rhadamanthine

Super delegates may not fear the clatter and rattle of a race to the finish, nor the prospect of bloodied Democratic candidates, nor McCain’s unchecked ability to raise money, define issues, and coalesce Republicans and Independents. For now, there is nothing a super delegate has to fear more than Barack Obama’s click power.

Obama was touted as having no experience, impossible to be ready for the presidency from day one. Yet Obama assembled a formidable power base. That base met and exceeded every political challenge. Sufficient enough to confound, frustrate, and end the presumptive presidency of the Clinton coronation juggernaut. Clinton thought Obama’s power came from those "words" she despised and denigrated. Clinton never fully understood the magnetism of communication. She misused it so. But Obama’s true power came less from words, and more from the tip of a finger.

Finger tips generated a seemingly limitless funding for Obama. Finger tips volumized the voter roles. Finger tips spoke truth to campaign lies. Finger tips redefined the Democratic Party, as no longer principally Clinton’s blue collar and middle class you spoke down to. One finger tip for Obama clicked to another. And so on, exponentially, the Obama power base was formed.

In her old world, Clinton struggled with the politics of hierarchy. Being experienced in coming from below and climbing to on high, Clinton came down and wanted to climb high again. Clinton never noticed the world had gone flat in the meantime. Not only did the world go flat, political power had gone flat.

Super delegates may recognize the principle, better than Clinton. From now forward, Obama always can summon the reserve of his click power. One finger tip is all that’s needed to send a communication that evidences to super delegates - or to any other for any other purpose - that political power rests with the people. The man who is so self effacing as to be deemed ineffectual and inexperienced is the perfect president to command and be entrusted with the click power of so many American finger tips. It reflects the underestimation George Washington embraced.

About to have her political house foreclosed, Hillary Clinton finally can feel America’s pain.

The credit card Hillary’s been using is maxed out. Her political house is mortgaged to the hilt. It’s worth less now, than when she bought in. Despite her resume of extensive experience, she’s about to lose her work. Her future prospects dim darker every day. Yet headstrong, Hillary continues to drive a resource gulping, campaign bus that requires extensive repairs, and gets less and less miles per gallon. And she believes thirty eight cents a week in tax credits will give her the comfort she needs, get her where she needs to be, and will make all the difference in the world.

Like America, Hillary Clinton is living beyond her means. Like America, Hillary Clinton expects a miracle that will turn around her circumstances. Like America, Hillary will continue to display all the prosperity and success she can muster to save face, regardless of each underpinning that gets knocked out beneath her every day.

Hillary Clinton is not alone. She now has met and knows others who suffer like her They gather around her in support and mutual confidence. They expect the scale of Hillary’s problems will solve their own. Still holding to pride, they subtly hint about their need. Hillary hints about her need, too, plainly pointing them to her web site where they can make financial contributions to her.

Soon Hillary’s campaign bus will be out of gas. Fuel will prove too costly to move forward. She will meet many more before then, who are needy, like her. Like them, Hillary finally will be forced to look into her empty purse. She will lose her bus. Friends, once considered her best support, will be gone. She will lose her political house. She will witness with wonder and bewilderment the wealth so evident among others. And like those Americans whose pain she now can feel, she will ask the ultimate political question, "Where’s my bailout?"

When Hillary Clinton stated she was ready to “obliterate” Iran, clearly Hillary wanted to establish war hawk credentials superior to Bush-McCain. Now Clinton exhibits she can be just as much of a political bully as George Bush, too.

Last week when U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler courageously endorsed Barack Obama in Kentucky, Chandler’s office was flooded immediately by some 300 angry phone calls with racial overtones.

By nightfall, after the racially tainted reaction, Chandler’s office was flooded again. This time with contributions of almost $22,000 from 719 contributors to Chandler’s re-election campaign.

Jerry Lundergan, chairman of Hillary’s campaign in Kentucky, and former Chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party who almost bankrupted the organization under his stewardship, stated to the Louisville Courier-Journal that “calls to local radio stations suggest the district's voters are angry that Chandler chose to endorse now rather than wait for the primary results.”

Now the Courier Journal reveals that Hillary’s state delegate manager, Christian Corrales, ordered an email blast to Clinton supporters an hour before Chandler’s endorsement announcement, that resulted in the flood of angry phone calls.

