I'm trying not to be overly optimistic, but was wondering if there are some voters who are telling pollsters they are voting for McCain, but when they get inside the voting booth, might vote for Obama. Maybe they don't want to admit in front of their spouse or whomever when the polling people call, that they have some doubts about McCain. Maybe they are afraid their friends will mock them for not being red-blooded American patriots if they suggest they might vote for Obama. Maybe they don't want people to know that they would actually vote for a black guy. But for any of these reasons, I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of closet Obama supporters out there in the heartland--people who know that things are seriously off track in this country, and have grave doubts about John McCain's judgment or temper or ideas or age or whatever.
It seems just as likely that there could be at least as many people like that as there are people who would tell a pollster that they are voting for Obama when they are secretly planning to vote for McCain.
Right after McCain finished while being interviewed by Tom Brokaw and Brian Williams former Pa. Gov. Tom Ridge stated John Bush.
Even he knows they're the same.
It's not like you are going to convince any of the delegates of anything. So your audience must be the people watching on TV. But who is going to be sympathetic to the demonstrators' position? I think only those who are already sympathetic. Those on the fence are more likely to side with the police. Let's remember that the riots outside the Democratic convention in 1968 only helped Richard Nixon win the election, even though the police tactics in dealing with the demonstrators were horrific. Most people watching on tv are turned off by disorder, and sympathize with the forces of law and order.
I think a more effective type of demonstration would be to pretend you are a Republican and carry signs that take their positions to a logical extreme, a la Steven Colbert. For example, Shoot all illegal immigrants; or Death penalty for all abortion providers; or Bomb Iran. The news might pick up signs like that, and that would perhaps help advance the cause of showing that Republicans are nut jobs.
How Cuba will determine the 2008 Election.
Whether you are pro-Cuba or anti-Cuba, the debate may continue for centuries. One thing is certain. The nearly fifty year old, U.S. Embargo on Cuba has not worked, does not work and will not work. In stating so, we are not acknowledging, supporting or condoning Cuba’s current government.
We are saying it’s time for some of America’s voters, politicians and media to evolve with Cuba, perhaps more than any other issue. It could be said; how politicians act and vote towards the five decade old failed U.S. policies with Cuba is a clear reflection on their character.
We are saying that continuing the anti Cuba embargo policies is a clear reflection of a persons character. Whether running for President of the United States, Senate, Congress or any government leadership position; a person should demonstrated the ability to change course, try new directions and see different points of view. Especially if the policy they supported has failed for fifty years.
The anti-Cuba politicians, lobby and community is a small percentage of all populations, including the Cuban population itself. Yet the anti-Cuba movement has controlled the presidency of the United States and both political houses; including this elections Republican candidate John McCain for nearly fifty years. John McCain is anti-Cuba, while Barack Obama is pro-Cuba.
Why would any politician, business person and human continue enforcing on themselves, and worse others; a failed Cuba policy that the majority of people in America, the world and mostly the island of Cuba itself do not want? See the Election 08 FREE CUBA FILM SERIES and you will find out.
Then it’s up to you to decide when you cast your vote on “Election Moment”, if you are voting for character.
Election moment is the truest moment in any election when you, the voter stand there in the privacy of your own mind right before you vote. Only you will know if you cast a vote for character, and only you can determine the issues that reflect a person’s character. Cuba is one of those clear character issues.
Election 08 FREE CUBA FILM SERIES, is committed to bring the real Cuba to America. We’ve selected three diverse films that provide audiences with a modern day love story set in Havana, Cuba. A film that gives you a glimpse into the future with the childhood version of The Buena Vista Club, and lastly, an impacting documentary that brings to life, the hidden true history of Cuban terrorism, the U.S. Politicians directly related to Fidel Castro who continued to master mind the anti Cuba movement in the U.S. and the political families who continue to enforce their historically failed policies against Cuba on the world through violence, economics and political warfare.
Will you vote for a person who is pro-Cuba and promises to create a powerful future for America uniting the world.
Or will you vote for a person who is anti-Cuba and promises to bend history to make sure America stays the current course isolating the world.
