<p>I have not read the above posts so please forgive me if I am repeating thoughts shared elsewhere on this thread. Obama will probably be Hillary Clinton’s running mate for Vice President of the U.S. The Kennedy endorsements have all but guaranteed this result. The Kennedy endorsement of Obama was made, not, as many wrongly think, to divide the Democratic Party and to deny Hillary the Presidency, but to assure unity of the party and to give Hillary Clinton a strong chance in the general election. As Bill Clinton successfully turned the Democratic Primary race into a contest of blacks vs. whites & hispanics, the Kennedy endorsement of Obama evened out the contest to Kennedy supporters and blacks vs. Clinton supporters and hispanics. This division will require Hillary to join with Obama as her V-P running mate or else she will have no chance of being elected President in the general election as black Democrats and diehard Kennedy supporters will just stay home rather than vote for Hillary in the general election. While the genius of Bill Clinton assured Hillary the nomination by creating a contest of Democratic blacks vs. Dem. whites & Dem. hispanics, the political genius of Ted Kennedy assured a united Democratic Party in the general election by endorsing Obama, thus splitting the Dem. Party to assure Democratic Party reunification for the general election by forcing a Hillary/Obama ticket in the fall. The Kennedys and the Clintons are very smart, savvy politicians.</p>
<p>“I refer, of course, to Clinton’s initiative to lead America”</p>
<p>I realize that; however, Clinton did nothing more than regurgitate thoughts of previous speeches of many before him. That’s all I was trying to say. Sorry for the confusion.</p>
<p>“Clintons’ current behavior. Indeed, their behavior reflects many of the problems that Clinton’s dialog aimed to help us overcome.”</p>
<p>On this we couldn’t agree more.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>But at the cost of bitterness and ill-will that will cause yet another generation of pain in America. Real leaders do not do this to their country, just so they might win office. They care too much for the people.</p>
<p>There are a lot of blacks who just do not think whites have the capability of being genuine, especially when it comes to race. Clinton, especially a guy like Clinton, reinforced that view.</p>
<p>^ ^
What did Kennedy do? I didn’t vote for him but still respect his views.</p>
<p>I am not sure of Kennedy. I am sure of Clinton. But if icy9 speaks the truth, Kennedy has simply shown that even he isn’t genuine and will exploit blacks, nastily, for mere political gain. I just cannot trust either of these people because of the ugly climate the Clintons have created.</p>
<p>It will be between Clinton and McCain. I think blacks should all vote for McCain as a protest vote. He certainly is no more unkind toward us than the Clintons. His policies would be no worse than what we now suffer under Bush. Indeed, they are likely to be better. I will either sit out this election, or vote McCain. (me, vote GOP? Say it ain’t so! -ggggg)</p>
<p>I don’t think that Obama will be Hillary’s running mate. I do think that Hillary is trying to get Edwards’ delegates and is courting Edwards as a running mate. However, I don’t think Edwards wants to run with Hillary any more than Obama would. As Gore found out when he was Bill’s VP, that position is not #2 but #3 when the Clintons are in office. I agree with Drosselmeier and would never vote for such a ticket but I disagree in that I don’t think it is ever going to happen - I think icy9’s scenario doesn’t give Kennedy or Obama the credit they are due.</p>
<p>You’re not sure of Ted Kennedy? </p>
<p>Wow!</p>
<p>Drosselmeier, they are all politicians. All of them. The republicans and the democrats running for office are all liars, and misrepresent what they can do.</p>
<p>They all say and do what it takes to win. </p>
<p>None of them deliver. Actually, the younger George Bush delivered better than most. Didn’t get rid of abortion, didn’t get prayer in school, didn’t control the federal budget, but he did appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court, and he helped the upper class, the oil industry and the defense industry.</p>
<p>If I have to support a candidate based on trust, hell is going to freeze over before that candidate ever shows up. </p>
<p>Did you see McCain at the debate yesterday? How many blacks is he going to help?</p>
<p>Would you support somebody who won’t help blacks, and doesn’t lie about it, over a candidate that will help blacks a little, but lies and promises more than that candidate can deliver?</p>
<p>Edit: I see your answer in post #485.</p>
<p>“Would you support somebody who won’t help blacks, and doesn’t lie about it, over”</p>
<p>You’re very quickly losing all credibility. When did McCain ever say he won’t help Blacks?</p>
<p>I have no idea if John McCain is going to help blacks.</p>
<p>What are the programs he is proposing to help blacks?</p>
<p>Erewhon, I watched the debate yesterday and I have seen him talk many times. I haven’t heard him ever mention blacks at all. But that might mean I missed his proposals.</p>
<p>If he becomes president, what are his proposals to help African Americans?</p>
<p>I’m leaning towards Obama, but I’m not sold on anybody. Between Hillary and McCain, I am leaning towards Hillary.</p>
<p>I actually like the way Romney is campaigning. When he was told Arnold was endorsing McCain, he said, “I would have liked to have had that endorsement. That endorsement will help McCain.” Romney didn’t even make up a bs response. I was shocked</p>
<p>“I have no idea if John McCain is going to help blacks.”</p>
<p>That isn’t what you said.</p>
<p>It was an implication based on an assumption. I noticed that isn’t a problem on this thread.</p>
<p>But, I am open. </p>
<p>So tell me, what are McCain’s programs to help African Americans?</p>
<p>“I don’t think Edwards wants to run with Hillary any more than Obama would. As Gore found out when he was Bill’s VP, that position is not #2 but #3 when the Clintons are in office.”</p>
<p>Yup! There would be absolutely no role in a Clinton Administration for a VP. He would be about as useful as a over sized doorstop, and have about as much influence, because Billary is a closed circuit.</p>
<p>“I actually like the way Romney is campaigning. When he was told Arnold was endorsing McCain, he said, “I would have liked to have had that endorsement. That endorsement will help McCain.” Romney didn’t even make up a bs response. I was shocked.”</p>
<p>Actually, even though I am leaning toward McCain for strategic reasons, I think Romney has proven to be a pretty above-board campaigner and McCain has been a whiner about Romney’s “attack ads”. The only attack ads that I have seen from Romney have correctly stated McCain’s positions. Certainly there is nothing dirty about that.</p>
<p>Fundingfather,
I think Romney is, by far, attacking his opponents less than the other major candidates. Romney was very impressive yesterday. The way he is campaigning impresses me. Of course, he isn’t winning either. :)</p>
<p>I wouldn’t expect ANY presidential candidate to say that he/she will work specifically to “help blacks”. Just a President who will shift away from stacking the deck in favor of the rich and powerful would do a lot to help not only blacks (the vast majority of whom are poor and middle class), but Americans in general (the vast majority of whom are poor and middle class).</p>
<p>Do you think McCain will do that? He was against the Bush tax cuts and voted against the Bush tax cuts, but now he says we must make those tax cuts permanent.</p>
<p>I don’t see what he is proposing that is going to do anything about the income and wealth divisions in this country.</p>
<p>So how exactly do you propose to close that wealth division? End free trade and go back to isolationism? Take away more of the income from the rich through taxes? Put caps on earnings for certain jobs? Do you include actors, rock stars, and athletes along with ceos? They all can make over $10,000,000/yr. How does that get in the pockets of the other people–lower movie prices and sports tickets? Transfer payments? If we stop importing what happens to those countries? Do their now jobless people riot and start thinking we have enough people to overrun the US and put in more militant regimes? How’s this all going to work?</p>
<p>“Do you think McCain will do that?” Quite honestly, no.</p>
<p>But, I also think McCain might possibly be pandering to the stalwart Republican base, tossing them a bone, because the likes of Rush Limbaugh are carrying out a relentless and worrisome smear campaign against him. Rush veritably foams at the mouth when speaking of McCain, calling him a “liberal” and traitor to mainstream conservative values:rolleyes:. Anyone who can elicit this kind of response from Rush Limbaugh automatically has more of my respect than the one he endorses.</p>
<p>Barrons, Go back to the tax rates under Clinton. Start public works programs to rebuild our infrastructure. </p>
<p>Tie the minimum wage to inflation.</p>
<p>Get out of Iraq.</p>
<p>Eliminate oil industry subsidies. Eliminate the program that pays farmers not to grow food. </p>
<p>Throw money at alternative energy.</p>
<p>Don’t touch social security and take money from the general fund if necessary.</p>
<p>Universal health care.</p>
<p>Tax companies that ship jobs overseas.</p>
<p>Onerous taxes to CEOs income when their companies lose money and the government has to bail them out.</p>
<p>Cut the stimulus program except to those that really need the money.</p>
<p>No roads to nowhere.</p>
<p>Look at the way we fund education in this country. Everytime we throw money at it, the costs go up faster. </p>
<p>I am not trying to make everything even. Just trying to help the masses. </p>
<p>My guess is if we don’t help the masses someday we are really going to get a “liberal” president. You won’t be too happy. (I won’t be either.)</p>
<p>I maintain that Obama will be offered and will accept the role of President-in- training as Hillary’s V-P. John Edwards does not want the V-P slot; Edwards will endorse Hillary for a promise to be appointed U.S. Attorney General if she is elected. John Edwards would also like to be appointed as a Federal Appellate Judge, so he was wise to exit the race now to avoid Republican opposition if he is nominated for or appointed to either post. Without Obama as the VP candidate Hillary loses; with Obama, Hillary gets at least 49% of the popular vote. These are brilliant politicians who realize that you have to get elected to be able to make a difference, and that compromises are a realistic part of life & politics.</p>