Posts with the tag Howard Dean

Howard Dean threatened with death, Nazi Symbol outside Town Hall: Can we please start organizing a national march or sit in...

Varun from Berkeley, CA — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:09:52 EDT

The Right Wingers are resulting to threats/violence and hate...We need to take charge and not stand there shocked....Take action....Yes, they are winning the attention war....We are losing the facts war because the legends that the RNC spins have become fact.....Thus, the myths become facts

Nazi Symbol AP News

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090811/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_protests

Lou Dobbs threatens Dean:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/11/dobbs-apologizes-for-sayi_n_256728.html

I fear where this is going.....we need to stand up....National day of support....contact me people

varun22@yahoo.com

White House losing Health Care debate? Gee whiz....Mobilize....Stop playing Defense 24-7: Offense requested..Where's Rahm?

Varun from Berkeley, CA — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:51:50 EDT

.NYT article LINK

The New York Times reported today that the White House is quietly conceding that they are losing control of the Health Care Reform debate. So......in response......? A march? Rapid Fire TV ads? Formal debates moderated by NPR, PBS, ABC, NBC? Nope....a website.........That's it....a website..

The WH released a myth busters website.......What Obama should do is concede he needs a little help from his friends.....Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Howard Dean, Mike Bloomberg, Warren Buffet and other Business Leaders and even the Kennedys to get the word out and deal with the fires.

comment: varun22@yahoo.com

Here we go again, fellow Democrats....

Gordon — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:35:44 EDT

Here in the 100-or-so-miles surrounded by reality in which I live (i.e., southern Wisconsin), some of my friends on the left again seem ready to make the perfect the enemy of the good.

To explain: most of the activists with whom I'm close are insisting that their activism focus on obtaining single-payer healthcare out of the current drive for healthcare reform. They're essentially saying that if we obtain anything less than single payer healthcare, we will have failed. And thus they're devoting all their healthcare energy into agitating for single payer.

Yet read the following excerpt from President Obama’s remarks the other day in front of the American Medical Association:

The first thing we need to do is to protect what's working in our health care system. So just in case you didn't catch it the first time, let me repeat: If you like your health care system and your doctor, the only thing reform will mean to you is your health care will cost less. If anyone says otherwise, they are either trying to mislead you or don't have their facts straight….You will have your choice of a number of plans that offer a few different packages, but every plan would offer an affordable, basic package. Again, this is for people who aren't happy with their current plan. If you like what you're getting, keep it. Nobody is forcing you to shift.

… let me also address a illegitimate concern that's being put forward by those who are claiming that a public option is somehow a Trojan horse for a single-payer system. I'll be honest; there are countries where a single-payer system works pretty well. But I believe -- and I've taken some flak from members of my own party for this belief -- that it's important for our reform efforts to build on our traditions here in the United States. So when you hear the naysayers claim that I'm trying to bring about government-run health care, know this: They're not telling the truth.

(This via http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-by-the-President-to-the-Annual-Conference-of-the-American-Medical-Association/. Emphasis mine.)

I read this as the president having crossed the Rubicon on single payer; if single-payer isn’t dead now, the best that can be said is that it’s on palliative care.

And note this: prior to Obama’s comments to the AMA, the AMA was in the news as coming out against even the healthcare "public option." After Obama’s remarks, the Chicago Tribune reported the following, at http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-ama-obama-jun16,0,3566595.story: The AMA's policy-making House of Delegates will vote later Tuesday or Wednesday morning on a resolution that supports "public option alternatives." The resolution is in sharp contrast to an earlier resolution floated by some delegates that opposed a public option.

You may disagree with our President’s priorities, but it seems to me that he remains a rather brilliant strategist.

Even Dr. Howard Dean, our former party chairman & hardly a right-wing tool, recently noted:

People may not like the health care system, but they like their doctor or hospital. President Obama's plan is realistic. Even in Britain, where medicine really is socialized [doctors offices and hospitals are publicly owned] 15% of health care dollars go to private insurance. Private insurance isn't going away.... (From http://www.yesmagazine.org/svgblog/2009/06/howard-dean-on-single-payer-health-care.html ; again, emphasis mine.)

Interestingly, I've noted that a lot of these lefties who are practicing a "single payer or bust" strategy are seem to be supporters of a group called MoveOn.org . Yet when it comes to getting a healthcare plan that has a real chance of passing Congress, they won't move on!

C'mon, fellow Dems...get with the program!

DemocracyForAmerica.com Blog: Howard Dean is BACK!

Mike W — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:48:31 EST

DemocracyForAmerica.com Blog: Howard Dean is BACK!
http://www.democracyforamerica.com/blog_posts/27900-howard-dean-is-back

Written by: Charles Chamberlain on Mar 2, 2009 2:20 PM EST
Linked to groups: Blog For America

You may have heard by now that Gov. Howard Dean is coming back to Democracy for America. Today we made the official announcement. Here's some of what the good Doctor sent to DFA members today:

I'm returning to DFA and I have to admit, it'll be nice to work out of my old office in Burlington. I'll also be hitting the road with you, stumping for grassroots candidates and advocating for the issues that matter most to you and me. For one, I think you know that healthcare for all is an important issue to me. I look forward to working with you to pass meaningful reform that makes sure that every American has the care they need.

Stephen Views the News 2/5/09

Stephen from Elkins Park, PA — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 18:05:22 EST

Stephen Views the News 2/5/09

http://stephenviewsthenews.blogspot.com/

* Get out the metal polish – Obama’s “change you can believe in” has rapidly developed a coat of tarnish as ethics questions surrounded Obama selections Richardson, Daschle, Geithner and Killefer. It reminds one of the Grouch Marx quote: “There's one way to find out if a man is honest - ask him. If he says, 'Yes,' you know he is a crook.” Obama has said he was not looking for “yes men” to serve in his administration. In one respect that is what he is finding.

* A note to President Obama ~ remember Howard Dean – With Daschle dashed you need a solid replacement to guide America into a new era of health care. Howard Dean has the qualifications and expressed interest. He is a medical doctor, the former six-term governor of Vermont and the recent leader of the Democratic Party where his dedication and intelligence played a vital roll in Democrats having huge successes in the 2006 and 2008 elections. Rumor has it that your Chief of Staff, Rahm Emanuel, has issues with Dean stemming from disagreements over past political strategies. Mr. President, as you bend over backwards to accommodate Republicans, please do not ignore valued Democrats. May I suggest that you take the time to seriously consider Dr. Dean to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. He is a individual partially responsible for your reaching the White House, he has impeccable credentials and he should not be ignored because of petty internal politics.

* Maintaining the shine ~ campaign promises being fulfilled – On the positive side of the nascent Obama administration one can note:

~ Passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that helps ensure redress for women that did not receive the same pay as men doing the same job in a firm. Many Republicans/conservatives are lamenting that this will open the door to lawsuits. I often wonder why these GOPers are rarely concerned when employees are screwed over by the firms that employ them. These same screwees were once embryos.

~ On Wednesday Obama signed the Children's Health Insurance Program, granting 4 million more children access to affordable health care. Former President G.W. Bush twice vetoed this legislation. With so much on his special-interest plate he probably forgot that these 4 million children were also once fertilized eggs. Warning to embryos: do not leave the womb lest Republicans/conservatives will abandon you.

~ On January 23rd President Obama repealed the Global Gag Rule, which prohibited family-planning programs in other nations receiving U.S. aid if the programs were pro-choice. I find it curious that conservatives genuflect to smaller government and less regulation until it comes to regulating other peoples’ lives. “Abstinence only” is absence of effectiveness in preventing pregnancy, the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and especially the spread of HIV AIDS that is decimating large segments of populations in Africa and is inflicting tragedy throughout the world. I suggest that if one bears an ideology that harms people, cryovac it in a condom.

~ “The Obama administration has asked the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff to cut the Pentagon's budget request for the fiscal year 2010 by more than 10 percent -- about $55 billion.” I recently saw a statistic that the U.S. spends more on defense than the next 40 countries combined. I have read articles that billions are being spent on Pentagon projects that are outmoded or have little chance of being operational. The Pentagon and the defense industry enjoy a tremendous influence on the decision-making process of how our society allocates it resources. It will take strong leadership from Obama and Congress to assess and rein in these powerhouses that Dwight D. Eisenhower, over 50 years ago, termed the military-industrial complex. It has achieved a momentum and life of its own that many feel is substantially beyond reason and practicality. It is my sense that we are in a hostage situation to these forces.

~ The Bush administration and the EPA consistently blocked California and 13 other states from setting stricter automobile emission standards. President Obama will direct federal regulators to re-evaluate the Bush decision to reject California’s application and it will likely lead to the Bush policy being reversed. Auto makers and their lobbyists will balk but it is well beyond time to direct our attention and resources to rehabilitating our environment. Our once pristine planet is close to being on life support. Its potential demise is not likely to occur in my lifetime but do we not all have a responsibility to the embryos that will follow?

~ The Times of London is reporting, “President Obama will convene the most ambitious arms reduction talks with Russia for a generation, aiming to slash each country’s stockpile of nuclear weapons by 80 per cent.” Nuclear weapons reduction was a core element in Obama’s candidacy. The 1991 US-Soviet Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (Start), which expires in December, had reduced each country’s stockpiles from 10,000 to 5,000 weapons. It is felt that further reductions by these two powers could assist in influencing countries such as Iran to not develop nuclear weapons. It seems to me that reducing the number of nuclear weapons is critical. From one standpoint their existence has been primarily a deterrent between the two powers since no country benefits by using such weapons given the assured retaliation it would generate. The greater danger today is that the larger the number of weapons in existence, the greater the danger of such a weapon getting into terrorist hands. Such radical ideologues/idiots do not fear retaliation. And that is a very dangerous enemy.

* The nuance of language - The federal judge overseeing the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy has been charged with assault and arrested for hitting his wife. Many have called for tougher judges but it appears that Judge James M. Peck has misinterpreted the intent of “tougher”. According to the NY Times article, “Judge Peck is known for his patience in handling matters as complex as the Lehman case.” Apparently his “patience” did not extend to his complex marriage. If the pecker keeps this up he may find himself patronizing his own courtroom. It will look like an Abbot and Costello routine as da judge bounces between da bench and da defendant’s table.

* Reality issues – I am 6’ 9” tall with biceps too large for my body. George W. Bush and Ronald Regan vie for the title of Best President in the history of the U.S. Paris Hilton is Obama’s nominee to oversee his Abstinence Only program. Catholic Bishop Richard Williamson is historically correct in denying the existence of Nazi gas chambers. While none of these absurd assertions have merit, Williamson does in fact maintain his position concerning the Holocaust. This came to light because he had been excommunicated by the Church in 1988 and last month this moral moron was reinstated by Pope Benedict XVI. I imagine the Pope has some down time between Christmas and Easter and was looking for a way to keep busy. May I recommend macramé?

Since the reinstatement there has been global outrage and the Vatican was forced to issue a statement that Williamson “must absolutely, unequivocally and publicly distance himself from his positions on the Holocaust, or else he would not be allowed to serve as a bishop in the Roman Catholic Church.” Congratulations to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, several prominent figures in the German Catholic Church and U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for condemning Williamson and in some cases criticizing the Vatican. The NY Times observes: the fact that the Vatican issued a statement is a clear indication that the Vatican was facing nothing less than an internal and external political crisis. The reality is that when good people stand up and speak out about institutional and individual ignorance, altered behavior can result. This is a wonderful lesson for us in America where leadership at all levels of government and across society permitted the Bush administration to intimidate any expression of criticism.

* When the brass is AWOL - Another U.S. service member has been determined to have been electrocuted in a shower in Iraq, and Navy criminal investigators are investigating. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class David A. Cedergren, 25, of South St. Paul, Minn., died Sept. 11, 2004, while showering. His family was told he died of natural causes. Cedegrens’s death is among 18 electrocution deaths (16 were U.S. service members) under investigation for improperly installed or maintained electrical devices. I have noted on many occasions the damage perpetrated by the no-bid contractors such as KBR, hired by the Bush administration for supplying the troops and rebuilding Iraq. Among the many disgraces that pall the tragedy known as Bush and Cheney’s Iraq war the abuse of America’s service people and the abuse of taxpayers’ money is yet to be fully told. Recall the drinking water tainted with human fluids, inadequate body armor, overly extended tours of duty, insufficiently plated vehicles, inadequate medical and psychological care upon the return to the states… To the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Generals, the Admirals and other military leaders I ask, “WHERE IS YOUR OUTRAGE?

* “We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty. When the loyal opposition dies, I think the soul of America dies with it.”

Edward R. Murrow (1908 – 1965)

Howard Dean for HHR Head

Susana — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 15:55:47 EST

Howard Dean would make an excellent Secretary of HHR, and his nomination would make a splash to distract from the Daschle debacle.

Dean is a medical doctor, former governor of Vermont, former (and perhaps most successful) DNC chair, delivering the party victories in 2006 and 2008. He would make President Obama's health care initiatives happen, making sure all Americans can get health care.

I urge you to contact the President, the Vice President, and your congressional representatives to urge that Dean's name be tossed into the ring.

Howard Dean Deserves A Lot of Credit -- And A Lot of Thanks

LauraT — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:44:00 EST

Gov. Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign started what Sen. Barack Obama and his campaign have now finished. Dean for America pioneered the idea of a broadly distributed, loosely organized campaign where individual groups around the country operated with autonomy. As importantly, and perhaps ultimately more importantly, the Internet was exploited as a campaign tool as never before.

Howard Dean’s 50-state strategy is being credited for playing a significant role in Barack Obama’s victory as well as Democratic success in Congressional races. And the social media tools and techniques pioneered by Dean’s team were perfected by Obama’s campaign.

Gov. Dean, you deserve a lot of credit for the Democratic victories yesterday. Thank you. My fellow Deaniacs: We ultimately did get our country back. Thank you.

You can read more about my experience as a Deaniac on my blog at lifeonq.com

Credit Where Credit is Due

Don Stubbs, Gay American Veteran — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 23:08:33 EDT

Howard Dean's 50 State Strategy

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?saved=&preview=&suggest=&note_id=42743673711#/profile.php?id=1277637249&ref=name

Palin Wink [should] = Dean Scream

Peach McD — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:07:45 EDT

Puh-leeze! If Barack Obama or Joe Biden had winked at the camera once, let alone three times, it would've ended their campaign as surely as the Dean Scream ended Howard's. It would've been all we heard pundits talk about ALL NIGHT and ALL DAY until the Dems tucked tail and went home.

Winking at the camera is so completely inappropriate to the context of a vice-presidential campaign debate. Imagine - the nation's economic structure crumbling, a failing health care system, two wars sucking our juices dry, and she's winking at us?? I'm calling her on that. Not charming, Mrs. Mooselini. We need real solutions to real problems, not coquettish flirtation with the camera and a phoney 'FARGO' accent that doesn't manifest in earlier interviews. VPILF to the penalty box.

The Dean Scream was a media-manufactured gaffe created by extracting the sound of the crowd from Dean yelling along. The Palin Winks were real, really out of place, and really 'not-ready for prime time'.

Huffington Post Just Published my Biden/Heads of State article, so please do comment here:http://tinyurl.com/Bidenvs-Palin

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:15:00 EDT

Biden Has Done More Than Look At Russia Across The Horizon, my FIRST article at Huffington Post, so please do comment: http://tinyurl.com/Bidenvs-Palin or www.huffingtonpost.com/stephen-fox/biden-has-done-more-than_b_129382.html

I welcome your insights and ideas, and Huffington Post is a place perhaps millions more people will see them and want to participate in this emerging dialogue about what direction our Nation must move in the next four years, to repair the enormous damage internationally during the past 8 years by Bush/Cheney/Halliburton/Rumsfeld/KelloggBrownand Root/Blackwater, and others!

Howard Dean: Latino Issues -Translation into Spanish

Matiax — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 01:58:54 EDT

Audio in English @

http://lineasemanal.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/howard_dean091208email.mp3

------

Gobernador: La popularidad del senador Obama está incrementando entre los latinos. ¿Qué razones nos puede dar que expliquen este fenómeno?

El senador Obama es de la opinión de que todos los ciudadanos americanos deberían tener seguro médico. El senador McCain se opone a esto.

El senador Obama tiene un programa para mejorar las escuelas públicas. El senador McCain no considera que el Gobierno Federal debería participar en esto y así es que en asuntos de familia y educación, el senador Obama tiene más firmes convicciones que el senador McCain.

Además, el senador McCain le dio la espalda a los latinos al ni siquiera votar por su propia propuesta migratoria. El senador Obama comprende que en América todos deben ser incluidos, y no solamente en tiempo de elecciones. Y que no se puede usar a una parte de la población como chivos expiatorios.

