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........" the election of Obama would "electrify the world." "I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said. "He is a new generation coming ... onto the world stage and on the American stage. ---The Colin L. Powell.
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Just returned tonight from volunteer orientation at the house of Kate, a woman living on the other side of Cupertino. When I got there, Kate's whole street was full of cars with "Obama '08" bumper stickers. The house was packed. It was standing room only as we watched a YouTube video of Obama's 2004 speech, a speech I learned is what motivated many people to think, wouldn't it be great if someone like that would run for President one day.
I met other folks from my area who are supporting Obama for the same reasons that I am -- the world is only getting smaller and flatter, and we're passionate about the role of the United States in this global economy. One woman talked about how she was in in Madrid a few years ago and ended up in the middle of an anti-American protest, and how embarrassing that was for her as an American. The US has the power to be a thought leader in the world, the envy of all things progressive and cool, and yet we're often scorned.
What's so amazing about this campaign is the grass-roots nature of it. I had no idea that there was so much organization around this campaign in my small corner of Cupertino alone. By joining together with other folks in my neighborhood, it's possible that we can affect the history of our country and its impact on the world. Has any national political campaign ever attempted anything like that before? And I'm a small part of it. Wow.
Andrew has got some original post about McCain on his site. It is a must read for all of us:
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2008/09/mccains-integri.html#more
As you read the post, you wonder is it not the usual ‘weak, crying, sissy’ attack and rant of a ‘lost’ liberal? Sure at first it seems so. But when one goes at the end of the article, we realize the brilliance of Andrew’s argument.
He is going plain and simple ‘swift boating’ McCain. Granted the term is getting over used and we Dems have become obsessed with it. But if see Andrew’s point, one realizes what a ‘top’ effort he is undertaking here: McCain’s campaign manager sometime back said this election is not about ‘issues’ but about ‘character’. We thought that as outrageous and it is. But hard knuckle response to that is to go after McCain’s character. And as Andrew has shown competently, there is enough string ground to make the case that McCain is ‘flunking’ that case big time. Hence it is ‘swift boating’ – going after opponent’s strength; in this case McCain’s character. McCain and GOP have asked for it. Even today, in never ending twisting of words, McCain campaign says that it welcomes Obama’s debate about ‘honor’ and ‘country first’ issues. Let us define ‘honor’ as not ‘lying on stump’ and ‘telling Americans what they need to listen’. Let us define ‘country first’ as the decision of VP who can come in within seconds in the role of Commander in Chief. Let us define ‘America always’ as our answer to energy solution. And then we will see whose ‘honor’ remains.
Andrew’s earlier column about Sarah was also great – trying to portray her as the ‘pro-choice’ pro-lifer. Again sheds of ‘swift boating’ are there.
What all this indicates for Dems is:
- our base is getting warmed to shenanigans of GOP
- we should let free Obama to continue focus on issues (Matthew Yglesias has goot column about how Obama is making a solid case for Education Reforms http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2008/09/obamas_education_speech.ph)
- all other supporters of Obama, like Andrew, continue to ‘swift boat’ McCain
- keep focus on McCain as like Huffington says, we do not fall to the ploy of ‘Sarah diversion’ from McCain the focus
- and leave the job of pointing all contradictions and unsuitability of Sarah to rest of Dems and Obama supporters.
As people are slowly realizing that it is not just the conventional bounce in polls after RNC Nomination Convention, but the real possibility that McCain – Palin can win this election; it is clear that Obama and Democrats are in the middle of unfolding ‘swift boating’.
Tom Friedman wrote it excellently in NYT how Obama is swift boated: McCain – Palin are also for ‘change’ and then Obama’s ‘change’ strength gets maligned. That is classic swift boating. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/10/opinion/10friedman.html?hp)
What Friedman calls ‘politics of guts’; it means Obama essentially needs to ‘paint’ his vision of America without reference to McCain and Palin. People need to get the sense of what American Conversation Obama wants to have to lead forward. Typically, rendering of such a vision would take today’s problem and best of American Tradition to rouse voters. It is as if Al Gore is running on the platform of Global Warning and invoking JFK’s exhortation to go to moon in challenging Soviet Union – that zeal and energy is needed. As Richard Cohen, Tom Friedman and host of other commentators are pointing, it looks as if Obama has suddenly gone too cold.
Then the second part will be pointing fallacies with the opponent – reminding people how McCain – Palin will be same of Bush (examples?), how Palin is simply refusing her basic duty of facing people and not explaining policies, how she is using ‘Motherhood’ as politics, how McCain has been flip flopping all the time (similar to Hillary’s Bosnia video tape, can we have tapes about McCain or Palin?) and how that ticket is blatantly lying.
But the second part can not undercut the message of the first part – ‘Obama’s Vision for America’.
Third, Democrats need to understand that the situation is not ‘let Obama fight his wars’. They must come together and start blasting their guns in unison towards GOP. Ed Rendell, Pen. Governor, is doing his part when he pounded the GOP ticket today. We need Bill Clinton, Hillary, Edward Kennedy, John Kerry, Al Gore, Pelosi; all these Dem Guns firing all over America.
Finally, what needs to be demonstrated that there are so many ‘liberal’ folks who live equally ‘moral’ life and who live far more prudent life when it comes ‘birth’. It is this image that liberals mean those who have undertaken ‘abortion’ all along. But that is not the case – there are large numbers of Democrats who are equally ‘pro-life’ but out of respect to others, honor the rights of ‘pro-choice’ folks. To demonstrate means to highlight, to bring on stage mothers who conduct own life ‘pro-lifer’ but are ‘pro-choice’. That is one way to ‘swift boat’ cultural wars of Republicans.
Unless this happens, Obama Campaign will be reduced to 2004 Dem race – squabbling for ‘blue state and red state’ and how to just reach 272.
Moan argues at RCP that because Sara is showing the courage in carrying the responsibly of her ‘weak child’, liberals are rattled. Mona argues that Sara is ‘strong’ and hence the reaction.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2008/09/is_trig_at_the_heart_of_medias.html
That is the point - Sara may be super human; but why should American Government punish others who are not that strong? She is not for an office where 'morality' is to be imposed on others.
The game plan may be to induce 'guilt' among normal folks by this. But that should be rejected. Test of a true 'leader' is 'not to impose' constraints which are irrelevant to normal day to day living.
By the way, when I and my wife faced some such surprises in our lives; we did the same thing - no intrusive test of fetus and being ready to face whatever it comes. By grace, our son turned out to be fine. So don't preach me your 'f------' morality. I do not need to adhere to some extreme Church to understand basics here and live an upright, moral life. In our world in fact, Sara and her family have been far more reckless and irresponsible with 'life'. She and her family cannot control the 'lust'. Living with consequences is not 'redemption' here because in the process you have already screwed one life (and more on the way when that teenager gives birth too). I have done the same choices as like hers, I have seen far more superior folks than hers and still we all consider ourselves as normal; not trying to ride presidency on that. Moreover, we see that we keep the decency in not trying to impose, implicitly or explicitly, such 'judgments' on others. Sara and GOP are doing that. Shame on them.
May be Americans need to visit India and understand opinions of reasonably literate voters when those voters come across a politician who is having his or her latest baby with the difference of few months from his or her newly born grandson or granddaughter. The difference between Palin’s youngest son and coming baby of her teenage daughter will be few months (8 months in case of Sara Palin).
Yes, Sara Palin is ‘great’ because despite testing his latest baby for ‘down syndrome’ she signed for the moral duty of tending her child. Yes, Sara Palin is ‘great’ because even when her teenage daughter is conceiving baby before marriage; Sara signs herself to the duty of taking care of her daughter and her coming baby. She is ‘carrying this cross’ all for principles and her sense of moral duty. Absolutely great, that is the true ‘light’ of morality and may be after Jesus it is Sara only.
