CNN did an interesting segment on the reaction from Hockey Moms to Gov. Sarah Palin. You can watch the video here http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/10/05/lemon.hockey.moms.cnn. You will notice 3 out of the 4 women who agreed to be part of this focus group supported Palin. Of course, the basis of their support is not because of experience or think she has a grasp of the issues. It's because they can relate to her. I felt sorry but proud for the Hockey Mom who supported Obama. I wish she had another Hockey Mom backing her up but she was strong on her own.
One of the most frightening statements in the segment was when a McCain/Palin mom responded to a question about people who are unemployed and cannot afford health insurance. She said "Then maybe they should get a job. I mean, isn't that what America's about?" You should see the stare that the Obama/Palin Hockey mom gave her and with good reason.
It's obvious McCain/Palin Hockey Mom does not understand how many hard-working people have been put out of jobs. It's obvious she does not understand that children should not suffer just because their parents are unemployed. It's obvious that she does not understand that if the path of this country does not change that she very well may have to pass homeless and diseased people on every street corner. Actually, her statement reminded me what George W. Bush said as he stood with a single parent that was having to work two minimum wage jobs to support her family and he said something to the effect "Isn't that what America'a about?" with a smile.
We need to find ways to help Barack Obama, not simply in the real world, but in the virtual world. We need to create our own echo chamber where we can answer the lies, answer the distortions head on.
We also need to find ways to test messages and understand just how tough a job organizing is and find more effective ways to organize.
To that end, I believe that blogging here and elsewhere, joining political simulations and boards are central to fighting back for Barack.
This month's simulation recommendation to join is the American Government Simulation at http://americangovernmentsimulation.com/.
Sign up and join the Obama bandwagon and send the message to Republicans, we won't go quietly into the night anymore, we won't give in, we will stand up and fight to make a difference and change the world everywhere we can. Yes we can.
Yesterday, Obama supporters received an email from Barack Obama. It was a nice and simple email praising Michelle on her speech at the convention. Barack says in it that its a must see and that he believes she beat him at giving a good speech at the convention. I certainly realize there are two reasons that this email was sent. The first being that I am sure he is proud of her and loves her very much. The second is because Michelle needs all the positive attention she can get to fight the negative propaganda that has revolved around her.
I personally think that Michelle is an intelligent, strong and loving woman. I even share her appreciation for the Dick Van Dyke show. However, I think that this email was a potentially huge blunder. The reason is that Barack never mentions Ted Kennedy. Granted, Ted Kennedy was the one that got all the spotlight from the media and viewers. In addition, many may have missed Michelle because she was on at a later time. Still, Ted Kennedy did Barack a huge favor by making sure he attended no matter what. He gave a great speech and Barack owes him a lot for doing so. I do think it was an oversight of Barack's campaign but I am surprised the right-wing media did not jump all over it. Barack praising his wife and not even acknowledging Teddy could be seen as "egotistical" by the right-wing media. The campaign has done a wonderful job but its these simple slip-ups that amaze me.
I am so tired of hearing about how MCCAIN was a POW.
"How they could they this about a former POW?"
"This is a guy that lived in one house for 5 years, in Hanoi"
How could John MCCAIN, a former POW, have cheated by not staying in the "cone of silence".
Defending his views on healthcare:
"John MCCAIN did get inadequate care from another government for some time."
ABOUT ABBAs "Dancing Queen" being his favorite music:
"I stopped evolving my music taste when my plane was shot down by a SAM."
Young Turks Spell it out in this clip.
We should preface every opinion about MCCAIN with "without discretiting his 5 years of service to the country as a POW" and also "This is NOT an ATTACK on Cindy MCCAIN".
If you are a a Dungeons and Dragons player, a blogger, or --gasp-- an editor for the New York Times, then there's a McCain staffer who doesn't like you: McCain Staffer Insults D&D and Bloggers.
What has always united us – what has always driven our people; what drew my father to America's shores – is a set of ideals that speak to aspirations shared by all people: that we can live free from fear and free from want; that we can speak our minds and assemble with whomever we choose and worship as we please.
Participate in the Reaffirm the Bill of Rights pltatform virtual meeting... by posting your comments
The newsproject.org has nice video clip about one of our founding progressive heros Thomas Paine.
I don't blog all that often, usually something has to grab me to make me put my feelings down for everyone to read. The speech Barack Obama gave on Father's day grabbed me in that way. It made me cheer, it made me cry, it made me feel yet again that he is the one man that can change our country to be what I always thought it should be. Those last eight years have been such a painful disappointment for me, having come here as an immigrant and becoming a citizen by choice, with a strong believe in the constitution, but having to watch that same constitution erode slowly but surely under a government that felt it did not apply to them. The same government that called the geneva convention "quaint", and thought that as long as one did not die, hurting them was not torture.
Taking responsibility for ones action starts with the individual, and it moves all the way up the ladder to the leaders of our nation. The speech stressed individual responsibility, and in my mind if people learn to take responsibility for their actions at home, the expectation for our leaders grows exponentially.
Maybe I am reading too much into this, maybe I am hoping too much, but with all the scary news that I am reading from the Middle East these days I need that hope.
Marianne
(Thank you to Laurie for her email.. here is my version..)
ABC News,
I am sadly disappointed furious with the hollow program your company titled a "debate."
The issues covered such as Reverend Wright, who is not running for President, The Weatherman people, whom were active when Obama was only EIGHT years old, and I could care less who does or doesn't wear a lapel pin - it is after all a piece of meaningless metal if the idea of putting our country first, which Obama does, is not taken to heart.
Your company has shown me, and my fellow soldiers, that you are a corporation that wishes to attain the tabloid journalist standard that Fox news and the national Enquire so enjoys.
As an American, and a voter these are a list of MY country's ISSUES:
The financial crisis
The collapse of housing values in the US and around the world
Afghanistan
Health care
Torture and the cover up involved by the current administration
The declining value of the US Dollar
Education
Trade
Pakistan
Iran
Iraq
Energy
Immigration
The decline of American manufacturing
The Supreme Court
The burgeoning world food crisis
Global warming and the tie into Saudi oil that the Bush Administration so enjoys
China
The attacks on organized labor and the working class by such corporations as Wal-Mart 9which Hillary Clinton was a member of the board!)
Terrorism and al Qaeda
Civil liberties and constraints on government surveillance
to name a few...
Why were these subjects considered not important by the moderators?
Why did your company allow them to conduct the debate without so much as a review since there is no way a responsible CEO would not review such an important event... and if you failed to do so, maybe you should step down sir?
Again, I believe ABC News had a responsibility to the American public. If you still wish to demonstrate that your company does in fact feel it should report the news not create it, then a public Apology should be issued, a reprimand to both the moderator and a pledge to get back to honest news.
I await a response. I know as a veteran who has fought for the ideals of this country, I am owed one!
If you do not have them....
Can someone reply and tell me how to embed a YouTube object? I also would like to embed a PDF file if possible for a project I am working on..
Thanking you in advance...
He even sang to her!! WOW what a great show tonight! She was dressed casual and looked so stylish! - - - NOW THAT IS WHAT A FIRST LADY SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND SOUND LIKE!
