I’m an agnostic and always have to break things down to the simplest truths for me.. and Hillary just scrambled them all up like a kid with legos.

I like John McCain the man. I believe he will do his best and stand as a centrist. I honestly believe he will not touch Roe v Wade or weight the SC. But I’m afraid that our Senate and Congress will continue to fail at their doing their jobs. I’m afraid of more of the same and the possibility that , if we lose the majorities now or in two years, that the conservative agenda will once again assert itself.

I do not like Barack Obama. I do not like the way he ran his campaign. Not to get into any debate but I *saw* the race card more than I saw racism. I have listened to people talk about caucuses taken over and manipulated. I have read volumes about his past and his past associations and, though I do not think they ‘made’ the man I think they say something about the man.

I do not want more government, repeats of past failed economic policies, a weakened military or national defense. I want to TRUST my president and I simply do not trust Barack Obama.

But I trust Hillary Clinton.

I am lost… but I will not stay that way.

Bill just said… "That’s my sweetheart" and "I love her, I love her, I love her."

I’d have to say many millions feel the same.

If she takes a stand, fights on for her supporters, doesn’t release her delegates and encourage them to support Obama, counts on the super delegates to do the right thing and fails to win the nomination… she is done, finished; she might as well retire to a life of philanthropy and non-political public service (as she would, imo).

I can’t blame her and oddly, in my heart of hearts, would encourage her to find a way to keep her political life alive (because I do believe she genuinely works for, and cares about, this country)… I still hate, yet appreciate, that making the wrong choice for us now will be the right choice for her, and us, in the long run.

[sigh]

Surely it’s not just me, but what is taking so damn long for someone… anyone… to give a straight answer. On Obama’s plane in route to Chicago this morning Precious was asked about Hillary’s name being placed in nomination. His response was weak… to say the least. The written quote given at the NYTimes Political blog, as well as other blogs and so-called-news sites, was not an accurate transcript; it left out a LOT. I’ve taken care of that here, in the interest of accuracy:

“ uh  ah I uh  ah I’m letting our our uh our respective teams work out the details,” Mr. Obama said. “uh  ah I I  uh  ah I don’t think uh we’re looking for catharsis. I think what we are uh looking for is uh energy and excitement uh about the prospects of changing this country, and and uh I think that people who supported a whole range of different candidates during the primaries are going to come out of that uuuuh convention feeling absolutely determined that we’ve got uuh to take the White House back.”

How about uuuuh a fucking uuuh answer for a CHANGE, Barack?

And now for a long-lens perspective on the DNC pooch screwing… NRO contributor Victor Davis Hanson wrote about  "Hillary’s Growing Shadow" today and covered most of the basics pretty well:

The Left convinced Democrats to go with a messiah rather than a dependable nominee — and now they have neither.

So, everyone is puzzled why the Democratic candidate isn’t at least 10 points ahead. It seems the more Americans get used to Barack Obama, the less they want him as president — and the more Democrats will soon regret not nominating Hillary Clinton.

First, Obama was billed as a post-racial healer. His half-African ancestry, exotic background and soothing rhetoric were supposed to have been novel and to have reassured the public he was no race-monger like Al Sharpton. On the other hand, his 20-year career in the cauldron of Chicago racial politics also guaranteed to his liberal base that he wasn’t just a moderate Colin Powell, either. 

Americans also learned to their regret how exactly a Hawaiian-born Barack Obama — raised, in part, by his white grandparents and without African-American heritage — had managed to win credibility in what would become his legislative district in Chicago. That discovery of racial chauvinism wasn’t hard once his former associate, his pastor for over 20 years, the racist Rev. Jeremiah Wright, spewed his venom.

Obama himself didn’t help things as he taught the nation that his dutiful grandmother was at times a small-minded bigot — no different from a “typical white person.” And in an impromptu riff, Obama ridiculed small-town working-class Pennsylvanians’ supposed racial insularity.

The primary season ended with a narrow Obama victory — and a wounded, but supposedly wiser, Democratic candidate.

Not quite. Without evidence, he unwisely has claimed his opponents (“they”) will play the race card against poor him. In contrast, on the hot-button issue of racial reparations, he recently played to cheering minority audiences by cryptically suggesting that the government must “not just . . . offer words, but offer deeds.” He later clarified that he didn’t mean cash grants, but his initial words were awfully vague.

