Conservatives in Canada celebrate one year in office

January 23, 2007
Canadian Press

OTTAWA – Stephen Harper celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Conservatives' election victory with a love-in at a swank hotel today.

Harper opened the event at the historic Chateau Laurier in full election campaign style with a collective pat on the Tory back, telling party members they should be proud of their accomplishments.

"Canadians said to us in effect: `Show us what you can do and prove to us that you can deliver.'

"Friends, we rolled up our sleeves and we can look back and say with pride: `We have delivered."

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY comments:
Prime Minister Stephen Harper is a remarkable and outstanding prime minister. The past year has truly been one of great achievements for the Conservative Government. I very much admire and respect Prime Minister Harper.

Hillary Clinton launches presidential bid

Hillary Rodham Clinton embarked on a widely anticipated campaign to become the first female U.S. president, announcing Saturday on her website, "I'm in. And I'm in to win."

The 59-year-old Democratic New York senator said she was forming an "exploratory committee" to run for president and wanted input from the public on key issues.

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY says: Hillary Clinton is a very outstanding and remarkable woman and is the race for the White House to make history. Hillary Clinton has the leadership and vision to be a truly great candidate for President.

Barak Obama takes first major step in becoming candidate for President of the United States.

Remember Lincoln, Obama Allies Say

By NEDRA PICKLERThe Associated PressTuesday, January 16, 2007; 5:40 PM

WASHINGTON -- For all those historians and political naysayers, Sen. Barack Obama's allies like to point out that Abraham Lincoln served just two years in the House before becoming president.

It's a comparison certain to be repeated as Obama, with slightly more than two years in the Senate, continues to align himself with the Civil War president. The senator's expected campaign kickoff is scheduled for Feb. 10 in Lincoln's hometown of Springfield, Ill. _ where both men served in the state legislature.

Obama filed paperwork for a presidential exploratory committee Tuesday, which allows him to raise money and organize a campaign structure before his formal announcement. He also talked about his plans in a video on his Web site.

If elected, he would be an obvious subject for the history books _ the first black president.

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY says: Barak Obama could truly be one of the most exciting presidential candidates in American history. Check out his website at:
http://www.barackobama.com/

I wish Barak Obama the very best !

Martin Luther King Day

Americans throught the country are reflecting today on Martin Luther King's legacy of racial equality and peace.

Yesterday, the eldest daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King evoked the civil rights movement while reminding those remembering her parents that America has not yet reached the promised land of peace and racial equality.

"We must keep reaching across the table and, in the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, feed each other," Yolanda King said Sunday at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Today's holiday comes on the day Martin Luther King, Jr. would have turned 78.

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY says: Martin Luther King was truly a very great man and gave his life in the quest for racial equality. Martin Luther King is one of the giants of American history and I admire the great examples he gave to all of us.

The rising star in Canada's Conservative Party - John Baird

OTTAWA -NATIONAL POST - John Baird's new role as steward of Canada's environment caps a "meteoric" rise in politics that could see him one day run for leadership of the Conservative party, according to political analysts.

Eleven years after he was first elected to Ontario's provincial legislature, the 37-year-old Mr. Baird became federal Environment Minister yesterday -- a position that places him in the hot seat for what promises to be a central issue in coming election.


"His career has been nothing short of meteoric ... he made the leap to federal politics extremely seamlessly and really hasn't encountered many bumps on the road," said Barry McLoughlin, an Ottawa-based media consultant with McLoughlin Media.


"You'd have to say this is a young guy with an incredible political future -- he has already surpassed in 10 years what some people accomplish in their entire political careers."

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY says: John Baird is one of the 'best and brightest' in Canadian politics and I respect and admire him.

Deval Patrick inaugurated as first black Governor of Massachusetts

BOSTON, Jan. 4 — In a ceremony rich with gestures of openness and symbols of conquering adversity, Deval L. Patrick, the first black governor of Massachusetts, took his oath of office on Thursday. He promised far-reaching changes in attitude and policy and asked people to “see our stake in each others’ dreams and struggles as well as our own, and act on that.”

MICHAEL McCAFFERTY says: Governor Patrick is a very outstanding and remarkable yoiung leader who promises far reaching changes for Massachusetts. I wish him well.

Nancy Pelosi becomes first female Speaker of US House of Representatives

A new era was proclaimed in Washington today as the Democratic party recaptured control of both houses of Congress after 12 years on the sidelines of power.

"The Democrats are back," exulted Nancy Pelosi, who went on to make history this afternoon when she was sworn in as the first woman to become speaker of the House of Representatives.

"This is an historic moment - for the Congress, and for the women of this country. It is a moment for which we have waited more than 200 years," Ms Pelosi, 66, told Congress. "Today we have broken the marble ceiling."

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It is my heartfelt hope that a new era of bi-partisanship and clean politics comes to Washington,DC. I wish Speaker Pelosi the very best for her success in office.