It took a commercial from the republican senator in oregon to make the obama campaign realize taht they worked across aisles. They are really on top of the campaign

It wasn't that they didn't realize it. It was that they didn't try to use it to score points, and effectively have blunted their Republican opponent from using the Democratic Presidential Presumptive Nominee's Momemtum as an advantage point against the Democratic Senator Candidate. Politics really is fun....it's almost like watching a sport....not sure which sport, but something involving intellect, speed, and verbal sparring, points....really cool.

This kind of sounds like the old tried and true line, "some of my best friends are black."

"Politics really is fun....it's almost like watching a sport...."

Well, yes, it is a little like that, but perhaps it should be less like that than it is.

Part of it is the way it's covered. Listening to pundits on CNN talk about elections is, for my taste, just a little too similar to watching something like SportsCenter, all "horse race", no policy analysis. Maybe they do it that way because it's cheaper, or faster; I don't exactly know.

Also, that's just sort of the culture in politics. Cynical point-scoring seems to be the rule, while serious problem-solving remains the exception. Can Barack Obama do anything about this? Maybe a little, and for that, I'm willing to vote for him, but really the system itself is what needs to change. I mean the election system, the campaign finance system, the structure of media... all of it.

He drank the koolaide.

Only reason.......

Obama's speech is a mind conditioning hypnotic program.

Most of obama ads will carry the reinforcement techniques.

That is why he needs the money, and had to opt out.

To keep as many people in his trance he will need mega bucks to keep the conditioning and reinforcements going.

beware.

"To keep as many people in his trance he will need mega bucks to keep the conditioning and reinforcements going.

beware."

LOL, Thats hilarious! The most educated people in our country are voting for Obama and you think they are all in a trance? Hillary is gone sweetie, get over it!

As an Oregonian, Gordon I never met a Democrat every 5.5 years, is a great panderer. This article isn't about Obama, it's about the willingness of Smith to prostitute himself and try to paint himself as an independent Repuglican't. If Gordo had any integrity, he'd be aligning himself with the Repuglican't candidate who is campaigning as a maverick.

That neither McSame and SmithShame fail to align themselves with each other, tells you volumes about each other.

Bye Bye Gordo, Janus would be so proud of you.

This whole campaign makes me wonder about democracy in America. It's all about who has the most toys which is sickening. And it gets worse and worse each election. Obama will most likely buy the office of the Presidency. There are so many naieve people in this country, especially the young people. I've voted in every presidential election since JFK and not one has made me want to vomit like this one. The comments on the blogs are irresponsible, crude, rude and make no sense most of the time. The future of America looks mightly bleak.

Looks like Oregon is going blue this year.

"Obama will most likely buy the office of the Presidency."

No, its more like the American people are BUYING a president.

Isn't it GREAT to see an average American really make it big. Obama was raised by his single-mother with the help of his grandparents. He worked Hard, got a good education, and turned down large sums of money to go to work for the average American. What a great story. He raised his large sums of money for his campaign, not thru big corporate donors like many others, but thru average Americans giving $10 or $20 at a time. I suspect he is going to go down in history as one of the great presidents of all time. Obama will be Great in 2008!!!

This article is AMAZING! Barak actually did something before running for president? Who knew? Leave it to the Democrats to find the least qualified junior senator available to run for president. (But hey, he's kinda black, so vote for him - it's historic). He wants to raise taxes, attack our allies, spend billions, impair our national sovereignty... Barak, just another tax and spend democrat...Maybe his election would make Michelle proud of her country for one more day. . .

Obama asking donors to help pay off Hillary Clinton's debt....so he can neatly tuck her in his back pocket too. Money, money, and more money buys you everything, right OBAMA.....it will buy you the White House.

Pete,
It's people like you that make it understandable how bush could win 2 elections.

It all comes down to whether or not you think we should continue the bush policies. If you think the war should continue indefinitely, while we spend $10,000,000,000 a month, and you think that bush has done well with the economy then mc-more-war is your man. If you think that it's time we start to get out of iraq and do some positive things for the average American instead of just the top 5% then vote for Obama.
Obama will be Great in 2008!!!

