Elections

Friday Talking Points [52] -- What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: Roast, White House, Tim Russert, John Lewis, Checkers, Mccain, Session, Campaign, Sarah Palin, Alfred E Neuman, How Democrats Can Take Back Congress, Greek Column, 2008, Richard Nixon, Tears, Bite, Midotw, Brown, Nancy Pelosi, Foley, Al Smith, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Jake Speck, Miss Beazley, Humor, Conservative, Lipstick on a Pig, Joe Biden, 08, O'Reilly, Pit Bull, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Kick Around, John LeBoutillier, Manger, Elections, Mddotw, George Wallace, Hillary Clinton, Nixon, Page, Bit, What a Long Strange Trip It's Been, Tim Mahoney, Sex Scandal, Sherrod Brown, Mistress, Grateful Dead, Obama, Fox, Bush, Pelosi, Giuliani, Clinton, Senator, Mark Foley, Tricky Dick, Ohio, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Hush Money, Comedy, That One, Boot's Blasts, Bill Clinton, John McCain, House, 2008 Elections, Lame Duck, Scandal, 2008 Election, Bush Bashing, Pull Teeth, Eternal Sunshine, Meet the Press, 08 Campaign, Cry, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Hannity, Bloomberg, Fox News, Leboutillier, Jor-El, Krypton, Nobama, Mahoney, Children of God, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I started blogging over two years ago. That is to say, right about the time the 2008 presidential campaign began. OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration...

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A New Conversation on Abortion

Jim Wallis | Posted 11.16.2008 | Politics

Read More: Supreme Court, Presidential Debate, John McCain, Debate, Abortion Reduction, Roe v Wade, Elections, Common Ground, Congress, Joe Biden, Democrats, Sarah Palin, Barack Obama, Abortion, Women, Unintended Pregnancies, Republicans, Poverty, Pro-Life, Pro-Choice, Politics News
Jim Wallis

Life is precious. John McCain believes that, Barack Obama believes that, Sarah Palin believes that, and so does Joe Biden. In fact, I'm not sure I have ever met a person who believes otherwise.

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Electoral Math -- Obama Lead Insurmountable?

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.15.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Vice President, Elector, Debate, State, Poll, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, President, Sarah Palin, Electoral, 2008, Insurmountable, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, Tracking, Bounce, Chart, 2008 Electoral Graphics, John McCain, Electoral Vote, Landslide, 2008 Elections, Joe Biden, 08, Abulsme.com, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Electoral Votes, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, State by State, Debates, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

It's going to be all but impossible to continue the "we're in a dead heat" nonsense if Barack Obama decisively wins Florida and Virginia when the East Coast returns come in.

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Obama's immediate measures to help economy: Jobs VIDEO >>

George Spyros | Posted 11.13.2008 | Politics

Read More: 2008 Elections, US Economy, Elections, U.S. Economy, John McCain, Media Coverage of 2008 Election, Economy, Financial Crisis, Obama, Election 2008, Presidential Election, 2008 Election, Election, Barack Obama, 2008 Presidential Election, Funny or Die, Politics News
George Spyros

HuffPo reports that Obama is calling for a 90-day moratorium on foreclosures and here's some AP video to give you the rundown: 1) more immediate s...

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Pollster Zogby: McCain on the Ropes, Must Turn It Around in Next 24 Hours, Election Could Be a Rout (VIDEO)

George Spyros | Posted 11.13.2008 | Politics

Read More: 2008 Elections, Elections, Barack Obama, Mccain, Media Coverage of 2008 Election, John Zogby, Obama, Election 2008, Presidential Election, Zogby, Zogby Poll, 2008 Election, John McCain, Election, 2008 Presidential Election, Funny or Die, Politics News
George Spyros

Zogby sees the distinct possibility of a rout fomenting the weekend before election day especially since the McCain campaign is lacking a credible message and a focused message.

