SAIGONBOB

Obama's Amazing Campaign:Beating a Former President and First Lady+the Early Pundits

    As Senator Barack Obama goes into Oregon,the favorite on Tuesday, May 20th, and will probably lose Kentucky to Senator Hillary Clinton on the same day, he will accumulate enough delegates to come within shouting distance of taking the entire primary election.

    When I started out about April of 2007, blogging about why Obama could be Hillary Clinton, the pundits and media were all over the former First Lady as the automatic victor.

    After all, no one knew Senator Obama, other than his well received speech before the last Democratic Convention.

    Senator Clinton had been on the "front pages" of the media for the last 16 years,and her husband, Bill Clinton, was loved by the majority of Democrats in this country.

    Very early on, some reporters said that the southern Black delegation was in the pocket of the Clinton's.

    I wrote that they were wrong, and they were talking to the wrong African Americans.  They were interviewing the leadership in the south, and not the average "Joe" on the streets of Los Angeles and St. Louis.

    Now, the pundits are using the West Virginia vote, as to the danger to Obama of "white males."

    Although this pattern is disturbing...voting on racial lines....one has to remember that Obama won, for example, Idaho with 80% of the vote. Idaho has very few African-American's.

    No, this is turning into an East-West fight.  If the returns of Mississippi's special Congressional election, is any indication, Obama may even do well in the south, where John Kerry lost every state, four years ago.

    However, the BIG story is that an, almost, unknown "mixed-race" candidate for the White House has probably beaten a former President and his First Lady, for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

    Although, there are still plenty of bigots living in the United States, they are not the majority, and in fact are a real minority in this country.

    Many Republicans, for example, will vote for John McCain, simply because he is more conservative than Mr. Obama.....not because of race.

    In fact, if Senator Obama wins the whole enchilada,he will receive many votes from the party of Lincoln, in the general election.

    Average folks will get this incredible impact, when he gives his acceptance speech in August, and then takes on the GOP leader, Senator John McCain, Mano-a-Mano in September.

    Just when the world thinks America has lost its "mo-jo," along comes Senator Barack Obama to give us all hope, again.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

   

   

 

   

   

      

Why Obama Can Still Beat McCain.

    It's upsetting to read 40 years after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that so many white Democrats in West Virgina, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, may have still considered race when deciding whether to Vote for Senator Barack Obama.
    There are many reason to vote for Hillary Clinton, for  sure, but there is still this horrible strain in the American politic, which looks at the the color of the skin, not the positions of the politician, before making a decision to vote.

    Despite the supposition by political pundits which says that because of the vote in West Virginia, in which Obama was beaten badly, because of race, this portends deep trouble for him in his contest against Republican John McCain in the fall---they may be very, very, wrong.

    That argument makes the assumption that Republicans are more prejudiced than Democrats, when it comes to cross party lines, and voting for the first African-American for President of the United States.  This is not necessarily true.

    Once it is strictly an Obama vs. McCain contest in September, the entire political dynamic changes.

    The War in Iraq will be debated one-on-one, with millions of viewers watching the discussion.

    Voters will be asking, "Who is better handling the economy," when they size up both men.

    For the first time in political history, the youth vote may just make a big difference in this election.

    This may turn out to be an east-west election.

    Obama, for example, received 80% of the vote in all-white Idaho..while he got slaughtered in West Virginia.

    Four years ago, Senator John Kerry, almost beat an incumbent President, and he lost the entire south, but was beaten in Ohio to lose the election.

    Therefore, Barack Obama can lose the entire south, and still win the nomination.

    It may be, in fact, that Senator Obama wins a couple states in the south, and picks up a Missouri and New Mexico, for example, and thus wins the presidency.

    Senator McCain and Senator Obama, are both good people, who will, mostly, stay away from the traditional mud slinging of past elections.

    It should be a great contest.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

      
   

We Weep for the Good People of China

    American's of all backgrounds, are crying for the people of China, and this horrible earthquake tragedy.
    As we become more aware of the massive destruction of human life, we can only hope that more citizens can be saved.
    End of Message.
    Bob Kholos

Ralph Nader vs Bob Barr: Who Comes in Last?

