Posts with the tag 2008 Election

Spot Light on America

Robin from Grass Valley, CA — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:07:47 EDT

For a moving view of what is happening in the US today, visit the site of young photojournalist Mathieu Young at http://www.mathieuyoung.com/. His tent city series http://www.mathieuyoung.com/TC/ is featured in the latest Time Magazine.

Mathieu's photos across the country and around the world express a moving empathy for the conditions of people today.

Every American should see these images!

Thank you Mathieu!

Congrates!

Dave Obama — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:22:33 EST

Great that he's got in, let's hope he isn't totally overwhelmed by the great expectations being placed upon him.

Everyone has to remember that there's only so much that American voters will allow.

The Realization!

Rebecca Burns — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:26:33 EST

At the beginning of the election, I didn't care who won. I heard people talk about it, but, like other teens, I wasn't really interested. The fact that my parents supported McCain didn't really help. If I supported anyone, it was McCain, without even knowing about his campaign.

Through a Hole in the Air

John Lewis-Dickerson, Atlanta — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:53:18 EST

Through a Hole in the Air

by Sheila Samples @ commondreams.org

Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Sail on, O Union, strong and great!
Humanity with all its fears,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate!
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The recent blowout election that gave us President Barack Obama resulted in a flood of emotion that engulfed both parties. The one thing they had in common was that neither party could believe it. Political comedian Mort Sahl once said, "Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen." If we have learned nothing else about Republicans, it's that, with few exceptions, they are vindictive, immoral, blood-thirsty, and just plain power-mad. Republicans are so much better at destroying things than Democrats are. They say and do whatever it takes to win. And if that doesn't work -- they seize it anyway.

So we were braced for another disappointment -- not because we didn't share Obama's vision of change and his hope for a better life for all Americans, but because voting machines were frantically flip-flopping votes from Obama to John McCain, minority voters were purged, telephones jangling with robocalls smeared Obama as an alien terrorist -- and John King over at CNN kept ramming solid red "magic" maps in our faces as proof that McCain could not lose.

So, what happened?

We woke up. After snoozing through massive homicide, refusing to confront genocide, ignoring fratracide and the hopelessness that has driven an alarming number of our military to commit suicide...we woke up............

ENTIRE ARTICLE - http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/11/29

Call for Duty Class of 08'

dinah boniaby — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:01:36 EST

Class of 2008 and what a year to graduate; “Fly Class of 08’; fly Class of 08 in pursuit of your purpose,” recites Terrick Brown, keynote speaker for Booker T. Washington 08’ Graduation ceremony. Terrick Brown is not only a BTW alumni but Terrick is also a former debate student of TSU who worked with Denzel Washington young cast in the production of The Great Debate. A few years ago; Terrick spoke at the nation’s Capitol in honor of Dr. King’s birthday.

Election 2008, voters for change is also in the Class of 08’when American voters answered to the call of duty and ushered in a change nation. Class of 08’ 21st century Americans graduated “from past ideals to imminent progressive ideals that reflects the nation’s melting pot diverse population.

Call of Duty; this past election was a collective movement for time to change in 2009. Many voters expressed the anxiousness of casting their vote. “It was like a burden had been lifted off of me” said Ebony, a student at University of St. Thomas. The call of duty to produce change doesn’t seem to rest until it is in motion to completion. Henceforth; voters answered the call of duty. The motion was the vote; November 4th was the day of completion.

:90 seconds Trailer illustrates “Class of 08 call for Duty”. Call for Duty Class of 08 http://dinahboniaby.blip.tv/file/1521907/

David’s Excellent Adventure in Ohio

David from Lexington, MA — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 09:24:33 EST

There are a bunch of pictures embedded in the text of what I wrote and it's kind of a pain to copy the post here. So let me refer you to my personal web site where the story is posted at:
http://davidkessler.biz/obama_campaign.htm

Sorry for the off-site reference and I hope you like the story.

Congratulations to us all!

David

Photo Slideshow from last Virginia Rally

Ms. Aguiar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:13:39 EST

Barack Obama came to Manassas, Virginia November 3, 2008 (A day before he got elected to be President of the United States of America). I showed up 12 hours early. Still tired from Canvassing in Manassas and Alexandria, I showed up early just for the opportunity to hold his hand. It worked. After his speech he walked right up to me. I screamed, Obama, I came from California driving just to see you. He was very polite and responded, "Thank you very much." Ahh!! Then I held his hand against my cheeck and kissed it as if he was the pope. I have never felt compelled to kiss anyone's hand that way, but I did. I was so excited!

Click Here to see the Photos from the Manassas, Virginia Rally

Unity and 2008 Presidential Politics

Jamie from Marion, IL — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:16:00 EST

Democratic president elect Barack Obama is indeed a man who looks to bring about change through unity. If this nation thinks for one moment that unity is something that is not a major world issue, then, we all have our heads buried in the proverbial sand.

The fruit of unity will be:

BARACK OBAMA SEEKS TO BRING CHANGE AND REUNITE AMERICA!

Jamie from Marion, IL — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 11:00:45 EST

THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION Its Meaning and Our Future

As the psalmist understood, <b>“For not from the east, nor from the west, nor from the desert comes exaltation; but God is the Judge; He puts down one, and exalts another” (Psalm 75:6).</b>

Regardless of what we feel about his politics, Bill Clinton could not have been elected without God allowing it. Therefore, we must now ask ourselves, “Why did the Lord want Bill Clinton to be president and how should we respond to him?”

This article could just as well have been about Barack Obama, "BARACK OBAMA SEEKS TO BRING CHANGE AND REUNITE AMERICA!"

The above text is from: THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION Its Meaning and Our Future by Paul Cain and Rick Joyner, January 1993: MorningStar Publications and Ministries.

This article could just as well have been about Barack Obama, "BARACK OBAMA SEEKS TO BRING CHANGE AND REUNITE AMERICA!"

Read the pdf version of this article.

The Audacity Of Barack Obama: An American Dream

Dr. Bamidele A. Ojo — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:30:45 EST

The Audacity of An Ambition: The Political Economy of Obama’s Electoral Victory*

On November 4th, 2008, Americans went to the polls and made a statement to the rest of the world by electing Barack Obama the first African American to be the President of the United States of America. While there are many factors that contributed to this historic win, one single factor and issue which dominated the entire fall campaign was the economy. There is no doubt that when Americans realized on September the 15th, at the height of the financial meltdown, that there is a need for a bold decision to reverse the looming economic disaster, they did what came naturally to them and voted their pockets. The economic situation, the loss of real estate values and pension savings coupled with increasing rate of unemployment contributed in no means measure to the election of Barack Obama. In a free market environment and the world leading capitalist economy, the election was simply more about the economy. Barack Obama for months hammers on why the country was in economic stupor. From expensive wars overseas, to inept policies and perceived incompetence of the Republican administration, he was able to convince Americans to look beyond him and revisit their economic dire straits and ask themselves if they can afford another four more years of the same. That was a very convincing and we now know, successful sale. It worked because at any other time and with a different strategy, it might have been difficult for candidate Obama to close the deal. However there were other contributing factors as well. As President-elect Obama prepares to ascend the Presidential seat and the most powerful office in the world on January 20th 2009, we must also note that, although we may have seen his win as an historic achievement, we must nevertheless recognize that, he did it in a very unique way. First, Barack Obama stood on the shoulder of giants and this must not be lost on all of us. As a French analyst put it on Charlie Rose on the night of the election, “Rosa Park sat for Martin Luther King Jr to match, for Barack Obama to run and for America to fly”. We have just witnessed the culmination of a gradual and lengthy process of democratic consolidation on a path toward that perfect union. Obama ran as an American and his background is very much American in nature and his campaign led by David Axelrod and David Plouffe, were able to put together an excellent exercise, which reassured all Americans that , yes it can be done. Once they accepted the notion of Barack Obama as a competent American, his skin color remain just what it is and the dream’s “content of his character” became the issue. And once he was able to scale that hurdle, there was no doubt about America’s readiness to make history and elect him the next President. It has taken over 220 plus years for Americans to achieve this landmark but it is a signal to the rest of the world that, it can be done. If Obama could win in the United States of America surely, ethnic, racial or any differences any where in the world, becomes less of a determining factor if, and when a viable, competent and truly national candidate emerges in the future. Obama was not an African -American candidate, he was an American candidate for the Presidency. It took Reverend Wright for him to even address the race question and after that, it was never addressed again by his campaign. Barack Obama’s personality also contributed to his success at the polls. He is perceived as an intelligent, cool and dynamic individual. And by the time questions about Reverend Wright, Bill Ayers and others were raised, it fails to undermine his candidacy. This was because for months on end, he and his campaign were able to drum it into the American psychic, that candidate Obama is above them. Charismatic leadership, ability to communicate and to inspire and to raise people’s hope remains an important ingredient for leadership and Obama possess it all. He used it well and as we found out words do matter. Since that evening four years ago, at the democratic convention, when he introduced him self to America that: There is no red America and no blue America but a United States of America, he laid the foundation and the recipe for his success. The audacity to aspire, run and play on the tuff of the Republicans couple with buying into Howard Dean’s 50- state strategy worked perfectly well for his campaign. For several election cycles, democrats have always limited themselves to their blue states and then hope to win but this time Barack Obama went for all the marbles in all the states and it paid off. This was a winning strategy that will reshape the way Presidential politics will be played in the future. We also have new generation of voters. These new voters were not only the under 30s years of age, who were post racial in their world view but also new registrants who want to be part of history. These new voters came out in drove to cast their votes on the day of the election. When you combine this with the energy of the Barack Obama’s grass-root organization and mobilization, which doomed the Clinton machine earlier in the year, it was a tall order to expect the Republican Party to win. The Republicans also helped Obama by nominating their best candidate capable of winning this election cycle but fails to support him enthusiastically. This forced Senator McCain to gamble and play safe to rally the base, by selecting Governor Sarah Palin. The choice was palliative at best with little lasting effect. In fact about 19% of them voted for Barack Obama in the end. The choice of Palin combined with the newness of Obama on the national stage initially kept the race within reach, at least until the financial melt down. And then it was down hill from then. Obama also had the heavy financial advantage. The fact that he was able to raise over 160million dollars in the last month before the election alone makes the task even more difficult for McCain as it was for Mrs Clinton earlier during the primary. The effective use of the internet and the effect of the grass root fundraising capabilities help made it happened. The implication for the future is two fold: From now on, more and more Americans will able to support their candidates through small donations, the way millions supported Obama or we will see another campaign reforms which will force a limited financial options on the candidates for the most powerful office in the world. From the Republican enabling factor, with the financial meltdown, President Bush’s problems to Barack Obama‘s charisma, his campaign strategy, the financial advantage and the time for change, the election of Mr Obama became inevitable. Obama has a lot of people to thank too. From Booker T Washington to W E B.Dubois, to Martin Luther King Jr, to Rosa Park, To Malcolm X, to Louis Farrakhan (even if one disagrees with him, his mere existence helps one to appreciate the other alternative-Obama) and to Jesse Jackson. There are many others to thank as well, the list include those who have blazed trails in their respective professions such Cornel West, Louis Henry Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan, Tiger Wood, Wills Smith, Michael Jackson, Bob Johnson and thousand others. These people while excelling in their professions have proved somehow to America that, yes it can be done.. The next step is for all, to now dream of this possibility. From Women, to Hispanic Americans, to Asian American and Native American, from Americans in the remote towns of Maine to the suburbs of California, Americans can now hope and yes it can be done. And to all of us in Africa, Latin America and Asia and of course in Europe, we can do it and this world can surely be a better place if we can put our differences and aim beyond our fears and limitations. Democracy is also the winner because however long it may take, everybody wins in the end and that is why we must give kudos to Jesse Jackson for inspiring us to ”keep hope alive”.

*Bamidele A Ojo.PhD .Professor of Political Science .African Studies Program.School of Political & International Studies.Fairleigh Dickinson University. Nj.

** Watch out for: Obama and African Leadership: Time for Tough Love

(It is time for a responsible and accountable leadership on the continent of Africa and a for an American President to make that call which will no longer be seen as neo imperialist because a son of Africa is now the one making it.President Barack Obama should start calling these leaders to order. It is time for re-liberation of the African people. It is time to bring our two worlds and the rest of the world together. It is time for real American leadership that inspires all on behalf of all.

Where Do You Stand: Energy for America and the Truth about Energy?

James Everitt — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 11:34:16 EST

Where Do You Stand: Energy for America and the Truth about Energy?

Attachments: API_truth_primer22.pdf, 1.5 MB
factsheet_energy_speech_080308.pdf, 152 KB
ThePlan_0710_01.pdf, 201 KB

We Are in a Crisis
Our dependence on foreign oil forms the intersection of the three most critical issues America currently faces: the economy, the environment and our national security.
There is a Solution
America is blessed with the world's greatest wind power corridor and abundant reserves of clean natural gas. The Pickens Plan will utilize these tremendous resources to build a bridge to the future — a blueprint to reduce foreign oil dependence by harnessing domestic energy alternatives and buying time for us to develop even greater new technologies.
The Plan calls for building new wind generation facilities that will produce 20% of our nation's electricity and allow us to use natural gas as a transportation fuel. The combination of these domestic energies can replace more than one-third of our foreign oil imports. And we can do it all in 10 years.
We Can Bring Change On January 20th, 2009, a new President will take office. We're organizing behind the Pickens Plan now to ensure our voices will be heard by the next administration. Together we can raise a call for change and set a new course for America's energy future in the first hundred days of the new presidency — breaking the hammerlock of foreign oil and building a new domestic energy future for America with a focus on sustainability.
You can start changing America's future today by supporting the Pickens Plan. Join now.
The Man with the Plan

T. Boone Pickens, founder and chairman, BP Capital Management, is principally responsible for the formulation of the energy futures investment strategy of the BP Capital Commodity Fund and the BP Capital Equity Fund. With more than $4 billion under management, BP Capital manages one of the nation's most successful energy-oriented investment funds. Pickens frequently utilizes his wealth of experience in the oil and gas industry in the evaluation of potential equity investments and energy sector themes. He has not been shy in predicting oil and gas prices and — more often than not — has been uncannily accurate.
Pickens is also aggressively pursuing a wide range of other business interests, from water marketing and ranch development initiatives to Clean Energy, a company he founded and is the largest shareholder. Through Mesa Water, Pickens is the largest private holder of permitted groundwater rights in the United States. Clean Energy is advancing the use of natural gas as a cleaner-burning and more cost-effective transportation fuel alternative to gasoline and diesel.

Boone grew up in Holdenville, a small eastern Oklahoma town. His father was in the oil business, and his mother ran the Office of Price Administration during World War II, rationing gasoline and other goods for four counties. Boone attributes much of his success to his mother and father.
Boone graduated as a geologist from Oklahoma State University in 1951 and started work with Phillips Petroleum Co. in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. After three and a half years, he struck out on his own as an independent geologist. Pickens was founder of Mesa Petroleum in its various forms beginning in 1956. Mr. Pickens' career at Mesa spanned four decades. Under his leadership, Mesa grew to become one of the largest and most well known independent exploration and production companies in the United States; Mesa produced more than 3 trillion cubic feet of gas and 150 million barrels of oil from 1964 to 1996.
From its inception, Mesa was at the forefront of change and innovation. Mesa's fitness program is a good example. Boone has long understood the benefits of physical fitness. Mesa's fitness program has become a model for corporate America, and Mesa was the first company to be accredited by the Institute for Aerobics Research.

Throughout his professional life, Pickens has been a generous philanthropist, giving away almost one half of a billion dollars. In 2006, he contributed $175 million to a wide range of causes and the formation of the T. Boone Pickens Foundation. He has appeared multiple times on The Chronicle of Philanthropy's list of top U.S. philanthropists. The T. Boone Pickens Foundation is improving lives through grants supporting educational programs, medical research, athletics and corporate wellness, at-risk youth, the entrepreneurial process, and conservation and wildlife initiatives.
The Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans Inc. selected Pickens as a recipient of the 2006 Horatio Alger Award, which epitomizes those who overcome adversity and humble beginnings to achieve success. It is but one of many honors awarded to Pickens for his achievements, including Trader Monthly's 2006 Trader of the Year award, the Texas Business Hall of Fame, and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.
Pickens lives in Dallas and is married to Madeleine Ann Pickens. He has five children and 12 grandchildren.
TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A CHANGE!
New Energy for America
The voters have spoken, but I don’t believe this was a mandate for the Democrats. It was a mandate for Obama’s promises of cooperation and bipartisanship, of treating each other with respect and dignity. It was a vote for the hope of a Washington that functions for the good of the American people.
Can Obama lead America to that reality, as he has promised? Time will tell. But, as Obama has said, getting there requires all Americans. It’s not something he can do by himself. It’s a challenge to all of us to work together so our nation can see better days.
Thank you for taking the time to look at this booklet. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden’s Plan for America
Barack Obama Plan for America
Energy and Environmental
Obama's plan to create five million new "green" jobs would depend upon a ten year, $150 billion investment to "catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future."
Obama has pushed for one million plug-in hybrid vehicles on the road by 2015 and a target of 10 percent of all household electricity originating from renewable sources by 2012.
He has also stressed the importance of providing short-term relief, offering to enact a Windfall Profits Tax that would provide a $1,000 energy rebate to American families.
Obama has even announced a plan to eliminate our current imports from Venezuela and the Middle East within ten years. Obama proposes a $7,000 tax credit for purchasing advanced vehicles.
Economy Obama's Stance on the Economy Barack Obama has offered a detailed plan to get America’s economy back on track, by creating new jobs and easing the burden on hardworking Americans by offering middle-class tax cuts three times the size of McCain’s. Learn More
Read the Pickens Plan Pledge below and then tell your Member of Congress to join with T. Boone Pickens and his army of supporters in calling for an Energy Independence Plan to be enacted within the first 100 days of the new administration.
CLICK HERE TO EMAIL CONGRESS NOW!
GET THE DETAILS:
Attachments:
API_truth_primer22.pdf, 1.5 MB
factsheet_energy_speech_080308.pdf, 152 KB
ThePlan_0710_01.pdf, 201 KB
Read the full version of The Obama-Biden New Energy for America plan
The Obama-Biden environmental plan
The Obama-Biden plan to crack down on excessive energy speculation
The Obama-Biden Wildfire Prevention Plan
New Energy for America

First "what next" gathering

kurt squire — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 09:12:32 EST

Last Sunday (November 9), Obama organizer JD Stier held the first post election meetup for teams and organizers at the Brocach in Madison. Al Giordano at the field has a nice post on it which includes some great video of the event. If anyone else is interested in organizing, getting involved. Email me!

CONGRATULATIONS & GOD BLESS President Elect Barack Obama

Sydney Australia — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 01:54:53 EST

November 06, 2008

Dear Mr Barack Obama - President Elect of the United States of America,

Sincere congratulations on winning the election yesterday on such a momentus occasion.

I was very pleased to hear the news of your success.

This will be a day to go down in history as a positive day to remember.

I am an Australian who lives Sydney and the Australian people have been enormously interested in the outcome of your US election especially with the "LIVE" coverage throughout our nation of 20 million people.

It was a joyous moment when I heard that you Mr Barack Obama had won the position of the 44th President Elect of the United States of America.

It's a new day for America!!

Carlotta Holt — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:35:48 EST

Hallelujah!

It's a new day for America! It's a new day for the world! I have so many high hopes and high expectations. I know we have an uphill battle from here. It's going to take time, patience, hard work and sacrifice to undo all the damage that's been done in the world the last 8 years (or more).

Today, my prayers are with President Obama, that he is filled with the Holy Spirit in the decisions he is going to make in the coming days, weeks, months and years.

Also, congratulations to us!! All of our hard work and diligence have paid off. See what we can do when we are of like mind? Thank you, President Obama, for instilling in all of us the notion that we can do this. Your positive, can do atttitude is infectious. Let's keep the momentum going!

The End Of The Beginning

Charley James — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 10:24:43 EST

Like many other people last night, at precisely 11PM when the polls closed in California, Oregon and Washington, and Keith Olbermann called the election, I started to cry. Steady, solid, weeping that kept coming in waves.

Then I glanced at the screen where the MSNBC director was flipping from one celebration to another and saw many others crying: Blacks, whites, Asians, Hispanics, young, old, men, women, all over the country. A series of individual shots that, together, redefined the United States of America last night.

There was a student at Spellman College in Atlanta who collapsed in tears and was being comforted by her friends.

Then Oprah was leaning on the shoulder of the man in front of her as she cried uncontrollably, Jesse Jackson standing directly behind her with two rivers flowing freely down his face.

A quick shot of a nursing home day room where elderly white men and woman, some in wheelchairs, one man wearing an American Legion cap, some cheering and some wiping their eyes with tissues.

Cut to a sports bar in Georgia where white and black faces kissed each other, and hugged.

And always back to Grant Park in Chicago. The roar of the poor, the tired, the huddled masses yearning to be free lifting their voices and their smiles and their hands in relief and jubilation and ecstacy and exhaustion.

