News Buzz: Voting in Oregon and Kentucky, China's Quake Trauma, and More
After today's primaries, the Obama campaign is ready to claim the nomination and move on
Voters are heading to the polls today in Oregon and Kentucky to finally cast their votes for Democrats Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Clinton is expected to win Kentucky by a landslide and Obama is slightly ahead in Oregon. Despite Clinton's blowout victory in West Virginia last week and her expected win in Kentucky this week, one of Obama's top advisers, former Sen. Tom Daschle, urged Democrats today to coalesce behind the Illinois senator, who is up in pledged delegates, superdelegates, and the popular vote. "We want to begin the process of bringing this party together, and I think that over the last few weeks we've seen indications at virtually all levels in both campaigns that there's a desire to do that," Daschle said on Good Morning America. After today only three primaries remain—Puerto Rico, South Dakota, and Montana, with Montana holding the latest primary on June 3.
The Chinese government is struggling to find shelter for as many as 5 million people who were displaced by last week's massive earthquake and today increased the death toll to 40,075. A 31-year-old man was rescued from the debris, which was the second known case of someone being found alive a week after the 7.9 magnitude quake rattled the nation. As part of the three-day mourning period, flags are flying at half-mast and the Olympic torch relay has been suspended.
Thousands of Iraqi troops poured into Baghdad's Sadr City today to seize the Shiite militia stronghold and impose control over the district. This section of Baghdad has long been the unquestioned turf of the Madhi Army, a militia loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, and erupted in violence in early April when the Iraqi military clashed with Shiite militias in the southern city of Basra. The troops were deployed to Sadr City as part of a fragile truce negotiated last week between al-Sadr and the government.
Reader Comments
Why is it...
... that some people cannot seem to make their point(s) without namecalling?
*sigh*
Few politicians are much more trustworthy than others. To paraphrase one of my favorite movies, "If a politician isn't kissing babies, he/she is stealing their lollipops." All it takes is the right digging to discover that, most likely, every President (with some exceptions, I'm sure) had their own "Monica in the Oval Office with Kneepads..."
I would prefer Barack as President over Hillary and McCain because I like him most. It came down to something so simple because both he and Hillary are fairly close to my ideas on politics, so frankly if/when Hillary wins, I'll still vote for her. Jumping ship, sotospeak, would be silly and self-destructive when looking at my own political leanings. I hope that either candidate would, after the nomination is settled, seek out the other for help and advice in helping shape this country's direction. Whether it be by asking them to be their running mate, offering them a position on their cabinet or simply as a position as a "valued" advisor, since in either case, there are some sound ideas on both sides that should be acknowledged and considered.
That would be a mature approach. Admittedly, if much of what I see in comments here and elsewhere is any indication of the overall maturity of humanity, expecting maturity could be a pipe-dream, but I still hope for it. We're never going to get anywhere as a race if we keep up the bickering and selfishness that infects our planetary culture. Thank goodness we're not in space yet (as if we could get out of the solar system - we're too busy competing with and making fun of each other to cooperate - I mean, god, it's like an elementary school playground, but without the fun bits!) as a major power, if there are other sentients out there. They might not appreciate us showing up on their doorstep and making demands and childish comments about their extra limbs and shiny grey heads like we usually would...
In any case, I simply hope that Obama wins the nomination and the electoral vote in November, as it will be refreshing to have a primarily Democratic process with someone who, ideally, will retain his vision and hope for the country, especially if the party finally rallies behind him. No matter who wins, I hope he or she do what they say they're going to do...
... because frankly if the Democrats want to hold on to their office and majorities, they had better tread very carefully over the next few years. The public is already fed up with one party so if they become angry with the other, very ugly things could happen. We might get lucky and find new groups stepping up to offer candidates for our representation, but more likely The People will find themselves feeling quite a bit like they did back in the middle 1700's... And anyone who sat through almost any history class in the U.S. remembers how that turned out.
Yes, quite. Jefferson said it many times.
That said, go Dems :) You have a LOT of wrongs to right, apologies to make and problems to fix. And remember that a bunch of already very angry citizens are watching your every step for anything even barely resembling the last seven years.
IT'S ABOUT ELECTABILITY !!!
HILLARY CLINTON IS THE GREATEST CAMPAIGNER IN AMERICAN HISTORY !!!
HILLARY CLINTON CAN BEST WIN IN NOVEMBER:
IT'S ABOUT ELECTABILITY !!!