     Libertarian versus Green Party: Free Pot, and No War: What could be better?

    It would be a great debate, attracting millions of viewers.  Barr would be giving his best explanation of why our government should get off the corporate back, and Nader arguing that the government should almost nationalize private enterprise.

    Corporate liars vs Corporate Gods.

    The big question is, who would destroy which establishment  candidate? 

    The prevailing opinion is that Bob Barr, who made his mark by heading the President Clinton Impeachment process, will hurt Senator John McCain more, and that Ralph Nader will hurt no one.  This after he destroyed the candidacy of VP Al Gore, by getting 90,000 votes in Florida in 2000.

    Therefore my prediction:  Of the four parties running: Ralph Nader comes in last.

    Ralph should continue his quest by running in Germany where the Green's have made major inroads, and they already have national health insurance.

    On the other hand, former Congressman (GA.) Bob Barr should run in the Peoples Republic of China, where  private enterprise is allowed to go wild, without intervention, and if the government doesn't like someone, they reduce crime by shooting them.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

   

Can Obama beat McCain and the "Sean Hannity" conspiricy?

    In case you haven't figured it out.  Fox News talking head, Sean Hannity, is a Republican strategist, who will bring up every red-herring thrown at Senator Barack Obama.
    Now, I've been an unusual democrat, in that I have, for almost a year, suggested that Barack Obama appear on the fox news shows...even Hannity.

    The constant fear mongering about a white candidate for President, with a Reverend Wright in his or her background, and a foggy association with former Weather Underground participant, in the 1960s, William Ayers, may have made some news, but not 24-7.

    The fact that most Americans have not faced voting for a Black man(or really mixed race), for President, there is a wall of doubt.

    We may have passed most laws against overt bigotry, in this country, but not all attitudes have followed along.

    As I watch Obama, I see a pretty moderate guy, with a great smile, which reminds me of Dwight D. Eisenhower.

    But, all of these issues are meant to distract us from the War In Iraq, and how to handle our biggest problem since withdrawing from Vietnam, 33 years ago.

    Although many people will try to make this contest between McCain and Obama, one of race....nothing could be further from the truth.

    As I struggle through Cancer, again...and see people who are totally busted by the disease, in income and hope, I see National Health Care as big of an issue as the War in Iraq.

    The Republicans will not allow a major change in the way we do health care, if McCain takes power in January of 2009.

    McCain, a hero to me, will take a totally different tack in how we handle the war in Iraq, and the bleeding of 40 billion dollars a month from our national treasure(including our troops in harms way, of course)

    Just like Republicans called Social Security, "socialism" in the 1930s, when it was proposed by President Franklyn D. Roosevelt, they call National Health Care now, "Socialism."

    Of course, I don't see any Republicans, now, refusing their Social Security check.

    The War in Iraq, is very complicated, and I believe a composed and mature, Barack Obama, will be able to steer some of that money into the states, thus rebuilding our infrastructure---roads, schools, etc.

    But, Obama, like Los Angeles City Councilman, Tom Bradley in his losing 1969 quest for Mayor, is suffering from news media, "guilt by association" issues...just as the "Hollywood Ten" did under the national spell of Senator Joe McCarthy during the 1950s.

    Tom Bradley had 4 years to come back and work the city so that the overall population knew he was not a threat, because of the color of his skin.

    Senator Barack Obama does not have that time.

    So, it is important for the news media talking heads, to take advice from Edward R. Murrow, and see the destruction of patriotic Americans because of these Red-Herring issues.

    We'll never change the mind of Sean Hannity, but we can point out his small minded meanness on these issues.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

   

   

   

      

West Virginia Primary. Hillary v Obama:Expect the Unexpected

Update: Poll released May 10th, shows Hillary Clinton with 43% lead! (I may be very very wrong on this posting)

    The West Virginia Primary is only 4 days away, and yet, it has fallen off the radar screen.
    It appears, the pundits will wait until Monday night to give their strong views of a State, which many inside the "beltway" are afraid to venture.
    Although, Hillary Clinton, is supposed to do well on Tuesday, May 13, any single digit loss or narrow victory, over Barack Obama, may dampen her campaign, so much, that she will limp into Oregon and Kentucky on May 20th.

