An Obama Administration

President: Barack Obama
Vice President: Hillary Clinton
Secretary Of State: Jennifer Granholm
Secretary Of Defense: Wesley Clark
Secretary Of Treasury: Carly Fiorina
Secretary Of Education: Mark Warner
Secretary Of Justice: Eliot Spitzer
Secretary Of Housing And Urban Development: John Edwards
Secretary Of Agriculture: Tom Vilsack
Secretary Of Transportation: Bill Richardson
Secretary Of Health And Human Services: Bobby Jindal
Secretary Of Commerce: James Cayne
Secretary Of Homeland Security: Rudy Giuliani
Secretary Of The Interior: Deval Patrick
Secretary Of Labor: Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary Of Energy: _________
Secretary Of Veteran Affairs: _________

Ambassador to Siberia: George W Bush

Barack Obama
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Jennifer Granholm
Wesley Clark
Carly Fiorina
Mark Warner
Eliot Spitzer
John Edwards
Tom Vilsack
Bill Richardson
Bobby Jindal
Bear Stearns
Rudy Giuliani
Kathleen Sebelius
Deval L. Patrick

Abraham Lincoln - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Lincoln was known for appointing his political rivals to high positions in his Cabinet to keep in line all factions of his party — and to let them battle each other and not combine against Lincoln. Historians agree that except for Cameron, it was a highly effective group.

Bill Clinton
John F. Kennedy
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Abraham Lincoln
Thomas Jefferson

In The News

Second Republican opposes Bush on Iraq Earthtimes.org
Nepal Maoists dissolve 'People's Government' Hindu
Senate plans vote against troop surge Washington Times
Barack Obama takes first step to White House Rediff
Barack Obama’s on Our Side – But is He a Fighter? Bay Area Indymedia
Barack Obama: The Mania and the Mirage Dissident Voice
Hillary Clinton Battles Barack Obama's Surge FOX News
Barack Obama thrills blacks who see shot at history WBIR-TV
Barack Obama's Selling Point for 2008: He's Abraham Lincoln II Human Events
Obama sizing up Abe's old digs Chicago Sun-Times
Ten Things You Didn't Know About Barack Obama U.S. News & World Report
Clinton fails war critics Mail & Guardian Online
Clinton asks limit on troops in Iraq Buffalo News
Clinton Wants To Cap Troops In Iraq ABC30.com
Sen. Clinton takes offensive on the war Chicago Tribune
Clinton, Obama Make Historic Field The Ledger
Hillary Clinton Battles Barack Obama's SurgeFOX News
How Obama's Got Clinton Scrambling ABC News On Wednesday, Clinton went on the attack, calling for a cap on U.S. troops sent to Iraq. Minutes after Clinton released her plan, Obama responded, continuing to provide late-night comics with fodder for jokes and making people wonder whether competition between the two might get ugly. ...... she could appear politically calculating while Obama seems principled. ....... The two diverge at the podium, too. Next to Obama's fluid poetry, Clinton's delivery can seem overly cautious. ....... A devout Methodist, Clinton rarely talks about religion while Obama speaks freely about faith. ...... Obama doesn't have a lengthy career and powerful relationships on his side, but, with his fairy-tale family, he has personal charisma to spare.
Barack Obama thrills blacks who see shot at history WBIR-TV
Anti-war group launches media blitz against McCain Washington Business Journal
$250k TV Ad Buy Criticizes Sen. McCain's Support for Iraq Escalation PR Newswire (press release)
McCain no longer rocks in Granite State Boston Herald
Poll: Surge stance may be harmful to McCain AZ Central.com

