJ.nN8xGX_Hd.sgF
Tues. July 22:
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/tomtoles;_ylt=ApwLfB1aqyWTkoEZTa.9f51T_b4F
Mon July 21:
http://news.yahoo.com/edcartoons/jeffdanziger;_ylt=An6VgYL2GDvQt2qXwSF3HNPXj5Z4
Kirri 358: TomT sure packs a lot into one comix page. He’s a Caravaggio of cartoonists.
http://www.frameworkeditions.com/Images/four_seasons/caravaggio_harvest_ii.jpg
megan at 356
One thing missing on the Obama/Iraq/Mcain/Whithouse Gate thing is the entire subject of the implicit endorsement from Gordon Brown. If fact he’s up in the Commons today pushing a withdrawal agenda just three days ahead of meetings with Obama in London.
EC at 362
I think your first link just captures everything about the contest to date.
363 Catrina
Brown is now part of the axle of evil that extends from US Democrats right across the Atlantic…and just wait until it gets some traction!
The ham fisted gagging of al Maliki (don’t try that in a mosque kiddies!) really shows how lame this administration has become, and how low they’ll go to do Macca a favour. It’s comic really.
Lame duck, ham fisted….try painting lipstick on this pig! LOL
Obama touches down in Jordan (and, yes, the 757 is now in play):
http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamaroadblog/gGx7ND
Just so that everyone here knows that I’m not just referencing pro Obama news clippings (although to be honest there has not been much else to talk about in the past week or two), I came across the semi-anonymous comment on a BBC blog which to my mind was a good anti-christ pitch on the current campaign process. Yes, I know – referencing the anti-christ is probably not the best way to pitch divergent opinion – but at the end of the day I have to remain true to my inner self:
Johnny Bomb-Bomb is trying soooo hard to get positive media traction, apparently he’s gonna annoint Bobby “The Exorcist” Jindal as his VP nominee in the hope that the well known rattlesnake handler and Louisana Governor will be able to chant alakazaam ‘n’ abracadabra and make the uppity Senator from Illinois just disappear.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snake_handling
shhhhhhh evewybody, i’m huntin’ Iwanians…..
Johnny Bomb Bomb’s secret middle east map:
http://matthewyglesias.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/07/the_iraqpakistan_border.php
‘the axle of evil’; the wheel deal Kirri:)
Sorry Cat…dwalfy withdrawal & poet’s ‘black’ blight.
Btw any bites or nibbles on Fallon?
EC at 368
Jindal – your kidding!
I mean – I’m hearing rumors about an imminent McCain VP announcement designed pricipally to take the winds out of Obama’s sails – but Jindal? It just doesn’t make sense.
codger at 370
🙂
Catrina re 367, 3 choice 2 choice no choice…remember? Jury’s out, not holding breath as the trailer city 3 wheeled wagon plus 25 dogs lurches through the fog but one can hope eh?
In an MSNBC piece, news is that Obama took in meetings with tribal chiefs outside of Baghdad before heading off to Jordan. Upcoming destinations are Israel and the Palestinian State.
OK, Cat, I was kidding. It’ll be The Mittster fer sure. ‘Twas a crack at McCain’s desperation.
Tues July22:
http://news.yahoo.com/comics/nonsequitur;_ylt=A9G_R3iwwIVITyEAnhEDwLAF
“It’s not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them….”
Now who was it said that?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUdc5h10zTo
codger, old son, promise me you’ll stay away from Appalachia, orright?
EC at 376
Tell you what, I’ll pay you double what I’m paying KR.
🙂
$ cost benefit Ecky…as always. However…
Deal! 3/5 of 5/8 of bubkes is the best offer I’ve had all day. Night, gang.
Chris at 327
I’ve no idea to what extent the foreign media filters down to the US, but here is one piece from a BBC journalist who was not invited on the Obama party and that moment when you faced with cardboard cutouts of Obama and McCain.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7518581.stm
Goodnight EC!
🙂
The march of the blue states continues:
http://www.electoral-vote.com
Chris at 382
New Hampshire moves from blue to borderline blue and Alaska moves from red to pink (I wonder what the real men with their huskies will think about that).
351 Catrina No apologies necessary. But what they are trying to do is get us in a slanging match so we loose site of the US election and focus on fighting them. The angrier they get the more we know we are winning! Hello to my good friend Greensborough Growler.
