The contract was awarded to Rezko's company while Aiham Alsammarae, a long-time, close Rezko friend and a contributor to Obama's campaign, served as Iraq's U.S.-appointed electricity minister, the senator's office confirms.

Rezko was a major Obama fundraiser and associate for two decades.

Alsammarae also awarded another Rezko-controlled operation as part of a $150 million contract to construct a 250-megawatt electricity plant in Iraq.

Alsammarae later was arrested by Iraqi authorities for bilking the coalition government out of some $650 million. He was sprung from prison under questionable circumstances in 2006 and escaped from Iraq, where he is still wanted for questioning with regard to major financial crimes.

The information raises questions into the nature of Obama's relationship with multiple deals made by Iraq's Electricity Ministry while Alsammarae was in charge. Obama has ties to Alsammarae and to the recipients of several of the massive contracts Alsammarae handed out.

While he was the electric czar of Iraq for the Coalition Provisional Authority from mid-2003 until mid-2005, Alsammarae granted the $50 million contract to train Iraqis to guard electrical plants to Companion Security, a start-up reportedly controlled by Rezko, his partner Daniel Mahru and a front man, Daniel Frawley, a former Chicago policeman. Frawley has multiple civil court judgments against him for his alleged failure to pay millions in outstanding bills.

The plan was to fly about 150 Iraqis to a site in Illinois for security training, which reportedly would include the use of AK-47 machine guns.

Obama's office did not reply to repeated WND requests for comment. A working number could not be found for Frawley.

Alsammarae did not return WND calls left on his cell phone and at his voicemail at his KCI Consultants firm in Chicago.
[ More - World Net Daily ]

1) One group would be the delegates who are elected by the public either by way of primary elections or by caucus votes. These are the so-called "pledged" delegates. They are REQUIRED to vote for their candidate at least through the first round of balloting at the convention.

2) The second group would be the superdelegates who are following the wishes of the voters from their state and/ or voting district and supporting either Hillary or Obama depending on how their state or district voted. All superdelegates are free agents and can vote however they wish to, no matter which candidate they have said they would support at the August Convention.

(Superdelegates are Democratic Party leaders (past and present), Democratic governors, and Democratic House members and senators. There are more than 800 superdelegates.)

3) The third category is comprised of the superdelegates, such as Ted Kennedy and John Kerry, who opted to come out in support of Obama EVEN THOUGH their state, Massachusetts, voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton. They are scum. They too can change their support at any time but are unlikely to.

As of now, Hillary has 1640 "pledged" delegates and Obama has 1763 "pledged" delegates.

Be aware that 2118 delegate votes (pledged or superdelegate) are needed to win the Democratic nomination.

It is the superdelegates who will make the final decision about the Democratic Party's nominee. At this moment, enough superdelegates have "said" they will support Obama to give him the nomination, but as I pointed out, they CAN CHANGE their minds at any time and switch their votes to Hillary.

It's a long shot but, folks, it's the only shot we have to get Hillary nominated -- so lets do the best we can to change the minds of the superdelegates.

"Approximately 800 superdelegates will make up around 20% of the 4000 delegates at the convention. These superdelegates are Democratic Party leaders, Democratic governors, and Democratic members of congress. They have the right to endorse either candidate without reason and can change their endorsement from one candidate to another at any time. The superdelegates are very powerful and highly sought after by candidates. One superdelegate is equal to one pledged delegate or 11,361 voters in California or 7,220 voters in New York. Many factors influence which candidate a superdelegate endorses but they usually vote the way their constituents vote. Some superdelegates have intense personal relationships with particular candidates that may influence their endorsement. Members of congress may also be influenced by money given or promised by party leaders, the DNC or the candidates themselves."

[ More - Alegre's Corner ]

All of this took place after many a roll call vote. Those were the days when the first vote included a state's "favorite son." I doubt if all of you know what a "favorite son" is. It usually was the state's pride and joy - perhaps a senator, perhaps a governor.

Now if we fast forward to 2008 we see a totally different scene. One that is very foreign to me.

As we went through the primary campaign, I kept hearing that we must have our candidate before the convention. What? Why? So now, we have this candidate that was never "officially" elected getting ready to announce his vice presidential running mate. What? A non-official candidate choosing his running mate?

Actually that's a pretty smart move because as this "unofficial" candidate chooses his running mate, he is making it impossible for the convention to even consider another candidate. Yes, in spite of the fact that neither of the top two received enough votes to garner the title of candidate. Yes, even though many a super delegate may have changed his or her mind. The mantra is, "let's wrap this up ahead of time." Media has jumped on that bandwagon and it seems those who remember the days of old have no voice, and those that weren't around to see the old conventions, have no point of reference.

Why even have a roll call vote? Oh! That's most probably what this is about. Let's not allow Hillary Clinton have her name put into nomination. And let's not allow a vote! The DNC took away 4 of Hillary's earned delegates and they were given to Obama, so why not just let the Hillary delegates sit on their hands at this convention and give all their votes to Obama?

This brings me to the title of my rant. Why even have a convention? Just think of all the money that could be saved. The only down side would be that Obama couldn't hold court in the stadium. Just think though, no need of protests - no need of security and no need to vote.

I look at all of this with great sadness. People talk about the disappearing middle class. What I see is the disappearing of the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party of the working people - the Party that always left this country better off for its children. That Party has disappeared and for that I shed tears.

UPDATE
The NOBAMA campaign released this in regards to his buddy Ludacris, who he listens to incessantly on an IPod and also had his "songs" playing at campaign rallies:

"This song is not only outrageously offensive to Senator Clinton, Reverend Jackson, Senator McCain, and President Bush, it is offensive to all of us who are trying to raise our children with the values we hold dear.

While Ludacris is a talented individual he should be ashamed of these lyrics."

Obama had no problem with this video going out on the airwaves and I don't see any OBAMA speaking out against this.

