Clinton makes strong case for Obama
Speakers take more aggressive approach in turning focus to McCain

DENVER (MSNBC) - Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton answered skeptics Tuesday night by issuing a ringing call for her supporters to rally behind Sen. Barack Obama, saying Democrats cannot afford to stay home in November and let another Republican administration ruin the economy.

“Barack Obama is my candidate,” Clinton said in the final speech of the second night of the convention that will nominate Obama for president.

“No way, no how, no McCain,” she declared in a speech that both blasted the presumed Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, and put forth Obama, her colleague from Illinois, as the man “who must be our president.”

The McCain campaign responded immediately, saying in a statement that “nowhere tonight did [Clinton] say that Barack Obama is ready to lead. Millions of Hillary Clinton supporters and millions of Americans remain concerned about whether Barack Obama is ready to be president.”

Continued from:

Barack Obama (5)

http://agonist.org/forum/barack_obama_5

Continued from:

Barack Obama (4)

http://agonist.org/forum/barack_obama_4

It Takes a Village

Anglachel's Journal

Once in a while, a comment thread is far, far more interesting than the original post.

That happened yesterday on TalkLeft when BTD posted "Document the Atrocities," a short snark at Atrios/Duncan Black (Eschaton) specifically and the Blogger Boyz generally, about the way they no longer challenge the MSM, and giving props to the Incomparable Bob Somerby for always calling the media (major and minor) on their lies, smears, bullshit, and general mendacity.

Continuation of:

Hillary Clinton (3)

Continued from:

Barack Obama (3)

http://agonist.org/forum/barack_obama_3

A while ago I said that one of Obama's biggest problems was he seemed unable to project strength. This post from the Huffington Post by Andrew Foster Altschul
addresses some things Obama needs to do or at least think about. I don't agree with all the suggestions (especially #1).

Continuation of:

Hillary Clinton (2)

NYT
By TIMOTHY EGAN
Published: March 22, 2008

When they set out, it all looked so bright — away to the West, to the Denver convention, nothing but blue skies ahead. They had a continent to cross, a nation to convince, and they vowed to do it in a way that had never been done before.

They moved briskly across the plains of the Bush presidency. There was the scarecrow president who didn’t know the price of fuel or the ways of war. Flapping in the wind, he pointed one way, while 70 percent of the country wanted to go the other.

On to the arid side of the prairie, they passed one sunbaked skeleton after another — Larry Craig and his wide stance, Scooter Libby and his breach of trust, and a man from the Arabian Horse Association, Brownie. Each had the stench of yesterday on them.

Along the way, they moved by Mitt the Muddler, who couldn’t decide which way to go, and Rudy the Robo, muttering, “9/11, 9/11, 9/11.” Dining on squirrel was a guitar-plucking Huckabee, who at least knew how to keep folks entertained around the campfire.

Continued from:

Barack Obama (2)

http://agonist.org/forum/barack_obama_2?from=90&comments_per_page=90

Previous Barack Obama forum thread:

http://agonist.org/forum/obama_is_in

Previous Hillary Clinton forum thread:

http://agonist.org/forum/candidate_hillary_rodham_clinton

Why Electing Any Democrat Might Be Utterly Irrelevant -- and what to do about it...

Official and potential 2008 United States presidential election Democratic candidates:
continuously updated information from Wikipedia

Agonist Article: The Democratic Nominees and Iraq

Site: ChrisDodd.com

From Wikipedia: Christopher Dodd, was born May 27, 1944 in Connecticut and is a U.S. Senator from that state. Dodd was reported to be a likely contender for the Democratic Vice President slot on John Kerry's ticket in 2004. He is the first Senator from Connecticut to serve five consecutive terms. In May 2006, Dodd said he has "decided to do all the things that are necessary to prepare to seek the presidency in 2008", including hiring staff, raising money and traveling around the country in the next few months to enlist support.[4] On Jan. 11, 2007, Dodd announced his Presidential candidacy on the "Don Imus in the Morning" radio show.[5]

