And then there were 4

On the Edwards Withdrawal

The exit of John Edwards will hit many DLers hard.

This is a tough year for him. His clarity and agenda might well have won out in any other year.

There is however a good side. If we do not demonize anyone, look at the four left in the race. These are all remarkable people .. remarkable especially because none of them in any way resenbles the bumbling bozo named bush.

Look here:

Hillary ... Undoubtably the most war scarred and tested American politician since Nixon. She is, all other issues aside, clearly bright, clearly committd to service, and clearly will form Day 1 move on a rational agenda.

Barack (my guy) ... How do you describe the culmination of a dream. BHO is the first American to transcend race, he is obviously bright and like Hillary has a cadre of advisers who will serves the Republic well should BHO be the Prez. Best of all, in an internet world, BHO alone of these candidates has the potential to emerge as a popular world figure ,, able through the internet to influence populations in Iran and China in way that may have a huge effect on the world.

John McCain War hero, hard ass, author of an impressive set of rational legislation. Friend of the first Americans. To be very honest if JM ends up as President, he will only be able to govern as a non partisan. The nut right will still be there, ruling at least half of his party. IF McC couls pull it off, he more than BHO may stand a chance of beibng a truely trans party candidate.

Mitt Romney impressive, practical business man. Leving aside the amazing lax morals that allow him to pander so shamelessly, Romneey would likley govern from the rational center, unlike McCain the Mittster probably can govern as a Republican.


All good so far, what next?

McCain is the likely Rep Prex. His chjoice of veep is critical. McC is an od man who has been ill. He is on the outs with hios party. I have wondered about two choices .. Whitman vs Huckabee. Huckabee would be a announcement that JM is trying to rebuild the Reagan alliance so willing that he is choosiong to relinquish the claim to sanity and reality in his government.

Hillary is the fav on the Dem side. It si here to loose. At one time that looked unlikely but Bill Clinton revealed a side of HRC that opens many questions BHO can exploit. The hispanic ploy is esp. worrisome. The reps used this community very badly, exploiting the cubans esp. I hope HRC does not do the same.
Lets assume she does win. The worry here is that the Clintons seem to really want to govern from their shared bedroom. There can not be a co-prexy. Also, they, the Clintons have a weak record when it comes to staff. WJC's cabinet had two bright stars .. the Bill and the Rubin.

From Russia with Love .. Mirel

For Those Not Yet Aware ... There is a God and It works its Way via RNA!

The central dogma is being eroded, and it now appears as if DNA's cousin, the humble intermediary RNA, plays at least an equal role in genetics and the evolution of the species.

Who says so? Consider the work of Minoo Rassoulzadegan at the French National Institute for Health and Medical Research's laboratory in Nice. Last year she showed that mice could inherit white patches on their tails—normally the result of a mutation in a gene called Kit—even if they lacked the mutant gene for this trait. The white patches appeared because RNA molecules, which passed from parent to offspring after accumulating in sperm cells, overrode the demands of DNA.

Or take the work of David Haussler and his colleagues at the University of California, Santa Cruz. They have shown that a gene called HAR1F, which is probably responsible for some key differences between human and chimpanzee brains, doesn't even make a protein, only an RNA molecule. In other words, the human brain may have evolved through the guidance of RNA.

These and a host of other recent findings are rewriting the textbooks of molecular biology. They are beginning to show not only that RNA is more fundamental to genetics than once believed, but also that it can directly affect evolution and elucidate the differences between species. The result is a story that looks a lot messier, but potentially a lot more interesting, than anyone ever guessed.

Sushi Patrol

Japanese restaurants invited to win approval of the sushi squad

Leo Lewis in Tokyo

It may look like sushi, taste like sushi and wriggle like sushi, but for the gourmet in London, Paris or New York, the question remains: just how Japanese is this raw fish?

Officials in Tokyo are offering a worldwide “authenticity screen” for restaurants that purport to be Japanese. The scheme, they say, may lead to an equivalent of the Michelin star system for the world’s 25,000 Japanese restaurants. The kitchens of these establishments will soon be visited by teams of experts, run under the auspices of Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, who will assess the provenance of ingredients and how far they offer a real taste of Japan.

The origins of the wasabi horse-radish (preferably from the Izu peninsula), miso paste (preferably from the Nagano mountains) and pickled ginger (preferably from Tochigi) will all be scrutinised. Rice is expected to be the most frequent area of failure: a true sushi master will insist on Japanese koshihikari rice grown in Japan.

The same variety grown in California might, just, be acceptable. Faux pas may include serving Chinese soy sauce, or miso soup in a porcelain cup.

Jimmy Carter Praises Obama, But Won't Endorse Candidate - WSJ.com

Jimmy Carter Praises Obama,
But Won't Endorse Candidate

Former President Has Spoken
With Clinton About Race Issue

By DOUGLAS A. BLACKMON
January 29, 2008 6:32 p.m.

PLAINS, Ga. -- Former President Jimmy Carter lavished praise on Illinois Sen. Barack Obama during an interview at his home Monday, though he won't formally endorse any candidate in the race for the Democratic nomination.

"Obama's campaign has been extraordinary and titillating for me and my family," Mr. Carter said. The 83-year-old former president, who left the White House in 1981, compared Mr. Obama's speeches to those of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and said he believed the candidate could carry some southern states if he becomes the Democratic nominee.

Mr. Carter also said he talked by telephone at length on Monday with former President Bill Clinton, who was "trying to explain that he was not raising the race issue" on the campaign trail. Mr. Carter said the phone call was to finalize speaking arrangements for Mr. Clinton's appearance at a meeting organized by Mr. Carter of moderate Baptists in Atlanta beginning Wednesday. But much of the conversation dwelt on the presidential campaign, Mr. Carter said.

In an interview with WSJ's Doug Blackmon, former President Jimmy Carter says Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign has been extraordinary and titillating.

Mr. Clinton "has said a few things that I think he wishes he hadn't said," Mr. Carter said. "He doesn't call me often, but the fact that he called me this morning and spent a long time explaining his position indicates that it's troublesome to them, the adverse reaction."

"I told him I hoped it would die down … the charged atmosphere concerning the race issue," Mr. Carter said. "And I think it will."

On Tuesday, the Clinton campaign didn't immediately comment regarding the conversation or on Mr. Carter's remarks about Mr. Obama.

