200 former U.S. diplomats endorse Obama

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2008
200 former U.S. diplomats endorse Obama
2
Mon, 09-29-2008 - 4:31am

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/09/28/200_former_US_diplomats_endorse_Obama/UPI-58941222655586/

200 former U.S. diplomats endorse Obama

CHICAGO, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- More than 200 former U.S. diplomats have signed a statement announcing their support for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

The former diplomats and ambassadors signed the statement before the Friday debate between Obama and Republican nominee John McCain.

"We are supporting Senator Barack Obama because of his judgment, experience, and ability to inspire people to come together around a common purpose," the letter said. "Senator Obama's talents offer an historic opportunity; for the sake of America's security and standing in the world, we must seize it."

The letter, signed by officials from both major political parties, said the foreign policies of the Bush administration have diminished America's alliances abroad.

"As former diplomats, we believe it is past time that we had a President with the judgment and confidence -- in himself, our diplomatic corps, and our values -- to talk directly to America's adversaries with due preparation but without preconditions," the letter said.

The signatories include former secretaries of state Madeleine Albright and Warren Christopher, former National Security Adviser Richard Clarke and former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Martin Indyk.

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2008
Mon, 09-29-2008 - 3:29pm

Barack's leadership is exactly what America needs, and this formerly GOP-supporting newspaper knows it!

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/09/obama_endorseme.html


Obama endorsement questions Palin pick

September 29, 2008 01:26 PM

Another early newspaper endorsement for Barack Obama, and this one is as much a critique of John McCain, particularly his judgment in picking Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Endorsing a Democrat for president for the first time in 72 years, the Stockton Record in California praised Obama as an inspirational leader.

"He has demonstrated time and again he can think on his feet. More importantly, he has demonstrated he will think things through, seek advice, and actually listen to it," the newspaper said in its Sunday editorial. "Obama is a gifted speaker. But in addition to his smarts and energy, possibly his greatest gift is his ability to inspire."

Of McCain, the editorial compared him unfavorably to President Bush, saying "He tends to shoot from the hip and go on gut instinct. The nation cannot go through four more years of literally and figuratively shooting now and asking questions later."

It also questioned the Republican for his surprise choice of Palin, who struggled in her interview last week with Katie Couric of CBS. "We worry he won't have four years," the editorial said. "If elected, at 72, he would be the oldest incoming president in U.S. history. He's in good health now, we're told, although he has withheld most of his medical records. That means Gov. Sarah Palin could very well become president. And that brings us to McCain's most troubling trait: his judgment.

"While praiseworthy for putting the first woman on a major-party presidential ticket since Geraldine Ferraro in 1984, his selection of Palin as a running mate was appalling. The first-term governor is clearly not experienced enough to serve as vice president or president if required."

iVillage Member
Registered: 09-08-2008
Mon, 09-29-2008 - 3:53pm

Some of the best minds in the world....Oh yes, Obama/Biden 08....

http://sefora.org/2008/09/25/61-nobel-laureates-in-science-endorse-obama/

61 Nobel Laureates in Science Endorse Obama

A group of 61 Nobel Laureates have gotten together to endorse Barack Obama for President. Their letter and the signatories are below. This is the largest number of Nobel Laureates to ever endorse a candidate for office, more than endorsed either Gore or Kerry. (Kerry had 48 total.) That is a remarkable statement. Here is the link to the original letter of endorsement.

An Open Letter to the American People

This year’s presidential election is among the most significant in our nation’s history. The country urgently needs a visionary leader who can ensure the future of our traditional strengths in science and technology and who can harness those strengths to address many of our greatest problems: energy, disease, climate change, security, and economic competitiveness.

We are convinced that Senator Barack Obama is such a leader, and we urge you to join us in supporting him.

During the administration of George W. Bush, vital parts of our country’s scientific enterprise have been damaged by stagnant or declining federal support. The government’s scientific advisory process has been distorted by political considerations. As a result, our once dominant position in the scientific world has been shaken and our prosperity has been placed at risk. We have lost time critical for the development of new ways to provide energy, treat disease, reverse climate change, strengthen our security, and improve our economy.

We have watched Senator Obama’s approach to these issues with admiration. We especially applaud his emphasis during the campaign on the power of science and technology to enhance our nation’s competitiveness. In particular, we support the measures he plans to take – through new initiatives in education and training, expanded research funding, an unbiased process for obtaining scientific advice, and an appropriate balance of basic and applied research – to meet the nation’s and the world’s most urgent needs.

Senator Obama understands that Presidential leadership and federal investments in science and technology are crucial elements in successful governance of the world’s leading country. We hope you will join us as we work together to ensure his election in November.

Signed,

Alexei Abrikosov
Physics
2003

Roger Guillemin
Medicine
1977

Peter Agre
Chemistry
2003

John L. Hall
Physics
2005

Sidney Altman
Chemistry
1989

Leland H. Hartwell
Medicine
2001

Philip W. Anderson
Physics
1977

Dudley Herschbach
Chemistry
1986

Richard Axel
Medicine
2004

Roald Hoffmann
Chemistry
1981

David Baltimore
Medicine
1975

H. Robert Horvitz
Medicine
2002

Baruj Benacerraf
Medicine
1980

Louis Ignarro
Medicine
1998

Paul Berg
Chemistry
1980

Eric R. Kandel
Medicine
2000

J. Michael Bishop
Medicine
1989

Walter Kohn
Chemistry
1998

N. Bloembergen
Physics
1981

Roger Kornberg
Chemistry
2006

Michael S. Brown
Medicine
1985

Leon M. Lederman
Physics
1988

Linda B. Buck
Medicine
2004

Craig C. Mello
Medicine
2006

Mario R. Capecchi
Medicine
2007

Marshall Nirenberg
Medicine
1968

Stanley Cohen
Medicine
1986

Douglas D. Osheroff
Physics
1996

Leon Cooper
Physics
1972

Stanley B. Prusiner
Medicine
1997

James W. Cronin
Physics
1980

Norman F. Ramsey
Physics
1989

Robert F. Curl
Chemistry
1996

Robert Richardson
Physics
1996

Johann Diesenhofer
Chemistry
1988

Burton Richter
Physics
1976

John B. Fenn
Chemistry
2002

Sherwood Rowland
Chemistry
1995

Edmond H. Fischer
Medicine
1992

Oliver Smithies
Medicine
2007

Val Fitch
Physics
1980

Richard R Schrock
Chemistry
2005

Jerome I. Friedman
Physics
1990

Joseph H. Taylor Jr.
Physics
1993

Riccardo Giacconi
Physics
2002

E. Donnall Thomas
Medicine
1990

Walter Gilbert
Chemistry
1980

Charles H. Townes
Physics
1964

Alfred G. Gilman
Medicine
1994

Daniel C.Tsui
Physics
1998

Donald A. Glaser
Physics
1960

Harold Varmus
Medicine
1989

Sheldon L. Glashow
Physics
1979

James D. Watson
Medicine
1962

Joseph Goldstein
Medicine
1985

Eric Wieschaus
Medicine
1995

Paul Greengard
Medicine
2000

Frank Wilczek
Physics
2004

David Gross
Physics
2004

Robert W. Wilson
Physics
1978

Robert H. Grubbs
Chemistry
2005

















The views expressed in this letter represent those of the signers acting as individual citizens. They do not necessarily represent the views of the institutions with which they are affiliated. The Medicine award is for “Physiology or Medicine.”