IMO, priorities;
1) Ending the war in Iraq,
2) Capturing Osama bin Laden and combating terrorism,
3) Reworking illegal immigration laws so they will be enforced,
4) Implementing tax policies which radically curtail the exporting of manufacturing and service jobs, and
5) Balancing the budget!
Belancing the budget would be number one, yet how can it be while these other burning issues still exist? Barack has it right!
Even a national health care plan should take a second seat to balancing the budget. When we're spending 8% of $5.1 trillion (the portion of the National Debt that is owed to the public, not to public trust funds like social security), i.e. approximately $233 Billion per year [1] on interest, how can we implement all of the plans for improving social conditions in our own country, let alone the world?
$233 billion is a large number and that's just the interest! We must achieve a balanced budget and then implement a plan that pays down the actual balance of foreign held debt, then our own national debt. $100 billion per year against the principal would be a nice target. Why do we want to be a net debtor nation to Mexico? It's ludicrous!
If we don't pay down foreign held debt, then these countries earn the interest which fuels their economies over ours, contributing to the downward spiral in our own economy. I don't understand why this is so difficult for our federally elected officials to understand. They use our interest payments to build their infrastructure.
The level of debt is also a national security concern. What if China and/or Japan decides to quit renewing it's bonds and Treasury Notes, or sells them off in the open market? When we are so significantly in debt, this drives down the value of the dollar, which drives up the price we pay for important commoditities, like oil.
I think Senator Obama understands the perils of neglecting to balance the budget and neglecting to shore up the dollar. Obviously, President Bush does not. And, Hillary Clinton or Bush-lite as we're coming to know her, probably is only a tad better.
We need "Change We Can Believe In" so that we can address these issues, not just keep ignoring them, as has been done for the last several years. What will happen, when we reach $9.8 trillion in a few months? What will be their excuse then? Our priorities must be addressed so we can save our nation! Who has the courage to state the truth?
Senator Barack Obama does, that's who! We have to put the brakes on before we hit $10 Trillion!
[1]Congressional Budget Office, "Monthly Budget Review," September 7, 2007, at www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/86xx/doc8607/09-2007-MBR.pdf (September 10, 2007).
When your enemies start to build you up, take heed; it may be a ploy to lull you into complacency, building you up before the great fall. Lemmings and sheep follow many a misguided leader to their doom. If we're to be wise Democrats, we must examine history and avoid being setup for a slaughter on November 4, 2008.
Republicans have sensed for some time that they're best course is to encourage a Clinton nomination; unsuspecting Democrats may just grant them an easy victory, and Karl Rove will smile like a Cheshire cat once again.
Currently, around 26 of 100 Democrats in Iowa fail to see that a Hillary nomination will lead to four more years of a Republican in the White House, and a likely loss of our Senate and even House majorities. The down ticket fallout from a Clinton nomination will likely be deep, and the contest dominated by a flurry of Swift Boat attacks designed to build fear and division, more easily accomplished when the target is vulnerable.
Of course, some see Senator Clinton as nearly immune. After all, certainly President and Senator Clinton have been drug through the mud long enough. They deserve and have earned the respect of the vast majority of Democrats. They may be the best tag-team duo we've seen in a generation!
Most Democrats stand in awe, having a great deal of respect for William Jefferson Clinton. He is at once brilliant, diplomatic, charismatic -- a winner by nearly anyone's measure. So is his bride. Yet, these accolades are not shared by 50% of the electorate.
Make no mistake, Democrats; the opponents have only tabled their desire to impeach a Clinton. Their propensity to seek revenge for what they once saw as a direct affront to the prestige of the Presidency still runs strong. For them, controlling the White House provides a respite, their political war chest shut while they enjoy their rule. But will a Clinton nomination will rekindle the fire? Certainly that question is a resounding, Yes!
Yes, Democrats, we must be politically savvy if we are to avoid another defeat as the Republicans enjoyed in 2000 or 2004. Many Republicans look forward to fighting with Hillary as much as she looks forward to "Turning up the Heat".
