Todd Epp's Barackified Blog

Start Booking Rooms in DC for the Inaugural!

Todd Epp — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 10:49:05 EDT

Pollster.com and the Huffington Post have stories today on the electoral map for 2008.

If the election were today, Sen. Barack Obama would win handily.

Even solidly red state South Dakota is in play, only leaning to Sen. McCain 44.8% to 38.7%.

But we Democrats often peak too early. I remember in 1988 when Gov. Michael Dukakis got the nomination that July. His numbers were really good. Only we ended up with Pres. George H.W. Bush that fall.

If Sen. McCain continues his Captain Queeg-like ways, I think that his numbers are only going to get worse for him.

I least I hope so.

Cross posted to South Dakota Watch and Kansas Watch.

Barack Likes Sebelius; Will a Jealous Hillary Let It Happen?

Todd Epp — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 21:31:58 EDT

Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is rated number on CBS News’ latest ranking of potential running mates for Sen. Barack Obama. (Hat tip to Hog House Blog!)

1 Kathleen Sebelius | Bio
The buzz around the Kansas governor is only growing. In a recent local TV interview, Obama offered some strong praise for her, saying, “I love Kathleen Sebelius. I think she is as talented a public official as there is right now.” Sebelius wouldn’t confirm that she’s being vetted, but Congressional Quarterly points out she is no longer denying it either.Kansas’ neighbor Sen. Chuck Hagel, Republican from Nebraska, is #3 with a bullet.

Seems to me the biggest problem with Gov. Sebelius is not about the Governor but another woman—Sen. Hillary Clinton. Would her supporters accept a woman not named Hillary? What do you say, my Sunflower friends?
Originally posted at Kansas Watch http://kswatch.squarespace.com Technorati Tags: Kathleen Sebelius, Vice President, Veepstakes, Barack Obama, Kansas

A TDE/BHO Update: Still Miffed at Barack

Todd Epp — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 00:56:55 EDT

I'm still quite miffed at Barack for all his 180 degree changes recently. Actually, I'm in a snit. I might work out of it. But I'm an unhappy Obamamaniac right now.

I'm not the only one. I've talked to other BHO supporters who are no longer "fired up, ready to go" as they were because of Barack's pandering to the Right. We'll vote for him but he has to get back on the "change" and "hope" track if he wants us to get off our butts and our wallets.

Barack, I'm just sayin'.

Todd Epp

SD Watch http://www.southdakotawatch.net

Barack Obama, the "Change" Candidate

Todd Epp — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:00:30 EDT

MSNBC puts it succinctly:

(Rev. Jesse) Jackson's comments, though crude and incendiary, come at a time when Obama is accused of reversing his stand on the Iraq war, campaign finance, gun control, the death penalty, abortion and wiretapping without court oversight as he tries to position himself for the election against the Republican, John McCain.

Wow, all this "change" in less than two weeks!

Yes, Barack Obama is the "change" candidate. He keeps changing his positions. Yes, he is the "hope" candidate. We hope he goes back to being the candidate of "change" and "hope."

Originally posted on SD Watch http://www.southdakotawatch.net

Technorati Tags: MSNBC, Barack Obama, flipflops

A Little More Hope and Change Fades with Barack's FISA Vote

Todd Epp — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 22:33:00 EDT

Barack Obama voted with the majority on the "compromise" FISA bill today.

From Ars Technica:

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-IL) voted in favor of the amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, to the dismay of many of his own supporters. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) were among those who broke with their party's standard-bearer to vote against the bill.

Thank you Senator Clinton for having a backbone and supporting our civil liberties. And shame on you, Sen. Obama, for caving into expediency. This isn't the "change" and "hope" we were counting on.

My Democratic fellow South Dakotan CAH at Madville Times has more. Read: Obama Caves to Bush; Clinton Stands for 4th Amendment

As Cory well notes:

A Democrat-led Congress hands George W. Bush a big victory in the dog days of his lame-duckery, and on a basic issue of Constitutional liberties, no less.

What a sad day for our country, my party, and for my presidential candidate. More shine comes off The Man Crush.

Originally posted at SD Watch: http://www.southdakotawatch.net

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama (D-IL) voted in favor of the amendments to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, to the dismay of many of his own supporters. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) were among those who broke with their party's standard-bearer to vote against the bill.

