While it may seem like a lifetime ago today, only a few years ago I was a student at a prominent state university studying the field of Journalism.

This diary is a first-hand, opinionated account of why I believe today's press has ultimately given John McCain a free ride thus far during the 2008 Presidential election.

All of the opinions and first-hand accounts expressed belong to myself, the diarist.

I entered my school's Journalism program during my Sophomore year of school. Having already spent a year writing for the sports section of our school newspaper, I was really less interested in the mechanics of how a newspaper was run, but more on writing style and how to make myself a better scribbler. After all, our school newspaper was a daily publication that ran more content, consistently than most of the local newspapers in the state.

Here's some great news from America's newest swing state: Virginia.

Rasmussen

Obama 45%
McCain 44%

For further explanation, follow me below the fold.

So this diary is extremely off-topic from what is going on in our world today.

Kucinich is introducing articles of impeachment, Obama is sticking it to McCain on the economy and the Lakers desperately need a win at home against the Celtics. However, I recently found a passage in a book I have been reading that struck me as hilariously appropriate to our national discourse.

The book I've been reading is Fyodor Dostoyevsky's "The Idiot." It was suggested to me by a Russian co-worker of mine and I have to say, it's very good (I've also read Crime and Punishment and have really taken a liking to Dostoyevsky).

Follow me below for the point of this diary.

So, remember a few weeks ago when the CW was that Barack Obama's dysmal performance in the West Virginia primary meant that there was no way he could win that state in the fall?

(For the sake of unity I won't rehash some of the things that were said, but I know you all remember them.)

Anyway, Rasmussen released a poll today that shows Obama well within striking distance of McCain in the state:

McCain 45%
Obama 38%

Hey everybody, I just wanna say right off the bat if you're looking for a diary with some hard-hitting substance - this isn't going to be your place.

I'm writing this diary because tomorrow evening I'll be hopping a flight from Providence, RI to Portland, OR to work for Barack Obama in that great state.

I'm a straight east-coast guy. That's not to say I'm not well-traveled (I am), but I've only been to the left coast twice (both times in the greater LA/San Diego region).

Furthermore, I've never been to the Pacific Northwest in my life. I'm simply reaching out to my fellow Kossacks for advice.

I've been a member of this community now for almost 2 years. Well, actually, I've been coming to this site for about 3, but only started participating for about 2.

Over that time I've seen members of this site open up their wallets for fundraising drives time and again. I remember Kos' blue majority appeals prior to the 2006 midterm elections and I've seen us rally behind special election candidates like Bill Foster in Il-14.

But nothing I have seen compared to the incredible outpouring of support that I witnessed yesterday.

The love-affair the Traditional Media has with John McCain is making me nauseus. I get a headache from their willingness to let his lies slide by as "Gaffe's" and not report on his incompetence.

Today's example? From MSNBC:

McCain: Americans most willing to sacrifice

Hey everybody, hope you're all having a rockin' Friday.

I'm writing this diary today because I need your help.

By now I'm sure that you've heard the Clinton campaign's absurd claim that she can win more swing states than Obama. Earlier this week Kos debunked that theory here.

Well, Hillary's latest straw grasping has left me with an idea: a fundraising project to show Obama's support in swing states.

Follow me below.

A month and a half ago I set out to do my best to help Barack Obama capture Pennsylvania on April 22nd.

Unlike my previous contributions of physically volunteering, the only way I felt like I could do my part was through fundraising (work has made it an impossibility to leave Connecticut right now).

With that in mind I started the fundraising drive, Insignificant States for Obama.

The motivation for this particular drive, well it was none other than former Clinton campaign chief Mark Penn:

"Could we possibly have a nominee who hasn’t won any of the significant states — outside of Illinois? That raises some serious questions about Sen. Obama."

So, since today seems to be pick apart the TM day on Daily Kos (for good reason), I figured I would pile on as well.

Right now there is a news article out from the AP with the following headline:

Pa. voters divided over Obama remarks

Wha-oh! That doesn't seem like a good thing, right?

But, wait lets actually read the opening paragraph.

