I don't know why I feel like crying, but these pictures move me. I just feel like Obama is evolving before my eyes.  All these pictures from this trip have been quite moving...

Drudge just reported this:

OBAMA VISITS WESTERN WALL IN OLD CITY JERUSALEM... ARRIVES AT 5:08 AM LOCAL TIME [10:08 PM ET]... SUNRISE... SHOUTING MAN: 'JERUSALEM IS NOT FOR SALE, OBAMA'... MOB SCENE... CHAOS... BOWING HIS HEAD IN PRAYER... PLACES NOTE IN WALL... POSES FOR PHOTOS... LOTS OF SHOUTING... LEAVES 5:20 AM... DEVELOPING...

SO I went looking for pictures, and I found these

So I was playing with The Google on the inter-tubes a couple minutes ago, and look at what I found:  

THE CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN EXPRESS

Its Barack's 757 (to be precise; its a 757-28A) back from the paint shop and ready for the Cross-Atlantic swing through the Mid-East and Europe.

Just announced live on Lou Dobbs (Please don't ask me what I was doing watching Lou Dobbs) that Dr. Phil "Americans are whiners" Gramm will step down as McCain's Chief economic adviser.

Glad this fool is gone. Hopefully McCain will follow suit!

UPDATE1:

Gramm's official statement:

It is clear to me that Democrats want to attack me rather than debate Senator McCain on important economic issues facing the country. That kind of distraction hurts not only Senator McCain’s ability to present concrete programs to deal with the country’s problems, it hurts the country. To end this distraction and get on with the real debate, I hereby step down as Co-Chair of the McCain Campaign and join the growing number of rank-and-file McCain supporters.

UPDATE2:

Obama responds:

The question for McCain is "whether he will continue to keep the economic plan that Gramm authored and that represents a continuation of the polices that have failed American families for the last eight years."

Lets lighten up the mood a bit around here.

A lot has been said about Barack's maternal grandparents Stanley and Madelyn Dunham; as well as his paternal grandmother Sarah Obama. We all know about his mother Stanley-Ann Dunham (so named because her Dad had wanted a boy), his wonderful wife Michelle and of course Malia and Sasha (Natasha) - his kids.

However not to much has been discussed about his older half-sister (on his fathers side) - Auma Obama. We've read clips, maybe heard a brief audio clip or seen her hanging around Michelle (she accompanied Michelle a lot during the primaries, esp in New Hampshire).  As someone who spent a lot of my early years in West Africa and who has also had to trace my roots to villages in Africa, my attention always perks up when I see Obama's African family profiled.

So who is Auma Obama.......?

Just now on the Dam Abrams show, a tape (in fact several tapes) of John McCain were revealed where John McCain said I didn't really love America until I was deprived of her company.

One of the instance where McCain said this was actually on Hannity's show.

Abrams made the case immediately that this tape would put a dent into Republican efforts to paint Michelle Obama's now infamous statement, as an unpatriotic one.  

Folks we now have ammunition to FIGHT back!!!

Video after the jump...

Hey Guys, I thought it might be a good idea to have a live discussion about Michelle's performance on The View today. Please feel free to Rec this up if you'd like, If the Diary doesn't pick-up traffic, I'll just go ahead and delete it.

Yeah, its her fault; she’s the one that dragged him to that church, she’s the one that makes the choices see...She’s radical and she’s imposed her radical views on Barack Obama.  See Obama’s not so bad, he’s not really radical, but Michelle...She’s radical, she kept him in that Church for 20 years, she’s the one that dragged him to that Church and kept him there. See that’s how it is see, wives, women, they’re the souls of most marriages and Michelle is the center of force in this marriage; she’s the one I’m scared of, and ALL Americans need to know this because, I mean she could become the next first lady see, it’s her fault.......

Just as a follow-up to this diary by Billary Redux last night, HuffPo  has finally released the tape where Bill shoots off at the mouth.  As you now know, Bill was responding to a question/s asked by Mayhill Fowler regarding this article by Todd Purdum for Vanity Fair.

I did a double take when I read this

In Carlsbad, CA last night at the "All Things Digital" conference sponsored by the Wall Street Journal. Conservative torch bearer - Rupert Murdoch; Owner of News Corp, The Wall Street Journal, and champion of conservative politics -- said this about Barack Obama:

"He is a rock star. I love what he is saying about education. I think he will win and I am anxious to meet him."

Talk about hypocrisy and double-talk.  Dubya just jumped into the Presidential race with two feet. On MSNBC just now Bush was shown giving a speech commemorating Israel's 60th anniversary at the Knesset saying:

"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals...We have an obligation to call this what it is. The false comfort of appeasement which has been repeatedly discredited by history."

I know there are some dissenters on here that feel JRE did not endorse soon enough. I disagree. This for me was an EXCLAMATION mark emphasizing Barack's  nomination victory.  

It is over.

Now lets show John that we appreciate his endorsement of Barack today and donate to his campaign and recent initiative......

Let me just say that I am sorry if this topic has been discussed in another diary somewhere else. I first learned of its existence yesterday when I came across this article in the NY Times over the weekend. However I just read the actual piece referenced by the NY Times article and let me say, I enjoyed reading it because it reinforces the reason why I support Obama so much; it's so amazing how Obama's progressive, nuanced and reasonable approach to various issues, syncs with mine.

Anyway, so this piece is a piece written by Jeffery Goldberg of "The Atlantic", in which he interviews Barack Obama on a number of topics that center on Obama’s exposure to Zionism; his views on the rightful existence of Israel as a Jewish state; the continuous suspicion he receives from some Jews here at home and so on.  Most importantly it clues one in as to how the Obama White House might approach Mid-East policy.  

Here we go, the Clinton surrogates have started making the case for Hillary as Vice-President. Personally, I don't like the idea. Her Campaign was run in a way that is against everything Barack Obama stands for. It's that simple, so no mas!

Hop, Step, Jump (sorry I'm still giddy from last night) oveeer the foooolllld! hehe....

Hi all,

It seems Barack Obama's recent denunciation of Rev. Wright has already reaped dividends. In a new poll conducted from May 1-3, registered voters (who have heard about the Wright situation) - by a margin of 3 to 1 - approve of how Obama has handled the Wright affair.  Additionally 52% say that Obama has been appropriately critical of his former pastor

There are only two pollsters I lend credence to. The WashPo/ABC folks and SUSA. WashPo were the first to pick up on Obama's momentum in Iowa in late November, they have been fairly accurate ever since. They do not poll much but when they do, they seem to be dead on in detecting trends.

And we all know about SUSA's performance on Feb 5th and onwards...

so here goes...

According to Mark Halperin; yes.

What is going on here? Cali up for grabs? Boy tonights debate is going to have ramifications, no doubt.....It's gonna be BIG!!

Rasmussen has a new poll out showing Obama and Hillary virtually tied. Its now

Hillary: 43%
Obama: 40%
Edwards: 9%

Hey Y'all,

So yesterday I did it again. I played hookey from work to attend a Barack Obama rally, this my friends, is becoming a baaad habit.

But what can I say, when you get the chance to witness potential ground-breaking or historic political events, such as what went down yesterday with TK's endorsement, you take it! especially when you're within 5 miles of said event.

So here's my personal take of yesterdays happenings......