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Fatirah from Philly (Philadelphia, PA)

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Philly For Barack! Yes We Can!

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!My Holiday With John McCain!

By Fatirah from Philly - Oct 7th, 2008 at 5:02 pm EDT

MY HOLIDAY WITH JOHN McCAIN It was just before John McCain's last run at the presidential nomination in 2000 that my husband and I vacationed in Turtle Island in Fiji with John McCain, Cindy, and their children, including Bridget (their adopted Bangladeshi child).
   It was not our intention, but it was our misfortune to be in close quarters with John McCain for almost a week, since Turtle Island has a small number of bungalows and their focus on communal meals force all vacationers who are there at the same time to get to know each other intimately.
He arrived at our first group meal and started reading quotes from a pile of William Faulkner books with a forest of Post-Its sticking out of them. As an English Literature major myself, my first thought was "if he likes this so much, why hasn't he memorized any of this yet?" I soon realized that McCain actually thought we had come on vacation to be a volunteer audience for his "readings" which then became a regular part of each meal. Out of politeness, none of the vacationers initially protested at this intrusion into their blissful holiday, but people's buttons definitely got pushed as the readings continued day after day.
   Unfortunately this was not his only contribution to our mealtime entertainment. He waxed on during one meal about how Indo-Chine women had the best figures and that our American corn-fed women just couldn't meet up to this standard. He also made it a point that all of us should stop Cindy from having dessert as her weight was too high and made a few comments to Amy, the 25 year old wife of the honeymooning couple from Nebraska that she should eat less as she needed to lose weight.
McCain's appreciation of the beauty of Asian women was so great that David the American economist had to move his Thai wife to the other side of the table from McCain as McCain kept aggressively flirting with and touching her.
   Needless to say I was irritated at his large ego and his rude behavior towards his wife and other women, but decided he must have some redeeming qualities as he had adopted a handicapped child from Bangladesh. I asked him about this one day, and his response was shocking: "Oh, that was Cindy's idea – I didn't have anything to do with it. She just went and adopted this thing without even asking me. You can't imagine how people stare when I wheel this ugly, black thing around in a shopping cart in Arizona . No, it wasn't my idea at all."
   I actively avoided McCain after that, but unfortunately one day he engaged me in a political discussion which soon got us on the topic of the active US bombing of Iraq at that time. I was shocked when he said, "If I was in charge, I would nuke Iraq to teach them a lesson". Given McCain's personal experience with the horrors of war, I had expected a more balanced point of view. I commented on the tragic consequences of the nuclear attacks on Japan during WWII –- but no, he was not to be dissuaded. He went on to say that if it was up to him he would have dropped many more nuclear bombs on Japan. I rapidly extricated myself from this conversation as I could tell that his experience being tortured as a POW didn't seem to have mellowed out his perspective, but rather had made him more aggressive and vengeful towards the world.
   My final encounter with McCain was on the morning that he was leaving Turtle Island. Amy and I were happily eating pancakes when McCain arrived and told Amy that she shouldn't be having pancakes because she needed to lose weight. Amy burst into tears at this abusive comment. I felt fiercely protective of Amy and immediately turned to McCain and told him to leave her alone. He became very angry and abusive towards me, and said, "Don't you know who I am." I looked him in the face and said, "Yes, you are the biggest asshole I have ever met" and headed back to my cabin. I am happy to say that later that day when I arrived at lunch I was given a standing ovation by all the guests for having stood up to McCain's bullying.
   Although I have shared my McCain story informally with friends, this is the first time I am making this public. I almost did so in 2000, when McCain first announced his bid for the Republican nomination, but it soon became apparent that George Bush was the shoo-in candidate and so I did not act then. However, now that there is a very real possibility that McCain could be elected as our next president, I feel it is my duty as an American citizen to share this story. I can't imagine a more scary outcome for America than that this abusive, aggressive man should lead our nation. I have observed him in intimate surroundings as he really is, not how the media portrays him to be. If his attitudes toward women and his treatment of his own family are even a small indicator of his real personality, then I shudder to think what will happen to America were he to be elected as our President.
--
Mary-Kay Gamel
Professor of Classics, Comparative Literature, and Theater Arts
Cowell College
University of California, Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California 95064
831-459-2381 (office); 831-429-8803 (home)
mkgamel@ucsc.edu

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Let Me Get This Straight!

