Barack Obama on Army Suicide Report

Related Posts: Obama Statement In Support of Striking Bay Area Janitors, Barack Obama "Adopted" By Crow Nation, UPI: Clinton accused of hypocrisy

• Barack Obama issued the following statement in response to the Army Suicide Report:

"Today's news is a tragic reminder of the staggering and ongoing costs of the Iraq war, particularly on our troops and their families. We are more than five years into this war, and the Pentagon and VA are still unprepared to treat the unseen wounds of battle. We know that incidence of psychological injury increase with each additional tour of duty in Iraq, and that our troops are not getting the support they need. Too many are falling through the cracks because they need help but feel they can't get it. When I am President, we'll hire more mental health professionals, increase training to recognize the signs and to reject the stigma of seeking care, and enhance mental health screening and treatment from enlistment, to deployment, to reentry into civilian life. It's time to serve our troops as well as they have served us."

Source: http://www.barackobama.com/2008/05/29/obama_statement_on_army_suicid.php

Clinton Endorsed By 22 South Dakota Native American Leaders

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• In a press release on HillaryClinton.Com her campaign announced endorsements by the following "22 South Dakota Native American Leaders":

Lionel Bordeaux, President, Sinte Gleska University

Shawn Bordeaux, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Floyd Brings Plenty, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Anthony Castaway, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Kim Clausen, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Carol Crazy Thunder-O’Rourke, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Leonard Crow Dog, Rosebud Sioux Tribe elder

Ron Duke, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Cecilia Fire Thunder, Former Chairwoman, Oglala Sioux Tribal Council

Phillip Good Crow, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Lewis Good Voice Eagle, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Scott Herman, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

William "BeBe" Long, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Trent "Okie" Poignee, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Thomas Poor Bear, Oglala Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Francis Pumpkin Seed, Shannon County Commissioner

Lula Red Cloud

Brandon Sazue, Sr., Chairman, Crow Creek Sioux Tribal Council

Tom Shortbull, President, Oglala Lakota College and Former State Senator

Michael J. Valandra, Sr., Rosebud Sioux Tribal Councilmember

Carl Waln, Former Chairman, Rosebud Sioux Tribe

Connie Whirlwind Horse, Shannon County Commissioner

Source: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=7870

Indecision 2008: A Billionaire's Guide to the Candidates: Ralph Nader

Related Posts: Why Indecision 2008 Endorsed Alan Keyes for President, Ralph Nader, An Unreasonable Candidate?


POSTED BY: Billionaires4Bush

Unreasonable Man Ralph Nader makes it easy. Sure, he's owned corporate stock, dissed the Green Party, and been accused of "spoiling" the election chances of Democrats paddling towards the callow middle -- but what can he do for the Billionaires? The splash page for his website asks "which side are you on?" On one side: "Nader/ Gonzales '08." On the other: corporate greed, corporate power, corporate control, the health insurance industry, agribusiness giants, corporate criminals, nuclear power, big banks, drug companies, corporate Democrats, polluters, unionbusters, war profiteers, credit card companies, Wall Street, Big Oil, and corporate Republicans. Have I died and gone to Halliburton? Sign me up for Column B!

Click here for the full Indecision2008.Com article.

AP Campaign Minute Video: May 30, 2008

Video: "Signs Of Ron Paul Support" in South Dakota

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Obama Statement In Support of Striking Bay Area Janitors

• Barack Obama issued the following press release on the Bay Area janitor's strike:

Chicago, IL — Senator Obama today released the following statement in support of striking Bay Area janitors.

"As thousands of Bay Area janitors continue their courageous fight to win a higher standard of living for themselves and their families, I offer my support."

"It's thanks to the bravery and sacrifice of these workers—and union men and women before them—that we've made progress in the fight to ensure that every American has rights on the job and the chance to improve their lives."

"The hundreds of mostly Latino janitors who walked off the job this week throughout the Bay Area took a stand against the unacceptable and ever-growing divide between the wealthiest and poorest among us—and they're inspiring other working people to do the same."

"This week, when janitors traded their brooms for picket signs, they also sent a message about the urgent need for good-paying jobs with health care and dignity to ensure that families aren't just surviving, but thriving. By speaking out against the injustice of having to share a home with other families just to stay alive, these hardworking janitors are demonstrating their abiding faith in the power of hope—and paving the way for others around this country to follow in their footsteps."

"It is my own hope that the employers in the Bay Area will take real responsibility for the kind of jobs that are offered within the confines of their offices and take swift
measures to bring the janitors back to work."

"Until they do, the Bay Area janitors will have my support."

