Hello MN Change Agents!As Communications Director of the MN CAN (Community Action Network) I’ve been asked to help get the word out.
By way of introduction, as a tail end baby boomer, I have lived and worked in Minnesota my entire life. More specifically, that currently means living in White Bear Lake but I grew up in Coon Rapids and Anoka school districts, and have lived in Burnsville, Bloomington, Maplewood, Woodbury, Mankato, Golden Valley, and NE Mpls, as well. (For what it’s worth, I also have immediate family in Ham Lake, Andover, Blaine, Lakeville, Minneapolis, St. Paul, St. Cloud, St. Joseph, and Hastings:) Some of you may remember me as we biked—quite literally pedaling thousands of miles—together in the late ‘70s/early ‘80s throughout greater Minnesota with the Jaunt w/Jim (Klobuchar) Ride sponsored by the Minneapolis STRIB.
Others of you may be familiar w/my online efforts during the 2008 campaign, but I also travelled to Indiana and South Dakota to knock on doors during the primary and spent the summer working as a grassroots organizer for the Obama campaign in St. Cloud—where we gathered together to watch then Senator Obama accept the DNC nomination for POTUS at the largest Watch Party in the state of Minnesota. Like many of you I’ve also been hosting and/or attending smaller scale house parties in support of Change for the last two years and feel invested, not to mention heard, in the political process for the first time ever.
My right hand in CAN is Tom Hayes, a tireless self described “non-partisan synergist” for Change who spent hours blogging during the campaign. Tom was an Obama precinct captain in Northfield, worked closely with the metro campaign volunteers and ObamaWorks. In addition, he helped moderate and maintain the Rapid Response group on BarackObama.com. You can learn more about Tom’s leadership/philosophical approach in one of his latest online articles: If You're Not Part of the Solution.
By now you may know a little something about the CAN groups. To be clear we are not OFA 2.0 but a grassroots Community Action Network born of a strong desire to show support for our new President; helping in any way we can to DO SOMETHING about the state of the union inherited from the Bush legacy. So we requested, and graciously received, permission to build out within MyBO throughout the U.S. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to write one of the original founders, LisaLindo@aol.com, for clarification.Someone said it’s impossible to give Barack Obama too much feedback: But we’re going to try anywayJ I believe the phenomenon of this movement for Change evolved as a result of many factors coming together in this time; none of which would have been possible w/out the type of leader we find in President Obama—who has fought hard to provide everyone of us w/access to the information/tools we need to connect the dots. Now, as Tavis Smiley observed on Larry King this evening, their accountability is our responsibility. Thus, we need your help to organize and to put together action events throughout Minnesota to support our President and your communities statewide. (If you are presently located in a different state and want to stay in the loop for local activities, just let us know so we can get you connected.)
In any case we hope you’ll join us on http://My.BarackObama.com/page/group/MinnesotaCAN
We are building out this infrastructure to organize America in support of our new Leader. Please “come out” and join our (virtual) national Barn Building Party for President Obama. Our grassroots teams, in an effort to support Barack, are rolling out Grassroots Government 2.0. before the snow melts!
Our first and foremost immediate objective is to form ranks. To get involved, these are the instructions:1. Join these two groups:o http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/MinnesotaCANo http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/USACAN
2. Update your Personal Profile on MyBO with real contact information so we can interact accordingly.3. Do your part to help us develop this robust nationwide project: All MyBO members who want to participate in Grassroots Government 2.0 need to join their respective State CAN group.
To give you a heads up, a call has been put out for each county across the country to have their second CAN meeting Saturday, March 7th. (In your county, it may be the first meeting as we gear up.) At these face to face meetings in each county across MN we will elect officers, assign issue teams by individual interests, and connect people who share local concerns to work across CAN; joining forces and implementing solutions. This is the plan we make in support of President Barack Obama's upcoming legislation and programs; which are detailed in the President’s Blue Print for Change and posted at www.whitehouse.gov. Please pass this on to your friends, fellow Obama Supporters, list serves et al: The more voices people hear about how important it is to meet up in each county, in each community, the better chance we have of getting bodies in those seats, votes in those polls, and voices in the National Conversation.“We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek..” --Barack Obama
This is not a drill: Now is the time!
We, the undersigned Veterans for Obama and Military Families in Central Minnesota, are concerned for the immediate future of our extraordinary country.
We are concerned about the security interests of this nation.
We are concerned about the low esteem this nation has amongst our allies.
We are concerned about the current use of our military personnel in unnecessary warfare.
We are concerned about the care of our veterans and providing them the medical help they need, both physical and psychological, when they return home.
We are concerned because we believe that our military has been misused in the war on Al-Quaida and deterred from seeking out Osama Bin Laden.
While we honor the military service of John McCain and his role as a POW in the Vietnam War, we do not believe that this gives him entitlement to become the commander-in-chief of this nation's military. We question McCain's judgment on a number of international issues, both past and present.
At the end of the first presidential debate, we were surprised to hear Senator John McCain describe his relationship with this country's veterans.
In John McCain's words: "I know the veterans. I know them well, and I know that they know that I take care of them, and I have been proud of their support and their recognition of my service to the veterans, and I love them, and I'll take care of them, and they know that I'll take care of them."
But the facts do not sustain these claims: McCain's actions as a U.S. senator have been to deny funding over the past five years, or not vote at all, on every bill regarding veteran's issue.Whereas Senator Obama has promised to fully fund veteran's medical care, Senator McCain has repeatedly voted to cut, eliminate or cut veteran's health care 29 times since 1990. Additionally, Senator McCain advocates the privatization of the veteran's healthcare services and intends to restrict veteran's healthcare to those with combat injuries only.Since coming to the Senate, Obama has led a bi-partisan effort to focus the military and veteran's health care systems on:
1) Suicide prevention for veterans
2)Treatment for brain injured veterans
3)Relieving homelessness among veterans and
4)Accessing mental health care for veterans returning home with PTSD/Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Senator Obama consistently supports millions of dollars for troop safety equipment and vehicles, while Senator McCain has opposed additional funding for these items.
Little known truth: Organizations such as Disabled American Veterans and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America overwhelmingly rate Senator Obama more favorably than they do Senator McCain.That's because we believe that Senator Obama has the right grasp on international issues that will lead to expeditious use of our military forces worldwide.
