I'm definitely of the school of thought that thinks Joe Biden definitely is the frontrunner, and perhaps the already-chosen candidate for Vice President in our party. We'll know soon enough.

But, I've also been a big proponent that former Florida Senator and Governor Bob Graham is a natural and virtually perfect fit with Obama, as well.

When I've brought this up on these progressive blogs, people have pointed to Graham's age, 71, (which makes him younger than McCain) as perhaps the primary reason why he'd never be "the one." But, Biden's 65. So, I've got to think that the Obama campaign may have, actually, taken a closer look at Graham than many may think.

A thread celebrating a great victory by the US women's Olympic soccer team got me thinking, perhaps it's time to remind anyone with a daughter or a grand-daughter, and maybe a belief that equal rights and opportunities for women JUST might be an important issue about John McCain.

Well, if are thinking of voting for John McCain, IMHO, you just lost any rights to celebrate in this victory or probably a vast majority of the other great competitive efforts put forth by America's great women's Olympic team.

This morning I was horrified to read that the Chinese government is threatening to send two elderly women to reeducation camps for, get this, applying to hold a legal protest.

Yes. Two frail women in their seventies are being threatened with hard labor because they asked permission to criticize their government for seizing their homes and not compensating them.

Forget for a second that these women are old and frail and that their punishment, should it be given, is hard labor, which would be difficult and excruciating for even the young and healthy.

Check this link

In an unusual move, Hillary Clinton's staff is creating a 40-member "whip team" at the Denver Democratic convention to ensure that her supporters don't engage in embarrassing anti-Obama demonstrations during the floor vote on her nomination, according to people familiar with the planning.

The VP announcement is going to be happening before the convention. If Clinton was going to be the VP pick, then there is no way this whip team to control protestors would have been created.

► The Unites States defeated Brazil 1-0 in a brutal, ferocious overtime duel.

► Big Props to Goalie Hope Solo who pulled off one miraculous save after another.

USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!
USA! USA! USA!

Not really but he most certainly is not an "unknown quantity", he's only been under the microscope for the past 18 months, there is no way anyone can sincerely say that they don't know who Obama is.  Especially when they have us to share what we know of Barack Obama.   

Noun 1.    unknown quantity - a factor in a given situation whose bearing and importance is not apparent; "I don't know what the new man will do; he's still an unknown quantity"at we know of the man.

The Free Dictionary

Obama, everyone knows what John McCain did in a prison camp in Vietnam.  And everyone knows that because he has an (R) by his name, it is off-limits to question his military service (that only works if you have purple hearts and a D by your name).  But you don't have to bring it up everytime you talk about him.  In fact, you shouldn't, so stop.

This morning I was walking to work and reading the news on my phone when I came acrossed an article where Obama was hitting McCain on the economy.  I was excited to see the MSM picking up a major, substantive criticism of McCain.  But I was distressed by the quote from Obama.  He prefaced his criticism with "John McCain has served our country, no one questions....blah blah blah."

It's crystal clear. Obama needs a game changer and Hillary is it. No doubt in my mind.

Picking Hillary would strike the fear of God into the Republicans. She would immediately deliver half of the 20% of Dems who are holding out and, as the GOP base have already polarised like sheep around the most right wing candidate, there is very little downside.

Sure there are a few independents, who understandably won't be comfortable with it initially but ultimately Obama is the presidential candidate and Hillary will be his deputy.

If you're a woman who wants to preserve the right to make the most difficult choice you may have to make in your life, then Obama is your only option. If you're happy with a bunch of grey haired angry conservatives telling you that even if you get raped, you have to bear the baby to term then go ahead and vote for McCain because McCain has made it crystal clear that if he gets the chance to appoint a Supreme Court justice, Roe v Wade is dead and once Roe v Wade dies and a one day old embryo is considered to be a person, abortion will logically have to be banned in ALL circumstances. Fact. They will have police guarding the border to Canada with sonography equipment to prevent women crossing over for terminations. Welcome to a McCain presidency.

But it's not just hot button issues like abortion that are crucial indeed it's much bigger issues such as the economy. If you agree with Bush/McCain that tax cuts should go exclusively to the rich then please, vote for them. If you think tax cuts should go to the working and middle classes then Obama is your candidate and having Hillary as his deputy changes nothing.

The one downside to Hillary is the personal issues that exist between her/Bill and Obama. Can she really be trusted to advocate for him 100% and be his trusty attack dog as Lieberman and Romney would do for McCain. If not, he can't pick her. But I think she realises that this is her only chance to become president in the long term. If Obama loses, she will be blamed for it and the party will not touch her again.

I would still prefer Bayh but Clinton would spark a media frenzy that would steal the narrative for weeks and deliver the critical states of OH, MI and FL. It would be a bold choice and would demonstrate that Obama is big enough to work with someone who has previously assailed him mercilessly. If I were a McCain supporter I would want him to pick Sebelius. She's a great person but an ineffective speaker and people would not regard her as ready to be president in the way that Clinton so clearly is.