Only you will know on your “Election Moment.”
Luis Moro
www.EveryThingCuba.com
Why Barack Obama can lose on
“Election Moment”.
And what we must do so he Wins.
America can be seen as a nation of instant gratification, shock value and wishful thinking. Through these valid perceptions our ability to succeed against great odds is proven often. Our will to have good triumph over evil is undeniable. And most of all; our fortunate gifts living in this land prevail against our own internal enemy’s of thought.
This coming Presidential Election Day will require us all to do great battle with the enemy’s of thought, the high-jackers of thinking, the masters of influencing spontaneity.
HOW DEEP WILL YOU GO.
Barack Obama will lose if we don’t drudge out every ounce of racism alive and well in America. Our nations public voice and face has behaved at the highest levels of proper presentation; pretending that racism is dead or at least almost gone. But our private thoughts, deep in the gullies of ones own mind, lives the uncertainty of our personal truth. On “Election moment”, as we choose will America vote for a person who is not a white male? *There is nothing wrong with voting for a white male, that is not the point of this commentary.
HOW OBAMA MAY LOSE.
I can assert many voting Americans will walk to the voting booth on Election Day and gravel with their choice for a president based on color. And I can confirm, many voting Americans will inequitably vote for anyone but a black, mulatto or ethnic president. This “Election Moment” must be influenced by a character choice, nothing else.
THE SOLUTION.
On our campaign road to an Obama White house, we must remember to keep it simple. This Election Moment is not about Democrat or Republican, man or woman, even the color of a persons skin. This Election Moment is about Character.
THE CHARACTER FACTOR
A persons character, their thought process, their ability to lead, to change course, to admit their errors, to put in corrections, to adjust their course, to learn, grow, to be wrong, to have faith beyond one’s own faith and many more of these attributes is what we need as Americas next generation of leaders.
ONE QUESTION WILL REVEAL THE CHARACTER FACTOR
Will you abolish the failed forty seven (47) year old U.S. Embargo on Cuba?
It’s a yes or no question.
Any politician or person that still has to think about saying yes. Or is determined to maintain, tighten and enforce a U.S. Policy that has not worked for forty seven years clearly does not have The Character Factor.
YES IS THE ONLY ANSWER
Yes to abolishing the five decade old failed policy against Cuba is the only answer that will demonstrate a person’s character.
WHAT YOU CAN DO.
“Will you abolish the failed forty seven (47) year old U.S. Embargo on Cuba?”
I ask that you include and ask this question to every politician you meet. Ask it on every blog you participate in. Make this election about the character factor of the person running for office.
JOHN McCAINS CHARACTER FACTOR
Ask McCain every chance you can. Why is he committed to continuing the embargo on Cuba that has not worked for forty seven years?
What does it say about McCain that he will not consider anything but enforcing a U.S. Policy that has not worked for almost five decades.
OBAMA HAS THE CHARACTER FACTOR
Obama is committed to new relationships with Cuba.
VOTE FOR CHARACTER
Lets make sure we bring to the forefront the number one issue an American should think of when they reach their personal Election Moment vote.
Am I voting for a person who has Character? In that one Election Moment, when an American goes to vote, we must trust that their Character factor will prevail above all else.
Your time is appreciated, and your response is welcomed.
With much respect,
Filmmaker +
See 1400 free photos of Cuba. At: http://www.EveryThingCuba.com
Review diverse perspectives on Barack Obama and Cuban policy at: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/Cuba
Support Independence, buy our Award Winning Indie films.
http://www.MoroFilms.com
I picked up an advance copy of Norman Mailer's Miami and the Siege of Chicago, which is being re-issued this summer by NYRB Classics. There may be nothing better out there to give some historical perspective on the campaign this year. It makes you wish there were a Norman Mailer around to write about this year's campaign.
It also reminds you of how different political campaigns have become. The sixties was the end of the old era of political conventions, where the candidates used to make the rounds of the delegations trying to pick up some extra votes, as the outcome was not certain heading into the convention. Nowadays conventions are so stage-managed and choreographed they have lost most of their drama. They are infomercials for the party's candidates, really, and we will not tolerate the kind of uncertainty leading up to the convention that used to be taken for granted. We expect that the nominee will be selected by the voters, not the delegates. Not that these changes are bad necessarily, it's just interesting to be reminded how different our time is from the recent past.
