The last three local Obama ads - DHL in Ohio, "Backyard" in Nevada, and his "Harleys" ad in Wisconsin have been outstanding.  They have focused on important local issues in swing states and have used McCain's actions and words to highlight his flip flopping, lobbyist controlled actions.

For the next ad, I hope Team Obama will take a close look at McCain's role in sending the largest government contract in US history overseas.

John McCain's Online Action Center has an uncanny similarity to the increasingly infamous "5 Mao Party" in China.

And what is China's "5 Mao Party?"

According to this August 6 New York Times article:

Li Datong, a former editor of a top state-run magazine who lost his job after clashing with propaganda authorities, said officials in charge of mass media and the Internet try to leave little to chance. He said the country’s army of censors dipped anonymously into the Internet debate by paying part-time writers 5 mao, or about 7 cents, to steer public opinion and monitor the tone of debate online.

"Their job is to post articles on the B.B.S. to balance public opinion," Mr. Li said, referring to the Bulletin Board System where many Internet users interact. "The netizens call them the 5 mao party. If they get a post on a B.B.S., they get 5 mao."

So - the "5 Mao Party" is government sponsored propoganda designed to manipulate the public by "balancing" public opinion.

I have been struggling with how Congress has handled it's oversight responsibilities in the face of clear obstruction from the Executive branch.  I am extremely frustrated by the "Executive privelege" argument that the Bush administration is using to avoid Congressional oversight and obscure criminal activities within the administration. While reflecting on this, it occurred to me that Congress has legislative tools (beyond inherent contempt) to enforce oversight including the all-important power of the purse.  To this end, I am hoping for a discussion of possible consequences that (hopefully) a Congressperson or Senator could draft into legislation.

I'm not talking about abridging someone's right to "take the 5th" - because that is really only relevant when a crime has clearly been committed.  I am suggesting that a law should be drafted that addresses the kind of obstruction and obfuscation that we have seen with the Bush administration.

Ideas after the flip...

The Presidential Election is just 100 99 days away.

This has been the longest Presidential election in history and there is still quite a bit on the horizon before we reach the finish line.  Populista posted a great diary yesterday on all that needs to be done.

USA Today also just published an interesting partial calendar of the next 100 days.  They have included a lot of good information, but they have also missed a lot.  I thought I would ask for help creating a  more comprehensive election calendar for the next 100 days.  

FISA is sucking the energy out of me, so I felt the need to post a more upbeat and hopeful diary.  I ran across this and didn't think it was getting enough attention (It looks like there was a previous diary on this topic, but it got yanked)...

Both Barack Obama and John McCain delivered speeches to the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in Washington on Tuesday.

According to the Houston Chronicle and the San Francisco Chronicle, Obama won by a large margin.

Obama, who was introduced by former Clinton supporter - Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, delivered a new speech which directly addressed LULAC and immigration reform.  

According to the SF Chronicle:

Illinois Sen. Obama, largely an unknown among Latino voters only months ago, drew a standing ovation after delivering a rousing populist speech aimed directly at their core concerns - immigration, education and health care.

While we are waiting for the May fundraising amounts to be released by the Obama campaign, I thought it would be worthwhile to explore one aspect of Obama's decision to forego public financing.

At the end of April, Obama had already raised a staggering $272 million in this campaign (largely through over 1.5 million small donations).

The folks over at The Hill are already speculating that Obama could raise $100 million in June alone and attract 2.5-3 million new donors.

At this pace, Obama could raise and invest as much as 1/2 billion dollars on his campaign.

With these amazing resources, Obama's campaign has begun planning to run ads during the Olympics that would be broadcast on NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA Network, Oxygen and Telemundo.

After being named the presumptive nominee, Obama has quickly moved to support Howard Dean and position his unprecedented fund-raising machine behind the DNC.  Obama has also banned PAC money and placed his faith in our ability to raise money one person at a atime.

With enough resources, the 50 state strategy will win the Presidency, at least 24 House seats, and 7 Senate seats in the fall.  Right now, however, the DNC badly trails the RNC in cash on hand.  At the end of May, the RNC had nearly $54 million in the bank to the DNC's $4 million.

To reverse this, I am proposing the 50/50 Project.  

Project 50/50 - $50 Million for 50 states

I believe, with Obama (and Clinton's) fund-raising support, the DNC can raise $50 million in the next month.  I am further proposing that this 50 million could be divided among every state to build infrastructure, open offices, enhance local efforts, support Obama's voter registration drives, and further build the DNC's voter database.  

Traditionally, Presidential candidates announce their running mate after the primary has concluded and before the convention (The VP candidate is  approved at the convention).  As I recall, however, cabinet positions are generally identified by the President elect after the Novemeber election and usually before January.

Obama has mentioned Gore, Edwards, Clinton, and others as prime candidates for his "Dream Team" in a variety of cabinet roles.

I believe Obama should select and announce his proposed cabinet early. This would reflect his stance on transparency in government. This would certainly be a gamble - each person he identifies opens possible lines of attack.  Once they are selected , they represent him and his Presidency.  Their weaknesses become his weaknesses.  On the other hand, their strengths augment his own.  

Barack Obama - A New Hope...

George Lucas (not a superdelegate) has
endorsed Barack Obama.

"We have a hero in the making back in the United States today because we have a new candidate for president of the United States, Barack Obama," Lucas said when asked who his childhood heroes were.

As we move into the general campaign, endorsements may not have a tangible impact on the polls, but I do believe that endorsements by non-politicians become more interesting.

