US Election Coverage 2008

[Manji Supporter]

Get the hell out of here. Do you really think in your right mind that McCain will consider Ponjoro Jindal? First, he's young and inexperienced. Second, he would stink up the naval observatory with his kachoris and curry. Now who wants that?

Bobby Jindal is a talented, brilliant whiz kid, and a genius and those factors/qualities trump age and experience. If age and experience were so important in leadership then all your African dictators would be the best leaders in the world. A lot of them are old and have been in power forever. Like it or not Bobby Jindal is on McCain's list of VP contenders and I wouldn't be surprised if he picks him. It would be an excellent choice.

 

[YNIM]

Bobby Jindal is a talented, brilliant whiz kid, and a genius and those factors/qualities trump age and experience. If age and experience were so important in leadership then all your African dictators would be the best leaders in the world. A lot of them are old and have been in power forever. Like it or not Bobby Jindal is on McCain's list of VP contenders and I wouldn't be surprised if he picks him. It would be an excellent choice.

you can make a good, indian stand up comedian!!...why dont you join, the last comic standing?? but the words in blue LOL mmmhhh............

 

[Kitila Mkumbo]

Sasa inakuwaje huyu Joji Bushi akamshinda John Fitzgerald Kerry aliyesomea sijui Harvard au Yale na ambaye tuliambiwa ni bingwa wa midahalo na kwa kusema ukweli ali sweep midahalo yote mitatu lakini bado akashindwa. Elezea tafadhali....

Kuna problem kubwa sana kwa chama chetu cha Democrats. Nimekuwa nikisoma kitabu cha jamaa moja anaitwa Newsten. Pamoja na mambo mengine, huyu bwana ame-analyse vizuri sana mtiririko wa ushindani kati ya vyama viwili hivi. Nilishangaa kusoma kwamba tangu Lyndon John ashinde urais kupitia Democrats mwaka 1964, Demcrats wameshakuwa na marais wawili tu: Jimmy Carter na Bill Clinton.

Huyu bwana katoa sababu nyingi zinazowafanya Democrats wapoteze urais japokuwa wamarekani wengi wanakubaliana na principles zao. Kikubwa kabisa anachosema ni ukweli kwamba wagombea wa democrats, ukimuacha Carter na Clinton, wamekuwa na matatizo katika messages zao. Anasema wamekuwa wakishindwa kutoa message za kugusa mioyo ya watu na wamekuwa wakionekana ni threat kwa core values za America. Kikubwa kabisa huyu bwana anasema kwamba Democrats wamekuwa wakidharau mambo madogomadogo na ni hayo ambayo yamekuwa yakiwakosesha ushindi.

Sasa tunasubiri kuona jinsi ambavyo Obama atabadilisha hii historia mbaya ya Democrats; labda atakuwa Bill Clinton mwingine. Lakini haya mambo ambayo akina Susuviri wanasema ni madogo ndio hayo hasa wapiga kura wa kawaida, ambao ni wengi, wanayaangalia. Sasa ni muhimu ndugu zetu wenye uchungu na Obama wakaanza kumuweka sawa aanze kuwa makini. Kukosea idadi ya watu waliokufa kwa maafa sio jambo dogo na kukosea idadi ya majimbo katika nchi unayotaka kuwa Rais inaonyesha ama kuna mambo ya msingi ya nchi yako ambayo huyajui au una matatizo katika umakini.

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

...damn,nimecheka ile mbaya maana umeniulia huyo mjinga mjinga mwenzako na nilifikiri nyie ni chama moja kumbe mnachukiana wenyewe kwa wenyewe,kweli nimeamini ubaguzi una nguvu kuliko chama

Wewe ndio umeshadata kabisaaaaaa.....

You are worse than him (Raj Patel)...

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

Kuna problem kubwa sana kwa chama chetu cha Democrats. Nimekuwa nikisoma kitabu cha jamaa moja anaitwa Newsten. Pamoja na mambo mengine, huyu bwana ame-analyse vizuri sana mtiririko wa ushindani kati ya vyama viwili hivi. Nilishangaa kusoma kwamba tangu Lyndon John ashinde urais kupitia Democrats mwaka 1964, Demcrats wameshakuwa na marais wawili tu: Jimmy Carter na Bill Clinton.

