First Read: notes that:

rom NBC's Andrea Mitchell
NBC News has learned that the Obama campaign, in an effort to quiet talk of the Obama-Clinton drama, has offered Bill Clinton a speaking role on Wednesday night at the Democratic convention -- before the vice presidential running mate speaks.

Sources say that Clinton in fact will speak.

The campaign rushed tonight to resolve the issue after network news reports about the Clintons and Obama.

I don't care how this may look or any of the politics but this is a good thing. Hillary and Bill are very popular with a large part of this country. and when the Convention starts broadcasting live across the nation, Millions of women will see Hillary praise Obama, and then Wednesday, Bill will speak on why Obama should be elected, this will do volumes with voters.

I don't care what the MSM may say, Obama's lead has been stable since he secured the nomination. and voters are not tunning into the election yet.

but they will when the convention start, and I think having 2 nights of Clintons is a good thing.

So I just read a very interresting blog today and it got me thinking.M.J. Rosenberg talks about how Obama and democrats need to start confronting the race issue head on and not pretending it doesn't exist or soon Obama will lose because he is black.

ok so the Minnesota numbers of Obama up only 2 have bugged me since they were released. they scream WRONG to me but I was eh, finally watching Morning joe today I decided I had to see for myself

the last Q poll had Obama up like 15

                   LIKELY VOTERS.................................. ........
                                                                      Union
MINNESOTA            Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    HsHlds

Obama                54%    12%    88%    54%    49%    58%    51%    53%
McCain               37     84      7     33     42     32     39     37
SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1      -      -      2      1      1      1      1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
DK/NA                 8      4      4     10      9      8      9      9

                                    WHITES.................................
                     AGE IN YRS.......    NoColl College              BrnAgn
                     18-34  35-54  55+    Degree Degree Men    Wom    Evngl  Cath

Obama                63%    52%    49%    47%    62%    45%    57%    38%    50%
McCain               33     39     38     42     31     45     34     55     40
SMONE ELSE(VOL)       1      1      2      1      1      1      1      1      1
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
DK/NA                 4      8     11     10      5      9      9      6      9

this was when Obama had that huge lead a month ago, the most important thing, and the very thing  I came to look at was their break down, I noticed 18-34 was 63-33 for Obama, and this fits well with Obama's lead in this range and what I would expect for minnesota

the new poll?

MINNESOTA            Tot    Rep    Dem    Ind    Men    Wom    Wht    HsHlds

Obama                46%     5%    86%    40%    42%    51%    45%    54%
McCain               44     90      7     48     49     38     45     36
SMONE ELSE(VOL)       2      1      -      3      3      -      2      2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
DK/NA                 8      4      6      9      6     10      8      8

   AGE IN YRS.......    NoColl College              BrnAgn
                     18-34  35-54  55+    Degree Degree Men    Wom    Evngl  Cath

Obama               50%    45%    46%    43%    51%    41%    50%    30%    41%
McCain               45     44     42     46     44     51     40     62     49
SMONE ELSE(VOL)       -      3      1      2      1      3      -      1      2
WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -      -
DK/NA                 5      8     10     10      4      6     10      7      8

a 50-45 spread in the 18-34 range is just flat out wrong, what in the world do they think happened in this month that would swing this group?

its the same for the 35-54 group.

I have and will continue to say this and anyone who lives in MN will know

Minnesota is Obama country, and he is going to win this state. I was worried when I first saw this poll and knwe something was up and sure enough, I don't know how they got these break downs, but sorry anyone who thinks McCain will hold his own with Barack in the 18-34 age range? either they just weren't polled or they won't turn out, but 50-45 break down? I highly doubt it.

TPM: has broken a story that McCain Advisor Phil Gramm had this to say concerning Americans fears of a recession

"You've heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession," he said, noting that growth has held up at about 1 percent despite all the publicity over losing jobs to India, China, illegal immigration, housing and credit problems and record oil prices. "We may have a recession; we haven't had one yet."

amazing isn't it, its all in our heads, there is nothing wrong everything is fine, people are freaking out over nothing.

he went on to say

"We have sort of become a nation of whiners," he said. "You just hear this constant whining, complaining about a loss of competitiveness, America in decline" despite a major export boom that is the primary reason that growth continues in the economy, he said.