Over the past few weeks I've appealed to this community on behalf of my own personal fundraising drive:

Insignificant States for Obama

Which in part was motivated by the remarks of recently deposed Clinton campaign manager Mark Penn:

"Could we possibly have a nominee who hasn’t won any of the significant states — outside of Illinois? That raises some serious questions about Sen. Obama."

Over this time I've made the case that the Hillary Clinton campaign's strategy of ridiculing and alienating all people who do not support her is not only idiotic, but damaging to the party as a whole.

I've compared Barack Obama's campaign to that of Howard Dean's 50-State Strategy, and made the case that if Democrats are to be truly successful that they need to challenge every Republican in every state.

However, today I want to share two recently-completed polls that prove every state is worth fighting for.

Follow me below for more.

Things are getting really exciting in the Keystone State these days. All week we have been bombarded with polls that show Senator Obama closing the gap in Penn.

Here's a quick sampling of what's come out:

Morning Call/Muhlenberg U

Clinton 49%
Obama 38%

Quinnipiac

Clinton 50%
Obama 41%

Rasmussen

Clinton 47%
Obama 42%

Survey USA

Clinton 53%
Obama 41%

Think your vote matters?

Well, it probably doesn't.

Folks, that is the kind of mentality Obama supporters are up against. The kind of mentality that seriously believes that voters in 30 states are irrelevant. The kind of mentality that concedes over half of the country to the Republican party before the campaign officially begins.

Just ask Clinton advisor, Mark Penn:

Last week I posted a diary that got very little traction here at DKos. The diary introduced an idea I had for a fundraiser called insignificant states for Obama.

The idea of the fundraiser is that on every Friday until the Penn. presidential primary, those of us who are angry with the Clinton campaign for telling us our "states don't count" could get together and throw a couple of bucks towards Obama.

Cross-posted at My blog, Obama-nate the Map!

Ok, here's the deal: the Survey USA poll results I'm about to list contain both good news and bad news. But first, keep in mind that these polls were conducted from March 14-16, at the height of the Wright controversy and before his speech.

First, the bad news: in some key states, Obama has taken some hard hits.

Now, the good news: in some key SWING states, Obama is still polling well.

Let's break it down state-by-state:

I don't dislike Hillary Clinton. As a politician and lawmaker I respect her hard-nosed tenacity and ability to put it all on the line for what she believes is right.

However, I do have a major problem with the cast of characters she has surrounded herself with in 2008. Whether it was the former President's remarks in South Carolina or the recent Geraldine Ferraro fiasco, Hillary's surrogates and staff have made her appear much more hateful than I believe she truly is.

But of all her moronic staffers, none of them really takes the cake like Mark Penn. You all remember  
Mark Penn, right?

This truly is the silly season when the 90s comedian Sinbad is topping the rec list.

All kidding aside tho, I'd like to make a quick point about this whole issue of "experience" as a prerequisite for commander-in-chief.

Yesterday, during an open thread Kos pointed out an interesting comparison from Votemaster:

How good Are experienced presidents, anyway? Suppose you had to choose between two Presidential candidates, one of whom had spent 20 years in Congress plus had considerable other relevant experience and the other of whom had about half a dozen years in the Illinois state legislature and 2 years in Congress. Which one do you think would make a better President? If you chose #1, congratulations, you picked James Buchanan over Abraham Lincoln. Your pick disagrees with that of most historians, who see Lincoln as the greatest President ever and Buchanan as the second worst ever, better only than Warren "Teapot Dome" Harding. Both served in what was probably the most difficult period in American history, where slavery and secession tore the nation asunder.

Following in the wake of successful comedians who ridicule their audiences, Hillary Clinton has decided to insult every state in the union. After victories in Ohio and Rhode Island last week, the campaign has realized that her previous insults that certain states "Don't matter" is completely effective.

In essence, the plan is to keep the remaining states yearning for her approval. Therefore, in an effort to remain relevant all states will vote for Hillary, lest they be considered useless.

This memo of insults was linked to top Clinton staffer Mark Penn: