The problem with a charge of plagiarism is that it is only plagiarism when a line is used without permission. It is said that Patrick has defended Obama on this and had criticized Clinton’s campaign for this attack. Both Obama and Patrick freely admit that they share ideas. Patrick is also an adviser to Obama. Since Obama used a line with Patrick’s permission, there was no issue of plagiarism. It is disappointing to see Clinton resorting to such tactics to bring Obama down. Many speeches are written by speech writers and candidates never call their names or give them credit. This is such an everyday occurence.

It is said that the Clinton campaign circulated YouTube links to the speeches on Sunday. Mr Wolfson said Senator Obama was ‘breaking his promises and his rhetoric isn’t his own’. The Clinton campaign is now desperate to thwart Senator Obama’s momentum ahead of two key primaries on March 4 - Texas and Ohio. What a shame to see them go to this extent to cut Obama’s throat. Desperation for Senator Clinton as her run for presidency is threatened perhaps?

When questioned,Senator Obama said he was ‘happy to give Deval credit, as I give credit to a lot people for spurring all kinds of ideas’.

It looks to me like Hillary Clinton is trying all means and ways to attack and defeat Obama. While she tries to convince a declining number of voters to vote for her, we can wait and watch to see how Obama retaliates.

Via: TimesOnline

A historic race for the Democratic nomination for the US presidential election is now into its final phase, with the victory of Senator Obama in Oregon primary contest. It is approximately confirmed that Barack Obama will be Democratic Party’s nomination in the upcoming US presidential election in November 2008. Hillary Clinton is trying hard to keep this race on. She has won Kentucky’s primary by a large margin. So, the fight is still on. Speaking about his success in Oregon, Obama said,

We have returned to Iowa with a majority of delegates elected by the American people, you have put us within reach of the Democratic nomination for president of the United States. Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and yours will come of age.

While commenting on the victory of Kentucky, Mrs Clinton said she would continue to fight

Until we have a nominee - whoever she may be.

However Hillary Clinton is winning the popular votes over Obama. Certainly Barack Obama will not able to win the Democratic nomination very easily because Mrs Clinton all set to fight till her last breath. So far, ‘race of the nominee’ has played a very vital role in these contests. Exit polls conducted by the Associated Press news agency revealed that Mrs Clinton’s Kentucky victory was because of her strong support among the state’s many white working-class voters. But in some states the voting trend is completely different. In Oregon, Mr Obama won 60% of the state’s white voters.

The conundrum over Mr Obama and Mrs Hillary Clinton is almost over but the real battle will start in November when Obama will take heads on to Vetern McCain in the battle for USA President. It is clear that Hillary Clinton’s supporters would prefer to vote for McCain if Barack Obama is the Democratic nominee. And Obama’s supporters are also repeated the same words, they say if Hillary wins the Democratic Party nomination, they will vote for McCain. Anyhow, McCain is in win-win situation.

Source: BBC

Four victories over the weekend followed by three on Tuesday makes Obama the front runner in the race for the Democratic Presidential candidate for the first time. As per the Associated Press, he leads with 1,210 delegates while Hillary stands at 1,188. His slogan, Change we can has influenced the Americans to change their outlook and more and more whites are shifting base towards the Obama camp.

It is difficult to pin point the actual reason for Obama’s ever increasing popularity index, whether it is his looks, his influential speeches, his common man appeal, his ideologies or his campaigns. However, Hillary on the other hand who has remained stoic through a string of controversies is now resorting to emotional blackmail. With the next election due on March 4th, it gives Hillary enough time to put things in order. While the rigorous campaigning continues, Americans wait with a bated breath to know who reaches the 2,025 mark.

Via: Yahoo

Image: Textually

Worse is the fact that the millions of illegal Mexicans hold no papers. So they dare not travel to Mexico to meet their families; the fear being they would be deported if caught while traveling. So the only option they have to be united with their families is to try and get them into the US illegally too.

According to estimates about 70,000 Mexicans kids try and get into the US every year to be united with their parents. Only half of them make it. The rest are caught and deported or face a worse fate. The parents of the kids have no options but to hire the service of ‘coyotes’ or agents who are involved in the illegal immigration racket.