When Senator Clinton gave her speech at the J-J Dinner, she showed her true colors -- she's comes to do battle, equipped for a fight. She thrives on the thrill of the hunt for the weak, the battle and the need to an end of the war is lost on her. What would we do with all of the weaponry? Hillary is a true hawk, both militarily and politically.
Unfortunately, Senator Clintons brings to the patient a salve which will not heal. In fact, her politics promotes the festering of wounds, allowing bandages to be removed and even reaching for the salt shaker to add a squirm or two to the wounded to enjoy. We promote the notion of Hillary Clinton's nomination at our own peril, Democrats.
What this country needs now is a uniter, not a fighter. We need to move beyond gridlock and political bickering. We need to diminish the influence of powerful PACS and lobbyists, not to promote them. We need someone who is smart enough to not give reporters a "Yes/No" answer when the question is so complex that it defies such trite answers.
We need the powerful in government to once again listen to the weak. To force the shrill voice of devisive politics to yield to quiet, taxpayer voices; voices pleading for reasoned compromise and progress dosmetically and globally.
If President Bush is building up Senator Clinton, an ulterior motive is most certainly a possibility if not a certainly. I am afraid that many Democrats, albeit well meaning Democrats, fail to see the subtlety. Karl Rove Republicans would relish the fight, for it is a fight they could handily win, as they have so many times before. In 1980, 1984, 1988, 1994, 1998 (the impeachment trial), 2000, 2004, and now have loaded even the Supreme Court to decide in their favor.
Yes, and even against the Clintons.
The nation needs "Change We Can Believe In", not a continuation of division for the sheer enjoyment of a good fight. Which among our candidates, Democrat or Republican, is most committed toward achieving a uniting goal? Who is best experienced, at being a uniter?
I see the choice as clear. Make no mistake, Democrats; Senator Obama will run away with a victory in November, the likes of which we haven't seen since Reagan vs. Mondale in 1984, but in reverse. Yet he must win the nomination first!
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, Senator Clinton. But more importantly, we Democrats need to beware. Who among us is ready for four more years of Bush diplomacy and the politics of fear and division?
In a match up in November, 2008 John McCain beats Hillary Clinton, according to the results of Survey USA. And against all comers, Barack Obama scores a more decisive win. This predicated on answers given before the Republican attack machine revs up its engine against our nominee during the general election cycle! Before they even know who to direct their attacks against!
You can check out IowaTrueBlue's (Gordon Fischer') post here. http://iowatrueblue.com/Blog/tabid/36/EntryID/248/Default.aspx
The exciting thing I'm beginning to see, as I canvass my Des Moines precinct, is that a few Hillary supporters are beginning to see just how vulnerable our party would be; vulnerable to defeat at the top of the ticket and all the way down, were Hillary to become the nominee.
Not that we don't want a woman to be President. And, it's not even anything personal about Hillary -- she'd probably be a decent President (thought not nearly as good of an agent for change, and definitely not as good of a uniter, as Senator Obama), yet the problem is, the Republicans won't allow another Clinton to win!
We thought Al Gore would win, and he nearly did, yet didn't even carry his home state. And, we just knew John Kerry would carry the day -- Kerry lost in Iowa by over 10,000 votes, where Al Gore had won just four years before!
If we know the Republicans would turn out in force to defeat John Kerry, what will they do if Hillary becomes the nominee?
We need to keep our majority in the House, and win a super-majority in the Senate. If anyone thinks this will happen with Hillary as the nominee, IMO, they haven't studied politics for very long. Won't happen, can't happen, ain't gonna happen!
Senator Obama is our candidate if we truly want to win in November of 2008, and this assertion is now backed up by survey results. We must pull more votes from Independents and from Republicans if we're going to win in November 2008.
So thank you, Gordon Fischer, for your continuing insightful analysis on this issue of "electability". It's not enough to win the nomination; we have to win the general election or it's all for naught!
thanks to MSNBC http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/11/16/470168.aspx?CommentPosted=true#commentmessage
We Dems were drug through the mud during Bill Clinton's impeachment trial. It was a disgrace to the office of the Presidency -- the behavior, while reprehensible for a married man, was personal and private and should have remained a family matter.
