Obama '08?

Obama's political team out-organized Clinton

Barack Obama's loyalists have stunned even themselves with success against Hillary Clinton
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Call them Kool-Aid drinkers. Political romantics. Starry-eyed dreamers. But as the marathon Democratic primary campaign nears an end, Barack Obama's staff is on the verge of vindicating its belief that the eloquent black freshman senator from Illinois was a unique candidate who could win the Democratic nomination in one of the biggest upsets in presidential politics. [..]

The team was led by calm and focused campaign manager David Plouffe; their strategy was inspired by the candidate's experience as a community organizer. They built a campaign designed to accomplish what other political sensations like Gary Hart and Howard Dean failed to do ?- turn the energy and excitement of the Obama phenomenon into long-term results. [..]

From its experience in congressional races, the Obama team understood firsthand the extent of Clinton fatigue in the heartland and the lesson of the 2006 midterm elections: America wants change.

Obama's chief directive for hiring the more than 700 staff members who eventually came to work for him was: No Drama Allowed. Obama's even demeanor is reflected in the advisers closest to him. While Clinton's campaign divided into conflicting power centers whose emotional disputes leaked publicly, any fights in the Obama campaign were kept in the family.

Plouffe embodies Obama's vision ?- a steady and unemotional number cruncher averse to the limelight, able to tune out noise and focus on the moves needed to reach the end game. Plouffe was the mastermind of Obama's long-range campaign plan that looked beyond the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday primaries that Clinton had predicted would deliver the nomination to her. He dispatched staff to states that Clinton's campaign overlooked, particularly small caucus states where intensive organization produced wins that swelled Obama's delegate lead.

A Gephardt guy, Plouffe had worked on campaigns that went broke, so he was notoriously cheap. Obama attracted a talented staff willing to work for much less than they could have made with Clinton. Plouffe carefully minded the bank account to preserve enough money to keep running after the wildly expensive Super Tuesday contests while Clinton's campaign went broke. She had to lend it $11.4 million to stay afloat. [..]

realjohnboy wrote:

Can you source that? How many do Clinton and McCain have?

I dont think McCain has any yet; from what I remember (but I cant be arsed to look it up) presidential candidates normally only get assigned official secret service security once they are officially the nominee (up till that time they have to arrange their own security). Obama was assigned the security early by ways of exception - because of threats, I assume.

Dunno about Clinton, but I assume former Presidents (so that would include Bill) automatically get assigned security detail as well?

Authorization
Today, the Secret Service is authorized by law to protect:
The president, the vice president, (or other individuals next in order of succession to the Office of the President), the president-elect and vice president-elect
The immediate families of the above individuals
Former presidents and their spouses for their lifetimes, except when the spouse remarries. In 1997, Congressional legislation became effective limiting Secret Service protection to former presidents for a period of not more than 10 years from the date the former president leaves office
Children of former presidents until age 16
Visiting heads of foreign states or governments and their spouses traveling with them, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States, and official representatives of the United States performing special missions abroad
Major presidential and vice presidential candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election
Other individuals as designated per Executive Order of the President
National Special Security Events, when designated as such by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security

Major presidential and vice presidential candidates, and their spouses within 120 days of a general presidential election

FYI,
Here is the Secret Service website and what their regs are about who they protect and for how long...

mysteryman wrote:

FYI,
Here is the Secret Service website and what their regs are about who they protect and for how long...

Thanks.

Any response to the points or links showing that a) there was no media cover-up of the alleged role of the Decemberists at Obama's meeting and b) sickle cell anemia is something you're born with, so irrelevant to the question of 46-year old Obama's medical records?

Or will you just keep on throwing things out there, let other people do the fact-checking, and then ignore their findings when you move on to the next "outrage"? Maybe it's just me, but seems kind of rude.

mysteryman wrote:

FYI,
Here is the Secret Service website and what their regs are about who they protect and for how long...

Thanks.

Any response to the points or links showing that a) there was no media cover-up of the alleged role of the Decemberists at Obama's meeting and b) sickle cell anemia is something you're born with, so irrelevant to the question of 46-year old Obama's medical records?

Or will you just keep on throwing things out there, let other people do the fact-checking, and then ignore their findings when you move on to the next "outrage"? Maybe it's just me, but seems kind of rude.

I guess all of you missed my point.
When John Mellencamp appeared with Obama in Evansville, the media made a huge deal out of it.
Now, they seemed to either ignore or barely mention that there was a band at the Portland event.

I am wondering why the double standard?

mysteryman wrote:

FYI,
Here is the Secret Service website and what their regs are about who they protect and for how long...

Thanks.

Any response to the points or links showing that a) there was no media cover-up of the alleged role of the Decemberists at Obama's meeting and b) sickle cell anemia is something you're born with, so irrelevant to the question of 46-year old Obama's medical records?

Or will you just keep on throwing things out there, let other people do the fact-checking, and then ignore their findings when you move on to the next "outrage"? Maybe it's just me, but seems kind of rude.

So are you unhappy, mysteryman, that Obama and McCain are getting SS protection prior to July?

Clinton Kennedy Assassination Reference: Brings Up Bobby's Death In Saying Why She Stays In The Race
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The SS is trying to protect B. Hussein Obama from Hillary....

cjhsa wrote:

The SS is trying to protect B. Hussein Obama from Hillary....

Or you!

teenyboone wrote:

cjhsa wrote:

The SS is trying to protect B. Hussein Obama from Hillary....

Or you!

Huh?

blueflame1 wrote:

Clinton Kennedy Assassination Reference: Brings Up Bobby's Death In Saying Why She Stays In The Race
link

So, is she looking for Obama to be knocked off? She's a real desperado!

teenyboone wrote:

blueflame1 wrote:

Clinton Kennedy Assassination Reference: Brings Up Bobby's Death In Saying Why She Stays In The Race
link

So, is she looking for Obama to be knocked off? She's a real desperado!

I said it before, but I will say it again...

Since the Kennedy family, and especially Robert Nennedy Jr. isnt upset or bothered by her statement, why are the rest of you?