Obama Rapid Response Direct &Freestyle

"March for Change We Still Believe In - Jan 15th, 2010"

korkie — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 11:17:55 EST

Please read and pass this on to as many people as you can. I also suggest you join "Countdown to JANUARY 15, 2010." This is the FaceBook group
responsible for this great event.
Korkie

On January 15th, 2010, Americans will gather, peacably, on the DC Mall to show our continued support for the progressive agenda our POTUS campaigned on. We voted for President Obama b/c we hoped for more from our government: more compassion, more diplomacy, more honesty, more protection, and more equality.

On January 15th, 2010, we will stand in opposition to the voices of fear, ignorance, and hate that have, thus far, garnered virtually all the attention of the main stream media and skewed the debate over issues that are far too important to ALL Americans. We've written and phoned our Representatives in the House and Senate. We've remained a diligent, anonymous, but silent majority. Now, is the time for America to see our faces and hear our voices.

January 15, 2010 - Supporting the Change We Still Believe In

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsyU0Rzw2LI

Guaranteed Health Care In Iraq - But Not For You

korkie — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:29:39 EDT

You might want to sit down to read this one ......

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-dorlester/guaranteed-health-care-in_b_280528.html

AMERICANS UNITED FOR HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE REFORM

korkie — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 07:54:45 EDT

C. Press Release Julie paulsen

AMERICANS UNITED FOR HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE REFORM

http://www.americansunitedhcr.wordpress.com

Sioux City, Iowa 51108

Phone/Fax (712) 239-0992

Direct Questions to:

americansunitedhcr@cableone.net

Press Release

Contact: Julie Paulsen

americansunitedhcr@cableone.net

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

9 A.M. CDT, August 31, 2009

AMERICANS UNITED FOR HEALTH CARE & INSURANCE REFORM RALLY & March in Washington, D.C. Sept. 13, 2009

Sioux City, August 31, 2009: A rally/march will be held in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 13, 2009 between 12N – 5pm in support of the administrations health care and health insurance reform goals. It is the goal of Americans United for Health Care and Insurance Reform to let congress know that all Americans need health care and insurance. Over 47 million Americans are uninsured and millions more are underinsured or at risk of losing their health insurance

The rally/march will begin at the Lincoln Memorial and march to the steps of the Capitol Building via the National Mall. This rally/march will be peaceful.

Robert Reich has given his support to this rally and march, “….I just want Congress to know how many Americans want universal health care and will settle for no less than complete coverage and no less than a public insurance option, to keep private insurers honest. So I’m happy to lend my support to whatever you are doing.”

Americans have enjoyed the freedom of movement, speech and employment. It is time that American citizens have the freedom that comes from knowing they have affordable health care for themselves and their families. Health care is not just for the privileged but it is a fundamental right.

Other groups marching on September 13, 2009 for health care reform are Congressman Fattah’s “March for Healthcare”, “Medicare for All”, and “March on Washington for Health Care.”

We invite all those who wish to participate visit our web blog at http://www.americansunitedhcr.wordpress.com and register to rally.

For more information please see our web blog (address above)Please direct all questions to our committee at americansunitedhcr@cableone.net.

Americans United for Health Care and Insurance Reform is not affiliated with Organizing for America or the Democratic National Committee or affiliated with any other groups, special interests or lobbying forums.

March on Washington - Looking Beyond the Election - June 2009

korkie — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 11:51:16 EST

March on Washington - Looking Beyond the Election - June 2009

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4g23s

FROM ONE JOE TO ANOTHER

Barb Miller — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:48:21 EDT

The "B" Word

Thursday, October 23, 2008
Dear Joe the Plumber,
My name is Joe the Soldier. I noticed you have been getting a lot of attention in the national media lately. I even saw a couple clips of interviews with you on the Armed Forces Network while I was eating in our chow hall in Diyala Province. I watched you complain about everything from immigration to taxes while I ate an omelet which was prepared by Pakistanis and sponsored by Uncle Sam. I tried to ignore your rant, but as I peered over the crowd of smiling, laughing Infantrymen who wolfed down their breakfast before rolling out to patrol the streets of Iraq, my gaze kept returning to the plumber from Ohio who seemed so unhappy to be standing in his driveway with the liberty to complain about his government. And it was at that moment that I was inspired by your shiny head to reflect; you and I have some similarities, but quite a few more differences.
Let's start with the similarities. Like you, my name really isn't Joe. We both use that moniker because...well, it sounds good. You made $40k last year. That is pretty close to my base pay in 2007, and far more than that of the Soldiers which I just described. I believe we both genuinely want to live the American Dream.
Let's look at the differences. You recently showed up at a Barack Obama rally to ask him why he will raise your taxes. Apparently you didn't hear that he will only raise taxes on those with a quarter million dollars of income, or you actually believe that, as a plumber, you will make that much money. Either way, as a Soldier, I can't afford to be that inattentive or unrealistic. You cast yourself as a regular guy, a common man in Middle America. Yet in each interview you continue to complain about the price you pay for membership in the world's greatest nation. I could find many things to complain about too, but my sense of duty shifts my focus to the fruits of our labors and the benefits of all the sacrifices that I have witnessed. I hope you enjoy your freedom as much as you enjoy complaining about how much it costs you, but I honestly don't mind if it is such a high price that you may have to sacrifice a little to keep it...join the club!
Possibly the most striking difference between us is that you have forgotten the legacy which the great generations in our history passed down. It is a legacy of mutual sacrifice and shared hardship. During World War Two, most people didn't complain when they were drafted, they gladly went to fight in a just war. Those who were unable to fight were a part of the war effort at home. They put their cars on blocks and rationed goods to ensure that the troops had what they needed. Taxes were much higher back then. But there were no tax cuts in those days because the country could not afford it in a time of war and it seemed immoral to pass the cost on to...us.
Times have really changed since then, haven't they Joe? Since the start of this war, our national debt has risen to almost $11 trillion thanks to multiple tax cuts to the richest Americans. I can't understand why you, Joe, as a plumber, are fooled into advocating for these millionaires who complain about their taxes returning to the level they were under Ronald Reagan. Isn't it strange that a plumber making $40k per year is complaining on behalf of the top 1% of income earners while our Armed Forces, comprised mainly of middle and low-income Americans(the sons and daughters of plumbers you might say), are sent to fight two wars because "Freedom isn't Free?"
I am sorry Joe the Plumber, I can't sympathize with your complaints. Partly because I don't believe that a plumber will make $250k, meaning you will actually get a slight tax cut if Obama becomes President. But mainly because I think you can handle the taxes you are currently paying. You supported this war, right? You think we should have the best military in the world,don't you? Well, those things cost money. As an American making $40k, you already paid close to the lowest tax rate of any similar wage-earner in the Industrialized World. And look at the return on your investment: you get to live in America and complain about all those taxes you paid! I do believe that we both want to live the American Dream, but after 14 months in Iraq with a unit that lost 12 heroes to the Ultimate Sacrifice, I am sorely disappointed that you whine so much about the meager price you are asked to pay for it.
Sincerely,
William H. Smith. Captain, United States ArmyPosted by Barb Miller at 4:32 PM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: United States Army, William H. Smith. Captain

Making sure this is a just and fair election--all around our nation

Beth from ColoradObama — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 12:04:19 EDT

Following is text from an e-mail exchange between myself and some members of the Colorado for Obama group, and also the text of a letter I sent to our secretary of state. He knows he's being watched!

Vote Your Issue, Not Your Skin Tissue

Barb Miller — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:02:33 EDT

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 VOTERS: VOTE YOUR ISSUE, NOT YOUR SKIN TISSUE
There are many in the heartland of America who fear that the presidential race may yet come down to just that: fear about race versus values. Some have al ready made their minds up that they won't vote for someone "who is not like them". Yet, for all those who call themselves an American, is not what makes our country great itself greater than is the measure of, or absence of, a man's melanin?
For the voter who can make a choice based on pocketbook and kitchen table issues and not pigment or skin tissue, a quiz:
If you are man with a female child, and you want your daughter to be valued as much as any man, are you strong enough for her to ignore the color of the champion who fights for her? If you are a woman who believes that you, your mother, your daughter, your sister or your aunt should have the sole right to make choices which affect your and their lives, which is the only candidate that supports a woman's right to choose?...
If you are a veteran, voting against increasing veterans benefits on six different occasions and against the new GI Bill should matter. Better yet, if you are a u nion member, and you want to protect... no...strengthen the right to organize, can you make a conscientious choice between color and collective bargaining?
If on the one hand, if the only color that counts is green and every penny in your pocket counts, do you really want to support a candidate that will tax your employer provided-health care benefits and make you wait for a health care tax credit that will end up fattening the pockets of out of state insurance executives?
If you are a senior citizen, what does color have to do with preventing cutting $1.2 trillion in benefits from Medicare to pay for those health care tax credits? Not a thing. Speaking of benefits, do you really want your Social Security benefits tied to the stock market? The stock market just crashed, big time. Imagine if Social Security too had been privatized. Seniors just dodged a very big bullet..Bluntly, a candidate's ethnicity does not threaten your poc ketbook and does not take food off your table; what does present a clear and present danger to every American family is policies which support doing the same thing the same way while looking for a different result. Who deserves a tax break more...you or the corporations that just robbed America blind?
Does it make sense to cough up $300 billion more for a taxpayer-funded buyout of all distressed mortgages in America to further bail out the lenders who stuck the taxpayers with a $700 billion dollar cash-for-trash scheme? There is only one candidate who offers a tax cut to 95 percent of America's working families and not to the lenders, banks, or corporations that just ripped off America's workers and retirees.
If NAFTA caused your factory to be shut down or your job to be shipped overseas, can you ignore all that noise about whether someone is white or not and focus on whether a candidate's position against outsourcing jobs is right or not? & nbsp;Only one candidate has pledged to link trade deals to preserving American jobs and to end tax breaks for companies sending American jobs overseas.
And while on the subject of jobs, in today's world you can't get a good one without a good education. If you believe that education is the pathway way out of poverty and to a good paying job and the ticket to the American dream, is it not more prudent to vote for someone who personally experienced the struggles ordinary families go through to get their children through school and to vote for someone who has pledged to fully fund America's educational system.
In all theses instances, that candidate is indeed...that one...Barack Obama.
There is something to be said about being judged by the content of one's character and not by the color of one's skin. As someone wrote recently, there is a big difference between having character and being one. Pigmentation should not have a place in politics. No one is being asked not to see color, just to ignore it long enough to pragmatically focus on pocketbook issues which will directly impact you and your family. For the nation's sake, I ask that you vote your issue and not your skin tissue.
Some will no doubt have to hold their nose while they cast their ballot. If doing so is what it takes to hold on to what's left of the American dream, well, that's a form of personal sacrifice we should all embrace for the sake of our families and the future of the greatest country on earth. In that instance, pushing past our personal prejudices would be the ultimate act of outright unselfish patriotism.

Gregory Murray Posted by Barb Miller at 9:31 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: Gregory Murray is a Member of Michiganders for Obama

McCain Connections ...

korkie — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 09:40:02 EDT

These McCain connections are actually documented and MUCH more direct:
Jim Hensley, Convicted Felon;
G. Gordon Liddy, Convicted Felon;
Charles Keating, Convicted Felon;
Raffaello Follieri, Convicted Felon;
Rick Renzi, Under Indictment;
Rick Davis, Freddie Mac Lobbyist who was still on the payroll until a few weeks ago;
Charles Black, Lobbyist for Dictators;
Richard Quinn, White Supremist;
Pastor John Hagee, Bigot;
Pastor Rod Parsley, Bigot;
Todd Palin, Member of Secessionist Group;
Andrew McCain, Resigned Manager Failed Savings and Loan
There's even more than this... McCain seriously loses the guilt by association battle.

Is John McCain A Crook?

Barb Miller — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 13:02:32 EDT

The "B" Word

Is John McCain a Crook?Chris Suellentrop
The controversial George W. Bush-sponsored poll in South Carolina mentioned John McCain's role in the so-called Keating Five scandal, and McCain says his involvement in the scandal "will probably be on my tombstone." What exactly did McCain do?
In early 1987, at the beginning of his first Senate term, McCain attended two meetings with federal banking regulators to discuss an investigation into Lincoln Savings and Loan, an Irvine, Calif., thrift owned by Arizona developer Charles Keating. Federal auditors were investigating Keating's banking practices, and Keating, fearful that the government would seize his S&L, sought intervention from a number of U.S. senators

At Keating's behest, four senators--McCain and Democrats Dennis DeConcini of Arizona, Alan Cranston of California, and John Glenn of Ohio--met with Ed Gray, chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, on April 2. Those four senators and Sen. Don Riegle, D-Mich., attended a second meeting at Keating's behest on April 9 with bank regulators in San Francisco.
Regulators did not seize Lincoln Savings and Loan until two years later. The Lincoln bailout cost taxpayers $2.6 billion, making it the biggest of the S&L scandals. In addition, 17,000 Lincoln investors lost $190 million.
In November 1990, the Senate Ethics Committee launched an investigation into the meetings between the senators and the regulators. McCain, Cranston, DeConcini, Glenn, and Riegle became known as the Keating Five.
(Keating himself was convicted in January 1993 of 73 counts of wire and bankruptcy fraud and served more than four years in prison before his conviction was overturned. Last year, he pleaded guilty to four counts of fraud and was sentenced to time served.)
McCain defended his attendance at the meetings by saying Keating was a constituent and that Keating's development company, American Continental Corporation, was a major Arizona employer. McCain said he wanted to know only whether Keating was being treated fairly and that he had not tried to influence the regulators. At the second meeting, McCain told the regulators, "I wouldn't want any special favors for them," and "I don't want any part of our conversation to be improper."
But Keating was more than a constituent to McCain--he was a longtime friend and associate. McCain met Keating in 1981 at a Navy League dinner in Arizona where McCain was the speaker. Keating was a former naval aviator himself, and the two men became friends. Keating raised money for McCain's two congressional campaigns in 1982 and 1984, and for McCain's 1986 Senate bid. By 1987, McCain campaigns had received $112,000 from Keating, his relatives, and his employees--the most received by any of the Keating Five. (Keating raised a total of $300,000 for the five senators.)
After McCain's election to the House in 1982, he and his family made at least nine trips at Keating's expense, three of which were to Keating's Bahamas retreat. McCain did not disclose the trips (as he was required to under House rules) until the scandal broke in 1989. At that point, he paid Keating $13,433 for the flights.
And in April 1986, one year before the meeting with the regulators, McCain's wife, Cindy, and her father invested $359,100 in a Keating strip mall.The Senate Ethics Committee probe of the Keating Five began in November 1990, and committee Special Counsel Robert Bennett recommended that McCain and Glenn be dropped from the investigation. They were not. McCain believes Democrats on the committee blocked Bennett's recommendation because he was the lone Keating Five Republican.
In February 1991, the Senate Ethics Committee found McCain and Glenn to be the least blameworthy of the five senators. (McCain and Glenn attended the meetings but did nothing else to influence the regulators.) McCain was guilty of nothing more than "poor judgment," the committee said, and declared his actions were not "improper nor attended with gross negligence." McCain considered the committee's judgment to be "full exoneration," and he contributed $112,000 (the amount raised for him by Keating) to the U.S.

Here's the kicker, Folks....after helping Keating steal all that money from his investors, on Thursday,August 21, 2008, Senator John McCain actually hired Charles Keating to help John McCain get to the White House. Crooks of a feather, one might say.

A Courageous American Steps Forward

Barb Miller — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 19:05:43 EDT

MY HOLIDAY WITH JOHN McCAIN

It was just before John McCain's last run at the presidential nomination in 2000 that my husband and I vacationed in Turtle Island in Fiji with John McCain, Cindy, and their children, including Bridget (their adopted Bangladeshi child).It was not our intention, but it was our misfortune to be in close quarters with John McCain for almost a week, since Turtle Island has a small number of bungalows and their focus on communal meals force all vacationers who are there at the same time to get to know each other intimately.
He arrived at our first group meal and started reading quotes from a pile of William Faulkner books with a forest of Post-Its sticking out of them. As an English Literature major myself, my first thought was "if he likes this so much, why hasn't he memorized any of this yet?"
I soon realized that McCain actually thought we had come on vacation to be a volunteer audience for his "readings" which then became a regular part of each meal. Out of politeness, none of the vacationers initially protested at this intrusion into their blissful holiday, but people's buttons definitely got pushed as the readings continued day after day.
Unfortunately this was not his only contribution to our mealtime entertainment. He waxed on during one meal about how Indo-Chine women had the best figures and that our American corn-fed women just couldn't meet up to this standard. He also made it a point that all of us should stop Cindy from having dessert as her weight was too high and made a few comments to Amy, the 25 year old wife of the honeymooning couple from Nebraska that she should eat less as she needed to lose weight.
McCain's appreciation of the beauty of Asian women was so great that David the American economist had to move his Thai wife to the other side of the table from McCain as McCain kept aggressively flirting with and touching her. Needless to say I was irritated at his large ego and his rude behavior towards his wife and other women, but decided he must have some redeeming qualities as he had adopted a handicapped child from Bangladesh. I asked him about this one day, and his response was shocking: "Oh, that was Cindy's idea - I didn't have anything to do with it. She just went and adopted this thing without even asking me. You can't imagine how people stare when I wheel this ugly, black thing around in a shopping cart in Arizona .
No, it wasn't my idea at all."
I actively avoided McCain after that, but unfortunately one day he engaged me in a political discussion which soon got us on the topic of the active US bombing of Iraq at that time. I was shocked when he said, "If I was in charge, I would nuke Iraq to teach them a lesson". Given McCain's personal experience with the horrors of war, I had expected a more balanced point of view.
I commented on the tragic consequences of the nuclear attacks on Japan during WWII -- but no, he was not to be dissuaded. He went on to say that if it was up to him he would have dropped many more nuclear bombs on Japan. I rapidly extricated myself from this conversation as I could tell that his experience being tortured as a POW didn't seem to have mellowed out his perspective, but rather had made him more aggressive and vengeful towards the world. My final encounter with McCain was on the morning that he was leaving Turtle Island.
Amy and I were happily eating pancakes when McCain arrived and told Amy that she shouldn't be having pancakes because she needed to lose weight. Amy burst into tears at this abusive comment. I felt fiercely protective of Amy and immediately turned to McCain and told him to leave her alone.
He became very angry and abusive towards me, and said, "Don't you know who I am." I looked him in the face and said, "Yes, you are the biggest asshole I have ever met" and headed back to my cabin.
I am happy to say that later that day when I arrived at lunch I was given a standing ovation by all the guests for having stood up to McCain's bullying. Although I have shared my McCain story informally with friends, this is the first time I am making this public. I almost did so in 2000, when McCain first announced his bid for the Republican nomination, but it soon became apparent that George Bush was the shoo-in candidate and so I did not act then. However, now that there is a very real possibility that McCain could be elected as our next president, I feel it is my duty as an American citizen to share this story. I can't imagine a more scary outcome for America than that this abusive, aggressive man should lead our nation. I have observed him in intimate surroundings as he really is, not how the media portrays him to be. If his attitudes toward women and his treatment of his own family are even a small indicator of his real personality, then I shudder to think what will happen to America were he to be elected as our President.