Huyu bwana katoa sababu nyingi zinazowafanya Democrats wapoteze urais japokuwa wamarekani wengi wanakubaliana na principles zao. Kikubwa kabisa anachosema ni ukweli kwamba wagombea wa democrats, ukimuacha Carter na Clinton, wamekuwa na matatizo katika messages zao. Anasema wamekuwa wakishindwa kutoa message za kugusa mioyo ya watu na wamekuwa wakionekana ni threat kwa core values za America. Kikubwa kabisa huyu bwana anasema kwamba Democrats wamekuwa wakidharau mambo madogomadogo na ni hayo ambayo yamekuwa yakiwakosesha ushindi.

Sasa tunasubiri kuona jinsi ambavyo Obama atabadilisha hii historia mbaya ya Democrats; labda atakuwa Bill Clinton mwingine. Lakini haya mambo ambayo akina Susuviri wanasema ni madogo ndio hayo hasa wapiga kura wa kawaida, ambao ni wengi, wanayaangalia. Sasa ni muhimu ndugu zetu wenye uchungu na Obama wakaanza kumuweka sawa aanze kuwa makini. Kukosea idadi ya watu waliokufa kwa maafa sio jambo dogo na kukosea idadi ya majimbo katika nchi unayotaka kuwa Rais inaonyesha ama kuna mambo ya msingi ya nchi yako ambayo huyajui au una matatizo katika umakini.

Na kama isingekuwa kwa Ross Perot, Bill Clinton asingeuona uraisi....

 

[Susuviri]

Kuna problem kubwa sana kwa chama chetu cha Democrats. Nimekuwa nikisoma kitabu cha jamaa moja anaitwa Newsten. Pamoja na mambo mengine, huyu bwana ame-analyse vizuri sana mtiririko wa ushindani kati ya vyama viwili hivi. Nilishangaa kusoma kwamba tangu Lyndon John ashinde urais kupitia Democrats mwaka 1964, Demcrats wameshakuwa na marais wawili tu: Jimmy Carter na Bill Clinton.

Huyu bwana katoa sababu nyingi zinazowafanya Democrats wapoteze urais japokuwa wamarekani wengi wanakubaliana na principles zao. Kikubwa kabisa anachosema ni ukweli kwamba wagombea wa democrats, ukimuacha Carter na Clinton, wamekuwa na matatizo katika messages zao. Anasema wamekuwa wakishindwa kutoa message za kugusa mioyo ya watu na wamekuwa wakionekana ni threat kwa core values za America. Kikubwa kabisa huyu bwana anasema kwamba Democrats wamekuwa wakidharau mambo madogomadogo na ni hayo ambayo yamekuwa yakiwakosesha ushindi.

Sasa tunasubiri kuona jinsi ambavyo Obama atabadilisha hii historia mbaya ya Democrats; labda atakuwa Bill Clinton mwingine. Lakini haya mambo ambayo akina Susuviri wanasema ni madogo ndio hayo hasa wapiga kura wa kawaida, ambao ni wengi, wanayaangalia. Sasa ni muhimu ndugu zetu wenye uchungu na Obama wakaanza kumuweka sawa aanze kuwa makini. Kukosea idadi ya watu waliokufa kwa maafa sio jambo dogo na kukosea idadi ya majimbo katika nchi unayotaka kuwa Rais inaonyesha ama kuna mambo ya msingi ya nchi yako ambayo huyajui au una matatizo katika umakini.

