Perhaps the biggest secret of the Presidential campaign is the choice of the Vice Presidential nominee. The choice is revealed at the last minute and raises the stakes of the election game a great deal. It is often called 'the first act as President.' The selection is thought to expose strategy, temperament, and planning.
Read entire article...
THE LOVE POUCH ... a VICE PRESIDENTIAL CHOICE
At first, it seemed a brilliant strategical move. No wonder McCain confidently and out of campaign character, sent Obama what was deemed the Valentine ad on August 29, 2008, by the International Herald Tribune. In the ad, McCain congratulated Obama on his Democratic Convention nomination on the 45th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr’s, I Have a Dream speech. It seemed so brilliant and then....
Gawd! In naming Sarah Palin, as his vice presidential running mate, McCain’s choice immediately brought to mind similarities of the mixed and complicated choice of then Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas back in 1991. As you may recall, Thomas was (is) only the second Black nominated for Supreme Court Justice by then President George H.W. Bush to fill the seat of retired Thurgood Marshall. Yet, the appointment of Thomas then (and still now) competed with the need for a black voice and presence on the highest court in the land and that voice belonging to this particular Black conservative who appeared to be a proxy for white conservatives.
The ensuing arguments and revelations of character relative to Thomas, demonstrated an originalist and enigmatic conservative whereby even the NAACP, the Urban League, and the National Organization for Women opposed his appointment. Yet, among some (not many) in the Black community the fact that Thomas was Black was deemed as enough for some Blacks to support him. Many non-supporters in the Black community understood that this man was no Justice Thurgood Marshall!
The choice of Palin as the vice presidential choice for McCain has the same odor, err aura. The Republicans appear to be equal opportunity purveyors of gender legerdemain. In choosing Palin, whose values and avowed right wing policies strike against the core values of many so-called feminist and progressive women, the Republicans have essentially rubbed women’s faces in a choice that is no choice at all.
If the 18 million Hillary supporters (who should be so insulted at this choice so-as-to-spit-blood) want a vagina to win for the sake of a political vagina in office, then McCain has given you just what you stereotypically want. Stereotypically because on all levels this choice of VP, is an insult to feminists and most women.
In so many ways, this choice is so typically mannish and old style-husband-like in it’s transparent attempt to appease those angry women and effectively win their undecided votes. This Republican choice, truly done by the Mad Men in McCain’s retinue is so like ... a stereotypical out-of-touch old husband. Imagine the wife (or 18 million) who expects a thoughtful gift from their spouse (yes, gays count here), significant other, or lover, and then receives something like a brand new shiny vacuum cleaner or a silver handled lint remover.
By choosing Palin, the anti-abortion, Pro-Life crusader, NRA shooter (on more metaphoric levels than one), who supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000, who supports McCain’s big oil first energy policy, a Miss Alaska runner-up, mother of five, who also by-the-way eats Moose meat sandwiches (probably higher protein, healthier, and low carb) and who is a tough religious with her evangelical Protestant self, McCain backhands women (Hillonistas’ particularly) with this choice. This is the epitome of the so close yet so far away choice of a candidate. Hopefully, feminists and women swing voters, hell everyone will see this patronization for what it is.
But, I doubt it. These women, the overplayed Hillonistas, the disgruntled 18 million voters that are portrayed as walking the political fence and/or crossing party lines to vote for McCain because their choice of the First Vagina did not get the Democratic nomination leads me to believe that these women could be as shallow, easily led and vindictive as the McCain Mad Men have figured them out to be. I hope that I and the Mad Men are wrong.
Ironically, Palin as VP is the nominating equivalent of the Clarence Thomas contention with ‘Should we vote her in just to have the first woman in the second highest office in the land?’ Unbelievably, as VP, Palin and the feminists will be historically aligned. As well, feminists and unfortunately all women will be historically weighted with the angry woman angst that effectively overshadowed common sense and successfully provided a ‘spoiler effect’ ... Nader style. Is Palin truly an accomplishment for all women? I think not.