When Gov. Bill Richardson announced support for Obama, Hillary’s campaign via James Carville blasted Richardson, a former Clinton supporter, as a “Judas.” Last week former Democratic National Committee chair Joseph Andrew of Indiana also moved from Clinton to Obama. Hillary’s campaign reacted by calling into question his Indiana credentials.

Recently acknowledged for her “testicular fortitude,” Hillary Clinton is becoming acknowledged for the mindlessness of her campaign. She doesn't seem to recognize the consequences of her actions. A bad characteristic for an aspiring president. Voters already have a Bully in Chief, and don’t want another.

The Courier-Journal newspaper of Lousiville, Kentucky today endorsed Obama for Kentucy and Indiana. The Courier-Journal services the Indiana market across the Ohio River from Kentucky. The paper concludes the following:

Who is best able to actually accomplish new directions?

Sen. Obama's relentless focus on change, and the hordes of new voters he draws to the polls, would make it hard for his victory to be read as anything other than a mandate for changing how Washington works.

Sen. Clinton actually has engaged in more collaborative efforts with Republicans than she is given credit for. But she is battle-scarred, widely viewed as divisive and, we believe, would face a harder time enacting her program.

It's a difficult choice, but the better pick for Hoosier and Kentucky voters is Sen. Obama.

Most interesting in the newspaper's editorial is the point by point analysis of the positions of the two candidates, and what brought the paper to its decision.

A call to Rep. Ben Chandler’s office this morning confirmed Chandler has endorsed Barack Obama.

This is stunning. While Obama has about 8 offices opened around the Commonwealth and Clinton 3, Kentucky blogs and press have given little coverage to Obama. Generally, it’s assumed Clinton would carry Kentucky in the primary, and McCain would carry Kentucky in November. Historically, party membership in Kentucky sometimes has proved fickle. Registered members of Kentucky’s Democratic Party have voted Republican, and vice versa.

Ben Chandler’s biography shows he is well grounded in Kentucky politics. He also comes from a long line of family Democratic politicians in Kentucky. Chandler also is close to Gov. Steve Beshear, whose chief of staff, Jim Cauley managed Obama’s 2004 Senate race.

In recent celebrations of Abraham Lincoln, a son of Kentucky, Chandler quoted Lincoln’s own words, 

With malice toward none, with charity for all, with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in, to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan, to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations." –Abraham Lincoln 

Now Chandler endorses Obama, another son of Kentucky, first acknowledged here on PoliticalBase. See: "Obama’s Roots in the American Revolution."  

Rev. Jeremiah Wright explained himself as part of an African-American religious tradition that was "different." From an historian’s view, he well could have claimed his religious practices are one and the same with the practices of early American Baptists, who evolved into the Religious Right of today, or into John McCain’s supporter, Pastor John Hagee.

Early Baptists were as much at odds with their powers of government as Rev. Wright. It was not only their expression of liberty, it was equally their social commitment to the betterment of society, as they viewed it. Early Baptist preachers were not deemed politically correct.

Wright’s counterpart was Rev. Elijah Craig, the minister who invented bourbon. Craig started his ministry in a tobacco barn, soon became wildly popular, and attracted congregations as large as Wright’s. But Craig’s preaching earned him imprisonment. Craig could not speak his mind, without first obtaining permission in the form of a preaching license from Anglicans. At trial in Culpeper County, only sound bites of Rev. Elijah Craig were restated to convict him. No mention was made of Craig’s comprehensive message of community involvement and social committment.

Craig was thrown into stocks and displayed on the public stage, much like Wright now compelled to appear before the Washington Press corps. Regardless, Craig preached defiantly within his confinement, and succeeded in attracting even more converts.

None other than Thomas Jefferson attended Rev. Craig’s services. Jefferson did not find the radical and raucous environment much to his preference. Nor could Jefferson agree with everything Craig advocated. But Jefferson would not pillory Craig for his expression, nor for his belief. Instead, Jefferson defended it.

When Barack Obama feels no need to condemn Rev. Wright, Obama upholds Jeffersonian traditions. Free speech is free. Religion also is free, but separate from State. Licenses to preach what one believes, how one chooses, haven’t been required in America since 1776. As Rev. Wright plainly said, the traditions of the African-American religious community, is not wrong. It’s just ‘different." What is different, and un-American, are those who attack these liberties.

