Lynn sweet Chicago suntimes wrote:

I was dismayed, however, at what I found when I read Dreams from My Father. Composite characters. Changed names. And reams of dialogue between Obama and other people that moves the narrative along but is an approximation'' of the actual conversation.

Except for public figures and his family, it is impossible to know who is real and who is not. ... ..

Obama's book: What's real, what's not http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/02/

sweet_column_reprise_obamas_bo.html

Mr. Obama scolded Exelon and federal regulators for inaction and introduced a bill to require all plant owners to notify state and local authorities immediately of even small leaks. He has boasted of it on the campaign trail, telling a crowd in Iowa in December that it was "the only nuclear legislation that I've passed."

"I just did that last year," he said, to murmurs of approval.

A close look at the path his legislation took tells a very different story. While he initially fought to advance his bill, even holding up a presidential nomination to try to force a hearing on it, Mr. Obama eventually rewrote it to reflect changes sought by Senate Republicans, Exelon and nuclear regulators. The new bill removed language mandating prompt reporting and simply offered guidance to regulators, whom it charged with addressing the issue of unreported leaks.

Those revisions propelled the bill through a crucial committee. But, contrary to Mr. Obama's comments in Iowa, it ultimately died amid parliamentary wrangling in the full Senate. ... ..

Oh, and about that civil rights love story he spun regarding his mother and father, false, as well:

Mr. Obama relayed a story of how his Kenyan father and his Kansan mother fell in love because of the tumult of Selma, but he was born in 1961, four years before the confrontation at Selma took place. When asked later, Mr. Obama clarified himself, saying: "I meant the whole civil rights movement."

Following on the heels of Gallup poll, that says Obama will lose a bigger propotion of the hillary voters vs his opting to vote for McCain...

Rasmussen just came out w/ this

Twenty-two percent (22%) of Democratic voters nationwide say that Hillary Clinton should drop out of the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination. However, the latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that an identical number--22%--say that Barack Obama should drop out.

But, it's worth noting that less than half of Obama supporters say Clinton should withdraw, less than half of Clinton supporters say Obama should withdraw, and less than half of undecided voters say either should withdraw at this time.

[Comment] Obama needs hillary voters in Big Blue states. On the Other hand Hillary still wins GE. Her Big blue state strategy has given her the lead in the GE electoral votes over Mccain by her current primary voters. Further proof of this is that amongst "Dem" only voters ( not independents or republicans), Hillary has won on popular votes almost state after state

Gallup report here

If McCain vs. Obama, 28% of Clinton Backers Go for McCain If McCain vs. Clinton, 19% of Obama backers go for McCainUSA Democrats Election 2008 Government and Politics Americas Northern America by Frank Newport
PRINCETON, NJ -- A sizable proportion of Democrats would vote for John McCain next November if he is matched against the candidate they do not support for the Democratic nomination. This is particularly true for Hillary Clinton supporters, more than a quarter of whom currently say they would vote for McCain if Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee.

If McCain vs. Obama, 28% of Clinton Backers Go for McCain If McCain vs. Clinton, 19% of Obama backers go for McCainUSA Democrats Election 2008 Government and Politics Americas Northern America by Frank Newport
PRINCETON, NJ -- A sizable proportion of Democrats would vote for John McCain next November if he is matched against the candidate they do not support for the Democratic nomination. This is particularly true for Hillary Clinton supporters, more than a quarter of whom currently say they would vote for McCain if Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee.

These conclusions are based on an analysis of Democratic voters' responses to separate voting questions in March 7-22 Gallup Poll Daily election tracking. In each day's survey, respondents are asked for their general election preferences in McCain-Clinton and McCain-Obama pairings. Democratic voters are then asked whom they support for their party's nomination.

The accompanying graph displays the results of the relationship between support for the Democratic Party's nomination and the general election vote between Obama and McCain.

As would be expected, almost all Democratic voters who say they support Obama for their party's nomination also say they would vote for him in a general election matchup against McCain. But only 59% of Democratic voters who support Clinton say they would vote for Obama against McCain, while 28% say they would vote for the Republican McCain. This suggests that some Clinton supporters are so strongly opposed to Obama (or so loyal to Clinton) that they would go so far as to vote for the "other" party's candidate next November if Obama is the Democratic nominee.