¿Qué tipo de impacto tendría una administración Obama en la relaciones exteriores de los EEUU, específicamente en los países hispanohablantes?

Ya hemos visto que la personalidad del senador Obama es popular en otros países. Principalmente porque él cree que todos deberíamos trabajar juntos en vez de dictarles a los otros lo que hay que hacer. Esto es algo muy sensible para la gente en Latinoamérica.

Yo me he reunido con lideres latinoamericanos, como el presidente de México, y les he hecho saber que con el gobierno del senador Obama, las relaciones con Latinoamérica serían muy diferentes a las que se tendrían o se tuvieron con George Bush o John McCain.

La Fe es una parte importante de la cultura latina. Los republicanos se presentan como el partido de las gentes de Fe. ¿Qué filosofía se acerca más a la Fe, la Republicana o la Demócrata?

Los demócratas. Creo que el senador Obama ha expresado claramente que es una persona de Fe. Pero como dice la Biblia, La Fe sin hechos no significa nada. Los republicanos hablan de la Fe, los demócratas la ponen en práctica. Y lo más importante acerca de la Fe es cómo la ponemos de manifiesto en nuestras vidas personales.

El senador Obama es una persona honesta y honrada. La campaña de McCain está dirigida por "Lobbyists" (Agentes de los grupos de presión). Y se puede hablar mucho acerca de la Fe, pero si no se practica a diario entonces tenemos un problema.

La Igualdad Salarial es otro asunto. El senador Obama tiene la convicción de que las mujeres deberían ser remuneradas igual que los hombres. John McCain votó en contra de esto. McCain cree que las mujeres no deberían ganar tanto como los hombres y que el gobierno no tiene parte en esto. El senador Obama ha puesto su Fe en práctica. Y McCain habla de su Fe pero no incluye la igualdad de derechos para las mujeres.

Sobresale entre los grupos de presión el de "English Only" . Este es un tema muy importante para muchos latinos. ¿Cuál es la postura del Partido Demócrata sobre este asunto?

Nosotros creemos que es bueno aprender diversos idiomas, pensamos que los latinos que vienen a los EEUU aprenden inglés sin que se les diga que lo tienen que hacer; todos los inmigrantes lo aprenden. Pensamos que sería muy beneficioso para los americanos hablar otros idiomas también.

Nosotros sabemos qué es verdaderamente este asunto del "English Only". Sabemos en realidad que está dirigido contra los inmigrantes latinos. Nunca tuvimos una ley como esta para los inmigrantes irlandeses, italianos o judíos y no creo que la necesitemos para los latinos.

Se ha reportado que el senador Obama puede que esté listo para dejar que las "Organizaciones 527" como Moveon.org aumenten su agresividad contra la campaña de McCain. ¿Cree que es esta una buena idea? Y si es así, ¿Se debería haber hecho antes?

No se nada de eso, no he escuchado esos reportes. Esto es lo que queremos hacer:

La campaña de McCain quiere hablar acerca de todo excepto de McCain. Quieren hablar de Sandra Palin, de lápices de labios, de todo, menos del propio McCain. Esto pasa por que McCain es un candidato del pasado. Nosotros vamos ha hablar sobre temas importantes. Como usted sabe el lema del movimiento del senador es "Si Se Puede" o "Yes We Can".

¿Y cómo se siente usted cuando ve que los republicanos están adoptando sus lemas y sus formas?

¿Pero quién les va a creer?

Gordon Smith y John McCain han estado en Washington casi el mismo tiempo, si se pone a sumar, del que yo llevo viviendo. Y la realidad es que nunca se van a obtener cambios con personas a las que que sólo les interesa hablar de cambios en las elecciones.

Sólo se obtienen verdaderos cambios con las personas que lo viven. Barak Obama fue un organizador comunitario, en la comunidad latina hay un gran número de organizadores; los demócratas se pasaron tres días burlándose de los organizadores comunitarios en Minnesota.

Sabemos bien del lado de quién está Barack Obama. Se sabe también de que lado está John McCain, y este no es el lado de los latinos.

Una última pregunta, y esta es una pregunta general: Si el senador Obama es elegido, ¿Cuáles son los cambios más importantes que podemos esperar de su presidencia, algo que la gente podrá ver?

Lo más importante es que habrá más trabajos disponibles, que todos los americanos tendrán cobertura médica y que pondremos fin a la guerra de Irak de forma honorable.

Traducción: Abelardo Magaña, Rodrigo Alvarez y Matías Trejo De Dios

Audio in English @

http://lineasemanal.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/howard_dean091208email.mp3

VIDEO: Howard Dean at the University of Iowa

Zachary Scott Edwards — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 19:40:01 EDT

Here is a guest blog by Soheil, Iowa New Media Intern

Last week at the University of Iowa campus, Howard Dean gave a rousing speech to scores of young people asking everyone to volunteer and help elect Senator Obama as our next president.

Check out this video of the event:

There are less than two weeks before early voting begins here in Iowa on September 25th. From then on, every day until November 4th will be Election Day.

We are going to need college and high school students across the state to help get out the vote and join our campaign. This is going to be a great way to get involved in a presidential campaign and meet hundreds of other young leaders who are making a difference.

In Barack’s own words, “Change doesn’t come from the top down; it comes from the bottom up.”

No matter how much time you have to offer, there’s a place for you in this campaign. You can sign up for an internship with your nearest campaign office here: http://ia.barackobama.com/iaintern.

This is our time. Help us take charge of change.

Obama Would Benefit by Describing His Potential Cabinet Choices, and Specifically What He Wants Them to Achieve, starting, let's say, with Howard Dean, Bill Richardson, and Jerry Brown!

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 22:26:57 EDT

I have been writing some halacious (and I believe quite excellent) articles on the ABSOLUTE NECESSITY FOR AND LONG RANGE BENEFITS FOR AMERICA'S HEALTH, FOR DR. HOWARD DEAN III, M.D., to be considered an "early" member of Obama's Cabinet, if that wouldn't be too big a step down for one of his genius level intelligence, I say as Secretary of Health, or better yet, FDA Commissioner, to take federal regulatory power out of the hands and make it begin again to actually protect consumers.....

FDA Commissioner should be a Cabinet Level position, anyway...it oversees a full 25% of the entire US Economy , the segment based on Food or Drugs).

The 6 decades-long subservience to corporate demand and corporate profits, the influence of corporate lobbyists to destroy true consumer protection legislation at all levels, the international implications, especially Economic, of a total regulatory failure in the United States Food and Drug Administration: all of this needs to come to a rapid, almost immediate end, with a very strong consumer protection-oriented FDA Commissioner who is not going to open the Revolving Door at the FDA to corporations regulated by the FDA, and not going to constantly capitulated to the whims an profits of Big Pharma and Big Junk Food, dba Grocery Manufacturers of America, Coca Cola, Pepsi, Wrigley's Gum, Ajinomoto of Japan (the world's largest manufacturer of both Aspartame and of Monosodium Glutamate, and everybody's fist choice for monster corporation: Monsanto, etc.

I see no better choice than nor anyone else I would trust more to do that job than Howard Dean!

[Here is one of my first articles on this subject:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Medical-Corner-of-the-by-Stephen-Fox-080824-149.html]

(I also want to see New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson as Secretary of State and California Attorney General and former Governor Jerry Brown, as Attorney General)

I frequently hear that such discussions, if they came from Obama, would be deemed "presumptuous" and "arrogant", some say by the press and others say from the Neocon Right Wingers.

However, if he were to speak to that issue in the context of what he would like to achieve as President in the various key realms, Environment, Education, International, Defense, etc., and at the same time, mention some names of who the USA MIGHT see in charge of which Cabinet level positions:

With some more obligatory brainstorming, THIS SEEMS LIKE A DYNAMITE CAMPAIGN TACTIC AND WAY TO SECURE FENCESITTERS AND UNDECIDED, especially in Battleground states....

Too bad if the Neocons label it "arrogant" or "presumptuous." I could care less what they think. This is not some mere campaign ploy, but a plan that would illuminate ALL Americans as to what his administration might achieve. In such a comparison with McCain, I am sure Obama would come out clearly on top.

