Friends, Romans, Countrymen let me your middle-name!
As you all know, our candidate has been under attack lately for nothing more insignificant than the fact that his middle name is Hussein. Well, some of us think that is just ridiculous or as Sen. Obama would say, “it’s silly season.”
In honor of a great man whose first name means blessed; and, whose middle name means handsome-one; and, whose last name means lion-like. Or, all together something like, “The Blessed Lion-like Handsome-one” (if that is not a name befitting a head of state – I don’t know what is!) I have decided to take “Hussein” as my middle name all the way through the election.
Let’s show America and the rest of the world that we will not kowtow to the xenophobe and ignorant. We are proud of our candidate and will demonstrate our commitment to Sen. Obama by taking his middle name as badge of honor.
Yes We Can!
Rafael “Hussein” Vega
February 27, 2008 - Young Voters Help Obama Narrow Gap in Pennsylvania, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; McCain Runs Neck and Neck against Either Democrat
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, surging among younger voters, has cut Sen. Hillary Clinton's lead among Pennsylvania likely Democratic primary voters to 6 points, 49 - 43 percent, after trailing by 16 points just two weeks ago, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today.
This compares to a 52 - 36 percent lead for Sen. Clinton February 14.
In a general election matchup, Sen. Clinton has 44 percent to 42 percent of registered voters for Arizona Sen. John McCain, the Republican front-runner. Sen. Obama has 42 percent to Sen. McCain's 40 percent, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.
Among likely Democratic primary voters, women back Clinton 53 - 39 percent, while men back Obama 50 - 43 percent; white voters go with Clinton 56 - 37 percent while black voters support Obama 69 - 23 percent. Democrats with a college degree favor Obama 53 - 41 percent, while voters without a degree back Clinton 52 - 39 percent.
This biggest movement is among younger voters who went from 52 - 41 percent for Clinton February 14 to 58 - 41 percent for Obama today, a shift of 28 points.
"Sen. Obama is closing in fast on Sen. Clinton in Pennsylvania, but it will probably be the voters in Ohio and Texas who decide what role the Keystone primary will play in the 2008 presidential election. If Sen. Clinton survives next week to fight another day, Pennsylvania could become the last battleground of the long Democratic contest. But an Obama win in Texas and Ohio would make it difficult for Clinton to halt her rival's momentum," said Clay F. Richards, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.
"Sen. John McCain is within striking distance of either Democratic candidate at this time in Pennsylvania, an indication that the likely Republican nominee, particularly popular in a state with a large veteran population, will make the Keystone State a battleground in the November election," Richards added.
By a 50 - 27 percent margin, Pennsylvania voters have a favorable opinion of McCain. Clinton gets a split 46 - 44 percent favorability rating while Obama gets a 49 - 26 percent score.
Bush Approval - Pennsylvania voters disapprove 65 - 30 percent of the job President George W. Bush is doing, one of his lowest scores ever in the state. Going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do, voters say 59 - 35 percent. The U.S. economy is in a recession, voters say 60 - 35 percent, but 60 percent say their personal finances are "excellent" or "good," while 39 percent say their finances are "not so good" or "poor."
From February 21 - 25, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,872 Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of +/- 2.3 percentage points. The survey includes 506 likely Democratic primary voters with a margin of error of +/- 4.4 percentage points.
The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the nation as a public service and for research.
For more data -- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x271.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.
Quinnipiac University • 275 Mount Carmel Ave. • Hamden, CT 06518-1908 • 203-582-8200
Source: http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1327.xml?ReleaseID=1148
Oh! what a tangled web we weave When first we practice to deceive! - Sir Walter Scott
In yet another one of those prolific Clinton back-stroke moves just after announcing to the world that the Clinton flip-flop express was running out of gas they are now congratulating themselves for raising $7.5 M since Feb. 1st. The bulk of which, they claim, came in after super duper Tuesday.
As with any crime scene investigation, in order to get to the truth we must establish the timeline of events. First they leak out that their top operatives are fixing to go on food-stamps and that Bhillary lent itself money. Then, Terry McAuliffe tells the press corps that everyone is getting paid. OK – which is it? Are you broke or not? What ever the illusive truth might be, one thing is clear: something strange happened on the way to Bhillary’s coronation. Either they had illusions of grandeur in their power of persuasion over the electorate and/or they can’t manage a lousy campaign budget (yet, they want to manage our country – no, thanks).
