Taking Obama's advice and sharing my story----- I went to my mailbox today and in there was a letter from Joe Biden asking me to donate $100 dollars to help Hillary Clinton retire her debt. First of all I did not make any pledge to Hillary Clinton. Earlier this year I donated during Obama’s "one in a million" promotion and I never got my "one in a million" t-shirt. I have been campaigning January for this movement, I have phone banked and gone to two states. I purchased three copies of Obamas books. I did canvassing knocking on hundred of doors, and entered countless data into votebuilder, and made signs. I have been to two rallies and fundraisers, convinced friends and co-workers to vote for the ticket ObamaBiden. I have personally donated almost $1500 that does not include the money I spent traveling and renting hotel rooms and cars. At the end of the campaign I donated $30 to get my "one voice" t-shirt and here it is over one month later and no t-shirt, and personally I don't think I am going to get one. Friends brag about how they receive t-shirts and autographed pictures from Obama and Michelle, did I receive anything of the sort--no.
So imagine how pissed off I am to open my email and see a letter from the Obama campaign telling me about the pledge they made and asking me for my money. Listen you made the pledge you give her the money. Hillary Clinton and her husband are worth over $100 million I might be worth $65 thousand dollars, who should be helping whom. Obama is making enormous amounts of money from his books he can afford to help Hillary.Hillary decided to run for president, she knew what was involved and did not plan for it. Even though she was losing and her campaign was running out of money she continued the effort. She claims she loaned her campaign money, personally I don’t know how someone lends themselves money. She was investing in herself and unfortunately it didn't pay off, that's how it is sometimes. When my investments fail, no one bails me out, the losses I took when trying to start a small business. She poorly managed her campaign and now I am being asked to reward her, how will she learn the lessons there. She should have suspended her campaign when it became mathematically impossible for her to win. This debt is her responsibility alone. I think it is appalling that a millionaire is asking "common" folk to help them with a debt. How insulting to the hardworking people who donated to this movement, some of us having to endure the insults and injuries Clinton caused with her tactics.
Yes, I know the campaign is over, but I never thought Hillary would be a good president, that's why I did not support her candidacy and I am not going to fund her debt. I think the fact that she is nominated for Secretary of State is enough sacrifice for me, did you promise her that during the campaign too Obama? I don't know how she will do considering her record on healthcare and this recent campaign. If I look at those two incidents as her resume I would say she doesn't manage money well, and she doesn't have an ability to lead. I think she is good at carrying out a task and I am hoping that's the reason Obama is nominating her. I think it is nice that Hillary now has to work for him considering all the mess she talked about Obama not being ready to lead. He did tell her during the campaign that he was looking forward to her working for him, so we did see some type of appointment coming.
I am not sure I trust Hillary yet and she has to show me more than just being a good campaigner, all of this makes me think she was just campaigning because she had the promise of being Secretary of State. Yes, I understand there are valid reasons for choosing her and they have been cited by the campaign and I agree those reasons are all pros for Hillary, and since she has been trusted with such a delicate and high profile position (not a bad conciliation prize) now she can really prove herself by carrying out Obamas agenda. I think it's a good idea to have her in a situation where Obama has control, in the senate she would be his nemesis. Now is the time for her to prove she is a person of integrity and morals by paying off her own debt. This should be a growing process for her; I have a problem with people who crave the spotlight because they are often part of the problem. I am looking forward to the Obama administration and wait to see how it will rise to the many challenges that are dominating the headlines, and those that are not: like education and poverty, racial tension and profiling, the lack of community centers and outreach programs in impoverished neighborhoods. This is what I care about, not some millionaires debt that she brought on herself.
I am sorry Obama, forgiving is good, working together is good, but I also believing in standing for what I believe in. I understand diplomacy and the need for everyone to get along but I have to draw the line here. Maybe you could show me your word is bond by sending my autographed pictures and t-shirt first.
I too was appalled when hearing McCain demanding Obama repudiates John Lewis statements when he has yet to denounce anything said by himself or Palin, or his supporters. In fact he went on TV and defended those supporters, bringing up veterans, exploiting his military affiliation. Well I reject and denounce McCain’s comments. He has the nerve to say that John Lewis cannot have an opinion, this man was beaten and fought for freedom in the same sense that John McCain did and in John Lewis' case it was the country he loved that was doing the beating. John McCain was overseas so I think John Lewis has a better understanding of what that time was like in this country having been on the forefront.
When they ask us to reject people like Rev. Wright and Rep. John Lewis they are asking a portion of the population to deny what happened in this very country at the same time defending the right to Israel to exist and declaring never again. Now I only bring up the Israeli thing to say to whom should America be more responsible and defending to the death? Please do not interpret this as some rant against Israel it is just to drastically highlight the discrepancy. African Americans have been put in the corner that if they talk about the history of this country that included the tragic periods of slavery and Jim Crow and the civil rights movement they are perceived as complaining or playing the race card and won’t forget the past. The truth is white America played the race card, they decided that brown skin was not good enough; your skin had to be white in order to be considered human and a child of god. All the while African Americans must suffer through substandard standards in our school system, job discrimination, and terrible living conditions
read my full post on dailykos: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/15/85831/443/567/630992
check out Pennsylvania rally pictures: http://www.thepollitikat.com/
I know that everyone is getting excited about the Keating Five controversy but lets not lose our focus. Why it is relevant today, well let’s think back to early February when the New York Times released an article questioning John McCain’s claims of being ethical. Many focused on his relationship with the young lady (Vicki Iseman) as possibly a romantic one, but the important little facts about that relationship is that the young lady was a lobbyist and John McCain wrote letters to regulators on behalf of Vicki Iseman’s client list.
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Learn about McCains relationship with Vicki and the relevance to the Keating Five and why it shows that John McCain is still unethical and has no character at all, he will continue to be corrupt and when he gets caught he tries to act magnanamus by quiting and then trashing his former associates. But as soon as things die down he goes right back to being the same corrupt, wreckless, immoral individual he has always been. This is a man that made a joke about a sitting presidents child, stood there and laughed when someone called Hillary Clinton a bitch, votes against veterans while declaring his love for them, screamed about experience and then selected Sarah Palin.
