Pakistan Is Getting Interesting And Obama Might Have Shaken Things

Pakistan Prepares for Former Prime Ministers’ Return New York Times a Supreme Court ruling that threw open the coming parliamentary campaign to all political players. ...... Mr. Sharif’s pending return led another opposition leader and former prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, to reschedule her own return ahead of his ..... the overwhelming desire in Pakistan was for democracy and a free choice in elections this fall. ..... the president should sit down with the leaders of the main political parties — which could be as few as five people — and agree on a caretaker government to prepare for parliamentary elections. ..... free and fair elections are the best option for calming the public mood and stemming a drift toward extremism ..... eight years on, the biggest political players challenging General Musharraf are the same as a decade ago: Ms. Bhutto and Mr. Sharif. ....... Ms. Bhutto and Mr. Sharif remain the most popular political leaders by far, and whether or not they are personally tainted, their parties are pragmatic, centrist groupings that are the West’s most natural allies ........ the participation of Mr. Sharif and Ms. Bhutto would draw voters away from the religious parties ....... Mr. Sharif could be expected to campaign on an anti-American, anti-Musharraf platform, and would draw those who would otherwise be attracted to the religious parties, but as one of the country’s richest industrialists, he would lead a government that was pro-business and open to the United States, India and the global economy ...... Mr. Iqbal, the associate of Mr. Sharif, said that the war on terror demands a political solution, and that only a return to democratic rule can make that possible. “There has to be a competing alternate political platform,” he said. “You can only get that through the democratic process.”

Don't quote me on this yet, but I think Barack Obama's recent remarks against Musharraf might have played a small role in this tremendously positive development in Pakistan. Benazir will be back. A strong, smart woman with a clear sense for social justice, a clear commitment to the poor and their upliftment might soon be Prime Minister of Pakistan. In a matter of months.

And Barack is not even president yet. He did not even send in the military to spread democracy in Pakistan. He did not send any money. All he did was as a would be president, he took a clear stand against a Third World dictator. And that dictator is about to be pushed out the door. That is what I am talking about.

The difference between Barack and Bush is with Barack you get Benazir.

A dictator - any dictator - can not be a US ally on the war on terrorism. That applies to Musharraf, that applies to the Saudi king, to Mubarak, that applies to all unelected Arab leaders. If noone elected you, count your days. Count your years. You will be shown the door.

Barack's public berating of Musharraf emboldened the Supreme Court of Pakistan. And the Supreme Court is now making it possible for Pakistan's last two democratically elected Prime Ministers to come back home from exile.

This is what a would be American president with brains can do. This is not the power of the US military. This is not the power of the US dollar. This is the power of the American presidency, the American democracy. Someone elected by the American people can bring about a positive change like this one just by making the right noise. Imagine how much more Barack can do as a president breathing down the necks of small game Third World dictators on world TV. Face to face. Pushing his finger into their chests. Staring them down. Publicly berating them for their lousy human rights records. Publicly saying hello to their dissident opponents who might be working to launch democracy movements.

I have long maintained the only true way to win the War On Terrorism is by ensuring a total spread of democracy in all Arab countries. And Pakistan is well positioned to help with that. Pakistan is huge. It is not as big as India, but it is huge. It is bigger than Britain and France put together. Pakistani democracy is Muslims voting. You want Pakistan to infect all Arab countries.

One Billion Muslims, 10,000 Al Qaeda

There are more than a billion Muslims on the planet. Only 10,000 of them are Al Qaeda. Bush has killed more than 150,000 innocent people in Iraq. If it is wrong for the Al Qaeda to kill 3,000 innocent Americans, it is wrong for America to kill 150,000 innocent Iraqis. The Iraqi people or their leadership had nothing to do with 9/11. The war on Iraq has been a criminal act.

Don't Insult The Intelligence Of The Arab Street

It is not possible for you to be best friends with Musharraf, and the Saudi king, and Mubarak and still have the Arab street believe you are out for democracy.

W Writes A Book On Vietnam
Let Me Get This Straight
Engaging Third World Dictators
What Obama Said On Pakistan
Flatten It Out
The McCain Doctrine: Keep The Swamp, Keep The Mosquitoes
The Exchange


Presidential Primary Reform
MyDD :: Primary Reform and the California Plan ..... This system features a schedule consisting of ten two-week intervals, during which randomly selected states may hold their primaries. This 20-week schedule is the approximate length of the traditional primary season....... In the first interval, a randomly determined combination of states with a combined total of eight congressional districts would hold their primaries, caucuses or convention. This is approximately equal to the total number of congressional district in Iowa (5) and New Hampshire (2), thus preserving door-to-door "retail politicking." ...... Any state or combination of states amounting to a total of eight congressional districts could be in the first round of primaries and caucuses. This could include such ethnically diverse jurisdictions as American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Alabama, Louisiana, Arizona, and Maryland....... The widest possible political debate would be fostered by this system

