Obama introduces bill to redeploy troops by March 2008

Here is the Senator's Senate Floor speech:



The press release details the tenant of the Obama plan. It is quite detailed and considers the immense difficulties of the situation. The plan would seek to redeploy U.S. forces from Iraq by March of 2008.

“Our troops have performed brilliantly in Iraq, but no amount of American soldiers can solve the political differences at the heart of somebody else’s civil war,” Obama said. “That’s why I have introduced a plan to not only stop the escalation of this war, but begin a phased redeployment that can pressure the Iraqis to finally reach a political settlement and reduce the violence.”

Obama introduces bill to redeploy troops by March 2008

Here is the Senator's Senate Floor speech:



details the tenant of the Obama plan. It is quite detailed and considers the immense difficulties of the situation. The plan would seek to redeploy U.S. forces from Iraq by March of 2008.

“Our troops have performed brilliantly in Iraq, but no amount of American soldiers can solve the political differences at the heart of somebody else’s civil war,” Obama said. “That’s why I have introduced a plan to not only stop the escalation of this war, but begin a phased redeployment that can pressure the Iraqis to finally reach a political settlement and reduce the violence.”

SOTU Reaction

The Hotline gives us Obama's reaction to the State of the Union

“The President offered some serious proposals tonight on two issues – energy and health care – that we all agree must be addressed. I’m glad he did and I think it’s important to respond in a constructive way. But the last election proved that politics-by-slogan and poll-tested sound bites aren’t going to cut it with the American people anymore, and that’s why the real test of leadership is not what the President said to Congress tonight, but how he works with Congress to find real solutions to the problems we face.

“The good news is that in the halls of Congress and across the nation, there is widespread support from both Democrats and Republicans on how to meet the major challenges facing America.

“Most Americans believe that escalation will not bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end, and that’s why I’ve proposed not just a troop cap, but a phased redeployment that will start bringing our troops home. Most Americans believe that energy independence will come from using more biofuels like ethanol and making cars that actually use less oil, which is why I proposed a bipartisan plan that would raise fuel economy standards for the first time in decades. Most Americans believe that the biggest domestic challenge facing the country is the high cost of health care, and that’s why incremental plans that do nothing to bring down costs or guarantee coverage are simply no longer sufficient.

“The American people have been waiting for leadership commensurate to the challenges we face, and they’ll be watching to see if bold rhetoric is followed by bold action in the months to come.”

Thank you CNN

Here is the story CNN did to counter the outrageous claims of Fox News and others that the Senator is a radical Muslim in disguise by being schooled in a "madrassa" in Indonesia. Madrassa simply means school, there are is not a religious meaning to the word. CNN took a reporter and crew to the school the Senator attended when he was 6 and really did a good job to debunk right wing smears. An disgusting attack so early in the race. CNN did what any credible news organization should, ACTUALLY RESEARCH. Fox and their morning smucks dumbly talk their heads off based on no research and slander.

Thanks CNN for being credible.

Draft Obama's latest effort

DraftObama.org is now launching the website www.obamawasright.com. This site highlights some quotes and different views taken by the leading candidates of each party and tells how Senator Obama was right on Iraq from the beginning.

Check it out.

Obama launches Exploratory Committee

One of the best quotes from the message is this,"[I]t's not the magnitude of our problems that concerns me the most. It's the smallness of our politics."

More to follow later today. I have heard a few rumors that there may be in Iowa event in the works soon, I will let you know if I know anything. As for an official announcment, look to Chicago on the 21st of next month.

OBAMA '08!

That is early

The Hotline is reporting that AFSCME will be holding a Democratic candidate forum on 2/21 of this year in Carson, NV.

Definately something to look forward to, but wow, that's early.

Obama opening up on Oprah?

Many around the blogosphere are speculated that a "TBA" listed Oprah's schedule for Wednesday the 17th could mean that the day is being kept open for an Obama announcment. The Senator said that he would come back to announce on the show after his last well-recieved visit. An announcment of sorts is expected this week.

Make sure to check out Oprah on KCCI Channel 8 in Des Moines at 4:00 PM (The Sinclair/ Mediacom battle may keep folks from seeing it in some parts of the state.)

Big news soon!

Political Wire has some great tips about how the Senator's campaign may be beginning by early next week:

Sen. Barack Obama "has spent the last few days calling friends, select elected officials, and likely major donors to tell them he's running for president," according to Ben Smith.

The AP says Obama "has hired policy, research and press staff for a campaign to be run from Chicago, according to several Democrats. And a senior aide to the senator, Steve Hildebrand, recently told potential Iowa supporters that word of his plans could come early next week."

There you have it. More as I know it. Exciting!