I thought of my mother, who died in 1996. She had my sister and me sit in front of the television when Dr. Martin Luther King gave his "I Have A Dream" speech in front of the Lincoln Memorial before an endless sea of people who only had hope for a different tomorrow. Their - our - tomorrow finally came at 11PM Eastern time last night. I remembered how she wanted to go to that rally but Dad talked her out of it because it might become "dangerous." It turned out, the only dangerous thing was Dr. King's ideas.

John McCain came on screen in Pheonix to concede, giving the best speech of his campaign and silencing the yahoo's in the crowd who booed when he mentioned Barack Obama. Then back to the studio where someone was reading a White House transcript of Bush's congratulatory call to Obama where he told the President-elect to "go out and enjoy yourself." Only George W. Bush would hand the presidency of a country he came close to ruining to someone by saying Obama should "enjoy himself." It was akin to urging people to shop after 9/11.

Finally, there was Obama himself. He gave a better, more encompassing vicory speech than most inaugural addresses over the past 30 years.

Someone, it might have been Chris Mathews, said he looked "exhausted." He may have been that after 20 months of campaigning but, to me, he looked somber. Written all over Obama's face was the reality of the burden he suddenly bore, not just for himself and the country but the entire world. Even after his speech, when Joe Biden and his family and the throng of relatives and well-wishers crowded around him, he couldn't shake the look of a man who suddenly realises how alone he is.

I remember what Jack Kennedy said the first morning he was president and walked into the Oval Office. Surrounded by long-time aides and advisors, he sat in the chair behind the Lincoln desk that he requested be brought out from the Smithsonian Institute, looked up and asked, "Now what the hell do we do?" Last night, Obama's face showed that he knew full well "what the hell do we do."

But he's not alone. He has tens of millions of people around the country, and around the world, there to help. For those of us who helped make this morning possible, our work has just begun.

OBAMA VICTORY

Becky from Powder Springs, GA — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 09:03:17 EST

Congratulation Obama,

It's a previledge that first black America from Kenya descendants be the prez. of our great Country America (a country of opportunity)Accept my condolence about the passing of(TuT) your grandmama that stood by you when your parents passed away.I get their spirit is with you to guide you at this crucial time. My regards to your beautiful wife ,your two sweet daughters,Hillary &our fascinate former prez;Bill Clinton and your VP Joe Biden very humble man that are with you .May God be with you,guide you& give you the wisdom to rule America very well. I pray that God will spare your gently soul and go the second time Amen.

We from African Continents loves you and continuing praying & intercede for you. God bless You ,your family and everybody in America. Go OBAMA! OBAMA!

It All Starts Today.

Marlena LaFountain — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:34:46 EST

We have real enemies in the world. These enemies must be found. They must be pursued and they must be defeated.

America, we have finally sought out change. To say that change is inevitable, that one voice can change the very foundation and very ground we walk on, is inevitable. We rally what we believe in, our hearts sing praise while our mouths often sing prejudice of what we can't understand. Of who looks different - talks different - sounds off different - for those who are not cookie-cutter politicians. For those who push the envelope and dare to expression a vision viable as different. For those who believe in the hope and honest to goodness of America. From small cape towns to the biggest cities far and wide in our great country...

Someone dared to step up, stare prejudice in the face, and declare proudly yes we can. Because we can, America.

This election has truly stirred the very ripple in the pool of America. We needed an election to bring our country and bring our sisters and brothers in America together.

And thanks to Senator Obama, we had that election.

The very foundation that America has thrived on for hundreds of years... this election is specifically what Martin Luther King Jr. thrived for. The fruition of our fathers and activists before us... this is THE election they dreamt up. And we finally got to see it.

With a new president, comes a new vision. A new hope. Change. Like it's said that change is the only constant, so Senator Obama will bring forth the inevitable in 2009 for America.

I believed in change, you believed in change, together we believed in hope.

Obama/Biden 08 ... change 08 ... hope 08.

We did it, America. We brought forth something bigger than ourselves. Bigger than our nation. Bigger than racial segregation. Bigger than the very stage our country was formulated on.

Thank you voters, for believing in the same hope and the same change ... for seeing the same vision as our NEW PRESIDENT. Bring forth the change, thank you Obama. Thank you Biden. Thank you America.

I believe in the greater hope of our economy. I believe in the greater ambition of a country that has since lost it's moral and lost the very heart in which it beats. We lost equality. We lost our unity. And now, it's time to bring unity and our equality back together again. It's time to bring forth this change, America... it's time to state loudly and proudly that we, the American people, CAN make the changes. We CAN bring forth a better tomorrow. We CAN do it. United we stand, divided we fall... and under the Bush Administration ... we fell to the lowest point in well over a century.

Under Obama Biden, we shall stand united as one. A country with the greater hope and greater promise for our children, our grandchildren and our future generations. Let's make change our present, America... let's stand together, hands held and arms held high in victory as we celebrate tonight, victors in a war against segregation and decades of oppression.

Let's stand, not as individuals. But let us stand together as one united, the united states of america. God bless America.

Historic 2008 Election is Finale to a Forgoten 60s Era

Stephen — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 12:25:06 EST

In the midst of this historic election, I can’t help but wonder whether an Obama presidency might represent a “finale” to the 60s movement that we never had. I mean, it has only been in recent years that the 1960s have been ramticized by youth and marketers eager to capitalize on its popularity. Obama's rise to the presidency is an American story brought about in large part by the revolution of thwe 1960s. But it wasn’t romantic by any stretch of the imagination. It wasn’t about selling hamburgers and cars in cool clothes. It was real. It was a difficult period in our history. We nearly had a nuclear war with Cuba and Russia. Kennedy was assassinated. There was the civil rights showdown on segregation in schools. The 1965 riots. Then a worsening Vietnam War and mandatory draft of young men, many going to their deaths for a war that had no direction and could not be won. Martin Luther King was assassinated. Robert Kennedy as well. Americans began to leave their churches, pareticularly, the Catholic church. Young people began resisting and demonstrating. Then there were the Kent State shootings of eight students by the Ohio National Guard. For a kid growing up in the 1960s, it was a lot to absorb.

By the mid-1970s, the Vietnam War, the 60’s activism, and Nixon presidency were over. The country seemed at a loss for direction. I was in college then. Our chief concern was in the nuclear arms buildup in trying to keep up with Russia. I recall numerous pieces in the news then how the world might end by 2008. I actually dropped out of pre-med in part because of a lack of confidence that I (and we in the U.S.) would not have a certain future. As it turns out, we did. But the manner in which it was done has become one of short sighted, weak leadership.

The country merely “moved on” from the 60s. We didn’t get it! It's like we took a “stupid pill” and forgot everything we had gone through between 1962 and 1974 - threw away our notes, and forgot to formalize conclusions that we could follow in years to come. As a result, the 70s were extraordinarily dismal economically and culturally. The leadership of both major political parties was “milk toast.” I mean, “disco” became the highlight of that critical period. That should tell you something. In 2008, we face history with the opportunity to elect a black President. Yet, some in this country who might oppose a black President for the color of his skin never "got it" from the 60s.

By the 1980s when Ronald Reagan took office, he brought a new and different course to economic and military progress. The country was amiss in problems in the Middle East and Russia. Reagan introduced trickle-down economics that sparked a new economic era, but it included cuts in needed government services and in exchange ushered in a new more accomodating view of U.S. corporate mergers and acquisitions, the real beginning of today’s deregulation that in my view led to the excesses that brought down our financial markets and economy in 2008. Despite economic prosperity in the 1980s, it was “politically incorrect” to bring up the 60s in reflection. Political candidates and business leaders frequently denounced their 60s involvement in order to become successful businessmen. Still others ended up on the street as Vietnam War Vets with PTSD and similar disorders. They and others became the illegitamate offspring of a difficult, revolutionary, and defining period in American history. Depending on who you asked, you would hear either good and bad views of this period.

By the mid to late 80s, the country had seen fairly widespread growth and prosperity, except for the forgotten war vets and increasingly crowded and poorer inner cities like Los Angeles and New York City, that had been left out of the economic expansion as companies took jobs and fled the inner cities in huge numbers for the suburbs and first wave of outsourcing with cheap foreign labor. At that time, no one figured there would be a sizable unrest just a few years later in the 1992 Los Angeles riots. We weren’t looking for it. We had Bruce Springtein, the very successful 1984 Olympics, the expansion of professional sports, the fall of the Berlin Wall, with Russia right behind it. But per the stresses released in the 1992 riots, there were siginificant pentup issues, and arguably abandonment. Also, by 1992 the U.S. and particularly California, was in the grips of a sizable recession.

Somehow - we got through the 1992 riots and that recession. And by the late 90s, we had the tech boom, NAFTA, and more outsourcing of jobs. It wasn’t real apparent, but there was a growing divide between the middle class. A lot of people lost money when the tech boom went bust, yet it gave us insight into new and creative funding of economic expansion, including, new and creative tools to fund the economy, particularly, “derivatives.” Real estate values soon began growing at a never before seen pace. Life in the U.S. between 2002 and 2006 was all about money, and how an average Joe Homeowner could pull from their home, like an ATM or slot machine. But with this period, was increasing homelessness and poverty, and failed opportunities to invest in our nation’s infrastructure and new technologies. We “jacked off the dogs to feed the cats” so recklessly, that when we woke up, we realized the dogs had died and much of everything else was starving. By 2007, an ugly handwriting was on the wall. But, Wall Street gurus responded with increasingly brazen attempts to spin and create money. Then came the news of Bear Stearns, and the 1st governemt bailout.

For too long as a nation, we have ingored the obvious, our people, our infrastructure, our sick and needy - and all in exchange for leveraged riches for just a few. And now our ways have caught up with us. But, I must correct myself here. I was NOT a part of this reckless economic expansion. Since 1992, I’ve been undergoing a series of brain surgeries to get a shunt to correctly relieve fluid pressure on my brain. During this period, my life, health, and recovery were blocked by Wall Street and FDA level failures and coverups of safety issues with a popular CNS shunt device. Yes - I was sold out for Wall Street riches - just like many of you. Brain shunts are big business. In order for me to have any hope for a future, I had to become a health advocate, FDA policy and law expert, a neuroscientist, an expert in artificial intelligence, and an inventor of a diagnostic shunt test. But no matter what I did, it was never good enough. On every occassion, I had to fight Wall Street influences. In fact, I directed my 2 most successful surgeries. But, it’s taken me 7 surgeries in all, including, my recent successful surgery in May of 2008 that finally relieved the swelling on my brain, albeit after 16 years. Why 16 years? It took that long to convince the powers that be on the right way to implant shunts, as well as numerous supportive scientive papers I had written. I nearly got my shunt of today implanted back in 1998. On that occassion, the FDA stopped me. Then, on numerous times since, each and every neurosurgeon I saw was somehow affiliated with a (Wall Street) shunt company, whose shunts all failed me. So - I am kind of like those in the inner city. Like those being drawn in or brought here illegally to work for cheaper wages than a residing American. I am an American, disenfranchised and deprived of life and liberty by today's Wall Street and its influences. Now, as much as half of the country has also been disenfranchised albeit by the same dishonest mechanism. Yes - in September/ October 2008, shit hit the fan in the U.S., and government and business leaders who had prided themselves on deregulation, low taxes, and outsourcing were brought to their knees - and in the balance, a nation waits, eager for any hope of new leadership. And, then came Senator Barrack Obama.

Yes - I had a vision today of what was, and what could again be. A proud and homogenious America, an accomplished nation. I saw Barrack Obama at the helm. I believe the excitement that so many see is that of an Obama presidency and the prospects that we might once again reconnect with our past, perhaps in a revolutionary type of way as I expect the change and resulting progress to be unharalded per any other era in our history. And we need this. We need this to help us better understand who we are as Americans, and the course we must plot in moving ahead. With the ascention of Barrack Obama as our favored next President, I couldn't think of a better "finale" and tribute to an era and movement I and others knew as the "60s."

So, with this critical election so close at hand, I again choose "us," just as I did in the 1960s.

Perfectionism: An Excuse for Avoiding Change

Ron Williams — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 00:28:34 EST

Lately, I’ve run across a number of potential Barack Obama supporters who are displeased with him for this reason or that. He’s not sufficiently progressive, he’s beholden to corporate interests, the President lacks significant influence in the corporate environment, there’s really no difference between Democrats and Republicans, and so forth.

In response, I offer some wisdom proffered by David Bender of Air America: "The perfect is the enemy of the good." Of course Obama isn't perfect -- no viable presidential candidate can be -- but he is far better than the alternative.

Remember when Nader said that there was no difference between Bush and Gore? His supporters believed him, but he was wrong.

With Obama, we have a chance to move the country in a new, better direction. A John McCain presidency would guarantee that we don’t.

In politics as well as life, perfectionism is often an excuse for avoiding change, and now is not the time to stay the course.

Tempests, Teapots, and Political Campaigns

Ron Williams — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:52:32 EST

Barack Obama has talked about how we have “big elections about small issues.” For example, while the economy is in crisis, we spend time talking about his minister.

This doesn’t just apply to the presidential election. Consider the congressional campaign in Washington's 8th District. Dave Reichert, the Republican incumbent, has accused his Democratic challenger, Darcy Burner, of lying when she said she “got a degree in [Economics] from Harvard.”

After five minutes of in-depth research, I learned that Burner has a computer science degree from Harvard, with a concentration in economics. Evidently, Harvard doesn’t offer an economics degree. The closest one can get is “a primary concentration … in economics" (href="http://www.economics.harvard.edu/undergrad), which Burner earned.

Before going on, I must admit that I can relate to Burner’s situation. I have a degree in English, with a concentration in writing, which I sometimes refer to as a degree in writing. This is a lot simpler than explaining that "my school didn't have a writing degree.…” I hope that doesn’t make me a liar.

Getting back to the Washington election, it would probably have been smarter for Burner to have said she “studied” economics at Harvard. This would have allowed her to avoid this tempest in a teapot while making the relevant point that, in an era of economic uncertainty, she has far more formal education in the field than Reichert does.

More importantly, when deciding how to vote, don’t be persuaded by insignificant arguments.

Color Me Blind

Typical American — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:05:55 EST

Throughout history, detractors of presidential hopefuls typically cited unethical, immoral and/or criminal behavior, activities and/or affiliations as reasons for not electing candidates.

Certainly, this election is the first in history, perhaps in U.S. history, where a candidate not only must contend with typical criticisms and accusations but also with the color, or lack thereof, of his skin. It is astounding to me that in this day and age, Barack Obama has been criticized for being “too black” and “not black enough”. How can both be true?

Furthermore, why focus on skin color when Obama’s background and stand on issues of importance to Americans is most paramount? If the issues are meaningless in comparison with skin color, then why hasn’t John McCain been criticized for being “too white” and “not white enough”? Because it would be so idiotic? Several current and likely former Arizona residents would disagree with my contention.

When compared with the flawless and richly-colored skin of the exquisitely beautiful Latinas I envy, the extraordinarily fair skin I inherited from my Irish ancestors is quite prominent. Nevertheless, I had never been criticized for being “too white” until moving to Arizona from Maryland 30 years ago. I was criticized most by other whites who insisted that I was “too white” and needed to “get a tan”.

Trying to “get a tan” in Arizona proved very different from the constant and frequent blistering sunburns I experienced during childhood summers in Maryland, Delaware and New Jersey. In fact, I wound up with, at about age 17 or 18, a second-degree sunburn unlike any previously seen by emergency room personnel, a burn that took several months to heal, not to this day completely but only to the degree of which it has been capable.

Today, those who criticize my “whiteness” might believe, as did those in the past, that insisting I “get a tan” is doing me a favor, but winding up with skin cancer – squamous cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma – is no favor.

It has taken me years to realize that those who criticize a person’s skin color are not only cruel but ignorant. Skin color can rarely be permanently changed because it is an inherited characteristic. I unsuccessfully attempted to “will” my skin darker for 35 years.

When it comes to the candidates and the issues, however, the real issue is why skin color still matters. The last time I checked, the year was 2008, not 1908, not 1808, not 1708, not 1608, not 1008.

Have we learned nothing in hundreds of years? If now is not the time to stop focusing on color and focus on character, then when? How much longer will people continue to be unreasonable and unrealistic when it comes to skin color? Color is just color, nothing more.

Criticizing another’s skin color or lack thereof is akin to criticizing the color of another’s eyes, the shape of their ears, or the size and color of their internal organs. Pets have a variety of fur colors, but I have never heard anyone criticizing a dog or cat for having fur that is “too black”, “too white”, “too tan” or “not black enough”, “not white enough”, “not tan enough”.

Those who criticize Obama’s skin color ought to examine why they are avoiding what’s really important. Because skin color is not the issue.

The Excitement Builds...

Brady — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 10:00:48 EST

It has been almost two months since my grandmother started her blog at 85andchange.com. Working on this project with her has been so exciting. She never ceases to amaze me with her energy and tenacity. She is a most amazing woman, and it means so much to me to have had this experience. I wish every grandchild could have a bonding experience like this with their grandparents. We have so much to learn from our elders.

Over the last several weeks have traveled to see Joe Bide, Bill Clinton, and Hillary Clinton. Each speaker has been an inspiration and motivational. But today the excitement hits an all time high. Today we get to go downtown and see Barack, Michelle, and Bruce Springsteen! What an appropriate and fitting end of the campaign. We are both so excited, we can't contain ourselves! The only excitement that can compare to it will come on Tuesday evening when it becomes clear that the nation has chosen Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States!

Market Outperforms Under Democrat ic President

Bruno Ierullo — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 22:47:26 EDT

I recently read an article in the New York Times around which adminstration - Republicans or Democrats - has had the most impact on the economy, and more specifically the S&P stock market index.

After reviewing the empirical data from 1929, if you had invested $10,000 under Republican Ppresidents, then your $10,000 would have grown to $11,733 (i.e. the number would have been $51,211 if you exclude the Great Depression under Herbert Hoover). However, if you had invested $10,000 under Democratic Presidents, then your returned would have ballooned to $300,671!

History has shown that a Democratic Adminstration has been good for the economy, and good for prosperity. Look at President Clinton, he was able to reduce the national debt, improve the economy, increase the average family income level, increase home ownership to the highest level, and had one of the highest returns in the S&P stock market under his Presidency. However, when the Bush adminstration came along, they immediately thrust the Amercian economy into significant peril not seen since the Great Depression. Furthermore, the Bush administration created the financial melt down, that many economists warned, since they did not provide any oversight and allowed Banks, Investment Bankers, and others to regulate themselves and over extend themselves with financial derivatives that created this financial meltdown.

Barack Obama, on the other side is seeking to stablize financial markets, and create prudent oversights so that we do not begin to leverage and gamble our future. The current situation is very ugly, and I believe that we are going to see some tougher times ahead of us over the next few years; but I feel more comfortable with Obama & Biden at the helm vs. McCain & Palin. We need a steady hand that is going to dig deep to find the root causes of this mess, and then think clearly on possible solutions.

Please click on the link below to read the New York Time Article:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/10/14/opinion/20081014_OPCHART.html

Let's make history together, as we elect Barack Obama our next President of the United States.

Well run campaign

Trish from Los Angeles, CA — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:29:48 EDT

Remember that silly John McCain celebrity ad against Barack Obama?

Here's a cute spoof.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jj9JtcbFuzk

Prominent Jewish Clevlanders Show Their Support for Obama...

Brady — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 14:16:34 EDT

I had the honor of being hired by the Cleveland chapter of the NJDC to design an ad in support of Barack Obama. The ad ran in last weeks issue of Cleveland Jewish News and included OVER 1,000 names of prominent Cleveland Jewish families who will be voting for Barack Obama! To see a copy of the ad please see the posting titled "Prominent Jewish Clevlanders Show Their Support for Obama..." at www.85andchange.com . PLEASE PASS IT ON TO ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INFLUENCED BY IT!!

PRO, not against.

Erika from Los Angeles, CA — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 14:06:02 EDT

My friend Jacks emailed me this. I loved it! Pass on the good vibes!

The year is 2016. We glance at the tv one morning and see Barack Obama having another of his many press conferences. He has now been in office for almost 8 years.

It hasn't been perfect, but things are way better than when he took office in January of 2009. You notice that his hair has whitened and he still has that winning smile and that take charge/positive energy that he had when he was campaigning way back in 2008.

You remember back to how concerned you were about whether or not he would win in 2008 and you feel deeply contented that he has been safely in office for such a long time.

He and Congress have done much to address global warming, health care, development of alternative energy sources and a variety of other important matters to the country and the planet. You feel deep gratitude for the past eight years and how things have unfolded.

See it...

Feel it...

Breathe it....

Pass it on.

Let’s stop focusing on McCain and Palin, and start concentrating on Obama-Biden. Let’s stop driving ourselves crazy with all of the upsetting details about them and start remembering all the reasons we want Obama.

Take 30 seconds right now. Close your eyes and imagine exactly what our country will feel like with Obama as president.

Imagine how good it will feel.

Imagine whatever it is about him that you desire.