Mr. Carter, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002, has assiduously avoided involvement in the nitty-gritty of Democratic politics in the years since his presidency -- partly to avoid conflicts that might entangle the work of his non-profit, the Carter Center.

But more than once he has given public signals of encouragement to politicians he likes. Last August, he introduced Sen. John Edwards, who now trails Mr. Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Clinton in the Democratic nominating contest, at an event held near Plains. One of Mr. Carter's sons, Jeff Carter, 55 years old, has publicly endorsed Mr. Edwards as well.

Mr. Carter said that his three other children and his 11 grandchildren support Mr. Obama. Mr. Carter's oldest son, Jack Carter, 60, who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in Nevada two years ago, recently endorsed Mr. Obama. He originally backed Delaware Sen. Joseph Biden, who has since dropped out of the presidential race.

Rasmussen Reports™: The most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a mid-term election.

Rasmussen Reports™: The most comprehensive public opinion coverage ever provided for a mid-term election.: "Clinton's double-digit lead in California polls over Sen. Barack

Obama is misleading. Subtract a Latino voting bloc whose dependability to show up Election Day always has been shaky, and Clinton is no better than even in the state, with Obama gaining. To encourage this brown firewall, the Clinton campaign may be drifting into encouragement of brown vs. black racial conflict by condoning Latino racial hostility to the first African-American with a chance to become president.

Implications transcend California. The pugnacious campaign strategy of Bill and Hillary Clinton in forcefully identifying Obama as a black candidate spreads concern that they could be risking continued massive, unconditional support for Democrats by African-Americans. The long-range situation is so disturbing that some Clinton supporters talk about an outcome they rejected not long ago: a Clinton-Obama ticket.

Exit polls of Obama's unexpected landslide victory over Clinton in Saturday's South Carolina primary reflected white, in addition to black, disgust with the Clintons playing the race card. It should signal caution for them in California, where the Latino vote adds another component to the lethal racial equation.

Experienced California Democratic politicians doubt the validi"

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Greed and a Question.

This column by John Harris may be the most important article about the 08 election written yet. Harris is sympathetic to the Clintons, clearly an admirer of their commitment to do the right thing by the country. At the same time he sees them, or to be fair Bill, as lost in a personal miasma that does not let them see themselves as others do.;

Obviously pride is Not a rare thing in humans. The Clintons may even be the index cases for Fukyama's concept of "thymos," the personal drive that make democracy work. That same pride, however, can blind us to what we most want to achieve. Harris seems to believe, and I do too, that given a choice between their own carers and the welfare of the nation, the Clinton duo would chose the nation. But to make that choice they need to be able to understand their own egos.

As one example, I suspect HRC really means it when she touts here experience over Obama's. She believes in herself, perhaps more than the young man from Illinois believes in himself. Unfortunately, HRC's self confidence is excessive. There is nothing in her record t suggest the ability to learn from others, the ability to follow others when their leadership is needed.

If the Clintons were Buddha-like enlightened ones, this would not matter. There are times when one person, or in this case a couple, have so much value, so much insight that we all benefit from their leadership .. Churchill and Roosevelt come to mind, albeit not as a Clinton like couple.

My bottom line on this is a question, but first ...an excerpt:

Washington libs lead backlash against Bill

By: John F. Harris
Jan 28, 2008 07:06 PM EST

"

The ferocity of anti-Clinton sentiments heard around Washington in recent days — as even some former Clinton White House aides say they are enjoying the Kennedy endorsement and the implicit rebuke of the Clintons — has reached levels that haven’t been seen for seven years. Clinton’s pardons in the closing hours of his presidency prompted a similar backlash."

Before the question, I am using her names as a contraction and a polite way of saying "Billary." For better or worse, It seems to me these two folks are a real team. Now the question, in two parts:

"Who would you rather serve under, Hillary or Obama?"

"Who would you rather serve with, Hillary or Obama?"

1952 ---> 2009 election years

Miss Seattle Cooks With Gas! Yes, this year and throughout the New Year 1953, Miss Seattle will be cooking with Gas on the world’s most modern laboratory-size range. Today Miss Seattle is cooking on “Seattle Miss” — the de luxe school range created especially for cooking classes in Seattle public schools, installed without cost by Seattle Gas Company. Built by Wedgewood to Seattle Gas Company specifications, “Seattle Miss” has all the fine features of Mother’s modern, automatic Wedgewood at home. Seattle Gas Company. 1507 4th Avenue. Main 6767. The Argus, 1952.

Obama Wins in SC, Regaining Momentum

Kennedy Endorses Obama _ 'Change in Air'

Jan 28, 7:26 PM (ET)

By DAVID ESPO

(AP) Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., left, laughs with Sen. Ted Kennedy,... Full Image

WASHINGTON (AP) - Summoning memories of his brother the slain president, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy led two generations of the First Family of Democratic politics Monday in endorsing Barack Obama for the White House, declaring, "I feel change is in the air."

Obama is a man of rare "grit and grace," Kennedy said in remarks salted with scarcely veiled criticism of the Illinois senator's chief rival for the presidential nomination, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, as well as her husband, the former president.

Obama beamed as first Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy, then Caroline Kennedy and finally the country's best known liberal took turns bestowing their praise. "Today isn't just about politics for me. It's personal," Obama told a boisterous crowd packed into the American University basketball arena a few miles across town from the White House.

It was also about politics, though, and a rapidly approaching set of primaries and caucuses across more than 20 states on Feb. 5, with more than 1,600 national convention delegates at stake.

THE BIG MO SWINGS TO OBAMA

Obama Rout In South Carolina..."We Have The Most Votes, The Most Delegates, The Most Diverse Coalition Of Americans We’ve Seen In A Long, Long Time"...Latest Results: Obama 55, Clinton 27, Edwards 18...Bill Clinton Compares Obama To Jesse Jackson...Clinton Calls Obama To Congratulate Him...

Ted Kennedy endorsing Obama

Email|Link|Comments (0) Posted by James F. Smith January 27,

2008 12:29 PM

By Susan Milligan
Globe staff

WASHINGTON -- Senator Edward M. Kennedy will endorse Barack Obama for president tomorrow, breaking his year-long neutrality to send a powerful signal of where the legendary Massachusetts Democrat sees the party going -- and who he thinks is best to lead it.

Kennedy confidantes told the Globe today that the Bay State's senior senator will appear with Obama and Kennedy's niece, Caroline Kennedy, at a morning rally at American University in Washington tomorrow to announce his support.

That will be a potentially significant boost for Obama as he heads into a series of critical primaries on Super Tuesday, Feb. 5.

Kennedy believes Obama can ``transcend race'' and bring unity to the country, a Kennedy associate told the Globe. Kennedy was also impressed by Obama's deep involvement last year in the bipartisan effort to craft legislation on immigration reform, a politically touchy subject the other presidential candidates avoided, the associate said.

The coveted endorsement is a huge blow to New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who is both a senatorial colleague and a friend of the Kennedy family. In a campaign where Clinton has trumpeted her experience over Obama's call for hope and change, the endorsement by one of the most experienced and respected Democrats in the Senate is a particularly dramatic coup for Obama.

Tale of two grandmums

Obama’s Kansan grandmother Madelyn Dunham.

Obama’s Kenyan grandmother Sarah
Hussein Obama.

The despicable Clinton attacks on Obama bring an issue to the fore that needs to be said. Bieng Black and Being female are two utterly different things. All famiies have men and women. The daughter of Bill Gates inherits vast privilidge. from Daddy. The daughter of Barack Obama, for better or worse, will inheirt .. race.

Equating female equoty to black equity is wrong. Of copurse women need not just full rights but reight that are adapted to femel life cycles. We are getting there very fast. We are making progress in regard to "race" as well ,,, but Obama's daughter will be female, whether they will be "black" whether anyone will see that as an issue in their future .. that is up to us.

Ther eis one more point. If BHO is elected, he will .. I believe .. be the first of many things, not just the first black:

The first President born of a foreign parent since the Revolution.
The first President schooled in a minority school.
The first President not of solid, north Europena ancestry.
The first President whose wife has had a fully independent carear of her own.


These are all historic.

BBC NEWS | Europe | EU far-right groups to form party

EU far-right groups to form party

The four leaders said they already were in talks with other EU parties

Far-right political leaders from four EU nations have unveiled plans to form a pan-European "patriotic" party.

The heads of far-right parties from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria and France said their aim was to defend Europe against "Islamisation" and immigrants.

At a news conference in Vienna, they said they expected to launch the party by 15 November.

The move comes several months after the collapse of a far-right bloc in the European Parliament.

The Identity, Tradition and Sovereignty (ITS) bloc disbanded itself in November after a row between its Italian and Romanian members over race.

Rebuke

In Vienna, the heads of Austria's Freedom Party, Belgium's Vlaams Belang, Bulgaria's Ataka and the French National Front said the new party would be a counter-balance to other political forces in Europe.

"We say: Patriots of all the countries of Europe, unite! Because only together will we solve our problems," Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache said.

"Irresponsible mass immigration to Europe from outside Europe due to irresponsible politicians... is the problem," he said.

Asked about the chances of success of the new party, French National Front leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, who was also present in Vienna, said: "It's not necessary to hope in order to try."

The far-right leaders need support from seven EU parties to launch the group, but Mr Strache said that the goal was to have "more than 10 parties as members and ideally one party from each EU country".

In Vienna, the heads of Austria's Freedom Party, Belgium's Vlaams Belang, Bulgaria's Ataka and the French National Front said the new party would be a counter-balance to other political forces in Europe.

'We say: Patriots of all the countries of Europe, unite! Because only together will we solve our problems,' Freedom Party leader Heinz-Christian Strache said.

'Irresponsible mass immigration to Europe from"

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Huskies Need Tax Payers to Buy Em New Stadiyum

News Link Provided by Examiner.com - Not Affiliated with Below Content: "Just one day after a tax for renovation of University of Washington's Husky Stadium was declared 'apparently dead', seven state senators are riding to the rescue.

..........."Speaking for the university, Evans said if the bill does not pass, necessary repairs will be made. But he said that will require diverting athletic department money from other needed projects or programs."

Shocking!!! Spend atheletic revenue for athletics????

Bill Clinton Takes on the Polarizing Issue - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog

Bill Clinton Takes on the Polarizing Issue - The Caucus - Politics - New York Times Blog: "He also said that Mrs. Clinton had worked with Republicans, including Senator Lindsay Graham, Republican of South Carolina.

And then he painted this scene: “She and John McCain are very close,” he said. “They always laugh that if they wound up being the nominees of their party, it would be the most civilized election in American history and they’re afraid they’d put the voters to sleep because they like and respect each other.”

Of the attacks on his wife, he added: “She can’t help the fact that they beat up on her for 15 years, and when they didn’t have me to kick around anymore, they turned all their fire on her.”

But, he said, “We’ll unite this country by doing things together, that’s what’ll happen,” he predicted. “Do I believe she can do it? Absolutely.”

He then told the story of a friend who went to work for her campaign in New Hampshire. The friend had said he was “sick and tired of people bad-mouthing her,” people who didn’t know her. He quoted the friend as saying that everyone who knows her likes her, trusts her, respects her and would “walk through a fire with her,” which brought"

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

More Billary Bigotry

Hillary Clinton defends her husband's role in campaign: "The row over Bill Clinton's behavior in

(From Peggy Noonan, WSJ) Mr. Obama takes the pummeling and preaches the high road. It's all windup with him, like a great pitcher more comfortable preparing to throw than throwing. Something in him resists aggression. He tends to be indirect in his language, feinting, only suggestive. I used to think he was being careful not to tear the party apart, and endanger his own future.

But the Clintons are tearing the party apart. It will not be the same after this. It will not be the same after its most famous leader, and probable ultimate victor, treated a proud and accomplished black man who is a U.S. senator as if he were nothing, a mere impediment to their plans. And to do it in a way that signals, to his supporters, How dare you have the temerity, the ingratitude, after all we've done for you?

the hard-fought White House race resurrected a familiar story line for the former first lady though with a new twist: Hillary Clinton vehemently defending her spouse -- except this time she's the candidate.

While his wife travels to California and Arizona, the former president was out on the trail on Tuesday in South Carolina, where her campaign is counting on his popularity among African-American voters.

Bill Clinton has been widely described as an invaluable weapon in Senator Clinton's campaign, but critics say he runs the risk of turning into a liability if he carries his strident advocacy too far.

Senator Clinton, who referred to her husband as a 'tremendous asset' in the debate, defended her 'vigorous campaign' as merely asking the kind of questions that the Democratic nominee will face in the general election against the Republicans.

'I think it is important to analyze the record that is all I am saying. If we don't air it in this primary process I think we are not doing our party any service,' she said. 'The Republicans are not going to have any compunctions about asking any of us anything.'

Daschle said the attacks on Obama from Clinton's campaign were potentially damaging for a party anxious to take back the presidency after two terms"

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

I would love to see Michelle and Bill debate this issue.

2084?

Bill Gates Gives Away $306 Million, Goes Green Acres

Apparently money has burned quite the hole in Bill Gates' philanthropic pocket, as during this week's World Economic Forum in Switzerland, Gates pledged $306 million in grants to fund farming in in poor/developing countries through the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. To the audience he said:

If we are serious about ending extreme hunger and poverty around the world, we must be serious about transforming agriculture for small farmers, most of whom are women...The challenge here is to design a system including profit and recognition to do more for the poor.

I dunno, Apple. The way things have been going lately, maybe that giant head* on the big screen wasn't to be feared after all.

Yes, before our commenters flip out, we realize the 1984 spot was a shot at IBM, not Microsoft. [cnn]

Book a space now on out of this world tourist flight| News | This is London

Book a space now on out of this world tourist flight| News | This is London: "Book a space now on out of this world tourist flight"

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

This is the first craft that is set to make regular tourist flights into space.

Trip to the stars: the Virgin Galactic

The Virgin Galactic spacecraft, which was being unveiled in New York today, is already under construction. Test flights are expected to begin in June, with commercial flights starting 12 months later.

More than 200 potential astronauts are believed to have already paid deposits for the £100,000 flights, including actress Victoria Principal, scientist Stephen Hawking, and Princess Beatrice.

Flights will last for two hours and will include four and a half minutes of weightlessness.

The 60ft ship is expected to reach an altitude of 110km - 68 miles - and will be launched from underneath a mother ship called White Knight.

Ready for launch: the White Knight mother ship

Once the mother ship reaches 50,000 feet, which was the cruising altitude of Concorde, the spaceship is released and its rocket is fired, accelerating the craft up to 2,500mph, and taking it to 110km, officially making its passengers astronauts.

Will vs SJ .. a debate about Edwards

A Challenge to Will ..

Edwards, the generous?

Will,

Last night you took offense. I think you called me a liar.

That hurts.

If what I said offended you, I am truly sorry about that, BUT you claimed I said things that wre untrue. I have a life long commitment to truth. I never intentionally lie but .. like anyone else.. can be incorrect.

So calling me a liar implies that I have said something untrue .. willfully. What to do?

In the tradition of Hamilton, I suppose I could challenge you to duel but you may well be e a better shot than I.

So .. my challenge is ... show me, show me where I am wrong. If you do, the reward is of your choice ..

1. I will recant and apologize.
2. I will happily buy your dinner at DL.
3. I will contribute $100 to the Edwards campaign.

Fair enough? Blog enhtries instead of pistols seems more civilized.

So ... here are the issues:

To be clear, I like Edward's message. MANY people I respect a lot tell me they think he is the best candidate. Of the the three main rivals he has, IMHO, the clearest, most credible message.

However, when I vote I TRY to find out whether a message is hype or substance.

Perhpas I misspoke or you misheard, so for the record here is what I think I said:

John Edwards campaign as an antipoevertyy movement is harmed by his life style and lack of evidence that he has given money to the poor himself or raised significant moneys for that purpose.

I did NOT say, as you claimed, that Edwards has given NO moneys to poor people. I assume like most of us he does donate to charity. I also know, that under the law, one of his foundations below, the scholarship foundation, MUST disperse sme money. The questions is .. has he done anything significant n raising funds for the poor?

I have a great deal of respect for you and your opinions made me worry that my impressions were wrong. So I spent an hour this AM searching for evidence that I was wrong.

The BEST I can find, is this:

After the 2004 election, Edwards founded two institutions. One at the uNC was headed by Mr. E and had the purported purpose of creating a law center devoted to antipoverty. The Center was funded by (and is funded by) anonymous contributions.

The second is a foundation to fund schalrships for NC kids.

I then looked for both of these on the web. The UNC center is accessible, at least information is, via UNC The center apparently served as a PAC/study center for Mr.Edwards until his camnpaign began, It funded his travel, employed a number of former campaign aids, and supported some conferences. Although JE was its official director, it os not clear if he actually taught classes or received a state salary in this time.

The second foundation was also manned by campaign aids and did raise money. I did nt find accurate numbers as to the amount raised, but did find an announcement that ot had dispersed $300,000 in 2006. Modest.

I then lloked for other blogs commenting on JE .. positive or negative. To the best of my baility this is what seemed to be true:

1. Edwards UNC foundation IS evolving into a real academic center. That means it supports studoies. None of these so far have led anywhere exciting nor .. othert than talk-talk does there appear to be any real action.

Looking at blogs and opinion pieces, the charge is that the UNC center was actually a covert PAC and most of 3what I can read supports this contention. The Center, however, now has a new director and may become something interesting in its own right.

2. I had more trouble finding our what proportion of the scholarship fund raising was dispersed. The foundation did fund a field trip by JE and some NC students to New Orleans but that seems to have been more a publcity event ..for JE, vs poverty than anything else.

On some blogs, the charge is that the Foundation has only dispersed funds when challenged and, in any cae, all I saw was 300K.

Finally, I went to JE campaign site. I find it impossible to believe that he has done more than this BUT not mentioned it on the site.

Thgose are the best facts I could find. They suggest t me that FE is an attorney who has taken on poverty as his "case." That ia admirable. BUT, to be President he njeeds to lead by example. I do tno see how he has done that.

Your turn.


crossposted at HorsesAss

GOP slings mud!

HorsesAss.Org» The straight poop on WA politics & the press: "Clark County GOP smears Obama
by Goldy, 01/21/2008, 4:20 PM

Apparently, shamelessly racist smear campaigns aren’t limited to anonymous emails anymore, what with the Clark County Republican Party’s official website front-paging the “Barack Obama is a Muslim” hoax:

Obama takes great care to conceal the fact that he is a Muslim. […] It is reported that Obama swore his oath of office using the Koran and pictures have shown him standing for the Pledge but not reciting it and holding his hands to his side while others place their hands over their hearts.

This is chilling information about a candidate for the highest office in the Country especially given the radical Muslim claims that they will destroy American from “the inside”.

Really. I’m not making this up. Jon Devore gets the credit for exposing this pathetic attempt at swiftboating Obama, and just in case the Clark County GOP attempts to cover up their shameful hate-mongering, Jon’s captured a screen shot for posterity.

clarkcountygop.jpg

FYI, I’ve Googled several distinct phrases from the Clark County GOP’s post, and the only thing that comes up is the post itself, so either they copied it from an email or party memo, or they actually composed this garbage themselves. What a"

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Would Jesus Make War in Iraq?

HorsesAss.Org» Blog Archive » Open thread: "# SeattleJew says:

@35 Asking what the real Yashka might have done is not fruitful. No one knows.

The Jesus of the Christian Bible implicitly supported war because he comes of ass a quisling, … e.g. give into Caesar. Yet his followers, not the Pauline converts outside Judea but the Nazarenes, were amongst the Zealots who rebelled against Roman power 40 years later!

You need to remember, the Jesus story taker place in OCCUPIED JUDEA, led by a non-Jewish “King” appointed by the Romans (Herod).

Ironically, the Pharisees, depicted by the Roman version of Christianity as Jesus’ enemies, were the major resistance to Roman hegemony. As a result, in the CB, Jesus is made out an an opponent of the very philosophy he probably was part of.

Just imagine how far the Pauline Church would have gotten had it acted like Lech Walesa!

Back to WWJD, one clue is the resistance of the Zealots. Another comes from the early rabbinic Jews. Unlike the zealots, these folks taught a kind of underground survival, leaving the evil Romans alone as long as they let us remain in places like Sfad and Tiberias.

So maybe it was the Jewish thing to seek peace at any price and the Christina thing to fight back??

Personally, I believe we should have fought the effin Romans all along. Bu"

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

An Essay pn Deification

@22 Sometimes people need to die to have their effect. King, Lincoln, .. their lives are like the fish that the natives of New England planted with the corn.

I doubt that King's effect was lost, sad as it may have been, because of his death. My parable above and at SJ on the deification is meant to be taken seriously. A lot of our culture comes form the deification of dead heroes.

The obvious question is this unique to Christendom? I do not think so, The death of a savior is central to a LOT of religions associated with the moon .. the religions with gods called "Baal, Dionysus, and Christ" are the most familiar.
In Judaism, the death of Moses on the wrong side of the Jordan, is an important part of validation oh his founding myth. The Shia use the death of Ali in the same way. Buddha's death is maybe the closest to that of Jesus.

So is MLK now a deity? Where does He rank with Jesus, Buddha, Ali? As the years have passed I have watched the transformation of the man MLK into something very god-like.
I actually feel this has been a good thing. AA religion, w/o the Jesus like story of MLK would be a lot weaker.

I wonder if some folks now pray to MLK? I guess that this is an advantage of the Roman Church. Once they have done their beatification process, a human can ascend the later and, literally become an object of worship.

I guess I am getting too literary but I recommend Achebe's little book .. Arrow of God, for an idea about how real a man created deity can become.

And me personally, well HA is so sarcastic, I maybe ought not to say these things here. Oerhoas a few F bombs and personal isnults would help?

BUT today is a kind of holy day for me so, yes I will admit to some sort on belief in a higher being. The closest I can come to belief in a Deity is my belief that there are many people better than I .. some famous, some not. The famous ones leave legends and writings .. not to mention podcasts!
I, without the authorization of any Pope or Sanhedrin, have decided to choose the god-like people I want to learn from.

The list, among the famous, is not long. FWIW my list of god-like humans, teachers, includes Alinsky, Chavez, Darwin, Hillel, Gandhi, Gautama, MLK, Jefferson, Maimonides, and Spinoza, I obviously know too little for this list to meran much to others and have left off many names, including living people I respect and others not famous enough to mean anything to most folks.

So, on MLK day, I declare this a a Yomtov, a good day. For me anyway! Perhaps I should found a religion?

Bidet Announces new Bush Fabnatasy Park in UAE

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

In the meantime: from Sam Stein at Huffington

In honor of Martin Luther King Day, filmmaker Robert Greenwald has released a sharp new short film on his topic-de-jour: the excesses of the private equity industry. The video, which is part of a series titled "War On Greed," documents the strain endured by small town economies under the weight of the private equity industry's business structure.

For his new work, Greenwald and his company BraveNewFilms hone in on the town of Rockford, Illinois, whose Gunite plant was part of a company that was bought out, gutted, and sold for a $79.8 million profit by Henry Kravis, head of the buyout firm KKR.

St. Martin of Selma

And once there was man called Martin. Martin was a hero, he saved his people from war and famine. He led the poor and railed against bigotry. When Martin died, the people missed him so they made a statue .. just a bit bigger and more handsome than life.

People came to the statue and asked for changes in their lives and... behold ... some changes did occur.

Seeing this as important, one person who had many prayers answered, decided to give thanks to Martin by moving the statue to a temple where people could come and sit, listen to tales of Martin, and pray,

Soon temples to martin appeared across the Nation. Weekly television shows, especially the "Hour of Unity" led by Marissa Graham and her life Partner Chaney, because so popular that Apple released there now ubiquitous iGod. Who would have thought that a device shaped like the letter O hanging from a chain about my neck couild bring so much pleasure?

The Revelation helped the movement along. We all remember Elder Romney, that snowy day in Salt Lake City, appearing on the Hour of Unity show and telling all that the Deity had told him the truth. Soon the staue of Martin stood beside the statue of Moroni in what had been Mormon Temples. Young missionaries, the "disciples as they were called" all volunteered for two years of national service in the name of the man, not the God, Martin, Former US Prexie, GW Bush, speaking form his home in Bidet, UAE, told the world that his dreams were coming true. He praised President Billary, "For seeing beyond my feeble vision," and invited her to use the full resources of the UAE, corporation (formerly Microsoft) to so spread the Word of Truth.

Then came the Disaster. Canada, backed by forces from India, Cuba, and Sweden, attacked the peaceful people of Martin. The allied forces represented, they said, the Axis of Secularism." A long war began. On the Union side," people held firm to the belief in Marin's teachings until Pope Asha Azikwe, standing next to Bishop Obama, I spoke from the Window of the Vatican saying that he too saw the light of truth. After five years the Secularists went home, Peace returned,

So it came to be that there was the first Martinalia, presided over by the new Prexy of the Union, Billary I. Billary proclaimed Martinalia an annual holiday and
recognized General Jaksun as the Defender of the Faith in a moving service led by Secretary of Faith Huckabee.

Not that there were not discontents. Some followers of the older religions protested that this was violation of the sacred Ten Bills as brought down from Mt. Washington by the Prophet Jefferson. The ruling by Chief Justice Clayton Powell Bush will be long remembered for the key words, " There can be no separation of the state from that which is true."

"So today, on the glorious anniversary of his birth, do all Amercians join as one. May the great O protect us all."

benediction by Bishop Obama

Why We Live on a Hill

Warning on rising Med Sea levels

Scientists noted sea temperatures had also risen significantly

The level of the Mediterranean Sea is rising rapidly and could increase by up to half a metre in the next 50 years, scientists in Spain have warned.

A study by the Spanish Oceanographic Institute says levels have been rising since the 1970s with the rate of increase growing in recent years.

It says even a small rise could have serious consequences in coastal areas.

The study noted that the findings were consistent with other investigations into the effects of climate change.

The study, entitled Climate Change in the Spanish Mediterranean, said the sea had risen "between 2.5mm and 10mm (0.1 and 0.4in) per year since the 1990s".

If the trend continued it would have "very serious consequences" in low-lying coastal areas even in the case of a small rise, and "catastrophic consequences" if a half-metre increase occurred, the study warned.

Power of faith

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

from th BBC:

Should India have a permanent UN security council seat?

Gordon Brown has said world institutions should be reformed to reflect the rise of India and Asia. Do you agree?

Mr Brown has said global institutions should become more representative and has backed India's bid for a permanent place on an expanded UN security Council.

He also supported changes to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the G8 to "reflect the rise of India and Asia".

The UK prime minister also said there was "a prize for all of us" in a 21st century India working with a 21st century Britain in "a partnership of equals".

Would international reform make a difference? Do we need to change institutions to reflect the growing economic power of India? Can India and Britain work together in a "partnership of equals"?

UN Reform is overdue. We have a pretty goof idea of gthe structure of the world 50 years from now, restructuring the uN to refletc that seens like a good idea.

1. Major powers:

China,US, "Europe" will continue to be superpowers. Europe needs a new representation system that does not depend on the antique role of France or England. If tem, why not Spain?

Ideally, Europe shyould have one vote. If that is not possible, then Japan should join with China.

India is a harder issue for two reasons. First, its future as a power is less secure. Unless India manages to imporve its economy a lot, thay future is dubious. Second, Bringing India into the permanent members would ellicit a reaction form the Mulims.

One way of doing this is to have an emerging power seat .. bring in India and Brazil?

2. ATOMIC Power

Is there a hidden message here?

I think controling nuclear war is so important that we should have an atomic council. ONLY countries willing to comply wwith the Council sjhould be allowed to have weapons. The beginnings of this council appear to be Russia, China, India, US, France and England.

Isreal and Pakistan should join if they agreee to inspections.

The importnat thing about this council is that it wold have teeth. Unlike the current Security Council, the Nuclear Council would have every reason .. the slef interest of World Powers, to reach unanimous dcisions about who should and who should not be disarmed.

Is any one ready for the People's Army invading Israel?

Barack on the Gipper

Man Clones Himself ... God incensed

"This ranks among the most morally illicit acts, ethically speaking," said Monsignor Elio Sgreccia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, the Vatican department that helps oversee the Church's position on bioethics issues.

Here is the beginning of my post. And here is the rest of it.

Hillary goes Funny

Hillary's modest proposal (to wreck the housing market)

The current mortgage mess requires a more intelligent approach than the buzzsaw plan floated by Hillary Clinton.
By Jon Birger, senior writer

(Fortune) -- Hillary Clinton is no dummy. Even her detractors know that. And yet in last night's Democratic presidential debate in Nevada, Clinton floated what is perhaps the dumbest solution to the current mortgage mess I've heard from a top presidential contender.

"I have a plan - a moratorium on foreclosures for 90 days [and] freezing interest rates for five years, which I think we should do immediately," Clinton announced at what was the last Democratic debate before the Nevada Caucus on Jan. 19. A 90-day moratorium on foreclosures would throw a lifeline to some deserving homeowners, though I suspect it would only delay the inevitable for most. That's not my beef.

Where Clinton goes awry is her proposal to freeze mortgage rates for five years, which is essentially a much broader version of a deal President Bush recently hammered out with lenders to assist some subprime borrowers. If Clinton's only goal were to bail out homeowners facing steep rate resets on adjustable mortgages, her plan would work just fine.

For everyone else though, such a freeze would be disastrous. Interest rates on new mortgages would skyrocket - perhaps past 8 percent, as the mutual funds, pension funds and other investors who typically provide capital to the mortgage market shift their money into other investments where the government isn't impairing returns. With higher mortgage rates eroding buying power, the downward pressure on home prices would only increase. Lower home prices would lead to even more defaults, as more folks who'd lost the equity in their homes choose to walk away from their mortgages.

"It certainly would not speed the recovery of the housing market," says Doug Duncan, chief economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "The problem now is that investors are already worried about what the risks are, and (a rate freeze) would only widen risk premiums more."

Then there's the long-term impact such a bailout would have on behavior. While Clinton's plan would no doubt save some legitimate victims who were duped into taking out bad loans, she'd also be saving the flippers and speculators who knew the risks of low teaser rate mortgages but figured (wrongly) that they could always sell their house for a profit if the reset mortgage rate proved unaffordable. Bailing out these folks now would only encourage them to take even bigger risks down the line.

To be fair, John Edwards, has endorsed an even broader rate freeze - one lasting seven years - and he also wants to give homeowners the right to halt foreclosures if lenders haven't made a "good faith" effort (whatever that means) to rework the loan. Edwards, however, seems a longshot to win the White House.

Barack Obama, meanwhile, wants to require better disclosure by lenders (of low teaser rates, for example) and, like Clinton and Edwards, proposes a government fund to help borrowers transition from unaffordable adjustable mortgages to lower-rate fixed ones.

When it comes to a rate freeze, Duncan and the Mortgage Bankers Association aren't exactly disinterested parties, of course. A freeze would directly impact the bottom line of MBA members. However, when I discussed Clinton's plan with a more sympathetic economist - one who'd worked for Bill Clinton - his reaction was much like mine and Duncan's. "This is an ugly correction, but it's a necessary one," says Jared Bernstein, senior economist with the liberal-leaning Economic Policy Institute. "This kind of an idea is a little bit of untying your shoes with a buzz-saw." To top of page

Diagramming the Preamble to the US Constitution.

Posted by Cory Doctorow, January 17, 2008 10:10 AM | permalink

JMT sez, "I can't remember the last time I diagrammed a sentence, but this breakdown of the Preamble to the US Constitution is almost beautiful in structure. Very awesome."

Indeed. Plus, I hear the Schoolhouse Rock version in my head whenever I see this. Link (Thanks, JMT!)

Kashrut comes to China

January 18, 2008, 10:37 am

Why China is Going Kosher

Posted by Jacob Goldstein

The kosher business is booming in China.

Kosher certifications by rabbis in China have doubled in the past two years, Bloomberg reports. The country’s exporters are looking not only to get a piece of the U.S. kosher market, but also to get a rabbinical seal of approval that may ease the fears of non-kosher consumers worried by reports of tainted Chinese food exports.

“When we certify a product, consumers know there is another pair of eyes,” Mordechai Grunberg, an American rabbi who leads a team that examines Chinese factories to ensure that the Jewish dietary laws are followed, told Bloomberg.

According to the New York-based Orthodox Union, more than 300 Chinese plants are now certified Orthodox, Bloomberg reports, and the group expects thousands more plants to get certified in the next few years.

A bit of cultural education has gone along with the growing interest. One manufacturer was turned down because he was asking for a kosher seal of approval for furniture. Another wanted to certify a food plant kosher, but the plant was smoking eels — sort of like asking for kosher approval of a bacon factory.

Sunny side of Mercury

Clinton may be losing it?

Michigan Exit Polls: Hillary Clinton alienating black voters, one state at a time
January 16, 2008

According to exit polls taken today, more than two thirds of African American voters voted against Hillary Clinton and for the Uncommitted slate in the Michigan Primary.
Category % Total Clinton Dodd Gravel Kucinich Unc.
White 72 63 0 1 5 31
Black 23 30 1 0 0 68

The Michigan Democratic Party moved its presidential primary up into the pre-window period, which was only to include four states: Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, and South Carolina. As a result, Michigan was stripped of all of its convention delegates and its primary tonight is nothing more than a non-binding beauty contest which will not count toward deciding the Democratic nomination for President.

After being stripped of its delegates, all major candidates removed their names from the Michigan ballot and only Hillary Clinton and a few also rans remained. Her 56% showing tonight is nothing short of anemic. Fewer than a third of African American Democrats voted for her. When its all said and done, I believe that fewer than a quarter of African American Democrats nationwide will pull the lever for the Borg Queen of American Politics despite her heavy investment in securing high profile black endorsements.

17 January Wallenberg

Remembering Raoul Wallenberg

Posted by Irwin Cotler

Today is an important moment of remembrance and reminder. It marks the 63rd anniversary of the January 17th, 1945 disappearance in the former Soviet Union of Raoul Wallenberg, the lost hero of humanity, whom former Israeli President Chaim Herzog called "the Saint Just of the Nations." Wallenberg, a Swedish non-Jew who saved thousands of Jews in the Holocaust, is the embodiment of the Talmudic idiom that whoever saves a single life, it is as if they have saved an entire universe.

Wallenberg - the lost Hero of the Holocaust - confronted the Nazi killing machine and showed not only that one person can make a difference, but that one person can resist, that one person can confront, that one person can indeed prevail over radical evil.

National Poll .. Tied (Zogby)

HRC held a 21-point edge over Obama in October. He cut that to 8 points by last month, and the new survey gave her a 39 percent to 38 percent edge.

Her 1-point lead was well within the poll's margin of error of 4.7 percentage points.

Leahy for Obama

"We need a president who can reintroduce America to the world – and actually reintroduce America to ourselves," Leahy said in the conference call, saying Obama carried the "hope" to end the war in Iraq and to bring "healthcare for all."

Leahy compared Obama to John F. Kennedy.

Jewish voters lean toward Clinton

By: Ben Smith
Jan 16, 2008 06:34 PM EST

Hillary Rodham Clinton has emerged as the candidate with the bulk of establishment Jewish support. Photo: AP

Who is more likley to change things in Israel? BHO

Eight years ago, in her first campaign for the Senate, Hillary Rodham Clinton was scrambling to put out fires with a troublesome local minority: Jewish voters.

Now, she’s emerged as the candidate with the bulk of establishment Jewish support as the presidential campaign moves to Nevada, home to Las Vegas and the fastest-growing Jewish community in the country..

On Covert Racism

from HA

On its surface the Bradley Effect, whatever its mechanism or evidence, appears to be a reasonable enough explanation for at least some of what we saw in New Hampshire, and if Democratic primary voters believe it to be true, it could influence their vote as well, not because they are racists, but because they perceive a substantial number of their fellow Americans to be racist themselves.

First, I do NOT think NH was mostly a Bradley effect. I think it was mainly a “she-looks-like me” effect. This is consistent with the votes of older females in NH. The SLLM effect is like a Bradley effect in that few women will admit to it. Ask them who they want and they are likley to say the best person. Unlike Black folks who can wear the O with pride, a woman who says she is voting for HRC out of girlpride looks .. well, kinda out of season .

Second, I am REALLY concerned that the discussion of this is nopt only racist but Rovian. The Clintonistas are not immoral shits like the Bush crimne family, they would not pull a Willy Horton or Playmate on the phone trick. BUT,

listening to Bill esp., there is NO way that the emphasis on race is an accident.

Third, with all due respect to the Clintons, this whole affair smells badly of “white liberalism.” I suspect they really are as condescending as they appear and that neither Clinton understands the vast difference between their rather role in the civil rights movement and the all out commitment and moral example of a Chavez, King, Gandhi. etc. Hillary’s carear as an advocate of women is one thing, her belief that she has advocated for Black women is .. well rather condescending. here are a few examples:

a. As FL, she chose to put Chelsea into the friends rather than a DC school. While that is understandable, her justification of it was self serving and hurtful to the effort to reform the DC schools.

b. As a candidate she panders to the NEA. I do not think you will find anyone in the AA community who appreciates our current approach to education, including the lack of critical judgement of teachers.

c. His/Her advisers have, AFIK, never had the sort of professional status as the AA advisers chosen by others. The recent comments by Rice, Powell, and Brazil come to mind.

d. The continued role of Ira Magaziner in the Clinton coterie. This is exactly the sort of do-gooder liberal that turns many AA off. I do not know if he has any role in rel to AA ..he is managing the AIDS/Africa effort. but I worry about this sort of choice.

e. The Magic Johnson tour. This was a very, very odd choice. Many AA take sexual behavior seriously and would not want Johnson as a role model for their kids. Equating Johnson with Oprah wa .. well …. ?? step’n’fetchitism comes to mind.

Personally, I think, she has handled BHO very badly. Too many high level folks support BHO for his apparent competence not to be real. Yet, when the opportunity has arisen to show respect, she is condescending.

As one example, in a debate the discussion of her supposedly vast experience came up and someone asked what HE would do if SHE lost. BHO said he would hope she would still help! HRC, responded by smiling, A much smarter answer would have been tor reverse the compliment.

So .. is this racism on the Clintons’ part? Yes. That ought not to be the question. A better question is what level of racism is acceptable? Is arrogance from a white liberal implicitly racist?

Here is more: HRC simply can not get ti through her head that she is not black!


Reporting
Marcia Kramer NEW YORK (CBS) ― The Democratic presidential candidates have been squabbling for the past few days about the race issue, but the timing couldn't be worse. The South Carolina primary, where half the voters are African American, is Jan. 26.

Hillary Clinton tried to put it behind her at a Martin Luther King observance in Manhattan on Monday.

It didn't start off well. Clinton was reminded by The Rev. Dr. Johnny Ray Youngblood, "that we would not be where we are today it not for Dr. Martin Luther King."

Sure, she clapped, but the comment reminded everyone of the reason she was at an event dedicated to the Civil Rights leader -- to make amends for saying Dr. King's dream of racial equality was realized only after President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

"How many of us ever could have dreamed that we would see the day when a women and an African American are running for the presidency of the United States?" Clinton asked.

.........

"This is a vote for a dream that no one perhaps thought would happen in their lifetime," said Baruch College professor Micheline Blum.

Hillary on the Attack.

Does the end justify the means?

Damn it. The Billary campaign is beginning to justify Rovism. True nuff, they have not literally pulled a swift boat, but they are coming close!

There is some justification to the claim that Obama has not been prefect. His attacking her on Iraq was utter bull. The difference between them on this is thinner than the modesty sheet between a man and wife in Pakistan ... at least as I read Salman Rushdie.

Still, he has NOT used gneder or race ..as she has.

In past campaigns .. Gore, Kerry we were told these guys were pantywaists for not retaliating when the Reprocans behaved (worse) than this. Will Obama drop his morals far enough to retaliate?

The trickiness of the Clinto-rovism is that she/he have managedto blame BHO for THEIR activities by asserting that their comments are in reaction to something he has said .. whether that is true or not. One weird example ... HRC DID take money form a Punjabo business man and SHE joked that this made her a senator form Punjab. The incident was reported to the BHO team, though AFIK they did not use it!

Bill did!

HE accused BHO of racism for calling her the Sen from Punjab!!!

The problem with this Rovian tactic is that almost any response, OTHER THAN SLINGING MORE MUD, will not do any good. Posibke tactics:

1. GORE gets disgusted, come to BHO's AID
2, BHO gives a VERY presidential speech decrying the clinton's tactic w/o specificially refuitng them. Inded he should say that he ahs the highest respect, etc and doews not know why they need to muck around.
3. BHO throws mud in Clinton issues ... e.g. the continued employment of Magaziner ,,, he should aak her if Ira will paly a role in Hillarycare II. or ask her to tell us all what she actually achieved as an attorney at Children;'s defnese fund.
4. Go after her coterie .. Albright. Reno .. thesw ould eb subtle way od f sayiung she is obsessed with gender.
5. Attack her union ties in education. Risky but iut might do the USA some good.
6. Attaclk Bill's income and speaker fees. Is he going to continue earning money as a speaker/lobbyist when she is Prexy?
7. Spread the hidden runors abiut Bill's love affair with Britney Spears.

I am for #1. and #2.

Obama Gains on Clinton

Giuliani Falls to 4th in National Pol

By Dan Balz and Jon Cohen

Washington Post Staff Writers
Monday, January 14, 2008; Page A01

Sen. Barack Obama all but erasing Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's once-overwhelming advantage among Democrats, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

This Story

As the campaigns head into the next round of voting this week, the competitive contests in both parties have captured the public's attention. Four in five are closely tuned in, and a third are "very closely" following the races, a sharp increase from a month ago, and well higher than the proportions saying so at this stage in 2000 or 2004.

Clinton had dominated in national polls from the outset, holding a 30-point advantage as recently as a month ago, but the competitiveness of the first two contests appears to have reverberated among Democrats across the country.

In the new poll, 42 percent of likely Democratic voters support Clinton (N.Y.), and 37 percent back Obama (Ill.). Clinton's support is down 11 percentage points from a month ago, with Obama's up 14. Former senator John Edwards (N.C.) held third place with 11 percent, followed by Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (Ohio) at 2 percent.

.................

Despite the dip in support for Clinton, 68 percent of those backing her are "strongly" behind her candidacy. But Obama's support has both grown and deepened: Fifty-six percent are solidly behind him, up from 41 percent last month.

Clinton continues to lead Obama among Democrats, although by a slimmed-down, eight-point edge, while Obama has a 13-point edge among independents. Independent voters helped the senator from Illinois win Iowa and broke heavily for him in New Hampshire. Many of the upcoming contests limit participation to registered Democrats, which Clinton's advisers see as an advantage.