By Fatirah from Philly - Sep 16th, 2008 at 6:56 am EDT

Monday, September 15, 2008 3:13 PM Let me see if I have this straight.....

I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight.....

* If you grow up in Hawaii , raised by your grandparents, you're
"exotic, different."

* Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, a quintessential American
story.

* If your name is Barack you're a radical, unpatriotic Muslim.

* Name your kids Willow , Trig and Track, you're a maverick.

*Graduate from Harvard Law School and you are unstable.

* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well
grounded.

* If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the
first black President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter
registration drive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as
a Constitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator
representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of
the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years
in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people
while sponsoring 131
bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works
and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership
experi
ence.

* If your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city
council and 6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people,
20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then
you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking
executive and next in line behind a man in his eighth decade.

* If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising
2 beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a
real Christian.

* If you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and then left
your disfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a
true Christian.

* If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including
the proper use of birth control, you are eroding the fiber of society.

* If, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no
other option in sex education in your state's school system, while your
unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're very responsible.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate laywer who gave up a position in a
prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city
community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values
don't represent America 's.

* If you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI
conviction and no col
lege education, who didn't register to vote until
age 25, and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession
of Alaska from the USA , your family is extremely admirable.

OK, much clearer now.!!!!!

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Alaskans Speak (In A Frightened Whisper): Palin Is “Racist, Sexist, Vindictive, And Mean”

By Fatirah from Philly - Sep 10th, 2008 at 7:12 am EDT

http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/09/05/alaskans-speak-in-a-frightened-whisper-palin-is-%E2%80%9Cracist-sexist-vindictive-and-mean%E2%80%9D/

“So Sambo beat the bitch!”

This is how Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin described Barack Obama’s win over Hillary Clinton to political colleagues in a restaurant a few days after Obama locked up the Democratic Party presidential nomination. Read More »

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Mayor Palin Proposed Banning Library Books

By Fatirah from Philly - Sep 8th, 2008 at 12:08 pm EDT

Also listed in: African Americans for Obama | We Support Barack, Through Thick and Thin! | West Philadelphia for Obama

By Rindi White
McClatchy Newspapers

Posted: Saturday, Sep. 06, 2008

WASILLA, Alaska In 1996, when she became mayor, Sarah Palin asked the Wasilla librarian if she would be OK censoring library books should she be asked to do so.
According to news coverage at the time, the librarian said she definitely would not be all right with it. A few months later, the librarian, Mary Ellen Emmons, received a letter from Palin telling her she was going to be fired. The censorship issue was not mentioned as a reason. The letter just said the new mayor thought Emmons didn't fully support her and had to go.
Emmons had been city librarian for seven years and was well liked. After a wave of public support for her, Palin relented and let Emmons keep her job.
The 12-year-old issue has returned to dog Palin, who is under intense national scrutiny. It has been mentioned in news stories in Time magazine and The New York Times and is spreading across the blogosphere.
In December 1996, Emmons told her hometown newspaper, the Frontiersman, that Palin three times asked her about possibly removing objectionable books from the library if the need arose.
Emmons said she refused to consider any kind of censorship. Emmons, now Mary Ellen Baker, is on vacation from her current job in Fairbanks and did not return messages left for her Wednesday.
When the matter came up again in October 1996, during a City Council meeting, Anne Kilkenny, a Wasilla resident who often attends council meetings, was there.
"Sarah said to Mary Ellen, 'What would your response be if I asked you to remove some books from the collection?'" Kilkenny said.
"I was shocked. Mary Ellen sat up straight and said something along the line of, 'The books in the Wasilla Library collection were selected on the basis of national selection criteria for libraries of this size, and I would absolutely resist all efforts to ban books.'"
Palin didn't mention specific books at that meeting, Kilkenny said.
Palin herself, questioned at the time, called her inquiries rhetorical and simply part of a policy discussion with a department head "about understanding and following administration agendas," according to the Frontiersman article.
Were any books censored? June Pinell-Stephens, chairwoman of the Alaska Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee since 1984, checked her files Wednesday and came up empty-handed.
Emmons received a letter from Palin asking for her resignation. Similar letters went to police Chief Irl Stambaugh, public works director Jack Felton and finance director Duane Dvorak. John Cooper, a fifth director, resigned after Palin eliminated his job overseeing the city museum.
Palin told the Anchorage Daily News then that the letters were just a test of loyalty as she took on the mayor's job, which she'd won from three-term mayor John Stein in a hard-fought election. Stein had hired many of the department heads. Both Emmons and Stambaugh had publicly supported him against Palin.
Emmons resigned in August 1999, two months before Palin was voted in for a second term

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Now Here Comes Cynthia McKinney!!!!

