Having decided not to run again, Senator Dodd seems to have also left his courage at the door of the Senate committee he heads, and decided to table a watered down, relatively toothless bill to cure the root causes of the financial meltdown the American financial system faced a short while back:

"Americans are frustrated and angry, as we all know," Dodd, D-Conn., said. "They've lost faith in our markets, and they wonder if anyone is looking out for them."

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Obama speech in Canadian Parliament February 19?

Looking forward to heading to Ottawa on February 19. I am hoping to get tickets to the parliamentary gallery should he deliver a speech to a recalled parliament. I am excited to see Obama deliver a barn burner on Canadian-American relations and am looking forward to the photo op between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama. A crucial visit being the first foreign country to host the President of the United States of America. This will be a great opportunity for Prime Minister Harper to build strong relations and produce results on the many challenges both our nations face. For Canadians, Obama offers hope that relations with our best friend and ally will only grow stronger under the new administration and more beneficial for both the Canadian and American people. Expect a huge crowd of people at Parliament Hill on the 19th and for a change it will not be to protest. Yes We Can to good relations between Obama and Harper.
-Darryl

Obama coming to Ottawa on Feb. 19

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/01/28/obama-canada.html

U.S. President Barack Obama will visit Canada on Feb. 19 in his first official trip abroad, the White House announced Wednesday.

No details of the trip, including what city he would visit, were announced, but CBC News has learned that his destination will be Ottawa.

Although Parliament will not be sitting that week, it may be recalled so Obama can address a joint sitting, CBC's Paul Hunter reported.

"This is a testament, not just to the size of our trading relationship and the closeness of our alliance, but also the strength of our friendship," Prime Minister Stephen Harper told the House of Commons.

"I look forward to an important and productive working visit."

Obama had already pledged his first official foreign trip would be to Canada but had not specified a date.

"Canada is a vitally important ally," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters. "The president looks forward to the opportunity to speak with Prime Minister Harper and visit our neighbour to the north."

Former president George W. Bush made his first foreign visit to Mexico.

Last week, Harper spoke with Obama following his inauguration and congratulated him.

The Prime Minister's Office said Harper and Obama discussed the economy, his trip to Canada, energy, environment and the war in Afghanistan.

A recent poll, conducted before Obama took the oath of office Jan. 20, showed large support for the new president, with 81 per cent of Canadians holding a positive view of him.

Today Barack Obama becomes President of the United States of America!!!

Happy new year and welcome to 2009!!!! Sorry it has been so long since I last updated this blog. I wanted to take a vacation over the holidays and have been extremely busy at work. Given the events of today, I figured this would be a good day to post something.

Some readers might remember that during the primaries and US election, I was a supporter of Barack Obama. On Super Tuesday, I had the opportunity to spend a few days campaigning in Chicago for Obama. I also had the chance to see him speak in person and it was a moving experience. After what seemed like the longest Presidential campaign in American history, today is the day that change is finally coming to America and the world.

The historical significance of today is huge. Obviously given the history of the United States, the civil rights movement and the fact that President Obama’s inauguration is taking place a day after Martin Luther King day; the significance of America electing the first African American president cannot be overstated. Hopefully the swearing in of Barack Obama at 11:56am will result in unity and allow America to turn a new page in race relations. This story is going to be played up in the media and I think it is crucially important that young African Americans can now grow up with the dream of one day becoming President of the United States of America. The personal story of Mr. Obama having a father from Kenya, a mother from Kansas and taking advantage of the opportunity America provides is inspirational and proof that the United States is the land of opportunity. As I watch coverage on CNN, FOX and the international media; I cannot help but get caught up in the excitement, hope and unity that this day brings. Outside of the significance of America electing the first ever African American president; there is also a celebration about change and it will not take long before the Americans and citizens of the world realize that there is a new reality on several issues. Already, Mr. Obama has enhanced the image of the United States globally and right now he currently has the burden of solving all of the problems Americans and the world face.