And the story of the summer of 1968 reminds us of how tame politics has become. Even the Republican convention that year had some infighting. While Nixon had the nomination pretty well locked up before the convention, Rockefeller was hoping to get enough votes on the first ballot that he could turn the convention to him in a subsequent ballot. On the Democratic side, Humphrey went into the convention also with a comfortable lead, but knew that anything could happen that year. Eugene McCarthy still had enough loyal troops to cause trouble, though never enough to gain the nomination. George McGovern had just entered the race, trying to pick up all of the Bobby Kennedy delegates. There was a late movement to draft Teddy Kennedy into the race. In Mailer's view, Lyndon Johnson was behind the scenes the whole time, deliberately trying to split his party to preserve his legacy. And that was only the nomination fight. The real drama, with real blood flowing, of course took place on the streets outside the convention hall.
We think we have lived through an epic nomination battle this year? Compared to 1968, this was nothing.
The last time the Indiana Democratic primary mattered was 1968, the year that Bobby Kennedy won it. Let's hope people in Indiana remember or can re-kindle the message of hope and reconciliation that Bobby Kennedy brought to Indiana. Kennedy flew to Indianapolis on April 4, 1968, the day that Martin Luther King was assassinated. Contrary to the advice of his staff and the police, he insisted on giving a speech in the black ghetto, where many people had not yet heard the terrible news. There he gave one of the most beautiful and poignant speeches of his career, including the words quoted in my profile. This was also one of the only times he spoke of his own feelings after his brother's assassination.
Not only did Bobby Kennedy win the Indiana primary, but Indianapolis was the only major city in America that did not have violent rioting in the wake of the King assassination. This year Barack Obama has the chance to keep the dream alive.
http://www.richsamuels.com/nbcmm/obama/bfirstcong.html
Allow me to continue winding my watch counter-clockwise; I think it might right itself after a few turns. This is to say, the following video is as relevant now as ever. Certainly, as fun to watch as ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYbUCvz1LYE
I saw NO press on what I thought was a brilliant statement by Obama during the Cleveland Debate on health care.
I want to put this out there, because it's WHY we're all fighting for this uniter.
Quote from Cleveland debate
CLINTON: "You know, 15 years ago I tangled with the health insurance industry and the drug companies, and I know it takes a fighter. It takes somebody who will go toe-to-toe with the special interests."
OBAMA: "You know, she mentioned that she is a fighter on health care. And look -- I do not in any way doubt that Senator Clinton genuinely wants to provide health care to all Americans.
What I have said is that the way she approached it back in '93, I think, was wrong in part because she had the view that what's required is simply to fight. And Senator Clinton ended up fighting not just the insurance companies and the drug companies, but also members of her own party. And as a consequence, there were a number of people, like Jim Cooper of Tennessee and Bill Bradley and Pat Moynihan, who were not included in the negotiations. And we had the potential of bringing people together to actually get something done." "But what I also believe is that the only way we are going to actually get this stuff done is, number one, we're going to have to mobilize and inspire the American people so that they're paying attention to what their government is doing. And that's what I've been doing in this campaign, and that's what I will do as president."
so hillary has finally co-opted the last, most steadfast piece of the obama campaign: the candidate himself.
suggesting that you get obama with clinton as president is as shameless as it gets.
I wouldn't be suprised to see placards at Clinton rallies enshrined with Barack's likeness and the word VP. It will be a tough call, but thankfully she has the judgement, determination and experience to recognize his unique qualifications to be VP.
all the while, she makes the case that he is unworthy to be Commander in Chief. certainly her picture must accompany the definition of hypocrisy.
any self-respecting democrat who really believes in change can not coalesce around such a candidate, unless of course, one believes there are relative degrees of hypocrisy.