Kitila, unachokizungumzia ni kweli na kinaeleweka ndani ya chama. Na ukiangalia, Obama na ObamaNation inafahamu fika ya kuwa politics of old hazitawasaidia kuingia white house, that's why they are playing the 50 state strategy, pia amefanya kazi kubwa through fellowship yake ya Obama kuwarecruit young people who will be canvassing and helping on the ground. After the primaries, ObamaNation has the most coveted electoral map because wakati walikuwa wanafanya canvassing they were registering who is Rep or dem wanapofanya phone banking as you know you have to fill in affiliation ya mtu uliyempigia. Through the phone you know the location. Kama mtu ni independent unaandika. Kama alikuwa Hillary supporter etc. Sasa hivi ile database is more accurate than anything before. Na Obama alianza integration with DNC long before this week because the DNC realizes that Obamanation has data at its fingertips.
Now you may ask what do they plan to do with the data. It is to try as accurately as possible target potential voters. And for those who are independent to woe them personally and even convince and recruit Obamacans (Obama Republicans). This is not a guess job but very well thought through.
If you are interested in political science and American politics, you should pay very close attention to this campaign as it will go down in history as when the Democratic party redefined itself. If you want we can continue this serious conversation. Lakini maybe hii si uwanja wake maana ushabiki ni mkubwa hapa and it is more like a fan page.

 

[Susuviri]

Haya huyo Babu mnayesema ni Maverick na soo talented:

McCain bumbles the delivery
NEW ORLEANS – As Democrats buzzed this week about their new de facto nominee, his historic candidacy and the unlikely political demise of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Republican circles were humming with another topic.

The topic: Is there a way John McCain can win the presidency without giving another speech?

That’s overstated, of course, but the concern about McCain’s wooden and stumbling address before a few hundred supporters here Tuesday night – the same evening as Barack Obama’s soaring acceptance address before thousands of screaming fans – has sent something of a shudder through the party and left GOP operatives shaking their heads in dismay.

Not coincidentally, one of the first things McCain did as the general election campaign began in earnest was to challenge Obama to an unprecedented 10 joint town hall meetings this summer. The Obama camp expressed some initial interest.

The proposal was hatched well before McCain’s Tuesday speech but reflects the campaign’s long-held awareness of the Arizona senator’s communications strengths and weaknesses. To sympathetic Republicans, the prospect of getting McCain out from behind a lectern and back into the town hall format he loves couldn’t come soon enough. To the McCain inner circle, the visual and stylistic contrast with Obama on Tuesday night was both plain to see and painful in the extreme.

“Not good,” a McCain adviser conceded about the dueling images, speaking on condition of anonymity like others interviewed because of the sensitivity involved in critiquing their nominee’s presentation. “It’s never going to be his strong suit, and it will always be Obama’s.”

Alex Castellanos, a longtime GOP ad-maker, was more succinct, mixing gallows humor with a brave face in talking on CNN Tuesday night: "This is not a speechmaking contest,” he said. “Thank God.”

McCain’s speech, his “Kermit the Frog” green backdrop, even his physical appearance were fodder for scores of worried e-mails and phone calls Tuesday and Wednesday between Republican donors, operatives and lobbyists.

One Republican strategist who has worked on past national campaigns said he received messages during the night from GOP loyalists in every administration from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush.

“They were appalled at the environment the candidate was standing in and his performance,” said this strategist. “It’s a serious problem — the contrast is so clear that it’s demoralizing. And it deflated our balloon last night. When the guys on Fox are trash-talking, you know it’s bad.”

Other conservatives, such as those posting on the well-read National Review website, were equally unsparing in their assessment.

Even when taking questions from mostly friendly bloggers on a conference call Wednesday afternoon, McCain found himself on the defensive.

Can you loosen up when giving a speech, asked one?

Another private conference call for surrogates and allies brought a telling suggestion for senior adviser Steve Schmidt from Bud Day, one of McCain’s closest friends and a fellow Vietnam POW: McCain needs makeup when he goes on TV like he did Tuesday, Day said.

What most everybody inside and out of McCain’s campaign agreed upon was that the address was well-written.

“It just wasn’t delivered the best,” admitted a campaign aide. “He has to get sharper on delivery.”

mpaka Repubs wako concerned...... kazi wanayo!