In order to get some perspective, I turned to this morning’s Politico.Com news update - www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8393.html - where Jeanne Cummings in her skewed piece writes, “…Clinton…will be soliciting cash at the same time Obama is expected to pocket some victories. …Mark Penn, Clinton’s strategist, acknowledged as much when he warned donors on the conference call that “we’ll have some difficult states in the next week or two.” This all reminds me of an ol’western flick where an American-Indian warrior quips something about speaking with a forked-tongue.
As with so many other Clinton fiascos, we might never know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Perhaps is time to have Bubba go on TV and declare, “I did not raise all the necessary money for…that woman…Hillary Rodham Clinton.” OK people, I don’t know about anyone else but I’m sick and tired of the Jerry-Springer-esque style of politics the Clintons have seemed to have perfected.
Its new day in America! 1980s politics just won’t do anymore. While the Clinton soap opera works feverishly on the next installment of “All My Spin Masters,” my friends and family will be sending in additional contributions to Obama. And, for good measure, just like we drove to Delaware to canvass for Super Tuesday, we’ll drive down to Maryland to canvass this weekend and through Tuesday’s primary.
As a friend once told me, “Politics is not a spectator sport – you gotta’ be in it to win it!”
What do you plan to do this weekend?
Virginia Governor Tim Kaine is traveling around Iowa today and tomorrow on behalf of Barack. His trip includes stops in Cedar Rapids, Vinton, Waverly, Charles City, Osage, Mason City, Algona, Fort Dodge and Webster City.
Virginians elected Governor Kaine in 2005. As a Democrat elected in a traditionally more Republican state, Governor Kaine knows what it takes to bring Republicans and Democrats together to get things done. Here's what he had to say about Senator Obama yesterday:
In Virginia and the rest of our great nation, people from across the political spectrum are excited by Senator Obama’s commitment to uniting our country to make progress on the on issues that matter to everyday Americans. Barack Obama is the best candidate to lead America because he has the experience we need to challenge the conventional thinking in Washington and bring us together to work towards common goals.
Here's the rest of today's schedule:
Uptown Cafe 223 N Main Street Charles City 3:30 PM
Maple Inn 702 Main Street Osage 5:00 PM
We'll update later with some pictures and info about the events, so check back!
Here is one of the best moments from last night's debate - a moment that crystallizes why Barack Obama is the best person to be the next President of the United States.
In case you missed it, here is the speech everyone is talking about from JJ on Saturday.
What did you think?
Jaime live-blogged Barack's speech today at Drake University where he laid out precisely why he is the person with the judgment to be our next Commander in Chief. Here are some video excerpts from the speech.
On offering a stark choice on foreign policy:
On the lessons that should be learned from Iraq:
On Iran:
On conventional thinking and foreign policy:
To read and watch the whole speech, click here.
Breaking news from the conference call with Campaign Manager David Plouffe: A new online fundraising contest is being launched that will grant the members of the My.BarackObama.com groups that have the most donors at the end of the day on September 30th, the opportunity to participate in a personal conference call with Senator Barack Obama and Campaign Manager David Plouffe. Click here for more information on the Group Fundraising Challenge.
The latest on phonebanking: If you're interested in phonebanking send an e-mail to the campaign at - callteam@barackobama.com and they will e-mail a call sheet to you.
State of the Campaign
Barack Obama's Schedule: On Monday, Barack Obama received the endorsement of the New York City Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association. Tuesday, he spoke at Change to Win in Chicago. Wednesday, he can be seen live on the NBC/NECN/New Hampshire Public Radio/New Hampshire Democratic Party debate, which will be broadcast live on MSNBC at 9pm EST. Following the debate he’ll head to New York, where he’ll participate in a live interview on ABC’s The View at 11am EST on Thursday before leading a major rally in Washington Square Park. On Friday, he speaks at Howard University’s Convocation and participates in the CBC Issues Forum in Washington, DC.
The Des Moines Register's David Yepsen writes:
Obama may be the biggest winner. He was in the cross hairs for much of the early part of the session and he stood up well to the scrutiny over his foreign policy positions and questions of whether he¹s qualified to be president …He came off as knowledgeable and temperate. He looked presidential[.]
And here's some video from one focus group in Des Moines:
And Iowa Independent:
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama showed this morning why he's in the presidential race with his best debate performance to date, one in which he commanded details, looked Oval Office ready and effectively made the case that he is indeed the candidate of true change -- and that instead of polarizing GOP voters in the fall of 2008 he may be able to pick off some of them. Obama gained the most ground of any of the candidates in the debate... Want a change? "I'm your guy," said Obama. "We're going to need someone to break out of the political pattern we've been in the last 20 years," Obama said.