Guys we must write the media and make the connection because you know they will not do it without being pushed. They are going to sit right there at Keating Five and Ayers. Write to you local media and remind them of the New York Times story, because there is so much more there--there!!!
TAKE THE POLL ON DAILYKOS: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/6/74323/9819/5/621384
Michael Moore's Sicko, gives a detailed analysis of our healthcare system in comparison to other industrialized nations, and even some not so advanced countries. "Nationalized Healthcare" is the chant used by the opposition to keep the country skeptical of a modernized and socialized system, which is practiced in countries like Britain, Canada, France and even Cuba. Long lines and reduced services are the threats that are levied to scare us from doing something about this broken system and keep profiteers making money. I was at the doctor yesterday, and there was a long line, and I saw the doctor for about five minutes. This is a private doctor, and I have very good insurance but the potential for profit and greed causes doctors to overbook cheating the patient out of time and care, turning healthcare offices into factories.
The doctor gives me a hard time filling out paper work to ensure I get paid for the time I am out, yet they have signs up saying I have to pay the co-payment promptly after being seen, and this is in a well to do community. How rude is that, even though they are definitely going to get paid by our insurance they want to make sure they take some money right out of our pockets and some even say you won’t be seen without paying the co-pay, even though we have insurance. This is definitely a broken system. Although I don’t care for doctors, because I think they often over diagnose and medicate, I had to constantly remind one of my doctors that they work for me, and to listen to what I am saying, and don’t speak medical jargon to me, I am not a doctor.
A couple of weeks back I tried a new doctor and was not happy with their service, instead of listening to what I came there about they were annoyed that I had not come with my authorization number for the insurance. I walked out, the doctor wrote me a hand written letter threatening to sue for the $30 co-payment, I threatened them right back informing them I will write to medical board, better business, and I also I knew of several people who would testify for me, this doctor had a reputation. I let the doctor know that I did not appreciate the way I was spoken to and they needed to examine their bedside manner. I don’t want to hear about doctors and paper work we all have that with our jobs, but this doctor hand wrote me a letter, probably spending more time on the letter than I spent in the office.
My company, the ones who provide this wonderful healthcare, forces me to fill out a five page dossier every time I am out sick even if it’s just for one day. They feel because they pay me they have a right to know everything in my medical records, so I have lost some privacy and something that should be between me and my doctor is now a strange four-way between me, my company, the doctor, and everyone at the insurance company. The company wants me to use my vacation days when I'm sick, but then what do I use for vacatio, or family matters. My nineteen year old daughter was promtly dropped by my employer based insurance because she decided not to be a full time college student, but work and going to school part time. She is nineteen years old with a part time job she can’t afford to buy healthcare
This is why we need Obama, not only to assist the millions left out of the system but to also give relief to those of us caught in the bureaucracy of the current system. No one should have to go through these conditions when they are not well. No one should have to worry about losing their job, or not getting the care they need, or the time to care for themselves. The world is not really going anywhere and we are all in this together so why can’t we be a little more humane. We need to move in a new direction. We already pay a great deal of taxes. What services do we really get for that. A drivers lisence, dont we pay for that? A bridge or tunnel, don"t we pay a toll? The post office, don't we still pay for shipping and postage. What services do we get for all the taxes we pay. Politicians go to Washington every year saying they are going to make things better, but yet they always manage to stay the same.
The free market is good for electronics and clothing, but not for our healthcare or education. I consider medicine to be like teaching, your in it because you want to help people not get rich. I am not saying doctors shouldn't have a decent life, but why should their expectations be to live extravagantly. I agree with Obama, most diseases are lifestyle based so there absolutely needs to be a focus on preventive medicine. Gym memberships and nutritionists should be covered by our healthcare system. I you take yoga or some sort of destressor then that should be covered. Stress is the number one killer, the source of many diseases.
We also need to talk about our food and agriculture markets, the contaminants that are used when growing and processing our foods. There has to be a way to bring down the cost of organic foods, maybe if we demand everything is grown that way. Farmers should be subsidized by the government but that money should only go to hiring the employees needed to maintain the farm..the farmer is going to make a profit on their goods. Yes, I said it working on a farm should be a government job....they are providing a service to the country..maybe offering $10-12/hr, and healthcare--it is hard work, then farmers can pay a decent wage and eliminate the need for migrant workers.
I am not saying I have the answers or that even Barack does, but I know he will try his best to reform the healthcare system. He will find a solution that benefits the American worker because he is representing the people and not the insurance, and pharmaceutical companies. He is there to be our voices, not special interest. He is our lobbyist, and a darn good one. Using his campaign and previous achievements as the example I am confident he can handle the job and will be better at it than John McCain who has been in Washington for 26 years and hasn't accomplished one significant thing.
I didn’t know skirting around, and showing zero understanding of the issues means qualified to be president. I mean the woman recited from her “memory cards”. I thought Sarah was terrible, she didn’t answer any of the question and the answers she gave were disturbing. All Sarah proved tonight was that she could read and memorize. Being folksy and witty is not an answer to the question. I was not impressed, you have to be more than a pretty face and know how to speak, you should actually know something, and I don’t think she proved that tonight. The most important thing Sarah said tonight was that she agreed with the Cheney philosophy of expanding the role of vice president that bothers me.
Sarah reminded me of an aggressive small dog that is hyper and barks at everything that passes. She was just on the attack and she offered no real solutions. She was not even familiar with John McCain’s record. Seems like all she did to prep for the debate was memorize answers and watch the democratic primary debates, too bad she didn’t come with any facts. The most amusing thing she said was that examing the Bush years was looking backwards towards the past. “You prefaced your whole comment on the Bush years …dog done it.” Those darn Bush years, which John McCain agreed with George Bush the majority of the time, we should just forget about that. The pesky past. Hilarious!!