This letter was written by:Mary-Kay GamelProfessor of Classic Literature & ArtsCowell CollegeUniversity of CaliforniaSanta CruzCalifornia.

A knowledgable coworker chimes in...

Beth from ColoradObama — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:56:14 EDT

After a little research I found out that this bail-out business was tried a couple of times in history. Hoover tried it and the banks went under a year later anyway, and we know what happened after that. Japan tried it twice to the same result except they didn’t go into a Great Depression. The other thing I found out is FDR bailed out individual home owners by letting them re-negotiate their loans to what they could afford and then made payments to the government. Obviously this worked well along with all the other programs in the package. I think this approach makes perfect sense. If people suddenly can afford their mortgages and don’t lose their homes, they now have money to spend. We need to put the floor back in the economy and not the ceiling. If Shrub wants to include his credit card constituents then let him, but we demand they forgo those usury rates and ill-gotten late fees. Then the same deal happens, consumers pay back the principle and reasonable interest. The new bankruptcy laws get scrapped. Developers, business mortgage lenders and whomever else wants in has to take a hike. There! We just fixed it! No reinvention of the wheel, we’ve done all this before with great success. Oh but wait… we have to remember the precious CEO’s. If their company went down, they pay back a percentage… say 80, of their retirement package. And from now on they make 141X the lowest paid worker. Incentive to pay people better. I realize that once someone gets in there and unravels all this mess it’s going to be really bad. But I certainly don’t want the ones who got us into this mess getting paid to “fix” it. And believe me, those demons are lining up to do it. TJ Hawk

From a class warrior baby boomer who has done nothing to necessitate a bailout!

Beth from ColoradObama — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:54:11 EDT

Bailout, schmailout!

In a financial crisis, Obama shows a steady hand!

bob-pol — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 14:21:22 EDT

Odeh Odeh said, "The economic situation in the country in my opinion is the turning point ..."

I agree with Odeh. This is a huge eye-opener that the Republican Administration was asleep at the wheel, or just plain incompetent.

Whereas Barack Obama in this national financial crisis has demonstrated the calm temperament

and right decision making necessary to be president, according to article below:

"In a financial crisis, Obama shows a steady hand" By Albert R. Hunt Bloomberg News Published: September 21, 2008
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/21/america/letter.php

"More revealing, though, was to whom the candidates turned on that panic-ridden morning of Sept. 15, and how the messages evolved before and after that day.

McCain called Martin Feldstein, the well-known Republican economist and Reagan administration adviser; John Taylor of Stanford University, who served in President George W. Bush's Treasury; and Carly Fiorina, once the chief executive of Hewlett-Packard.

Obama called the former Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, and the former Treasury secretaries Robert Rubin and Larry Summers.

It was a mismatch."

Tellingly, three former SEC chairmen, a Democrat, Arthur Levitt, and two Republicans, David Ruder and Bill Donaldson, have endorsed Obama. Levitt is a board member of Bloomberg LP, the parent company of Bloomberg News.

Donaldson, who was tapped by Bush to head the SEC, says Obama called him last year about the financial-regulatory problems. He has never heard from McCain.

"Obama has been talking about the need for better financial regulation well before this crisis hit and has done some real thinking about it," says Donaldson, a lifelong Republican. "McCain comes across as someone who suddenly realized changes have to be made."

Carpe Diem, "seize the day" America.

America's choice is clear- Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Rob [bob-pol]

Wall Street BAILOUT - "Cash for Trash"

bob-pol — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 12:09:05 EDT

Paul Krugman,September 22, 2008, wrote:

"Cash for Trash?" Everyone agrees that something major must be done. But Paulson is demanding extraordinary power for himself - and for his successor - to deploy taxpayers' money on behalf of a plan that, as far as I can see, doesn't make sense.Some are saying that we Americans should simply trust Paulson, because he's a smart guy who knows what he's doing. But that's only half true: He is a smart guy, but what, exactly, in the experience of the past year and a half - a period during which Paulson repeatedly declared the financial crisis "contained," and then offered a series of unsuccessful fixes - justifies the belief that he knows what he's doing [now]? He's making it up as he goes along!

So let's try to think this through for ourselves.

I have a four-step view of the financial crisis:

1. The bursting of the housing bubble has led to a surge in defaults and foreclosures, which in turn has led to a plunge in the prices of mortgage-backed securities - assets whose value ultimately comes from mortgage payments.

2. These financial losses have left many financial institutions with too little capital - too few assets compared with their debt. This problem is especially severe because everyone took on so much debt during the bubble years.

3. Because financial institutions have too little capital relative to their debt, they haven't been able or willing to provide the credit the economy needs.

4. Financial institutions have been trying to pay down their debt by selling assets, including those mortgage-backed securities, but this drives asset prices down and makes their financial position even worse. This vicious circle is what some call the "paradox of deleveraging."

The Paulson plan calls for the federal government to buy up $700 billion worth of troubled assets, mainly mortgage-backed securities.

How does this resolve the crisis?

Well, it might - might - break the vicious circle of deleveraging, step 4 in my capsule description. Even that isn't clear: The prices of many assets, not just those the Treasury proposes to buy, are under pressure. And even if the vicious circle is limited, the financial system will still be crippled by inadequate capital. Or rather, it will be crippled by inadequate capital unless the federal government hugely overpays for the assets it buys, giving financial firms - and their stockholders and executives - a giant windfall at taxpayer expense. Did I mention that I'm not happy with this plan?

The logic of the crisis seems to call for an intervention, not at step 4, but at step 2:

The financial system needs more capital. And if the government is going to provide capital to financial firms, it should get what people who provide capital are entitled to - a share in ownership, so that all the gains if the rescue plan works don't go to the people who made the mess in the first place.

That's what happened in the savings and loan crisis: The feds took over ownership of the bad banks, not just their bad assets. It's also what happened with Fannie and Freddie. (And by the way, that rescue has done what it was supposed to. Mortgage interest rates have come down sharply since the federal takeover.)

But Paulson insists that he wants a "clean" plan. "Clean," in this context, means a taxpayer-financed bailout with no strings attached - no quid pro quo on the part of those being bailed out. Why is that a good thing? Add to this the fact that Paulson is also demanding dictatorial authority, plus immunity from review "by any court of law or any administrative agency," and this adds up to an unacceptable proposal.

I'm aware that Congress is under enormous pressure to agree to the Paulson plan in the next few days, with at most a few modifications that make it slightly less bad. Basically, after having spent a year and a half telling everyone that things were under control, the Bush administration [now] says that the sky is falling, and that to save the world Americans have to do exactly what it says now now now.

But I'd urge Congress to pause for a minute, take a deep breath, and try to seriously rework the structure of the plan, making it a plan that addresses the real problem.

Don't let yourself be railroaded - if this plan goes through in anything like its current form, we'll all be very sorry in the not-too-distant future.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/09/22/opinion/edkrugman.php

The "B" Word

Barb Miller — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 14:30:46 EDT

FOX Reporter Incites Civil Unrest Why does FOX news have Sean Hannity on its programing leading a barrage of false allegations against Barack Obama a black candidate? The answer is very simple....Sean Hannity is a bigot, and the worst kind of bigot there is. Fox News (Rupert Murdock) has allowed Sean Hannity a format to invited other racists on his show and let them incite other white supremacists to rally the old boys network into action. Sean Hannity has been a friend of Harold (Nat) Turner for many years and has had Turner on his show many times. Harold (Nat) Turner is working in the open to unite these groups and encourage ACTION against all Blacks, Jews, Immigrants. This week when racist's fliers were delivered to the neighborhood of Roxbury, NJ. nobody doubted who was behind them.
The fliers left on driveways in a neatly packaged plastic envelope and distributed by a group named the League of American Patriots, with a Butler mailing address, questioned, "Do You Want A Black President?" and stated "Black Ruled Nations most unstable and violent in the world."

"Why should we seal our fate by allowing a black ruler to destroy us?" asked the flier, which also detailed what it contended to be a series of facts on black unemployment, poverty, HIV and crime rates, while pointing out the woes of a couple of predominantly black-populated countries.
Attempts to reach the League of American Patriots, by telephone and e-mail, were unsuccessful yesterday. There were no names of group leaders or organizers on the flier or the group's website. The group is "committed to restoring America to the principles upon which it was founded. First and foremost is halting the rapid demographic decline of the European peoples in our homeland," according to the website. League members attended an immigration reform rally in Lakewood in May and what was billed as an anti-Mexican rally in Shenandoah, Pa., in August, according to the site.

Statement made by Harold (Nat) Turner

I decided in early July 2008 that I would end my show because the time for talking is over. The time for action is here.
Instead of telegraphing my thoughts in public, I now move to the shadows with my brethren to take sudden, dramatic, irreversible, direct action.
Let us be like surgeons; carving out the cultural, religious, social and political cancer which is killing our nation.
Let us enjoy the hunt as we make trophies of "men" who are little more than beasts infesting urban Serengeti's that used to be our cities.

It is time once again for Whites to rule the night.

Does this nation want to return to the times when we witnessed the assignations of President John Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert F. Kennedy. If you don't then it's time to muzzle the likes of Sean Hannity, Harold (Nat) Turner and the League of American Patriots. Muzzling does not mean taking away their free speech, it means not given them air time to spew their racist's hate speech.
You are not without a voice.

Write to Fox news: comments@foxnews.com ......tell Rupert Murdock is time to stop Sean Hannity and his racists remarks. Do it NOW. Do it before something terrible happens.
Posted by Barb Miller at 7:59 AM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: Bill Maher, Lawrence Ragonese, Nat Turner, You Tube

Stomping on the backs of the working class

Beth from ColoradObama — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 16:50:41 EDT

This bailout really has me pissed off. I can only hope Pelosi, Reid, and crew will ensure this is a measured act with checks and balances.

Who is the Real McCain... Washington Outsider or Insider?

bob-pol — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:46:13 EDT

John McCain today claimed to be a Wahington outsider, and says that Washington insiders, who listened to special interest lobbyists about deregulating the banking industry, caused our Financial system problems.

We are in the worst financial crisis this country has faced in modern times. During these eight long years of Republican control, we have seen runaway greed, the deregulation of financial institutions and the mismanagement of the housing market resulting in the skyrocketing number of home foreclosures. This has led to a disastrous unraveling of the U.S. economy. Can we survive four more years of these irresponsible practices and policies of the Bush administration?

For 26 years in Washington, McCain has supported deregulation of the financial sector. Now he blames deregulation and those who advocated it, saying now that he was for regulation. Straight talk express got derailed there. McCain is a powerful Senator, head of numerous committees, and he has 83 Wall Street lobbyists in his cadre.

So, dare McCain look in the mirror to see who's the insider to blame?

McCain said he will get rid of greed. "Enough is enough! We're going to put an end to greed!" -- John McCain 9/17/08. yet McCain gained allot of big oil donations for his switch from opposing to advocating off shore drilling. Industry Gushed Money After McCain's Reversal on Drilling.

Campaign contributions from oil industry executives to Sen. John McCain rose dramatically in the last half of June, after the senator from Arizona made a high-profile split with environmentalists and reversed his opposition to the federal ban on offshore drilling.

Oil and gas industry executives and employees donated $1.1 million to McCain last month -- three-quarters of which came after his June 16 speech calling for an end to the ban -- compared with $116,000 in March, $283,000 in April and $208,000 in May. So, dare McCain look in the mirror to see who's the greedy one?

McCain is also so greedy about wanting to be president that he sold out his character, and some of his staunch supporters now call him the Ugly New McCain because of his profuse lying in this campaign. By Richard Cohen Wednesday, September 17, 2008; Following his loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 South Carolina primary, John McCain did something extraordinary: He confessed to lying about how he felt about the Confederate battle flag, which he actually abhorred. "I broke my promise to always tell the truth," McCain said. Now he has broken that promise so completely that the John McCain of old is unrecognizable. He has become the sort of politician he once despised.

McCain said, "Evil must be defeated!" -- John McCain 8/16/08 Yet he has demonstrated unbridled behavior toward loyal and dedicated workers. Yahoo News: McCain's History of Hot Temper Raises Concerns. WASHINGTON -- John McCain made a quick stop at the Capitol one day last spring to sit in on Senate negotiations on the big immigration bill, and John Cornyn was not pleased. Cornyn, a mild-mannered Texas Republican, saw a loophole in the bill that he thought would allow felons to pursue a path to citizenship.

McCain called Cornyn's claim "chicken-s---," according to people familiar with the meeting, and charged that the Texan was looking for an excuse to scuttle the bill. Cornyn grimly told McCain he had a lot of nerve to suddenly show up and inject himself into the sensitive negotiations.

F--- you," McCain told Cornyn, in front of about 40 witnesses. It was another instance of the McCain losing his temper, as POW-MIA activist Carol Hrdlicka put it, "It's his way or no way." So, dare McCain look in the mirror if he is to carry out his mandate to destoy evil.

And how about Sarah Palin who says she will stand for individuals and fight prejudice, by Charley James - "So Sambo beat the bitch!" This is how Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin described Barack Obama's win over Hillary Clinton to political colleagues in a restaurant a few days after Obama locked up the Democratic Party presidential nomination.

According to Lucille, the waitress serving her table at the time and who asked that her last name not be used, Gov. Palin was eating lunch with five or six people when the subject of the Democrat's primary battle came up. The governor, seemingly not caring that people at nearby tables would likely hear her, uttered the slur and then laughed loudly as her meal mates joined in appreciatively. "It was kind of disgusting," Lucille, who is part Aboriginal, said in a phone interview. So, dare VP Palin look in the mirror to see who the bigot is.

If we are to get out of the huge rut George Bush has driven this country into, we cannot afford to elect dishonest leaders, because if they can lie to the American people now for personal reasons during the campaign, who thinks they won't continue to lie to us in the White House.

Time to turn the page, and throw the liars out. This country has to get back on track.

America's choice is clear- Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Rob [bob-pol]

references http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/16/us/politics/16record.html

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/McCain_team_includes_83_Wall_Street_0917.html

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/26/AR2008072601891.html?nav=rss_politics

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/15/AR2008091502406.html?nav=hcmodule
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kelly/the-delicate-subject-of-j_b_127359.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barbra-streisand/the-country-cant-afford-t_b_127846.html
http://www.laprogressive.com/2008/09/05/alaskans-speak-in-a-frightened-whisper-palin-is-%E2%80%9Cracist-sexist-vindictive-and-mean%E2%80%9D/
http://news.yahoo.com/s/mcclatchy/20080907/pl_mcclatchy/3035300_1

Privatize Social Securty says McCain, Obama says, NO WAY!

bob-pol — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 13:43:30 EDT

Why risk our future livelyhood on unstable financial markets!

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/1066/ssgrandparentsfs6.jpg

CAMPAIGN '08 McCain takes a Social Security risk.

The Republican seems willing to consider privatization -- and Democrats aim to use that to sway senior voters. By Peter Wallsten, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer

July 14, 2008 WASHINGTON -- It was a spectacular flop: a president making dozens of fruitless trips around the country to build support for a plan his own party's leadership refused to accept.

But President Bush's failed push to privatize Social Security has not deterred John McCain from putting forward the same idea -- and from risking a similar political disaster.

McCain, the presumed Republican presidential nominee, spoke several times last week about changing how the popular retirement program is funded, at one point calling it a "disgrace" that younger workers are forced to pay for a plan that, in his view, is unlikely to benefit them when they retire.

Democrats are gearing up to turn McCain's stand on Social Security, and his willingness to consider a privatization plan, into a key campaign issue. They say changing the program in that way would undermine retirees' benefits, and they hope to use the issue to harm the Arizona senator's support among a set of voters who tilt toward him -- seniors.