 

[Mwiba]

Napinga Obama kuwa Raisi wa Marekani ukichukulia historia ya ke yeye ni mwenye asili ya Kiafrika na hapo hapo ukiangalia historia ya viongozi wa Kiafrika utaona hakuna maendeleo na badala yake ni kudidimia kwa nchi hadi kufikia umasikini wa kutupwa.
Kwa mifano iliyo hai ambayo Wafrika walipata kuongoza nchi kama Raisi ,South Africa,Zimbwabwe,Zanzibar,na nyengene tele nchi hizo zilikabidhiwa zikiwa ni tajiri sana sana na zenye muelekeo wa maisha bora kwa kila raia ,leo hii zipo wapi ndio hapo nionapo huyu kijana bora aekwe pembeni waachiwe wenyewe wazungu.
Asie sikia la mkuu mguu huota tende.

 

[Yo Yo]

Napinga Obama kuwa Raisi wa Marekani ukichukulia historia ya ke yeye ni mwenye asili ya Kiafrika na hapo hapo ukiangalia historia ya viongozi wa Kiafrika utaona hakuna maendeleo na badala yake ni kudidimia kwa nchi hadi kufikia umasikini wa kutupwa.
Kwa mifano iliyo hai ambayo Wafrika walipata kuongoza nchi kama Raisi ,South Africa,Zimbwabwe,Zanzibar,na nyengene tele nchi hizo zilikabidhiwa zikiwa ni tajiri sana sana na zenye muelekeo wa maisha bora kwa kila raia ,leo hii zipo wapi ndio hapo nionapo huyu kijana bora aekwe pembeni waachiwe wenyewe wazungu.
Asie sikia la mkuu mguu huota tende.

Yaani hii ndio critical reason yako kuwa humtaki Mr Husein kuwa rais wa mamtoni?

 

[Kitila Mkumbo]

Kitila, unachokizungumzia ni kweli na kinaeleweka ndani ya chama. Na ukiangalia, Obama na ObamaNation inafahamu fika ya kuwa politics of old hazitawasaidia kuingia white house, that's why they are playing the 50 state strategy, pia amefanya kazi kubwa through fellowship yake ya Obama kuwarecruit young people who will be canvassing and helping on the ground. After the primaries, ObamaNation has the most coveted electoral map because wakati walikuwa wanafanya canvassing they were registering who is Rep or dem wanapofanya phone banking as you know you have to fill in affiliation ya mtu uliyempigia. Through the phone you know the location. Kama mtu ni independent unaandika. Kama alikuwa Hillary supporter etc. Sasa hivi ile database is more accurate than anything before. Na Obama alianza integration with DNC long before this week because the DNC realizes that Obamanation has data at its fingertips.
Now you may ask what do they plan to do with the data. It is to try as accurately as possible target potential voters. And for those who are independent to woe them personally and even convince and recruit Obamacans (Obama Republicans). This is not a guess job but very well thought through.
If you are interested in political science and American politics, you should pay very close attention to this campaign as it will go down in history as when the Democratic party redefined itself. If you want we can continue this serious conversation. Lakini maybe hii si uwanja wake maana ushabiki ni mkubwa hapa and it is more like a fan page.

Interesting discourse. No, tuendelee hapahapa, sasa hivi baada ya nomination kwisha ushabika unakwisha pia. Some of us tuliokuwa tunam-support Hillary ndio haohao tuna support democrats. Kwa hiyo sasa hivi ni issue kwa issue, hakuna mambo ya mpagawisho!

 

[Scorpion]

Susuviri

Mbona ObamaNation ni website which is against Obama becoming president?? au this is another ObamaNation? http://www.obamanation.com/1.html

 

[Susuviri]

Interesting discourse. No, tuendelee hapahapa, sasa hivi baada ya nomination kwisha ushabika unakwisha pia. Some of us tuliokuwa tunam-support Hillary ndio haohao tuna support democrats. Kwa hiyo sasa hivi ni issue kwa issue, hakuna mambo ya mpagawisho!

Thanks Kitila! Nadhani kwamba this is a time that in American politics we will see some interesting changes. but we have to be fair and say that the changes that Obama is talking about did not start now with Obama, it started with Howard Dean in 2004.
He was the one who mobilized the youth, raised funds via the internet etc. lakini Dean was ahead of his time and also didn't have the charisma. Lakini Obama was able to tap into that with the help of David Axelrod who worked with Howard Dean. They learnt from Dean's mistake and improved it. Also the internet has now matured and donations via internet is less cumbersome. But also Howard Dean became DNC chair and he is the one who promised DNC state chairs that he will pursue 50 state strategy to ensure that all states will be fought over during the state, and general elections. Ndiyo sasa umeanza kuona akina Obama, McCaskill, Webb wameanza kushinda in Red or swing states. and the trend continues. But Obama brought also his experience as grassroot organizer na amefanya thorough ground work and they have built a sophisticated data base.
Ukiangalia beyond the spin, utaona kwamba the GOP is now playing catch up but they are too late, Obama and DNC have a head start. Kutokana na hii 50 state strategy, they will reach a number of states and swing it Democrat.
Also Hillary hivi sasa ameahidiwa kuwa atakuwa na key role in the government, ad dalso that she will be part of this historic redrawing of the electoral map, that's why yuko tayari to stand in line. She will help with the women etc. I think that she has come to terms and has redefined her role within herself. She probably also realized that her advisors were often making this a matter of their egos (Ickes, Clinton, Carville) and they did not necessarily serve her best interests.
So despite all the gloom and doom, I firmly beleive that the Democrats will not only retake the White House but they are meticulously and strategically working hard to redraw the map.
I mean ngoja nikupe quote about evangelicals who used to be GOP base jinsi walivyoswing to Obama:

"With clients like Focus on the Family, Franklin Graham, and Campus Crusade for Christ, Mark DeMoss may be the most prominent public relations executive in the evangelical world. A former chief of staff to Jerry Falwell, DeMoss became then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney's chief liaison to evangelical leaders."

In a new interview with Dan Gilgoff for BeliefNet's God-o-Meter, DeMoss explains the lack of religious enthusiasm for McCain and predicts a potential major shift to Obama.
Katika interview alisema:
This is one guy's perspective, but I am surprised by how little I've seen or read in conservative circles about McCain since February. I don't think I've gotten one email or letter or phone call from anybody in America in the last four months saying anything about this election or urging that we unite behind John McCain and put aside whatever differences we have. Back in the fall and winter, you'd get several things a day from conservatives saying, "The future of the Supreme Court is at stake. We have to stop Hillary Clinton. Get behind so and so--or don't' go with this guy." It's just very quiet. It could meant there's a real sense of apathy or it could mean they're' waiting for the general election to begin. But it's a surprise, given the way email networks work now........
If one third of white evangelicals voted for Bill Clinton the second time, at the height of Monica Lewinsky mess--that's a statistic I didn't believe at first but I double and triple checked it--I would not be surprised if that many or more voted for Barack Obama in this election. You're seeing some movement among evangelicals as the term [evangelical] has become more pejorative. There's a reaction among some evangelicals to swing out to the left in an effort to prove that evangelicals are really not that right wing. There's some concern that maybe Republicans haven't done that well. And there's this fascination with Barack Obama. So I will not be surprised if he gets one third of the evangelical vote. I wouldn't be surprised if it was 40-percent.

So much for now.....

 

[Nyani Ngabu]

I can't wait for the day Obama concedes the election to McCain. Of course, you people will blame racism.

 

[Susuviri]

Susuviri

Mbona ObamaNation ni website which is against Obama becoming president?? au this is another ObamaNation? http://www.obamanation.com/1.html

Obama Nation ni njia wafanyakazi wa kampeni ya Obama wanavyojiita, ni kama Hillary Land etc. Sasa kwa kuwa wapinzani walijua hilo waliamua kuchukua hilo jina na kuwa-mislead watu.

 

[Susuviri]

I can't wait for the day Obama concedes the election to McCain. Of course, you people will blame racism.

Uliona Hillary alivyoconcede to Obama???!!!!
That's one down, one to go! Sasa zamu yake McCain.....

 

[Kitila Mkumbo]

I can't wait for the day Obama concedes the election to McCain. Of course, you people will blame racism.