In The News

Dem Rivals Rap Clinton on Terror Comment Washington Post her comment that a terror attack before the election would help the Republicans. .... I think I am better able to handle things I have no control over .... Bill Richardson said in a statement, "We shouldn't be thinking about terrorism in terms of its domestic political consequences, we should be protecting the country from terrorists." ...... Clinton campaign spokeswoman Kathleen Strand said Friday night, "Senator Clinton was making clear that she has the strength and experience to keep the country safe."
Clinton: Best to Deal With Terror Attacks New York Times
Clinton: Terrorist attack would help GOP CNN
Controversy Continues Over US Troop Levels in Iraq Voice of America
Democrats set to crack down on Florida bid for early primary Chicago Tribune only a few select states are allowed to hold their events before early February ... States that don't follow the rules could lose some or all of their delegates ..... Florida Democrats ... Jan. 29 .... Leading Democrats in that state on Thursday suggested that the sanctions might violate state or federal law, making it plain that they don't plan to accept a knuckle-rapping without a fight. ..... All over the country, states are eyeing the primary calendar and wondering why their voters shouldn't also have a stronger voice in deciding who the Democratic and Republican candidates are. .... Just this week, state lawmakers in Michigan began the process of moving their primary date to the middle of January. ..... "It's like we're operating in a banana republic," said David Plouffe .... we don't know which states, which dates, what rules." ..... Unsure of which order the primaries and caucuses will take place, the presidential campaigns aren't sure how to allocate their resources—or even where to send their candidate on a given day.
Brzezinski Grants Obama the "Upper Hand" Washington Post Zbigniew Brzezinski. The 79-year-old former national security adviser announced today on Bloomberg Television's "Political Capital with Al Hunt" that he was supporting the junior senator from Illinois for president. .... Obama "recognizes that the challenge is a new face, a new sense of direction, a new definition of America's role in the world" ..... rejected the notion that Hillary Clinton is more experienced in foreign affairs than Obama. "Being a former first lady doesn't prepare you to be president .... "What's the hang-up about negotiating with the Syrians or with the Iranians?" Brzezinski said. "What it in effect means" is "that you only talk to people who agree with you." .... "There is a need for a fundamental rethinking of how we conduct world affairs. And Obama seems to me to have both the guts and the intelligence to address that issue and to change the nature of America's relationship with the world." ...... Obama already had the support of former Clinton national security adviser Anthony Lake.
Brzezinski Offers Support for Obama New York Times
Brzezinksi Tells Bloomberg TV: Obama Would Be a Better President Earthtimes.org
Edwards denies slam on 'insiders' is directed at Clinton CNN
Nepal Rules Out Maoist-UML Unification Prospects Himalayan Times
Hanoi fires salvo at Bush's comments MSNBC an assertion many Vietnamese see as a gross oversimplification of the region's complex and tragic history ...... Vietnam was "an unjustified and a wrong war in the first place so to start analysing things only from the withdrawal of US troops is really puzzling", she said. "The root of the problem is not the withdrawal, it's the very fact of starting up the war in the first place." ...... As Asia's second-fastest growing economy, Vietnam is today a powerful magnet for foreign investment, with the US its largest single trading partner and a focus for growing bilateral co-operation. ...... Ms Ninh believes the US has failed to learn the lessons of Vietnam. .... "I think the US has no choice [in Iraq] but to withdraw – what good can itdo by staying longer?" she said.
US Bomb Kills 3 British Soldiers in Afghanistan New York Times
Pushing for a New Leader in Iraq ABC News President Bush's former envoy to Iraq, Ambassador Robert Blackwill, is running a major behind-the-scenes lobbying push for former Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi — who seeks to remove and replace current Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki. ...... Allawi, who lived in exile for decades in London, was essentially appointed interim prime minister by the Bush administration, though he was defeated in the 2005 Iraqi elections. ...... Allawi was, until recently, funded by the CIA .... an open question in this tale of Beltway intrigue what Allawi is getting for that money
Bank of China Reports Heavy Exposure to Subprime Crisis New York Times holds almost $9.7 billion of securities backed by U.S. subprime loans, the most of any Asian company. ....... The collapse in securities backed by subprime mortgages has caused losses at lenders around the world ..... Industrial & Commercial Bank of China Ltd. (OOTC:IDCBF) , the world's largest bank by market value ..... Defaults on home loans to people with poor credit soared this year, prompting a sell-off of debt-backed securities that spread to wider credit markets and wiped more than $5.5 trillion off the value of equities worldwide. ...... collateralized debt obligations backed by loans to borrowers with poor credit histories. ..... Banks from Germany to Japan have been touched by the subprime meltdown. Germany's government had to bail out Dusseldorf-based IKB Deutsche Industriebank AG because of potential subprime-linked losses of as much as 3.5 billion euros ($4.7 billion).
China Gets Internet Companies to Sign 'Self-Discipline' AgreementVoice of America At least 20 leading blog service providers in China, including U.S.-based Internet giants Yahoo and MSN, have signed an agreement that will help the government censor and identify bloggers. ...... "encourages" blog service providers to list contact information and register users under their real names before letting them post blogs. ..... The companies are also asked to delete "illegal and bad information in a timely manner," and to "protect the interests of the State and Party." .... The companies argue that they must comply with Chinese laws to continue operating there.
Press Watchdog Blasts China's Blogging Policy PC World
Microsoft Agrees to Strict Blogging Rules in China IT Business Edge
Ruling expected today on Noriega's future CNN International