• Hillary vs. Obama: Let the Games Begin
• Obama: New Face in Presidential Race
  

Former Nepal rebels begin giving up arms San Jose Mercury News
Nepal Maoists end parallel governments for peace Reuters
US Backs Nepal's Maoist Inclusion In Interim Legislature All Headline News
Indian papers say racism thrives in India Marlborough Express that while racism appeared to be "alive and well" in Britain, it also thrived in India. ..... "What else explains the quest for the holy grail of fair brides across the country?" ..... Many of India's one billion people still live within a hierarchy imposed by the Hindu caste system that, for example, stops low castes entering some important temples decades after such discrimination was outlawed. .... Muslims face widespread prejudice and have often been seen as the enemy within since Islamic Pakistan was carved out of British-ruled India at independence. ...... If racism is a fact in many interactions in British society, prejudice is a quotidian reality of Indian social life ....... While in Britian there were institutions in place to deal with discrimination and Western nations were alert to racist attitudes, the Express concluded, in India the victims of such abuse often have nowhere to turn. ..... One contestant referred to Shetty as "the Indian" and asked her if she lived in a shack, while another said: "You don't know where those hands have been." Two have mimicked her accent.
Report Says US Military Equipment Gets to Iran, China HULIQ
China May Close Starbucks in Forbidden City NewsMax.com
EU Urges China on Trade Reforms Forbes
Hawking warns world to wake up to impending Armageddon DailyIndia.com
Atomic Scientists Warn World Moving Closer to Nuclear Doom Voice of America Since 1947, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has maintained the so-called Doomsday Clock. The symbolic timepiece measures how close mankind is to midnight, which represents total destruction of the Earth. ...... the minute hand on the Doomsday Clock is being moved forward two minutes, to five minutes before midnight. ....... "Not since the first atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has the world faced such perilous choices," she said. "North Korea's recent test of a nuclear weapon, Iran's nuclear ambitions, a renewed emphasis on the military utility of nuclear weapons, the failure to adequately secure nuclear materials, and the continued presence of some 26,000 nuclear weapons in the United States and Russia, are symptomatic of a failure to solve the problems posed by some the most destructive technology on Earth." ........ "The dangers posed by climate change are nearly as dire as those posed by nuclear weapons," she added. "The effects may be less dramatic in the short term, than the destruction that could be wrought by nuclear explosions, but over the next three to four decades, climate change could cause irremediable harm to the habitats upon which human societies depend for survival." ......... emphasized by British scientist Stephen Hawking, who is paralyzed and speaks through a computer. ...... "As scientists, we understand the dangers of nuclear weapons and their devastating effects, and we are learning how human activities and technologies are affecting climate systems in ways that may forever change life on earth," he said. "As citizens of the world, we have a duty to share that knowledge and alert the public to the unnecessary risk that we live with every day."
Could Wikipedia be the real threat to Google? Blogging Stocks Wikiseek, "a vastly improved search engine for the popular reference site, Wikipedia. ..... utilizes the suggestions of tens of thousands of vertical search engines to deliver more highly relevant searches. The result is a faster, richer Wikipedia search experience." ...... there have been occasions when Wikipedia was faster than regular news. ...... Google depends on Wikipedia to supply it with quality results. Meanwhile, Wikipedia is growing in both traffic -- as it is now the 20th most visited domain in the U.S. -- and in influence, as it is cited extensively by the media.
Wikipedia Gets Plug-In Search Engine Dr. Dobb's Journal
Wikipedia gets a search engine of its own Milwaukee Business Journal
How to Get Google to Notice Your Site DABCC.com (press release) These days, if a company website can't be found on Google, it basically doesn't exist. .. thousands of small-business owners every day as they seek new customers online
WiMAX technology launched in Bangalore Hindustan Times
I say, To hell with the niceties: Amitabh bachchan SantaBanta.com I am after all Bengal's Jamai Babu. I need to look at Bengal a little more compassionately, else there can be serious domestic repercussions!! ...... My father wrote in his biography 'When a father looses to his son, it is his greatest victory!' Subhash, I've lost to my son ! .... intended for use in outdoor environments. This could include construction sites, the military, emergency services and other workers operating in hazardous situations. .... designed to withstand high levels of vibration, moisture and humidity. ..... a brighter display than the standard Latitude, making it more visible in sunlight. The hard drive is shock-mounted and the keyboard is spill-resistant ...... embedded a cellular radio in the device alongside the conventional Wi-Fi option, to ensure multiple forms of connectivity.
SRK to follow Amitabh at Tussauds Times of India
Signing Beckham expands America’s soccer galaxy Gateway.ualberta.ca
Dell's decline is amazing Blogging Stocks HP had 17% of the market to Dell's 14%. .... Shares of Dell have plunged 16% over the past year while HP has soared 33%.
Dell launches its first rugged laptop Crave
Jowell criticises Big Brother Guardian Unlimited
A hard sell Economist he is making little or no headway in selling his latest policy, sending more troops to Iraq ..... joined by a growing army of Republicans. George Voinovich, a senator from Ohio, says that he can no longer buy into Mr Bush's dream of democratising Iraq; Sam Brownback, a senator from Kansas and a potential champion for social conservatives in the 2008 Republican presidential primaries, says he does not think that “sending more troops to Iraq is the answer”. ........ the banner of Americans Against Escalation in Iraq ...... the dream of the party's vocal left wing—they can cut off funding for the war completely. ...... Joe Lieberman, an “independent Democrat”, has come out strongly in favour of the president's plan. ....... The House is much more radical than the Senate: only 190 House members remain who originally voted for the war. ..... the Democrats are nervous about precipitating a constitutional crisis about who has the power to make war—a question which has never been fully resolved. ..... The Democrats are also advancing on the president on another front: Iran. ..... Mr Biden, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, declared himself willing to spark a “constitutional confrontation” if the president tried to widen the war. Mr Bush's Republican allies in Congress looked even more nervous than usual.