By Fatirah from Philly - Jul 14th, 2008 at 10:37 am EDT

To siphon off votes for Barack Obama; to help McSame!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Shell from Brooklyn, NY Is a TROLL, Or Certainly a Reasonable Facsimile of One!

By Fatirah from Philly - Jul 13th, 2008 at 5:37 pm EDT

Every single post is so negative on Barack Obama, Nothing he does or says is right!!! Why don't you get back over to the McSame site; you've surely earned your points or pay from them.

You have some nerve coming over here on Barack's blog, which is paid for by HIS campaign, and leaving your filthy droppings!

You will never ever change my mind about him! In fact, your lousy words would make my support even stronger, if that were possible.

OBAMA '08!

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!*Take Care of Your Own Illegitimate Child, Jesse!*

By Fatirah from Philly - Jul 11th, 2008 at 7:45 am EDT

If what Obama said in his Father's Day Speech stepped on your toes, TOO BAD! Rememer, YOU are the so-called preacher who had the child out of wedlock, not Obama!

No one asked you to be the spokesman for the Black race either!

You are a fake and always have been. Any cred you had is done with.

Shaddup!

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!*Good Grief!!! Have a Little Cheese With Your Whine!*

By Fatirah from Philly - Jul 10th, 2008 at 12:31 pm EDT

Even when you’re eating cheese.

FOR ALL YOU ONE ISSUE "SUPPORTERS"!

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Aaaaaahhhhhh Jesse..........

By Fatirah from Philly - Jul 10th, 2008 at 7:56 am EDT

.........shaddup!!!!!

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!*I WILL Say This About Trolls Though!* (repost)

By Fatirah from Philly - Jul 7th, 2008 at 12:11 pm EDT

Their unimaginative posts really make me appreciate the work of posters like kids5rivers2, KIMI, Steve Peters, jfk fan (who I miss much), and many, many other true Obama supporters. Their work and words show creativity and depth of feeling, as opposed to the trolls, who are basically licking up and spewing out the vomit of others; much as any dog would do.

It's pathetic that they think their crudely altered cartoons and smear work makes any impression. I can imagine them hunched over their computers, slobbering, grunting and scratching themselves; thinking that what they've done is unique.

Pitiful.

I don't post much after being warned by administration for my comments to a troll, but I do come to the blog every day. It's sad to see it being taken over by McSame hacks posing as 'disillusioned, one-topic (FISA) former Obama supporters', and/or the absolute trolls. Or the ones who claim to be 'sitting on the fence'! Those need to just skewer themselves and do us all a favor, because there is no 'fence' to be sitting on.

The choice between Barack and McSame is really no choice; to vote for McSame is to sell ourselves into slavery and 8 more years of worse than Bush, if you can imagine that. I still believe in Barack Obama with all my heart, and just cannot understand those who even seriously consider voting for McBush or anyone else at this point in our history on the planet.

If we vote Republican, we may not have any more history on this planet.

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!* I WILL Say This About Trolls Though!*

By Fatirah from Philly - Jul 6th, 2008 at 7:21 pm EDT

Pitiful.

If we vote Republican, we may not have any more history on this planet.

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!*Amazing!*

By Fatirah from Philly - Jul 5th, 2008 at 9:03 pm EDT

The administrators of this site would caution me for merely responding to a troll, yet they allow 'D'imwit to not only post atrocious photos, but to take up entire pages for spam and they do nothing!?

The inmates are in charge of the asylum.

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!*! I CERTAINLY HAVE OTHER PLACES I CAN BE!*!

By Fatirah from Philly - Jun 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm EDT

I DO NOT APPRECIATE HAVING MY COMMENT TAKEN DOWN AND IN IT'S PLACE LEFT AN ADMONISHMENT THAT 'THIS POST WAS REMOVED FOR DISRESPECTFUL CONTENT!'

