McCain did well in the interview and his performance will go a long way in defining his image among young people who are generally uninformed (i.e., get their news from the Daily Show).

Stewart is also quite out of touch with the real world and demonstrates the liberal way of looking at the world. He suggests Islamic extremists use President Bush as a recruiting tool - and then implies that that is a negative. Stewart has obviously never studied and the Middle East and Islamic extremism further than news reports and liberal talking points.

Islamic extremists are able to recruit people to their cause largely because of internal factors. Many potential recruits live in abject poverty under opressive governments. They turn to Islamic extremism because it offers food, a place to live, hope for the future, and something to believe in.

Ideology: In the Iowa Caucus, Obama defeated Clinton among "moderate" voters by 33 to 31 percent and barely lost "conservatives" by 22 to 21 percent. He was perceived as a middle-of-the-road candidate or, even better, as standing above ideology. But he increasingly is seen as the "liberal" or even "very liberal" candidate. In Indiana, he bested Clinton among liberals 55 to 45 percent but lost moderates by 53 to 46 percent and conservatives by 65 to 35 percent. He can't carry that political image into the fall and hope to defeat McCain. In most of the swing states that he would need to win, liberals occupy a much smaller niche than they in the Democratic primary. Moderates are the key. They make up 45 percent of the electorate in Virginia and 43 percent in Colorado--two states that the Obama campaign thinks it could win.

Forcefulness: In the 2004 election, voters repeatedly expressed their preference for a "strong leader," but Obama has yet to establish himself in this respect. He is regularly judged more "honest and trustworthy" than Clinton, but those qualities have proved less important to choosing a president. In Indiana, voters thought Clinton more qualified to be commander in chief by 54 to 43 percent. Nine percent of Obama voters acknowledged that Clinton was "more qualified to be commander in chief." In North Carolina, eleven percent of Obama voters preferred Clinton. Obama appears to be somewhat effete, which will, unless remedied, cause him difficulty against McCain in the fall, particularly among white males.

There may be at least two vacancies on the United States Supreme Court during the next presidential term. As president, I will ensure that only those judges who strictly interpret the Constitution of the United States are appointed. I will nominate judges who understand that their role is to faithfully apply the law as written, not impose their will through judicial fiat.

If you want judges who will clearly and completely adhere to the Constitution of the United States and who do not legislate from the bench to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court, then I ask that you join my campaign for president today by making a financial contribution.

I am proud to have played a role in the appointment and confirmation of two great Supreme Court justices - Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Samuel Alito I need your support now so that as your president I can nominate judges like Justices Roberts and Alito. Judges who have proven themselves worthy of our trust. Judges who take as their sole responsibility the enforcement of laws made by the people's elected representatives. Judges who can be relied upon to respect the values of the people whose rights, laws and property they are sworn to defend.

Earlier this morning, in remarks at Wake Forest University, John McCain spelled out the positions of his opponents:

For both Senator Obama and Senator Clinton, it turned out that not even John Roberts was quite good enough for them. Senator Obama in particular likes to talk up his background as a lecturer on law, and also as someone who can work across the aisle to get things done. But when Judge Roberts was nominated, it seemed to bring out more the lecturer in Senator Obama than it did the guy who can get things done. He went right along with the partisan crowd, and was among the 22 senators to vote against this highly qualified nominee. And just where did John Roberts fall short, by the Senator's measure? Well, a justice of the court, as Senator Obama explained it -- and I quote -- should share "one's deepest values, one's core concerns, one's broader perspectives on how the world works, and the depth and breadth of one's empathy." 

These vague words attempt to justify judicial activism -- come to think of it, they sound like an activist judge wrote them. And whatever they mean exactly, somehow Senator Obama's standards proved too lofty a standard for a nominee who was brilliant, fair-minded, and learned in the law, a nominee of clear rectitude who had proved more than the equal of any lawyer on the Judiciary Committee, and who today is respected by all as the Chief Justice of the United States. Somehow, by Senator Obama's standard, even Judge Roberts didn't measure up. And neither did Justice Samuel Alito. Apparently, nobody quite fits the bill except for an elite group of activist judges, lawyers, and law professors who think they know wisdom when they see it -- and they see it only in each other.