Is The Google Phone Ready To Launch In India In Two Weeks? InformationWeek Talks are believed to be taking place with Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, respectively India's first and third largest mobile telephony operators, and state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam. ...... Google plans to invest $7-8 billion for its global telephony foray. ..... The prospect of Google owning spectrum and offering cell phones is too tempting to pass up. ...... assuming the device is sold for a relatively low-cost, it could give Google a means to spreading smartphone-like functionality in developing markets -- all powered by Google's software and services ...... Think of the Google Phone as the cell phone equivalent of the Trojan Horse (the ancient Greek myth, not the virus).
Google Phone: Revolutionary Or Evolutionary? InformationWeek In 2005, Google acquired both Android, a mobile technology startup, and Dodgeball, a mobile social networking service. ..... Reqwireless, a mobile e-mail and browser developer, and Skia, a developer of mobile-friendly graphics software ..... possible that Google could help handset makers deliver mobile phones that surpass the iPhone in terms of design aesthetics, user interface, and ease of use, it seems more likely that the Gphone will be noteworthy not as spiffy hardware but as a utilitarian device designed to lower or eliminate mobile phone bills by subsidizing network operators' costs with revenue sharing from Google's online services. ....... If Google emerges with spectrum rights, that's when the fun begins.
Will mobile WiMax transform wireless working? ZDNet UK mobile WiMax has variously been pitched as a potential usurper of 4G — the successor to curren-day 3G cellular networks — and as a rival to Wi-Fi wireless technology, into which operators have sunk a lot of money already. ...... Where mobile WiMax is expected to garner particular interest, however, is in developing countries that currently have only a limited wired infrastructure in place. This is because the costs involved in installing WiMax stations to complement existing cellular towers are likely to be lower than introducing fixed pipes from scratch, particularly in areas of low population density where the terrain is flat. ........ touting mobile WiMax as a means of increasing bandwidth for data-intensive applications such as multimedia ..... Sprint Nextel announced in 2006 that it would spend $3bn (£1.5bn) on building a US-based WiMax network operating at 2.5GHz, which would start roll out by the end of this year and provide services to at least 100 million people by the end of 2008. ..... telcos such as BT or Colt will look at mobile WiMax as a means of providing customers with mobile access "under their own steam without having to do deals with mobile operators" ...... Google may also try and get a slice of the action to obtain a fresh channel for providing content ...... as we move to a more converged fixed and mobile world ..... WiMax tends not to work indoors as well as rival technologies such as Wi-Fi, because its radio waves are at higher frequency and so tend to be absorbed by walls, people and the like more easily. ...... there is no uniform globally licensed spectrum for WiMax, whereas there is one for 3G networks. This means that roaming either now or in the future will be impossible ....... although UK operators may go for the 2.6GHz frequency band next year, the US has already opted for 2.5GHz today, and some countries in Asia such as Indian and Vietnam are expected to plump for 3.3GHz in the future. ...... a technology looking for a market" ..... WiMax .. has been pitched variously by vendors over the past few years as a rival to fixed broadband technologies such as cable and DSL, an alternative to Wi-Fi public hotspots, and a high-bandwidth backhaul for internet or cellular phone traffic from remote areas to an internet or T1/E1 data network backbone...... really it's just an alternative pipe .... "There may be a way of using pico and femtocells to reduce this ..... "I can see it emerging as a mechanism for connecting wireless laptops and other data devices at speeds that are higher than current Wi-Fi networks and over ranges that are more comparable with cellular ....... not so much hotspots, as hot zones .... deliver wireless campuses is somewhat more unclear, but in the end this all boils down, not so much to the technology, but to commercial models, and it's still just too early to say how it will pan out
The Road To WiMAX BusinessWeek a telephone company executive told him it would cost $1,100 per home just to replace landscaping and sidewalks if the industry installed fiber-optic cabling and brought superfast broadband Internet access to every single-family home in America. .... create a nationwide hot spot with superfast phone and Web-surfing capability ..... what was in 2002 an obscure wireless broadband technology only a few hundred engineers had heard of ..... he has rounded up a remarkable coalition of chip, PC, consumer electronics, networking, and software companies in an effort to radically reshape the future of broadband with what's now called WiMAX. ....... Intel faced withering criticism from tech analysts when it first cast its lot with WiMAX .... dozens of wireless telecom operators around the globe have also placed bets on WiMAX and plan to spend $13 billion over the next few years to build 300 such networks ....... Already the first transmitters are appearing on light poles and towers in Chicago and Washington, test markets expected to begin service early next year. Major rollouts are planned everywhere from Pakistan to Australia to China by 2009. ...... WiMAX will be poised to deliver video entertainment and voice telephone services that will compete with traditional telecom and cable-television services. It also will extend the range of wireless e-mail and Web-surfing services in mobile computers. Beginning next year, stores will stock new laptop computers equipped with Intel's WiMAX-capable chips, code-named Echo Peak. ....... Intel's role as head WiMAX cheerleader ..... high-profile schemes for blanketing whole cities with cheap or free Wi-Fi networks aren't working out. ..... WiMAX provides superfast connections for up to 30 miles. You could stroll from your house conducting a conference call, pause to exchange hefty data files, and later dial in to your TiVo to download an episode of CSI. WiMAX avoids digital traffic jams by using licensed radio waves that guarantee each customer a certain level of service. ..... grew