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A forum for ideas to expand the voting coalition for Barack Obama

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Commercial suggestion

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Sep 9th, 2008 at 9:42 pm EDT

This is my suggestion for a commercial - it is bad, but should really drive the point home...

A young girl (12-13yo) is in the sitting room of the Doctor's office alone and afraid. The doctor is talking to the mother:

Mother: "Is she Pregnant"
Doctor: "I am afraid she is"
Mother: "When can we schedule and abortion"
Doctor: "I can't - it's illegal and considered murder"

Mother: "What - but she was raped"
Doctor: "It's still illegal"
Mother: "... by her father!"
Doctor: " doesn't matter.
Mother: " but she's 12!"
Doctor: Blank Stare

I know this sounds really extreme, but this is a very likely reality under McCain/Palin.

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McCain - just like Bush

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Sep 6th, 2008 at 1:45 am EDT

Also listed in: 7 groups

McCain is working through his Alaskan allies to quash the investigation against Governor Sarah Palin for Troopergate. This comes the day after McCain chided his own party for being corrupt and losing its way. Additionally, McCain made sure every speaker reminded everybody that he was a POW and suffered as few people do who serve in that position.

In selecting Palin, McCain has proven to be the consummate hypocrite. He condemns earmarks, yet selects a person who is one of its greatest abusers. He speaks of honesty, but selects someone who methodically lies. He promises responsible government, but works to cover up corruption investigations in Alaska. He promotes community service, while Palin, and the GOP ridicule community organizers. McCain even reaches out to Obama with one hand, and mocks him as a supposed Messiah with the other.

What is worse, is that a person who fights for his country is so devoted to divide it for his own political ambitions. Playing on race, inexperience, fear of terrorists and focusing on his character, rather than our concerns.

His experience is 35 years past him, and he lives in comfort and luxury that few people can only imagine. People who suffer under the Bush/McCain economic plan are much like prisoners of war, but the different sides in this war are less clear. Whether it is the financial institutions that exploit potential homeowners, the corporations who believe that people deserve to make $1 a day while they make millions, or the government agencies that create a system of education that forever enslaves our children to multi-generational poverty, they are all prisoners of a government in conjunction with business that imprisons its citizens and limits its economic potential.

What makes this system worse than McCain experience as a POW is that the little man has no chance of escape, and no reason to hope, unless there is a change at the governmental level. Without affecting a fundamental change in our government and its policies, we will continue to remain prisoners of these policies.

Worst of all - McCain has made clear that his suffering matters so much, and that ours is meaningless to him. His voting record is the giant paper monument to this, and it is time to bring his great hypocrisy down.

He does not have the right to torture us, just because he was tortured!!!!!!

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Why Bristol Palin's (alleged) baby matters:

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 31st, 2008 at 11:08 pm EDT

There is a bigger point here. If anyone is attacking her children, that is wrong and it shouldn't happen.

If she lied to spare her daughter her reputation, many may understand to a degree - if she did it for her daughter.

The prospect that Palin may be concealing her daughter's birth has several political implications:

1. She is a strong proponent of Abstinence in schools - she may not like the example that her daughter Bristol set.

2. She is a strong advocate against abortion - in all circumstances.

3. If it is Bristol's baby, she lied methodically and across the board to everyone about it. If she did not, she put her baby with Down Syndrome at risk of death by flying 8 hours back to Alaska instead of going to the hospital - neither scenario represents good judgment on her part.

4. If she has made her daughter ashamed of having a baby at 17yo, it is understandable to a point. But to conceal it - imagine what that must be doing to her daughter - the degree of shame she must unnecessarily feel.

This is the kicker...

5. She has incorporated the birth of her Down Syndrome into her political platform as a demonstration of her personal conviction and as part of forming a compelling story about who she is.

Exposing this as false would make her into a liar and hypocrite on so many levels. Whereas I could forgiver her for trying to spare her daughter any unwarranted social judgment, her embracing of the circumstances (at her daughter's expense) to advance herself would be unforgivable - especially by the conservative base.

This should be looked into - if true, it demonstrates the epitome of the level of hypocrisy within the republican party.

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McCain does not care about Katrina Victims:

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 30th, 2008 at 10:07 pm EDT

McCain Voted Against a Commission to Examine Government Response to Katrina.

In 2005, McCain voted against creating a congressional commission to examine the federal, state and local response to Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Region. Senators Obama and Clinton both voted in favor of creating the commission. The motion failed 44-54. [H.R. 2862, Vote #229, 9/14/2005]

McCain Again Voted Against Katrina Commission in 2006.

In 2006, McCain again voted against establishing a commission to investigate the response to Hurricane Katrina, including the federal government’s role and the impact of the disaster. Both Senators Obama and Clinton voted in favor of the commission. The motion failed 44-53. [H.R. 4297, Vote #6, 2/2/2006]

McCain Voted Against Investigating Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.