Here, have some hope and change Ludacris style:
Said I handled his biz and I'm one of his favorite rappers
Well give Luda a special pardon if I'm ever in the slammer
Better yet put him in office, make me your vice president
Hillary hated on you, so that bitch is irrelevant
Jesse talking slick and apologizing for what?
if you said it then you meant it how you want it have a gut!
and all you other politicians trying to hate on my man,
watch us win a majority vote in every state on my man
you can't stop what's bout to happen, we bout to make history
the first black president is destined and it's meant to be
the threats ain't fazing us, the nooses or the jokes
so get off your ass, black people, it's time to get out and vote!
paint the White House black and I'm sure that's got 'em terrified
McCain don't belong in ANY chair unless he's paralyzed

The Friday-Sunday poll, mostly conducted as Obama was returning from his much-publicized overseas trip and released just this hour, shows McCain now ahead 49%-45% among voters that Gallup believes are most likely to go to the polls in November. In late June, he was behind among likely voters, 50%-44%.
[ More - USA Today ]

The Convention is starting to sound like a second rate block party put together in 24 minutes on a roll of quarters. (OH! and happier we could not be!)  So we thought it would be fun to see just what is IN that 'bag of goodies' given to delegates from AT&T since they're broke and the DNC has re patterned themselves after the Nzzi Party in Germany...

NUMBER 10 - a real roll of quarters symbolizing NObama's "change" and also to use the toilet, as they could only afford pay-per-use Port-O-Sans.

NUMBER 9 - Used balloons from the 2004 Convention you must blow up yourself.  You remember those! The ones that DIDN'T fall?  Just ignore the Kerry/Edwards moniker.

NUMBER 8 - Knee pads.  These are for the sycophant media and Obamatron zombies to use whenever they see anyone even remotely connected to the Plastic Jesus, so they can fall on their knees and give worship.

NUMBER 7 - A cassette tape of songs taken from the Time Life Collection, "Open The Eyes Of My Heart", except THESE ditties are sung by Coward Dean and The Brazilenuts, among them such future classics as " Word Of Obama Speak",  "Barky,  I Lift Your Name On High",  "Come, Now Is The Time To Drink The Kool Aid",  " I Could Sing Of Your Lies Forever",  "My Plastic Jesus Lives", and the awe-inspiring and emotional, "How Great Is Our Barky".

NUMBER 6 - Cardboard face masks for all Obamatrons to wear at the convention of JFK's face, with the saying "Jack Is Back".

NUMBER 5 - Coupons for 2 free Kool Aids every night you attend!  Comes in Barky Blueberry, Racist Raspberry, Lying Lemon, and Arrogant Apple!

NUMBER 4 - A coupon for a free breakfast at the local Motel 6, which is where most delegates are staying.  Coffee not included, Kool Aid only.

NUMBER 3 - A bread sandwich for those 'hungry' times cleaning the convention floor of Clinton supporters.  Please try and share with a delegate from your state, as only 50 sandwiches are available.  First Come, First Served!

NUMBER 2 - A roll of duct tape left over from Tom Ridge.  Will come in handy for those trying times of running into a DEMOCRAT who actually has the AUDACITY to suggest Hillary Clinton's name be put in nomination.

And the NUMBER 1 thing found in the bag of goodies for delegates - a pre-cursed voodoo doll labeled "CLINTON SUPPORTER".  Just use the conveniently included pins to repeatedly puncture the doll's head every time a Clinton supporter is spotted, is about to speak, hold up a sign, wear a button, or tries to break all DNC rules by suggesting ANYONE should be voted on for the nomination except a lying, racist, empty headed, criminally tied, flip-flopping, cheating, arrogant, empty suit who knows no other way to 'win' except to rid himself of ANY and ALL competition, LIE about all competition, call everyone within earshot a racist, lie about his birth, his family, his church, his associations, his father, his experience, his voting, his record and never ever shrinks from trying to morph himself into any and all heroes this country has produced because he HAS no personality,  HAS no record,  HAS no brains or intelligence,  HAS no ideas,  HAS no plans, and the entire campaign is built on eroding wet sand.

Have fun now, and y'all come back!!

But that’s the first item on Mr. Obama’s “FriendFeed” on BarackBook.com, a Facebook parody site created by the Republican National Committee that it says will go live on Tuesday. According to the R.N.C, the site is intended to showcase some of Mr. Obama’s “notable associations.”

And highlighting Mr. Obama’s relationship with Mr. Rezko, the Chicago real estate developer who was recently convicted in federal court of corruption and money laundering, is just the beginning. Mr. Rezko was an early political backer of Mr. Obama and donated large sums to his campaigns. (Mr. Obama has since severed ties with Mr. Rezko and given much of the money he raised to charity.)

An early glance at the R.N.C. mockup shows Mr. Rezko with his own profile page that lists links to Mr. Obama and other “friends” of the Illinois senator. Other “BarackBook” friends include, Eric Holder, a Washington lawyer and member of Mr. Obama’s vice presidential selection team, and William Ayers, one of the founders of the radical group Weather Underground. Each profile is set to include videos, news articles and sections like “Facts About Me and Barack,” “My Donations and Bundling for Barack” and “What Barack Says About Me.” The R.N.C. says it plans to continue updating BarackBook between now and the election. (Notably, the Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Mr. Obama’s controversial former pastor, does not yet have a profile.)
[ More - Real NY Times ]

Behind her as she preached, a simple wooden cross hung on a brick wall in the vaulted and sizable sanctuary of the church, which is headed by her father, Herbert Daughtry. A prison convert who served time in his early 20s for armed robbery and passing bad checks, Herbert Daughtry — whose father founded the church and whose grandfather and great-grandfather were also ministers — became the church’s pastor 50 years ago, and today Leah was delivering the sermon as part of an anniversary celebration.. Below the sanctuary, in the fellowship hall, a banner for slavery reparations proclaimed, “They Owe Us.” Fliers recounted Herbert Daughtry’s arrest, a few weeks earlier, as he led marchers protesting the not-guilty verdict in the police killing of Sean Bell, an unarmed black man. His ministry has always combined consuming spirituality with black liberation theology — the theology Jeremiah Wright invoked this spring to defend his controversial sermons — and zealous political activism. Leah holds these forces within her.

But wait there's more! This New York-born Pentecostal minister is not only the head of their religious outreach, she's the CEO of the Democratic National Convention! That's right, the CEO of the DNC is a MARXIST! Folks...do we really need any more proof?

DENVER -- For nearly a decade, city leaders here have wooed the Democrats, hoping to lure their national convention to this often-overlooked town and showcase its new public transit system, bustling downtown and sweeping views of the Rocky Mountains.

Municipal leaders were jubilant when they won the right to hold this year's event. But the convention is raising questions about whether this perennial booster town has bitten off more than it can chew.

The host committee is as much as $10 million short in fundraising, and financial difficulties have forced it to cancel two dozen parties for delegates. Denver officials are scrambling to deal with the logistical challenges of Barack Obama's acceptance speech being held at an outdoor stadium instead of in the arena where the rest of the convention will take place. Even special daisies that the city bred partly to show off for the convention are failing to sprout.

