'We Can't Lose White Women and Expect to Do Well in This Race'

Translation: You're going down, suckers.

The emergence of Sarah Palin as a political force in the presidential race has left many top Democrats fretting that, just two weeks after their convention ended on an emotional high, Barack Obama's campaign has suddenly lost its stride.

Obama has responded aggressively this week to Palin's presence on the Republican ticket, using TV ads and campaign rallies to attack her contention that she is a political reformer who will take on the Washington establishment -- a role Obama has long claimed as his alone.

But some Democrats are now worried about the perils of Obama's strategy, saying that his campaign, instead of engaging the Alaska governor, should avoid any move that draws more attention to her and could enhance her appeal among the white, blue-collar voters who remain cool to Obama's candidacy.

A series of new polls suggests that Palin has given a major boost to John McCain's campaign, exciting the GOP base, winning over white women and all but erasing Obama's lead.

Concern among Democrats was high enough Tuesday that Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.), one of Obama's strongest supporters, felt it necessary to cite historical polling data at a lunch of Democratic senators to convince them that post-convention "bounces," such as the one that has followed last week's GOP convention, have often faded in past elections.

To reassure nervous lawmakers, Durbin also reviewed Democratic registration gains this year in key battleground states.

Still, Democrats expressed anxiety about the new challenge suggested by recent surveys showing McCain has gained ground among independent voters and women, who could decide the race in states such as Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

A new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll released Tuesday, for instance, shows that McCain is now winning among white women 52% to 41% after having been statistically tied with Obama in that crucial category just a month ago.

"Whenever you see that kind of movement, you ought to be concerned; you ought to try to address it," said Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), a strong Obama backer.

David Bonior, the former Michigan congressman who managed Democrat John Edwards' unsuccessful presidential bid, called the new poll findings a "real concern," adding: "We can't lose white women and expect to do well in this race."

Continually insulting, trashing, and smearing a white woman who's running for Vice President isn't exactly a winning strategy now, is it?

The left can try all the damage control they want, but Obama's idiotic "Lipstick" remark Tuesday may be the turning point. He'd been sliding badly in the polls for a week and just dropped an anvil on his own head.

The media clearly has missed the insult, as emphasized by Obama sympathizer Andrea Mitchell. You know damn well if Hillary Clinton was running for VP and McCain used that remark in reference to her, it would be the end of the world as we knew it.

Gateway Pundit links. Thanks!

Silky: Stop the Draft! Oh, and Send Some Cash While You're At It

I suspected this story would have had the left up in arms a couple of days ago, but then came Monday morning and the Rove announcement predictably shook the left to its foundation. Buried in the news was the quick dismissal to any notion of a draft.

Still, leave it to Team Breck Girl, led by the unctuous Baghdad Dave Bonior, to try and cash in on this nonstory.

The latest missive to arrive from the campaign has the urgent plea from Bonior. The usual litany. We can't win in Iraq, we're clean, oh and while we're begging, don't forget we're environmentally friendly.

Last week, Bush's War Czar, Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, said that "it certainly makes sense to consider" reinstating the draft.

Even though the Pentagon is now denying it, the fact that a draft is even being talked about reveals the true danger of the administration's breathtaking failures in Iraq and around the world.

We need to change course. John Edwards understands this—and as president, John will immediately withdraw 40,000-50,000 troops from Iraq, and finish a complete withdrawal of combat troops within the next year.

This is the kind of change we need in Iraq—and our campaign for change runs on clean money from people like you. John is not taking money from lobbyists and special interests--he never has, and he never will.

Thousands of people have already stood up to keep our campaign for change running on clean money. Join them by making a contribution today—and help us reach our goal of raising $100,000 by Sunday.

They do this seemingly every week. Latch on to a current issue, or create one, then the lame fundraising pitch goes out, generally for $100,000, followed up by repeated emails as the deadline frantically approaches.

As a veteran, I know what it is to serve my country—and I was proud to do so. But parents should not have to see their sons and daughters be sent to this disastrous war without a choice. Parents should not have to make that sacrifice because the Bush administration made mistakes—in Iraq and around the world.

Bonior always whips out the veteran card, and while he served in the Air Force during the Vietnam era, he did not see any duty there. Of course, this is to nullify all us chickenhawks.

We need a president who understands that there is no military solution to the mess in Iraq. We need a political solution—and we need the Iraqis and regional parties to take responsibility for their own future.

In case they hadn't noticed, that's the path we're currently taking. They forget the situation evolves but are still using talking points from six months ago.

That can't happen while the Iraqi Parliament is on vacation. Our troops aren't getting a vacation—they are fighting it out in the streets of Baghdad, and we are on track for one of the bloodiest months ever.

Of course, Bonior provides no numbers, and considering it's mid-month and casualties were down sharply for July, this is just nonsense.

That is why this week, John called on the Iraqi Parliament to end their month-long vacation early and take responsibility for their country's future.

And, like most people, they ignored him.

John and Elizabeth are traveling around Iowa on a bus fueled by B20 biodiesel, a cleaner fuel, bringing John's message of change directly to the people. But we need your help to keep this campaign fueled by clean money—money that comes from people like you, not from federal lobbyists or political action committees.

So to recap, he's running a clean campaign for change, supports the troops, but not their mission, and desperately needs money.

Oh, and did I mention change and cleanliness?

To stay on track, we need to raise $100,000 by Sunday. Please donate what you can today to help keep our campaign for change running on clean money.

Together, we can change America—and fix the mess in Iraq. But we all have to do our part. Please donate what you can today. And thanks for all you do to support this campaign.

Sincerely,

- David Bonior
Campaign Manager, John Edwards for President
August 15, 2007

Well, one place that Edwards is cleaning out of is Nevada. I guess his message of change wasn't resonating.

Ambulance Chasers Bankrolling Breck Girl

Despite all the mealy-mouthed palaver about Two Americas and pretending to be a man of the people, when it comes down to raising real money, the Silky Pony knows where his real base lies.

Attorneys still bankroll Edwards effort

RALEIGH, N.C. - In his time off between presidential bids, Democrat John Edwards courted Wall Street financial gurus and Main Street labor leaders.

But when it comes to the money backing his second campaign, the wallets of wealthy attorneys who propelled the former trial lawyer's first run for the White House still open more than most. More than half of the Edwards donors who listed their occupations said they are attorneys, and they have given seven times more than any other profession, according to an Associated Press analysis of campaign finance data.

No doubt another lame pitch is forthcoming from the Pit Yorkie, campaign hack David Bonior, telling us the right-wing smear machine, led by the Associated Press, is out to assassinate the character of His Silkiness.

Underscoring how desperate Edwards is for cash, without support from lawyers, he'd be down with the also-ran Democrat candidates.

In the first six months of the year, Edwards raised $23 million. But without the roughly $7 million collected from donors identified as attorneys, his numbers would fall closer to that of lower-tier candidates, such as New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd. Edwards already trails Clinton and Obama by $35 million to $40 million in total funds raised.

There just aren't enough lawyers available to make up the difference.