Obama gained the most ground of any of the candidates in the debate...
Want a change? "I'm your guy," said Obama. "We're going to need someone to break out of the political pattern we've been in the last 20 years," Obama said.
This debate was a great way to finish off Barack's five-day swing through Iowa. He is showing that he is a complete candidate and the person best-suited to become the next president.
What did you think of the debate?
On Monday evening, at the CNN/YouTube Democratic debate, a question was asked about whether the candidates would continue the Bush/Cheney strategy or would they be willing to reengage the world and offer a new world view.
Only one candidate on the stage said he would offer a true break from Bush/Cheney: Barack Obama.
On that debate stage, Senator Obama articulated a fundamental change in U.S. foreign policy from the Bush/Cheney approach.
Under a President Obama, the United States will be engaged with the world. We will reach out to our enemies because refusing to talk to them doesn’t punish them. We will engage our enemies as President Kennedy and President Reagan did – eventually bringing the Soviet Union to its knees. We will have a foreign policy that exhausts all the tools of diplomacy, as Air Force General Scott Gration laid out last week, before resorting to the military hammer.
On January 21, 2009, if a President Obama has taken the oath of office, it will send a clear signal to the world that America is turning the page. We will be able to stand before the world and say, “The United States is back. We are here and we are ready to lead again.”
Today, the Quad-City Times ran an editorial laying out the clear change that Senator Obama articulated on Monday evening. The editorial also points out that other candidates favor an approach more closely aligned with the Bush/Cheney way of doing things. Here’s an excerpt:
In Monday’s Democrat presidential debate, Obama seemed clear. He favors reaching out to all nations, even those recklessly dubbed “axis of evil,” by President Bush. Obama neither said nor implied he would blindly accede to these nations or even negotiate with them. He simply suggested he would be open to new, constructive relationships, even with nations run by dictators who say nasty things about the United States. Clinton had seemed to support such diplomatic openness, but now clarifies it by suggesting these nations would have to meet certain conditions before she would permit U.S. overtures toward them.
Clinton had seemed to support such diplomatic openness, but now clarifies it by suggesting these nations would have to meet certain conditions before she would permit U.S. overtures toward them.
You can check out the whole editorial here: http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2007/07/26/opinion/opinion/doc46a7eec4cf681864772104.txt.
Are you ready to join? Sign a supporter card here.
Here’s an excerpt from his speech:
But don’t come up with this law called No Child Left Behind and then leave the money behind. Don’t tell us that you’ll put high-quality teachers in every classroom and then leave the support and the pay for those teachers behind. Don’t label a school as failing one day and then throw your hands up and walk away from it the next. And don’t tell us that the only way to teach a child is to spend too much of the year preparing him to fill in a few bubbles on a standardized test. We know that’s not true. You didn’t devote your lives to testing, you devoted them to teaching, and teaching is what you should be allowed to do… We know that we have more than one million teachers who are set to retire and more kids entering school than ever before, and so we know that it’s time to recruit a new generation of teachers and principals. Let’s do this by finally raising salaries across the board, and making it possible for professionals in other fields to become teachers, not through easy shortcuts, but through programs that allow new teachers to learn from veteran professionals. And if you’re willing to put yourself through college to make the sacrifice and commitment that teaching requires, we should be willing to help you pay off some of those college loans. In the coming weeks, I’ll be laying out the specific details of my plan to invest billions of new dollars into the teaching profession and recruit an army of well-trained, well-qualified teachers who are willing to stand at the front of any classroom and give every student the chance to succeed… One last point. There’s a lot of talk out there about accountability in education. I share that concern, and I’ve called for more accountability in our schools myself. But I also believe that before we can hold our teachers accountable for the results our schools need, we have to hold ourselves accountable for giving teachers the support that they need… If we do all this – if we go into struggling schools and provide more pay and better support for our teachers; if we allow them to teach our children to their strengths instead of just a test – then the teachers I’ve met wouldn’t mind some accountability.”
We know that we have more than one million teachers who are set to retire and more kids entering school than ever before, and so we know that it’s time to recruit a new generation of teachers and principals. Let’s do this by finally raising salaries across the board, and making it possible for professionals in other fields to become teachers, not through easy shortcuts, but through programs that allow new teachers to learn from veteran professionals. And if you’re willing to put yourself through college to make the sacrifice and commitment that teaching requires, we should be willing to help you pay off some of those college loans.