The McCain/Palin ticket offers no solutions to any of the questions that face our nation. All they did was trash what the other guys is proposing without putting forth their own vision. I find it to be a very empty ticket that’s only appeal is the "celebrity" of Sarah. This has proved to me more than ever that Sarah is not ready to be vice president, she did makes mistakes by not answering the questions, and not knowing what she was talking about, and I think equating yourself with Cheney is a pretty big mistake. You could see the light go off in Joe Bidens head when she did that, he almost burst out of his skin. She talked about expanding the role of vice president. Bingo! Cheney in a skirt. When asked what her role would be as vice president, she said John McCain asked her to work on energy, special needs, help reform Washington. What does that mean, when you just talked about exerting power over the senate? Even on Energy she didn’t seem to know more than Joe Biden, and she regurgitated her answer for energy on about four or five of the questions that had nothing to do with energy. Smile, wink, smile!!! Wink, wink!! I don’t want my politicians winking at me, ‘cause I don’t know what you’re talking about when you do that. Are you saying “I’m kidding”, “I don’t mean what I’m saying”, “just go along, and I’ll explain later”, that’s what it means to me.
I also think she wants to be at the top of the ticket. She did have the slip of saying that John McCain is the guys we most need to "leave"...oops, lead.
I am so moved by the fact that Obama has chosen to wear the "flag pin". I am one that did not feel it necessary for him to prove his patriotism, but I understand that someone gave him that pin and he has worn it ever since. By this little gesture he is doing two things honoring the family that gave him the pin and reaching out to those who feel this gesture is important and could influence their vote. I do not see any other politician wearing the flag pin but Obama has to wear it because he is black, it was as simple as that for me. But I see in this gesture a very thoughtful, caring, decent man.
While the flag had been a characature of patriotism Obama has managed to restore some of the lost honor. When I think about the so called "rural white voter", I think this is the best gesture he could give them to show he is a true American and truly has the interest of all Americans. We know that many of these voters are also the people who feel Obama may be a muslim, and doesn't salute the flag, (I dont ever remember saluting the national anthem). By wearing the flag pin he says to those voters he hears their concerns. While he may not get their vote this time around he is representing them in his campaign. Maybe a few might change their minds. I believe the only thing Obama can do is get into office and institute policies that will change these voters lives, and they will overwhelmingly support him in four years.
It is amazing to watch Obama and how skillful he is as a politician, the way he maneuvers through the minefield of presidential politics, his intelligence and wisdom is remarkable, and his confidence and charisma is off the charts. A true phenomenon. He really represents the best of America and the posibilities this country has to offer.
I listen to his stumps every day and although I know what I am going to hear, it is as if I am hearing him speak for the first time-everytime I feel refreshed. He is so inspirational and pleasing to the eyes, his voice is like a painter using long strokes, or like smooth jazz, with the uncanny ability to relax you and get you pump up at the same time.
He is the ideal president, the American President, uniquely qualified to represent us all. His story is the American story, the immigrant story, the civil rights story, a mulit-racial story, a story of education, hard work and responsibility, but most of all a love story--not just the love that we see him share with Michelle and his children but the love he clearly has for this country and its people. Why else would he risk everything to run for office. This man could have sat back and said "I will just make money and secure the future of my family", but he chose to put himself out there, to risk his life, his pride, his security and that of his family to ensure a better future for our families. Thats courage, that is making a sacred sacrifice. That's putting country first.
Here is a man that stands up for what he believes, the American worker, the American family, Education, Service, Equality. I admire the fact that he will not back down from his proposed programs, why should he. We are the richest nation and yet the people get no services for their money. How is that possible? Yes, we have roads and bridges, but we still pay a toll. This counrty has lots of money. If we can blow up a million dollars everytime we drop a bomb, we can spend that million on our childrens education, I think it is better spent that way. I dont mind my tax dollars going to some social programs like education--building high-tech schools and teacher salary increases, programs like healthcare for everyone. I would rather that than building prisons and fighting wars. Obama has a plan for America, it is a clear plan with a focus on the average person. Those voters in apalachia, and rural america will finally get a president who will not forget them after election day
Victory, one we can define, is only a few short weeks away. I have to admit I am nervous, I am feeling butterflies, but I am also confident of this win, Obama is a master campaigner. Try as they may they will not be able to take it away. I am so proud of the race Obama has run. Thank you Senator Obama, for bringing class and dignity back to the electoral process. I know you are tired but you know we are with you, I cant wait until November 4, so you can get some rest. You are going to need plenty for the mess that faces you in the white house and congress, but I know that you are up to the challenge. I admire that you are humble enough to wear the flag pin, and tough enough to look John McCain in the eye. I respect that you dont know how long you've been married, and smart enough to always give praise to Michelle, referring to her as your rock and the love of your life. You are intelligent enough to see that America is made up of small parts but wise enough to know we are one people, and we must behave as one nation.
I cannot wait to have a president with Obamas knowledge, experience and thoughfulness.---Onward to November 4th. OBAMA/BIDEN time to CHANGE the world, YES WE CAN!!!
When Palin says McCain is the only one who fought for us, she is discrediting all the people who fight against injustice and for equality, womens rights, voting rights, health rights, workers rights, rights for the poor, childrens rights, veterans rights----community organizers. These type of people also fight for america, that she may be true to the promise laid out within her documents.
The Republicans are just flat out liars and have an us against them mentality, thats not change we can believe in. They exploit the ignorance of the american public and the unfortunate is there are many americans that their type of politics appeals to. The good thing is their numbers are shrinking, McCain is banking that they are still the majority out there, November 4, will be a shock for him.
The country wants to move forward, we want policies that are fair to majority of americans, we want quality education, affordable healthcare, we also want to heal and become a community and are tired of divisive politics. John McCain is out of touch if he believes that.
Obama has been fighting for us, he became our voice. People think we follow Obama like sheep, what they dont know is Obama is just the vessel, we were already out there. He, however heard our voices, and it ressonated with his, and thats how we became one. He stood up to Washington when no one else would, he spoke out against the war, and wasnt afraid to say so. He actually attended a march against the war.
He went to washington and exposed Walter Reed. Remember that, he was out there telling us what was going in washington. He started the google database, and opened up government, John McCain could have done that, he didnt.
He became the voice of the disaffected. We cannot allow McCain to distract us with a circus sideshow, to me that shows his disrespect for the position and the american people. Thats why he is copying Obamas message but he'd better watch out because Obama is comming.