Instead we DEMS were subjected to months of impeachment hearings and slams by the Republicans. It was a dark day for Americans, and particularly for Democrats. I can't believe there are so many people that think "turning up the heat on the Republicans" will be accomplished through a Hillary nomination.
What a Hillary nomination will do is to turn out their voters, cause Independents to vote Republican, and many millions of Democrats will cross over to vote for the Republican! This is particularly true if their nominee is a centrist, like Michael Huckabee, yet could be true even with a Giuliani or Romney nomination.
The only heat that will be turned up will by the Rush Limbaugh-Republicans calling in to congratulate Rush for his correct prediction, "I tell you, America will not tolerate another Clinton Presidency".
I loved Bill Clinton as President. I don't care about the Lewinsky debacle as I believe it pales in comparison to the travesty that is the Bush Administration. However, I am absolutely amazed that Democrats appear to be so interested in another Clinton nomination when we have many other better choices. Certainly Senator Obama stands out as the premier Statesman among them. The polls show Barack Obama would score a much larger victory against the Republicans than Hillary.
We cannot risk the much higher potential for defeat that a Hillary Clinton nomination would bring. Wake up Democrats! Hillary as nominee spells 4-8 more years of Republican rule. She'll not only lose the Presidency for us, she'll rally the Republicans to take back Congress!
At a time when we Dems thought John Kerry was running strong, George Bush beat Kerry in Iowa -- by over 10,000 votes!
As of mid-November (according to a recent KCCI-TV poll in Iowa), 29% of Iowa Democrats believe that Hillary should become our nominee, yet have her supporters studied what would really happen? If any really believe Hillary would defeat any Republican nominee, surely they have lost their political mind! A great percentage of those who vote for the Repubican nominee will not be voting for that candidate at all; they will be voting AGAINST Hillary!
Of course, I'm preaching to the choir. 90+% of the folks who come here support Barack Obama 100% -- we know he's a much better candidate to actually win the White House. I am just dismayed at how many Democrats seem to be operating with something less than a full deck!
Lemmings; sheep, being led to slaughter!
We Obama supporters need to reach out from now until the very day of our caucuses and primaries to the 10-25% of undecideds to send Barack Obama out of IA, NH, NV, and SC with a BIG WIN!!! We can do it. We must do it, to save our party from another disgraceful defeat.
Otherwise, we'll miss the mark again; Gore, Kerry, Clinton, all going down to defeat.
Please Democrats -- wake up!!!
In the HQ Blog announcement Obama to unveil innovation agenda today... reviews already rolling in Lawrence Lessig is quoted regarding U.S. Senator Barack Obama's unveiling of an "innovation agenda".
We're talking serious stuff for geeks, and semi-retired geeks (like me), too. Oh sure, I'm a full-time Realtor first now-a-days, but I still have geek blood coursing through my viens. You know, once a geek, always a geek.
So I became curious. Just who is this Lawrence Lessig fellow? Check out the Wikipedia entry to learn more. For those not so inclined, here's a summary.
He's a brilliant Law School graduate of Yale, has taught at Harvard, the University of Chicago Law School (perhaps the primary tie-in to Barack?), and is currently a professor at Stanford. Over the years, he has become an advocate for Open Source software, and more recently, an advocate for Open Government as a means to eliminating corruption.
When a bill has 2000 "earmarks" attached, is it possible that maybe the American people are getting the short end on some of this? And, if one finds corruption or is suspect of same, how is that handled presently? There is a lot more to this initiative, I know, but part of it will include better means of tracking down government waste. All politicians love to talk about it, few of them have a plan or a means for getting the job done. Sounds like Senator Obama has found a way!
So, Lawrence Lessig is a man after my own heart, and the hearts of computer geeks (and users, too) all over the planet! Linux-like, open source software and Open Government -- now there's a Barack Obama initiative to write home about!
Or better yet, go out and caucus or vote about!