In the coming weeks, I’ll be laying out the specific details of my plan to invest billions of new dollars into the teaching profession and recruit an army of well-trained, well-qualified teachers who are willing to stand at the front of any classroom and give every student the chance to succeed…
One last point. There’s a lot of talk out there about accountability in education. I share that concern, and I’ve called for more accountability in our schools myself. But I also believe that before we can hold our teachers accountable for the results our schools need, we have to hold ourselves accountable for giving teachers the support that they need…
If we do all this – if we go into struggling schools and provide more pay and better support for our teachers; if we allow them to teach our children to their strengths instead of just a test – then the teachers I’ve met wouldn’t mind some accountability.”
Also, here’s a YouTube clip of part of the speech.
You can read the whole text of Barack’s remarks below the fold.
But the truth is that the choices Barack made and his life before the 2004 convention speaks as much to his qualifications to be president as his tenure in the United States Senate.
Frankly, one of the most important things his time in Washington has taught him is that the ways of Washington need to change. That’s the right kind of experience for a leader in this important time in history.
But it’s still early on in the campaign and many folks don’t know the full breadth of Barack’s experience. That’s why the two documentary-style tv ads unveiled yesterday focus on Barack’s biography before he hit the national stage.
Community organizer working with local churches. Harvard Law School. Passing up high-paying lawyer gigs to go back to Chicago and run a voter registration drive.
Constitutional law professor. Working across party lines to get things done in the Illinois legislature that they only talk about doing in Washington.
"Choices"
"Carry"
I had the privilege yesterday of listening to two of the people featured in the ads speak. Barack’s former professor at Harvard, Larry Tribe, said it well:
After 37 years as a Harvard law professor, and meeting thousands of students, none was more remarkable or more inspiring than Barack Obama … And the most remarkable thing was that – even though he could have written his ticket with any Wall Street law firm and had offers of clerkships on circuit courts, with a virtual pathway to a Supreme Court clerkship and one of those illustrious and high-paying careers – he chose instead to move back to the South Side of Chicago and work with the community.
…
And the most remarkable thing was that – even though he could have written his ticket with any Wall Street law firm and had offers of clerkships on circuit courts, with a virtual pathway to a Supreme Court clerkship and one of those illustrious and high-paying careers – he chose instead to move back to the South Side of Chicago and work with the community.
I’m looking for a candidate, like Barack Obama, who has the skills and experience to bring this nation together to solve very tough problems. And I’ve seen first hand that Senator Obama can take tough problems, reconcile parties and races, and explain difficult topics to every day people. I’ve said publicly that I’ve watched Senator Obama throughout his career under pressure – in public and in private – and I won’t lose a night’s sleep if Senator Obama is my president.
I’ve said publicly that I’ve watched Senator Obama throughout his career under pressure – in public and in private – and I won’t lose a night’s sleep if Senator Obama is my president.
Today in New Hampshire, Barack proposed the most sweeping ethics reform package in history – and he’ll enact it on his first day in office. Barack said he'll make it absolutely clear that "working in an Obama Administration is not about serving your former employer, your future employer, or your bank account – it’s about serving your country, and that’s what comes first."
His ethics-reform package has several planks:
Barack met with the Des Moines Register editorial board on Monday. Here are a few excerpts from the editorial that came out of the meeting. You can read the whole thing here.
