SAIGONBOB

Will Hillary Supporters Make Obama-McCain Contest--A Nixon-Humphrey 1968 Race?

    In 1968 VP Hubert H. Humphrey lost to Richard Nixon by about 700-thousand votes, out of 61 million votes cast.  It was basically less than 1% of the total vote..that the "happy warrior" lost to Nixon.
    Why?
    A couple of reasons.
    1. Humphrey was an integrationist...and Alabama Governor George Wallace, entered the election as the "southern" alternative to the Democratic and Republican nominees....thus taking almost the entire south---a major shift away from the traditional Democratic Party bloc, which controlled the south, until that election.
    2.  The Democratic left, stayed home, because they thought that Humphrey was too close to LBJ on the war in Vietnam.
    The Vice-President, couldn't stray that far from Johnson, but the word was that he would end the war, if elected.  That was not good enough for the left, so they stayed home during that election....and threw the Presidency to Richard Nixon, who kept up that war for another 5 years.

    The latest polls show that women who supported Hillary Clinton for President, are pretty upset at the Obama win.

    The indication, in late June, is that about 40-50% of them will either not vote, or even support the GOP nominee--John McCain.

    This could spell potential disaster for Senator Obama in his contest against McCain in the fall.

    Women, in this election, could sit on their hands and hand the election to the Republican Party again.

    By anger, they could put into the White House a pro-war, anti-abortion President.

    As the first African-American nominee by the Democratic Party, Mr. Obama is going to have a tough battle, and need all of the money and support he can get, in order to beat the GOP in the fall.

    A 1-2% shift by women voters, could destroy Obama's chances.

    Many of my old friends, who sat out the Nixon-Humphrey contest in 1968, have never forgiven themselves for that selfish act.

    I hope that Hillary's women supporters, can see past their anger, and give us a Democratic President and and Democratic Congress, come 2009.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

      

Israel Trades Monster for 2 Dead Soldiers:USA TODAY

    So, you don't think there is much difference between  Israel and the rest of the middle east?
    Just like Pakistan, the UN in 1948 gave the modern State of Israel, the right to exist.  Of course the Israeli's--Jews and Arabs--have lived under constant war for 60 straight years.
`Now, they have to give up a notorious murderer, who killed a Mother in front of her 4 year old child and then bashed the head in of the 4 year old, and killed others in the same attack---will be released to Hezbollah--for two Israeli soldiers, not at war, who were kidnapped, and then murdered.
    This story makes me sick.
    It also shows mentality of those who would destroy Israel...and anyone else that gets in their way.
    Part of USA Today story, June 29th, 2008 (www.usatoday.com)
   

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's Cabinet voted overwhelmingly on Sunday in favor of an emotionally charged deal to swap a notorious Lebanese prisoner for the bodies of two soldiers declared earlier in the day to be dead.

The deal with the Lebanese Hezbollah militant group has sparked a fierce debate over whether Israel would be giving up too much — or carrying out its highest commitment to its soldiers to do everything possible to bring them home if they fell into enemy hands.

Hezbollah militants captured Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev in a July 2006 cross-border raid that sparked a vicious, month-long war.

In return for their bodies, the Cabinet agreed to release Samir Kantar, a Lebanese guerrilla imprisoned for nearly 30 years for an attack etched in the Israeli psyche as one of the cruelest in the nation's history.

Hezbollah had offered no sign that Goldwasser and Regev were alive and the Red Cross was never allowed to see them. Ahead of the vote, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said for the first time that Israel has concluded the two soldiers were dead — killed during the raid or shortly after.

---Bob Kholos

Terry Mcauliffe Blows it on CNN with Candy Crowley

    Professional journalist, CNN's Candy Crowley, asked the question twice, on Sunday, June 29, 2008---Will Hillary Clinton's name be put into nomination at the Democratic Convention?
    Terry Mcauliffe, the Chair of the Clinton for President Campaign, dodged it, over and over again.
    This is the back room politics of the last century, I was blogging about last week.
    The Clinton forces, still want to broker her candidacy, all the way to Denver, and make Barack Obama sweat it out, until his donors bail her out of $10-Million dollars of debt.
    Shame on the Clinton's.
    You lost....I am sorry.
    But, now is the time to support Barack Obama 100% without making him pay her to leave the scene.

