Dear all,
My name is Beatrice Cayo, I would like to invite you all in my new venture to Sponsor The Orlando Florida Organizing For America. This Blog is created for us citizens to assist President Barack Obama to come up with ways to face the problems that we are currently facing in Central Florida such as: Economy, Foreclosures, Unemployment, Homeless, Health Care, Child Care Assistance, Create more Elderly Programs, Teachers shortages, and so forth..., Please feel free to comment on any issue that you need us to address.
I welcome any new ideas and all kinds of contributions whether it is Office supplies, schools supplies, donations of monetary values or offices site and buildings, food whatever you might have.Let's show President Obama that he is not working alone. Yes!!! We Can!!!!!!Yes Guys!!!!!! Together we can solve our problems.I am counting on your help and support. Please Subscribe if you have not yet done so, and invite your friends to join us. Thanks for all of the considerations given to my sincere request.Sincerely,
Beatrice Cayo(407)218-0613 Post Office Box 681953Orlando, FL 32868 email: beatricecayo@yahoo.com
Early Voting for the entire state of Florida has just been extended.
Every Early Vote location in Florida will now be every day from 7am-7pm up through November 2.
Please pass along this great news to everyone you know who will be voting in Florida. Click here to find your nearest early vote location.
Here's the release:
GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS ~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~October 28, 2008Contact:GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE(850) 488-5394TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008. "I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Governor Crist said. "I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote." Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting. Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county's Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting. Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29. Please see the attached Executive Order 08-217. STATE OF FLORIDA OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 08-217 WHEREAS, early voting is scheduled to end November 2, 2008; and WHEREAS, early voting turnout has already reached record levels and is forecast to continue with record turnout. There are only 267 early voting sites throughout the state and long lines have formed at many of the early voting sites; and WHEREAS, a historic number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time in this election; and WHEREAS, new voting equipment is being used in 15 Florida counties; WHEREAS, as a result of this unique combination of circumstances resulting from the historic voter turnout in this election, there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and thus residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote; andWHEREAS, because of the existing and continuing possibility of an emergency occurring before or during the regularly scheduled election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process, and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote;NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, by the Florida Elections Emergency Act, and by all other applicable laws, issue the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:I hereby declare that, based on the above-described conditions, a state of emergency exists. It is hereby found and declared to be necessary to extend the voting hours during early voting. Accordingly, I order the Supervisors of Elections to open early voting sites from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. through October 31, 2008 and open early voting sites for a total of twelve (12) hours between 7 a.m. November 1, 2008 and 7 p.m. November 2, 2008.IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 28th day of October, 2008. GOVERNORATTEST:SECRETARY OF STATE
GOVERNOR CRIST EXTENDS EARLY VOTING HOURS
~~ ~Ensures maximum number of Floridians can exercise right to vote~ ~~
October 28, 2008
Contact:
GOVERNOR'S PRESS OFFICE(850) 488-5394
TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist today signed Executive Order 08-217, extending the hours for early voting during the current General Election. Effective immediately, early voting sites will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., through Friday, October 31, 2008, and for a total of 12 hours between 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, and 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 2, 2008.
"I have spoken with the Secretary of State and members of the Florida Legislature and have concluded that it is always the right thing to do to give voters every opportunity to cast a ballot," Governor Crist said. "I have a responsibility to the voters of our state to ensure that the maximum number of citizens can participate in the electoral process, and that every person can exercise the right to vote."
Prior to the 2008 General Election, Florida has seen historic numbers of Floridians registering to vote for the first time. In addition, record numbers of voters have chosen to cast a ballot during early voting.
Early voting began on October 20 and runs through November 2. Current Florida law allows for early voting to be conducted eight hours per day on each weekday, and for a total of eight hours during both weekends during the early voting period. Floridians can contact their county's Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations of early voting.
Florida voters can also request absentee ballots to be mailed to them until October 29.
Please see the attached Executive Order 08-217.
