Barack Obama won by more than 7.5 million votes over the Republicans . . . How then can he be so wry in stating what he wants this healthcare reform bill? Obama won more votes than any other candidate. He even won Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, Virgina, and handsomely, California (except Orange County).
Those of us who field the calls, go out to the malls, set up workshops, pass the word, produce pass outs, e-blast, twitter, and Facebook are interested in knowing why there is so little information regarding the strategy behind Obama’s statement that the “public option is just a sliver of the proposed objectives and may not be in the final bill”?
Obama-ites and individuals in need of healthcare who believe in the change necessary to stop the medical bankruptcies, to provide efficient, effective and standardized health delivery are supporting healthcare reform. Many understand the need for preventive care, which is to lower the costs of pharmaceuticals, doctors, hospital healthcare, which is strangling our weary seniors, and HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and cardiac treatment. I believe we all know someone with a nagging irreversible illnesses requiring medicinal cocktails, patches, pills, shots, and tonics to make it through the day.
With the recent morphing of the Obama Plan, “NO OPTION”, many are raising their eyebrows regarding the “non information” getting to the front lines and this can be quite wearying when you are taking the “shots, the hits, the late night calls, and the hissing” from those who believe you are on some “blind ambition” that Obama can deliver.
So what is all of this hesitation, maneuvering and double speak that we are hearing? Are the Democrats just downright gutless wonders on an issue that affects us all? Bush is not around to kick this time. The media won’t allow us to be oblivious to the disruptive, gun toting and gun strapped, reddened, head-vein popping, bulging eyed, yelling “patriots” at town hall meetings. We understand that change is abominable to some and frightening to most when the government steps in. We know how groups take advantage of the “gaping loopholes” and “financial windfalls” due to poor planning and pencil pushing administrators who can’t think their way out of wet paper bags. Nevertheless, Obama et. al. says they have “studied the plan, they know what they need to shore up the gaps before execution.”
Won’t we, in the meantime, demand that our legislature stop taking money from the corporate entities that stand to lose when healthcare is spread throughout the United States? While legislators fully enjoy superior taxpayer-supported healthcare, paid in full, every year, on time, without denial for prior medical conditions, can’t we be vigilant and exclaim to our elected leadership that they represent us and our families’ future? What is wrong with us that a subject we all require to live each day becomes something not worth fighting for? Is it really something in the water? Will someone explain this to me?
You want one word to sum up the mood among Obamacans today? Don't look for it in Webster's--look in Weinreich, the Yiddish dictionary: You've got shpilkes, everybody -- plain and simple.
Shpilkes (pronounced: SHPILL-kuhz) is a case of nerves + excitement + anticipation that knows no bounds. No English word even comes close. 'Pins and needles' and 'sitting on tenterhooks' are poor second cousins to real shpilkes (the kind we have now).
Okay, you admit you've got shpilkes--the first step in any self-help campaign. What do you do about 'em?
The more energy you spend for the Obama-Biden Campaign, the less energy you'll have for those shpilkes.
So, get out there and volunteer -- one last time!
By label and in practice, I have been a Republican all my life. I worked for Sen. Bill Roth’s two senatorial campaigns. I donated to John McCain in 2000, and like a good faithful Republican, ultimately supported George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004. If it weren't for privacy issues, I would scan in my registration card. It has a nice big fat R on it.
I should have known better in 2000 – the terrible tactics used against McCain in 2000 are now his very weapons against Sen. Obama in 2008.
They have no new ideas to offer- Only this ugly campaigning.
Sen. & Mrs. John McCain: The negative campaigns began with your camp. Today the Dow plunged deeper and people’s life savings are much closer to being wiped out. And all you come up with is Bill Ayres?
You know, by the measure you make Sen. Obama guilty by association can and should also be applied to you.
I like to think you didn’t accept those Lincoln Savings bribes from Charles Keating. You were the least guilty of the Keating Five, but you were not exonerated. So, let’s say for the sake of argument you were totally innocent. That doesn’t erase the fact that Charles Keating was an evil economic and financial terrorist. Maybe he didn’t influence you – but you sure socialized (I think that qualifies as palling around) with him repeatedly, sipped his bourbon, sailed on his yachts and basked in the high-life, courtesy of his largesse.
So if we are going to play the 'guilt by assocation game" sorry, Sen. McCain but you lose.
Your little adorable pit bull is firing up the crowd with HATE SPEECH. Inferring Sen. Obama is a terrorist. People in the crowd are encouraged to think so – as you now have them crying out for his death. This breakthrough, history-making VP candidate is a black mark on women everywhere.
You learned an important lesson in 2000. Negative campaign works. It took your good chance to win the presidency away from you – and now, you have no alternative to use that weapon on an honorable man.
That’s not vision. That is not leadership. That is just plain ugly.