The means they use to smuggle kids into the US are dangerous. Those kids, who are hardy, are made to undergo a dangerous journey through sea and desert. The journey is often at night in the desert swarming with dangerous rattlesnakes. But the kids undertake the perilous journey, as they desperately want to be united with their parents.

Though this story does make us feel sad, the US cannot be blames much for the state of affairs. But it could regularize those illegal Mexicans who are doing good work in their adopted country. At least their kids will be saved from danger.
Image

Source: Guardian

In what might be termed as a policy shift in the ‘outlook’ of President Bush towards Iraq, Iran and North Korea, leaving few Republicans go red-faced while bringing smiles to Democrats. Firstly, for the first time after the Iraq fiasco, he agreed to set a ‘time horizon’ for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq. Secondly, he had gone to the extent of terming Iran and North Korea to be part of an ‘axis of evil.’ Surprisingly, he authorized Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to join North Korean diplomats at six-party talks about ending that country’s nuclear weapons program.Lastly,Bush sent his first high-level emissary to sit down with Iran.

All these above moves are clear indication of a military and diplomatic policies which had long been vouched by the Presidential nominee, Barack Obama. Eyebrows are being raised and many uncomfortable questions have already started filling the air. Some former administration officials believe Bush’s change in the stance proves he succumbed to tactics put forward by Condoleezza Rice and her supporters.

The wind of change was best described by a former United Nations ambassador for Bush, John Bolton, who has of late become one of the fierce critics of Bush. He said:

Once the collapse begins, adversaries have a real opportunity to gain advantage. In terms of the Bush presidency, this many reversals this close to the end destroys credibility.

Source: Boston

Though too many TV polls don’t seem to be giving Senator John McCain the advantage, he is getting there slowly but steadily with both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama of the democrat’s party slugging out day after day. This could just be the advantage that the war hero John McCain wanted as the Democrat vote now stands divided.

Senator McCain is also being projected as a hard talking member who has has the will to go against the grain and push through reforms that were seldom deemed possible. Senator McCain’s strong rightist leanings also will win him votes from the Anti-gay and the Anti-pregnancy brigade and more importantly the American clergy, whose leanings usually has a large number of people following suit. one more factor that is proving to be the Democrats’ achilles heel is the debate of who amongst Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are electable.

Also, Obama now is under some severe criticism and is coming under fire for his remarks against his pastor Rev. Jeremiah.A.White-Jr and Hillary is being attacked by Obama over her integrity. This could sharply divide the clergy vote in senator John McCain’s favour. It would do well for us to remember that in free America’s history, America has never voted a Woman or a Black American to Presidentship, and the possibility of history being made is slowly beginning to fizzle out with the Democrats fighting amongst themselves as the Republicans have made up their mind to field senator John McCain as their Presidential candidate.

VIA: huffingtonpost

According to a survey conducted by Washington Post-ABC News, nearly half of all Americans say race relations in the country is in bad shape and three in ten acknowledge feelings of racial prejudice. Well, senator Obama being the first ever black Presidential nominee, many Americans(particularly whites)are not so sure about the prospect of an African-American President. Yet, given the way senator Obama has come through the stiff test of beating Hillary Clinton in Democratic Presidential nomination, some Americans should rethink about their fear. The race issue was bound to come out in the American media at some stage of the American Presidential contest but one must not forget that Barack Obama won in many high-profile white dominated states during the bitter battle with senator Clinton. Most Americans want change which could secure the future generation of a country trying to get out of the chain of inter-related wars and many feel senator Obama to be the right man. Yet, things could change quickly in a volatile society like the American one. Obama has been criticised for his lack of knowledge of foreign affairs and the man with a Kenyan background has offended some sections of patriotic Americans and their allies by calling for negotiation with Iran.

But recent polls suggest that most Americans are more concerned about their domestic problems compared to external matters. John McCain might edge Barack Obama when it comes to policies regarding America’s stand on Iran but age is a big factor which is on Obama’s side. The senator from Illinois can easily strike a chord with America’s younger generation and that is where the battle for presidency could be won or lost although a certain Jewish lobby could alter the situation as it has been proved time and again that the strongest lobby in the US has a fair say in the election of the world’s most powerful man.