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NUMBER 08-217
WHEREAS, early voting is scheduled to end November 2, 2008; and
WHEREAS, early voting turnout has already reached record levels and is forecast to continue with record turnout. There are only 267 early voting sites throughout the state and long lines have formed at many of the early voting sites; and
WHEREAS, a historic number of Floridians have registered to vote for the first time in this election; and
WHEREAS, new voting equipment is being used in 15 Florida counties;
WHEREAS, as a result of this unique combination of circumstances resulting from the historic voter turnout in this election, there is a possibility that election officials will be unable to conduct an orderly election, and thus residents in our state could be deprived of a meaningful opportunity to vote; and
WHEREAS, because of the existing and continuing possibility of an emergency occurring before or during the regularly scheduled election, and in order to ensure maximum citizen participation in the electoral process, and provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to exercise their right to vote;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, CHARLIE CRIST, as Governor of Florida, by virtue of the authority vested in me by Article IV, Section 1(a) of the Florida Constitution, by the Florida Elections Emergency Act, and by all other applicable laws, issue the following Executive Order, to take immediate effect:
I hereby declare that, based on the above-described conditions, a state of emergency exists. It is hereby found and declared to be necessary to extend the voting hours during early voting. Accordingly, I order the Supervisors of Elections to open early voting sites from 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m. through October 31, 2008 and open early voting sites for a total of twelve (12) hours between 7 a.m. November 1, 2008 and 7 p.m. November 2, 2008.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Florida to be affixed, at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this 28th day of October, 2008.
GOVERNOR
ATTEST:
SECRETARY OF STATE
I early voted for Barack Obama today. I have voted in every election I could since I was 18, but never have I been filled with so much pride over my choice.
I feel awesome today!!!
Dave
PLEASE JOIN AND PROMOTE THIS NEW GROUP:Top10Goals
This group will focus on defining the -Top 10 Goals- for our next president to commit to achieving in 2009. This could serve as the bases for creating a very specific, bottom-up originated, agreement between "we the people" and Barack Obama.
IMAGINE...
There was a message circulating some of our groups in Florida yesterday that spread incorrect information conerning the the ID needed to vote. We're going to clarify below.
A message from the Florida Campaign for Change chief election lawyer:
I am the Obama-Biden campaign’s chief election lawyer in Florida, and I have received the 'no match no vote' message from several sources. This message is categorically false. Our reading of the clear statutory language does NOT require that the address on the driver’s license (or other ID) that the voter presents at the polls match the voter’s address in the precinct register. Furthermore, this press release from the Florida Secretary of State definitively ccnfirms:http://www.dos.state.fl.us/news/communications/pressRelease/pressRelease.cfm?id=330 See the last bullet:· I.D. required and checked at the polls is used solely to confirm the voter’s identity. Not to verify the voter’s ID number or address. The photograph on the ID is compared to the person standing before the poll worker and the signature on the ID is compared to the signature on record.
I am the Obama-Biden campaign’s chief election lawyer in Florida, and I have received the 'no match no vote' message from several sources. This message is categorically false.
Our reading of the clear statutory language does NOT require that the address on the driver’s license (or other ID) that the voter presents at the polls match the voter’s address in the precinct register. Furthermore, this press release from the Florida Secretary of State definitively ccnfirms:http://www.dos.state.fl.us/news/communications/pressRelease/pressRelease.cfm?id=330
See the last bullet:
· I.D. required and checked at the polls is used solely to confirm the voter’s identity. Not to verify the voter’s ID number or address. The photograph on the ID is compared to the person standing before the poll worker and the signature on the ID is compared to the signature on record.
Please feel free to email florida@barackobama.com with any questions or concerns.
It's official, Barack sent out the email this morning, did you get it?
Friend --I have some important news that I want to make official.I've chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate. Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois -- the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.I'm excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can't do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.Please let Joe know that you're glad he's part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we'll make sure he gets it:Welcome Joe Thanks for your support,Barack
I have some important news that I want to make official.
I've chosen Joe Biden to be my running mate.
Joe and I will appear for the first time as running mates this afternoon in Springfield, Illinois -- the same place this campaign began more than 19 months ago.
I'm excited about hitting the campaign trail with Joe, but the two of us can't do this alone. We need your help to keep building this movement for change.
Please let Joe know that you're glad he's part of our team. Share your personal welcome note and we'll make sure he gets it:
Welcome Joe
Thanks for your support,
Barack
Send Joe a note! Welcome Joe!
Make sure to turn on your TV at 3:00 p.m. to join Obama and Biden in Springfield, Illinois. Or, watch online at http://www.BarackObama.com.
I just came down to Florida in mid-July. I'm a Field Organizer for the Florida Campaign for Change, which means I'm going to be spending the next few months doing everything I can to get people registered, convinced, motivated, and turned out to vote. Since I'm new to the area any tips and advice anyone can give me would be great.