After the inaugural balls, parades, ceremonies and symbolism takes place, it is expected that Barack Obama will get to work on some major issues almost immediately. We are hearing that Obama will meet with his economic advisors and get to work on a stimulus package to address the financial crisis that has impacted the United States and most of the world. It also seems clear that Obama is set to meet with his military advisors and will ask them to draft a plan to pull out US troops from Iraq within 16 months. We should also see more troops and increased attention on the Afghanistan mission and a refocus on capturing Osama Bin Laden wherever he is. As early as this week, Barack Obama is going to send a major signal to the world by closing Guantanamo Bay via executive order and banning torture. There is also talk that he will almost immediately implement tougher fuel standards on the automobile industry in an effort to signal he is serious about climate change. Finally Obama is expected to appoint a Middle East envoy (Bill Clinton?) that will immediately get to work on the peace process early in his term as oppose to Clinton and Bush who addressed this issue towards the end of their terms. All of this is expected to occur this week.

We have also learned that President Obama will in fact make Canada his first foreign trip as President. This meeting will be of crucial importance to Prime Minister Stephen Harper. For starters 82% of Canadians approve of the job that Obama is doing as President-Elect. Only 4% of Canadians disapprove. Previous polls have shown that Obama is more popular than any Canadian politician right now and this will be a major change from Canadian attitudes towards George W. Bush. Stephen Harper who has always believed that strong relations between Canada and the United States must be a central part of Canadian foreign policy is going to have a much easier time working with Americans on crucial issues without having to worry about being labeled as “too close to George W. Bush”. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Canon will pave the way for the visit. With major issues such as NAFTA, the oil sands, the environment, the auto industry, the economy, Afghanistan and security on the agenda; now is the time for Prime Minister Stephen Harper to prove to President Obama that Canada is America’s closest friend and ally. Domestically, the politics of a good relationship between Obama and Harper will have an impact on the next Canadian election campaign. While it will be tough to face comparisons between Obama and the political leadership in this country, the election of President Barack Obama does offer an opportunity to pursue a pro-American agenda and get to work on the common interests affecting our nations.

Domestically in the United States, Obama has his hands full. The US economy is getting worse and time bombs such as health care and social security are going to have to be addressed. President Obama has set very ambitious targets on climate change. Once the honey moon is over, he will have to find a way to work with the Senate and Congress in order to get his agenda implemented. Up to this point he has lived up to his word and stayed above partisan politics. Internationally, we could see drastic change as in the past Obama has said he is willing to talk with both Iran and Syria. He also is open to ending the embargo against Cuba. He will face challenges with Russia, India/Pakistan and China. North Korea remains a threat. There is a lot of hope in Africa that his Kenyan roots will benefit that continent. There is also a lot of hope that he will be able to rebuild relationships with allies in Europe, South America and elsewhere. Expectations have been set to the highest levels imaginable. The question is how will he live up to the hype starting tomorrow?

Today we have a chance to celebrate the election of President Obama and also the culture and democratic traditions of the United States of America. Tomorrow we begin a global agenda of change and it is important that Canada acknowledges the new reality in Washington and ensures Canada has a strong role to play. I congratulate the United States of America for electing Barack Obama as President. I look forward to strong relations between Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama who will be working together to address the mutual challenges our nations face. For me personally this is a huge day and it is an honour to have played a small part in Obama’s historic campaign and this historical political event.

Yes We Can!
-Darryl


Update: Barack Obama takes the Presidential Oath

My Reflections on the American and Canadian elections and the future under this new political landscape

October 14 Canadians went to the polls and November 4 Americans went to the polls and at the end of the day Stephen Harper of the Conservative Party and Barack Obama of the Democratic Party were easily elected to office in their respective countries.

Stephen Harper has a stronger minority at 143 seats and a stronger cabinet because of the increased talent pool. Following the Conservative convention in Winnipeg, Parliament will return on November 18.