Blogosphere

Gibson called Obama's long-known cigarette smoking a "dirty little ...
Obama, McCain Lead in New Hampshire
Everyone's Talking Obama: Your Guide to Right-Wing Blogs
Hang It Up, Obama—It’s Hillary’s Nomination
Obama’s Gaining Momentum
Obama, Lieberman, and the DLC
Obama gets attention by being black - FOX guest makes "Mamie" analogy
Why Obama just might click with the voters
Obama Takes His First Lead in New Hampshire: Zogby
Candor on Iraq from Clinton and Obama

Iowa

Democrats

Candidate	Support
Edwards	27
Obama	17
Vilsack	16
Clinton	16
Biden	3
Kerry	3
Kucinich	1
Richardson	1
Unsure	13

New Hampshire
Democrats, 1/15-17/2006, MoE +/- 4.5

Candidate	Support
Obama	23
Clinton	19
Edwards	19
Kerry	5
Clark	3
Biden	3
Kucinich	1
Richardson	1
Biden	1
Unsure	22

Rediscovering DFNYC

I got an email from Jim Dean who I have had the good fortune to meet (Mixer For Ferrer) - "I googled your name and ended up on the homepage of the actor James Dean" - and the subject line says President Bhagat, and I am like, wait a minute Jim, I am not a citizen.

I am so glad DFA is getting ready to get involved. I would have been flabbergasted if the organization had stayed out. The organization was founded to take over the White House. Actually I am surprised that a Deaniac has emerged so soon to take up the challenge. Barack Obama is that Deaniac. I was thinking Barry Goldwater was there in 1964, and it was another 16 years before Reagan showed up. But then Dean is no Goldwater. He is much bigger. He presides over the entire party, for chrissake. (I think I misspelt that word, I am not a Christian).

I guess if DFA is getting ready to get behind Obama, I am going to have to take a second look at DFNYC. I visited that organization's page yesterday, and it looks like the mid-term elections are not over! There are a cramful of activities. That organization has always been so hyper.

My relationship with DFNYC has been anything but smooth although that is the first organization I really got to know when I landed in NYC in the summer of 2005.

First there was this utter lack of interest in the democracy movement in Nepal. And that's okay. But then it was like pride in that lack of interest. And all that boiled over. Then the April Revolution happened. And I got vibes of more credit than I deserve. Nepalis all over the world worked towards it. (The Virus Of The April Revolution )And there were interpersonal complications.

My Role In The April Revolution: The Butterfly Effect

Those who got so impressed by the April Revolution have not yet seen the second act. But the second act will not have the glamor of street action.

In the mean time I have gone to meetings of many other progressive organizations. And that is a good thing.

I see many events, but not any that interest me. I would like to just focus on the presidential stuff. DFNYC is really into local stuff, which is cool, that is what it was designed for.

First I got myself off the DFNYC mailing list, then when I signed back, someone else knocked me off, I wonder which of the four DFNYC Directors did that, maybe Cohen. But then once in a while there would be a DFA mail from Heather Woodfield, "your local host." I think that is how I got tricked to go to the voting machines hearing on the Upper West Side. (Voting Machines On The Upper West)

But if DFA were to formally get behind Barack Obama, I am going to renew my link to DFNYC, although I think my primary involvement is going to be through this blog, and through The Matrix. I guess I will show up primarily to express appreciation for stuff like phonebanking that DFNYC might do than to get my hands dirty. I am better at strategy and vision. I am not too much into the retail details. I admire those who are.