Also...if anyone can make it to Clermont for the Org Meeting Monday night let me know. Organizational Meeting may not sound like the most exciting thing but its going to be fun and rewarding I promise! There are meetings across the Country and State on Saturday but if you can't make it to one of them head on over to us at Buffalo's Cafe.
Thanks for reading.
Duncan McCullough
Hello my fellow Democrats, Independents and Republicans for Obama,
Some politicians have lost their way to Big Corporations saying trade is good, while our jobs are being shipped overseas and factory's close at an alarming rate. So McCain's been in Congress for 20 something years and has done nothing to stop, help or curb to change this.
McCain's judgment got us into this mess and won't ever say he was wrong about invading Iraq.
Bush and McCain would rather start Wars with out clear and precise ways of winning them long before they start them. McCain touts his judgment in trying to win a War we had no business enacting, while touting he "Knows how to Win Wars".
Ask yourself, Is this the same politics that your Grandparents are voted for? Is this the Government that your Grandparents are use too? I bet they say NO.. Then ask them, what are you going to do about it?
McCain is thinking about taking away Social Security that your Grandparents too have worked long and hard for.
McCain the Candidate that votes one way and then tells you he was against it, even though his record reflects he was for it.
If you have a Grandmother that is going to the Polls to cast her vote, ask her if you vote Republican, are voting for a Candidate that has voted against Longer Maternity leave, Head Start programs for Children and voted against one of the Most crucial GI Bill benefit Program that will give our Troops hope that they will come home and be re-trained for jobs that they lost before going to war.
McCain is voted against Better College Grants for our Troops in order to give them hope, when they have lost a bit of themselves in the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
McCain voted against Better Medical for our Troops whom were injured both Mentally and Physically.
Obama has spoken that he wanted these programs early in the Primary's. McCain knew the day this Bill was on the Senate floor to be passed. Tell your Grandparents exactly what McCain did, and what it did for all the Men and Women in the Military.
Have Democrats and Republicans vote overwhelmingly for the New GI Bill. The Media didn't want you to know that one, :O)
McCain truly has shown that he doesn't care for the mental and emotional wellbeing of our Troops once they return home.
McCain really thinks he can joke about War and killing innocent humans while he and Bush continue their Fear and War mongering manners.
It was his fault that the deplorable conditions at the Medical Center went unseen and not funded enough to improve health care and building maintenance that wasn't adhered too.
With a mindset like McCain's, we would be worse off than ever before. People say Bush=McCain, no, no,no!! McCain=Bush
McCain is trying to show he's changed from Bush mindset, but his recent voting record shows that he is still the one of the Worse Republicans in Congress with not showing up and voting for what would make OUR LIVES a lot better.
He is the most Absent Senator in Congress. Does your Grandparents know this?? Do they care? He carelessly throws out words to his Town Halls, it doesn't matter, we could be in Iraq for 100 years. We occupy China and Germany, so will build a US base and stay in Iraq. Problem with that, McCain is the only human alive that thinks this way. Bush has said that will not build a US Base in Iraq and Iraq has stated, that will never happen. Yes, he said that he was misquoted and now says that he wants "Us out in 5 years" a time table.
So if he has visited Iraq 9 times and still comes up with a 5 year time table and the President of Iraq wants us out now! Leads me to think ,is McCain, Bush and Cheney is either making more money off this War than what we came to believe?
Or Bush's use of the War as way to get footing for McCain the War Monger Candidacy? Or is it that Bush or McCain hasn't said a word about Pulling our Troops out early because they have no friggin clue what is going on in Iraq?
Or is that they are afraid that Sen. Obama will come out looking more like the President of the USA that gives Iraqis hope also?
The President of Iraq wants a time table!! Obama wants a time table! Our Troops want a time table! Their families and friends want a time table!
The President of Iraq has endorsed Sen. Obama's time table!!! Hello!!!! Sen. Obama has Stated his position on communications with Iran's leaders and now Bush wants to take credit for making this a reality. So much for that appeasement speech from Bush at the Israeli Knesset.
Now the Bush Administration wants the President of Iraq to retract his statements of endorsing Presidential Nominee Barack Obama's time table. To Late Bush and McCain. No matter who is trying to speak for the President of Iraq, the President of Iraq has spoken, so it must be true. But not for good ole McCain the "I CAN WIN WARS" the puppet of destruction and propaganda.
