Irish Musicians for Obama

Inquiry Set on Mormon Aid for California Marriage Vote

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:04:32 EST

SAN FRANCISCO — California officials will investigate accusations that the Mormon Church neglected to report a battery of nonmonetary contributions — including phone banks, a Web site and commercials — on behalf of a ballot measure to ban same-sex marriage.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/us/politics/26marriage.html?_r=1&nl=pol&emc=pola1&oref=slogin

Send a Card to a Soldier for the Holidays

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:22:20 EST

Here’s a great idea to spread the holiday spirit! When doing your Holiday/Christmas cards this year, take one card and send it to the following address.

A Recovering American Soldier

c/o Walter Reed Army Medical Center

6900 Georgia Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

If we pass this on and everyone sends one card, think of how many cards these wonderful, special people who have sacrificed so much would get.

Happy Thanksgiving and Note to the Conscience!

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 14:16:07 EST

Don't Buy Anything Day
By Lew Scannon
Grand Rapids, Michigan

Long ago, when Christian priests were to trying convert the Pagans, they converted the Pagan holidays into Christian ones. One such was the celebration of the winter solstice, which was converted into a holiday celebrating the birth of Christ. Now the High Priests of money have successfully done the same thing with this Christian holiday, converting a day celebrating the birth of Christ into a celebration of materialism and greed.

Sarah Palin, Giuliani to Campaign for Sen. Chambliss in Ga. Runoff

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:48:54 EST

Former GOP vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin will make four campaign stops in Georgia just one day before the state’s voters head to the polls in a runoff election that could determine whether Democrats win unfettered control of Congress.

The campaign of GOP Sen. Saxby Chambliss announced Tuesday morning that Alaska Gov. Palin and Chambliss will hit the campaign trail together on Dec. 1.

“I was thrilled when I got the call that Governor Palin would be able to make the trip to Georgia to campaign with me the day before the runoff election,” Sen. Chambliss stated in a news release. “Julianne and I are honored that she would take the time to travel to Georgia to tell everyone how important this election is, and I know that she will receive an enthusiastic welcome everywhere we go.”

The campaign tells Newsmax that Palin and Chambliss will embark on a clockwise tour through the heart of central Georgia, beginning at 8:30 a.m. in Augusta, with later campaign stops that in Savannah, Perry (near Macon) and concluding with a rally scheduled for 4 p.m. in north Atlanta. Chambliss is hoping a last-minute boost from Palin will build the momentum he needs to win the runoff.

Mark Begich Pulls Ahead by 800 Votes and Counting!

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:11:07 EST

Today, Begich campaign staff around the state monitored Division of Election (DOE) sites as the first 50,000 early and absentee ballots were counted. This evening the DOE is reporting that we have closed the gap between Mark and Ted Stevens and now lead by 814 votes - a 4000 swing in one day! We're excited about the latest count, but know with 40,000 absentee and question ballots out, we still have a lot of work to do to ensure every vote is counted.

Mark released this statement on these preliminary results:

"I've always said that this would be a close race. After watching the votes today, I remain cautiously optimistic. As I have said before, we ran an aggressive campaign, especially when it came to early voting and absentee. From what we're seeing, thousands of Alaskans, like me, did come out and vote early. I'm confident that Alaskans, like the rest of the country, want a new direction in Washington, and ultimately that will be reflected in the results."

Mark will be appearing on The Ed Schultz Show at 8:30am AKST (9:30am PST, 12:30pm EST) Thursday and The Rachel Maddow's Show on MSNBC Thursday to discuss the campaign. Make sure to tune in!

Please donate!

https://donate.begich.com/page/contribute/inthelead

Urgent: Support for Jim Martin's Senate Race is Needed

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:58:43 EST

Please remember to help support Jim Martin in Georgia for this very important Senate seat. Not only is Jim Martin the best man for the job, his election to the Senate will help the President-elect, Barack Obama, to enact the positive, pragmatic change that America needs at this crucial time. Please help me in contributing to Jim Martin's campaign by spreading the word and by making whatever modest donation you can to his fundraising effort.

http://www.martinforsenate.com/home.html

Thank you,

Julia of Irish Musicians for Obama

Obama Wins North Carolina

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:17:47 EST

A symbolic win in North Carolina brings President-elect Obama's electoral college tally up 15 points!

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110601556.html

Support is Needed for Begich, Martin, and Franken in Final Senate Seat Push!

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 15:15:02 EST

Dear Obama supporters and fellow Democrats:

While we bask in the glow from this beautiful win for President-elect Obama and for our political party as a whole, I wanted to remind you to keep an eye on three Senate races that are in need of our collective positive energy, if not our monetary contributions. The following three Democratic hopefuls could use a quick note of encouragement on their blogsites or a small contribution of money to boost enthusiasm. As we all know, a little bit of collective energy goes a long way in 2008!!

Thanks for your continued support!

-Mark Begich, running against convicted felon Ted Stevens in Alaska:

"This race is far from over!"

http://www.begich.com/home

-Al Franken, running in a tight race in Minnesota that is "too close to call:"

http://www.alfranken.com/

-Jim Martin, "headed to a runoff" against good ol' boy Saxby Chambliss in Georgia:

http://www.martinforsenate.com/

Glory! Glory! Hallelujah!

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:30:27 EST

Much love and thanks to all who've participated as brothers and sisters united in this beautiful event!

http://blip.tv/file/1338283

Virginia goes to Obama, District of Columbia

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 23:03:28 EST

The Associated Press reports that the state's 13 electoral votes go to Democrat Barack Obama. Virginia has not voted Democratic since Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

For Obama, AP has called the District of Columbia and Iowa.

Obama Wins Iowa

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:07:25 EST

WASHINGTON (AP) - Barack Obama built a formidable lead in his bid to become the first black president Tuesday night, pushing ahead of John McCain in a nation clamoring for change.

Obama had earlier followed up his big win in Ohio with his second red state victory in New Mexico, reported MSNBC, earning 5 more electoral votes. Every candidate who has taken Ohio since Abraham Lincoln has won the election and no Republican has ever won the presidency without the state.

Obama wins New York, Michigan and Minnesota.

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 21:10:41 EST

An avalanche of states closed their polls at both 8 and 9 o'clock (EST), pushing the number of electoral votes in play well past the 270 need to win. But neither candidate has managed to steal a state from the other.

The latest round of closures were in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming bringing their balloting to an end. Those states are worth 159 electoral votes.

Kansas, North Dakota and Wyoming went to John McCain, reports MSNBC, while Barack Obama picked up Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Rhode Island and New York. Barack Obama currently leading McCain by 175 to 70 in electoral votes.

McCain's victory in North Dakota was the first toss-up of the night to be declared.

The next round of closures comes at 10, with Iowa, Montana, Nevada and Utah shutting it down.

Obama Sweeping Northeast

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:47:45 EST

As the 8 o'clock hour (EST) rolled around, a number of states closed their polls and winners were declared in several more.

Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware and D.C. were all called for Barack Obama by MSNBC, just minutes after the senator from Illinois was awarded Pennsylvania and New Jersey. John McCain just picked up Tennessee. Obama now leads John McCain 103 - 34 in the Electoral College, with 270 votes needed for victory.

Despite the early lead for Obama, this thing is far from over, as McCain has yet to to lose any of the states Bush won in 2004.

Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, Alabama, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Florida all remain in play with 147 electoral votes at stake.

Arkansas had the spotlight to itself at 8:30, when it alone closed its polling. It's at 9 o'clock, however, when things will start to get interesting, with Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming bringing their balloting to an end. Those 14 states are worth 156 electoral votes and could potentially be enough to crown a new commander in chief.

Obama Wins Pennsylvania and New Jersey

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 20:26:34 EST

With the clock striking 8, 15 states -- Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Florida -- and the District of Columbia closed their polls with a total of 171 electoral votes on the line.

Pennsylvania and New Jersey have just been called by MSNBC, with both going to Barack Obama, giving the senator from Illinois a 39 - 16 lead in the Electoral College, with 270 required for victory

The two previous rounds of closings encompassed Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia. Those nine states represent 98 electoral votes.

Arkansas will have the spotlight to itself at 8:30, when it alone closes its polling. It's at 9 o'clock, however, when things will start to get interesting, with Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming bringing their balloting to an end. Those 14 states are worth 156 electoral votes and could potentially be enough to crown a new commander in chief.

John McCain made an 11th-hour plea to Colorado voters earlier, encouraging them to ignore the pundits and polls that have predicted an inglorious defeat for the Arizona senator.

"America is worth fighting for. Nothing is inevitable here," the GOP nominee told his final rally of a marathon campaign.

Glitches hamper voting in five states

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:43:24 EST

WASHINGTON — Long lines, voting machine failures and registration glitches hampered balloting today in precincts in Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, New Jersey and Florida, as Americans flocked to the polls to elect a new president.

Early voting by nearly 31 million people eased congestion in many states, but machine malfunctions forced the temporary closures of some polling stations in Virginia, which is considered a presidential battleground state after decades in which Democratic candidates all but conceded the state.

A civil rights coalition reported that thousands of Virginia voters may have given up in the face of long waits. Leaders of the coalition complained that a polling place that serves nearly 6,000 voters, mostly Virginia Tech students, is at a church six miles away from the university.

Virginia Too Close to Call in First Round of Closings

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:36:56 EST

The key battleground state of Virginia along with Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, South Carolina and Vermont were the first states in the country to complete their polling, with balloting coming to a close at 7 p.m. (EST). The six states represent 58 of the 538 electoral votes up for grabs tonight, the winner needing at least 270 votes.

Virginia, Indiana, South Carolina and Georgia are too close to call, reports MSNBC. Additionally, the network is calling Vermont's 3 electoral votes for Barack Obama and Kentucky's 8 electoral votes for John McCain.

The next round of closings comes at 7:30, when North Carolina, Ohio and West Virgina call it a day.

Economy, Health Care, Terror on Voters Minds, Exit Polls Show

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:32:24 EST

Fear motivates voters in droves

A scary economy isn't the only fear voters carried to the polls Tuesday. Two-thirds fret about how to pay for health care and at least as many worry that terrorists will attack the U.S. again.

Still, the economy weighed heaviest on their minds. Six in 10 voters picked it as the most important issue facing the nation, according to preliminary polling. None of the four other issues listed by exit pollsters — energy, Iraq, terrorism and health care — was picked by more than one in 10 people.

Almost everyone agreed the economy's condition is either "poor" or "not good." And more than eight in 10 said they were worried about the economy's direction over the next year.

Half of voters said they're very worried the current economic crisis will harm their families, and another third were somewhat worried about that. One reason: about two-thirds of voters have stock market investments, such as retirement funds.

Yet there was room for optimism — nearly half predict the economy will get better over the next year.

The 'Obama Way': Seven steps to success

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:29:59 EST

What his distinctive approach reveals about his possible administration

NEW YORK - I was sitting in David Plouffe’s spartan office at Barack Obama’s campaign headquarters in Chicago.

This horserace has been an interesting one, but that’s not what I wanted to talk about. Instead, I asked the campaign manager about decision-making.

A lot of the campaign's choices have been better than good.

‘The line just keeps going and going’

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:25:16 EST

High turnout reported as some wait hours to cast their ballots

Record numbers of voters flocked to polling stations across the nation Tuesday, energized by a historic election in which they would select either the nation’s first black president or its first female vice president.

Barack Obama, a first-term Democratic senator from Illinois, led in nearly all public opinion polls over John McCain, a veteran Republican senator from Arizona. Both campaigns launched get-out-the-vote efforts that led to long lines at polling stations in a contest that Democrats were also hoping would help them expand their majorities in both houses of Congress.

Heavy turnout was reported across the nation, and even as polls began closing in areas of Kentucky and Indiana at 6 p.m. ET, the identity of the next president was not expected to be known for many hours.

Voting Obstacles in VA, PA

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:15:32 EST

From Election Protection...
Voters are reporting major obstacles to casting their ballot in polling locations across Virginia and Pennsylvania, which could disenfranchise thousands of voters in each state.

Long lines, broken voting machines, ballot shortages and misused absentee ballots are just some of the problems that threaten voting.

Election Protection legal volunteers are working to resolve these issues quickly to ensure that no one leaves their polling location without effectively casting a ballot. Voting rights experts urge voters to stay patient and cooperative in the meantime and to report all instances of voter intimidation or disenfranchisement to Election Protection’s 866-OUR-VOTE hotline immediately.

Voting Issues in FL, OH, VA, and MI

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:08:35 EST

From Election Protection...
As of 2:45pm, Election Protection has received over 48,000 calls to the 1-866-OUR-VOTE Hotline since the phones opened at 5:30am this morning.

The Power of One!

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:47:45 EST

A reader advisory

This article is my response to a Barack supporter in the United States who was
concerned about the the possibility of colour and race being used surreptitiously in concert with elements of the media, to disguise an attempt to deny Barack Obama a fair opportunity to achieve his destiny. The Presidency of the United States of America.

Dear Barack supporter

To be credible, I need to reveal one or two facts about myself before addressing the subject of your concerns. I am a 68 yr old white male and an Australian citizen of Irish and Scottish heritage! As such I am not eligible to vote in your election. However I support Barack Obama for election as the 44th President of the United States, simply because he is by any standard, the most talented, and qualified candidate from either side of the political divide.

Only one candidate has satisfactorily demonstrated the type of skills and leadership qualities people quite rightfully expect to see in a candidate for the office of President. Specifically, in Obama’s overwhelming favour these include: His sound policy positions, diplomatic skills, political skills, sage judgement, people skills, personal ethics, temperament, proven management skills and of course at 47 yrs, his age advantage, when considering the work load and pressures involved in managing the most demanding job in the world.

Obama’s Quest / America’s Impossible Dream?

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:29:48 EST

Telling Thoughts

To the American voter

As the hour for final voting draws ever closer, the dream of realising a better future for yourself and your family, is now squarely in your hands. No matter how long it takes to vote, regardless of queing delays, any temporary discomfort, or rain or wind or sun, on Tuesday 4th of November, the future of your country will be decided by the number of Americans who demand change. Every vote is critical to the outcome.

Authentic change of course, the Obama brand, the only brand to be sure.

This is your chance to be one of many, and through ”E Pluribus Unum” - “Out of many, One”. A more united America will grow. In Barack Obama’s own words, “A more perfect union”. This time, the power of your voting choice can change your life, change America and thus change the world. This day will be yours to remember.

Barack Obama has shown the way. Now it is up to his supporters to prove his improbable journey from Springfield on February 10th 2007, in his quest to become the President of the United States of America, was more than just the sum of one incredible man’s hopes and his improbable, perhaps, ”Impossible Dream”.

On the contrary, it is his vision for a new America.

Vote Obama for President .. Yes you can

From the Tony Awards, “The Impossible Dream” 4 min 13

The words from “The Impossible Dream” seemed fitting for this time. I hope you enjoy them when you reflect on your long campaign journey with Barack. I just love them.

http://www.tellingthoughts.com/us-politics/obamas-quest-americas-impossible-dream

Watch Democracy Now's Election Night Special

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:25:05 EST

A special five-hour election day broadcast from 7pm to Midnight EST (4pm-9pm PST) to bring you the 2008 election results as they come in.

Democracy Now! will be doing a special five-hour broadcast on November 4th from pm to Midnight EST (4pm-9pm PST) to bring you the 2008 election results as they come in.

The program will include live coverage of the results as the polls close, on-the-ground reports from across the country, reactions from across the globe, and running in-depth analysis and commentary from a wide range of guests you won’t get anywhere else.

http://www.alternet.org/election08/106068/watch_democracy_now%27s_election_night_special/

Financial Crisis Sends Women Voters Flocking to Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:15:17 EST

Female registered voters favor Obama over McCain by 16 points.

The economic crisis has been stretching the voting gender gap in favor of Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama.

Polls from mid-October show women, already more inclined to vote Democratic, embracing Obama with growing vigor, a trend that political analysts attribute to an economic crisis that is leaving women feeling acutely vulnerable to threats to their jobs, health care and financial stability.

A Gallup poll from Sept. 7, the day the federal government took over mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, found female registered voters favoring Obama by 49 percent compared to 42 percent for his rival, Republican Sen. John McCain.

Election Day: Voting Snafus from Around the Country

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:06:44 EST

Paper ballot scanners malfunction in Michigan ... Missing mail-in ballots in Colorado ... Four-hour waits in Virginia ...

We'll update this story with the most recent coverage as it becomes available, so check back throughout the day and night -- in fact, just keep it bookmarked.

You can also check on our other stories to find out about what's going on with the Senate, House and ballot measures; hot news, emerging trends, and juicy rumors; election results; and what's going on with Palin and the rest of the wingnuts.

We also want to hear from you -- don't forget to leave us your comments about what you're seeing and hearing out there.

***http://www.alternet.org/election08/106093/election_day%3A_voting_snafus_from_around_the_country/

PA: Registered Voters Forced to Vote Provisionally

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 17:01:59 EST

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, registered voters have found their names missing from local poll books. Some think that the local books are out of date, some think that the Philadelphia City Commission was swamped and couldn't get all of the paper work done. But, in any case, these votes probably won't be counted tonight, which, despite the sky-high turnout, could have major consequences for the Obama campaign.

Turnout High, but Some Polling Place Issues in Philadelphia

Election Day started with heavy turnout in Philadelphia, where polling places quickly saw lines build and the biggest problems were new voters whose names were not on precinct lists and electronic voting machines that did not not work at the day's start.

The voter registration issues appeared to be more widespread, as election protection officials from the Obama campaign and the non-partisan "Committee of 70," a local watch group, noted that many people who had received voter registration cards in the mail were not listed on their precinct voter rolls.

Calls by those election protection officials to the city's Board of Election revealed that those voters' names were on the city's central voter list, which should entitle them to vote with a regular ballot. However, the BOE's instructions to precinct judges, according to these poll watchers, was that anybody who was not on precinct lists should be given a provisional ballot. Those ballots must be verified after Election Day before being counted.

Election Predictions: Pundits Weigh In

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:51:14 EST

Make your own predictions below...

Karl Rove
Winner: Obama
Electoral College: Obama 338 McCain 200

Rove writes on his website:

The final Rove & Co. electoral map of the 2008 election cycle points to a 338-200 Barack Obama electoral vote victory over John McCain tomorrow, the largest electoral margin since 1996. All remaining toss-up states have been allocated to the candidate leading in them, with Florida (27 EV) going to Obama, and Indiana (11 EV), Missouri (11 EV), North Carolina (15 EV), and North Dakota (3 EV) going to McCain. The two candidates are in a dead heat in Missouri and North Carolina, but they go to McCain because the most recent polls conducted over this past weekend show him narrowly ahead. Florida, too, could end up in McCain's column since he's benefited from recent movement in the state.