Imagine the diplomacy.

Imagine the peace.

Imagine the wind mills and the clean cars.

Imagine the citizen groups.

Imagine the earth being healed and revitalized.

Imagine being very proud of your country and its leader.

Imagine whatever it is that draws you to support Obama.

We can shift and change the vibration of this country with positive visions just like this. It's only 30 seconds!

A Dozen Reasons to Vote for Barack Obama

Ron Williams — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 02:00:20 EDT

When I was making calls for Barack Obama's campaign the other day, I stopped to jot down a few of the reasons I support him:

Barack Obama believes that the separation of church and state is essential to our democracy and to the diversity of our religious practice (http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/ObamaonFaith.pdf).

Barack Obama will end the war in Iraq, directing our military commanders, in consultation with the Iraqi government, to remove our troops in 16 months, while leaving a residual force to conduct counter-terrorism missions and protect American diplomats and civilians (www.barackobama.com/issues/iraq/).

Barack Obama wants to provide affordable, accessible health care for all Americans by leveraging the existing health care system, utilizing existing health providers and plans, and saving citizens up to $2,500 per year (www.barackobama.com/issues/healthcare/).

Barack Obama will protect Social Security by opposing efforts to privatize it and working to assure its long-term solvency (www.barackobama.com/issues/seniors/).

Barack Obama supports a woman's right to choose and opposes any constitutional amendment to overturn Roe v. Wade (my.barackobama.com/page/content/womenissues).

Barack Obama will lower taxes for families making less than $250,000 a year (www.barackobama.com/taxes/).

Barack Obama wants to make college more affordable through the American Opportunity Tax Credit, which will cover the first $4,000 of college for most students, cover two-thirds of the tuition for most public colleges and universities, and make community college free for most students (www.barackobama.com/issues/education/).

Barack Obama wants to reform No Child Left Behind by funding the law, improving assessments used to track student progress, and helping schools that need to improve. (www.barackobama.com/issues/education/).

Barack Obama will support the sciences and technology by investing in the sciences and university-based research, advancing stem cell research, deploying next-generation broadband, and restoring scientific integrity to the White House (www.barackobama.com/issues/technology/).

Barack Obama wants to secure loose nuclear materials from terrorists by securing existing stockpiles and negotiating a global ban on the production of new nuclear weapons material to deny terrorists access to nuclear materials (www.barackobama.com/issues/foreignpolicy/).

Barack Obama will raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2011, indexing it to inflation and increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit to help full-time workers earn a living wage (www.barackobama.com/issues/economy/).

Barack Obama will encourage citizen service by expanding AmeriCorps from 75,000 to 250,000 to address the challenges we face, expanding volunteer opportunities for seniors, and expanding the Peace Corps (www.barackobama.com/issues/service/).

I could have listed more but decided to resume making calls instead.

10 Reasons to Vote for Barack Obama

ericxpenner — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:32:18 EDT

1. Senator Obama genuinely cares about improving the world in which we live

2. He feels that massive corporations should not be taking advantage of average people

3. His ideas of change will be a breath of fresh air in contrast to the corruption of Bush et al.

4. He was against the Iraq quagmire from the very beginning

5. He is not John McCain or Sarah Palin

6. Graduating from Harvard Law magna cum laude categorizes his intelligence as second to none

7. His history of teaching Constitutional Law ensures that he has a firm grasp on the tenets of America

8. He is a calm, well-mannered man who has proven to have an admirable demeanor regardless of what a grumpy pensioner throws his way

9. He has a vast pool of political heavyweights from which to pick cabinet members, meaning that the Obama administration will be the most capable, experienced administration of all time

10. He is Barack Obama

Bonus: A man as intelligent, as eloquent, and as transcendental as Barack Obama only comes around once every generation. Barack Obama has the ability to be that president whom I talk about for the rest of my life - just like President Kennedy was to my grandmother. Barack Obama will be that man, that inspiration.

Should America Fear the Word “Socialism?”

Joshua Hudson — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:21:10 EDT

Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been accusing presidential candidate Barack Obama of being a socialist, but do Americans even understand what that term means today? I think not: Especially when the terms socialism and communism seemed to be used interchangeably and erroneously thrown about as antonyms to capitalism and democracy.

First—get this straight—capitalism and democracy are not the same thing. Democracy is a system of government and capitalism is a system of economy. You can have a communist and capitalist society (look at China). You can also have a democratic-socialist society, a socialist-capitalist society, etc.

stealing the election

Mary etta from San Francisco, CA — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 22:09:08 EDT

How do we get the message to Obama campaign to use the money, not for more ads, but to fight the Republican efforts to disqualify Democratic voters? READ: 10-20-08 Report, Robert Kennedy Jr & Greg Palast, on Stealing the Election. We don't have enough voters to replace the millions of voters whose registrations are being destroyed by corrupt Republican officials.

My Thoughts are with the Obama Family...

Brady — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 21:41:07 EDT

My Grandmother and I were watching the news tonight when the story broke that Senator Obama's grandmother's health has taken a turn for the worse. My heart goes out to Obama tonight. As I was sitting with my grandmother and taking in this news, we both got teary eyed. We have been working together on the 85andchange.com blog, as we have worked on so many projects together, and this news hit home. My grandmother was imagining what must be going through the heart and mind of Barack's grandmother, while I was thinking of the fear and love that Barack must be feeling.

I sincerely hope that her health is strong enough to get her through the next few weeks. Win or lose, she has accompanied Barack through his amazing life, and I'm sure it will be so satisfying for her to see this journey through to election day. And I am sure it is his hope to be able to call her, or see her the moment after he is elected the next president of the United States!

On behalf of my grandmother and myself, our thoughts and prayers go out to his whole family tonight, and we pledge to do whatever we can to get her wonderful grandson elected.

If anyone cares to share a story of a bond between grandparent and grandchild, or just would like to share their hopes for Obama's grandmother - I encourage you to visit my grandmother's blog at 85andchange.com.

The Case of the Bogus Birth Certificate

Ron Williams — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:52:07 EDT

Things have gotten a little crazy. The other day, a coworker asked with great concern, “Why hasn't Obama produced his birth certificate," implying that the status of Barack Obama as a native-born U.S. citizen was in doubt. Of course, Obama has produced his birth certificate and, in fact, has posted a copy of it on BarackObama.com. To no one’s surprise, this isn’t good enough for his detractors, and elaborate conspiracy theories regarding Obama’s actual place of birth have emerged.

In an effort to address my coworker’s alarm, I went to that most respected of conspiracy theory debunkers, Fact.Check.org (an Annenberg organization), to see what I could learn about this mystery. In their article, “Born in the U.S.A.,” they say following:

In June, the Obama campaign released a digitally scanned image of his birth certificate to quell speculative charges that he might not be a natural-born citizen. But the image prompted more blog-based skepticism about the document's authenticity. And recently, author Jerome Corsi, whose book attacks Obama, said in a TV interview [on Fox News] that the birth certificate the campaign has is "fake."
We beg to differ. FactCheck.org staffers have now seen, touched, examined and photographed the original birth certificate. We conclude that it meets all of the requirements from the State Department for proving U.S. citizenship. Claims that the document lacks a raised seal or a signature are false. We have posted high-resolution photographs of the document as "supporting documents" to this article. Our conclusion: Obama was born in the U.S.A. just as he has always said.

FactCheck.org goes on to quote PolitiFact.org, which also researched the conspiracy, concluding, “It is possible that Obama conspired his way to the precipice of the world’s biggest job, involving a vast network of people and government agencies over decades of lies. Anything’s possible. But step back and look at the overwhelming evidence to the contrary and your sense of what’s reasonable has to take over” (PolitiFact.org, “Obama's birth certificate: Final chapter”).

Not satisfied by actually holding the birth certificate in their hands at Obama’s Chicago headquarters, FactCheck.org revealed that a “a birth announcement [for Obama] … had been published in the Honolulu Advertiser on Sunday, Aug. 13, 1961.”

Always cautious to a fault, FactCheck.org indicates that “it's distantly possible that Obama's grandparents may have planted the announcement just in case their grandson needed to prove his U.S. citizenship in order to run for president someday,” but that, in the final analysis, “The evidence is clear: Barack Obama was born in the U.S.A.”

I hope this information allays the concerns of my coworker, but last I heard, he was saying something about “the relationship between ACORN and Obama …”

People with a felony

Ms Denise — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 11:54:32 EDT

I would like to speak on people with a felony that have a hard time finding a Job. Some people may have a first time offense and it may not be bad as some are. I know all felonies is bad but we have some that are real bad ones. If they are first time offense and the felony is not that bad, I think they should get a chance to prove them self.

What can be done about this?? Is there any HELP??

GOOD NEWS FOR OHIO OBAMA SUPPORTERS

Gordon Broom — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:13:53 EDT

Today the U.S.Supreme Court ruled against the Ohio GOP which attempted to hijack Ohio's election by removing more than 200,000 newly registered voters from the voter rolls.

Hats off to the Ohio Supervisor of Elections who took the case all the way to the Supreme Court

YES WE CAN!

Gordon

Small Business Owner "hearts" Obama's new plan

Tricia — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:58:04 EDT

I am a sole proprietor and am very impressed with the plan laid out yesterday by Barack Obama on fixing the economy. I am astounded at his $3,000.00 tax break for every new employee. It's a brilliant way to grow business, expand the number of jobs, and create an atmosphere of success in this country.

The roads and schools are in sorry shape. I drive around North Philly and almost used to envy the people in Iraq getting all that new infrastructure. Granted Bush demolished Iraq, but the Republicans also demolished Philadelphia. Deregulation, softening of state rules, global incentives, and hatred of unions caused this great city to be brought to it's knees.

I understand everyone says that 'these manufacturingoba jobs won't come back'. But I disagree. Local manufacturing is a human need. An honest day of actually making something rather than a service economy where you are paid for hours of your life in case someone needs you.

I was talking about Ben Franklin to my young adult children to encourage them to get jobs. I said he started out making candles. My son said "At least he got to actually make candles, instead of being in meetings where they discuss the color of next years candles" Ha! He'd hit it on the nose, we are so far removed from the product of our work. We'd like to be closer to our work, closer to our food, closer to our families than this corporate global marketplace allows.

Small business will make things and make them well if given preference over communist gulag labor in China.

So here's to the New American Revolution!

Huzzah!

Over the River, and Through the Woods...

Brady — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:11:11 EDT

Granny Gobama has decided that she wants to see Joe Biden speak in Warren, OH tomorrow. We're hopeful that the Obama campaign will make another stop in Cuyahoga County at some point, but with Warren being only an hours drive, we thought it might be worth the trip! With the final debate coming up this week, we look forward to hearing from our future Vice President!!

The Hate Talk Express

Ron Williams — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:23:30 EDT

At recent stops on his Straight Talk Express, John McCain has been asking, "Who is the real Barack Obama?" Responses from audiences have included "Traitor" and "Terrorist.”

It’s no accident that we’ve come to this. Losing in the polls and on the economic issues that now dominate the election, the McCain campaign has decided that it’s only hope is to demonize Obama.

Criticizing Obama for voting against a bill to pay for the troops in Iraq, Cindy McCain said, "The day that Sen. Obama cast a vote not to fund my son when he was serving sent a cold chill through my body." In truth, Obama has voted for Iraq troop financing except for one bill that did not specify steps for withdrawal. Ironically, she didn’t mention that her husband failed to vote for a troop-funding bill because it did call for withdrawal (Smear Campaigning Should Be Beneath John McCain).

At least this sort of criticism falls within the realm of issues and policy positions, an area where Obama rightfully feels free to criticize his opponent as well. The sort of attacks we’ve heard from Sarah Palin, however, clearly do not.

At an event in Colorado, she said, "We see America as the greatest force for good in this world. Our opponent though, is someone who sees America, it seems, as being so imperfect that he's palling around with terrorists who would target their own country."

The terrorist Palin refers to is Bill Ayers, whose group, The Weathermen, carried out a series of attacks protesting the Vietnam War. After turning himself, Ayers has been a professor at the University of Illinois and was asked to chair a board for education by conservative Walter Annenberg, who also asked Obama to be on that board (Presidential terrorism).

As William Ibershof, chief prosecutor of the Weather Underground in the 1970s, wrote, "Because Senator Obama recently served on a board of a charitable organization with Mr. Ayers cannot possibly link the senator [who was eight years old at the time!] to acts perpetrated by Mr. Ayers so many years ago" (Assessing Ayers: Innuendo vs. Information).

More to the point, conservative columnist George Will pointed out that, in the context of the financial crisis, “the McCain-Palin campaign's attempt to get Americans to focus on Obama's Chicago associations seems surreal."

And even if questioning Obama’s relationship with Ayers is legitimate, “coming that close to calling your opponent a terrorist himself is incredibly dangerous and [McCain’s] crowds seem to be flirting with that line between violent vocalization and violent action” (Presidential terrorism).

But this doesn’t keep Palin from saying that Obama "is not a man who sees America like you and I see America," because for her, stoking the fire of the McCain-Palin base in this way has traction, even causing one person at a rally to say, in reference to Obama, “Kill him!”

While Palin basks in the glory of her hateful rhetoric, McCain seems less enthusiastic, more concerned about the monster his campaign has unleashed, more aware of the violence (might I say terrorism) that such hate speech can incite.

As McCain told a man at a Minnesota town hall, “he [Obama] is a decent person and a person that you do not have to be scared of as president of the United States,” many in the crowd booed.

Later, when a woman said that she didn’t trust Obama, because “he's an Arab,” McCain took the microphone from her and said, "No, ma'am. He's a decent, family man, a citizen that I just happen to have disagreements with on fundamental issues."

At the same meeting, seemingly in response to his own question – "Who is the real Barack Obama?” – McCain said, “I admire Senator Obama and his accomplishments. I will respect him, and I want … everyone to be respectful.”

Too bad the campaign messages he approves are not.

An Awesome Video....PASS ALONG!!!!

Beth — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:49:56 EDT

OBAMA 2008A must see video: Lisa Bonet's and Lenny Kavitz's Daughter, Zoe.This is the video about Obama that everyone is raving about.Make sure everybody you know sees it.There is a pause just before the end so be sure to watch it to theend then a video of Zoe is second.REPEAT - WATCH AFTER PAUSE AT END.THIS IS A POWERFUL VIDEO I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU. PLEASE SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND HAVE THEM SHARE IT WITH OTHERS.http://www.dipdive.com/dip-politics/wato/This is awesome and brings tears to my eyes knowing there is HOPE!

Truth In Our Leadership Is Now

Beth — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:03:42 EDT

Over the past few days we have witnessed such unbelievable slander from the Republican campaign. Not only has it been reported time and time again...but this platform obviously has been encouraged by the McCain campaign team. Maverick style? Maybe. I didn't realize maverick equaled the "devil's brew". Until last night...this style of campaigning was running amuck in a very large way, with Sarah Palin at the helm. Will it stop with McCain's plea for "respectability"? Unfortunately, probably not. The seeds have been planted. Does Gov. Palin know what respect is for her running mate and his request? From what I have read and listened from her....I'm thinking NOT. This kind of mongering is further proof that the Republicans view the American people as idiots who really don't want to know about the issues at hand......but they can be stirred with more fear and hate tactics. How pathetic and low can one be? Even though, we as intelligent people are above such low life.

We have a man of strength, calm in the eye of turbulance, showing a great deal of leadership in the arena of adversity.....we have our future President, Barack Obama. Sen. Obama has had to "lay to rest", at every corner, statements of clarification. He has been direct and to the point.....and then moved back to our concerns, reassuring us that we can make a change in the direction those in Washington are going. He speaks to us....not shouting slander about the "other" side.....because he knows by delving into the issues, that we want to hear about, he continues to reassure us of an open avenue to return to a respectable plane for all, for propersity for all, for good health treatment for all, for watching over and building our defense system so it will be stronger and more prepared; and, especially reestablishing a much better educational system for our young.

The Republicans are using tactics of old. Sen. Obama truly is opening the door to hope and reality for a better future. We must continue our support and willingness to help make this happen.

It is going to be an interesting 3 weeks to come. We can't rest yet thinking it's in the bag and Sen. Obama can only be in one place at a time.....he needs our help for all to fall into place.

Who is sleeping with the enemy

JUDY'S PLACE — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:41:05 EDT

Judy's Place "County First" "WHO IS SLEEPING WITH THE EMEMY? "From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Born Todd Mitchell Palin September 6, 1964 (1964-09-06) (age 44) Dillingham, Alaska, USA Nationality American Citizenship United States Education Graduate, Wasilla High School Occupation Homemaker, Oil field production worker-Commercial fisherman Employer BP Home town Wasilla, Alaska Religious beliefs Christian Spouse(s) Sarah Palin In late August 2008, The Politico reported that Palin was registered to vote as an independent ("undeclared"), and had never registered as a Republican.[12] In early September 2008, a spokesman for John McCain said Palin was now a registered Known for Champion Iron Dog snow machine racer, husband of Alaska governor Sarah Palin This article-SALON.COM Political party Alaskan Independence Party (1996-2000), Republican (2002 to present)On September 18, the McCain/Palin campaign announced that Todd Palin would refuse to testify because he does not believe the investigation is legitimate. The Alaskan Independence Party is a political party in the U.S. state of Alaska that advocates a state vote which includes several options, including increased state autonomy, territorial status, becoming a separate nation or commonwealth state, and, failing that, for increased Alaskan control of Alaskan land, gun rights, privatization, home schooling, and reduction of governmental intrusion in the private lives of its citizens with adherence to the founding documents of the United States. The party has appeared on the ballot in Alaska in all state elections since 1970.[citation needed] Oct. 10, 2008 PALMER, Alaska — On the afternoon of Sept. 24 in downtown Palmer, Alaska, as the sun began to sink behind the snowcapped mountains that flank the picturesque Mat-Su Valley, 51-year-old Mark Chryson sat for an hour on a park bench, reveling in tales of his days as chairman of the Alaska Independence Party. The stocky, gray-haired computer technician waxed nostalgic about quixotic battles to eliminate taxes, support the “traditional family” and secede from the United States. So long as Alaska remained under the boot of the federal government, said Chryson, the AIP had to stand on guard to stymie a New World Order. He invited a Salon reporter to see a few items inside his pickup truck that were intended for his personal protection. “This here is my attack dog,” he said with a chuckle, handing the reporter an exuberant 8-pound papillon from his passenger seat. “Her name is Suzy.” Then he pulled a 9-millimeter Makarov PM pistol — once the standard-issue sidearm for Soviet cops — out of his glove compartment. “I’ve got enough weaponry to raise a small army in my basement,” he said, clutching the gun in his palm. “Then again, so do most Alaskans.” But Chryson added a message of reassurance to residents of that faraway place some Alaskans call “the 48.” “We want to go our separate ways,” he said, “but we are not going to kill you.” Though Chryson belongs to a fringe political party, one that advocates the secession of Alaska from the Union, and that organizes with other like-minded secessionist movements from Canada to the Deep South, he is not without peculiar influence in state politics, especially the rise of Sarah Palin. An obscure figure outside of Alaska, Chryson has been a political fixture in the hometown of the Republican vice-presidential nominee for over a decade. During the 1990s, when Chryson directed the AIP, he and another radical right-winger, Steve Stoll, played a quiet but pivotal role in electing Palin as mayor of Wasilla and shaping her political agenda afterward. Both Stoll and Chryson not only contributed to Palin’s campaign financially, they played major behind-the-scenes roles in the Palin camp before, during and after her victory. Enjoy this story? Thanks for your support. Palin backed Chryson as he successfully advanced a host of anti-tax, pro-gun initiatives, including one that altered the state Constitution’s language to better facilitate the formation of anti-government militias. She joined in their vendetta against several local officials they disliked, and listened to their advice about hiring. She attempted to name Stoll, a John Birch Society activist known in the Mat-Su Valley as “Black Helicopter Steve,” to an empty Wasilla City Council seat. “Every time I showed up her door was open,” said Chryson. “And that policy continued when she became governor.” When Chryson first met Sarah Palin, however, he didn’t really trust her politically. It was the early 1990s, when he was a member of a local libertarian pressure group called SAGE, or Standing Against Government Excess. (SAGE’s founder, Tammy McGraw, was Palin’s birth coach.) Palin was a leader in a pro-sales-tax citizens group called WOW, or Watch Over Wasilla, earning a political credential before her 1992 campaign for City Council. Though he was impressed by her interpersonal skills, Chryson greeted Palin’s election warily, thinking she was too close to the Democrats on the council and too pro-tax. But soon, Palin and Chryson discovered they could be useful to each other. Palin would be running for mayor, while Chryson was about to take over the chairmanship of the Alaska Independence Party, which at its peak in 1990 had managed to elect a governor. The AIP was born of the vision of “Old Joe” Vogler, a hard-bitten former gold miner who hated the government of the United States almost as much as he hated wolves and environmentalists. His resentment peaked during the early 1970s when the federal government began installing Alaska’s oil and gas pipeline. Fueled by raw rage — “The United States has made a colony of Alaska,” he told author John McPhee in 1977 — Vogler declared a maverick candidacy for the governorship in 1982. Though he lost, Old Joe became a force to be reckoned with, as well as a constant source of amusement for Alaska’s political class. During a gubernatorial debate in 1982, Vogler proposed using nuclear weapons to obliterate the glaciers blocking roadways to Juneau. “There’s gold under there!” he exclaimed. Vogler made another failed run for the governor’s mansion in 1986. But the AIP’s fortunes shifted suddenly four years later when Vogler convinced Richard Nixon’s former interior secretary, Wally Hickel, to run for governor under his party’s banner. Hickel coasted to victory, outflanking a moderate Republican and a centrist Democrat. An archconservative Republican running under the AIP candidate, Jack Coghill, was elected lieutenant governor. Hickel’s subsequent failure as governor to press for a vote on Alaskan independence rankled Old Joe. With sponsorship from the Islamic Republic of Iran, Vogler was scheduled to present his case for Alaskan secession before the United Nations General Assembly in the late spring of 1993. But before he could, Old Joe’s long, strange political career ended tragically that May when he was murdered by a fellow secessionist. Hickel rejoined the Republican Party the year after Vogler’s death and didn’t run for reelection. Lt. Gov. Coghill’s campaign to succeed him as the AIP candidate for governor ended in disaster; he peeled away just enough votes from the Republican, Jim Campbell, to throw the gubernatorial election to Democrat Tony Knowles. Despite the disaster, Coghill hung on as AIP chairman for three more years. When he was asked to resign in 1997, Mark Chryson replaced him. Chryson pursued a dual policy of cozying up to secessionist and right-wing groups in Alaska and elsewhere while also attempting to replicate the AIP’s success with Hickel in infiltrating the mainstream. Unlike some radical right-wingers, Chryson doesn’t put forward his ideas freighted with anger or paranoia. And in a state where defense of gun and property rights often takes on a real religious fervor, Chryson was able to present himself as a typical Alaskan. He rose through party ranks by reducing the AIP’s platform to a single page that “90 percent of Alaskans could agree with.” This meant scrubbing the old platform of what Chryson called “racist language” while accommodating the state’s growing Christian right movement by emphasizing the AIP’s commitment to the “traditional family.” “The AIP is very family-oriented,” Chryson explained. “We’re for the traditional family — daddy, mommy, kids — because we all know that it was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. And we don’t care if Heather has two mommies. That’s not a traditional family.” Chryson further streamlined the AIP’s platform by softening its secessionist language. Instead of calling for immediate separation from the United States, the platform now demands a vote on independence. Yet Chryson maintains that his party remains committed to full independence. “The Alaskan Independence Party has got links to almost every independence-minded movement in the world,” Chryson exclaimed. “And Alaska is not the only place that’s about separation. There’s at least 30 different states that are talking about some type of separation from the United States.”

Let Us Pray

Proud Mother — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:04:56 EDT

After sitting on a Women of Faith for Obama phone call and hearing Michelle Obama speak and then reading one of my Pastor’s emails recently, it occurred to me the type of prayers Christians can pray about the upcoming election. Even on that call of Obama supporters, the ministers didn’t speak of praying that Obama get in the Whitehouse. The ministers and rabbis spoke of their reasons for supporting Senator Obama. They talked about his plans for preventing unwanted pregnancy and how pro-lifers and pro-choice advocates can work together to mend the nation and find amicable solutions. They talked about servicing the poor and healing the sick. They talked about fulfilling dreams and the vision for a better America. They talked about us as leaders in our communities, in our churches, in our families … They spoke of faith, courage and commitment. Even on a call of supporters, these women didn’t tell us that we needed to pray a candidate into the Whitehouse and that resonated with me. Their call was for peace, justice, unity and love. What I received from this call and even, in some ways, from my Pastors (though they have not directly said this) is that our prayers should be what they have always been—that God’s will be done, that we have enlightenment based on the values and principals of our faith, that we hear God. For many of us, one issue doesn’t affect us and we won’t chose a candidate based on one issue but for those brothers and sisters who feel that they must, if that is what is in their hearts, it is their right to do so. It is not up to our leaders to tell us how to chose. They are no more responsible for that than they are for telling us who to marry or what job to take. We have our own relationship with God and just as we make decisions every single day, without calling our Pastors to give us the answer in every single case, we need to make this decision. Let’s pray for all candidates—not that they win but that they are led by God in the choices they make the same as you and I hope to be. For me, as a Christian, a wife and a mother, on November 4th, there is only one choice for President—Barack Obama. I pray that he is also yours.

Lia Martin

It's Official... She's Staying Through the Election!

Brady — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:25:41 EDT

I'm happy to report that Granny Gobama has decided to stay in Ohio through the election. She already sent her request to California for her absentee ballot and has changed her flight home. The project that we launched together - 85andchange.com - has been more popular than we could have imagined and after all our effort, we could not imagine being apart on Election Day. So my grandmother will be moving over to my house to stay for a few weeks.

Together we will focus more energy on her blog, and try to get her out to even more events. This will also allow her to have further face-to-face conversations with some of her older friends here in Ohio and tell them again why she is supporting Barack Obama. Maybe... just maybe... she'll be able to convince another voter, as she was able to convince her Florida voting Son!

Go Obama!!

The Palins and domestic terrorism

Jim from Watsonville, CA — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 06:57:45 EDT

The McCain campaign is currently making much of Obama's "association" with Bill Ayers, and some formerly made much of his ties to Rev. Wright. In that context, it is worth noting:

A Google check of "Palin" and "Independence Party" revealed the following:

1.    Todd Palin, the husband of Sarah, joined the Independence Party in Alaska in Oct. 1995 and remained a member until 2002 except for a few months in 2000.

2.    The Independence Party in Alaska was founded by Joe Vogler, for the purpose of bringing about secession from the United States for Alaska, and becoming an independent nation.

    Joe Vogler was a virulent anti-American who preached armed insurrection against the United States of America. The Independence Party is often referred to as a "hate-American extremist party." A few quotes from by Joe Vogler:

    "My government is my worst enemy. I'm going to fight them with any means at hand."

    "When the (federal) bureaucrats come after me, I suggest they wear red coats. They make better targets."

    "I'm an Alaskan, not an American. I've got no use for America or her damned institutions."

    "The fires of hell are frozen glaciers compared to my hatred for the American government." (A U-Tube video is available of him saying this)

    "And I won't be buried under their damned flag. I'll be buried in Dawson." (Dawson is in Canada.)

    Joe Vogler had many memorable rants against the United States. In 1993 he persuaded the government of Iran (that's right--Iran!) to sponsor him in giving an anti-American diatribe against American "tyranny" to the United Nations. He was murdered before giving his speech. The American Independence Party blames the U. S. government for the murder.

3.    In 2006 Sarah Palin addressed the Independence Party convention, and in 2008 she taped a welcoming speech to their convention. At closing she said "Keep up the good work."

    The head of the Independence Party in 2007, speaking to their convention, said "we got one of our people in the governer's office. We have to infiltrate the Republican Party. " (This is on a U-Tube video)

4.    Can you imagine the uproar if Michelle Obma was revealed to have joined a black nationalist party whose founder preached armed secession from the United Staes and who enlisted the government of Iran in his cause? And then add a videotape of Barack himself giving the anti-American secessionists his wholehearted support just months ago.

Much of this comes from David Talbot, Salon.com, Oct. 7, 2008.

Sweet revenge for the Democrats

Daniel Baker — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:49:31 EDT

In 2004, George W. Bush did not run against John Kerry. He ran against Michael Moore. That would be the guy who looked at the pro-Saddam Iraqi insurgents who slaughter unemployed Iraqis and their children wholesale and saw Minutemen. The guy who openly entertained the idea that 9/11 was a U.S. government conspiracy, and who was and is unable to understand the U.S. economy in any other terms than a vast conspiracy of the rich, who somehow all work together harmoniously against the rest of us. John Kerry, who for all his faults was clearly the better candidate, didn't dare denounce Moore and his faction for fear of splitting the Democratic party, and that cost him the election.

The Democrats couldn't have dreamed up a better revenge scenario. For now, Barack Obama is not running against John McCain, but against that far weaker and more vulnerable candidate, George W. Bush. Obama's policy is complex and well thought-out, but his campaign is brutally simple: "McCain = Bush." Two nouns and one verb; that's as simple as it gets, and extremely effective when Bush has a 25% approval rating.

"That one"?!?!?!?!?!

Joe — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 09:29:20 EDT

Was John McCain trying to be as condescending and snarky as I think when he referred to Sen. Obama as "that one" during the debate last night?

I mean, who does he think he is, Horace Engdahl? (Lit ref for the Swedish Academy guy who told the AP that the U.S. is too mass-media oriented and insular for any of our writers to cop a Nobel anytome -- spelled that way on purpose -- soon. OK, so my blog posts will suffer in ignominy, but our hoops teams can beat yours and we're working on hockey, bub. Take that pfffffffffffftttttttttt, Mr. Fancypants Lit-er-a-ture snob!!! Whew, I'm glad I got that off my chest. I feel better now, kinda like a jolt from an caffeine-laced AED machine.)

All right, I was gone, but I'm back on track now. Why is it that no matter how many times John McCain hears "tax cut" he accuses Sen. Obama of wanting to raise taxes? Where is the short circuit in the slash-and-hide GOP brains that will cry "raising taxes, raising taxes, awwwwk" when they hear "cut taxes for 95% of Americans." J'accuse! They're trying to scare us and it's not even Halloween.

Stop Election Fraud

Robert — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:11:00 EDT

With each passing day, I hear more and more stories about voters being purged from the voting rolls in states across this nation. While it is not surprising that republican operatives are once again trying to steal the election by blocking democracy, it does infuriate me.

I think the Obama campaign needs to gather information regarding the numbers of people who republicans have purged from the voting records during the last year and create a new TV and radio ad, titled "That's Not Country First." Democrats need to link these tactics to the republicans who try to create fear about voter fraud, while election after election republicans engage in this type of Election Fraud.

Second, I believe that on all direct mail generated between now and election day, the Obama campaign needs to include a website or phone that people can access to verify that they are still registered and ensure they have not been purged from the voting rolls. In addition, volunteers doing phone banks and voter registration should have this information readily accessible to provide everyone they contact.

Finally, before voting registration deadlines pass, the Obama campaign must do a hard hitting phone bank project aimed at informing voters who have been purged, that they have been purged and will be unable to vote in the upcoming election, and providing information regarding how they can re-register and the deadline for registering in their state.

This is our democracy and we MUST protect it from those who will do anything to remain in power and continue stealing from the citizens of this nation and the citizens of the world.

Pointedly, at issue,

Karma1 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:21:29 EDT

I hope to get a vast number of readers to read my words and not merely accept them as written, but to cause even a handful who are concerned enough about this nation to actually research the information below:

   First, think about this: “How fortunate we Rulers are that the People {Voters} do not think!” a quote from Adolf Hitler.
   Second, 8 years of deficit spending, in the wake of tax cuts, and the further diminishing tax base in the U.S. economy, with the creation of the biggest U.S. Government in history; bring a halt to credit availability in the United States.
   Third, upon comparisons of the documentations presented by the web sites of each candidate, both Senators Barrack Obama, and John McCain, there is absolutely no comparison as to which candidate has thoughtfully considered the issues of our times, and sat down to think through plausible solutions. One web-site has a well defined 33 page plan, while the other web-site has a hunt and peck feature which gives anecdotal paragraphs that explain some possible options. I will let you check out the web-sites yourself; http://www.johnmccain.com and http://www.barackobama.com .
    Fourth, if indeed, being a Washington outsider is such an important part of the Presidency, then who is really for us, and who is against us? A Senator who has been caught up in several disreputable issues during his 26 years in Washington, {Keating 5, Iran/Contra, Federal Deregulation…} or the first term Senator, who has served most of his adult life in the Community/Public Sectors, working for job growth, senior health-care, beneficial education reform?
   Fifth, the term “maverick” has two well understood definitions, and I would offer one definition for Sen. McCain, as an unbranded animal, separated from its herd, it can become the property of whoever finds it and brands it. This instills a recklessness for futuristic thinking and a reluctance to deal with both truth and reality. The other definition for “maverick” an independent thinker who refuses to conform to the accepted views on a subject, more befits the likes of a thinking man like Senator Obama, who in the wake of lies, misinformation and White House delusion, and even undeniably delusional public opinion, opposed going to war with Iraq.
     Finally, we owe it to ourselves to be as educated and fact filled, not drenched in union memorandum and baseless poundings from the pulpits. We are Americans and we have every means to use logic and good sense this time around!! I promise you, the Republican party is not the same as it was when grandpa was Republican. And likewise, the Democratic party is not the same as when you volunteered for it in high school. The Republicans are positioned to continue their decidedly dangerous practice of deficit spending economics. Where the Democrats have turned over a new leaf also, called balancing the budget and reserving a financial surplus. BUT HERE IS THE TRUTH: Four more years of deficit spending in the direction that John Mccain has suggested would find the United States UNABLE to locate enough money anywhere to continue to support Her deficit. I repeat. Four more years, headed in the same direction and the U.S. will be financially, morally, spiritually, and certainly worst of all socially, BROKE!!! Read, study and learn.
Scott Draper

Think Hard Before You Vote!

Obama Donna — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 15:58:16 EDT

The following article was written by David G. YostWilliams Bay, WI This year in Wisconsin, a lot of people will make an election booth decision based on whether they simply like the guy (or woman). Some residents will chose not to vote, and let somebody else decide. Worse yet, a number of residents will make this decision based on a candidates race, age, or gender. I remember a huge discussion back home in PA when Kennedy was running against Nixon. Heaven forbid, we might have a Catholic president! The voters went to Kennedy and eventually elected Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and Bush II. Personally, I would rate this set of past presidents based on whether they could think through an issue and understand what is going on. There is no argument that the last one has proven that there is indeed a risk in electing a C-student for the top job. You don't need all A's but you better have the skills to master the job. Thankfully, John Kennedy thought through the Cuban Missile Crisis. President Clinton proved that when you understand economics, you can engineer a surplus.This year in particular, we are faced with a truly enormous decision. I would urge everyone in this state to ask themselves whether we can even take a chance on having John McCain elected to the presidency, knowing full well his history of support to the very powers that be that got us where we are today. Its not all his fault. He's still getting snowed by his advisors and those in the white house. He's even changed his attitude a bit on deregulation. But the bottom line is he was one of those C-students. He lets other influence him but pretends to still be a maverick. Senator Obama is a bit new to many of you. I don't think there is a more sincere politician anywhere. Columbia and Harvard are not schools you get into easily. He has a good head, picks wise advisors, and knows where to get the experience he lacks. He spoke out about this mortgage mess and the costs of deregulation long before Senator McCain realized the economy was a serious issue. We have to look at one guy who just stopped paying for student loans, lives in the standard two places most of our senators live in, and has the organizational skills to get this far. We should compare this to the history Senator McCain, the C-student who does not really understand this himself. He is being influenced by the very people he helped deregulate. The very same senator (Phil Gramm) that co-sponsored the 2000 bill that led to this mess is on McCain's team today. The C-student candidate is getting snowed.If you are still in doubt, think about it. Speculators built this housing boom, deregulation allowed it to be financed with no loan documentation and no money down, and the ratings agencies kept calling the risks worthy of a AAA rating. Is this fraud or pure fiscal mismanagement? Time has some very good stories on this. Read them and decide whether you can vote for the senator who fully supported all of this. If thats not enough, think about how Senator McCains VP would handle it.

Joe Biden in Flat Rock, MI

A Family For Change... — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 20:50:34 EDT

I was extremely excited and pleased to see that Biden was here in my City, just 10 minutes from my home and at the High School that my son attends. This was a great up close look at the candidate that I hope is to be our next V.P.

My son, daughter and I all attended this historical event and Biden was personable, social and most important a genuinely normal person just like you and I; not a stiff shirt politician.

He took lots of time shaking hands with just about all the people that he could reach including me. He also stopped for personal photos upon request, Biden took a photo with me as he held my camera and snipped the photo; just a down to earth kind of guy... This was a wonderfully experience and one that my children will be able to say that they were a part of history. I am glad we could be there!

"John McCain is the most wonderful, thoughtful, bravest, caring maverick, aaaah, man I know."

The Pollitikat — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 08:40:47 EDT

I didn’t know skirting around, and showing zero understanding of the issues means qualified to be president. I mean the woman recited from her “memory cards”. I thought Sarah was terrible, she didn’t answer any of the question and the answers she gave were disturbing. All Sarah proved tonight was that she could read and memorize. Being folksy and witty is not an answer to the question. I was not impressed, you have to be more than a pretty face and know how to speak, you should actually know something, and I don’t think she proved that tonight. The most important thing Sarah said tonight was that she agreed with the Cheney philosophy of expanding the role of vice president that bothers me.

Sarah reminded me of an aggressive small dog that is hyper and barks at everything that passes. She was just on the attack and she offered no real solutions. She was not even familiar with John McCain’s record. Seems like all she did to prep for the debate was memorize answers and watch the democratic primary debates, too bad she didn’t come with any facts. The most amusing thing she said was that examing the Bush years was looking backwards towards the past. “You prefaced your whole comment on the Bush years …dog done it.” Those darn Bush years, which John McCain agreed with George Bush the majority of the time, we should just forget about that. The pesky past. Hilarious!!

The McCain/Palin ticket offers no solutions to any of the questions that face our nation. All they did was trash what the other guys is proposing without putting forth their own vision. I find it to be a very empty ticket that’s only appeal is the "celebrity" of Sarah. This has proved to me more than ever that Sarah is not ready to be vice president, she did makes mistakes by not answering the questions, and not knowing what she was talking about, and I think equating yourself with Cheney is a pretty big mistake. You could see the light go off in Joe Bidens head when she did that, he almost burst out of his skin. She talked about expanding the role of vice president. Bingo! Cheney in a skirt. When asked what her role would be as vice president, she said John McCain asked her to work on energy, special needs, help reform Washington. What does that mean, when you just talked about exerting power over the senate? Even on Energy she didn’t seem to know more than Joe Biden, and she regurgitated her answer for energy on about four or five of the questions that had nothing to do with energy. Smile, wink, smile!!! Wink, wink!! I don’t want my politicians winking at me, ‘cause I don’t know what you’re talking about when you do that. Are you saying “I’m kidding”, “I don’t mean what I’m saying”, “just go along, and I’ll explain later”, that’s what it means to me.

For women the fact that pundants are saying that she did well in this debate is a real set back. To have a bar set so low, her main qualification is her "cuteness". Selecting Sarah Palin is affirmative action at its worst, and speaks to John McCain’s lack of respect for the nation and the position of president. She corrected Joe about the "drill, baby, drill" but she didn’t know much about the economy or foreign policy. Her main headlines were taxes, maverick, and reform, all of which were knocked down successfully by Biden. He effectively attacked McCain’s record and tied him to Bush. I’m not saying a woman is not ready for the position, but this woman clearly is not. She came off very rehearsed, even during the times she looked into the camera I don’t think she connected, she looked drone-like. At times I felt like I was watching a terrible remake of the Manchurian Candidate, "John McCain is the most wonderful, thoughtful, bravest, caring maverick, aaaah, man I know."

I also think she wants to be at the top of the ticket. She did have the slip of saying that John McCain is the guys we most need to "leave"...oops, lead.

Why Get Involve ?

Marvin Dean — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:58:15 EDT

Why I get involve ?Tthis is truely history in the making. As an Black American citizen with root to Africa and someone who knows his elders past history and the journey travel to this country.We all love the United State of America. From salvey to freedom with a very high price paid by my fore father hanging , dieing and unhuman conditions, but never giving up on this country's bill of rights that all men are create equal and with God's help this day would come where anyone can reach any position they work for. Now in our life time we have a Black Man name Obama that may be the next President of the United State of Ameria if we do our part to help. To change and improve conditions, will only come to those who get involve and work to empower them self , don't set back and complain, get involve help make things better for yourself, family, community and this world we all live in & share. Ps; God help us all , if we have 8 more years of the same past 8 years ! You need to ask your self the same question "Why Get Involve" or "Why Not Get Involve". I'd like to invite you to attend our Oct. 16, 2008 Voter Education & Registration Event @ 6-8 pm, location: 1330 E. Truxtun Ave. Bakersfield, Ca. 93305 contact #661-747-1465. The last day to register to vote is Oct. 20, 2008 that your frist step in the process to make a different getting register to vote.

5 Reasons Why McCain Lost the First Debate

RB — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 16:35:50 EDT

Depending upon whom you ask looks as though Obama won last night's first 2008 Presidential Debate.

The biggest issues on the table were regarding the Economy and Foreign Policy/ International Affairs.

Obama came out STRONG and very Clear when speaking on America's Economic future, while McCain seemed to shine when discussing Foreign Policy stuff.

Personally I believe it could have been considered a tie, however several Polls indicate that Obama won.