The thing about the Manhattan political circles is they are charged with race and class tensions. Just because people are packed up in the small physical space of the city does not mean rough edges have evened out. Like earlier today I went to this MYD event, their New Year celebration, and Liz, the about to be Vice President who I have always been decent to had to do her casual racist white woman thing. "I just wanted to make sure my purse was there." When I was standing behind a chair where her purse was. Like Barack Obama said on Charlie Rose, "Only a few years back, I would have people throw their keys at me in the parking lot."

Granted I have given a year and a half of my life to the democracy movement in Nepal, so I have not had the time to get rich yet, but me and my partners lost more money in the late 1990s than your family has not made in a thousand generations. (Money And Manhattan)

If you are a progressive, you are probably for universal health care, and how genuinely are you for that if you like to make classist comments?

I met the DFNYC Charles at the event. The guy was not doing surveys.

Maybe I should forgive all of DFNYC and start all over again with them for my minimal involvement in their numerous offline activities. Ha!

Hello Tracey. Hello Heather. Hello Leila. Hello Abhishek. Hello Lewis. Hello Merle. Hello David. Hello Catherine. Hello Dan. Hello Charles. Hello Bernadette. Hello Miriam. Hello Renna. Hello Dana. Hello Steve. Hello Andrew. Hello Judith. Hello Lisa. Hello Josh. Hello Kentucky.

But all this is conditional upon the DFA getting behind Barack Obama!

Looks like the organization has dropped its Mixer.

• ACT NOW state senate phonebank (18 hours)
• Democrats for New Politics Campaign Car Pool to Craig Johnson Campaign (2 days 10 hours)
• State Senate canvassing trip on LIRR (2 days 19 hours)
• New Voting Machines Hearing (5 days 16 hours)
• ACT NOW state senate phonebank (5 days 19 hours)
• ACT NOW state senate phonebank (6 days 19 hours)
• March on Washington January 27th (9 days 6 hours)
• Democrats for New Politics Campaign Car Pool to Craig Johnson Campaign (9 days 10 hours)
• DFNYC NY State Senate Forum...A Look Back, A Look Forward (14 days 19 hours)
• Democrats for New Politics Campaign Car Pool to Craig Johnson Campaign (16 days 10 hours)

http://www.democracyforamerica.com/presidentialsurvey

Dean, DFNYC, Daily Kos, Justin, Brooklyn, Nepal
DFNYC, Drinking Liberally, DL21C, Cosmopolity
The French Revolution And DFNYC
DFNYC Socializing Is Circle 3 For Me
Thanks David For Bringing Me Back To DFNYC
A Piece On DFNYC
DFNYC, 100,000 Strong, Scalable Organization
DFNYC TV, DFNYC Wiki
DFNYC And This Blog
DFNYC In The News
DFNYC Research And Advocacy Group
Tracey Denton Of DFNYC

Burma: Shame On China, Russia

It is despicable that China and Russia have let the Burmese people down. The family of democratic countries will have to find other ways to be of help. That country has suffered long enough.

Through this act China and Russia have exposed themselves - if that was even necessary - that they are not democracies. Putin is but a Cold War spy gone fancy. China is a one party dictatorship.

Maybe the UN Security Council should try to pass a similar resolution on Burma, China and Russia all put together, if only to make a statement.

But we should not be surprised. Autocrats think alike. They bond. I mean, were we expecting anything different? This act on the part of the regimes ensconed in China and Russia should not be seen as a setback. This was the expected. We should bounce from it.

The cause of democracy will be served, with or without China, with or without Russia. One day democracy shall spread its wings in those countries also. That is only a matter of time.

The Burmese people will rise up. Ultimately that is what will do the trick. But external moral support helps. We should offer moral and logistical support to the fullest extent.

Democracy in Burma is one of the stepping stones to democracy in China. Maybe that is why China is fearful.

The military junta in Burma is but a drug cartel. They specialize in exporting poison.

Aang Sang Su Kyi's political party is going to have to grow more robust. There should be a whole hieararchy of prominent leaders. There needs to be a robust global organization. Alliances have to be formed with other democracy movements.

Bhutan nearby also needs democracy. Zimbabwe far away also does.

