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Invasive mussel confirmed in Utahs Electric Lake
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
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Microsoft lets Zune music subscribers keep tunes
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
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Astronauts end spacewalk to repair gummed-up joint
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
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Dubai parties at hotel gala despite economic gloom
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
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Warsaw marks borders of former ghetto
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
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Pakistan protests to US over deep missile strike
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
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Afghanistan markets its brand of pomegranates
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
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China says 19,000 students died in May earthquake
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
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Dems delay auto bailout vote, seek plan from Big 3
Southern Ledger - November 21, 2008
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THE O-ZONE BLANKETS THE NATION.
December 8, 2007 -
December 15, 2007
Seeking to build upon his growing momentum in Iowa and beyond, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama played his trump card with perfect timing: Oprah Winfrey. A series of “Oprahpalooza” campaign events over the weekend drew huge crowds in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Obama now hopes to translate the buzz and enthusiasm over Oprah into votes for him in those critical early caucus and primary states.
The public response to the appearance of the daytime diva on the campaign trail was amazing. Nearly 20,000 turned out for Oprah’s first appearance in Des Moines on Saturday, with another 10,000 showing up in Cedar Rapids later in the day. In South Carolina, the Obama campaign quickly ran out of the 18,000 tickets originally available for the rally so they moved the event to the Williams-Brice football stadium at the University of South Carolina to accommodate the 30,000 attendees.
Oprah’s speeches on behalf of Obama were much more overtly political than expected. While she did not take on Hillary Clinton by name, the references were unmistakable. "The amount of time you spend in Washington means nothing unless you are accountable for the judgment you made," Winfrey said, before noting that from the beginning Obama "stood with clarity and conviction against this war in Iraq." Obama has regularly criticized Clinton for voting in support of military action in Iraq, and Oprah seemed happy to embrace his anti-war rhetoric.
Most celebrity endorsements generate media attention and energize a campaign, but seldom produce significant results at the polls. Oprah is not “most celebrities. Her active support for Obama may even deal a death blow to the Clinton campaign.
First of all, she hits the demographic sweet spot that provides Hillary’s political base: 25-54 year old white women – the same audience that Oprah draws and influences so strongly. But, Oprah’s popularity transcends race, much like Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, so she has more clout than more narrowly defined celebrities who appeal only to a select pool of fans.
Second, she has a track record of translating endorsements into results, whether it is her selection of books or her charitable appeals. Results are what Obama wants over the next thirty days, and Oprah appears to have the ability to deliver actual voters to the polls (and caucuses) rather than just bodies at campaign rallies.
Most importantly, Oprah is perhaps the only personality who can match the appeal of Bill Clinton on the campaign trail. Hillary has already played that particular card, and she has even pulled her daughter Chelsea into the game as well. With momentum clearly having shifted to Obama, and with Oprah giving an added boost to that momentum, what other weapons does Hillary deploy to fight back? More Bill? Her arsenal is clearly limited at this point.
A year ago Barack Obama was not regarded as a serious challenge to the Clintons. That has clearly changed. The Clinton machine will not go down without a fight; but what once seemed an inevitable march to the nomination has become an all out war -- with a Clinton victory looking increasingly unlikely.
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IS AL GORE WAITING IN THE WINGS? -
December 2, 2007 -
December 9, 2007
With roughly a month to go before the Iowa Caucuses the once seemingly unsinkable Hillary Clinton campaign for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination is showing signs of taking on water. A new Iowa poll puts Barack Obama in the lead in that state for the first time. In the coming weeks he is planning to campaign in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina with star supporter Oprah Winfrey – perhaps the only celebrity who can go toe-to-toe with Bill Clinton when it comes to political clout... |
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TIME FOR THE ANNUAL ASSAULT ON CHRISTMAS! -
November 27, 2007 -
December 3, 2007
It’s become an annual ritual. Each December the Anti-Christmas Crowd (ACC) emerges from hibernation to engage in political correctness run amok. This year we have already seen shopping centers in England tell Santa to exercise and lose weight or risk being sacked. Seems they believe that the epidemic of childhood obesity can actually be traced to kids having a desire to follow in the boot steps and belly roll of Old St. Nick. I guess xBox is off the hook.
Another mall in Australia instr... |
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IS WAITING FOR A CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON ABORTION REALLY PRO-LIFE? -
November 18, 2007 -
November 25, 2007
When the nation’s largest right to life organization endorsed Fred Thompson last week it sparked some criticism of his pro-life record by his disappointed opponents for the Republican nomination. Thompson produced a 100% pro-life voting record during his eight years in the U.S. Senate, yet some in the pro-life community were dismayed by the National Right to Life endorsement decision and see him as “squishy” on the issue. He believes Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided and should be overturned, but... |
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THE SCHIP FUNDING FRAUD EXPOSED. -
November 4, 2007 -
November 7, 2007
Last week the SCHIP (State Children’s Health Insurance Program) $35 billion expansion legislation passed again in both houses of Congress. President Bush has again vowed to veto the bill, and it received fewer votes than needed for an override of that veto in both the Senate and the House.
Despite claims that the bill had been “revised” in response to concerns expressed by opponents it still provides health insurance coverage for millions of adults under the guise of a “children’s” hea... |
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WILL FRED POUNCE ON HILLARY'S ILLEGAL ALIEN MISSTEP? -
October 31, 2007 -
November 4, 2007
As Hillary Clinton continues to stretch her lead in national polls among likely Democratic Party primary voters it is becoming increasingly clear that the nomination is hers to lose – unless she makes a major mistake. In the most recent debate she may have done just that on an issue that resonates strongly with the voters: illegal immigration.
When asked about her position on a controversial proposal by New York Governor and fellow Democrat Elliot Spitzer to grant drivers’ licenses to... |
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