Because of my 2000 contribution, I remain on your mailing list. I read the lies you, your campaign, and my party spews forth. It makes me ill
In strong, heartfelt and renewed support of Sen. Obama I am,
Michele
52, Irish, married, mother, FT worker, DAR, Daughter of WWII veteran and proud American
The Interfaith event at the convention is only going to LOSE votes! There will be too much news coverage about Obama and the Democrats providing a "platform" for the muslim Dr. Ingrid Mattson, president of the Islamic Society of North America, an organization alleged to have associations with the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas. There will be no OBAMACANS in existence after that happens. People who are left-leaning (and would be impressed by the inclusiveness) are already voting for Obama, far-lefts are going to resent the association of "church and state", so it is a terrible and foolish mistake to have this interFAITH gathering at the convention! Is this the sequel to the "John Kerry" Trainwreck Campaign??
Susan Eisenhower is more than just another disappointed Republican. She is also Ike's granddaughter and a dedicated member of the party who has urged her fellow Republicans in the past to stick with the GOP. But now Eisenhower, who runs an international consulting firm, is endorsing Barack Obama. She has no plans to officially leave the Republican Party. But in Eisenhower's view, Obama is the only candidate who can build a national consensus on the issues most important to her—energy, global warming, an aging population and America's standing in the world.
"Barack Obama will really be in a singular position to attract moderate Republicans," she told NEWSWEEK. "I wanted to do what many people did for my grandfather in 1952. He was hugely aided in his quest for the presidency by Democrats for Eisenhower. There's a long and fine tradition of crossover voters."
Eisenhower is one of a small but symbolically powerful group of what Obama recently called "Obamacans"—disaffected Republicans who have drifted away from their party just as Eisenhower Democrats did and, more recently, Reagan Democrats in the 1980s. They include lifelong Republican Tricia Moseley, a former staffer for the late Sen. Strom Thurmond, the one-time segregationist from South Carolina. Now a high-school teacher, Moseley says she was attracted to Obama's positions on education and the economy.
Former GOP congressman Joe Scarborough, who anchors MSNBC's "Morning Joe," says many conservative friends—including Bush officials and evangelical Christians—sent him enthusiastic e-mails after seeing Obama's post-election speeches in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. "He doesn't attack Republicans, he doesn't attack whites and he never seems to draw these dividing lines that Bill Clinton [does]," Scarborough told NEWSWEEK.
Plenty of Republicans are immune to the Obama swoon, of course. The Republican National Committee has emphasized a recent analysis suggesting that Obama had the most liberal voting record in the Senate last year. But even small numbers of Obamacans can help reinforce the candidate's unity message and bolster his "electability" argument. In Iowa, the campaign identified more than 700 registered Republicans who committed to caucusing for Obama (although staffers say they don't yet know how many showed up to vote). And in the Super Tuesday state of Colorado, campaign staffers say they found more than 500 erstwhile Republicans who were willing to switch their party registration.
Even if Republicans don't convert in more significant numbers, the friendly outreach may blunt the ferocity of GOP attacks. One senior aide to John McCain has already said he's reluctant to attack Obama: last year, McCain's adman Mark McKinnon wrote an internal memo promising not to tape ads against the Illinois Democrat if he becomes the nominee.
I just love all the new lingo that has come out as a result of this election. I just saw a new one on Countdown with Keith Olbermann that made me laugh. Obaminee!
They were talking about Obama and playing clips from his speech in NC last night with the label "Obaminee?" at the bottom of the screen.
Oh yes,
While McCain is going out of country for photo op, republicans are making up their mind, in previous of the general elections.
Please read the following New York Sun's article about it. This is a good piece that can inspire an argument with John McCain, who still has no strong legs within his own party. Many say he has NO conservative credentials what so ever.
Now, on top of the chaos within his ranks, here some republican defections towards Democrats, mainly because of the "War in Iraq"... Republicans seem to know the real democrat opponent to the Iraq war's enactment; Senator Barack Obama, Democrat of Illinois who clearly stood out against it since 2003.
Please read the following link:
Franklin Katunda
An Obama Surrogate
03/31/2008
http://www.nysun.com/news/national/some-republicans-emerge-endorse-obama
If you missed Obama on The View, I'm sure he'll be on You Tube any minute! He did great in the last segment, but I would have liked Michelle to be on with him! I don't think many women could resist giving Obama a chance once they hear Michelle's honest assessment of him. A marriage to a politician isn't easy, but they make it look easy. Whenever I hear her speak I feel even more proud of our family's support of Senator Obama. You can tell a lot about a man by how his wife talks about him. I also like the fact that they put their kids first and give attention to their marriage even on the campaign trail. How you treat your family and how well your family runs says a lot about your ability to manage your life, time, and priorities. I want someone in the Oval Office that has the same priorities we do - it will help him make the right decisions for American Families!