Barack Obama will likely name an all-star cabinet with names like Colin Powell, Chuck Hagel, Arnold Schwarzenegger, John McCain, Michael Bloomberg, Warren Buffet, Hillary Clinton, Bill Richardson, Caroline Kennedy, Al Gore and John Kerry mentioned as possibilities. His transition is taking place right now and he will be sworn in January 20, 2009.

Both leaders have now won the prize of an economy heading for recession, a war in Afghanistan and international pressure to do something about the environment. Both leaders must now face the same issues such as how to deal with China, Russia and Pakistan. There are wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The Israel and Palestine conflict remains an ongoing issue. Threats of nuclear proliferation and terrorism still exist. There are emerging economies such as India and Brazil that offer both opportunity and threats to Western economies. Genocide is going on in Sudan and Congo. Even within the Americas, we have issues with Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela. Today the world is a small place and we are all integrated together as part of the global economy. As we have seen from the US financial crisis, what happens South of the border can have a huge impact in Canada and around the world.

The economy will be priority one and a new era has likely arrived in the international fight against climate change. Kyoto is dead and Obama will attempt to lead the world towards a new agreement once he becomes president. Healthcare will be interesting with Stephen Harper supporting universal healthcare in Canada while Barack Obama tries to bring universal healthcare to America. Already we have seen the Conservative government reach out to Barack Obama by proposing solutions on the environment file in a way that acknowledges the current state of the economy. Stephen Harper stuck to his principles that he would not sign an international climate change treaty that did not include the United States and other major polluters. Obama has set ambitious domestic targets and will want to show global leadership on the issue. This is Stephen Harper’s chance to act as a bridge between Europe and America while demonstrating that Canada too has a big role to play. NAFTA may come up as an issue, but Canada has signaled it will play the energy card in negotiations and could also open up the issue of fresh water. Issues with NAFTA from the perspective of the Americans could have more to do with Mexico such as labour and environmental standards as oppose to Canada where those standards are already in place. Obama has also promised to become energy independent from the Middle East and Hugo Chavez. To reach that goal, Canadian oil will be necessary. Together a strengthened Conservative Party in Canada will have to work with a strengthened Democratic Party in the United States. Both the Conservative Party and Democratic Party seem to want to show that they are moving closer to the centre. In Canada Conservatives are moving from the right while Democrats are doing the same from the left. There is every reason to believe right now that both Obama and Harper should be re-elected, but in politics things turn on a dime. Expect these two leaders to have good relations as both have an interest in a strong relationship between Canada and the United States as well as overall prosperity in North America.

Ironically the opposition parties in the United States and Canada have a lot in common right now as well. Neither the Republicans nor the Liberals have a leader and in both cases all of the frontrunners have some major baggage. Both the Republicans and the Liberals are having trouble fundraising while facing opponents who are earning a huge advantage with small donations from a high volume of people. The Liberals and Republicans have not found away to use the internet to their advantage at this point. Both the Liberals and Republicans are not national parties on the political map following the most recent elections and have shrunk to their very core base. Both have a sense of entitlement to power, offer out of touch platforms, lack principle and have a history of corruption and scandal during their time in power. Stephen Harper in 2006 and Barack Obama in 2008 were both elected on platforms of change and will now govern. Liberals and Republicans must change internally before they offer a credible government in waiting alternative to Conservatives and Democrats. Liberals will fight amongst themselves as Ignatieff and Rae divide the party. Republicans will have the same battles between those who Sarah Palin and others who would like to see anyone else. In both cases leadership is only a small part of the overall problems with these parties. Taking responsibility for losing and doing what it takes to win again is what really matters. Liberals blame CTV while Republicans point the finger at CNN. Building membership, picking a new leader, coming up with an appealing platform, improving fundraising and putting together a campaign machine is easier said then done. Both Liberals and Republicans have neglected the grassroots. The rebuilding process is more likely to take years not months. I predict both Republicans and Liberals will likely not have their acts together by the time the next election occurs and will face opponents that likely will have strong records to run on. For Liberals it will be difficult to watch Harper perform where he performs best on the world stage as a statesman. Every meeting between Obama and Harper will be a reminder to both Liberals and Republicans that they lack relevance and are not in power.