On Tuesday, a coalition of Democratic strategists, labor unions and liberal activist groups that helped defeat Bush's efforts in 2005 plans to launch a similar campaign. They intend to target McCain and dozens of GOP congressional candidates who have supported proposals to allow workers to divert some of their payroll taxes out of the Social Security system and into private investment accounts.

The McCain campaign has responded to these and other attacks by accusing Obama of fear mongering, repeatedly denying that the Arizona Republican ever supported privatization in the first place.

But a rarely-seen video in a new documentary (#4. SS, http://progressiveaccountability.org/third-term/ ) by the group Progressive Accountability, a portion of which was handed over to the Huffington Post, shows this simply isn't true. McCain has in fact argued that privatization is necessary to maintain Social Security into the future.

"Without privatization, I don't see how you can possibly, over time, make sure that young Americans are able to receive Social Security benefits," McCain declares at a December 2004 event in New Hampshire.

ref.. http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-mccainsocial14-2008jul14,0,1786903.story

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/20/mccain-claimed-privatizat_n_127984.html

Corporate welfare

Beth from ColoradObama — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 11:06:51 EDT

I'm mad as hell and I'm not gonna take it anymore!

Bush economic advisors? An OXYMORON to beat all oxymorons!

We Should Be the Change We Want to see .. If You're Out There

korkie — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:59:40 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unvUBCJgQ5Q
If You're Out There

Never In a Beauty Pagent! Can He Lead?

korkie — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 09:42:09 EDT

This excellent!!

It's long, but oh so full of facts.

ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHGu33jtXtc

Squeaky Clean in Oil

Barb Miller — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:09:02 EDT

Sarah Palin's Lobbyists

Palin may not yet be as notorious as the influence peddlers in Washington, but she’s working to fit right in. She’s surrounded herself with associates of Jack Abramoff and Ted Stevens—some of the biggest names in the corruption game—and scored huge pork for Alaska in the process. With cronies like those, Sarah Palin and John McCain have a lot in common.

Palin didn’t buck Alaska’s Republican culture of corruption, she hired it.

Lobbyist Hired By Palin Secured $27 Million In Federal Earmarks for 6,700-Person Town.
“Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin employed a lobbying firm to secure almost $27 million in federal earmarks for a town of 6,700 residents while she was its mayor, according to an analysis by an independent government watchdog group…As mayor of Wasilla, however, Palin oversaw the hiring of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh—an Anchorage-based law firm with close ties to Alaska's most senior Republicans: Rep. Don Young and Sen. Ted Stevens, who was indicted in July on charges of accepting illegal gifts. The Wasilla account was handled by the former chief of staff to Stevens, Steven W. Silver, who is a partner in the firm…According to a review of congressional spending by Taxpayers for Common Sense, a nonpartisan watchdog group in Washington, Wasilla did not receive any federal earmarks in the first few years of Palin's tenure. Senate records show that Silver's firm began working for Palin in early 2000, just as federal money began flowing…All told, Wasilla benefited from $26.9 million in earmarks in Palin's final four years in office. ‘She certainly wasn't shy about putting the old-boy network to use to bring home millions of dollars,’ said Steve Ellis, vice president of Taxpayers for Common Sense. ‘She's a little more savvy to the ways of Washington than she's let on.’

Lobbyist Hired By Palin Was Part of “Team Abramoff.”

“According to Senate lobbying disclosure reports examined by TPMmuckraker, from 2002 to 2004 Silver listed as a client Jack Abramoff's lobbying firm, Greenberg Traurig. On Greenberg's behalf, Silver lobbied the federal government on ‘issues relating to Indian/Native American policy,’ ‘exploration for oil and gas’ and ‘legislation relating to gaming issues’ -- the very issues that Abramoff headed up for Greenberg at the time. In other words, Silver appears to have been a part of ‘Team Abramoff.’ Indeed, one specific bill that Silver lobbied on for Greenberg, according to the forms, was S.627, also known as the Internet Gambling Funding Prohibition Act. A former Greenberg lobbyist confirmed to TPMmuckraker that Silver would have been working to oppose the bill. And it was an earlier version of this very bill that Abramoff famously worked to spike, with the support of Christian conservative leaders Lou Sheldon and Ralph Reed.” [Talking Points Memo, 9/2/08]
Lobbyist Hired By Palin Called A Member of Ted Stevens And Don Young’s “Inner Circle” And His Firm “Became Ensnared In The Wide-Ranging Federal Investigation Of Corruption By Alaska Republican Officials.”
In hiring Silver, Wasilla found someone who was a member of each lawmaker's inner circle. Silver has donated at least $11,400 to Stevens's political committees and $10,000 to Young's reelection committee in the past decade, according to Federal Election Commission records. Sliver's firm employed Stevens's son, Ben Stevens, in the late 1990s as a federal lobbyist, according to multiple media accounts. Ben Stevens was not listed on lobbying disclosure forms as having worked on Wasilla earmarks. The firm became ensnared in the wide-ranging federal investigation of corruption by Alaska Republican officials. Federal agents reviewed records about its other municipal clients, as well as fishing companies represented by Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh that were close to Ben Stevens.” [Washington Post, 9/2/08]
Palin’s $27 Million in Earmarks For Wasilla Came While Ted Stevens Was Chair of Senate Appropriations Committee.
“The Palin earmarks came when Stevens was chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee and Young was a senior member of the House transportation committee.” [Washington Post, 9/2/08]
Blatant cronyism won Palin’s lobbyist friends top positions—Sound familiar?

Palin Appointed Lobbyist for the Fishing Industry as Her Fisheries-Policy Adviser.

“She appointed Cora Crome as her fisheries-policy adviser—a very powerful post in a state where fishing is a major industry. Crome formerly worked for the United Fishermen of Alaska, an industry lobbying group, and was married to a commercial fisherman who made more than $600,000 in 2006. (They are divorced; a McCain aide, who didn't want to be identified discussing personal matters, says the divorce occurred before she joined the Palin administration.) In a brief conversation, Crome said she was in a meeting and didn't have time to comment; the McCain campaign declined to comment.” [Newsweek, 9/6/08]
Palin “Counting on Her Lieutenant Governor Candidateâ€¦ Former Oil Lobbyist” to Help Win Oil Industry Support.
“The defiantly grass-roots nature of the campaign may have distanced her from certain traditional centers of power in Alaska. The oil industry is one -- but the campaign says it is counting on her lieutenant governor candidate, [Sean] Parnell, a former oil lobbyist and legislator, to help there.” [Anchorage Daily News, 10/24/06]
Oil and energy lobbyists fueled Palin’s rise

Palin Took $17,675 From 33 Different Lobbyists During Her 2006 Campaign for Governor.

For her 2006 campaign for Governor, took $17,675 in contributions from 33 different lobbyists. [Alaska Public Office Commission]
Palin Took $13,000 from Lobbyists Representing the Oil Industry in Her 2006 Campaign for Governor.
The lobbyists who donated to her campaign represent a range of industries, including oil and gas, tobacco, education and the Native Alaskan community. "She's fought oil companies and party bosses and do-nothing bureaucrats and anyone who puts their interests before the interests of the people she swore an oath to serve," Mr. McCain said Friday at an Ohio rally to introduce her as his running mate. But since Mrs. Palin leads a major oil-producing state, that industry is one of her top donors. She collected nearly $13,000 from lobbyists who represent oil and gas industries in her primary and general campaigns, according a review of her campaign donations and 2006 registered state lobbyists. [Washington Times, September 1, 2008]

TOSS UP STATES - Let's Put them In the OBAMA column

korkie — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:40:48 EDT

There are quite a few states that are listed as 'toss-up' states, can go either way. We have to do something to move these states into the Obama
column.

One positive step is to get out there and register voters. Find out what the last day for registering voters are in these states, then get out there
and volunteer.

October 5th is the last day for registration in Pa., a toss up state. I will be heading down there the week before help.

Please, do what you can to get more folks registered. Statistics show the majority of the people we register, vote Democratic.

If we DO NOT want to see McPalin elected in November, get off your butt and volunteer. If you are house bound, get on the phone
and call the folks in these toss-up states. Convince them Obama is the only choice we have to heal and save this country.

John McCain Accidentally Slams Sarah Palin

korkie — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:38:50 EDT

John McCain Accidentally Slams Sarah Palin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmRkTJRfwqA&feature=user

IT'S TIME THE MEDIA IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PASSING ON LIES ...

korkie — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:42:32 EDT

I signed this petition. I'm asking you to please sign it and pass it on to as many as you ccan.

Thank you for signing our "Tell The Media to Call Sarah Palin a Serial Liar" petition at:
http://www.democrats.com/call-sarah-palin-a-serial-liar

As the 13738th person to sign this petition, you are helping us reach our goal of 100000 signatures.

You can help make this petition a success by sharing this petition with your friends and family. Petitions will succeed only by word of mouth, and every signature makes a difference! Forward our sample email below, or simply send your friends this link:
http://www.democrats.com/call-sarah-palin-a-serial-liar?source=korkiemb%40optonline.net

Thank you again for making a difference!

Bob Fertik
Democrats.com

OBAMA Inspires change in McCain

korkie — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 07:29:42 EDT

Please watch, there is no sound, but the words will affect you.

Thanks
Rhonda

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jASl6AQTVUw

Yet another comprehensive listing of media contacts

Beth from ColoradObama — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:43:27 EDT

http://www.fair.org/index.php?page=111

FAIR's Media Contact List

Let your voice be heard! Talk back to the media.

Network/Cable Television

ABC News
77 W. 66 St., New York, NY 10023
Phone: 212-456-7777
General e-mail: netaudr@abc.com
Nightline: nightline@abcnews.com
20/20: 2020@abc.com

CBS News
524 W. 57 St., New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-975-4321
Fax: 212-975-1893
Email forms for all CBS news programs
CBS Evening News: evening@cbsnews.com
The Early Show: earlyshow@cbs.com
60 Minutes II: 60minutes@cbsnews.com
48 Hours: 48hours@cbsnews.com
Face The Nation: ftn@cbsnews.com

CNBC
900 Sylvan Avenue, Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
Phone: (201) 735-2622
Fax: (201) 583-5453
Email: info@cnbc.com

CNN
One CNN Center, Box 105366, Atlanta, GA 30303-5366
Phone: 404-827-1500
Fax: 404-827-1784
Email forms for all CNN news programs

Fox News Channel
1211 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 301-3000
Fax: (212) 301-4229
comments@foxnews.com
List of Email addresses for all Fox News Channel programs
Special Report with Brit Hume: Special@foxnews.com
FOX Report with Shepard Smith: Foxreport@foxnews.com
The O'Reilly Factor: Oreilly@foxnews.com
Hannity & Colmes: Hannity@foxnews.com, Colmes@foxnews.com
On the Record with Greta: Ontherecord@foxnews.com

MSNBC/NBC
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112
Phone: (212) 664-4444
Fax: (212) 664-4426
List of Email addresses for all MSNBC/NBC news programs
Dateline NBC: dateline@nbc.com
Hardball with Chris Matthews: hardball@msnbc.com
MSNBC Reports with Joe Scarborough: joe@msnbc.com
NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams: nightly@nbc.com
NBC News Today: today@nbc.com

PBS
2100 Crystal Drive, Arlington VA 22202
Phone: 703-739-5000
Fax: 703-739-8458

The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer: newshour@pbs.org

National Radio Programs
National Public Radio
635 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-3753
Phone: 202-513-3232
Fax: 202-513-3329
E-mail: Jeffrey A. Dvorkin, Ombudsman ombudsman@npr.org
List of Email addresses for all NPR news programs

The Rush Limbaugh Show
1270 Avenue of the Americas, NY 10020
Phone (on air): 800-282-2882
Fax: 212-445-3963
E-mail: ElRushbo@eibnet.com

Sean Hannity Show
Phone (on air): 800-941-7326
Sean Hannity: 212-613-3800
James Grisham, Producer: 212-613-3807
E-mail: Phil Boyce, Program Director phil.boyce@citcomm.com

National Newspapers

The Los Angeles Times
202 West First Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012
Phone: 800-528-4637 or 213-237-5000
Fax: 213-237-4712
L.A. Times Contact Information by Department
Letters to the Editor: letters@latimes.com
Readers' Representative: readers.rep@latimes.com

The New York Times
620 8th Ave., New York, NY 10018
Phone: 212-556-1234
D.C. Bureau phone: 202-862-0300
Fax: 212-556-3690
Letters to the Editor (for publication): letters@nytimes.com
Write to the news editors: news-tips@nytimes.com
Corrections: senioreditor@nytimes.com
New York Times Contact Information by Department
How to Contact New York Times Reporters and Editors

USA Today
7950 Jones Branch Dr., McLean, VA 22108
Phone: 703-854-3400
Fax: 703-854-2078

Letters to the Editor: editor@usatoday.com
Give feedback to USA Today

The Wall Street Journal
200 Liberty St., New York, NY 10281
Phone: 212-416-2000
Fax: 212-416-2658
Letters to the Editor: wsj.ltrs@wsj.com
Comment on News Articles: wsjcontact@dowjones.com

The Washington Post
1150 15th St., NW, Washington, DC 20071
Phone: 202-334-6000
Fax: 202-334-5269
Letters to the Editor: letters@washpost.com
Ombudsman: ombudsman@washpost.com
Contact Washington Post Writers and Editors

Magazines

Newsweek
251 W 57th Street, New York, NY 10019
Phone: 212-445-4000
Fax: 212-445-5068
Letters to the Editor: letters@newsweek.com

Time
Time & Life Bldg., Rockefeller Center, 1271 6th Ave., New York, NY 10020
Phone: 212-522-1212
Fax: 212-522-0003
Letters to the Editor letters@time.com

U.S. News & World Report
1050 Thomas Jefferson St., Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-955-2000
Fax: 202-955-2049
Letters to the Editor letters@usnews.com

News Services / Wires

Associated Press
450 West 33rd St., New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212-621-1500
Fax: 212-621-7523
General Questions and Comments: info@ap.org
Partial Contact Information for the Associated Press by Department and Bureau

Reuters
Three Times Square, New York, NY 10036
Telephone: 646-223-4000
Reuters Editorial Feedback
United Press International
1133 19th Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 202-898-8000
FAX: 202-898-8048
Comments and Tips: tips@upi.com
FAIR wants to hear about your media activism. Please send copies of your letters to journalists to
FAIR
112 W. 27th St.
New York, NY 10001
fair@fair.org
We can't always respond, but we look at everything.

Obama Needs Money ........

korkie — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:44:08 EDT

Obama Campaign - Fundraising Getting "Anemic"

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/09/us/politics/09donate.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

LIAR!!

korkie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:08:10 EDT

Obama, use the word. Say they are liars, not just 'they are not telling the truth.

The campaign needs to come out swinging

Beth from ColoradObama — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 15:54:58 EDT

No amount of neighbor to neighbor canvassing or phone calls or yard signs or bumper stickers or DIGGS or letters to editors are going to win this election unless Obama and Biden come out swinging. They've been doing the soft sell and I think it's beginning to hurt them. I know Senator Obama wants to change the nastiness of what politics has become, but when your opponent refuses to give up that particular ghost, AND THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS EATING IT UP, fire needs to be fought with fire.

Sign Pettion to bring back Olbermann & Matthews

korkie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:49:28 EDT

Please Sign The Petition Below:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bringback/

Lets try to get them back bring Election Day and Election Night 2008.

POW Can Take YOU but so Far ........

korkie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:25:01 EDT

It's time we stop allowing McCain's POW experience be his reasoning for his qualification for President and his set answer to every other issue.

Yes, the Senator was a POW for years, and so were thousands of other Americans.

I venture to say we could find a number of POWs who are vastly more qualified than McCain to run for President if POW experience was the only qualification necessary.

I am not saying we need an Ivy League, Rhode Scholar graduate to run our country; however we should not allow the Republicans to try to convince Americans these assets as negatives. We do need someone with more than a morsel of intelligence to represent our country.

The person we elect will be representing one of the most powerful countries in the world. I want a candidate who can string two words together without the aid of a prompter and understands what he is saying.

I want a candidate who knows the names of the different factions at war in Iraq and just perhaps the names of the adjoining countries.

I want a candidate who knows we are in an economic crisis and has some ideas how to help us through this.

McCain graduated 894th out of a class of 899. The main is not only and obnoxious, lying, arrogant man; he is also not the shiniest penny in the jar either.

We've (and by "we've", I mean you) already elected one town idiot, and look where that's gotten us.

To be honest though, Bush was the puppet, Cheney the puppeteer. But again, look where we are now.

THERE IS NOTHING wrong in being a polished, educated, eloquent speaker who has more than a smidgeon of knowledge on the economy problems, the healthcare crisis, the shambles are infrastructure and education systems are in.

These are positives, not negatives. Since when do we have to defend our leaders for being intelligent.

Thank you McCain for putting your life on the line, like so many other Americans have. You are still not qualified to run my country.

Korkie Moore-Bruno

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20080915/pow_video

MSNBC removing Olberman and Matthews ...

korkie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:17:21 EDT

First posted on another Obama blog by Lisa Owen

MSNBC removing Chris Matthews and Keith Olberman from anchor chair for elections. Are we screwed?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/business/media/08msnbc.html?ref=business

NBC felt they were getting tarnished and Palin credited with the move b/c Republicans chanted “NBC NBC NBC” when she complained about the media during her speech.

We have GOT to write letters to MSNBC denouncing this move. This is censorship, this is pure partisan retaliation, this is just the beginning of a police state.

