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Yesterday was Super Tuesday, the largest to date with 24 states holding primaries or caucuses on the same day. In a year that’s probably seen more musicians come out to raise their voice on behalf of a presidential candidate, the question we want to explore here is: Do musicians backing a political candidate have an impact on a voter’s choice?

For as long as anyone can remember, those with even an ounce of status as an artist tend to weigh in and in some instances even raise money for their chosen delegate’s campaign. We, the general public, have in some ways come to trust their opinions. And why not? We spend courtesy of http://kerry.senate.govenough of our money and time being their devoted fans, hanging on to every note and word that pours out from them. And it’s nothing new for a band to express political views in their music. Contrary to what conservatives think, rock music isn’t merely a vacuum of escapism from the real world, it has the ability to create a culture surrounding politics, albeit an oftentimes insular one. We have Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Bono, the Dixie Chicks, and Bruce Springsteen, but really there are countless other musicians working in a more underground way to effect change, not to mention the entire genre of punk rock which typically takes on political issues before musicality. And for some, like Washington DC’s own outspoken band, Fugazi, voicing their opinions both on and off the record, as it were, is equally important to who and what they are. But where did it all begin?

It can most likely be traced back earlier, but Beethoven’s third symphony was originally called “Bonaparte” due to his admiration of ideals set forth during the French Revolution. Then, upon Napoleon crowning himself emperor in 1804, Beethoven was so put off by that act of egotism that he rescinded the dedication and renamed the symphony “Heroic Symphony, Composed to Celebrate the Memory of a Great Man.”

In the more recent past, as rock ‘n’ roll is really only in its infancy, we’ve really seen musicians get politically active. What about Nixon getting elected twice during the height of the hippie movement in the late ’60s/early ’70s? This era particularly showed the power rock music could have on the younger demographic, and yet it did not change who was elected during that time. At the Hollywood Palladium in 1984, the Clash rallied for five nights against Reagan and Thatcher. But, alas, Reagan was re-elected. Alt-rock sage Michael Stipe of R.E.M. was a huge advocate of Dukakis, who in the courtesy of http://remhq.comend got bupkis. Springsteen’s music has evolved from personal stories of the common man to darkened tales of the demise of America. The Rising Tour anyone? And yet, the horror of the Bush family/administration lived on despite his efforts to change it. And, in 2004, when it was nearly impossible to exaggerate the importance of the presidential election, for us and the rest of the world, we saw musicians come out in droves in support of John Kerry with the Vote for Change Tour, not to mention countless other events featuring musicians getting political for the cause. It was probably the most outspoken musicians had been up until that point during an election. While those were inspiring times, we remember all too well what resulted because we’re currently still living with it. Could it be that a musician’s involvement in politics makes a lot of noise but signifies really nothing at all? Or could it be that it has the unintended, inverse impact, which invites conservatives to rail against them and preach “family values?” When considering what musicians like Springsteen sing about in their music, there exists great irony to how things have played out time and again.

For the most part, musicians identify with the Democratic Party. Interestingly, this works both ways. Rock music is an everyman activity and is used as a tool to aid in making these candidates appear less like a robot stiff. Some politicians throw the opening pitch at a big league baseball game, others choose to rock (or rap, ugh). Jimmy Carter quoted Dylan when he accepted the Democratic nomination in 1976, and Bill Clinton made Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop” his 1992’s campaign theme song, which sparked the band’s reunion at his inauguration party. But, generally, it appears that musicians are mostly asking folks to do their homework and use their own brain to make an informed choice. Otherwise, it’s likely they’re either preaching to the choir or alienating those who can think for themselves. But there’s an important thing to consider about all of this. Although they have every right to stand up for what they believe in, political involvement by musicians for a presidential election can be worthless if it’s not well thought out.

Take for instance, Monday night’s show at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC called “Barack Rock,” which was put on by the politically-biased website Getupandvote.com. The show featured OK Go, Nina Persson of the Cardigans, and Craig Wedren and Nathan Larson from Shudder to Think, and was hosted by the likes of Michael Ian Black. If there’s one thing that’ll band together young rocker types, it is disillusionment and comedy. This is all well and good; except for the fact that it wasn’t a fundraiser for Obama—tickets were $20 a pop, not cheap, and where the money is going is unclear. But that’s not the bad part, really. It’s the mixed message they’re sending. Although they’re pushing for a candidate, as suggested by the name of the event, their website claims “it will be neither preachy nor didactic, but a clear, inspiring reminder for viewers and listeners to get off their asses and vote.” For $20 you can have a ball and be reminded by the following morning’s hangover that you’re supposed to get out of bed and vote, preferably for Obama, although so long as you’re voting, it’s cool…like whatever, man. This isn’t exactly an exercise in righteous indignation for making a difference. I mean, take a fucking stand on the matter. Or else, so much for the days when rock ‘n’ roll looked people in the eye and forced some kind of response.

Speaking of, remember when Eddie Vedder impaled a mask of the president on a microphone stand during concerts? Now that was obviously disrespectful, but it was at least very clear how he felt about things. Not whatever, man. Who else is going to drive a point home like that if not a musician in a rock band? Maybe, photo by Chris Sweda for Chicago-Sun Timesjust maybe, that Susan Sarandon broad might have it in her. But do you think Vedder was saddened by the fact that his pro-Bush fans were offended by him impaling that mask? Hell no!

But, back to this year’s democratic delegates. Once a presidential hopeful goes where the voters are and figures out what makes them tick, it’s also been said that victory goes to the more likable candidate. Hillary Clinton isn’t getting on with the rocker types too well, I can tell you that much, even though it’s been reported that she’s seen support from Elvis Costello and Timbaland. Perhaps she should pick a campaign song by someone other than Celine Dion? Now, the epitome of indie rock mainstream (and yes, I just wrote “indie rock mainstream”) Conor Oberst was the opening act at Obama’s rally in Iowa. There we go, now we’re talking. Obama, or Ba-Rock—as tagged by series of concerts to mobilize young voters with members of Wilco in tow—is gaining support from the indie rock community by the day and gaining ground on Hillary in the primaries by the day as well. Are the two things mutually exclusive? Hard to tell, but indie rock (if you don’t know what it is exactly, please refer to your newly purchased Juno soundtrack) has headlined in various places as being Obama’s secret weapon. Indie rock is like the new swing vote in the Democratic primaries.

In an article published in Newsweek, the writer reported that “On Friday, Dec. 7 in Chicago, Wilco captured the crucial ‘indie rock’ constituency for Obama. John Edwards may have Bonnie Raitt. Hillary Clinton may have Celine Dion. But Barack has the MacBook-tanned mp3 bloggers in skinny jeans and vintage t-shirts. And as they go, so goes the nation.” The writer also immediately shot this sentiment in the foot by noting that Jill “I Kissed a Girl” Sobule and that dude from Third Eye Blind also performed at the event. However, there’s still a fair amount of validity to the matter when Newsweek reports that the indie rock community is a “crucial,” what, constituency was it? So maybe we shouldn’t shrug apathetically at our computer screens when our RSS feed explodes with news that Arcade Fire frontman Win Butler spoke out on his blog, both criticizing Hillary Clinton and backing Obama. It appeared to be actual news that Butler said, “Do we live in a democracy so we can just keep electing the same families?” A good point, though not necessarily a new one, which was followed by an f-bomb with several exclamation points. I think Butler could do better. Impaling stuff with a microphone stands comes to mind. But perhaps the point here is not so much the power of indie rock itself, but the power the internet and indie rock have to reach the 18-25 year old demographic, and reach them consistently at that. In 1968 you’d have to wait a month for Rolling Stone to come out. Now young adults can access immediately when and where and why Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy courtesy Rough Trade Recordschose to side with Obama.

During this past Sunday’s Superbowl, Obama ran an ad that aired in about 20 states, as it was funded on a state-by-state basis (and cost $250,000 instead of a national ad which costs $2.5 million), aimed at a younger demographic as it featured shots of young folks in the crowd cheering Obama on while also playing the music of Dan Zweben. Never heard of him and I followed up on this… Zweben only has approximately 2,000 friends on MySpace. Not exactly Fleetwood Mac status or anything like it, but pretty interesting that I was actually introduced to a new musician through a commercial for a presidential hopeful. Nicely played, Ba-Rock.

What it comes down to is the drawing of a line in the sand. And that is probably what the rock community at large respects about Barack Obama. He’ll tell you that he did a little of the ol’ Dr. Zhivago back in the day and is currently still at the mercy of nicotine gum. He easily admits that he’s human with faults and foibles and probably a real fuck up from time to time, but that doesn’t keep him from doing his job and doing it well. This earns him respect and makes him infinitely more likeable, especially amongst a crowd of young voters who tend to embrace the awkward and emotionally damaged. I’m not knocking that either… I think it’s perfectly healthy. Besides, when did anyone ever like someone who goes around pretending like they’re perfect? And what is rock music if not a place where we can openly contend with all the things in life that make us human?

We like our music defined in this way. It’s good to know where everyone stands. So, yes, I’m completely fine and even encouraging of musicians getting up and voicing their opinions on political matters so long as their message isn’t lukewarm or wishy-washy. If the message being preached can heighten political awareness and energize young voters, a positive impact will have taken place. Still, the end of their means is in question. The results of the intended impact has yet to be seen (as I sit here writing this), and history thus far doesn’t bode well in terms of how much muscle musicians can provide in getting folks out to the voting polls to make a difference for change. And yet, it’s not a very long history to consider. This new idea that the rock community is a significant group to win over might actually have some legs to stand on this time around. In the end, as the anxiety of who will become president in 2008 reigns supreme, one thing is certain: we’re being entertained and perhaps even comforted by the music as we wait.

First of all, let me start out by saying that this article is NOT in

any way an endorsement for Barack Obama. It is merely my observation and opinion, nothing more.

In my opinion, one of the most important qualities of a good manager is the ability to organize.

The First-Class Barack Obama Campaign

If you want to see this movie played out to its full effect on a national stage, look no further than the Barack Obama campaign. Barack Obama has assembled a first rate political campaign – the best of all the remaining presidential candidates, and it’s starting to pay huge dividends.

Barack Obama isn’t winning because he’s a great inspirational speaker – although that doesn’t hurt. He’s winning because his campaign is better managed and organized. Plain and simple.

How They Run Their Campaign…

In fact, I think the way Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are running their respective campaigns is a snapshot into how they would each run the country. Obama’s campaign is exciting and extremely well organized and he reaches across political, gender and ethnic lines. His campaign is a well-oiled machine.

And the fact that he’s an amazing speaker makes people want to follow him even more.

Hilary Clinton Is So Disorganized

Hillary’s campaign on the other hand is extremely disorganized, rife with juvenile in-fighting and she is a very polarizing candidate. Not only that, in her attempts to stave off Obama’s steam roller like momentum, she changes her message every week. She started out with “Ready from day one” being the theme of her campaign. Now it’s “Speeches vs. solutions.” Where’s the managerial consistency? Good managers don’t panic at the first sign of adversity. But that’s

exactly what her campaign is doing and that’s why Obama is winning.

What Environment Would You Prefer To Work In – Barack or Hilary?

Does that sound like some of the work environments you’ve been in? According to the website The GoodManager.com, “It is the job of the manager to coordinate the work of others and is held accountable for their work. The five main jobs of managers are planning, organizing and staffing, leading and motivating the organization, coordination through communication of objectives and plans, and assessing and measuring the work of employees. Effective managers are able to use their skills in each of these areas to attain the goals of the organization.”

Learn For Free…

The above statement describes Barack Obama management abilities to a “T.” Barack Obama’s campaign is a successful business model that every manager can learn from. And you don’t have to pay a dime to do it, because he’s on the internet, on television and in the newspapers every single day.

Watch and learn!

Barack Obama – Senator to Presidential Nominee, President of the United States

Relationships! The definitive Advice as to whether a presidential candidate would win the election and eventually become the President of the United States could be verified, among other things, by computing whether there is any propensity for  long-term relationships with his (for the time being) nominated vice president.

The Democratic Party has chosen Barack Obama, the junior United States Senator from Illinois as its nominee to compete against the Republican Party’s John McCain from Arizona in the forth-coming United States presidential election of 2008.

The 2008 presidential election is the first time in the U.S. history that two sitting senators will run against each other for the presidency of the United States, and more importantly, it is also the first time an African American has become a presidential nominee for a major party, as well as the first time both candidates of the two major parties — Democratic and Republican, were born outside the continental U. S. A. — Hawaii for Obama and the Panama Canal Zone for McCain.

On November 4, 2008, the Election Day in all fifty states and the District of Columbia, registered voters will cast votes for presidential candidates nominated and listed. They will however only select their state’s members of Electoral College and thereby indirectly vote for their presidential candidates.

On December 15, 2008, members of the U. S. Electoral College will meet in their respective state capital to officially cast their votes for President and Vice President.

On January 6, 2009, Electoral votes will officially be tallied before both chambers of Congress — the Senate and the House of Representatives.

On January 20, 2009, the constitutionally set Inauguration Day, Barack H. Obama, Jr. will become the 44th President of the United States and Joseph R. Biden, Jr. the 47th Vice President of the United States.

Barack H. Obama, Jr. (born August 4, 1961) announced his candidacy for the presidency of the United States in Springfield, Illinois, on February 10, 2007. On August 27, 2008 he became the nominee of the Democratic Party for the 2008 presidential election. Shortly after midnight on August 23, 2008, Barack Obama’s campaign announced, by way of text message to their supporters, that Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware has become the Vice Presidential candidate.

Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (born November 20, 1942) is the senior United States Senator from Delaware. Biden is both the Vice Presidential candidate for the 2008 November election and a candidate for re-election in the U.S. Senate.

On Wednesday, February 6, 2008, the day after the Super Tuesday — the single biggest U. S. presidential primary day, Best-Relationship-Advice made a bold and definitive advice that the then Senator Obama, now presidential nominee, or better called President-hopeful, will become President-elect at the end of 2008.

Subsequent to the announcement of the partnership with Senator Joe Biden, Best-Relationship-Advice has carefully computed definitively the Relationship between the presidential candidate, Obama, and the vice Presidential candidate, Biden. The result is stunning — there is absolute propensity for a long-term partnership. In the current situation that they are teamed up for the 2008 presidential campaign, this could only lead to one single conclusion, that Barack Obama and Joe Biden will become President and Vice President of the United States in the 2008 Election.

Parallel study has been made on John McCain and Sarah Palin. The result is affirmative, that the presidential and vice presidential candidates of the Republican Party do not reflect any long-term relationship in the coming years.

The result is therefore conclusive, which duly coincides with the same piece of advice given before based upon a totally different methodology by Best Relationship Advice.

Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof!

Robert Walsh Kids Clothing announces the publication of their newest page, “Cool & Unique Barack Obama Apparel, Gifts & T-Shirts On Sale”. Today in history, November 4, 2008, the presidential election of 2008 will place an asterisk in the history of US Presidents next to the 44th President as the first black American President, Barack Obama. His name will be found on lists that include major historical events, American history, famous people in history, history of racial discrimination, famous black Americans, and historical event dates. The “Obama for President” theme was a dream for many Americans, particularly the Afro-American community. Given very little chance to succeed at the start of the primary season in 2007, history channel will chronicle his journey to the White House. The historical events timeline of his run for the Presidency began on a cold winter day on the steps of the Old Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, where President Abraham Lincoln announced his run for the Presidency almost one hundred fifty years before. This will be included among the interesting president facts that historically connect these two tall young lawyers from Illinois who made their way as little known individuals to the nation and reached the White House to heal a divided nation. Each attracted attention of their political parties through speeches they gave prior to running for office. And each will be historically recorded in the almanac of Black American History. This day in history also makes internet history with the fact that prior to going out to make his Election Day victory speech Barack Obama texted a message to all his supporters. His Speech in Grant Park in Chicago, Illinois, his home town, brought out almost a quarter of a million people and journalist from around the world. Nearly as many as Martin Luther King had in Washington, D.C. for his “I Have A Dream” Speech. Now that the election is over, and the truth can be spoken more freely without distortions about the next President of the United States, Americans can celebrate his story of success, and make it the bedtime story they tell their children as they go off to sleep. Barack Obama’s life story is the American dream brought to life before our very eyes. Every parent’s dream is that their child can and will be a success in life, even become the President of the United States. This story is not about race, as much as it is about success; but because it includes the race factor, it is more impressive because of Barack Obama’s biracial makeup. The storyteller is free to tell the story in any color they wish. It is a story of a young boy who grows up without a father present in his life. His parents separated when he was 2, and later divorced. His mother works hard to care for the children while at the same time works and goes to night school. Then when she takes leave from her children for educational pursuits, he is left in the care of his grandparents, having to deal with his feelings of abandonment by his parents. Moved not just from one town to the next, he is uprooted and transported half way around a world at the age of 6 to Indonesia. Brought to a foreign land with a new language, and a new culture to adjust and develop new friendships. Stability and consistency are important for every child’s upbringing. Every parent would agree with that. When a family has to move their children from one location to another for whatever reason, their parents recognize the difficulties that their child will have to face in readjusting to their new locale, school, and fitting in with their new schoolmates. He returns to Hawaii at the age of ten, and attends a top Prep Academy in Hawaii. Los Angeles hosted his next educational stop at Occidental College for two years. He then crossed the mainland and attended Columbia University in New York City. There he graduated with a major in Political Science specializing in International Relations. He worked in NYC after Columbia with a New York Public Interest Research Group. Then in 1985 he moved to Chicago, and worked as a Community Organizer. In 1988 he joined Harvard Law School. There he became the first *Black* President of the Harvard Law Review. He graduated in 1991. *To avoid a color, use “culturally-mixed”* in your story. He married his wife, Michelle, in 1992, and they have 2 children. He worked at a Law Firm, in Chicago and was a part-time lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School. He was elected to the Illinois State Senate in 1996, and re-elected in 1998 and 2002. In 2004 he was elected the junior Senator from Illinois to the United States Senate with 70% of the vote. In 2007 he ran in the Democratic Primary and defeated Senator Hillary Clinton in June 2008 to be the Democratic Party’s Nominee for the President of the United States. He defeated Senator John McCain, the Republican candidate, in the general election to become the 44th President of the United States, and will be sworn into Office on January 20th, 2009. This is an amazing story of Success in America. A young boy from a divorced home, who barely knew his biological father, left to be cared for by his grandparents while his mother was off studying, being uprooted from his home to live in a foreign country half way around the world, dealing with feelings of abandonment and loneliness returning to complete his junior high and high school education. Leaving home again and travelling 2,000 miles to go to College. After his first 2 years, he travelled another 3,000 miles to complete his College education. He applied and was accepted at one of the most prestigious Law Schools in the Country. He became the President of their Law Review Publication. Five years later he was elected to the first of three terms in the State Senate of Illinois. In 2004 He was elected to the U.S. Senate. Just 17 years after graduating from Law School he has become the country’s choice to be the next President of the United States. Only in America can this be possible. A little known young politician born in Hawaii, and calling Chicago his home, can become President of the United States after only 4 years after gaining national political attention with a speech given at his party’s convention in 2004.

President Obama Reminds us it’s a Time for Miracles!

by Dr Joan Hangarter, DC, MS

The entire country, as well as the world, eagerly anticipated the swearing in of Barack Obama. An overwhelming 87% feel confident this president will pul off the Miracle, of getting this country on the RIGHT TRACK, no easy task considering our serious problems.

Have you noticed the “wave of optimism” literally sweeping across America despite the worsening economy and despair the majority of  Americans are feeling. Its my belief that everyone needs a Miracle right now, from Wall Street to Main Street, and

fortunately, through a unique combination of factors, we have the most perfect  man for the job.

BARACK INSPIRES OPTIMISM

What is it about Barack that inspires this belief in optimism and hope that is

energizing and unifying the nation With the recession and depression worsening,

and war tensions escalating, you would think we’d be more pessimistic about his chances to succeed.

AMERICANS BELIEVE IN GOD, ANGELS AND MIRACLES

It might be helpful to know that according to a Gallup Poll in November 2008, most Americans believe in God, angels, miracles, and the survival of the soul after death. In other words, people are willing to believe that anything is possible now.

But the truth is, Barack Obama inspires us. His insistence that we can do better appeals to our own inner voice that many have probably suppressed. He reminds us that yes, we can do better, we can live in a meaningful way, we can be the person we want to be. His “yes we can,” makes us want to accomplish the task. By bringing together bipartisan experts, he transcends a personal agenda, and looks to a commonality that benefits all of humanity, not just Americans.

If each of us applies that concept to our own life, and allow ourselves to live a vision larger than ourselves, we too can step into that energy of creating miracles and transformation, and benefiting our community as well.

AMERICA NEEDS A MIRACLE

Lets face it, Americans need a miracle now, and let’s face, it is going to take a miracle to walk the talk and create the change that America needs to quickly recover and prosper.“When all Americans are engaged, we can accomplish anything!” Barack Obama said. From Wall Street to Main Street to your street, most everyone has been impacted by the recent financial disasters, either with job losses, foreclosures, and bankruptcies. Someone you know has probably lost a job recently and might be

facing homelessness.

By working together, we will thrive. Switch the focus from self, to creating community.

That’s how our ancestors did it, and you know what, people helping people and supporting their friends and neighbors is what made us strong.

Obama makes us believe there is a solution; there is a way for us to rise to the task. The Bush years saw a rise in anxiety, depression and fear. The constant drumbeat of terrorist threats, war rhetoric, and erosion of civil liberties, led to an increase in depression and anxiety. Bush was the decider and he would tell us what to do. No wonder we were afraid!

Instead, Obama draw from our deepest hearts desires, our wishes and hopes for a better planet. He may not do exactly what you or I think best, but you can bet he has consulted with the experts and taken it all into consideration. We even trust that he will make choices that support the well being of the people of this nation instead of favoring the corporate world

His wave of optimism reminds me that we are capable of stretching, of achieving unlimited possibilities. Look at his election. A year ago, no one would have believed he would be president, and look at him today. I interviewed a young man from Uganda who was privileged to see Obama speak in a large stadium in Kenya, 2006. He told me the audience thought Obama was a political comedian from America, when he informed the crowd he was going to run for President of the United States of America.

THE MIRACLE MESSAGE

Obama exemplifies my Miracle Message- when you get in touch with your vision, and understand why you are here, and what your unique purpose is, and you just say yes, then NOTHING WILL STOP YOU. What can we do, .how can we help, and show us what’s needed.

These are unprecedented times. Think outside the box!  Dream up new ways to work, create income, and positively impact your family, friends, and community.

Develop your personal vision and commit to allowing your powerful and best side to come forward and create positive change.

Obama happens to be the right man, with the vision and skills to draw from us the desire to match his commitment. I spoke with several young adults after the Inauguration and across the board, they shared with me that Obama has inspired them to reach for the dreams, to follow their visions and to become the best they can be.

Frankly that’s a miracle especially given the apathy of prior years.

America can do better, and he’s the man who can mobilize us, bring us together, and restore our confidence.

Now that’s the miracle we are all looking for!

Herbert/AP President-elect Barack Obama speaks to reporters after a meeting with his top economic advisers Tuesday.

WASHINGTON-President-elect Barack Obama forecast trillion-dollar deficits for “years to come” on Tuesday,arguing that the government has no choice but busting the federalbudget to rescue a precarious economy.

“We’re already looking at a trillion-dollar budget deficit or closeto a trillion-dollar budget deficit,” Obama told reporters at a meetingwith his economic team.

“Potentially we’ve got trillion-dollar deficits for years to come,even with the economic recovery that we are working on at this point,”he warned.

The federal deficit stood at $455 billion when the 2008 fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2008.

Obama wants to pump at least $775 billion into the economy through a two-year stimulus spending plan. Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada this week predicted the plan could be in the ballpark of $1.2 trillion.

“Obama is sending a plan to Congress knowing it’s going to increase.The $775 billion is just a baseline. It could balloon to over atrillion dollars,” said a Senate leadership source.

Obama’s economic rescue package includes a $300 billion middle-classtax cut and comes on top of the $800 billion bailout plans for theailing finance and banking industries and the Big Three automakers.

“We’re going to be investing an extraordinary amount of money tojump-start our economy, save or create 3 million new jobs, mostly inthe private sector, and lay a solid foundation for future growth,”Obama said.

He wants to expand unemployment benefits, increase food stampallotments and boost construction jobs. He also is consideringsubsidizing up to 65% of health insurance costs for laid-off workers,sources confirmed to the Daily News.

Obama took a jab at President Bush, saying his administration will restore transparency and accountability to government.

Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is pushing to include an expanded college tuition tax credit somiddle-class families can write off $4,000 per child. Obama likes theidea, but isn’t sure it should be included in the stimulus legislationor a separate bill.

Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky urged Congress to proceed slowly – ignoring climbing unemployment,slumping housing and retail sales, a gridlocked credit market andskyrocketing tuition costs.

“We should encourage, not discourage questions,” said McConnell, whowarned Democrats against a “reckless rush to meet an arbitrarydeadline.”

But as the measure is cobbled together, the President-elect againput Congress on notice he won’t tolerate a plan that includespork-barrel “earmarks” for projects like Alaska’s notorious bridge to nowhere.

“I’m saying there are no earmarks in the recovery package. That is the position that I am taking,” Obama said.

Congress has pledged to curtail the often politically motivatedearmarks – money appropriated in the middle of the night for petprojects.

A senior Senate source disclosed Obama is working most closely with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on the spending plan.

“The Senate is going to play follow the leader on this one. Obamahas decided Pelosi is the person to drive the stimulus package. We’rejust going along for the ride,” the Senate source said.

This January, Barack Obama became the President of the United States.It was truly a remarkably moment in our history, for a wide variety of reasons. Obama’s inauguration marked a dramatic reversal in our national politics, likely ending a generation of conservative Republican domination in Washington. It brought a successful conclusion to a new kind of campaign, one based in savvy use of the internet for political fundraising and organizing. It captured the collective imagination of a whole generation of young Americans, inspiring youth political engagement in ways not seen in this country since the era of John F. Kennedy half a century ago.But more than anything, Barack Obama’s inaugural was remarkable—amazing, astounding, almost unbelievable, considering the long arc of American history—because a black man just became the President of the United States. The sheer enormity of the moment almost dwarfed the particulars of the day—the words of Obama’s excellent speech, the pageantry of the inaugural spectacle, even the immense numbers of people who turned out in Washington to watch the event in person.The sheer enormity of the moment was borne of the long and difficult history of race in this country. That story, of course, is much bigger than Barack Obama. Much movement toward racial progress occurred before Obama ever arrived on the scene, and much more remains to be made in the future. But it’s hard not to wonder whether what happened this year changed the meaning of race in America, forever.The youngest of Obama’s voters, those in their late teens and early twenties, may be the least surprised about what happened this year. They grew up in a world in which the rigid racial boundaries of our past were just that—a part of our past – something that they primarily learned about in school while studying the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. or experiencing the segregated South through the eyes of children in To Kill a Mockingbird. (Not to say that they didn’t confront vexing racial issues of their own, but the lines weren’t drawn quite as sharply as they were in earlier eras.)But we don’t have to look too far into our nation’s past to begin to see the dark racial legacy that made Obama’s election such a stunning revelation to anyone older than about 35.As recently as the 1990s, hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur rhymed, without generating much controversy, that “although it seems heaven sent / we ain’t ready to see a black president”; the country divided bitterly along racial lines when a jury found former football star OJ Simpson not guilty of murdering his white wife.As recently as the 1970s and 1980s, white citizens rioted over school desegregation in supposedly liberal northern cities like Boston, while widespread demonization of black people loomed large in public debates over welfare, crime, and affirmative action.As recently as the 1960s, it was illegal, in many southern states, for whites and blacks to marry each other, to share the same hotels or restaurants, to use the same bathrooms or water fountains. Before 1965, black people who tried to vote in many parts of this country faced violent intimidation or even death.All of this in Barack Obama’s own lifetime.All of this, without even mentioning the even deeper past of slavery – a debate which helped spark The Civil War – and abolition, Reconstruction and Jim Crow, the three-fifths compromise and the “twenty negars” sold into servitude in Virginia in 1619—that’s one year before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.And yet, despite all this—or perhaps, in a strange way, because of it—a black man named Barack Obama this year became our president. This year, perhaps, American history changed.

Beyonce AT LAST Barack Obama & Michelle First Dance BEYONCE ” Barack And Michelle Obama’s “First Dance” President Obama’s First 100 Days Speech Susan Boyle’s 2nd Performance Is Also On This Channel Tea Party Republicans Sean Hannity Oscar Awards “Chris Brown” “Rihanna” “Etta James” “AT LAST” HD OBAMA’S DANCE “NAACP” “HALO” “TO DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM” “JENNIFER HUDSON” , DWTS MAKING MAJOR CONTROVERSY Because Etta James Disses Beyonce’s Performance Michael Jackson RIP

Words are the tools for an architect who will hatch a pyramid for the middle class. A pyramid of words.

Words will renounce a surging military and bring our boys home. Words have stung the beehive.

Words will consummate this rockstar politician with his Cuban megalomaniac.

Bullshit.

Barack Obama has created a fallacious utopia in which actions do not have consequences and consumption does not have a price. How do the voters respond? They love it. They eat out of his palm. He’s become a rockstar with his leather jacket and ripped jeans draped over his political garments. Am I the only one that just doesn’t get it? I’m tempted to bring up the familiar headline, It’s the Voters,Stupid. Well, it IS the voters. And hell, they are stupid.

The voters only see what Obama CAN do. Obama CAN give a $4000 tax credit to any student willing to do community service. But CAN my grandfather, who gave every last penny he managed to scrape back to his family, afford the increase in taxes? No.

Now slap universal healthcare on top of that. Barack Obama will break America with taxes. It’s the classic Democratic copout: if he can’t pay for it, you shouldn’t be able to either. Look, the problem isn’t that not everyone is covered, as Clinton vehemently insists, but the reason WHY they’re not covered; it’s too damn expensive. Drive down the costs of healthcare and naturally more people will be able to afford it.

John McCain knows how to do that. Republicans know how to do that: by encouraging competition among health insurers. It’s the simple philosophy that drives our economy: when one gas station sees another doing well, it wants in on the profits. So, what does it do? It sets up shop near the other in hopes of doing so. Gas prices will in effect go down as they compete for business.

But Barack Obama’s translucent policies aren’t cause of his rockstar status. He’s running as the new kid on the block. Let’s be honest with ourselves, Obama could not run on a message of change if he were another white male. He’s garnered so much media attention because of his race. It is the troubling truth that Americans are more concerned with appearance than approach to government.

Let’s be clear; race does not determine who should run our government. Unfortunately for Obama, comments such as Reverend Wright’s bring the whole issue of race back into the spotlight. In hindsight, Obama’s Texas ad in response to Clinton is laughable. Let’s recap. Clinton ran the classic “3 AM phone call” ad in which the phone is ringing in the White House and Clinton is, because of her experience, the person the voter should want to answer. Obama fired back with an ad that basically portrayed how it’s not the experience that matters, it’s the judgement.

Sorry Barack, but you just sunk your own ship. YOU don’t have the judgement in choosing friends. YOU don’t have the judgement in choosing advisors. So why should you be president? You have neither the experience or the judgement to be president.

Ultimately, while race was Obama’s strenght within the Democratic party, it will prove to be his downfall in the general election. The more the people get to know the newcomer, the less effective his “change” campaign becomes. Without a doubt the media has largely been supportive of Obama. But the more Obama is in the spotlight the more he will be undressed by the American people. The leather will gradually fall to reveal a politician. Imagine that. A politician running for president.