Source: http://www.barackobama.com/2008/05/23/obama_statement_in_support_of_1.php

Hillary Clinton T-Shirt Design Contest Finalists

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The following are the five finalists in Hillary Clinton's T-Shirt Design Contest:

John McCain Hispanic/Immigration Memorial Day Web Ad

Related Post: McCain to Attend La Raza Annual Convention in July



Ad Transcript:

JOHN MCCAIN: My friends, I want you, the next time you're down in Washington, D.C., to go to the Vietnam War Memorial and look at the names engraved in black granite. You'll find a whole lot of Hispanic names.

When you go to Iraq or Afghanistan today, you're going to see a whole lot of people who are of Hispanic background.

You're even going to meet some of the few thousand that are still green card holders who are not even citizens of this country, who love this country so much that they're willing to risk their lives in its service in order to accelerate their path to citizenship and enjoy the bountiful, blessed nation.

So let's, from time to time, remember that these are God's children. They must come into country legally, but they have enriched our culture and our nation as every generation of immigrants before them.

Thank you.

I'm John McCain and I approve this message.

Will Ron Paul Win National Delegates at Washington State GOP Convention?

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• The Washington State GOP convention will be held Thursday, May 29, 2008 through Saturday, May 31, 2008 at the Spokane Convention Center.
• Despite the fact that John McCain is the presumptive nominee The Seattle Times reports that in many counties Ron Paul has substantial support.
• According to The Seattle Times in Spokane County (5th Congressional District), 106 of the 114 delegates going to the state convention are Ron Paul supporters, along with 11 of 13 delegates from Stevens County, four of eight from Asotin County, and two of five from both Lincoln and Ferry counties.
• As has been the case in other states, the Washington State GOP has already instituted one last minute rules change concerning delegates. It is uncertain how that change will affect the Ron Paul supporters. The text of the rules change resolution can be viewed here.

Sources:

http://www.wsrp.org/FlexPage.aspx?area=2008-Convention#bottom

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004437950_webpaulgop25.html

http://www.kndo.com/Global/story.asp?S=8378786&nav=menu484_2_8

StarTribune.Com: Ron Paul to visit before state GOP convention

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By BOB VON STERNBERG, Star Tribune
May 27, 2008

The Republican presidential race is on the verge of heating back up in Minnesota.

More than three months after the state's precinct caucuses, a showdown is in the offing at the state GOP convention in Rochester this weekend.

Long-shot insurgent candidate Ron Paul plans to speak to his supporters Friday morning, just before the convention begins. Then, those supporters hope to nab as many of the 14 national convention delegate spots that remain up for grabs as they can.

"We're not looking for fireworks, and we're not looking to disrupt the campaign," said longtime GOP activist Marianne Stebbins, who has been running Paul's campaign in Minnesota.

"From our perspective, John McCain's the presumptive Republican nominee," said state Republican Party spokesman Mark Drake. "It's been fought here, Paul lost here and it's time to move forward. Case closed. He had his chance and didn't get it done."

Click here for the full Star Tribune article.

Memorial Day Weekend......

Thank you for our freedom.

Next update will be Tuesday May 27th.

Ron Paul: The Economy: Another Casualty of War

From Ron Paul's weekly column Texas Straight Talk:

This week, as the American economy continued to suffer the effects of big government, the House attempted to pass two multi billion dollar "emergency" spending bills, one for continued spending on the war in Iraq , and one increasing spending on domestic and international welfare programs. The plan was to pass these two bills and then send them to the president as one package. Even though the House failed to pass the war spending bill, opponents of the war should not be fooled into believing this vote signals a long term change in policy. At the end of the day, those favoring continued military occupation of Iraq will receive every penny they are requesting and more as long as they agree to dramatically increase domestic and international welfare spending as well.

The continued War in Iraq and the constant state of emergency has allowed Congress to use these so-called "emergency" bills as a vehicle to dramatically increase spending across the board--including spending that does not meet even the most generous definition of emergency. For example, the spending proposals currently being considered by Congress provide $210 million to the Census Bureau and $4 million for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. $4.6 billion is requested for the closing of military bases, but not any of the more than 700 bases overseas – but bases here at home!

Click here for the rest of The Economy: Another Casualty of War.

Libertarian National Convention May 22-26, 2008

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• The Libertarian National Convention will convene tomorrow, May 22, 2008 to choose a presidential nominee from 14 contenders including former Republican Bob Barr and former Democrat Mike Gravel.
• The presidential nominee for the party will be selected Sunday.
• The convention is in Denver, which will also serve as the site of the Democratic National Convention in August.

