September was a good month for the Braun campaign

[gottaB]

September was a great month for Carol. In addition to steam from the NOW endorsement, she had some good debate appearances and earned a wee bit more respect from the press.

And of course, there was her official announcement, which you can read on her site in case you missed it on cspan. You can read some of the good news in the newsroom at the site there. But that's not all.

Here are some headlines from around the net during Semptember

• Moseley Braun adds to race
  
• Presidential contender Braun makes bid official
  
• Moseley Braun makes her bid official
  
• Moseley Braun announces run
  
• Braun announces her bid
  
• Moseley Braun makes her campaign official
  
• US Democrats candidate knows NZ well
  
• Braun Formally Announces Her Presidential Bid
  
• Moseley Braun Makes Candidacy Official at Howard University
  
• Carol Moseley Braun Announces 2004 Run
  
• Braun formally launches 2004 presidential bid
  
• Moseley-Braun enters race, calls for 'American Renaissance'
  
• Braun announces candidacy at Benedict College
  
• Braun makes a national run for redemption
  
• Braun Remakes a Name for Herself
  
• Presidential hopeful Moseley Braun calls for physical renewal
  
• Carol Moseley Braun: Long-shot touts stands on education, health care
  
• It's Braun by default
  
• Consider Moseley Braun a contender
  

[papau]

1. Amazing that she continues to be only person that includes women issues

She is sharp - but the minor sin of trying to save her mom's assets - albeit hiding the small amount of assets was illegal in this case - will stop her from getting traction.

Only the rich like Bush can "steal" (obtain money in a legally questionable way) - and in $30 million handfulls - and get away with it politically. Besides he got away with it, and she had to transfer a few thousand to the State.

[gottaB]

2. I don't know

iirc that issue was raised in her first Senate race and it didn't stop her from winning.

As for the illegality of what she did or attempted to do regarding her mother's estate, such as it was, well, that's speculative, isn't it? There are other possible interpretations of events. What we're talking about here is an appearance of impropriety, and I'm afraid every candidate has some of those in their history--some not so far back at all, you know.

[DemDogs]

4. Edwards talks about inequality in women's pay and choice

as part of his stump speech, so she's not the only one. Check out his complete program dealing with women and families. <http://www.johnedwards2004.com/women_families.asp>
Don't know about the others, but I am sure their supporters will speak up.

[Mairead]

3. I'm really glad she's hanging in!

Jeez I wish she were more liberal!

[helleborient]

5. I'm trying to watch her...but still skeptical

As an Illinois resident, she really did let a lot of us down with her (or I guess I should say her staff) handling of the African trips and such.

She is an outstanding speaker and her heart seems clearly in the right place on most issues....but has she figured out how to be a non-corrupt administrator. I really would fear where her friends could lead us if she actually were elected president...her friends and staff basically lost a Democratic senate seat for us in Illinois, and we really could have used that seat the past 5 years!

[gottaB]

6. As a US citizen, it works both ways

I'm disappointed in Illinois for electing Fitzgerald. I would have hoped that Illinois in 1998 could have really looked at Braun's record and all the things she accomplished in office and not based their decision on all the wrong reasons. But people aren't perfect. They sometimes act on emotions rather than a rational assessment of their circumstances. I understand that.

The way you slip in words like "corrupt" it seems like you are taking at face value politically motivated accusations which have not been proven, including some which have been investigated by regulatory and law enforcement agencies and examined in Congress. My general attitude is the same as the investigatory authorities--nothing to see her, move along.

Well, I don't have a copy of "the nasties" (Braun's hefty defense she gives to the press), and you aren't being very direct, so there's not much to say. Are you meaning to criticize her relationship with Kgosie Matthews? Well, that too was raised in her confirmation hearing and all but two of her Senate colleagues felt it was more or less none of their business.

I know that man was an albatross around her neck in the 1998 race and I know that she essentially dumped him. What more is there to say? If you think it's worth bringing up after all these years, well, the accusations I've read don't add up to much. For instance, I've read that she paid him a high salary, something like $15,000 per month. Is that corrupt? It's about what Andy Pringle asks for, isn't it?--or did Dean give her a little sign-on bonus? And Matthews actually had a victory under his belt to justify his salary.

Or are you afraid of her current campaign manager Patrick Botterman? Well, he is working for much less money. But if you have some reason to fear him, you should just come out and say what it is.

Now, as for the trips to Nigeria, Braun has admitted that her last trip was ill-advised. She has apologized for that. If you are truly interested in foreign affairs, or Nigeria in particular, I'm fine discussing that, because I happen to believe that Braun's position on Nigeria and US foreign policy with respect to Africa was in its general outlines progressive, consistent, and in our nation's best interests. Of course there are caveats. One can't say that her record is perfect, but if you want it to discuss it, I'm game.