The results follow the same pattern, but not to quite the same extent, when the relationship between Democratic support and a general election matchup between Clinton and McCain is examined.

Here again, as expected, almost all of those who support Clinton for the Democratic Party's nomination say they would vote for her against McCain. Seventy-two percent of those who support Obama for the party's nomination would vote for Clinton against McCain, while 19% would desert and vote for the Republican.

We don't just adore Hillary, we admire her tenacity

A recent report that gives you an insight on why hillary for her supporters

I started the primary season as an Edwards supporter.  But when I realized Edwards wasn't going to win, I started looking at Barack Obama.  That was when I discovered that Obama didn't seem to have any ideology to speak of and wasn't into sharing details about his proposed programs.  He was for "hope" and "change."  Like a lot of other people, I wanted more information about what "change" Obama was offering and how he would accomplish it.  Very few of his supporters seemed to be able to verbalize what this "change" would be either.  It also made me angry that Hillary was being attacked in such sexist ways by the Obama Campaign, the big bloggers, the media.  Being a contrarian at heart, I took a closer look at Hillary Clinton.

I had watched all of the debates, and even while I still supported Edwards, I had developed a lot of respect for Hillary's intellect and her knowledge base.  I admired the way she had all the issues down.  She could talk extemporaneously about almost anything.  Each time I listened to Hillary, I was impressed with her fluidity of speech.  When she confronted an issue, the words just flowed out of her, confidently, clearly, and concisely, and directly to the point.  I knew this had to be the result of many hours of study and active engagement with the material.  I have seen this same fluidity of speech in the academic world.  When academics know their fields inside and out and are enthusiastic about their research, they sound just like that.  Riverdaughter wrote about how she and her colleagues at work look at this kind of wonkishness in a recent post, "Feminists and Geeks" here .

We spend our working days listening to our colleagues give us presentations on the work that they have done. Over the years, we develop a keen ear for detecting who has quality work and who has pretty presentations but is BS-ing their way through 20 minutes. Our support for Clinton has less to do with her being a female and more to do with the quality of her presentation.

In December, Steve Clemons wrote about his experience of Hillary's wonkitude  (via eriposte at the Left Coaster)

...one of the things that simply can't be disputed is her work ethic. I've met her a number of times, usually at receptions -- and each time I decided not to waste the moment with trivial banter but to throw an idea at her or mention a person or issue that would help me understand how real, how informed, or alternatively -- how contrived -- she was. Every single time she jumped on the issue I brought up and expressed two or three dimensions to the issue that showed she was deeply steeped in this or that policy. In my New America Foundation role, I helped build and support programs as diverse as debates about genetic scientific advancements to family work issues, health care, and wireless spectrum -- not to mention my own core interests in foreign policy, national security/defense issues, and international economic policy. Hillary Clinton and I have had quick encounters that involved her sharing incredibly diverse and serious policy commentary.

The last time I had such a discussion with her was after she had won her last Senate race in New York, and she and Bill Clinton were a bit early to a UN Foundation reception honoring Muhammad Yunus. We had a really interesting discussion about what should be on a roster of 21st century threats and how our national security and foreign policy resources should be reorganized to deal with future challenges rather than keeping vested interests tied to old threats well funded. Her quick grasp of what I was trying to get at -- and a detailed response that was serious and level-headed -- really surprised me as I'm used to politicians who typically have to fake their way through detail.

What it all boils down to is that Hillary knows her stuff and she's into it.  She loves to think and talk about policy, just like her husband.  That must be one of the shared interests that have kept them together.

In addition to being a policy wonk and an excellent communicator and debater, Hillary is tough and unafraid.  Watching her performance in the debates this year, I was reminded of the many times I have seen Hillary on C-Span in various committee hearings.  One really great memory I have of Hillary in the Senate is the time in 2006 when she questioned Donald Rumsfeld about whether his views on the situation in Iraq were trustworthy.  She gave a long summary of the situation at the time and finished with this:

CLINTON:  A recent book, aptly titled Fiasco, describes in some detail the decision-making apparatus that has lead us to this situation. So Mr. Secretary, when our constituents ask for evidence that your policy in Iraq and Afghanistan will be successful, you don't leave us with much to talk about. Yes, we hear a lot of happy talk and rosy scenarios, but because of the Administration's strategic blunders, and frankly the record of incompetence in executing, you are presiding over a failed policy. Given your track record, Secretary Rumsfeld, why should we believe your assurances now?