Open Letter to Obama .........

korkie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:53:21 EDT

Senator Obama~ You must not let McCain attacks go unanswered. When they lie about you, you must call them liars. When pushed into a corner to forced say McCain was right about the surge working. You MUST respond, forcefully 'McCain was wrong about entering the war in the first place. We've lost thousands of lives, squander billions of dollars, put our economy in crisis, ruined our international relationships, for a war that should never have happened. So for me to admit the surge is working in totally irrelevant because we should not have been there at all. I see what happened to Kerry happening to you. You are not forcefully retaliated against the lies and smears. Obama, take off the gloves and fight. Fight for your life, fight for your family, fight for the Americans who support you.

* Please vote on this FOX poll ****

korkie — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:56:32 EDT

I can not help but believe these polls are rigged. On the chance that they are not, let's show them some OBAMA POWER.

Please vote:

http://elections.foxnews.com/

Who would you chose?

korkie — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 09:32:22 EDT

I am in no way suggesting we must elect a Rhode Scholar for our next President. But come on ...... another class idiot? Have you noticed at what end of list McSame graduated on?

Originally posted on another Obama blog by Hoptoad:

You are The Boss... which team would you hire?

With America facing historic debt, multiple war fronts, stumbling health care, a weakened dollar, all-time high prison population, skyrocketing Federal spending, mortgage crises, bank foreclosures, etc. etc., this is an ***unusually critical*** election year.

Let's look at the educational background of your two options:

Obama:
Occidental College - Two years.
Columbia University - B.A. political science with a specialization in international relations.
Harvard - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude

& Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in history and B.A. in political science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

vs.

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899

& Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - general study
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - journalism
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in journalism

Now, which team are you going to "hire" ?

The Republican Haters Ball

korkie — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:46:19 EDT

Take a peek ......

http://www.barackoblogger.com/2008/09/republican-haters-ball.html

"Signs of Hope and Change"

Terri S. — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:17:59 EDT

If you haven't seen it yet, please watch this video made by the campaign, about the campaign.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcRA2AZsR2Q

McCain's Speech more effective???

korkie — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:52:07 EDT

This was originally posted by Lisa Owen on another Obama site.

Please vote and post this to any other groups you belong to.

We keep losing these MSNBC polls but are doing great on CNN- McCain must be paying extra for folks to go to MSNBC!

Can you pass on?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26552748/

Was John McCain's speech effective tonight in connecting with voters and addressing core issues such as the economy and health care? * 83222 responses Yes. He did a great job telling his story and explaining how the GOP will lead the nation.
51% No. Tonight's speech didn't offer any helpful specifics but was a good review of his military service.
49%
Not a scientific survey. Click to learn more. Results may not total 100% due to rounding.

Please vote in this poll on cnn.com

Terri S. — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:46:53 EDT

The question is:

Which do you think is better experience for someone running for the White House?

Small town mayor, community organizer, or no difference are the options.

link: http://www.cnn.com/

Hey everyone! I am back!

Crystal's Audacity of Hope — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:46:27 EDT

Well I am finally done with school and I am now able to focus some of my time into this movement. I am excited to get started so if any of you have any ideas or are organizing any events let me know. I am on fire after watching what has happen at the democratic convention last week and watching the "evil doers" this past week at the rupublican convention. Let me in on what I can do!

Crystal

RNC SPEECH- Has anyone noticed how pissed off George Bush is...

bob-pol — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 14:21:52 EDT

The truth will set you free; but first, it will piss you off. (Gloria Steinem)

Has anyone noticed how pissed off George Bush is when he gives a speech? You did if you watched his RNC convention speech.

Bush must have come to the realization (with a 63% disapproval rating) that he is a failure.

Due to Bush's bad judgements over eight years, life in the this country (and the world) has become so precarious, ie, War, Economy, Energy, Global Polution, eg, Beijing, host of Olympic Games.

But when I listen to Barack Obama speak, I instantly feel okay.

And I am not the only one. The latest CNN poll reveals that peoples' confidence in Obama rose after Barack's speech at the DNC Convention. The poll on "who can better manage the war" shows Barack 49/McCain 48, compared to a poll before the DNC Convention, of McCain 53/Obama 44.

A Sick World... Barack's compassion, confidence, and capability will make it right.

Barack Obama - "Change we can Believe in".

Rob [bob-pol] < More Trees, Less Bush. Please, Not more of the same with John McCain

Lieberman

Jen — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 23:10:35 EDT

Wow....didn't see that coming. LMAO

So, was it that Joe was promised a nice position if McCain gets elected.....or....does he just like to hear the claps and cheers when he speaks?

On Palin: So, is Joe from Alaska?

Jen

What the.....

Jen — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 22:50:13 EDT

I am an independent and very mad. What do these Republicans think.....that they are the only Americans? Well, I see 3 blacks and 1 Indian in the stands. And A LOT of white people with enough $ to buy expensive suits.

How are they going to include people like me?

And "Country First"!!!!!.....who doesn't put their country first? Every morning we wake up, get our children off to school to get an education, and go to low-paying jobs just to make ends meet. And why? Because Republicans think that the $ still trickles down......change.....what change?

Is anyone out there wondering about their empty seat?

Jen

Palin: Playing The Gender card from the bottom of the deck

CorpusMama — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:54:31 EDT

On Larry King Live, James Carville stayed on message whic h was that McCain used poor judgement, choosing somebody who had no international, or national experience and was poorly vetted.

The GOP surrogate immediately accused Carville of being offensive towards women!

What?

I'm so glad James pulled himself together later and told her not to tell DEMS how to treat women. Hillary Clinton got 18m of our votes and had participated in 32 debates.

So it is clear that McCain chose this woman to compare her to Obama claiming she has more executive experience than either Biden or Obama.

I don't understand why nobody has mentioned that if that was their thing, than she had much more executive experience than their own canidate McCain.

I'm ba-ack! Forget Palin, let's re-focus on McBush

CorpusMama — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 18:36:36 EDT

I work for Barack Obama as a grasroots volunteer. He doesn't wish for us to be talking about Palin or her strange background , or her family.

Obama has asked us not to focus on Palin so I won't.

mCbUSH'S POLICY FAILURES ARE WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON.

However, as an RN, I must say at some time we do we introduce the subject of the rise in teenage pregnancy because it is unhealthy for both mother and child.

We must teach sex education for the sake of the children.

My night at Mile High with Barack Obama, among others (83,998), 8/28/08

Beth from ColoradObama — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:13:17 EDT

Before I begin, I'd like to say that I almost didn't get to go. I wasn't in the first round of ticket recipients and had given up hope of getting a credential. I've volunteered quite a bit for the Obama campaign and was sure I was a shoe-in. When I didn't get the credential the first time I was angry, upset, and felt left out. Being a person who wears her emotions on her sleeve, I let everyone know how angry and disappointed I was. I tried to be a trooper but it was hard. Many of my fellow volunteers didn't get a credential in the first round and we all expressed various emotions. Most of us ended up getting credentials in the second round and were enormously grateful. I know there were hundreds of thousands of people around the US who would have loved to be present, but couldn't by virtue of not living in Denver and the surrounding metro area. I will never take for granted the fact that I was fortunate to be present and to receive a credential.

My new profile picture was taken at the acceptance speech while in my crazy convention hat and while I was in my coveted and oft-mentioned seat in the legendary south stands.

Choice of Biden as VP candidate praised overseas (yahoo! news)

Terri S. — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 20:42:57 EDT

Choice of Biden as VP candidate praised overseas

By ARTHUR MAX, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 41 minutes ago

ACCRA, Ghana - From confronting Russia to dealing with climate change, Barack Obama's selection of Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential candidate Saturday was seen abroad as adding weight and depth to the foreign policy of a potential Obama administration.

European analysts said the crisis in the Caucasus provided an appropriate backdrop to Biden's nomination.

In Accra, experts attending a U.N. climate change convention said Obama was sending a strong signal of change on what many see as a foreign policy debacle by the outgoing Bush administration regarding the battle against global warming.

"Biden owes his selection to (Russian Prime Minister Vladimir) Putin," said French political analyst Dominique Moisi. "Russia's invasion of Georgia reinforced the American worry about international tensions." The choice of the foreign affairs veteran was intended to reassure the electorate concerned about Obama's lack of credentials, Moisi said.

In Britain, the North America editor for the British Broadcasting Corp., Justin Webb, said Biden was "Vladimir Putin's contribution to American politics — he is a necessary antidote to the Obama lack of worldly wisdom, which before Georgia was a bit academic to most Americans."

Webb said Republican presidential candidate John McCain had acquitted himself well during the Russian invasion of Georgia this month. McCain "took the 3 a.m. call. Obama needs a pal who can do the same," Webb wrote in his blog.

Biden's selection drew mixed reviews Saturday in Iraq because of his call two years ago to divide the country into autonomous regions along sectarian and ethnic lines. The proposal, made in a 2006 op-ed article in The New York Times, drew sharp criticism, especially from Sunni Arabs who opposed autonomy provisions that were written into the Iraqi constitution in 2005.

"Basically, this is an internal American affair, but it is giving us cause for concern because Biden was clear in his calls to divide Iraq according to sectarian and ethnic lines," Sunni lawmaker Adnan al-Dulaimi told The Associated Press.

A spokesman for anti-American Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who controls 30 seats in the 275-member parliament, said he doubted the Biden proposal would become American policy even if the Democrats win the November election.

The sentiment was shared by Kurdish elder statesman Mahmoud Othman, who said even if Biden is elected, he doubts it will make much difference "because it is the Iraqi people who will have the last say about their future.

In Germany, a member of Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Christian Democrats, Eckart von Klaeden, said Biden was "an exceptionally good decision, which shows how Obama is trying to organize all elements of the Democratic party behind him."

Biden's nomination created a buzz at the U.N. conference in Accra, where delegates from 160 countries were working on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol, the 1997 treaty regulating carbon emissions renounced by President Bush shortly after taking office in 2000.

The choice of Biden "is a good signal for these talks," said Angela Anderson, director of the Global Warming Campaign for the PEW environmental group. "I'm thrilled."

Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, drafted climate change legislation as long as 20 years ago, and is an aggressive supporter of domestic and international efforts to rein in emissions of carbon and other greenhouse gases.

"The easiest and fastest way to demonstrate a change of foreign policy would be on climate change," said David Doniger, of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

___

AP correspondents Melissa Eddy in Berlin, Jamey Keaten in Paris and Raphael G. Satter in Paris contributed to this report.

Liberal Media, My Ass: Who is Ron Fournier?

Christopher — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 18:03:08 EDT

Pass it on:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/23/politics/animal/main4376842.shtml

Fournier Is At It Again

By Steve Benen

(Political Animal) FOURNIER IS AT IT AGAIN.... The latest piece from Ron Fournier, the AP's Washington bureau chief and the man responsible for directing the wire service's coverage of the presidential campaign, on Joe Biden joining the Democratic ticket, is drawing a fair amount of attention this morning. More importantly, McCain campaign staffers are pushing it fairly aggressively to other reporters, in large part because it mirrors the Republican line with minimal variation.

Who is Ron Fournier?

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Ron_Fournier

Ron Fournier is the acting Washington bureau chief for Associated Press (AP).[1] He formerly served as the AP's chief political writer and subsequently as "online political editor".

In mid-2006, Fournier was a founding member and editor in chief of the online political and social networking community HOTSOUP.com.[2][3] Fournier returned to the AP in March 2007 "in the newly created role of Online Political Editor". In a memo announcing his return, AP executive editor Kathleen Carroll stated that "his primary responsibilities will be developing new approaches to political and election coverage online, working with AP's news, multimedia and revenue groups."[4]

Fournier is listed with the speakers agency, Leading Authorities, as costing $5,000 to $10,000 for east coast speaking engagements and double that for west coast engagements.[5]

Not bad, but Fournier has his eyes on a bigger prize:

http://www.americablog.com/2008/07/ap.html

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0708/12149.html

Before Ron Fournier returned to The Associated Press in March 2007, the veteran political reporter had another professional suitor: John McCain’s presidential campaign.

In October 2006, the McCain team approached Fournier about joining the fledgling operation, according to a source with knowledge of the talks. In the months that followed, said a source, Fournier spoke about the job possibility with members of McCain’s inner circle, including political aides Mark Salter, John Weaver and Rick Davis.

Salter, who remains a top McCain adviser, said in an e-mail to Politico that Fournier was considered for “a senior advisory role” in communications.

Fournier turned the job down, and why wouldn't he if he can bill out at $10,000 an hour speaking in front of elite audiences on the East coast or $20,000 on the West, but with an Obama campaign that is showing signs of fatigue, Fournier may be back to considering taking a senior post in a McCain Administration. Which is why it comes as no surprise today that Fournier has penned this AP wire piece, now well above the fold on most online media (I saw it on Salon this morning):

http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2008/08/23/D92O6OHG0_cvn_analysis/index.html

Analysis: Obama's pick highlights his weaknesses

By RON FOURNIER Associated Press Writer
Aug 23rd, 2008 | DENVER -- The candidate of change went with the status quo.

In picking Sen. Joe Biden to be his running mate, Barack Obama sought to shore up his weakness — inexperience in office and on foreign policy — rather than underscore his strength as a new-generation candidate defying political conventions.

"I searched for a leader who is ready to step in and be president," said Obama, a transformational political figure who nonetheless faces criticism about whether he has enough experience to be president.

He picked a 35-year veteran of the Senate — the ultimate insider — rather than a candidate from outside Washington, such as Govs. Tim Kaine of Virginia or Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas; or from outside his party, such as Sen. Chuck Hagel of Nebraska; or from outside the mostly white male club of vice presidential candidates. Hillary Rodham Clinton didn't even make his short list.

Fournier's objectivity is highly suspect, to put it very midly. He has access to the highest levels of policy makers in the Bush White House: none other than Karl Rove himself, to whom in an exchange over coverage of the war on terror and Pat Tillman and Jessica Lynch Fournier said "Keep up the fight." Fournier certainly is very very chummy with Republican movers and shakers, so chummy he even brought Senator McCain doughnuts. How nice?

A Case for Limited Abortion

Barb Miller — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:12:36 EDT

I hope this open letter will shine some light on the reason why sometimes
it's wiser to let a women have the right to choose.
This is the first time I have chosen to speak of this because it is so
painful, I don't like to remember it let alone speak of it.
My very dear cousin whom I will call Sophie and her husband had been trying
for several years to have a second child. They had
but given up hope when Sophie found out she was with child. I can't
describe the elation the entire family felt. We all started planning
on new a home, decorating the nursery, baby showers, baby names; you name it
we
were all busy with different activities. Sophie was having an
extremely good pregnancy; no morning sickness, normal growth rate, tons of
energy. Everything you could ask for to truly enjoy the entire
nine months. When Sophie was three and half months she was given an
ultrasound. It was then our world fell apart. The sweet little baby had
spina-bifida and it was severe. The doctors recommended she terminate
immediately. This was going to be a problem. Sophie and her husband
were both Catholic. They went to their parish Priest for counseling and of
course they got the standard lecture that all life was precious and only
God could decide on the life or the death of this baby. But Sophie wasn't
sure whether if carrying this baby to term was the compassionate thing
to do. They sought out a second opinion from a renowned baby doctor who
specialized with spina-bifida children. It was far worse then anybody
could have imagined. He told Sophie that this was one of the worst cases he
had even seen and the baby could not possible live for more than a
couple of days. But their priest insisted that only God could know these
things. So Sophie went against her better judgment and decided to carry
the baby to full term. But the joy in Sophie's eyes was gone. We had all
hope in time she would learn to accept things, but she was never the same
again. The labor began and with it the nightmare also began. A baby girl
named Bella was born with such a beautiful face but her entire body was
identical to a little frog. Bella struggled for every single breath she
could take. The parish Priest who insisted that Sophie and her husband have
this baby could barley stay in the room long enough to baptize her. I'm sure
he
will question his counseling for years. Poor little Bella never stood a
chance and I know Sophie never forgave herself for letting this happen. Four
hours
later it was all over. Bella was buried next to her grandmother. Sophie was
never the same. Six months later Sophie died . The doctor's say it was a
heart attack, but everyone in the family knows she died from a broken heart.
Sophie's husband and her little six year old son moved to another state. Our
family knew it just hurt too much for him to stay with all the memories
of what could have been. If Sophie had listen to her heart she would have
lost a baby, but she and her husband could have tried again, her husband
would still be married to the love of his life and her little boy would
still have his mother.
My beliefs have changed slightly since that day. If a young woman accidently
get pregnant and doesn't want or can't take care of that baby, then we
as a society should give her the emotional and financial support to have
that child and let a worthy couple who can't have children adopt the baby.
If a grown woman gets pregnant but that pregnancy will harm the mother or
the child will not live because of a horrible disease or deformity then
groups and religious leaders should let the mother decide what is best for
her child. Tolerance in this case is compassion.

Barb

Jim Hensley & John McCain - "the rest of the story"

Jim "Hussein" Hart — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:55:10 EDT

Well, it turns out Cindy McCain wasn't exactly telling the truth.

She wasn't an only child, and her father and her husband were indeed cut from the same pattern.

This is not a "positive" story, so if that bothers you, please don't click on the links. However, this is a factual, documented response to Cindy McCain's denial of her half-siblings, along with my own, probably biased commentary.

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/MilleniumDelta/CgSs

As always, questions, suggestions, comments appreciated.

Jim

McCain suggests raiding Colorado's water

Terri S. — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:31:31 EDT

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_10218277?source=rss

I am beginning to think this guy doesn't have a clue.....

Despite Assurances, McCain Wasn’t in a ‘Cone of Silence’

korkie — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:20:06 EDT

Originally Posted by Preston Harden

Please send emails to CNN, McCain and the Pastor indicating your disapproval of the deciept of the McCain campaign.

