is that Michelle Obama is lying, we should have nominated Hillary, vote for McCain. Is that the message you're trying to convey?

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

I'm not trying to tell anybody who they should vote for. I certainly do not, will not support Obama. But that's true for McCain as well.

The Obama generated narrative about their upbringing is stretched, yes. Not exactly unheard of in Presidential campaigns. The article is one of the few focused solely on her. Its an older narrative from early this year published across the pond. Make of it what you will. As always, read with care.

Or do you just plan to continue sitting on the sidelines taking cheap shots at anybody who heaves into view. Mrs. Obama's wardrobe. Isn't it just like GLARINGLY yesteryear? And how ABOUT those Obama children? Now aren't they just the absolute worst? Oh, puhleeze. As they say... "Get a room,". Go there alone.

.. a little overly sensitive, Chickadee?

Anybody who is so DEsentitized to overt racism that they fail to recognize it anymore is contemptible, in my books, and anybody who purposefully embraces those concepts is below contempt.

Tabloid, yes. Racist, no. Get a grip. The burr is under your saddle all of a sudden for some unknown reason.

The Obama's don't deserve any kind of special break for any reason at all. In fact, its the opposite. Barack has sold his brand as something special. I think we ought to hold him to it. So far he's been a dismal failure. Personally I expect this trend to continue and I will point it out every chance I get. Just like with Bush. That includes inconsistencies concerning the wives if they make themselves part of the play, as Michelle has.

... better than I've managed to say. Glenn Greenwald:

The excuse that Obama's support for this bill is politically shrewd is -- even if accurate -- neither a defense of what he did nor a reason to refrain from loudly criticizing him for it. Actually, it's the opposite. It's precisely because Obama is calculating that he can -- without real consequence -- trample upon the political values of those who believe in the Constitution and the rule of law that it's necessary to do what one can to change that calculus. Telling Obama that you'll cheer for him no matter what he does, that you'll vest in him Blind Faith that anything he does is done with the purest of motives, ensures that he will continue to ignore you and your political interests.

if you would to say, in your own words,in this thread, ww -what you would like to happen in this election(you've made it clear in this thread whom you won't vote for).

Obviously, no reason you have to - but Greenwald's scalding apocalyptic "trample on the political values of those who believe in the Constitution"- "you'll cheer for him whatever he does"- evokes a tin-pot dictatorship while somewhat short of Mugabe's, is certainly no better than Cheney's.

Is that what you see? I just see some suckup to AIPAC (no different alas from other politicos like HRC) orsome disappointing floundering, the poisoned chalice it would seem of every Democratic nominee lately. From what I'm reading, Even Kossacks are disappointed in the FISA wimpout and not just by Obama.

_{1."George Washington did not cross the Delaware for Capitalism," -Shmuley Boteach.
2.The Dems haven't punished the GOP enough, so you're going to reward the Republicans?}

... isn't possible, as you could guess. At this point I am truly at a loss to know with certainty which of the two remaining candidates would be worse for America. Actually, I'm coming more around to the idea that America has lost her ability to do the right thing despite Churchill's observations. I hope I'm wrong, but see little to hang my hat on.

If Barack becomes our next President I expect it will be a regretful enterprise.

I looked at Obama as the least bad of the three- but I don't think he'll get elected:-).I hope I'm wrong there.

I did think Bill would get elected.

I really don't know where future presidents are going to come from.

_{1."George Washington did not cross the Delaware for Capitalism," -Shmuley Boteach.
2.The Dems haven't punished the GOP enough, so you're going to reward the Republicans?}

Google obama antichrist and enjoy.

Then, in the interest of balance, Google mccain antichrist too.

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

.. low blow for you, Rick.

Obama as Anti-Christ

in an upchuck green vomit sort of way. I really preferred the other story at the same link, though "Bikini-clad Cambridge student arrested for attacking spectator at jelly-wrestling match". Seems to me we must be onto a new primary news source for Agonistas.

P.S. The fact that people consider calling someone a Muslim a viable political smear is a sad comment on our culture.

Always having to have an enemy is so tiring but I guess it is what motivates the Republican base.

just the Republican base, I fear. Please check words to the American national anthem - the "Star Spangled Banner" (1814) is one of the only national anthem in the world that celebrates war.

O! say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming.
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming.
And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

O! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: 'In God is our trust.'
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

It's interesting to compare those lyrics to America's principal enemies du jour.

Of course, another famous "war" anthem, written about the same time, is rousingly sung by the French. I think La Marseillaise is absolutely, bar none, the best national anthem in the world. I want to hop to my feet, stick out my chest and march around the room and pretend to be French, just from reading the words....

