One of the media narratives being floated during Obama's trip overseas has related to the idea that the trip may in fact be having questionable, if not detrimental effects on his campaign for the presidency.

Here's one example from a pseudo-legitimate source:

Newsweek link

I've also heard the idea mentioned by a few of the empty talking heads on cable news.

Now, I reject the idea that this trip has done anything close to as much bad as good.  I believe most such discussion is actually a side-effect of the 24-7 media monster.  But even when I suspended logic and allowed myself to consider the idea that there might be an inkling of merit to this suggestion I couldn't help but think that "I just don't care!"

Here in rural North Carolina we are thrilled that the Obama campaign has sent paid staffers to help organize.   In 2004, we didn't get any attention out here in the sticks of a state that was going to vote for Bush.  We love that Obama is running a 50 state strategy and has committed to helping Democrats up and down the ticket get elected.

There is much tongue clucking amongst the mainstream media gurus in the aftermath of Barack Obama’s speech in Berlin. Was it hubris?  Arrogance?  Too much from a United States senator, who is a presidential candidate, but not yet (or perhaps never) President of the United States?  I say no.

I have examined the polls and how the press have been covering the campaigns and their gaffes and I have reached the conclusion that John McCain will be elected the next President, no matter how great a media week Obama has or how poor a media week McCain has.

This piece in Reuters, showing once again that the media gives too much power to people in focus groups, suggests that economists prefer a John McCain White House to a Barack Obama one.

The economy is a big issue. It has overtaken the war in Iraq as the most talked about thing by late night stand-up comedians and idiotic cable news anchors. But there are a few points I want to make sure everyone's clear on.

I think Obama has had a pretty damn good week. He exceeded expectations on his trip overseas, and all I hear is the media and McC[ompl]ain being more critical of him. It's getting on my nerves. It is quite obvious to me that it's only going to get worse. It's only July and already McC[ompl]ain is spending all of his time stalking Obama's every move so he can make snide, rude, disrespectful, and hateful comments about them.  

Well, it's time for me to do more than be angry and donate.

jump.

Last week, Manhattan Institute Scholar Heather Mac Donald wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post calling out Senator Obama for failing to embrace "accountable, data-driven policing" in outlining his urban agenda to the U.S. Conference of Mayors last month.  Ms. Mac Donald cites such policing as one of the primary reasons for New York City's comeback in the 1990s. (Data-driven policing seems awfully like racial profiling, to me.  Oh yeah, Ms. Mac Donald wrote "The Myth of Racial Profiling" a few years back.)

This morning's newspapers reported profits of $5.44 Billion by Conoco-Phillips. This is up 13% from last year. Later in the day, the GOP killed a bill to release 70 million barrells of oil reserves to the American public to give them some relief at the gas pump. Republicans said it was in order to prepare for a "real" national emergency according to this AP new release. http://news.yahoo.com/...

Apparently, record gas prices, record insurance premiums, and record forclosures on homes in the U.S in the midlst of record profits for the oil companies does not constitute a "real" emergency to Republicans.

Or...... is there method to their madness?

This is America, the country that invented marketing, and where the consumer is king. So, America, if you are in the market for a new President, here are some things to consider.

Physical Health
Obama: Excellent
McCain: Poor
Comment: McCain suffers chronic pain from his war injuries, and has an on-going battle with skin cancer. Obama works out regularly, is thin and agile, and can hit a three-pointer.

Mental Health
Obama: Suffers from delusions of grandeur
McCain: Suffers from delusions, early on-set senility, bouts of rage and "generalized nastiness"

The Bush Administration is planning an end run to entice states into applying for abstinence-only funds that Congress has yet to authorize, and potentially tie the hands of the next administration.

Written by Scott Swenson for RH Reality Check.

Funny thing about this election is that the media seems to think that Barack Obama’s challenge of appealing to both Black and White voters is somehow new.  Consider, as evidence, the following opening sentence of the John McCormick and Rick Pearson’s July 15th cover story in the Chicago Tribune.

"When it comes to African-American audiences, some have called Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential bid a ‘dual-track’ candidacy, one that seeks to prove he is in tune with the needs of the black community while also not alienating whites."

Really?!!  Then I suppose that makes McCain a dual-track candidate too, since he presumably has to prove that he is in tune with the needs of the white community while not alienating African Americans and other people of color.  After all, Latinos and African Americans alone comprise over 30% of the U.S. population.  Doesn’t McCain face the exact same challenge of appealing to voters across racial lines?  Hasn’t every single Presidential hopeful in modern times?  

I'll attempt to set aside my own political bias here (obviously in favor of Obama) and make an objective prediction about the upcoming election: it will be a comfortable win, if not landslide victory, for Obama and the Democrats in Congress. From whence comes this prognostication? I have four reasons.

George W. Bush whoops it up at a "R": fundraiser, laughing and joking while
Americans suffer in silence. This time, Cenk Uygur,(The Young Turks)is very angry at the Bozo-In-Chief... Watch video and feel his rage, and his sorrow. thinkingblue
See It Here thinkingblue.blogspot.com

Over the past couple of weeks there have been a few diaries pointing out something obvious: we need to take the fight to John McCain. In one, Clammyc urged us to stop defending Obama and to go on the offensive.  

In another, I listed ten free ways that people could get involved in pushing the Democrats' message.

With that in mind, here's a go at it.

If every voting-age citizen with a disability registered and voted, every state would elect Democrats.

Before I back that up, first, can you name America’s largest minority?

Here are five hints...

1. The population is enormous, as many as one in every five citizens of voting-age.

2.  Politically, they tend to vote for Democrats.(1) A  poll in New Mexico found that 52% of this population identified themselves as Democrats and only 23% as Republicans, a preference of more than two to one, compared to the pattern of 43% D and  39% R, a statistical tie between Democrats and Republicans in that state.

3. They are found in greatest numbers in the South. (19.1 million in 2000, compared to 10.5 million in the Midwest—U.S. Census Bureau.)

4. They have the nation’s highest rates of poverty, unemployment, and ill health.

5. Their right to vote is threatened by the Republican effort to require government-issue photo ID cards—most are too poor to need a passport for international travel, and may not be able to drive, even if they can afford to purchase a car and pay for the gas.  

Governor Bobby Jindal is refusing to accept the number two slot on John McCain's ticket.

A title which sums up John McCain's quest for the Presidency.

In 2005, Alabama Congressman Mike Rogers (AL-03) cast the deciding vote on CAFTA as he changed his mind at the last minute after consulting a CEO of a company in his district (also a large donor to his campaigns).

Unfortunately, thousands of sock and apparel jobs have left the districts of those that voted for CAFTA. Many of those also were last minute votes.

This vote is not lost on Josh Segall who is challenging Rogers this fall. In fact this could be one of the deciding factors for voters in this district.