This debate was McCain's for the taking but he somehow dropped the ball.

Maybe he was tired, a little nervous, distracted, etc., whatever the case he didn't deliver, nor did he maximize his Leadership Potential thus he basically handed the winning baton to his opponent.

Here's five reasons why I think McCain lost the first debate:

1) When talking to Obama or about Obama, McCain appeared to do so in a Condescending tone, as if he were saying "I know everything because I'm Older and you know nothing".

That type of attitude is insulting to today's Younger, more Politically Active generation.

According to Public Opinion, perhaps this is the MAIN reason he did NOT do so well during the debate.

While its true McCain may in fact have gained more Foreign Policy experience due to his Military Service, that doesn't necessarily prove he has the BEST Skills and Insight needed to effectively lead our country in today's Modern world.

It's going to take more than just being a "War Hero" to perform this job.

In case McCain isn't aware, the people have already decided that this race will NOT be won out of mere pity for one candidate over another.

Although we DO appreciate his Patriotic Duty, millions of Registered Voters want to know what else can he offer the Elderly, Baby Boomers, Generation Y, etc.,

Senator McCain in the words of the "old school" Janet Jackson song, "what have you done for us lately"?

2) McCain seemed to have a difficult time facing Obama, as though he couldn't stand to look at him.

In most cases NOT being able to face one's opponent implies either Fear, Contempt or Deep Hatred.

Despite Senator Obama running against McCain for the most prestigious job in this nation, he's never demonstrated ANY serious ill feelings toward him.

Instead Obama has continued to be very genuinely RESPECTFUL and Cordial towards his Congressional colleague, just as he was with Senator Hillary Clinton during their race for the Democratic Nominee spot.

Obama's consistent ability to maintain his composure and appear relaxed regardless of whatever situation he's in, is actually a trait greatly admired not only by those in the Professional arena but more so within Military Society.

When it comes to handling delicate matters or bringing ORDER to a Major Crisis, displaying COOL WIDSOM counts more so than having earned ten College degrees or serving 20+ years in the Armed Services.

Being able to disagree with someone while behaving agreeably, is also a positive Character attribute McCain seems to lack.

Isn't that a Social Skill Human Beings are supposed to learn in their earlier years of development?

Perhaps prior to the next debate McCain should try reading the book "All I Really Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten" by author Robert Fulghum, so he can discover/ learn how to "Play" nicely with his peers.

For the next round Senator McCain needs to lighten up, appear less tense and look at his opponent, even smile at him. I guarantee it won't hurt.

Or....

Just keeping being a Stubborn, Anti-Social "Hothead" who can't adapt to C-H-A-N-G-E and lose the election.

3) When discussing the Economy and the recent Wall Street Fiasco, McCain seemed out of touch with the regular, "everyday Joe" type of citizen.

He never once mentioned what he would do to help America's Middle-Class population.

What does McCain know about Financial Hardship?

After all he's basically had EVERYTHING handed over to him on a Silver platter throughout his entire life.

Being a member of the "White, Privileged, Male's Network" (No Offense), and marrying an Uber Wealthy Woman, also has a way of giving Men a certain level of confidence.

Can it be safely said that Mr. "I don't know how many homes I own" McCain, will NEVER know the terrible feeling of going "belly up" if Wall Street crashes?

No wonder he doesn't seem to mind if the Government "BAILS OUT" some of his RICH, RICH, RICH friends at the expense of Lower Income Taxpayers!

By the way wasn't McCain Chairman of the Commerce Committee even as recently as 2007?

Doesn't that mean he's sort of RESPONSIBLE for this current WALL STREET MESS?

Hey wait a minute! Isn't Senator John McCain also a member of the "Friend to the Lobbyists Club"?

His campaign staff even includes a few Lobbyists.

Hmmmm Interesting

4) The Palin Pick.

McCain's decision to choose a SERIOUSLY, UNQUALIFIED Veep continues to ring loud in the minds of Voters.

He's still paying and being judged for having made such a "Bonehead" move!

Thus even before McCain stepped to the podium yesterday evening, many viewers already had a negative perception of the guy, of which obviously didn't help his ratings.

NO OTHER Presidential Candidate in the history of the Free World would have chosen a V.P. with a background like Sarah Palin's but McCain DID.

Speaks well of his judgement doesn't it?

So because McCain (out of DESPERATION) chose an UNPREPARED, I repeat UNQUALIFIED Government Official for his running mate, the American people are supposed to just overlook his poor decision and vote for that ticket anyway?

No Way Dude!

5) McCain's history of supporting the current Administration will probably haunt him forever.

Despite him trying to appear as if he's "NOT more of the SAME", his Congressional Voting Record demonstrates his loyalty to the Bush Political Legacy.

(You can take a peek at it here.)

Don't get it twisted!

People are NOT against the Republican Party per se, they just DON'T want another four years of the SAME Policies being executed on Capitol Hill.

Sadly enough Senator McCain hasn't been able to shake his image of being Bush's prodigy.

Well as I stated above this debate was McCain's for the taking but Obama walked away with the ball in his court.

I guess it's back to the drawing board this week for McCain and Palin.

Here's the remainder of the 2008 Presidential Debate Schedule:

October 7, 2008: In a town hall format, Belmont University, Nashville, TN (9 PM ET)

October 15, 2008: Domestic Policy focus, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY (9 PM ET)

Dem. Veep pick Senator Joe Biden and Rep. Veep pick Gov. Sarah Palin will spar on October 2, 2008 at Washington University in St. Louis, MO.
(I can hardly wait for this one.)

NATIONAL POLLS:

CBS Insta: Barack Obama won 39% to John McCain's 25% with 36% saying the debate was a draw.

CNN: Reports Voter opinions that Obama "did better" 51%, McCain "did better" 38%.

INSIDER ADVANTAGE: Obama won 42% to McCain's 41% with Undecided 17%.

MSNBC ON-LINE (Non-Scientific): Showed Obama winning the debate 52% to 33%.

Sources: CNN, MSNBC, Slate, Washington Post, Huffington Post, Politico, Reuters, Real Clear Politics, Kansas City.com, YouDecide2008.com, Project Vote Smart

McCain Suspends Campaign ... Again

Ron Williams — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:24:27 EDT

John McCain announced that he has suspended his presidential campaign “until this [financial] crisis is resolved.”

This is the second time McCain has suspended his campaign. If you recall, he cancelled the first day of the Republican National Convention due to another crisis -- Hurricane Gustav.

This makes one wonder if he would suspend his presidency in time of some future national emergency!

Sarah Palin’s Big Foreign Policy Adventure

Ron Williams — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 20:16:11 EDT

John McCain’s campaign must have noticed that people are concerned about Sarah Palin’s lack of foreign-policy experience, in spite of the fact that “you can actually see Russia from ... Alaska” (Charlie Gibson Interviews Sarah Palin).

To address her apparent ignorance in this key area, Palin had a spate of meetings with foreign leaders on September 23 in New York City. She first met with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan and then talked to President Álvaro Uribe of Colombia. To end her big foreign policy day, she met with that quintessential American foreign policy wonk, State Henry Kissinger.

So I guess Joe Biden won’t be able to say during the vice-presidential debate that Palin has never met with a foreign leader, but I don’t think her instant educational will convince people who are truly concerned about her knowledge of international affairs.

Senator Chuck Hagel (R, Nebraska), member of the Foreign Relations committee, expressed similar feelings last week, when he said, “She doesn't have any foreign policy credentials.... You get a passport for the first time in your life last year? I mean, I don't know what you can say. You can't say anything." Responding to the assertion that the proximity of Alaska to Russia evidences her foreign-policy experience, Hagel added, "I think they ought to be just honest about it and stop the nonsense.... That kind of thing is insulting to the American people” (Sen. Hagel doubts Palin's ready).

Even Laura Bush, of all people, said of Palin’s foreign policy background, “Well, obviously, of course, she does not have that.… but I think that she is a very quick study” (Laura Bush Calls Palin “Quick Study”)

Somehow I’m not reassured. When it comes to the person who is a heartbeat away from the presidency, I’d prefer someone who’s ready to do the job right now to a “quick study.”

Hopefully the American electorate is also concerned about Palin’s lack of qualifications and what McCain’s choice of her says about his leadership abilities.

First Time

Suzanne from Anderson, CA — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 10:48:53 EDT

I've never written a blog before. I assume no one cares about my disconnected thoughts but this time in our history is too important. This gives me the opportunity to share my thinking, even if it's just with myself. When the 2000 election was stolen from Gore, I thought our system couldn't get worse. Then a second Bush term. I knew we had hit bottom but I was wrong. A McCain administration would ruin the prospects for me to have a retirement, for my son to have a decent life, for anyone but the wealthy to accomplish anything. These are truly dire times for this county. I started watching Obama in 2004. I thought highly of him but realy didn't think he had the experience to be president. However the campaign demonstrated how wrong I was. He makes me feel the way I think JFK must have made people feel when I was small. He brings a feeling of cleanliness, thoughfulness, and potential that we don't see with someone that has been in Washington for several decades. I think we need that euphoric feeling these days. All the news is dismal (the war, economy, unemployment) and we just keep getting into darker times. Obama gives us the opportunity to see light at the end of the tunnel, otherwise all we get is a train that's about to run us over.

A Change ARose

Bettie from Antioch, IL — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:26:07 EDT

A Change ARose by Bettie A. Bridges Written on 7/13/08, 11:45 pm We Should Have an OBAMAnation For The Way Things Are And We Should Be BIDEN’ For Change! Bettie A. Bridges

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

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!!!!!!!!!

Obama Supporter Bernie Sanders Puts forth a Fair Economic Proposal

eznelson — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 14:37:07 EDT

Billions for Bailouts! Who Pays?

Summary: The current financial crisis facing our country has been caused by the extreme right-wing economic policies pursued by the Bush administration. These policies, which include huge tax breaks for the rich, unfettered free trade and the wholesale deregulation of commerce, have resulted in a massive redistribution of wealth from the middle class to the very wealthy.

This is an excellent plan by Senator Bernie Sanders that I think all progressive leaders and congresspeople should at least read. Hopefully Barack Obama can get behind some, if not all, of the points in this economic plan.

There is no reason why middle class America should be fleeced on the way up and on the way back down by the Republican elite. Republican policy of "socializing risk" on the backs of middle American taxpayers has got to end.

Manufacturing and Infrastructure -- a call to action

James Middleton — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:02:32 EDT

As Democrats, we need to ensure the prosperity of our workers. There is no better way to do this than to ensure the prosperity of our manufacturing base.

I was reading an article in the New York TImes:

In the closing weeks of the presidential race, Mr. Obama is urgently working to seize the economic issue, using the collapse of Wall Street firms to illustrate a need for greater regulation and stronger oversight in the financial sector. But he is facing a challenge on that front from Senator John McCain, who has adopted a populist reformer message in vowing to “clean up Wall Street.”

This is the perfect time to pivot to a new issue -- one that McCain won't even see coming. TALK ABOUT MANUFACTURING AND FARMING.

This election HAS to be about manufacturing. China has eclipsed our country as the world's most productive. But we CAN change that, and we had better -- because if we don't, what in the hell are we going to do? Sit around and blog all day long?

If Mr. Obama wants to talk about specifics, I suggest that he move to ratchet up the discussion on green energy products. WE CAN BUILD SOLAR PANELS, WINDMILLS, and GENERATORS -- RIGHT HERE in America! And moreover -- in addition to being energy-independent -- we can sell that technology to other countries, and make a fortune -- literally.

We must address this. If you read my blog post, send it to the Obama for America folks, by using the Contact form. If you agree with me that we need to do this, then support the idea by voting for it. By sending the story to Obama (and to others) you are casting your vote, and lending your support.

If I'm off-base, then I will know -- because this idea won't start popping up in Barack's daily speeches. But if it IS a good idea, then I'm relying on all of you to help the campaign out.

Look -- Senator Obama himself said that we "need to pay attention to Main Street as well as to Wall Street." I just can't think of a much better way to do that than by ensuring that millions of auto, farm, and textile manufacturing workers have a stake in this election. The stakes are too high to simply let the financial analysts grab all of the headlines.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Sammy James
http://www.sammyjames.com
sammy@sammyjames.com

Boston, MA

"Restoring and Protecting the Economy" by Barack Obama

eznelson — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 12:32:26 EDT

Prepared Remarks, Espanola, New Mexico September 18

http://www.opednews.com/articles/2/Restoring-and-Protecting-t-by-Barack-Obama-Unit-080918-648.html

This is a must read for everyone who has hope for a new future and for everyone who wants there to be a United States as we once had.

Rocky Mountain Women

Holly Wyble — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 14:24:54 EDT

Dear Ladies of a cause greater than Ourselves and Families,

Thank you for signing up to be a part of this group and to bring your insight, ideas, creativity and passion to exchange with other women. Please send an email to the group about events or happenings involving the campaign so that we can enlighten one another to participate. In creating this group, I am excited to possibly cross paths with some of you along the volunteer trail. Recently, my family moved here from Pittsburgh, PA where I held a fundraiser for Obama and volunteered locally. As a normally registered Indepedent, I was drawn to Barack Obama in December of 2006 after receiving his book "Dreams from My Father" as a Christmas gift from my fiance. His clarity of living as a multicultural individual in melting pot world was insightful and gifted. I bought his other book, "The Audacity of Hope" and was amazed at the thought and interpretation of our constitution as how it applies to our values as a nation and the policies which stem from those values; I will not say I agree with everystance he takes (I am a fervent supporter of gay marriage and gay rights, for one), but he is honest, succinct and thoroughly knowledgable, in my personal opinion. It is my belief that those who have been caught in the 'rumor rhetoric' of this campaign miss his intention, his depth and his true desire to be of service to this country. As we stand on the brink of what is the single, most monumental decision of this century to date, it is my hope and prayer that we all enter this election process with an open mind and heart and vote to do what is right for ALL Americans and the country as a WHOLE, not individual interests that play to financial advantage and back door decisions.

I met John McCain close to ten years ago when he first ran as a Republican nominee for President. I attended college in New Hampshire and was graced with the exposure to many political figures with NH's prominence in the political primary. He was a maverick then, identified more as an independent soul than a Republican. I believe that had he won his party's nomination in place of Bush and the Presidency, our policies would be different and that perhaps an era of bipartisanship would have been produced. However, McCain is barely a shell of the man that I remember meeting in our school's Great Room; he has become, I feel, overcome with the prospect of his own place in history and a notion of deserved recognition to his country for his military years and capture as a POW. Coupled with his age, this only makes this election more critical; he stands no chance of running again if he does not win. But service to one's country does not make one a natural leader; and maverick as he once was, he has aligned himself with Bush's policies to pacify his party to gain their backing. Choosing governor Palin, a devistating selection for Vice-President, not to mention irresponsible and obvious, has only diminished any respect and honor I once felt for John McCain.

Barack and Michelle Obama, their family life, their morals, their transparency and their willingness to step forward to lead in a country that still harbors resentment of any racial progress for those not white in pockets across America, speaks to me of the truth of the American dream. Not that it is a manifest destiny or a salvation, but that someone who has worked so hard, with effort, without family ties, without financial ability, with commitment to this country through solid actions and choices, could stand up at risk to himself, his family, his identity, his career and his link to African American identity and say yes, I want to represent America, not for myself or my own greatness, but because I truly recognize the potential of this country. Because when I look in the mirror, I see not just myself or a color or a race, but I see all those I meet along this path: rich, poor, white, Latino, black, young, old, Democrat, Republican. Because when I envision America, it is not an 'Exceptional' country in this world, but it is a country of exceptional individuals who work hard to guarantee the civil liberties and ideals for everyone who is a part of this nation. Because when I look at the world, I do not see America as the ideal for others to emulate, I see the potential for all others to have prosperity and freedom if they choose it, and I will aid them in their journey as my brother and sister countries, not as their unchosen Creator. Barack Obama speaks to me in a thousand different languages and faces because he is, to me, the empty vessel that pours out to all of us the beauty and grace and peace that we long for in our own being and souls. He is the action of his word, he walks his talk and he carries himself with the same dignity and respect that he affords all others. I am proud that my family and myself support his bid to become President and I hope you will share with me and others why you also support his campaign. In sharing, in laying our truths and spirits to light and one another, we ourselves become the morals and values we eminate and long for; we become human and strengthen the connection we all share as one spirit, one nation, one world. Thank for reading my words and contributing your own, remember to keep your heart light and bright against the darkness and greed that is so dominant at times in this campaign and to bless the Obamas with strength, courage and safety as they nobly pursue this endeavor at a cornerstone of our country's development. Whatever your religion, your race, your gender, your age, your being...you have my blessing for participating. Aho.

My Letter to the Editor

Obama Donna — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:06:23 EDT

When I hear one of the candidates for President say, "The fundamentals of our economy are strong," I have to speak out. It is so important in this campaign for Americans, whether Democrat, Republican, or Independent, to think long and hard about the state our country is in. Regardless of party, we should study the issues, and when we go into the booth to vote on November 4th, make our decision based on a good knowledge of the real facts and not campaign rhetoric. Too often, voters stubbornly vote along party lines instead of what is the best for America. This year has to be different. We must be informed and vote our conscience. We must check out facts presented for the truth. There are non-partisan websites like Snopes.com or Truthorfiction.com, that will tell you what is the truth and what is a rumor, lie, or misinformation. I researched the following information and it can be verified at the sites noted:The unemployment rate is up to 6.1%, a five-year high, this quarter and more than 10 percent of Americans are unemployed or underemployed, a nearly 25-percent increase from one year earlier (Wall Street Journal). More than a half million Americans (530,000) have been subject to mass layoffs in the last year. Real estate foreclosures in the U.S. were up 75 percent in 2007. The overall rate in the U.S. was 10.3 per 1,000 households. Eight states ended the year with foreclosure rates of more than 15 per 1,000 households (CBS News), yet Exxon-Mobil smashed the record for highest profits ever made by a public U.S. company by posting a net profit of $40.6 billion in 2007. To put these figures in perspective, Exxon made $77,245 per minute in 2007—that’s more money generated per minute than 70 percent of Americans earned all year according to the Census Bureau (Center for American Progress).Over the past nine months, global food prices have soared 40 percent, while food reserves are at 30-year lows (CNN Money). Energy prices were up 6.6% in the month, led by a 10.1% jump in gas prices. That left gasoline prices up nearly a third from a year earlier.Many people, tired of politics as usual, think nothing will be done any differently when one of our candidates becomes President in 2008. I urge all of you to think carefully about how the past eight years have affected 95% of the American population, and that John McCain has the same economic policies that President Bush has had. McCain thinks multimillionaires are members of the middle class, homeowners are to blame for the housing crisis, and Big Oil needs more tax breaks. Barack Obama will put the middle class first. He’ll pass a middle class tax cut that gives 95% of working Americans a tax cut of up to $1,000—and he’ll give families an emergency energy rebate to help folks cope with rising gas prices. For example, in the $38 to $66 thousand salary bracket, McCain's plan gives a tax break of $31. Obama's plan gives a break of $1042. In the $603 thousand to 2.8 million brackets, McCain's plan gives a tax break of $45,361 while Obama's plan will tax them $119,574 more (Tax Policy Center.org)! He will tax the big oil companies on their record profits, and put that money to use for the middle class. He’ll offer students a $4,000 tax break to pay for tuition in exchange for doing 100 hours of community service. And he’ll raise the minimum wage and index it to inflation. He will eliminate income tax for seniors making less than $50,000 per year. He will eliminate oil and gas loopholes. And there is so much more. Check out the Major Tax Revisions Chart at Tax Policy Center.org ( a non-partison research firm that reports factual, proven, information to the American consumer) where there is a comparison chart showing the two candidates economic policies.Barack Obama is the clear choice for American families. Barack Obama has been working for the poor and the middle class all of his adult life, and I hope that Americans will reach deep inside their conscience and have a spirit of love for ALL the people in our great country when they vote on November 4th. When this candidate spoke on Labor Day, I heard and will forever remember these words, “If there’s a poor child out there that’s my child; If there’s a man out there who lost his job, that’s my brother. If there’s a senior out there in trouble, that’s my grandparent; If there’s a woman out there without health care, that’s my sister.” Vote your conscience for the largest majority of the American people. You really can make a difference!

From inspiration to action

Brenda — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:07:07 EDT

Flipping channels on the television early in the primaries as my daughter and I put a puzzle together on the floor, I wondering who I would support in the upcoming election. The tv station I'd stopped on was airing a stump speech of a man running for President that I knew very little about other than his name, and remembered because I'd been in DC the previous spring and happened to pass him and a few body guards in the halls of one of the Senate office buildings.

As I heard this man speak for the first time (I confess, I missed his big 'coming out' address to the DNC and the nation back in 2004. I was probably putting the baby to bed), I heard hope, and I heard my values come from his mouth. I heard a message from a man of my generation, who turned left when his education had prepared him to turn right, who made a commitment to making this nation a better, more equal society for those who have been left behind in the big rush to succeed by acquisition of things.

I also heard him say that he was not going to be able to do this alone--and he called on each and every one of us as Americans to get involved.

As Barack Obama spoke, we listened, and we stepped up. With a killer online outreach program, and an ability to get even us single parents to open our pocketbooks to support a presidential candidate, he won our minds and our hearts, and brought us hope.

Like many others, I've to start giving up some free time to volunteer at the local campaign office, and to help register neighbors and community members to vote, and drug my 3 year old to events to have a sense of community and fellowship with others who also spent the last seven yeaars helplessly watching this country go down the tubes. I now have a sense of WE, as millions of others around the country have as well--and the candidate on the other side of the aisle who wants to keep this nation on the same track it's been on, serving the same interests rather than those of the people, is getting desperate to fight the sense of unity that Barack Obama has stirred.

But as I am energized to help on this campaign as best I can, I also remember that Barack Obama's call to action in service to our country is not just through the election cycle. On November 5th, our real work will begin. I believe that in order for the the changes I want to see to come about, we must stay engaged, we must continue to be active in our communities and participate in civil society.

And I believe that Barack Obama has pulled together a team of, dare I say it, community organizers, and a social network that has bridged the divide, and broken through the isolation and helplessness that many of us have felt as we watched our country fight the wrong battles in the wrong places, play word games with the Constitution to step on the rights of our citizens and of prisoners of war among many other abuses of power too numerous to list in this post.

Barack Obama's plans are for an even better America, one that puts the health and welfare of it's citizens before the insurance companies that look for reasons to not pay out; puts the desire for people to work and be able to support their families above the interests of corporate execs and stockholders who are laying people off while taking big dividends and bonuses for themselves (as they run from the economic disasters they've created with their mismanagement and greed); that invests in research and development of new, green energy sources that brings us toward self-sufficiency in the energy market, and an America that sees the investment in the education of our children as a way of keeping the nation strong, energized and productive.

My point is this--we are making a difference, and each of us can affect the outcome of this election, by stepping up--helping to make calls, registering voters, sharing Barack Obama's plans for leading America and dispelling the mean spirited lies about Barack with our friends and family members who are truly agonizing over who they should vote for.

Once we have elected the President who has this vision, and these plans, we must be prepared to do our part, to continue to put the needs of our community first.

And I believe that the lessons that we've all learned over the past eight years will not be lost come January--but will keep us going and keep us engaged for the long haul.

Counteracting Lies, Distortions, and Misrepresentations About Barack Obama

Ron Williams — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:50:53 EDT

When you hear one of the many distortions, misrepresentations, and downright lies about Barack Obama repeated, how do you respond? Here’s some provide information refuting five common misrepresentations.

1. Barack Obama has never introduced or sponsored any meaningful legislation.

Obama sponsored the following passed legislation:

The Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Initiative, signed into law by President Bush on January 11, 2007. “The … initiative expands U.S. cooperation to destroy conventional weapons. It also expands the State Department's ability to detect and interdict weapons and materials of mass destruction” (http://obama.senate.gov/press/070111-lugar-obama_non/).
Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act, cosponsored by Tom Coburn (R, OK) from Oklahoma, Tom Carper (D, Del), and Barack Obama and signed into law by President Bush on September 26, 2006. The act created a web site (http://www.usaspending.gov/) where Americans can see how our Federal tax monies are being spent.
Legislative Transparency and Accountability Act. The final bill that the Congress passed closely drew key provisions from a bill that Senators Obama and Feingold introduced in January 2007. Among the provisions in the Obama-Feingold bill adopted were strict bans on receiving gifts and meals from lobbyists, new rules to slow the revolving door between public and private sector service, and ending the subsidized use of corporate jets.

2. Barack Obama has never reached across the aisle.

Obama reached across the aisle when he cosponsored The Lugar-Obama Nonproliferation Initiative (detailed above) with Richard Lugar (R, Indiana).

3. Obama is not an agent of change, because he votes with his party.

This is a classic red herring. While it is true that Obama voted with his party 96% of the time during the current Congress (The Washington Post), in an election in which both sides proclaim that change is key, Obama’s voting record demonstrates that he represents change from Republican governance. John McCain, on the other hand, “in 2007 McCain voted in line with the president's position 95 percent of the time – the highest percentage rate for McCain since Bush took office – and voted in line with his party 90 percent of the time” (“McCain voted with George Bush”). If the goal is change, it is clear that Obama votes against Republican government 96% of the time, while McCain votes for it 88%.

4. Obama puts politics before country.

We often hear McCain’s say, "I'd rather lose an election than see my country lose a war," and that Obama put politics ahead of country when he opposed the surge in Iraq. Lacking psychic powers, we can’t attribute Obama’s motives vis a vis this position. It is interesting, however, that the same accusation could be leveled against McCain for his pick of Sarah Palin as running mate. You don’t have to take my word on this. Here’s what Karl Rove had about choosing a vice president.

Discussing Obama’s potential choice of Tim Kaine, Governor of Virginia, Rove said, "With all due respect … to Governor Kaine, he's been a governor for three years.… He was mayor of the 105th-largest city in America [Richmond, VA].… It's not a big town. If [Obama] were to pick Governor Kaine, it would be an intensely political choice, where he's said, 'You know what? I'm really not first and foremost concerned with, is this person capable of being president of the United States? What I'm concerned about is, can he bring me the electoral votes of the state of Virginia, the 13 electoral votes in Virginia?'"

If Tim Kaine would have been a “political choice,” because he lacked sufficient experience, what does that say about McCain choice of Palin. Palin was mayor of Wassila, Alaska, a city significantly smaller than Richmond. (Richmond's population is over 200,000, while at the end of Palin's tenure as mayor in 2002, Wassila had about 6,300 residents.) Also, while Kaine has been governor of Virginia for almost three years, Palin has been governor of Alaska for less than two. If we apply Rove’s logic, McCain’s choice of Palin is clearly political, because, based on her relative experience, she is obviously not qualified to assume the job of the presidency.

In this case, it appears that McCain put politics before country.

5. Sarah Palin is more qualified than Obama, because she has executive experience.

If executive experience, at any level, is the sole criterion for qualification, then Sarah Palin is more qualified than John McCain as well as Barack Obama, yet I don’t hear the Republicans saying she should be their presidential.

Using Rove's logic again, Palin is not qualified to be Vice President.

Why the Financial Meltdown Reflects the Fundamental Failure of the Bush-McCain Economic Philosophy

Curtis — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:02:18 EDT

Robert Creamer

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/why-the-financial-meltdow_b_126802.html?view=print

Posted September 16, 2008

The financial meltdown on Wall Street is more than a cyclic correction brought on by a mismanaged business cycle. It is emblematic of a problem at the very foundation of the right wing economic philosophy that became conventional wisdom during the Bush years -- and would be continued in a McCain presidency.

The zealots of unfettered "free markets" cast aside the critical lesson that the world learned during the Great Depression: left to their own devices, unregulated financial markets do not necessarily function to benefit the society as a whole -- or, in the end, even many individual market participants.

The fundamental premise of right-wing economics is the incorrect view that if every market actor pursues his own economic interest, the "invisible hand" of the market place will assure that the "common good" results. But of course, common sense tells us that is not always true. Two quick examples:

The first is referred to as the "tragedy of the commons." Suppose an island nation depends on the fishing harvests from the surrounding sea for its livelihood. It would obviously be in the interest of the community never to take more fish from the sea than can be replenished through the reproduction of fish. That way, everyone on the island will continue to have fish for the long haul.

But it is in the interest of each individual fisherman to catch as many fish as he can. This is especially true if the fish stocks grow scarcer. To continue to have enough fish for himself and his family, each fisherman competes more and more vigorously for the remaining fish. In the end, this behavior will assure that the fish supply is depleted, and that no one has any fish.

In this situation, if everyone pursues his own individual interest, the common good is not served. But if everyone looks out for each other, and recognizes that all have a common group interest, they will manage the fish resource to assure a self-sustaining fish supply that can feed everyone for years to come.

The other example is the classic case of economic recession. In a recession, it is in each economic actor's self-interest to increase his savings and cut spending, since the recession threatens his income. But by each pursuing his own individual interest, all of the actors together reduce the economy's overall spending. And that deepens the recession. If, on the other hand, the entire group of economic actors works through its government to increase national spending and reduce overall savings, it will stimulate the economy and the recession will end -- benefiting everyone.

The American mortgage market now provides us with another clear example of how this fundamental premise of right-wing economic thought is dead wrong.

For many years after the Great Depression, most mortgages were provided by banks and savings and loans. Traditionally these institutions would originate their own loans, evaluate the risk, and maintain a relationship with the borrower. It was in the self-interest of the institution to make loans -- that's how it made money. But it was also in the institution's interest to assure that the borrower could pay the loan back, because it was lending its own money.

Over the last thirty years, the mortgage market has fundamentally changed. Now most loans are originated by brokers or other mortgage companies who make their money through "origination fees" and often payments from big, unregulated lenders. Once these loans are made, they are then packaged and sold as securities through the secondary mortgage market.

Mortgage originators had every incentive to make all the loans they could, but absolutely no incentive to assure that the borrowers could pay the loans back. Credit standards were relaxed, new "sub prime" products were introduced, "no-document" loans were issued.

This system provided a great deal of liquidity to the mortgage industry. But it also removed the risk of making the loan from the loan originator and handed it to a huge, diffuse "market." No longer did any individual or institution have any individual incentive to prevent bad loans.

The problem was simultaneously hidden and exaggerated by the creation of complex derivatives -- securities that sliced and diced the risk and allowed it to be sold and resold.

As long as housing prices went up, the problem of bad loans were hidden by the rising equity of the collateral -- the homes that were being financed. But once prices stopped rising and began to drop, the bottom fell out.

Left to its own devices, the mortgage market itself could not solve this problem. It was in the loan originator's interest to issue more and more risky loans and it wasn't in the interest of any individual market player to control for risk, since the securities representing that risk could be sold a minute after they were purchased.

The only solution to this problem would have been the kind of regulation that was put into place for banks during the New Deal. With banks and with savings and loans, regulators guarantee a substantial portion of the depositor's money, but they also ensure that the mix of loans and the bank's overall financial structure is sound. Today the major source of mortgage capital is not banks or savings and loans, but from financial institutions that are almost free of regulation.

The same went for the two institutions that were set up to create this "secondary mortgage market," Fanny Mae and Freddie Mac, before they were taken over by the government last week.

The kind of regulation that was necessary was opposed by the Bush administration -- and the entire right wing business and economic establishment -- that is trying desperately to hold onto power by electing John McCain to continue the Bush presidency.

So now the chickens are coming home to roost. The taxpayers are helping to bail out some of the players, the stock market is tanking, mortgages are harder to get -- further reducing home values and making the problem worse.

And unbelievably, John McCain told his audience that he would "clean up Wall Street."

John McCain's chief economic adviser is Phil Gramm -- a former economics professor -- who is now Vice Chair of UBS, a huge international financial company. He's the guy who said that the problems of the American economy were "in the minds" of the American people -- that we are "a nation of whiners." Gramm is an ardent advocate of precisely the right wing economic philosophy that caused this problem in the first place.

Gramm and McCain believe in letting the guys with all the money do pretty much what they want because, they say, it will ultimately benefit us all. They are the ultimate crusaders for "trickle down economics."

The problem is that the foundational principles of this economic view have been proven wrong by history. And after a while, the victims are no longer limited to the vast majority of Americans that has suffered for the last eight years -- the pain even spreads to the wealthiest denizens of Wall Street. As Barack Obama said yesterday, we hear a lot about the benefits of the economy "trickling down;" now we're beginning to see the pain of the economy "trickle up."

The central lesson of this saga is clear. If you like the Bush economy, hire McCain. Over the next seven weeks, however, Americans who care about our economic future have to join Barack Obama in saying: enough.

Robert Creamer is a long-time organizer and political strategist, and the author of the recent book "Stand Up Straight: How Progressives Can Win," available at amazon.com

Welcome Hillary Fans!

Candi — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 19:12:33 EDT

I think there needs to be a bigger welcome for Hillary Clinton supporters so here it is! WELCOME YA'ALL!

John McCain is trying his best to collect those Hillary fans that now feel disenfranchised since her loss of the Democratic nomination and disappointed she did not end up as the Vice Presidential Candidate.

In supporting Hillary, Americans sent the message that we are ready for a woman in the White House. But we did now mean any woman, we meant Hillary. Any woman will not do, certainly not Sarah Palin. McCain's selection of Sarah Palin is a big flag waving "Hillary Supporters Welcome Here!" I caution you all... don't fall for that! You did not just fall off the turnip wagon.

Why I support Obama for President

Brian Sharma — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 17:50:14 EDT

I support Senator Obama because I believe that he is the best candidate to solve the problems facing our country. Senator Obama has the judgment, the vision, and the leadership necessary to bring the country together and move forward (not backward, like McCain).

Senator Obama has had many experiences in his life that show me he is ready to lead our country in the right direction. He went to Columiba University on a scholarship, graduated at the top of his class, became the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, and he could've done anything he wanted with that kind of resume. What did he choose? He chose to help poor people in Chicago's South Side! Obama is the REAL DEAL!! Since then, he has gone on to become a Constitutional Law Professor, an Illinois State Senator, and US Senator. He has consistently shown inspiring vision, good judgment, and the ability to bring people together. I'm sure he would become one our country's greatest presidents.

McCain, on the other hand, has a terrible record. His only accomplishment seems to be that he was a POW. Since then, he has been a corrupt, pandering, lying politician. After his involvement in the Keating Five Scandal, he built an image (only the image) of being a "maverick". But since then, he has flip-flopped on EVERY important issue that he stood for... Bush's tax cuts, ethics reform, regulation, immigration... EVEN TORTURE! After 26 years of getting nothing done in Congress, McCain pretended to be the candidate with "experience" (he's only experienced in failure), but now pretends to be the agent of change because his party has ruined our country over the last 8 years! McCain has no principles, thinks the American people are all idiots who will believe his lies, and will do anything it takes to win.

Then, after becoming the GOP nominee, for his first major decision as a presidential candidate... he picks Sarah Palin! He could've easily picked someone who had more experience, more qualifications, or the ability to work in a bipartisan way. Instead, he chose Palin, who not only has no real qualifications to be VP, but also is the most polarizing figure in politics. She is pro-life, pro-guns, pro-war, pro-drilling, pro-creationsim, and pro-lobbyist. She has consistenly lied about her record as a "maverick" and "reformer", while the truth is she has asked for money in earmarks than any other governor in history! Rather than bring the country together, John McCain decided to pick someone who might ignite a culture war to help him get to 51% in a few battleground states so he might have a chance at winning the election. That was a purely political decision, it wasn't the best choice for the country, and it shows how McCain would make decisions as president.

Not to mention, McCain is a 72 year old man with a 1,500 page medical history. It is very possible that if he did win, Palin would become president! He met her ONCE and a had a 15 minute phone conversation with her before making this extremely important decision. That tells me one of three things about McCain - Either 1) he is insane, 2) he does whatever his lobbyists tell him, or 3) he just doesn't care enough about the country to make a better decision. Either way, he does not deserve to be the president.

So, for those reasons, and so many more, I completely support Senator Obama for president. I've been paying a lot of attention to politics and the news for many years. I understand the important issues and I know why experts say Obama has better solutions on EVERY problem facing our country. If more people would do their research on the candidates, they would agree that Obama is the best candidate to lead our country. Instead, people are busy with the problems of their own daily lives (many of which McCain helped to create) or they are easily distracted by the nonsense in the media. I'm hoping people will see the clear differences during the debates, and that Obama can help lead this country on the path where we belong, to a better and brighter future for all Americans!

DEMOCRACY 2008 - NOW and FOREVER

Adele F. — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 13:49:48 EDT

We cannot allow McCain & Palin to overwhelm and destroy our beloved USA,as well as our Constitution -and all that we treasure- about our wonderful democracy! Their right wing, limited government,big money, and truly unremorseful/unconscionable/"leadership" would be monstrously destructive for us all - not only in the United States, but throughout this PLANET.

Is "Palin Gate" Sinking McCain's Ship?

RB — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 23:20:47 EDT

NOTE: This post was not published for Malicious reasons.

Republican Presidential Nominee Senator John McCain, was persuaded by his Advisers and the G.O.P. to select Sarah Palin as his Veep.

McCain thought that his choosing of Palin was just for the purpose of attracting Hillary's dissatisfied Female Voters.

Her presence in this race was needed for three reasons: 1) To cause Intentional "Political Drama", 2) Divert attention away from McCain, and 3) Distract Obama.

Poor McCain didn't realize what a poor choice he'd made until the Media's greedy paws got hold of Governor Palin's background.

The G.O.P. wanted to utilize Palin as their "Obama Attack Dog", however little did they know of ALL the SERIOUS, Dark Skeletons lurking in her closet.

Last weekend after her interview with ABC's Charlie Gibson, she took a beating in the Media regarding her Experience and her TRUE background (not the FALSE one created by the G.O.P.), especially in reference to the "Troopergate" scandal.

Palin blurted out during the interview that "she's ready to be President".

However her responses to Charlie proved otherwise and that she doesn't know Jack!

This includes her lack of knowledge (much less than Obama) on Foreign Policy isuses, of which some members of the Press have tried to brush off.

Fox News of course did their usual "Obama Gate" stuff by nitpicking him apart and insisting that Obama should NOT talk about Palin, although they've said absolutely NOTHING about her berating him.

Wait a minute!

I thought we lived in a FREE Country, with the right to practice Freedom of Speech.

Has that changed?

Why is there such a DOUBLE STANDARD for McCain & Palin versus Obama?

Even to the point of Palin's Extremely Controversial Preacher

Less we forget didn't Obama take a terrible beat down in the Media for his association with Reverend Wright?

When Sarah Palin stood on the platform during the RNC and bashed Obama it was fine, however when Obama chose to defend himself suddenly he becomes the "bad guy".

So because Palin is a Liberal Republican and White Woman (No Offense), Obama can't defend himself?

Why isn't Palin a fair game topic for Obama? Isn't she Republican Opponent John McCain's running mate?

Is it Obama's fault that McCain's camp didn't do their homework before placing her on the G.O.P. ticket?

Besides that Presidential Elections are supposed to be intense and dirty right?

Although Hillary Clinton was a Female Candidate she bought it HARD and never winced or cried Wolf about the attacks.

If McCain thinks that Palin is off limits then perhaps the G.O.P. should have conducted a FULL Background Check on her or chosen Mitt Romney as the Republican Party's Veep.

Like I stated in my most recent Palin article "4 Reasons Why Palin isn't ready for the White House", everything that glitters isn't gold!

In this instance Palin is "Fool's Gold"!

After doing my own research on the Alaska Governor, I decided to publish this piece for the sole purpose of enlightening American Voters on who this Woman REALLY is and what she is possibly capable of.

Let's just say that her background was kind of so screwed up the Pundits didn't have to dig too deep for the dirt.

With all of this knowledge about Palin's negative background being exposed if the American people choose to STILL vote for the McCain/ Palin ticket, then it will prove that our Nation is STILL a Racist Country.

Hold on to your seat because this is probably gonna be a wild ride.

Here's 14 MAJOR "Skeletons" from Palin's Closet as to why everyone considering supporting the McCain-Palin ticket needs to possibly re-think their decision.

Check 'em out folks:

1) That Jet she bragged about trying to auction off on Ebay failed to attract any real buyers through that network.

Palin DID sell the Jet but she had to do so via the use of other channels, NOT Ebay!

Sadly her famous venture cost the state of Alaska half a million dollars.

2) It appears that Palin might be running a corrupt Administration, as the termination of former AK Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan was due to his refusal to fire her former Brother-in-law Mike Wooten, an AK State Trooper.

Apparently Wooten left Palin's sister and returned to his first Wife.

This pis*ed off Sarah who then wanted Monegan to fire Wooten, thereby committing a Vindictive Act (Misuse of Authority).

When Monegan refused to do so, he was terminated.

Sarah Palin's Aide Frank Bailey, even called a Trooper LT. and tried to also pressure him into firing Wooten..

(Link to the Actual Phone Call here.)

Thus the foundation for "Troopergate" case was laid.

Although she vehemently refutes claims of pressuring former AK State Commissioner Walt Monegan into firing Wooten, the "Blame Trail" leads right back to Palin.

Despite her refusing to admit it looks like Palin DID have Monegan fired for NOT going along with her plan to help destroy Wooten's life.

Wait! This story gets juicier!

Denials of Wooten's Workmen's Compensation claims seem to also point in Palin's direction.

By the way Wooten is still currently employed as an AK State Trooper. Why? He's obviously NOT a Bad Employee.

On Friday the AK State Legislature voted to issue 13 Subpoenas one being for Todd Palin (Sarah's husband), in order to speed up the investigation.

Sarah Palin has hired an Attorney to fight Todd's Subpoena.

My question is if Palin is innocent of these Allegations then why is she so worried about Todd being subpoenaed?

Or why is she is so concerned about some of Todd's e-mails to State Officials being released?

Interesting don't you think?