Site: http://bayh.senate.gov/index1.html

From Wikipedia: Evan Bayh, was born December 26, 1955 in Indiana, former two-term Governor and currently a second-term U.S. Senator from that state. In February of 2005, Bayh renamed his Federal Leadership PAC the All America PAC[32] and hired a new veteran staff with experience on the 2004 campaigns of John Kerry and Wesley Clark for President and Tom Daschle for senate.[33] His new staff includes New Hampshire political operative Steve Bouchard, his deputy Chris Smith, longtime Democratic fundraiser Nancy Jacobson, and informal advisor Ronald Klain. Even though Bayh announced the formation of an exploratory bid for president on December 3, 2006, he announced on December 16, 2006 that he would not seek the Democratic nomination for President. [34]

Site: http://feingold.senate.gov/

From Wikipedia: Russ Feingold, born March 2, 1953 in Wisconsin, U.S. Senator from that state. Announced to a meeting of the Tiger Bay Club of Volusia County, Florida, in January 2005 that he was considering a run for the nomination, and would decide after "going around the country" to campaign for fellow Democrats running for other offices.[41] His Federal Leadership PAC is the Progressive Patriots Fund,[42] which will be financing his travels around the country [43]. In early March 2005, his Senate campaign registered the domain name for the website www.russfeingold08.com as well as the .org and .net versions.[44] Later that month, he took a listening trip to Alabama. [45] In early April of 2005, Feingold announced that he would be divorcing his second wife, a move which some analysts believe could diminish his chances of winning the presidential nomination. On August 17, 2005, Feingold became the first U.S. Senator to publicly support a firm date for withdrawal from the Iraq War,[46] suggesting December 31, 2006 as a reasonable date. Although Feingold's stance was generally criticized by other Democratic senators, including Biden and Clinton, his support in nonscientific internet polls of party activists jumped. In December 2005, when he led the Senate campaign against the renewal of the Patriot Act his support among party activists further intensified. Following the overwhelming resonance for his anti-war and bi-partisan rule of law positions in the 2006 Congressional elections, Feingold commented that the legislative victory "pushes me in both directions," and "he could make a decision on a presidential run before the end of the year" [47]. However, on November 12, 2006, Feingold ruled out a 2008 presidential candidacy,[48] but has stated he is willing to consider an offer from the eventual nominee for the vice presidency.[49] Feingold has stated that his first choice for president in 2008 would be someone who voted against the war in Iraq, and failing that, his second choice would be someone who wasn't in Congress but spoke out against the war at the time. He also said he would "be happy" if Barack Obama or Al Gore ran, but stated he was not offering an endorsement. [50]

Site: Securing America

From Wikipedia: Wesley Clark, born December 23, 1944 in Illinois, retired United States Army four-star general and former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO. He graduated first in his class from West Point. Clark is traveling widely through his Federal Leadership PAC WesPAC,[24] and is a commentator on FOX News, while grassroots campaigns for Clark have become active on the internet.[25] Clark was a 2004 Presidential candidate as well, narrowly winning the Oklahoma primary. During a January 17, 2007 speech given to a local UAW group in Alabama and posted on YouTube, Clark stated "when I run, I'll be the national security candidate."[26]

Site: Kucinich

From Wikipedia: Dennis Kucinich, born October 8, 1946, Ohio Congressman and 2004 Democratic primary candidate. Kucinich got the second highest number of votes at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Kucinich threw his support behind Kerry after losing the nomination, although a sizable number of Kucinich's delegates refused to follow suit. Dennis Kucinich is known for his opposition to the war in Iraq and the Patriot Act. His plan to end US involvement in the Iraq War replaces US troops with UN troops so that there is no loss of military support for the Iraqi people. He favors creating a Department of Peace. Kucinich is currently campaigning to end the war in Iraq by trying to cut off funding, and he opposes going to war in Iran. Kucinich has received many awards over his career praising his courage and his work for the peace movement. He is also a favorite among youth activists on the left. On December 12, 2006, Kucinich announced his candidacy at an event at Cleveland's City Hall.[8]