Criticism has been so harsh that this month the host committee felt compelled to issue a news release defending its much-mocked catering guidelines, which recommend organic produce and color-coordinated meals and discourage fried food.

"It's an embarrassment, particularly for the political class," said Floyd Ciruli, a former chairman of the state Democratic Party who is now an independent pollster unaffiliated with the convention effort. "At this point, everybody's thinking about the burdens rather than the benefits."
[ More - LA Times ]
[Ed. Note: STILL think we don't matter, Brazilenut?? STILL think you can get along just fine without Clinton supporters? STILL think you don't need all those middle class, bitter, angry, gun totin' typical white people and everyone else of course, is just a racist? This thing is startin' to sound like a cheap block party gone wrong instead of a National Convention. Oh what fun it will be to watch!

How else can one explain Obama's concerns about the "threat" posed by the Taliban in Afghanistan against America? No one has ever shown that the Taliban were explicitly aware of or supportive of Al Qaeda plans to attack New York City. The Taliban have not traveled outside their country to attack the U.S. The Taliban accepted an invitation by the Bush Administration to visit the Bush family’s Texas headquarters city of Houston to discuss oil pipelines, but would not play ball. So, they were thrown out of the game, and offered a "carpet of bombs" which they have received. In defending themselves on their home ground, the Taliban have gone from potential business partners to terrorists. And Obama is bamboozling his followers into expanding the American military presence in Afghanistan, which was planned years before 9/11/01.

One good way to understand the sincerity of Obama is to follow the money. Is Obama promising funding to match his rhetoric for social good for his supporters? Is Obama interested in regulating corporations to as to enhance the public good, or is he paying lip service to public good while aligning himself with corporate interests? The very fact that Barack Obama presents the illusion of organic blackness is a form of bamboozlement. He was raised by his white mother and abandoned by his black father. He is close to his white grandparents and never knew his black grandparents. He talks like an American mid-westerner and disassociated himself from a black minister who railed against injustice and racism. Barack Obama's blackness is literally skin deep. He is a front-man with a facade that suggests something that is not true deep within. He is a bamboozler.
[ More - Media Monitors ]

Shortly after cancelling his meeting with wounded American G.I.s in Germany Senator Obama also skipped a planned meeting with the real Messiah. Obama had planned to meet with convalescing servicemen and women while on his "non campaign" swing through Europe. When it was discovered that no photo-op would be allowed Obama canceled the visit to the military hospital.

LR has learned that Obama also had a planned meeting with Jesus set for late Friday. When the Obama camp was told by the Jesus Camp that no footage or photographs of the meeting would be allowed Obama cancelled.

A spokesman for Jesus said "We are stunned. Obviously, we could not allow pictures. Jesus resides in an undisclosed location awaiting the endtimes. Anything that may give away his whereabouts is unacceptable. We assumed Senator Obama would understand that."

Jesus, known to many as The Messiah, has been planning his return for many years. Rumored sightings have been a staple of the web recently.

L.R. contacted the Obama campaign for a response. "Obviously, at this point in the campaign Senator Obama has meetings with many high level officials. He can't be expected to meet everyone. Jesus is more than welcome to visit with the Senator and Michelle when their schedule permits."

When asked if the photo prohibition had anything to do with the cancellation, the Obama spokesman said, "Of course, it didn't help. What's the point of meeting with the Messiah to discuss the world situation if no pictures can be taken? The people want to see Obama. See what he's doing. How he's helping to build a better world. If Jesus doesn't want a picture taken with Obama that's Jesus's problem."

L.R. later received a terse, confused email follow up from the Obama campaign that said: We believe the reason Jesus put unreasonable restrictions on the meeting with Senator Obama, causing the cancellation, stems from Senator Clinton's refusal to exit the race in a timely manner.

The email ended with a request for donations.

POOR Elizabeth. What a piece of crap he is, a wife with a recurrance of cancer, who is one of the smartest people around and a total sweetheart, and this is what he does?

Guard Confirms Late-Night Hotel Encounter Between Ex-Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters
A Beverly Hills hotel security guard told FOXNews.com he intervened this week between a man he identified as former Sen. John Edwards and tabloid reporters who chased down the former presidential hopeful after what they're calling a rendezvous with his mistress and love child.

The Beverly Hilton Hotel guard said he encountered a shaken and ashen-faced Edwards — whom he did not immediately recognize — in a hotel men's room early Tuesday morning in a literal tug-of-war with reporters on the other side of the door.

"What are they saying about me?" the guard said Edwards asked. "His face just went totally white," the guard said, when Edwards was told the reporters were shouting out questions about Edwards and Rielle Hunter, a woman the National Enquirer says is the mother of his child.

The guard said he escorted Edwards, who was not a registered guest at the hotel, out of the building after 2 a.m. Edwards did not say anything while he was escorted out, said the guard, adding that at times the reporters on the scene were "rough on him," sticking a camera in his face and shouting questions.

The guard did not recognize Edwards at the time of the incident, but said he concluded it was the 2008 presidential hopeful after hearing reports about the incident and finding an Enquirer reporter's notebook at the scene.

The guard said during the chase the reporters had dropped the notebook, which he picked up. "This book has everything in it on him," he said, referring to Edwards. The guard later confirmed Edwards' identity after being shown a photograph. A former campaign staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity, told FOXNews.com he wishes he were "more surprised" to hear reports Edwards was visiting Hunter. "I'm definitely upset by it. I wish I was more surprised, though."
[ FOX News ]

When Jim Steinberg, Bill Clinton's former national security adviser, told reporters that during four years in the White House he had never had to go on the record for a briefing there was a chorus of retorts that Obama wasn't in the White House.

The same day, during a testy exchange in which Team Obama persisted with the preposterous contention that the Berlin speech was not a campaign event, Susan Rice, another Obama foreign policy aide, was also accused of hubris. "It is not going to be a political speech," she said. "When the President of the United States goes and gives a speech, it is not a political speech or a political rally." A reporter reminded her: But he is not President of the United States.

Ed. Note: Is this guy for REAL? First, a transition team, now his flunkies announce it's not a political event per se when the POTUS gives a speech. IS she speaking of BUSH? Does she know dimwit is just a Senator, for some oddball reason running a EUROPEAN campaign tour? Hubris doesn't even scratch the surface of the AUDACITY and PSYCHOTIC PRESUMPTION of this campaign.