I still think Elizabeth Hasselbeck (sp?) isa closet Obama supporter! He has gotten a lot of republicans to listen, and that's no easy feat. While I became an Independent before he was running, I didn't start calling myself a Democrat until Barack convinced me that he had the solutions we need. I'm still pretty Independent, but this country needs change, and a lot of it. So for the forseeable future I'll be pulling that Democratic lever in every election!
Don't forget - I am still adding $1 each month through November to my donations for every person that donates to my fundraising page! If you give $10 this month it will almost double by November! Thank you to Kirsten, Angela, and Alex for your donations! I doubled my contribution this month in honor of your support!
Why does this matter? Here's Doug's bio:
Douglas W. Kmiec is Caruso Family Chair and Professor of Constitutional Law, Pepperdine University. He served as head of the Office of Legal Counsel (U.S. Assistant Attorney General) for Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Former Dean of the law school at The Catholic University of America, Professor Kmiec was a member of the law faculty for nearly two decades at the University of Notre Dame.
Slate, one of the first "journalistic" online news magazines carries a lot of credibility and the endorsement is one of the finest written.
I hope the Obama campaign picks this one up.
http://www.slate.com/blogs/blogs/convictions/archive/2008/03/23/endorsing-obama.aspx
Thanks..Lee
Donate today!
For quite a long time I've been watching and waiting to see what was going to happen for the 2008 campaigns. As a long-time Republican, I was shocked and completely disappointed in the feild that we had submitted by the time Christmas had rolled around. Thankfully the lesser parties had dropped out, and in the end, we're left with a "moderate" candidate that has absolutely no idea what hes doing. Bending to the political will of the radical right, McCain has begun down a path that I just cannot support.
So, I have decided to turn to Obama for answers. Do I agree with all of his policies? No, certainly not. Do I think he will be the best candidate for President? Without question, I believe it to be the case.
As I have explained to others, its a difference of separating your own political beliefs from that of the collective good of the rest of the country. No, I don't want socialized medicine and otherwise higher taxes, but for the rest of America, it is far better than the alternatives given to us by the GOP. I just can't fathom supporting McCain, no matter how much of a "good Republican" I may be.
The begining is the end is the begining. Lets hope for the best!
I found this post on Obamacans2008.com & was so moved I wanted to save it. I really identify with what Michelle has written.
It’s all about the energy…
Indicators of Purple States turning a deeper shade of Blue: Case Study – Missouri
Democratic turnout on Super Tuesday in this 2006 Senate battleground state (then designated as purple) was up 47% to 778,000 votes cast for Democratic nominees. The previous record was 528,000. Obama narrowly won the state with 49% of the vote.
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/06/democrats-shatter-turnout-primary-season-records/
The Republicans also saw a surge in this state, albeit smaller, with 576,000 voters casting ballots in their primary -- up 21% from the previous mark of 475,000.
Reading primary turnout as an indicator of voter interest and, critically important, mobilization, the Dems carried this “purple” state by 200,000 ballots, or 57% to 42%!
This heavy turnout also favors Democrats in mobilizing newly registered voters, as noted by the LA Times:
http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-turnout10feb10,1,4124358.story
In Virginia (my former Commonwealth), there are indications of the rise of a new political breed: the Obamacans, or life-long Republicans who are joining their neighbors to support Barack Obama.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/09/AR2008020902274.html
These people are burned out by Bush foreign and domestic agendas consumed by 9-11 and tax relief for the wealthiest Americans. Bush’s 30% job approval rating is not helped by miring America in 2 costly wars – a cost measured in lives lost and American treasure squandered – that are the true measure of misplaced policies of the Bush years.
John McCain must now embrace those policies even closer as he tries to secure his party’s nomination. The ones left behind are the Obamacans, and this party has room for everyone who is willing to change not only their Party affiliations, but the way they approach business as usual in our civic lives. It’s time for America to turn the page.
I vote tomorrow in Washington, DC. I spent Sunday down in Chinatown rallying support for Obama during the New Years celebration. It was cold and blustery, but I was warmed by the positive feedback from everyone who broke into spontaneous chants of "O-ba-ma" and "Yes We Can."
Landslide, anyone?
Yes We Can
Obama ‘08
From yesterday's Newsweek: "Obama + GOP = Obamacans"
"Susan Eisenhower is more than just another disappointed Republican. She is also Ike's granddaughter and a dedicated member of the party who has urged her fellow Republicans in the past to stick with the GOP. But now Eisenhower, who runs an international consulting firm, is endorsing Barack Obama. She has no plans to officially leave the Republican Party. But in Eisenhower's view, Obama is the only candidate who can build a national consensus on the issues most important to her—energy, global warming, an aging population and America's standing in the world."
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GOOOOOOOOOBAMA!!!!!!!
