News Flash:

New York State Senator, Hillary Rodham Clinton is expected to say that Barak Obama has enough votes to be the Democratic nominee on the November ticket. However, she stops short of saying she's giving up the fight. She still plans on speaking her mind with regards to issues such as health care, but her campaign bid for President is likely over.

She had said she was going to keep fighting as of last night, but has since changed her mind with the swing of more Super delegates to Obama's side. That and his expected wins tonight in the last two remaining state primaries.

Nothing like waiting until the bitter end, huh?

http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=58370

http://www.cnn.com/

There's something about Obama that has drawn many to him. I don't know if it's his vision for everyone or if he's just a great speaker.

I've watched a few videos of him & his Grandmother speaking & there's something about that man that sends an enlightened feeling throughout my insides. I get pretty excited over the fact he's winning, even though I voted for Hillary.

I voted for Hillary, because of her experience, but support Obama's visions for the country. I plan to vote for him in November.

I agree that Obama's speaking ability is a draw. It has me taking a second look as well, and I'm a registered Republican (but I vote my conscience, not my party!)

Still, when it comes to Hillary's 'experience', just ask any New Yorker NOT from New York City, and you'll find that 'Our Only Senator' is Chuck Schumer. He's a Democrate too, but he's done an outstanding job at fighting for the issues that really matter to New Yorkers, like farming and jobs, especially in the Western New York area.

As our State Senator, Hillary Clinton has done little to nothing in the way of making a difference in our everyday lives.

She's not carried through with most of her promises, and an example of that was her promise to bring two hundred thousand new jobs to WNY. That never happened, nor is it likely to in the foreseeable future. Instead, she's blamed it on the fact that George Bush is still in office.

Okay - pardon me. But we have a Democratic Majority in both the house and the senate, and they CAN override vetos by the President if such were needed, and if the conditions are favorable to do so, can't they?

However, upon doing much research as a New Yorker, I have found that she's done little in the way of proposing and/or pushing economic stimulus packages for our area and in Central NY as well. If you live in NYC, you get it all, including much of her support (because that's where the power votes are)

So, I respectfully disagree with anyone who says Hillary Clinton carries gobs of experience to a Presidential ticket (unless you want to call being the First Lady for eight years and being 'around' the politics of the day 'experience'. I do not.)

Experience to me is knowing what needs to be done, who to rally to that cause and thus championing the effort yourself, lead by example and finally, deliver on the promises made. (or don't make them at all)

The only thing Hillary has delivered is ignoring the issues here in NY, and her office will tell you that Mrs. Clinton is aware of the circumstance and is prepared to respond as needed. Then why the heck is she our state senator!?! There should be rule that says you must suspend your current political duties and appoint someone in your stead should that politican choose to campaign for another office.

Frightens me to think what she'd do in the Oval Office. No thanks - I'll pass.

My 'Two Arusian Cents' worth of political opinion.

First off, I think it's about time the primaries are over with and an actual presidential candidate was decided on the Dems' side. I hate election years.

Secondly, I don't know much about Obama but I hear several people commenting on his speaking ability. With all due respect, Adolf Hitler had great speaking ability too. Not that I'm saying Obama is anything like Hitler, my point is speaking ability doesn't mean jack if they can't get the job done properly.

Chances are I'll likely vote for Obama merely because none of the Republicans have impressed me in the last 8 years.

Although, my prediction for the election will be McCain as the winner. Ever since Obama and Hillary announced they were going to run for candicacy, I've felt like the Dems were shooting themselves in the foot. Setting the track records of both senators aside, there's still a lot of people who feel that we shouldn't have a woman as a president and that we shouldn't have anyone of African-America heritage (even partly) as president.

I'm not saying that this way of thinking is right, but given the fact that every president has been a white male, I don't think it would be easy for either Hillary or Obama to beat McCain.

I still have to compare the issues. Initially, my lean was toward Obama for his innovative ideas. But what bothers me since that time is his association with 'the wrong crowd'. I'm not saying he should be judged merely on that premise, but, my mom always said, "You become what you hang out with."

Rev. Wright was Obama's minister for 20 years. He had to have known what this guy was preaching about prior to it becoming public. While he didn't dis Rev. Wright, Obama said that he strongly disagreed with what the Minister had to say.

Well, all I can say is if you're in a house of worship and profess to be a regular attendee, then how could you not know what was being preached? I'm sure that was not the first time in 20 years that Rev. Wright preached on said subject matter.

Obama is all about uniting the people. Fine - lead by example. To the same standard I hold Hillary to, I also hold Obama and McCain to as well. And frankly folks . . . I'd rather vote for Mickey Mouse for President. He's as good a choice as any.

So unless one or the other strike a cord, I'll likely not vote for either. Why? Because why pitch my hat into a corner of a candidate just because he's my party's affiliation? Or why throw it in the other direction because the other's a great speaker?

One of them had better work hard, becuase at present, I am in the 'undecided' column as a voter for President of the United States.

I'm having a hard time throwing my full support behind anyone at this point, too. I'm a registered independent, so this is a common scenario for me.

My initial reaction, and where I currently lean, is Barack Obama, if for no other reason than to send a clear message to Washington that we're tired of the 'establishment' and the way things have been done. Obama has a lot of unexplored baggage, and is a 'rookie', but his green-ness is also a strength. He hasn't had much time to be corrupted. But, then, it doesn't take much time. As for his minister: Obama was raised Atheist, and joined the church later in life, near the beginning of his political career. I imagine he chose Rev. Wright's church as it was high-profile, and he'd worked with Wright on projects in Chicago. I don't think he's nearly as 'deeply religious' as he claims to be, and his joining the church was merely a "I gotta get me some of that religion!" move for political purposes. There is no way an atheist would ever be elected to any high profile office at this time. So it's likely he didn't pay much attention to what was being preached. He probably should have and changed churches long ago. However, his more diplomatic approach to foreign policy makes him attactive.