One cannot help but think back on all the rude and crude comments made by empty talking heads on cable news about HILLARY assuming she was the candidate and assuming she will win, and assuming waaay too much. Will any of them NOW criticize the Plastic Jesus?

NO. Because you are simply not allowed to because Barky has made RACISM the rallying cry of this entire campaign.

Don't like his tie? Screw YOU, you're a RACIST! Don't like Mrs. Barky's dress? Screw YOU, you're a RACIST! Think his health care plan sucks wind? Screw YOU, you're a RACIST!!

Examples:

HUH!?! So if you're a white American and you don't vote for this lying, racist piece of crap, who has as much experience to be President as my mailman, you're simply a card carrying member of the KKK, and don't forget to get your clean 'sheets' out of the dry cleaners for the rally tonight.

Just what the HELL has this country come to? African Americans should be screaming bloody murder at this MIS-USE of racism, but I haven't heard them. If somehow he steals the election after he steals the nomination, the entire Congress will be afraid to deny him - all together now - YOU'RE A RACIST! Defy the Plastic Jesus in ANY way, criticize him in ANY way, disagree with him in ANY way, and GOD HELP YOU, do not vote for him, and you are now a good ol' boy who wears white hoods and burns crosses.

God Help Us. Vote McCain E V E R Y O N E.

Embarrassed by a defection in their ranks, the Wisconsin Democratic Party's administrative committee voted 23-0 to strip Debra Bartoshevich of her status as a delegate to the Denver convention next month.

Bartoshevich was elected by party activists as a pledged delegate for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton from the 1st Congressional District in southeastern Wisconsin. But after Clinton dropped out of the race, Bartoshevich told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel she would support McCain over Democratic Sen. Barack Obama.

The June comments from Bartoshevich, a 41-year-old nurse and mother of two from Waterford, were seized on by the McCain campaign as evidence of his appeal to former Clinton backers. Within hours, the Wisconsin Democratic Party passed a resolution at its state convention supporting a challenge of her credentials with the national committee.

The party's rules and bylaws committee said the state party could decide the matter, clearing the way for Friday's vote. Committee members agreed Bartoshevich had lost her privilege to be one of the state's 92 Democratic delegates because of her comments and affiliation with "Citizens for McCain," a branch of his campaign designed to recruit independents and Democrats.

During a teleconference before the vote, Bartoshevich asked the committee to allow her to attend the convention as a delegate for Clinton. She noted that she donated her time and money to Clinton and still believes the former first lady is the best candidate.

She said she made the comments backing McCain during an emotional time shortly after Clinton dropped out of the race and as a first- time delegate was unfamiliar with party rules. She said she had not decided who to ultimately support and was still open to backing Obama if he won her over. "I'd like to go to the convention and listen," she said.

She said her sister was a McCain supporter who signed her up for "Citizens for McCain."

"You reached right back and hugged them. I have a problem with that," committee member Dottie LeClaire responded.

The committee accepted a challenge that stated Bartoshevich violated rules requiring delegates to support the party's nominee and be faithful to the party. Bartoshevich will be replaced by Marilyn Nemeth of Racine, who finished second to Bartoshevich in the delegate election earlier this year.
[ Yahoo News ]

And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land from the Arabian desert to the shores of the Great Lakes had been laid barren, that a Child appeared in the wilderness.

The Child was blessed in looks and intellect. Scion of a simple family, offspring of a miraculous union, grandson of a typical white person and an African peasant. And yea, as he grew, the Child walked in the path of righteousness, with only the occasional detour into the odd weed and a little blow.

When he was twelve years old, they found him in the temple in the City of Chicago, arguing the finer points of community organisation with the Prophet Jeremiah and the Elders. And the Elders were astonished at what they heard and said among themselves: "Verily, who is this Child that he opens our hearts and minds to the audacity of hope?"

In the great Battles of Caucus and Primary he smote the conniving Hillary, wife of the deposed King Bill the Priapic and their barbarian hordes of Working Class Whites.

And so it was, in the fullness of time, before the harvest month of the appointed year, the Child ventured forth -- for the first time -- to bring the light unto all the world.

He travelled fleet of foot and light of camel, with a small retinue that consisted only of his loyal disciples from the tribe of the Media. He ventured first to the land of the Hindu Kush, where the Taleban had harboured the viper of al-Qaeda in their bosom, raining terror on all the world.

And the Child spake and the tribes of Nato immediately loosed the Caveats that had previously bound them. And in the great battle that ensued the forces of the light were triumphant. For as long as the Child stood with his arms raised aloft, the enemy suffered great blows and the threat of terror was no more.

From there he went forth to Mesopotamia where he was received by the great ruler al-Maliki, and al-Maliki spake unto him and blessed his Sixteen Month Troop Withdrawal Plan even as the imperial warrior Petraeus tried to destroy it.

And lo, in Mesopotamia, a miracle occurred. Even though the Great Surge of Armour that the evil Bush had ordered had been a terrible mistake, a waste of vital military resources and doomed to end in disaster, the Child's very presence suddenly brought forth a great victory for the forces of the light.

And the Persians, who saw all this and were greatly fearful, longed to speak with the Child and saw that the Child was the bringer of peace. At the mention of his name they quickly laid aside their intrigues and beat their uranium swords into civil nuclear energy ploughshares.

From there the Child went up to the city of Jerusalem, and entered through the gate seated on an ass. The crowds of network anchors who had followed him from afar cheered "Hosanna" and waved great palm fronds and strewed them at his feet.

In Jerusalem and in surrounding Palestine, the Child spake to the Hebrews and the Arabs, as the Scripture had foretold. And in an instant, the lion lay down with the lamb, and the Israelites and Ishmaelites ended their long enmity and lived for ever after in peace.

As word spread throughout the land about the Child's wondrous works, peoples from all over flocked to hear him; Hittites and Abbasids; Obamacons and McCainiacs; Cameroonians and Blairites.

And they told of strange and wondrous things that greeted the news of the Child's journey. Around the world, global temperatures began to decline, and the ocean levels fell and the great warming was over.

The Great Prophet Algore of Nobel and Oscar, who many had believed was the anointed one, smiled and told his followers that the Child was the one generations had been waiting for.

And there were other wonderful signs. In the city of the Street at the Wall, spreads on interbank interest rates dropped like manna from Heaven and rates on credit default swaps fell to the ground as dead birds from the almond tree, and the people who had lived in foreclosure were able to borrow again.

