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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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 Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2008 11:50 pm Post subject: Uh oh. October Surprise? |
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AP: Obama aunt from Kenya living in US illegally
WASHINGTON � Barack Obama's aunt, a Kenyan woman who has been quietly living in public housing in Boston, is in the United States illegally after an immigration judge rejected her request for asylum four years ago, The Associated Press has learned.
Zeituni Onyango, 56, referred to as "Aunti Zeituni" in Obama's memoir, was instructed to leave the United States by a U.S. immigration judge who denied her asylum request, a person familiar with the matter told the AP late Friday. This person spoke on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to discuss Onyango's case.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081101/ap_on_el_pr/obama_aunt
Uh oh. A black, a woman, an illegal immigrant and public housing. No right wing attack dog worth his Milk Bone is going to be able to resist this one. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 12:14 am Post subject: Re: Uh oh. October Surprise? |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
| ... a person familiar with the matter... late Friday. This person spoke on condition of anonymity... |
less than four days before the election and some anonymous *beep*
*beep* that
in any event, so what if his auntie has gone rogue
"I have a maverick in the family," he could say. "What can I do?"
Of course, as president he could get her citizenship I presume, months after the present prez pardons felony convictions against his friends and influential political and business folk.
October Surprise this is not. |
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ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 3:20 am Post subject: |
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The McCainiacs will try to spin this into an issue that can take 5% away from Obama. It doesn't matter if the votes go TO McCain, as long as they can take them away from Obama.
They could couple this issue with the latest lawsuit against Obama's citizenship status:
Ballot Access News:
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Phil Berg Files Anti-Obama Case in Both the 3rd Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court
October 31st, 2008
On October 30, Philadelphia attorney Phil Berg filed his appeal in Berg v Obama in the 3rd circuit, case number 08-4340. That Court has not acted. Berg then filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, case number 08-570.
The U.S. Court of Appeals Clerk�s office is treating this case in an unusual manner. Normally, when one telephones the Clerk�s office and asks about the status of a case, someone in the clerical staff answers the question. In this particular case, the employees have been told not to release any information, without having the caller speak to one of the attorneys who works in the Clerk�s office.
The case concerns Berg�s assertions that Obama does not meet the constitutional qualifications to be president. The U.S. District Court had ruled earlier this month that Berg lacks standing. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 4:09 am Post subject: |
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| A black, a woman, an illegal immigrant and public housing. No right wing attack dog worth his Milk Bone is going to be able to resist this one. |
Yeah, but the thing is, if you're a voter who is already comfortable with the idea of supporting a liberal, black son of a Muslim immigrant with an African name, the fact that this person's aunt broke the law probably won't make much of a difference to you.
I suppose there could be a few voters here and there for whom an illegal immigrant aunt might be the deal-breaker in regards to a candidate that they'd otherwise support. For the most part, though, I think the outrage on this issue is mostly confined to the GOP base.
Admittedly, it would make for a more credible October Surprise than(for example) the allegations that Obama is the son of Malcolm X. Seriously, I'm not making this up.
http://tinyurl.com/6zcvtt |
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khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 4:49 am Post subject: |
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Over this last weekend, you are going to see some insane charges leveled against BOTH candidates by news reports.
So I'm hoping the American public will keep their head screwed on nice and tight and look past the "dirty secrets" that are going to come up. |
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Gatsby
Joined: 09 Feb 2007
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 6:31 am Post subject: |
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I've got it:
The Rapture will strike!
Leaving only Republicans on Earth to vote for President.
Time is running out, though, given early voting. |
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sojourner1
Joined: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Where meggi swim and 2 wheeled tractors go sput put chug alugg pug pug
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 6:41 am Post subject: |
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Oh who cares what his relatives do? We're looking at the potential competency of a single man for the top job that means a great deal, not his aunt or ex wife.
Dam, this is one strong feller in his career achievements. When you look at him, you can see the man is one healthy, lean, aggressive, and savvy high achiever in his endeavors.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama
His getting into Harvard Law School and becoming editor and president of the Harvard Law Review tied the knot as being a real leader and set him on the progressive executive career path.