Matthew Dowd, former Bush strategist
Winner: Obama
Electoral College: Obama 338 McCain 200
Senate Seats: 57 Democrats 41 Republicans
House Seats: 250 Democrats 185 Republicans

George Will, conservative columnist
Winner: Obama
Electoral College: Obama 378 McCain 160
Senate Seats: 57 Democrats 41 Republicans
House Seats: 254 Democrats 181 Republicans

Donna Brazile, Democratic strategist
Winner: Obama
Electoral College: Obama 343
Senate Seats: 59 Democrats 39 Republicans
House Seats: 262 Democrats 173 Republicans

George Stephanopoulos, ABC News anchor
Winner: Obama
Electoral College: Obama 353 McCain 185
Senate Seats: 58 Democrats (59 if there's a run-off in Georgia) Republicans 40
House Seats: Democrats 264 Republicans 171

Mark Halperin, Time editor
Winner: Obama
Electoral College: Obama 349 McCain 189
Senate Seats: 58 Democrats 40 Republicans
House Seats: 261 Democrats 174 Republicans

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MSNBC Continually Features Inaccurate Poll Closing Times

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:45:48 EST

Sometimes, the multitude of information and data that floods the airwaves on Election Day can be too overwhelming to keep track of.

During MSNBC's coverage today, according to Media Matters, the cable news network continually aired "graphics that purported to show "POLL CLOSING" times for each state. But in states that cross over time zones, the times listed in the graphics reflected the western-most time zone in the state, in which polls close an hour later than the rest of the state. Thus, people watching MSNBC in the eastern portion of some states could be left with the impression that local polls would be open for an hour after they actually close."

Early Morning Voting in Rural VA

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:42:32 EST

My husband and I got up at 5am this morning so we would be at our polling place before it opened at 6am. We definitely knew where we were going. If we had any doubt, I had the benefit of numerous e-mails received from both campaigns over the past three days urging me to vote and providing my polling location, some with maps included, and its hours. We left the house about 5:30 am in the dark and drizzle and headed into town.

We arrived at the Floyd County Rescue Squad headquarters, the polling place for the Little River precinct, the largest in Floyd County, at 5:45am. It was decked out with campaign signs (pretty evenly distributed between Democratic and Republican candidates) like it was Christmas, the most elaborate display I've seen in my ten years here. There were 17 people already in line when we took our places at the end. The line grew quietly and steadily. At 5:55am as the rain was getting heavier they decided to let us into the building.

Election Day Mishaps Bumming Durham Republicans

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:36:47 EST

DURHAM, NC--It's raining in Durham, which tends to mean bad news for Democrats, but Republicans in this county look to be having a rougher start to Election Day.

The McCain office, which admitted it had been having trouble recruiting volunteers the last few months, had depended on a last-minute surge in volunteers and signs to get out the vote. They also planned to keep a close eye on the Obama campaign, which had purportedly been bringing in impaired people from nursing homes and residential care facilities during early voting and assisting them in checking straight-ticket Democratic.

Yet, this morning the director of the McCain office was in woeful spirits. There were IT issues (the technician, when he arrived, was wearing an "I Voted" sticker); several of the polling places were exercising their right not to have signs or volunteers; and, worst of all, due to miscommunication, the Republican slate of poll-watchers had not been received by the Board of Elections. Without poll watchers, the McCain campaign couldn't contest any ballots.

Montana's Three Big-Sky Electoral Votes In the Air

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:32:38 EST

There's a fierce battle underway in the red state of Montana with its sparse population, big sky prairies and snow-capped mountains. The 'Treasure State' went for Bill Clinton in 1992 but President GW Bush claimed it by 20 percent in the last two elections. However, Montana may hold the golden key to the White House for both presidential candidates as they search for a pathway to victory. Montana's three electorals could mean a win or loss on Election Day.

A recent CNN Poll of Polls handed Sen. Obama the slimmest advantage in Montana with 46 percent of likely voters backing the Democratic presidential nominee and 45 percent supporting Sen. McCain. Nine percent of likely voters remain undecided and that's the battleground both campaigns are hoping to claim on Tuesday.

Urban, Diverse Areas Not Given Enough Voting Machines

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:29:50 EST

TMZ, of all sites, has an interesting story up about a political saboteur telling Democrats in Deerfield Beach, Florida that they are supposed to vote at a different location.

Putting aside, for the moment the dirty tricks going on, there is another important nugget to glean from the story.

Nearly 400 people were firmly planted in line at 6:15 this morning, waiting for the polls to open at 7:00 AM. There is one voting machine to accommodate all of them.

Virginia Vet Sees Obama Supporters Thronging the Polls

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:26:16 EST

At seven-thirty this morning I went to the polls two blocks from my house. I had voted two weeks before, but I wanted to observe the activity in my stretch of the city. I saw a neighbor in the front of the line, just short of entering the building. He had been waiting for an hour. Behind him, the line stretched the remainder of the block and had turned the corner. I have voted in elections here for the past four years, usually in the morning, and never had to wait more than 10-15 minutes.

GOP Officials Trying To Disqualify Iowa Student Ballots

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:21:25 EST

The Iowa GOP appears to be distancing itself from a Monday effort to challenge thousands of student ballots at Grinnell College.

Spokesman Nathan Treloar told the Huffington Post on Tuesday that while he has "seen reports coming out that its Republican lawyers" objecting to student ballots, he claimed "this could be a local thing" at the county level.

Asked whether the state party has encouraged or endorsed the strategy, in which students who did not register to vote by affixing a PO box to their official university mailing address are being challenged, Treloar said "No, not that I have been made aware of." Treloar then suggested contacting the Republican chair in Poweshiek county, where Grinnell is located.

Virginia Voting: Broken Machines, No Paper Ballots

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:18:56 EST

At the Math and Science Center in Richmond, Virginia, an early breakdown of electronic voting machines led to a three-and-a-half hour wait to vote on Tuesday morning, according to one poll watcher.

"Some people have been here since 6 a.m., and the first voters are just finishing now," said Judith Browne-Dianis, adding that the Richmond location she was watching did not even have backup paper ballots in case of machine malfunction.

"They didn't even have the paper ballots required by state law," she said. "That's not even something we were supposed to have to ask for. I went inside and asked the polling judge, and he said 'we don't have 'em. They [the Board of Elections] were supposed to give 'em to us, and they didn't.'"

GOP Ballot Segregation Effort Fails

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:15:32 EST

The Illinois Republican Party's legal attempt to stop thousands of Lake County ballots from being counted on Election Day essentially ended Monday when a judge didn't schedule a hearing on the matter.

The GOP complaint focused on the ballots of first-time voters who'd registered with the help of Citizen Action/Illinois, a Chicago activist group it accused of delivering "fraudulent, incomplete or illegitimate" voter applications to the Lake County clerk's office.

Pollster Calms Paranoid Dems: McCain Win Would Be Exceptionally Improbable

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 16:08:39 EST

Even though every political and statistical indication points to an Obama victory tonight -- and a healthy one at that -- a certain brand of liberal paranoia persists. This is too good to be true, Democrats declare, fingers grasping at their hair. McCain is tightening the race in key states. The youth vote won't come out.

And so it goes.

But if in fact McCain were to win this election it would be, one of the nation's foremost pollster says, almost historically unprecedented.

On the front lines: Reports from Florida's polls

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:58:39 EST

Here is a continuous collection of quick, quirky, weird and wacky facts from polling spots around South Florida and the state. If you spot something that fits, e-mail us at elections@MiamiHerald.com. Be sure to include your name and contact number.

Seeing long lines and lots of hot people, 7-year-old Javier Vega decided to set up shop outside of his friend's home near Uleta Park Community Center in North Miami Beach, selling hot dogs, chips and soda.

Also available at his stand: two free kittens named Barack and Obama.

''We want want him to win,'' said Javier, who was staying with his mom's friend Nancy Bueno. ``It was a good name for the kittens.''

Javier, with the help of Bueno, decorated the stand near the center at 16880 NE Fourth Ave. with Obama posters and a poster advertising his prices: hotdogs for $1.50, soda for a $1 and chips for 50 cents.

Javier said he thought selling food was a good way to make money and help voters.

''They were waiting in long lines,'' he said.

Read more from the front lines from the Miami Herald:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/755620.html

Floridians pack polls in 'smooth' voting

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:54:20 EST

After an early rush on Tuesday, voting had slowed to a steady pace by mid-afternoon at most South Florida polling sites, with few glitches and no massive lines reported.

''This was more convenient than anything I could have imagined,'' said Erica Mena, a 22-year-old model and actress who voted at a fire station in South Beach.

Election officials credited the smooth Election Day with the overwhelming success of the two-week early-voting period that ended Sunday. About one of every four registered voters in Miami-Dade, Broward and statewide cast their ballots early, and many others voted absentee.

Obama Wins Care2 Poll by a Landslide

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:20:28 EST

November 4, 2008

Well, the REAL votes are being cast right now. But we already have some early results--the Care2 poll results. Y'all cast 8,681 votes total, and impressively almost 700 comments. And here's the tally (check out the poll here):

Barack Obama: 80%
John McCain: 12%
Ralph Nader: 3%
Cynthia McKinney: 2%
Bob Barr: 1%

We suspect these numbers may skew a LITTLE high for Obama over what the national tally will be (as is the vote for Nader and McKinney). Thanks to all who participated, and if you've not already gone out to vote, PLEASE VOTE!

http://www.care2.com/politics/the-care2-poll-election-results-land.html

Obama tears up in a tribute to his 'hero'

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:33:17 EST

Reporting from Charlotte, N.C. -- In a presidential race that has never lacked for drama, another riveting scene unfolded on the eve of the election as Barack Obama teared up before a crowd of 25,000 on a rain-drenched football field.

Madelyn Dunham, the 86-year-old grandmother who helped raise Obama and was ill with cancer, died early Monday in Honolulu, just hours shy of an election he had prayed she would survive to witness.