Sources:

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Top_News/2008/05/19/libertarians_to_converge_on_denver/7583/

http://www.lpconvention.org/index.php

Hillary Clinton's South Dakota Native American Agenda

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The Clinton campaign published "Hillary Clinton’s Native American Agenda for South Dakota: Provide Vital Services to Strengthen Tribal Economy, Health Care and Education, and to Combat Crime" on www.hillaryclinton.com.

The following are bullet points of her proposals:

• Provide "meaningful increases to the Indian Health Service (IHS) budget""Address the troubling health care disparities Native Americans experience by elevating the director of the Indian Health Service to the Assistant Secretary level"
• "Institute a new initiative to take on diabetes through an aggressive campaign to stop and reverse the increasing incidences among Native Americans nationwide."
• "Revive this nation's economy by investing $2.5 billion per year, which includes investments in tribes, in order to strengthen the nation's work force development efforts."
• "Prepare our workers for the high-wage, high-skill jobs of the future builds on her bold agenda to create good, high-wage jobs in America."
• "Increase the minimum wage to $9.50 by 2011, and index to congressional salaries after that."
• Expand "the earned income tax credit, tripling the current benefit for single workers and making the benefit more generous for larger families."
• "Restore funding for the New Market Tax Credit and Empowerment Zones programs.
• Create "$50 billion Strategic Energy Fund (which) will invest in renewables and clean energy technologies that will help create at least 5 million green collar jobs" nationwide."
• Create and expand federal-tribal partnerships to promote the use of solar and wind power in Indian Country."
• "Fund the weatherization of all low-income homes in Indian Country."
• "Increase funding for the Native American Housing Block Grant and modernize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act."
• "Increase funding for the Indian Head Start Program"
• Support "Pre-K schooling programs that support a child’s native language."
• Encourage the teaching of these languages (Lakota and Dakota) in Tribal Head Start in South Dakota."
• "Ensure that tribally-sponsored pre-K programs in South Dakota receive federal matching dollars just as state programs do."
• Increase "funding for tribal colleges."
• Provide "resources for law enforcement in Indian Country, promoting state-tribal cooperative agreements where appropriate to reduce crime, and improving the collection of data on Indian Country crime and how those crimes are handled by authorities."

Source: http://www.hillaryclinton.com/news/release/view/?id=7781

McCain in Essence Interview: "I will go to the NAACP Convention"

• The following are excerpts from an Essence interview with John McCain released May 20, 2008 in which he declared that he will attend the NAACP Convention after declining last year's invitation.

"ESSENCE: Republican Newt Gingrich said the Republicans should not ignore the African-American and Latino community, but this election year Republican candidates Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani didn’t bother to address the Black community. As the Republican nominee, how will you reach out to the Black community, not only in this election, but afterward?

"McCain: Go to places and venues that would allow me to continue a dialogue with the African-American community. I will go to the NAACP convention.

ESSENCE: You will?

McCain: Oh, yeah. I don’t know any reason why not. I went to Selma and stood at the Edmund Pettus Bridge and talked about the need to include “forgotten Americans.” I will never as long as I live forget the beautiful women of Gees Bend, Alabama, with the quilts. They were singing spirituals. On the first occasion I could find in the White House I would have them sing again. It was so moving. There was a woman there who was 91 years old. Can you imagine the environment she lived in when she was 21? And yet, this woman was full of hope, compassion and forgiveness. But does that mean in my campaign I am going to get a majority of the African-American vote? Probably not. But what it does mean, what I’ve committed to, is assuring and promising all Americans whether they vote for me or not, I am going to be their president. Americans are sick and tired of partisanship and divisions along party lines that cause gridlock and frustration and lack of addressing the issues that confront America.

ESSENCE: I talked to Condoleezza Rice last year. She said she definitely would not run for president.

McCain: [Laughs] I am happy about that.

ESSENCE: Some in your party believe she would be a great vice-president for you. Is that a consideration?

McCain: I think Condi Rice should be a consideration for any job, including president of the United States, because she is a true American in every respect.

Click here for the full Essence article.

Republican Primary Results for Kentucky and Oregon Ignored by MSM

Related Posts: Latest Intrade Prediction Market Data on Kentucky and Oregon Democratic Primaries, Understanding the MSM.....