That money Anne is complaining about comes from over two million Americans who gave an average contribution of $100. They aren't giving money to buy access, they are giving money to change America.

While it's good that GOP Senator Smith readily agrees and points out that Senator Obama does reach across aisles to get a job done, he speaks with a somewhat forked tongue. The CAFE standards bill he refers to is Senate Bill S-767 "Fuel Economy Reform Act" that Senator Obama authored. Senator Smith signed on as a co-sponsor. I might point out that S-767 was a bill that is a continuing effort by Senator Obama to have CAFE standards raised. He has been defeated twice before by the Republican votes in the Senate. Also S-767 did not pass new fuel mileage standard's for automobiles. The current standard at the time this bill was introduced was 27.5mpg. The bill did not seek to change this mileage rating, but to up the required rating on SUV's to the same standard, rather than automobiles. Futhermore Senator Smith is on record voting against two previous attempts to raise CAFE standards. Once on June 29,05, Senate Vote 157,H.R.6, and again Jul. 29,03, Senate Vote 309,S-13. The Senator needs to check his own record I believe before he opens his mouth. These things are too easy to verify.

It amazes me that a Republican would cozy up to Obama. Why? Oh, yeah - he's one of the p-o-p-u-l-a-r boys... Republicans need to stand true to their ideals - smaller government, individual freedom, lower taxes. Democrats turn "My country 'tis of me" into "My country does for me..." The federal government is not supposed to be a social program to redistribute wealth. If democrats run find Robin Hood ("Tax the rich. Give to the poor.") they would. Don't need to - they've got Barak.

mc-more-war quotes:

"There’s not a history of clashes that are violent between Sunnis and Shiahs. So I think they can probably get along." [MSNBC, 4/23/03]
"Because I believe that the success will be fairly easy," [CNN, 9/24/02]
"We’re not going to get into house-to-house fighting in Baghdad." [CNN, 9/29/02]
"But the point is that, one, we will win this conflict. We will win it easily." [MSNBC, 1/22/03]
"But I believe that the Iraqi people will greet us as liberators." [NBC, 3/20/03]
"It’s clear that the end is very much in sight." [ABC, 4/9/03]
"This is a mission accomplished." [This Week, ABC, 12/14/03]
"I’m confident we’re on the right course." [ABC News, 3/7/04]
Can you estimate when we can bring our troops home? (Matt Lauer) “No, but that’s not really important.” [ABC 6/12/08]

Hmmm, the pendulum swings wide on a predicatble pattern. George Bush is at an all-time low. Obama is at an all-time high. Just a matter of time my friends, just a matter of time.
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Obama, don't waste our time with vetting him.
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"Pete,
It's people like you that make it understandable how bush could win 2 elections."

Jimbo- Yep. It's true. We kicked your butt with that guy! Hey, it's people like you who run John Kerry and Al Gore! (Did I mention Bush had higher grades at Yale than Kerry? Go figure.)

Democrats would vote for a teletubby if it were running "against Bush" and his "policies." Hey, isn't Congress in the hands of Pelosi and the liberal democrats? (Note to democrats: Congress is the sole branch of government that can pass a law.)

What do democrats stand for? Let's see. Killing unborn children (You call it "Choice"); Global Warming (You've found an issue we can't prove you wrong on for a thousand years); homosexual marriage (while you 'out' gay republican lawmakers); taxing America to death (Curiosly giving money back to people who don't even pay taxes.) You don't like Bush? I bet you think Bill Clinton was a great president, eh? Really, now? A liar? An alleged rapist? A disbarred lawyer? Someone who left his mark on the dress of an intern?

Now you support Barak.Gee, Wally, do you think Barak can pass his legislative agenda of "Hope"? I "hope" the terrorists don't attack us. I "hope" the insurgents don't take over Iraq when we cut and run. I "hope" the American Taxpayer can shoulder more and more burden for social programs. I "hope" you can afford your electric bill with the added carbon tax.

I'm really surprised the Democrats didn't run Michael Moore.