Second, many are beginning to notice how a Saint Obama talks down to them. We American yokels can’t speak French or Spanish. We eat too much. Our cars are too big, our houses either overheated or overcooled. And we don’t even put enough air in our car tires. In contrast, a lean, hip Obama promises to still the rising seas and cool down the planet, assuring adoring Germans that he is a citizen of the world.

Third, Obama knows that all doctrinaire liberals must tack rightward in the general election. But due to his inexperience, he’s doing it in far clumsier fashion than any triangulating candidate in memory. Do we know — does Obama even know? — what he really feels about drilling off our coasts, tapping the strategic petroleum reserve, NAFTA, faith-based initiatives, campaign financing, the FISA surveillance laws, town-hall debates with McCain, Iran, the surge, timetables for Iraq pullouts, gun control, or capital punishment?

Yep. Pooch well and truly screwed. Thanks DNC for the entertainment but, personally… I’m not into watching and just want some straight answers. I do recall one candidate that’s known for Straight Talk. I think I’ll go over there for this next round.

YouTube Directvideo link

Soulshine

When you can’t find the light
That guides you through a cloudy day
When the stars ain’t shining bright
And it feels like you’ve lost your way
When those candle lights of home
Burn so very far away
Well you got to let your soul shine
Just like my daddy used to say

He used to say the soulshine
It’s better than sunshine
It’s better than moonshine
Damn sure better than rain
Hey now people don’t mind
We all get this way sometimes
Got to let your soul shine
Shine ’til the break of day

[lyrics -Warren Haynes]

[RANT Warning]

Un-f*cking-believable - what a lying, dishonest, dishonorable, two faced, hypocritical, no-integrity, devious, back stabbing, selfish, egotistical, vane, power-hungry dickweed asshat. And on top of that he’s a f’ing PUNK.

And before you Kool-aid swilling, blind drunk O’Borgs and zombies say one word to me for ‘bashing’ Barack… listen up… I meant every word of it. If you don’t like what I have to say then keep moving… there’s nothing for you here. I will not change my mind so don’t waste your vile hate-filled words on my blog.

Cross posted from CNN.com

Obama wants ‘full vote’ for Michigan, Florida delegates

(CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama said Sunday that delegates from Florida and Michigan should get a "full vote" at the Democratic convention this month.

"I believe party unity calls for the delegates from Florida and Michigan to be able to participate fully alongside the delegates from the other states and territories," he said in a letter to the co-chairs of the Democratic National Convention’s Credentials Committee.

Obama asked the committee to pass a resolution when it meets on August 24 to give each delegate a full vote.

Bastard (self-made).

The Illinois senator denied claims he was standing in the way of revotes.

Liar.

"I want the Michigan delegation and the Florida delegation to be seated. And however the Democratic National Committee determines we can get that done, I’m happy to abide by those rules," he told CNN in March.

Of course you do. All in the name of Obama love. Asshat rat bastard.

In his letter Sunday, Obama said all the delegates should be seated with a full vote for the sake of party unity.

Party Unity? Can you spell PUMA, bitch?

"As a candidate for the nomination, I supported the DNC’s efforts to establish and enforce a schedule for primaries and caucuses that would broaden the opportunity for Democrats from all regions of the country and all backgrounds and walks of life to have a meaningful voice," he wrote.

Liar.

"As we prepare to come together in Denver, however, we must be — and will be — united in our determination to change the course of our nation. To that end, Democrats in Florida and Michigan must know that they are full partners and colleagues in our historic mission to reshape Washington and lead our country in a new direction."

Too damn late. Must be? Will be? We don’t have to and we won’t. Put that in your script, punk.

In a statement issued Sunday, the DNC and the Credentials Committee said they "deeply appreciate and value Sen. Obama’s perspective."

How’s your perspective… crowded up his backside like that?

"This matter will be the top priority for the Credentials Committee when we meet on August 24. As always our goal is to ensure a fair process and a unified Democratic Party so that we can win in November."

Fair process and a unified Party? You’re kidding right? Did you manage to keep a straight face while making THAT statement?

[Rat bastard hypocrites, two faced liars and no good, self-made SOBs.]

so…regardless of her wishes that you stop….regardless of the fact that both people are so close on the issues, you want to slap her silly and INSIST she run. Perfect.

You do understand the difference between suspend and concede right?

Also, you do understand the concept of free will? The right to choose who we support and not be led, forced, coerced or blackmailed by anyone, friend or foe, into a choice we are not in favor of on SO many levels? You do get this right?