Not only is he the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, he's the 1st black (well, half) prez of the US of A. He's got the mojo regardless of race.
He also taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School for twelve years so he should know how to get America back to the founding basics and correct what is all so wrong in the US government today.
I'd say we have one champ of a candidate for the 1st time in many many years. Who knows, his presidency might just lead to an economic upturn and a new day for America. Hopefully it's not just another F'd up cycle leading further down the road to demise of a great nation.
This is indicative of his future performance. "Obama supported Republican Illinois Governor Ryan's payday loan regulations and predatory mortgage lending regulations aimed at averting home foreclosures.[35]" That was in year 2000, but the laizze faire environment allowed corruptions to flourish and that was only Illinois law on gross usury. We are seeing republican and democratic values meld and it's becoming less important to vote on political party. Maybe we can throw this 2 party system out the door while we're at it as it doesn't work since it doesn't accurately represent and paint a picture for American voters.
Maybe he can put out of control capitalists in check as to not crash the system and promote a country system that actually works for Americans as to allow them adequate employment and a standard of living without resorting to debt. I wish I could spend a day at home this week to vote, cash my economic stimulus check, go fishing, and have a BBQ. Too bad we don't have super high speed transport, because it's technically possible to achieve just that. Hey, nice rice breakfast in Seoul, lunch in Chicago at Gino's, and dinner in Paris at Hard Rock Cafe. Honey, I'll be back to Seoul for bed tonight after a long day around the world. Oh, what a dream. If the economy reaches it's potential, we'll have the technology (and money) to pull off such outlandish amazing things as that. And be home more often!!! |
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Kikomom
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: them thar hills--Penna, USA--Zippy is my kid, the teacher in ROK. You can call me Kiko
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:21 am Post subject: |
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This 'leak' is being looked into:
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Conyers Writes to Chertoff
Dear Mr. Chertoff:
I was startled to read in today's Associated Press that a "federal law enforcement official" has leaked information about an immigration case involving a relative of Senator Obama. Even more troubling, the AP reports that it could not "could not establish whether anyone at a political level in the Bush administration or in the McCain campaign had been involved," a very disturbing suggesting indeed. This leak is deplorable and I urge you to take immediate action to investigate and discipline those responsible.
I note that this is not the first leak of law enforcement information apparently designed to influence the coming Presidential election -- in recent weeks law enforcement sources leaked information about an alleged investigation of a community services organization, a leak that the Department of Justice informs me is now under investigation by the Department's Office of the Inspector General and Professional Responsibility.
Such leaks are deeply harmful to the political process, and the American people expect and deserve better from their government and its law enforcement agencies.
Sincerely,
John Conyers, Jr. |
Chertoff's getting the blowback. But at least it's on record. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:23 am Post subject: |
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| I see it having the opposite effect. McCain fans were just starting to get a bit of traction in hammering away at the issue of taxes for the past week or so, and it would be great to see it dissipate in the last three days as they forget and start ranting about this new issue that has nothing to do with people's pocketbooks. |
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Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:27 am Post subject: |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
| Yeah, but the thing is, if you're a voter who is already comfortable with the idea of supporting a liberal, black son of a Muslim immigrant with an African name, the fact that this person's aunt broke the law probably won't make much of a difference to you. |
On the Other Hand: undecided voters do not typically get into this kind of detail. They typically never read or watch the news and they know little or nothing of these matters. They are for the most part apolitical and it is hard to tell what truly motivates them. In any case, a week or so before the election, perhaps even election eve, they finally get around to looking at whatever is in front of them on the two candidates and they pick one -- sometimes even as late as when they stand in the poll booth.
Per recent conversations with political science colleauges. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 10:05 am Post subject: |
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On the Other Hand: undecided voters do not typically get into this kind of detail. They typically never read or watch the news and they know little or nothing of these matters. They are for the most part apolitical and it is hard to tell what truly motivates them. In any case, a week or so before the election, perhaps even election eve, they finally get around to looking at whatever is in front of them on the two candidates and they pick one -- sometimes even as late as when they stand in the poll booth.
