Maine Sunday Telegram backs Obama, McCain

[MaineDem]

AUGUSTA, Maine — Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain won endorsements of their presidential candidacies Sunday from the Maine Sunday Telegram.

The Portland-based newspaper, a part of the Blethen Maine Newspapers group, said in an editorial that "the possibilities of an Obama presidency, not the list of his accomplishments, is what makes him the most exciting figure on the Democratic scene."

The Telegram added: "His abilities to compromise, inspire and speak to a broad spectrum of the electorate earns him our endorsement for the Democratic nomination in 2008."

On the Republican side, the newspaper declared its support for McCain by saying that "while we don´t always agree with him, we admire his character."

Of McCain, the newspaper said "hard experience has shown that regardless of the political winds, his course will be clear."

Voting for presidential nominees in Maine, which is a caucus state, is still weeks away.

http://news.mainetoday.com/apwire/D8U0H5280-5.html

[asteroid2003QQ47]

1. Obama's

stand on universal health care seems weak.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

2. Obama MOST exciting?

"... the most exciting figure on the Democratic scene."?!?!?!

Health care in the US is too expensive and leaves 46 million Americans without insurance and millions more underinsured. Dennis Kucinich is the only candidate for President with a plan for a Universal, Single-Payer, Not-for-Profit health care system.

http://www.dennis4president.com/go/issues/a-healthy-nation/

The Maine Sunday Telegram insults the intelligence of those it would have believe the Kucinich plan for a Universal, Single-Payer, Not-for-Profit health care system is un-exciting!

[RBInMaine]

3. Kucinich will NEVER, EVER be President.

You are talking single issue and a Kucinich pipe dream. I like Kucinich, and I like the idea of single payer, but there are many more issues, and Obama is the only CHANGE candidate who has a realistic shot at the nomination. Kucinich will never, ever be President because he simply does not have the electoral clout to do it. I respectfully suggest you give up the Kucinich pipe dream and pick a more viable candidate. This is life in electoral politics. I, for one, really like Edwards who was my first choice. But the race is shaping, and REALITY is that it will be either Obama or Clinton, both of whom I also like. But Obama is refreshing and has more crossover appeal. Hillary is risky in the general election. Therefore, I'm with Obama and hope you would be too after some real reflection.

[Shorebound]

4. Candidates

I really like Kucinich's spirit. I just don't think he has the broader appeal that a national candidate needs. I want to like Clinton, I really do, but something about her just doesn't ring true for me. There's a lack of ... authenticity that puts me off. Right now it's Obama or Edwards, and I'm leaning toward Obama.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

5. re: My presumed inattention to reflection.

I would be correct then in presuming you favor disarming the American people as, after careful reflection on Obama and his reported "F " NRA gun control rating, you made the choice to be "with" Obama?

I do not make that presumption though as Kucinich is NRA "F" rated also and I choose to presume (perhaps wrongly?) that you, like me, are attempting to make the best of a bad situation and align yourself with what you perceive as the lesser of the weasels. Myself, I didn't vote Republican for the last 40 years and I don't intend to start now. I agree with you and Shorebound that it is not likely Kucinich could ever be elected. No one has a lock on my vote at this point in time and ultimately it will be cast for the most electable Dem. no matter what I think of them. They could only be superior to the "best" Republican even if they act only to preserve the illusion of a viable two party system.

[asteroid2003QQ47]

6. Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams the whole day through

Dream baby got me dreamin' sweet dreams night time too
I love you and I'm dreaming of you but that won't do
Dream baby make me stop my dreamin', you can make my dreams come true
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"Who Do We Vote For This Time Around? A Letter from Michael Moore"

Barack Obama is a good and inspiring man. What a breath of fresh air! There's no doubting his sincerity or his commitment to trying to straighten things out in this country. But who is he? I mean, other than a guy who gives a great speech? How much do any of us really know about him? I know he was against the war. How do I know that? He gave a speech before the war started. But since he joined the senate, he has voted for the funds for the war, while at the same time saying we should get out. He says he's for the little guy, but then he votes for a corporate-backed bill to make it harder for the little guy to file a class action suit when his kid swallows lead paint from a Chinese-made toy. In fact, Obama doesn't think Wall Street is a bad place. He wants the insurance companies to help us develop a new health care plan -- the same companies who have created the mess in the first place. He's such a feel-good kinda guy, I get the sense that, if elected, the Republicans will eat him for breakfast. He won't even have time to make a good speech about it.

But this may be a bit harsh. Senator Obama has a big heart, and that heart is in the right place. Is he electable? Will more than 50% of America vote for him? We'd like to believe they would. We'd like to believe America has changed, wouldn't we? Obama lets us feel better about ourselves -- and as we look out the window at the guy snowplowing his driveway across the street, we want to believe he's changed, too. But are we dreaming?

http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/message/index.php?id=220
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Aww, sweet dream baby (dream baby ah-huh-huh)
Yeah, yeah, swee-ee-et dream baby (dream baby ah-huh-huh)
Sweet dream baby (dream baby ah-huh-huh)
How long must I dream

Looks like none of us dream alone, RBInMaine