The Clinton victory in Pennsylvania signals time has come for the Democratic Party to reassess its future. Are white, blue collar voters really the Party’s core constituency anymore?

In previous elections, the Democrat’s blue collar voters sought a savior and defected to become Reagan Democrats, until they got Bill Clinton as president. They swept George Bush into office, and kept Bush in office for a second term. That resulted in a broken economy, lost jobs, lost industries, lost homes, lost credit, lost international reputation, a lost Constitution, and a future lost to paying for a war that never should have been waged and was lost from the start. They now seek a second coming in Hillary Clinton.

Clinton has unmasked their disaffection. Like a true Republican, Clinton has unleashed fear mongering, reflecting their insecurities. Like a true Republican, Clinton is a war hawk. She is ready to "obliterate" Iran, though most all of them are war weary. And like George Bush, Clinton will lie to them, so they can feel good about her and themselves. Like the lie of "Mission Accomplished," Clinton says "A win, is a win, is win." And they want to be winners.

Sympathy belongs to the voter who’s lost a job, lost a home, or lost their industry. But no sympathy is deserved by the voter who won’t stop downing shots of lies and false adrenaline as the best solutions from day one for the future of America.

The condition of Pennsylvania was reflected in Ohio, soon may be reflected in Indiana, and most definitely will be reflected in Kentucky. There, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has enabled the powerless of Kentucky for the past generation as Kentucky’s Prince of Pork. Like Bush and like Clinton, McConnell is a political enabler, who traffics his political power against a powerless constituency, who repeatedly elects him.

Other constituencies of the Democratic Party now are looking to a future that is progressive, technological, and transforming. Ironically, they are the traditional core constituencies of the Democratic Party - the African-American, the Hispanic, the economically disadvantaged and disenfranchised, the newly franchised voter, the individual thinker, and - most importantly - they are America’s youth, who seek to be empowered through personal participation, and not dis-empowered by political dismissal.

More than anything, these core constituencies fear nothing. Their consciousness is not solely selfish, but selflessly global. In this, they thrive on inclusion and not exclusivity. They seek no political savior, other than the common will. History’s tide is rising in their favor. So, too, should rise the Democratic Party. Those drifting on the politics of fear and exclusion are sinking at sea.

What can be said about a presidential candidate who cannot inspire voters with leadership, but can only inspire a smack-down parody of election politics by professional wrestlers? This can be said: Thank you, God, for the temporary amusement!

When Hill-Rod retreated to her kitchen to cook up her demonic brew of lies, racism, and Bin Laden fear, Hill-Rod only succeeded in intoxicating herself. So much so, that on the eve of the Pennsylvania election she stood ready to nuke Iran. From Hill’s kitchen she proclaimed, if Iran attacked Israel, "We would be able to obliterate them."

As Hill-Rod meticulously played with her kitchen ingredients, her last debate turned into an unappetizing yawner. Even pundits were running dry on commentary. Grace was prayed for no more debates. Hell bent Hill-Rod was on a tear, though. In it, until the end! she said. Everyone believed her. Hill Rod wasn’t warning Obama only. She warned us all. "If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen."

On the night of the Pennsylvania election, the pundits of adrenalin looked frantically for the signals of a knock down. Instead, they were served meagerly with the mirror recipe of the Ohio election. Pennsylvania voters winked as they exited the poles. They voted for Hill-Rod, but acknowledged Obama would probably be the Democratic nominee. Then flew more stories, as in Nevada, of election irregularities. Ho-hum was investigative journalistism's response.

Hill Rod’s financially broke. She’s bankrupt on issues. She’ll never have enough delegates. And the girl can’t cook. All she has is her mighty kitchen sink, ready to throw at whoever gets in her way.

America indulged George Bush for eight years. But America shouldn’t be forced to indulge adolescent politics anymore. It is not Hill Rod’s career that is at stake. It’s our country at risk. Unless all we want is to retreat to watching the entertainment of a wrestling parody, it’s time to get the kitchen back in order before the entire house is ruined. Who’s in charge?

Photographer Todd Heisler of the Rocky Mountain News won Pulitzer Prize, Interantional Picture of the Year 2006, 1st and 2nd place, for these photos. The complete photo archive of the story can be viewed on the link. The war being so much of a political issue, I thought them worth acknowledging and reflecting upon as we elect a president.