Obama Family,

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Senator John McCain was not in a "cone of silence" on Saturday night while his rival, Senator Barack Obama, was being interviewed at the Saddleback Church in California. Members of the McCain campaign staff, who flew here Sunday from California, said Mr. McCain was in his motorcade on the way to the church as Mr. Obama was being interviewed by the Rev. Rick Warren, the author of the bes t-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life." The matter is of interest because Mr. McCain, who followed Mr. Obama's hourlong appearance in the forum, was asked virtually the same questions as Mr. Obama. Mr. McCain's performance was well received, raising speculation among some viewers, especially supporters of Mr. Obama, that he was not as isolated during the Obama interview as Mr. Warren implied. Nicolle Wallace, a spokeswoman for Mr. McCain, said on Sunday night that Mr. McCain had not heard the broadcast of the event while in his motorcade and heard none of the questions. "The insinuation from the Obama campaign that John McCain, a former prisoner of war, cheated is outrageous," Ms. Wallace said. Before an audience of more than 2,000 people at the church, the candidates answered questions about policy and social issues. Mr. Warren, the pastor of Saddleback, had assured the audience while he was interviewing Mr. Obama that "we have safely placed Senator McCain in a cone of silence" and that he could not hear the questions. After Mr. Obama's interview, he was joined briefly by Mr. McCain, and the candidates shook hands and embraced. Mr. Warren started by asking Mr. McCain, "Now, my first question: Was the cone of silence comfortable that you were in just now?" Mr. McCain deadpanned, "I was trying to hear through the wall." Interviewed Sunday on CNN, Mr. Warren seemed surprised to learn that Mr. McCain was not in the building during the Obama interview.

The "B" Word.

Barb Miller — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 21:34:09 EDT

The Corsi Con

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Well! you must be the envy of the entire literary community. Imagine little "Jerome" getting the heads up on all those stuffy Pulitzer prize winning journalists like Schmidt, Grimaldi and Jeff Smith. Oh, surely you had an inside track on this one. Must have been an old fraternity brother of Barack Obama. Perhaps you attended Harvard together. But let's face it, kudos to you Jerome. Really, we are all so envious of all the time you got to spent with Barack and his family, the Sunday night dinners, maybe an interview or two with Michelle and the girls. Alright I admit it I'm green with jealousy. Did you hop on your plane and go to Hawaii to see his grandparents, Madelyn and Stanley Dunham? Of course they told you all the wonderful qualities of the Senator of which so many found their way into your book. Grandparents are like that, yea they are. I don't envy you all the long, grueling hours you must have spent in the Library of Congress getting all those important details correct with the proper sources attached. For me I especially loved the chapter you dedicated to Barack's grandfather, a Kansas oil worker who, after the Pearl Harbour attack, march across Europe with Patton's Army. Because of your own heroic military career we all know how much you wanted to honor a fellow Veteran. Of course your many trips to Kenya to see where Barack's father was born and raised, and your trips to Jakarta to visit the school where Barack started his education, convinced me that your depiction of the Senator from Illinois would be a truly objective and fair. I know you spent hundreds of hours interviewing those lower income families from south Chicago, where Barack worked as a community organizer. We only HOPE you didn't have to go it alone. It must have been a bit easier for you interviewing the law firm of Miner, Barhill and Galland, where Barack practiced civil law. I'm sure many of Barack's students came forward to testify on his behalf from the University of Chicago Law School.We all know how much you wanted to debunk the lies spread by Fox Fake News that Barack went to a Madrassa and was a Muslim. All America knows of your unfavorable views on the lies spread by Hannity, O'Reilly, Ann Coulter and the like. I understand Jerome, I may call you Jerome might-en I, that it is very smart of you to keep your so-called Fox Friends close. You cunning old fox you, keeping an eye on your enemies while pretending they are your friends. Just be very careful of the old fellow Murdock, I hear he more than likes Obama. Don't want to get on that guy's hit list now, do we?Listen Jerome, I know that your book debuted at # 1 and well gee isn't that just super, but don't be too concerned about the rumors. What rumors? Well it seems that "someone" has been buying your book in bulk form and storing it in warehouses all across the country. Now whether it is a Republican who thinks this book will do more harm than good, since the reviews have been lukewarm at best or it could be someone who is giving it out as free door prizes. I bet I know the truth, it's probably those lower income families on the south side of Chicago, who plan on using it for firewood this winter, since the cost of oil is sky high since Bush/McCain and the Republicans have been running the country.....never mind little Jerome it's the attempt that counts.

Posted by Barb Miller at 3:16 PM 0 comments Links to this post Labels: Chris Wills of AP, Huffington Post, Martin and Smith of Politico, Wikipedia

Please read, watch, then act

Terri S. — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 13:44:20 EDT

A new video by bravenewfilms uses a satirical approach to point out how FOX News is blatantly misleading the public.

"When It Comes to Obama, the FOX is WRONG!"Link to video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJox3lZGNgg

Please also consider signing the petition to FOX here: http://foxattacks.com/virus

HRC rollcall at the convention?? WHY???

CorpusMama — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 02:24:00 EDT

I have heard there is going to be a roll call vote for Hillary at the Convention.

Ok, this is a democracy.

I would like a vote to see what we at MYBO think about this.

All in favor leave me a comment-yes. Those opposed no.

And MYBO web people, please don't delete this post. Just explain why this idea is being accepted by our team. We need information and our questions answered if there is to be unity.

This is not a devisive post. I just want answers.

The Obama Nation

Christopher — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 00:37:20 EDT

Folks,

As you know, Jerome R. Corsi of "Unfit to Serve: Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" infamy has penned another precious tome to fuel the pulpy conflagration that is this election cycle, namely, "The Obama Nation". This screed is poised to overtake, if it has not already, the #1 slot in the New York Times Nonfiction Bestsellers list, which is ironic as by most reasonable accounts the book is a work of fiction.

Never mind that many book stores have received bulk orders of the book, some by the palette. Surely not all of the book's readership is also fictional. Yet, Corsi has enjoyed a plethora of media coverage, bolstered by the "fact" of his latest opus' "status" as a top selling book. If this offends your sense of fairness, Nation, you are not alone.

The Corsi commentator conundrum requires containment. But what can be done? As you know, I would never, never, never recommend that we, as Obama supporters, take the tack of hitting below the belt of Senator McCain, a multi-millionaire senior in favor of privatizing Social Security and an admitted adulterer whose foreign policy aims and dim view of Constitutional protections are in every way as bad or worse than the Current Occupant. If Obama represents a promise of a new kind of politics, then we as supporters must also rise up to this high standard and come up with a creative solution to the Corsi problem that builds up, but doesn't tear down.

Let's return to alarming popularity and visibility of Corsi and his new book; as I said, not everyone who bought it has bought it by the palette -- some readers genuinely agree with Corsi, or are at least vulnerable to his book's message. Who are these people, and why are they vulnerable?

You, like me, probably have a family member, a relative or a friend (or acquaintance) who is either pledged their intention of voting for Senator McCain or has not made up their mind. You, like me, are worried that Corsi's arguments may hold sway: Obama is this, that and the other thing. He can't be trusted. He's inexperienced. He's too liberal. He's not liberal enough. He's too black. He's not black enough. He's a recipient of affirmative action. He's an elitist.

I put my thinking cap on and I thought to myself, "golly, there have got to be a few people who have already contributed the maximum amount to the campaign.. even still, there are people who can afford $15, $30 or $60 for a flashy, one day event to do something positive to help out the Obama campaign even if they haven't maxed out.. and gee, self, there has got to be a way that regular people, not pundits or commentators or mainstream media infotainment talking heads can help someone who is not already an Obama supporter get to know our nominee a little better."

That's when the light bulb went on: bingo!

I have family all over this country. I have a lot of Red State Dyed in the Wool Republican cousins and aunts and uncles in Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio. I have friends in the reddest enclaves of Orange County. I personally own a copy of "Dreams From My Father", and so do most members of my immediate family. I could buy copies of that book and send it to three, five or ten Republican relatives or friends, but that wouldn't offset Corsi's book.

What if I got ten people to do the same thing? That's potentially 100 copies of "Dreams From My Father".

What about 100? 1000? What if the idea got out there, on the Internet, and it spread like a smile, or like sunshine at daybreak? A hundred thousand copies of the book? A million?

On August 28, 2008, Senator Barack Obama will accept the Democratic National Convention nomination for President of the United States.

http://www.demconvention.com/events/

I saw we use that day to introduce our candidate to those who are on the fence, who are unsure, or even who swear they never will vote for him -- especially to them! -- and undo some of the damage that Jerome R. Corsi has done exercising his right to freedom of expression, his right to his opinion, and show him the real power of The Obama Nation.

On August 28, 2008, give an undecided or McCain supporter relative or friend the gift of Senator Obama's book "Dreams From My Father."

Are you with me?

--
http://revolt.com/

PETITION: Clean Energy, Not Drilling - Tell Congress

korkie — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:16:08 EDT

This post was originally submitted by Fai

I have just read and signed the petition: "Clean Energy, Not Drilling - Tell Congress"
This petition is being sponsored by the Sierra Club.

If this is an issue of importance to you, please consider taking a moment to read and join me in signing the petition.
It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. I'm not always a big fan of Speaker Pelosi, but on this issue I do admire the stand she is attempting to take against the pro-drilling lobby.

We are trying to reach 5000 signatures - please sign here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/406092716

Once you have signed, you can help even more by asking your friends and family to sign as well.

Thank you!

More Tax Deception

korkie — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:25:57 EDT

Please watch: GET THE FACTS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGIqGaWZOo0

Georgia on My Mind or To Russia With Love

CorpusMama — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:22:33 EDT

When I first heard that Russia took Georgia back, I thought it spelled disaster for Barack Obama.

But does it?

I think just the opposite.

John McCain reminds me of another famous old albeit dead Arizonan Senator. His name was Barry Goldwater. His campaign created the infamous commercial of a little girl playing with a daisy pulling off petals as she chanted, "Love me, love me not." In the end you hear an explosion and see a giant mushroom cloud appear in her place. It was very scary and effective during the cold war.

However, George Bush's failed foreign poicies have put us in the greated danger this world has been in since the Cold War ended. While Bush had us fighting for oil in Iraq, Putin was quietly reassembling the Old Guard and strengthening the military. Although Bush could see Putin's soul by looking at his eyes. Former KGB agent Putin used his covert skills to recreate a new and far more dangerous Cold War.

McCain and Bush both said these actions were "unacceptable" and we would not tolerate the behavior of aggresion from Russia.

Oh, really?

What are we gonna do President Bush? "Dumb" theem to death? That is all you are capable of.

And Senator McCain what do you propose? We precision bomb Russia?? Big problem, they can nuke us back. Bombing has become a popular sport with certain Presidents like Nixon, Clinton, Bush and Bush, oh and Reagan invaded Grenada to save our folks so that doesn't count against him. Bomb Cambodia. Bomb Vietnam. We know how well that worked, don't we?

Folks, Bush has left us worse off than we were 8 years ago. In all ways. We are fare less safe as a country. Putin took action mow because he believed Americans would be foolish enough to vote Mccain thinking if he was elected Putin wwould have a free run over Europe because Mccain can't keep us in Iraq for 100 years and defend this country or our NATO allies at the same time.

McCain's stance to get aggressive with Russia is what to expect out of McCain. Fight first, pay for it with our treasure and blood later as long as none of his wealth is affected and his kids aren't killed.

We have a huge crisis lurking over our heads. We need somebody who doesn't lose his head and get angry and attack like McCain.

As big a threat as Putin is, having John McCain as President poses the greatest threat of all.

I am still in shock over this MYBO Overhaul.

CorpusMama — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:29:22 EDT

With all due respect, I think you folks who are running thisc ampaign are overworked, overwhelmed, and swamped with work. It is hard on all of us. Including us, the grass root supporters who unlike you are unpaid for our time and effort and donations that aren't showing up on our dashboards.

However, with McCain within striking distance of Barack, why on God's green earth did you decide to do this massive overhaul of MYBO now, when there are so many real issues that need to be dealt with andwithout telling us beforehand?

I think it unfortunate that you caved to the complaints aka whiners. How can you even be sure these people are not just McCain trolls stirring up the pot? Those of us who are loyal followers are able to solve problems among ourselves.

Whoever you are Justin, are you aware your letters telling people in my groups as well as countless others that they are posting too much almost ran off one of my best sources of information and links to news articles? She is a great asset to this campaign.

The matter of people posting too much could be resolved through using us, the modeartors. As well as reminding the complainers aka whiners that there is a button on there keyboards called delete that the can use at any time. They need to be reminded that people who post often are doing it to be helpful and if they don't find it helpful, they are welcome not to read posts that don't interest them.

And how did you come up with this new system where we are given a grade between 1-10 based on are daily activity?

Am I a bad little girl if I don't post my daily blog so I get my extra stars taken away from me?

Someone made a bad decision when they overhauled this website without any forewarning or explaination. I would suggest that the genius who thought of this new system 3m before the election tell us why they did so.

Talk about a distraction!

Working it...

Kristina in Colorado Springs — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:56:45 EDT

I have to tell you that deciding to volunteer for this campaign was the best decision I ever made. Not only am I having fun doing it, but I really feel like I'm making a difference. Although I'm a mother of a two year old, full time student, and part time worker, I make time where I can to volunteer. In the evenings after dinner, you'll usually find me at the kitchen table surrounded with call lists, pens, tally sheets, and a laptop open to barackobama.com. My husband and I started out by registering voters at our local grocery store, then the 4th of July celebration in our town. Now, we canvass neighborhoods regularly, make phone calls, do data entry, and help out our local campaign office any way we can WE LOVE IT! Not only do we feel like we're actually playing a part in history, but we feel great to be volunteering for such a great cause. Having Senator Obama as our President is exactly what our nation needs. We don't mind telling anyone either. Sure, we've run into some resistence...we are in CO - a normally "RED" state, but things are going to change this year. We have gotten so much great response and people all over our city are "fired up" about this campaign. If every supporter out there donated just one hour a week to volunteer for the campaign, no opponent would have a chance against Senator Obama.

It's our home, it's our future, it's our nation..."We the People..." No one listens to us "the People" anymore. Stand up and be heard! Our forefathers did it, we can too!

Making a difference scorecard????

CorpusMama — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 02:26:17 EDT

OK, who's idea was this????

I think we need to be putting pressure on John McCain not on Obama supporters. We come from so many different backgrounds that of course some people have more time than others.

I hope for folks just getting started this isn't discouraging. I've been here sin February and so of course I have had time to blog and joing groups and attend events (mostly by computer) and create events and groups.

Can we lose the big number? This was not BO's idea. It sounds like something a young overzealous campaign worker might think of.

Think again!

Yes We Can!

Lisa

The Obama Brigade links don't work--I think

Beth from ColoradObama — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:35:45 EDT

I'm not sure the Obama Brigade links I provided via e-mail or the previous blog post. If anyone is interested in seeing the stuff I'm talking about, and your willing to open attachments from me, let me know and I can e-mail them to you directly.

Sorry. Some days I'm computer literate, some days I'm not.

The media madness & tire gauges

CorpusMama — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 00:31:41 EDT

I can't stand listening to the coverage of Obama. How unfair. How they attack him for not fighting back yet when he does he is accused of attacking McCain.

The debates are to be held in TN in Sept and Oct. Gallup is picking the audience. Wow, why do i think that is not a good thing?

I have to say that Obama is finally punching back, yet why does it take him so long to react?

This thumping he is getting on the tire gauges for pumping up your tires is ridiculous. Obama is right.

I think we should all visit MCCain's webage and request ours bought and paid for by the McCain camp. We could be saving money and keeping our cars safer.

YES Properly Inflated Tires Will Increase Gas Milage!

korkie — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:00:38 EDT

Republicans:
Below are just a few of the hundreds of sites I found that support Obama's statement “properly inflated tires would increase gas mileage”. Feel free to check the links for the complete article

At what point during this campaign can we expect to hear the so-called 'straight talk' on what your stance is?

If you spend half the energy and time talking about the issues instead of trying to demean Obama, we would know what the issues of your platform are.

Perhaps this IS your platform ... continue to smear Obama then one will notice you have nothing to say, that you are truly just the third term of Bush

Below are just a few sites that support Obama's statement that properly inflated tires would increase gas milage.
At what point during this campaign can we expect to hear the so called 'straight talk' on the issues.
i
If you spend half the energy and time you do trying to degrade Obama on talkng about the issues, maybe we
would learn what your platform is.