    When I worked in Washington D.C., during the 1970s, I made some great friends from W. VA.

     I have no doubt they are Obama supporters, of the senior variety, now.

    My deduction today, without seeing any polls, is that Senator Obama may pull an Indiana, and come very close to Senator Clinton.

    During the late 1960s and early 1970s, I was invited to "come down to the farm," in West Virgina, by the young farmers.

    I was stunned to see that they weren't growing much eatables...but most of the people had a great time!

    One beautiful woman, who had lived in a small coal mining town, asked me, " do you want to come down to the farm and drop some acid?"

    I said no, because I was a Vietnam Veteran, and had enough nightmares to realize, if I did anything like that, they would have probably found me, hanging upside down on the "Spirit of St.Louis," in the Air and Space Museum.

    As a result I never saw her again.

    What has this to do with the primary in West Virginia in 2008? --- Stereotypes are almost always wrong, and expect the unexpected during this election on May 13th.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

"On to Oregon" Obama vs Hillary

    Those were the words of Senator Frank Church, after winning the Nebraska primary, in his quest to beat front runner Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential race.
    The Oregonian newspaper had that as their headline, and Church beat Carter in the Beaver State.

    32 years later, we have another competitive race for the White House in this state's primary.

    Like Frank Church, the liberal senator from Idaho, who investigated the CIA and their attempt to assassinate Fidel Castro, Senator Barack Obama, should win this state on May 20, 2008.

    Portland will give Obama the contest by 5 points, while Eugene should push him over double digits.  The more blue collar Springfield will probably eek out a victory for Obama.

    Southern Oregon looks like a slight Clinton victory, with eastern Oregon in the Clinton camp.

    This crystal ball was viewed without any current polls.

    But, the nature of this state is to go for the more independent candidate, as exemplified by its two United States Senators, Ron Wyden and Gordon Smith.

    Wyden, whose parents survived the Holocaust, is a traditional liberal, while conservative Republican Gordon Smith, started criticizing the war in Iraq, last year, and vetoed the drilling for oil in Alaska.

    Of course, Oregon is the home of the late Senator Wayne Morse, who was a Republican, Democrat and Independent...and was only one of the two Senators who voted against the Gulf of Tonkin resolution which expanded the war in south-east Asia.

    For reporters covering the race, there are a couple of coffee shops they should visit to get a feel for the political populace.

    In Springfield, dash into the "Pump" cafe, which reminds one of a typical Iowa lunch counter.  It has huge saws left over from the golden era of tree harvesting, and the clientele is quite moderate.

    In Eugene, the Friendly Natural Foods market, with Mario's(latitude 10) cafe and local residents pop in for an organic breakfast or organic Italian meal after 3pm.  It has 8 tables and a couch.

    The constant rains have been halted and the sun is now out, a lot of the time.  The state has begun to turn absolutely green and beautiful.

    Its a great time to hike in the old growth, or go check out the real "hippie" Saturday market.

    There are real differences in towns.

    Eugene is the home of the University of Oregon.

    I once went into a diner in Springfield and asked for a cup of coffee and a croissant.  The waitress yelled back, for all to hear, This is Springfield, there are NO Croissants in Springfield!

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

   

       

Hillary Clinton: Destroying the Democratic Party to Save it?

    A bit harsh.
    However, she mentioned in today's news conference, May 7, 2008, that she received $20 dollars from a struggling single mom.
    Wouldn't it be better to send the donation back to this mom, so she can take her kid out to the movies, and tell her, "well, I have about 90 million dollars in the bank, and I don't have much chance of winning the primary now, so you could use this $20 more than I can?"
    So, she continues to campaign, maybe winning West Virginia, Kentucky, and losing in Oregon and Montana.
    Just like the beaten soldier in Monty Pythons, "In search of the holy grail," she can continue to put up a contest in a losing battle, and throw more mud at Obama, so the GOP has even a better chance to win the White House in 2009---or, she can prove she is the statesman she wants to be, and bow out, gracefully, now, and help rebuild the Democratic Party, going into fall's general election.
    Thanks for reading:
    Bob Kholos
   