Jumping on this The DNC responded:

What John McCain, George Bush Phil Gramm just don't understand is that the American people aren't whining about the state of the economy, they are suffering under the weight of it -- the weight of eight years of Bush-enomics that John McCain and Phil Gramm have vowed to continue. How dare John McCain and his advisers so callously dismiss the challenges the American people face. no wonder voters feel John McCain is out of touch, he and his campaign don't even understand the everyday issues Americans are dealing with."

TPM wonders and I do too, will the MSM pick this up? and what easy softball headline will the AP give this one?

time will tell on this one

I am reading Politico's article about McCains prepared speech today on the economy and once again this man gives us NO plans whatsoever he gives results.

example an excerpt from his plan

Immediate relief for American families on gas and food prices: "Under his plan, the United States will be telling oil producing countries and oil speculators that our dependence on foreign oil will come to an end --and the impact will be lower prices at the pump. John McCain's policies will increase the value of the dollar and thus reduce the price of oil. ...

from near as  Ican tell, he will simply TELL oil speculators and oil producers that we are no longer dependent on them and this will some how lead to lower prices at the pump.

can anyone point out HOW thats done? because I sure as heck can't and why hasn't anyone TOLD them already? if all we have to do is just say we aren't dependent on them and our prices drop lets do it already.

or this

"John McCain believes we should institute a summer gas tax holiday. Hard-working American families are suffering from higher gasoline prices. John McCain called on Congress to suspend the 18.4 cent federal gas tax and 24.4 cent diesel tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day."

but as this diarist pointed out, McCain didn't even include the gas tax holiday in his plan he submitted to economists

my fav.

"John McCain has a comprehensive health care reform plan that will reduce the spiraling cost of health care - a major burden for those small businesses that offer health insurance and a major impediment for those who cannot. He will provide $5,000 for health insurance to every American family--supporting small businesses that seek to offer insurance. John McCain opposes costly mandates or `pay or play' requirements that would raise the financial burden on small business, cut the ability to hire, expand, or raise payrolls."

should your plan, start with the words John McCain has a plan, I mean isn't that what we are suspose to be reading? unless they seem to think the $5,000 tax credit (you have to have paid $5,000 or more to get the credit of $5,000, so those who cant even afford to spend it, aren't getting a credit) is enough in this day an age?

I mean sure all these attacks of Obama is an empty suit, but McCain can't even claim that, for the last few months all he gives us are his results, like his quasi fortuning telling speech where he told us by 2013 the world is a magical place where the wars in Iraq is over, and the Budget is balanced.

and how does he actually plan to balance that budget AND extend the Bush Tax cuts, all while keeping us in Iraq untill its won, but having us out by 2013?

I have no clue, but I trust McCain to have a Plan on it, Don't you?

SO Sen. Obama will give his faith based speech today, and in the past I have seen some progressive sites roll their eyes at what they consider pandering to the Right.

but I think its time for progressive to realize that they are the wing of the democratic party so to with atheists and those of other faiths and realize that the majority of this country does see themselves as Christians and thus "pandering" as they would say to people of faith is not pandering ot the right, its pandering to a majority of americans.

follow me after the jump.

so I saw a very encouraging diary on daily kos about a poster who called the campaign concerning the FISA issue.

the response

"We hear you loud and clear.  The staff are literally reviewing the FISA issue as we speak.  You'll be hearing from us soon."

this is great news and more people to join in and call the office Obama really needs to use his new found powers as the Democratic nominee on this issue, if he came out against it that would be pretty powerful

he can contact his office here (202) 224-2854.

call and ask Obama to lead on this issue! and then

Donate today!

right now on Verdict Dan Abrams is now reporting about a quote that McCain gave in early march

I really didn't love America untill I was deprived of her company

Dan Abrams point? If Michelle Obama had said these SAME words what would the right wingers have said and done to her?

Dan Abrams is arguing that taken out of context JUST like some took Michelle Obama's words out of context it sure sounds like McCain didn't love his campaign before didn't he?

what do the GOPers on the show want to do? PROVIDE CONTEXT! thats the first thing they want to do is provide context to McCain's point. Abrams is correctly pointing out that its all about context

lets see the right try and continue to take Michelle out of context and THEN tell us we have to provide context for McCain?