    The Clinton's are worth over $90 million dollars, and Bill can make over $100,000 dollars per speech.

    It's time to give it up.

    We need a Democratic President of the United States, and we don't need anyone within the party to drag Obama down, for the next two months.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos   
   

Here Lies the LATIMES: "Zelling" The Building

    As someone who has read the Los Angeles Times, since the "Red Car" was still running in West Hollywood, I find it deeply troubling that Sam Zell, who owns the Tribune Corporation, will now put the Times-Mirror Square Building, in downtown Los Angeles, up for sale.

    LA Times story of June 26th, 2008:

 

Tribune CEO Sam Zell says the company seeks to 'maximize the value' of the newspaper's complex and of Chicago's Tribune Tower.

By Thomas S. Mulligan and Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
June 26, 2008

Cash-strapped Tribune Co. is considering putting two of its signature properties -- the Los Angeles Times' main office downtown and Tribune Tower in Chicago -- on the block.

Tribune Chief Executive Sam Zell told employees in an e-mail Wednesday that the company had contacted "several of the country's leading real estate firms" about the Times property and Tribune Tower, the company's 40-story headquarters in Chicago.

   

   When I queried Times journalist, Thomas S. Mulligan, about the proposed sell, and said that, "You can now work across the street, on the grass at city hall," he replied, in an E-Mail:

What strength of sunblock would you recommend?  Also, do you know where we 
could get a deal on a bunch of 800-foot extension cords? 

	I laughed out loud with that reply.
  Now in fairness to Sam Zell (although he has
more loose change in his couch, than I do in value
my home) he is also selling the Tribune building
in Chicago.  So, he is not just taking it out on
the Times.
     It would be poetic justice for David Geffen,
who was considering bidding for the newspaper, 
to buy the Times building, and then lock Zell out
of it.
     I still consider the Times to be a great
newspaper, and the reporters to be genuine
professionals, who get it right most of the time.
But, how much damage is Zell willing to do to
this great newspaper, before we put up a grave 
stone in its place saying: "Here lies the Los
Angeles Times. They used to print things in something
called a newspaper."
	Thanks for reading:
	Bob Kholos
	
     
    

 

 

The Fairness Doctrine: A Bad Idea for America

    Right now, many Democratic officeholders are angry with the right wing bent of radio talk show hosts, and their apparent power when it comes to influencing voter sentiment.

    Supposedly,  the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is, or has, prepared legislation to reintroduce the handcuffs of the "Fairness Doctrine," on the American public.

    Nothing could be more un-democratic, and a true mistake by a liberal legislator, Mrs. Pelosi.

    The commerce of radio broadcasting is having a difficult time, like our national newspapers.

    One of the things that is working is the hot, stylistic, hard headed radio hosts, who vent the frustration of living in America with too much crime, too much central government, and way too much political correctness.

    Why shut them up?

    I may disagree with Rush Limbaugh, or Michael Savage, but they have every right, like me, to vent their frustrations in a political way.

    Having a fairness doctrine, in reality, means cutting back their free speech---a First Amendment right.

    Supporters would say, "Well, it just means giving opposing sides a right to respond."

    What it really means is having the corporations who run these radio stations, cut back on controversy, because they don't want to get into trouble with the government.

    Also, who determines what the opposing view is?

    Is it some bureaucrat in Washington, DC, who may have attended Bob Jones University, or UC Berkeley.

    In truth....everyone thinks they are right in America.

    And...in America, everyone has the right to vent their views on a public street corner, or behind a microphone, without government interference.

    This is why the so-called "Fairness Doctrine" is not fair, and a bad idea.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