Hillary Clinton Get's Another Monday Night Coup--Letterman

    The Clinton campaign continues to outsmart the Obama campaign, on the Monday night, prior to an important primary election.
    This time, prior to the Indiana and North Carolina primaries, on May 6th, 2008, Hillary Clinton was all alone with millions of viewers, giving her "top 10" views on the Letterman show.
    These appearances are meant to show non-news viewers, who vote, that "I am not so bad...really."  They disarm the voter to say, "she's not so bad after all," and will change their mind and vote for her.
    This is one area where her campaign has outfoxed Obama's, on a consistent basis.
    Prior to the important Ohio and Texas primaries, she appeared on Saturday night live, and the Daily show.
    Although, I am an Obama supporter, you have to hand it to the Clinton handlers, on getting her alone on television before a massive audience, the night and weekend prior to important primaries.
    Thanks for reading:
    Bob Kholos

Why Barack Obama May Need Senator Mary Landrieu as VP Choice

    As Senator Obama states: he has been hurt the last few weeks of the campaign, going into Tuesday's Indiana and North Carolina primaries.

    As fewer and fewer white Catholics have been supporting him in the northeast, and blue collar voters have gone heavy for Hillary Clinton, he will probably still limp into the Democratic nomination.

    There are going to be a lot of upset Clinton supporters, when Obama does get the nomination in August.  The women's vote will be up for grabs, and many may not see a reason to vote at all in November.

    The last three Democratic Presidents have been from the south.

    Therefore, Senator Barack Obama will need a hit from the south, and a women, when he chooses his Vice President choice at the Denver convention.

    No one fills that bill like Louisiana United States Senator Mary Landrieu.

    She has the experience to blast the GOP leadership for the last eight years in domestic preparedness.

    As a victim of Hurricane Katrina, her state speaks volumes to the ineptitude of the vast Republican  incompetence.

    Senator  Landrieu is Catholic, the eldest of 9 children, and a woman: What more could Senator Obama ask for politically?

    She also represents a very blue collar state, and just maybe, she could bring along Louisiana in the Democratic column, come November.

    I've also watched her over the years, take on tough talking heads on the news networks.

    Landrieu is a tough campaigner, and will take no prisoners in any debate with the GOP VP contender in the fall.

    It may be a win-win for Senator Obama.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

   

   

 

Ballots Have Gone Out in Oregon

    While we wait for the election returns in North Carolina and Indiana, the State of Oregon, which is an all mail-in state, will be voting at the same time.
    Ballots went out on May 2nd, so some Beaver State citizens, will have already made their position known, even before the polls open in Indiana and North Carolina, on Tuesday.

    In a state, where a "new Car" is any automobile paid for in full, despite its age, the state government decided to save over a million bucks, a few years ago, and eliminate the need to drive to a polling place.   

    Election results will be announced on Tuesday, May 20th.

    I give Senator Barack Obama, a big lead in this state.

    Eugene and Portland are natural allies of the Senator from Illinois---with his early opposition to the war and his style....more reflective of Gene McCarthy, than Richard Nixon.

    Democrats in the Eastern belt of the state, which is closer to Idaho, will probably give Hillary Clinton the edge.

    Obama has had a couple of bad weeks, and I am sure this will make the race a lot closer, than earlier thought.

    Some of the ballots sent out early will reflect the tense battle, even if Senator Obama starts to get his "mo-jo" going again.

    This is probably the only negative of early mail in voting...the other, which has not popped up yet, would be mail-in fraud.

    Otherwise---my crystal ball says, "Obama beats Hillary by 7%," in this very green state.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

Andrea Mitchell Improves MSNBC

    Correspondent and journalist, Andrea Mitchell, has been covering the news since the 1970s, and her professionalism shows up as a news anchor on MSNBC.
    Her style is completely opposite of fun, but bombastic hosts, Chris Matthews, and Keith Olbermann.
    On politics she shows her stuff, in an almost vulnerable way...which allows her guests time to compose themselves and give complete answers, before she politely shoves them against the wall.

    This was best exemplified, when the Clinton campaign tried to put down a former DNC chair, as not really being from Indiana.   Mitchell, then brought up the fact that Hillary claims: Arkansas, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New York, as her home.