• Kentucky Republican Primary Results:
• John McCain received 142,855 votes to Mike Huckabee's 16,329, Ron Paul's 13,439, Mitt Romney's 9,151, Rudy Guiliani's 3,126, Alan Keyes 2,138 and "uncommitted" 10,630.
• The top three candiates John McCain, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul received 72%, 8% and 7% of the Kentucky vote respectively.
  
  http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/primaries/states/ky/r/
  
• Oregon Republican Primary Results:
• John McCain received 263,788 or 85% of the vote to Ron Paul's 46,279 or 15%
  of the vote with 88% of precincts reporting.

http://projects.washingtonpost.com/2008-presidential-candidates/primaries/states/or/r/

LATimes.Com: John McCain's age inspires website aiming to amuse and provoke

Related Post: Video: John McCain on 5/17/08 Saturday Night Live

Later this week, John McCain's campaign is expected to confront head-on questions about his physical fitness to be president -- an issue stemming partly from his age -- with the release of his medical records and a briefing from doctors.

Over the weekend, McCain himself took a crack at using humor to deflate concerns about whether, at 72 years old on Inauguration Day, he would be stretching the appropriate age for someone about to start serving as president. During an appearance on "Saturday Night Live," he joshed about the matter. (Sample: a reference to his "great, great, great grandchildren," some of whom "are nearing retirement .")

McCain, though, is not alone in poking fun at his age. A recently unveiled website creating a buzz also has that goal -- as well as stirring a serious discussion of the topic.

The site, thingsyoungerthanmccain.com, is the brainchild of a fellow who, for now, simply wants to be identified as Joe. We talked to him and did learn that he lives in New York City and works by day as a graphic designer and copy writer. As for his own age, he's 40 -- not so far away from being viewed as hopelessly out of it by some of those born a few decades after him.

He makes no bones about his age-inspired skepticism toward a McCain stint in the White House.

Click here for the full LATimes.Com article on "things younger than McCain."

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Paul allies have asked FBI to investigate Mo GOP

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By Jo Mannies

Political Fix just received a most intriguing e-mail, stating that “the FBI was mailed the first of many letters to come, requesting a formal investigation into the unethical and illegal practices of a faction of the Missouri Republican Party that have disenfranchised so many properly elected delegates by challenging them without basis….”

Claiming that the letter “was written by a former private investigator,” the anonymous e-mailer asserts that similar letters are being sent to other federal and state agencies.

“Jared Craighead, Executive Director of the Missouri GOP will also receive his letter tomorrow, alerting him to the formal investigation,” the e-mailer said.

Now on Youtube, the author adds, is a recording of one of the credentials hearings that state GOP leaders recently held, as they sought to unseat some of the 300 or so suspected Ron Paul supporters elected as delegates to the state convention on May 30-June 1, or to the presidential convention in September.

See YouTube.Com video below:

Click here for the full St. Louis Post-Dispatch article.

Barack Obama "Adopted" By Crow Nation

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• On Monday, Barack Obama was "adopted" by Harford and Mary Black Eagle of the Crow Nation and given the name Barack Black Eagle that reportedly translates to "One who helps people throughout the land."
• Obama's visit marked the first trip by a US presidential candidate to the Crow Nation, a tribe of some 12,100 members. The Crow Reservation is the largest in Montana, at 2.2 million acres.
• The Montana Democratic primary will be held on June 3rd.
• See video of Obama's appearance below:
  
  
  
  
  Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN19168547

Anonymous Donor Offers Turn-key Convention to Nevada State GOP

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• The Ron Paul campaign issued a press release today, May 20th, stating that it "has learned that apparently an anonymous Republican donor in Washoe County sent a letter to the State Republican GOP Chairwoman Sue Lowden, informing Ms. Lowden that they have booked a room and arranged a turn-key convention at the Grand Sierra Resort in an attempt to help the Nevada Republican Party reconvene the recessed Nevada State GOP convention."
• Ron Paul's campaign says it is not responsible for the donation which was offered in a letter sent to Lowden on Thursday, May 15th.
• "The anonymous donor has reserved the Grand Ballroom at the Grand Sierra Resort on Saturday, June 7th, for the entire day, and is offering the use of the room to the Nevada State GOP. The room has been equipped to accommodate the needs and requirements of the nearly 1,400 delegates to the State Convention. The use of this facility will be at no cost to the Party, as a result of this in-kind donation".

Source: http://www.ronpaul2008.com/press-releases/324/anonymous-donor-offers-turn-key-convention-to-nevada-state-gop

The Arizona Republic: A look at McCain's circle of advisers

Related Posts: MoveOn.Org Calls for McCain to Fire Political Advisor Charlie Black, McCain Conflict With Campaign Manager's Lobbying Firm Over Ukraine

by Dan Nowicki - May. 20, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Sen. John McCain's presidential-campaign team underwent a major overhaul in summer 2007. Nearly broke after six months of weak fundraising and heavy spending, McCain had to lay off dozens of staffers. Then, Terry Nelson, his national campaign manager, and John Weaver, his longtime political guru, exited, taking several more senior officials with them.