A Democrat-led Congress hands George W. Bush a big victory in the dog days of his lame-duckery, and on a basic issue of Constitutional liberties, no less.

What a sad day for our country, my party, and for my presidential candidate. More shine comes off The Man Crush.

Technorati Tags: FISA, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

A Barack Obama Review in Exactly Ten Words

Todd Epp — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 20:03:21 EDT

Obama - a Person review by tdepp
08/07/08 13:16 from Reviews by tdepp - The Ten Word Review
It is like Palm Sunday when he enters a room.

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Ten Word Reviews, 2008 election

An Obamarific 4th of July in Brookings, SD!

Todd Epp — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 23:14:05 EDT

From Lois Hatton in Brookings, SD:

Obama supporters decorated a truck and participated in the Brookings Fourth of July parade.

The Obama truck was decorated with American flags and banners, red, white and blue ballons, and lots of Obama signs. It was a lot of fun decorating the truck and the entry was a great success.

Photo: Brookings Obamamaniacs pictured left to right: Chris Moller, Roger Prunty, Betty Prunty, Angela Hatton, Sally Damm, Stacy Chidaushe, Greg Taylor.

Originally posted on SD Watch http://www.southdakotawatch.net

Technorati Tags: Brookings, South Dakota, Barack Obama, parades, 2008 election, 4th of July, July 4th

The Man Crush on the Man Crush Fades Just a Bit

Todd Epp — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:01:30 EDT

Barack Obama doesn’t need me anymore.

He knows he had me at “hello.”

He knows he’s still going to have me.

He knows that liberals like me are not going to vote for John McCain.

And we’re not so stupid as to throw our votes away for Ralph Nader. (Been there, done that.)

But he did need me and fellow Lefties during the primaries.

This past week, besides trying to capture “the middle” (whatever that is), Barack also took several steps away from being something different to being something we see all too often—a pandering politician.

Are you an evangelical? Then by golly, like President George Bush, Barack likes “faith-based” initiatives too!

Are you afraid of terrorists slamming more planes into our skyscrapers? Then by golly, like President Bush, he thinks the FISA bill is just okey-dokey and giving up some more of your civil liberties is swell.

Are you an NRA member? Then by golly, Barack seems to like the recent Supreme Court case on Second Amendment rights. (And here I actually probably agree with him, but in South Dakota, liberals like me like guns too, so I’m an anomaly.)

Perhaps this is a winning strategy. Lefties like me alone will not get Barack elected this fall. He has to capture conservative Democrats, independents, and open minded Republicans. I get that.

And maybe this is just his way of “taking out the garbage” of capitulating on some issues just before not only a Friday, but a 4th of July Friday.

It’s all so coy, all so, well, political. Barack learned his political lessons well in Chicago.

What seemed to separate Obama from particularly Hillary Clinton was that he was an agent of change, of politics NOT as usual. Hell, if I wanted politics AS usual, I’d have voted for and supported Hillary as she has that down pat.

But I didn’t. And millions of others didn’t. We actually thought we were voting for HOPE and CHANGE.

Perhaps we still are.

But like my man crush on The Man Crush, after this week, those ideals have faded, if just a little.

Photo: Ah, the good old days, when Barack Obama wanted me. This is the craziness on June 1, 2008—just a month ago—when Barack was about to take the stage at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD.

Originally posted at SD Watch http://www.southdakotawatch.net

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, pandering, man crush, 2008 election, guns, faith-based initiatives, national security, FISA

Top Ten Reasons Why the 4th of July Rocks (and Baracks!)

Todd Epp — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:00:40 EDT

From the home office at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the Top Ten Reasons why the 4th of July Rocks!

10. You can legally blow stuff up.

9. There are no presents to buy.

8. We can remind ourselves that we don't have to speak with silly British accents had we remained English.

7. If unexpected relatives show up, we can tell them to eat outside--and get rid of the potato salad that's sat in the sun all day to boot.

6. We can be thankful that Sen. Barack Obama is our Presidential candidate!

5. We can watch politicians sweat profusely during the noontime 4th of July parade.

4. It's a day off!

3. The Boston Pops plays the 1812 Overture on PBS and fires off those big cannons.

2. We remember that no matter what political party we belong to, what country our ancestors came from, what religion we believe in, we're all Americans.