Adrienne Zurub
Speaker/Comedian/RN
Author, Notes From the Mothership The Naked Invisibles
http://adriennezurub.typepad.com
America, our work will not be easy. The challenges we face require tough choices, and Democrats as well as Republicans will need to cast off the worn-out ideas and politics of the past. For part of what has been lost these past eight years can't just be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits. What has also been lost is our sense of common purpose - our sense of higher purpose. And that's what we have to restore.We may not agree on abortion, but surely we can agree on reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies in this country. The reality of gun ownership may be different for hunters in rural Ohio than for those plagued by gang-violence in Cleveland, but don't tell me we can't uphold the Second Amendment while keeping AK-47s out of the hands of criminals. I know there are differences on same-sex marriage, but surely we can agree that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters deserve to visit the person they love in the hospital and to live lives free of discrimination. Passions fly on immigration, but I don't know anyone who benefits when a mother is separated from her infant child or an employer undercuts American wages by hiring illegal workers. This too is part of America's promise - the promise of a democracy where we can find the strength and grace to bridge divides and unite in common effort.I know there are those who dismiss such beliefs as happy talk. They claim that our insistence on something larger, something firmer and more honest in our public life is just a Trojan Horse for higher taxes and the abandonment of traditional values. And that's to be expected. Because if you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters. If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from.You make a big election about small things.And you know what - it's worked before. Because it feeds into the cynicism we all have about government. When Washington doesn't work, all its promises seem empty. If your hopes have been dashed again and again, then it's best to stop hoping, and settle for what you already know.
But I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me. It's been about you.For eighteen long months, you have stood up, one by one, and said enough to the politics of the past. You understand that in this election, the greatest risk we can take is to try the same old politics with the same old players and expect a different result. You have shown what history teaches us - that at defining moments like this one, the change we need doesn't come from Washington. Change comes to Washington. Change happens because the American people demand it - because they rise up and insist on new ideas and new leadership, a new politics for a new time.America, this is one of those moments.I believe that as hard as it will be, the change we need is coming. Because I've seen it. Because I've lived it.
I think I've discovered the best person to be Vice President!
California Representative Henry Waxman is da man. He's served as the Chairman and Ranking Member of the principal investigative committee of the house (the Committee on Oversite and Government Reform). If you've ever flipped on C-SPAN, chances are that you've seen him at work, doggedly going after government corruption, fraud, healthcare and other issues. He has a proven track record, heart, and balls to go after the bad guys in America. I'll vote for him any day over some anonymous corporate exec. Or any of the previous candidates for that matter (though I just might be persuaded to give Hillary a chance).
But Obama should choose Waxman for his running mate! With Waxman's high-profile and record on his side, Obama can prove his wisdom, power, and insight to choose the person and people best suited to get our government out of trouble and disgrace and bring change and light into the White House. And only with someone like Waxman can any of the current or previous candidates hope to successfully prove to the American public that they are sincere in their dedication to the well-being of America and in their untested passion for change.
Just check out http://www.waxman.house.gov/index.htm or search for Waxman in the blogs to find more about how this Superman has been at work for us launching probes and fighting the good fight . . .
And you too will proudly shout: CA Representative Henry Waxman for VP! Don't forget, if you agree - please, please use your power to contact Obama and let him know . . .
and if you can, please respond to this post, I'm curious to read what you think.
Forget all the other serious reasons you have for wanting Barack obama to be the Democratic nominee. None of that heavy stuff today. Let's go to the heart of the issue why the guy is so popular - from a ladies point of view, of course. And, if you are still hesitant, and undecided, these essential, but heartwarming little assets should woo you into submission. In my opinion, there are seven crucial things that do it for me about the man in question, and they are the following:
7. His little kids are soooo cute. They make you want to hug them and warm to them. In fact, though very brainy, his family comes across as a real, genuine ordinary family, without airs or graces, just one of the local neighbourhood. That is quite an advantage to have: to be able to cultivate the 'ordinary' look without even trying.