    Funny, but pointed.

    The other news "chick" I like, is CNBC's Maria Bartoloma. As testy as Andrea Mitchell is calm, she "out-brains" the other hosts on that business channel.

    If Brian Williams, ever gives up his post at NBC, I think that Mitchell/Bartoloma Nightly News, would kill their opposition on CBS and ABC.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

 

      
   

The Glass Ceiling Vs. The Black Brick Wall--Hillary Clinton Vs. Barack Obama

    There are a lot of reasons to vote for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, even John McCain.  Many of these reasons have nothing to do with gender or race.

    Although, Senator Obama tries to stay away from the "race card," Senator Clinton, often mentions the "glass ceiling," for women.

    As an older white guy, who has many experiences in the race discussion over the last 60 years, with other white guys (I support Obama), I believe that the bi-racial Obama, has hit the "Black Brick Wall," and unless he can break through it, he, indeed, will have a tough time, in the general election.

    Many have a tough time believing, in 2008, that Democrats, even in Pennsylvania, put up a "do not enter" sign in front of this Black Wall.

    But, most analysis proves it to be true.

    I'll outline a few of my personal experiences in a minute--but generally--Democrats have attacked conservative Republicans for marginalizing the Black experience in America.  But, bigotry knows no political boundaries.

    As a soldier, who served with the 4th Infantry Division in Vietnam from 1966-67, drafted out of a middle class household in West Los Angeles, I learned much about this division between Black and White, and tolerance and ugliness.   

    Many of the troops did not display a racist attitude, but there were a percentage who tried not to serve with African-American soldiers.  I also found out that many White GI's from the south and southwest were less prejudiced than some from Illinois and Indiana.

    As a kid, I would listen to Billie Holiday, singing "strange fruit," which was a true story about young Black men, hanging from trees, in her southern tour.

    When we drove to Las Vegas in the 1950's, my Dad would point out, on the little strip, where a hotel had to drain their pool, after Nat King Cole, took a dip.  This was demanded by the white guests (Cole was not allowed to stay in the hotel in which he performed.)

    Not only were older African-American men in their 60's, were still called "boy," but the subtleties of prejudice remained after the civil rights movement.

    Pennsylvania, and most likely, next week's primary in Indiana proves that point.

    When I was stationed in Fort Polk, Louisiana, in late 1967, I heard the bragging of locals in the Barber Shop, where to set up a machine gun, if Martin Luther King, marched through.

    The local white police, would routinely arrest Black Soldiers, who left the base on the weekend, for made up traffic violations.  This would keep them in jail on Saturday and Sunday, before they could be bailed out on Monday. It was a way of showing Black's, who was "boss" in surrounding Leesville, LA.

    I even hit the Texas, Dairy Queen, where I was told to move away from the "colored only" window, and receive my ice cream at the the "Whites Only," window.

    Although, thank God, many of these things are outlawed now, some attitudes have not gone away.

    I drove through an all night gas station in the San Fernando Valley, in 1968, and the attendant ran up to me and said, "Did you hear that King has been assassinated, isn't that great!

    Of course, City Councilman Tom Bradley's contest against Mayoral incumbent Sam Yorty,in 1969 was a failure, because of racial stereotypes, and the Los Angeles Times called it the "most racist campaign, ever, west of the Mississippi."

    Women are doing a hell of a lot better than years ago.  California now has two female United States Senators, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has almost as much power as President Bush.

    There is still a "glass ceiling" for women, but even though the Black middle class has expanded, there is a 10 foot high Black brick wall, where innuendo and stereotypes, keeps many whites from voting for the African-American candidate.

    Its only recently that we have had Black quarterbacks and coaches.

    But, in each circumstance---Politics, entertainment,government, and business--in most cases, dark skinned people in America still have to prove themselves able to vault over the 10 foot Black Brick Wall, in order to make it big in America.

    I hope reporters, columnists, and television commentators, will not continue this guilt by association business with Obama and Rev. Wright, as if every Black person is the same.