I HAVE NEVER CURSED OR BEEN OFFENSIVE TO ANYONE, HAVE SUPPORTED BARACK OBAMA COMPLETELY AND AM TIRED OF THIS SELECTIVE EDITING!

I WILL STILL ALWAYS SUPPORT BARACK OBAMA BUT IT WILL NOT BE HERE!

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!* I Sure Do Miss Those Great Graphics From.....

By Fatirah from Philly - Jun 18th, 2008 at 8:40 am EDT

........RFK Fan and kid5rivers2. sigh.......

And where is Soldierette, Jazziete, and Odeh Odeh?

(I did see something from kid5rivers2 today though, thanks!)

Thanks for yours Steve, they are always right on point, plus hilarious!

It's like, they put a special something on the blog, y'know?

I know the blog is about information, and that is great. But it's about fun and friends too!

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!*Sure Do Miss Those Great Graphics From.....

By Fatirah from Philly - Jun 17th, 2008 at 5:59 pm EDT

........RFK Fan and kid5rivers2. sigh.......

Thanks for yours Steve, they are always right on point, plus hilarious!

I know the blog is about information. But it's about fun and friends too!

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Better Late Than Never!

By Fatirah from Philly - Jun 16th, 2008 at 6:55 pm EDT

...But oh how sweet it would've been on that Tuesday night...........

Dear Fatirah,

A few hours from now I will step on stage in Detroit, Michigan to announce my support for Senator Barack Obama. From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected President of the United States.

Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges -- including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our economy, and solving the climate crisis. Barack Obama is clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America.

This moment and this election are too important to let pass without taking action.

That's why I am asking you to join me in showing your support by making a contribution to this campaign today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/gore?source=20080616_D1_L1

Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action.

With the help of millions of supporters like you, Barack Obama will bring the change we so desperately need in order to solve our country's most pressing problems.

If you've already contributed to this campaign, I ask that you consider making another contribution right now. If you haven't, please take the next step and own a piece of this campaign today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/gore?source=20080616_D1_L2

On the issues that matter most, Barack Obama is clearly the right choice to lead our nation.

We have a lot of work to do in the next few months to elect Barack Obama president, and it begins by making a contribution to this campaign today.

Thank you for joining me,

Al Gore

LIVE TONIGHT -- 8:30 p.m. EDT: Watch streaming video of Al Gore and Barack Obama at a rally in Detroit, Michigan:

http://www.BarackObama.com

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!*TROLL PATROL!

By Fatirah from Philly - Jun 15th, 2008 at 2:22 pm EDT

I've reported troll aka unknown user a couple of times.

I wouldn't dignify his/her/it's copy and paste jobs with a comment.

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Up With Hope, Down With Dope!

By Fatirah from Philly - Jun 15th, 2008 at 11:06 am EDT

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!*! TROLL PATROL!

By Fatirah from Philly - Jun 13th, 2008 at 12:02 pm EDT

It looks like Danielle from Austin, TX is a true troll. Check out all of her anti-Obama posts.

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!*Can The Election Be Suspended If We Are At War With Iran?

By Fatirah from Philly - Jun 10th, 2008 at 12:19 pm EDT

That would mean we are stuck with Bush forevah!?

Mofaz: Israel will attack Iran
Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:53:00

An Israeli deputy prime minister has claimed that the Israeli regime will attack Iran if the country continues its nuclear program.

"If Iran continues its nuclear weapons program, we will attack it," claimed Shaoul Mofaz.

"Other options are disappearing. The sanctions are not effective. There will be no alternative but to attack Iran in order to stop the Iranian nuclear program," Mofaz, also a transportation minister, told the Yediot Aharonot daily.

Mofaz, a former Israeli war minister, stressed that a military operation against Iran would be carried out with the support of the United States.

The remarks were made while there are speculations that the US might wage another war in the region in the twilight months of George W. Bush in office.

Israel, widely believed to be the sole possessor of 200 to 400 nuclear warheads in the Middle East, and its ally the US, accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weaponry and encourages its allies to wage a war against the country.

Tehran insists that its nuclear program is peaceful and as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty is entitled to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.

MK/DT

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