out of work in the 1990s by engineers at dozens of companies. ..... Intel .. Sprint .. Nokia ... Samsung .. The interests of these four companies resulted in a pooling of patents and money to create the WiMAX phenomenon. ..... Maloney had his revelation about the potential of wireless broadband in 2002 ..... Martin Cooper, considered the father of the cell phone .... Intel and allies could create a standard technology for long-range wireless transmissions, much as Intel and Microsoft (MSFT ) had created the so-called Wintel standard for the personal computer. ...... Intel would build tiny radios into laptops that could connect easily to a worldwide WiMAX network. ..... a mammoth WiMAX ecosystem by investing more than $1 billion in carriers and other companies. .....In developing countries, WiMAX seemed like a sure winner... a cheap, powerful wireless infrastructure was just what they needed ..... Maloney later obtained key technology by purchasing a company called Iospan Wireless from Stanford University engineering professor Arogyaswami Paulraj. ..... the Institute of Electrical & Electronic Engineers (IEEE). ...... "a classically disruptive technology." ..... On Aug. 9, Vodafone Group PLC (VOD ), the world's largest wireless company, signed up. Vodafone CEO Arun Sarin had warned in a speech in February that WiMAX and other new technologies threatened "to eat our lunch." ..... the IEEE .... its chairman, Jerry Upton, who was a paid Qualcomm consultant. ..... Clearwire, the biggest holder worldwide of spectrum that could be used for WiMAX. ..... Qualcomm Chief Operating Officer Sanjay Jha ...... an industry that sees big ideas come and go with dizzying speed
Should CIOs Take Google Seriously? InformationWeek young people are enamored of the potential of online services, like those from Amazon.com, Salesforce.com, or Google, which recently introduced its Google Apps Premier Edition, a set of software-as-a-service offerings that includes e-mail, calendar, word processing, and spreadsheet capabilities, among others. ..... the next-generation communication and collaboration tools they need to manage electronic communications, share and publish information, and stay connected while on the go ..... the potential efficiencies and cost savings implicit in the software-as-a-service model.
'Hi, I am Amitabh' Times of India Amitabh has an unmistakable charisma ... the impact hits you when you see others around you reacting ..... At the recently concluded Filmfare awards (south), even though he entered with Abhishek and Aishwarya, the Big B was the cynosure of all eyes. Amitabh comes across as a witty, articulate, courteous , protocol-conscious , charming man, but he can also be edgy and excessively protective of his private space. .... a very hungry Amitabh. He ate as we spoke. ..... I am at an age when roles don't come by easily. I don't get lead roles, only character roles. It's nice when some people want to experiment, with movies like Nishabd. It gives me the opportunity to test myself. Gabbar's impression is insurmountable ; but I am not pressured. ....... Perhaps, it's not the dialogue, but the visual, the moment, the music that's become more important. ..... And if I may say a little immodestly, I pioneered some of these concerts that have taken a huge form from the time I went out in 1981-82 . I've been on stage and performed live, which no one does now. It's all pre-recorded with lovely costumes but I used to sing live, enact scenes from my films. ...... I think far too much emphasis is being laid on age - why are you working so much, how are you working?- If my body is responding to what is being asked of it, then what's the problem? ...... Is that a problem? .... One is my screen image and the other is me. I come from a middle-class home and success does not change values. ... I am fortunate that my children have imbibed those values well.
David Beckham urged to slow down by Galaxy Telegraph.co.uk LA Galaxy chief executive Alexei Lalas is pondering the wisdom of the 32-year-old continuing to make himself available for England's friendly fixtures. ..... Beckham is expected to rack up a nearly staggering 78,000 air miles over the next three months to honour his club and country commitments .... Despite flying back to Los Angeles in time to play a full 90 minutes against Chivas, Beckham could not prevent Galaxy from falling to a 3-0 defeat against their local rivals. He was also involved in an ugly spat with Jesse Marsch following a late challenge by the Chivas midfielder. ..... With Beckham clearly struggling to overcome the ankle injury that has dogged him since his move to California, Galaxy coach Frank Yallop was forced to admit that the former Manchester United midfielder should not have been selected. .... "At the end, he looked a bit hobbled and he should have been rested."
Bollywood Bachchan says wife Aishwarya comes first Washington Post Rai, 33, and Bachchan, 31, have worked together in at least five films. Rai was crowned Miss World in 1994.
Amitabh Bachchan is going bald for his Hollywood movie… India Target Amitabh Bachchan will be seen in a bald look in Hollywood movie Shantaram . .... The film's shooting is likely to begin before this yearend. It will be shot in Australia , India and China .... Johnny Depp is playing a lead role in the movie, and Amitabh Bachchan plays underworld don Kadar bhai . Meera Nair wanted Kadar bhai to look nasty, that's why he wanted him in a bald look ..... The movie is based on the book written by an Aussie with the same title 'Shantaram' which is an autobiographical account of an escaped Australian convict who travels through continents and ends up in Mumbai's underworld.
BofA throws Countrywide $2-billion lifeline Los Angeles Times expected the housing downturn to lead the U.S. economy into recession. ..... cash-starved sub-prime mortgage lenders across Southern California announced more than 4,000 layoffs nationwide. ..... BofA, the sixth-largest U.S. home lender in 2006, recognizes that "once the dust settles the survivors [in the mortgage industry] will have much less competition and will thrive" ...... the credit crunch ravaging the mortgage industry ..... a wave of defaults on sub-prime mortgages -- loans made to people with poor credit ..... Since the start of the year, more than 40,000 workers have lost their jobs at mortgage lending institutions
Dell laptops not in the pink after all Register
Dell makes headway in server market Register
Nicole Richie jailed - for all of 82 minutes Guardian Unlimited