To me, this is a fun and potentially symbolic endorsement.  Lucas is one of the world's most financially successful independent directors/producers.  He represents change in film.  He masterminded Star Wars and Indiana Jones, and has quite literally changed the film indistry. His films speak to several generations about adventure, triumph, and hope.  

Here's my favorite quote:

"for all of us that have dreams and hope, (Obama) is a hero," Lucas said.

MAJOR UPDATE: MSNBC has called the nomination for Obama

(Note - if it gets too full here - treat this as a Mothership.)
Michael Lawrence Gallagher has the 2nd thread up HERE

And PLEASE check out DavidKC great thread HERE

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Today should be THE DAY.

Barack Obama needs 39.5...38.5...38...37...36.5...36...35.5...35...34.5...34...33...32...31...30...29...28...27...26... 25...24.5...23.5...23...22...21...20...19...18...17...16...15...14...13...12...11...10...9...8...7.. .6...5...4...3...2...1...0 delegates to reach the necessary total of 2118 and become the Democratic nominee for President.

Well - since no one else is doing it, I will start an open thread for our friends voting in Puerto Rico.

The pundits are still saying that Clinton is going to win big, but it all depends on turnout.

Clinton's popular vote argument hinges on Puerto Rico now that Michigan has been removed from the equation.  I am interested in how this plays out, because it could finally drive a stake through the undead heart of this silly argument.

Voting started at 8am Eastern time and closes at 3pm.

I would love to hear actual information from the polls.

Please tell us stories from on the ground.

Here are some sites to track results (any others?)
CNN Election Center
Elections in Puerto Rico
Live TV coverage beginning at 1pm.

With the passing of the Florida and Michigan proposals, Obama has pulled into position for a quick win.

Key issues:

Obama's camp supported BOTH the proposals brought forward by the Florida Democratic Party and the Michigan Democratic Party.  Clinton opposed the will of both state parties.

Clinton's team has issued a clear threat to create chaos in Denver.  This was always the plan from Team Clinton - it would have happened no matter how sweet the deal was.

Montana should put Obama over the top.

The recognition of the Michigna proposal that redivided the delegates officially negates any "popular vote" argument that includes Michigan.

This is not a joke.

This is not an illusion or an imaginary story.

We have not slipped into an alternate utopian universe.

John Edwards (THE John Edwards, Senator, married to Elizabeth, not some other bloke) is about to endorse Barack Obama for President of the United States.

I know there are other diaries and stories on this, but dammit - I'm happy!

This has been hinted at all day today
here & here & here

Edwards and Obama set up a surprise event at 6:30pm tonight in the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids to make this important announcement.

Jennifer Brunner, the Ohio Secretary of State, has released the official Ohio primary election results.

As svotaw1991 pointed out, there are several important changes from the unoffocial results on election night.

Notably, CLinton's Ohio win shrank (Clinton received 1,259,620, Obama received 1,055,769) for a difference of 203,851.  That's a change of 26,022 toward Obama.  The lead for Clinton is at a final margin of 8.8%, not 10.4%

Initially, this did not appear to change the delegate allocations.  However, IF I understand the rules correctly (and I admit this is a big IF), then the district level calculations should be recalculated excluding the votes of candidates who did not meet the viability threshold.  Edwards did not make viability in any district, so his votes should be subtracted and the percentages recalculated.  If my calculations are correct, Obama gains a pledged delegate in CD1.

Despite Clinton's recent "electibility email," the superdelegates are quickly shifting to Obama.

So far today, Obama has picked up:
DNC Ed Espinoza (CA) aka Mr. Super
Rep. Donald Payne (NJ) who switched from Clinton to Obama
Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR)
DNC John Gage (MD)
DNC Vernon Watkins (CA)
add-on Laura Weahkee (NM)
Wilber Jeffcoat

After Obama's convincing win in North Carolina and near-tie in Indiana, the superdelegates have all the cover they need to make the jump.

Obama increased his pledged delegate lead, wiped away any gains Clinton had from Pennsylvania, and gave a rousing speech in which he opened the door for a flood of endorsements.  He called for unity while also stating "this is the time to end it."

Yesterday, Obama's campaign sent a letter to the superdelegates urging them to bring the process to a close.

That could happen today when Obama meets with many of the remaining undeclared superdelegates.

While we're all waiting for results, it's never too early for a little good news.

Jeanette Council (NC) has endorsed Obama for President.

"I would have no problem voting for either of the two," she said. "But of the two, I think Barack Obama is the better candidate."

She indicated that she had withheld her choice until North Carolina had a chance to vote.  

She said she was drawn to Obama’s ability to inspire people, especially those who had never voted before and added:

"It’s life-changing to witness it happen," she said. "I know that we’ve got to do more than just talk about solutions. We’ve got to get people to the point where they work together and they are involved and are inspired enough to come up with solutions."

Barack Obama has wiped away almost 1/3 of Clinton's superdelegate lead in one day.

He just picked up endorsements from Maryland superdelegates Michael Cryor and Lauren Dugas Glover.

Earlier today, Kalyn Free, DNC and organizer of the Indigenous Democratic Network (INDN List), endorsed Obama

"Today, I am casting my support for a new kind of leadership and a new possibility of what America can be. Barack Obama is a once-in-a-generation kind of leader and the best hope the American people have to rebuild the erosion our collective foundation has endured the last eight years. In 2008, we must elect a President who will restore our faith in the possibilities of each and every American, including the First Americans."

Obama is also about to formally pick up 3 more superdelegates from Illinois around 2pm today: Barbara Flynn Currie, Todd Stroger and Richard Daley. (I thought he got these yesterday, but the formal announcement comes after the meeting today).