RUMSFELD:  My [pause] goodness[!]

Rumsfeld spoke these words in such a condescending way--as if he were stunned to be spoken to in that way by this woman.  How dare she!  It really was a smackdown.  You have to watch the video to get the full flavor of his reaction.   Hillary Clinton is tough as nails, and at that moment, Rumsfeld had to know it, despite his arrogant response.

Those are the qualities I want in a President.  I want my President to know policy inside out and have a facility for communicating ideas.  I want my President to be strong as steel and have the guts to stand up against all comers.  I have seen Hillary's toughness and smarts during this primary campaign, and I am confident she can be such a president.

Lynn sweet Chicago suntimes wrote:

I was dismayed, however, at what I found when I read Dreams from My Father. Composite characters. Changed names. And reams of dialogue between Obama and other people that moves the narrative along but is an approximation'' of the actual conversation.

Except for public figures and his family, it is impossible to know who is real and who is not. ... ..

Obama's book: What's real, what's not http://blogs.suntimes.com/sweet/2007/02/ sweet_column_reprise_obamas_bo.html

Mr. Obama scolded Exelon and federal regulators for inaction and introduced a bill to require all plant owners to notify state and local authorities immediately of even small leaks. He has boasted of it on the campaign trail, telling a crowd in Iowa in December that it was "the only nuclear legislation that I've passed."

"I just did that last year," he said, to murmurs of approval.

A close look at the path his legislation took tells a very different story. While he initially fought to advance his bill, even holding up a presidential nomination to try to force a hearing on it, Mr. Obama eventually rewrote it to reflect changes sought by Senate Republicans, Exelon and nuclear regulators. The new bill removed language mandating prompt reporting and simply offered guidance to regulators, whom it charged with addressing the issue of unreported leaks.

Those revisions propelled the bill through a crucial committee. But, contrary to Mr. Obama's comments in Iowa, it ultimately died amid parliamentary wrangling in the full Senate. ... ..

Oh, and about that civil rights love story he spun regarding his mother and father, false, as well:

Mr. Obama relayed a story of how his Kenyan father and his Kansan mother fell in love because of the tumult of Selma, but he was born in 1961, four years before the confrontation at Selma took place. When asked later, Mr. Obama clarified himself, saying: "I meant the whole civil rights movement."

I wonder which sermon of god damn america and whitey kills us w/ aids  sermon was obama listening to in his church that day.

Nothing trumps being an america hater... nothing trumps the feelings of michelle obama walking around saying she is not proud of america that day!

It goes to the heart of the feelings of american. Dispute the war, dispute the policies but I mean jesus ...nothing trumps attacking america. Nothing trumps hating the country all your life till yor husband is running for President. do you understand that? I can't begin to tell you as I have said many times here. As an immigrant minority of Non black/ non white/ Non Latino--- I am angred by the lack of patriotism of this country in those comments. I as a 1st generation, new citizen of this country am proud of this country on any given day and twice on Sunday

John Kerry says bluntly that Barack Obama has the potential to "bridge the divide in religious extremism" because he is black.

Speaking of the race speech from Tuesday, Obama supporter John Kerry gave an interview with a local N.H. paper, reports NBC/NJ's Mike Memoli. In it, Kerry said the color of Obama's skin makes him uniquely qualified for president and even reach out to the moderate Islam world.

VIEW VIDEO OF OBAMA SURROGATE KERRY PLAYING RACE CARD. !

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vASmAfrB Ss )

1. How many of you saw Meet the press. Where you had Eugene " I'm in the tank for Obama' Robinson spread Obama's talking points about the Wright photograph?

2. How many of you were astounded that all Pro Obama/ anti Hillary media was only invited? Including peggy noonan who in last 16 years has written one after the other hit jobs on the clintons?

3. How many saw they distorted with Eugene Robinson who always does this beep boop jumping in his chair w/ this gleeful laugh when attacking and distorting Bill Clinton's speech this week to the veterans?

Lastly, HOW DO THEY get away will lying about Hillary supporters are more inclined to vote Obama vs.  Obama's to vote for Hillary? They outright lied about it. Every poll shows that Hillary supporters 2x times compared to obama voters support for hillary...will stay at home or vote McCain.

What the hell is going on w/ NBC and MSNBC?