    There is a double standard.  Some of Hillary Clinton's best friends are feminists.  However the media doesn't put Gloria Steinem on tape every day telling people how they should outlaw Playboy Magazine, as a lot of them demanded in the 1970s.

    I hope the media drops this Joe McCarthy kind of stance, and refuses to continue these guilt by association attacks on Senator Obama.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

   

   

   

   

      

Fox News Website Downplays Obama-Wallace Interview-LA Times/Politico Plays it Up.

    Don Frederick posted a blog on the "Top of the Ticket" section of the Los Angeles Times, today (April 27th, 2008), which outlined Senator Barack Obama's long awaited interview by Chris Wallace on his Sunday, Fox News show.
    Politico.com, also did a bang up job on reviewing the show, as a "relaxed" interview with the Illinois Senator.
    The so-called "news" which came out of the interview was that he wasn't going to do a non hosted debate with Hillary Clinton since he has done "21" debates with her, already.
    However, the curious thing to me, was that, as of 2:45 pm (EDT), the Fox News Website, downplayed the story.  You had to look at a small sentence below the main title page, which said something to the effect, that Obama turns down Hillary's challenge.
    For those that haven't been involved in politics for more than 5 minutes, the Clinton challenge was purposely thrown down, prior to the Fox News interview, so that would be the story---Barack on the defensive, again--rather than any inroads he would make on the show.
    Most voters do not see these shows, but they will pick up two days of headline news on the subject.
    Once again, the Clinton machine, outfoxed the Obama campaign on news.
    This has been a disturbing development over the last month.
    My advice to the Obama forces:  Take some advantage of the news cycle, if you want to go out a winner in the last primary states.
    Thanks for reading:
    Bob Kholos
   
   

Can Barack Obama Win the Primary and General Election: Despite his Pastor?

    The short answer is: Yes.
    For the long answer, we have to go back to Mayor Tom Bradley's loss in 1969 and his come-back victory in 1973 as Mayor of Los Angeles.
    When the opposing forces in 1969, used the red-herring that he had a communist in his campaign operation, and one major newspaper had the headline that, "Top Communist Backs Bradley," the lessor known City Councilman lost to incumbent Mayor Sam Yorty.

    Four years later, 1973, Bradley won the Mayoralty, when he became better known, and his background as a former policeman, track star at UCLA, and attorney, were prioritized in the campaign.

    How does that relate to Senator Barack Obama now?

    Obama's opponents are using the Pastor and former Weather Underground activist, Bill Ayers, as the Joe McCarthy red herring, now.

    The advantage that the Barack Obama campaign has, is the length of the presidential campaign to dispute such accusations and go back on the offensive.

    On the other hand, Obama appears to have the same negative, as far as some voters are concerned, as former Illinois Senator and presidential candidate, Adlai  Stevenson.

    Obama may be too intellectual to fight the street fight against such stupid allegations against him.

    The best thing Obama can do now is to create some television spots which show former witch hunter, Senator Joe McCarthy, accusing citizens of guilt by association: "Have you even been a member or been associated with the Communist Party?"

    Senator Obama then can say, "They are at it again!"

    As far as I'm concerned,  Obama is a moderate politician and can work "both sides of the aisle," much better than Hillary Clinton.

    But, because he is Black, political pundits and some voters, automatically assume he is a radical "lefty."

    Senator Obama is in a little political trouble now, but he has the advantage of time, to correct his campaign philosophy, and take charge of the presidential contest again.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

   

      

California's Early Primary Setup for Hillary..A Waste of 60 Million Bucks.

    Over the last 40 years, I have agreed with much of what Los Angeles Times columnist, George Skelton, (reporter..etc) has said.
    However, I have a major disagreement with his assessment that the early February primary, which gave Hillary Clinton a major victory, was important.
    The first reason: It was a setup between the Speaker of the Assembly and Mrs. Clinton, at a cost of $60-90 million dollars for the taxpayers of the Golden State.

    The speaker said, "I talked with Hillary and she liked the idea of an early primary.".....Oh please...it was a set up.