In the United States, this election is historic because Barack Obama is now the first African American elected president, young people voted in huge numbers creating generational change and two women in both the Republican and Democratic parties played crucial roles in the 2008 presidential race. Obama’s honeymoon will be short and domestic issues will be pressing. Americans want health care. Social security is becoming a major issue. The deficit and increasing debt threatens inflation. Consumer confidence, credit availability, employment, GDP growth, housing prices and individual savings are all going down. Manufacturing jobs are being outsourced to China and elsewhere and America is running a huge trade deficit. There will be pressure for protectionism. He must find away to get the troops out of Iraq both safely and responsibly as promised. Guantanamo Bay will be shut down as promised. Finally Obama has promised energy independence, action on the environment, tax cuts for the Middle Class and Canadian style healthcare. That will be tough to achieve in his first term. He has also promised to go after Bin Laden and add significant troops to win the war in Afghanistan. He will need allies and Canada with Stephen Harper as leader will be his most reliable ally. Even among America’s enemies and rivals such as Castro, Chavez, Kim Jong Il, Dmitri Medvedev, Hu Jintao and Ahmadinejad; reaction thus far has been positive to Obama’s victory. Already it looks like Obama has healed some of the American image lost under George W. Bush. Obama will bring change to American policy on many issues that will impact Canada. His election victory will give Stephen Harper an opportunity improve his image as a moderate and portray his party as being close to the center.

In Canada the agenda will likely be continuing the course of the last two years. Dept repayment and tax cuts if there is a surplus. Controlled spending. Balanced budgets. Tough on crime stance. Leadership on the world stage. A focus on native land claims. Working towards a climate change agreement that includes China, India and the United States. Limited interference in provincial and municipal jurisdictions. Expanding free trade agreements. Managing the mission in Afghanistan until 2011. A focus on families and Canadians who work hard and play by the rules. Attempts at democratic reform including the Senate. Dealing with needs in healthcare, infrastructure and poverty reduction. Harper was largely elected to maintain the status quo during these uncertain times. Obama is more likely to find a friend who is pro-American as oppose to a rival that is pro-Bush or Republican leaning. With Obama enjoying the support of 75% of Canadians, Stephen Harper is likely to benefit from Obama's popularity as the two are seen together engaged in heavily staged press conferences and photo ops on the world stage and during visits. He is unlikely to make time for Liberal leadership contenders should he make a Canadian visit early in his presidency. Obama may face filibusters in the senate as he failed to get an absolute majority of 60 seats. Harper must deal with a minority government and the reality that an election can occur at any time.

At the end of the day the election of Barack Obama helps Conservatives and Stephen Harper. We can now get something done without the opposition parties or media accusing us of being too close to George W. Bush. Any photo ops between Obama and Harper will look great in election brochures and television advertisements down the road. Liberals should resist the temptation, get caught up in the moment and try and rip off Obama as a quick fix. Once the hype wears off, he will face serious challenges and have real decisions to make. He may not be as popular tomorrow as he is today. On top of that Liberals already jumped on the green trend after Elizabeth May’s second place showing in London. The result of that decision was Stephane Dion and electoral disaster. Liberals shouldn’t make the same mistake twice. The Star also had a good article taking a closer look at Obama’s positions on Kyoto, gay marriage and other issues. Their conclusion was that if Obama was involved in Canadian politics, he would barely qualify as a red tory. In terms of the Obama campaign, all parties could learn from it and implement some of the strategies, especially those used online in future elections. What Obama brings is change and a new reality to international and American politics. On November 18, the Conservative Party and Stephen Harper will set out a vision for governing in this new political climate with a speech from the throne that will be an automatic confidence vote.