1. We get to celebrate the 232d birthday of the rockingest democracy the world has ever seen, the good ol' U.S. of A.!

Enjoy the Fourth. Don't blow up any of your fingers.

Uncle Sam graphic courtesy of HistoryImages.com. Originally posted at SD Watch http://www.southdakotawatch.net
Technorati Tags: 4th of July, July 4th, Uncle Sam, patriotism, Top Ten

Clinton Offered Fundraiser to SD Dem. Party in Exchange for Two Superdelegates

Todd Epp — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:17:11 EDT

Wow.

That's about all I can say. In a heated exchange at tonight's S.D. Democratic Executive Board meeting in Oacoma, Hillary Clinton delegate Malcolm Chapman said--and State Chair Jack Billion confirmed--that the Clinton campaign offered a major fundraiser to the state party in exchange for two superdelegate votes.

Chapman noted that he had almost "cut the deal" with the Clinton campaign. Billion said the price was "too high." He also said non-office holding superdelegates like him had to give a lot of consideration to Sen. Tom Daschle's, Sen. Tim Johnson's, and Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin's position on the race as they are major financial benefactors to the local party.

I'll post more as I learn more.

(Originally posted on SD Watch at http://www.southdakotawatch.net)

Technorati Tags: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Malcolm Chapman, Jack Billion, superdelegates, South Dakota

Follow Twitters about the SD Democratic Convention

Todd Epp — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:57:51 EDT

This will include coverage of the selection of seven additional delegates from South Dakota to the national convention in Denver.

Go to SD Watch at: http://tinyurl.com/634rkw

Rush Limbaugh's Stupid Gay Bashing Electoral Comment

Todd Epp — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:19:24 EDT

On his June 23, 2008 show, Rush Limbaugh made the following statement about gays and blacks and the Democratic Party:

“I want to know how the Republicans don’t need Christians and conservatives, and they think we’re 30 percent. Twelve percent black people in the population. Ten percent — they claim — homosexuals in the population. Rush, honey, when did 30 percent get to be a small number?” Limbaugh responded, “You want to know why the Republicans are willing to say, ‘Screw you,’ to 30 percent or more of their voters (Christians and conservatives) and yet Democrats will bend over, grab the ankles, and say, ‘Have your way with me,’ for 10 percent and 2 percent of the population?” He later stated: “There is an answer to your — basic question is, ‘Why don’t the Democrats say, “To hell with you, you wacko nuts in the base,” like Republicans do?’ “

Does Rush have some sort of odd fantasy he’d like to play out?

Why anyone listens to him and his sexist, racist, and homophobic rants is beyond me.

(Hat tip Media Matters.)

(Originally posted at SD Watch.)

Technorati Tags: Rush Limbaugh, race, Blacks, gays, GLBT

Kansas Bar Show Says Sebelius Will Be Veep Choice

Todd Epp — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 00:58:49 EDT

Just got back from Topeka, Kansas, site of the annual Kansas State Bar Convention. One of the time honored traditions is a bar show put on by local lawyers and judges that includes lots of singing, dancing, acting, and satire.

The chief focus of the event was Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, governor of the great state of Kansas and sometimes mentioned as a possible running mate for Sen. Barack Obama.

If left to Kansas judges and lawyers, it seems Gov. Sebelius is the shoo-in for Barack's Veep choice. The series of skits ended with her sitting at a big desk with a huge "Vice President of the USA" and the VP seal in front of it.

Who's to doubt the wisdom of members of the Kansas Bar, I ask you?! ;)

Read more at SD Watch: http://www.southdakotawatch.net

Play "Is John McCain the New Bob Dole" (home edition)

Todd Epp — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 13:16:20 EDT

Let's see. Let's play a little game of "Is John McCain the Next Bob Dole?" (home edition):

War hero. Check.
Grumpy. Check.
Republican. Check.
Senator. Check.
From a state that doesn't play a major role in Presidential Elections. Check.
Good sense of humor. Check.
Once described as independent minded. Check.
Old. Check.
His time for national prominence has come and gone. Check.
Close ties to a Bush. Check.
Married a yonger, hottie wife. Check.
Hikes up his pants and yells at kids to get off his yard. Check.
Loses big in the popular vote and Electoral College in run for Presidency against a younger, hipper Democrat? Check.