Gallup Poll shows Obama beating McCain in the east and the west, roughly ties McCain in the Midwest and getting beaten in the south. But overall, according to the poll, more that half of all Americans feel that Barack Obama is good enough to beat John McCain. The question of race has been raised in some sections of the media although it is proved that senator Obama could be an able President looking after the interests not only of whites and non-whites but also the core issues plaguing America which are important at this moment of time.

Image Link: Carpefactum

News Link: Washington Post

The voting was tight with the court’s liberal justices getting ahead of the conservatives in determining the eventual ruling. With this legal ruling, a new debate has opened up with a section of the American political and civilian fraternity criticising the court’s ruling by suggesting that this could open up a new front in the war against Islamic fundamentalism. Democratic rights to foreign terrorists could prove suicidal in the long-run according to some analysts. Yet, it is also a fact that Washington has no right to detain individuals without any charge and the administration must provide valid evidence to back the Guantanamo cases. It is not clear whether the ruling would have any immediate effect on the fate of the detainees but President Bush has made it clear that his government would abide by the court’s ruling but also added that following court ruling does not mean that he has to agree with it. This is a clear sign of a growing rift between the White House and the country’s highest court over the issue.

Many feel that the ruling has come at a critical moment in America’s current political scenario. With American presidential elections just months away, the Republicans in general would have to justify the Guantanamo Bay detainee policy. In America, both national security and democratic freedom matter a lot to the common public and creating a correct balance between the two is the ultimate aim of the judial and the political systems. The American Congress is heavily criticised by the Supreme court for the handling of the issue. The laws and constitution must go hand in hand and no individual, whether it is the President or others, has the right to detain a person without any valid reason.

Via: CBC

America stands divided, this time not on the basis of racial segregation rather on the question of a female president. Just before New Hampshire Primary polls by a group of young men shouting slogans “Iron our shirts.” The world decried this male chauvinism opposing Hillary’s bid for first woman occupant of the White House. But she persists on counting the hopes of millions of female faces pinning their hopes on her worldwide.

But, unexpectedly she is countering challenges. Even in the US the women folk stands divided and Hillary just remains a woman candidate. Her illustrious public career of 30 years remains overshadowed. Many are supporting her because she is a woman, she bravely bore the thorns of infidelty when her husband was involved in the sex scandal.

Can Hillary keep herself away from this gender debate? Even if she emerges victorious in the elections, history might show its audacity to recognize her as the only woman US president. Is a woman supported by others only because of her gender? Doesn’t she have a capability, political or social role, or dreams to achieve?

At New Hampshire, Hillary said that she discovered her own voice in the voice of the people , but if the voice of the people remains gender-centric, what will happen to the US after she becomes the president? The Big Daddy of the world if fails to discriminate between its sons and daughters, what the Third World will learn.

It is really sad that a woman is still a failure or achiever only on the basis of her gender. Is it justice to the fairer sex or just a debate raised to segregate society on the basis of feminism and its antithesis.

Image

Source: Wasginton Post

The past few weeks have seen the United States of America get into an unpleasant diplomatic tangle with its European allies over the issue of troops contribution in Afghanistan. Last week’s NATO summit in Lithuania was overshadowed by a possible split in the military alliance over the issue. But US defense secretary Robert Gates continues to stress on the fact that a NATO failure in Afghanistan would pave the way for a spread of Islamic radicalism not only in the Middle East but across Europe. Secretary Gates, present in an international security conference being held in the southern German city of Munich, told delegates that Europe should continue the fight against Islamic terrorists in Asia to have a better future as far as security is concerned.

Citing recent radical Islamic terrorist atacks and plots across Europe, Robert Gates said,

I am concerned that many people on this continent may not comprehend the magnitude of the direct threat to European security. Imagine if Islamic terrorists had managed to strike your capitals on the same scale as they struck in New York.

As the Pentagon chief tries his level best to make Europe contribute more in the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan, there is no denying the fact that the lingering anger in the continent over Washington’s invasion of Iraq is the prime reason why European allies are reluctant to send more combat troops in the war-ravaged southern Afghanistan.