The Democratic nominee learned of her death while doing radio interviews from his hotel room in Jacksonville, Fla. He did not mention it at a raucous rally a few hours later.

But in Charlotte, Obama offered a tribute that brought a hush over the field.

Polls across Alaska open until 8 p.m.

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:24:02 EST

Anchorage Daily News

Published: November 4th, 2008 06:51 AM
Last Modified: November 4th, 2008 08:47 AM

It's Electon Day, and with two heated congressional races and presidential election, turnout is expected to be high across Alaska. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

A New Kind of Pride

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:21:49 EST

Whoever wins this election, I understand what Barack Obama meant when he said his faith in the American people had been "vindicated" by his campaign's success. I understand what Michelle Obama meant, months ago, when she said she was "proud of my country" for the first time in her adult life. Why should they be immune to the astonishment and vertigo that so many other African Americans are experiencing? Why shouldn't they have to pinch themselves to make sure they aren't dreaming, the way that I do?

In Birmingham, Obama's Run is More than Just Politics

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:18:10 EST

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — On the night before Tuesday's historic presidential election, city leaders here summoned voters to the scene of one of the most appalling events of the civil rights movement.

From the pulpit of the 16th Street Baptist Church, where four young girls were killed in a 1963 bombing, speakers Monday night urged the mostly black crowd to make sure they vote.

It was a familiar appeal from a familiar venue.

At the height of Birmingham's bloody civil rights struggle, 16th Street Baptist was a frequent meeting place for local black leaders, but Monday's rally drew its energy and urgency from an unprecedented development — the chance to elect the nation's first African-American president.

Africans Gear up to Celebrate an Obama Victory

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 13:05:23 EST

Africans Plan All-night Election Parties, Determined to Celebrate an Obama Victory

Africans organized all-night parties to watch the U.S. election results roll in, determined to celebrate a moment in history as Barack Obama tries to become the first black American president.

"Tonight we are not going to sleep," said Valentine Wambi, 23, a student at the University of Nairobi. "It will be celebrations throughout."

She planned to join hundreds of other students in the Kenyan capital for an election party late Tuesday.

The ’08 Campaign: Sea Change for Politics as We Know It

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:13:52 EST

The 2008 race for the White House that comes to an end on Tuesday fundamentally upended the way presidential campaigns are fought in this country, a legacy that has almost been lost with all the attention being paid to the battle between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.

It has rewritten the rules on how to reach voters, raise money, organize supporters, manage the news media, track and mold public opinion, and wage — and withstand — political attacks, including many carried by blogs that did not exist four years ago. It has challenged the consensus view of the American electoral battleground, suggesting that Democrats can at a minimum be competitive in states and regions that had long been Republican strongholds.

America Weighs Risk and Rebirth

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:05:06 EST

CHICAGO — A year ago, Barack Obama was just another guy up on a stage, one of the many also-runnings who flanked presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. He seemed a candidate waiting to be consigned to the asterisks of history.

Today, unless every poll and credible prognostication turns out to be wrong, Mr. Obama will be elected president of the United States.

And he will have done it by just standing there, and waiting for us to come to him.

Mr. Obama has not changed over the past year. Those who know him don't speak of growth or metamorphosis. He is fiercely ambitious - has been his entire adult life - and he channelled that ambition into an audacious campaign that harnessed high-tech know-how and strategic brilliance to a phenomenal Internet-based grassroots movement.

Polls Show Obama With Clear Advantage

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 11:56:33 EST

McCain, Hampered by Bush and Economic Crisis, Must Win Virtually Every Close State

Democrat Barack Obama, seeking a history-making victory in a presidential campaign that has captivated the country as few others ever have, maintained a clear advantage over Republican John McCain yesterday as the two made final appeals in battleground states and readied massive get-out-the-vote operations in advance of today's balloting.

State and national polls released yesterday underscored the steep hill McCain must climb in the final hours to reach the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House. Burdened by President Bush's unpopularity and an economic crisis that redrew the race in September in Obama's favor, the senator from Arizona sprinted through a series of critical states yesterday -- all but one of which Bush carried four years ago -- exhorting his supporters to help him defy the odds.

Group expects big turnout, which could be very good news for Democrats

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:26:10 EST

Expect a huge voter turnout this week, the Center for the Study of the American Electorate said Sunday. The American University-based organization studies voter trends, and reported turnout could be the highest since 1960. "The biggest single reason is the condition of the nation and the deep discontent, fear, and, at least in some cases, anger of the citizenry," CSAE said in its analysis. "Since 1960, when American turnout reached its apex, there have been three elections where turnout substantially increased—1982, 1992 and 2004." In 1982 and 1992, the nation was emerging from severe recessions, and in 2004, the Iraq war helpd stoke interest. In 2008, it found, "the nation is substantially more emotionally concerned than any of these elections—nearly 90 percent see the nation on the wrong track (a figure probably only previously achieved in 1932), more than 70 percent disapprove of the president and his performance, there is a shared feeling that the nation is in a recession and that economic conditions will get worse, almost everyone has taken a major hit to their savings and their assets, and many are fearful for their jobs and livelihood." Registration for the general election was up by about 2.5 percentage points, reaching its biggest level since women got the vote in 1920. Some 153.1 million people, or 73.5 percent of the eligible population, will have registered, up from the previous record of 72.1 percent in 1964. As a result, said CSAE Director Curtis Gans in a statement, "this...could lead to a turnout of as many as 135 million or 64.8 percent of eligible citizens the highest since 1960 when 67 percent of eligibles voted – the high point since women were given the right to vote in 1920." That could be particularly good news for Democrats, since that party registeration was up by an estimated 1.4 percent percentage points, while Republican registration dipped. "The fact that GOP registration declined in this year of intense citizen interest in the election is significant," CSAE reported.

http://washingtonbureau.typepad.com/election2008/2008/11/group-expects-1.html

Preemptive 'war:' Florida Dems sue GOP over unused tactic

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 01:16:04 EST

It may be the peak of the 2008 presidential election season, but the Florida Democratic Party is taking a trip down memory lane with the first voter lawsuit filed against the GOP.

This time, it's not about ballot recounts, as in Gore v. Bush in 2000. It's a Democratic legal salvo accusing the Republicans of plotting a last-minute challenge of registered voters with potentially bad addresses, which may prevent them from casting a regular ballot at the polls Tuesday.

The lawsuit, filed in Leon County last week, cites alleged evidence of Republicans trying to ''cage'' a Duval County voter and of a GOP sheriff's candidate challenging some 300 voters in Glades County. Caging is the term for sending mail to voters in a bid to identify, by the undelivered pieces, who might have moved from their address on the registration rolls.

''This is above politics,'' said state Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff. "This is about our foundation of democracy.''

Progressive Media Have Really Helped Stop the Spread of Dirty Political Rumors

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:34:53 EST

This Internet-driven, hyperactive presidential race is forcing accountability on two of the oldest tricks in politics: dog whistles and secret smears.

Everyone can hear it now. This Internet-driven, hyperactive presidential race is forcing accountability on two of the oldest tricks in politics: dog whistles and secret smears.

With a "dog whistle," politicians use code words to signal unpopular stances to one target audience, while avoiding a backlash because the reference is lost on others. Many people miss President Bush's layered language for evangelicals, from hinting that legal abortion is like slavery to his odd prediction that history will see Iraq as just "a comma." (It only makes sense if you know the proverb, "Never put a period where God has put a comma.") Code words don't fool everyone, but from "states' rights" to "welfare queens," GOP campaigns have tapped racial resentment without facing widespread opprobrium. Secret smears run on a similar axis, enabling politicians to undermine an opponent without taking responsibility for the attack. But the times are changing.

Thanks to Sarah Palin, We Get to See the Cruelness of the GOP as It Really Is

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:32:31 EST

Palin has helped reveal to the public pit-bull snarl that rouses GOP supporters to cry out, "Traitor!" against Obama, and "Kill him!"

It was Jesus Christ, if Matthew is to be believed, who said, "Love thine enemy." It is in that spirit that I write this belated valentine to Sarah Palin.

Sarah, I love you for having revealed unto the media the snarling heart of the beast that is the base (and the soul) of the Republican Party. Yes, you have the lipstick and the heels, not to mention the calves and bosoms, that send Republican men into swoons, but you have more; the pit-bull snarl that rouses your supporters to cry out, "Traitor!" against Obama, and "Kill him!"

George Bush kept those folks in their kennels, ran as a "compassionate conservative," and always masked his most heinous plans in double speak. Bush the Elder, Ronald Reagan, and even Richard Nixon never explicitly ran on hate and fear of "the other." They used words that were coded enough that it was possible to pretend that they were true.

But now the beast is loose.

Racism Isn't Keeping Arab Americans from the Polls

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:07:25 EST

Despite discriminatory tactics attempting to derail their votes, huge numbers of Arab Americans will vote on Tuesday.

NEW YORK, Nov 3 (IPS) -- Arab Americans are expected to vote in large numbers Tuesday, despite concerns over voter intimidation and weak outreach from the presidential candidates, representatives of major community organizations say.

The Arab American Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has set up a voter protection unit staffed by lawyers to help dispel rumors that may have prevented some from going to the polls in the past.

"As always, there will be voter intimidation," predicted Abed Ayoub, one of five attorneys attached to the unit. Enthusiasm for the election is higher than it was in 2004, he contended, pointing to a recent ADC-sponsored event in Michigan that saw at least 500 Arab Americans register in just two days.

At the same time, the ADC has received hundreds of calls over recent months from Arab Americans who mistakenly believed they may have been ineligible to vote.

"One rumor was that if you are in foreclosure, you can't vote," Ayoub said. Another is the misconception that those who couldn't read or write in English -- often a problem for elderly Arab Americans -- would not be allowed to use translators.