3) She paints this stellar picture of being a Loyal Wife, yet it appears as if she had an Extra-Marital Affair while still the Mayor of Wasilla with her husband Todd's Businessman and Best Friend, Brad Hanson.

The dude Palin had the affair with was also Married!

Excuse me but I thought that Palin was supposed to be a "Conservative Christian".

Since when do Conservative Christians have Extra-Marital Affairs with their husband's best friends and Business Partners?

John McCain threatened to sue the National Enquirer for having leaked this story but the paper says it has proof.

Since then I haven't heard a peep from Senator McCain on the issue.

After all it isn't the Enqurier's fault if she slept around. (Mere Speculation of course)

Scoff if you like however the National Enquirer has gained a lot of credibility after breaking the John Edwards-Love Child story.

4) She appears to have MAJOR problems with her daughter Bristol, now an Unwed, Pregnant Teenager.

Word on the street is that Palin's relationship with Bristol has been strained for quite some time.

Oh well so much for Palin's stand on Sexual Abstinence being taught in schools.

5) She claims to NOT have supported the "Bridge to Nowhere" project.

WRONG!

Sarah Palin ran her campaign on SUPPORT for the Bridge to Nowhere project.

Her support for the bridge was called off ONLY AFTER Congress decided to NO longer provide funding for the project.

6) While still Mayor of Wasilla she fired the Town Librarian just because there were some books purchased that Palin didn't like. After outcries from the town's citizens she re-hired the Librarian.

7) She hired people who were totally Unqualified for their roles just because they were her friends.

If this type of stuff was discovered in Obama's background the Media, especially Fox News would have thrown him under the bus.

8) Palin's 100% Anti-Choice and doesn't even support Abortion in the case of Rape.

9) Todd and Sarah Palin were once members of the Alaska Independence Party (in 1994).

Since the 1970's this organization has been pushing for a legal vote to allow Alaskans to decide if residents can secede from the United States.

Ummmm Doesn't this refute Senator McCain's position of "Country First"?

10) When questioned about the lack of Minorities on her staff especially African-Americans, Sarah Palin said that she has NO intention of hiring Blacks in her Gubernatorial Administration.

Does this mean that Governor Palin is Anti-African-American too?

11) Palin is NOT the Reformer she proclaims to be. Instead as it relates to the last eight years (Good Ole' Boy Politics), she's just more of the SAME.

12) Reports have circulated that she was aware of and apparently involved in a "Financial Situation" where one of her husband's Business partners Scott Richter's Wife Debbie (now ex-wife), deleted thousands of AK Citizen Permanent Fund Claims supposedly due to a "Computer Entry Failure".

Debbie Richter was Palin's Campaign Treasurer.

Its is also rumored that Palin may have had an affair with this Richter dude too.

Richter recently filed an Emergency Motion to have his Divorce records SEALED.

Doesn't this sort of raise a "red flag"?

And....

Who is little Trig's REAL Father? Is it Todd Palin or Scott Richter?

Or is little Trig actually daughter Bristol's first child?

13) Earmarks - If Palin is so against Earmarks then why does Alaska suck so much from Washington each year?

14) She claimed to have visited Iraq since the War.

WRONG! Another lied woven by her camp.

Uh-Oh!

Looks like the Sarah Palin Phenomenon has finally come to end.

A Contributor to the Huffington Post called her a LIAR. I totally agree.

I wonder what McCain's next strategy to whoop Obama will be. Hope its more successful than this current snafu.

McCain/ Palin? Thanks but NO thanks!

Sources: Reuters, Huffington Post, Washington Post, Politico, NY Daily News, Fox News, National Enquirer, Miami Herald, Gawker, TalkLeft, Suzie Q, News.Spreadit, TIME, Pam's House Blend, Media Takeout, Electronic Village, Stupid Celebrities, CBS News, ABC News, ADN, Poll Daddy, Sarah Palin Pundit, Gambling 911, First Post.co.uk, Celebgalz, VoteMeCool

Elephant in the Room

Arvind Singh — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 21:09:43 EDT

I love the interactivity of this site. The team that designed it did a great job! :)

I came across this article in "Time" magazine and it talked about something I've been observing since the start of the campaign. We know that race plays a role in America.

It's not something that can be easily talked about without distracting from the message of this campaign. The Republican party has tried to use race as a wedge between Obama and small-town, working class white America.

One of the strange comments I've heard is that we don't know much about Obama. What is there left to know?

Obama has been very open and we've seen him speak honestly about who he is and his vision for America. That comment says less about Obama and more about those who make such comments. What about Barack makes them uncomfortable?

During the campaign there has been an attempt to portray Obama as the other: a Muslim, a foreigner, or an angry black man. Still, no matter what has been thrown at him, Obama has stayed calm, focused and poised. That says a lot about his character.

Well here is the Time article:

My First Blog, 14 Sep 2008

George Beddoe — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 17:21:03 EDT

I started supporting Barack Obama when I saw his keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. When he announced his entrance into the 2008 Presidential campaign, I read first, The Audacity of Hope and then Dreams from My Father, in between listening to his early primary speeches.

I had voted for John McCain in the 2000 primary because I knew that George W. Bush couldn’t hack the job, and the Democrat, V.P. Al Gore, didn’t need my help in the Virginia primary. Gore won the election only to have the victory snatched away.

I didn’t sign on to the Obama web page until about Feb. 1, 2008, a month before Super Tuesday. I immediately started donating money to his campaign, the first time in my life I have ever given any political campaign money, and now I am almost at the $1,000 mark, not too bad for a retired person with family, including a grown handicapped son, living on a fixed income in a down economy.

The more I do the more I want to do and the time is drawing near. The local newspaper, The Free Lance-Star, has a policy of allowing only one letter a month per person, and I’ve used my time this month. The Washington Post publishes only a select few letters, although I have tried.

First, a little about me. I am 65½, white, of English descent, and retired, in other words an aging, retired WASP, who has lived in the City of Fredericksburg, Virginia, since late 1989, in Virginia since 1971 plus a short stint in 1944-45. My first career after graduate school was teaching history and government in senior high school back in the 60s. I worked for a private military school for a year, then in the Florida public schools for four years. I left teaching not because I didn’t love it but because I ran into a John Birch Society buzz saw in Orlando where the School Board of Orange County was controlled by this right wing extremist group, and the Chairman’s daughter was one of my students. This was serious Nam time and there was a minor riot on my campus, which the administration had to find scapegoats to blame. Although I had nothing to do with the students’ actions, I didn’t get fired, but my tenure application after three years was denied. Rather than fight, I left for a better job in Washington. I was hired as a management intern in the Department of Defense at the GS-9 level, and rather quickly rose to a Grade 15 position in the Office of the Secretary of Defense. After 28 years in that bureaucracy, I retired, going to work, after taking a couple years break, as a church administrator, where I labored for over five years, my third career. Now, in retirement, I am writing a book about my family history.

I had enough experience in the Office of Secretary of Defense to gain a good idea of how Washington and the White House works, and I didn’t like what I saw. It needed changing worse than a baby with day-old diapers. I worked closely enough with political appointees to understand they often were not appointed for their competence but for payoff. I could go into great detail here how it affected both parties. At the Deputy Assistant Secretary and Assistant Secretary level, the doors swung about every two years or so, with most appointees leaving for much higher paying jobs in the defense industry, not because they were competent, but because they had been good at networking and had contacts and some influence. I see Barack as the beginning of the answer to the change needed. Not only were appointees not qualified, but the whole system in all Federal Departments and Agencies was fighting corruption.

I just finished reading Christopher Buckley’s 2007 satire, Boomsday. Chris is William F. Buckley, Jr.’s son and is a wonderfully funny writer. This book is ostensibly about reforming the social security system, but it really is a remarkably true story about how Washington works, and how it works is outrageous. Barack can change this picture.

Enough about me for now.

This campaign is approaching completion and it is about tied in the Electoral College and the popular vote, and Virginia is a key swing state this year. Barack should be ahead by at least 10 points, but, face it, folks, he is black. We cannot deny the continued racism in these United States. And there is the perception that he is too liberal. I am and have always been a moderate Democrat, mostly inspired by social justice issues, and this is exactly where I see Barack, as a moderate inspired by social justice issues, along with the economic, energy, and foreign policy issues where he is so strong. It is extremely rare to see someone with his education, intelligence, and energy so committed and involved. I see him as one of the great statesmen of the world in the 21st Century, if only this country can get beyond extremism and racism.

I hope his campaign has reserved enough money to lock up 30 minutes of prime time TV on Monday, November 3, for Barack to have a fireside chat talking from the heart without notes with America. Book NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX, MSNBC, CNN for 30 minutes at 7:30 p.m. local time in each time zone. His knowledge, sincerity, and straight forward, non-professorial talk the night before election day could swing the tide. The country needs CHANGE and it will come through a Democratic Party landslide on all levels. More later.

George

Clintons aid Palin and GOP, Again; Absent from Party Discussion

Stephen — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 16:42:31 EDT

All that fuss during the primary. All Bill and Hillary Clinton's rankering about the 18 million women supporters she brought into the primary - is now being used to aid Sarah Palin and the McCain/Palin GOP ticket. No, it wasn't just Hillary's 3am add about her supposed foreign policy experience that then hurt Barrack Obama. She caused the American voter to re-think what Presidential experience is, and what it is NOT. She spoke of how critical it is to have women serving in high office.

There is no doubt Hillary "opened the door" for Sarah Palin and the GOP, again. Palin, who could well become the President in that McCain's health and age are in question, is no Hillary. The only thing they have in common is gender and big oil. But Palin is a radical religious right loyalist, hand picked by Carl Rove. She's more right than George Bush. The only change she would bring is further to the right! The American people are getting waxed by the Rove machine!

So - where is Hillary? Where are her communications with the 18 million women she claimed were democrats in the primary? Her SILENCE is remarkable. It raises serious questions about her loyalty to the party and future in the Senate.

Wake up New York. Your Senator is about to hand the GOP the 2008 election!

Sarah:Through the Humble Eyes of a Clueless Hood-Rat

Eric from Covina, CA — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:20:19 EDT

BENEATH THE SPIN • ERIC L. WATTREE
Sarah:
Through the Humble Eyes of a Clueless Hood-Rat

When you’re raised in the ghetto and you’re either unaware or deprived of the many resources that society has to offer, you learn to make due with what you have. In that regard, I was fortunate enough to recognize at a very early age that the acquisition of knowledge, and the ability to think, is free. So while my economic condition may have restricted me to the ghetto, there was no force on Earth that could limit my mind through the imposition of caste and privilege. If one is determined to seek out knowledge, the opportunities are just as vast at the corner library, as at Harvard University. Thus, one must choose to be ignorant.

Armed with that insight, I tried to compensate for the deficit in my formal education by making every effort to mold myself into the most logical and objective thinker that I was capable of becoming. As a result of that effort, I quickly found that those skills served as a great defense against the condescending hubris of those who presume to be better educated, and more intellectually astute.

Compare and Contrast

Obama 937 — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 07:41:10 EDT

If you are biracial and born in a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs darn near 2 years and 3 major speeches to "get to know you." If you're white and from a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs 36 minutes and 38 seconds worth of an acceptance speech to know you're "one of us."

If you get 18 million people to vote for you in a national presidential primary, you're a "phoney." Get 100,000+ people to vote you governor of the 47th most populous state in the Union, you're "well loved."

If your pastor rails against inequality in the United States of America, you're an "extremist." If your pastor welcomes a sermon by a member of Jews for Jesus who preaches that the killing of Jews by terrorists is a lesson to Jews that they must convert to Christianity, you're a "fundamentalist."

If you give your wife dap on stage, it's actually a "terrorist fist jab." If your daughter licks her palm so that she can slick down your youngest child's hair on national TV it's an "adorable moment." (Seriously, forget about abstinence only, teach these folks some grooming skills).

If you're 18, white, and get a 16 year old girl pregnant "life happens." If you're 18, black, and impregnate a 16 year old girl, you're a "registered sex offender."

If you're a black man and you use a scholarship to get into college, then work your way up to being the president of the Harvard Law Review, you're "uppity." If you're a conservative and you r parents pay your way to Hawaii Pacific University . . . you only have four more schools to attend over the next five years before you somehow manage to graduate (it might be five more schools over the next five years. No one has yet verified whether or not Palin was actually ever registered at the University of Hawaii at Hilo. But, you know how shady people are who ever attended any kind of school in Hawaii).

If you spend 18 months building a campaign around the theme of "Change," it's just "empty rhetoric." If one week before your party's national convention you SUDDENLY make your candidacy about "Change," that's "red meat."

If you're a minority and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "token hire."
If you're a conservative and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates you're a "game changer."

If you live in an Urban area and you get a girl pregnant you're a "baby daddy."
If you're the same in Alaska you're a "teen father." (Actually, according to your own MySpace page you're an F'n redneck that don't want any kids, but that's too long a phrase for the evil liberal media to take out of context and flog morning noon and night).

Black teen pregnancies? A "crisis" in black America.
White teen pregnancies? A "blessed event."

If you grow up in Hawaii you're "exotic."
Grow up in Alaska eating mooseburgers, you're the quintessential "American story."

Similarly, if you name you kid Barack you're "unpatriotic."
Name your kid Track, you're "colorful."

If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fulling vetting the individual you're "reckless."
A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a "maverick."

If you say that for the "first time in my adult lifetime I'm really proud of my country" it makes you "unfit" to be First Lady.
If you are a registered member of a fringe political group that advocates secession that makes you "First Dude."

A DUI from twenty years ago is "old news."
A speech given without proper citation from twenty years ago is "relevant information."

And, finally, if you're a man and you decide to run for office despite your wife's reoccurrence of cancer you're a "questionable spouse."
If you're a woman and you decide to run for office despite having five kids including a newborn with Downs Syndrome… Well, we don't know what that is 'cause THAT'S NOT A FAIR QUESTION TO ASK!

~courtesy of The Huffington Post

Intelligent politics is not an oxymoron;

Steve — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 00:10:37 EDT

Aren't we all pretty much tired of the idiotic games our politicians play? The nearer we get to election day, the more extreme and more mindless the quotes become. each one trying to top the last in sheer outrageous claim.

We have seen a vision of how the process could be accomplished in the way Barack Obama is conducting his campaign. He is passionate without being angry, clear-spoken but not obscure, gracious but certainly not weak.

He is being exhorted not only by the news media but by his own party to turn up the heat in the sound-bite banter with his opponent. But he has not succumbed to attack politics, instead preferring to maintain an even keel while correcting misstatements by his opponent with the most simple and most powerful ploy, telling the truth.

It is a test of character and a severe one too that Mr. Obama must pass and is passing smoothly if he is to keep his strongest supporters.

It is critical for him to show by his ability to play politics with integrity and grace that he will be equally able to govern our nation and guide us back among the world's nations with such grace and strength.

Fight for Change with Information

crewt — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:42:43 EDT

For some reason a majority of American voters don't take their voting right responsibly. They accept lies as truth; they vote for candidates because their family tells them to; they vote for candidates for no other reason than they are the same sex, skin color, or religion. My hope is that with information, we can open these individual's eyes to the truth and get the right man in office for a change (pardon the pun). Please visit my blog "A Stream of Conscientiousness" at http://crewt.blogspot.com to read daily posts concerning national, international, and election issues. I know that if we can open people's eyes to the truth, the decision to elect Barack Obama president will the their own logical choice.

Simple Ideas to Boost the Campaign

coachcaptain — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:43:26 EDT

1 )Rove did us in last time so make use of the idea embodied in the song "Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who.

2) Extensive use of the motto: No Way, No How, No McSame.

3) McCain is plainly (to me) controlled by the Rovians and large corporate donors; TRUMPET THIS FROM THE HOUSETOPS!!

4) I am another one who has never given a dime to a political campaign before this one and my wife and I have donated a number of times. I want this campaign to get out there and slug it out with them. There is too much at stake to pussyfoot around. The political battlegrounds a littered with the remains of failed Democratic campaigns who campaigned against street thugs using the Marquis of Qweesbury rules. Please realize that the "conservatives" are trying turn back the clock to the time before the New Deal. They take Regan most seriously when he said "Government IS the problem".

Stay focused and do the work

Timothy — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:01:36 EDT

In the last weeks I se and hear complaints about why Barack doesn't do this or say that. I really think we have to remember that this election is about us. we need to stay focused and tell our neighbors and friends the truth about all of the crazy stuff being siad about Obama. we also need to tell them to think about the real issues and how the republicans are trying to draw thier attention away from th economy and healthcare and energy etc.

Please stay on point with how each one of us can make a difference and do not let anyone lead you of track in the work that you can do to help Barack win this election.

WE'VE BEEN TRICKED INTO DISTRACTION!

Dolores — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 18:34:33 EDT

Every since the announcement of McCain’s VP, the country has gone into some sort of hysterical frenzy over Governor Sarah Palin. Everyone began to research her background and learned first; that Senator McCain did not have a proper vetting process, to select the most important number two spot in the country. McCain made a snap decision, which should be of real concern to the country; I know it was a scary thought to me.

Later, a background check slowly revealed to the public, information about her tenure as Mayor and as Governor, rumors about her family spred, scandalous information was exposed regarding her support of Alaska’s indicted Senator Stevens, her alleged abuse of power, whether she did or did not sell a jet on ebay, support for the “bridge to nowhere”, support of a secessionist group and so on.

I was caught up in the frenzy, just like the rest of the country. All of a sudden, this moose eating, caribou hunting, gun toting, ultra-conservative became a popular phenomenon!

In giving her acceptance speech at the RNC, Governor Palin shot zingers at Senator Obama, but nothing about where she stood on domestic and foreign policy. What is disturbing to me and should be to others, is that the Republican Party has sequestered Governor Palin from the press so that real questions on where she stands on the issues can not be asked and they packaged her speeches to audiences. McCain and Palin speak of change, but what has changed? Top lobbyists are working for their campaign and, the campaign has brought in President Bush’s top people to give Palin a “crash course” on the issues! HOW IS THAT CHANGE?

The McCain camp has said that they run their campaign and will decide when Palin will speak with the media, but only when it shows respect and deference. DEFERENCE? Since when did the media have to submit to the will of a particular political party?

What is even more disturbing, McCain and his “lock-step message” campaign managers have artfully, craftily and skillfully done is, deliberately exaggerated the facts and successfully turned small lies into big truths. What has this accomplished? DISTRACTED THE COUNTRY! They have distracted the country from the fact that Governor Palin is not ready to take on the Vice Presidency of this country, that selecting Palin for the VP spot is an attempt to siphon off the female vote-which is an insult to what Senator Hillary Clinton stands for and, forgetting the fact that the country wants real change!

OUR CHALLENGE

There is less than two months before Election Day. In the world I work in, the Labor Movement, we have a saying; “we don’t get mad, we get even!” Everyone who believes that this country needs to change and that Senator Obama will help bring about that change, need to get back to basics. Stop looking at the polls, because polling can be manipulated. Stop the hand wringing, wondering what if, stop listening to the political pundits sugessting what Senator Obama should and should not do with his campaign. Senator Obama knows how to run his campaign, our job is to get back to work to help him win!

On Sunday, a group of us sat in the lobby of a church during the 8:00am, 11:00am and 6:00pm service for voter registration and registered 200 new voters. My Central Labor Council of Unions in Los Angeles is conducting phone banks six days a week and precinct walking. I am participating in that campaign. Not only am I making monthly contributions to the Obama campaign, a small group of us ladies are planning a fundraising luncheon for the campaign.

Each minute distracted from working towards our goal, is a success for McCain/Palin and company. Every able bodied person should be rolling up their sleeves to bring about the change we desire. What will you do to assure that we take back the White House?

YES WE CAN!

Registering voters

C Jean — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 12:57:22 EDT

The main thing I am passionate about doing during this 2008 election is to register new voters and make sure voters are registered at their current addresses. During previous elections I have always noticed how few people actually vote and how many people are disenfranchised from the system because they just don't vote. So for me it is very important to make sure people are registered to vote.

I enjoy registering voters, because I get to talk with a variety of people all with different ideas about our government, our presidential candidates, and voting. I get to hear the complaints of people who have never voted and are actually afraid to register for some unknown reason, or the people who just don't seem to care one way or the other.

I also meet the people like yesterday, a lady who turned out to be in her 80's standing by her car who said she hadn't voted in about 15 years, but now she was going to vote again. She registered as a Republican but said she was voting for Barack Obama because we need a change in our government.

I also get to meet the radical Republicans who seem to be losing their minds over this election. Yesterday, just as I was walking out of the Obama campaign office with my voter's registration clipboard, I saw a few people walking in front of me, and asked them if they needed to register to vote. The large graying man who was probably in his late 70's became verbally violent and yelled at me and said repeatedly "go get a real job." I finally told him I was 65 years old. I should have asked him if he had a job! He kept ranting and raving and I finally just said "well have a good day" and continued on my way.

I registered 4 new voters yesterday, which was a good record for about 2 hours work. It is not easy finding unregistered voters. You really have to ask everyone.