Now you're talking, mister! Barack Obama, he's the real deal for the vast majority of Americans! He's obviously been listening to some very intelligent people and coming up with some innovate policy ideas that could really help get America back on the right track!
The more I kick the tires and look under the hood, the more I like this candidate!
Barack Obama - "Change We Can Believe In"! Obama for America in 2008!
(We can talk about the benefits of open source code another time, if anyone reads this. Email me).
Make no mistake about it. The tide was turned dramatically in the favor of the great Statesman from Illinois on two Saturday nights in a row. From the parody-inspiring "I've got nothing to hide" SNL skit to a speech that made us all feel good about America again, at the Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in Des Moines.
The Senator from Illinois made his most formidable efforts to date this past week, making a strong case that he is the most electable and the most qualified to lead.
I don't care if you're black, asian, hispanic, white, native American, non-native American, or an alien from outer space -- or even if you're a Republican -- the Senator has sent notice that all are welcome to be heard when he is in the Oval Office.
The old military phrase that John Kerry used to say, "I've got your back" probably didn't mean as much to folks who didn't understand it. For this campaign, Obama, Axelrod, Plouffe and company are offering simpler slogans -- "Hope" and "Change We Can Believe In". Certainly Senator Obama is driving that message stronger in this past week.
Barack was applying for the job of CEO of the USA at the J-J Dinner. He exuded character and competence, for all those willing to hear. He makes a convincing argument that he is prepared to lead us toward peace and accomplishment, from day one. And where he is weak, he inspires us to believe he will find strength in competent cabinet members. With 200 foreign policy advisors, and 600 domestic policy advisors, I think we'll be headed in the right direction, with Barack at the helm.
Hillary? Well, Hillary comes prepared to do battle, to "Turn up the Heat" on the Republicans and not to talk with our enemies. She is primed and ready -- to usher in potentially eight more years of gridlock, badgering with Congress, building and bristling our near useless weaponry, even if we do have the benefit of her husband's intuition. Do we actually think that Barack would not call on the wisdom of Bill Clinton, just as Hillary would?
Barack Obama comes prepared to begin the healing, to make peace with our enemies, and to get something done -- and done right for the good of the vast majority of American taxpayers, the ones footing the bill for our Federal government.
Yes, indeed. The tide has turned, and brought with it a breath of fresh, Obama-inspired air.
Breathe in deeply, America. There now, doesn't that feel good?
Mrs. Obama: Blacks Inferiority Complex sabatoging Obama!
(This video just posted on YouTube from an MSNBC story.)
It definitely helps me better understand why some blacks seem afraid to believe that it could actually come to pass -- a gentleman of color being elected to the highest office in the land? Oh, how could that be? So, let me make sure that it won't happen because if he does make it, then others will expect me to achieve more; my wife will expect me to help with the dishes, rake the leaves, take out the garbage, or to at least consider working toward my OWN dreams.
Don't be afraid. Barack needs ALL of our votes and don't let fear hold you back! Yes, Barack is not running this campaign to make it about race yet why not support someone who can really help our nation heal and get beyond more of these race relation issues?
Unfortunately, Michelle Obama may be right -- there are a lot of folks who can accept Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Oprah Winfrey, or Bill Cosby, Will Smith, Denzel, Michael Jackson -- all entertainers -- but having a man of bi-racial decent as President?
If you are a person of color, or a minority (aren't we ALL in some way a minority?), think about the possibilities of a Barack Obama Presidency! Then get up the courage to stand up with him; to stand up for him on caucus night! Stand up for Barack! The fierce urgency of now is upon us!
This may be hard to find someday. Perish the thought!
This speech is Senator Obama's "verbal application for employment" to become the next President of the UNITED States of America. He's applying to the American electorate for our votes during the primary and caucus season, and I sure hope his application gets approved. Let's use the enthusiasm we get from watching this video to go out and win a few more supporters; to get them, too, to join the movement for "Change We Can Believe In".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tydfsfSQiYc
CBSNews offers a story today - "Does Obama Still Have It?"
An excerpt:
Mike Allen of the Politico called Obama the "biggest crowd pleaser," but Allen wrote that a contradiction in Obama's speech may have opened the door for trouble. Obama said that running for president was not a long-held ambition; however, Allen cites several newspaper interviews with Obama's teachers who said that as a child he wrote that he wanted to be president. -------------
Doesn't this kind of stuff just burn your toast?
To think that this "opens the door for trouble" in that this is some kind of a major contradiction? Millions of little kids, particularly young boys, say they want to be President someday. Jeepers, Mike Allen, having such a slow news day? You're going to pick on Barack because he wanted to be President when he was a kid?
Man bites dog attempt at finding skeletons, Mr. Allen. Boring.
Let's talk about something of substance, like whether we really need so many nukes, or we even need nukes at all. Or, how about a plan for cutting down on our dependence of mid-east oil. Or, what do you think of Barack's plan to elimate taxes for seniors earning less than $50K per year.
You know, something of substance.
MIKE GLOVER, Associated Press, wrote an AP story today that summarized some points covered during taping of the show "Iowa Press", which aired on IPTV Friday evening.
Here is a quote that is important for Iowans and people all over the country to hear and fully comprehend, directly addressing the issue of race and electability.
"People said there's no way that folks downstate are going to vote for you," said Obama. "Downstate Illinois is pretty similar to Iowa culturally and demographically. We ended up winning that primary by 20 points, we won the white vote, we won the rural vote, we won the farmer vote, there wasn't a vote we didn't win, against strong candidates."
When people bring up the question of race, it makes me wonder why we're still having this discussion in the 21st century. Yes, there are a lot of differences between races, cultures, genders, religions, etc. Each human being is so unique we routinely use DNA testing as a totally unique identifier in criminal and paternity/maternity matters.
We are all so different, so whether you're an Italian, German, Irishman, African, of mixed race origin, isn't it time we moved beyond this surface level of analysis of a human being? Some people in the generation before me seem to need this crutch or blankie to carry around, this grudge against some other race; somehow it gives bigots, racists, or even otherwise regular folks, a degree of comfort. They need to be able to hang onto this stinking thinking about others in a prejudicial, generalizing way so they can somehow feel important.
Fortunately, Senator Obama, has a highly developed intellect and a special wit (very much reminescent of John Fitzgerald Kennedy to this writer) as he states, "Talk about race gives the voters too little credit, and we're confident that we're going to do well (in Iowa and beyond)," said Obama. "If they feel that I can make their lives a little better, the last thing they are going to be thinking about is my race."
For those who want to ask this question, I posit, "which race should he say that he is? Should he claim he is black, a Kenyan or African-American, or should he say he's white and Kansan/European. I believe neither is satisfactory, yet aren't we all a minority of some type? I'm with Michael Jackson on this, life is much too short to "spend my life being a color".
Particularly troubling are discussions of whether he is black enough. This is a kind of discrimination, often harbored by AA's -- kind of a reverse prejudice.
The real question is, or at least should be, "Is Obama bright enough and a strong enough leader to serve us well as President of the United States". By the way he routinely answers this question, he shows he is exceptionally well-qualified, indeed.
Oh God help us to get beyond race.
But now that I mentioned God, there does seem to be part of the problem when we factor God into the equation. "We", as in humans all over the planet, like to use God to justify our hatred or at least a level of superiority of one religion over another; one race, creed, gender over another. Can't we just be the human "race"?
So, if you could God, please help us to get beyond religion, too. The need to claim some kind of God-given superiority over another human, based on short links of a DNA chain is trite. We need to move beyond this and fortunately, voters this cycle are looking deeper inside the candidates than their race or gender. We're looking into their head and heart.
Great thing about Barack Obama is, the more most of us look, the more we appreciate who he as as a human being. I know a lot of us see it.
Let's just agree to not use race or religion as a basis for selecting our President, okay Mr. Glover? Okay Iowans? Thank you Barack for giving us the credit that, hopefully, 100% of Iowans deserve.