It's time for everyone to face the truth. Barack Obama has no real chance of winning the national election in November at this time. His crushing defeat in Pennsylvania, and loss in Indiana and West Virginia makes that fact crystal clear. His best, and only real chance of winning in November is on a ticket with Hillary Clinton as her VP.
Sen. Obama has zero chance of winning against the republican attack machine, and their unlimited money, and resources without Hillary Clinton. Zero chance.
It is absolutely essential that the democrats take back the Whitehouse in November. America, and the American people are in a very desperate condition now. And the whole World has been doing all that they can to help keep us propped up.
Hillary Clinton say's that the heat, and decisions in the Whitehouse are much tougher than the ones on the campaign trail. But I think Sen. Obama faces a test of whether he has what it takes to be a commander and chief by facing the difficult facts, and the truth before him. And by doing what is best for the American people by dropping out of the race, and offering his whole hearted assistance to Hillary Clinton to help her take back the Whitehouse for the American people, and the World.
Sen. Obama is a great speaker. And I am confident he can explain to the American people the need, and wisdom of such a personal sacrifice for them. It should be clear to everyone by now that Hillary Clinton is fighting her heart out for the American people. She has known for a long time that Sen. Obama can not win this November. You have to remember that the Clinton's have won the Whitehouse twice before. They know what it takes.
If Sen. Obama fails his test of commander and chief we can only hope that Hillary Clinton can continue her heroic fight for the American people. And that she prevails. She will need all the continual support and help we can give her. She may fight like a superhuman. But she is only human.
Don't be fooled by the pledged delegate, and math arguments. Neither candidate has the necessary pledged delegates. The entire delegates counts, and votes from Florida, and Michigan are not even being counted. Plus the democratic caucuses, and primarys have been heavily corrupted by fraud, and vote cheating. The only relevant question now is who can best WIN IN NOVEMBER and take back the Whitehouse for the American people. And the answer is HILLARY CLINTON. Everyone knows that now.
Sincerely
Jacksmith... Working Class :-)
p.s. Cynthia Ruccia - I'm with ya baby. All the way. "Clinton Supporters Count Too."
Actually, that's only partly accurate. I am an Oregonian and you're right that we don't have polling booths, and we do receive our ballots in the mail. However, we don't have to mail them back, we can also bring them to the county clerk's office in person, which is what I'm doing later today.
And by the way, go watch these youtube videos called "The REAL McCain" and "The REAL McCain II". McCain is a baldfaced liar and has lied and contradicted himself more blatently than either of the dems. Hillary lied about the sniper fire incident but McCain told a worse lie, saying that when he visited Iraq, everything was perfectly normal and people were out in the streets and that he walked through a bustling market without a flak jacket or protection. That's even more descriptive than arriving under sniper fire. But the truth is that McCain, during that trip, walked through a practical ghost town of a market with a MASS of heavily armed guards surrounding him AND he was wearing a flak jacket. He VERY blatantly and purposefully lied about that to make it look like Iraq was seeing better success than he knew it really was.
I am republican, but there is absolutely NO way in I would EVER vote for McCain. He is even more ignorant than Bush on the economy, more willing to play politics and lie to both sides to make them happy, more of a pushover with even lower ethics and less (if any) standards. Seriously, if you don't fully agree with me on this, you haven't done your research. All this info is easy to find and is absolutely irrefutable, they just don't report it on TV much.
And Hillary would and should NEVER go to the GOP side, are you KIDDING me?? Their viewpoints are diametrically opposed.
Obama is very convincing...a snake oil salesman like Bill Clinton was...but once you delve into his policies you begin to realize that he is a rampant globalist who would like nothing more than to continue stripping the United States of its sovreignty and making our country subject to the wills and whims of a "higher" world body. This is one of the biggest dangers of our time.
That said, I am voting for Ron Paul, the ONLY candidate who has still not been accused even ONCE of lying, because HE DOESN'T LIE! Also the ONLY candidate who actually bases his standpoint on the cold hard facts combined with an intimate knowledge and understanding of political history. Sometimes I wonder if McCain has even heard of the constitution, or if Obama understands the VITAL importance of national sovreignty, or if Hillary has any clue that the Federal Reserve is the primary SOURCE of our economic problems (it's not even "federal", it's a private bank and our nation owes it so much we can hardly even pay the interest!)
Ron Paul is the only honest and realistic politician running for prez right now.
Anyway, I'm off to drop off my ballot. Happy Tuesday everyone.
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