In the debate, McCain portrayed Barack Obama as an excessive spender, and he punctuated his attack (twice) with this example:
"[Obama] voted for nearly a billion dollars in pork barrel earmark projects, including, by the way, $3 million for an overhead projector at a planetarium in Chicago, Illinois. My friends, do we need to spend that kind of money?"
The Adler Planetarium even issued a statement, noting that the request, ironically, was not even funded:
"To clarify, the Adler Planetarium requested federal support -- which was not funded -- to replace the projector in its historic Sky Theater, the first planetarium theater in the Western Hemisphere.... To remain competitive and ensure national security, it is vital that we educate and inspire the next generation of explorers to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math."
Hello all,
If you believe in having quality, affordable health care, then you may want to sit down. Here's a quote from Sen. John McCain's article, entitled "Better Health Care at Lower Cost for Every American":
"Opening up the health insurance market to more vigorous nationwide competition, as we have done over the last decade in banking, would provide more choices of innovative products less burdened by the worst excesses of state-based regulation." (Emphasis added.)
The American health care system is already in crisis, and McCain wants it to follow in the footsteps of the banking sector? If you've been following the roller coaster news of the $700 billion dollar bailout of that industry, then you know how ridiculous that sounds. It's time to demand quality, affordable health care for all. »
Apparently, it's not enough that American families pay $217 million for health care per hour, while insurance industry profits have risen 1,000% in the past five years. Something needs to change, and it has to happen soon.
Thank you for your time,
Kelly Hussung
Who You Callin’ a Maverick?
There’s that word again: maverick. In Thursday’s vice-presidential debate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, the Republican candidate, used it to describe herself and her running mate, Senator John McCain, no fewer than six times, at one point calling him “the consummate maverick.”
Samuel Augustus Maverick
But to those who know the history of the word, applying it to Mr. McCain is a bit of a stretch — and to one Texas family in particular it is even a bit offensive.
“I’m just enraged that McCain calls himself a maverick,” said Terrellita Maverick, 82, a San Antonio native who proudly carries the name of a family that has been known for its progressive politics since the 1600s, when an early ancestor in Boston got into trouble with the law over his agitation for the rights of indentured servants.
In the 1800s, Samuel Augustus Maverick went to Texas and became known for not branding his cattle. He was more interested in keeping track of the land he owned than the livestock on it, Ms. Maverick said; unbranded cattle, then, were called “Maverick’s.” The name came to mean anyone who didn’t bear another’s brand.
Sam Maverick’s grandson, Fontaine Maury Maverick, was a two-term congressman and a mayor of San Antonio who lost his mayoral re-election bid when conservatives labeled him a Communist. He served in the Roosevelt administration on the Smaller War Plants Corporation and is best known for another coinage. He came up with the term “gobbledygook” in frustration at the convoluted language of bureaucrats.
This Maverick’s son, Maury Jr., was a firebrand civil libertarian and lawyer who defended draft resisters, atheists and others scorned by society. He served in the Texas Legislature during the McCarthy era and wrote fiery columns for The San Antonio Express-News. His final column, published on Feb. 2, 2003, just after he died at 82, was an attack on the coming war in Iraq.
Terrellita Maverick, sister of Maury Jr., is a member emeritus of the board of the San Antonio chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas.
Considering the family’s long history of association with liberalism and progressive ideals, it should come as no surprise that Ms. Maverick insists that John McCain, who has voted so often with his party, “is in no way a maverick, in uppercase or lowercase.”
“It’s just incredible — the nerve! — to suggest that he’s not part of that Republican herd. Every time we hear it, all my children and I and all my family shrink a little and say, ‘Oh, my God, he said it again.’ ”
“He’s a Republican,” she said. “He’s branded.”
Give in honor of Barack Obama:
You’ve chosen Barack, the likable junior Senator from Illinois. Contribute to one of the Pennsylvania classroom projects below and he’ll probably like you better. He might even like you as much as you like him.