Hillary...I've never been able to stand her. She has a horrible ego that interferes with anything she tries to do. She never admits failure, even when she's failed completely at something. She also represents "name value". In 2000, when McCain and Bush were running for the GOP ticket, Bush edged out McCain, mainly because people recognized the Bush name, and rallied behind it. Clinton has much the same following. Besided, I don't want this country to be ruled by the same two families for any more than the 20 years it already has been.

McCain is definitely an 'old guard' type. He clings to a lot of the same values that have been used to determine our (failed) foreign policy for the past 60 years. I like some of his domestic proposals, but by and large, he would be more of the same regarding our standing in the world, which is not great of late.

So...I'm up in the air on this one. I'm going to continue to watch as things develop heading in to November, and make my decision then. Right now, I'm just trying to absorb what they're saying through all the posturing.

"Hellary Rotten Cling-on'

Ah yes, our beloved state senator. She sucks. People, look at NY:

1. High taxes
2. High job unemployment
3. Low income
4. All the state aid goes to NYC
5. Carpetbagger Clinton is elected for another term of doing absolutely nothing for NY.

Yep - I want her as the President. Maybe even the VP with Obama. Yep our country will look like NY does. Good selection. Vote for Hellary.

(and nope, I didn't spell it wrong either)

quote:

"Hellary Rotten Cling-on'

LOL!

You've been hanging around me too much APS. You're starting to pick up on my political sarcasm.

Niiiiiiice!

I know people have been blabbering about it all day, but I've said it before and I'll say it again.

I will shit my pants in complete shock in Obama picks Hillarious as his running mate.

Not because she sucks eggs.

Not because she's a woman. (Yeah, I heard someone use that as a counter to the suggestion earlier, and it's the biggest pile of dung I've heard in a long time.)

But because of how she ran her campaign even early on. I mean really, would you pick a running mate who early on tried to desperately attack you by claiming that your wanting to be President in kindergarten is an illustration of a life-long mandate, or by drudging up the whole drug issue again, after YOU talked about it first in your OWN autobiography and were extremely clear that yes, it was a mistake, and no, no young person should ever do the same?

It doesn't take a guy who worked his way through two Ivy League universities, one of which was for a J.D., to realize that running with someone that pathetic and petty is a jackassed move.

At this point, if anyone really cares, I'm not so sure I'd vote for Obama only because I'm very concerned with his conceptualization of how to best handle foreign policy issues. I don't agree with his approach, and in fact I find it pretty disconcerting. However, I've tried to research McCain's approach to multiple issues of concern, and I'm a little unnerved by his inconsistent approach to most issues. I don't know what the guy's real beliefs or philosophies on things are. He seems to change his mind all the time. I think we referred to a Democratic candidate many years ago as being a "flip-flop" or "waffle" for doing the same thing, just with one issue in particular. That I can at least say Obama doesn't do. I also am 100% sure what Obama stands for on the issues of most importance to me, and with the exception of the foreign policy issue, he and I see eye-to-eye on things.

If there was a way that I could rest assured that Obama's foreign policy approach wouldn't royally screw us all up, then I'd feel more secure about voting for him. Otherwise... damned if I know what to think. I guess I'll know for sure when I get to the voting booth... which I'd really, really like to do now so we can get this crap over with and get that dumbass we have in the White House out. I can't wait another 230 days for him to be out and a new person in. (Yes, it is another 230 days, I have a counter on my web browser that keeps track of this stuff.)

The only way I would not vote for Obama is if he makes Hilary his VP. That would be teh greatest insult to everyone's intelligence. Of course, I am not going to vote for McCain at all unless they paid me thousands of dollars to do so, so I guess it would be Cthulhu in that case.

Bravo Cowgirl! Bravo!!

Hillary sucks. She's painted Obama in a corner that's going to end up backfiring on her and the Democratic party. Her name is mud if that happens. Already the local media here in NY is taking her to task for putting Obama in the position of 'pick me or else' corner.

She's a slithering snake. She doesn't care about the people of the United States of America, and if people can't see that, I don't think anything will change their minds. All she cares about is P-O-W-E-R. And she'll get it any way she can.

She bluntly stated back in January that she would consider a 'Clinton/Obama' ticket, so long as its understood 'who' was at the top of the heat. (meaning her).

And now that she's all but out of it, she's got the nerve to suggest such a thing!! C'mon Obama! Grow some and stand your ground! Send 'Hellary' back to her manison in NY.

I don't want to see him be so stupid as to add her just because it'd be "historic", like she keeps babbling on about.

Whoopi Goldberg said it best. It's great to be the first fill-in-the-blank-marginalized-social-group-member at something. But you better damn well be the BEST person to be such. I don't care if Hillarious has double-x chromosomes. She is NOT the best woman for the job, prez OR vice.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't get the impression that Obama has been blabbering on about the "first woman/black dude" business nearly as much as Hillary, if at all. He has talked about his roots and the significance of being an epitome of the American Dream. But I don't seem to remember him going on and on to the point I could puke about how he's the first black candidate to ever get this far.

After reading this yesterday, I'm now starting to like Obama:

http://www.somebodythinkofthechildren.com/where-does-ob...stand-on-censorship/

It's nice to see a politician who doesn't believe censorship is the answer when it comes to what groups of people perceive to be inappropriate or objectionable material on TV, film and the Internet.


Aussie Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Communications Minister Stephen Conroy, who so steadfastly want to implement mandatory filtering at ISP level in Australia, should take a leaf out of Obama's book.