http://thinkprogress.org/2009/08/31/olson-publi-option/
don't cha wish every repub town halls went this way?
Here is a link to today's Wash Post article on Jeremy Bird. We have got to keep fightin' the good fight!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/22/AR2009082202343.html?hpid=topnews
President Barack Obama you were perfect in the delivery and content of your speech on the 24th of Feb, 09. You are doing the best job anyone could ask for. You and your team have developed a very good plan to get us out of the financial mess we are in. And you have explained your plan and intentions to the fullest. No other President has been so open in the explanation of the plans for our country. I believe you will be successful in achieving the goals you have made for the improvements we need in this country. Mostly because it's a good plan but also because when you put your mind, heart and soul into something your level of success rates go up. And I can see that you believe what you are telling us and together we will fix the nation. Thank You for being who you are. Thank You for the HOPE you have given us all. Thank You for the wise decisions you have made for the betterment of our nation. Just Thank You, President Barack Obama I will pray for you, your family and your cabinet to be safe, make future good choices and to be successful.
Here are wonderful, moving photos of the Obama family during the election night returns. Hope you enjoy them as much as we have. My sister-n-law, after months of deliberation, suddenly changed her mind and decided to vote for Barack when she entered the polling booth. When she forwarded these pictures to us, we knew her heart had been changed. We thank her for being a part of history! ENJOY!
http://flickr.com/photos/barackobamadotcom/sets/72157608716313371/show/
What an amazing time in which to live! I am truly hopeful for my country and genuinely feel like I belong here for the first time. What's more - the whole world is as elated as we. Let's keep our enthusiasm for OBAMA 2012!!!!
HOLAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!
Monday night, we drove three hours to see Barack in Manassas, Virginia. We had fasted all day and prayed the beautiful prayers written and shared by our prayer group! My cousin, who voted early, saw Obama in Charlotte, North Carolina just a few hours before. Traffic was heavier than usual - Redskins' game, breakdowns, and 90,000+ people headed to the fairgrounds! We took three of our children with us [the others were working or away]. Barack was fabulous. My husband almost cried he was so touched by Barack's words and the courage he displayed as the news of his dear grandmother's passing was still fresh. We were both close to our grandmothers so we really have compasssion for him. Barack told the story of the woman in South Carolina who turned a dreary rainy day into something special when she kept saying to him "Fired Up - Ready to Go!" That's how we felt in Manassas, the night before the election of the century! We felt an urgent sense of purpose - and Fired Up! Ready to Go!
When the event was over - 90,000+ slowly left the fairgrounds, encouraged and determined to vote - no matter the lines, the rain, the wait, no matter what. We got home at 2 am in the morning. On the news, they said as late as one in the morning, people were still inching slowly off the fairground where the last rally before today's election was held. Wow. We had just left Virginia after canvassing all day in Winchester on Saturday and canvassing in Pennsylvania two weeks before. What a week! What a month! What a year!!!
6 am Tuesday morning, I was back in the car, picking up our daughter in DC, checking on my 85 year old father, checking in with my sister, my cousins, my aunts and uncles in Virginia and North Carolina . All was set. We all went to vote. In DC, we stood in a line this morning that wrapped around the block for two hours - it didn't feel like it. Cars honked as people drove by on their way to work. People waved, people screamed "OBAMA. " It was festive. It was emotional. It was transcendent. We were all so happy to be in line for THIS VOTE. I took pictures of my neighbors. We took pictures of the line. We took pictures placing the ballot in the box. My daughter did the electronic thing - this is her very first Presidential Election! She said, "Mommy, I'm so glad this election is my first time." My niece told her mom 'thank you.' She said she finally understood why we had rallied, and argued, and protested, and knocked on doors, and fought so hard all these years. She said we did it so that she, my daughters, our children, all of us could see this day. It was an amazing day.
My father was dressed as if he were going to work. At 85. and a veteran, he's in great shape. He walked briskly to the car and drove himself to vote with great pride and determination [he's at a different precinct than me]. Daddy was so proud of what he had to do today! I know he was proud watching his daughters and his granddaughters going to vote, too. Isn't that what he fought for? Thank you GOD. I witnessed three generations voting all together on this most historic day! It was amazing. Thank you GOD for blessing this process.
Our hearts are filled with PRAISE!! Thank you GOD for the Victory of Barack Obama as the new President-elect of the United States of America - the Whole United States of America. One Nation, under GOD!! We Thank You GOD! Peace to All - Rita
At the end of the night, after all the questions and responses, Obama maintained his momentum in the campaign, while McCain failed to get the major shake up that he needed. Add that to the wierd manuever that he made in "suspending the campaign" this past week, which nearly derailed the debate entirely, and McCain can call this whole debate process a loss.