I see, this is increasingly becoming a far fetched dream now, I am afraid! Huyu mzee inaonekana ana kazi ngumu sana kwa huyu kijana especially sasa fighter anaonekana atampa support ya nguvu.

 

[Kitila Mkumbo]

Susuviri:

Nimesikiliza hotuba ya MacCain huko N'Orleans; ni hotuba nzuri sana na ameonyesha angle atakazochukua katika kukabiliana na Obama. Yes, kuna sehemu alikuwa anameza mate sana lakini it wasn't as bad as kama jamaa alivyojaribu kuweka hapo juu. I

Ile issue ya Obama kutokwenda kuonana na Mkuu wa Majeshi kule Iraq naona itamsumbua kidogo maana jamaa anairudiarudia sana. Inapata nguvu zaidi pale anaposema kwamba Obama yupo tayari kuonana na kila aina ya dikteta lakini hataki kuonana na Mkuu wa Mjeshi "yetu" huko Iraq. Tusisahau kwamba siku zote Republicans huwa wana-appeal to people's hearts (emotional reasoning) wakati Democrats wao huwa-appeal to the mind (rational reasoning) na naona MacCain ameshaanza. Tatizo linakuja wapiga kura wengi hawana muda na wakati mwingine uwezo wa ku-digest sana mambo mazito na hapo ndipo Republicans watapowapatia democrats ambao kihistoria ni wazee wa ma-data mazito mazito.

Hii campaign imeshaanza, tutashuhudia mengi.

 

[Msanii]

Hillary amekubali kumsapoti Obama na amejiondoa ktk kinyang'anyiro.....

 

[Susuviri]

Susuviri:

Nimesikiliza hotuba ya MacCain huko N'Orleans; ni hotuba nzuri sana na ameonyesha angle atakazochukua katika kukabiliana na Obama. Yes, kuna sehemu alikuwa anameza mate sana lakini it wasn't as bad as kama jamaa alivyojaribu kuweka hapo juu. I

Ile issue ya Obama kutokwenda kuonana na Mkuu wa Majeshi kule Iraq naona itamsumbua kidogo maana jamaa anairudiarudia sana. Inapata nguvu zaidi pale anaposema kwamba Obama yupo tayari kuonana na kila aina ya dikteta lakini hataki kuonana na Mkuu wa Mjeshi "yetu" huko Iraq. Tusisahau kwamba siku zote Republicans huwa wana-appeal to people's hearts (emotional reasoning) wakati Democrats wao huwa-appeal to the mind (rational reasoning) na naona MacCain ameshaanza. Tatizo linakuja wapiga kura wengi hawana muda na wakati mwingine uwezo wa ku-digest sana mambo mazito na hapo ndipo Republicans watapowapatia democrats ambao kihistoria ni wazee wa ma-data mazito mazito.

Hii campaign imeshaanza, tutashuhudia mengi.

Had it been any other year ningekubaliana hilo, kwamba people vote with their emotions not their minds. But right now their emotions are tied to their celebral activity because they are busy counting their money as fuel prices rise, real estate crunch, global warming etc. They want someone to give them answers and they do not trust Washington, esp the Republicans who many think led them to this bad situation in the first place.
Kumbuka Obama is doing an even better job tying McCain to Bush and that is a bigger threat kwa sababu ameifanya general theme.
Kujaribu kumcategorize Obama as 'weak' is much more difficult because it has been difficult for Clinton to define him as well.
I think we are living in unique times na wamarekani wamechoka kudanganywa.
Getting back to New Orleans speech, what was painful was that ukimweka Obama and McCain side by side in speeches, McCain pales in comparison. And Americans right now are looking for the optimist, the leader who knows what the nation needs. Unfortunately McCain has been more and more labelled FlipFlopper even within his own party making him look indecisive, pandering and at times even 'lost'.

 

[Rev. Kishoka]

Naomba kuuliza tena kwa mara nyingine, jee sisi Watanzania na Tanzania tumejifunza nini kutokana na primaries za Marekani na hasa sisi hapa JF?