The Matrix, Vision, Spread Democracy, Revolution

On The Web

FreeBurma.org: Links to the best info on Burma, democracy movement ...
Free Burma Home: Educational info on Burma, democracy movement ...
VOA News - US Asks UN to Push Burma on Democracy
VOA News - Burma Frees 5 Jailed Pro-Democracy Activists
The Burma Campaign UK Home Page
BBC NEWS | World | Asia-Pacific | Hopes fade for Burma's democracy
Democracy in Burma: Does Anybody Really Care?
U.S. Support for Democracy in Burma - US Department of State
Free Burma Coalition Mission
Japan Fails the Test on Democracy and Burma

In The News

Russia, China Veto UN Resolution on Burma Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
China & Russia Veto UN Security Council Resolution on Burma ChristianToday
NLD condemns China, Russia for blocking UNSC resolution on Burma Mizzima.com
China, Russia Failed Burma, Says Opposition The Irrawaddy News Magazine
Fury over Burma veto The Universe, UK
Freedom's ring not reaching new ears Christian Science Monitor, MA
China, Russia Veto Security Council Draft Resolution On Burma All Headline News
China, Russia veto UN resolution on Burma Democratic Voice of Burma, Norway
China, Russia veto UN Burma resolution Bangkok Post, Thailand
China, Russia veto UN resolution on Burma ABC Online, Australia
China, Russia veto Myanmar resolution China Post, Taiwan
China, Russia veto US on Myanmar The Daily Star, Bangladesh














More ...

Rush Limbaugh: Idiot

a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.

More ...
Advice To Keith Olbermann

Advice To Keith Olbermann

1. Get rid of the glasses. Get contacts. Time to go to battle with O'Reilly. The hairstyle is good. Need to work hard on delivery. The voice has to be smooth, rolling. Practice. Add more graphics, and boxes to the presentation. You have to be seen conversing with people often in real time.
   
2. O'Reilly is not a political leader. He is a talk show host. You need a talk show host to go after a talk show host.
   
3. O'Reilly is losing his number one spot by the time Obama is in the White House in 2009. Who is it going to be? You? You are the only one going head to head with him for now. So why not go all the way to claim the crown?
   
4. Feisty wins. You can not be neutral and be feisty. O'Reilly already got the right of center plank. You occupy the left of center plank.
   
5. Left of center is still officially center. Don't worry.
   
6. Have a few pet issues. For example, are you disgusted by hate speech? Let everyone know. Does Bush' low IQ drive you nuts? Let that be a running theme.
   
7. Once in a while endorse a candidate. Rarely, but do so. Got to flex muscle. Let right wing politicians fear you. Bring some on the show to tear them apart. Have about a half dozen top progressives to show up on a fairly regular basis.
   
8. Never refer to O'Reilly by name. He is not worth the mention. Refer to "some other newscaster," or things similar.
   
9. Primarily focus on the job. It is newscasting. The masala that is feistiness is an addon.
   
10. All the best. See you at the top.
    

Keith Olbermann
Countdown with Keith Olbermann - A Unique Newscast that Counts ...
Keith Olbermann - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia In September 2004, Olbermann was voted sexiest male newscaster in an online poll conducted by Playgirl magazine. He had included a link to the poll on his Web site and encouraged viewers to vote for him, which they did, giving him 24% of the 50,000 total votes. ...... Olbermann and Chris Matthews’ Hardball, also on MSNBC, tied for first place on MSNBC (and 21st place in all of cable news) in February 2006 with 400,000 viewers each for the month, according to Nielsen Media Research. CNN and FOX News Channel’s top programs for the month were Larry King Live with 901,000 viewers and The O'Reilly Factor with over 2.2 million viewers.^[9] Olbermann's ratings are often fourth for cable news in his time slot, behind O'Reilly at Fox News, Paula Zahn at CNN, and Nancy Grace at CNN Headline News, and his is the 12th-most watched nightly cable news program overall. However, the show's ratings have increased by 41% from early 2005 to early 2006. ..... In April 2006, Olbermann's ratings continued to climb, showing a 35% increase in overall viewers from the previous month's ratings, while O'Reilly's had dropped to "his worst month in nearly five years among viewers age 25 to 54." ...... since late August 2006, Olbermann's nightly audience has increased 69%, according to Nielsen Media Research; his show on October 2 had 834,000 viewers, virtually double his season average and more than CNN competitors Zahn and Grace. ...... Olbermann's show on MSNBC occupies the same time slot as Bill O'Reilly's The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News Channel. Olbermann has repeatedly named O'Reilly his “Worst Person in the World", while O'Reilly has petitioned for the ousting of Olbermann from MSNBC and the return of Phil Donahue to Olbermann's time slot, stating that Donahue's ratings far exceeded Olbermann's. ...... The feud blossomed with Olbermann's public celebration of O'Reilly's sexual harassment suit by former Fox News Channel producer Andrea Mackris ..... he jokingly kept track of money his viewers pledged to buy the tapes from Mackris and ran a “Save the Tapes” campaign. Olbermann had continued to feature the suit and its details in his comments on O'Reilly, specifically references to falafels and loofahs, which O'Reilly got confused while allegedly harassing Mackris. ....... a group of individuals from the Web site “Calling All Wingnuts” who had decided to call into the O'Reilly show to voice their disagreement. ..... from criticizing O'Reilly to confronting the Bush administration directly. In a recent “Worst Person in the World” segment, Olbermann said, “I'm sorry, Bill. I can't play with you right now. I have bigger fish to fry.” ..... “Bill O‘Reilly has defended the Nazis from World War II on three separate occasions.”
Olbermann.org: An Unofficial Keith Olbermann Fan Site