In 2005, McCain voted against an amendment that would establish a committee to investigate waste, fraud and abuse in the awarding contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and for the reconstruction after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The amendment failed 44-54. [HR 3058, Vote #259, 10/19/05; HR 2862, Vote #228, 9/14/05; S 1042, Vote #316, 11/10/05; S 2766, Vote #176, 6/20/06]

McCain Voted Against Expanding Unemployment Benefits in Wake of Katrina.

In 2005, just two weeks after Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, McCain voted against allowing up to 52 weeks of unemployment benefits to an individual as a result of a major disaster under the Disaster Unemployment Assistance Program. Both Senators Obama and Clinton voted in favor of extending the benefits. The motion failed 43-52. [H.R. 2862, Vote #234, 9/15/2005]

McCain Voted Against Granting Katrina Victims Access to Medicaid.

In 2005, McCain voted against granting access to Medicaid to victims of Hurricane Katrina for up to five months. The amendment would also provide full federal funding for Medicaid in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama for up to one year and provide $800 million to compensate providers caring for Katrina evacuees. Both Senators Obama and Clinton voted in favor of assisting the Katrina victims. [S. 1932, Vote #285, 11/3/2005]

10/2003: McCain voted to TABLE an amendment for $322,000,000 for safety equipment for USforces. "Table"= vote never hits floor.

10/2003: McCain voted to TABLE a vote for $1 Billion for National Guard and Reserve Equipment in Iraq dueto:shortage of helmets, tents, bullet-proof inserts, & tactical vests.

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Barack's Philosophical Justification to go on the Attack.

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 21st, 2008 at 4:29 am EDT

Late at night, if I am up, I ponder deeper than normal thoughts. This is such a night.

It has occurred to me that Obama is philosophical, and has received a classic education - one which may not lend him instinctively to fight back as a course of action, but to try to stay above the fray.

With my Catholic upbringing, I remember the writings of St. Augustine of Hippo - he characterizes the four conditions that characterize what is known as the Just War Doctrine. They include:

* the damage inflicted by the aggressor on the nation or community of nations must be lasting, grave, and certain;
* all other means of putting an end to it must have been shown to be impractical or ineffective;
* there must be serious prospects of success;
* the use of arms must not produce evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated. The power of modern means of destruction weighs very heavily in evaluating this condition.

Given the perilous state of our nation, I am convinced that Obama has the complete justification to use all methods of campaigning to defeat McCain.

Obama always discusses what Dr. King describes as "The Fierce Urgency of Now". Certainly, a solid case can be made for the four qualifications given above that fit our sense of urgency in this campaign.

The Doctrine above was written in the first half of the first Millennium AD. It is old, and it has been the common standard used by civilized nations as a benchmark for when to decide to fight. If Obama is looking for a moral justification to excuse an inner compass that prohibits him from engaging in anything less than Just War, come to terms with what we are up against, and especially resolve the fourth quality, that your campaign will all tool to win.

To quote Churchill, I know this one by heart: "What is our aim? I can answer in one word: Victory! Victory at all costs; Victory, in spite of all terror; Victory, no matter how long and hard the road may be - for without victory, there is no survival."

These are the stakes for the United States. Let us work to ensure, as as citizens of the United States, we do not find ourselves, as Schiller said about revolutionary France that, "A great moment has found a little people."

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Quote from McCain supporter from Saddleback church:

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 19th, 2008 at 12:47 am EDT

"We are one of those people that make over $250,000 a year, and I don't agree that that makes us rich," said Melinda Sacks, who runs her husband's law office in San Clemente, referring to Obama's answer at the forum that put her in the "wealthy" category. "Even with that kind of income, we struggle to pay everything we have gotten ourselves into."

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/08/18/sunday_at_saddleback/print.html

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Quote from McCain supporter from Saddleback church:

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 19th, 2008 at 12:47 am EDT

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Russia's ultimatum!

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 13th, 2008 at 4:55 pm EDT

The fact that Russia is flexing its muscles right now is not good for the world situation.

Some facts to clarify the world situation

1. Russia invaded Georgia, a bordering country after Georgians provoked problems in Russia. Russia's response was considered disproportionate, but it was not without provocation.

2. The US supported an invasion massive bombardment of Lebanon when two Israeli soldiers were captured and taken hostage.

In both of these situations - why is Israel justified and Russia is not? Also, why was Israelis' response considered proportional and Russia's response considered disproportional?

3. We fabricated intelligence to invade a country on the opposite side of the earth, close to Russia.

This takes away our moral authority from defending the right when other nations act with aggression.

4. The current unnecessary war in Iraq leaves our military committed beyond our ability to back up diplomatic negotiations with the threat of force.

I am not saying or advocating any use of force, but Russia is painfully aware of our commitments, and sees fit to exploit them.

5. President Bush is sending Naval and Air Force units for "Humanitarian" Missons.

In the light of Russia's ultimatum, such aid performed by military personnel path the road for incidents to occur that can lead to World War III, and I strongly believe that China would join in on the side of Russia on this.

What is important here is that we urge our government to not commit ourselves to actions which can plunge the world into absolute disaster. Additionally, Obama needs to highlight the world situation, and the glaring weaknesses of the Bush administration to weakening our position in the world to cope with such issues in a diplomatic and military manner. Essentially, it is the failed policies of the Bush administration that have led us to this moment - and may well lead us to WWIII.

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For those who say we need to hit back hard...

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 7th, 2008 at 6:14 pm EDT

I have heard many people say that we need to hit on McCain HARD. There is part of me that agrees with this thinking. However, the Olympics begin tomorrow, and the nation will take a political break for the next couple of weeks - which I think is much needed.

Let's consider our current position.

1. Nationally, Obama maintains a narrow but solid lead against McCain - a lead average of 5 points is not small potatoes.

2. State-by-state, Obama continues to maintain his base of states and is now maintaining stronger in Republican states, like Iowa and Colorado. In other states, these have narrowed, but Obama has stabilized it and is still ahead.

3. While McCain is focused on full campaign mode, Obama is laying a ground game in several battleground states, which is unprecedented in presidential politics. The groundwork of today will lead to the groundswell of massive turnout on Election Day.

4. Recent polling has suggested that 48% of Americans are sick of hearing about Obama. This is important in two respets: first, the media, after the Olympics will likely shift its focus more on McCain as a result of this polling; second, McCain's messages about Obama will not reach an Obama saturated audience as effectively, which will make future ads less effective.

5. McCain's negative ads are early, and have tarnished his brand - the only plausible reason for which he is still so close to Obama. Americans can only sustain and stomach these type of ads for so long, and McCain has to now extend their shelf life to the election which is not likely to work before they begin to backfire. Remember how we feel at the end a presidential election cycle, when we are glad to see all of the commercials end.

What happens after the Olympics:

1. Once Obama completes his Convention in Denver, the republicans will have to follow that act - that will be a hard act to follow.

2. Once the two men debate face-to-face, it will become clear who has the grasp of economic issues. In the second debate on foreign policy, Obama will also be strong in his ability on indicating how many people have adopted his approach to international crises.

Keep working and keep the ground game going, but we are in good shape - keep you eye on the prize.

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McCain Campaign to accuse obama of infanticide:

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 5th, 2008 at 12:08 am EDT

The republicans sink to the abyss of the campaign cycle.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/04/the-next-smear-against-ob_n_116891.html

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Cheese and whine for a day, then Move On!

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 2nd, 2008 at 4:48 am EDT

I do not mind people venting, as many of us contribute to the campaign. As long as they realize that no real alternative exists to resolve most of our problems.

If the republicans are going to play dirty, by bringing up offshore drilling now when they controlled congress for 6 years under president bush, it is political. They want to create a situation that Barack cannot win.

When they play that dirty, we will have to get dirty too. So Barack did the pragmatic move - I'll bet large money that the oil is never drilled in his administration - much more expensive to drill than the numerous other sources on land left undrilled.

People have complained that Barack has not been aggressive enough - that he needs to get dirty; others are complaining that he is compromising his principals.

WE CANNOT HAVE IT BOTH WAYS!!!!!!!

What is omnipotent is to win! If you watched Recount on HBO, that point would be crystal clear. The republicans are without principles and will bleed this country dry until it becomes a third world nation. I do not believe Obama will do that. He walks a fine line, and he will not always do it perfectly, but given his past success in defeating the Clintons in the primary, I believe he will do what it takes to win.

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For those who say the luster is lost... REALITY CHECK!!!!

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 2nd, 2008 at 1:43 am EDT

Given that Congress is cutting a deal to make this happen, it would have been difficult for Obama to stand in opposition to it without appearing that the Democratic party is divided.

In truth, we are still a very divided party. Those of us who are talking about losing enthusiasm over FISA and offshore drilling are understandably disheartened. An event today gave me a reality check.

One of my neighbors across the street lost their home today - husband, wife, two children (one with Spina Bifida) and their dog. The husband lost his job, his health insurance, and their dog was turned over to a shelter, because they cannot take the dog to where they are going (I am not sure where that is). To see the family have to leave their home and the 8 yo daughter in the wheel chair without insurance to pay for their bills was heartbreaking. The family was devastated - especially the mother.

When I saw that today, I realized how important it was to get Obama elected. All the flap about offshore drilling that will likely never take place and FISA which will probably be reversed paled in comparison to the irreparable damage this family is enduring. It made me eternally thankful for my job and home and more determined than ever to get Obama elected.

We know that under McCain, there will be more of these scenes relived (not to mention the continuation of FISA and more offshore drilling), and record oil prices and profits without any energy plan. For that family today, I doubt none of this mattered.

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Gallop Poll Rigged for McCain

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 1st, 2008 at 11:51 pm EDT

How much value should be placed in the Gallup Poll results?

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/7/30/111024/383

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Think like Obama

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 1st, 2008 at 7:42 pm EDT

Everyone on the blog here:

We know that McCain is incompetent to lead, and that the Republican machine will come out blasting with negative adds against us.

If you are getting angry, that is a good thing. If you do nothing about it, that is not.

So what can we do to fight the tide and channel our energy:

1. Donate, donate, donate

2. Phone calls - lots of them, especially in the battleground states

3. Register voters

4. For the creative types: make your own humorous commercials attacking McCain about his age. Age and Race are entirely different topics. People retire and collect Social Security at 66 for a reason - it is legal to do so for a reason. Age is a valid concern to address, as it can impact judgment and other capacities. Get these commercials sent to the media and make them viral to drive the point home about how old McCain and his politics are.

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McCain should listen to his mother.

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 1st, 2008 at 6:58 pm EDT

It seems that even McCain's mother was not terribly happy with the ad against Obama that included Paris Hilton:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/08/01/roberta-mccain-chimes-in_n_116387.html

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McCain Strategy

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Aug 1st, 2008 at 6:56 pm EDT

Since the Olympics will begin next Friday, McCain is trying to plant the seeds in Americans that raise doubts about Obama's Character, and hope that they linger during and after the Olympics. They produce cheap ads, and let the media show and discuss them for free.

If we have any people that are good with videotape editing, someone should hit McCain where he is most vulnerable... his age. Putting him on commercials with Mr. Magoo would drive the point home.

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Buy some Obama Buttons sold in Berlin

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Jul 28th, 2008 at 10:57 pm EDT

In case you are interested in purchasing a unique piece of history from the campaign trail - Buttons from Berlin that are being sold.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Set-of-6-Obama-Buttons-Sold-at-Berlin-Speech-on-7-24-08_W0QQitemZ130241584749QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item130241584749&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

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McCain and swiftboating - how to respond:

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Jul 28th, 2008 at 3:02 pm EDT

I've been reading a lot of posts about how we need to respond immediately to the charges from the McCain camp not caring about the troops. When I think about the conduct of the campaign, I have learned a few things:

1. Obama has not let anybody swiftboat him - his responses have almost always been appropriate and well timed. In the instances when they have not been, he has learned from his mistakes.

2. Obama's third commandment - "No Drama" is one that he has been also excellent in following. These recent attacks can easily be reacted to in a manner that would not be good for the campaign.

If I were Obama, I would choose to respond in the following way:

1. Get leaders with Military background together, and denounce McCain's words and actions. This will include Kerry, Reed, Hagel, and others.

2. Deliver a major speech (the ones that always get the media's attention) that outlines the charges and outlines McCain's paltry voting record in assisting disabled veterans - let it speak for McCain. He could also talk about the surge in detail where he will be allowed to offer a complete analysis about the decline in violence in Iraq and the multiple factors that have contributed to its decline.

This should be well-prepared and coordinated to ensure that a comprehensive effort is initiated to not only neutralize McCain, but to turn the argument against him.

Sometimes, you have to let you opponent set themselves up to be taken down. The delay in the reaction may well be the window of time necessary to allow everyone the time to hear the false accusations that McCain is saying, then use those same accusations to show him to be both a liar and a disgrace and diservice to our disabled veterans.

Be patient - Obama would not have gotten this far if he did not know what he was doing.

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Presidential Debate schedule for the fall:

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Jul 28th, 2008 at 12:34 am EDT

FIRST DEBATE
Presidential debate
Debate focus: Domestic policies

Friday, September 26, 2008
University of Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi

SECOND DEBATE
Vice presidential debate
Debate focus: Domestic and foreign policies

Thursday, October 2, 2008
Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri

THIRD DEBATE
Presidential debate
Debate focus: Issues raised by audience members in a Town Hall format

Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Belmont University
Nashville, Tennessee

FOURTH DEBATE
Presidential debate
Debate focus: Foreign policies

Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York

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Sunday Haiku

By Jeffrey from Highland, CA who is going to meet President Obama at the Inauguration in January - Jul 27th, 2008 at 3:20 pm EDT

Barack Met The Press
McCain Snuffelupagus
Winner Obama!

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