Obama Showing Strong in TX and Ohio

According to new poll data from American Research Group, Inc., Sen. Obama now holds a 51-44 lead over Sen. Clinton in Texas. In Ohio, Sen. Clinton holds a 50-45 lead after having led Sen. Obama by 10 points a mere week ago.

The question becomes, if Hillary Clinton loses in either state (or both states) will she find the grace and logic to concede? If past history of character is any indication, I suspect she'll hang on like a rusty fish hook. It would take Howard Dean and the jaws-of-life to pry her away from this contest.

While the Clinton campaign saunders on with negative attitudes and tactics, Sen. Obama engages the people of Ohio with a personal, hopeful approach. It is never wise to scold voters for daring to hope in their futures.

John McCain Flips AGAIN on Iraq Position

When last we heard, John McCain was perfectly satisified with the idea that our troops might be in Iraq for 100 years. On Monday, Feb. 25th, CNNPolitics.com reports that McCain has taken another position, sharing his new belief that "the war will be over soon." The question becomes one of logic: Has McCain changed his position or has he simply forgotten the myriad of various stances he's taken regarding the war in Iraq? Given that he expects America to embrace him as "friends" (a term of endearment that McCain has fallen in love with), one can only assume that he is hoping all of us will just go with his flow and accept him as the loveable ol' granddaddy who has taken to waffling. Too bad for the Senator that Iraq is hardly the ONLY issue he has changed his mind on.

The Obama Big "Mo"

With polls continuing to indicate that Obama's momentum remains steady, the endorsement of Sen. Chris Dodd as reported by Reuters is another positive boost.

CNNPolitics.com is reporting that the race in Texas is now "all tied up." Given that Obama is polling stronger than Clinton in senate districts with high delegate counts, Texas could prove to be the state that seals the deal for Sen. Obama and seals the fate for Sen. Clinton in the 2008 primary season. Here's hoping Super Delegates remember that the people should have the last word.

Obama Remains Firm on Hillary's Support for NAFTA

When many politicians would have tucked tail and polished their original statements if confronted with a Hillary Clinton temper tantrum, Sen. Obama - true to form - has remained calm and consistent. As noted in the Dallas Morning News online, Barack Obama continues to attack her record of support for NAFTA, a position she now wishes voter would simply dismiss.

Democrats have finally found a candidate who is willing to stay true to his/her statements without pandering to opinion polls and party hacks. As an Independent, I am impressed that Democrats are embracing honesty, clarity, and vision above distorted records, exaggerated accomplishments, and politics as usual. Here's hoping they will continue to see the many strengths in majority support for Sen. Obama.

Hillary's Trouble With NAFTA

In Hillary Clinton's outrageous rant yesterday regarding campaign mailers sent out in Ohio by the Obama campaign, she used the healthcare issue to attempt to paint Obama as someone who doesn't care about the issue. What she doesn't seem want to talk about is her NAFTA connection levied in those mailers. Who can blame her, given her recent pretense of never having supported NAFTA. This is a good reminder to Sen. Clinton that words do matter. Especially when those words are your own and they're forever archived by the media. Again, shame on YOU, Sen. Clinton. Shame on you. For a walk down memory lane, the Huffington Post has a good history review by David Sirota, Hillary Clinton Pretends She Never Praised NAFTA. Oh what a tangled web we weave...

Add to this already distasteful situation the NYTimes article posted at CommonDreams.org, "A Top Clinton Aide Draws Criticism From Unions," which details Clintons's chief strategist, Mark Penn, is chief executive of a public relations firm that is helping a company fight a unionization drive. If anyone is connecting the dots, Hillary's feigned outrage yesterday is nothing more than the lady doth protest too much.

Hillary Clinton, Who Are YOU To Mention "Shame?"