We find McCain erratic in his views and out of touch with the current and impending dangers we face in the years ahead. Thus we, as do many other veterans and family members nationwide, find Senator Obama the better leader--ideally suited in temperament, grounded in reality, and living in authenticity--to guide us through the difficult times ahead that this great nation will face.
We justly take this weighty election conscientiously and want to make known our steadfast support for our leader of choice, Senator Barack Obama; as such we hold his commitment to veterans and to our beloved country in highest regard.
SIGNED
While we are grateful as a country for the service/personal sacrifice of John McCain as a veteran and former POW, our concern is for the welfare of all veterans who so honorably served and those who will serve going forward.
That's why we are doing everything we can to make sure the American people are informed w/respect to Senator McCain's appalling failure to support our troops w/legislation in the United States Senate. We feel strongly that people need to know the Disabled Veterans of America and the Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan have assigned Senator John McCain a D RATING with a pro-veteran voting record of just twenty percent!
Given that John McCain publicly boasts that he graduated 5th from the bottom of his class of 899 cadets in 1958, perhaps a grade of D is not so bad for him. Maybe John McCain considers a grade of D as over achieving; but we, as a nation, cannot settle for a D and, thanks to Senators Obama and Biden--who both humbly accept a B rating from the same source--we don't have to.
Join us in signing the PETITION FOR CHANGE OF COMMAND
It's been a while since I've been free to post my thoughts, due to a very satisfying summer working at the grassroots level in Minnesota. More recently, I've been working w/a group of veterans to coordinate/build a coalition of Minnesota Veterans supporting Obama.
We find there seems to be an assumed perception that veterans support McCain in deference to his service and personal sacrifice as a POW in Hanoi. In addition there seems to be somewhat of a stigma attached to members of the service self identifying as a progressive/liberal/democrat--even as our research shows that veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan overwhelmingly support Obama. Hence, our objective is to raise awareness of Veteran Issues and turn out the vote by giving visibility to Obama's voting record compared to McCain's.
To this end, we’ve set up a website and posted a petition for supporters willing to “come out” and publicly declare their support for Sen Obama. We’ll be working to collect names of veterans and military families for the next week and then publish in a full page ad in key MN newspapers.
Please note: This effort is wholly dependent on word of "mouth/internet" so please do help us get out the word by forwarding the petition link to family and friends.
Peace Out (its good to be back:)
Last night in her...non concession speech, Hillary Clinton asked her supporters to let her know our thoughts. While I've been enthusiastically supporting Obama's candidacy since January of this year, I'm hoping Mrs. Clinton will somehow hear my plea in leiu of the fourteen years prior to this primary I supported not only her political aspirations, but her personal choices in the wake of her husband's impeachment.
As a (subjectively) hard working White woman born at the tail end of the baby boomer generation, it is truly disheartening to watch Mrs. Clinton "take her time" in conceding the race to the presumptive nominee while her surrogates advocate her "need for psychological space."
Huh?
Please; Senator Clinton, for the sake of your sisters in the movement still trying to earn the respect of our collegues in the real day to day business world--if not your own posterity--take the loss w/the same professionalism expected of any other candidate. There is no hidden agenda lurking in my appeal. The race is over and Senator Obama has won the number of delegates needed for the nomination in Denver--even after you managed to move the goal posts out.
While I happen to believe the power of of this movement for Change is such that it will come to pass w/or w/out your backing, I do not wish to disrespect your supporters or diminsh your achievements. I just want to let you know, since you asked, how your sisters cringe to hear your latest sound bite drawing attention to your....needs...in our name at the expense of our newly chosen leader's moment in the sun.
Even as you have earned the respect of millions of people in your own bid for the White House, you are losing the regard of many more millions by portending to use that support as some sort of bargaining power. In the process, you are setting the women's movement back by posturing for preferential treatment as a woman...publicly posing the question "What does Hillary want?" on the very historic night Senator Obama announces his victory to the over thirty thousand people gathered in St. Paul, MN wanting to be present for the moment.
With all due respect Senator Clinton, we are not asking "What does Hillary want?"
We are asking, "What can we do to ensure Barack Obama is elected president this fall?" We are wondering how best to use our individual resources to advance the cause for peace, prosperity, and environmental protection. Indeed, we are asking for maybe the first time in forty years as a people--having found in Barack Obama a leader to inspire, organize, and mobilize our collective goodwill--what we can do for our country.
I'd just like all my friends here on this board to know that if Barack Obama sees fit to put me on the ticket as his VP I am ready to accept the honor. I have 30 years experience dealing w/sociopathic business interests and am prepared to step up to take the Commander and Chief spot on day one....if neccessary.
Feel free to let your friends, enemies, family, co-workers, and the media know my position. I want to do whatever is neccessary to ensure a Democrat is elected to the White House in November; it's very important we come together at this time. It would be premature to comment on how I will work to support the Democratic party should my name not appear on that ticket:)
So today we get two "Top Stories" coming off the campaign trail. Apparently, HRC is all but MIA because, other than a rerun analysis of her Puerto Rican dance festival, we just got a 3 second snapshot/honorable mention of her Pablo MT appearance today. Oh yeh, and there was Chelsea's letter to supporters asking for help in making an "Important Decision" to select the next winning T-Shirt design....but I digress.
The first "Top Story" was out of the McCain Camp: Where the candidate himself was interrupted--four times--in what must have been an un-nerving test of McHothead's tranquillity, by war protesters; purportedly Iraq War Verterans at that. They were Iraq War Veterans? Protesting the Iraq War? Dunno, we never got to see them, for all practical purposes. Although I will grant the camera made a half hearted attempt to pan back enough to catch a partial view of McCain supporters expressing disdain for the Iraq War Veterans trying to exercise their right to free speech.
Not on my dime, said [in so many words] Vietnam War Veteran, indeed--hero--John McCain. Since when does the media not sieze the opportunity to video tape a good scuffle? How many times was the "don't taze me bro!" loop played from John Kerry's Q&A in Gainsville, FL last fall? Anyone remember what John Kerry said? No? Guess all eyes/cameras must've been trained on the action, leaving John Kerry w/out an audience: For the duration. So, where were John McCain's cameras???