Bill Clinton Is Still Relevant

Google Video: Bill Clinton
YouTube: Bill Clinton
Bill Frist's Ancestors Came From The Moon
Bill Clinton Had Icecream For Lunch
Bill Clinton Has Left The Building

Edwards takes shots at Clinton 'nostalgia' Chicago Tribune casting the 2008 election as "a choice between looking back and looking forward" and warning that "those wedded to the policies of the '70s, '80s, or '90s are wedded to the past." ..... not-so-subtle swipes at the "third way" politics of Clinton's husband, former President Bill Clinton. .... railed against "a vision for the future that is rooted in nostalgia." ..... "The trouble with nostalgia is that you tend to remember what you liked and forget what you didn't," Edwards said, according to a copy of the speech provided by his campaign. "It's not just that the answers of the past aren't up to the job today, it's that the system that produced them was corrupt -- and still is." ...... We cannot triangulate our way to real change; we cannot compromise our way to real change .... several recent surveys show him slipping ..... he's struggling to match Obama and Clinton in fundraising. ..... "Angry attacks on other Democrats won't improve Sen. Edwards' flagging campaign," Baker said in an e-mail statement. "Sen. Clinton has been fighting for America's families for 35 years and has the experience to lead on day one."

John Edwards needs to calm down. He is not going to be the nominee, he is not going to be president. But if he behaves, he can get a cabinet position in an Obama administration.

An Obama Administration

Bill Clinton is still relevant. And Hillary could be a Senator for decades. That is called being relevant.

It is called making medical advances. 30 years from now Bill Clinton will still be offering his insight into contemporary politics then. He will still be called on by reporters to give his take on people running for president.

Bill Clinton is relevant and healthy and dynamic. Look at the globe trotting he does. I think he works harder now than when he was president. If he retired, noone explained to him the concept.

His work in Africa has been amazing. His personal friendship with Mandela is vastly inspiring. The African American median income went up when he was president. Black America loves him and for good reason. This white boy from Arkansas works as if he is trying to make amends for all the racial sins of his South, past and present.

The truth is a little more basic than that. This guy is a born politician. He just likes meeting people. All sorts of people. If you are a Homo Sapien, he wants to look you in the eye.

Bill Clinton's policies are relevant. He balanced the budget. The next president is going to have to. Some president is going to have to reintroduce the information age and the dot com boom. You can not let go of the wisdom of the earned income tax credit like Edwards seems to have let go. Maybe President Obama will be loved again like President Clinton was by the masses in the poor countries. That loveydobey thing is still relevant.

John Edwards, Voucher Man, Is A Republican

Of course Bill Clinton was and is for publicly financed elections, but while he waited for that to happen, he went ahead and tried and raised more money than the Republicans. What would Jesus do?

Bill Clinton continues to be an inspiration to progressives in America and to progressives around the world.

Barack Vs Hillary

1. Barack is 2008. Edwards is 2004. Hillary is 1990s. McCain is 1970s.
   
2. Barack has been an elected official longer than Hillary. He is the one who is experienced.
   
3. Barack is fresh.
   
4. Barack has low negatives.
   
5. Barack raised more money than Hillary starting from the very first quarter. That showed people who were paying attention liked him more.
6. Barack had twice as many contributors than Hillary starting from the very first quarter.
7. Barack is the grassroots candidate. That makes him more of a Democrat.
   
8. Barack has the youth excited.
   
9. He reminds people of Bobby Kennedy.
10. Barack has not had Clinton's name recognition. And so he has lagged in national polls. But he is looking great in the early state polls where voters are actually paying attention.
    
11. Most Americans a few months into 1992 thought Bill Clinton had a rich father. It did not matter the guy did not even have a father. People will get to know Barack alright.
    
12. Only 10% of Americans know today who they will vote for in 2008.
    
13. Only a few months back, more than half of America had never heard of Barack. That might be hard for the hard core to believe, but that is true.
    
14. Barack is young and dynamic.
15. He has not been in Washington so long that he no longer makes sense.
    
16. He is capable of creating a majority like Reagan in 1984, LBJ in 1964. I guess it happens once every 20 years or so, and now is the time.
    
17. His father was from Africa.
18. His mother was from Kansas.
19. He grew up in Hawaii. That is exotic.
20. He also grew up in Indonesia. That is super exotic. To me.
21. With Barack, you get universal health insurance before his first term is over. With Hillary you get that by the end of her second term. That is her way of saying she will not have a second term, and you will not have health insurance.
22. Barack is a big deal in Chicago.
23. Barack stood against the dumb invasion of Iraq from the very outset.
    
24. Barack will refocus the efforts to go get Bin Laden. He will also elbow out Musharraf who, by the way, is a dictator, kind of like Saddam. But he never said he will invade Pakistan. It is not Barack, it is Bush who invades.
    
25. He will take the black people to the promised land.
    
26. He is white, he is black, he is biracial, he is African, he is Midwest, he is Third World. That is what I call a package deal.
27. He got the smarts.
    
28. He went to Columbia, he went to Harvard.
    
29. He smoked pot. Is that cool or what? Hillary never did.
    
30. They love him on the South Side of Chicago.
    
31. He has had the same barber for 20 years. That is really something.
    
32. He is a great basketball player. Only a few days back, he hit a three pointer, and he was not even warmed up, was dressed like a lawyer, and it was on camera.
    
33. He will get out of Iraq the smart way. You end up with no American troops inside Iraq and a stable, democratic Iraq.
34. With him in the White House, America gets back onto the global map. How would you like to get popular?
35. Finally the 21st Century that was supposed to have arrived in 2000 will arrive.
    
36. He will slash the deficits.
37. He will slash the tax cuts to the super rich.
38. He will go after the debt over time.
39. He will fix schools.
40. He will be good for broadband.
    
41. New industries will get created.
    
42. We already went to the moon. Now we go to Africa.
43. The gender dynamic in the country goes up one notch. Michelle will make sure that happens. It is called leading by example.
44. How would you like to see two cute kids on the White House lawn? When was the last time that happened?
    
45. It is the cool factor. Barack is in.
    

The Countdown Has Begun: Marathon Now Turns To Sprint
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Michelle Obama Is Just Fabulous
I Touched Obama: Babel, Barack
Barack's Primary Opponents
I Watch Politics, World Cup Soccer, And The Olympics
Jupiter And Obama
JFK, Obama Parallels: Catholic, Black
An Obama Administration

In The News

Fox News poll gives Giuliani & Clinton solid leads USA Today Rudy Giuliani leads his nearest Republican rival (Fred Thompson) by 15 percentage points and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton leads the second-place Democrat (Sen. Barack Obama) by 13 points in the latest national poll done for Fox News Channel by Opinion Dynamics Corp. ..... margins of error of +/- 5 percentage points
FOX News Poll: New Yorkers Clinton, Giuliani Top 2008 Choices ... FOX News The new poll shows that Clinton holds a double-digit lead over Barack Obama, topping him by 13 percentage points — 38 percent to 25 percent — among Democrats. That’s down slightly from a 16-point edge in July. John Edwards is third and is now in single digits with 8 percent. .... the number of undecided Democratic voters is 15 percent today — double the number that said they were unsure two months ago (7 percent, June 26-27). ...... "By next month the window for dark horses to enter either race will pretty much close unless a top candidate takes a huge fall." ...... While Gingrich has yet to make a formal announcement about his candidacy, he was recently spending time in Iowa during the straw poll process. ..... Nearly one in four Republicans (23 percent) say they don’t know which candidate they would vote for if the primary were held today. .... a 60 percent majority disapproves of the job Congress is doing and 56 percent disapprove of President Bush’s job performance ..... one of five people (24 percent) say they approve of the job Congress is doing, including 26 percent of Democrats and 23 percent of Republicans. ..... Approval of Congress was 29 percent in November 2006, right before the mid-term elections. .... A 63 percent majority of Republicans approves of Bush, as do 21 percent of independents and 11 percent of Democrats. ...... By more than two-to-one (57 percent to 24 percent) the public supports passage of an Airline Passengers’ Bill of Rights that would require airlines to provide passengers with things like fresh water and clean bathrooms, as well as possibly the right to exit the airplane when there are flight delays.
Barack Obama's Republican edge Salon
Iowa Caucus: Wooing One Voter at a Time Forbes If Hillary Rodham Clinton wins Iowa's presidential caucuses, it won't be because of endorsements or poll numbers. ..... She's very strong, she's very smart and I'm glad she's a woman ...... In Iowa, it's all about getting people to the caucuses on a cold night this winter. .... Democratic candidates have mounted vast organizational efforts across Iowa, deploying hundreds of staff and volunteers to feed, court and cajole finicky caucus-goers months before a vote is cast. ....... Angelique Pirozzi, who runs Clinton's Iowa field program. "It's fundamentally a program of relationships." ...... 19 field offices and hiring more than 100 staffers .... Supporters are being recruited to chair each of the state's 99 counties and 1,784 precincts. ..... Identifying supporters and persuading them to caucus for a candidate remains a slow and meticulous process for all the campaigns. Democratic campaigns also focus much of their efforts in rural Republican-leaning counties, where even a handful of supporters showing up on caucus night can yield delegates for a candidate. ...... In Primghar, just nine voters showed up for what was billed as the Clinton campaign's O'Brien County kickoff meeting. ..... The group was treated to pizza.. Attendees listened and asked questions, but by the end most remained uncommitted. ..... "I'll speak personally to people. I'm not a great phone person," McCarty replied. ...... equally slow going for Clinton's rivals .... "old-fashioned Iowa campaigning" - including canvassing, phone banks and organizational meetings - to identify supporters .... campaign has mailed out thousands of DVDs .... "We always sign up a lot of people after they see him." ..... Obama has perhaps the largest field operation in Iowa, with 29 offices across the state and more