Oh I forgot, McCain is just now finding out more about our Economy going south and people are hurting. I still can't believe he is still pandering and assuming Republicans and Independents are that naive and not smart enough to see through his incompetence. And they still think his Gas Tax Holiday will work when even though the Gas guru's and Big Oil Companies have said that the Commodity's Market will correct itself if there is a Gas Tax Holiday. They also stated that it will make the price of Gas go up towards $6 shortly after the Gas Tax Holiday begins since we will again start to buy more Gas faster than before the Tax Holiday.
Sen. Obama himself have stated that this won't work. Economist have stated this won't work. We all know that this is pandering and not right to tell people something that won't work and will work against them. Obama knows this first hand because in his home State of Illinois, they tried it and it failed miserably. So Obama knows exactly what he's talking about.
So why is McCain still telling people this in his Town Hall Meetings? Those poor souls people are cheering and clapping for it.
This leads me to think, that there is a lot of really naive people that just need to get a lot more educated and updated about who this man is and what this man stands for and not just what they need to hear.
Sen. Obama has spoken very clearly on his Alternative Energy push for an end to our need for fossil fuels.
So now they have McCain, AGAIN using Sen. Obama's Alternative Fuel Initiatives stand to get us off the addiction to Fossil fuels.
Now T. Boone Pickens and McCain are jumping on the Barack Obama Band wagon for Alternative Fuels initiatives.
To bad now the GOP have found out that it's not working as well as his campaign advisors thought.
McCain was all against drilling for Oil anywhere and was with Bush Sr. when he signed to end Drilling in the US and Offshore. That was McCain being a Proactive puppet then and now on his Primary Campaign strategy this year. But only after (other) people(puppet masters) have called for more drilling to be use as a General Election Pandering ploy for McCain. And sense McCain by his own words and true statements, he doesn't have much knowledge on Economic Affairs, WOW, YOU DON'T SAY..
I Guess Computers are his Kryptonite too? No wonder he never knew anything about Dr. Martin Luther King or what he stood for.
This is what you get from a person whom graduated 5th from the Bottom of his Naval Academy Class and barely Graduated at the Navy College. He Flunked flight school but with the help of his Father, he got several chances to make the cut.
With Barack Obama, we get a Columbia Undergrad and Harvard Law Graduate that was voted by his highly educated mostly Republican peers as the Head of the most Prestigious Law Review in the Country. He Graduated Magna Cum Laude and was in the top his Graduation class. His story and History is amazing and will be told to our Sons and Daughters for years to come. Trust me on this. As for a matter of fact, QUOTE ME AS SAYING THIS.
Your Grandparents will be the one of the factors in this election that we need on board. Tell about what you see and feel with Change. Get in their heads. I do.. But it's easy for me, I like to talk.
Ask them? Do you want more of this, or more that? Or change? Social Security is important to them right? Well Sen. Obama states that if they receive $50k and under, they will not have to pay taxes on their SSI. Even though it's only a very small amount, but we can make that up and them some with getting rid of Bush's tax cut for the Rich. Capital gains tax will only effect the top 5% of money earners in this Country, that make gross purchases of homes, Cars, Yachts and other wealthy material items. We should not worry since we don't have that kind of wealth, Yet. They don't care because the RICH will find away around it. They always do.
That's why you hear the Rich Actors and entertainers complaining. Only a few loud mouths that don't care about normal everyday people's lives are complaining about Obama tax plans. And those people are newly rich themselves and can afford the hit.
Together we must get the vote right this year. We cannot afford it any other way. Ask your Grandparents where do you want our Country to go? What are you willing to do about it? Are you willing to make the right choice? Tell them with a Democratic Majority Congress, Obama can almost get anything passed, so he can get what he says, mostly. Tell them that!!
McCain won't get a third of what he ask in Congress if President because of the Democratic House Majority. Tell them about the very recent Bill that Bush vetoed and got the House of Congress pushed back and overrides his veto. See what is happening already.
CHANGE is what WE want, and CHANGE it what WE shall have..
Then tell them, VOTE for Obama and put an end to this horrible legacy, if not for them, tell them for Us and our Children.
McCain and the Bush Admin is part of the Problem that has made the grave mistakes, now let Obama and his well qualified and intelligent Administration clean it up and get us back on track..
YES WE CAN.
Obama did all this in 1 year in the US Senate!
Imagine when he becomes President with a Majority Democratic Congress!! WOW!!
The Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act, passed the Senate. McCain was against it.
