Obama speaks the truth. Question: Can he get away with it?

“The day that this president steps down, the entire world will breath a sigh of relief.”

I don’t think we are going to change George Bush’s mind, He doesn’t seem to be someone who examines the facts.

Why don’t we say we don’t do torture, we don’t do rendition, that’s not who we are as a people.

For years, while foreign competitors were investing in more fuel-efficient technology for their vehicles, American automakers were spending their time investing in bigger, faster cars. Whenever an attempt was made to raise our fuel efficiency standards, the auto companies would lobby furiously against it, spending millions to prevent the very reform that could’ve saved their industry. Even as they’ve shed thousands of jobs and billions in profits over the last few years, they’ve continued to reward failure with lucrative bonuses for CEOs.

Barack’s Sister Souljah Moment?
The Democratic candidate’s tough rhetoric backfired in Detroit.

Nine years ago this week, Al Gore warmed up his run for the presidency by making a visit to Motown and speaking to the Detroit Economic Club. I covered that speech and recall that Gore was entering hostile territory. Detroit, an SUV boomtown in those days, was deeply skeptical of the vice president, who famously called for the death of the internal-combustion engine. But Gore, keen on endorsements from Big Labor and contributions from wealthy auto execs, changed his tune in Detroit. “Here in Motor City, we recognize that cars have done more than fuel our commerce,” he rhapsodized. “Cars have freed the American spirit, and given us the chance to chase our dreams.”

My, how times have changed. This week, Sen. Barack Obama attempted to fuel his presidential run with a scalding speech to the Detroit Economic Club, castigating Motown’s big wheels for driving our dependence on foreign oil. “For years, while foreign competitors were investing in more fuel-efficient technology for their vehicles, American automakers were spending their time investing in bigger, faster cars,” Obama told an audience stunned into silence after greeting him with a standing ovation.”Whenever an attempt was made to raise our fuel efficiency standards, the auto companies would lobby furiously against it, spending millions to prevent the very reform that could’ve saved their industry. Even as they’ve shed thousands of jobs and billions in profits over the last few years, they’ve continued to reward failure with lucrative bonuses for CEOs.”

What played as an act of courage in the rest of the country, is being seen as political suicide here in Detroit. “People were looking for so much more from Barack Obama,” Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick told me. “He left a lot to be desired with that message.” Kilpatrick, who introduced Obama to that thunderous ovation, met with him privately afterward and told him he missed an opportunity to woo Michigan voters by addressing their concerns about soaring health-care costs and fair trade. “As president, he needs to say what he would do to stand up for these other issues,” says Kilpatrick, “instead of just slamming these companies for their [lack of] fuel efficiency.”