Well, let's not be silly; for the most part you can bet your bottom dollar those camera(s) remained fixed on the guy standing at the podium, speech suspended in mid tele-prompt, waiting for order to restored. I mean have you seen how long the unemployment line is getting lately? For his part John McCain did an admirable job of keeping his cool, given his notorious temper. Aside from the rather undignified snort he let slip at the fourth interruption, his handlers were likely pleased w/the composure mustered. At one point, no doubt after the rabble rousers had been...subdued?...restrained?...gagged?...ok, "removed," the presumptive GOP nominee even managed to interject Triumphantly: "We will never surrender!" as though he were presently positioned under enemy fire; single handedly fighting to hold down the fort, wave the flag, and stabilize the price of oil.
OK; glad to hear it Senator, not that we ever doubted it, given your promise to stay in Iraq for, say...100 years, if that's what it takes. But, ummmm, what happened to the Iraq War Veterans protesting the war the day after Memorial Day? I saw one (1) report stating they were "forcibly removed from the scene--presumably by campaing security."
Where they arrested?
Am I the only one wondering?
Meanwhile, BREAKING NEWS, Barack Obama finds himself on the defensive for mistaking the Auschwitz concentration camp w/a lesser known sub of the Buchenwald concentration camp. I was going to take the night off tonight, but alas, when the pundits started equating Senator Clinton's "assassination" comment to Senator Obama's mixing up concentration camps I couldn't help but exercise my right to blog, lest it be lost. Lou Dobbs weighed in by expressing his exasperation w/Obama’s fact keeping abilities. CNN's Candy Crowley, trying to maintain her journalistic integrity and keep her job all at the same time (no small feat, don't we know) is chalking it up to sleep deprivation for both Hillary and Barack.
Give me a break.
In college, I spent an entire summer studying the holocaust w/back to back credit overload. (OK, so I'm intense.) It meant reading book after horrific book. I highly recommend it to any college student looking for a quick weight loss program. I lost my appetite for most food about midway thru Elie Wiesel’s “Night” and can only recall the rest of the course in terms of feeling enveloped in a cloud of death. It left an unforgettable overwhelmingly oppressive impression and changed the way I look at human nature in general. But I can no more recall the details of a single atrocity in all that reading than I can summon names of the plethora of concentration camps scattered over a dozen European countries. There were hundreds; and hundreds more sub camps.
So let’s try an exercise in empathy here. If I were one of the American libertarians that went from camp to camp setting free emaciated victims, I would hardly care amid the horror of it all, to make a special effort noting the foreign names of camps. Even if I were so inclined, later after I got back to the United States w/a heavy heart immersed in horrific imagery, it’s not likely I would’ve placed a great deal of emphasis on discerning which tortured soul came from which camp—that is if I was willing to discuss it w/family members at all. On the contrary, it would quickly become a blur, as did the stories of Holocaust victims I read during the summer of ’81, the diary of Ann Frank notwithstanding.
Likewise if I was hearing a family story passed down for the sake of posterity, I would probably substitute Auschwitz in my own mind, as would most everybody else, historical references notwithstanding, because everybody knows what Auschwitz represents. Unless you were there, on the other hand, or a friend/relative of someone who was there, it is highly unlikely you know of Gosler, or Holfeld, or Ellrich or could, for that matter, name a single sub-camp of the Buchenwald complex. Later, if I wanted to share that story w/others, as an anecdote illustrating the emotional devastation and “ripple effect” of war, I would draw on Auschwitz because that camp has become synonymous w/evil, invoking all such hellholes in the minds of most Americans now two or three or more generations removed.
Where is the respect? Better yet where is the interview of Charlie Payne?
Sounds like a Larry King opportunity to me.
Buckle your seat belts, people. Put your armor on, and stay engaged. We are going to need every micron of energy for the weeks leading into the general election. It’s going to be a rough ride, with the corporate interests scrambling to protect their billions.
We will force this fight into the light, because we know that we must, for all that is just.
GOBAMA '08!!!
There's been considerable debate taking place in the land of Blog over the past couple days over how to bring unity to the party in lieu of HRC's stated determination to "fight" for the nomination. Of course, it wouldn't be an issue at all if everyone were playing by the rules; but Hillary Rodham Clinton is not playing by the rules. In fact most of her supporters unabashedly acknowledge HRC has no intention of honoring any rules not favorable to her objective at any given time.
This alone is a disturbing representation of skewed American values. My dad served four (peacetime) years in the Navy w/an honorable discharge shortly before I was born; now in his seventies, so internalized were the values he learned during those formative years as a young man, he references them as a matter of course to this day. As his kids, we grew up thinking these were the values for which our country stands; not least of which was the understanding that there is no honor in making disingenuous arguments based on a false premise, fabrication, and outright lies. And a great deal of emphasis was placed on "fighting fair" presumably because we were coming out of WWII where the Germans and Japanese decided the Geneva convention didn't apply. At any rate, in our world people who broke the rules were automatically disqualified from playing the game.
It’s a value so widely held dear that we make “examples” out of sports figures who break the rules; Marion Jones will go to her grave stripped of the five gold medals she was awarded in 2000 when it was discovered after the fact that her “whatever it takes” commitment to winning the honor included breaking the rules...and that's in addition to a 6 month jail sentence, two year suspension and early retirement. Essentially she was shamed, lest our daughters get the wrong idea that it was okay to cheat.
Yet, Hillary Clinton openly flaunts a "whatever it takes" campaign strategy as though it were a virtue. It is NOT: It is instead a flagrant disrespect for party rules. That Mrs. Clinton herself signed an agreement to abide by the DNC tenets set forth at the contest onset seems to be of little concern in the absence of any calls for a public explanation; certainly she has not seen fit to offer up any type of rationalization, let alone enlightenment as to her reasoning in breaking her agreement; divisive ramifications therein be damned.
We are treated, rather, to a false argument charging the DNC w/disenfranchisement of its own constituency in determining a nominee. Never mind the fact that nominee has never been determined by popular vote per the party rules. Never mind the fact that there is no such thing as a popular vote in a primary caucus and they couldn’t be counted in any event. A nominee has always been elected by delegates; it is incumbent on those delegates to represent the expressed intent of their respective constituencies. The idea is that active voters who feel strongly about a given office have the opportunity to do so in getting together w/the people in their community to discuss the pros and cons of self identified candidates. The process is intended to vet prospective candidates, begin conversations, share ideas, and ultimately choose the person best suited to represent the party interests in the general election.