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Exclusive Interview: Frank Prewitt, Author Of Last Bridge To Nowhere

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.13.2008 | Politics

Read More: Cbc, Corruption, Ted Stevens, Begich, Surveillance, Mccain, Don Young, Campaign, President, Sarah Palin, Craig, Nicholas Cage, Perps, Mark Begich, Oil Executives, Moose Poop, Alaska, Conviction, Democrat, Congress, 08, Bridge to Nowhere, Investigation, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Person of Interest, Barack, Jack Nicholson, Murkowski, Troopergate, Vice President, Court Case, Guilty Plea, Joe Biden 2008, Duke, Obama, Republican, Lisa Murkowski, Stevens, 2008 Campaign, Alaskan Politics, Corrupt Bastards Club, Confidential Source, Frank Murkowski, John McCain, Last Bridge to Nowhere, Hats, Frank Prewitt, 2008 Elections, 2008 Election, State Representative, Oil Companies, Delay, Witness, 08 Campaign, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Oil, Fbi, State Senator, Lott, Inouye, Tasergate, Prewitt, Cunningham, Alaskanisms, Veco, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Prewitt: The book is my experience working as the confidential source who spent nearly four years helping the F.B.I. pry the lid open on the sordid world of political corruption in Alaska and Washington.

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Friday Talking Points [51] -- Some Positivity

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.10.2008 | Politics

Read More: Debate, Abuse, Demagogue, Green, Fisa, Mccain, Campaign, CAFE Standards, Sarah Palin, Gambling, Pissed Off, 2008, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Student Loan, Rockefeller, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Energy, Jay Rockefeller, Democrat, Congress, Joe Biden, 08, Stimulus, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Education, Demagoguery, Anger, Mddotw, College, Wiretapping, Warrantless, Troopergate, GI Bill, Mudslinging, Mother's Day, Mud, Obama, Democratic, Shocked, Waxman, Republican, Pelosi, Casablanca, Minimum Wage, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Report, Keating Five, John McCain, Keating, Mental Health, Angry, Medicaid, 2008 Elections, Henry Waxman, Alternative, 2008 Election, Crowd, 08 Campaign, Wall Street, Mother, Fat Cat, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Charles Keating, Wiretap, Telecommunications, Medicare, Head Start, Rocky IV, Fitzmas, Politics News
Chris Weigant

While we're all waiting for someone to leak the Palin Troopergate Report (which is reminiscent of waiting for "Fitzmas" during the whole Scooter Libby...

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GOP Attacks on American Voters Turn Desperate, Ugly and Dangerous

Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman | Posted 11.10.2008 | Politics

Read More: College Students, Elections, Gop, Acorn, Election Fraud, Voter Purges, Stolen Election, Mccain, Obama, Barack Obama, Voting, Brunner, Politics News
Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman

If those supporting the democratic process are not exceedingly vigilant, the GOP could use these tactics--assault on voter registration, electronic voting--to once again take the White House.

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Palin on SNL? Not Without Preconditions!

Rusel DeMaria | Posted 11.10.2008 | Home

Read More: Vice President, Snl, Elections, Saturday Night Live, Sarah Palin, Palin Snl, Sarah Palin Snl Preconditions, Home News
Rusel DeMaria

Why not require her to answer questions on the Saturday Night Live stage? As the cost for her star turn, make her reveal what she knows and what she believes live, in an unscripted Q&A session with real people asking real questions?

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Electoral Math -- Obama Landslide?

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.08.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Vice President, Elector, Debate, State, Poll, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, President, Sarah Palin, Electoral, 2008, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, Bounce, Chart, 2008 Electoral Graphics, John McCain, Electoral Vote, Landslide, 2008 Elections, Joe Biden, 08, Abulsme.com, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Electoral Votes, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, State by State, Debates, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I have to admit, that's a pretty provocative title. And enumerating the poultry before they emerge from the ova is always risky... as the saying goes.