Prediction: McCain will use the Bush 2004 Debate Tactic of Deriding Obama's Ostensible "Lack of Experience." Cheney used that as well in the VP Debates. You know McCain will hammer that, but describing Cabinet picks during the debates will blow McCain and his leaky boat right out of the tub! The Republicans will, in their fuzzy demented way, will remember how well this worked in 2004!

I see clearly that if Obama would try this on a trial basis, here and there, before the first debate, ultimately he would be doing it for the right reasons, so that the American public might better comprehend his highest goals domestically and internationally, and it would open the door to perceptions of his candidacy, raising it above the National Enquirer propensities of the Republican Team in this election.

Obama should immediately ask Dwight Eisenhower's Granddaughter, Susan Eisenhower, to appear at campaign major events in the Battleground states, for in the Senate Races, and in the Presidential Race. I am sure she would accept.

I have heard from at least 50 people in Florida that they are praying and begging for former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, to come to Florida, to dispell the vicious rumors the R's have spread throughout the elderly mostly Jewish community, that Obama is some kind of secret Muslim Terrorist.

I am serious about such reports coming from South Florida, and I thus encourage Obama and Biden to invite Ed Koch to spend a month in Florida on their behalf, and to ask Susan Eisenhower to appear in older Rust Belt and Bible Belt rallies, where older fence sitters and undecideds will hear her grandfather, the last Real Republican, with great benefit for the Electoral Vote Tally.

Respectfully offered,

Stephen Fox
Founder, New Millennium Fine Art
a Santa Fe Gallery since 1980
stephen@santafefineart.com

New Mexico's next U.S. Senator Tom Udall's statement in Memory of September 11; Some Historical Observations, and Concluding Advice to Obama on a Shift He Absolutely Must Make in Order to Win!

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 22:11:00 EDT

[PHILADELPHIA - Republican presidential candidate John McCaincut short his first public appearance without running-mate Sarah Palin after chanting supporters of Democratic rival Barack Obama interrupted his speech.

After lunching with a roundtable of women at Philadelphia's Down Home Diner, McCain shook hands with supporters and strode up to a podium to deliver a
statement. But as he spoke, chants of "Obama, Obama, Obama" filled the room.

Reporters craned forward trying to hear the Arizona senator. Unfortunately for McCain -- and possibly overlooked by aides who planned the event -- a section of the diner opened up to a market where a crowd had gathered behind a cordon.

A large contingent of Obama supporters showed up, mixed with some who had bumper stickers reading "Democrats for McCain".

"It's time to leave the talk behind and start shaking up Washington and fixing our economy, taking care of the problems facing our families. We're
going to give a tax cut to every family with a child," he said.

His words were barely audible.

McCain's supporters shouted "John McCain", "John McCain," "John McCain". The duelling chants nearly drowned out the presidential hopeful's voice.

"Pennsylvania is a battleground state as we can tell," McCain said.

Meanwhile Palin, the Alaska governor, was on a flight back to her state.]

U.S. Representative Tom Udall, D-N.M., released the following statement today in solemn remembrance of the tragedies of September 11, 2001:

"September 11 is a day that invokes immense sadness in all of us. Today, we remember the pain that we felt seven years ago.

But Americans learned something about ourselves on September 11, 2001, and what we learned should make us all proud.

We learned that, in America, when we find ourselves face-to-face with tragedy, we know a simple truth: we are our brothers' keepers; we are our sisters' keepers.

We know that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.

That if one American dies needlessly, we are all diminished by that loss. As we mark this somber day, let us take comfort in that lesson: whatever our enemies do to us, Americans will stick together. And we will not be defeated."

_______________________________

My own recollection/observation was after 9/11 when the Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar al Saud, donated a check for many millions of dollars to the 9/11 victims fund, as I recall $10 million, and accompanying the check was a letter in which he made many points, and among them was the question of the United States' need to figure out what it might have done to cause this ghastly disaster and act of Terrorism.

That was too much for Rudy Giuliani, who immediately returned the check to Bandar, objecting very vociferously to Bandar's his commentary.

When I read about this in the New York Times, I immediately recognized this as Giuliani's error, but we all throughout life recognize this uniquely human trait of not being able to accept responsibility (or even a hint of a discussion of responsibility) by someone who is in some kind of serious trouble. It is just too much for them to deal with.....

The Saudi passport of Saeed Alghamdi, said to be discovered in the wreckage of Flight 93.

Steel beams from the WTC were already being removed and recycled on September 20, 2001. [Source: Associated Press]

A chunk of hot metal being removed from the North Tower rubble about eight weeks after 9/11. [Source: Frank Silecchia]

From left to right: Dick Cheney, Prince Bandar, Condoleezza Rice, and George W. Bush, on the Truman Balcony of the White House on September 13, 2001. [Source: White House]

Bandar certainly should have had some keen insights into these matters; from Wikipedia, in italics:

[Prince Bandar has formed close relationships with several American presidents, notably George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, who gave him the affectionate and controversial nickname "Bandar Bush". His friendship with Dick Cheney and his wife, Lynne Cheney, extends to the years before Cheney took office as the United States Vice President. Prince Bandar invited the Cheney family to his daughter's wedding in the 1990s, but they did not attend.

The close relationship with the Bush family is also described in Craig Unger's book House of Bush, House of Saud and is highlighted in Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11....

Prince Bandar has endured controversy over allegations in the book Plan of Attack by Bob Woodward that President George W. Bush informed him of the decision to invade Iraq ahead of Secretary of State Colin Powell. Also, the book alleged a deal had been worked out to reduce oil prices just ahead of the November 2004 election. Bandar publicly endorsed President Bush.

On June 26, 2005, Prince Bandar reportedly submitted his resignation as ambassador to the United States for "personal reasons".[4][5] Bandar's return to Saudi Arabia was announced weeks prior to the death of King Fahd upon which Bandar's father, Sultan bin Abdul Aziz became the nation's Crown Prince. It has been rumoured that Bandar's return was timed in order to secure a position in the new government.[6] In October 2005 he became the kingdom's national security chief.]

Wat happened? According to another source; "Saudi princesses are no less benevolent than their husbands, brothers and cousins. Ambassador-Prince Bandar's own wife Princess Haifa, daughter of the late King Feisal, received a letter from an unknown woman telling of problems with medical bills. The Princess-Ambassadress dashed her off a check in six figures -- and the money by some strange route ended up among the resources of the perpetrators of the September 11 atrocities. The revelation so upset Her Royal Highness that various sympathetic Washington ladies rushed their condolences and sympathy to her -- including Mrs. George H.W. Bush and Mrs. Colin Powell. "

I am not a 9/11 conspiracy kind of guy/paranoid, not at all. I concluded long ago that even talking about such was a waste of time, my time at least....

However, having said that, since September 11, 2001, I do believe we have a lot of evidence of how our hostility about Islam now has alienated most of the 1.2 billion Muslims in the world, about 60 nations; it is obvious that the Chinese have run rings around us in terms of investment and economic policy throughout most of the world, particularly in Africa; it is screamingly obvious that American excursions into Iraq along with most of the US wars since 1945 have been in essence imperialistic in nature, and as such have earned us increasing hostility; one British tourist visiting Santa Fe compared the British in Ireland to the Americans in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

"If you kill their mothers and children and cousins and brothers over several years, pretty soon the entire nation becomes terrorists."

I do believe that the core of this Modern History was all essentially delineated by Marx, Engels, and especially by Hegel, in his discussions of Dialectical Materialism.

All those ISM's and the thesis/antithesis/synthesis processes make perfect sense to me in explaining the History of Economic Systems; it is clear to me that when Big Pharma and Big Junk Food corporations and their hired guns/lobbyists effectively take over the regulatory processes of a nation, like they have done with the FDA, that we are doomed in health, in history, in medical and consumer credibility, and in Economic well-being.

I have written a lot of articles on related subjects, particularly Consumer Protection, Aspartame, and Donald Rumsfeld's having forced through the FDA the approval for Aspartame/Methanol/Formaldehyde, so he could make $12-20 million personal profit, the health of hundreds of millions of people be damned....

I won't regale you with this on this solemn occasion, but allow me to recall a lecture in Santa Fe a few years ago by former President of Poland and Nobel Laureate Lech Walesa to the effect that the USA has lost its moral stature in toto as well as most of its political power, squandered its economic power in order to preserve and just barely maintain its military power, which was no replacement for moral, political, or economic power. That was quite brilliant, truly.