As the first state to hold its primary caucus, Iowa is known for taking its responsibility seriously. This is not to say Iowa determines the nominee, only to acknowledge the grueling process all of the self identified candidates endure in spending untold hours under a microscope in the heartland—by way of noting, having been vetted by a group of Norwegians, Barack Obama came out one top. No disrespect intended, but Hillary Clinton came in a distant third. And then the primary season began in earnest, turning out unprecedented numbers of people who have decided it's time to get politically engaged for a number of reasons but in no small part because Barack Obama has stirred a sense of hope in people who find in him a candidate that is ready, willing, and able to begin the process of getting this great country of ours back on track.
What part of “NO” do the Clinton’s not understand?
So the real dilemma is how to enforce the rules, signed by all the candidates months ago, w/out alienating HRC’s supporters? It’s time for the Super Delegates to step up and do their jobs; Hillary Clinton has disqualified herself from the race but refueses to bow out. It’s an outrage. We expect compliance to established rules from our kids, our law enforcement, our government—even our athletes. Why, for love of country, would we accept anything less from our public servants running for office? Our worst case scenario is materializing before our very eyes. It’s time to drag the Clintons off the stage kicking and screaming if need be: In straight jackets if need be.
This Time: The integrity of our democratic process is at stake. This time, this year, the process is working because we the people are mobilized, organized, and informed. We will settle for nothing less than truth, honor, and integrity in politics; it goes to the core of the Change we seek.
I just have a minute, so won't be able to do this post justice but wanted to thank [David Gergen] for breaking new ground tonight in responding to Anderson Cooper's panel on the question of racism in the primary election. In less than two minutes, Mr. Gergen single handedly hit the top talking points we need to explore as a country/electorate to move this discussion forward. I'll be writing more later but for now, KUDOS to David Gergen for finding the courage and diplomacy to call this issue into the light in such a way as to foster informed, enlightened consideration:
1)the 21+/- % of racist voters (going to Clinton)
2)Clinton's responsibility in mitigating the "race card" having an estimated 25% of her supporters touting an anti-Obama philosphy as opposed to a pro-Clinton support
3)Clinton's future w/the democratic party
4)Bill and Hillary's heavily black consituency
5)Race was not an issue until the HRC camp felt backed into a corner, pulled out all the stops and vowed to do whatever it takes under the auspices of being a "fighter"
I would only add one more point and that is the deep sense BETRAYAL experienced by both women (white and black) and African Americans after the Clintons went negative playing both the race card while claiming victim status at the hands of sexism. Neither was an issue until the Clinton camp introduced it as such using deeply divisive tactics/language. Of course either was bound to become an isse in the general. That it was introduced by one of our own is the betrayal that Clinton needs to make right in order to a) do her part to pull the party back together b) regain her respect as a public servent representing the Democratic party.
While I often disagree w/Mr. Gergen, I have to say my respect for his professionalism has been growing steadily over the course of this campaign as an objective voice of reason in the pundit arena. Tonight, listening to you quietly explore ways to articulate this delicate, complex, critical subject matter as the rest of the panel looked...uncomfortable, if not taken aback, I took great comfort in knowing men like you still have access to the "big mike" and thought you might want to know that.
Will someone PLEASE tell me why anyone other than the Clinton camp should absorb the 21 million dollar debt run up at Hillary’s insistence???
I must have listened to Rev Wright's speech to the NAACP Sunday night three times--but then I'm drawn to colorful people who tell it like it is and it's been a while since I've had my fill. Also the content was in large part comprised of historical insights derived from linguistic studies and then artfully synthesized w/the visionary premise of Change. As a college student, I accidentally acquired a minor in Linguistics by way of curiosity and really good professor. It was enough to keep me interested in the stuff—informally—as lifelong student of psycholinguistics w/out really much considering how much insight into the dynamics of human behavior it had provided me. So I was intrigued—no awestruck—w/Dr. Wright’s command of the subject matter.
I'm blogging here, in the land of the free w/the partial protection of the internet as my mask, and yet I find myself filled w/self doubt in my own determination, judgment, to actually publish my opening sentiment, so ostracized is this man, Jeremiah Wright as of this moment. I mean, that’s gotta hurt. Especially for someone who honorably served this country in so many different ways during an era that treated his people as second class citizens. But enough on that, I’m sure the Reverend will have no trouble defending himself in his next book—which I look forward to reading.
As it were, then, unfortunately (or not) the next day at a breakfast conference organized by none other than HRC supporter and fellow ordained minister, Dr. Rev. Barbara Reynolds, Wright rose to take the podium. Minutes earlier, he was photographed leaning forward to hear Reynolds whisper [something] into his ear. (I’d like to see that picture plastered all over the cover of every major news publication during the next few days but I’m not holding my breath.) When he finished speaking, Wright opened up the floor to Q&A and managed to single handedly “swift boat” the historic candidacy of one of his own—assuming a mocking demeanor and showing a general lack of respect for entire segments of the American population, not least of which included one Senator Barack Obama running for President.
Understandably hungry, perhaps, for the platform he quite possibly deserves in his own right, Rev Wright's judgment was indisputably off key, if not AWOL. Yet he could hardly have been oblivious to the impact of his behavior in the aftermath of the GD America loop and massive guilt by association campaign against the Obama candidacy. Except there it was: The over the top vitriolic words, haughty affect, and seething rancor spilling out to bare dark decades of ugly, mangled...digested chickens. In general, Dr. Rev. Wright's "bitter" rebuke of the unjust character assassination he'd been subjected to at the hands of the media in absentia gave way to what any woman scorned would recognize as a deep sense of betrayal. Let me just say I'm sure glad there were no cameras around when I went through my divorce; it's personal, people, and the Reverend Wright is not running for office—enough judging already.
Undermining the very platform of Change, at any rate was something one could have reasonably expected be motivation enough to put aside any such personal need for vindication. The tone of dignity and respect for all Americans irrespective of demographic concern, afterall, is just what the Obama campaign is working so hard to achieve; such that if I'm having a bad day, I opt not to wear my Obama sweatshirt in public:) Add the Reverend’s assertion Obama was playing politics as usual when he publicly took exception to some of Wrights more extreme positions, and some of us baby boomers started expecting the fire hoses to re-appear out of the sixties.
Instead, ever the even tempered diplomat, Obama took the podium to respond. He addressed an exceptionally attentive audience that has come to expect anything but empty rhetoric from this guy who gives voice to our appeal for respect. It’s hard to imagine a more definitive test of one's strength of character than Senator Obama has faced these past couple months w/the Rev Wright debacle. Pundits, Super Delegates, and Voters all have been wrestling w/the seemingly "no win" nature of what to do about "Uncle" Wright.