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You Don't Need A Weatherman To Know Which Way The Wind Blows

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.06.2008 | Politics

Read More: Dylan, Vice President, Fat Lady Sings, Mudslinging, Washington, Joe Biden 2008, Queen, Mud, Yogi Berra, Fat Lady, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, President, Sarah Palin, Subterranean Homesick Blues, Sds, Ayers, Bill Ayers, 2008 Campaign, David Ifshin, Rezko, Keating Five, Kitchen Sink, Weather Underground, Keating, John McCain, Dick Motta, Hanoi, Tony Rezko, Opera, Terrorist, 2008 Elections, 08, Basketball, Bob Dylan, Scandal, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Dan Cook, 08 Campaign, 1978, Palin, Barack, Charles Keating, 2008 Presidential Race, Championship, Hillary Clinton, We Are the Champions, Ifshin, Weathermen, Weatherbureau, Bullets, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Whatever you believe about Bill Ayers and the Weathermen, the fact remains that he is not running for president. But John McCain doesn't really have any other arrows left in his quiver.

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Friday Talking Points [50] -- Can I Call You Joe?

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.04.2008 | Politics

Read More: Vice President, Debate, Troops, Gwen Ifill, Impeachment, Ifill, Cheney, Middle Class, Maverick, Iraq, Obama, Mccain, Biden Palin Debate, Campaign, Withdrawal, Sarah Palin, Bush, Deregulator, Vice Presidential Debate, Bush Doctrine, 2008, Midotw, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Health Care, Global Warming, Taxes, Bill Clinton, John McCain, McCain Doesn't Get It, War, Timeline, 2008 Elections, Congress, Joe Biden, 08, Bridge to Nowhere, Democrats, 2008 Election, Investigation, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Choked Up, 08 Campaign, Mddotw, Tax, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Deregulation, Vice Presidential, Debates, Independent Prosecutor, Spain, Special Prosecutor, 110th Congress, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I refuse to get too wrapped up in the question of who "won" the debate. In general, unless one candidate obviously self-destructs, this question is answered subjectively and personally. That's not to say I didn't think Biden did better. I did.

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Electoral Math Looking Good For Obama

Chris Weigant | Posted 11.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Vice President, Elector, Debate, State, Poll, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, President, Sarah Palin, Electoral, 2008, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, Bounce, Chart, 2008 Electoral Graphics, John McCain, Electoral Vote, 2008 Elections, Joe Biden, 08, Abulsme.com, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Electoral Votes, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, State by State, Debates, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Barack Obama has made some gains since last week, to put it mildly. While he hasn't wildly increased his Strong numbers, at least the trend is in the right direction.

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Jews for Obama?

Michelle Haimoff | Posted 11.01.2008 | Politics

Read More: 2008 Elections, Civil Liberties, Jews, Democrat, Youth Vote, Liberals, Woody Allen, Barack Obama Israel, 2008 Presidential Campaign, Democratic Party, 2008 Presidential Election, Sarah Silverman, Gay Rights, Jewish, Voters, Election 2008, Israel, Swing Voters, Voting, Abortion, Obama Jewish Vote, Humor, Barack Obama Jews, Independent Voters, Democratic Presidential Candidate, Democrats, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Obama Jews, Young Voters, Barack Obama 2008, Elections, Swing States, Political Humor, 2008 Presidential Race, Presidential Election, Obama Israel, Jewish Voters, Gay Marriage, Politics News
Michelle Haimoff

The one issue that surpasses even those that center around civil liberties is the continued existence of the state of Israel.

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Join the "Bloc" Party to Get Political for Animals

Michael Markarian | Posted 10.31.2008 | Entertainment

Read More: Party Animals, Voting Bloc, Animals, 2008, Humane Society, Presidential, Elections, Entertainment News
Michael Markarian

Political candidates have used house parties to raise awareness and mobilize armies of volunteers. We aim to apply that same strategy to advance the cause of animal protection.

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In Defense Of Sarah Palin

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.30.2008 | Politics

Read More: Vice President, Debate, Gwen Ifill, Vp Debate, Joe Biden 2008, Mccain, Obama, Cbs, Campaign, Palin Biden Debate, Governor, President, Putin, Vice Presidential Debate, Katie Couric, Russia, 2008 Campaign, Couric, Alaska, John McCain, Biden Palin Debate, 2008 Elections, 08, 2008 Election, Biden, Barack Obama, Election, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Palin, Barack, Sarah Palin, Rears His Head, 2008 Presidential Race, Airspace, Debates, Ifill, Politics News
Chris Weigant

I have to at least try to defend the point she was (so badly) trying to make. Alaska was on the front lines of the Cold War. It's a valid point, especially with a newly-resurgent and newly-belligerent Russia.

