Over the next several weeks I plan to examine the specifics of Senator John McCain's plans for his potential Presidency as described on his web site. We know the generalities, but I thought it would be interesting to get it straight from the straight talker's web site.

Please let me know if I miss important points - especially as it pertains to factual evidence.

This is the first in the series. The topic is his Iraq Strategy.  Hold on tight...

http://www.johnmccain.com/...

Yes, my friends, today I am declaring the War in Iraq officially over.  

Good news down below...

So it appears that Senator Jim Webb from Virginia will be releasing another book next week:  A Time to Fight: Reclaiming a Fair and Just America.  Interesting timing, no? Interesting title? So what's the first quote in the preface:

"I’m the only person in the history of Virginia elected to statewide office with a Union card, two Purple Hearts, and three tattoos."

This is just too easy so let's not over think who should be standing next to Barack Obama for the next six months.

Does this campaign feel like Terminator 2 to anyone?  Hillary Clinton is not done yet. Barack Obama has not won yet. And she has every right to continue to campaign because she has not lost yet.  We do not have 2025 delegates.

We are too comfortable in our little world of counting super delegates right now. We are too damn comfortable. These are the Clintons we're talking about .  We gotta wake up people becasue this is just not over.

2024 delegates are needed to become the Democratic nominee. This is a combination of Super Delegates and Pledged Delegates. As we know, no delegate is 100% guaranteed until the convention but we also know that they are 99.9% guaranteed. So it's safe to count the numbers before they are written in stone.

Nothing matters other than this delegate count. Those are the rules. If you do not have the delegates, you cannot win. This is how the game is played. Here are the standings and projections into the near future:

Pennsylvania will be won in what is now the next SIX (aka 6) days. I wrote a diary last week to help call attention to this, often confusing, rule.

This is because only registered Democrats can vote in Pennsylvania on April 22nd. And the deadline to change party affiliation is March 24th. Monday, MARCH 24TH! Six days from this one.

Pennsylvania votes on April 22nd. But Pennsylvania will be won in the next two weeks. Because Pennsylvania's primary is closed to registered Democrats only.  This is likely a disadvantage for Barack Obama as he performs better in races in which Independents can vote.

Here's the good news: Independents (and Republicans) can vote in the Pennsylvania primary - if they change their party affiliation to Democrat by March 24th.

And the bad news: I was canvassing in New Hope, PA this weekend. No one knows this is the rule.

Pennsylvania votes on April 22nd. But Pennsylvania will be won in the next two weeks. Because Pennsylvania's primary is closed to registered Democrats only.  This is likely a disadvantage for Barack Obama as he performs better in races in which Independents can vote.

Here's the good news: Independents (and Republicans) can vote in the Pennsylvania primary - if they change party affiliation to Democrat by March 24th.

But the bad news: I was canvassing in New Hope, PA today. No one knows this is the rule. NO ONE.

There is no in sense waiting until April to campaign in Pennsylvania if our people cannot vote on election day. So...

Pennsylvania votes on April 22nd. But Pennsylvania will be won in the next two weeks. Because Pennsylvania's primary is closed to registered Democrats only.  This is likely a disadvantage for Barack Obama as he performs better in races in which Independents can vote.

Here's the good news: Independents (and Republicans) can vote in the Pennsylvania primary - if they change party affiliation to Democrat by March 24th

There is no in sense waiting until April to campaign in Pennsylvania if our people cannot vote on election day. So...

Barack Obama will be 47 years old in August. Let's play, "Who's Younger Than Barack Obama?"

Brett Favre, 1969
Jon Bon Jovi, 1962
Mariah Carey, 1969
Michael Jordan, 1963
Tom Cruise, 1962
Larry Page & Sergey Brin, 1973
Garry Kasparov, 1963
Dan Marino, 1961
Chris Rock, 1965
John Stockton, 1962
Pete Sampras, 1971
Jerry Yang, 1968
Markos Moulitsas, 1971
Will Smith, 1968
Jerry Rice, 1962
Janet Jackson, 1966

I have supported Barack Obama's campaign for over one year now.  

Back then I was convinced that either Clinton or Gore would have to carry him on the ticket as Vice President.  

By November, I convinced myself (against all common sense) that he could win the nomination. I just didn't know the logistics of how.

By December, I was hopeful that he'd squeak out a win either Iowa or New Hampshire. Then hang around and see what happens.

By New Year's, I was cautiously optimistic, actively donating, actively phone banking and actively canvassing in New Jersey. Hoping that there really was a "new" majority out there, somewhere.

Then WE won Iowa. Then WE won South Carolina, Then WE won more delegates and more states on February 5th than any other candidate. Then WE won Maine, Virginia, Louisiana, Nebraska, Maryland, Washington, Wisconsin (by a lot) The country was screaming for change at the top of their lungs. Screaming for their voices to finally be heard.

Three weeks from today we could be watching Hillary Clinton concede the nomination to Barack Obama.

Think about this. What would do to see this? What would you give to see Barack Obama win this nomination?  Would you donate now - https://donate.barackobama.com/...  Would you?

Eleven months from today Barack Obama stands tall with his hand on the Bible. Then walks George W Bush out of the White House for good.  

Can you imagine this moment in time?  The two men who have, in opposite ways, inspired so many of us to get involved in the political process, walking together. But one of them walking alone, while one of them walks with the power of millions behind him - the true power given to him by the people, given to him by us.

What would you do to see this?  Would you phone bank for hours?  Would you donate here https://donate.barackobama.com/... ?

So i voted at 6:30 AM. i get in the booth and i can only vote on the R ballot. Why? Well, clearly because I am a Republican.  

Barack Obama has announced that he is making his way to the New York Metro area again.  He'll be at The Meadowlands Arena on Monday at noon:

   IZOD Center at the Meadowlands
   50 State Route 120
   East Rutherford, NJ

   Monday, February 4, 2008
   Doors open: 10:00 a.m.
   Event begins: 12:00 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited and an RSVP is strongly encouraged. Please note: RSVPs do not guarantee admission. Admission is on a first come, first-served basis.

http://my.barackobama.com/...

Barack Obama just officially announced that he is making his way to what is conventionally considered Clinton territory.  He'll be at The Meadowlands on Monday at noon:

IZOD Center at the Meadowlands
50 State Route 120
East Rutherford, NJ

Monday, February 4, 2008
Doors open: 10:00 a.m.
Event begins: 12:00 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public, but space is limited and an RSVP is strongly encouraged. Please note: RSVPs do not guarantee admission. Admission is on a first come, first-served basis.

http://my.barackobama.com/...

Some exit poll statistics from yesterday in Nevada:

59% of voters were female
68% of voters were 45 and older
36% of voters were older than 59
15% of voters were black

"I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences. I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the middle east, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda.  I am not opposed to all wars. I'm opposed to dumb wars."

--Barack Obama, February 2002

This morning on NBC's "Today" show, Sen. Clinton was asked about her 2002 vote and offered a slightly evolved answer.  "Obviously, if we knew then what we know now, there wouldn't have been a vote," she said in her usual refrain before adding, "and I certainly wouldn't have voted that way."