Obama endorsed and fought for the The 2007 Government Ethics Bill, - became law.. McCain was against it. Why did McCain vote against it? What was he hiding when the Law passed didn't cost the tax payers a dime and it would clean up Washington from the ground up!!
Obama not only help introduce this Bill, he fought and got it passed. *The Protection Against Excessive Executive Compensation Bill. McCain was totally against it, even after his Keating 5 corruption case entered the minds of the Republicans as he is running for POTUS.
Obama's pledge to start cleaning up Washington along with this Bill that became Law.
Coburn-Obama Government Transparency Act of 2006 - became law.
Both McCain and Bush were totally against this bill. McCain didn't want his taxes exposed along with his wife's even though they file separately.
The Lugar-Obama Nuclear Non-proliferation and Conventional Weapons Threat Reduction Act, - became law.. This is stop the US and other Countries from dealing or trading on Nuclear Enriched Material to produce Dirty or conventional bombs.
The UN adopted this resolution shortly after.
That's is why the US Senate and McCain wanted Obama to head and be the Chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee's 11-member Subcommittee on European Affairs.
At his CHAIR of the Senate's Subcommittee on European Affairs, which has some oversight in Afghanistan through NATO.
Obama is calling for more Troops there which is what they need badly.
That's Foriegn Policy trust for you!!
Now that's getting it done right!
Does this show Obama cared once he hit the US Senate? HECK YEAH!!
That's why they called him, the most liberal left.
Because he was totally thinking about America and the World, not Politicians, Lobbyist and Special interest.
I got 100's other reasons why I vote for Obama, but it will take more bandwidth to post it all.
McCain's numbers have dropped from a high of 46% to only 36% - falling below 40% for the first time this cycle - while Obama increased his numbers from 46% to 51%. Additionally, he has widened his lead among blacks, youth, women and independents. While McCain's approval rating has dropped to 49%, Obama's has increased to 62%. Obama is also trusted by more voters to handle the economy, the energy crisis and the Iraq War. Only 5% of voters are undecided.
Republicans have been quick to dismiss the results, tacking the lead up to a post-primary bounce and pointing out that Governor Dukakis enjoyed an 18-point lead over Vice President Bush in 1988, only to lose the election in an Electoral College landslide. A closer examination of the facts reveals that this is a hasty generalization, because there are too many significant differences between 1988 and now for this to be a valid comparison.
Dukakis didn't get a large bounce from winning the primary, he opened up his lead after the Democratic convention in July; in contrast this years Democratic Convention is still to be held at which time a post-convention bounce is expected for Obama. Dukakis also only enjoyed a 28% positive approval rating coming out of the convention and through July a whopping 50% of voters were still undecided. Dukakis' lead fizzled within two weeks, because instead of campaigning after the convention he returned to Massachusetts to govern for several weeks. In fact, he would campaign only part-time for much of the primary and general election - splitting his week between governing during the early part of the week and campaigning towards the end of the week. With the exception of a few key votes, Obama has been a fulltime campaigner. It wasn't until the end of September that Dukakis began campaigning full time.
This allowed Bush to effectively define him with unrelenting attacks throughout the summer and the early fall. Despite a years worth of campaigning time, going into the debates Dukakis was still unknown by 54% of the electorate. Bush's attacks went unanswered until the end of October - just days before the election - when Dukakis gave a 90-minute TV interview and his campaign began countering Bush's negative ads with a set of their own. Throughout the campaign Dukakis made several PR blunders and, like Kerry in 2004, had them used against him by the Republicans. "Dukakis Driving a Tank" is slang in PR circles for a faux pas. Unlike Dukakis (or Gore or Kerry for that matter), Obama has been quick to address attacks from the right and his team has been exceptional with staging PR events.
Lloyd Bentsen, Dukakis' running mate, wasn't any more helpful during the campaign. He chose to simultaneously campaign for re-election to his Senate seat in Texas. The Texas Republican Party's message was "vote no for Bentsen twice," and it effectively eliminated the advantage that Democrats hoped to obtain in Texas by choosing Bentsen as VP. From the list of major contenders announced so far for Obama's VP slot, none are running for re-election.
Moreover, Dukakis' lead in the national polls wasn't reflected in the state polling at the time. He was doing poorly in the South and the North, and the Electoral College breakdown from the state polls showed Dukakis at only 227 with Bush closely behind at 214. Dukakis' strength was in the West and the Midwest. However, state polls this year have Obama up by nearly 150 Electoral Votes, at 347 for Obama to 191 for McCain. With a few exceptions Obama is running strong in every section of the country.