Eugene, OR.--Olympic Trials-Where to Eat

    There are a couple of places I really like in the Eugene-Springfield area.
    If you eat on the healthy side, I suggest Mario's at Friendly Street Natural Foods Store.  Near 28th and Friendly Street, SW Eugene.
    An authentic Italian, with a combo coffee shop and organic traditional Italian delights (also called Latitude 10)---they have the best staff in town.
    Call first, as they only have 8 tables and a couch (it is Eugene!)---541-343-3460.
--------
    The Pump Cafe, in Springfield, is an old style morning breakfast place.  Owned by two sisters, they cook fresh pastries, and have one of the best Mediterranean salads, I have ever had north of Montana Avenue in Santa Monica.
    The atmosphere is wonderful:  Old 1950 style gas pumps (remember 25cent a gallon gasoline?),and huge saws on the walls from the time when chopping down trees by hand was a family value.
    I don't have their phone number off hand....but check it out if you are a morning person.
----
    Although not open on weekends(except Sunday during trials), Alex's little Falafel stand, next to the University of Oregon Book Store, off 13th Street, is  the most wonderful, vegetarian stand in Eugene.
    Have a conversation with Alex, the father of 6 children, and somewhat an expert on the "Old Testament."
    During weekdays, he opens at about 11 am and closes about 3pm.  During the Olympic Trials, he will be open til 8PM, and also on Sunday.( he also takes every holiday....invented by man...off.)

---A nice coffee shop near the University, on Hillyard Street, is Allann Bros:  Good coffee and some nice treats.

----
    Thanks for reading:
    Bob Kholos

   

Barack Obama's Bailout of Hillary Clinton: A Bad Idea

    I've been supporting Senator Obama for President since about April of 2007.
    I'm not a Hillary hater, but she did borrow million's of her own dollars to defeat Senator Obama in the primary.
    Bill and Hillary represent the politics of the last century, not the current rise in support for the overturning of such back room deals.
    Obviously, part of Clinton's deal with Obama, is for him to help pay her 20 million dollar debt from her campaign.
    This has sucked Obama into the old politics.
    If her support was contingent on his paying off her debt, he should have walked right out of the room.
    First, the former First Lady and her husband are worth about 90 million dollars.  They are not like former President Harry S. Truman, who was broke when he left the White House.
    Bill can get over $100,000 dollars a speech, plus his family receives all kinds of perks for being a former First Family.
    Because Senator Obama is the first African-American to challenge for the Presidency,in the general election, he will need every penny in order to defeat the GOP in November.
     I will still send him $50 dollars next month, for his campaign, but I am hoping it doesn't wind up in a millionaire's lap.
    Thanks for reading:
    Bob Kholos
   

Should Andrea Mitchell Host Meet the Press?

    I've always liked Tom Brokaw.  I first met him when I was travel press secretary to Jesse Unruh, when he was running against Ronald Reagan for Governor of California---a long time ago.
    Brokaw, was then a cub reporter for an Sacramento Television news station---as I remember it.
    Since that date in 1970, I really never knew his politics--which is a great tribute to Tom Brokaw---a real professional.

    However, like me, he is getting rather "long in the tooth."

    NBC did all of us a great favor, by putting him in the late Tim Russert seat at Meet the Press, until after the Presidential Election in November.

    One of the news hosts, who I really like, and has that humble approach to asking question's of dignitaries, is Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC.

    She has the on-the-road experience, and does not suffer fools, as was the case when she reminded the audience that she traveled with First Lady Hillary Clinton on that "Bosnia" trip, as a reporter.

    In her own right, she has that "Russert" strength and quietness, while having the political "savvy" not to let a political leader get away with his or her own hypocrisy.

    Mitchell is a professional, and a leader among journalists.

    She has my vote for leading Meet the Press on a permanent basis.

    Thanks for reading:

    Bob Kholos

   

   

Don Imus:Gov. Faubus in the Morning, Part 2.

    So, that down home cowboy, Don Imus, is at it again.
    Let's see--The radio phenomena, thinks that "Packman Jones," is a criminal---therefore he is Black.
    Gee--what about George Bundy--just your average, of course, White guy, who was a serial killer.
    Imus wins this weeks, "2 and one-half bigots" award.
    I wouldn't fire him on this one, but really----Don---give it up----you have a problem.
    Thanks for reading:
    Bob Kholos

Obama Beats McCain in Electoral College: 285-253.

   

        The way I see it, today, June 22, 2008:
       
         Senator Barack Obama becomes President of the United States, by beating Senator John McCain, in the Electoral College: 285-253.
        Check out the Los Angeles Times "Campaign '08," and do your own math on their Electoral scoreboard (www.latimes.com).
        I basically give the election to Obama based on him wiping out McCain in the West---with the exception of Arizona.
        I kept Mississippi as a "red" state, but think he may upset McCain in some southern states, including Louisiana.
        I'll try again next month with an update of my analysis on the Electoral College.
    Thanks for reading:
    Bob Kholos