Similarly, DNC Chairman and former Vermont Governor Howard Dean III, M.D., was recently in Santa Fe to fire up the troops, and one thing in particular stuck with me, when he said no nation could bring peace in any conflict unless it had the moral authority to sit at the negotiating table.

We don't have that power and that moral authority throughout most of the world right now, thanks to the past 8 years of Bush/Cheney/Neocon/Blackwater/Halliburton/Kellogg Brown, and Root mode of economics and government economic policies.

I really don't believe that in general Economics nor specifically that Macro Economic insights from government economic advisors, for example, hardly qualifies as rocket science.

It is more akin to the old irrigation system of colonial New Mexico, in which the farmer who controlled the flow of the irrigation ditch, or ACEQUIA MADRE ("MOTHER DITCH" in Spanish) determined which field the water would flow into. He was called the Majordomo, and in that society, was much more important than any Mayor, or "ALCALDE" in Spanish.

That is what has happened during the past 8 years. The White House and other government masters of the flow of monies have purposefully turned the irrigation ditch waters into such things as Military, Defense Contractors, Weapons, Hardware, Security, etc.

What was in that other field, the one that got neglected and deprived of water?

Just about everything else: Education, Inner Cities, Highway maintenance and construction, Infrastructure, huge realms of Scientific and Medical Research like Stem Cell Research, etc. You name it: our American Economy is in terrible shape, and with the way our international respect has deteriorated, squarely because of Bush and Cheney, it might get a lot worse....the signs are everywhere; they are well known and they are easily recognized: endemic mortage failures, high gas prices, a deflated stock market, high unemployment, failed schools especially in the Inner City, store closings, et. alia.

Much of this election hinges on our ability to change all of that, to put America back on a sane and internationally effective tack, and that is at a minimum, just to ensure our survival as a nation.

That is why I want to see Dr. Dean be the Obama Cabinet Secretary for Health or as FDA Commissioner, and that is why I want to see NM Governor Bill Richardson as the next Secretary of State. I think also that Jerry Brown of California would make a great consumer protection-oriented United States Attorney General, one who would also reconstruct all of our civil liberties.

Such speculations are of course something else entirely, but I am certain that Obama should discuss such things seriously and frequently, ignoring the advice of some who say that that would be ridiculed by the right wing as "presumptuous" or as "arrogant," so that the American people can gain some glimmer of an insight into what he really would like to achieve as President, in terms of names, both possible and real and well known names.

Will Obama win?

To get to that victory, I work day and night as a member of 328 Obama groups, coordinating correspondence, and urging people to not just "preach to the choir," as that is how Democrats usually lose elections, but to get out there and go door to door to tell folks how much is really at stake in this election, plus my special focus: Letters to the Editor, Opinion/Editorials, and so on, all over the United States, wherever they could be published.

Surprising how few people comprehend this in only a few states, and in not many of the so-called BATTLEGROUND STATES, for Obama and for US Senate candidates, as described in my blog about a week ago in the letter from Senator Charles Schumer.

I am going to take a break from all of this furious emailing, so you won't hear from me for a while.

I will conclude with a few paragraphs written today, not by me, but an astute observer and friend of mine,who wishes to remain anonymous, about 50 years old, a realtor, former actress, and thinker:

Recently, I was on a flight to Texas and sat next to a very personable and fairly astute guy. We began talking politics and went back and forth about the issues. He was really impressed by my research and said so.

Then he leaned over to me and whispered conspiratorially, "I concede all the points but Obama is a Muslim, you know."

And when I calmly explained that that particular lie fed on our basest fears, he held up Reverend Wright as proof. This scene has been repeated numerous times with different characters but the underlying emotional message is clear and powerful. Their winning on a gut level. They are afraid and the facts don't matter.

Obama is perceived as "the other."

The Republicans have clearly defined him emotionally and he must wrest these irrational pictures away from them and supplant them with powerful and soothing reassurance.

Obama may loose this election if he does not connect on a visceral level soon. He must capture the emotional narrative and stop trying to be only reasonable. People do not reason their way into the voting booth. They move from the gut.

He has much "low-hanging fruit" to choose from. Sarah Palin is a right-wing fundamentalist wack-job. She is an extremist and Americans of all stripes are uncomfortable with extremism. John McCain has abandoned every "maverick" position he's ever held.

It's all on video, from her prayers to the oil pipeline god to the massively naked ambition which has led him to do a 180 on every major political stance of his past. Use Their Own Words To Out This Outrageous Hypocricy. Draw passionate simple pictures once again and reframe this narrative, from the gut. It's the only way. "

______________________________________

Obama has to win!

WALL STREET JOURNAL, SEPTEMBER 10: REVIEW & OUTLOOK Running Alaska September 10, 2008///[SURE WOULD BE NICE TO SEE A LOT OF ALASKANS WRITE INTO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL REALLY STRONG LETTERS ABOUT WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE PALIN AS GOVERNOR! an idea from Ste

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:50:54 EDT

Page A14

One rap on Sarah Palin's qualifications to be Vice President is that she governs one of our least populated states, with a budget of "only" $12 billion and 16,000 full-time state employees.

On the other hand, it turns out that the Governor's office in Alaska is one of the country's most powerful. For more than two decades Thad Beyle, a political scientist at the University of North Carolina, has maintained an index of "institutional powers" in state offices.

He rates governorships on potential length of service, budgetary and appointment authority, veto power and other factors. Mr. Beyle's findings for 2008 rate Alaska at 4.1 on a scale of 5.

The national average is 3.5. Only four other states -- Maryland, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia -- concentrate as much power in the Governor's office as Alaska does, and only one state (Massachusetts) concentrates more. California may be the nation's most populous state, but its Governor rates as below-average (3.2) in executive authority.

This may account in part for Arnold Schwarzenegger's poor legislative track record. The lowest rating goes to Vermont (2.5), where the Governor (remember Howard Dean) is a figurehead compared to Mrs. Palin. In Alaska, the Governor has line-item veto power over the budget and can only be overridden by a three-quarters majority of the Legislature.

In 1992, the year Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton was elected President, his state budget was $2 billion and among the smallest in the country. Compared to that, Sarah Palin is an executive giant.

COMMENT?

See all of today's editorials and op-eds, plus video commentary, on Opinion Journal.

And add your comments to the Opinion Journal forum.

Howard Dean at Augsburg College

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:49:41 EDT

About 300 people braved the cold and light rain to join DNC Chairman Howard Dean as he kicked off a Midwestern "Register For Change" bus tour today in Minneapolis with a rally at Augsburg College.

Chairman Dean was joined by Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak, Congressman Keith Ellison, and U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, each of whom appealed to the crowd to get registered and get involved in Barack's campaign for change right here in Minnesota.

Dean implored the students in the crowd not to make the same mistake his generation did following their handwork on civil rights and women's rights:

You can't take a vacation from politics... you need to be in politics, because politics is about justice... and because we have this belief that we can make the world better. And if you want to get there, we have to elect Barack Obama.

Campus organizers and volunteers walked through the crowd, registering voters and signing up volunteers. And although the Republican National Convention was happening just a few miles away in neighboring St. Paul, there was no doubt among the crowd that John McCain and Sarah Palin were just more of the same.

The Register for Change Bus Tour kicked off on July 17th in Crawford, Texas. It will register voters nationwide between now and November. Registering new voters plays a huge role in our strategy to elect Barack President—and getting new people involved has always been at the heart of Barack’s message of change.

Here are some more photos from the rally:

If you you're not registered to vote, be sure to visit VoteForChange.com to get registered in a matter of minutes.

TOMORROW: Howard Dean's "Register for Change" Bus Tour Comes to Minneosta

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:01:28 EDT

Tomorrow, Governor Howard Dean's cross-country "Register for Change" bus tour will pass through Minnesota, stopping in Minneapolis for a rally with U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congressman Keith Ellison at Augsburg College.

Here are the details:

REGISTER FOR CHANGE RALLY WITH HOWARD DEAN
Thursday, September 4th - 12:30 PM
Augsburg College
Urness Hall Lawn
2211 Riverside Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN
Map & Directions

The Register for Change tour made dozens of campaign stops in key states throughout the country in the run up to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, and it's only fitting that it comes to the Twin Cities, the site of the Republican National Convention.

Come out and meet fellow Obama supporters—and check out the Register for Change Bus! For more information, visit the Register for Change site.