Yes we can to free trade. Yes we can to great relations between Canada and the United States. Yes we can to victory with our NATO partners in Afghanistan. Yes we can to tax cuts for the middle class. Yes we can on the environment. Yes we Can on the arctic. Yes we Can to turning around this economy. Yes we can to tough diplomacy with our enemies. Yes we can to facing tough challenges that are not yet evident. Yes we Can to the best possible relations between Stephen Harper and Barack Obama for their mutual benefit. President Obama and Prime Minister Harper have a lot of mutual challenges that must be worked on together. I have no doubt that both have the leadership qualities to guide their nations through these difficult times. Barack Obama and Stephen Harper have far more in common than issues that divide them.

Thanks for reading...

Darryl

Obama and McCain Speeches from Last Night

Barack Obama's historic victory speech. Barack Obama will be the 44th President of the United States of America:




Classy John McCain concession speech:

10 Things that will impact the US Election Outcome

Frankly, I think that by 8:00pm E.S.T. tonight, Barack Obama will be declared the next president of the United States of America. This will be confirmed or denied based on several factors that will determine the outcome of tonight's historic election.

1, Turnout among young, African American, Hispanic and Native voters. Traditionally all these groups do not vote in high numbers. Many are predicting this will change based on the candidacy of Barack Obama. If any of these groups turn out in large numbers, expect some surprises in states that went red in 2004. An influx of young and African American voters could in itself be enough to win the election for Obama tonight.

2, State of Ohio. McCain must win here. If he doesn't, it is difficult to see how mathmatically he can win enough electoral college votes to reach 270. Polls in Ohio will close fairly early tonight.

3, State of Pennsylvania. This is the only blue state that McCain has any chance of flipping that Kerry won in 2004. If McCain expects to lose in any of the states Bush won in 2004, he will need Pennsylvania to make up the difference.

4, The Palin influence and Conservative turnout. Say what you want about Sarah Palin, she has energized and motivated the conservative base for McCain. This vote must turn out. If too many McCain supporters look at the polls over the past five weeks, listen to the pundits and media, and come to the conclusion that their vote will not matter; McCain is in serious trouble. Having been on losing campaigns before, I can tell you it is tough to motivate your volunteers and supporters when you are in a situation like McCain finds himself in. Many have argued that sometimes polls hurt democracy. We could see this happen tonight.

5, Independent voters. As a maverick, McCain was very appealing to independent voters and moderate Democrats. With Sarah Palin as his running mate and in order to win the Republican nomination; McCain has been criticized by some for going to far to the right and alienating his independent support. Exit polls will likely show how independent voters cast their ballots. If this number goes heavy for Obama; it will be a bad sign for Republicans and for Palin's future.

6, Florida. If it votes in favor of Barack Obama, John McCain will lose.

7. Republican states Virginia, North Carolina, Missouri, Colorado, New Mexico, Iowa, Arizona, Indiana, North Dakota, Montana, and Nevada. If Obama wins in any of these states; McCain must make up the difference somewhere. McCain is playing defence. He needs the same victory as Bush in 2004. There is not much margin for error on any of these states. Polls show Obama competitive if not leading in virtually all of these states.

8, Turnout and its impact on Senate, Congress and Governor races. Republican Alaska Senator Ted Stevens could be in trouble as a result of a recent conviction. Elizabeth Dole is in trouble in North Carolina. If we see a surge in turnout for Obama, will those votes translate to other Democrats as well. The Democratic Party is likely to control the White House, Congress and Senate. High turnout for Obama in a state like North Carolina could result in a loss for Dole. If this happens elsewhere where Republican senators are in trouble, the magic 60 number could become realistic. 60 Senators would give Democrats a filibuster proof majority in the Senate.

9, Potential Obama victory speech. Will he try and reduce expectations for his presidency should he get elected tonight? There is serious concerns that Obama supporters, Democrats and the international community have set expectations for an Obama presidency that is not realistic. History will likely be made tonight and there will be a lot of hype and excitement. Given the fiscal crisis however, too high expectations could hurt his chances to get re-elected in the long term.