Another important difference is that this year only 12% of Americans say that they are satisfied with the direction of the country and the President has the lowest approval rating in history; but, in 1988 there was a general satisfaction with the status quo and President Reagan enjoyed a positive approval rating. Bush also enjoyed a significant fund raising advantage over his rival, in contrast Obama has more cash on hand than McCain and won't be limited by the amount of money that he can spend because he opted out of public financing. In politics cash is the fifth estate and those that have it usually win.
Finally, in 1988 America wasn't bogged down in a war opposed by 65% of the population and the average price of gas was only $1.08 per gallon. Justified or not, many Americans are drawing their own connections between the Iraq War and high oil prices, which doesn't bode well for McCain since he's branded himself the stay-the-course candidate. We also can't discount the fact that in 1988 there was no major third party challenger from the right, whereas this year Bob Barr is running as the Libertarian nominee and should present problems for McCain throughout the South - especially in Georgia (Barr's home state).
Unless a major scandal surrounding Obama pops-up, McCain will be lucky to see 44% again.
Read more posts at The Progressive Current.
The other day I was scouring the web doing research for the blog "Oh McCain, Never Say Never" and came across this jewel on the McCain campaign's official blog site:
Seems that the McCain camp is hot on the trail of the surrender monkey. Well, as long time readers of this blog know, I've already been down that trail. What I found was so terrifying that I changed my name to Puck, moved to a mountain in Japan, shaved my head, gained 450 pounds, competed in amateur sumo wrestling, got busted for juicing, lost my title, was banished from my adopted village and was forced to live off of tiger dung for 36 hours before I realized I was in front of a McDonalds's.
Maybe McCain shouldn't go there. Personally, I vowed never to speak of the horror I found, but I'm busy this week so I figured "ah what the hell, why not reuse some old material?"
Note for the new readers: In the blog I mention Shane. Shane is a Bush-Till-The-End-Republican who would routinely label readers of my blog surrender monkeys. Shane if you're out there feel free to comment. You're blog material gold!
On the Trail of the Surrender Monkey
For the past week I've been getting reports in from a reader that a new species of primate had begun to spring up in the halls of our government. Deeply concerned that this "surrender monkey" (as the reader referred to it) was the foreshadowing of something more sinister, I decided to consult a monkey expert/survivalist. Often times referred to as the missing link himself, our resident monkey connoisseur, Shane, is right at the top of my Rolodex for all things monkey. Not because he's any good – actually now that I think about it, he has a Snuffleupagus quality about him – but because he takes payment in monopoly:
This is what I was able to learn from Shane:
"[T]he definition of the surrender monkeys. If there're willing to take payoffs from Saudi Sheiks…"
Profound. The best thing since sliced limes. Monopoly well spent. Thanks Shane!
Loaded with this newfound knowledge, and grammar style, I was ready to conduct my own "factcheck.org" of this story. Central to Shane's definition of "surrender monkey" was the notion of the Saudi payoff. From what I was able to discern, the Monkey Master was saying that the defining characteristic of a "surrender monkey" is a willingness to accept money from citizens of the Kingdom of Saud. All that I had to do then, was follow the money trail and I would have this baffling "surrender monkey."
A quick google revealed this article written by Jonathan Wells, Jack Meyers and Maggie Mulvihill:
Those lucrative financial relationships call into question the ability of America's political elite to make tough foreign policy decisions about the kingdom that produced Osama bin Laden and is perhaps the biggest incubator for anti-Western Islamic terrorists.
Nowhere is the revolving U.S.-Saudi money wheel more evident than within President Bush's own coterie of foreign policy advisers, starting with the president's father, George H.W. Bush.
At the same time that the elder Bush counsels his son on the ongoing war on terrorism, the former president remains a senior adviser to the Washington D.C.-based Carlyle Group. That influential investment bank has deep connections to the Saudi royal family as well as financial interests in U.S. defense firms hired by the kingdom to equip and train the Saudi military.