How John McCain Would Dismantle Medicare

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:52:29 EST

This article originally appeared on Health Beat.

No doubt you've seen the ads. Barack Obama claims that John McCain plans to hollow out Medicare, arguably the most popular social program in America.

McCain says that just isn't so.

The controversy began early this month when the Wall Street Journal reported that McCain plans major reductions in Medicare and Medicaid spending totaling $1.3 trillion over the text ten years. This will help pay for his health care plan. Douglas Holtz-Eakin, McCain's senior policy adviser, told the Journal that "the savings would come from eliminating Medicare fraud and by reforming payment policies to lower the overall cost of care."

Without question, there is money to be saved if Washington cracks down on Medicare and Medicaid fraud. But before reaping any savings, the government first would have to spend money to ferret out the fraudulent claims. And no one believes that Washington could recover anything close to $1.3 trillion. Meanwhile, "reforming payment policies" seems to suggest that McCain plans to pay doctors and hospitals less, at a time when many Medicare patients are having a hard time finding a primary care physicians -- precisely because Medicare's fees are already so low. This could reduce access to care.

North Carolina's Surprising Turn to Blue in Election 2008

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:46:14 EST

Will the Democrats of North Carolina be chanting "Yes, We Can!" on election night?

Wilmington, NC -- Past elections may have tagged North Carolina red, but the prevailing electorate is ambiguous about color. Though the state is geographically a part of the south, and all of that entails, I think its people are emancipating themselves from its days of yore. Votes that laid dormant in past elections awoke from slumber and are being cast in unprecedented numbers. Already bloopers sprang up in early voting sites. Reports of nearly 200,000 votes got sucked into a vacuum of obscure ballots that confused people into thinking their straight-party vote included their vote for president. Others reported they had glitches with voting booths that kept switching their choice to the opposite party. The ominous threat of voter fraud looms over North Carolina.

McCain Crossing the Line on Health Care

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:43:21 EST

In the era of eBay, you can buy just about anything from just about anywhere. Senator McCain and other lawmakers have proposed putting health insurance on a similar nationwide auctioning block by allowing consumers to purchase health insurance from any other state. This may sound harmless, but the effects of buying and selling health insurance across state lines would be far more dangerous than, say, your latest treasure found on eBay.

Respondele a Obama - Yes We Can ! Si Se Puede Video!

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:30:48 EST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ycu0sy5RW8

Palin isn't up to the task

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:15:08 EST

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 2:05 AM MDT Editor: Sarah Palin may be a lot of things to a lot of people, but above all else, she is a distraction. John McCain could have chosen stellar Republican women to complete his ticket, including Olympia Snowe, Kay Bailey Hutchison, or even Elizabeth Dole of North Carolina, who served five U.S. Presidents. But no. McCain selected a woman who has been governor of Alaska for just over a year, a two-term mayor of a 9,800-person community, someone whose hard-right leanings belie everything McCain purports to stand for. She has asked publicly just what it is the vice president does and in so doing proved she’s either hopelessly out of her league or thumbing her nose at the process. This country doesn’t need either attitude.

Dick Cheney’s Hometown Newspaper Endorses Obama, Rips Bush Legacy

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:08:53 EST

The Casper Star-Tribune in Wyoming joined at least 50 other newspapers who switched party endorsement since 2004.

Today, Vice President Cheney’s hometown newspaper, the Casper Star-Tribune in Wyoming, endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) for president. The paper endorsed Bush-Cheney in 2004. Today’s editorial states:

The next occupant of the White House will inherit a national economy that’s collapsing and two wars our nation has been fighting for years, depleting valuable resources we need to fix a multitude of domestic problems. Far too many of our nation’s citizens live paycheck to paycheck, worried about whether they’ll have a job next week or if a medical crisis will bankrupt them.
What America needs most in these troubled times is a president who will move the country in a positive direction. The candidate who is most likely to chart a new course that will lead us to better days is Obama. Moreover, he is the best candidate for Wyoming.

The endorsement comes two days after Cheney campaigned for McCain in Casper. Thus far, at least 50 daily papers have switched from backing Bush in 2004 to supporting Obama.

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/peek/105967/

Poll Shows Obama Deflected Recent Attacks

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:57:17 EST

Republicans Challenged Democrat on Taxes, Readiness and Crisis Management

With one day to go, Democrat Barack Obama appears to have rebuffed recent GOP efforts to label him as "too liberal" or too big a gamble.

The new Washington Post-ABC News tracking poll puts Obama well out in front over Republican John McCain and finds that Obama has firmly reestablished his advantage on handling the economy, beaten back a challenge on taxes and has an edge in terms of perceptions about which candidate would better deal with an unexpected major crisis.

The Opening Obama Saw

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:43:21 EST

A good politician triumphs by adapting to the times and taking advantage of opportunities as they come. A great politician anticipates openings others don't see and creates possibilities that were not there before.

John McCain might have been the second kind of politician, tried to be the first and enters Election Day at a steep disadvantage. Barack Obama certainly seized the opportunities created by President Bush's failures and the country's profound discontent, which only deepened after the economic crash. But by creating a new social movement, new forms of political organization, and a sense of excitement and possibility not felt in politics for three decades, he is bidding to become one of the country's most consequential leaders.

Obama Holds Lead in Battlegrounds

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:40:07 EST

In the latest battleground state polls, Democrat Barack Obama holds clear leads in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and is slightly ahead in Florida.

Quinnipiac University's surveys, released this morning, show Obama leading Republican John McCain by 50 percent to 43 percent among likely voters in Ohio, by 52 percent to 42 percent in Pennsylvania, and 47 percent to 45 percent in Florida.

The Ohio Poll, conducted by the University of Cincinnati, also shows Obama ahead, 51.5 percent to 45.7 percent among likely voters.

The three states, with 68 total electoral votes, are crucial; no Republican has won the White House in modern times without winning Ohio.

The Quinnipiac surveys were conducted Oct. 27-Nov. 2 and have margins of error of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points in Ohio and Pennsylvania and 2.3 percentage points in Florida. The Ohio Poll was done Oct. 29-Nov. 2 and has a margin of error of plus of minus 2.7 percentage points.

http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2008/11/obama_holds_lea.html

As abortion foes grow more intense, a new view surfaces

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:05:21 EST

In New York, Cardinal Edward M. Egan published a picture last week of a 20-week-old fetus in his newspaper column and declared that abortion is a crime "no less heinous than what was perpetrated by Hitler and Stalin."

In Dallas and Fort Worth, two bishops jointly declared that voting for a politician who supports abortion rights is "morally impermissible." In Pennsylvania, a bishop made a surprise visit to a parish politics forum, declared, "I own this building," and dismissed the bishops' own voting guide that says Catholics are not single-issue voters.

Over the last few weeks, more than 60 Catholic bishops, articulating their traditional views in ever stronger language, have urged voters to make abortion their top priority in an election dominated by the nation's economic turmoil.

Drumbeat for early voting pays off for Obama team

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:01:16 EST

DENVER—The drumbeat to vote early is paying dividends for Barack Obama, especially in key battleground states in the South and West where Democrats have cast many more ballots than Republicans -- and even in states where registered Republicans outnumber Democrats.

About a third of the American electorate was expected to vote before Election Day, largely to avoid long lines at the polls.

"It was so easy. I filled in my ballot with my wife over dinner and then dropped it off on the way to work," said Tony Amadeo, 27, one of almost 1.5 million people who cast early ballots in Colorado, where for the first time a majority of votes in a presidential race will be cast in advance.

More than 29 million people in 30 states have already voted, according to partial state and county data provided to The Associated Press, and that number was projected to rise to 44 million out of 137 million total votes nationally, according to estimates by Edison Media Research and George Mason University political scientist Michael McDonald.

Economic Message Buoys Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:53:12 EST

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Senator Barack Obama entered this presidential race as the antiwar candidate, defined by his early and vocal opposition to the 2003 Iraq invasion. He captured the left wing of the Democratic Party, particularly in Iowa, and rode that support to the nomination.

Almost two long years later, Obama enters the campaign's waning hours a strikingly different candidate, one who may win the presidency tomorrow largely on the strength of his economic message.

Among the many ways in which Obama has evolved as a candidate, none is as fundamental as his shift in focus from the war to the economy. The metamorphosis reflects both the changed political climate over the past 21 months, and the agility Obama has shown in responding to it.

"He crafted a message of change, broadly speaking, and he has been able to essentially fold almost anything underneath that concept," said Dan Palazzolo, a political scientist at the University of Richmond in Virginia. "He has very skillfully adapted to almost every contingency that has come up."

One Republican Explains His Switch to Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:31:12 EST

The post-mortems are being written on this cycle, even as we are two days away from Election Day. One of the more talked-about and controversial stories this year has been the selection of Sarah Palin as John McCain's Vice President. Her obvious strengths as a charismatic campaigner who appeals very strongly to the conservative base have been offset by concerns that she's not ready to serve as President if needed (affirmed as strongly as ever this week with 59% saying she's not qualified) and an ideology that has motivated many Democrats as much as it's energized the Republican base. I bring up Palin, because she has been a key factor in some of the very high-profile Republican defections to Obama, including that of Colin Powell, Ken Adelman and just Friday, Ken Duberstein, who was Reaganâ€™s Chief of Staff.

Jim Crow Survivor Casts First Vote: For Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:26:29 EST

In his 103 years, Ernest Smith says, he never drank, smoked or voted. Though he’s yet to sample tobacco or alcohol, on Thursday, Smith cast his first ballot —- for Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

“I voted, and I want to vote again,” said Smith, a testament to clean living. “It felt good.” [...]