Media Smear On Obama's Name
Wolf Hitler, I mean Bitler, Blitler, Whatever
Bill O'Reilly, Bill O'Rama, Whatever The F___ His Name Is
Barack, Fox, MLK, Mandela
Bill O'Reilly: A Right Wing Gadfly

Barack Obama: My Plans For 2008

In The News

Martin returns, says UNSC will endorse secretary-general’s proposal this week NepalNews
US welcomes interim constitution
Over two dozen MPRF activists arrested in the capital The MPRF activists including MP Amresh Kumar Singh and MPRF chairman Upendra Yadav were apprehended after they started burning the copies of interim constitution at Maitighar Mandala, Kathmandu. The protesters said the interim constitution failed to address the demands of Madhesi people.
Terai bandh affects normal life
UN arms monitors completing final logistics preparations
Citizenship distribution begins
MPRF protest interim constitution; calls Madhesh bandh
Nepal's Rebels Say Interim Constitution Means End of Monarchy Bloomberg Nepal's peace settlement will allow the government to cut defense spending and economic growth in 2007 may reach 5 percent, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat said in July. .... About 42 percent of Nepalese live below the poverty line and 80 percent of them rely on agriculture for a livelihood. More than 13,000 people were killed during the insurgency.

Obama Forms Committee to Weigh 2008 Presidential Bid (Update1) Bloomberg
Obama begins possible run for president Toronto Star, Canada
Obama Takes 1st Step in Presidential Bid San Francisco Chronicle, CA
Obama Takes 1st Step In Presidential Bid Guardian Unlimited, UK
Democrat Obama enters 2008 White House race Reuters India, India
Barack Obama joins White House race MSNBC
Obama takes first step in White House bid Los Angeles Times, CA
Obama takes first step in White House bid Newsday, NY
Obama takes first step in White House bid Los Angeles Times, CA
Democrat Obama enters 2008 White House race Boston Globe, MA
Obama takes first step in presidential bid Baltimore Sun, MD
Toward Presidential Bid Wall Street Journal (subscription), NY
Obama to enter 2008 White House race Melbourne Herald Sun, Australia
Barack Obama joins White House race Financial Times, UK
Obama steps into White House race BBC Bulgaria, Bulgaria
Obama Takes First White House Step TIME - 4 hours ago
Obama takes first step in presidential bid Miami Herald, FL
Obama takes 1st step in presidential bid MLive.com, MI
Senator Barack Obama Takes First Step Towards Presidential Bid FOX News
INSIDE OBAMA'S INNER CIRCLE Chicago Tribune, IL The gravitational pull around Sen. Barack Obama grows stronger day by day, as he and his advisers seek commitments from political operatives and donors ....... encompasses the world of ideas of his Harvard Law School classmates. ...... The political professionals who are Obama's closest formal advisers are careful, deliberate counselors, wary of unnecessary risks and no strangers to campaign street fights. ...... David Axelrod, the strategist at Obama's right hand, perhaps the best-known Democratic consultant working outside of Washington, D.C., equally adept at sensing the right metaphor for high-minded aspirations and at finding the vulnerable spot to savage an opponent. ........ Robert Gibbs, communications director, ... "Northern ruthlessness and Southern charm combined." ....... Valerie Jarrett ..... most influential is his wife, Michelle, a formidable daughter of the South Side who is an alumna of the Ivy League and Chicago's rough-and-tumble City Hall. ...... "He really wants to know all the points of view in the room. He doesn't want to shut people down or force a consensus" ..... Michael Froman, an informal Obama adviser who was a Harvard Law classmate and chief of staff to former Treasury Secretary Bob Rubin. ....... The senator periodically assembles informal advisers and his senior Senate staff for freewheeling evening sessions to set strategy and appraise his performance. In November, it was a four-hour gathering with stacks of takeout pizza boxes on a conference room table to talk over the senator's future. ........ Obama and Axelrod speak almost every day. But Obama also often reaches out directly to friends for advice, by e-mail or telephone. ........ he and his advisers are working so intently to put the pieces in place that operatives are starting to tell Obama's likely rivals they are unable to work for those candidates because they are otherwise engaged. ...... Donors and fundraisers are being asked to make commitments, and the nascent operation is pulling in staffers and consultants from throughout the nation. ........ David Plouffe, an Axelrod partner who worked on Obama's 2004 Senate campaign, is the likely campaign manager. ....... Bill Burton, national press secretary for the House Democrats' midterm campaign, is likely to join up ...... Peter Giangreco, a Chicago-based media consultant and veteran of the Iowa caucuses, is on board to do the direct mail as is his West Coast partner Larry Grisolano. At least one pollster is lined up: Paul Harstad, another Iowa veteran, who also worked on Obama's Senate campaign. Julianna Smoot, finance director for John Edwards' 2004 campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2006, will fill the same role for Obama. ......... But the group most tightly circled around Obama is a longstanding one, made up of old friends who share an understanding of how he works. ........... the speech that would propel Obama onto the national stage. ..... practice several times. ...... Obama never asked him for a set of "talking points," which might have been the first order of business for others. Instead, he asked for audio and video of previous convention speeches to make his own assessment. ...... Obama then holed up in a hotel in Springfield, where the legislature was in session, and wrote the speech ....... Chief of staff Peter Rouse, who previously headed the office of Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle ....... Rouse's role would be to remain behind to watch Obama's back in the Senate, where rivals and their allies will have plenty of opportunities to lay political traps. ....... the way Obama relies on his advisers is as conversationalists who explore issues in depth. ......... "He rarely accepts anyone's initial position without any push back," Jarrett said. "He consistently probes deeper and deeper to make sure that you and he both have really thoroughly analyzed any given issue." ....... John Rogers, head of Ariel Capital Management, is a friend drawn into the family circle by Michelle Obama's brother Craig Robinson, with whom Rogers played basketball at Princeton University. ........ Obama deals with his friends much the same way he relates to everyone who crosses his path ...... "He has this ability to connect and bring people together," he said. "I've seen him wow people at the Commercial Club of Chicago, and then I go to New York to watch him with the Wall Street Project, a mostly minority crowd, and they're hanging on his every word." ....... Cassandra Butts, who first met Obama at the financial aid office, said the friends sometimes would spend time "just sitting around and talking about how we were going to change the world. ... How do you take this thing we're learning in law school and make a difference on the issues that we care about?" ..... "With Barack it's much more collegial than paternal" ...... Michelle Obama doesn't play a day-to-day role in her husband's work.. Instead.. she is the "true north" on his compass. ....... "She always asks Barack, `What do you think is the right thing to do?'" said Jarrett. "`Forget about what polls say. Do your homework. After you've done all the due diligence, what's the right thing to do?'"
Barack Obama officially enters White House race AlaskaReport, AK
Obama aims to be first black US president BreakingNews.ie, Ireland Obama announced his intentions to file a presidential exploratory committee on his Web site, www.barackobama.com. He said he would announce more about his plans February 10 in his hometown, Chicago, Illinois.... Another potential 2008 presidential candidate, Republican congressman Tom Tancredo, an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration, said he also is forming an exploratory committee for a possible campaign..... After making a weekend trip to Iowa, home to the first nominating caucuses in January 2008, Tancredo said voters told him other presidential candidates do not share their views. ..... “They believe that there is a void in this race that none of the other candidates are willing or able to fill,” Tancredo said.