The European public opinion is very much against any troop contribution in Afghanistan or Iraq and Secretary Gates’ speech was directed to all Europeans rather than any single country. Analysts believe that Robert Gates is trying to differentiate Iraq and Afghanistan to the Europeans. The Iraq war is immensely unpopular in Europe but people tend to combine both Iraq and Afghanistan based on a simple fact that they believe the wars are America’s more than Europe’s. Yet Washington thinks that all the problems are stemming from a volatile Afghanistan and any failure to make it a democratic state would make Europe and the rest of the world vulnerable to a radical Islamic tide.

A London-based thinktank, the International Institute for Strategic Studies(IISS)has warned that Afghanistan would become a failed state if NATO operations fail to eradicate the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Many European countries like Germany, Spain and Italy want their troops to be involved in humanitarian and development work in Afghanistan rather than full combat and here lies the bone of contention with the US. Washington has used some tough words to describe the attitude of some NATO allies regarding Afghanistan which have not gone down well in many capitals. Yet Robert Gates’ tough military diplomacy seems to be working with France agreeing to send a combat force to help Canada fight a bloody battle against insurgents in southern Afghanistan.

Source: LA Times

A man who was best placed perhaps to understand that he would eventually get trapped could face up to five years of imprisonment decree once charged guilty, the chances of which are irrepressible. One after the other, each of his secrets is unfolding, adding to the heap of defamation he could literally get buried under.

Credit must be given to the team who foiled this entire racket for they had the opportunity to have the info leaked for it was for quite some time that the governors’ antics were under the scanner, beginning with his money transactions, which actually became the eventual cause of his nemesis.

The situation is so bad for Spitzer that even his not stepping down as the governor was seen as an act to use his position to get the authorities negotiating for a way to get out of it all. The bottom-line now remains that he is in for more trouble with every passing day. Just us as the Clinton incident or the Larry Craig Gay verdict, this would now end-up as a famous or rather infamous incident leaving his life shattered perpetually.

[Read More]

Obama, dwarfed by the Berlin’s Victory Column, transformed into confident orator with opening lines, “People of Berlin - people of the world – this is our moment, this is our time”. The German crowd loved each line which made a direct reference to Berlin, Berlin Wall, Berliners and Europe. Going tactically back foot and accepting the ‘mistakes’ made by US, Obama left no stone unturned to urge for new stronger US-Europe ties. He urged Germany for more co-operation and more troops to defeat Al-Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan.

In the past, Germany has been snubbed by Bush administration for opposing Iraq war. Bush’s attitude has hurt German self-esteem. So there is a reason why Germany is looking forward for more equal partnership with US and is in favour of a change in US leadership. Obama has succeeded in conveying a strong message that he can restore the tarnished image of US abroad with new foreign policies and global partnerships. But many political and media analysts feel Obama’s lack of experience showed. Was Obama’s speech a mere rhetoric to impress voters back home in America? That only time can tell.

Comparisons are being drawn between Obama’s speech in Berlin and historic speeches of other US Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. If Obama gets elected as US President, his Berlin speech will be counted as one of the historic speeches of a would-be US President.

Image

source: timesonline

Two days back Hillary Clinton had accused Obama for Political plagiarism. In process to taking each other down to get public support , both the camps are playing their political game very tactfully. Now, Obama’ picture, wearing traditional African dress during a visit to Kenya in 2006, published at the Drudge Report website has worked as fuel for fire. When only few days are left to for the final contest in Texas and Ohio, race card has been played by one of the camps.

Why Obama supporters are so upset about a picture of his wearing Muslim tribal robes and headgear? There’s nothing intrinsically Islamic about the one Obama wore in that photo. If he did and now decries its appearance, is he saying he should not have done it? Why do people have to denigrate Clinton, or anyone else for that matter?

On the another hand, It will benefit Obama, direct or indirectly. It is probably a very proud moment for Barack Obama, and it’s being used to portray him as a Muslim even though he has stated many times that he’s a Christian.

It would be a matter to watch, whether this picture will influence the decision of Americans about choosing democratic candidate for upcoming presidential election scheduled in November this year?

Via

The red hot battle this winter has been in the Democratic camp, but Republican senators Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee are giving John McCain a fight he might have not seen coming. McCain still managed to win over California comfortably and the golden state might just have made McCain’s next few months a lot easier. With the Republicans, it is the winner who takes the state and that should work in favor of McCain as of now.

The 71-year-old Arizona senator won the delegate-heavy states like California, New York and New Jersey and claimed enough states across the rest of the country to stay well ahead of his Republican rivals. While Both Romney and Huckabee have managed to still survive and stay in the race to the White House, McCain’s California win might have all but put a close to the speculation of who will be the Republican candidate. He also won his home state of Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Montana, and Oklahoma.

Mitt Romney managed to win Massachusetts, Utah, Minnesota, Colorado, North Dakota and Utah while Huckabee did win in West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Arkansas. This might be just enough to keep them in race for now, but when Texas does go to primaries, it might be all over for the two brave challengers.

As far as the Democrats go, Super Tuesday was just the beginning of a super showdown which will go on for the next few months. While for now Hillary’s win in California has put her ahead on points, Obama’s growing popularity and his call for a ‘change’ are catching on across the country. The 46 year old is only now starting to make that final push. While many speculated about California, it was probably pretty easy to say that it was going to Hillary considering early reports. She also took New York and New Jersey along with the surprise win in Massachusetts, the home state of Democrat elder statesman Ted Kennedy and 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry, who both went out in support of the Obama camp. For his part Obama has bagged Georgia early with victories in Alabama, Connecticut, Colorado, Idaho, Delaware, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, Alaska and his home state of Illinois.

The brawl between both Obama and Hillary is still very much on and those boxing gloves are not coming off just yet. Obama landed the early jabs, but Hillary did hit the big right hand in form of California. There is still many a round to go and the definitive knockout punch has not come yet. If you are keeping score then it is 12-8 in favor of Obama. But the 8 in Hillary’s tally include big blows like California and New York. Democrats are looking ahead to the next big contests in a week’s time in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Ohio and Texas vote in March while Pennsylvania goes to polls in April. We might just have to wait till the last round to find the winner of this one. What will America vote for - change or experience? That sounds so much like ‘American Idol’, doesn’t it?

Source

The US South, it is said, is a region altogether different from the rest of the country. Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana are caught in a time trap. Like Amish country, nothing has really changed there. Of course, the quality of life has become increasingly better but beneath the skin all remains the same. Race prejudices simmer, the old decaying rich families still struggle to keep up appearances and the Evangelical Churches carry on just the same. This is the land which gave Roosevelt the nick-name ‘Ted’. The UK Independent reads into the incident of Roosevelt sparing the life of a game-bear which had been tied to a tree for being shot by him. This widely reported incident just served to make Roosevelt more popular. What the UK Independent reporter misses is that Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have unique advantages and shortfalls in the Deep South. For one, Obama is black, has a name which does not really sound Christian and is a known Islamic sympathizer. WASPs (White Anglo Saxon and Protestant) may turn to Mrs. Clinton for solace in this situation. Yet Obama has a solid reputation as an Evangelical rhetorician. And he is a man. Mrs. Clinton’s strong points as a loyal, conservative wife can hardly counter the South’s patriarchy.

TimesOnline UK presents to us the Presidential Elections as a battle reminiscent of the American Civil War. Tom Baldwin spins a tale of fierce rivalries and Democratic aspirations. John McCain is out of the race, Howard Dean, the chairman of the Democratic National Committee, recently declared. Beneath the patina of Obama and Mrs. Clinton’s race for the Presidential seat, an alarming fact inadvertently comes to light. Baldwin pretty casually mentions that the fundraising associated with events organized by the Democrats has surpassed all previous records in terms of the money and turnouts involved. What we tend to miss out is the sheer scale of organizing and financial backing involved in any Presidential election in the US. Electoral watchdogs worldwide maintain that even if 10% of that wealth was distribute to the wretched of the earth, then there would be significant alleviation of poverty. Yet when one reads such reports about the Presidential elections, one is nauseated at the naked show of power to a starving world. The First World Press forgets that the issues at stake are not really who becomes the next President, but whether the incumbent will deliver on promises. We need a messianic leader to lead the world at large. Both the main contenders for all their rhetoric do not fit the bill. Any brouhaha over them, thus, is an awful wastage of time and resources.

Source: UK Independent, TimesOnline UK

Image: Washington Post