When I think about the presidential race I am reminded of old Kung Fu flicks, a story of a two masters. Two masters, an elder, and the apprentice. Let’s say these two masters are going out on a journey of challenges and were given a chance to take one companion along to assist them, someone who could possibly complete it for them. One of them have chosen and apprentice and the other an elder.
The master, who chose the apprentice, has chosen someone with lesser years and even lesser knowledge which makes it a teacher-student relationship. It is unlikely that the teacher will ever agree with anything the student says and would rarely seek advice from the student because of the nature of the relationship, it’s antagonistic—and intimidating. By choosing the student the master reinforces his power position as master. The student is expected to be patient and learn from the teacher, but the student pushes because they are eager. It is likely the teacher will only consult the student after a decision is made and would do so as a test, to see how the student’s education is going; the student is beholden to the master. By choosing someone younger the master enhances his physical strength. He does not want someone of his years who may not be able to complete the journey. This master is John McCain. He has chosen to preserve the future of the Republican Party by choosing Sarah Palin; she is the fearless apprentice eager to carry the mantle of the republicans into the future. But in choosing her McCain weakens his position, neutralizing the main argument he used against Obama, it shows the arrogance of McCain, daring the country to challenge this choice. John McCain has chosen someone who can only serve him and the republican party, because she has not developed the bonafides or the knowledge base to go it alone, but when her education is complete she is in a position to run for the presidency giving her an advantage over anyone candidate that comes along she will be become a master.
The other master has chosen an elder-someone who could have taught him, the elder was a master once himself. Applying the same theory, when people go to an elder they usually go for advice. It is a relationship built from respect and modesty, although the elder is in service to the master, this relationship is more balanced. It is unlikely that there would be a situation the elder is not familiar with, if given a task the elder need not be given instructions, his skills are equal to that of the master but his knowledge surpasses. In choosing the elder this master reinforces his base of knowledge and his expediency—he is able cover more ground. He has chosen someone who can function independently. Surely this pair will have disagreements but this master is more likely to consult the elder prior to making a decision and information from the elder will be weighted heavily in the solution. In choosing this person the master is showing that he is fearless and determined to complete the challenge. While exposing his vulnerability he has chosen based on the one thing no one can attest to, that they know everything, it is the weakness of all mankind. This master is Barack Obama. In choosing Joe Biden, Obama shows he is willing to listen, and take into consideration the opinion of others. He is also showing respect for the mission by choosing someone who is wise. Someone whom he knows will be beholden to the American people. Instead of choosing someone who can be the future of the Democratic Party he chose a president for the future of America, what he is saying is the future of the Democratic Party is now.
I am one who wants to know why after having five months to make a decision on a running mate did John McCain chose to introduce this novice to the country with such little time for us to get to know her. If this was going to be the choice, why didn’t he announce her earlier? The Obama campaign had his veters out there the next Sunday on Meet the Press answering questions. John McCain says he wants transparency but he is not running a transparent campaign. Stephen Colbert reported Sarah Palin was recommended to the Republican Party by some kid who started a “draft Sarah Palin” page. I am one who wants to hear from John McCain why he made this choice and how he came to this decision. I believe in making this choice John McCain has ignored all the evidence that shows that most of America is not to the right but square in the middle on issues. To chose someone who does not represent that lends to the argument that we must examine the ideology of Governor Palin and the real record of John McCain. The fact is that people want a sensible solution that will be beneficial to the majority of Americans, it may not be fair to everyone but where there is no fairness you should be able to find justice. The majority of the people do want some government run programs, they want efficient government. Most Americans want common sense solutions that allow people to be themselves while understanding that we are linked as a nation and we will rise or fall as such.
When it comes to the republican convention, the imagery that I had while watching the convention were disturbing, and emphasized why we need to heal this country. I thought of cigars, and fat-cats, golf, and backroom deals, and old traditions. As an African American other images that came to mind I’m sure was different than a lot of people, and sometimes I can’t understand why people don’t get that. In a nutshell white Americans look back at history and see something rosy, some black Americans look back at history and see a little slavery not that we don’t love the country but that part of history is just a fact. So when you see a scene like the one at the convention you wonder how far we have really come. Anyway, what I also saw were old white men, fawning over Sarah Palin. They were saying Sarah was “hot”, and they had clips of her high heels, clearing exploiting her gender, so I see a lot of sexism going on in the Republican Party. The problem with that is they are the party of morals.
The way the media is now, with all the coverage of Sarah Palin I’m afraid that once again we are seeing the marketing of something, the marketing of Sarah Palin. It reminds me of the marketing of the Iraq war. There is no more reporting. The cable channels have turned into something like televised talk radio, just commentary and little facts; they are operating from a stand point of swaying opinion and not providing information. You have establishments like FOX news which is clearly leaning towards one party which is the Republican Party; the Republican candidates are promoted heavily there. They are also functioning as the research department of the Republican Party. When the Democrats put up a candidate FOX goes out and get all the information about the candidate and they are able to put that information out, slanting it and influencing voters and in some cases guiding the rest of the media because the news channels all pick up stories from each other these days, the Rev. Wright controversy was such and example. It’s a weird time, exciting because of the politics, but scary because of the media. I am concerned the media is more influential now than ever and I don’t think people are picking up on just how influential and dangerous the media is. The punditry on MSNBC laughable, they do have radicals on like Pat Buchanan who worked for Nixon, how long ago was that? He is one promoting the old style politics and even older ideas. CNN is unsure what type of channel they are going to be, but I suspect they are slanted towards the Republicans. The media is heavily involved in the way people make decisions about these candidates and I am afraid it favors one side; I doubt we will ever get the real facts about Governor Palin and John McCain.