Yes, John McCain is the new Bob Dole. (Hat tip to Sibby Online for the idea.) Originally posted on South Dakota Watch.
Technorati Tags: Bob Dole, John McCain

I Guess We'll Just Have to Wait for Pres. Obama and Energy Independence

Todd Epp — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:07:44 EDT

I'm as ticked as anyone at $4/gallon gas. With trips planned to Topeka, Kansas and Chamberlain, South Dakota in the coming days, I'm not looking forward to filling up my Pacifica's gas tank.

And as a child of a petroleum pipeliner and a former petroleum pipeline summer employee, I have at least a small understanding of the oil and refining businesses.

I don't think petroleum or petroleum companies are inherently evil. If you like to drive, you need gas. And we all can't have backyard refineries.

And I like to drive my Pacifica.

However, just like Sen. John McCain's gas tax holiday idea for this summer vacation season, Pres. George W. Bush's idea to drill off shore and in the Alaskan Arctic are just short-term ideas that pander but don't provide long-term solutions.

From the Wall Street Journal:

President Bush called on Congress to lift a ban on offshore oil and gas drilling that has been in place since 1981, saying lagging domestic production has contributed to sharply higher gasoline prices. He also urged Democratic lawmakers to drop their opposition to drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and proposed streamlining the permit process for building new refining capacity in the U.S.

Separately, the White House said Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman will be attending a one-day meeting of oil producers in Saudi Arabia.

For more information, see:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121379512215184123.html?mod=djemalertNEWS

Oil will continue to be part of the energy equation for the foreseeable future. But the sooner the United States embarks on meaningful government funded research and development on biofuels, hydrogen, solar, wind, and other "green" energy solutions, we will continue to be held hostage by exorbitant fuel prices, multi-national corporations, unfriendly foreign governments--and our own laziness and lack of will.

Had we actually taken Pres. Jimmy Carter's warnings to heart about energy independence in the late 1970s (Yes, I know it's not cool to mention anything positive about Pres. Carter), frankly, we wouldn't be in the current fix.

But while 30 years ago would have been the best time to plant the energy independence "tree," the next best time is now. But Pres. Bush--ironically, considering his name--is not interested in planting "trees."

That will have to wait for a Pres. Barack Obama. Originally posted at South Dakota Watch.

Technorati Tags: energy, fuel prices, offshore drilling, ANWR, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, oil

Al Gore: Risk Taker, Trendsetter

Todd Epp — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 23:41:24 EDT

Hey Al, nothing like getting out ahead of the power curve and being a trend setter!

I received the following email earlier today:

Dear Todd,
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...
Thank you for joining me,
Al Gore

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Al Gore, 2008 election, lockbox

Barack Should Get Some Camo and Hunt Pheasants in S.D.

Todd Epp — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:02:53 EDT

Barack Obama is honest about not being a hunter and fisherman.

From his website:

Barack Obama did not grow up hunting and fishing, but he recognizes the great conservation legacy of America’s hunters and anglers and has great respect for the passion that hunters and anglers have for their sport. Were it not for America’s hunters and anglers, including the great icons like Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold, our nation would not have the tradition of sound game management, a system of ethical, science-based game laws and an extensive public lands estate on which to pursue the sport. Obama recognizes that we must forge a broad coalition if we are to address the great conservation challenges we face. America’s hunters and anglers are a key constituency that must take an active role and have a powerful voice in this coalition.

I have a modest proposal. Barack should come to South Dakota for the pheasant opener. South Dakota's best and favorite outdoorsman, Tony Dean, could take him on an honest to goodness pheasant hunt with some of his buddies. And let me make my pitch now, Tony: Pick me, pick me!

Besides being a great photo shoot, Barack could learn first hand about one of the most hallowed of midwestern and rural rights--the hunt with friends. From Tony, besides getting good hunting advice and good company, he'd also get a first hand education about conservation issues, CRP, global warming, and wildlife management.

More importantly, he'd have fun.

I want to see Barack in camo this fall in South Dakota. It would do his image good and further help him understand what makes "regular" people tick. Plus, if "Barry the Bomber" can hit three pointers on the hardwoods, he can nail rooster pheasants in South Dakota's cornfields.

Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, hunting, outdoors, Tony Dean, 2008 election, South Dakota

A Bad Germanic Barack Doll

Todd Epp — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:48:00 EDT

Came across the following today:

German Crafts Obama Doll
11/06/08 06:21 from Politics from Newser
A master German dollmaker and Barack Obama fan has paid tribute to the candidate with a doll, Der Spiegel reports. The craftsman admits that the creation—his first attempt at making a black doll—is far from an exact Barack-plica…

This doll looks about as much like Barack Obama as my old GI Joes do. It is terrible and, I might add, offensive.

Barack Obama: Social (Media) Butterfly

Todd Epp — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 14:26:04 EDT

Barack Obama's campaign website has an incredibly powerful and innovative area called my.barackobama.com.

It is a social media site that is every bit as powerful and connecting as Facebook.

You can start a blog (Heck, what's one more? Todd Epp's Barackified Blog), find fellow Barackites, join various Barackian groups (My personal favorite: Bruce Springsteen Fans for Barack), and it's even competitive. You earn points for being active on the site.

I'm currently in the 116,000s or so, but climbing fast. Who says progressives and Democrats don't like competition?

Whether you like Barack or not, if you're at looking political website design and getting supporters involved, the Man Crush is definitely in the realm of 2.0.

(Originally posted at SD Watch, http://www.southdakotawatch.net)

Todd and Donna Meet The Man Crush in Sioux Falls

Todd Epp — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:50:40 EDT

Through sheer luck, my friend and former Marine Lynn Hart of Flandreau invited Donna and I to accompany him and his girl friend (and my friend) Helen Gilbert, also of Flandreau, to Sen. Barack Obama’s Vets for Obama pancake feed at the Sioux Empire Fairgrounds this morning.

Finally, I met the Man Crush!

And yes, he’s even dreamier in person!

Todd Epp, Donna Osment-Epp, and Sen. Barack Obama, my man crush for these many months.

(Originally posted on SD Watch.) Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, veterans, pancakes

Photos of a Sunny Barack on a Sunny Sunday in South Dakota

Todd Epp — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:39:31 EDT

Here are photos I took at the Sen. Barack Obama rally outside of the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD today (Sunday).

Sen. Barack Obama takes the stage in front of the Mitchell Corn Palace on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon.

Sen. Barack Obama on the podium.

A portion of the enthralled throng at the Corn Palace rally from my rather tight vantage point.

A member of Sen. Obama's Secret Service detail keepin' it safe--and keepin' it real.

An enormous Old Glory on a glorious late spring day in South Dakota with the next President of the United States, Barack Obama.

(Originally posted on SD Watch.) Technorati Tags: Barack Obama, Corn Palace, Mitchell, South Dakota, 2008 election, South Dakota Primary

A First Person Experience of How Barack Gives Hope

Todd Epp — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:26:01 EDT

Let me show and tell you about why Barack Obama is different.

This morning after his speech about veterans’ issues at the Vets for Obama gathering in Sioux Falls, he went around to every table and talked to every person and shook every hand and posed for every photograph.

But that isn’t the amazing part.

At the table next to ours was Christine Johnson and her children, Jordan, age 5, and Abbey, age 7.

Barack comes over to meet the Johnsons. He notices that Jordan has some dogtags on.

His dad’s dog tags.

Abbey says, “This is a very sad day.”

Barack asks why. Mrs. Johnson explains that her husband, Tech Sgt. Dan Johnson with the South Dakota Air National Guard, had shipped out just prior to the event for Iraq.

For his third tour in Iraq.

Thank You, Hillary!

Todd Epp — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 01:19:51 EDT

Just finished watching Sen. Hillary Clinton’s “suspension” speech.

It was very well done and hit all the right notes. She clearly endorsed Sen. Barack Obama and told her supporters in no uncertain terms that we can’t have another Republican President if we want progress on the issues that are important to moving the country forward again.

I thought Sen. Clinton was gracious and sincere. I also think it is probably the best address she’s ever given.

So, let’s put aside our differences and get behind Sen. Obama this fall. Hillary says it’s the right thing to do.

(Originally posted at SD Watch, http://www.southdakotawatch.net)