Then, follow me here, Hillary is doing what she needs to do. She may even being doing what she wants to do; we have NO way of knowing what is in her heart. Chelsea and Bill may have a better idea but to my knowledge they are not in the habit of divulging personal family conversations. Sen. Clinton is a loyal Democrat… she is also a survivor, politically and personally and, in all likelihood, knows she is going to take the bigger portion of the blame if Obama loses. If she was naive enough to go against DNC leadership and the Obama Machine her political life would be over and she might as well hand off her Senate seat to Caroline Kennedy now.

So, understanding her loyalty to the party and her desires to continue a political life she chose, it is easy to see that she is doing what she must needs do. No more and no less.

Now, turn the page. We, as supporters of Sen. Clinton, understand her positions and respect her choices without having to agree with them. We are, regardless of lies and spin, informed voters. We are past anger, past disappointment, have moved beyond the deceptions worked against all Democrats and we are clear and vocal about OUR positions. Real PUMAs, as opposed to faux pumas posting hate and drivel, are very clear in their opposition to Obama and the DNC leadership. Not being driven by race or rage we make our own choices, whether to vote McCain or not, and come together in our desire for competent leadership in the DNC.

There is no logical or acceptable reason for the DNC to change the manner in which our party chooses a nominee; a fair, equitable and open convention is not a gift we are asking for. In any race and especially in a race this close all viable candidates have the right, and some would say the responsibility, to have their name in nomination and their supporters and delegates allowed their free will to support, rally, speak and vote for that nominee. Strong-arm tactics, blatant dismissal with labels like ‘low-class’, removing delegates and replacing them with more cooperative ones… these are not actions taken by a truly (small d) democratic party and signal a (big D) Democratic Party that has willfully tossed out it’s historic values.

Hillary will do what Hillary must do. We can respect that. We also retain our free will to follow our conscience and our hearts.

In yesterday’s ‘Is Obama Freedom and Democracy Deficient?‘ Larry Kudlow zeros in on the missing element:

Why is it that in all his statements in his recent foreign-policy trip to the Mideast and Europe, Sen. Obama never mentions the importance of spreading freedom and democracy around the world, and most especially in the very troublemaking nations that are so tied to terrorism that he has been discussing?

Perhaps I’m wrong about this. But I tried to read most of his speeches and I watched his television interviews, and I can’t find or don’t recall any references to freedom and democracy. What’s up with this?

Unintentional oversight? Extended lapse in judgment?  With the excessive over-scripting of every public moment in the Magical Mystery Tour I don’t see how that’s possible.

Not a major concern? Not top of his priority list? Both more likely IMO.

And let me add, although Obama does mention terrorism, I do not recall him using the phrase “global war on terrorism,” or “war on terrorism,” or “protecting the U.S. from terrorist attacks.” I’m no expert on foreign policy, so I ask my colleagues at NRO to tell me what I’ve missed here. I’ll be happy to recant.

But I continue to believe that the biggest reason to stop Iran, stabilize Iraq and Afghanistan, nail Osama and his evildoing friends in Pakistan, and generate some sort of protection for Israel against Hamas, Hezbollah, and the weak Palestinian government is a) to get the bad guys on their home turf before they get us and b) to spread freedom and democracy since democratic countries tend not to attack each other or us.

 Worried yet? You should be.

 From MEli at sodahead.com.

  - I’d give my left arm to sit down and talk with Hillary right now… to know if she honestly has any faith in Obama’s ability to lead without destroying this country…. has this past year broken her? or is she pissed and still willing to fight? is she biding her time? awaiting the right moment to Rise once again? or has she actually felt relief from the assault, relief from the responsibility, relief from the limelight?…. I could understand if she does. I wouldn’t blame her. But I am afraid that the one broken would be me. I do not have the courage, the determination, the qualifications, or the wisdom to fight as she has done…. and if I did, I do not know if I would choose to fight the sexism, the bias, the media, and the stupidity of people in large groups…. the fight she chose. But the fact that she DID chose this fight, and that she did so very well in spite of unprecidented opposition, and fought so HARD…. it stirred in me something I’ve not felt in a very long time, it rekindled in me a feeling and a belief that I had allowed to be stolen from me at a very young age…. the belief that good will triumph, the belief that I could do anything if I worked hard enough, the belief that we do not have to resign ourselves to being broken - to accept the damage inflicted on our souls by this world - in order to survive it.

I wish we could see her. hear her.

Maybe that is too much faith to put into one person, or one cause…. perhaps I am setting myself up for another defeat that I will be forced to accept and deal with…. I know this. But I still cannot yet let go of the hope that she will triumph.