As far as her speech at the republican convention I thought she “delivered” and I stressed delivered a good speech. I feel a good speech has to evoke conviction, I did not feel any conviction, or passion coming from Sarah. I did not see wisdom only strength in Sarah, vice-President “Pit-bull”, someone condescending, and a little self righteous. Her and Rudy Giuliani’s comment about community organizing was very insulting to people in the country who work on behalf of their community trying to make it a better place, the impact of this might show its head on election day. You couldn’t get more of an impression of her from that first speech, and all her subsequent speeches have been a repeat of the convention speech, she has not answered any questions. What we know is she is a former beauty contestant, PTA member, city council member, mayor of a population of about five to seven thousand of which she received about sixteen hundred votes, and now governor. There are rumors questioning her integrity, honesty, and fundamentalist views. She is under investigation for abuse of power, she is accused of lying about her pregnancy, trying to ban books from the town library, her teenage daughter is pregnant and she thinks abstinence only education is best, and she has a special needs child. It is also been said when she was mayor, the town was run by an administrator appointed by party leaders and the town was left millions of dollars in dept. Sarah worked part time—makes sense since the town is small and not a bad deal for a mother. This gave her time to work with her husband fishing and tend to her children. Her experience in no way matches that of Obama (a Constitutional Law Professor, Civil Rights Attorney, State Senator, Author, US Senator, and yes—a community organizer, which may be his greatest success because he has been able organize the Democratic party and most of the country), and should not be compared to his but to that of Joe Biden. The main standard that should be used when assessing Sarah is the standards set forth by the Republican Party.
Other than cries of sexism, we have no answers from Governor Palin or the Republican Party regarding her political and social views or in defense of her record which she talks about on the campaign trail or the rumors swirling around her. The statement about her daughter is the only one she has made other than her stump speeches. I didn’t like the deception in it either, the way she covered up her daughter and had her holding the baby during the initial introduction. One of the main questions I have about Sarah is the fact that she has five kids and the attention it has brought to their lives. As a mother that concerns me and I don’t like when anyone tells me that I shouldn’t look at that, I don’t think that’s fair because then I have to disregard my experience when judging Sarah Palin. As a concerned individual who loves this country I want to make sure the best person gets into the job, this is a job interview. This woman is applying to be our Vice President and we have nothing to go on but the word of John McCain. If she wants to be the Vice President, which is a very high powered position, before we give a person that power we need to know what we are getting. We’ve already seen what can happen when we don’t have the right person in that office. She is coming as a novice, and we have very little time to find out who she is, what she stands for, what direction she thinks the country should go, and how she would govern if given the opportunity. We are asking question because we have never seen her before.
When someone is a mother, and I am one, I don’t know how you couldn’t put family first. It’s not that she’s mother however, it’s all that’s going on in her life. People will say what about the dad, but during the convention, that dad held that baby for about two minutes. If she had adult children, or fewer children, maybe I would feel different. Also one of her children is about to have a baby, that’s a red flag. It’s not like her daughter is of age and having a baby, it’s not a reflection of the child, but it is a reflection of the parents. Britney Spears, and Paris Hilton are twenty five years old and people were asking about their parents? Was Palin too busy as governor that she did not have time for her children and now we have to ask ourselves do we take this woman away from her family by promoting her? Is that the kind of employer we want to be? Maybe we are able to see something about Sarah Palin's family that she can’t see for her self.
Five children, a special needs child, a pregnant teen, a son going to Iraq, very little experience in world politics, and now you are going to being in line to govern one of the largest military and economy in the world, second to a seventy year old. That’s a lot on someone plates. As the people who are making this decision about Sarah we have to take these actions into consideration because they are all we know of her. We also have a right to say we feel this person has too much on their plate; they have too much going on. We have a right to make that judgment; we are the American people the ones to decide who gets the job. No one should tell us how to make the decision, and it’s the same for Obama. When Obama's children went on television people made comments, if we had determined that his girls were brats it would have affected the way I felt about Obama. But we learned after getting whatever information we did and determined, yes they are beautiful children and all the talk went away.
For Governor Palin to hold her daughter up as an example and says she supports her daughters “decision” to have the baby she put her daughters pregnancy on the table. She is announcing that her daughter made a decision that fits into a policy that she believes. Because of Governor Palin’s religious beliefs and their possible impact on her policy we should ask questions. This is a woman who doesn’t believe in sexual education in schools, and rumored to have tried to ban books from a library. All this says she doesn’t believe in information. We have to ask questions, like what about abstinence? Did your daughter plan to have a baby and is this something she discussed with her? If she didn’t, with this new information has Governor Palin changed any of her views? The past two administrations are clear examples of why we need to know more about the candidates, is there going to be a scandal that is going to embarrass us later. Governors Palin’s answers to these questions will influence my decision about her, this is a personal issue but these are people who want to govern the most intimate decision in a womans life from Washington DC, so if they want to do that, before we give them that much power, we have every right to examine them thoroughly, so these are all relevant questions.
I picked up on two policy issues at the republican convention, one was education and the other was the Iraqi war. The republicans talked about a choice based education system.
A choice based education plan is a plan for failure. It means that schools, even new charter schools will have the potential to become failures again. When politicians talk about failing schools they just don’t realize how silly they sound. The schools are primarily failing because of politicians. The school system is stagnant by bureaucracy.
It often takes about fifty memos and twice as many people to accomplish one thing. This is the richest country in the world, our schools should not be failing, and the fact that politicians hold that up as a reason for choice is shameful. A choice/voucher program is putting a Band-Aid on a gapping wound. Should our school systems continue to be failures, we need to clean up and fix the broken systems. We do this by holding people accountable and putting people with integrity and the best interest of our children into the position of teachers and administrators. Rewarding teachers with a fair salary for the important job they do. One thing for sure our children should have a quality education, they shouldn’t be scrimping for supplies, and they should be able to get two decent meals at school.
bring in NATO and instead of ridiculing the United Nations all the time lets be of service to them. Let’s show respect for other nations and their sovereignty and we do this by working through and cooperating with the United Nations. We could have committed our troops as UN troops. We criticize the UN but we can transform it, we must be an example to the rest of the world, as Obama’s visit showed, they are waiting for America to lead. I agree that we should provide financial assistance to the Iraqi as well as job opportunities for Americans and Iraqis in Iraq. Not for Corporations, but for non-profit organizations, using our outreach programs like Americorp, or Peace corps, we should send our peace ambassadors not our military to assist the Iraqis. This is how we should approach the Iraqis, we have to give the Iraqis the freedom to pull themselves back to dignity, and anything else would create a sense of false pride. Whether or not the surge worked is a moot argument because we simply should not have been there.