Born in 1905 in Pembroke, N.C., Smith lived most of his life there and was first eligible to vote in 1928 —- then the voting age was 21.

But for African-Americans like Smith, suffrage was far from universal. Literacy tests and poll taxes were enacted through much of the Jim Crow South to suppress black turnout.

Had Smith attempted to vote in 1928 —- he says he never tried to register —- his choices would have been Herbert Hoover, campaigning as a Republican maverick, and Democrat Al Smith who, like Obama, was a historic nominee. [...]

Ernest Smith is confident that this year, he’s backing a winner.

“We’ll make it, thank the Lord,” said Smith, bolting up from his rocking chair, clapping. A snapshot of Obama sits on his dresser.

Obama’s Hawaii birth certificate confirmed

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:12:04 EST

The director of Hawaii’s Department of Health confirmed on Friday what Barack Obama has been saying all along: the presidential candidate was born in Honolulu.

“There have been numerous requests for Sen. Barack Hussein Obama’s official birth certificate,” said Chiyome Fukino. “State law prohibits the release of a certified birth certificate to persons who do not have a tangible interest in the vital record.”

Citing her statutory authority to oversee and maintain Hawaii’s vital records, Fukino said she has “personally seen and verified that the Hawaii State Department of Health has Sen. Obama’s original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures.

For Obama, Is Arizona Realistic?

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:06:22 EST

Here's the way to figure it out on election night: Watch Pima County, the second largest after Maricopa. Obama is likely to win the county by a large margin. If he's going to win the state, and assuming that McCain takes Maricopa by five points or so, Obama will need a margin that is about 20 points over McCain, a tall task, but doable if turnout is very high. As of '06, Maricopa had 3.8 million people living in it; Pima had just under a million. (The margins cancel if turnout rates are equivalent in the two counties. ) Of course, it might be a long night in Pima County... local journalists expect delays and vote counting issues.

Sarah Palin attacks Barack Obama over old comments on coal (but leaves a few things out)

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:00:18 EST

During a campaign appearance in Marietta, Ohio, Sarah Palin criticized comments made earlier this year by Barack Obama -- which surfaced today in an audio tape posted on YouTube.

In it the Democratic presidential candidate discusses the effects of his proposed emissions policy on the coal industry.

“He said that sure, if the industry wants to build new coal-fired plants, then they can go ahead and try, he says, but they can do it only in a way that will bankrupt the coal industry, and he’s comfortable letting that happen,” the GOP vice presidential nominee told 4,800 supporters at Marietta College, not far from the border with West Virginia, a major coal-producing state.

“We will not let that happen to the coal industry,” she continued. “Instead, we’ll make clean coal a reality. And to help power the American economy with clean-coal technology, we’re going to be looking to the hard-working people of Ohio and West Virginia and Pennsylvania.”

Said the Alaska governor: “You’ve got to listen to that tape.”

The patriotic thing to do

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:18:33 EST

Maybe I’m crazy, but I think that paying taxes is patriotic. And I’m tired of hearing Americans, especially Westerners, whine about their tax burden. I’m no economist. Taxes aren’t a subject I normally pay attention to – except once a year in April – but during the presidential campaign the rhetoric around taxes was impossible to ignore, particularly from those who imagine they pay too much of them. I blame Joe the Plumber. Not the real guy, but the archetypal Joe the Plumber who morphed into a symbol for the-we’re-being-taxed-into-poverty crowd, which sadly includes many of my neighbors here in the rural West. Excuse me, but when did paying taxes become un-American?

CREW Files Ethics Complaint Against Sen. John McCain

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:15:54 EST

On October 9th, CREW filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee against Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), requesting an investigation into his failure to disclose gambling winnings on his Senate financial disclosure reports in violation of Senate rules and federal law.

According to a recent article in The New York Times, Sen. McCain is an avid gambler who frequents casinos as often as once a month. The article states that during a winter 2000 visit to Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut, "[Sen. McCain] and his entourage emerged with thousands of dollars in winnings." Time and The New Yorker have also reported on his gambling habits, detailing casino visits in New Orleans and on Mississippi riverboats.

The McCain campaign responded to the complaint, as reported on October 9 in Politico's blog, The Crypt, arguing that Senate rules do not require reporting of gambling winnings on personal financial disclosure reports. In fact, federal law and Senate rules require all income to be reported and the Senate Ethics Manual specifically lists winnings of any kind as reportable income. Knowingly filing a false report is a crime punishable by up to five years in jail.

In addition, while Sen. McCain did not report any income derived from gambling on his personal financial disclosure reports between 2000 and 2007, several other members, including Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) and Rep. Paul Kanjorski (D-PA) did.

Learn more

Read CREW's complaint

Read The Washington Post article:

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/34678

CREW Files FEC Complaint Against Palin and RNC over $150,000 Wardrobe Purchase

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:14:13 EST

On October 23rd, CREW filed a Federal Election Commission (FEC) complaint against vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and the Republican National Committee (RNC) for improperly spending $150,000 of campaign funds on clothing for Palin and her family in violation of federal campaign finance laws. Once the clothing purchases became public, the RNC quickly said it planned to donate the clothing to charity after the campaign, because of an exception in the law providing that charitable donations by a candidate are not personal use. That exception, however, applies only to candidates, not their families so the purchase of clothing for Governor Palin's husband and children still violated the law. The $150,000 spent on clothing for the Palin clan is the equivalent of three Alaskan school teachers' salaries, health care premiums for 31 working Americans, flu vaccinations for over 6,000 people, or the winter heating bill for 131 low-income households.

Learn more Read CREW's FEC complaint Read the Associated Press article:

http://www.citizensforethics.org/node/34812

Onward in Carson City, NV

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:05:03 EST

Dear Friends and Family, I've been thinking of you so much and wanting to write and share what's going on here on the ground in Carson City, but we're so busy from morning to night I haven't found the time.

The main activity of the campaign is going from door to door, connecting with voters in person, to persuade undecided voters and make sure all the supporters vote. Nevada's early voting was from the 18th to the 31st, and we had a great turnout. 57% of all the registered voters here in Carson early voted! And the Dems significantly outnumbered the Reps. There's Obama yardsigns and bumperstickers visible all over which is quite incredible for a relatively rural and definitely conservative area of Nevada. We have more and more Republicans telling us they're voting for Obama. Just yesterday a woman came up and told me that she voted for Bush in 2004 and has regretted it and even tho she has always voted Republican, she can't afford to do it anymore. "I have to vote for Obama."

It’s time to cowboy up

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:59:34 EST

They’re a lot of fun, those culture wars. City folk get a chuckle over the cretins out in Kansas passing laws against evolution. The Fox News crowd enjoys fulminating about feminazis. Good ratings, good rantings, good times. Dividing the electorate into rural heartland/ignorant rubes vs. civilization/East Coast eggheads is as old as the Republic, starting with Jefferson’s yeoman farmer pitted against Hamilton’s urbane merchant. And although the Civil War split the country along different lines, by the end of Reconstruction we were back pitting cowboys against suits, Mr. Smith against Washington, D.C.. But when real disaster strikes, that’s all over. I’m a transplanted Westerner who married a guy from New York City. We live in Brooklyn. One of the few good things that came out of 9/11 is that for a while I could walk into bars in Idaho and Nevada and Montana and not have to mumble when asked where I’m from. In fact, people would tear up, ask me where I was “that day,” shake my hand and even buy me a beer.

Obama's Grandmother Dies At Age 86

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:54:23 EST

Barack Obama's grandmother, whose personality and bearing shaped much of the life of the Democratic presidential contender, has died, Obama announced Monday, 1 day before the election. Madelyn Payne Dunham was 86. Obama announced the news from the campaign trail in Charlotte, N.C. The joint statement with his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng said Dunham died peacefully late Sunday night after a battle with cancer.

They said: "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility. She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances."

Obama learned of her death Monday morning while he was campaigning in Jacksonville, Fla. He planned to go ahead with campaign appearances.

The family said a private ceremony would be held later.

Obama Blitzes Nevada

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:51:06 EST

Las Vegas, NV - With thousands of Californians pouring over the border to assist in a last-minute door-to-door ground blitz, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama revved up a crowd of 15,000 local supporters Saturday morning saying that "there's only 3 days left before we change America."

Long lines of rally goers formed before 7:00 a.m. at a high school football field in the blue-collar suburb of Henderson and then patiently waited more than two hours for Obama to arrive.

"Don't think for one moment that this election is already over," Obama warned the cheering crowd, saying that they should take nothing for granted. A spate of polls show Obama leading McCain by 5-7 points in the Silver State. Nevada has not recently voted for a Democratic president but has consistently been trending blue.

With only 5 electoral votes, Nevada might not be decisive in the final electoral count but could be a reliable regional bellwether.

'Rednecks for Obama' Rally in Springfield, MO

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:41:22 EST

My friends, a couple and their two young girls, and I drove from Arkansas, two hours north to Springfield, Missouri for the Obama rally held Saturday night at a high school football field named JFK Stadium. We are not native Arkansans - we are the careerist transferees found in Corporate America who have lived in many big cities and small towns. Once we arrived in the vicinity of the high school around 4 PM, we waited in very long line for three hours to pass through the security checkpoints. In the line, we had interesting conversations with others in the crowd, some of whom were wearing "Rednecks for Obama" bumper stickers on their jackets and shirts. The long line stretched out for several blocks in a residential area. The Obama volunteers kept people moving in an orderly fashion and made sure we did not stray off the sidewalks into the street which had not been closed to traffic. There were a small number of protesters driving up and down the street, waving anti-Obama signs out their car windows, but they did not cause any problems. One man who lived in a house on the street had placed his van in his driveway, its boom box blasting the Sean Hannity radio show. He was screaming at the people lined up in front of his property but none of the Obama supporters in our portion of the line took his bait and yelled back at him. The man was very angry that thousands of Obama supporters were walking right in front of his home.

