I won't call myself a "die hard" Oprah fan.  My mother-in-law has been to Harpo Studios in Chicago, numerous times for her daytime show.  Even asked a question and it ended up on television.  Yahoo!!!!  That is our claim, my mother-in-law and Oprah.  My husband has the "meh" attitude about her, and calls her "oatmeal", in a hot minute.  "Sigh".  He is not all that "hot" for Oprah, or even "luke warm".  So, when she had Barack and Michelle Obama on her show for his book, "The Audacity of Hope", which is "still" on the NY Times Best Seller List after what?  almost a year?  for a politcian?  Oh, well, he can write.  But back on topic, I knew she really liked him.  But to endorse him?  That is NOT OPRAH.

I wrote a diary, a while back about the H-1B Visa Flux.  I have been working in the technology field since the early 90's.  I will be the FIRST to applaud Bill Clinton and his insight in pushing this industry, making this an "American Industry", and the jobs created by Clinton, backing this industry.  I made more monies contracting, back in the day, than I am making now.  I now have a full time, permanent job, and not job-hopping around.  But back then, you could risk leaving a job and your phone ringing "off the hook" for a new opportunity.  That was when America did have ownership of "IT/Technology".

I was watching C-Span this morning, the show had various people from Politico.  (politico.com)  Politico is a less than year old organization, which puts out a twice weekly print version of political information, but is primarily internet driven.  We all know Politico by the "snafu" of its reporting that John Edwards was "going to drop out of the race" due to the diagnosis of Elizabeth Edwards, returning cancer.  Yes, it was a big flub, but overall this is still an internet news organization.

Debate Schedule

August 7, 2007 - AFL-CIO Debate, Chicago, IL (MSNBC) 6-7:30 PM CST  Link
August 9, 2007 - Los Angeles, California (LOGO TV/LOGOonline.com Live Streaming) 9PM EST  Link
August 19, 2007 - Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa  (ABC) 8PM
August 27-28, 2007 - Iowa, Cancer Forum (MSNBC) Moderators: Lance Armstrong and Chris Matthews
September 26, 2007 - Hanover, New Hampshire
October 30, 2007 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 15, 2007 - Las Vegas, Nevada
December 10, 2007 - Los Angeles, California
January 6, 2008 - Johnson County, Iowa
January 15, 2008 - Las Vegas, Nevada
January 31, 2008 - California

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly....

he's only human, guys....let's go....

It does not matter if you are for this candidate, or not, no one can argue that this man KNOWS how to raise $$$'s.

From David Plouffe:

As much as you enjoyed the dinner, no one enjoyed it more than Barack. As soon as it was over he asked, "When are we doing the next one?"

So, let's make this happen again. Your participation made the first dinner a huge success, and it will work the same way this time around. Here are the details:

If you make a donation in any amount, even as little as five dollars, before 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 31st, you could join Barack Obama and three other supporters for an intimate dinner for five:

https:/donate.barackobama.com/dinner

Barack's guests told us that the dinner worked out even better than they expected. The casual, friendly atmosphere allowed them to engage Barack on a number of issues that affect them personally.

One of the guests, Christina Cheatham, blogged about her experience:

"The Senator not only spoke candidly with us about many different issues, but he also took interest in how some of the current policies affect our daily lives.

Most important to me, while he is very confident in his own ideas for America, he is still willing to listen -- really listen -- to dissenting views."

Watch a short video of Barack's dinner with Christina, Haile, Margaret, and Michael. They discussed the war in Iraq, student loans, health care, and urban poverty.

What issues are important to you, and what would you ask Barack if you had the chance?

Share your story and make a small donation before 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, July 31st, and you could have dinner with Barack:

https:donate.barackobama.com/dinner

At a time when Washington lobbyists and special interests are poisoning our politics with their influence, Barack Obama wants to sit down with you and hear what's on your mind.

Our movement has rejected the easy money of politics as usual. Instead, we put our faith in you, and more than a quarter-million supporters have proven that we made the right decision.

The vast majority -- more than 90% -- of our donations came from supporters giving $100 or less. However, to make a lasting change in this country we must keep building this base of support.

Make a small donation and you could have the kind of dinner with Barack that other politicians reserve for the wealthy elite:

https:donate.barackobama.com/dinner

Thank you for your support,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

P.S. -- Barack got involved in politics to advance the concerns of ordinary people and serve the common good of all Americans. There is no better source of ideas or inspiration to make this happen than an intimate conversation with supporters like you. Make a small donation before 11:59 pm on July 31st and you could have dinner with Barack:

https:/donate.barackobama.com/dinner

I expect it to be another FLOOD to the Credit Cards, but hey, what the heck.  I am throwing $5.00 that way because I have a lot of questions to ask him.  

.The claws came out in the Hillary Clinton camp in the wake of a CNN youtube presidential debate among the Democratic candidates two nights ago.

Clinton called rival Sen. Barack Obama's willingness to sit down with government leaders who are enemies of the United States "irresponsible and naive."

But U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman disagrees. In fact, the New Jersey Congressman said when he watched that debate he finally decided he was going to support Obama for president, and today he fired off a press release enthusiastically endorsing Obama `08.

"Barack's appearance in the last debate confirmed for me what I've believed all along," said Rothman. "It's new thinking versus old thinking. This notion of Hillary Clinton's that we should continue down this path of not talking to our enemies is a policy that has proven to be disastrous to our country. These are not the views of someone who professes to be an agent of change."

That is what this race is going to be all about.

Well, I slept on it and this is what I think.  The clear winner is US, THE AMERICAN CITIZENS.  Clearly, the questions asked, via video, were suspense driven.  Why, because we did not know WHAT was going to be asked.  We didn't.  That is why there was so much, speculation.  Hands down, the most entertaining debate I watched, from start to finish.  Because let's keep it honest, most of us watch the first 30 minutes, and then the remote comes out.  It does.  This debate, my husband sat down and WATCHED.  Now if he can watch this for 2 whole hours, you know this is the way for future debates.

I tried, again, to upload this LONG DIARY, but was HALTED.  So, it is posted @ DKos, enjoy, and rec it...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/22/ 141420/351