Friday, July 18, 2008

The Education of Obama

The Times: Reports on the forthcoming trip of Obama to Europe and the Middle East and its main target audience the American Voter. This trip has two outcomes, Obama passes the Commander in Chief threshold or he flunks. Obama is not yet President, some of his Camp need to smell the coffee, arrogance comes before the fall, and the Obama Crowd are getting arrogant. Obama is no Kennedy or Reagan, in time if he gets elected he might reach those heights, but he wont get the Oval Office if he does change his mind on Iraq, if he comes back from his visit with the same pandering speech he wont win the election. This is the time for Obama to show political courage and refine his Iraq policy, because as noted on this blog he has not answered the simple question what happens if he removes the troops and the terrorists come back and Iran became a major player in Iraq while becoming a nuclear power. Does Obama have the backbone to be tough, is he another JFK or Reagan or is he another Carter.

Agatha Christie, 1930s Omnibus

As a bit of change from politics, have just started to read Agatha Christie, 1930s Omnibus, a intelligent and fun read. At present reading AND THEN THERE WERE NONE murder mystery story. Have seen the two Film versions, have a fondness for the 1970s one.

The Two sides of Obama



A McCain political Ad that shows the two sides of Senator Obama when it comes to Iraq.

Friday Polls

Lets see how the Polls are for the end of the week.

Gallup: Reports that Obama leads by a narrow margin, two percent over McCain. The poll finds the following, Obama 46% - McCain 44%. As stated in past comments on polls, Obama needs to get a larger lead and he needs to keep it over the weeks. The Trip to Europe and the Middle East should give him a bounce in the polls. The TV Media is in the tank for Obama so they will give him Presidential coverage. If Obama does not get a bounce that will be interesting and what he states Iraq could define the race in the long term.


Rasmussen: Reports a tie in the race, Obama 46% - McCain 46%. Given all the bad news that faces the Republican brand its curious that McCain is level or just behind. This takes me back to 1968, the Vietnam War was still going on and the public wanted out, the President that had lost his public appeal. The result was close in the public vote if not in the Electoral College. McCain has slim chance of winning but he still has a chance, its up to Obama to lose this election.