Tight Polls and Rumors of an Obama Visit Boost Momentum in Arizona

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:36:57 EST

Newsweek reported late yesterday that senior Obama advisers are discussing a possible visit to Arizona by the candidate during his Western swing-state tour this weekend, heightening the excitement of Democrats here and stoking the momentum that has been building in the state in recent days. Obama spokesman David Plouffe announced this morning that the campaign will be buying air time for the first time in Arizona and will run the campaign's closing ad. Five polls released over the last week declared the presidential race in Arizona a statistical dead heat.

Working to staunch the bleeding, John McCain has targeted his home state with robocalls and announced this morning that he will visit Prescott, Arizona, on Monday.

When CBS asked Obama campaign Senior Adviser Robert Gibbs whether or not Obama might make a personal appearance in Arizona, he downplayed the possibility but would not rule it out.

Obviously we've seen a number of public polls as you guys have in the past few days that show -- not surprisingly -- a close race in Arizona and it's something that we'll watch.

McCain, Palin Draw Surprisingly Small Crowds In Ohio

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:33:32 EST

John McCain and Sarah Palin crisscrossed Ohio over the weekend, appearing at multiple rallies that drew surprisingly small crowds -- especially taking into account the GOP candidates brought with them the star power of 9/11 hero Rudy Giuliani, movie idol Arnold Schwarzenegger, and country music headliner Gretchen Wilson.

On Friday, former New York mayor Giuliani stumped for McCain at a school gymnasium in Hanoverton, a reliably Republican rural community in northeastern Ohio. Speaking to several hundred people, America's 9/11 spokesman told the small crowd that Barack Obama's policies would be "disastrous."

In Columbus the same day, McCain tried to leverage the political wattage of Schwarzenegger, governor of California, to reach out to Ohio independents. But together the two men barely filled half of the same hockey arena that George W. Bush packed with 20,000 people on the eve of his re-election four years ago.

Joe Biden talks economy, Iraq war at UF - Josh Simmons votes for Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:27:13 EST

Less than 48 hours before Election Day, about 4,500 people gathered on the Reitz Union North Lawn to hear Sen. Joe Biden as part of the Obama campaign’s final push through Florida. Biden, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, and his wife, Jill, were introduced by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson to a Gator–chomping crowd. Biden, donning a Gator cap upon entrance, was accompanied by his son, Hunter, and oldest granddaughter, Naomi.

The Tragedy of Sarah Palin

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 17:22:01 EST

Let's just go ahead and call this thing for Barack Obama. If I've done my math correctly, I'm giving him 369 electoral votes. Clinton-esque numbers.

Now, if you have no interest in talking about the "other side" of politics, consider the above your takeaway.

Take it. Go away (but please come back some other time) while I lament the short, could-have-been-brilliant career of Sarah Palin.

Gallup's verdict: It's all but over for McCain

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:29:13 EST

With pollster predicting Obama will win, Republican's only hope for upset rests on Pennsylvania

CHICAGO — Late last night, the pollster Gallup declared Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had an 11 percentage-point lead over his Republican rival, John McCain, and predicted that Mr. Obama would win the presidency tomorrow.

If Gallup is wrong, it will be "Dewey beats Truman" once again, and with the same pollster. For it was Gallup that predicted Harry Truman would go down to defeat in 1948, which up until now was the single biggest mistake in polling history.

But Jane Fonda cannot be consoled. She cries all night and can't cure her aching back, for fear Mr. Obama will lose.

Meanwhile, here in Chicago, as many as a million people are expected to flood Grant Park tomorrow night, in celebration of their local hero's expected victory. City officials are urging celebrants to please stay home.

Palin Gets Punked

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:25:28 EST

The image of humorless Canada just got whacked apart like a piñata. A pair of Montreal radio comedians, one of whom pretended to be Nicholas Sarkozy, managed to get Palin to believe she was speaking with the French president for nearly five minutes yesterday. Among other things, she laughs and agrees to go helicopter hunting with Sarkozy when he said he likes to kill “small animals.” Palin also gushes over Carla Bruni, Sarkozy’s model-singer wife.

When the radio comic tells her they have a lot in common because he can see Belgium from his house, Palin agrees noting the analogy between the American relationship with Russia and the French relationship with Belgium.

http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/11/02/palin-gets-punked/#more-1546

One Final, Desperate Smear

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:22:05 EST

With 72 hours left in the campaign, the McCain brain trust finally recognizes that its effort to link Barack Obama to “unrepentant domestic terrorist” Bill Ayers is having as much of an impact on voters as the “experience” argument.

So it is trying trotting out a new smear.

It is blasting Obama for consorting with the unrepentant domestic Palestinian Rashid Khalidi. Never mind that he is a distinguished professor of Arab studies at Columbia, Khalidi once taught at the University of Chicago where he and Obama knew each other. Taking one last stab at instilling shadowy associations between Obama and Arabs in the minds of uninformed voters, the McCain team is slandering a thoughtful and respectable man.

Appearing on CNN Friday, McCain’s shameless and utterly unrepentant flack Michael Goldfarb chirped, “Barack Obama has a long track record of being around anti-Semitic, anti-Israel and anti-American rhetoric.” Challenging Goldfarb, anchor Rick Sanchez asked, “Can you name one other person besides Khalidi who he hangs around with who is anti-Semitic?” Goldfarb couldn’t, but the damage had been done – not to Obama, but to Khalidi, whose anti-Semitism had been presented as a matter of accepted fact.

I don’t know Khalidi personally though I’ve read his recent book Resurrecting Empire. But I know that there is nothing in his record to justify smearing him as a bigot. While the McCain campaign has presented him as a “PLO spokesman” – and it wouldn’t be a crime if he were – in fact, Khalidi was simply an outside adviser to the Palestinian delegation at negotiations convened by Republican secretary of state James Baker during Bush The Elder’s administration.

Apparently, McCain is now so hostile to diplomacy that participating in American-sponsored talks is deemed anti-American.

What’s Going on With Sarah Palin’s Medical Records?

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:18:55 EST

All of the candidates have released medical information to the American people stating they are fit to serve, that is, all except Sarah Palin. There has been a flurry of questions buzzing around the blogosphere and elsewhere regarding the lack of medical records for Palin, especially since her appearance on ABC News almost two weeks ago.

When Brian Williams of ABC News asked Palin about the growing requests for these records, she seemed to wave off any concerns. Stating that if “curiosity seekers” wanted to “check off a box” , the records would show that she is healthy and happy. She went on to say, “if they’re released”. Some have suggested that perhaps there is a reason these records haven’t been released and are, in fact, being kept under wraps. Her final statement to Brian Williams in the tape below seems to suggest that she wasn’t so sure they would be released. The question is why?

Growing Doubts on Palin Take a Toll, Poll Finds

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:11:57 EST

A growing number of voters have concluded that Senator John McCain’s running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, is not qualified to be vice president, weighing down the Republican ticket in the last days of the campaign, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

All told, 59 percent of voters surveyed said Ms. Palin was not prepared for the job, up nine percentage points since the beginning of the month. Nearly a third of voters polled said the vice-presidential selection would be a major factor influencing their vote for president, and those voters broadly favor Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee.

And in a possible indication that the choice of Ms. Palin has hurt Mr. McCain’s image, voters said they had much more confidence in Mr. Obama to pick qualified people for his administration than they did in Mr. McCain.

Toward a more perfect union - Canadian paper endorses Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:13:20 EDT

The United States has been much diminished under the presidency of George W. Bush, its economic clout lessened, its underlying principles of civil liberties and natural justice worn down or violated, its military bloodied, and its international reputation weakened to the point that it is now seen, albeit not always fairly, to play a mainly negative role in the world. The U.S. is in need of a sea change - not merely of the chance to put out of office the Republican party, which has, through its failure of competence and leadership, badly shaken the confidence of Americans and the world. This is also the opportunity for an epoch-defining moment, one with the potential to propel the U.S. forward, ever closer to the noble purposes set out in its founding documents. Let us hope, then, that on Nov. 4 Americans support Barack Obama for president.

Both candidates for the presidency have compelling personal narratives. Mr. Obama represents the fulfilment of the American dream. As he is the son of a black Kenyan and a white woman from Kansas, his election would do more than any single act to remove the stain of America's racially troubled past. John McCain's war record as a navy pilot and prisoner of war is one of conspicuous bravery. He emerged from six years' imprisonment and torture in a North Vietnamese hellhole with his honour intact.

Al Gore will make a symbolic return to Florida to campaign for Barack Obama

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:10:27 EDT

If John McCain loses Florida, his chances of winning the presidency are very slim. Any political junkie with an electoral college map will tell you the same.

So the Republican nominee has made an extra push there. On Wednesday, he criss-crossed the state, making a special plea to Latino voters. And today, the campaign released a television commercial featuring Florida Gov. Charlie Christ's endorsement .(You can watch it at the end of the post.)

But the Obama campaign has been rallying just as hard.

Obama is campaigning in Sarasota today. Last week, he held events in Tampa, Miami and Orlando (where he was joined by Sen. Hillary Rodam Clinton). And last night, Obama was joined by former President Bill Clinton at a late-night rally in Orlando. It was the first time the two have campaigned together.

Today the campaign announced that another veteran of the Clinton White House will do some heavy lifting for Obama in Florida Friday.

Former Vice President Al Gore will campaign at rallies in West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale to encourage people to vote early, according to Obama's Florida campaign director Steve Schale.