Sure, it's glaringly personal—that's what makes it so potentially volitile; it's also painfully public—cutting across time, space, and culture—that's what makes the stakes so high. We are riveted to the story because we want a leader to show us the way in dealing w/our own relationships.
What we got was HRC surfacing to stand in judgment of Obama's predicament even as she offered "regret" that [some would work to politically exploit] the situation, insulting us w/her doublespeak. Yet when her husband, our president betrayed her, their daughter, and our country w/his blatant self indulgent behavior, HRC calculated ways to have her cake and eat it too. "I'm not Tammy Wynette standing by my man" she told us, in so many words, standing by her man.
Senator John McCain’s response is not worth mentioning; but that he would have us elect him as our leader???
In sharp contrast, Barack Obama, once again stepped to the plate this morning and opened his heart; sharing his deepest feelings w/grace and eloquence that we might know him and find him worthy. There are very few people on the face of the planet w/such strength, courage, and commitment to Changing the way decisions are made in Washington; and even fewer that are ready, willing and able.
The Senator from Illinois is all of the above. People know a leader when they see one; today we have found a leader in Barack Obama. Let's hope it's not too late.
God Bless America: YES WE CAN!
Why is Glenn Beck reporting Hillary has closed the gap and has now [surpassed Obama in the popular vote] even as the screen caption reads [Obama still holds popular vote and some delegate leads] and then (big bold letters) YES SHE CAN!
Good Lord this is discouraging: Where is the accountability? I may just relocate myself to Canada in the morning.
Yep, that's me; white female baby boomer (WFBB) having raised my daughter as a single mom now hoping to earn enough to retire before my bones give out.
But hear this, Mrs. Clinton: You may have built your reputation as a fighter, but you ain't the only WFBB who knows how to get down and dirty. So I will dip yet again into my retirement fund, go out to www.barackobama.com and hit the donate button one more time, as will over a million others—not to beat the Republicans, but to make you go away.
Not that it is of any consequence to you if we are tapped out by the time convention rolls around. In fact many are starting to speculate on your reasoning which most figure goes something like this: Your best case scenario is successfully managing to strong arm enough Super Delegates into throwing you the nomination by using your formidable lawyer skills to make the "he can't win" argument having smeared, undermined, and attacked your opponent w/relentless innuendo, fabrications, and outright lies, pushing all the right buttons.
Unsettling though your best case scenario may be to consider, the alternative provides us (your would be constituents) w/an alarming insight into the jaded character that has become Hillary Clinton: Your campaign tactics all point to the inevitable conclusion that your worst case scenario is to disable your same party opponent in the primary, paving the way to four more years of a Republican White House where upon you regroup and have at it again, as the "I told you so" candidate in four years, while still in your early sixties.
Clearly, all those years of experience have rendered you hardened to old school politics where you felt compelled to adopt the tried and true "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" means to survival.
Woman, for love of country, get a grip! Here's a thought: If you care so much about getting those great solutions of yours implemented why not become a team player and pass the puck to the guy standing in front of the net! Your secret's safe w/me: By and large, we white girls coming of age in the sixties were not exactly encouraged to play team sports. In fact we were much more likely to write that term paper for our guy--as he trotted off to practice learning the art/value of being a team player--thus ensuring his availability for a date on Friday night. It sucks; but the good news is we taught our daughters how to be team players by getting them into the game early.
Ever consider it's just not meant to be, Hillary? Can't you take comfort in knowing you had eight years to make a difference as First Lady and now as Senator? When you think about it you've had more shots on goal than most of us will ever realize, not least of which represents your health care plan, which failed because you didn't know how and/or were not willing to be a team player. Just think if you had been successful, all those people who's tragic stories of strife for lack of health care would have had better lives. But then again, where would you get all those heart wrenching stories your campaign is so eager to exploit?
Maybe you feel it is "your turn" having paid your dues. Here's another view: Maybe you are being tested and given one more chance to make the right choice to stay true to yourself.
Speaking in terms of self-worth, I may not have made $20 million dollars last year, but every single penny of what I did earn was made standing on my own two feet—after putting my ex husband thru college and then forfeiting any benefit (financial, social, professional, or otherwise) to divorce in the face of his betrayal. That was my choice, and does not in any way reflect on your choice presented w/the same dilemma. In fact, I supported your choice passionately to the people in my circles—effectively making the impressive argument you had every right to stay married for your own reasons.
But whatever those reasons may be, we are defined by our choices. As every parent knows, kids—being smarter than we give them credit for—listen to what we do, more than what we say. My choice resulted in a smaller house, downscaled social circle, more bills and…a sense of peace. The point is that it came at a cost—as all choices do; I was prepared to pay the price for my regaining sense of self, because the pain in my jaw from grinding my teeth was debilitating and I would’ve done almost anything to relieve it. Your choice to do whatever it takes to advance yourself as the first woman to win the White House, I suspect, has also cost you dearly.
Which, again, is all well and fine: as long as you pay your own bills. Your duplicity, however, as you stand in judgment of Senator Obama’s deeply personal choice to maintain a relationship w/his minister even as you declare your own right to “choose one’s family” in the face of your husband’s blatant self indulgence at the country’s expense begs to be called out for its barefaced hypocrisy. I, for one, intend to do my level best to see that every single voter from here to Denver understands the price this country has paid for electing un-trustworthy leadership of narcissistic character to represent the United States in the international arena.
This fight has been yours to define dear sister of the sixties—in as much as it was initiated on your behalf at your insistence—and the country’s to lose.
So know this, Mrs. Clinton: You may have persevered in Pennsylvania, but you lost all credibility and any moral authority you had left by making false accusations, playing w/words in a transparent attempt to confuse the issues, obscure the truth, and demonstrate your adeptness at that indispensible Washington insider skill: doublespeak.
And Mrs. Clinton: We the people/super delegates, et al are on to the disingenuous arguments you spent the last three decades working to perfect, presumably because you concluded—during the six formative years of your early career sitting on the Wal-Mart board—that’s what it takes. Perhaps you were right, in the past; which makes your thirty eight years of experience a liability this country will not tolerate.
Not This Time.