While judges have taken a back seat in the Presidential race thus far, it will become an issue in the general election. Fundamental questions such as the role of the federal government, the right to self-defense, and the right to life will be at stake.

If a Democrat gets elected, Justices John Paul Stevens and Ruth Bader Ginsberg will be the first ones to step down from the bench allowing other activist judges to take their place. 

Question to the peanut gallery: Which one looks more like "typical Washington"?

And when, during an event at an espresso shop in Tupelo (!), Huck's cell phone rang, he didn't miss a beat:

"That's probably John McCain calling to ask me to be on the ticket."

Huckabee would be an intriguing running mate to John McCain. He is witty, affable, and positive. He puts the social and Christian conservative base at ease while bringing a populist tilt to the ticket.

During the primary he showed his abilities as a candidate. He knew how to effectively drive a message speaking in metaphors and making witty comments. Many of his quips would often penetrate into the national news cycle. He also demonstrated a willingness to go negative attacking Mitt Romney from the stump and in debates.

And his decision to not take the Republican primary negative may very well have been what let McCain take the party without a fight.

While Huckabee has stated previously he is not interested in actually being Vice-President, he may find the prospect of being the Vice-Presidential candidate interesting.

A new "private corporation" called ObamaVotersForMcCain.com has been launched by a Barack Obama supporter(s) who vows to vote for, and encourage others to vote for, John McCain if Obama does not become the Democratic nominee:

April 30, 2008

Dear Friends:

Sen. Barack Obama is leading in the number of:

(1)  Pledged Delegates;
(2)  Popular Votes;
(3)  States Won.

At the end of the Primary Elections, if Sen. Barack Obama continues to lead in the above mentioned categories and the Democratic Party "Super Delegates" override Democratic Party voters by installing Sen. Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Party nominee, I plan to join with other outraged Democratic Party voters in voting for the Republican Party nominee: Sen. John McCain for President of the United States.

The plan will be to raise funds to launch an internet advertising campaign in conjunction with grassroots activities to encourage "Obama Voters" to vote against Sen. Hillary Clinton. The goal being to punish the leaders of the Democratic Party for using a corrupt system of "Super Delegates" to override the will of Democratic Party voters.

To join our campaign, make a Non-Tax Deductable contribution and/or media inquiries, please send an email to: ObamaVoters@aol.com.

The Democratic Party is officially on notice!!!

Sincerely,

Thomas Lopez-Pierre
Executive Director
ObamaVotersForMcCain.com

P.O. Box 1930
New York, New York 10025
ObamaVoters@aol.com

NOTE: ObamaVotersForMcCain.com is in no way connected to Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. John McCain or their political campaigns. Furthermore, ObamaVotersForMcCain.com is in no way connected to the Democratic Party or Republican Party or any other political party.

While the website is short on specifics, the minimum "donation" is $10,000. It appears to be setup financially like the Ron Paul blimp which was launched by Ron Paul supporters during the Republican primary.

The group is setup as a for-profit corporation which sells memberships. The profit from memberships sold is then used to advocate for the election of Obama (or, worst case scenario, for the election of McCain). This allows them to skirt Federal Election laws and keep their expenses and donors a secret.

Hat tip:
Jonathan Martin

Some interesting match ups:

Condoleezza Rice vs. Chuck Hagel 
Marsha Blackburn vs. Mitt Romney
Colin Powell vs. David Petraeus 
Fred Thompson vs. Sam Brownback
Michael Steele vs. Tom Coburn
Mike Pence vs. Bobby Jindal
Joe Lieberman vs. Jeb Bush
J.C. Watts vs. Charlie Crist

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“We both know that if Sen. Obama did not say what he said, he would never get elected,” Wright said. “Politicians say what they say and do what they do based on electability, based on sound bites, based on polls."

Instead of directly responding to whether his controversial remarks have hurt Obama’s candidacy, Wright instead said criticisms of him are, “not an attack on Jeremiah Wright; it is an attack on the black church.” He added, “It has nothing to do with Sen. Obama; it is an attack on the black church launched by people who know nothing about the African-American religious tradition.”

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And the problem is global. We are seeing the effects of higher food prices in the United States and the developed world as well, only to a much smaller extent and to much smaller consequence.

But what exactly is causing food prices to rise so sharply?

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