In our own passionate support for what we think is right often their are times we need to take a step back and look at the bigger picture. In light of what's going on currently with the campaign there has been alot of talk that supposedly Obama is moving away from his grass roots, Not so if you look at his Comprehensive Blue Print For Change" Which puts things in perspective I challange everyone to re-read it and like what i had to do, realize that it's not just about me and what i want. it's about us and our future. lets stay on message. To pull this all together I came across a blog posting the other day that pretty much says what I'm feeling right now. Please read and head the message:
by Granny Doc Mon Jun 30, 2008 at 06:31:18 PM PDT
http://dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/6/30/202916/781/721/544385
This is going to be hard to write...and, I suspect, even harder to read. Having survived the Purity Wars that destroyed all of the movement toward Progressive politics in a blood bath of self-referential pettiness in the late 1960's, having laughed along with many others at the jokes about "circular firing squads", having grimaced at the constant smug observations that "this is the Democrat's to lose, and they always find a way", I see the same foolish tendencies growing daily in this community.One of the things that has given me hope during the past, dark days of Gingrich/Rovian politics is that they would destroy themselves. In a Constitutional democracy no individual, or small groups of individuals, demanding ideological purity, can long survive. People come to their senses. They break out of the head lock of fear, and hate, and narrow self interests to emerge wiser and less vulnerable to the tactics that captured them. It has certainly taken longer than I hoped, but it is happeing. Now we are in danger of falling into the same traps that we have so often decried in the Republican Base.We are becoming the enemy, Pogo...We are becoming ideological purists. We are each trying to define those specific elements of our personal Progressive Policy beyond which we refuse to accept a candidate's decisions. We mutter that, "We'll vote for him but, our enthusiasm is gone". We righteously search for key issues and huff and puff about our indignation when our personal standards are not meet by the candidate. We draw lines in the sand. We will not compromise. We "expected" more, we moan. This is not the way it's supposed to be, we pant, in diary/blogs and comment, interminably. We have a lot of new folks these days. Some of them have been long time readers who decided to join the fun. Many are gentle and intelligent souls, given to thoughtful and insightful commentary. But, some are not. Some are classic crap disturbers. They try to throw down the gauntlet creating dissension in the ranks of Kossack's by prying apart those disagreements and fanning the flames of discontent. They egg us on. They work our disapprovals and create the same kind of divisive unrest that destroyed the Civil Rights Movement, the Anti-War Movement, and the Democratic Party for a generation back in the 1960's.We have a rare and historic opportunity facing us in the next 4 months. We can create a Democratic sweep. We can reclaim the White House. We can change the direction of this country.But not if you are so hell bent on standing up for your particular version of Progressive Values that you weaken your candidate, your party and your hopes for the future, in a flame out of righteous indignation.Barack Obama offered a "New Kind of Politics". He did not promise a new kind of purity. A new kind of electoral self-immolation, or a sacrifice on the alter of a population groping towards sanity after 8 years in Bedlam. He is a politician who MUST GET ELECTED before any of your fondest dreams can be realized. He must walk a tight rope to overcome the racism, fear, and years of indoctrination that have pervaded out politics. He must compromise!Compromise is the most difficult thing for the ideological purist to accept. They always cast compromise as a betrayal. But earning the right to govern a country with such disparate views, a country divided by misinformation, bad information and no information, requires working the room. It requires compromise. If you are unable to understand and accept this, you are not sufficiently sophisticated to play in this arena.Will you please consider what I have offered before you allow yourself to be drawn into the baiting by the trolls who have emerged in the past few weeks to stir the pot? Will you consider the impact of parading your purity before the world (and your diaries, and comments are widely read) when you unintentionally parade your discontent with our candidate? Can we form a united front and, just this once, not destroy ourselves in factional politics, based on individual demands that our candidate comply with our personal analysis of world affairs, BushCo criminality, and the Righteous Truth?Republicans manage to line up behind their candidates. Can we, Democrats, try doing the same, just this one time? It has the potential to deliver the prize that so often has eluded us...
After many people waited in vain for former Vice President Al Gore to declare a campaign for the Presidency in 2008, Gore has successfully transitioned from public administrator to champion of environmental causes - or has he?
It's official this time, from their campaign. (Not a press pool rumor.) Watch for yourself.
CNN is beginning coverage of Hillary's event today at 11am. She is expected to speak at noon, and it will be carried live on http://www.cnn.com/live/ .
Here's today's CNN take on what today will and/or should address: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/06/clinton.unity/index.html And for extra credit on the exam, MSNBC's Chuck Todd looks at the necessary points of a good concession speech:Click here: The art of the concession - First Read - msnbc.com
I would just like to congratulate Sen. Barack Obama on his victory in clinching the Democratic Presidential Nominee. It was a long hard fight but I knew Sen. Obama would be the victor in the competition. I have not seen a presidential hopeful that I am willing to support 100% like him. Sen. Obama has the most sensible solutions and plans to fix the problems that face America today. Because of his charisma, honesty, dignity, integrity and willingness to listen to the American people, he has earned my undivided attention and great respect. I have not seen the qualities, I see in Sen. Obama, in any other presidential hopefuls in any 2 of the elections I have been able to vote in since I have been the legal age to vote. I didn't used to get too involved in politics until I enlisted in the Air Force and even after that I didn't get too involved until now. Sen. Obama has drawn me closer to politics and has made me want to get more involved in his campaign for the White House. Being a disabled veteran is also another reason I support Sen. Obama. His record for his work for veterans is very impressive and gains my support even more.
All around I side with Sen. Obama on his outlooks and views with just about everything. There has been no other Presidential hopeful in this primary season that I agree with, or respect, more than Sen. Obama. There are a few issues I would like to discuss with Sen. Obama but I do support him 100%.
CHANGE WE CAN BELIEVE IN!!! Go PRESIDENT Obama!!!
First I want to say I am bummed. All but 3 of my blogs have disappeared from my "space" here.
I suppose they needed the room, it was getting to full.
How can I express my feelings the other night, the night that the democratic nomination took the final turn towards Obama. The night I sat for 5 hours watching MSNBC, refusing to turn to any other station. I did not want to have any type of Clinton hype on this night. My calander was cleared, my kids were fed and watching a movie downstairs (they are 14 and 15) Every now and then they would come up and check to see how it was going.
I did not eat supper, I snacked on some crackers and squeeze cheese! lol ( I never eat it, but I needed something!)
To me it just seemed like it was just a game, sitting there and watching the number of delegates needed as it went down and down. I thought to myself, "this is like when I wanted the campaign to put up signs all over Iowa and they waited till the week before the caucuses, It made such a big impact. Much more than if they would have been there all along" They did the same thing with the super delegates. It made such an impact, it was exciting to watch 14, 13, 11, 10, 9.....4! What a wonderful plan. I decided then an there to once again have faith in the campaign, they really do know what they are doing. There are few times that I have doubted them, I knew there had to be a plan. Slow and steady wins the race.
As they announced that Barack had won the needed delegates to become the "presumtive nominee" I just held my breath. I held it in, waiting for something, something to happen. My daughter came up stairs yelling "Barack won! Barack won!" I breathed out. I cried, I smiled, I thanked God above, I sent text messages to every Obama supporter I had programed into my phone. I spent the next half hour talking on the phone and sharing the news. I still had an astrick of my own NOT next to Obamas name, but next to Hillarys name. In my brain I was still wondering what was going to happen with her.
Hillary disappointed me. I have not held much against the Clintons, trying hard to keep that bridge intact. I was saddened, but still tried to understand her point of view ONCE AGAIN! I was very sad that she leaked out there the possibility of a VP slot. Of course it took up most of the news cycle for the last several days. I felt like she was trying to steal the thunder of Baracks nomination and the monumental task that he had accomplished. What of the 18,000,000 votes that he obtained when running against a "presumtive" winner. Barack ran and WON against "THE MACHINE". There was very little talk of this. Here and there you would hear about this ground breaking accomplishment. For the last two days on MSM and talk radio, it has all been about this "dream ticket"
I no longer believe she should get this nod. She was thinking of herself and not the party. It was arrogant and stubborn. It was driven from anger and clouded judgement. We must look at this as what would have happened if she had been given the presidency and came apon a decision that angered her and one that she may not get her way with. What would her "clouded judgement" gotten us into? This was a very telling speech that she gave. I have no mercy in my feelings. One must be a good loser as well as a good winner. Of all the things that Barack has gone though in this campaign, he has shown good judgement and an even temper. I trust him with my life. I trust him with my country, and I trust him with my world.
Watching the man I have come to feel is a part of my family, tell the country he was now the nominee of the democratic party, made me feel so much pride. The pride of a nation that by majority looked beyond the color of a mans skin to the what lies beneath the surface. They took a listen to his story and a good look in his eyes. The people may not have liked everything that was said, they may not have liked some of the stories that came out about Barack and some connections he had made in the past. But what they made was a connection, a connection to someone that that was real. Someone who was just trying his best to make some really big changes, someone that had the mentality, enthusiasm and spirit to make things happen.
Barack is calm, cool and collected. I believe that to him there is no choice that is a small one. I think that Barack will never jump to conclusions because I have seen him through-out this campain, take his time, ask the right questions to the right people and deliver an appropriate and correct answer over and over again.
This is a pivitol time in American history. We have made history, we are part of history. Because of Barack Obama the man, we have become a stronger nation already. Many more people are registered to vote than ever before, people are excited about POLITICS, senate and house seats are being won by democrats!
Let us give credit where credit is due. Lets let the campain pick the VP. Lets cover ourselves in the warm light that comes with making history. Lets not worry about things we do not have control over. Lets work together to keep the light shining.
We have millions of people to talk to, we have millions of people to register to vote.
What is your plan for today? This weekend? Next weekend? We only have 22 weeks!
It is apparent to me now that the Hilary Supporters are in the 5 stages of grief and it will take them some time to come crawling back to the party. I don't know why but I constantly patrol the Hillary and McCain sites. One reason is to get a laugh or two from these dilusional fanatics, the OTHER reason is to try and grasp the mentality of a person some one who is borderline INSANE.
Everyone knows if you do something over and over again and expect different results you're pretty much the text-book definition of a wack job.
So why, I ask, do republicans and die hard ex-hillary supporters insist on putting us through four more years of the McSame?
I don't dare mention it, but I think some EXTREME depressed hillsters are plotting some deep dark evil to do whatever it takes to make Hillary the nominee in August. It scares me.