As the math in the eye of the spin clearly illustrates, Americans understand we can no longer afford to look the other way and/or derive public governance from corporate etiquette. We will find a way to force this fight into the light and win: Because we know we must to regain our promise as Americans in the eyes of the world--and for all that is just.
So now a McCain staffer splices up a video juxtaposing Obama speeches w/Rev Wright in a clearly emboldened attempt to create an indelible association, giving new meaning to that most anti-American of all values: Guilt by Association.
Remember the McCarthy years?
And CNN wants to talk about how hard it is to "control" staffers short of conducting an "apology tour" after the fact. But again, they miss the point, because that's what leadership is all about. How can anyone not notice the upbeat, inspired enthusiasm of this blog as compared to how the other candidates are being represented. This is not to say, mind you, snippets cannot be pulled out and waved wildly as "evidence" to the contrary, because they [the expressed feelings of injustice/betrayal/outrage and occasional one-two punch w/out substantive merit] are there; in all its humanity.
The overall tone of this blog being conducted by Obama supporters, however is inescapable in its desire to rise above the petty wordplay in taking a people to the next level for a shared sense of purpose.
Take Note Cynics: This is what leadership looks like. It makes me proud to be an American.
.....sorry I couldn't relocate your initial post and it got away from me before I could respond so I hope you see this. But if you click on the Action tab just under the site header at the top of your screen and select the number one option "Phone Bank from Home" you will be automatically assigned a list of numbers to call and be provided w/a script to get you started. God Speed!
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/actioncenter
"May the best person win." Mama Sarah, Barack Obama's 86 year old paternal grandmother in a CNN interview while shucking corn (multi-tasking:) in Kenya.
FYI this just submitted in response to Jack Cafferty's 4pm question of the day: Should Hillary Clinton remove Geraldine Ferraro from her finance committee for the remarks Ferraro made about Barack Obama?
Of course Ms. Ferraro should step down: at the expressed request of the Clinton campaign. In neglecting to ask for the super delegate's resignation Hillary continues to demonstrate a reckless disregard for the power of words. However it was intended, the impact of Ms Ferraro's statement has been received as divisive and deepened the dark cloud of suspicion enveloping the Clinton camp. In letting the issue "slide" Hillary is once again exercising poor judgement.
If this were a red phone moment, who would you want to address the situation?
"May the best person win." Mama Sarah, Barack Obama's 86 year old paternal grandmother in a CNN interview while shucking corn (multi-tasking) in Kenya.
Hey Sis, thanks for the email .........it was about 11pm before I had the chance to read it; after staying up until 3 am the night before--writing a critical executive summary for a new project that I won't be working on--not because I am a woman, but because as a woman, I had not found my way under the wing of a mentor positioned to navigate the political waters key to a successful business career.And if you think about it, a woman in the work force walks a very fine line between avoiding sexual harassment and establishing a relationship w/a male mentor. So even though there are now plenty of women in business, it occurs to me I may have finally found the glass ceiling as a consultant for lack of suitable mentors—which exponentially becomes a more heavily dominated male pool the closer you get to the top. You're right, sis: we must work many times harder than our male colleagues to realize success in corporate America. Anyway, long story short, I called my favorite recruiter to let him know I would be available at the end of this month when my contract expires and accepted another offer the following week.REWIND.The new offer came w/a raise that puts me at the top of my field; not bad for someone who started working as an 11 year old babysitter of three kids for 50 cents an hour. Trying to find my way in a corporate world just opening itself up to taking professional women seriously, I flipped burgers thru high school, bounced around in college for a few years (waiting tables after class) before getting married a couple credits shy of a degree—only to return to the workforce,landing an analyst position as a 30 year old-soon to be single mom having a major meltdown ten years later.FAST FORWARD.So I s/b happy about this latest opportunity and I am truly appreciative the stars lined up in my favor at a time when so many people are paying their mortgage on credit cards w/double digit interest rates. But while I remind myself often that I am well paid for my contributions, so are my male colleagues—many of whom can't/don't honestly hold a candle to what I deliver.As a child of the sixties, I decided a long time ago that was a fact of life and if I let it make me bitter I wouldn't be able to a) love a man in my personal life and b) effectively work w/men critical to success. So I had actually put the whole equal opportunity issue out of my head until reading our timely note for which I want to thank you: It reminded me that nothing is “wrong w/me” that a sex change couldn’t fix:) It was such a relief to stop obsessing over what I could have “done differently” that there were tears of joy in my grief.Anyway............I nailed the executive summary. Before sending it to the execs I needed to get "buy in" from my team. So I set up a meeting to get consensus. I started the meeting promptly at 4pm and got about 1/2 way thru the analysis when my male counterpart started fidgeting and then interrupted me asking me if I could "just scroll down to the bottom line" because, "no offense" but he needed to leave the office at 5pm sharp. I zipped thru the rest of my carefully structured scope definition, risk assessment, milestones, next steps, etc etc where upon he announced "GREAT JOB, kiddo: gotta run.” It was 4:59pm.Three minutes later on his way out the door, my collegaue stopped by my office to tell me one more time what a great job I did and how much it was "appreciated." So I asked him if he had a dinner obligation or something that he needed to leave at 5pm sharp. He said not really, it was just that his wife didn’t like it when he got home late because it left little time to spend w/their kids before bedtime. Empathizing w/both my colleague and his wife, I told him I understood and wished him a nice evening. He grinned, winked and breezed his 6'4" frame out the door.Ever the ostensible martyr, I stayed laboring over the detail of my summary report another 2.5 hours before sending it out and then headed out the door myself. In reality, it never even occurred to me how tired I was because I was so intent on "getting it right" as a perfectionist. Yet it is my male colleague who likely fill the role I aspired to—possibly even taking it w/him to a new department where he can share w/his beer buddies. But that's politics. Hey, it’s a guy thing! It hurt, but not bad enough to throw in the towel. I wanted the closure; and I will keep the (sanitized) artifact in my portfolio for future reference:)And I keep thinking if I just work hard enough and get it right, I'll get that dream job—because I'm...scrappy—like Hillary.Except: I was never able to bring myself to compromise my values for the backstabbing, grand standing, misleading statements, disingenuous arguments, smearing good people's hard earned reputations, dismissing significant contributions of competitors w/misrepresentations and/or half truths—whatever it takes—to get there. We all know plenty of both men and women who feel the end justifies the means; and really do not care how much blood they leave on the floor in order to advance themselves.Since it’s (frankly) not in my nature to retaliate and tear into these women or men, I just work harder to “Change” the rules: On my own terms. In doing so, I like to think I am setting an example others will follow. Sometimes, every now then, I even see a pay off—enough to give me hope I am not alone in my veracity, and keep on trucking.And then, once in a lifetime, someone comes along and expresses those same values w/such eloquence that millions of people listen and follow the lead.This person in our lifetime, of course, is Barack Obama. An idealist, he refuses to fight dirty.Yes! We are good people w/good intentions who can and will play by God's rules to do good things!Even if that means losing the election--which, after Tuesday in Pennsylvania, became a possibility; despite the fact that Obama will go into the DNC convention w/at least 150 more delegates than Clinton. Everyone knows the Clinton Machine has already begun twisting arms behind closed doors even as Hillary and her lovely daughter, Chelsea smile for the cameras. In fact Hillary is running two campaigns, one above ground, the other below, at the same time w/her husband moving behind the scenes for the less…palatable stuff, looking for sniper positions.But don’t look there, look over here; at Hillary! See how she beams at winning four great big more delegates than Barack out of 360 delegates at stake in a four state primary! Bring your daughters to see history in the making. Little girls can grow up to be president! Just don’t look behind the curtain to see the dark side of ‘whatever it takes’ to make it happen. Don’t mind the special interests lobbying the news executives to soften their focus on Hillary’s tax returns. Don’t be distracted by those inspiring speeches making you feel good about your country again. And above all don’t pay attention to the numbers, they will “sort themselves out,” albeit behind closed doors by a few hundred super delegates indebted to corporate interests.Don’t vote for me because I’m a woman. Vote for me because I’m a WOMAN.Are you confused? Is it any wonder? Do you seek clarity? It’s almost as if, The Clintons, Bill and Hillary, have somehow managed to bring doublespeak back into vogue even as they espouse Change. The dynamic duo is fast becoming the two headed monster in my mind. As one who started this primary season wanting to see either Hillary or Barack in office come January 2009, I find myself donating money to the Obama campaign almost on a weekly basis these days in an effort to make the Clintons “go away” once and for all. (I’m even starting to wonder just what happened to those House Republicans that made them so badly want to exploit the Monica Lewinsky affair in their insanely focused determination to destroy Bill Clinton.) BTW what ever happened to those House Republicans, and where are they when you need them?And now the Florida Republican Governor is concerned about “disenfranchised” voters in the Democratic primary—ostensibly because they reside in his state?Doesn’t anyone else smell a rat here? Certainly not the media so busy trying to prove they are being “fair” to Hillary, they miss the basic questions:
If Florida and Michigan voters have been “disenfranchised” in the Clinton dictionary of word play, doesn’t it follow that voters in all 50 states are “disenfranchised” when the primary moves into the inevitable brokered convention??? Talk about having your cake and eating it too!Look over there at Hillary in Ohio! (Where the Bush administration stole the election in 2004.) There she is grandstanding her way to the White House, tromping over the “little states” standing for Change: In values. To wit, notice how Chelsea has replaced Bill at Hillary's side in a brilliant, carefully crafted move to create the perception Hillary's campaign is about sisterhood.Make no mistake: In the land of Clintons this election is not about sisterhood; It is about Hillary's career and the Clinton legacy.No matter how much blood is left on the floor or what the price tag to the special interest lobbyists (ie: corporate America) to whom she is indebted, Hillary feels (strongly) entitled to the job--even if there is a better (wo)man who is much more adept at working effectively to get things done through the use of words—as opposed to bullets—on good people's terms. That’s not sisterhood. It’s raw, egotistical ambition for a prize. We’ve had a bellyful. Get it? That’s what this Change thing is about. Black, White, Yellow, Red: Gay, Bisexual, Short, Tall, Skinny Fat, Young, Old, Male, Female.Integrity trumps all this election—note how quickly the republicans got the message during the primaries?The Clintons are simply not trustworthy: either together standing side by side or each standing on their own two feet in two different states at the same time. I’m sorry to call it like I see it, but we’ve all seen enough to recognize these folks can’t even trust each other, what kind of arrogance suggests we should trust either of them in a Hillary Clinton administration? Especially one willing to spend our precious resources (ie: time/money/energy) on playing w/words in an attempt to confuse the issues, obscure the truth, put forth evocative imagery…say one thing and do another, shake your head yes and say no all at the same time. Sound familiar? It doesn’t sound like Change to me. It sounds like same ole same ole duplicitous politics.Not. This. Time: We will not have yet another election stolen by corporate America. Now is the time for all good men and women to come to the aid of their country.The thing is this guy, Barack Obama, understands the end does not always justify the means. He knows his integrity may cost him the job; he also knows the next president must get there on the people’s terms, indebted to no one but the people, in order to be effective. Just because he refuses to fight dirty does not mean he refuses to fight. And people, millions of people, are counting on Barack Obama to fight the good fight—in the light, above ground, where everyone can see how it’s done—for that core American value: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.As a born again agnostic, I pray God he can find a way.Americans know right from wrong; we know truth when we see it and we know the road back to respect cannot be littered w/Hillary’s broken dishes. But Hillary’s kitchen sink threatens to destroy anyone in her way, even if that person might be the last chance this country has to get it right. That is just wrong.Your beautiful little girls deserve a better role model, dear sister, than Hillary’s trail of dirty laundry can provide; and as luck would have it, they have one—in you.
Hey! I wanted to see a woman in the White House more than anyone! For years I pulled for Hillary! When most of the country was condemning her choice to stay married to Bill, for example, (from the righteous outrage, oddly, of conservatives to the social outcry, more oddly, of liberals) I not only understood her decision, I supported her RIGHT to conduct her personal affairs in her own best interest. I respected her ability to determine the course of events based on her own clearly solid belief system. She walked the road less travelled seeking her own counsel and I greatly admire people w/the fortitude, the conviction, the focus required to do, as they say, whatever it takes—at least to the point where personal values are not being compromised.
But then sadly, Hillary helped get us into this messy war w/Iraq by voting YES to give W congressional support to preemptively strike up a war w/another country for the first time in American history. I for one inferred from this fateful expression of “support” her willingness to sacrifice not just herself —but her country—for the sake of her career.