To me the fact that John McCain was a POW and tortured in a military camp is enough to exclude him from the presidency. I see that the same as someone who may have been in a mental facility. We know that people who have been though such traumatic experience could very well snap or have developed some hidden aggressions. We know that he has a very bad temper. We would not put someone who has been through extensive mental treatment into the presidency as we should not put someone who has been through these severe forms of torture in the presidency. We also know that he made certain statements while in captivity, it bothers me that someone who did that should be elevated to the position of the presidency. We should examine that part of his biography, because he puts it out there. The fact that he throws it out there all the time is also a reason to worry. He uses the POW story as a crutch, a wedge, and a bludgeon, how many ways are you going to use this one story. He is running as if the country owes him the presidency because he was a POW, but we have already rewarded him by electing him to congress and giving him twenty six years, we should not however give him the presidency. John McCain sees this as a plus I see it as a minus.
The most appalling thing about John McCain is the fact that he votes against veterans, the scandal of Walter Reed Hospital, and his stance on torture--which he is for. The fact that it took Obama going to congress to expose the conditions at the Walter Reed Veterans Medical Center while John McCain sat in congress all that time is just another reason why John McCain should not be president. After touting his POW experience as reason why he has character to be president I was surprised to learn of John McCain’s consistent voting against increasing military salaries and veterans benefits. He wants to allocate funds based on service time, and I guess if you were a POW you should get to be president. He is for torture, I am wondering if he wants to be able to do to someone what they did to him.
John McCain said “we went to Washington to change it and Washington changed us”. So he agreed he was changed by Washington. With all his declaration of independence from Bush and Washington it doesn’t erase the twenty-six years he has been there. Where was his leadership all this time, bringing the country together and working across the aisle? How come he hasn’t gotten more done, how come he hasn’t gotten rid of the earmark. He wants to do that now, but he’s been there for years, he has had the opportunity. That’s when his leadership should have come out and it didn’t, he has been a mediocre member of congress, not an outstanding member and became a “celebrity” member of congress when he started running for president in 2000. Why didn’t he call for investigations into his own party when they were abusing power and leaking CIA information, and awarding no-bid contracts to their friends? Not only has he agreed with the policies but he agreed with the conduct of the Bush administration. Now he wants to say he is a maverick and he is about change but where is the proof? I don’t see what he has contributed significantly outside of his military experience.
2004 is the year John McCain and even Hillary Clinton should have run. If John McCain wanted to prove he was a maverick he should have run against George Bush in 2004. That’s when he should have showed us what he was made of, that’s when he should have taken on his own party, when it counted---not after thousands of people have died and our country is divided and falling apart structurally. He could have laid out a plan to end the war, to open up government, stop the bleeding economy. In 2004 the country was begging for direction and leadership, our children are dying, prices were rising, and bridges were falling down. We knew there were no weapons of mass destruction, and it was possible the administration had lied to the country in order to go to war. Democrats had called for investigation after investigation to advance the conversation and get to the truth about the war but were stonewalled by the Republican congress. Howard Dean and Dennis Kucinich were out there and the media and the opposition made them out to be crazy.
I don’t think Hillary Clinton should have been president either this time around. The simple reason, she voted with George Bush, for the war, was enough for me. Coming out of the white house after eight year, I feel she should have known more and did better on that vote and that’s why her argument of experience did not work. I understand that they were under pressure during the lead up to the war but they should have made a better case to the American people, these were people that we looked to for leadership. I don’t think anyone who voted for the war should be president in 2008, maybe in 2004 when it didn’t matter whether you voted for it just that you end it. Hillary was held accountable for voting for the war that is why she is not the Democratic nominee; in 2004 she might have gotten it. Joe Lieberman’s, bid for re-election was one the first signs that things were about to change when he lost his democratic primary for re-election having to run as an independent. All the seats that are turning are Democrats holding people accountable. The Republicans do not believe in holding their members accountable.
If John McCain had run against George Bush in 2004, that would have been a bolder move and truly standing up to his party and putting country first, but John McCain remained silent and supported the re-election of George Bush. It seems like for eight years John McCain put George bush first and his dream of the presidency first, and now he says he want to put country first. Where has he been the past eight years?
In this entire malarkey one person rose above the “noise and static”, the only respected voice was Barack Obama, risking backlash not from the obvious enemies, those who declare their hatred for Americans, but from those who claim to love America. People who weren’t waving the flag and condoning everything George Bush did was basically shut out of the conversation and chastised as unpatriotic and un-American. They were saying “IF YOU’RE NOT WITH US, YOU’RE AGAINST US”. It was under those conditions that Obama spoke out against the war.
This is an election about taking our country back, and I see John McCain has finally gotten that message because he is now copying the change message of his opponent, but unfortunately it’s too late for John McCain this is not “change you can Xerox”. We are not going to accept that argument, because I don’t think John McCain has behaved any differently than George Bush and now its time to hold John McCain accountable.
I was unimpressed. I noticed that the air started to leave the room half way through her speech. She represented the kind of politics this country needs to get away from, the contradictions, the hypocracy. John McCain recommending her is an insult to the nation and shows poor character and lack of good judgement on his part.
She spent a lot of time attacking Obama and trashing his plan but this speech offered nothing in the way of solutions to the issues ailing the country, instead the republicans have chosen to engage in divisive culture and racial politics. It will be a sad day in America if this backwards ticket is elected.
Let me say one thing about the sexism charges. I am a female, a mother, I personally am tired of women using sexism as a shield and still want to play in the real world. I say, if you are any good, cut through that sexism and stop "whining". Is it still sexist when the person giving the critique is a woman. This is a fake charge and this woman is using it as a shield so she does not have to answer real question. Girls, we know this as the oldest trick in the book.
Sarah is applying for the second highest job in this country with the potential to move up, I want to know every thing there is about her, because I have never seen her before. The people are the interviewers, remember us, the ones who ultimately have to vote for you. We need answers, why is there no Bio for you on John McCain and your website. I find that weird since Obama has the Bio of the candidates and their wives, when I check for your bio all I see is your "speech". Why was there no bio introduction video for you?