It began to sound like this "President" Bush was the prime primate of the "surrender monkey" species. I was curious, so I googled "curious george bush" to see if I was the only one that had stumbled on this story. The search results were staggering. Not only were there stories, but there were pictures like this one:
"By the power of Grayskull," America was being ruled by a "surrender monkey." This was shocking. How could a War Czar (ret.) be in cahoots with Saudi Arabia? After all, the Kingdom of Saud isn't exactly the Magic Kingdom. As "U.S. News and World Report" first chronicled:
A 1996 CIA report found that a third of the 50 Saudi-backed charities it studied were tied to terrorist groups. Similarly, a 1998 report by the National Security Council had identified the Saudi government as the "epicenter" of terrorist financing, becoming the single greatest force in spreading Islamic fundamentalism and funneling hundreds of millions of dollars to jihad groups and al Qaeda cells around the world. Over the past decade, al Qaeda and its fellow jihadists collected between $300 million and $500 million, most of it from Saudi charities and private donors and the very origins of al Qaeda are intimately bound up with the Saudi Charities.
But, this article referenced 1998, surely I could simply say "Bill Clinton" over and over and make it all go away like Faux News tries, but then I found this report:
The new Bush Treasury Department disapproved of the Clinton Administration's approach to money laundering issues, which had been an important part of the drive to cut off the money flow to Bin Laden. Specifically, the Bush Administration opposed Clinton Administration backed efforts by the G-7 and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development that targeted countries with loose banking regulations… Meanwhile, the Bush Administration provided no funding for the new National Terrorist Asset Tracking Center.
The dangers that a "surrender monkey" posed to the safety and security of America were becoming clearer. Something just didn't seem right though. I mean, Saudi Arabia was… is… our friend and ally – after all Faux News said so. They couldn't possibly be supporters of terrorism. George Bush said Iraq was working together with Bin Laden and he was wrong. This had to be wrong too. For this to be true, there would have to be some historical basis for this accusation. Oh wait, from "The Atlantic:"
In the mid-1700s a new strain of Muslim extremism began to flourish in a small village in the Arabian desert—a strain that would have a profound effect on Islam and the world as a whole. As Stephen Schwartz describes it in his recent book, The Two Faces of Islam: The House of Sa'ud from Tradition to Terror, little is known about the early life of the sect's founder, Muhammad Ibn Abd al-Wahhab, except that as a young man he is thought to have traveled through much of the Ottoman empire. He returned from his travels with a belief that Islam had been corrupted and weakened by the Ottomans, and that it needed to be brought back to its roots. But his brand of "an original, authentic Islam," as Schwartz writes, was both harsher and more stripped down than the religion that the Prophet Muhammad had founded centuries before. Al-Wahhab forbade many practices and traditions that were an established part of Muslim culture, such as the celebration of the Prophet's birthday, the decoration of mosques, and the use of music in worship and daily life. But most striking was his attitude toward those people—both Muslims and non-Muslims—who didn't share his beliefs. As Schwartz describes it, "Shi'as, Sufis, and other Muslims he judged unorthodox were to be exterminated, and all other faiths were to be humiliated." Al-Wahhab soon established a political-religious alliance with a local bandit, Muhammad ibn Sa'ud, and they agreed that any territory they conquered could only be ruled by their descendants. The House of Sa'ud—which rules Saudi Arabia—is directly descended from that alliance, and Wahhabism (though Saudis don't use the term) is the religion of the regime.
More interesting facts about Saudi Arabia:
Ratio of the minimum number of beheadings by the Saudi government last year to those by Saudi terrorists so far this year : 50:1
Amount the family of Osama bin Laden was paid by Saudi Arabia to construct U.S. barracks: $150,000,000
Estimated value of a diamond-and-sapphire jewelry set given to Laura Bush in 2003 by the Saudi crown prince : $95,500
15 of the 19 Sept. 11 hijackers were shown to be Saudi Arabians
And my favorite:
On Jan. 11 2003, Saudi Arabia was informed of the imminent invasion of Iraq before Bush told Secretary of State Colin Powell.
Sources:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/04/images/20020425-4-515h.html http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/05/20010508.html http://foi.missouri.edu/terrorismfoi/whatwentwrong.html http://www.usnews.com/usnews/news/articles/031215/15terror_6.htm http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/kfiles/b43926.html http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2004/06/b99415.html http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A8734-2002Jan19?language=printer http://www.villagevoice.com/news/0416,mondo5,52956,6.html http://www.criminology.fsu.edu/transcrime/articles/How%20Sept_%2011%20Changed%20Goals%20of%20Justice%20Dept.htm http://www.helenair.com/articles/2003/06/25/national_top/a01062503_04.txt http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2001997123_bushgifts05.html http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2005-07-20-saudi-ambassador_x.htm http://archives.cnn.com/2002/US/11/23/saudi.fbi.911/ http://www.harpers.org/subjects/SaudiArabia/SubjectOf/Fact http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200303u/int2003-03-20 http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/20/politics/main612852.shtml http://houseofbush.com/news.php http://houseofbush.com/files.php
“Guns don't kill people, people kill people, and monkeys do too (if they have a gun).”