Perhaps that IS your platform ...... create negative karma around Obama so no one will notice you have nothing
new to offer Americans. You are truly just the third term of Bush

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/fueleconomy/articles/106842/article.html
Test #5: Check Your Tire Pressure
No matter how many times drivers hear about the importance of tire pressure, most of them don't do anything about it. They probably don't like squatting beside their car in a busy gas station with fumes swirling around them. But is it important? The answer is yes, for a number of reasons. Properly inflated tires are less likely to fail at high speeds. They wear more evenly and, yes, they deliver better gas mileage. How much? In this test we saw a modest difference in two of the cars. It might have been more dramatic with different tires on different cars. Experts swear by it; we couldn't really document it. And we wound up wondering if tire technology, like the design in other areas of the car, had improved.

http://www.livescience.com/environment/080712-nitrogen-tires.html
Gas mileage is king these days. People are buying fuel-efficient cars, taking less road trips, anything to reduce money spent on gas. But one of the real culprits may be under-inflated tires, which can decrease gas mileage up to 10 percent.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2008_May_14/ai_n25412014
Adjusting Tire Pressure Can Save Gas and Money, According to Edmunds.com Study
Business Wire, May 14, 2008
SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- A driver with severely under-inflated tires can spend $800 more per year on fuel than necessary, according to Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive consumer information.

http://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/050921_tire.html
Save Gas, Money and the Environment with Properly Inflated Tires
Diane Loviglio was one of eight students from Carnegie Mellon's Sustainable Earth Club to measure the air pressure in the tires of 81 cars parked on campus. "After seeing the numbers I was really surprised to see just how much properly inflated tires make a difference," she says.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-04-tires-inflated_N.htm
Fact Check: Properly inflated tires cut gas use

Happy Birthday Senator Obama

korkie — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:50:00 EDT

Today, August 4th is Barack Obama's birthday. Let's help him celebrate today by donating $8.04 to his campaign.

There are millions of us out there. If all of us donated just eight dollars and four cents we can really show him how much we suppport him.

Let's let him know we stand behind him inspite of all the negative media coverage.

Obama leads McCain Among Low Wage Workers

Terri S. — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:45:43 EDT

from: Daily Kos

Obama Leads McCain Among Low-Wage Workers--including Whites by Captain Future Mon Aug 04, 2008 at 01:49:35 AM PDT

According to a new Washington Post poll, Barack Obama leads among low-wage workers by a 2 to 1 margin over John McCain.

Obama has overwhelming support among African American workers, but also Latino workers. And he leads McCain by ten points among white low-wage workers.

That's right--those hard-working (white) Americans we heard so much about, the ones he had to win over and convince he is one of them. He's winning them by 47% to 37%. What will the pundits say now?

Captain Future's diary :: ::

Why do low-wage workers overwhelming favor Obama? Are they suppressing their doubts about him and supporting him only because he's a Democrat, or only because he favors programs they like?

Not exactly. Try this on for size:

The group, which accounts for nearly a quarter of U.S. adults, gives the Democrat the nod both as the more empathetic candidate and as the one who more closely shares their values.

That's right: because he is the "more empathetic candidate" who--wait for it--"shares their values." Among blacks AND Latinos, he leads by large margins on these qualities.

But even among low-wage white workers who are most insecure about their jobs, he leads by 19 points.

The Post goes on to observe:

Obama's standing with the white workers runs counter to an impression, dating from the primary season, that he struggles to attract support from that group. McCain advisers have said for months that they think the Republican can win a significant share of those voters because of Obama's performance in the spring.

Ya think?

Happy birthday, Barack!

Update: I missed a previous diary on this subject, here.

Update 2: From the Reuters report on the poll:

Ninety-two percent of African Americans chose Obama as the candidate most concerned with their problems; not a single black respondent said that about McCain, the Post said. Hispanics also sided with Obama on that point, favoring him by more than 40 percentage points as the more empathetic candidate, the newspaper reported.

Not bad for our arugula-eating, way too skinny, presumptuous celebrity!

The Plane to Blame Belongs Plainly to McCain

CorpusMama — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 02:30:26 EDT

If you google this article, you can plainly see no Flag on McCain's plane & only our proud symbol on Obama, no bragging. clearly the attempted smear was just that-mudslinging, filthy lies

Obama: Flags on a Plane
By Tommy Christopher
Jul 23rd 2008 2:40PM
Filed Under:eDemocrats, Ron Paul, 2008 President, Media
Larry Johnson, over at No Quarter, has worked himself into a lather over the new paint job on Barack Obama's campaign plane. It seems Johnson is under the impression that Barack Obama should be flying a replica of Air Force One, because he compares the plane to the iconic Presidential conveyance.

In the process, he notes that there is no American flag on the plane, and calls Obama "narcissistic" for the display of the campaign's logo. OK, if there's no flag on the plane, it's not a federal crime, but it doesn't look good. Obama should...Whah?!?!?

OK, well, I bet John McCain's plane has a really enormous flag on it, right? And what about Obama's narcissism? Plastering his name, or mainly, his last initial, all over that plane, shameful! Show 'em how it's done, John. Thanks to Yes to Democracy for pointing this out.

D'oh.

See, folks, this is why you don't get your news from emails, or any website that says "dot blogspot,"or from No Quarter

Obama needs to be forceful in his message.

CorpusMama — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:53:35 EDT

Barack Obam is polite to John McCain.

Polite doesn't win elections.

We don't need to go negative. We need forceful messages like the oil companies have committed malpractice against the American people.

We need to say McCain's pal Phil Graham is responsible for creating the Enron loophole which de-regulated future's trading and is forcing us to pay $4 a gallon for oil and is driving up the price of everything we use including the food on the kitchen table.

So my message today is:

No more Mr. Nice Guy!

Yes, We Can

Terri S. — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:11:49 EDT

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics...they will only grow louder and more dissonant ........... We've been asked to pause for a reality check. We've been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea --

Yes. We. Can.

-Barack Obama

Does Anyone Know if This is a Reliable Source?

Dena, St. Thomas — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 09:59:33 EDT

"This article comes from
Tom Flocco.com
http://tomflocco.com/

JOHN MCCAIN’S WIFE HIDING WAR PROFITS, UNTAXED OFF-SHORE ACCOUNTS?

Federal agents: Cindy McCain’s full tax returns will show war profits, pre-9/11 insider trading, secret off-shore accounts linked to 1241 Class C Nevada corporation payoffs and bribes

by Tom Flocco

Washington—June 18, 2008—TomFlocco.com—According to a high-placed federal agent actively based in Washington, DC who spoke with federal whistleblower Stewart Webb, Republican presidential candidate and Senate Armed Services Ranking Member John McCain’s wife Cindy Hensley McCain’s multiple undisclosed federal income tax returns will reveal millions in Iraq War military procurement contract profits involving Hensley & Co. (Hensley Beer), Mrs. McCain’s large Anheuser-Busch beer distribution firm.

In more shocking allegations which media and Democratic congressional leaders have failed to investigate, Thomas Heneghan, a U.S. intelligence authority with scores of federal contacts, said federal agents also know that Mrs. McCain made millions in insider short-sale profits involving Swiss re-insurance put option stock orders placed prior to the September 11 attacks—profits of death which have remained untaxed by the U.S. government and raise questions as to her 9/11 tip-off.

Heneghan alleges Cindy McCain’s complete 2001 tax return would also reveal that she has a secret offshore 1241 corporation set up with “private trust accounts established by Senator McCain’s late ‘Keating Five’ scandal and Bush 41 money launderer Leonard Millman who was also Stewart Webb’s father-in-law—all of which screams for a federal probe before the November 4 election.

Heneghan also alleged that Mrs. McCain has made millions from a joint business enterprise with both Hillary and Bill Clinton and Fox News billionaire Ruppert Murdoch which involves a pornographic website with its 1241 corporate headquarters in the Cayman Islands.

Using an arm’s length distance from his wife’s assets to shield himself from conflict of interest problems, McCain released only a two-page summary from his wife’s separate 2006 federal income taxes which were filed six months late via an IRS-approved extension, after which Mrs. McCain received a 2007 tax extension until October 15, 2008—just 19 days before the November 4 presidential election—unless she files for an additional extension to hide the profits until after the election.

HIDING WAR PROFITEERING CONFLICTS?

Heneghan told TomFlocco.com last week that Anheuser-Busch is one of a number of companies under a widespread federal investigation over the last few months into bid-rigging, bribery and kickbacks by members of the military and civilians connected to the Pentagon purchasing system involving Iraq War profiteering.

Webb, who said he was illegally imprisoned by President George H.W. Bush just prior to the Bush-Clinton election from 1992-1993 as a political dissident in order to obstruct justice and suppress his knowledge of Bush 41 Iran Contra drugs-for-weapons evidence, alleged to us that last week’s offer by a European company to purchase Anheuser-Busch could be a pre-arranged attempt to hide evidence of wartime beer company profits tied to Mrs. McCain’s reported $100 million-plus financial empire and untaxed off-shore income linked to 9/11profits—all of which could expose conflicts of interest and threaten the viability of John McCain’s presidential candidacy.

While complete income tax transparency would reassure the public that the McCains and their family members have not profited either directly or indirectly by the sale of Anheuser-Busch nonalcoholic beer and bottled water products in war zones, Democratic party leader acquiescence and U.S. media recalcitrance in exerting enough pressure on Senator McCain and his wife has resulted in the release of incomplete data regarding Cindy McCain’s vast beer fortune and alleged untaxed off-shore finances.

According to reports, Senator McCain began an extramarital relationship after meeting Cindy Hensley in 1979, after which he divorced his first wife Carol in April, 1980 and married Hensley the next month in May, 1980 after signing her prenuptial agreement which allowed Mrs. McCain to file separate taxes for 27 years which effectively helped avoid continued public financial scrutiny while her husband sought elective office.

The heiress originally said she would never make her tax return public but decided to disclose her $6 million total income from 2006 via the top two summary pages which included $4.5 million from rental real estate, royalties, partnerships and trusts, $300,000 in salary income, $280,000+ in dividends and $740,000+ in capital gains—part of her reportedly vast personal holdings which include Arizona’s Hensley Beer and a total $100+ million net worth.

The McCain presidential campaign took advantage of the Memorial Day weekend to make Mrs. McCain’s incomplete tax disclosure, also waiting to make the two pages public after releasing Senator McCain’s medical records—making the tax issue almost a complete afterthought.

GENERAL SHELTON AND ANHEUSER ‘BUSH’

Anheuser-Busch’s Budweiser beer is sold on military bases throughout the world and its nonalcoholic beer and bottled water products are contracted to the Afghanistan and Iraq war zones.

Military beer sales leave Cindy Hensley-McCain open to questions about war profiteering since Hensley Beer is the third largest Anheuser-Busch distributor in the U.S. while Senator John McCain sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee with war oversight and Democrats look the other way.

While the military has tried to discourage heavy drinking among the troops, beer and wine distributors have lobbied the House of Representatives to increase the number of military stores that sell beer and wine.

“Military personnel should be able to purchase beer in the most convenient way possible,” said Terry McAuley, military sales director for Anheuser-Busch—even though the Pentagon opposes the lobby while attempting to deglamorize the use of alcohol, claiming it disrupts discipline and could hurt military readiness and safety.

Just prior to the September 11, 2001 attacks, President Bush’s then top military advisor and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Hugh Shelton met in California for eight hours with his successor General Richard B. Myers—“Black-Jack” Myers, according to intelligence insiders—and Air Force Chief of Staff General Michael E. Ryan to discuss how to obtain seats on corporate boards, pay packages, perks, stock options, approaching future employers and landing lucrative consulting contracts according to June 2005 news reports.

In late 2001 August A. Busch III, Chairman of Anheuser-Busch and his son August A. Busch IV met with Shelton in Manassas, Virginia to finalize Shelton’s seat on the company board of directors, his salary of $181,518 and 10,000 stock options on Anheuser-Busch shares currently worth $565,100 dollars according to the Corporate Library research organization.

Shelton’s responsibilities reportedly include advising the company and its distributorships like Hensley Beer regarding which senators, congressmen and military procurement officers to call to facilitate the distribution of hundreds of thousands of Anheuser-Busch bottles of water and nonalcoholic beer products to troops in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

WEAK DEMOCRAT OVERSIGHT = MORE HENSLEY WAR PROFITS?

As a member of the company’s corporate governance and nominating committees, Shelton participates in key decisions involving current reports that foreign entities are seeking to buy Anheuser-Busch outright or acquire it via a hostile takeover—but Democrats are not questioning whether there is an attempt to gain influence with a possible McCain presidency and/or potentially adjusting records involving Hensley Beer.

Nine months ago military officials said $6 billion in procurement contracts providing for essential supplies such as food, water and shelter to U.S. soldiers in Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan were under review by criminal investigators regarding bid-rigging, bribery and kickbacks—a figure more than double what the Defense Department had previously disclosed.

A study by the Defense Department’s inspector general found that the Pentagon couldn’t properly account for more than a trillion dollars in monies spent; and a Government Accounting Office report found Defense inventory systems so lax that the U.S. Army lost track of 56 airplanes, 32 tanks and 36 Javelin missile command launch-units.

Hensley Beer executives Robert Delgado—president and chief executive officer, Andrew McCain—Hensley chief financial officer and John McCain’s step-son from his first marriage to Carol Shepp, and August Busch III—chairman of Anheuser-Busch’s executive committee, are among Senator McCain’s top career givers.

In 2000 McCain voted against the fiscal 2001 transportation appropriations bill which set a national standard of .08 % blood alcohol level for drunken driving while the National Beer Wholesalers Association also opposed the legislation, telling members it had succeeded in “delaying and diluting the version of the bill.”

McCain recently courted NASCAR voters and internet video fans this spring, serving as honorary starter at a North Carolina speedway race with his wife Cindy and Dale Earnhardt Jr. who drove the Budweiser car which was painted military camouflage rather than its trademark red as NASCAR’s official beer brewed by Anheuser-Busch—whose products have helped to create the McCain family fortune.

According to reports, Anheuser-Busch has also been signing contracts and investing hundreds of millions in brewery operations in China and Vietnam; and controversial Clinton administration figure James Riady’s Lippo Group is the holder of a license for a Sea World attraction in Indonesia while Anheuser-Busch owns all the Sea World theme parks in the U.S. and some overseas operations.

The Senate Armed Services Committee and its Ranking Member McCain in particular have not assured voters that Anheuser-Busch’s military beer, water and non-alcoholic beverage contracts are not linked to the Pentagon bid-rigging and bribery scandal being probed, raising questions as to why McCain has not referred publicly to the scandal.

Minnesota Republican Representative John Kline, a retired Marine colonel was “appalled” at the “clear breakdown in leadership” that allowed some Army contracting officers to corrupt the procurement system.

American voters may have a problem regarding weak oversight by the Democratic Party leaders who have thus far ignored Cindy McCain’s finances and possible war-profiteering, her complete lack of income tax transparency and untaxed off-shore corporate profits."

Stop Toby Keith from getting anymore publicity!!

CorpusMama — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 02:21:51 EDT

I took down the original post because i did not realize the images would be displayed. They were deplorable.

I apologize to anybody who might have been offended by that graphic depiction of what Toby Keith is singing about and getting national airtime of all 3 networks including The Tonight Show. I wonder how Kevin Eubanks would feel about this.

Here is the article without the images. Again I deeply regret having those images on MYBO. His campaign had nothing to do with it. It was my mistake. Sorry!

We need to write NBC, CBS, stop this country western crooner from singing his song about how lynching is a good thing.

Write Colbert and say that was an awful guest and you didn't undetand the hate he was spewing.

Please read for yourselves:

Despite his background as a comedian, Stephen Colbert is known by many of the authors who have appeared on his show as one of the toughest interviewers in the business. But on July 28, when country music superstar Toby Keith stepped on the set of the Colbert Report to promote his movie, Beer For My Horses, he was greeted by his host with nothing less than reverential admiration. After a jovial, back-slapping sit-down with Keith, Colbert turned the stage over to his guest for a performance of the song that inspired the title and theme of his forthcoming "Southern comedy."

While Keith belted out "Beer For My Horses," Colbert's studio audience clapped to the beat, blithely unaware that they were swaying to a racially tinged, explicitly pro-lynching anthem that calls for the vigilante-style hanging of car thieves, "gangsters doing dirty deeds...crime in the streets," and other assorted evildoers.

The lyrics to Keith's ode to lynching are as follows:

Well a man come on the 6 o'clock news
said somebody's been shot
somebody's been abused
somebody blew up a building
somebody stole a car
somebody got away
somebody didn't get to far yeah
they didn't get too far

Grandpappy told my pappy back in my day, son
A man had to answer for the wicked that he'd done
Take all the rope in Texas
Find a tall oak tree, round up all of them bad boys
Hang them high in the street
For all the people to see
That Justice is the one thing you should always find
You got to saddle up your boys
You got to draw a hard line
When the gun smoke settles we'll sing a victory tune
And we'll all meet back at the local saloon
And we'll raise up our glasses against evil forces singing
whiskey for my men, beer for my horses
We got too many gangsters doing dirty deeds
too much corruption and crime in the streets
It's time the long arm of the law put a few more in the ground
Send 'em all to their maker and he'll settle 'em down
You can bet he'll set 'em down...

During the days when Toby Keith's "Grandpappy" stalked the Jim Crow South, lynching was an institutional method of terror employed against blacks to maintain white supremacy. According to the Tuskegee Institute, between the years 1882 and 1951, 3,437 African-Americans were lynched in the United States, mostly in the heart of Dixie. Felonious assault and rape (read: corrupting "the flower of white womanhood") were the two most frequent justifications for lynch mob actions.

In his music video he makes it clear he is talking about an Afrivcan American. Toby Keith is the calliber of man who would support John MCCain.

The Obama "Symbolicv" Comments

korkie — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:58:51 EDT

There was a time we would turn to the MSM to get the facts, the truth, and the news. Today’s newspapers have aligned their credibility with the likes of ‘The Enquirer’ and “The Star.’

Cable news has become just another ‘Access Hollywood.’ Is the objective of the news to embellish, ignore the truth, as long as the ratings are good?

It was shameful, untruthful and reprehensible to manipulate Obama's words to make him seem arrogant and egotistical. The arrogance belongs to the unscrupulous MSM for manipulating his comment

A more accurate rendering of Senator Obama's comment:

"Obama said, "It has become increasingly clear in my travel, the campaign

-- that the crowds, the enthusiasm, 200,000 people in Berlin, is not about me at all.