        The campaign strategy at the time was to hold major primaries early and wipe out any Democratic Party competitors.  It didn't work, even with her victory in California.  So, the state got sucked into the Clinton machine at a high price for taxpayers.
    When a major state, like California, holds an early primary, it doesn't give time for any "dark-horse" candidate, or insurgent political politician to gain momentum.
    Barack Obama was at a distinct disadvantage in early February:
    While Hillary Clinton had been on the front pages for 16 years, with high name recognition, Senator Obama had been known for less than a year, on the campaign stump.

    When California held its "super-duper" primary, the former First Lady had a double digit lead over Obama in the national polls.

    Now, after the nation's Democrats have gotten to know Barack Obama, over time, he has an almost double digit lead over Mrs. Clinton (the polls have been fluctuating a little, lately.)

    Certain politicians, by their early endorsement of Hillary, over Obama, like Lt. Gov. John Garamendi, have hurt their chances for the 2010 Governor's contest, by taking sides, and upsetting a good portion of Obama supporters.

    Just think if California had the last major primary in June...it would have been as significant as  the 1968 and 1972 Democratic Primaries.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

          
   

Obama: Pushing the "Re-Start" Button, After Pennsylvania.

        The pundits are already saying that Obama will win North Carolina, but Clinton could win Indiana.
        Those are the next two Democratic Primaries.
        Barack Obama's persona works a lot better in smaller states, so an upset over Hillary in Indiana is not out of the question.

        However, as Washington Post Columnist, Eugene Robinson, said on MSNBC Tuesday night, "Obama has to find his mo-jo, again."

      I couldn't agree more.

        He looked stunned at the last debate, in which the ABC hosts, looked like ghosts of the late witch hunter, Senator Joe McCarthy.

    Senator Obama's campaign does not have to go highly negative against Senator Clinton, but he does have to become more animated, and stronger on specific issues.

    Senator Obama has brought us hope that we can change the politics of the last century...and the narrow minded politics of slash and burn in order to motivate voters.

    The Senator from Illinois, is going to have to get a lot tougher on the campaign trail, from now on.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

       

Hillary Clinton's Free Media Boost by Keith Olbermann.

    The night before any primary is a great time to get on national television for a simple one-on-one with a well known host.
    This time, Hillary Clinton has pulled a little news coup, by being the exclusive guest on Keith Olbermann's "Countdown" on MSNBC,  the night before the voting booths open in Pennsylvania.
    Her campaign keeps outdoing Obama's on this election eve free media.
    One day prior to New Hampshire, she cried a little, to show her softer side...and it worked. 
    The day before the next primary, she got a little teary eyed, again.  But, it didn't work so well, so she is doing something else...much more effective.
    The night before the Texas and Ohio primaries, she was the guest on the "Daily Show."   She won Texas by 3%.
   On the weekend, prior to Texas and Ohio, she also had an exclusive cameo on Saturday Night Live.
    Inside Washington, can't be that stupid, but I guess they are.
    The media are being manipulated by the Clinton campaign, for these exclusive, non-invasive, shows, in order to show her "human" side, without it being contested,on those same important nights by Senator Obama.

    So, Keith Olbermann, got sucked into an "exclusive" with Hillary the night before Pennsylvania, where "uncommitted" viewers can see her as soft and human, and able to give her view for an hour (actually with repeats--it comes to 3 hours that night)--and can say, "she is not so bad after all."

    As smart as the Obama campaign has been---outdoing Clinton on the caucus and small state primaries--they have been blowing the free media game the night before these important primaries.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

Why the Late Senator Joe McCarthy would Love George Stephanopoulos and James Carville

    "Have you ever been a Communist or associated with a Communist group?"
    The famous media words of "witch-hunter," Senator Joe McCarthy.
    During the 1950's, the journalists of the time, spread his poison all over America, ruining the lives and livelihood of thousands of patriotic citizens.
    Television lights and the spotlight of the media were focused on these false charges by the alcoholic Senator from Minnesota, until Edward R. Murrow, put a stop to it.
    Now, former Bill Clinton aide, and ABC news host, George Stephanopoulos, tried to put the vex on Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, by hitting him on his "association" with a controversial Pastor, and a radical from the 1960's, when the Senator was eight years old.
    It was bad enough when former Bill Clinton strategist, James Carville, was invited back to Meet the Press, after calling the decent and well liked Governor of New Mexico, Bill Richardson, a "Judas," for supporting Senator Obama for President. 

