Hawaiian ‘shaka’ greeting comes natural to Obama
KAILUA, HI – Barack Obama may be the first U.S. president who can successfully pull off the shaka, a Hawaiian greeting Hawaiians say has various meanings, from “hang loose” and “cool” to “thanks.” The hand gesture, also a common greeting in surfer culture, consists of curling the three middle fingers and extending the thumb and little finger. The president-elect, looking uber-cool with his White Sox baseball cap on backwards, flipped the shaka to a crowd of about 30 people as he left a gym on a Marine Corps base on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where he is vacationing. Obama, born and largely raised on Oahu, then walked over to greet the crowd, which had waited through a brief cloudburst to see him. Righting his baseball cap as he walked, he shook hands before posing with four babies.
On veterans education bill, Dole backs Obama over McCain
WASHINGTON – Former U.S. Sen Bob Dole is a leading advocate for war veterans and a longtime Republican ally of presidential candidate John McCain, but on Friday he sided with Democrat Barack Obama to endorse a bill the Arizona senator opposes to raise benefits for former soldiers.
The legislation passed by the Senate on Thursday is at the heart of a fierce spat between McCain and his Obama, the Illinois senator closing in on the Democratic presidential nomination. Obama questioned McCain’s commitment to veterans, while the Republican candidate blasted the Obama’s lack of military service.
“I’m for the concept … I probably would have voted for it, if we get the money,” Dole told the National Press Club in an appearance spiced liberally with his trademark political wit. He acknowledged, “I haven’t read it, which is not a requirement in Congress.”
The bill would increase education benefits for war veterans. Dole likened the current political battle to the one over the narrowly approved post-World War Two G.I. Bill, which generously funded college education and other benefits for soldiers and became wildly popular.
“I’m for it. That’s how I got an education,” said Dole, who was severely wounded in the war.
McCain said the Senate bill would encourage too many soldiers to leave the military after one term.
Your story on May 23 about veterans education is a real stretch. I never mentioned Obama. I said it should be paid for and pointed out McCain’s idea of more service, greater benefits was a sound approach. Maybe you missed part of my answer.
Have a good day.
BOB DOLE
Clinton sees $$ in protestors’ wake
WASHINGTON – Hillary Clinton got a rapturous response from a mostly female audience at a fundraiser on Wednesday evening. Many in the audience urged her to stay in the race for the Democratic White House nomination against rival Barack Obama.
But at least two demonstrators dissented, standing and interrupting her speech before being led out of the room.
Clinton, a senator from New York, was not thrown off. “I welcome that,” she said, saying strong opinions were part of the American birthright. “It’s who we are.”
The former first lady, who disclosed earlier that she loaned another $6.4 million to her campaign, said she hoped the protestors made another kind of contribution in addition to disrupting her remarks. “I hope they paid to come.”
Logic, she says. Well this is our country and voting for the wrong person because it logical to do does not necessary mean it is the right thing to do. People i beg you take a look at this person Barrack Obama before you make that vote. I would personally tell you not to vote for Barrack Obama for the following reason:
You definately do not want to vote for Obama, i am very worried of the company he keeps. There is this saying” show me your friends and i will show you who you are”, “Birds of the same feathers definately flock together” and Finally ” a fly without direction will follow the corpse to the grave” From Pastor wright to Louis Frannakan(Anti-semetic), i wonder what plans Obama have for Israel and our national security as he meet with the President of Iran who is pledged to the destruction of israel and current sponsor of terrorism (Hezbollah in Lebanon and Sadr Miltia in Iraq). If Obama thinks he can negotiate with this regime? The same regime that humilated President Jimmy Carter( I understand why every attempt at negotiation fails with this fellow after all he could not secure the hostages seized by Khomeni cronies during America Embassy incident). Well, i just worry for the sake of this country.
Obama: the Stones fan who would be (like) Lincoln
WASHINGTON – Democratic voters in Pennsylvania are hearing all about presidential hopeful Barack Obama’s views on issues like Iraq and the economy — but where does he stand on those small but all-important, getting-to-know-you questions?
For instance, does the Illinois senator prefer the Beatles or the Rolling Stones? “Rolling Stones,” he answered without hesitation in a Tuesday interview with NBC’s “Today Show.”
And he went on in rapid-fire succession, not shying away even from his recent underwhelming performance in a Pennsylvania bowling alley.
COFFEE OR TEA? — “Tea.”
WHICH PRESIDENT WOULD HE MOST WANT TO BE LIKE? — “Lincoln.”
WHY? — “He never lost sight of the humanity of even those who opposed him.”
IS HE SURE GOD EXISTS? — “Yes.”
Obama You Rock!!The Rolling Stones he’s perfect!
I been for him all along but this just makes my day!
I choose Rolling stones over beatles any day!! The Man has great taste plus he would make a great prez.
People here are missing the point. We’re arguing that the media is not being the media. Have they even analyzed Obama’s plans or how he’s going to lead? What about what Obama has done for Illinois? You know, like a journalist for Reuters is supposed to do?
Journalistic integrity is dead in this country.