"If you believe that the United States can do better. If you believe that we should change our course of action. If you believe that the United States stands for something here internally as well as elsewhere around the globe, I ask for your help and your assistance and your hand over the period of the next five months.
And when we win in November, and when we win in November, and we begin a new period of time for the United States of America - I want the next generation of Americans to look back upon this period and say as they said of Plato: "Joy was in those days, but to live."
Bobby Kennedy. March 1968 at the University of Kansas.
I look at today's date and think wow- it's already November! One year from now Barack Obama will be our newly elected president. And what will I do to fill my time ;) ? Last week was a busy Obama week.
Did you watch the democratic debate? Some of us in the grassroots ran an online debate watching/ discussion/ feedback group- the watchers project. (if you want to join us for the one on the 15th sign up here) It was a great debate, plenty to discuss, and I did not want it to end (ok- after the UFO question I thought maybe). In the midst of it I could see that he has respect for and from others, answers from truth, and believes that we can do and be better!
The next day, inspired by Senator Obama, a few of us participated in a community service project. This project feels like one he would like. Take a small group of committed people, give them some tools, add a great cause, and watch it grow.
A few years ago Patti Smith, mother of a deployed Marine, thought it would be nice to send Christmas packages to her sons' platoon. She believed she could do it and that year they sent hundreds. This member of the Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines non-profit group (cipfm.us) created "Operation Santa". Today it extends far beyond the local central Illinois troops deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq and includes all branches and even those not from Illinois. With help from 50 regular volunteers, countless other helpers, generous donors from Illinois to as far away as Oregon and Florida, this holiday season they are sending over 22,000 Christmas stockings! Next to moms with little kids to business men in their suits we were there in our Obama gear to stuff and send them on their way.
We thank our warriors for their sacrifice and hope they have a happy and safe holiday season.
On the weekend I found myself knocking on doors in rural Iowa.
Friday night my family traveled from Peoria to the suburbs of Chicago. Next day at 5:30 we woke and met up with our carpool. After the long car ride, a speeding ticket, and one pit stop we find ourselves at the field office in Independence Iowa. It has one couch, some chairs, few desks, and not much on the decorations. And there are others; some are my Obama friends from the Chicago area. What a place to meetup! We have a quick meeting with Audie, our local organizer, on what we are looking for, the route, how to use the caucus lists and we get dropped off in a small town.
One mother while she was ironing saw we were coming and opened the door to talk to us. I thought oh she is a supporter- but no. She, like most, is undecided and Obama is in her list (Matt, who drove us, joked that UNDECIDED is currently winning). During our conversation her daughter, maybe around 11, came to the door. She was excited- "OBAMA!" she yells. I walk away smiling. At another home we have a half hour conversation with a local politician and it covers a lot of territory. He is torn between two candidates. For him it is about electability. At this home
a middle aged woman answered the door and stepped out to talk a bit. I could tell from the sparkle in her eye and the tone of her voice that she was excited. We learn that she has been without health insurance for two years, something needs to change, and she believes that Barack Obama is the one to do it. On the bottom of the Obama sign up card we give her, she checks the- I will caucus box!
Reflecting on an earlier canvas I did in September and this one, I come to a realization. I find that almost every undecided voter, if they listed any candidate at all, has Barack Obama under consideration. People are starting to believe that yes we can do better. Daring to lend their voice and commit their vote to reclaim the American dream.
Reflecting on an earlier canvas I did in September and this one, I come to a realization. I find that almost every undecided voter, if they listed any candidate at all, has Barack Obama under consideration.
People are starting to believe that yes we can do better. Daring to lend their voice and commit their vote to reclaim the American dream.
It is time to lend a hand. Help canvas in your Sister City, tell your friends and family about your support, assist with making phone calls, and if you can, donate.
And next November you will have the wonderful memories and stories that you, with pride and a smile, can share with your kids and grandkids and great-grand kids. That you were part of the action, carried the hope, and helped to reclaim the American dream as part of the greatest movement seen since Kennedy.
BelieveBarack Obama '08Mid -America Mom
