Sen. Dick Durbin: Obama is on his way to the presidency.

[Colobo]

MUDDY - Although his preference in the presidential race is no secret, Sen. Dick Durbin reinforced his opinion to Democrats and local officials during a stop at Ross Cottom Lanes Tuesday.

"Sen. (Barack) Obama would be here, but he is on his way to the White House," Durbin said.

Durbin has been campaigning for Obama in Iowa and New Hampshire while Congress is in recess, he said. Durbin encouraged Obama to run for president in the Democrat primary, he said.


In Iowa, someone asked Durbin if he is getting on the Obama wagon early and Durbin said, "No, I hitched the horses to this wagon."

The Democrats have a good field of candidates in 2008, he said. Hillary Clinton is a good candidate, as are Sen. Christopher Dodd, Sen. Joe Biden and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, Durbin said.

Someone asked Durbin who would be a good choice for Obama's running mate. He suggested Sam Nunn, the retired conservative Democrat senator from Georgia. Durbin said Nunn may be considering a run as an independent.

More at:
http://dailyregister.com/articles/2007/08/22/news/news1.txt

[jgraz]

1. At this point, I'd take it

Not a huge Obama fan, but anything to keep Hillary's clutches off the White House...

[Colobo]

2. Join the Obama movement and we will achieve it!

[jgraz]

4. Not yet -- still pulling for a different Not-Hillary

I've been getting more and more enthused about Edwards and what he has to say. I'm a bit more neutral on Obama, but I think his leadership skills could potentially make him our next JFK. He's just not saying enough of the kinds of populist ideas that I look for in a candidate.

[frazzled]

6. I think it's interesting how much emphasis you put on ...

what a candidate "has to say." And you claim Obama is not "saying enough" of the kinds of populist ideas you look for.

I listen to what candidates say, but knowing that candidates will say anything to court their base or court the middle, I put far more stock in what the candidates do or have done in their careers and lives.

To that extent, I see Obama as the more populist of the two candidates you speak of. He worked as a community organizer, empowering people to take on their own rights (from a very centralized, powerful political machine in Chicago that often has little use for "the people"). He got his start as a civil rights attorney. Then, he stayed close to the people in his district by getting elected to the Illinois legislature for 8 years ... where his focus was on the people with such issues as racial profiling, health care, civil rights, the death penalty.

I don't see that much in Edwards's past that tells me he has long been a particular advocate of the people (sure, you can spin being a litigation lawyer into that, but that spin doesn't really come out in the wash that well). The millions he made from his law practice did get him a brief stint in Washington, where his record was not terribly "of the people" (cf. bankruptcy bill, etc.). And then he decided he wanted to be president. He's devoted himself to that pretty much for the last five years. But he hasn't really done anything else (sorry, ten-minute photo-ops in New Orleans or small 'foundations' used to bankroll your pre-campaign travel options don't count).

People say a lot of things. Politicians are advised and trained to say things. But I don't think what politicians say is a very complete measure of their ability to be president. I think you have to look at a lot of things: biography, leadership history and potential, ability to inspire, tenacity, record, personality ... and a lot more.

Remember, what they say is not always what you get. If we recall, Bush campaigned on the promise of a "humble" foreign policy, and no nation-building. And "compassionate" conservatism. Yeah, what he said was really worth the cue-cards it was written on.

I'm not denigrating your choice. I'm just very curious as to why people put so much stock in what a politician says, especially when it doesn't always match what they have done (or what they said yesterday). I'm a verbal person, but talk is not my only yardstick in these matters: I measure the walk as well.

[jgraz]

11. I put stock in what Edwards says and the way he says it

I've seen him speak three times this election cycle and spoken directly to him twice. I completely buy his passion about ending poverty. There's a risk that he's just an expert smoke-blower, but that risk is there with any candidate.

If Edwards goes down, I'll be bummed but I'll strongly support Obama or Kucinich. Hell, I'd even vote for Biden at this point if it will keep Hillary off the ticket.

[greatauntoftriplets]

3. Excellent news!!!

But I have to :rofl: There is actually a town in Illinois called Muddy? Oh, I live in Illinois, but in suburban Chicago.

[madrchsod]

7. yes there is---78 people

and it has the smallest post office in the usa!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muddy,_Illinois
Muddy, Illinois - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[greatauntoftriplets]

10. The name struck me as extremely funny....

Thanks for the wikipedia link!

:hi:

[madrchsod]

13. why that`s ok "hon"...

down there it`s "hon".....southern illinois is not really part of this state is it?

[greatauntoftriplets]

14. It really isn't....

and it's been years since I've been in Southern Illinois.

:blush: damn typo.

[EST]

5. Journalism is sure a forgotten art.

[AtomicKitten]

8. I hope so.

[BeyondGeography]

9. Good for Durbin...Passing on Obama = Failure of the Imagination

[illinoisprogressive]

12. Both are my senators!!!! And both are fantastic. Better when Obama is in the WH