Black gold gushed from the ground at prices well below $140 per barrel. In hospitals across the land the sick were cured even though they were uninsured. And all because the Child had pronounced it.

And this is the testimony of one who speaks the truth and bears witness to the truth so that you might believe. And he knows it is the truth for he saw it all on CNN and the BBC and in the pages of The New York Times.

Then the Child ventured forth from Israel and Palestine and stepped onto the shores of the Old Continent. In the land of Queen Angela of Merkel, vast multitudes gathered to hear his voice, and he preached to them at length.

But when he had finished speaking his disciples told him the crowd was hungry, for they had had nothing to eat all the hours they had waited for him.

And so the Child told his disciples to fetch some food but all they had was five loaves and a couple of frankfurters. So he took the bread and the frankfurters and blessed them and told his disciples to feed the multitudes. And when all had eaten their fill, the scraps filled twelve baskets.

Thence he travelled west to Mount Sarkozy. Even the beauteous Princess Carla of the tribe of the Bruni was struck by awe and she was great in love with the Child, but he was tempted not.

On the Seventh Day he walked across the Channel of the Angles to the ancient land of the hooligans. There he was welcomed with open arms by the once great prophet Blair and his successor, Gordon the Leper, and his successor, David the Golden One.

And suddenly, with the men appeared the archangel Gabriel and the whole host of the heavenly choir, ranks of cherubim and seraphim, all praising God and singing: "Yes, We Can."

Well, he did it again.

By Noel Sheppard (Bio | Archive) July 24, 2008 - 13:38 ET

Remember back in May when media gushed and fawned over a huge crowd in Portland, Oregon — supposedly gathered to hear the words of Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama — but chose not to report the free concert given before his speech?

Well, it has been learned that before the presumptive Democrat nominee spoke to a crowd in Berlin Thursday, two popular German acts — reggae artist Patrice and rock band Reamonn — entertained the gathering audience.

Will media report this tonight, or just gush and fawn over the huge crowd again? While you ponder, here’s what was reported by Spiegel Online moments ago:

++ Pop Concert for Obama Fans ++
6:33 p.m.: The tens of thousands of Obama fans are being entertained as they await the senator. The reggae musician Patrice kicked things off, followed by the rock band Reamonn.

"Barack is well aware of the complexity and the organizational challenge involved in the transition process and he has tasked s small group to begin thinking through the process", a senior campaign adviser said. "Barack has made his expectations clear about what he wants from such a process, how he wants it to move forward, and the establishment and execution of his timeline is proceeding ".

Last month, the Post's Shalaigh Murray reported that campaign advisers were sounding out John Podesta, a former White House chief of staff to President Bill Clinton and currently the president of the Center for American Progress, for his advice.

An aide confirms that Podesta will probably be asked to head the transition team, which would take over from the campaign if Obama wins in November, and would be tasked with ensuring a smooth handover of power.
[ More - The Atlantic ]

But when Chynethia Gragg spotted the sticker — depicting someone urinating on the name “Obama” — Sugar Land police say, she stopped to express her disapproval, and that’s when things got ugly.

Gragg, 35, has been charged with making a terroristic threat after confronting the McKains, telling them the sticker was racist, police said.

Gragg declined to comment, and her attorney, Roy Smith, said he would have to review the police report and talk with his client before commenting.

Doug McKain declined to comment.

According to court documents, police officer H. Norris went to the couple’s house about 3 p.m. Tuesday to investigate a verbal disturbance.

Court documents said Gragg told Norris she saw the sticker on the back of a pickup and stopped in front of the McKain house. She told Norris she confronted McKain about the sticker, saying it was racist.

McKain told the officer he and his wife were driving home when they noticed a female motorist looking closely at his truck. The couple drove home then pulled into their driveway.

“Mr. McKain said shortly later the same person (Ms. Gragg) pulled up to his residence (blocking his driveway behind his truck.) Mr. McKain said Ms. Gragg began to rant and rave about the sticker on the back of his truck,” the court document states.

McKain told police Gragg shouted numerous profanities at him and his wife. “Mr. McKain said Ms. Gragg said she (would) get someone to take care of him later,” the report said.

Gragg was issued a trespass warning and then arrested on the threat charge, a misdemeanor. She was released Wednesday from the Fort Bend County Jail on $500 bond.
[ Houston Chronicle ]

Or is Obama just plain Not Ready For the Big Time?

We'll have to think of Obama as having another one of his Walter Mitty moments, where he THINKS he is someone he isn't.

Obama claims he's on banking committee
Katie Fretland - Chicago Tribune's Washington Bureau - July 23, 2008

Barack Obama today boasted about a bill in "my committee," a committee on which he has no seat.

While speaking to the press in the Israeli town of Sderot, Obama mistakenly put the U.S. Senate banking committee on his resume, although the Illinois senator does NOT serve on the committee and Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is the chairman.

The Republican National Committee distributed an e-mail pointing out Obama's mistake with a subject line of "Obama's Gaffe Machine Rolls Into Israel."

During the press conference, Obama said, "Just this past -- this past week, we passed out of the U.S. Senate Banking Committee, which is my committee, a bill to call for divestment from Iran as a way of ratcheting up the pressure to ensure that they don't obtain a nuclear weapon."

Obama spokesman Ben LaBolt said Obama was referring to an Iran divestment bill he introduced in 2007 with U.S. Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) and Tom Lantos (D-Calif.). Last week, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs passed the the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2008, which included provisions Obama offered in his 2007 legislation.
[ More - Swamp Politics ]

Sixty-five percent of the pledged delegates were awarded based on the primary results and the other 35% based on the caucus results. According to CNN, 2,867,454 votes were cast in the primary - 51% (1,458,814) for Senator Hillary Clinton and 47% (1,358,785) for Senator Barack Obama, and a smattering of votes (49,855) for John Edwards, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden, and Chris Dodd combined.

In the Texas caucus 42,538 votes were reported on CNN but only 41% of the votes were tallied so no one knows exactly how many people participated in the Texas caucus. Obama got 56% (23,918) and Clinton got 44% (18,620) of the votes reported. Caucus voters were required to have voted in their precinct. Consequently, caucus voters were a statistical subset of primary voters, but they did not vote the same way.

In terms of pledged delegates Clinton garnered 94 pledged delegates and Obama got 99 pledged delegates. Obama came out of Texas five delegates ahead of Clinton in a primary she won. Astounding!
[ More - Real Democrats ]

I don’t think journalism is the prime thing that we recruit them and pay them for.