Associated with Stephen Colbert, not with any official presidential campaign. Questions? Challenge Progress Goal: $66,001 Donated: $66,131 Needs: $0 Donors: 972 Students Impacted: 10553 100% funded
Because of people like you we have shown time and time again what our campaign is really about! Thank you all! We have passed the Colbert challenge!!
I wrote this and sent it to some of my friends, but I wanted to share it with all of my friends. I hope you like it!!
Obama '08 Volunteer www.barackobama.com
woot wooooo
"All aboard for the Obama train!! Next stops Ohio, Texas, Vermont and Rhode Island!!"
Please help me in my quest to reach my $2000 goal. Just copy and paste this link and it will take you straight to my donations site. I am trying to get enough money together for Obama on March 2nd....will you help me???
yeswe can!!
my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/message/main/obama08indiana
>hugs< to you all!!!
I love Barack Obama and everything he stands for, but it feels to me like there is alot going on in other states and not much planned for mine. That kinda makes me really sad....
Please, please, please respond....
kelly
p.s. if you would like it my email address is kellyfox502@yahoo.com
In honor of president Lincolns' birthday I just donated $5.01 to the Obama campaign. The five dollar bill and the penny both have Lincolns' face on them, so I only thought it appropriate. Lincoln was from Illinois and fought for equality just like Barack Obama. $5.01 is not that large of an amount, so it was very easy to get some of my family members and friends to donate too!! Please consider doing the same :)
Tonight should be a very good night, but we still need to get the phone calls out to Ohio and Texas!!
Fired up and Ready to Go!!
>hugs<
~kelly
Thursday, January 24, 2008
I don't know what much of a difference this will make, but this campaign is all about differences and changes. Please take two minutes to fill this out and send a petition to Senator Marian Wirght-Edleman asking her to support Barack Obama.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/ask-marian-wright-edleman-to-support-barack-obama
Thank you all.
p.s. Thank you to all of you that came to my meet-up. I was able to meet with alot of people and get alot of different opinions. Thank you all!!
January 16, 2008 10:22 PM
ABC News' Matt Stuart reports: Mitt Romney hit the stage in front of crowd of several hundred Wednesday at the University of South Carolina, cracking jokes and sticking to his new message that "Washington is Broken."
After quickly eating some Kentucky Fried Chicken in a side room, Romney took the stage and seemed to be sticking to the stump script. When delivering a usual line emphasizing the importance of marriage, saying "I know we got a college crowd here. Don't forget, before you have babies, get married. Marriage comes first." As many in the audience cheered, Romney joked, "Those are your parents cheering," to few laughs.
Following his win in the Michigan primary after losses in New Hampshire and Iowa, Romney claimed his retooled message was a "victory of optimism over Washington style pessimism," in a veiled swipe at his chief rival in Michigan, Sen. John McCain.
Romney continued to criticize the federal government in his stump speech, exclaiming that "Washington Is Broken" while signs to that effect flank him at every event. However, Romney appears reluctant to say specifically what it is about Washington that is "broken."
"It's not Republican or Democrat, its not the White House or Congress," Romney claimed tonight, "it's instead the whole institution of Washington."
hmmmmmmmmm.....what do you all think???
Now-a-days with technology and free-speech running rampant, it is kind of hard not to get sucked into comments of what the American people are thinking and feeling right now. Abcnews.com has some wonderful, non-baised articles for people to read, reflect, and then react to. Here are just some of the thoughts that are on the minds of the readers of this website. Some made me chuckle a bit, but this is just to show you all that no matter what the "media" says, America is for the people-by the people...
I hope you all enjoy!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Laura said "Bill Clinton is Hillary's husband. He's also a former POTUS. He sides with his wife. That's what husbands are supposed to do."
Yes Husbands are supposed to side with their wifes. Thats how she sided with him while he was in the white house abusing women.
Only a stupid woman could vote for Clinton because she was an accomplice of Bill Clinton raping and abusing women at the white house and yet she claims today she is defending the rights of women. Where was Hillary when Paula Jones, Monica Lewinsky, Gennifer Flowers, Kathleen Willey, Juanita Broaddrick were being abused in the white house. Americans wake up.