10, Republican concession speeches. Will Palin run in 2012? Will Republicans look to regroup and rebuild? What might be in McCain's plans for the future? How will Republicans react to the results. If Obama loses will he try again in 2012. What will Hillary say? What will be the fallout of an Obama loss, especially if there is a perception of voting irregularities? Who will be on the next president's transition team. What will tonight's results mean for the current President George W. Bush. There has been two years of build up for this election night. There has been little talk about what the potential impact will be tomorrow. International newspapers will also be interesting as they react to the results.

Overall, I stick to my original prediction of 378-160 for Obama tonight. I also think Obama will achieve over 50% of the vote with an unusually high turnout.

Thanks for reading...

Darryl

North Carolina Senate Race gets Nasty. Ad war over religion

And the media thought our ads on Dion were harsh. The senate race in North Carolina between Elizabeth Dole and Kay Hagan is going to be one of the closest in the United States. It could very well determine if Democrats achieve 60 seats in the Senate giving them a filibuster proof majority. Some of the media and of course Dion complained about Conservative ads against him. Liberals ran attack ads against us trying to link George Bush to Harper. As you can see from the ads below; our negative attack ads are very mild compared to what we see South of the border. Personally I believe that while everyone says they dislike negative advertising, ultimately it works. Of course if you go too far, it backfires big time. Not sure how these ads will impact the outcome on Tuesday, but they are quite interesting. Current polls show Democrat Kay Hagan with a slight lead in the race. Mixing religion and political campaigns could be risky. Any thoughts on these ads or negative ads in general?
-Darryl

Dole campaign ads:









Politics and Religion:





Kay Hagan Response Ads





Social Security Attack



Standard George Bush Ad for Democrats

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama for President

On NBC's Meet The Press, General Colin Powell announced his support for Barack Obama. October 19, 2008.

Gen. Colin Powell expected to endorse Obama this Sunday

This has been rumored for quite some time and will likely come true this Sunday on Meet the Press. While most endorsements do not impact voting intentions, this one might be an exception. Powell would give military and foreign affairs credibility to Barack Obama in an area he is still seen as weak. Powell is a former Bush administration Republican, is respected by 75% of Americans, is an African American conservative and an American war hero. He is seen by most as a man of integrity. One in three Americans said a Powell endorsement of Obama would make them more likely to vote Democrat. It would also emphasize his messages on Iraq, bi-partisanship and uniting Americans. Current Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has also not officially endorsed anyone, but that is more likely because of her role in government and not because she is a closet Obama supporter. Meet the Press should be very interesting this Sunday!
-Darryl



****

washingtonpost.com's Politics Blog

The news that retired Gen. Colin Powell will appear this Sunday on "Meet the Press" has set off a frenzy of speculation that former secretary of State could throw his endorsement to Barack Obama.

Powell has made little secret of his admiration for the Illinois senator in the past but has always stopped short of outright endorsing him.

Will that change on Sunday? And, if it does, how much is Powell's endorsement really worth?

Seen through the prism of our handy-dandy endorsement hierarchy, Powell's endorsement of Obama would qualify as the highest powered of all endorsements: a symbolic one.

Here's several reasons why a Powell endorsement could matter:

1. Turnabout is Fair Play. Powell is best known for his most recent job in government -- as the secretary of State for President George W. Bush. The idea that a high-ranking cabinet official in a Republican administration would come out for the Democrat is simply too juicy a story for the media to ignore. That it would be someone as high profile as Powell would only add to the titillation.

2. The Most Popular Man in America? Powell, unlike almost no other official with ties to the Bush Administration, has retained remarkable popularity ratings. In an August Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll, more than three-quarters (76 percent) of voters viewed Powell favorably while just 13 percent saw him in an unfavorable light. A large part of Powell's appeal is his perceived bipartisanship -- a direct result of his decision to repeatedly turn down overtures to run for president in his own right. For a certain (not insubstantial) portion of the electorate, when Powell speaks, they listen. The Fox News/Opinion Dynamics poll reinforces that fact; more than one in three voters said a Powell endorsement of Obama would make them more likely to vote for the Democrat. (Hat tip to Jon "The Numbers Man" Cohen for the polling data.)