I register voters by walking through the downtown area and hanging around the city bus stops; and also the interstate bus stops where you can actually find local unregistered voters and voters from out of state.

I also think it is important that people know the truth about the candidates so yesterday after getting home, I wrote a letter to the editor, and an article. I am currently a freelance writer with a Bachelor's Degree and two Master's Degrees.

The Real Poll

Arvind Singh — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 10:25:29 EDT

We hear about the latest polls in the media, which at one time favour Barack Obama and at other times they favour John McCain. Polls give a random snapshot of the mercurial mood of voters but they can be inaccurate predictors of the future, especially in a contest as close as this election.

"It's Time For A Change" Barack Obama

Darryl from New York, NY — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 09:57:20 EDT

I recently came across this on Youtube.

Please watch this music video that couldn't be a better anthem endorsing Barack Obama.

I feel that it completely sums up our concerns and hopes for a brighter future.

link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLgJVBoR_zs

Let's get it out there to help make the change!

Thank you for your time

Sincerely,

Darryl Smithburg

Truth and Reason Under Siege

ernie — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 23:23:59 EDT

"In recent years as fear has become a more powerful political tool than trust, public consumption of entertainment has dramatically surpassed that of serious news, and blind faith has proven more potent than truth.

"We are at a pivotal moment in American democracy. The persistent and sustained reliance on falsehoods as the basis of policy, even in the face of evidence to the contrary, has reached levels that were previously unimaginable. It's too easy and too partisan to simply place the blame on the policies of President George W. Bush. We are all responsible for the decisions our country makes.

"Reasoned, focused discourse is vital to our democracy to ensure a well-informed citizenry. But this is difficult in an environment in which we are experiencing a new pattern of serial obsessions that periodically take over the airwaves for weeks at a time--from the O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson trials to Paris Hilton and Anna Nicole Smith.

"Never has it been more vital for us to face the reality of our long-term challenges, from the climate crisis to the war in Iraq to the deficits and health and social welfare. Today, reason is under assault by forces using sophisticated techniques such as propaganda, psychology, and electronic mass media.''

Al Gore made those disturbing observations in his book, "The Assault on Reason,'' and never before have the words rung so true as they do today. Can't win on the issues, lost the battle on your hapless performance as a government leader? Time to get a buzz working, manufacture lies about your record and the change you will bring, and maybe even launch a cult of personality around an instant "celebrity.''

Never before as a nation have we faced such monumental, fundamental challenges, to our national security, to our economy, to the environment, to the education of the young, and the care of the ailing. Yet now we have a vice presidential candidate who clearly is not allowed, or perhaps trusted, to speak independently. Instead she is programmed like a Chatty Cathy doll. Her running mate stands behind her, pulls the string, and she spouts a programmed sound bite, duplicity and doubletalk. They dare not have an open discourse on the issues. But as Al Gore warned, the astonishing danger may be that it might not matter to far too many voters. Idolatry of celebrity runs rampant: "Who cares about the record deficit, what have you heard about the pregnant daughter?''

The clear challenge in the remaining days is to fight against this manipulation of message, and the attempted hijacking of the political process. Maybe next time we need to have all the candidates sign a code of ethics. . .

How much is Carl Rove involved in McCain/Palin Ticket?

Stephen — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 21:29:59 EDT

As if we didn't see too much of him these last 8 years as the master of sleeze-spin for the Bush White House, and their evil agenda.

I've read at least one report claiming Carl Rove is very involved with Sarah Palin. Does anyone know just how involved Rove is with Palin and the McCain/Palin ticket. If voters knew the extent of this, and that radical wing of the republican party's involvement, I doubt they would support McCain/Palin no matter how CUTE she looks and sounds as the fresh face from Alaska.

Like we used to do in soccer, you assign people who's sole role is to stick to a specific player like GLUE. It makes it a lot more difficult for that person to cause a raukus. "Casper the friendly ghost," as I refer to him, is ONE EVIL MAN. He weilds more power in the lives of republicans than God! In fact, I think he believes he is God!

2008 Election: Science & Technology vs. Guns & Religion

Stephen — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 18:56:37 EDT

This 2008 election is all about where we believe the U.S. should be in the 21st Century. Do we want to prosper into the 21st Century using the best of what we know of science & technology? Or do we want to cower down and be sentimental of what we knew of the 20th Century and fall back on guns & religion? Do we move forward, or backwards?

Which will best move us forward: "science & technology," or "guns & religion?"

Substance or story?

Great energy in California

Pat from Davis, CA — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 13:04:45 EDT

I just have to share the high we have after record-breaking attendance at our annual local Democratic "Bean Feed" fundraiser in Yolo county. I was one of many first-timers and helped set up for more than 300 people, and all chairs were filled. We heard from local and congressional candidates. The evening ended with a rousing Taiko drumming performance by a family: the founding father, 3 daughters and one son. Their performances highlighted "energy, stamina, and power". The women were such an inspiring picture of feminine power that it was the perfect antidote to the image of Palen supporting aerial hunting of wolves. We are fired up!

McCain Votes Against Vets. When Will We See that Ad?

Michael from Littleton, CO — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:42:07 EDT

Candidate McCain votes against vets. I could summarize the votes here; however, clammyc already did it in a fine post, "McCain's voting record - how he REALLY supports the troops" (0943:46 PDT, Tue Feb 26, 2008), http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/2/26/123532/692/322/464441, which includes links to the roll call votes, which in turn link to the underlying bills and amendments. Clammyc synopsizes: "John McCain skipped close to a dozen votes on Iraq, and on at least another 10 occasions, he voted against arming and equipping the troops, providing adequate rest for the troops between deployments and for health care or other benefits for veterans." The Obama campaign allows McCain to wrap himself in the POW flag (a garment he has bought and paid for with his own spilled blood, broken bones, and cracked teeth), yet never points out that McCain has repeatedly, throughout at least the past decade, undercut yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's veterans. Instead, we get "Gotcha" ads about houses, bridges, and other interesting yet palpably inconsequential trivia. What are you waiting for, Veterans Day?

McCain Disappoints Me

The Governor — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 19:19:08 EDT

McCain always claims to be against party politics; however, he chose Palin solely for political reasons. Republicans all over are smiling over this choice, not because they would love to see a women as VP, but because they know how smart this choice could be if a women nominee ends up giving McCain the support he needs from independents and moderate conservatives. I am very upset by this choice.

My own father said to me, "I don't think a woman belongs in that position, but what a smart move by McCain." If that is what conservatives are saying about the choice of Palin, then you know something is wrong. I thought McCain, even if I wasn't going to vote for him, was going to transform the Republican Party; however, he is playing party politics and doing anything but challenging the system.

I am pretty sure McCain has never supported any major women's initiatives while in congress, yet he chooses a female nominee. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have a woman in the White House, just not Sarah Palin. I want a woman in the White House that knows what she is doing, knows what real family values are, and does not lie to the American people the first time she addresses the nation as the Republican VP nomination.

Most of all, I want a woman in the White House, that supports women! She is against abortion even in instances of rape and incest. That is sick. I am pretty conservative when it comes to abortion and she sickens me. To force a woman to carry the baby of her rapist and raise that child. Disgusting.

-Shawn VanWingerden (Republican for Obama)

Obama can attack McCain/Palin on uses of Science and Technology

Stephen — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:49:36 EDT

Matters of science, technology, and related economic growth favor the democrat philosophy and Senator Obama, and he should attack McCain/Palin on this clear weakness. McCain/Palin are handicapped on science and technology progress by virtue of their religious beliefs.

Matters of science and technology are very critical in the 2008 election, probably more than in any election in history. Sure, small town people who value guns and religion don't understand science and technology, but they must know how critical it is to survival in the 21st centure. It is the religious right views held by republicans, particularly that of "creationism v. evolution (science), and life," and the roles that humans and the planet are thought to play in the big picture, that handicap the republicans in foreign policy and domestic progress on matters involving science and technology. The religious right time and again continues to discount science and the planet, and want us to place their beliefs front and center to determine broader policy. It is down right scarry, if not incompetence and a failure of one's duty to lead! Fairy tales are not policy!

Discussions on energy and science are leading this 2008 election, with energy emerging as the No. 1 issue, and doubling as economic and adverse environmental impact. Health care is next as it relates to R&D, costs, and efficacy of care and treatment - again about science. Thirdly, it is our advances in technology today that drive much of our economy. I believe all three science sectors favor the Obama/Biden platform and should be excellent theatre debate!

We must also demand more scientifically accurate discussion of science topics in debate and coverage. Such debate should favor Senator Obama over McCain due to his more recent schooling, whereas the GOP VP Palin's younger age and environmental interests could balance out any McCain objections. Note I only include the environmental sciences as it relates to energy, as many still challenge the reports, and it is best to avoid having a "debate within a debate."

Clearly, the pinacle of all science debates is that of creationism v evolution. And based upon the GOP's vice-presidential pick of Governor Palin as a creationist, the GOP would likely try to kill discussion on this topic. But as voters, we cannot give McCain/Palin a free pass on a sciences debate. Obama should engage the GOP. The creationists view is a liability as to embracing 21st century economic development fueled by new products and discoveries in the field of science.

Truly science's best marketing will come by way of featuring new products and discoveries. Television ads and programming could play a major role in the campaign, and later in promoting new science discoveries, as it did in the late 1950's, when then actor Ronald Reagan hosted "GE Theatre."

As a voter and scientist, I am offended when a candidate is unable to grasp key science concepts and data when discussing a key science or technology issue. We should DEMAND more factual coverage of science topics when they impact a candidates understanding of such things as energy, health policy, military perogatives, economic growth, and so on.

Getting out the vote through absentee ballots

Tom Gray — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:18:46 EDT

It's beyond dispute that in 2004, many people in low income precincts in Ohio (read, minority or heavily Democratic areas) had to wait for hours to vote because there were not enough voting machines in precincts with large populations. This served to lower the number of voters in a state that went for Bush by the slimmest of margins: one vote's difference in each precinct, state-wide, was Bush's margin of victory. Coupled with the insufficient number of machines at polling places was bad weather, which further depressed the vote. Of course, while the Republicans who controlled Ohio's election apparatus (meaning, which precincts got how many voting machines, etc.) were directly responsible for much of the suppressed vote, the bad weather didn't help.

There is an easy way to avoid this (and the other barriers the Republicans have enacted, such as having "proper" identification, etc.) on November 4: get people to sign up for absentee ballots. This should be the focus of our "get out the vote" drive for several reasons:

1. It prevents last minute problems from preventing voters getting to the polls, whether those problems are personal, weather related, age/health related, not knowing where the polling place is, etc.

2. It prevents rejections of people who are entitled to vote by poll officers, whether the ground is improper or insufficient i.d., erroneous exclusion from the rolls, incorrect information that the person has already voted or is not entitled to vote (felons, etc.), etc.

3. It provides a PAPER TRAIL in the event a recount is needed.

4. The paper trail is hacker proof: it's much harder to tamper with a properly filled out ballot than the software of a Premier Election Systems (aka, Diebold) voting machine. (for a little humor, see The Onion: http://www.theonion.com/content/video/diebold_accidentally_leaks)

Bottom line: especially if you live in a battleground state or a state where winter weather might affect your ability to go to the polls, please consider voting by absentee ballot, and please do everything you can to get others to think in the same way.

Bob Barr on the Republican Party

Ron Williams — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:45:53 EDT

While we've heard innumerous critiques of the Bush administration and the Republican Party, I thought it might be instructive to hear what Bob Barr, former Republican congressman and presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party, had to say about his one-time party in a recent interview by Amy Goodman on the “Democracy Now” radio program.

Why he left the Republican Party: "The Republican Party of this early twenty-first century ... has no regard for individual liberty ... [and] is focused dramatically on increasing the size, the scope, the power of the federal government, particularly in the executive branch. We have an administration and a party that supports it, that believes that habeas corpus is no longer important, that the government can spy on its citizenry without going to a court and really without any cause whatsoever. We have a government that is utterly spendthrift, yet which still calls itself conservative. This is a party that bears no relationship to the Republican Party of ages past."

Granting of immunity to the telecoms that spied on Americans: "It didn't surprise me that the Republicans went along with it. They’ve been absolutely feckless in standing up to ... the dramatic erosion of civil liberties, including the right to privacy, by this administration."

Iraq war: "The resolution initially that the administration presented to the Congress, of course, was based on information that was provided to us that turned out not to be the case. There were no weapons of mass destruction; therefore, there was no imminent threat and no capability to use them, since there weren't any weapons of mass destruction. Also, the resolution was presented as an authorization to allow a specific military action. There was never a consideration or a rationale that this would provide for a multi-year occupation at the cost of hundreds of billions of dollars. So it was sort of a bait and switch by the administration."

Power of government: "What we've seen since 9/11 with the Bush administration and a compliant, if not complicit, Congress is an administration that believes that it is, as an institution, above the law and separate from the law."

Arrest of protestors in St. Paul during the RNC: "What disturbs me ... is the preemptive use of police force to try and identify those that might be demonstrating, might be pushing a particular point of view, and using the powers of the government to stop them in advance, sort of this notion of preemptive war applied to preemptive law enforcement."

Lack of impeachment investigations of the Bush administration: "There are very serious questions about violations of law by this administration. But the Congress hasn't done its homework to answer that question."

You couldn't find a more powerful indictment of the Bush administration and the Republican Party. Maybe Barr should be allowed in the presidential debates!

_______________

For a complete transcript of the interview, see Libertarian Presidential Candidate and Ex-Republican Rep. Bob Barr on Impeachment, Opening Up the Debates, and Why He Left the GOP.

Farm Animals speak out in support of Senator Obama

Stephen — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:34:48 EDT

Hey all:

I stumbled upon this pretty well done and funny YouTube video of farm animals speaking out in support of Senator Obama for President.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-zCyTnLyaE

Barack Obama MusicSkins to help support your candidate!

Niki from New York, NY — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:23:21 EDT

Get these Barack Obama MusicSkins for your iPod, cell phone, or laptop to help support Obama before this historical election! These skins protect your device from the harshest scratches, add no bulk, are easily removable, and leave no residue. Help show the nation that "YES WE CAN" by getting the word out today! Check them out at www.music-skins.com/art

Bob's first phone bank

JeffW — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:17:51 EDT

I was talking to my brother-in-law, Bob, today about his experience as a first time phone bank volunteer. He stopped by the Berkeley Obama office, asked what he could do to help, and spent a couple of hours calling people in Nevada. Hey, Nevada is much more in play than California. Anyone wanting an excuse to go to Nevada should visit the Obama site to find more info.

He said the phone calls are very low key. All the campaign wants is to know is how the person feels about Obama. If they have any special issues, that gets recorded and if they turn out to be big supporters that gets recorded too. Another group types in the notes into the campaign's database while yet another group follows up by mailing position papers or making sure the person has a ride to the polls on election day. He said doing cold calls isn't his favorite activity but he did get a buzz from seeing all the people streaming in and asking how they can help.

So this is part of what they call the ground-game. As a former community organizer, Obama clearly understands that you've got to do a lot of unglamorous work. Karl Rove broke in by designing very targeted mass mailing campaigns. Right-wing evangelical volunteers worked hard to to get their word out in Ohio, Pennsylvania and elsewhere. That's how elections are won.

Stand up for change now!

Sharon from Rochester, MI — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:18:28 EDT

I have four grandchildren and I want to make sure that they have a chance for a good college education and I want to make sure that they have a fair chance of success in the career of their choice. I am concerned about the future of our planet, this is our only home and we must ALL do our part to care for it. I am a GREEN Grandma who tries hard to choose carefully what I buy and I recycle and reuse as much as I can. I am always looking for new ideas to help our environment. I want to elect the Obama ticket because this team cares, they believe and listen to science and have the brains to understand it, unlike the ignorance shown by the administration of the past eight years. It is the first time in my life of 64 years that I have seen our government steal so blatantly from our people. After working years in a job only to have it ripped away without a safety net, losing homes that used to be our safest investment, credit cards and banks brazenly stealing our money with ever more and ill defined fees that seem to have no oversight or control. I used to be proud to be an American but now sometimes I feel ashamed at the horrors our government have committed from the ill conceived, disorganized war in Iraq to the atrocities in Abu Graub. It seems the whole the whole wold hates us. When I retired after 40 years I wanted to travel but now I am afraid. The Bush administration has made us less safe as a country and as individual American citizens. I want to be proud again. I want my grandchildren to be proud of this beautiful country and her beautiful people. I love my country and I want it back with the opportunities our forefathers and foremothers envisioned for us.

I want good health care available for everyone. I am watching my friend die of cancer because her family has refused to care for her at home if she had a life saving stem cell transplant and her Medicare won't pay for the 24 hour home care she would need. This is an atrocity in the richest country in the world. This would not happen in other developed countries and i am ashamed and stunned that I am watching it happen in my own country. That people have to die because they cannot afford the thousands of dollars it would cost to care for her to enable her to recover from this life-saving procedure. EVERY citizen in our country has the RIGHT to GOOD health care no matter their income. All these reasons are why I am voting for Obama/Biden.

I am standing up for change. Please stand with me. Vote for Obama.

How Much Does Your Town Spend Per Person?

JeffW — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:07:35 EDT

I was reading an article in the Wall Street Journal about how Sarah Palin mis-managed the creation of a fancy sports complex in Wasilla when she was mayor. Well, they didn't say "mis-managed". They just said that "Ms. Palin's legacy turned into a financial mess that continues to plague Wasilla."

In the article I noticed that Wasilla's annual budget was $20,000,000 during her term. I thought that seemed like a lot of money for such a small town so I did a little research.

Aerial Hunting

Maxine — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:59:01 EDT

Can you believe it?! Sarah Palin is in favor of a popular "sport" for the privileged in Alaska--aerial hunting. All you need is a helicopter or a plane and while flying, chase and shoot at innocent wolves and bears until they are so exhausted they collapse. Continue firing upon them from above until these innocent animals are dead. Skin them for their pelts. It is so inhumane. And its a red flag to anyone who thinks Palin is good for America. The sport, as does she, borders on psychopathy. Does she honestly think that because I am a woman I will vote for her? She is a trojan horse: Attractive on the outside, ugly, hateful on the inside. We can't let this brainless "hockey mom" who is a pro-choice, pro-abstinence gun-toting maniac, win for Vice President of the United States. Send her back to where she belongs, along with the dim-witted John McCain and his bejeweled wife, Cindy-- back to Mayberry, U.S.A.

Why Obama, Why Now?

Winston Riley — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 17:43:07 EDT

Even Obama can't tell you the whole truth. And that's because if he did, the major forces which run the world, including all governments and all corporations wouldn't stand for it. So Barack has to make very calculated moves, primarily to protect the White House from falling in to the hands of the next war monger--John McCain.

I think Senator Obama would probably agree with two heroes of mine, but he may also know that if he openly voiced his opinion that they are right and that they tell the truth, it would be political suicide. The two heroes are Paul Hawken and Noam Chomsky.

Without devoting much space here to the ideology of both or either Paul or Noam, I will just restate a simple fact which both men would probably remind us--a charismatic leader is not the answer to our problems. Remember, I said Obama would probably agree with that. But if he weren't charismatic, he wouldn't be in the position he's in today. His charisma may get him elected, but we hope his intelligence and compassion and spiritual instincts will guide his behavior.

Please Contribute What You Can

JeffW — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:27:37 EDT

I've also set up my own fund raising page. It's going to take a lot of effort and money to get Barack Obama's message out there. I've just heard about two friends of a friend who are still undecided.

Undecided?! They are educated and prosperous folks but they haven't been paying attention yet. Most of the country is like them and that's why it is critical to reach people like them.

I will match every contribution made on my page up to my legal limit of $2,300. I have a reputation as a bit of a cheapskate but I will cheerfully donate this time. So, please visit my fund raising page and make me pay!

Time is short. There are less than 60 days left but I know we can win this election if enough of us do a little extra.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/main/MakeJeffPay

Getting Out the Vote

Randy Ontiveros — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:24:43 EDT

It's been hard for me to find time to volunteer for the campaign, but after being inspired by the Democratic National Convention and hearing Sarah Palin's nasty remark about community organizers (people like Martin Luther King, Jr.!) I've decided to do my small part. The Republicans are good at public relations, but the Democrats have the better enthusiasm, the better candidate, and most importantly the better ideas and ability!

Welcome! And Let's Get Going

JeffW — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:57 EDT

This is my first blog entry and my first attempt at getting involved in politics beyond trying to be informed and occassionally donating money. I guess I hope that I can inspire a few people to get more involved and help us take our country back.

First, a very little about me. I have a couple of things in common with Barack Obama. Like him, I'm multi-racial and have ties to Hawaii. In fact, my family was in Hawaii when Pearl Harbor was bombed. They were on our side.

Unlike him, I grew up in California though. When I was young, people would ask me "What are you?" I'd fix them a stare. You know, the old stink-eye, and say "I'm an American. How about you?" Well, I've mellowed now and our country has come a long way.

We still have room for improvement though and...