It's about America. I have just become a symbol."

Please report the news, not create it.

Obama Has Good Judgment on Middle East

Dena, St. Thomas — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:28:27 EDT

Afghanistan's Ambassador likes Obama's plan. McCain's is wanting.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/30/afghan-ambassador-trumpet_n_115756.html

An excerpt:

"Afghanistan's Ambassador to the United States trumpeted major portions of Barack Obama's approach towards his country on Tuesday, marking the second time in as many weeks that an official at the center of U.S.-Mideast policy has echoed the Illinois Senator's agenda.

Said Jawad, who has been at the ambassador's post since 2003, avoided specific references to Obama and his rival Sen. John McCain. But on a broad range of issues that divide the two candidates -- defining the main battleground in the war on terror, U.S. military commitments to Afghanistan, and combating terrorist activity in Pakistan -- he agreed with the prescriptions of the presumptive Democratic nominee."

McCain has made his campaign personal attacks.

CorpusMama — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 02:25:36 EDT

John McCain has now stooped lower than I have ever seen him stoop in any other campaign before.

Mccain had the nerve to promise he would rather run an honaorble campaign and lose than run a dishonorable, disgraceful campaign.

What happened John? You can't even stick to the issues. All your campaign has been is about distractions such as whether or not Obama visited the woundedin Germany. Is that what America really cares about?

You can say anything, do anything, yet if anyone mentions that you may just have some mental health issues do to PTSD from being a POW 5 years you go ballistic and attack our patriotism.

And yet you never even showed up to vote for the GI bill because you were against it yet Barack Obama and Jim Webb did vote for it but your good friend gave you all the credit and glory which you totally did not deserve. Bush gave himself credit too. Its like you guys are 2 peas in a pod, respectfully and metaphorically speaking.

With all due respect sir, even though you haven't shown the same courtesy to Obama, in your current physical and mental condition, throwing the issue of your age totally to the side, what branch of the military would consider you fit to serve now?

Lisa, RN, BS

Big Oil Big Money

Barb Miller — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:32:37 EDT

At Least 22 Top McCain Advisers & Fundraisers Have Lobbied For Big Oil

John McCain has at least 22 people working for his campaign, either as top fundraisers or as senior campaign staff, that have lobbied for Big Oil.

McCain's Big Oil Lobbyists

1Rebecca Anderson Women for McCain Steering Committee Williams & Jensen Sunoco

Wayne Berman National Finance Co-ChairmanOgilvy Government Relations Amerada Hess Chevron Texaco American Petroleum Institute

Charlie Black Senior Political AdviserBKSHOccidental Petroleum Corp. Yukos Oil Chinese National Off-Shore Oil Corp.

Carlos Bonilla* Economic AdviserWashington Group Chesapeake Energy

Eric Burgeson** FundraiserBarbour Griffith & Rogers BP

Kerry Cammack FundraiserCammack and Strong Exxon Mobil

Frank Donatelli McCain Pick as Deputy RNC ChairMcGuire Woods Exxon Mobil Dominion Resources

Melissa Edwards FundraiserWashington Group Chesapeake Energy

John Green Congressional LiaisonOgilvy Government Relations Amerada-Hess Chevon Texaco El Paso Energy American Petroleum Institute

Robert Harding FundraiserGreenberg Traurig Chevron Murphy Oil Phillips Petroleum Company***

Richard Hohlt FundraiserHohlt and Associates Chevron

James "Jim" Hyland FundraiserPennsylvania Avenue Group BP America Independent Fuel Terminal Operators Assoc. Occidental Petroleum Corp. Independent Fuel Terminal Operators Assoc.

Peter Madigan FundraiserJohnson, Madigan, Peck, Boland & Stewart Shell Oil

Susan Molinari Women for McCain Steering CommitteeWashington Group Chesapeake Energy

Jack Oliver FundraiserBryan Cave Strategies Shell Oil

Nancy Pfotenhauer AdviserKoch Industries Koch Industries

Steve Phillips FundraiserDLA Piper BP America Occidental Petroleum

Elise Pickering Women for McCain Steering CommitteeMehlman Vogel Castagnetti Koch Industries

Sloan Rappoport FundraiserDowney McGrath Group Koch Industries

Matt Salmon FundraiserGreenberg Traurig El Paso Energy

Randy Scheunemann Defense and Foreign Policy CoordinatorScheunemann and Associate BP Amoco

Jeffrey Weiss Fundraiser BKSH Yukos Oil Company

McCain's latest skin "lesion"

CorpusMama — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:43:50 EDT

Although, McCain gave himself a clean bill of health in regards to that lesion he had removed, I noticed it had irregular borders and they wasted no time removing it.

Has the biopsy report come back yet?

Will we have access to it?

In spite of the unscrupulous, below the belt, untrue shots McCain has taken at Obama, I hope he will not have yet another bout with cancer.

However, his health concerns me greatly. He has had a grueling life and as unfair as his years as a POW were, they did take a toll on both his physical and emotional well-being.

As a nurse I feel bad for John McCain and his family, but as a citizen I feel worried about having a President who is physically and emotionally frail.

Hey Senator Surge

Barb Miller — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 15:10:36 EDT

skip to main | skip to sidebar The "B" Word

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Hey Senator Surge Time for a little "truth" telling Senator Surge For the last several months we have been listening to you saturate the airwaves with nonsense that you and you alone can protect this nation.

While, you have taken sole credit for the "surge" in Iraq you have failed to realize that the downturn of violence in Iraq has lead to an increase of violence in Afghanistan.

Indeed, in the last two months there have been more deaths in Afghanistan than in Iraq. It is widely known amongst coalition forces that Al-Qaeda is now in Afghanistan providing logistics and financing to the Taliban. Several days ago nine US soldiers were killed and fifteen others were wounded when the Taliban attached a US forward base in Kunar province. Insurgents in Pakistan are crossing the border into Afghanistan to join the fighting. That's the Afghan/Pakistan border, not the Iraq/Pakistan border as you wrongly asserted on Good Morning America. In order to secure a border you must first know where said border is. Senator Obama has been calling for reinforcements for Afghanistan for the last sixteen months. You on the other hand waited until a progress report on the security and stability in Afghanistan went to the Congress several weeks ago. It was only at this point that you considered more troops were needed in Afghanistan. Michael E. O'Hanlon of the Brookings Institute and the International Crisis Group's joint study on terrorism have described Afghanistan as extremely volatile. My friend, my friend if you had attended even one committee meeting on Afghanistan you would have realized months ago the deteriorating state of this forgotten war. Of course Senator your absence at every meeting was duly noted.

For someone who has staked his whole campaign on the Iraq war, I was utterly astounded when you told Katie Couric of CBS that the Anbar or Sunni Awakening followed the Surge, when in reality the Anbar Awakening preceded the Surge by almost four months. My friend that is a matter of recorded history.

Joe Klein of Time Magazine stated McCain's assertions as"pure nonsense"

In the beginning you promised the Nation a very civil and respectful campaign. You criticized Senator Obama for not visiting Iraq. Now that he has done that you criticized him for going. Was this jealousy on your part? Several weeks ago you visited Canada and Columbia to promote Free Trade. No criticism there, right John. Yesterday, you accused Senator Obama of being willing to lose a war in order to win the Presidency. More respect on your part, Senator? You accused him of putting the Nation at risk because of his inexperience. This must be the civility you spoke of several months ago. The only Candidate who has Presidential experience is one who is running for a second term. But even with all these remarks and derogatory insults about Obama that are coming out of your own mouth, Senator Obama continues to tell the people that you Sir are a war hero. That is respect Senator McCain. You seemed to have forgotten what respect means. You, Sir have fallen drastically short of the campaign you promised in the beginning.

You have surrounded yourself with campaign advisers of questionable reputations. Charlie Black's lobbying firm has represented dictators like Marcos, Mobutu of Zaire and Savimbi of Angola. Carly Fiorina while with HP tried to circumvent the trade boycott of Iran. Joe Lieberman and Lindsay Graham were both advising Vets for Freedom, a 527 group not unlike The Swift Boat Vets . And yet these are the advisers who have been allowed to stay with your campaign.

I could point out many more gaffes you have made in the last two months, but the only thing I must add is your shameful reputation and voting record when it comes to representing the Veterans of this country. You receive a 100% disability pension, tax free I might add, and you have denied every improvement that these brave men, not only need but surely deserve. How any one millionaire veteran like yourself allows other veteran to be homeless is beyond comprehension.

My friend, my friend please explained to the Veterans of American how Walter Reed Surgical Hospital once the "Crown Jewel" of the US Military has become known as the Dungeons of Building 18, under your watch.

Now that the cameras are focusing on you, an apology and I'll do better somehow just doesn't cut the mustard; it's what you did when no one was looking that counts.

A dreamer is one who can
Only find his way by moonlight
And his punishment is
That He sees the dawn
Before the rest of the world

-Oscar Wilde
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From the Open Left

Beth from ColoradObama — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 16:44:30 EDT

Not sure how many of my fellow MyBO members subscribe to online Open Left--maybe million, maybe thousands, maybe a handful, maybe none...I'm posting their latest e-mail alert because I think it points out some really good concepts and talking points.

Ban on Foreign Service Workers --Update

Dena, St. Thomas — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:42:34 EDT

McCain spoke in Canada and South America--must have forgotten that in recent criticism of Obama: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/24/obama-berlin-speech-us-fo_n_114752.html

"**UPDATE 7/25** ThinkProgress now reports that the bar on Foreign Service workers attending Obama's speech in Berlin --through what a diplomat's union called an "unnecessarily narrow interpretation" of the Foreign Affairs Manual-- may be even more partisan than initially reported. Despite railing against Obama for giving a speech outside the country, John McCain himself gave a speech in Ottowa as recently as June of this year, as reported by The Huffington Post's Rachel Weiner yesterday. Now, ThinkProgress reveals that McCain's speech in Canada prompted no such restrictions for the country's Foreign Service workers. In fact:

The event was reportedly organized in part by U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins, whom President Bush appointed in 2005. But more than that, the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa confirmed to ThinkProgress that Wilkins also attended the event.

Not only did McCain make clear references to and critiques of Obama's policy positions in the speech, but he also referred to his own presidential campaign six times.

***

Although it appears most of Berlin is heading to Obama's speech today, US Foreign Service personnel will be banned from the event. And they are not happy. The American Foreign Service Association, a union of Foreign Service workers are opposing the rule. Read more from The Washington Post. And watch the speech live here.

The U.S. Embassy in Berlin has instructed Foreign Service personnel stationed there not to attend Sen. Barack Obama's public rally today, which the State Department this week labeled a "partisan political activity" prohibited under its regulations for those serving overseas.

Government employees serving in the United States are permitted to attend such events under the Hatch Act, which bars other partisan activity, such as contributing money or working in behalf of a candidate...
...The American Foreign Service Association, the union of the diplomatic corps, objected to the ruling, calling it an "unnecessarily narrow interpretation" of the Foreign Affairs Manual. "The fact that you are working for the U.S. government overseas should not preclude political activity that you could engage in in the United States," one retired senior Foreign Service officer said.

HuffPost blogger Jacob Heilbrunn looks into the political connections around the rule:

Indeed, the administration has a long and tawdry record of trying to browbeat government agencies into submission, whether it's the CIA or the Centers for Disease Control. The State Department is perhaps highest on the list of conservatives and neocons who see it as the center of disloyalty and treachery. But this latest action represents a new low. If it's going to these lengths, the Bush administration must be really worried about Sen. John McCain's prospects. "

Betraying the Holiness of The Wailing Wall for a news story?

CorpusMama — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 01:56:55 EDT

Look, we all know that Obama has had a fantastic voyage overseas despite of MSM's less than objective coverage of his pilgramage.

As a Jew iIam appalled, and heartsick that the Jerusalem Newspaper would publish a letter to God Himself, stolen from the Wailing Wall.

Any good Jew would never do such an act of selfish blasphemy. It would be like stealing a meassage the Pope left at the Wailing Wall.

Is there no sense of decency among Jews? My uncle was an Orthdox Jewish Rabbi, and in his eyes, I can't say what a violation of faith this is.

Israel, home of my people, I would expect better from you.

Global Warming Is Not A Scam, The Human Factor

bob-pol — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:02:35 EDT

The Discovery of Global Warming, Spencer Weart June 2007* (book excerpt) The Modern Temperature Trend By 2005 glaciologists had gathered enough evidence to demonstrate that most of the world's glaciers were in retreat.

Glaciers that had existed since the last ice age were melting back, revealing mummies that had been frozen for thousands of years. The changes in the Alps, in Glacier National Park in the United States, and on Mount Kilimanjaro made a particularly strong impression on the public. Scientists were more impressed by surveys showing that tropical glaciers had not been so warm for thousands of years.

The Pasterze Glacier in Austria, shown here in 1875 and 2004, is one of many around the world that have been retreating, exposing rock that has not seen daylight for thousands of years.
(For more pictures of global warming effects see Gary Braasch's photos.)

Three scientists, combining a variety of measures, put estimated Northern Hemisphere temperatures over the past ten centuries into a graph that showed a sharp turn upward since the start of the industrial revolution. The temperatures of the 1990s soared off the chart. Apparently 1998 had been not just the warmest year of the century, but of the millennium.

Global temperature 1880-2006 (Annual surface temperature relative to the1951-1980 mean, based on surface air measurements at meteorological stations and ship and satellite measurements for sea surface temperature. Error bars show 95% confidence level.) Courtesy NASA-GISS.
For latest figures see NASA's site or the UK Hadley Centre's site

By the late 1990s, many types of evidence showed a general warming at ground level. For example, the Northern Hemisphere spring was coming on average a week earlier than in the 1970s. This was confirmed by such diverse measures as earlier dates for bud-break in European botanical gardens, and a decline of Northern Hemisphere snow cover in the spring as measured in satellite pictures. Turning to a more fundamental indicator, the temperature of the upper layer of the oceans — where nearly all the heat entering the climate system was stored — again a serious rise was found in recent decades, and the greenhouse effect was the only plausible cause.

The 1990s were unquestionably the warmest decade since thermometers came into common use, and the trend was accelerating.Most people now took it for granted that the cause was greenhouse warming, but critics pointed out that other things might be responsible.However, "fingerprints" were found that pointed directly to greenhouse warming. One measure was the difference of temperature between night and day. Tyndall had pointed out more than a century back that basic physics declared that the greenhouse effect would act most effectively at night, as the gases impeded radiation from escaping into space. Statistics did show that it was especially at night that the world was warmer.

No less convincing, Arrhenius at the turn of the century, and everyone since, had calculated that the Arctic would warm more than other parts of the globe. That was largely because less snow and ice would reflect less sunlight back into space. (This effect would not be expected in Antarctica, with its colossal year-round ice cover, and in fact warming was not seen there — except around the coasts and on the long peninsula that projected beyond the ice sheet).

Arctic warming was glaringly obvious to scientists as they watched trees take over mountain meadows in Sweden and the Arctic Ocean's ice pack grow ever thinner. Alaskans and Siberians didn't need statistics to tell them the weather was changing when they saw buildings sag as the permafrost that supported them melted.Pursuing this in a more sophisticated way, computer models predicted that greenhouse gases would cause a particular pattern of temperature change. It was different from what might be caused by other external influences, such as solar variations.

The observed geographical pattern of change did in fact bear a rough resemblance to the computers' greenhouse effect maps. "It is likely that this trend is partially due to human activities," researchers concluded, "although many uncertainties remain." Even before it was published, the finding impressed the community of climate scientists.In an important 1995 report, the world's leading experts offered the "fingerprint" as evidence that greenhouse warming was probably underway.

The leader of the team at Lawrence Livermore Lab that found the "fingerprint," Benjamin Santer, helped write the summary of this report, and he was deeply hurt when a few skeptics attacked not only the statement but his personal scientific integrity. By 2006, when the warming had progressed considerably farther and the computer models were much improved, his judgment was confirmed. A thorough analysis concluded that there was scarcely a 5% chance that anything but humans had brought the changes observed in many regions of the world.

A few skeptics continued to seek confirmation of their views in data on air temperatures from weather stations and satellites. But geophysicists noted that the real buildup of heat energy was easily seen, less in the thin and variable atmosphere than in the masses of solid earth sampled by boreholes. Still more telling, layers in ocean basins — which were gradually absorbing most of the heat energy — showed a pattern of recent warming. (See above.)

The pattern precisely matched what computer modellers expected from greenhouse gas accumulation and nothing else.If you compared the upward curve of late-20th-century temperatures with the curves produced by computer models that calculated the effects of the upward climb of greenhouse gases (with adjustments for volcanic eruptions, solar variations and aerosol pollution), the match was close indeed.

Temperatures were soaring just as scientists had been predicting, with increasing confidence, for decades. Few could believe any longer that this was mere coincidence. The world's community of experts finally agreed, with little dissent, that it was highly likely that the strong global warming since since the 1970s was in large part the work of humanity. In a 2007 consensus report, they went on to say that human activity had probably contributed to the increased heat waves and many other changes in weather patterns that were already seen to be underway... as predicted.

As of this writing, the warmest year in a record going back to 1861 was still 1998. (In retrospect it was seen that in 1998 a "super El Niño" event, the strongest of the century, had pumped some heat from the Pacific Ocean into the atmosphere.) The year 2005 tied 1998. All the other years since 2000 were also hotter than any previous years on record.