I, for one, would rather opt to vote for nadar. After all, he's right to suggest the Democratic Party is bankrupt if they consider, let alone proceed with, private donor funded re-elections.
gimme a break.
the comments made me laugh especially after phonebanking to WI.
http://weblogs.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/blog/2008/02/barack_obama_is_no_packers_fan.html
That a simple google search will bring answers. Concerning the charge of plagiarism:
It can't be plagiarism if you acknowledge the author - cue Boston Globe April 2007
This was intially written as a comment to a blog entry. I'm posting it as a stand alone thread under my own name. my apologies for any redundancy............
This link below is my open letter to super delegates. I sent it directly to undecided super delegates in California. A couple days later I received David Plouffe's Super Delegate action email and included this note as part of that Campaign Call.http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/michaelmaheras/C43jIt's imperative to note, as I subsequently learned, the campaign does not want the electorate to contact Super Delegates directly. Plouffe's letter was multi-fold; to ensure the Campaign and its supporter messages are not at odds; and to maintain Campaign control over the highly sensitive and discreet Super Delegate efforts - all the while, reigning in the activists and bringing these Hardballers into the fold through the illusion of inclusion.I know this may sound cynical to some and I’m sorry. I'm inclined to believe this because, in part, a Blog entry of mine which contained contact information for the Undecided California Super Delegates – in this case email and telephone numbers for DNC Members - was deleted without advance or subsequent notice. Poof, it disappeared.This blog entry lived for three or so days – a couple before the Plouffe email and perhaps a day or two thereafter. While I very much understand the nature of this action (how can one prove to others you can control the government if you can’t even control your own supporters) and while I stand by my Super Delegate letter, it’s a major letdown to have the post deleted in this regard.Moreover, they took away the points I received for posting a blog entry. At minimum, I should be allowed to keep those. Come on!
The article to which I refer is below and is followed by backgrounder of Barack’s Illinois Senate experience:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/us/politics/03exelon.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/us/politics/30obama.html
Imagine a world with agency and regulatory operatives and appointments made by Barack Obama. The experts, academics and leaders will fight for a citizen-centric policy - especially given political capital they are bestowing about this candidacy - if the overwhelming majorities are at all a demonstration of the tender of the people. I feel he came to a reasoned compromise given the political landscape. But, know as we brush our teeth, feed our kids and care for our ill, the Bush Cronies are poisoning us - economically and quite literally - with their lack of oversight and outright arrogant, irresponsible and incompetent management they bring to any number of fronts.
To wit:
TODAY:
CANDY FOR KIDS: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Candy-Blade.html
TOOTHPASTE: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/14/world/americas/14panama.html
YESTERDAY:
BLEED US TO DEATH: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/washington/15fda.html
TRADER SHMOE'S: http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tj12feb12,1,1079460.story?ctrack=4&cset=true
MORE TRADER SHMOE'S: http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Business/2008/02/11/food_market_chain_drops_chinese_imports/4071/
WHOLE BARGAIN: http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/theticker/entries/2008/02/12/whole_foods_wont_ban_foods_fro.html
LAST TWO WEEKS:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/31/world/asia/31pharma.html
WHO KNEW WHAT WHEN:
CHINA AND DRUGS: http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4D7143FF930A25753C1A9669C8B63&scp=2&sq=ru+486+tainted&st=nyt
CHINA AND ORGANIC: http://www.nysun.com/article/58606
What an unbelievable country we live in. We often take it for granted and yet it seems, there is always some new dawn to open our eyes. Some new challenge or stage set for us as Americans to step foot upon or strive toward.
More after the jump...
UPDATE*** Well it's made it to the front Obama page..but the high quality version is still at dipdive...
For those of you who haven't seen it yet. This is wonderfully produced and so enjoyable. Dipdive.com
Well, somehow managed to end up on Shepard Fairey's site tonight and found this...and now to drop some cash...
Favorite quote of tonight's coverage.
[On what Barack's Campaign will say]
"We gave our word. ALL OF US. Let's not break it." - Tim Russert
Surprisingly accurate coverage on MSNBC, although I don't particularly like Chris Matthews. Hope y'all are having a wonderful evening. Seven days til this get's even more interesting. I have enjoyed this year.