If he wants to boost his military credentials there's: former Marine General Anthony Zinni, former Army General Wes Clark, former Republican and Secretary of Defense Jim Webb, Senator Joe Biden and so on. He even has the option of selecting Chuck Hagel, a retiring Republican Senator from Nebraska and Obama's Joe Lieberman.
If he wants economics there's: former Republican and now Independent Mayor of NYC Mike Bloomberg, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, former PA Governor Ed Rendall and so on.
He could even nominate a Republican, such as Chuck Hagel, Senator from Nebraska. Or, did I mention that one already?
Well, here's an idea from Politics1.com:
Senator Barack Obama needs a Vice Presidential runningmate who will calm older, union, Jewish, blue collar and white voters who voted for Hillary Clinton ... voters who still admire the Clintons ... voters concerned about Obama's experience in foreign policy. Picking Hillary Clinton for VP, for example, is simply a terrible choice. She entirely undercuts the message of change, canceling out the change message by adding a runningmate who is a leading practitioner of the dark and destructive political art of triangulation. Yet there is someone else out there who has a solid past association with the Clintons ... who is untainted by the most unsavory moments of the Clinton White House years ... who is a Vietnam War veteran ... who has extensive government credentials on environmental protection and national security ... who has won both the Nobel Peace Prize and an Oscar ... and yet who remains a believable agent for change and health care and peace and for healing our planet. History shows us a former Vice President can return to political office and serve with honor and distinction. VP Hubert Humphrey, after a very narrow loss for President in 1968, returned to the US Senate in 1970 and served there for the remainder of his life. So I say "Draft Gore." Draft Gore because he believes in the concept of a higher calling, of service to nation and planet, who would appreciate the unique opportunity to return to public service to advance his causes ... and maybe even be given the opportunity to become President in 2016. While associated with the "old," Gore is clearly a proven agent of real change who can unify our party, and unify our nation. Obama-Gore '08. Show your support by downloading one of these banners and placing them on your websites and blogs. Email the Obama campaign: Let them know you support Al Gore for VP. For our party. To strengthen our nation. To heal our world.
Here are some banners:
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During the primary campaign Obama mentioned that he saw a place for Al Gore in his administration at a level higher than Cabinet post, which would be VP. But personally, I would like to see an Obama/Dean ticket. Haaayyyyyaaaargggghhhh!
All,
As Mandy forwarded--
It was just on MSNBC that the draft proposal for the revote is on www.fladems.com. Florida democrats can read it and give the FL DNC their comments on it. Please send in your position.
I have never been more fired up and ready to go as I am today. I am compelled to respond to Governor Christ's latent and politically motivated statments on "behalf" of Floridian voters to try to get the delegates seated as they are now. I need to know if there are efforts being made to March on the state capitol and create a media event to show the public the true reason Floridians are not being represented is because of our elected officials, NOT because of the DNC. We need to make it clear there are many, many voters who did not vote because they were told it did not count--and to seat the delegates now disenfranchises those voters. I believe we as Floridians need to do this as quickly as possible; and would like to know if plans are being made or who would like to help make this happen. I am not familiar with how connected we are as Floridian supporters; but it seems like we are scattered; so please if you are not interested please forward your group to see if there are others who may be. The more people we can get to do this event the stronger of a signal it will be to those elected officials and to Senator Clinton that we will not sit idly by and allow our citizens to be victimized by corrupted politics. Please contact me on this site or at kjabu@hotmail.com.
Their is a role for all of us who believe in our power to change america. Many of us are making telephone call to other states, some are waving signs on city streets all across America, some are even registering new and old voters! Some are working untiringly to GOTV on March 4th! Many have traveled from their homes toother states to work door to door to get the message out!
While many of us who believe in a God who knows no failure, who ultimately has the power to change lives. I believe in the power of Prayer! Prayer can change things in this great land of ours. So here is a prayer from the Obama Prayer Team! We are working feverishly, working untiringly and working to chage America! We pray for, and I quote:
