I woke this morning to a better America, beginning. The road will be long and hard, many stones will pain our feet. However, we will continue without turning back. The page that brought American to her knees is now turned. Now under the guidance of our President Barack Obama, we will rebuild. Through his intellect, education and honorable soul, America will stand up and thrive once again.
As a 52-year-old American woman, gggggggggggrand daughter of Alexander Hamilton, I could not be more proud of America and want to thank Barack Obama for beginning to return my country to me. God Bless you Barack Obama and may the universe guide your journey.
Those who worked so hard on this campaign, I know we are tired; rest today, for tomorrow President Obama will need us to help him rebuild our country. Congradulations President Barack Obama!
I did a bit of sign waving with another dozen volunteers, made reminder calls in the afternoon, but others had done such a great job with GOTV efforts, just about everyone we reached tonight had already voted. Someone brought champagne for all, but we dare not jinx the outcome by celebrating victory prematurely, so a toast was said in gratitude and memory of Barack's Tutu (grandmother).
On to the watch party and celebration, which was packed full of supporters. A heartfelt letter from Barack's sister, Maya (who has been caring for their grandmother in these last few days) was read. I think the longest line this Election Day was the buffet, but it was ono (real good)!
99% of the Hawai`i count is in now, and we've made our staff's goal to bring in the largest percentage of Obama/Biden votes... 72%!
My favorite personal experiences of the campaign... on a Sunday afternoon of sign waving, seeing a car come around the median in a U-turn (heading to McDonald's) full of tutus (grandmas) all vigorously waving back at us after seeing our Obama-Biden signs. Registering a student to vote who was turning 18 on Election Day... and shaking hands with both our State Senators for the first time tonight!
Mahalo (thank you) to all campaign staff and supporters for making my HOPE a REALITY!
IMUA (go forward)!
Let me start off by saying — this is about us.
This campaign is not about Senator Barack Obama. This campaign is not about Senator John McCain. This campaign is not even about Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator Joe Biden, or even Governor Sarah Palin.
No, this campaign is, has always been, and always will be about US.
This campaign is about us because whoever is chosen to be the next President of the United States of America is direct reflection upon us as American citizens, as a nation.
I say all of this to remind people that we are all a part of this choice, whether or not we vote in November 2008.
I want people to remember that it is sooo important to talk but it is much more important to take action. Action bodes movement in the direction that may actually end up in change that leaves an impact upon other people’s lives.
In light of the first debate between the two presidential nominees, I want to stress how important it is to take action right now, each and every single one of us.
I am an avid supporter of Senator Barack Obama, so the list of action points that I have listed below are to support Senator Barack Obama.
If you support Senator Barack Obama, the Democratic Party, or just are against a McCain-Palin administration and you are looking for some way to feel a part of making something happen, please read below. Thanks!
Be sure that you are registered to vote: http://www.voteforchange.com/index_obama.php
10 ways to get involved: http://obama.3cdn.net/56d7862be8e614eef6_b6m6bndg2.pdf
Spread the word about these ways to get involved or any others you come up with - we did it and we can do it again!!! We really can!
"Just keep swimming...just keep swimming!" - Dory
http://oshunlife7.wordpress.com/2008/09/27/yes-we-didand-yes-we-can-again/
Television screens across New Jersey will tune in tomorrow night for the first presidential debate of the general election at 9 p.m. With 112 debate watch parties scheduled, supporters are energized and ready to see Barack debate John McCain and share his plan to bring the change we need -- to restore our place in the world, ensure security at home and abroad, and reestablish the United States as the world's economic leader.
The NJ Campaign for Change will host four official debate watch parties tomorrow and invites you to join in on the action. Join us at the following locations:
To host or find a local debate watch party in your neighborhood, please visit http://my.barackobama.com/debate.
Antioch, IL 60002
From the “dark continent” he came
With a vision of making a better life
For those in his family
Who had seen only strife.
From a meager background she came
with a vision of making the world a better place
They found each other and fell in love
even though they were not of the same race
The world was as it always had been
Full of taunts, stares and malcontent
But through their love they bore a son
though to be a “forever” love it was not meant
To the “dark continent” he returned
and to a mother alone he left his son
The child was blessed with enough love for two parents
But still felt the absence of one
and they were unaware his exceptional journey had just begun.
His mother, helped by her parents and Public Aide,
though it was rough, did the very best she could
to help him on his way, in preparation for the day
that he would stand where brilliant leaders once stood.
His family taught him the important rules of Life…
to treat others as one wanted to be treated…
to be kind, not to judge, to give respect, not to begrudge;
and through his mistakes, his family’s love was never depleted.
Born into the diversity of his family,
he learned that all people are basically the same
Through a message in his heart, but unseen on his face
the world would still mistake him as a result of his “funny name”.
He worked hard for any accolades
His mind was bright, his vision shone.
his purposeful voice and words to delight
were gifts he would surely hone.
He struggled to find his place
in a world where color lines were so jaggedly drawn
His family admired his pace, but the world only saw his face
Thus, the desire to unite all people through his diversity had been spawned.
He knew of the struggle others had made
and decided to work for “the cause”
to ensure fair treatment for those in need
no matter what their color was.
While working in the ranks, one day he espied
the eyes of another who dared to care,
and while helping others to improve their lives
feelings of love they began to share.
To win her hand was a task unmatched
she put him through a rigorous test
but he passed with colors flying and true
and their marriage was soon after blessed.
In subsequent time, two daughters were born.
Each one so beautifully made
with rooted intelligence from both their parents
their futures so brightly paved.
He rose through the ranks deserving every step
working for the causes
for which his mother wept.
Although his small family to his heart was dear,
He still had a vision for all people
and his vision was clear.
Some before him had shared it –
an ultimate dream to unite
all colors, all creeds, all cultures and needs
those who are rich and those in plight
With each baton that was carried
while running the race against race
those who sought change never faltered
no matter what they faced.
They died for the rights of others
to have voices by which to convey
the injustice forced upon them
while hoping for the day
that they would be treated equally
regardless of the color of their skin
to be given an equal chance to thrive
but the driving question was “when”?
Change is his mantra, too –
change in which we can believe
although many have tried to convince us
that his speeches are meant to deceive
that his “rhetorical whimsy”
with full “Heavenly choir”
is too inexperienced and delusional
for these times so dire.
There were those who came before him
who lacked experience in the “old school”
yet simply for our country’s sake,
sought to follow the Golden Rule.
They asked that we sow good seeds for our country
instead of seeking what we could reap;
they implored us to “Keep Hope Alive”
and in Faith to take a leap.
They struggled to bring forth a Dream
that all men would be treated the same
they fought for women’s right to vote
for this man with the funny name.
They changed history with documents
signed through bloodshed and feelings raw
they knew old ways had to change
so “rhetorical whimsy” was turned into law
Their whimsical words inspired minds
from which new alliances grew
and their melodious rhetoric backed with action
made the American Dream possible for me and you.
On those foregone backs he stands
remembering “from whence he came”
standing proud and tall and good and true
even though he was born with a funny name
he’s fighting to change things
for our present and for our future children to claim
No matter what the color of the petals,
A rose’s sweet smell will be the same.
So remember to vote
In places near and remote
Because a rose, even if it has a “funny name”
Can bring about “sweet”
change just the same
as one with a name
you can repeat.
THE BEGINNING
OF
ACCEPTANCE
Copywright pending. 2008
We all know that if Barack Obama was not born of half a minority, either of two things would have happened: Hillary would have won the Primary partially because of gender or there would be more of a gap between Obama and McCain now. As a person from a very mixed racial background myself (the blood of Irish, Native Americans, and blacks - my lineage dates back to Pres. John C. Calhoun, I'm told) I know how difficult it is to given opportunity. I had to be tested for the entire work day when there was a city-wide competition for a position at a political office. I was the valedictorian at the business school from which I graduated. We all knew the deal--our "sister" school was predominately white and ours was predominately mixed minorities with lower income whites. My competitors were predominately white. There were very few people of any color. I am somewhat a paradox -- I look "black", but am usually asked where I "come from" because of different things. I digress. During our battery of tests, I watched competitor after competitor "drop off" due to low scores or performance. After others in offices had left for the day, only I remained. Still, I was tested and passed. I was told I had the job. I was also told I was the only minority that had ever had that position. To this day, I think I still am -- when I left the position, I was told that I would be. Even though I accomplished things, increased productivity, saved the day a few times, etc. it was hard to gain respect. In the beginning, many people thought I had "slept" my way into that seat. They discovered the truth, much to their amazement. It should not have to be that way. My daughter graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science and earned an MBA in Information Technology with 4.0+ GPA. Her teacher offered to recommend her if she ever decided to teach. The usual response to her resume was great over the telephone, but when she met with interviewers personally, suddenly, the job had been filled or something. She did'nt understand how she could be everything and more they wanted over the telephone, but as soon as she arrived, there was fault to be found. She is a beautiful girl, has a French last name, but happens to be half Nigerian -- just as her brother who also has an MBA in Business Administration, but who can't seem to break free from racism.
This country cannot afford to let our best and brightest slip into obscurity because of the color of their skin. What will happen if the cure for cancer or diabetes or any other catastrophic disease could be or is found by a minority? Should we deny ourselve or our loved ones a better life because of a color.
My family is filled with a rainbow of skin colors and I love them all dearly {one day I hope to meet my Korean half-brother). I consider all the children on my block as my own-- I treat all of them the same. Even in my community, whenever I see a child (or anyone) regardless of race, if I can help, I do. If I can't, I try to tell someone who can.
If we all had our skin peeled back tomorrow, what would there be to hate. All of our hearts are the same color. Let's learn to use them -- and our brains, which by the way, are all the same color, too.
Did you ever stop to think that a rainbow would not be a rainbow without all of its colors -- and there is a pot of gold at one end of it. All you have to do is begin the journey and you will reach it.
If a person of color reached out his or her hand to save your life or the life of a loved one, and if he or she was the only person who could help you at the time, would you refuse the hand and wait to perish in the hope another person would come along because you had been taught not to like the way he or she would look -- or would you allow yourself or a loved oned to be saved or put on the road to safety. THINK ABOUT IT PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!
Yesterday I spoke of two commentators who are telling lies on our local TV station - Channel 69 in the Lehigh Valley. They are Dick Dean and Donald Barnhouse. Their commentary is as bad as McCain's paid ads.
They were at it again today. Today it was "Obama is going to raise the taxes. He's definitely going to raise the taxes. He said he was going to raise the taxes."
And today I was out canvassing Neighbor to Neighbor. The woman I spoke to said she changed parties to vote for Hillary. She was a Republican. But now she is voting for McCain. She repeated every lie in McCain's ads and the lies that Dick Dean and Donald Barnhouse are telling. She actually said that "and Obama doesn't have the experience because he has only worked 143 days in the Senate." And I said you must have been listening to Dick Dean and Donald Barnhouse. I heard them say that yesterday." She denied this and I said "you mean you counted the days he's worked in the Senate."
So I told her if she really wanted to know what Obama did in the Senate she could go on her computer to www.senate.gov and read about all the bills and laws he helped pass, etc. But she didn't want to hear that and repeated what Palin said in her speech at the RNC - that he hasn't authored one law, which I told her was untrue, etc.
She also said Obama was going to raise the Capital Gains Taxes and it wasn't just the wealthy that would be taxed. She said she got a small inheritance and the Capital Gains Tax would wipe her out. She seemed totally brainwashed by the McCain ads and everything the Republicans are putting out to get McCain elected and to sway the vote in his favor. She was wild-eyed, ranting and raving, and waving her arms around. Well why is McCain doing this to the American people? It is horrible. He is lying and his followers become brainwashed and repeat his lies. I hope we won't have four more years of lying in the White House. How could it be anything else if they are elected and they are running their campaign with lies.
Now I heard that McCain is at it again with another demeaning ad about how Obama is going to raise the taxes.
I found two good articles about Obama's tax plan and McCain's Lies:
http://www.ontheissues.org/Economic/Barack_Obama_Tax_Reform.htm
www.newsweek.com/id/159586
Barack Obama could just as easily have put out an ad about how McCain is going to raise the taxes.
This seems to be the ugliest Presidential campaign I've ever witnessed. I never saw a presidential hopeful before that was being overtly attacked like this. I don't think campaigns were run this dirty back in the good old days. I remember being about 9 or 10 years old when Adlai Stevenson was running against Dwight D. Eisenhower. My dad was all for Stevenson and kept talking about what a wonderful President he would be. But living out in the country in Pennsylvania, all most all my schoolmates were little Republicans. I was the lonely Democrat in the bunch. We had those mock elections in the classroom to teach us about voting. Well Adlai Stevenson didn't make it. And I was sad about it. I keep being afraid that this will be another Adlai Stevenson/Dwight D. Eisenhower election. Let's hope not. I will be more than sad if Barack Obama is not our next president, because it was awful losing John Kennedy and then Bobby Kennedy and then Martin Luther King Jr. when I was in my early twenties. I keep hoping the dream will be realized in Barack Obama - the dream we lost with these great men when they were gunned down and taken from us.
McCain,
I'm a little confused with all the twisting and turning and double-talk you and your Sarah Palin person have been doing. In fact . . . well . . .
I'm a little confused. Let me see if I have this straight!If you grow up in Hawaii, raised by your grandparents, you're "exotic,different." But if you grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're a quintessential American story.If your name is Barack you're a radical, and an unpatriotic Muslim; but if you name your kids Willow, Trig and Track, you're a maverick.If you graduate from Harvard law School you are unstable; but if you attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.If you spend 3 years as a brilliant community organizer, become the firstblack President of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registrationdrive that registers 150,000 new voters, spend 12 years as aConstitutional Law professor, spend 8 years as a State Senator representing a district withover 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend 4 years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.But if your total resume is: local weather girl, 4 years on the city council and6 years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as thegovernor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive, and possibly the leader of the Free World.If you have been married to the same woman for 19 years while raising 2beautiful daughters, all within Protestant churches, you're not a realChristian.But if you cheated on your first wife with a rich heiress, and left yourdisfigured wife and married the heiress the next month, you're a Christian.If you teach responsible, age appropriate sex education, including theproper use of birth control, and try to get legislation to protect kids, you are eroding the fiber of society.But if, while governor, you staunchly advocate abstinence only, with no other option in sex education in your state's school system while your unwed teen daughter ends up pregnant, you're *very* responsible.If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America's. Watch the hypocrisy now . . . because if you're husband is nicknamed "First Dude", with at least one DWI conviction and no college education, who didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA, your family is extremely admirable, and the most patriotic of all Americans.OK, McCain, I got it now and I can see much clearer. Thanks for straightening me out!
For What it's Worth . . .
Black Issachar
My dear friends,
this Group will play a crucial role in the Campaign.
Let's work togheter on behalf of Sen. Obama. Fiat lux !
Your italian friend and supporter,
Simone
KEEP HOPE ALIVE
The Free Cuba Film Series creates global unity.
The American public continues to speak out, wanting to see Cuba.
10 New screening locations in one week and growing fast!
Premiering tomorrow, Saturday, September 6th at 6PM in
Beverly Hills, CA - Fine Arts Theatre -
Journalist and other members of the media are speaking out for Max Lesnik,
the focus of the documentary "The Man of Two Havana's" in the Free Cuba Films Series.
Mr. Lesnik had lived his journalistic career with death threats, political warfare
and multiple bombing against his Magazine, family and his life.
All simply because he spoke/speaks out for America uniting with Cuba verse avoiding our neighbors.
"It's overwhelming clear the majority of the American population wants to unite with Cuba."
Filmmaker Luis Moro.
The first film in the series is, Cuba's Love and Suicide, a true love story set in Havana;
the second film, Havana KidZ, is the kid's version of Buena Vista Social Club;
the third film, The Man of Two Havana's, delivers true accounts of the direct family relationship between
U.S. politicians, Cuban-American terrorist and Fidel Castro.
The evening is an entertaining, uplifting and an educationally revealing experience.
The films bring audiences into the real Cuba with their own eyes.
OK, so like every other major, minor and would-be journalist in the world, I want to interview Sarah Palin. Yet when I called McCain’s campaign headquarters in McLean, Virginia, I was told “She’ll be made available for interviews when it is in the best interests of the campaign.”
Excuse me? “She’ll be made available for interviews when it is in the best interests of the campaign.”
A woman no one outside of Alaska ever heard of before last week is running for Vice President of the United States of America, purportedly the second-most important job in the country if not the world, yet reporters are being told the overarching consideration of the McCain organization is “the best interests of the campaign.”
What about the best interests of the United States? Isn’t that what presidential elections are all about?
So why are the boys and girls on the bus – excuse me, reporters on the McCain-Palin campaign plane – sitting quietly in back with their hands folded instead of throwing food over the top of the bulkhead separation, demanding she be made available to them? Why aren’t they shouting “Give us Sarah! Give us Sarah!” out loud every time the charter takes off, every time Palin comes out of hiding to stand next to McCain at some carefully orchestrated photo op, whenever a campaign official pops out of his or her hotel room in the morning.
Drown out McCain when he’s giving a speech, if necessary; shout questions out to her with a bullhorn if that’s what it takes; refuse to cover any of the campaign if the Republican media machine stands in your way.
Do your bloody job, you whimpering band of so-called professionals. What are you afraid of? Being denied “access?” You’re not getting access now so there’s nothing to lose.
You didn’t do your job and the country was lied into in Iraq. For God’s sake, do it now.
The day after Sarah Palin basked in the accolades that labeled her McCain’s Barracuda, a notable GOP representative said that she is Presidential material because he saw her eating ice cream with her children and that’s the kind of thing hockey moms like, because it prooves that she likes children and are good with them. The not-so-subtle inference is that all the hockey moms, soccer moms and football moms will vote Republican because Sarah Palin is their Christian role model. Is she? Or would other words like “hypocrisy” and “bigotry” invite a deeper scrutiny to this hockey mom's Christianity?
For example, what gives Sarah Palin the right to attack Barack Obama as though he has never done or said anything of value? Christians don’t do that. Also, it seems that the Christian Sarah Palin does not care that 600,000 people lost their jobs already this year according to today’s figures; but, you know what, Obama cares. It is also evident that Sarah Palin does not care that 290 million Americans make far less than a quarter of a million ($250,000) per year; but, you know what, Obama cares. It seems that Sarah Palin does not care that hundreds of thousands of American children go to bed hungry each night, but Obama cares. Sarah Palin does not care anything about giving billions more to her oil cronies and gouging poor hard working Americans in order to do it, but Obama cares. Apparently, Sarah Palin has a different Bible from the one the rest of us use, because the Word from God’s Son named Jesus was that “inasmuch as you didn’t do it unto the least of these ye did it not to me.” What will Sarah Palin tell Jesus when He judges the world (John 5:22)? Will this Christian mom who admits to being a member of Christ's family say “John McCain made me do it?”
I ask that all true Christians, who know the Son and are filled with His Holy Spirit, to pray earnestly that God would bless Sarah Palin and grant her repentance so that if she makes the White House she would frustrate the conspiracy of those who have planned to make us slaves to a Machiavellian oligarchy. Pray for Sarah, the Christian, to be more gracious and show the kind of class only statesmen and stateswomen have. The kind of class that allows Barack Obama to ignore the pernicious attacks, talk about the issues Americans face, and still refrain from uttering one negative word against McCain’s character.
McCain and the Republicans want power, and everyone knows that Lord Acton’s thought about absolute power and corruption was correct. Sarah Palin and John McCain want the people to forget about the Abrahamoff scandal and his Republican conspirators. They want the people to forget that Halliburton charged us more than $600 for a screw and paid some 6 million dollars to avoid court trials. They want us to forget that the Republicans blatantly lied to keep thousands of Blacks from voting in Florida with a fake felony list, but they settled out of court for a million dollars 2 years later. So it is clear that our Christian mom, Sarah Palin, is Dick Chaney’s replacement, since she was tagged as the best one to control the flow of information in the McCain White House. It will be breathtaking and painfully sad to see Sarah Palin on TV pontificating to the women who were duped to vote for her and MCCain while the soccer moms beat their heads trying to figure out what to cook for starving children.
But have no fear, the intelligent Sarah Palin, who has cornered the market on all that is good and nice, is set to follow McCain and break a few dishes in Washington. But what hypocrisy? Out of his own mouth this so-called maverick acknowledged voting with Bush and for Bush’s policies 90% of the time. Does this mean that the 10% earned him the title of “maverick?” And does this mean that he and Sarah Palin will reform Washington enough so that 290 million of us working people will get a fair share of America’s pie? If not, is it bigotry? Or is it hypocrisy? Or is it both?
Only Sarah Palin can answer that question because she is the new kid on the block with all the answers, especially since she has never been this way before. Even so, come Lord Jesus and bring the light which needs to shine in this dark place; or better yet, will all Christians who like TRUTH please stand up?
For What it’s Worth . . .
Senator Lieberman's speech at the Republican National Convention, video and transcript, are in today's New York Times, among other places.
Some memorable lines.
Our first president, George Washington, in his farewell address, warned that the spirit of party [that is, partisanship] could be the worst enemy of our democracy and enfeeble our government's ability to do its job. …Today we are living through his worst nightmare in the capital city that bears his name. And that brings me directly to why I am here tonight. What, after all, is a Democrat like me doing at a Republican convention like this?
If John McCain is just another partisan Republican, then I'm Michael Moore's favorite Democrat. And I'm not. And I think you know that I'm not.
I have had the privilege and I'd say the pleasure of traveling the world with John McCain, even with Lindsey Graham it was a pleasure.
I ask those of you who are watching or listening, vote for the leader who, since the age of 17, when he first raised his hand and took an oath to defend and protect our Constitution, has always put America first.
My reaction to the speech?
I felt that it was very intriguing. Quite a balancing act! I still feel that his super-sized ego has more to do with this than anything else. Two points:
At the Convention Tuesday evening (Aug 26), CNN reported that working class Americans still want to hear Obama's plan for the economy. On YouTube, Stephen L. Rush offers Obama a comprehensive economic proposal to make war unnecessary and diverting this economic winter, along with offering Obama the endorsement of For Fuel Freedom Incorporated, the energy company with the oil independent and carbon-negative solution for ethanol/bio-diesel. Mr. Rush also decries injustice for foreclosed homeowners, Katrina refugees, and sexual murder of women in Mexico. www.youtube.com/v/r-1qn6O3vc8 [8.88 minutes].
~Stephen L. Rush
J.S. - Today at 1:59amThe GOP has done a great job at "defining" who Obama is and defacing the "Obama brand." The Obama camp has not touched the "maverick brand." They’re just letting him roll along as the "maverick war hero." This is disastrous. If Obama doesn't do it, I think other private groups and Democrats should get to work poking holes in McCain’s image. That’s the only way because most of the people in this country vote on image association. That’s how we got Bush for 8 yrs. Relying on the American people to be rational is too dangerous. I'm not willing to sacrifice another 4 yrs to the GOP for them to destroy what’s left of this country. What do you think should be done??I know this is kinda random, but its troubling me lol James Woodson - Today at 9:24amHonestly J.S., I think we need to make this a cultural/generational thing. I think the Obama campaign needs to paint John McCain as an old, out of touch, old school, white guy, and emphasize the fact that the country is moving in a different direction. Old, out of touch, white guys have had 200+ years to run this country. Now, we need a new leader for a new era. That's not saying to make this a race thing, because I thinkthat's dangerous for Obama. But just like they painted him as a celebrity, we need to paint John McCain as that angry old great-grandfather you have who just says crazy things off the top of his head, forgets what he was going to say, and who just sits on the couch in his underwear all day and fusses at the TV. That guy who just can't keep up with the times. Just plain out of touch with the rest of society.I think if Barack does that, and he continues to argue that this new era we're living in requires a different type of leadership than we've seen in the past, I think he will win. I think just like the GOP scares people into voting for them, I think we've got to do the same thing. I think Barack has to prove to the American people that voting for John McCain will make things worse because his type of leadership was built for a different era and to use that type of leadership in this new era would blow up in his face.For instance, John McCain wants us to go back to the '70s and '80s to fight the Cold War again. Well, the Cold War’s over. I’m not trying to go back there. Which means we’ve got to take a different approach to our conflict with Russia then just telling them their wrong, giving them the silent treatment, and flexing our military muscle. Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War with Russia through negotiation and rational thought, not by trying to intimidate them with our weapons. John McCain's entire political philosophy is built on how things were done in the past, but we're dealing with so many issues that we've never seen before – an increasingly global economy, the war on terror, Hurricane Katrina, high gas prices, and list goes on. This is no timefor old school thinking. We need someone with fresh ideas and a new outlook to lead us into a new generation for America.Overall, this is about the past versus the future. This is about a forgetful, old, angry "gray-haired dude," as Paris Hilton so eloquently put it, vs. the future of American politics. This is about a guy who just spats off at the mouth vs. someone who thinks before he speaks. The old vs. the cool. The intellectual vs. the hot-head. The popular kid in school vs. the bully. That’s what this is about and that’s what we need to make it about.But, I think you're absolutely right in saying that the GOP has done a great job in defining Barack, and we haven't hit back hard enough. I thought Barack didn't do so well at the Christian forum this past weekend, and it didn't do much to help our case. But I have faith that there are some smart people over in his inner circle, and they'll figure it out eventually. Hopefully, it's not too late. They've just got to be willing to get dirty, and fight.James
J.S. - Today at 1:59amThe GOP has done a great job at "defining" who Obama is and defacing the "Obama brand." The Obama camp has not touched the "maverick brand." They’re just letting him roll along as the "maverick war hero." This is disastrous. If Obama doesn't do it, I think other private groups and Democrats should get to work poking holes in McCain’s image. That’s the only way because most of the people in this country vote on image association. That’s how we got Bush for 8 yrs. Relying on the American people to be rational is too dangerous. I'm not willing to sacrifice another 4 yrs to the GOP for them to destroy what’s left of this country. What do you think should be done??
I know this is kinda random, but its troubling me lol
James Woodson - Today at 9:24amHonestly J.S., I think we need to make this a cultural/generational thing. I think the Obama campaign needs to paint John McCain as an old, out of touch, old school, white guy, and emphasize the fact that the country is moving in a different direction. Old, out of touch, white guys have had 200+ years to run this country. Now, we need a new leader for a new era. That's not saying to make this a race thing, because I thinkthat's dangerous for Obama. But just like they painted him as a celebrity, we need to paint John McCain as that angry old great-grandfather you have who just says crazy things off the top of his head, forgets what he was going to say, and who just sits on the couch in his underwear all day and fusses at the TV. That guy who just can't keep up with the times. Just plain out of touch with the rest of society.I think if Barack does that, and he continues to argue that this new era we're living in requires a different type of leadership than we've seen in the past, I think he will win. I think just like the GOP scares people into voting for them, I think we've got to do the same thing. I think Barack has to prove to the American people that voting for John McCain will make things worse because his type of leadership was built for a different era and to use that type of leadership in this new era would blow up in his face.For instance, John McCain wants us to go back to the '70s and '80s to fight the Cold War again. Well, the Cold War’s over. I’m not trying to go back there. Which means we’ve got to take a different approach to our conflict with Russia then just telling them their wrong, giving them the silent treatment, and flexing our military muscle. Ronald Reagan ended the Cold War with Russia through negotiation and rational thought, not by trying to intimidate them with our weapons. John McCain's entire political philosophy is built on how things were done in the past, but we're dealing with so many issues that we've never seen before – an increasingly global economy, the war on terror, Hurricane Katrina, high gas prices, and list goes on. This is no timefor old school thinking. We need someone with fresh ideas and a new outlook to lead us into a new generation for America.Overall, this is about the past versus the future. This is about a forgetful, old, angry "gray-haired dude," as Paris Hilton so eloquently put it, vs. the future of American politics. This is about a guy who just spats off at the mouth vs. someone who thinks before he speaks. The old vs. the cool. The intellectual vs. the hot-head. The popular kid in school vs. the bully. That’s what this is about and that’s what we need to make it about.But, I think you're absolutely right in saying that the GOP has done a great job in defining Barack, and we haven't hit back hard enough. I thought Barack didn't do so well at the Christian forum this past weekend, and it didn't do much to help our case. But I have faith that there are some smart people over in his inner circle, and they'll figure it out eventually. Hopefully, it's not too late. They've just got to be willing to get dirty, and fight.James
I like to think that our Northwest Arkansas Platform Meeting had an influence on the national Democratic Party.
I was delighted and surprised to discover that the national 2008 Democratic Party Platform will call for programs that reduce the need for abortion. That was a plank we recommended at our Platform Meeting held at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, AR on July 24. I had thought at the time we might be the only group in the nation recommending such an idea, but there must have been other groups who also believed that, while the Democratic Party supports a woman's right to choose, that does not mean it supports abortion. In fact, Barack made that clear at the Saddleback interviews.
Many southerners believe abortion is murder, as do many Republicans and Christians. The new abortion plank in the 2008 Democratic Party Platform should make members of those groups feel more comfortable voting for a Democrat.