Clinton backers give 1.6 mil to Barky McSwindle; Obamatrons give $105,000 to Hillary.
[ More - LA Times ]

Hey all you Clinton backers out there who are giving money to Barky, don't be a SAP! All these backstage promises and assurances of paying off her debt were quite obviously CRAP. Come on Hillary and Bill, snap out of it! We know you have to play along to get along, but this is becoming downright bizarre. $1.6 Mil as compared to a paltry $105,000?? Keep in mind this guy is Chicago Politics, he tells you one thing to your face, while his hand is in your back pocket taking your wallet.

I'd love nothing better than to wake up one fine morning and see that the Clintons told Barky McSwindle, Coward Dean and Brazilenut to take a flying leap and shove it.

“The decision to choose the Victory Column, a 226-foot pillar topped by a gold angel, has itself opened up a small controversy, with some politicians complaining that the site recalls Germany’s Nazi past and Prussia’s militaristic tradition,” the Deutsche Welle reported July 21, 2008.

“But many Berliners today probably associate it more with having a good time, since for years it was the destination of the Love Parade techno party. It is also where Berlin’s gay and lesbian pride event, Christopher Street Day, is held,” it wrote.

Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times [ reported ] July 20, 2008, that “Obama will deliver a speech on trans-Atlantic relations in Berlin on Thursday outdoors in a park near the Brandenburg Gate.”

Citizens United Productions is about to release a film entitled “Hype: The Obama Effect“. Based on what I have seen on the internet, I expect they will need a police presence in the theaters because Obama supporters don’t like their Plastic Jesus being criticized. It can be dangerous to your health. Public Release Date: September 1.

Here is the TV ad.

...and here is the movie trailer.

The former first lady owes $12 million to vendors and lent herself $1 million in June for a total loan to her campaign of about $13.2 million. She suspended her campaign for the Democratic nomination on June 7. Clinton aides say she is giving priority to paying back money owed to small vendors.

Clinton ended her campaign with more than $23 million designated for the general election. She is asking donors whether she can convert that money to the campaign account for her 2012 Senate re-election.

Just 14% believe most reporters will try to help John McCain win, little changed from 13% a month ago. Just one voter in four (24%) believes that most reporters will try to offer unbiased coverage.

A plurality of Democrats—37%-- say most reporters try to offer unbiased coverage of the campaign. Twenty-seven percent (27%) believe most reporters are trying to help Obama and 21% in Obama’s party think reporters are trying to help McCain.
[ More - Rasmussen ]

[Ed. Note: By way of reminder, Rizza's 'crime' was giving the first long, factual account ever to appear in the media on Obama's ruthless ambition, lack of principle, association with unsavory types in Chicago politics, and his empty record, devoid of any leadership on any issue.]

How will reporters process Ryan Lizza's punishment?

The smart reporters will "get it" that Obama thinks he is king of the world and will be DISGUSTED by such an attitude. The smart ones will start delving into Obama's record more than they have in the past and will cut him down to size when the facts require it. (There are one or two in this group.)

The other group, a much larger group -- the dumb and fawning reporters -- will see this punishment of Ryan Lizza as a warning to them that Obama must NEVER be criticized ... and they will obey, they will grovel, they will praise Obama to the skies. In fact, they will try to outdo one another in their sycophantic praise.

Obama is starting to remind me more and more, every day, of George W. Bush.

Bush -- like Obama -- never admits he is wrong about anything.

Bush -- like Obama -- cannot pass any mirror without looking to see how wonderful he looks at that moment.

Bush -- like Obama -- is in love with his body and works out to keep himself "perfect."

Bush -- like Obama -- is uncomfortable around poor people, people in need, people without large amounts of money to donate to His Wonderfulness.

Bush -- like Obama -- will brook no criticism and uses the granting and withholding of "access" to reward or punish reporters for what they write or say.

John McCain would not be Bush's Third Term -- John McCain is a modest man.

Barack Obama would be George W. Bush's Third Term.

If you liked the groveling required during the Bush years, you'll like the Obama years.

The audacity of ego
by Joan Vennochi - The Boston Globe - July 20, 2008
"...Just like the Obama girl, Obama has a crush on Obama..."
[ Entire Article - Boston.com ]

Maybe the move by a company that's worked closely with the former first lady is just what it seems: yet another step by Hillary Rodham Clinton to prepare for another run for the Senate from New York in four years. Or another run for the White House. We won't know, of course, for some time.

But that comes with the news that Clinton has urgently requested her 2008 general election supporters to approve transfer of their unusable donations for this year's presidential race over to her 2012 Senate campaign.

(And then, potentially, into a new presidential campaign fund, as she did with $10 million of her surplus 2006 Senate campaign funds).

If this year's donors don't approve that transfer soon, Clinton must return the '08 money by Aug. 28.

The respected blogger Marc Ambinder of TheAtlantic.com is reporting tonight that a company associated with Clinton's top advance team leaders, the Markham Group, purchased that domain name on June 8.

June 8th? Why does that ring a bell? Why, that's the very next day after her "I-give-up-and-heartily-support Obama" speech where her family was dressed for a funeral. Stay tuned.

On the subject of elementary and secondary education, the two seem to have gotten their roles completely mixed up. Obama is the staunch defender of the existing public school monopoly, and he's allergic to anything that subverts it. John McCain, on the other hand, went before the NAACP last week to argue for something new and daring.

That something is to facilitate greater parental choice in education. McCain wants to expand a Washington program that provides federally funded scholarships so poor students can attend private schools. More than 7,000 kids, he reported, have applied for these vouchers, but only 1,900 can be accommodated.

Obama promptly expressed disdain for McCain's proposal. The Republican, his campaign said, offered "recycled bromides" that would "undermine our public schools."

You would think a leader who plans to liberate us from the partisan dogmas of the past would be open to this approach—and in February, Obama indicated he was. "If there was any argument for vouchers, it was, 'Let's see if the experiment works,' " he said. "And if it does, whatever my preconception, you do what's best for the kids."

But it didn't last.
[ More - Chicago Tribune ]

2.) Father Was A Goat Herder - LIAR, he was a privileged, well educated youth, who went on to work with the Kenyan Government.

3.) Father Was A Proud Freedom Fighter - LIAR, he was part of one of the most corrupt and violent governments Kenya has ever had

4.) My Family Has Strong Ties To African Freedom - LIAR, your cousin Raila Odinga has created mass violence in attempting to overturn a legitimate election in 2007, in Kenya. It is the first widespread violence in decades.