McCain clearly showed that he is too much of an erratic "maverick" to instill confidence and a sense of security as President. He showed that he can't handle a major crisis and still carry out daily job functions; he has to stop everything in order to focus. He drew a line in the sand about not showing for the debate without an agreement on the bailout bill, but then had to show up without one anyway. His bumbling presence in Washington not only failed to create agreement on the bill, it probably complicated the process and prevented one. Then he had to show up for the debate to avoid looking like he was afraid to go one-on-one with Obama or looking like he just couldn't handle doing both.
What kind of President drops everything to handle a crisis and ends up making it worse? What kind of President makes a definitive statement that he won't do something, then just gives in and does it anyway? What kind of President can't even garner agreement in his own party on how to save their own butt with an agreement to resolve a national crisis that was created on their watch?
The term "dottering" keeps coming to mind. I also think McCain also has some health issues that are more serious than we know about, and guess whose waiting in the wings. I think even the rational Republicans know that McCain is the risky candidate, and Obama is the strong steady one.
He clearly showed that tonight.
Here is a wonderfully inspiring video. This video should open even blind eyes. Watch and Share!
http://www.vimeo.com/1742831#success
On Thursday, September 18, 2008, the correspondence shown below was sent to CNN and to other media outlets. I urge you to raise your voice and be heard... " a closed mouth doesn't get feed"
TO: CNN Responsible Parties (Jon Klein, President CNN/US, Jim Walton, President CNN Worldwide, Ken Jautz, Executive V.P., CNN Worldwide, Nancy Lane, Sr. V.P, Editorial CNN/US, Mitch Gelman, Sr. Exec. Producer, CNN.com and Rena Golden, Executive Producer, CNN.com
From: Alisa Bigstaff, USA Citizen
Date: September 18, 2008
Subj: Damaged Integrity: The Miseducation of the American People
I believe CNN is a global leader in news and information with anchors, reporters, correspondents and contributors that honor a code of conduct and bipartisan reporting regardless of the place or event. In alphabetical order according to their last name, I commend the following CNN staff members or contributors who consistently uphold these values:
Christiane Amanpour, Paul Begala, Wolf Blitzer, Jack Cafferty, James Carville, Anderson Cooper, Amy Holmes, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, John King, Larry King and Soledad O’Brien.
I have been a loyal viewer of CNN for over 5 years. I have watched each of the above reporters; report on issues that resonate with the viewers. I am writing to you to express my concern and disappointment about statements coming from the Senior Political Correspondent, Candy Crowley concerning Barack Obama and his Presidential Election Campaign. I am particularly agitated by CNN's responsible parties’ failure to enforce "no political propaganda or biased reporting."
Reporting about John McCain and Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign is absolutely necessary to clarify information to the American people so that we receive the facts before Election Day. Current statements or reporting by Candy Crowley seems to be the worst offenders of political propaganda and biased reporting. I know there is other reporters in the media industry that report in this same manner, but I'm not concerned about other televised or written forms of the media. CNN is above average in excellence and many viewers have high regards and have come to respect and trust that CNN reporters uphold the true essences of professional journalism.
On April 11, 2008, Candy Crowley reported from Terre Haute , IN on Wolf Blitzer's "The Situation Room." The topic of discussion was public financing. Candy Crowley clearly sided with McCain's position, questioned Barack Obama's position then failed to mention McCain's FEC violations. On September 16, 2008, Candy Crowley reported from Pueblo , CO , on "Anderson Cooper 360." The topic of discussion was about lies coming from McCain and Obama campaigns. When Candy Crowley was asked a fair question, she stated "I'm not going to make that call..." It was crystal clear that if she could not find favor with McCain, she would not respond to a question that could educate American voters. After all, folks respect Candy Crowley's opinion, as do I.
On September 15, 2008, Candy Crowley reported from Pueblo , CO on "Anderson Cooper 360." The topic of discussion was Wall Street. Candy Crowley stated "listen, just as foreclosures were showing up on B-17, or in the real estate section, along comes this horrific headline out of Wall Street. I mean, this is what they wanted. They believe, of course, the economy is one of their strengths, and that they can paint John McCain as George Bush."
I have read many emails, comments and blogs posted from folks all over America . People have taken Candy Crowley's words as factual. Many people now believe that Barack Obama secretly wanted Wall Street to crumble, why? Candy Crowley said it. Candy Crowley is a Senior Political Correspondent for CNN, why wouldn't folks believe she is speaking the truth? I am distressed by Crowley 's statement and the failure of CNN responsible parties to communicate to the American public that her statement was wrong, irrational and cannot be validated.