She came off rude, and condensending, and her voice was not at all pleasing. I got a party girl vibe from her and did not take her seriously. She did not look presidential. I was trying to picture her on the world stage and I just couldnt. She seemed very uncomfortable when talking about substantive issues and quickly glossed over them. She offered no real insight to her own views or how she would govern. She seemed to be playing solely to republican base and those who traditionally vote against their own interest and are swayed by identity politics.
She left a lot of red meat on the table for the democrats, points of attack the democrats could sieze on. I dont think the family played well either. I also feel whatever votes she gained him, John McCain lost them when he came out on stage, I thought he was going to pass away right there. The imagery was not strong or positive. I give her C+, and thats just because her delivery was good.
I was one who wanted Obama to choose a woman in order to take this option away from John McCain and totally own the history and change argument. I was not surprised, and I figured if Obama did not go for a female McCain would. It was an ace card played mainly because of the Hillary Clinton effect. To use a poker term John McCain just went all in. He has secured his base and he is gambling on the women voters, hoping there are enough that will vote only along gender lines. I am sure that as a political scientist and skilled politician Obama must of played this out and come to the conclusion that the votes McCain would gain from going to a woman for his running mate would be cancelled by the votes he would get as a reaction to McCain’s obvious insult towards women.
How do you defeat the McSame and Plain old politics ticket? Don’t make this about McPlain Jane, make it about Senator McFlipFlop, the Supreme Court and the direction we want to go as Americans. Here are the talking points:
1. The democrats should march out the army of women in the Democratic Party, to show they are the party of progress for women, and they should call McCain- “McSame” - because women can get away with those kinds of attacks. They should be expressing outrage at John McCain for exploiting women, and not taking the female vote serious. Stressing the insult to female intelligence, thinking we will vote simply based on gender.
2. Make this about McSame’s flip flopping. This is the ultimate flip flop. McCain made this election about Obama’s experience and said that Obama did not have the experience, well now since he saw his candidacy in jeopardy he decided to flip flop and now experience is not important. He said he needed to know and feel comfortable with that person and now he has flip flopped on that as well by appointing someone he barely knows to be a door slam away from the presidency. .
3. What kind of judgment does it show when you don’t even take the time to get to know the person who you are about to appoint to the highest position in the land second only to the president. What kind of judgment does it show when McCain thinks outside Washington is simply geography. He said he has good judgment but after having five months to make this decision, only made it at the last five minutes after he saw the success of the Obama ticket. Is that putting country first? Obama was vetted by the American people and we decided that he was qualified to compete for the job, do we trust McCain’s judgment when he claimed that experience was such an important component for the person who was ready to president. Was he lying? What kind of judgment does it show when you are willing to flip flop just on something he claim was an important moral issue. After all he is saying Obama is not qualified because of lack of experience, now she has the same experience as Obama that makes her qualified. America chose Obama, John McCain chose Palin. Do we trust John McCain’s judgment? After all he thinks Bush is right 90% of the time.
4. Make this about issues. Experience now becomes our issue and we link it to being out of touch. McSame is out of touch because he has little “experience” dealing with the average person and has consistently voted against the middle class. Make his experience a negative issue and has spent too many years in Wash.DC, so he doesn’t realize that gone are the days when women simply do what men want them to do, they make up their own minds. Unlike Joe Biden who was riding the Amtrak and consistently having contact with average Americans, McSame was flying in his private jet, to one of his seven palaces, no wonder he chose someone who is out of sync with the direction the country wants to go. Palin is pro-life and pro-guns, she promotes the agenda of the most conservative wing of the Republican Party. Paint the picture of what life would be like under a McSame and Plain administration, war in multiple countries, veterans neglected, wages and jobs decreasing, and legal abortion abolished.
5. Reinforce we have the ticket in the right order. The person with the vision of where Americans wants this country to go is at the top of the ticket. Although it will be great to have a woman in high office we are not willing to sacrifice four years to John McSame and the Bush agenda to get it.
6. McPalin is under investigation, accused of abuse of power. There were 24 communications between her office and State Troopers’ office trying to get her ex brother-in-law fired. McPlain says she knew nothing of this obvious unethical behavior going on right in her very own office, does this sound familiar. She is ready to be what? By Republican standards she is very qualified. She really is more of Senator McBush and that’s not the change we need.
Republicans have been wrong on all the major social issues in the past thirty five years. Republicans say Americans don’t want government intruding on their lives, yet they want to legislate one of the most intimate decisions a woman will ever have to make. They are party whose president lied to the nation in order to invade a sovereign country for personal gain. The vice presidential debate is on my birthday and I cannot wait. Maybe McPalin can tell us what happened to the missing $9billion in Iraq. We want to have more than peace; we want community, unity and shared prosperity. The republicans have been pulling a “Kansas city shuffle” making us look right while they run left with our rights and money. They trash government as incompetent making us look away while they pillage. Enough!!!
As a female I am insulted by the ploy, but understand that McCain had no choice, this is the only shot he is going to have at being president so he has to do everything he can to win, play all his aces. He would only kick himself if he lost and he had not taken advantage of this option left on the table by Obama. By Clinton going as long as she did in the primary we became comfortable with the idea of a woman in the white house. McCain sat back and saw that as an opportunity for him, mean while it slipped away for Obama. For him to take a woman along on his ticket in the beginning was portrayed as weak and too much change. By the end of the primary it became “he better chose Hillary or no one”. Is McCain going to turn a loss for Obama into a major gain for himself? Was it a trap set by Obama? Did someone overplay their hand? See the only thing is you can play one card too many and what appeared to be a winner can backfire and you lose everything. Onward to the debates.