Posted by: Christian | Jan 17, 2008 1:37:43 AM
The REAL story is all of the endorsements and support (especially from Red State Dems) for Barack Obama since his 2% "loss" in NH. Since last Wednesday the endorsement count is: Clinton–ZERO; Obama…so many it's hard to keep up!
Two more overnight!!
This says that only Obama can unite the country, win in the Red States, and actually get something done for ALL of America…not just the Bush-Clinton-Bush dynasty!
Obama is winning this thing.. DEAL WITH IT
Posted by: Rubiconski | Jan 17, 2008 3:44:17 AM
Nobody could have said it better, Supernova. I am an American living in the Netherlands and that is also what I see. I'll gladly take the 2 hour train to Amsterdam and vote for Obama/Edwards !
Posted by: carmen | Jan 17, 2008 6:51:03 AM
Dang, Bill looks old, doesn't he? I don't think he is aging gracefully.
Anyway, my question is about his claim the the casino votes count FIVE TIMES more. What is the point of that? Wouldn't his argument be more effective if he shared his real concern which is I believe, that those getting to vote where they work are more likely to caucus...and those voting in casinos are more likely to caucus for Barrack. It bugs me that the Clintons are now claiming that the Democratic party in Nevada didn't know what they agreed to when they came up with this plan. Wonder what Harry Reid has to say about all of this?
Posted by: Alox | Jan 17, 2008 8:03:43 AM
Good thing the lawsuit wasn't filed months ago. It's not an accident that once the union decided to go with Obama that it went forward. Bill can set there and say "I didn't have anything to do with it.", but everyone knows he's a huge liar. His wife is too, so they have no credibility to begin with. Had the union chosen to endorse the Clintons, you can bet that no lawsuit would have been filed. Everything the Clintons do is calculated,opportunistic, and dishonest. I'll never vote for a Clinton.
Posted by: TexBork | Jan 17, 2008 8:21:40 AM
It doesn't take too many smarts to know the Clintons are behind this lawsuit fiasco. Good grief, I've said before--they will do ANYTHING to get what they want. Billy acts like a spoiled brat. I can't imagine him "Sticking up" for Hillary. He certainly didn't think of her when he was dabbling with Monica and all the women. And I agree, he is not growing old gracefully. He looks like he could have a stroke any minute. I just cannot and do not have any respect for the CLintons. I am sick of them, too.
Posted by: CS3539 | Jan 17, 2008 9:19:50 AM
This gives us a hint of knowing what the next Clinton presidency would be like. It's not that much different from GW Bush. Disenfranchisement of voters who she might not get the support of because their union endorsed Obama--sounds like another hanging chad/Florida/2004 Ohio Bush maneuver.
The caucus system is not one person one vote....get real. If the Culinary workers had not endorsed Clinton, this lawsuite would never be happening!
Posted by: Peter | Jan 17, 2008 9:25:49 AM
The Clintons didn't oppose the caucus plan when it was first proposed because they never dreamed that someone else could actually get the union endorsement. Her getting that endorsement was just one more stop sign on the road to her coronation. Now that the endorsement has gone to Obama, suddenly the at-large caucuses are a bad idea? To quote the former president himself, "Give me a break!"
Posted by: Jim | Jan 17, 2008 10:17:08 AM
Haha Mighty AMERICA, we are waiting to see who wins the dems presidential nomination: power deperatees, change or a low profile candidate? The least blonder again, u gonna be counting urselves as the "former super power of the world".The world is watching u. Be wise.
Posted by: Eric Appi | Jan 17, 2008 1:30:03 AM
Posted by: VPNNathan | Jan 17, 2008 12:15:16 AM
To answer your question, I would vote for Donald Duck. I would vote for anyone but Hillary......
Don't you think for a minute they wouldn't have a field day with "someone" else too.....
The Clintons are old news. There are two candidates to select from other than Hillary. And if Dems. want to win, they will select anyone but her. Otherwise, it will be a massive blow out because you see, the Clintons have masterfully divided the party.
The only problem is - there will be no coming together come November - that will result in a win for her....
In other words, they, the Clinton's will reap what they sow.....