During  the arrival of a Marine's casket last year at  Denver International Airport , Major Steve Beck described the scene as so powerful: "See the people in the windows? They sat right there in the plane,  watching those Marines. You gotta wonder what's  going through their minds, knowing that they're on  the plane that brought him home," he said. "They will remember being on that plane for the rest of their lives. They're going to remember bringing that Marine home. And they should."

The  night before the burial of her husband's body, Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her, tucking in the sheets below the flag. Before she fell asleep, she opened her laptop computer and played songs that reminded her of "Cat," and one of the Marines asked is she wanted them to continue standing watch as she slept. "I think it would be nice if you kept doing it,' she said. "I think that's what he would have wanted."  

Barack Obama is about as American as one can get, if one looks at his ancestry from colonial Virginia and the Kentucky frontier.

Obama’s 7th great grandfather is Col. James Lewis Hickman. Born March 3, 1724 in Culpeper County, Virginia. He served in the military during the War of the American Revolution. America gave Obama’s 7th great grandfather a grant of land in Kentucky for his service. He settled in Paris, in Kentucky’s Clark County.

Col. Hickman married Hannah Lewis of Virginia on March 14, 1744. Hannah was the daughter of an 8th great grandfather of Obama, Maj. Davis Lewis 1695-1779, of St. Peter’s Parish, New Kent County, Virginia, who also served in the War of the American Revolution.

Hannah Lewis & Col. Hickman had a number of distinguished children, who are great grand uncles of Barack Obama. Capt. Davis Lewis Hickman served in the Revolutionary War, as did his brothers, Capt. Joel Hickman 1761-1852, and Capt. James Lewis Hickman Jr. 1759-1828.

Another brother Gen. Richard Hickman 1757-1832 who served the Revolution entered Kentucky with his parents. After serving in the Revolution, Gen. Hickman was a member of Kentucky’s Second Constitutional Convention at Frankfort in 1799. He served in the Lower House for five years, and then sixteen years in the State Senate. Elected in 1812, Richard Hickman was the 4th Lt. Governor of Kentucky under Gov. Isaac Shelby, and acted as Governor when Shelby went to war in the War of 1812.

Obama’s 8th great grandfather, who sired this distinguished family of American patriots, is Edwin Hickman. Edwin Hickman was Lord High Sheriff of Spotsylvania County in 1729, and Lord High Sheriff in Thomas Jefferson’s Albemarle County in 1740. In 1744 Edwin Hickman became Chief Justice for the Virginia Colony, that stretched from the Atlantic seaboard to the Mississippi River.

While many Americans can trace their ancestry to participation in the American Revolutionary War, few who are African-American can claim such privilege. Barack Obama is unique, in that he can. It should not be surprising that he has devoted himself to public service for his country.

Here’s the Obama pedigree to the American Revolution and to his 8th great grandfather, Chief Justice Edwin Hickman.

Barack Hussein Obama

Parents: Barack Hussein Obama Sr. & Stanley Ann Dunham

Grandparents: Stanley Armour Dunham & Madelyn Lee Payne

Great Grandparents: Ralph Waldo Emerson Dunham & Ruth Lucille Armour

2nd Great Grandparents: Harry Ellington Armour & Gabriella Clark

3rd Great Grandparents: Christopher Columbus Clark & Susan C. Overall

4th Great Grandparents: George Washington Overall & Louisiana Duvall

5th Great Grandparents: Robert Overall & Annie Browning

6th Great Grandparents: Col. James Browning & Susannah Hickman

7th Great Grandparents: Col. James Lewis Hickman & Hannah Lewis

8th Great Grandparents: Maj. David Lewis Sr. & Betty Ann Terrell

8th Great Grandparents: Chief Justice Edwin Hickman & Elender Webber

The Concerned Members of the Kentucky Historical Society have published the complete ancestral heritage of Obama to his roots in Kentucky, the colonial period and American Revolution, back to 15th century England.

UPDATE: The New England Genealogical Society has posted Obama's ancestral tree, which also links Obama to President James Madison.

UPDATE: The Chicago Times has published a graphic of Obama's family tree, replete with photos of Obama ancestors.

Today, March 29, Obama opens his store in Louisville, Kentucky. This past week Bill Clinton has made Kentucky appearances, as Hillary covers the other side of the Ohio River in Indiana. But suddenly Kentucky's Secretary of State, Trey Grayson, has come out waving his cards.