    I like Tim Russert, but he handled Carville, with kid gloves on that particular show.

    Barack Obama is not the fiery, and demagogic phony, which a lot of television hosts would like.  Therefore his responses to such false innuendo, is smooth and relaxed.

    Many people mistake, "Civility with weakness," as former Deputy Mayor to Mayor Tom Bradley, Maury Weiner, used to say on a regular basis.

    Los Angeles Councilman, Tom Bradley, lost the Mayor's race in 1969, for similar charges against him, for having Don Rothenberg on his campaign staff.

    Rothenberg who helped with the Berkeley Co-op and other socially committed issues, was in his past, in the 1930's, associated with the Communist Party, like a lot of other liberals at the time of the Great Depression.

    Rothenberg had rejected the Communist Party for many years....but it was brought up against Tom Bradley, and it destroyed his campaign by "guilt by association."

    This is the same thing happening to Barack Obama.

    Whether you support Obama, Clinton, or McCain, I hope you will ask the professional journalists, and television hosts, to "lighten-up" on this red-herring.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

   

      

 

Should Olympic Athletes and Tibet be the Victim of Chinese Communist Policy?

        The Answer: NO.
       
    We have been playing footsie with the PRC, since President Richard Nixon landed in Beijing.
    Wal-Mart could almost be a Chinese Embassy, with its clutter of merchandise from a country which was suffering from mass starvation, just 60 years ago.

    The Communist government has a horrible record with Tibet and Darfur.

    As American's, we disagree strongly, with their human rights record and form of government, which does not allow individual liberty to flourish.

    On the other hand, we have almost normalized relations with Vietnam, which also has a small minded bunch of dictators ruining the freedoms of millions of Vietnamese.

    The life of a great athlete is not very long.  A few years, at most.

    The dreams of many track stars, and others are at stake during this Olympics.

    For Hillary Clinton and others to play simplistic politics by calling President Bush not to attend the opening ceremonies--won't change anything.

    I supported the Olympic boycott against the Soviet Union, under the Carter administration, because they jailed a Los Angeles Times reporter, and had thousands of nuclear weapons pointed at us.

    This is different.

    Where was the pressure by the US Congress on the plight of Tibet, before the Olympic games were rewarded to China?

    Why hasn't the world community done anything about the genocide in Darfur, prior to the Games being awarded to China?

    I'm not excusing the Chinese government, but I am saying, we can still focus on these aforementioned tragedies, while allowing the worlds greatest athletes to compete this summer in China.

    Let the games begin!

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

      
   
   

Will Pennsylvania Primary on Tuesday be Boom or Bust for Obama?

    Even the political pundits are having a tough time with this one.
    Chris Matthews of Hardball on MSNBC, suggests that this could be a blowout for Hillary Clinton. He predicts a  double digit win for the former First Lady.
    The polling after the obnoxious debate on ABC, as an attack ad on Barack Obama by a former Clinton adviser, asking questions, Wednesday night, shows Obama definitely hurt by the "Joe McCarthy" set up.
    However, there have been a lot of newly registered Democrats in the 18-35 age group, in Pennsylvania, which should give Senator Obama a burst of votes on April 22nd.
    With a still high "undecided" percentage in the Keystone State, and Obama behind anywhere from 6-20 points, in the polls, some predict a "Bradley effect" of White voters who don't want to say they are going to vote against a Black Man while being questioned by pollsters.

    What does all of this mean:

    Hillary Clinton, who lived in the state, should win the primary, but there is still a surprise element which could give Obama a close race, and thus hurt the Senator from New York, from continuing the contest.

    If Hillary wins by a lot, we will go into the really nasty phase of the Democratic contest--all the way to the convention in August.

    Of the next 10 primaries, Senator Obama should win six or seven--giving him the edge going into Denver.

    But, if Hillary decides to fight all the way, she will be successful in saving the party for her future, while, at the same time, destroying the general election for the Democrats.

    With an almost 50% negative rating, and the former controversies surrounding Bill Clinton, Senator John McCain is almost a sure winner against her.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos