"Sixty intersections in Broward County were without power at the height of the outage, said Jihad El Eid, director of the county's Traffic Engineering Division."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sfl-226power,0,7392346.story

http://mauberly.blogspot.com/

February 25, 2008 -- Updated 0312 GMT (1112 HKT)

By Saeed Ahmed

(CNN) -- Think Barack Hussein Obama has it rough campaigning for president with a name like that? The Illinois senator has nothing on Frankenstein Momin. Or Billy Kid Sangma. Or Adolf Lu Hitler Marak.

The three men are among dozens of others with equally colorful names who are competing for legislative seats in Meghalaya, a remote northeast Indian state, on March 3.

There are about 60 seats up for grabs, 331 candidates vying, and no shortage of unusual names.

There's Britainwar Dan, Admiral Sangma and Bombersingh Hynniewta -- all ready for battle.

There's Laborious Manik Syiem and Hilarius Pohchen. Boldness Nongrum and Clever Marak. Even a Tony Curtis Lyngdoh.

"It would be unfair to have a laugh at these names. They're reflective of the names here," David R. Syiemlieh, professor of history at the North Eastern Hill University in the capital city of Shillong, told CNN on Monday.

(...)

It certainly hasn't [hurt] in Hitler Marak's case. He has been elected to public office before, with one of his stints as forestry minister.

"Maybe my parents liked the name and hence christened me Hitler," he once told the Hindustan Times newspaper.

" I am happy with my name, although I don't have any dictatorial tendencies."

( ... Link ... )

WE had better get used to it. Because the latest polls in Texas show Obama with a 4 point lead after having been behind and the fat lady is warming up her voice.

I see a lot of people painting unrealistic expectations on Obama, but I also see others (even Agonistas) painting fears and prejudices on this man without giving him a chance.

Barak is not our savior and conversely he is not some demon ready to destroy America.

A smart, young, idealistic but inexperienced man stepping into the presidency at a time when the establishment will dump the economy and foment conflict around the world in hopes of using him as a scapegoat.

I did inhale.

Obama should embrace his middle name Hussein and be proud of it. If he isn't, the Republicans will run amok with his embarrassment.

The boy's name Hussein \hu(s)-sein\ is pronounced hoo-SAYN. It is of Arabic origin, and its meaning is "good; small handsome one". The name of a prominent person in Shiite Islam and a royal name in Jordan.

Hussein has 4 variant forms: Husain, Husayn, Husein and Hussain.

Baby names that sound like Hussein are Hassain and Hassan.

Hussein is a very rare male first name and a popular surname Source

Why didn't he change it? I mean, I could not care less if he's proud of it or not. But, if he's ashamed, then he should have just changed it. Now, of course, that would be odd.

isn't there supposed to be a debate tonite? If not, when is their last debate?

Rondell (the spell checker tried to correct it with Randall). Can you imagine a name like that as president?

How about Ng? Ohmigod, it's Vietnamese! Disqualified!

How about Little Bear? Oh shit, don't even bring me an American Indian for president! He'd give it all back!!

What about Kitty? Could you imagine Kitty ordering a nuclear strike against all of our deadly enemies?

I think if Obama really wanted to do a speech on ridiculous names, he could come up with enough to piss off pretty much everybody who either has an "odd" (as in non-Western European) name or knows somebody with one. Are all these people unworthy of consideration simply because the noise people make when addressing them sounds a bit strange to the ears of Wonder Bread America?

I'd love to help him write this speech.
.
"Adapt or perish." Murphy's Law? Nope, Darwin's Guarantee.

Not Worried about his middle name only about the citizens rights will being restored and we back out of all on going wars/police actions.

Name? Only a moron acting like a fourth grader would care, oh, but that's the heart of the republican base. We should be far more concerned with the IRS going after Obama and his church, the UCC, for giving a speech at their convention. Did they investigate McCain for speaking at Bob Jones U? LTG Boykin (a politician in uniform and an agent of the administration) for his political speech? Bush for his political speech? any politician for speaking in a Black or any church? the preachers who supported Bush in 2000 and 2004? Stop the nonsense.

the name thing kinda makes sense to be defensive about - it's a perfectly good name, but a lot of people are squeamish because they associate it with saddam.

but what's up with the kenyan outfit? why's he being defensive about that? didn't make any sense to me.

about the use of his middle name. here is a link to a more complete video...

http://static.crooksandliars.com/2008/02/bill-cunningham.jpg
from C&L

i live in Cincinnati and Cunningham is a real hate filled idiot. what a stupid choice too, it shows what the Rethugs here are like. they think this is good stuff. it was the tone of the entire rant and what was said in toto. i think Mcain should have apologized as he did, and believe it or not, the local channel interviewed Cunningham and he put down MCcain. what a pathetic jerk.

1700: "Abolish slavery!"
1800: Woman's Suffrage!"
2007:"World Peace!"

Just go back at 'em. Use all three names, first, middle, and last, when mentioning a politician when there is a righty around. Do it all the time on TV until the interviewers get sick and tired of it and demand everyone stop it. Do it until everyone is tired of their stupid little character assassination game.

John Sydney McCain III

That'll go over big with the bubbas. LOL

I want to say something about Barack Hussein Obama's name. It is a name to be proud of. It is an American name. It is a blessed name. It is a heroic name, as heroic and American in its own way as the name of General Omar Nelson Bradley or the name of Benjamin Franklin. And denigrating that name is a form of racial and religious bigotry of the most vile and debased sort. It is a prejudice against names deriving from Semitic languages!

entire post - worth a read

_{Turn back to the Constitution - and READ it.}

Online Journal

According to the Dallas Star-Telegram, the Secret Service gave an order to stop screening for weapons for a full hour before the February 20 Barack Obama rally in Dallas. Metal detectors were turned off, and bags were not checked, as hundreds were allowed to file into Reunion Arena. This bizarre activity “ordered by federal officials,” was immediately reported by an alarmed Dallas Police Department, which knew that it was a “lapse in security."

The Secret Service (which has been assigned to Obama since August 2007) has denied the allegations, declaring post-facto that the event was secure. However, the Secret Service has provided no detailed explanation about this blatant security stand-down. It is not known who gave the orders. The Obama camp itself has issued no statement.

While this story has been vastly underreported by major corporate media, independent liberal media, particularly Democratic Party and Obama faithful, have expressed astonishment and outrage. President John F. Kennedy’s 1963 assassination in Dallas, Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1968 (which came on the eve of his California presidential primary victory) were also facilitated by Secret Service “lapses."

more at link

I did inhale.