Posted by: Angela | Jan 17, 2008 12:49:46 AM
hi, gc -- no, friend. i can't do it. i love the democratic party; been voting it for 22 years strong and never missed an election. the clintons are running the party into the ground with their vile campaigning and underhanded tactics. if they're rewarded for it, if more democrats buy the garbage they're peddling (and not just 'cause i believe my choice, barack obama, is peerless in the race) and the clinton co-presidency is what the majority of party members want, there's no way, in good conscience, i could remain a democrat. i'd turn independent the day mrs. c secures the nomination, i swear. it'd break my heart, but hell, that's happened before.
Posted by: sickofitall | Jan 17, 2008 12:38:07 AM
Message to the Show Girls of Las Vegas: Better hide in your closets 'cuz the great Slickster is comin' to town!!!!
Posted by: Rob-is-Right!! | Jan 16, 2008 9:42:06 PM
WHO IS RUNNING FOR THE PRESIDENCY ANYWAY? Hilary Clinton? Or Bill Clinton for an illegal THIRD TERM? . . . . Bill Clinton is using his wife to get another crack at White House interns. . The Clintons' fouling of the White House and undermining of the US Presidency is what cause the nation to have the bungling bush, the UNPROVOKED Iraqi war, the emptying of the national treasury, and the destruction of the economy. . . . The Clintons are self-destructive. THEY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE!
Posted by: Gobama | Jan 16, 2008 8:15:03 PM
Bill is pressing hard for Hillary. This is not his election but Hillary's. He should understand sensitivities and avoid this very muscular approach which will lead nowhere, all in all this is a fight in the same party. Go Barak, Go, God blessings with you with OForceOne.
Posted by: BKMC | Jan 16, 2008 7:50:51 PM
I kinda enjoyed the one about "OForceOne"........that made me smile.
Again, I did not post this to slam anyone or any idea, just to show you all what the American people have to say. There are alot more "Obamanites" out there tha some of the media outlets would like to admit to.......
>hugs to you all< and keep the home fires burning!!
I wrote this on a comment after I read some of the articles on the Las Vegas Sun website exactly how it appears word for word with nothing changed...
I thought you all might like to read this one...
To the Las Vegas Sun writers, editors, and readers:
The power that you have at the Las Vegas Sun is amazing. You have the power to enlighten and inform your readers with what you write. You also have the power and the free-will from the Constitution of the United States of America for free-speech. One of the greatest things we as Americans sometimes take for granted. What you think and feel is exactly that, what YOU think and feel. It might not necessarily be the same ideals that your readers are having. Whatever your personal beliefs might be coming from your writers, you must look at what is best for your community and the communities surrounding you in this great nation. No longer are you dealing with people who will sit by and let a powerful force such as the media sway them into thinking one way, yet voting another. I am so proud to be an American, but so disheartened that you might think you will change the viewpoints of some of your readers by clearly favoring one candidate over the other. I feel sorry for you for thinking that your words would have the power to cure this Obama-fever. This "epidemic" of sorts is nothing more than a fire (Obama said that first). A fire that is burning inside the hearts of the young, the old, every race, religion, or thinking American that has seen exactly what Obama and his supporters have seen: That it is truly time for a change. I truly feel sorry for the people of Nevada for having put up with your obvious display of favortism within your articles and I hope that you will be more diplomatic in the future, because we are in fact a d-e-m-o-c-r-a-c-y that is one Nation under God.May God Bless the people of Nevada.May God open your hearts and minds to clear-thinking and choice making in the days to follow.and May God be with us all as Americans.Thank you all...
(obviously) Obama '08 single mama and clear thinker,
"Ask not what your country can do--ask what YOU can do for your country" Remember that America...
Do not forget there are two very important things tonight.
First: The meeting as Shoneys!!
and Last, but certainly not least: The Obama/Clinton debate!!
I hope you all are fired up and ready to go, and I wish you all good luck in everything that you do!! Remember, if you have any questions on exactly what to do you can attend the meetings that are scheduled in the events calendar on this site, or you can contact any of our local people and I am sure they will be more than glad to help you!!
Take Care all and keep the home fires burning!!
Kelly
What is going on?!?
I thought Obama was not going to try and play dirty with the Clintons. I thought this campaign was about bringing America together, not dividing it with hate, race, or whatever card the Clintons try and throw at our efforts. I seriously thought that we were above this. I believe in Barack Obama. I believe in the American people, but what I don't believe in is this "old world" politics slamming that the candidates feel like they have to show people. We are about change.
We are going to lose voters to the Clinton campaign if we keep on playing like this.
Please re-think your strategies and do not hit "below the belt". Try and bring hope to the American people without playing like the Clintons. Talk about how you are going to change things rather than just saying you are going to change them.
I love everything about this campaign, but one of the main reasons I haven't voted in the past happens to be because a candidate would say all the right things, but when it came down to the wire they would forget all the things they said in the past and try to find out what they thought people wanted to hear. Please Please Please consider this before tomorrow night: keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. Know everything there is to know about what she is going to say before she even says it. Keep a sharp wit about you, and do not let anything she says phase you! Keep your eye on the change that we sooooooo desperately need.
Btw---I noticed that Hillarys' website is giving away free bumper stickers........maybe that would be a good idea for you to do........awareness is key, but don't forget who you are fighting for.......
God bless you Mr. Obama and family, his campaign people, America, the soldiers, the volunteers, our children and their children, and may he watch over all of you here on barackobama.com!!
Rain tends to bring about the feeling to me that everything is washing away. All of the bad thoughts of the world, the pollution, even some of the problems that we are facing in our world seem to almost be "cleansed" and we can start anew and refreshed after the rain. It is in fact raining right now, and I am looking out the window thinking about everything that has occurred in my life over the last couple of weeks.
I came into this movement a sort of "politics newbie". I have been a registered voter since I turned 18, but something inside me never felt complelled enough to go out and vote. The fire to help "make a change" was quickly put out after Bushs' re-election. In Obama '08 I have not only "rekindled this fire in me", but I have started the fire in others!! I am truly amazed at the amounts of people just like me that are willing to spend their time and efforts for this cause.
I thank all of the Obamanites out there for helping me truly realize that this is the bus worth riding all the way to washington!!!
By contrast, Clinton has seemed the political equivalent of what Donald Rumsfeld once dismissively called "Old Europe." That's a poor place to be in a country thirsting for change. Not just a change from Republicans to Democrats, but in the Clinton-Bush oligarchy that's run the government the past 20 years.
I found this on a newspaper website straight-out of New York the hometown of Miss. H....
She has continuously blasted Barack Obamas' campaign for the presidency of the United States. Despite rumors that all of her "accomplishments in the senate" have been mostly fabricated, she must have gotten sympathy votes from the women. As sad as last night made me, it only fueled the roaring fire that is still burning inside my heart for Obama '08. I know alot of you do not know me, so here are some factoids about myself.
I am a 25 year old single mother of a wonderful 3 year old little boy.
Just like alot of Americans out there I do not have health coverage, but I am working 2 jobs. Despite having 2 jobs I still struggle every single day to make ends meet.
I have a cousin who is in Iraq and 3 months ago a car bomber nearly cleared out his entire company.
I have never voted for president before, but I am a registered voter.
I am not easily swayed by tears, and thoughts brought to us by a carefully planned campaign strategy.
I am truly scared what will happen if she wins the democratic nom. for president, but I know that would be the first year that I would vote and I would vote republican.
Keep your home fires burning!!
We knew this was not going to be an easy road to follow and now we know that the Clintonarcy will do anything to get votes. Even if that means defacing someones good name, putting on a good show of emotion and affection for the common woman just one day before the primary (why wasn't she human before....hmmmm???), or even putting the future of America on the "chopping block".
I know this is the first time I have ever felt this passionately about anything to do with politics. Thank you to the Obama campaign and the millions of Obamanites who have come together from either side of the voting ballot for the future of our children and their childrens children.
It takes a village to raise a child, but it takes a united country to make sure that child has a future in order to help it live...
*hugs to you all and thank you*
sincerely,
kelly hussung
ObamaMama#812