As I marinate in the decision of Joe Biden as our Vice Presidential nominee, I found myself breaking out into a smile. Joe Biden the outspoken, crusader from Delaware. See that is my opinion of Joe Biden, the original “maverick”. I remember long summer days watching the Iran/Contra hearings and Joe Biden was a star. He was frank in his statements and straight forward in his questioning of Oliver North and Ronald Reagan. Joe Biden helped me believe there were honest people in politics. Joe Biden is an American Hero in the sense that he has diligently championed our cause. I cannot think of a more deserving person to serve as No.2 to our POTUS. He is knowledgeable, articulate and clean. Everything we need in Vice President. Knowledgeable in the fact that he knows the map very well and knows borders. Articulate in the fact that he can answer in question in complex terms but make it understandable for the average person, and clean in the sense he has no corruption or scandal in his history other than the yawn of a story that he plagiarized, heck even Obama has been accused of that. How perfect.
The more I think about this selection the more it just sits easy with me. I trust Joe Biden. I believe him. I think Joe Biden is frank, a real blunt speaker. He was built through struggles and accomplishments, he is the right man and now his time has come. I am almost tearful when I think of the possibilities of an Obama/Biden administration.
This selection of Joseph Biden has reinforced my confidence in Obama’s ability to lead this country. This is a bold and courageous decision on Obama's behalf.
The American main stream media is a joke!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE turn off CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, MSNBC. These so called media are a joke. Particulary MSNBC. I know that we have had an affinity for that channel because we feel that they may be a little bit more toward the opinion we want to hear, but I am convinced those guys only like hearing themselves talk. Lest we forget this is the same media that crowned George Bush, the same media that became tools of the Bush Administration, beating the drum for war, bargaining our childrens lives for exclusive em-bed. Remember the em-bed reporters who were supposed to covering the war. Yes the war was big business for those who conspired and those who exploited. Look at the news these days. How many familiar faces do we see. These people are all new faces, and remember they all advanced during the marketing of the war. We cannot and should not trust them. Remember what happened to Dan Rather, Bill Maher, and who became popular, Sean Hannity and Bill O'Reilly. Hannity was just some obscure Loud mouth on MSNBC. Now we trust MSNBC.
The media's lack of overage of these conventions are a betrayal of the American people. The people who litterally put the money in their pockets. The media pimps the public, luring us in with promises of being fair, and balance, honest and the only place for politics. They use our viewership to extort money from corporations for advertisement. We feed them. This is the most important election of our time and the media is not even covering the biggest event in that election. The Convention. I remember when every channel carried the conventions, it was the one time every four years along with the olympics when we as Americans understood that our television programming would be interrupted, and we reluctantly tuned in and in the end was glad we did. It was great to get the feeling of what what happening in our country and government and see the different politicians and listen for something familiar and important to our story. The American people are being denied this opportunity. ABC, CBS, NBC are only carring one hour of coverage. With all the money these people make and the fact that it is summer programming everything is a repeat what is wrong with some REALITY-TV, like the Democratic convention.
MSNBC, FOX, CNN claim to be covering it but yet all I see when I tune in are the same pundants giving their opinions. Who care what they think, this is about the American people, give us a chance to hear the convention so we can make up our minds. We dont even get the hear the speaker who dont fall into their narrative of the "clinton-obama". The media has decided that John McCain should be the next president because everything they do give him the advantage. This is a time when Obama and the Democratic party can introduce his story, and the parties plan for America, and the public is not getting a chance to hear it. We hear the pundants every day.
It is clear the media is only interested in becomming celebrities. I remember when the only celebrity news was Entertainment Tonight. PLEASE, PLEASE TURN THESE GUYS OFF. They are now exploiting and fabricating this rift with the Democratic Party, causing further friction between those who may not understand the business end of things in the media. At least we know where FOX is comming from, but MSNBC is only a bumbling bunch of talking heads yapping, and listening to their own echoes. As much as I appreciate their opinions I would have rather watched the convention and listen to their opinions after. I remember when CNN was reputable, but now they seem a little confused, not knowing whether to be a real news channel or a opinion channel like the other cable networks. With everything thats going on why am I watching five hours of pundantry. Since when did the newspaper reporter become the "expert opinion" for the television reporter. What happened to real jounalism. What is going on with the media is the next big con being perpetrated on the American people, that we have anything resembling a free press is an outright lie. How many times do we have to watch the awkward moments between guests and pundant when the guest doesnt fit with the narrative. How many times are we going to watch them dig up the two people in the room that doesnt support Obama. What is James Carville, and Pat Buchanan still doing on tv. The media have lied to us during this entire election.
Remember they crowned Hillary Clinton the winner before people even started voting. Remeber those days of Hillary "the presumptive democratic nominee". They were shocked that Iowa night, they werent able to predict that win and have been trying to get a handle on the election ever since. The media's biased coverage of that Iowa win is what gave Hillary her victory in New Hampshire. They were terrified of the prospect of not having the Hillary Clinton in the campaign because she is good for business, this is played out by their obsessive coverage of the so called "clinton-obama" rift.
CSPAN provides the public complete convention coverage including the films, from the time the doors open at 5pm. The coverage is unfiltered leaving room for your own opinion. PBS covers the convention from 8 till the end, though there is some commentary, it is usually show speeches and only talk during musical interludes. Lets not give the so called main stream media any more viewship. CSPAN is currently showing the lobby of the Denver Grand Hyatt, backstage stuff. They also show some of the different venues that take place during the convention. Lets make CSPAN and PBS the new main stream media. We have to demand that the media respect the public, and since this is a free market and we are the consumers, let stop consuming.
SPREAD THE WORD!!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!! SPREAD THE WORD!!!!
Ok so which is it Indonesia or Kenya? Can we at least know which country. Boy, some people will do anything just to ensure an Obama defeat. Well we cannot let them. Obama all the way. I am so sorry for those who are chosing to spend their time stirring the up hatred among our own citizens.
I understand the time we are in and I get whats happening. Racism, its the little dirty ugly word. It displays itself in many forms, some sounding legitimate, but when disected reveals nothing but hollow shells. We've seen it before but now it will be amplified. He's black people and there are those who will do anything to make sure he does not win.
I am dissapointed in the Clintons, and sad to see that they are allowing themselves to be used by the same right wing conspirators who tried to take down the Clinton presidency.
However we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted because Obama has always said this was not going to be easy. So let us prepare for the battle. United we will be victorious.