Candy Crowley's statements on September 15th appeared in several articles and the video from the news report is posted on the Internet free to the public. In April, I felt a strong urge to speak out about Crowley 's biased and political propaganda toward Obama. I regret not bringing that issue to the responsible parties at CNN. I had hoped that CNN's responsible parties [off record] would criticize Crowley for comments she had continuously made that clearly show partisanship. Five months later it has become obvious that Crowley was not chastised for biased and/or political propaganda. I had hoped that CNN's responsible parties would show the American people that biased or political propaganda that is clearly one-sided will not be tolerated. Today, I hoped that Crowley might publicly withdraw her statement from Monday, September 15, 2008 because of its errors. I heard no apology and no response from CNN.
An important common ground between the media and the public is that we each face accusations about political issues and presidential candidates. The public hears about our economy and see how the elected party's presidential candidate responds. We watch the news, read newspapers, magazines and scan the Internet to stay abreast of political issues. For our loyalty in helping CNN as well as our local media stations earn their rating; all we ask in return is honest, fair and bipartisan reporting.
All Americans and countries around the globe suffer from our falling stock markets, rising gas prices, housing crisis, war and many other aspects of our economy. I don't know of a single person who may or may not be running for the position of the USA Commander-in-Chief that does not have enough morals, values, decency, respect and/or common sense to not rejoice over the turbulent conditions of our economy. However, Candy Crowley went on record and reported to millions of Americans that Barack Obama lacked these qualities for selfish and ignorant reasons, no doubt. Perhaps Candy Crowley did not intend to imply that Barack Obama and his campaign pundits wished for an American economy on the brink of a recession; or did she mean what she said? If Crowley stands by her statements I request that she produce factual evidence to support her position.
CNN's responsible parties are in a position to rectify this issue and enforce bipartisan reporting moving forward. It is my hope that this correspondence reaches the appropriate parties so that all Americans receive bipartisan political viewpoints in the future. CNN and its reporters must continue to show above average excellence in its industry. One of the ways this can be achieved is for CNN to issue and post a statement regarding its expectation of its anchors, reporters, correspondents and contributors; Candy Crowley should have to state her error in judgment to the American public and retract the statement she made on Monday, September 15, 2008 about Barack Obama and his campaign. Many thanks.
It is now more important than ever for each of us to get out and show how strongly we support Barack Obama. We have all done many things to make sure he is elected to office, but until he is actually elected...we've ain't done enough! (had to get ghetto). Now lets get our families involved, our neighbors, our friends. When you look around you shoulkd have no doubt that everyone around you knows who to support.
Too many people are undecided and even more are uninterested. These individuals don't think their votes matter. We must show them the truth and how it takes us all to really make a difference.
We all know every single vote matters its time to make sure everyone around us knows this as well. We got off to a strong start...but it's not how you start it's how you finish.
Love you! Please stay motivated and keep motivating!!!
We will win!
Jeronique
www.myspace.com/jeronique
After months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people.
Huh?
Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:
She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience. (1)
Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. (2)
She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. (3)
Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools. (4)
She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change. (5)
Renowned artist Tim Hinton has created exciting new paintings of the Democratic Nominee. His work has captured the Senator’s sense of humility, unyielding faith, pride and hope for our country. Tim Hinton invites you to own a piece of history through these distinguished works of art. Open edition and limited edition (signed and numbered) prints are now available at www.obamatribute.com
On Poster "I chose to run for the presidency at this moment in history because I believe deeply that we cannot solve the challenges of our time unless we solve them together - unless we perfect our union by understanding that we may have different stories, but we hold common hopes; that we may not look the same and we may not have come from the same place, but we all want to move in the same direction - towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren.
This belief comes from my unyielding faith in the decency and generosity of the American people. But it also comes from my own American story. It's a story that hasn't made me the most conventional candidate. But it is a story that has seared into my genetic makeup the idea that this nation is more than the sum of its parts - that out of many, we are truly one."
(Excerpts from Senator Barack Obama's speech on race, Philadelphia, March 18, 2008)
http://blog.foreignpolicy.com/node/9456
Source: Foreign Policy
Author: Joshua Keating
Steve Clemons gives the Barack Obama campaign a good thrashing from the left today for the candidate's willingness to accept the resignation of his Muslim outreach coordinator, Mazen Asbahi. The Wall Street Journal reports that Asbahi, a Chicago lawyer, resigned because of questions about his ties to an Illinois-based Imam named Jamal Said who has been accused (though not indicted) of fundraising for Hamas. The two served together for a few weeks on the board of an Islamic investment fund back in 2000. Predictable smug outrage has followed on right-wing blogs.
According to the Journal, the tenuous connection between Asbahi and Said was first noted by the Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report, a subscription-only Web site that tracks the international activity of that Islamic party and its supporters. The WSJ says the Report is published by a "Washington think tank," but there doesn't seem to be any author or organizational affiliation mentioned on the site, and a Whois lookup yields no clues.
I don't know how he does it, but Barack continues to be the better man. He does this despite constantly being attacked by McCain. I think that is such an admirable quality and one I definitely want in a President. It really speaks to Barack's character.
Comments?
