A reader writes:
I was talking to an African-American friend last week and they mentioned their mother was seriously frightened for Obama that "something will happen to him if he is nominated" i.e. he will be assassinated. Is this a generational concern or more widespread? Have you picked up on any such concern?
I hear it all over the place – and it’s a common assumption among many African-Americans. I hope his security is getting tighter.
Chase Martin hears rumors of a caucus strategy.
Ahem:
Second, I suspect the Purdue poop-sniffing story has more to do with poor choice of dissertation topic, I can’t wait to get up every morning and resume working on mine:
"Staying Power: The Mainstreaming of the American Hard-Core Film Industry."
Karl Rove reveals his personal motto. No, I’m not kidding. Then this for his greatest fear:
Living foolishly above my means and running out of money.
While Rove was in the White House, according to the GAO, his party and president added $32 trillion to the debt the next generation will have to pay.
The importance of some kind of national reconciliation before the surge winds down in earnest is hard to over-estimate. Here’s Petraeus’ recent assessment of progress:
There have been accomplishments, especially in recent weeks. They approved a pension law that extends pension rights to tens of thousands Iraqis who were left out, cast off. They agreed to the Security Council resolution extension, which gives us our mandate. They have debated accountability and justice, which is the de-Baathification reform legislation. The budget for 2008 should come up for a vote very soon after they return from Eid and the hajj. So, the progress has been halting, but there are a number of encouraging signs on the horizon.
"Debated" accountability and justice? Somehow I think that’s not-so-hard.
Iowa City, Iowa, 10 am.
The Detroit News backs him, which will help in Michigan, Romney’s real home-state.
For the European super-rich, Manhattan is a bargain. And so house prices stay high at the very top.
Don’t automatically assume that high turnout helps Barack Obama or assume that an increase in turnout comes from independents. Democrats, too, could caucus in record numbers, which helps the two candidates who are banking on them: Edwards and Clinton.