Predictably, when Hillary Clinton isn't getting rapt praise and more power heaped upon her, she waits until her opponent's back is slightly turned and in she goes for the kill. The problem here is, you have to be careful that YOU don't become the victim of your own cut-throat tactics. Here we have a new attack attempt where Hillary chastises Obama with a "shame on you" finger-wagging. Not surprisingly, Hillary ends up needing to explain what she's doing and why far more than Obama needs to give attention to it. I suppose desperation is a hard situation to get a handle on. Nonetheless, Hillary Clinton just serves to remind us all of that part of the Clinton years that we all grew so, so weary of over time.

John McCain Starts Lies Early Regarding Obama

Before the Democrats have even nominated a candidate for the general election, John McCain has decided the early bird catches the worm, especially if the early bird is lying through his beak.

McCain not only suggested Obama has said he would attack Pakistan, he made a point to clarify that he said "bomb" Pakistan. It was a moment of "if you must tell a lie, tell a very big one." Fortunately, there are organizations watching for these types of deliberate misrepresentations and blatant lies. PolitiFact.com is one such watchdog. They've rated McCain's mischaracterization of Obama's statements as Pants On Fire, the most deliberate level of deception.

It is especially worth noting in the article that George W. Bush has a strong hand in spreading this ridiculous lie. To once again demonstrate the unabashed hypocrisy of George W. Bush, the following is from a presidential press conference in August, 2007, and the entire press conference can be found at The White House website:

Q Sir, on Monday, at Camp David, when you met with President Karzai from Afghanistan, you were asked if you had actionable intelligence in Pakistan of top al Qaeda leaders; would you take action unilaterally, if in fact you felt that President Musharraf simply, for one reason or another, just simply couldn't get his people there in time, would you move in? And you said, if we had actionable -- good, actionable intelligence, we would get the job done.

My question, one, is, who is "we"? Does that we include the Pakistanis, or -- because the question says, Musharraf wouldn't be able to be in -- would you do it unilaterally? And one reason this is a hot question this week is that one of the Democratic presidential candidates, Barack Obama, talked about taking unilateral action. He kind of got beaten up by people in the Democratic Party, and by Mitt Romney in your party, Romney comparing him to Dr. Strangelove. I don't know if you would agree with that, or if you would feel --

THE PRESIDENT: John, I suspect that over the course of the next months, when I hold a press conference, you'll be trying to get me to engage in presidential politics; trying to get me to opine about what candidates are saying, whether they be Republicans or Democrats. And hopefully I'll be disciplined enough not to fall prey to your question, not to fall into that trap.

To the question you asked, and to my answer in Camp David, I said I'm confident that we -- both the Paks and the Americans -- will be able to work up a plan, based upon actionable intelligence, that will bring the top al Qaeda targets to justice. I meant what I said. We spend a lot of time with the leadership in Pakistan, talking about what we will do with actionable intelligence. And the question was, am I confident that they will be brought to justice, and my answer to you is, yes, I am confident.

Clinton Campaign: Where's The Money?

Sen. Hillary Clinton speaks often of her understanding on economic matters. Yet, according to an article in the New York Times, Clinton Donors Worried by Campaign Spending, her campaign seems to conduct itself like a bunch of drunken sailors.

Donors are worried but Dunkin Donuts is thrilled. $1,200 on Dunkin Donut runs but then they whine that Obama won Wisconin because he out-spent her? Someone needs to explain to Ms. 35 Years of Experience that campaign funds are suppose to be spent on trying to win over the voters. Her history of oddly managed campaign funds doesn't begin with this primary. Given America's current economic crisis, where is the evidence that Sen. Clinton has a grasp on controlled and managed spending?

John McCain: Pay No Attention To The Man Behind the Curtain!

Why is it some people are struggling to believe John McCain is a lobbyist's best friend? Why have we forgotten about the outrageous estimated $3.4 billion it cost taxpayers when the Lincoln Savings and Loan scandal broke wide open, and John McCain was the one in the Keating Five who didnt' end up in prison or with his career destroyed, despite his clear involvement? McCain's 2008 campaign manager, Tom Davis, is a high-level lobbyist, his campaign has no shortage of lobbyists and yet...we are loathe to accept this kindly old gentleman who so honorably served and sacrificed for this country during Vietnam is a habitual unofficial partner with the special interest groups that have so much undue influence in Washington?