But, if we follow psycology we can determine when the Hillsters will come back.
Denial. This stage may have already passed for many. The Hillsters continued to fight, even after Obama clinched the nomination, urging others to call the superdelegates to change their minds. They even ignored the media, refusing to believe that Hillary would listen to members of her party pleading with her to concede. As I write, they continue to donate money.
Anger. Knowing, of course that most of these supporters are women, the mood swings were apparent (sorry ladies). "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned" and this is oh so true. The Hillsters refuse to support Obama, throwing temper tantrums even though their Beloved Hillary urges them too. They call Obama names, call the media liars, blog in all caps, and worst of all, they join the McSame Train.
This reflection from politico touched me:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0608/10858.html
It has seemed that the challenges would never end but we seem to be half way to the mountain top. Hope has been more than just waiting for something good to happen.
Last Tuesday, as we all know, was an historic occasion and a night of joy and celebration for the Obama Nation. For my wife, Mary Lou, and myself, it was also the end of our hosting a series of Tuesday night social gatherings for watching the votes come in, listening to speeches by the candidates and the analysis of all of this by the pundits of CNN and MSNBC, and breaking bread with other people who share our enthusiasm for Sen. Barack Obama and his message of change and hope for the future of the USA. This Tuesday might have been the best of all, not just because we heard Barack say the words we had been waiting for with excitement and anxiety, wondering if it could really happen, if it was more than just "a fairy tale (as claimed by former President Bill Clinton), and if somehow it would be snatched away at the last second by Bill's parnter (in crime?), Sen. Hillary Clinton, who seemed to have more lives than a cat. "Old" friends Frank, Mike, Yohance, Shameka, and J.P joined new friends Deborah, Caroline, David, and Mary as we watched Hillary win in South Dakota and give a strange speech that left us all hanging. Then, it happened quickly: AP called the race for Obama, MSNBC and CNN followed, Hillary finished her speech with 5 minutes to spare until the polls closed in Montana. There they are, Barack and Michelle coming out together, him elegant as ever, her in a stunning violet-purple dress, radiating inspiration, love, and good will. We all knew that he is a powerful and exciting speaker but on Tuesday, he took it to the next level of gravitas and passion.
"Tonight, I can stand before you and say that I will be the Democratic nominee for president of the United States."
It was not a dream. My daughter, Lauren, who has denied being excited about the race and who commented that she would "vote for the Democratic nominee," described Barack as "magestic." It didn't matter if Hillary and her advisors and supporters were living in an alternative universe, we knew Barack Obama was going to be the Democratic nominee! We broke out a bottle of champagne and poured it, we toasted the future of American with President Barack and First Lady Michelle Obama.
But there was one sad note. With the primary season over, what are we gong to do on Tuesday nights?
"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal."— Henry Ford
Let's simply not spend attention to "the" obstacle! We can easily jump over it.
Heres a Link to Article and Poll..i know we all just love polls <G>
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/6/4/145255/2358
The Dems Vs The GOP in 2008
The Primarys are finally over. The three rallys come to a close last night.
Phones ring in the night..some unanswered. What's Up Wid Dat?
We all know the GOP rap....never surrender..100 years! We hear the words from two of the Senators...Bomb Iran! I like the Beach Boy song much better. We heard one Senator say ...hold on..Lets talk to our enemies Lets talk to those folks who HATE us. That makes sense to me.
Well I'm a Vet..and nope..never fired a shot in anger..nor had one fired at me. HM2 USN/USCG 1978-1988. My job was to save lives..they told me that in Navy Hospital Corps School, over in GreatLakes, Ill. I believed it too.
Yes i know..where was i during Nam? On the New Years Eve night of my 19th birthday, me, like many others, we watching a LOTTERY decide if we were going to live or die.That was the only lottery i ever made out on...i was to live..born May 22 1952.
Now this Iraq War
Hows it going folks? We have a few thousand dead. We have God knows how many injured and What's Up Wid Dat?
The Military.com site has an article, here the LINK
http://www.military.com/...
They say 50% of our Folks aren't fit (healthwise) to return to Duty.
WHATS UP WID DAT?
To pursue the goals of the GOP a DRAFT is certain. I hear its no longer "safe" to be a female like it was in 1971..Can they draft our Sisters, Our Wives, Our Daughters, Our Grand Daughters now too? Or just the males?
That Senator who wants to talk..yea...THAT GUY...He's the Democratic Nominee for President now. So Brothers and sisters What's Up Wid Dat?
The GOP = DRAFT So what are you going to do? Unite? or Fight?
Peace John