The problem with this is that she is ‘not’ running for ‘papacy’ where ‘morality’ and ‘bonding with God’ are the exclusive criteria. Unfortunately she is running for American Presidency (VP position in specific). George Washington did not fight with the British Crown to found a theocratic state nor Jefferson took the troubles to establish a state where government ‘set ups’ her citizenry for high human price when we mortals fails. We are aware of Sara Palin’s inadequacy of Constitutional understanding (pledge of allegiance was created by Founding Fathers!); but it will be wise and quite useful for her to read American Constitution again. Reading Bible again and again can not be a substitute to read American Constitution.
Question is what do Americans want - the government headed by McCain – Palin would make their already tough life by demanding further moral purity or Americans want the government which does not unnecessarily complicate their life by intruding in how they should conduct their private lives? What is happening with GOP’s infatuation with Sara Palin is her policy of ‘strident anti-abortion and abstinence only’ is getting imposed on Americans regardless of consequences to their lives. What government do we want – the one which imposes ‘high moral bar’, failing of which results in dramatic human costs because that government refuses to adopt less intrusive policies or the government which refrains from meddling in people’s private life? As others have pointed, Sara Palin is all over Terri Schiavo again. Sara Palin’s family is the exhibit A of what happens to your family if insistence on moral high standards comes at total disregard to possible failings by ordinary folks. Sara may have the ‘moral fiber or strength’ to bare consequences of these private choices (as McCain loves to point); but what right American government has to increase such punishing price for others? Actually it is Sara Palin’s GOP which is Big Brother – they are forcing morality on people’s life and pursuing a policy which essentially makes people to pay high price for their failings. Again, American Constitution is not Bible. It is laughable that with such policies America wants to compete with China and India in coming century! What travesty!
So contrary to Obama – can we talk about Sara’s family and direction of her ‘family policy’? If it is going to make my daughter’s life miserable; then it is NOT off limits.
But alas, under the grab of political correctness, cowardliness and narcissism (media discussing whether media has been fair to Sara); we are unlikely to hear this elephant in Sara’s glass house. However, may be people’s ballot box would speak. Just a hope.
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As the Georgian crisis continues, it is clear to see that the lack of viable alternative energy is a grave security vulnerability. Russia has a strangle hold over Europe as a large supplier of energy. In the same manner, our almost complete reliance on Middle East oil emboldens our rivals in that region.
During all these years while president Bush's Big Oil federal appointees were able to prevent and misdirect federal developments on alternative energy and energy saving technologies, we have witnessed the fall-outs of these policies. Almost every one already knew about the problems of high gasoline prices, but now we get to add the issue of renewed Russian dominance into the mix.
We got into this mess over multiple years of neglect, so we have to get out of it by steady hard work. However, it is an absolute requirement that these Big Oil federal appointees must go, and it would only happen if Senator Obama is elected president. Since Big Oil funds McCain's campaign, if McCain is elected we can expect continued reliance on Oil and coupled to a steady decline of American influence in the world. I have learned when other countries control your energy destiny, you can't control your own destiny. This is a good time to get involved in Senator Obama's campaign with a sense of urgency, for our security is at stake here!
What could a responsible government do for us? I am sure all of you will have some ideas. This is why the Democratic plank meetings are fast coming up in a few days all around your neighborhoods. Prepare, attend, and contribute!
For me, one of the things government can do is to truly prevent a second sub-prime mortgage disaster from happening again. Sub-prime mortgages started collapsing last September, but the federal government waited almost a full year before coming out with new mortgage rules. Unfortunately even with the new rules, a repeat of the sub-prime mess is still possible, since loan companies can still hook people by offering tempting teaser rates.
From what I read in the news I see the government unable to offer help to those in our communities who have lost their homes, but the same government sure can help these mortgage companies to the tune of multi-billion dollars at a time.
How badly do you want a government that can work for us? If you want it hard enough you can make it happen!
McCain's Flip-Flops
Do you know that Senator McCain is the grand-daddy of flip-floppers?
Palo Alto Hills Obama Outreach Meeting
Lorraine Hariton, Emy Thuber, and Amy Pearl hosted a house party to let fellow Hillary supporters know more about Senator Obama's campaign. Owen Byrd was the main speaker for Obama's campaign. Close to 50 Hillary supporters packed Lorraine's house to hear about this very important topic.