When Hillary announced her presidential candidacy I waited on pins and needles to see how she would “handle” the war vote. I don’t know what I expected, really, since nothing she could say would undo the damage or bring back the kids who died for want of our ability as a nation to be heard. I guess I was just hoping she would say it was a mistake or something. But of course she couldn’t admit to a mistake in judgment even as she was asking for a vote of confidence in her abilities as a leader. And she certainly wouldn’t win votes by explaining it was politically expedient: The reason people have a “throw the [incumbents] out” mentality these days is because congress has been grossly negligent in providing the checks and balances so painstakingly setup by our constitution. Instead, the majority of…representatives continue to turn a deaf ear to the people they represent in rolling over for the Bush administration for whatever reason—fear, money, political favors, it doesn’t matter; we can no longer afford to care.
But while the reality was that I knew better, I didn’t feel there was any choice other than to accept what’s done is done; and lower the bar we did. With the Clinton machine in full force Hillary asserted she was in the race to win; she had earned her stripes and now it was her turn. The rest of us might as well line up, because the office of the presidency was hers for the taking after enduring seven years of the Bush administration. Trying not to think about how her campaign approach reminded me of the Bush cronies steamrolling their way thru the 2000 Florida recount into the White House, I took my place in support of the first female to make a viable run for president of the United States. And when Hillary walked the thin line as best anyone could given the circumstances saying she wouldn't vote YES in support of invading Iraq if she knew then what she knows now, I prayed right along w/her campaign that this tact would appease enough people to move on. After all, hindsight is 20/20 and she made her decision based on the info available at the time.
Except my heart had a mind of its own and continued to complain: I'm sorry, but we need a leader w/better judgment than that!!!
We need someone w/the foresight to make it his/her job to get all the facts. You and/or I could have made a better character assessment of W before handing over war powers! We need a leader w/the natural, innate ability to inspire and lift people up out of the black hole of greed threatening to swallow this country whole. Our next leader needs to be gifted in his/her ability to connect w/people and "talk a good talk" because we are going to need to start talking now if we hope to earn back respect in the eyes of the world. The guy or gal following the Bush administration needs to…well, raise the bar; turn his/her back on politics as usual, rise above the willingness to compromise integrity by way of building favors, and come to power on the people’s terms.
And Look! There he is!! Why do you think all the other candidates including Hillary are making this election about Change? They are all following Barack's lead!!! That makes him a natural; when a natural comes along, all other bets are off.
Hillary is an extremely hard working ambitious smart woman who maybe even deserves to be president from a personal perspective. But then again, so do a number of other women I know and as it turns out Hillary is just simply not presidential material. As a woman of the baby boomer generation, I wanted to vote for Hillary; out of loyalty. My heart is not immune to her profound disappointment; I’ve experienced my own share of setbacks and deep disillusionment, as have most people. But this is Hillary’s personal tragedy, and, fortuitously, not our country’s loss.
So, if you will, allow me to plagiarize [?] speeches are not the same as solutions. The purpose of a speech is to articulate the vision, express the desire for unity, and mobilize the masses to work in harmony for shared objectives. Speeches are a means to achieving synergy—arguably the most formidable source of power on earth. A born leader understands this intuitively. Of course it can be…studied, even emulated, to a degree, but it loses…fluidity in the process and really cannot be effectively implemented by anyone other than a natural—which is why the rest of us defer to such a person, when we meet one, almost instinctively out of survival as a people; personal agendas notwithstanding. Solutions are then developed to execute the vision.
Most people I’ve talked to understand we need both a vision and a plan of action. A leader represents the will of the people; that is his/her purpose in a democracy. In representing the will of the people a leader needs to assimilate the overwhelming sentiment being projected onto him/her and embody that spirit for purposes of expressing the shared intention to do something. None of these concepts are easily put into, well, just words, mind you—anymore than the outcome can be architected in the school of Karl Rove, much less orchestrated by political consultants or carefully crafted campaign strategies. But people sure seem to know a leader when they see one.
Just as instinctively, a leader then reciprocates; he/she listens to our needs and ideas, assesses our level of commitment and appoints highly capable hard working people of outstanding character to strategize solutions. He/she calls upon his/her good judgment to make the final determinations as to how our energy, resources, and attentions will be focused and finally completes the circle by calling upon his/her supporters [we the people] to implement selected solutions.
While I’m out on a plagiaristic limb here, “no man is an island” but we are all pieces of a puzzle. Some people are better at putting puzzles together than others. They see in their mind’s eye what the puzzle should represent when it is complete and then determine how the pieces fit together. The mystique surrounding the Obama campaign is simply a reflection of the synergy being generated as hope starved people begin to feel empowered and are lifted from the depths of despair. (Read that sentence again if you didn’t feel chills tingling down your spine the first time.)
You may remember Obama started out just a few short months ago looking rather diminutive standing next to Hillary in the initial debates. You’d never know it looking at him today, growing larger than life right before our very eyes as he works the crowds breathing life into his campaign. Unless he started taking growth hormones and/or Hillary shrunk, that’s an aura you see dominating the platform around Obama these days; synergizing the people’s will into action, mobilizing the masses.
Someone should tell the Clinton campaign you can’t “firewall” such momentum. But then again, why would you want to try? The only reason I can think of has everything to do w/the desire for a personal win at all costs and nothing to do w/working to represent the will of the people. In fact, people motivated by the greater good do not aspire to building walls—certainly not the kind designed to stop a movement born of hope and striving for unity.
There is something else. One gets the sense Barack Obama is running for president—not to satisfy a personal need—but to respond to a social call; for someone of his qualifications to step up. And get this: If the need were to fade, because say another more qualified candidate were to surface, it might be expected he would be the first to step aside. In other words, he is where he is because it’s right where the people want him to be.
As Barack’s well grounded wife, Michelle, has said in print (let the editor determine whether or not quotation marks are in order here), her husband is no deity. He is a human being w/an oratory gift for articulating the will of the people. Obama simply acts as a lightening rod drawing energy from the mass crowds, assimilating our needs, our desires, our yearning: to be heard. Sometimes he even uses our very same words and forgets to give credit where credit is due.
We forgive him because we know he is human like us—and because we want him to continue speaking for us.
We are rising up en masse passionately working to be heard because we have found a candidate in Barack Obama—ready, willing, and able to represent our will as good people w/good intentions. God forbid we work this hard as “leaders of the free world” in our democratic society only to find a few hundred “super delegates” took it upon themselves to override the will of the people so clearly expressed.
Make no mistake: You will not be forgiven.