3. Iraq, All Wrong. Powell, thanks to his immense popularity, was the Bush Administration's choice to make the case in front of the United Nations for the invasion of Iraq. Powell has since called that incident a "blot" on his record, and made clear his disappointment with the prosecution of the war. An endorsement of Obama, who built his candidacy on his early opposition to the conflict, would mark a clean break with the Bush Administration on the war and would add significant heft to Obama's argument that he alone possesses the judgment to lead the U.S. in a dangerous world.

4. The Final Straw. With polling -- both in the key battleground states and nationally -- showing that voters trust Obama more than John McCain to handle the current economic morass, one of McCain's last hopes is that the the election turns back somehow to a foreign policy focus. If Powell does endorse Obama, it would shore up the Illinois senator even if that eventuality occurred; it would be hard for McCain to slam Obama's approach on the war if the Democrat had a Powell endorsement sitting in his back pocket.

Huffington Post picks up my comments on Sarah Palin's speech

To read the full article click here.
-Darryl

Back in Canada, Darryl Wolk, runs the headline: Sarah Palin was awesome! He adds:

After all the unfair media attacks, witch hunts in Alaska and criticism about her experience, Sarah Palin came out strong and confident yesterday, delivering the best speech at the Republican convention last night. I have to say she is impressive. Solid speaker (perhaps the female Obama on the teleprompter), ultra-Conservative and clearly a mom who puts family first. I think she has become a star and is a role model for females looking to enter politics. As a Conservative in Canada, I would love to see her hit the campaign trail with Harper for a couple days! Convention organizers for November should be trying to recruit her as the keynote speaker. I am still supporting Obama, but for the first time in this campaign, I think there is reason to get excited about the Republican ticket. Congratulations to Palin for delivering such a powerful and well executed speech under the circumstances she faced going into it. Awesome is all I have to say.

Obama responds to McCain's message of Change

Barack Obama compared his ideas of change with those of John McCain at a Townhall in Terra Haute, IN on September 6, 2008

Barack Obama Democratic Convention Speech

One of the best he has delivered. The crowd of 70,000 was awesome! I think momentum is back with the Obama campaign.
-Darryl



Fireworks



John Legend and will.i.am perform at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo.

Democratic Convention: Gore, Richardson, Lewis, and Campaign Manager Plouffe Speeches

Tonight the Democrats pulled off quite a show. Over the last few days there have been several good speeches. The hype and excitement cannot be denied with the Denver venue falling in a swing state. The party clearly seems united and both Hillary and Bill Clinton will prove to be assets on the campaign trail. I think this convention was a game changer. This will be a tough act for the Republicans to follow. I will be surprised if there isn't some kind of bump for Obama after this convention.
-Darryl

Former Vice President Al Gore speaks to the Democratic National Congress



Governor Bill Richardson (D-NM) speaking at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo.



Representative John Lewis delivers a tribute to the Reverand Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo.



Martin Luther King III speaks to Democratic National Convention on the 45th anniversary of his father's "I Have A Dream" speech



Campaign Manager David Plouffe addresses the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo.

Today Delegates to the Democratic National Convention officially selected Barack Obama as the Party's presidential nominee.

Biden, Clinton and Kerry Speeches from Last Night

Joe Biden accepts the vice presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention with an inspiring and personal speech.



Former President William Jefferson Clinton spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention, on August 27, 2008.



Senator John Kerry, former Democratic presidential candidate, spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention on August 27, 2008.

Speeches from the Democratic Convention:

Michelle Obama talks about the Barack Obama she knows at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.




Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) speaking at the Democratic National Convention.

Best speech in my opinion from an emotional perspective that was delivered last night...
-Darryl



The big finish of Senator Kennedy's powerful speech at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.



Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.



Senator Ted Kennedy and Caroline Kennedy spoke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.



Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO



Tribute to President Jimmy Carter

Conventions could be a disaster for both Obama and McCain