Site: HillaryClinton.com

From Wikipedia: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton Hillary Rodham Clinton, born October 26, 1947 in Illinois, U.S. Senator from New York and former First Lady of the United States. Clinton announced her candidacy on 20 January 2007 with a post on her website.[16] She has delivered several speeches, including one on abortion, which analysts say are intended to reach out to moderates. She has also been a consistent, vocal supporter of America's participation in the Iraq war, perhaps as part of an effort to shake perceptions of being overly liberal. She has also been holding fundraising meetings, including meeting with women from Massachusetts, a key constituency of potential rival and 2004 nominee John Kerry.(a) However, these activities are consistent with the lead up to a campaign for re-election to her Senate seat in 2006. Many Republicans appear to desire Hillary Clinton's candidacy for President, presumably believing her to be a polarizing figure and thus easy to defeat. If elected, Hillary would be the first woman president. Her Federal Leadership PAC is HILLPAC.[22]

Site: JoeBiden.com

From Wikipedia: Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. (born 20 November 1942) is an American lawyer and politician from Wilmington, Delaware. He is a member of the Democratic Party and the incumbent senior U.S. Senator from Delaware. Biden is currently serving his sixth term and is sixth-longest serving among current Senators and Delaware's longest-serving Senator. He is the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 110th Congress. Biden has served in that position in the past, and he has served as Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. He has officially filed as a candidate for the Democratic Party's nomination in the 2008 presidential election

Site: Draft Gore

From Wikipedia (more info at link)

Al Gore is a former U.S. Vice President from Tennessee and was the 2000 Democratic nominee. Gore and his family have commented upon whether or not Gore would participate as a candidate in the 2008 presidential election. In the December 12, 2006 article, "Gore chases Oscar nod, possible 2008 bid," the Associated Press quoted Gore as stating, "'I am not planning to run for president again,' Gore said last week, arguing that his focus is raising public awareness about global warming and its dire effects. Then, he added: 'I haven't completely ruled it out'." [23] His son, Albert Gore III, followed with a comment in the December 14, 2006 article "Albert Gore: Dad's Doing Well, Not Running in 2008":"I know that [my father] has no plans to run in 2008 [...] Well, I guess I have to add his addendum. I think the way he always says it is, 'I don't see any circumstances under which I would run for president."[24] In a December 29, 2006 article, the Associated Press commented that: "The potential candidate best positioned to shake up the top tier is former Vice President Al Gore, whose movie about global warming and longtime opposition to the Iraq war give him a natural platform to enter the race, Democratic strategists said. Gore has said he has no interest in running for president in 2008, but he has been careful not to completely rule out a bid."[25] It was reported in The Boston Globe, that "Democratic sources say that in recent weeks, the former vice-president's camp has quietly put out feelers to presidential politicos, asking whether they are committed for 2008." [11]

Site: RichardsonForPresident.com

From Wikipedia: Bill Richardson, born November 15, 1947 in California, Governor of New Mexico, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Secretary of Energy and U.S. Representative. After reportedly informing party leaders in February 2005 of his intention to run for president, on December 7, 2006 Richardson said "I am running" during his response to a prospective question about the 2008 presidential election by Fox News, however he later retracted the decision and said he would make an official decision by January. [19][20]. A Draft Richardson movement is now active. [21]

Site: Barack Obama

From Wikipedia: Barack Obama, born August 4, 1961 in Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. Senator from Illinois. A "draft Obama" movement began with his well-received keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. Obama was the featured speaker at Iowa Senator Tom Harkin's annual steak fry, a political event favored by presidential hopefuls in the lead-up to the Iowa caucus. He was endorsed by talk show host Rachel Ray in 2006.[17] Various recent opinion polls have seen Obama's support rising, with him trailing only Hillary Clinton in several polls.