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This argument might be plausible if we were talking about a white candidate named John Smith, about whom nobody had any preconceived images. But we're talking about a guy who everyone(even the undecided) knows is black and has a foreign-sounding name. Such is Obama's prominence, in fact, that I'd even go so far as to argue that most of these last-minute deciders know he's of Muslim parentage.
So, for the vast majority of these swing-voters, Obama's foreign and Muslim connections are already well-known. Thus, this issue is not bringing anything new to the table for them. I suppose there might be some for whom "law-breaking by members of the extended family" is a deal-breaker, irrespective of the racial and cultural angle, but they would be few and far between. |
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Gopher
Joined: 04 Jun 2005
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 10:34 am Post subject: |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
| But we're talking about a guy who everyone (even the undecided) knows is black and has a foreign-sounding name. |
My Turkish roommate, who has only been in the United States for less than three months, will not stop talking about last week when he got into a taxi, driven by an average-looking taxi-driver. The driver asked my astonished roommate whether it was true that there was a black candidate in one of the parties running for president, and he knew nothing more about it than that. No names ran any bells with him. No opinions on any issues -- indeed no awareness of any issues, especially including B. Obama's Muslim parentage and the allegations Republicans are hurling on that score.
He is a voter, On the Other Hand, and he plans to vote. Yet he has remained outside the kind of awareness we all share here on this messageboard. Completely outside.
You are not taking into account that there are people out there like this (and in every country), who find politics "boring," and who sometimes participate and sometimes do not.
When they do, what motivates them to decide this way or that? That is the million-dollar question, and that is why some may think that such stories as this one, put into the press at the last minute, might influence them. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 10:50 am Post subject: |
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My Turkish roommate, who has only been in the United States for less than three months, will not stop talking about last week when he got into a taxi, driven by an average-looking taxi-driver. The driver asked my astonished roommate whether it was true that there was a black candidate in one of the parties running for president, and he knew nothing more about it than that. No names ran any bells with him. No opinions on any issues -- indeed no awareness of any issues, especially including B. Obama's Muslim parentage and the allegations Republicans are hurling on that score.
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Gopher:
I do not doubt that this cab driver exists, and that he is as politically ignorant, and as interested in voting, as the anecdote makes him out to be.
But let's talk about the aggregate here. Try to guess how many undecided voters there are, "voters" being defined as people who are actually planning to vote. Now, try to guess what percentage of them have absolutely no idea that there is a black candidate running for president this year. What percentage do you come up with?
Out of curiousity, I throw these questions out to any American reading this. |
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Kuros
Joined: 27 Apr 2004
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 10:56 am Post subject: |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
But let's talk about the aggregate here. Try to guess how many undecided voters there are, "voters" being defined as people who are actually planning to vote. Now, try to guess what percentage of them have absolutely no idea that there is a black candidate running for president this year. What percentage do you come up with? |
I would essentially be guessing. But the percentage can't be higher than 1-in-8, or 12%. And I'd say these people make up a proportionately larger share of the non-voting adult population, anyway.
Nevertheless, Gopher's reminder is helpful. Some people are just that ignorant.
Oh, I should mention that in polls I've seen, undecideds who are labeled likely voters make up less than 10% of the polls. McCain would need a sizable proportion of these individuals to swing his way to get a boost. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 11:11 am Post subject: |
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I would essentially be guessing. But the percentage can't be higher than 1-in-8, or 12%. And I'd say these people make up a proportionately larger share of the non-voting adult population, anyway.
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But do you mean that they make up at most 12% of the voting population?
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Nevertheless, Gopher's reminder is helpful. Some people are just that ignorant.
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Yeah, but you know, if a guy has managed to go this long without even knowing that a black man is running for president(which means he's been seeing the same face every day while walking by newsstands and channel-surfing, probably often accompanied by headlines about the presidential race, all the while not bothering to connect the dots in even the most rudimentary manner), than it seems to me that his information-gathering habits are so idiosyncratic that it would be a crap-shoot trying to predict which news items are going to impact his thinking when he does start paying attention on Nov. 3rd. |
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