scheduled to open soon. But Steve Hildebrand, Obama's top field organizer, acknowledged that the Illinois senator remains "the new kid on the block." ..... "A lot of Iowa voters still don't know much about Barack .... the campaign has run television commercials outlining Obama's biography and has mailed a biographical DVD to thousands of past caucus-goers. ...... Obama finished a five-day bus tour of the state last week during which he met with voters in a variety of small and medium-size settings. .... intimate gatherings Iowa caucus-goers have come to expect. ..... just 10 percent of Democratic caucus-goers in 2004 were under 35. ..... the campaign expected to see a number of Republicans and independents show up on caucus night, in order to re-register as Democrats to support Obama.
Edwards Talks Tough at Clinton, Obama Forbes
Edwards kicks off 'real change' theme Boston Globe
Why the world according to Obama is a cause for concern Times Online
Edwards takes shots at Clinton 'nostalgia' Chicago Tribune
Report: Clinton battles 'negative' feelings Newsday Clinton bridles at the notion that she's a polarizing candidate, but the poll of 3,000 registered voters by the Pew Research Center released Thursday did little to counter that perception. ...... Edwards opened a fresh attack on Clinton yesterday, urging New Hampshire voters to reject "nostalgia" for Bill Clinton's presidency. ..... The problem with nostalgia is what we tend to do is, you only remember what you liked and forget the parts that you didn't like ..... Obama.. has been targeting the New York senator more directly in recent days.
Quality Care in Clinton Health Plan Washington Post The wait will soon be over. While Sen. Hillary Clinton today only unveiled her plans to improve the quality of health care, aides said next month she'll actually introduce her proposals to expand health insurance to all Americans. ...... Clinton defended her gradual approach to laying out her vision on health care. She's made the process a three-part series: a speech in May on reducing costs, her address today on quality of care, and then finishing up next month with a plan for the 45 million Americans who currently don't have health insurance. "My order here is deliberate," she said. "In order to forge a consensus on universal health care, we need to assure people that they will get the quality they expect at a cost they can afford." ...... finding ways to more accurately measure hospital and doctor performance ..... increasing funding to help the retention of nurses, many of whom leave their jobs within the first few years .... 1994, when she headed a White House task force on the issue whose plan a Democratic-controlled Congress rejected ...... In contrast, Sen. Barack Obama has suggested the way to reform health care is through the ability to build a consensus on the issue, and the Illinois Senator argues he will do that better than Clinton.
Obama competitive with Clinton among party's highly educated The Swamp, IL
Obama's Foreign Policy Reset TIME called the Bush approach to Cuba "blundering" .... his departure by no means guarantees the arrival of freedom on the island." ..... The new approach on Cuba is designed to show that Obama is both innovative and sound; in other words, someone who is experienced but not so experienced that he is stuck in the old way of thinking. "Barack is trying to send a signal of change in foreign policy," one of Obama's foreign policy advisers said. "New century. New challenges, new opportunities, new thinking ....... "Barack's judgment on the war has been good. New thinking without judgment just leads to mistakes." .... Obama seems to see an opening here others don't: he appears to be making, with this proposal, a pitch for younger voters and newly arrived Cuban immigrants
Cuba's foreign minister applauds Obama stance on sanctions Reuters
Reach out to Cuba Orlando Sentinel
Obama echoes US sentiment USA Today Cuba's foreign minister .... Felipe Perez Roque said Obama's "declarations express a sentiment shared by the majority of people in the United States, that the draconian measures adopted by the government of President Bush violated the constitutional rights of North Americans and constitute an anachronism and barbaric act."
The Science of The Daily Show Washington Post The two talked in earnest about press coverage of the campaign, controversy between candidates that's cooked up "to sell papers" and the story line that places Obama and Clinton at opposite ends of the experience spectrum. There were some jokes --one kind of garbled one at Mike Gravel's expense -- and some meta humor about invading Grenada -- for practice! -- where Obama fumbled the pronunciation of the country. ..... spawned a genre of academic literature on how fake news impacts perceptions of real newsmakers. .... "When candidates appear on those shows they increase their likability, even to partisans on the other side." .... Obama has also said that if he's the nominee youth voter turnout will increase by 25-30 percent.
Obama And The Black Vote Atlantic Online
Obama meets NY Jewish leaders Jewish Telegraphic Agency, NY
Googling for campaign contributions CNNMoney.com
Fundraising in Vacationland Washington Post

