Political Punch

O’Neill took a principled stand and Bush fired him as a result. Obama’s talked about bipartisanship, and this shows that he really means what he says.

The participation of O'Neill and Donaldson at the economic meeting is a higly laudable example of policy prevailing over politics. The bipartisan nature of efforts like this are a prototype for how our government should function, and bodes very well for the future. The Bipartisan Bridge is dedicated to precisely these principles and practices. Those who believe -- or at least hope -- that there are policy options which can be supported by leaders of both parties to address our burgeoning fiscal crisis may be interested in two postings on the website which address this: (1) "Another Option: Going Beyond Tax Hikes and Budget Cuts" Budgeting Should Learn From Family Budgeting"

My apologies, DISENCHANTED for the misspelling. I was so excited to hear another sober voice of reason and moved by your eloquence. Your point was so on point. Here! Here!

Here! Here! DISENCHANGED

As I am reading your blogs I am realizing something...I think we've gotten so tainted by the current political process that we can't see with clarity the Obama strategy. We also have been brainwashed to believe that strategy and planning, being steadfast and purposeful are negative things. So often we hear politicians making claims about this issue or that issue and they stand out front as if they are the subject matter expert and tell their stories. The truth is the presidency and for that matter any position in which you are leading a company, organization, etc. should have the leader surrounding themselves with not yes men and women but people who are the true subject matter experts. And a great leader will place themselves in a position to listen and determine the right path for the country, company or organization. Political appointments and alignment to a particular party should not be the most important thing in choosing a board of directors nor should it be for the advisors to a presidential candidate or the president himself as if back in college surrounded by the sacred brotherhood of fraternities. No other candidate in our history (Y gener here) has done this. Obama has been out there in the open, conversing with people of various backgrounds and knowledge bases trying to determine, in this time of economic struggle, religious contempt, foreign policy blunders, etc. what the best path is for America. He even has the foresight to include Bush advisors whom are probably talented and who both left the Bush Administration because he wouldn’t listen, he couldn’t see past his own agenda to appreciate that they possibly knew what they were talking about. The truth is the media will ask the millions of questions it needs to ask to make sure they seem on top of things when the truth is, I don't expect a politician to know down to the last cent how the social security payouts will be affected a year from now, but I expect them to surround themselves with people of integrity and knowledge who can advise as to these affects. And I expect them to know what issues they will focus on first and foremost when entering office. What will be their platform…McCain has reached out himself meeting with religious leaders trying to court that vote however I have yet to see him hold a round table of economic strategists to help him make sense of a topic that he himself finds confusing and is over his head. Let's be honest, think about what we are arguing. Why we call Obama names and disrespect him as a person when he is far more accomplished than many of us will ever be (by choice of course) and why we question McCain’s sanity as an older gentleman when he has lived such a long, fulfilling, challenging life defined by public service. What gives us the right? Most of us wouldn't stop to help a woman being mugged if it happened in front of our face and yet we find fault in the personalities and characteristics of these gentlemen who have dedicated their entire lives to public service no matter how difficult this path tends to be. The white house doesn't command a paycheck that would hold a candle to what Obama could be making on Wall Street many have mentioned and it is quite true. He is a Harvard law grad as is his wife. McCain had a long career in the military protecting our country and yet some of us would blast him personally and never think twice about signing up to fight as he did. What I am reading here is children who have grown up repeating the mistakes of their parents, fighting battles that don't need to be fought. These men are great in and of themselves. Who are we to question their patriotism and their personal paths to obtaining enlightenment on the issues that we say are so important. Let’s argue the facts. Remember that? What will hold true after January 2009…McCain’s absent mindedness or Obama’s jump shot. Cindy McCain’s hairstyle or Michelle Obama’s passion. No, we are electing people to run our country, not a prom king…let’s move towards the issues and show them that we don’t need this race to be another tabloid brawl. Or better yet, we can just see if Bush can come back for a third term and continue his divisive tactics and further separate us as Americans, make decisions without listening to advisors and further affect our standing in the world.

Great article in todays Wall Street Journal.
The "OBAMA RECESSION"...Good Reading!

The speech in Berlin was billed a a rock concert....3 bands before Obama spoke...
The 200,000 were NOT there to see OBAMA...once a gain, the press hides the facts

Well.
I have read these posts. First of all, there is nothing wrong with the church that Obama attended. People like hannity, rush, and oreilly (whose hate speech led another to kill)made you all believe ( or gave you a line to hang yourself) that the church was evil. Bull. Like the church in TN was evil, too. If Obama had not run for Pres, you would not know of his church, and they could get on with serving the community without being in a fishbowl.

For all you who shout william ayers, I give you the rw posterboy, jim adkisson.

The republican have run this country into the ground. More money has been shifted into the hands of a few than ever before. even rational republicans are sickened by the mess boosh's administration has created. Yes the surge was successful. It allowed the admin to make even more money off the war with secret no-bid contracts (check out the cronyism and war profiteering here:

As for mcsame's flipflops, Carpetbagger keeps a blog dedicated to recording each one. (with the 16 mo timeline flip by mcsame it is now up to 70)

"JukeboxJohn keeps chinging his tune"

"I hate to say it but even Bush is better than McCain, but with Bush leaving a $490 BILLION dollar deficit, yikes. Good job republicans!'

Posted by: Adam L | Jul 28, 2008 5:16:03 PM

And watch Obama make it GRW!

Change we can believe in!

I think Senator Obama's prayer says everythinbg I need to know.

Mr McCain, I try to listen to him, but he just seem very angry. I don't learn anything about Mr McCain when all he does is make ugly and calculated personal attacks on Senator Obama. All of his supporters have picked up on his signal to make this a negative and ugly campaign, and we wee that reflected in these comments.

I had heard that Mr McCain was going to run a positive campaign, and I was looking forward to that, but apparently he feels he is loosing too badly and has returned to the only thing he knows which is angry and meaningless negative personal attacks.

O'NEIL SAID BUSH WAS TOTALLY OUT OF TOUCH AND A MORON ...

'BUSH WAS 'LIKE A BLIND MAN IN A DARK ROOM, LOOKING FOR A BKLACK HAT'

Sparks Fly-
That was the best post I've read in weeks. *applause* Great stuff!

Great, first he's blasting the Bush administration for their economic policy and now he's seeking their advice on the economy!

nutrina-
This is change. Obama is looking to Republicans as well as Democrats to put together a squad of the best people for the job. We haven't seen bi-partisanship in this country for 7 1/2 years, and I'm all for getting back to doing what's right for the nation and not the party.

"Ever been judged on your past mistakes?"

He'd still be making the same mistake if he wasn't outed and forced to throw his mentor and church under the bus.

Mack, funny how you demean the man for his past, then make declarations about who he is now.

Ever been judged on your past mistakes?

I'm not saying that one's past shouldn't be considered, just that it makes more sense to look at a person's actions now and to put the past into context.

Unless, of course, you're just looking for an excuse to hate someone. In that case, the past comes in really handy. Some even use it to hate themselves.

Kind of like driving one's car by holding the rearview mirror instead of the steering wheel.

This is Change? Just as I thought -- we are going nowhere fast in this country -- except to hell in a handbasket I mean. Change? Paul O'Neill? Puleeeze people

dems for Reps, any proof?? or just spouting rhetoric somebody else regurgitated???

Uh oh. This isn't change I can believe in. Whatever. Keep thy enemies closer right? And besides. These former aides of Bush are probably some of the ones he ignored.

How can he be for change if he sticks with the same old people who have had the job with President Bush? How is the a CHANGE? I wish someone would explain his grand plan for CHANGE. I don't see it. I see same oh same oh..