McCain's lean-and-mean team managed to pull off a major political comeback in this year's primaries. Recent days, however, have found some aides with lobbying ties leaving the campaign. On Sunday, Tom Loeffler, a Texas congressman turned lobbyist who served with McCain in the House during the 1980s, quit his roles as national campaign co-chairman and national finance chairman.

Here is a glimpse at who is advising McCain as he gears up for the general-election battle:

Rick Davis Reprising his role as campaign manager from McCain's 2000 race, Davis, a former Washington, D.C., lobbyist, helped steer the demoralized and nearly bankrupt McCain 2008 organization out of red ink to victory in the 2008 Republican primaries.

Charlie Black A longtime Republican operative, Reagan administration veteran and, in recent years, a well-connected Washington lobbyist, Black emerged as McCain senior strategist in the wake of Weaver's departure.

Click here for the full Arizona Republic article.

DNC Announces "McCainpedia" Wiki

Related Posts: Modern Politics...., DNC Starts Publishing Daily Facts on John McCain

• The DNC launched its McCainpedia wiki saying "McCainpedia.org is a wiki run by the DNC's Research, Communications, and Internet teams. The goal is to centralize research material, allowing the general public to use it as they see fit."
• "John McCain has been anything but transparent during the course of his campaign. From tax returns that he refuses to disclose to his failure to fully explain how he's going to pay for his massive tax cuts for corporations, he's attempting to avoid very basic levels of scrutiny. Because his goal is to hide facts about his policies and his record, we've made those available to everybody so that the American people can see for themselves that John McCain is offering a third Bush term."
• Check out the wiki for yourself here: http://www.mccainpedia.org/index.php/Main_Page

Bob Barr on Same Sex Marriage in California

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• Bob Barr issued the following statement on his campaign website with regards to the California ruling on same sex marriage:

"Regardless of whether one supports or opposes same sex marriage, the decision to recognize such unions or not ought to be a power each state exercises on its own, rather than imposition of a one-size-fits-all mandate by the federal government (as would be required by a Federal Marriage Amendment which has been previously proposed and considered by the Congress). The decision today by the Supreme Court of California properly reflects this fundamental principle of federalism on which our nation was founded.

"Indeed, the primary reason for which I authored the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 was to ensure that each state remained free to determine for its citizens the basis on which marriage would be recognized within its borders, and not be forced to adopt a definition of marriage contrary to its views by another state. The decision in California is an illustration of how this principle of states' powers should work."

Full Statement: http://www.bobbarr2008.com/press/press-releases/7/statement-on-ca-supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-decision/

MotherJones.Com: Scenes From a Nader Fundraiser at a San Francisco Dive Bar

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The 540 Club, in an old bank building at 540 Clement Street in San Francisco, is the only bar in town to call an elephant its mascot. A 300-pound stuffed pachyderm blobs on a ledge above the front door, a cast-off inherited after the San Francisco zoo shuttered its elephant exhibit. The bar's logo, a pink elephant found on its tables, its business cards and the forearm of its soda jerk, is described by the staff as "the universal symbol of alcoholism and sloth etc," and not as any sort of inducement to Republicans. In fact, the threat, in liberal San Francisco, of being labeled a GOP sympathizer never really occurred to the owner of the bar, Jamie Brown—until this week, that is, when he found himself debating whether to supplement the elephant with a stuffed donkey. The bar was set to hold a fundraiser for none other than the Great Spoiler, Ralph Nader. "What the hell?" Brown said Sunday morning, apropos of nothing, as he dragged on a Camel and waited for Nader's entourage to arrive. "Just in general, what the hell?"

Brown had sent two emails announcing the event. One said Nader would be coming. The other said this wasn't a joke.

Click here for the complete MotherJones.Com article.

UPI: Clinton accused of hypocrisy

WASHINGTON, May 19 (UPI) -- Two California attorneys say Sen. Hillary Clinton is being hypocritical when she criticizes opponent Sen. Barack Obama for having ties to 1960s-era radicals.

Retired Bay Area lawyers Doris B. Walker, 89 and Malcolm Burnstein, 74, say in the summer of 1971 Clinton, D-N.Y., worked as an intern at their law firm which defended communists and Black Panthers, The Washington Post reported Monday.

"She's a hypocrite," Walker told the newspaper. "She had to know who we were and what kinds of cases we were handling."

Burnstein said he was shocked when he read that Clinton was criticizing Obama, D-Ill., for his friendship with William Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn who were members of the bomb-making Weather Underground during the 1960s.

"Well, if you're going to talk about that totally bit of irrelevant nonsense, I'll talk about your career with u