*http://www.aip.org/history/climate/20ctrend.htm Rob [bob-pol] racggg@gmail.com

Scam Alert

Dena, St. Thomas — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 12:18:43 EDT

Yesterday, in central New York, we received a phone call from a man insisting we make a $150 donation by credit card through him to the Obama campaign. We refused, saying we do all our donations on line. He said "we don't have online donations down here" and when we said we had given all we could, he hung up.

For those of you online, I urge you to continue your donations only through this method.

Obama Caravan to D.C. Inauguration

Beth from ColoradObama — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:48:06 EDT

Got an e-mail request to share my thoughts about a caravan, by train or auto, to D.C. for the inauguration. Here's the e-mail and my reply:

BREAKING NEWS!! ROBERT NOVAK TAKES TIME OUT OF BUSY-BEING-AN-@$$WIPE-SCHEDULE TO PLOW DOWN D.C. PEDESTRIAN

Beth from ColoradObama — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 17:42:03 EDT

CLAIMS HE DIDN'T KNOW HE HIT ANYONE.

WHAT A D-BAG.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25819579&GT1=43001

New McCain video

Terri S. — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 11:30:53 EDT

Please view/digg.

(Copied from email)

This video, if seen by enough folks, no matter what their party, could be the one that closes the book on McCain with many, many voters.

http://digg.com/2008_us_elections/Devastating_New_YouTube_Video_John_McCain_s_Neverending_War_2?OTC-em-st1

---

"Devastating New YouTube Video: John McCain's Neverending War"

"John McCain's Neverending War" - A nine minute video montage of John McCain's warmongering (and some would say, mistruths, poor judgement and/or lies) on Iraq, in his own words.

Please view this, have your family view it and share it with as many contacts as you have!

My sincerest apologies if I was mistaken

Beth from ColoradObama — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:57:12 EDT

I am tired of non-supporters getting into our groups and listservs and creating trouble. I'm even more tired of everyone responding to them repeatedly. Doing so only fuels their purpose. We've been able to identify a few non-supporters (trolls) and have been supporting and encouraging each other to ignore the garbage.

Pakistani/Iraqi Border/ Hurricane Dolly (Maybe!)

CorpusMama — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 14:19:18 EDT

Did you guys hear McCain say he realized there was more Al queda movement across the Pakistani/Iraqi border?

Say What??????

Didn't he mean Pakistan/Afghanistan border? Or did they move the world while I was busy making preparation for a Hurricane that is now most likely to miss us?

Meanwhile Barack has worked his magic visiting the troops. Not so much magic with General Petraeus. I think the General maybe planning a book after he retires which will probably be as soon as Obama is sworn into office.

Well, you might have heard there is a little storm headed our way named Dolly.

So before I say, "Hello Dolly", (sorry, had to do that) I wanted to say even though the storm is not expected to make a direct hit, we will have tropical storms which include lightning, so I won't be able to get on here again for at least a couple of days.

Well, keep me in your prayers. Specifically, pray the fricken electricity doesn't go out! Not only would I have to miss Keith Olbermann, but it gets awful hot here in the coastal bend.

Keep me informed, stay fired up!

Peace Out,

Lisaa

Alaska Up for Grabs

Dena, St. Thomas — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 03:43:26 EDT

Alaska may be Obama's after all. Read entire article at http://www.adn.com/3017/story/470374.html

"Gas prices, influence, Iraq define Democrats' debate

HOUSE: Young and Democrats Berkowitz and Benson tackle issues.

By SEAN COCKERHAM
scockerham@adn.com

Published: July 21st, 2008 12:59 AM
Last Modified: July 21st, 2008 02:17 PM

Alaska Congressman Don Young and the Democrats pursuing his seat sparred over corruption, campaign contributors, the Iraq war and high gas prices Sunday."

FISA and Trolls and RNC: repugnantcan neocons crying

Beth from ColoradObama — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:03:40 EDT

Most, if not all, members of MyBarackObama are well-aware that most, if not all, of the members of the FISA group are not Obama supporters. Since we are elitisit, college-educated liberals, we are probably smater than most Repugnantcans.

I offer this soundbite for those of you who are sick and tired of hearing the "He's a Muslim" crap...

Beth from ColoradObama — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:06:36 EDT

...as if it would make any difference if he was Muslim (wasn't one of the founding principles of our country the right to freedom of religion?!).

Know Thy Enemy - PUMA Still causing divisiveness

korkie — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 14:06:39 EDT

"Top Dem Party Officials Send Sharply-Worded Email Demanding That Hillary Donors And Supporters Get Behind Obama"

"I must confess a bit of fatigue and irritation with people who continue to carp, complain, and criticize the results of the primary and lay down conditions for their support," it reads. "It is time to act in a mature and resourceful fashion. It's time to put the primaries behind us. It's time to support Barack Obama without conditions or demands."

Shortly after the article was written PUMA sent the following post to their supporters.

Perhaps we can sent emails to Fowler and Germond thanking them for their efforts on trying to unite the Party.

7/20/08
Hello Puma PAC,

This is Murphy.
Ready for a little Sunday PROWL ACTION? Seems that the secretary and the former chair of the DNC are feeling a little "fatigued" and "irritated" with us who "continue to carp, complain, and criticize the results of the primary and lay down conditions for their support." They then go on to compare Barack Obama's defeat (so-called, their word) of Hillary to the Celtics winning the championship and Nadal winning Wimbledon. Hmmm, something is just not right about this letter from Don Fowler and Alice Germond. Not right at all. Read the whole letter in the link, but keep the blood pressure meds and the Tums ready to hand.

Here's the letter from Fowler and Germond to top Democrats and fund raisers. http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/07/top_democratic_official_sends.php

NOW, here's the PROWL. Send Mr. Fowler and Ms. Germond a "sharply worded" email of your own. You know the drill -- change or add to the template letter as you wish, but remember to type Puma PAC Member under your name so they know how large our movement is growing. Remember -- they will not read all our letters. What we want is to impress them with our numbers and our resolve.

Sign the letter by typing your first initial and last name under Puma PAC Democrat. Then put you city/town and state.

Send your letter to the following 3 emails - blind copy to Mamapuma
don@fowlercommunications.com, germonda@dnc.org, mamapuma@pumapac.org

Subject:
Puma PAC Says, We are Voters! Not Carpers!
________________________________________________________________________
7/20/08
PUMA Democrat
PUMApac
Contact: Murphy@pumapac.org

Dear Mr. Fowler and Ms. Germond:

You "confess" to feeling "a bit of fatigue and irritation with people who continue to carp, complain, and criticize the results of the primary and lay down conditions for their support." If listening to voters has become distressingly fatiguing and irritating to you both, perhaps you should consider a different line of work.
I am a member of Puma PAC, People United Means Action (http://blog.pumapac.org), and we are the Voice of the Voters in the Democratic Party. As voters in the Democratic Party, we MOST CERTAINLY DO "lay down conditions" for our support. These conditions include a profound commitment to the Democratic process; enfranchisement of ALL Democratic voters; and a candidate who is ready and able to lead our country and LEAD US TO VICTORY in November.
You both, as well as your selected nominee, FAIL at meeting even one of these conditions. As a result, your selected nominee will absolutely, positively NOT receive our votes in November. That you compared, ineptly, a presidential primary election to a sporting event betrays your even deeper failure of leadership and competence.

Sincerely,

Puma PAC Democrat

American Hunters & Shooters Association (AHSA) Endorsed Obama

bob-pol — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:52:04 EDT

http://www.thejnotes.com/blog1/american-hunters-and-shooters-association-endorses-obama/

Barack Obama received the endorsement of the American Hunters and Shooters Association (AHSA).

The President of the Association released this statement:

As a gun rights organization we have not come to this decision lightly. We were formed two years ago because our research shows that millions of gun owners wanted a change. They not only wanted an organization that would protect their gun rights but an organization that was also committed to the protection of their communities as well as the protection of our lands.We reached out to the Obama campaign several weeks ago to offer our support and approval as was reported by Paul Bedard of US News and World Report.

We believe recent attacks on Senator Obama's stand on the 2nd Amendment and his commitment to our hunting and shooting heritage are unfair and American Hunters and Shooters Association is stepping up to set the record straight.
Senator Obama has clearly demonstrated his commitment to the 2nd Amendment by his vote in support of the Vitter amendment to HR 5441, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill of 2007. This amendment prevents the Government from confiscating guns in a time of crisis or emergency.
Imagine how the citizens felt during Hurricane Katrina when government agents kicked in doors to confiscate law abiding citizens' guns at a time when they needed them the most. We know Senator Obama "gets it." To say that he is an elitist is patently ridiculous.

To hunters and shooters everywhere, Senator Obama's vote demonstrated a fundamental understanding of the meaning of the 2nd Amendment which means he recognizes the individual right of all citizens to keep and bear arms. Senator Clinton, on the hand, failed to grasp the importance of this critical issue to hunters and shooters and voted against this Amendment. She turned her back on America's gun owners.

In addition, Senator Obama's commitment to conservation and protection of our natural resources and access to public lands demonstrates to us his commitment to America's hunting and shooting heritage.
Senator Obama will be a strong and authentic voice for America's hunters and shooters and it is with great pleasure that we endorse his candidacy.

Senator Obama's statement on guns given during the Democratic Primary:

We need sensible gun laws. I just got back from Montana where just about everyone has guns. In that culture, fathers and sons bond over hunting. You can't take that away from rural America. But the inner city is different, and we should tighten the laws on gun purchases and close the loopholes in gun show sales to unscrupulous buyers. The gun control people and the right to bear arms people are talking past each other about disconnected topics.

Rob [bob-pol]

The wisdom of ex-senator Rick Santorum

Beth from ColoradObama — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:07:00 EDT

THERE IS A REASON WHY THIS BUFFOON WAS NOT RE-ELECTED! I SUBSCRIBE TO HUMAN EVENTS JUST TO SEE WHAT ANN COULTER AND THE GANG ARE UP TO. I USUALLY DELETE THEIR E-MAILS BEFORE READING THEM BECAUSE IT'S USUALLY THE SAME OL' SAME OL'. BUT THIS ONE REALLY CAUGHT MY EYE...

DOES THIS GUY EVEN MATTER ANYMORE?

Barack Obama- A Man's Reach Should Exceed His Grasp.

bob-pol — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:51:54 EDT

Future, by Robert F. Kennedy:
The future is not a gift: it is an achievement.
Every generation helps make its own future.
This is the essential challenge of the present."
"The future does not belong to those who are
content with today, apathetic toward common
problems and their fellow man alike, timid and
fearful in the face of bold projects and new ideas.
Rather, it will belong to those who can blend passion,
reason and courage in a personal commitment to the
great enterprises and ideals of American society."

In Barack Obama, we HOPE for more than what seems possible. “Ah, but a man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?” (Robert Browning, in Andrea del Sarto, 1855)

Barack, in Heavy Thought, You May Say I'm a Dreamer But I'm Not the Only One (John Lennon)

Some say Barack Obama problably won't be able to achieve more than half of what he wants.

But achieving just half of his goals will result in major CHANGE in Wash. And in his second term Barack can achieve the other half.

Greatness
"Only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever achieve greatly." RFK

Barack, We'll stand by you - Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6ebvzPgM74&feature=related

Rob [bob-pol]

Obama on Larry King Tonight, The New Yorker

CorpusMama — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:57:55 EDT

If you haven't heard Obama will be on Larry King Live. I'm sure he'll be asked by larry about The cover of the New Yorker.

I think those who try to brush this off as mere satire are either fools or to arrogant to realize this cover crossed the line from satire into smear tactics.

What if Obama's Kids saw it? How would you feel if that was your parents?

Also Michelle Obama has no business being treated as harshly as she is since she is merely the presumptive nominee's wife not a politician.

Where's the satirical cartoon of Cindy Rodeo Queen stealing drugs from sick kids in Africa from her own charity as her husband calls her a overly madeup trollip and a c**t and they board Cindy's private jet which is a loophole Mccain created for himself in the McCain-Finegold so-called campaign finance reform bill? Now I think that would be funny or at least it would be the truth and that's what satire is about making fun of the truth. But nothing in this cartoon is true or funny.

The so-called intellectuals ought to think twice about dismissing this cover so easily. I'd like to know who is really behind it and where is the Jr. Senator from New York's comment about said cover?

PUMA'S LATEST QUEST

korkie — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 14:20:06 EDT

This is today's assignment given to PUMA supporters. The only thiing I request is that you send this to at least two MSM. Thanks

7/15/2008
Hello Puma PAC

Today is a new ACTION day! Today's PROWL is simple and even fun. We are calling President Clinton's office in New York to ask him respectfully NOT to campaign or fundraise for Senator Obama.
We want EVERYONE to call -- spread the word to your friends and family. Ask your sister to call. Ask your Aunt Peggy to call. Ask your husband or girlfriend or boss to call.

HOWEVER, we DO NOT want to shut down their phone lines or drive them berserk, SO please call anytime between now and 5pm eastern. Obviously, be polite, brief, and respectful.

Here is a sample script -- feel free to edit it as you please, but remember to say you are a member of Puma PAC so they know who we are.

SCRIPT: Hello my name is Alice, and I'm a Democrat from Dallas. I'm a member of Puma PAC and voted for Senator Clinton. I just want to ask President Clinton to PLEASE not do any fundraising or campaigning for Senator Obama. Senator Clinton ran a clean and dignified presidential campaign and treated all her opponents with unceasing respect and dignity. She, however, did not receive the same kind of respect or graciousness from her opponents. Millions of Democrats like me in the Puma PAC movement do NOT believe that President or Senator Clinton should be beholdeng to the Party or the presumptive nominee for any campaign or fundraising work. Senator Clinton should be our nominee and our president. We will never support a party or a candidate who treated her so shamefully this year.

Thank you very much for taking my call.

HERE"S the phone number:
212-348-8882 push 0 to speak to a person.

Great work PUMA PAC!

Murphy.

Are there trolls in here who are making mountains out of molehills?!

Beth from ColoradObama — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:23:14 EDT

Think about that, people. Don't lose your cool and don't turn against each other.

Consider the potential for positives during this lull

Beth from ColoradObama — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 00:06:18 EDT

Consider the potential for some positives to come out of this period in between the primary season and the conventions/nominations (both parties):

Obama Rapid Response Direct &Freestyle

"March for Change We Still Believe In - Jan 15th, 2010"

Guaranteed Health Care In Iraq - But Not For You

AMERICANS UNITED FOR HEALTH CARE AND INSURANCE REFORM

March on Washington - Looking Beyond the Election - June 2009

FROM ONE JOE TO ANOTHER

Making sure this is a just and fair election--all around our nation

Vote Your Issue, Not Your Skin Tissue

McCain Connections ...

Is John McCain A Crook?

A Courageous American Steps Forward

A knowledgable coworker chimes in...

From a class warrior baby boomer who has done nothing to necessitate a bailout!

In a financial crisis, Obama shows a steady hand!

Wall Street BAILOUT - "Cash for Trash"

The "B" Word

Stomping on the backs of the working class

Who is the Real McCain... Washington Outsider or Insider?

Privatize Social Securty says McCain, Obama says, NO WAY!

Corporate welfare

We Should Be the Change We Want to see .. If You're Out There

Never In a Beauty Pagent! Can He Lead?

Squeaky Clean in Oil

TOSS UP STATES - Let's Put them In the OBAMA column

John McCain Accidentally Slams Sarah Palin

IT'S TIME THE MEDIA IS ACCOUNTABLE FOR PASSING ON LIES ...

OBAMA Inspires change in McCain

Yet another comprehensive listing of media contacts

Obama Needs Money ........

LIAR!!

The campaign needs to come out swinging

Sign Pettion to bring back Olbermann & Matthews

POW Can Take YOU but so Far ........

MSNBC removing Olberman and Matthews ...

Open Letter to Obama .........

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Who would you chose?

The Republican Haters Ball

"Signs of Hope and Change"

McCain's Speech more effective???

Please vote in this poll on cnn.com

Hey everyone! I am back!

RNC SPEECH- Has anyone noticed how pissed off George Bush is...

Lieberman

What the.....

Palin: Playing The Gender card from the bottom of the deck

I'm ba-ack! Forget Palin, let's re-focus on McBush

My night at Mile High with Barack Obama, among others (83,998), 8/28/08

Choice of Biden as VP candidate praised overseas (yahoo! news)

Liberal Media, My Ass: Who is Ron Fournier?

A Case for Limited Abortion

Jim Hensley & John McCain - "the rest of the story"

McCain suggests raiding Colorado's water

Despite Assurances, McCain Wasn’t in a ‘Cone of Silence’

The "B" Word.

Please read, watch, then act

HRC rollcall at the convention?? WHY???

The Obama Nation

PETITION: Clean Energy, Not Drilling - Tell Congress

More Tax Deception

Georgia on My Mind or To Russia With Love

I am still in shock over this MYBO Overhaul.

Working it...

Making a difference scorecard????

The Obama Brigade links don't work--I think

The media madness & tire gauges

YES Properly Inflated Tires Will Increase Gas Milage!

Happy Birthday Senator Obama

Obama leads McCain Among Low Wage Workers

The Plane to Blame Belongs Plainly to McCain

Obama needs to be forceful in his message.

Yes, We Can

Does Anyone Know if This is a Reliable Source?

Stop Toby Keith from getting anymore publicity!!

The Obama "Symbolicv" Comments

Obama Has Good Judgment on Middle East

McCain has made his campaign personal attacks.

Big Oil Big Money

McCain's latest skin "lesion"

Hey Senator Surge

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