PRO-CON: Is Obama's Cuba policy reasonable? YES Kansas City Star
PRO-CON: IS OBAMA’S CUBA POLICY REASONABLE? NO Kansas City Star
Edwards fires veiled shot at Clinton: 'Wedded to the past' Chicago Tribune
Foreign policy hubbub doesn’t ding Obama in poll Reuters
Clinton renews push on health care Chicago Tribune
Quality Care in Clinton Health Plan Washington Post
Clinton offers more on health care MSNBC

Bush ally breaks ranks with call for troop pullout Times Online
Warner Says US Should Start Withdrawing Iraq Force (Update2) Bloomberg
Key Republican Senator Calls on Bush to Begin Troop Withdrawal ... Voice of America
Iraqi Government Still Shaky, Says New US Intelligence Estimate Voice of America
NIE: Iraq 'Unable to Govern' Itself Effectively Washington Post
Giuliani says he can carry California San Diego Union Tribune
Policeman drowns girls in Bihar for stealing firewood Reuters India
Space program lunacy Los Angeles Times
Obama Gets Direct: Why Vote For Me? Guardian Unlimited ``This last question I will prompt myself, and that's, 'Why you instead of Hillary?''' Obama said during a supporter's house party this week. ``That's in the back of minds of a lot of people.'' ..... That direct approach was part of a new Obama campaign style during his visit to the nation's first primary state, where he has stalled in the polls behind Hillary Rodham Clinton. ..... even though he stands for unity and the end of personal attack politics, he will swiftly and strongly defend himself from his critics. ....... his race would be an asset because it would increase black voter turnout enough to give a Democratic victory in reliably Republican Southern states. .... young voter participation would leap. ``I think I can bring cool back to the federal government .... if I beat the Clintons, folks aren't going to ask whether I'm tough enough ..... he would surround himself with competent people with integrity and independence - like Abraham Lincoln ...... Lincoln also was a former Illinois legislator who faced great skepticism about his experience ..... getting those who know a lot about Clinton to learn more about Obama. .... In New Hampshire, the campaign has set up book clubs to read Obama's autobiographies and three-on-three basketball tournaments - the candidate's favorite sport. He is meeting personally with voters who have yet to make up their minds.
Edwards aims tough talk at Clinton and Obama WLOS
The Complicated Legacy of Bill Clinton ABC News
McCain tangles with Clinton over surge Bizjournals.com
Pure Horserace: Edwards On The Offensive CBS News
Japan calls on India to join Asian 'arc of freedom' INQ7.net
Rising telecom star India Nokia’s 2nd largest mkt Indian Express
Toyota mulls small car for India Hindu in two years, and to build a second factory in the country ..... Toyota Chairman, Fujio Cho, told reporters in New Delhi on the sidelines of an India-Japan business leadership forum .... India, Asia's fourth biggest automobile market, is dominated by Suzuki Motor Corp.
Pakistan’s exiled leaders to return Times Online “It is the beginning of the end of Musharraf,” said Mr Sharif ...... Mr Sharif is likely to be joined quickly by Benazir Bhutto, another former Prime Minister in exile. The pair have buried their political differences to lead efforts to unseat the general. ..... Outside the court hundreds of supporters of Mr Sharif’s secular, conservative Pakistan Muslim League danced as they celebrated. “Go Musharraf, go!”, and “Musharraf is a dog” they chanted. One slaughtered six goats in celebration in front of the white marble court complex, leaving the road smeared in blood. .... The presence in Pakistan of Mr Sharif and Ms Bhutto will hamper General Musharraf’s efforts to win another five-year term from parliament next month. ...... Mr Justice Chaudhry, who recently defeated General Musharraf’s attempts to remove him from office, warned the Government not to hamper or obstruct Mr Sharif’s return. Analysts suggest that the Supreme Court could use its independence to block General Musharraf’s efforts to win a new term. ........ A legal battle is looming about whether the coming election is legal. The constitution bars the holding of dual offices and the Supreme Court is set to take up a constitutional petition challenging his candidacy while he remains chief of army staff. ....... “It is a victory for democracy and defeat for military rule,” he declared at a press conference in London, where he has been living for the past year. He ruled out any negotiations with General Musharraf, saying that his return would bring an end to the military-led Government. ......... there were already clear signs of General Musharraf losing his credibility. ..... The worsening law and order situation and rise in Islamic militancy in borderland and North West Frontier Province has further eroded his authority. ...... General Musharraf was on the verge of declaring state of emergency last week before being stopped by the US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and opposition within his own civilian allies. ....... Most analysts agree that there has been a dramatic shift in popular opinion against the nation’s military. This is likely to step up pressure on the Army, not just General Musharraf, to get out of politics and shift political power to a civilian government. ...... Her husband, Asif Zardari, has been tried 18 times on criminal and corruption charges but has never been proved guilty ..... Ms Bhutto was convicted for failing to appear before the Supreme Court in 1999. The verdict was overturned and tapes since uncovered revealed that Sharif had pressured the court for a conviction
Councilman wants peeping to be a misdemeanor New York Daily News
Just Looking Could Be Costly Under Proposed Voyeurism Law New York Times
For Google, Not Even The Sky is Off Limits InternetNews.com
Study: Low-Priced Google Office Suite not Enterprise Ready PC World
Bachchan`s agent threatens libel Zee News
Amitabh Bachchan is not playing Gabbar: RGV CNN-IBN
'Eye-dentity' crisis for Big B in Sholay remake Times of India It was a complicated procedure to fit him with those lenses, given his age. .... The colour of the lens in the right eye is blue, while the left one is brown. ..... it was Bachchan’s family eye surgeon Dr Himanshu Mehta who got the soft lenses made especially for the Bollywood superstar. ..... Bachchan tried out lenses of various hues for which he had over 50 sittings with Dr Mehta and finally settled for the brown and blue coloured ones ..... Amitabh Bachchan would usually arrive in the morning at the clinic and put on the lenses with the help of Dr. Mehta before leaving for shooting Ramu’s film. .... taking into consideration Bachchan’s age, making him wear the soft lenses was a lengthy process and required a lot of skill. As one ages, it is not only the eyesight, but also the organs connected with the eyes that tend to become weak. It becomes difficult for the eye to hold the lenses for a longer period of time then. It was only super willpower and a drive for perfection that made Amitabh Bachchan sport those lenses for hours
Jogging is beneficial, soccer more so Science Daily
Soccer Burns More Fat Than Jogging Science Daily
Oil Rises With Global Equities Wall Street Journal
Palestinian soccer team banned in Britain CBC News
Server market: Sun outruns Dell Heise Online
It's black to basics for off-colour Dell Independent
Dell: Fancy laptop colors are harder than they look ZDNet
Elderly Staying Sexually Active Washington Post
States Decry Children's Insurance Policy Guardian Unlimited
FDA proposes sunscreen rule, cancer warning Reuters
Microsoft Says Xbox 360 Wheel Overheats Forbes