It will be a symbolic trip for Gore, whose own quest for the presidency in 2000 ended in Florida.

Schale alluded to the 2000 recount debacle in his news release to the media.

"Nobody knows better that every single vote counts –- especially in Florida –- than Vice President Al Gore, who will be encouraging Florida voters to Early Vote in record numbers so no amount of chads, butterflies or undervotes can stand between Floridians and the change we need.”

McCain, Obama target traditionally Republican states now in play

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:05:49 EDT

REPORTING FROM SANDUSKY, OHIO, AND SARASOTA, FLA. -- Underscoring John McCain's uphill battle for the presidency, the Arizona senator and his Democratic rival Barack Obama today both campaigned in Republican-leaning states that are up for grabs this year.

The two sparred mainly over the economy on a day that the government reported that the nation's economic output shrank over the summer.

McCainiac Provokes Muslims at Obama Rally With Race-Baiting Sign

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:49:07 EDT

McCain supporter Charles David Ficken descended upon an Obama rally in Raleigh, North Carolina with a 10-foot tall picture of Barack Obama in East African attire, shouting the United States doesn't need a "Muslim-leaning" person for president. While exercising his free speech at the rally, so too did several dozen fiery Obama supporters.

Watch video here:

http://www.americannewsproject.com/videos/164

Are Americans too Dumb to Vote in the U.S. Presidential Election?

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:11:54 EDT

Yes.

…

What?

Oh, you wanted more of an answer?

Obama pushes economy plan to capacity crowd in Sarasota

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:19:52 EDT

SARASOTA -- Capping off a two-day, three-city trip through Florida, presidential nominee Barack Obama stumped in GOP-friendly territory, trying to shore up support in the crucial swing state.

''John McCain might be worried about losing this election, but Florida, I'm worried about you losing your job, your house,'' Obama said to roaring cheers from the crowd.

A capacity crowd of 10,000 supporters flooded into Ed Smith Stadium, while outside a line estimated by local authorities as six blocks long awaited entry.

''It's showtime,'' shouted Joan Johnson, a supporter outside the stadium. ``I don't care if I don't get in as long as people see that all these people in line are standing behind Obama.''

A Question for A.I.G.: Where Did the Cash Go?

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:52:43 EDT

The American International Group is rapidly running through $123 billion in emergency lending provided by the Federal Reserve, raising questions about how a company claiming to be solvent in September could have developed such a big hole by October. Some analysts say at least part of the shortfall must have been there all along, hidden by irregular accounting.

“You don’t just suddenly lose $120 billion overnight,” said Donn Vickrey of Gradient Analytics, an independent securities research firm in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Mr. Vickrey says he believes A.I.G. must have already accumulated tens of billions of dollars worth of losses by mid-September, when it came close to collapse and received an $85 billion emergency line of credit by the Fed. That loan was later supplemented by a $38 billion lending facility.

But losses on that scale do not show up in the company’s financial filings. Instead, A.I.G. replenished its capital by issuing $20 billion in stock and debt in May and reassured investors that it had an ample cushion. It also said that it was making its accounting more precise.

Stark Signs of a Slowdown, Days Before Election

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:50:38 EDT

Less than a week before Americans go to the polls to select a president, a government report released Thursday showed that the economy contracted in the third quarter as consumer spending dipped for the first time in 17 years.

Economists said the drop in economic activity — with the gross domestic product shrinking at a 0.3 percent annual rate — presages more bad news in the months ahead. The impacts of a now-global financial crisis are continuing to squeeze companies and impede investment, prompting more layoffs and another wave of austerity.

“The economy has taken a turn for the worse, big time,” said Allen Sinai, chief global economist for Decision Economics, a consulting and forecasting group. “Consumption literally caved in. It is a prelude to much worse news on the economy over the next couple of quarters. The fundamentals around the consumer are all negative, and there are no signs of any help anytime soon, from anywhere.”

In an election likely to be decided by the economy, the latest batch of dismal data offered no comfort to the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona, who has been running behind the Democratic standard-bearer, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, according to polls.

Live Marathon Going on Now - Real Women Respond to Sarah Palin

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:31:11 EDT

It all started with a letter written by two women (Lyra and Quinn) that they emailed to 40 of their friends. “We are writing to you,” wrote Lyra and Quinn, “because of the fury and dread we have felt since the announcement of Sarah Palin as the Vice-Presidential candidate for the Republican Party.. She does not represent us.”

Within one week 100,000 women responded with their own impassioned stories and statements about why Sarah Palin should not be Vice President.

Join us on October 30th, 2008, when performers from all walks of life (unknown and celebrity) will lend their voice and human presence to the thousands of women across America who responded to Lyra and Quinn’s letter across America by reading their comments LIVE. Where? Right here!

Watch the Webathon LIVE NOW

http://womenrespondtopalin.com/

The Note: Grounded Control

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:12:04 EDT

Obama Takes Hold Of Race -- Without Mentioning Rival

Should we care that . . .

Sarah Palin and Barack Obama are both pondering futures they don't want to anticipate?

John McCain wants to make the race about another professor (even if he still has Bill Ayers on his mind)?

Plenty of Democratic senators and governors will say nice things about Obama on camera?

Joe Biden is suddenly boring?

Even Borat wants us not to vote (but not really -- and not even for Bob Barr?)?

All of our assumptions just might be dealt atop a house of cards?

For the moment, toss those worries away: Five days out, Obama has wrested control of the race with his typical disciplined style -- and someone's going to have to scramble to take it from him.

Consider his extraordinary Wednesday evening, framed by 30 minutes of primetime television where Obama did not mention the words "John McCain." (Can you imagine McCain going on TV for 30 seconds at this stage of the race without mentioning Obama?)

It was gauzy, sad at times, and it was as unusual as a four-inning World Series clincher. It featured too many starry-eyed politicians, and too much cheesy music. It was also masterfully executed. And the fact that it could be done speaks to more than the wallet behind it.

Cognizant of what got him here, and mindful of what might get him there, Obama highlighted not just himself but the idea he represents. It delivers a message on a tactical level, with solutions for all the hot-button issues, yet mostly it works on an inspirational level -- getting voters to believe in something bigger than themselves, which made Obama's candidacy possible in the first place.

Wednesday may not be the night he clinched anything, but it may end up being the night he made the turn for home. By the time No. 42 finally turned it on for a would-be No. 44, this looked like Obama's race, with McCain and the rest of us just living in it.

"Every single line during that 30 minutes was something that the campaign knows works and appeals to those undecided voters," ABC's George Stephanopoulos reports. "What you saw here was a highly competent, professional, virtuoso performance. The fact that they could go 28 minutes in and hit live to a campaign rally in Florida and right down to the final Obama Biden logo even showed a rising sun. One of the things the campaign knows is that the most optimistic presidential candidate always wins."

"Aired on seven network and cable stations, the ad served as a national get-out-the-vote organizing tool for Obama operatives," Cathleen Decker writes in the Los Angeles Times. "It offered even the swiftest channel-flipper the chance to see Obama looking presidential, helping to condition voters to that possibility. And once again it proved to John McCain, and everyone else, how Obama's deep pool of campaign cash has allowed him to rewrite the rules of the campaign."

"Barack Obama effectively knocked on every door in the nation Wednesday night," David Saltonstall writes in the New York Daily News.

"Barack Obama pulled out all the political and technological stops," Kathy Kiely writes for USA Today.

New politics of pile-on: "Six days before the election, Obama's team produced a 'shock and awe' Wednesday, throwing up a stunning number of assets at John McCain," reports Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times.

Sarah Palin 'Not Going to Let Women Down'

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:58:45 EDT

John McCain's Running Mate Says the Media Have Misrepresented Her Message to Women. Sarah Palin says she doesn't know why most women don't support her candidacy or why others believe she is unqualified to be vice president, but she says that makes her determined to keep fighting.

(God help me, I wish she'd just go away!)

With just five days to go before Election Day, Palin sat down with "20/20" co-anchor Elizabeth Vargas for an exclusive interview.

Despite polls that show she and Sen. John McCain trail the Democratic team of Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden -- and reports of tension between her and McCain -- Palin remains outwardly upbeat.

She told Vargas she is "thinking that it's going to go our way Tuesday, Nov. 4. I truly believe that the wisdom of the people will be revealed that day."

Complaint Targets Palins' Travel

Irish Musician for Progressive Solutions — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:18:19 EDT

TICKETS FOR KIDS: Personnel Board will review accusation.

A new complaint accuses Gov. Sarah Palin of breaking state ethics rules by charging the state for her kids' airline tickets to various events.

Frank Gwartney, a retired electrical power lineman from Anchorage, filed the complaint with the attorney general Friday. The state Personnel Board -- which is currently investigating the governor's firing of her former public safety officer -- will review this accusation too.

"It's just such a blatant misuse of state money," Gwartney said Wednesday.

Palin's office says the state considers the kids' publicly funded travel as official First Family business and that Palin only takes her kids to events they're invited to.

The Washington Post and Daily News reported in early September that the state has spent tens of thousands of dollars on Palin family travel. The topic grabbed headlines again last week when The Associated Press reported that the state paid $21,000 for commercial flights for Palin's daughters.

Some event organizers were surprised to see the children arrive, or agreed to a request from the governor to allow them to attend, the AP reported.

Gwartney's complaint says Palin broke rules that forbid state officials from using their jobs for personal gain -- in this case buying tickets that she would otherwise have to pay for herself. It cites various news reports as evidence.

Palin, a Republican, is running for vice president. Gwartney is a registered Democrat and said he has donated to Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaignbut is not working for the Obama camp.