5.) My Grandmother Has Always Been A Christian - LIAR, she does her daily Salat prayers at 5am according to her own interviews. Not to mention, Christianity wouldn't allow her to have been one of 14 wives to 1 man.

6.) My Name is African Swahili - LIAR, your name is Arabic and ‘Baraka' (from which Barack came) means ‘blessed' in that language. Hussein is also Arabic and so is Obama.

7.) I Never Practiced Islam - LIAR, you practiced it daily at school, where you were registered as a Muslim and kept that faith for 31 years,until your wife made you change, so you could run for office.

8.) My School In Indonesia Was Christian - LIAR, you were registered as Muslim there and got in trouble in Koranic Studies for making faces (check your own book).

9.) I Was Fluent In Indonesian - LIAR, not one teacher says you could speak the language.

10.) Because I Lived In Indonesia, I Have More Foreign Experience - LIAR, you were there from the ages of 6 to 10, and couldn't even speak the language. What did you learn, how to study the Koran and watch cartoons.

11.) I Am Stronger On Foreign Affairs - LIAR, except for Africa (surprise) and the Middle East (bigger surprise), you have never been anywhere else on the planet and thus have NO experience with our closest allies.

12.) I Blame My Early Drug Use On Ethnic Confusion - LIAR, you were quite content in high school to be Barry Obama, no mention of Kenya and no mention of struggle to identify - your classmates said you were just fine.

13.) An Ebony Article Moved Me To Run For Office - LIAR, Ebony has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn't, and never did, exist.

14.) A Life Magazine Article Changed My Outlook On Life - LIAR, Life has yet to find the article you mention in your book. It doesn't, and never did, exist.

15.) I Won't Run On A National Ticket In ‘08 - LIAR, here you are, despite saying, live on TV, that you would not have enough experience by then, and you are all about having experience first.

16.) Present Votes Are Common In Illinois - LIAR, they are common for YOU, but not many others have 130 NO VOTES.

17.) Oops, I Misvoted - LIAR, only when caught by church groups and democrats, did you beg to change your misvote.

18.) I Was A Professor Of Law - LIAR, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.

19.) I Was A Constitutional Lawyer - LIAR, you were a senior lecturer ON LEAVE.

20.) Without Me, There Would Be No Ethics Bill - LIAR, you didn't write it, introduce it, change it, or create it.

21.) The Ethics Bill Was Hard To Pass - LIAR, it took just 14 days from start to finish.

22.) I Wrote A Tough Nuclear Bill - LIAR, your bill was rejected by your own party for its pandering and lack of all regulation -- mainly because of your Nuclear Donor, Exelon, from which David Axelrod came.

23.) I Have Released My State Records - LIAR, as of March, 2008, state bills you sponsored or voted for have yet to be released, exposing all the special interests pork hidden within.

24.) I Took On The Asbestos Altgeld Gardens Mess - LIAR, you were part of a large group of people who remedied Altgeld Gardens. You failed to mention anyone else but yourself, in your books.

25.) My Economics Bill Will Help America - LIAR, your 111 economic policies were just combined into a proposal which lost 99-0, and even YOU voted against your own bill.

26.) I Have Been A Bold Leader In Illinois - LIAR, even your own supporters claim to have not seen BOLD action on your part.

27.) I Passed 26 Of My Own Bills In One Year - LIAR, they were not YOUR bills, but rather handed to you, after their creation by a fellow Senator, to assist you in a future bid for higher office.

28.) No One Contacted Canada About NAFTA - LIAR, the Canadian Government issued the names and a memo of the conversation your campaign had with them.

29.) I Am Tough On Terrorism - LIAR, you missed the Iran Resolution vote on terrorism and your good friend Ali Abunimah supports the destruction of Israel.

30.) I Am Not Acting As President Yet - LIAR, after the NAFTA Memo, a dead terrorist in the FARC, in Colombia, was found with a letter stating how you and he were working together on getting FARC recognized officially.

31.) I Didn't Run Ads In Florida - LIAR, you allowed national ads to run 8-12 times per day for two weeks - and you still lost.

32.) I won Michigan - LIAR, no you didn't.

33.) I won Nevada - LIAR, no you did not.

34.) I Want All Votes To Count - LIAR, you said let the delegates decide.

35.) I Want Americans To Decide - LIAR, you prefer caucuses that limit the vote, confuse the voters, force a public vote, and only operate during small windows of time.

36.) I passed 900 Bills in the State Senate - LIAR, you passed 26, most of which you didn't write yourself.

37.) My Campaign Was Extorted By A Friend - LIAR, that friend is threatening to sue if you do not stop saying this. Obama has stopped saying this.

38.) I Believe In Fairness, Not Tactics - LIAR, you used tactics to eliminate Alice Palmer from running against you.

39.) I Don't Take PAC Money - LIAR, you take loads of it.

40.) I don't Have Lobbyists - LIAR, you have over 47 lobbyists, and counting.

41.) My Campaign Had Nothing To Do With The 1984 Ad - LIAR, your own campaign worker made the ad on his Apple in one afternoon.

42.) My Campaign Never Took Over MySpace - LIAR, Tom, who started MySpace issued a warning about this advertising to MySpace clients.

43.) I Inspire People With My Words - LIAR, you inspire people with other people's words.

44.) I Have Passed Bills In The U.S. Senate - LIAR, you have passed A BILL in the U.S. Senate - for Africa, which shows YOUR priorities.

45.) I Have Always Been Against Iraq - LIAR, you weren't in office to vote against it AND you have voted to fund it every single time, unlike Kucinich, who seems to be out gutting you Obama. You also seem to be stepping back from your departure date - AGAIN.

46.) I Have Always Supported Universal Health Care - LIAR, your plan leaves us all to pay the 15,000,000 who don't have to buy it.

47.) I Only Found Out About My Investment Conflicts Via Mail - LIAR, both companies you site as having sent you letters about this conflict have no record of any such letter ever being created or sent.

48.) I Am As Patriotic As Anyone - LIAR, you won't wear a flag pin and you don't put your hand over your heart during the Anthem.

49.) My Wife Didn't Mean What She Said About Pride In Country - LIAR, your wife's words follow lock-step in the vein of Wright and Farrakhan, in relation to their contempt and hatred of America.

50.) Wal-Mart Is A Company I Wouldn't Support - LIAR, your wife has received nearly a quarter of a million dollars through Treehouse, which is connected to Wal-Mart.

51.) Treehouse Is A Small Company - LIAR, the CEO of Treehouse last year, made more than the CEO of Wal-Mart, according to public records.

52.) University Of Chicago Hospital Pay Is Fair - LIAR, your wife's pay raise was nearly 150% her already bloated rate and the hospital is a Non-Profit Hospital, which made $100,000,000 in the last 3 years. They overcharge blacks VS whites for services, and overcharge everyone in general by 538%!

53.) I Barely Know Rezko - Only 5 Billed Hours - LIAR, you have known him for 17 years, and decided to do a real estate deal with him during a time when he was proven to be under investigation. Despite this, you divided your property and had them take off $300K before the mortgage problems started. Then Rezko's wife buys the lot beside it that you can't afford, saving you $625,000.

54.) My Donations Have Been Checked Thoroughly - LIAR, you only gave back Hsu ($72K) and Rezko (first $66K, then when caught lying $86K, then when caught lying again $150K and now caught lying YET AGAIN OBAMA, it's $250k) their money when publicly called on their involvement in your campaigns.

55.) My Church Is Like Any Other Christian Church - LIAR, your church is so extreme, the pastor who married you, Rev. Wright, just got done blaming the US for 9/11 and named Louis Farrakhan their person of the year.

56.) I Disagree With My Church All The Time - LIAR, you still have yet to repudiate Wright, who married you and your wife, and you still donate large sums of money to assist the church in furthering its message - hatred and revenge. You donated in 2006 alone, $22,500 to the church that you so terribly disagree with. That is nearly $500 PER WEEK - that sure is disagreement, Senator Obama.

57.) I Have Clean Connections Despite Rezko - LIAR, you are not only connected to Exelon and Rezko, you are also connected to Hillary PAC supporter Mr. Hsu, AND an Iraqi Billionaire of ill repute, Nadhmi Auchi, who ripped off people in the Food For Oil, Iraqi deal. Seems Mr. Auchi may have helped Obama buy his million dollar property long before Obama had millions of dollars. Wonder what favors Mr. Auchi expects, when Obama leaves Iraq free to be taken over by special interests such as him.

58.) I never heard sermons like Rev. Wright's, that have been in videos all day, You Tube - LIAR! 3 days later during your Mea Culpa BS speech you said "Did I hear controversial statements while I sat in that church? Yes I did."

59.) The Passport Invasion is a conspiracy to find dirt on me! - LIAR. Your own Campaign Foreign Policy Advisor is the CEO of the company that looked into your records. PS - You had them look into yours to hide the fact you looked into Clinton's and McCain's more than a year before!

60.) Rev. Meeks has nothing to do with my campaigning - LIAR. Rev. Meeks appeared in ads for your Senate Campaign, donated to you, and helped raise money, then AND NOW. PS - He also seems to despise America.

61.) My wife didn't mean America is ignorant, she was just using a phrase - LIAR. Again, MicHELLe's comments perfectly sync with Wright's, Meeks', and Farrakhans, both in language, anger, and direction.

62.) I am very Anti-Terror - LIAR. [03/30/2008] One of your good pals is long time radical and terrorist William Ayers, with whom you have been seen in the last 12 months and who has helped the now jailed Khalidi, Professor at Columbia who invited Ahmadinejad to the University, to raise money for Palestinian terrorism attacks against Israel. PS - Your church published a pro Hamas Manifesto - guess you weren't there on THAT Sunday either? How lucky for you.

63.) I have the best plan to cure the Mortgage Crisis - LIAR. [03/30/2008] You and your campaign buddy Penny SubPrime Bank Collapse Prizker have had your little fingers full of subprime cash - Obama has taken $1,180,103 from the top issuers of subprime loans: Obama received $266,907 from Lehman, $5395 from GMAC, $150,850 from Credit Suisse First Boston, $11,250 from Countrywide, $9052 from Washington Mutual, $161,850 from Citigroup, $4600 from CBASS, $170,050 from Morgan Stanley, $1150 from Centex, and last but certainly NOT LEAST - Obama received $351,900 from Goldman Sachs. I am sure that cash all came from folks who knew the subprime loan they had was a dream, eh?

64) I played greater role in crafting liberal stands on gun control, the death penalty and abortion - LIAR - [03/31/2008] It was found that Obama -- the day after sitting for the interview -- filed an amended version of the questionnaire, which appears to contain Obama's own handwritten notes added to one answer. Read Obama had greater role on liberal survey

65) I did NOT play the race card: - LIAR - [03/31/2008] Obama was the first to play the race card. According to Philadelphia Inquirer, Quietly, the storm over the hateful views expressed by Sen. Barack Obama's pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, has blown away the most insidious myth of the Democratic primary campaign. Obama and his surrogates have charged that Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has deliberately and cleverly played the race card in order to label Obama the "black" candidate.

66) I did not take money from oil companies: - LIAR - [03/31/2008]

THE FACTS: True enough, Obama does not take money from oil companies. No candidate does. It is illegal for corporations to give money to politicians. Corporations, however, do have political action committees that collect voluntary donations from employees and then donate them to candidates. Obama doesn't take money from PACs. He also doesn't take money from lobbyists.

But he does accept money from executives and other employees of oil companies and two of his fundraisers are oil company executives. As of Feb. 29, Obama's presidential campaign had received nearly $214,000 from oil and gas industry employees and their families, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Clinton had received nearly $307,000 from industry workers and their families and Republican Sen. John McCain, the likely GOP presidential nominee, received nearly $394,000, according to the center's totals.

Two of Obama's fundraisers are Robert Cavnar, the chairman and chief executive of Houston-based Mission Resources Corp., and George Kaiser, the president and CEO of Tulsa-based Kaiser-Francis Oil Co. Source: Associated press via Yahoo News

67) "I don't think my church is actually particularly controversial," Obama said at a community meeting in Nelsonville, Ohio, earlier this month. - LIAR - But yesterday, he told a different story. "Did I ever hear him make remarks that could be considered controversial while I sat in church? Yes," he said in his speech yesterday in Philadelphia.

68) Look at my education record in Illinois - LIAR - In reality, Obama never really championed the local councils. He supported them behind the scenes and only eventually came out publicly on their behalf. When he did weigh in, he came down on the wrong side of the debate -- against protecting principals from unwarranted dismissals and in favor of keeping councils independent, no matter what. In the end, the resolution of the conflict between the two sides didn't alleviate anyone's concerns. Instead, it prolonged a turf battle that seems to have dragged down academic progress in the years since. Read [ More - Slate ]