Let us go, children of the Fatherland
The day of glory has arrived.
Against us, the bloody
Flag of tyranny is raised,
The bloody flag is raised.
Do you hear in the countryside
The roar of these savage soldiers
They come right into our arms
To slaughter your sons,
your companions.

To arms, citizens!
Form your battalions,
March on, March on!
That their impure blood
Should water our fields

What do they want this horde of slaves
Of traitors and conspiratorial kings?
For whom these vile chains
These long-prepared irons?
Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
What methods must be taken?
It is we they dare plan
To return to the old slavery!

Aux armes citoyens!
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons!
Qu'un sang impur
Abreuve nos sillons.

... it is anything but new.

http://bagnewsnotes.typepad.com/bagnews/2008/06/more-from-obama.html

.
_{1."George Washington did not cross the Delaware for Capitalism," -Shmuley Boteach.
2.The Dems haven't punished the GOP enough, so you're going to reward the Republicans?}

It does show (what I think is) a pattern of "treatment" Also see quax's link to BagNews.

Do you feel the piece deserved to be placed on P1 of the print edition of the Times?

god help us if this type of stuff is what the political campaign reporting this summer turns out to be like.

_{1."George Washington did not cross the Delaware for Capitalism," -Shmuley Boteach.
2.The Dems haven't punished the GOP enough, so you're going to reward the Republicans?}

probably not read all that these two writers have written about the Obamas. That said, I think this piece stands on its own as good incisive journalism. Of course, I don't come to this with the inherent and, I must say sometimes irrational, anti-Times bias that I often see on this blog. I am a very strong supporter of the Obamas and have been from the get-go, even before the 2006 convention and I didn't see what others seem to have in this reporting.

(like Gail Collins and Paul Krugman) - but have never liked
"soft" pieces on the print FP. It's the economy, I suppose. maybe if the AP gets away with charging bloggers per word, all the bloggers left will be newspaper bloggers anyway:-)

When I was growing up, the Times used to be famous for not "getting"
local news- that's what I read the Daily News for.

The first time I caught "The Times" out on something, I was appalled- but I had been there (at an a small NYU late 60's anti-war demonstration), and knew what was reported was a distortion by some stringer. The absolute trust was gone, probably its leaving was much overdue.

_{1."George Washington did not cross the Delaware for Capitalism," -Shmuley Boteach.
2.The Dems haven't punished the GOP enough, so you're going to reward the Republicans?}

and the situation is not unique to the Times. In my experience, any time there has been a news report about anything that I have personal knowledge about or was involved in, the report got some part wrong. Reporters report from the outside in. They can't know more than they see or are told. It's different from "being there."

or "General who probed Abu Ghraib says Bush officials committed war crimes" have no place in this year's campaign, as far as the Times (and they wonder why they don't win awards any more) and many bloggers are concerned.

I don't care if CindyMcCain shoots up or melts down about some private issue, but when she gets on "Good Morning America" and does another "Michelle's patriotism" dance, she's crossed the line into political comment, which I do care about.

_{1."George Washington did not cross the Delaware for Capitalism," -Shmuley Boteach.
2.The Dems haven't punished the GOP enough, so you're going to reward the Republicans?}

didn't mean diddly during the primary so it is no surprise it will mean nothing during the GE. With Michelle they get the trifecta: sexism, racism, misogny with a few shots of patriotism as a chaser.

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

I am deadly serious that attacks on Michelle Obama which focus on how far she is from some ideal political wife (demure, petite, pretty, silent, subservient) are attacks on *every* Democratic woman who has a strong public presence. If you think the Right hates Hillary, you will be stunned at what they think about Michelle Obama. I can dislike statements she has made and not wish on her what is lying in wait. Again, every time the Right gets away with brutalizing women public figures, it is the *Democrats* who will pay the greater price.

_{"While not a Playboy reader, she invites a male acquaintance in for a quiet discussion of Chagall, Nietzsche, jazz, sex." - not a Hugh Hefner quote}

Because Tweety and the Birds, newspaper columnists, and the right-wing anus-breathing talkies are already in full spin. They're cautious about bashing the Black Man running for President, but - oooh! his wife is a pissed off Black Woman! We can't have someone like that as first lady!

Nasty Season is upon us...this will be the most vile national U.S. election in my lifetime, and I heard all the anti-Catholic bullshit at my family supper table in 1960.

As Don said so many weeks ago, I'm voting for the nigger, with conviction not in the least tempered by a sense of glee at sticking him up the Right's ass.

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

Please don't change. We don't want another Stepford wife in the White House. Taking her cues from Laura Bush

_{"While not a Playboy reader, she invites a male acquaintance in for a quiet discussion of Chagall, Nietzsche, jazz, sex." - not a Hugh Hefner quote}