The American people, as evidenced by the astounding grassroots response to Sen. Barack Obama's campaign, are tired of being ignored in Washington while the mouthpieces of big business always have a seat at the table.

527 Group Comes To Clinton's Aid

When you don't have the campaign money nor the political goodwill to run the level of attack ads that you're dying to run, what can you do? Use that wonderful little loophole known as a 527 group to do your dirty work for you. It's a terrific way to trash the opposition while keeping your own hands lily white. But...is there still a person left that can honestly say we believe the Clintons are above this Rovian style of politics?

It has become abundantly clear to the Clinton campaign that attacking Obama directly - as they did with TV ads and mass mailings in Wisconsin - backfires on her in a big way. Her benign and oft repeated message of "words vs. solutions" isn't resonating with anyone but her. It was only a matter of time until she felt justified in taking things into the gutter. Never count the Clinton's out, though. If there's one place where they are on familiar turf it is the bottom-feeding gutter of politics.

Americans are rejecting this negative status quo. They are "fired up and ready to go!" Fortunately, Sen. Obama is not easily rattled or thrown off message. If Hillary Clinton is hoping for a reaction akin to what she typically does when challenged, I don't think she'll be happy with the results.

For more on the new American Leadership Project (the 527 that's coming out to fight Hillary's battles):

Pro-Clinton 527 Prepares For Ohio, PA and Texas

Clinton's 527 Help: Political Machine

The "Creepy Cult" of Obama? More Clinton Outrage

Even if you're undecided at this point, even if you are leaning toward Hillary...reading Denise Williams' piece, "The Cult of Obama?" should disgust and outrage anyone. The circle of so-called journalists who started this ridiculous slander kept quoting each other so it would stay out there in the media (particularly blog and print media). THIS is the Clinton trash over truth saga we all remember, hated and are threatened with yet again.

Hillary's Blackwater Connection

As reported at The Huffington Post, Hillary Clinton's chief mudslinger, Mark Penn, knows a thing or two about a thing or two where Blackwater is concerned. If you want your memory refreshed on all the ugly deals that always find their way back to the Clinton's, this article should do it.

Mark Penn, Clinton Chief Strategist: He Said WHAT?

From a Politico.com article, Mark Penn - Hillary Clinton's chief strategist and dirt peddler - is quoted as saying,

Two days later, after Obama’s eighth straight victory, Penn told reporters: “Winning Democratic primaries is not a qualification or a sign of who can win the general election. If it were, every nominee would win because every nominee wins Democratic primaries.”

Ok. So...are we to conclude that by Hillary NOT winning at the time of his comment, she is best positioned to win the general election? And here we thought we were about finished with Bushisms.

Let The Voters Decide!

As the unacceptable notion of less than 800 Super Delegates deciding the Democratic nominee has become more of a possibility, voters must keep the pressure on to remind them that their power is ONLY to be a voice of the people, not a vote of political favoritism. I urge you not to sit back and let a handful of well-connected politicians and players take away the people's choice.

Sign the Let The Voters Decide petition at Democracy for America

Introduction To Independents For Obama

The strongest presidential candidate American has seen in decades is Barack Obama. His character, record, and ability to lead are consistently demonstrated. He is, however, faced with the daunting task of getting his message - a new message - out to the American people while fighting out the typical mudslinging and underhanded campaign tactics of Washington-as-usual from the Clinton campaign and now, the McCain campaign.

Independents For Obama will aim to assertively address at least some of the unscrupulous efforts to destroy his candidacy. Swiftboating was a disgusting strategy that, unfortunately, worked. The Clinton campaign operates on that same dishonest level and should be exposed! ENOUGH with the Clinton/Bush Dynasty.