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Friday Talking Points [49] -- Before And After The First Debate

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.27.2008 | Politics

Read More: Debate, Barney Frank, Mccain, Red to Blue, Campaign, Dscc, Sarah Palin, Offshore Drilling, Bailout, 2008, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Craig Ferguson, Katie Couric, Drilling, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Pork, Reid, Great Depression, Presidential Debate, Budget, Congress, Letterman, Joe Biden, 08, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Howie Klein, 08 Election, Elections, Mddotw, Leadership Challenge, Appropriations Bill, Harry Reid, Credit Card, Dodd, Debates, Adjournment, Senate, Bill of Rights, Obama, Chris Dodd, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Cbs, Omnibus, Presidential Debates, Bush, Pelosi, Continuing Resolution, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Financial Crisis, 700 Billion, Adjourn, John McCain, House, 2008 Elections, 2008 Election, Ferguson, 08 Campaign, Offshore Drilling Ban, Palin, Late Night, 2008 Presidential Race, David Letterman, Frank, Politics News
Chris Weigant

[UPDATED -- See part 2 in the Talking Points section.] This week's column will be presented in a sort of semi-liveblogging fashion. What you're getti...

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Electoral Math Update -- Obama Bounces Back

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.25.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Vice President, Elector, State, Dead Cat Bounce, Poll, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, President, Sarah Palin, Electoral, 2008, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, Bounce, Chart, 2008 Electoral Graphics, John McCain, Electoral Vote, 2008 Elections, Joe Biden, 08, Abulsme.com, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Electoral Votes, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, State by State, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Today was a banner day for Obama in the national polls (especially the one that puts him up nine points, 52/43) -- but they are largely meaningless, since that is not how we elect our president.

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Regardless of Who Wins the Election, Start Teaching Your Kids Mandarin

Christopher Ingram | Posted 10.25.2008 | Politics

Read More: War Hero, Social Security, John McCain, Tom Delay, National Debt, George W. Bush, Chris Ingram, Community Organizer, Congress, Maverick, Reform, Mccain, Obama, Dukakis, Campaign, Media, China, Gas Crisis, Sarah Palin, Mortgage Crisis, Mandarin, Elections, Nancy Pelosi, Debates, Barack Obama, Politics News
Christopher Ingram

Voters don't want change. When the American voting public goes to the polls and re-elects the same bunch of losers to Congress year after year, they should expect to get more of the same.

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Fire, ready...AIM! Does McCain Have the Temperament to Lead?

Ryan Mack | Posted 10.25.2008 | Business

Read More: Barack Obama 2008, Elections, John McCain, Senator McCain, John McCain 2008, Media Coverage of 2008 Election, McCain Temper, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Election, 2008 Presidential Election, Cronies, Regulation, Aig, SEC Chairman Christopher Cox, Bailout, Mccain Jacksonville, Today Show, Deregulation, Secretary Paulson, Business News
Ryan Mack

I don't know about you, but being smart has always been a characteristic that I look for in a potential President. I hope America agrees.

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Friday Talking Points [48] -- Throwing Out The Rulebook

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.20.2008 | Politics

Read More: Gaffe, Bugliosi, Markets, Don Siegleman, Bail Out, Feinstein, Mark Pryor, Steve Bradbury, Fisa, Mccain, Campaign, Mary Landrieu, Difi, Sarah Palin, Offshore Drilling, Nation of Whiners, Bailout, 2008, National Security, Constitutional Rights, Midotw, Paris Hilton Energy Plan, Drilling, Gang of 10, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Kent Conrad, Torture Memo, Rove, Energy, Gang of Ten, Executive, Democrat, Basketball, Feingold, Joe Biden, 08, Justice Department, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, 08 Election, Elections, Blue Ribbon Commission, Mddotw, Wiretapping, Charles Manson, Crisis, Financial, Dnc, Spain, Warrantless, Russ Feingold, Gramm, Ben Nelson, Gang of 20, Vincent Bugliosi, Economy, Meltdown, John Yoo, Middle Class, Vermont, Regulation, Democratic, Obama, Dianne Feinstein, Media, Fourth Amendment, Republican, Bush, Savings and Loan, Siegelman, Office of Legal Counsel, Playbook, Phil Gramm, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, 2008 Campaign, Progressive Party, Yoo, Ken Salazar, Fat Cats, Gang of Twenty, Mental Recession, Keating Five, John McCain, Karl Rove, Rules, Msm, Attorney General, Count the Lies, 2008 Elections, Contempt, 2008 Election, Tom Carper, Oil Companies, Senior Moment, Murder, Charlotte Dennett, Blanche Lincoln, Tim Johnson, Progressive, 08 Campaign, Wall Street, Rulebook, Palin, 2008 Presidential Race, Oil, Deregulation, Torture, Prosecute, Manson, Dennett, Olc, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Back in Volume 36 of this Friday Talking Points column, I pointed out what seemed to me to be an obvious observation -- that the media was going a lot...

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"Popular Vote" Claims Just A Myth

Charles Kozierok | Posted 10.20.2008 | Home

Read More: Elections, United States, Electoral College, Popular Vote, Barack Obama; John Mccain; George Bush; Al Gore; Election 2008;, Home News
Charles Kozierok

"Winning the popular vote" doesn't mean what most people think it does, and the conclusions that people draw from this bogus metric are myths.

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Electoral Math Checkup -- Obama's Low Point?

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.18.2008 | Politics

Read More: Tossup, Polls, Vice President, Elector, State, Poll, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, Charts, Electoral College, President, Sarah Palin, Electoral, 2008, 2008 Campaign, Election Analysis, Chart, 2008 Electoral Graphics, John McCain, Electoral Vote, 2008 Elections, Joe Biden, 08, Abulsme.com, 2008 Election, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Electoral Votes, 08 Election, Elections, 08 Campaign, Vote, Palin, Barack, 2008 Presidential Race, Samuel Minter, State by State, State Polls, Politics News
Chris Weigant

The national trend for Obama may have turned around in his favor in just the last couple of days. So even though things look grim here, Obama is already starting to bounce back.

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It's Wrong to Count People Who Don't Vote

Michael Markarian | Posted 10.17.2008 | Politics

Read More: 2008 Elections, Elections, Ballot Initiatives, Proposition 105, Clean Elections, Voting Rights, Democracy, Fair Elections, Election 2008, Arizona, Animals, 2008 Election, Election, 08 Election, Voting, Yahoo!, Politics News
Michael Markarian

People who have died or moved and are still on the voter rolls.

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More Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Please

Chris Weigant | Posted 10.16.2008 | Politics

Read More: Supreme Court, Vice President, Lies, Experience, Jane Swift, Face the Nation, Joe Biden 2008, Drugs, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Mccain, Obama, Campaign, President, Sarah Palin, Bush, Bush Doctrine, Lilly Ledbetter, Domestic Policy, 2008 Campaign, Equal Pay for Women, Ireland, Bob Schieffer, Cliffs Notes, Napolitano, Surrogate, Trial Lawyers, Women, Alaska, John McCain, Wasserman Schultz, Campaign Ad, Transcript, Bridge to Nowhere, Equal Pay, 2008 Elections, 08, Lie, 2008 Election, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Barack Obama, Biden, Election, Foreign Policy, Double Standard, 08 Election, Lobbyist, Iraq Kuwait, Elections, Oil Sex Scandal, 08 Campaign, Janet Napolitano, Sex, Palin, Barack, Honor, 2008 Presidential Race, Oil, Hillary Clinton, Truth, Bridge to Sell You, Schultz, Ledbetter, Schieffer, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Her performance was so strong and so well focused that it would be foolish not to immediately send her out on the campaign trail and/or to as many television interviews as she can squeeze into her schedule.

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