Russell Baker wrote a great column about his anger at the rising price of gas.  If only he knew then what we know now.  Read it and weep because the bitter truth is we haven't changed our culture yet and the candidates are no different on this issue this year than they were in 1996 when Baker wrote this open letter to Bill and Bob.  

Observer: Here's What Mad Is

Forget the labels of racist and defending Obama against these absolutely silly charges.  It's very simple to take this guy down.  Hip Hop is mainstream, has been for at least 15 years and Ice Cube is not the face of hip hop.  He hasn't released a relevant album since 1992's The Predator.  He's too busy made kids' movies now.  Check out these lyrics below:

I was impressed with Obama's speech.  I have to say his speech reflected a number of arguments I've been making on this site in light of the racial tensions of the campaign calling for people to step back and take a wider perspective in dealing with the very real and serious issue of racism.  I'm glad Obama has been received better than I was for sure.  And, he is far more eloquent.  His speech will do for racism what Al Gore's documentary did for global warming.  It's time to give some serious props to the left for our public leaders.  Now however the stakes only climb higher for Obama.  As good as this speech was, what he does moving forward is far, far more important.  

Obama needs to change the tone of his campaign.  He's been on the defensive now for a 2 solid weeks playing catch up to HRC's mudslinging machine that's still grabbing headlines.  He's still acting like he's the up and coming kid on the block instead as the frontrunner.  It cannot be disputed that he lost touch with a growing segement of his impressive coalition, blue collar white voters.  He was doing very well with them in MD, VA, and WI, but Hillary fought back in a big way last week and I am concerned that Obama has not yet bounced back.  The tone of his most zealous supporters n DKos concerns me about his entire campaign.  I am worried that his handlers are afraid of constructive criticsm and acknowledging that he needs to change the perception of his image in the media.  Even though he proved her wrong, last week was sloppy in the MSM and HRC came out looking good which is what the Clintons do when they sling mud.

I'll vote for either candidate come November and I will do so with enthusiasm.  I wish I could join in the euphoria surrounding wither candidate, but I consistently find myself drifting back to the harsh reality of the political landscape.  The latest article in the Sunday New York Times only confirms my worst fears about Obama that he is nothing more than yet another politician willing to compromise away principles in name of big name corporate donors and blind ambition.  He's no different than Hillary and if this is his version of change nothing much will when he becomes president.  

Mr. Obama's appeal lies in his desire to bring Americans together in a new age of bipartisan cooperation.  Bipartisanship is a phrase being coined by every Democratic candidate and is one of the most popular issues of the past 20 years.  Bill Clinton ran on this very issue in '92 and Bush did the same in 2000.  Here we are as the Democratic party once again discussing bipartisanship.  Everybody says they believe in it and will bring back bipartisanship to Washington, but what does that mean?  It's not enough for any of the candidates to simply say they support bipartisanship and show a record of bipartisanship in office without first framing the discussion of bipartisanship and establishing a context and definition of bipartisanship in government.  

Bipartisanship is a phrase being coined by every Democratic candidate and is one of the most popular issues of the past 20 years.  Bill Clinton ran on this very issue in '92 and Bush did the same in 2000.  Here we are as the Democratic party once again discussing bipartisanship.  Everybody says they believe in it and will bring back bipartisanship to Washington, but what does that mean?  It's not enough for any of the candidates to simply say they support bipartisanship and show a record of bipartisanship in office without first framing the discussion of bipartisanship and establishing a context and definition of bipartisanship in government.  

I am guilty of all charges that I will lay out for you.  I hoped Gore would enter and I've supported John Edwards as a "realistic candidate," and ignored Denny K this whole election thus far.  I am calling out other gulity people on this website to step back for a moment and re-evaluate your positions and overall philosophy of presidential politics.  Those of you that are still not behind a candidate, bless you.  I wish I'd held out in light of the debacle thursday which made me ashamed to be a democrat and ashamed to be even watching CNN and supporting their political agenda which made our candidates look like asses and beggars save for one man

I have both participated in as well as observed much of the dialog the past few days revolving around Jerome’s diary.  First of all, to get things out in the open I am a John Edwards supporter.  I want that to be clear to everybody in the ongoing Edwards/Obama Beef.  I am not here however to deliver a long winded critique of ether candidate.  Bottom line is they are both carrying themselves well thus far.  

Please note I wrote this diary before the threat and in no way mean to criticize anybody in the context of the threat made to Obama.  It is a tragedy and I hope he is safe and can continue his campaign unhindered.

Americans are stupid, so very stupid... at least in MA

I know I'll catch some flack for this but I am fed up with this country and with my adopted state of MA.  I know MA is a blue state nationally so nobody cares about the local politics, but what is happening here is depressing.

Bush's foreign policy has failed utterly.  His policy of spreading democracy in the Middle East has failed so completley that his follies rival anything else in his administration.  Just 6 years ago, Israel and Palestine were on the verge of achieving peace.  Palastine has now elected what is considered a terrorist organization around the world.  Bush is loosing the War on Terror.  His idea of a peace process in the Middle East is an embarassment to this nation and the world.  How could he have allowed Palestine to fall to terrorists in such a dramatic way?  Not only that, but they were elected in what is considered to be one of the most successful elections in recent memory.  

I was listening to the Ed Shultz show this afternoon and a caller said that Ontario, Canada now builds more cars than Michigan and that jobs are being exported there in huge numbers.  The jobs apparently are being sent there because of healthcare prices in the US for corporations.  

Read their two statements about the current climate in this country and vote!

Obama's Statement
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/30/102745/165

Etan Thomas's statement
http://dailykos.com/story/2005/9/30/142718/263

Read on for my diary about The Matrix and the Soul of the Democratic Party.

Can somebody with expertise in crisis management and emergency response explain what these two actually did wrong in the lead up the storm?  I keep hearing from the MSM about the need to spread the blame and that Blanco and Nagin were negligent but I haven't heard any specific instances.  What did they do wrong or do poorly?