383 Catrina But Alaska senate is almost dark blue. They would have sent us to the insane asylum, just after the 2004 election if we had suggested that.
BHO detour? Meets with McBomb in Delhi…
Oh dear…who woulda thunkit…
‘India’s government was hit Tuesday by furious allegations that it was bribing MPs as it faced a confidence vote which could spark early polls and end a controversial nuclear energy deal with the US.’
http://news.theage.com.au/world/indian-govt-hit-by-bribery-claims-ahead-of-confidence-vote-20080722-3j3v.html
NuklearIranIndiaPakisAfghanis etc…another case of the 3 wheeled wagon saving US…dontjaluvitt?
For what it’s worth – according to CNN the Senate Fact Finding Mission part of the tour is now complete (and ties in with the arrival of the new 757). From here on Obama is paying for the segments to Israel, Palestine, Germany, France and Britain out of his primary campaign funds. That’s interesting in that the much anticipated speech in Germany cannot be used as an argument for an abuse of funds. No matter what you political leaning – you have to give Kid credit from running one hell of a campaign.
MSNBC’s reporter Andrea Mitchell is covering Obama’s departure from Baghdad, noting the jump to Ramadi (the capital of the Anbar Province about 110 km west of Baghdad) for meetings with Sunni tribal leaders. The Daily Kos also provides a more on-the-ground feed of Obama address a enthusiastic crown of about 3,000 military personnel in Baghdad.
Andrea goes on to report on a planned meeting between Obama and King Abdullah of Jordan, a press conference, and dinner with the King and Queen Rania, ahead of a flight later to Jerusalem and meetings with the Palestinians tomorrow. Additional details are included in a NYT article covering the same event. Another NYT article details Obama’s ride back to the airport driven by the King in the King’s personal Mercedes Benz. Obama is scheduled to sit down with Israeli President Simon Peres and Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Wednesday followed by a separate meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.
Back on mainland USA, Katrina Vanden editor of The Nation articulates a point of view much closer to our reality, but you have to wonder if voters will be listening. In the meantime media in the states for the most part are talking up the tour focusing mainly on the conflict created by the Iraq administration’s description of a time horizon of 2010. Naturally the talking heads are also speculating about possible Obama stuff-ups while moving through Israel and Palestine (and we all know how things can go wrong in that part of the world). In contrast Matthews made an appeal to the American public on yesterday’s Tonight Show to take a moment, step back and think about this election from your kids point of view.
Stay tuned, it’s only Tuesday in the Middle East and that means four more days before this thing is done and dusted.
Good morning all!
New Rasmussen poll for Colorado:
OBAMA 49
MCCAIN 42
OMFG: If Colorado is indeed going blue, that’ll help Obama in November.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/conservative/2445951/Tory-MPs-abandon-Republicans-to-back-Barack-Obama.html
McCain knee-capped by Maliki.
Even though this appears in the Asian Times it must have been in at least one US paper first.
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/JG23Ak03.html
Oops with the first quote marks.
392 – fixed
🙂
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/politics/bulletin/bulletin_080722.htm
388 Catrina Couldn’t agree more with your assessment of Obama’s campaign. I am absolutely in awe of him. I keep waiting for something to go wrong. Hopefully with all his experienced personal behind him that won’t happen.
This poll means absolutely nothing now, due to the European tour blanket media coverage. Even Princess Dianna never received this much coverage and created this much excitement.
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/07/22/politics/fromtheroad/entry4281280.shtml
The polling companies must be jockying to get the first polls out, it would be a big boost for any media organisation to bring out the first polls with big swings to Obama.
Chris – the one to keep an eye out for is the ‘Who would make the better Commander In Chief”.
Horror Rasmussen poll for Obama in Ohio – McCain leading by 10 (6 without leaners)!
http://rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/election_20082/2008_presidential_election/ohio/election_2008_ohio_presidential_election
Time will tell whether this is a rogue poll or a backlash against Obama’s trip abroad in the US heartland.
However, it sends a clear message to all of us that this election is far from over…
There is so much cannon fodder in McCain, it’s a matter of choosing the juiciest target.
http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/3799/mcsexist/
Obama’s success keeps getting better and better. The excitement keeps building, and I need a valium to calm down.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/obamas-iraq-success-difficult-for-mccain-20080723-3ji2.html