Thoughtful Obama says he's ready to lead At 45, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is the youngest major-party candidate running for president. But his decade of elective service and the broad experiences he's gained living and working outside Washington and even outside the country have prepared him well for the job, he said. "I don't think the measure of leadership right now in the eyes of the American public is how long you've been in Washington," he said Monday in a meeting with the Register's editorial board.... National polls show Obama close on the heels of Hillary Clinton for front-runner status among Democrats. His rallying call to change the pettiness of politics and change America, his charismatic speaking style and his boyish good looks have filled venues around the country. Yet in his meeting with the Register, he displayed no celebrity-candidate swagger. He shook the hand of every person in the room, before and after the meeting, and made a point to introduce himself (as if he needed to do so) and shake the hands of other staffers in the hallway. ... And when he settled in to talk about issues, he shunned rhetorical firepower for thoughtful responses, often pausing to choose his words carefully. He appeared absorbed in the give and take, leaning back in his chair or resting his chin on his hand. ... By "growing up in different places with people who had differing ideas," as his campaign bio puts it, he gained a different outlook toward people and issues. A prominent example: his opposition to the Iraq war, dating to before the invasion. "A lot of it has to do with the fact that I lived overseas for a number of years... I was never persuaded that we could create a Jeffersonian democracy in Iraq. That was based on specific experiences of living in Indonesia or knowing my family in Kenya, and understanding how powerful tribal and ethnic sentiments are when it comes to many of these countries." Experiences abroad also inform his views on immigration. He's troubled about setting up a guest-worker system with no avenue toward citizenship, after seeing instances in the Middle East where guest workers outnumber citizens and are "terribly abused."... When deciding to run, "I wasn't simply a young man in a hurry," he emphasized. "I think there's this particular window right now where the country is hungry for change, and is also hungry to be brought together, as opposed to being driven apart. And I thought that the particular skills that I have, of bringing people from diverse backgrounds across lines of race or party or region or faith to focus on solving problems, was a particularly useful and needed skill right now."
At 45, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is the youngest major-party candidate running for president. But his decade of elective service and the broad experiences he's gained living and working outside Washington and even outside the country have prepared him well for the job, he said.
"I don't think the measure of leadership right now in the eyes of the American public is how long you've been in Washington," he said Monday in a meeting with the Register's editorial board.
...
National polls show Obama close on the heels of Hillary Clinton for front-runner status among Democrats. His rallying call to change the pettiness of politics and change America, his charismatic speaking style and his boyish good looks have filled venues around the country.
Yet in his meeting with the Register, he displayed no celebrity-candidate swagger. He shook the hand of every person in the room, before and after the meeting, and made a point to introduce himself (as if he needed to do so) and shake the hands of other staffers in the hallway.
And when he settled in to talk about issues, he shunned rhetorical firepower for thoughtful responses, often pausing to choose his words carefully. He appeared absorbed in the give and take, leaning back in his chair or resting his chin on his hand.
By "growing up in different places with people who had differing ideas," as his campaign bio puts it, he gained a different outlook toward people and issues.
A prominent example: his opposition to the Iraq war, dating to before the invasion. "A lot of it has to do with the fact that I lived overseas for a number of years... I was never persuaded that we could create a Jeffersonian democracy in Iraq. That was based on specific experiences of living in Indonesia or knowing my family in Kenya, and understanding how powerful tribal and ethnic sentiments are when it comes to many of these countries."
Experiences abroad also inform his views on immigration. He's troubled about setting up a guest-worker system with no avenue toward citizenship, after seeing instances in the Middle East where guest workers outnumber citizens and are "terribly abused."
When deciding to run, "I wasn't simply a young man in a hurry," he emphasized.
"I think there's this particular window right now where the country is hungry for change, and is also hungry to be brought together, as opposed to being driven apart. And I thought that the particular skills that I have, of bringing people from diverse backgrounds across lines of race or party or region or faith to focus on solving problems, was a particularly useful and needed skill right now."
Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there! As you celebrate this day with your families, check out Barack's touching Father's Day podcast below.
.
The roundtable was an excellent two-way discussion between Barack and the folks who participated. He was able to discuss his ideas for comprehensive Medicare reform, and also listen to people whose lives are directly affected by the problems with Medicare.
A few weeks ago, Barack proposed eliminating excessive subsidies for Medicare Advantage. He repeated that call today – to the approval of the seniors at the roundtable.
Barack also talked about this report that he released today. It shows that his health care plan will save Iowa seniors a significant amount of money because he will allow Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices. Right now, Iowa seniors pay 71 percent more for their drugs than veterans do through the VA – because the VA can negotiate lower prices.
It’s only because the drug companies spend billions lobbying in Washington that Medicare can’t negotiate with them for lower prices. So we end up paying record prices while they reap record profits.
As Barack likes to say, they deserve a seat at the negotiating table, but they shouldn’t get to buy every chair.
Check out the rest of the pictures from the roundtable here.
Barack started his day in Fort Dodge this morning, delivering a speech to the United Church of Christ national conference. Check out Sam’s post about the speech here.
He also had two potlucks – a lunch in Webster City and dinner in Boone. Boy was it a hot one out there! Luckily, some entrepreneurial Webster City kids set up a lemonade stand near West Twin Park where the potluck was being held.
It sure was refreshing!
We had a good crowd and excellent food at the potluck!
Check out the rest of the potluck pictures here.
Check it out:
