Thank you President-elect Obama and America for restoring my faith in our political system.
Thank you, John McCain, for an eloquent and gracious concession in the wake of your divisive campaign.
I caught this guy stealing my Obama sign on tape. Second day in a row it was stolen. Going to get a better camera. Any ideas fellow diggers? Trespassing and petty theft are two charges I can figure. I want to get the thieves' plate and a good clear shot of the thief's face. They've stolen signs all over town.
Clearly, I need a better camera, but check this out.
YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRF4K8tV9yE
Flickr photo set:
http://flickr.com/photos/bigsean/sets/72157608192239786/
Any suggestions on what charges to press when the cops catch these guys?
After the FISA vote, I stopped donating and suspended blogging here. Mostly I was bitching about FISA anyway. While I'm not happy about that vote, I firmly believe that Barack Obama will make a great President and have renewed my financial support for his campaign. I hope that you will do the same.
http://my.barackobama.com/townhalldebate
Louisiana is now a tossup state based on current polling data, one that has been deep red for a long time. As an independent voter, one who does not belong to any political party, I remain encouraged about this as I think that a change in the political landscape presents an opportunity for those who are all over the political spectrum.
There are a few points of disagreement I have with Barack Obama and while he will not always make decisions I agree with, I believe that those decisions will be made with due consideration and in consultation with people who view different angles of an issue. This stands in stark contrast to the leadership we've had for the last few decades.
Louisiana can deliver her electoral votes for Obama. Vote, encourage your friends, families, and colleagues to vote. Make your voice heard.
If you have the means, chip in a few bucks here: http://my.barackobama.com/townhalldebate
The finish line is within sight. Let's get there and get ready to run the marathon.
The talking heads and NeoCons are yammering on that Obama broke his word on public financing. He didn't. He agreed to aggressively pursue public financing and if his opponent did the same thing they could come to an accord. I speak English and understood this several months ago.
The Huffington Post blogged about this in February. The Obama campaign has carefully parsed their position on it, which I think was a mistake, but an understandable one in favor of the idea of fair play. Of course with 527s and all the stops pulled out on dirty politicking, who in their right mind would agree to public financing?
In a battle, you don't fight with one hand tied around your nether regions.
This is much ado about nothing. And for those who still are still missing the short bus: Obama's campaign is publicly financed by average Joes like you and me.
Of course, I'm currently up in arms about FISA, but give me a break on public financing.
Arguments in favor of support are a travesty all their own. I wrote this in response to a comment to my earlier post from Lydia from Durham, NC.
On civil immunity or criminal immunity: either one is reprehensible and unconstitutional. Bush will pardon the criminal acts, no doubt. Now Congress pushes through civil immunity. The telcos and people who colluded should be pursued in both civl and criminal courts.
Randi Rhodes argument that FISA will bring legal supervision back into surveillance is ludicrous. She pointed out that the Bush Administration has been operating illegally. And this bill will make them act legally? Bzzt. No, it won't.
Jonathan Alter's explanation makes me *more* angry, not less. So he's basically saying that the government has been operating unconstitutionally for the last 10 months, okayed by the Democratic-led Congress? And THAT'S why Obama should support this bill? That's the argument?
Take a gander at the 30 articles of impeachment Kucinich brought before the House. The Bush Administration has been acting illegally for two terms now. Congress does nothing but hand over what's worse than a pardon to those guilty of serious crimes against our fellow citizens.
It's another sell out of the 4th Amendment and an ex-post facto law making formerly illegal acts legal by granting immunity to the parties that have and are STILL performing illegal domestic surveillance (including wiretaps).
I lose patience with the argument that those who are not going to vote for a presidential candidate or a third party candidate are responsible if McCain wins the election. No. When a presidential candidate, a scholar with expertise in Constitutional Law, violates his oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution then my vote has not been earned.
There is no way that folks are going to convince me that Obama's support of FISA/telco immunity is anything less than a sell out. I believed in this campaign and have supported this campaign until FISA/immunity.
Should Obama do the right thing and vote against this bill, then I will cast my vote in his favor. I believe he took extremely bad advice in the name of political expediency. He has made a serious miscalculation. If this is what he's willing to do while campaigning for the Presidency, then what can I expect from him when he's President?
Our entire government has lost its way. This is absolutely shameful.
Go and read the FISA bill.