Stephen Fox, Anti-Aspartame Legislation Activist and Writer, will be guest on world's largest radio program, COAST TO COAST, tonight, 1 a.m. Pacific Time

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 17:57:05 EDT

As a friend and colleague of Dr. Betty Martini, D.Hum, Founder, Mission Possible International, I am happy to inform you that I will be a guest on this major program tonite, Wednesday morning in fact, on the largest listenership program in the world, Coast to Coast, hosted by the regular host, George Noory, with Betty Martini as the Prime Guest.

The first two hours of this massive 3 hour program are devoted to Attorney James Turner of Washington D.C., the renowned consumer protection lawyer, who, among many other great deeds, succeeded in getting the carcinogenic cyclamates removed from sale in the Nixon years.

The other major guest will be physician H.J. Roberts of West Palm Beach Florida, author of Aspartame Disease: An FDA Approved Epidemic, a 1038 page book from the point of view of an internist who has been working with Diabetics and the ghastly avoidable effects of the artificial sweetener aspartame for the past 27 years. Dr. Roberts was elected by his medical peers as the best physician in the United States, back in the early 80's; you may know of his wife, Carol, a Florida Democratic Party Official, who was one of the Election Board supervisors in Broward County, Florida, in the "hanging chad" controversies.

This should be a very stimulating evening. My main hope tonight is that ALL Obama supporters can get off of aspartame, if there are any who are, since it is metabolized as Methanol and Formaldehyde, and that Obama supporters will use their influence to carry through after the election to get a real consumer protecitonist appointed as FDA Commissioner.

My own personal nomination and hope would be for Dr. Howard Dean, M.D., to take such a position, or as US Secretary of Health, to whom the FDA Commissioner reports.

I wrote important legislation to ban aspartame for both the Hawaii and New Mexico Senate, which was overwhelmed by corporate lobbyists (eviscerated, might be the best word....) which led to a Hawaii Senate Concurrent Resolution 191, which genteely but firmly asked the FDA to rescind the approval for aspartame, and gave about 40 reasons to do so. It can be read at the Hawaii Legislature website, as SCR 191.

Here is the Resolution (please take the time to read it):

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2008/Bills/HCR191_.htm

If there are any questions or newly enthused activists who want to help with similar resolutions in their state, please let me know by email.

For Coast to Coast Subscribers, the show will be archived at their site, www.coasttocoastam.com, for about 90 days, and at that site, you can find which stations in your area carry it.

Best wishes, and I hope this all makes perfect sense to you and to President Obama, when it comes time to consider the health of hundreds of millioins of America. As James Turner will describe tonight, he essentially forced Nixon with the compiled evidence, to give a Presidential Order to get Cyclamates off the market.

This is the exact opposite from what Reagan and Rumsfeld did in 1981 to get aspartame approved, never mind that it had been turned down by the FDA as neurotoxic for the prior 15 years, from 1966 bto 1981. Google and read this: RUMSFELD'S BIOWEAPON LEGACY, to get to the grim truth about the most sordid chapter in the FDA's checkered history.

Respectfully,

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News

stephen@santafefineart.com

(Rejoice: Palin is another Harriet Miers, In My Humble Opinion) TOP TEN REASONS SARAH PALIN SHOULD NOT BE ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 20:56:52 EDT

[The comparison to Harriet Miers is an obvious but original thought, but it seems Art Levine at the Huffington Post, also conceived of it, a bit earlier than I did, so hats off to Art Levine: here is his article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/art-levine/sarah-palin-the-new-harri_b_122582.html]

#1: Palin opposes a woman's right to choose what to do with her own body, opposing the right to an abortion even for rape victims.

#2: Palin believes that Creationism should be taught in public schools, which runs both counter to well-settled evolutionary science, and to the Constitutional separation of church and state.

#3: Palin is a global warming denier, who (as with her views on evolution) has expressed skepticism about the well-settled science.

#4: Palin opposes listing polar bears as an endangered species, because it means oil and gas companies might have to be just a little bit careful out there.

#5: Palin is rabidly dedicated to drilling in the Artic wildlife refuge, known as ANWR.

#6: Palin is in the midst of a growing ethics scandal, involving the alleged abuse of her gubernatorial power to punish a State Trooper who is her sister's ex-husband, firing a State Commissioner who refused to go along.

#7: Palin called Hillary Clinton a "whiner", even as she cynically tries to woo Clinton voters to the McCain ticket.

#8: Palin has very little experience for the Vice Presidential job, serving less than two years so far of her first term as Governor of a state with fewer residents than Fort Worth, Texas. (Previously, she was Mayor of Wasilla, Alaska, pop. 8,500.) This a photo of Wasilla, Alaska.

http://mudflats.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/wasilla.jpg

#9: Palin has no foreign policy experience at all, so little in fact that her supporters are reduced to citing Alaska's proximity to Russia.

#10: Palin is virtually untested, unvetted and unknown to Americans, a fact which throws into relief the hypocrisy of the many unfair criticisms leveled at Barack Obama during this campaign.

BONUS REASON, #11: Palin only recently said that she doesn't even know what the job entails, saying on the CNBC show Kudlow and Co

Why WE are HERE

TarekP4Obama — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:59:55 EDT

Our family has not been good at getting the GOP off of our internal issues. Here are the facts. We have some of our family who believe that a protest vote for McCain will honor Senator Clinton's run for President. Can you honestly say that this is your reason for voting this cycle? Let's look at this from another vantage point. If Hillary Clinton were our nominee, would I vote for John McCain? Absolutely NOT!!!! Why? Because, in looking at my next president, I liked Hillary, but I liked Barack more. I appreciate Senator McCain has a war hero, but he cannot be my vote for president. I am so emphatic for all of us, that I would like for you to look at the issues today. Russia is now become an issue. There is a strong military arms tie between Russia and Iran. Pakistan's president is stepping down. The genocide in Darfur is continuing. Our economy has been rudderless for years. My belief that Barack is better, is not to take away from McCain's achievements. He would rather make you believe that we have not put together a grassroots campaign. He is selling the image of this grassroots campaign growing through technology available to him. This is not an issue. This is fact. The growth of our nation comes from us believing in each other. I would prefer that if you don't believe in Obama-Biden to vote for the other party. But, please don't tell me that polls in August cost you from believing that change is coming. Please don't tell me that an ad that Rush Limbaugh said would be coming in April is going to cost us to forget our power. WE ARE A FIST!!! All of us. We have found out that we have a voice. For so long we did not feel that Washington can change because of us. Barack Obama said no to PAC money and sent back $100K today that came through Congressman Rangel; a person I well respect from New York. Why? Because, that it was gained from PAC money. BELIEVE in your desire for better my friends. Our families depend on us to not breathe the smoke, but for us to put out the fire. We are here because we are mentally prepared. Now let's get battle tested. Make sure that you write to your local news channels and papers and let tham know that you won't accept their use of fractional news reporting. The Associate Press (AP) was responsible for a lot this reporting this weekend. This is not our calling. Do not use your energy to fight old politics. Use this week to recharge our momentum. This is why we will WIN IN NOVEMBER.

Can he get the job done??????

Joanne Urish — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 08:06:18 EDT

As we approach the big Convention in Denver, I find myself, for the very first time, actually coming to terms with the fact that Senator Obama may, indeed, lose this election. I find that I am actually getting sick to my stomach with the idea that Barack may have "blown it". Just can't believe that he allowed himself to be drawn into that fiasco of a "debate" with John McCain hosted by Rick Warren. That has really gotten me wondering just what he will do when he and McCain actually do meet for their three debates that are scheduled.

I do question whether Barack can go toe to toe with McCain. While it is OK with me that he takes forever to explain himself, because I like the way he examines an issue, it is obvious that the method used by McCain is what appeals to the average voter. The drop in the polls tells us that.

I am puzzled by the drop in the polls, and hope that the Convention will bring about a turn-around. Although, the thing that I am placing my hope on now is the VP choice. I have come to the conclusion that the only choice left to give Barack's campaign a lift is Joe Biden. As much as I hate to admit it, Barack NEEDS Joe Biden. I truly never wanted it to come to that. While I have favored Biden, I never really thought he would become so important. But now I do!!!!

I have always thought that Barack Obama had what it took without that much help from anyone else. I suppose he did appear to be a sort of Superman in my eyes. Well, it's time to come back to earth and accept the fact that HELP is needed. Obama just simply has underperformed and we need to really push, but he needs to help himself as well, and get a running mate who can fill in where he is lacking. I think Joe Biden can do that.

I wouldn't mind if I had to eat my words. I would love it if I was totally wrong. We'll see....

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

Blogging for Barack, Caroline Kennedy,Michael Moore, Dr. Howard Dean, the failed FDA, and Victory in November

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:37:02 EDT

I sure like Michael Moore's idea of Caroline Kennedy running as
Obama's Vice President, and tomorrow, Howard Dean III, M.D., is coming to
Santa Fe, and I will have a chance to ask him about my deepest concern,
overhauling the FDA with a true consumer protectionist as Commissioner, not
the corporate-serving lackey we have right now.

I decided to join 112 Obama groups, some at the official website, and
some interesting sounding Obama Yahoo! and one Google group located in
Colorado. I get 1200-2000 emails a day, and it is an amazing flow of
information. Recently, the news about Musharraf “resigning”appeared on the
Net at least 36 hours before it came out in the New Mexican, the "oldest
paper in the West."

On the other hand, my wise friend who graduated from St. John’s College
believes the “cool” or “cold” media, in which he included newspaper,
magazines, and books, ultimately had a much greater effect on the recipient
than the jillions of bits of information pouring in off the Internet.

At times, with 112 groups’ membership, including some strange ones
(LasVegasAgnosticsAtheistsforObama), Secular Humanist (my favorite), some
funny ones (PoliticallyNCorrectisOK), and the high-powered Action Teams in
all of the key states, the flow of information at times resembles looking
up at Niagara Falls, from that little boat below, the Maid of the Mist. At
other times, I notice a real self-congratulatory narcissistic attitude in
the groups, as if to say, “Aren’t we cool?” and not nearly enough of the
real mechanics of politics, the door to door, the articles to hang from the
door, getting the people to the Polls, etc., all of which may be boring to
many, but is the pulse of not only who is in the White House for the next 4
to 8 years, but whether the Senate has a filibuster-proof 60 Democrats. The
people who like that and are good at that are out doing just that, not
yakking it up on the Internet, basking in the ill-founded Kaffee Klatch
milieu that seems to be the result of useless Liberal Arts Degrees from many
years ago.

     It will be a very tight election, because of that supposed 16% of
American voters who are outright or secret BIGOTS, who will vote against
Obama above all, even with all of the bloggers, the right TV ads, the
Unions, the traditional Democrat alliance between Jews, Negroes, Minorities,
Intellectuals, Indians, etc., the victorious debates, as so on. Some say it
is always decided in the last 4 days anyway, which I don’t think is true
with this election. Such a large percentage of Americans recognize the
absolutely calamitous disastrous economic effects of 8 years of
Bushies/Neocons/Cheney/Blackwater/Kellogg Brown and Root/the Pentagon and
the Industrialists, etc.: I don’t see how any thinking American could not
vote for Obama, but, have I been wrong before? Yes.

     The bloggers will get out in due course and eventually Pound the
Pavement; at least, I know for sure that Obama's Campaign Manager, a few
others, and me, will ask them to do that, and I will be sending at least
400,000 people emails with encouragement to get strategic and cut the
yakking till after the Election.

But the observations about the effects of the Internet on Society (more
than Politics) are very compelling and very interesting. Marshall McLuhan
posited many years ago that all of this electronic communication and related
advances would eventually create The Global Village, but obviously, the
cohesion is very thin, if it there at all, eh?

Rather than any advanced form of communication, some see serious
Blogging as a new form of Insanity, recognized by the Medical Profession as
a brand new syndrome, and others see it as just plain old Lemming-like
behavior, especially in the political context. I have a keener perception of
how the Internet has requited at least 50% of the compulsion to read several
daily newspapers, and let me tell you in conclusion: there sure are a lot of
really smart people Blogging for Obama, and I am sure we are going to win.

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor, Santa Fe Sun News

Howard Dean and Kal Penn Hit the Road in Ohio to Register for Change!

Michael in Ohio — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 23:39:04 EDT

Tomorrow in Columbus and Cleveland, Democratic National Committee Chairman and former Governor of Vermont Howard Dean will hit the streets with actor/producer Kal Penn ("Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle," the TV show "House") as part of their Register for Change voter registration drive. Their drive (in a bus) takes them across the heartland, from Indiana to Ohio to Pennsylvania, getting the word out about the importance of voter participation.

In Columbus the duo will be joined by Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, as well as Ohio State Representative and Minority Leader Joyce Beatty, and in Cleveland by Peggy Zone Fisher, wife of Lt. Governor Lee Fisher. Details are as follows:

Columbus Voter Registration Canvass Launch
8:40 am - 9:30 am
Columbus State Community College Welcome Center
550 East Spring Street
Columbus, OH 43215

Register for Change in Cleveland, Ohio
2:20 pm - 3:20 pm
Cleveland Campaign for Change Office
13100 Shaker Boulevard
Shaker Heights, OH 44210

Today, Dean pumped up new registrants in Cincinnati by reminding them that Kerry lost Ohio in 2004 by a what averages of 11 votes per precinct. He also underscored a survey taken in 2005 that found that of all voter outreach methods used in an election, canvassing, and specifically neighbors talking to neighbors had the most positive effect, with 12% impacted. Fortunately, the newest and most innovative program of the campaign that allows you to do that: talk to neighbors in your neighborhood about Barack.

With neighbors talking and new voters registered, Ohio can't help but go blue come November!

Obama Should Name a Range of Cabinet Choices, Nothing Final, but Get Some Names Out There...

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 22:36:11 EDT

Today, one Blue Dog Democrat, from the Yahoo! group by that name, which is not connected to mybarackobama.com pointed out that Dewey might have lost in 1948 because he named a Cabinet, but Dewey didn't lose that election solely because he named a Cabinet. That was 60 years ago. Times have changed. Many other factors beat Dewey...

Things are more urgent in 2008; the need for Cabinet level perspectives is paramount, and would precipitate a lot of voters to Obama's side, if he did it in a non presumptuous way, and made it clear that he was opening up the discussion in a fair and egalitarian way.

Personally, I believe we are in such an infernal mess internationally that the Secretary of State job has taken on more importance than the Vice President, and that we need a diplomat with a lot of international exposure, experience and track record. That would be New Mexico Governor Bill
Richardson, by a long shot....

Attorney General is another vital one: California Attorney General Jerry Brown, by a long shot, in my opinion. His record vis a vis Consumer Protection is stunning and is also sterling. Edwards is out of the picture (maybe like Eliot Spitzer is out of the picture, because of that Southern Male Brain?)

Health Secretary or FDA Commissioner? Very vital. FDA reports to Secretary of Health, and I believe strongly, if he would take the job and wouldn't see it as a step down, DR. Howard Dean III, M.D. would be the best; this is someone I trust a lot, especially at FDA to oversee fully 25% of the US Economy, which is either food or drugs. The corporate manipulation of FDA is killing America and big chunk of the rest of the world.

Even if Obama's top advisors are too scared of announcing Cabinet choices or a range of Cabinet choices, which they should not be at all, we can still talk about them, while we are not convincing fence sitters to vote for Obama.

The best tool I know of are his speeches, like the Berlin Speech, which has convinced many of my fence sitter friends, and for the devotees in Santa Fe, they in turn have printed it out and used it to convince other fence sitters. I managed over great difficulties to publish the entire Berlin Speech in the Santa Fe Sun News, of which I am the Managing Editor. When I was hunting down the precise complete text thereof, I couldn't even find it at mybarackobama.com, so I published it here a few blogs ago....

I am a member of about 70 different Obama groups, and I have noticed a tendency for the most active members to wallow in self congratulatory B.S., nitpick over what should be psychoanalytic conjecture, hairsplitting, noshing, chatting, and mere linguistic controversy, means that all doing this are entirely missing the point that we have an election to win.

All of the yukking-it-up in the world is not going to win it. It means take the time to pound the pavement, take literature that you yourself print out from various sites, and take it door-to-door in your neighborhood.

If we don't do this, we can still easily lose this election in November. Make no mistake. It is only about 90 days away, our supreme test!

Stephen Fox, Managing Editor Santa Fe Sun News

PS: There is much more meaningful dialogue about Campaing Strategies and Tactics going on in some of the groups not connected with barackobama.com, like ObamaBrigade, a Yahoo! group and SecularHumanist, another Yahoo! group. I recommend you join them to be closer to the cutting edge of the Obama Campaign.

Dean to lead national voter registration effort

Mike W — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:52:02 EDT

What's $2300 Buy These Days? Not Much Unity.

Mark Wiznitzer — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:06:28 EDT

The Obama campaign has launched an all-out effort to help Hillary Clinton retire her debt. Obama’s national finance team members (bundlers) are being asked to go back to the well and get their donor friends to kick in up to $2300 (maximum allowed by law) to Hillary Clinton’s primary campaign. Donations will be designated for Hillary Clinton’s “2008 Primary Election Debt Retirement”. Donors are being assured that the money will not be used to pay back Hillary and Bill Clinton’s personal loan to her campaign, which they reportedly are recognizing as a loss. The campaign’s message is that this financial help is critical to ensure party unity and secure the support of Clinton’s backers – both donors and voters – for Obama in the general election. I’m not convinced.

The major sticking point with most Obama donors revolves around the nature of and reason for the debt, which are obvious to backers of both candidates. No one can blame Obama supporters for not wanting to pay off Hillary’s debts to Mark Penn and his firm, estimated to be anywhere from $2.5 to $10 million dollars. There is also the widespread belief that Clinton’s debt is due in large part to her drive to win a few more states and rack up more delegates even after her decisive loss in North Carolina and bare victory in Indiana made it mathematically impossible for her accumulate enough delegates to win the nomination.

Most small Obama donors also reason that Clinton should get those “die-hard” supporters of hers, those 18 million ceiling-crackers she keeps talking about, to kick in just a couple of bucks each and she’d be home free. Even without Limbaugh’s crossover chaos Republicans in Ohio, Texas and Indiana, who never intended to vote for Hillary in the general. Even discounting the poor white Democrats the Clintons mobilized so effectively in places like western Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Kentucky, who just can’t spare the change right now. Hillary should still be left with over 12-15 million voters who are not maxed out. But getting voters to back their electoral choices with cash -- even if it is only one or two bucks -- is as hard as getting them to agree voluntarily to pay more taxes to retire the federal debt. It ain’t gonna happen.

And how much unity do Obama supporters who dish out up to $2300 get for their money? So far, it looks like the answer is “not much.” In fact, some Hillary supporters like the Denver Group and P.U.M.A. who should be out there asking her voters to kick in are instead investing in confrontation with DNC Chairman Howard Dean and a strategy to revisit Chicago ’68 if she does not get the nomination after all.

An unintended consequence of these die-hards' efforts is that they are undermining efforts by serious Clinton supporters like that other former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin to memorialize through a roll call vote Hillary’s historic achievement as America’s first major female candidate for President while confirming Obama as the party’s legitimate nominee. Until Hillary herself publicly rejects these distractions from unity and indicates she will personally call for the unanimous convention endorsement of Barack Obama’s nomination you maybe want to keep those 2300 dollars in an FDIC insured account.

wizinit is the nom de guerre of a veteran diplomat and fan of the late columnist Art Buchwald who writes serious analysis and political satire. If you would like to be notified whenever wizinit posts a new article click and join Food Tasters For Obama.

Meet Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, Paul Krugman, Rick Noriega and others!

Liz — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:58:43 EDT

Netroots Nation offer Dallas Air America members and friends an amazing $75 discount on registration!

Join Nancy Pelosi, Howard Dean, Lawrence Lessig, Van Jones, Darcy Burner, Paul Krugman, Markos Moulitsas, Rick Noriega and many others in Austin for Netroots Nation July 17-20. The third annual gathering of the Netroots will include panels led by national and international experts; identity, issue and regional caucuses; prominent political, issue and policy-oriented speakers; a progressive film screening series; and the most concentrated gathering of progressive bloggers to date. Visit netrootsnation.org for more information and to register.
Plus, enter promo code DallasAA at registration and get $75 off the standard price. See you in Austin!
We at Dallas Air America are also very pleased to specially welcome Air America host and editor of the AAR web page,, Sam Seder. Sam will be part of the panel entitled From the Written to the Spoken Word: Taking the Leap from Blogging toward Online Radio and Beyond and will also host a special screening of his movie A Bad Situationist.
Also from the progressive talk radio world, we welcome Cenk Uygur of the Young Turks. The Turks will be retuning to the XM Radio's America Left (formerly Air America channel #167) in mid July. Come by and say hello to us in booth #304. We will also be blogging live @ http://dallasairamerica.blogspot.com/

For more information please contact: Nancy Cunningham dallasairamerica@gmail.com

Advise from Howard Dean

Nancy Blachman — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:00:10 EDT

Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, told a couple hundred of us on Friday June 13th in Millbrae that the Democratic party had analyzed the effectiveness of various techniques for informing voters during the 2005 election campaign for Governor of Virginia (which Tim Kaine won), including robocalls, mass mailings, college students canvassing door to door, people telling their friends about why they were supporting Tim Kaine. Most of these techniques increased the voter turnout for Kaine by 1-2%. There was one technique that increased voter turnout for him by 12% and that was when people shared their views with their friends and relatives. I encourage you to tell your friends and relatives why you are supporting Obama and also encourage your friends and relatives who are leaning towards Obama do the same. The Democratic party hopes to get supporters to each tell 30 people and recruit 2 new people. You and your friends can make a difference to the upcoming Presidential election and other elections around the country.

If you want to learn more ways in which you can help elect Obama, visit my.BarackObama.com and create an account, join groups that are of interest to you, check out the events in your area, host your own event and meet people who share your interest.

Own a piece of the Obama campaign,

Nancy

Underreported news that's important

Jim Dietz — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:52:01 EDT

With the way news is reported today, it's easy to miss things of significance. After all, how do you find the politicalnews while sifting through all the Lindsey Lohan, Pacman Jones, Amy Winehouse stories?

I saw something this morning that wasn't reported in our local paper that I think is significant (and a brilliant decision). Obama has left Howard Dean in charge of the DNC.

To be clear, I dislike Dean's ideas and his Hitler-esque speech after Iowa four years ago was odd, scary, see-it-to-believe-it weird. But the man was/is innovative in raising money, and he is a mastermind at organizing grass roots politics. Brilliant.

And he's also disliked by Washington politicians who want him to focus on only certain areas of the country (namely where they are) rather than try and keep the Democratic Party a nation-wide organization. He's incraesed the DNC's coffers, created a national database of voters and donors--stuff that the Republican party has done for a long time.

Obama could have swept him away--it's not like Dean intervened on Obama's behalf during the primary campaign, even when it was obvious Hillary was going to lose. Instead, Dean remains--because he is good at what he does and it is changing the way politics is managed (for the better I think). It is a decision that seems like something Lincoln would do (read Team of Rivals--outstanding history book of Lincoln's administration).

This is a big piece of political news--and it isn't being reported everywhere. It seems to show that Obama really IS attempting to change things (coupled with now preventing the DNC from taking lobbyist money).

I also think he is handling Hillary very well right now. He's being very quiet and gracious--which he can afford to be as the winner, though many winners are far from gracious.

Our Nominee Needs Us!

Zzzzzzzzz — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:41:12 EDT

Cross-posted at Blue America, Green World.

Fellow Kossacks,

Though this is my first diary, like many of you I have been supporting Barack Obama throughout this Presidential campaign.

I am ecstatic that he is finally, officially, our "presumptive" nominee to take on and crush John McCain in November. (Naturally, I had to work last night and didn't get to watch anything. Thank God for TiVo!)

Like many of you, I have contributed what I could to Barack's campaign, as I could afford it, over the course of the last 15 months. Because of me, you, and over 1.5 million Americans just like us, <strong>our nominee</strong> (God, I love saying that!) is in a good financial position to combat John McSame and the GOP in the fall.

Despite that, we have a problem. A potentially BIG problem. But WE can help fix it.

Contact the DNC

Gordon Broom — Sat, 24 May 2008 14:50:13 EDT

Please write the DNC and let your opinion be known about Hillary Clinton as a potential VP on the Obama ticket. And let them know that the rules must be obeyed as far as seating the Florida delegation at convention. You can contact the DNC here:

http://www.democrats.org/page/s/contactissues

As a guidepost, here is a copy of what I wrote:

I am highly opposed to Senator Clinton being the vice presidential candidate. Please do not force her on us. There are plenty of qualified candidates for Senator Obama to choose from. As far as the rules regarding the Florida primaries, we need to go by the rules. Seating all of the FL delegates is against the rules. However, it's also important that Florida have representation and a seat at the table at convention. For that reason, I support a 50/50 split. Regards,

The Fear Factor

Joanne Urish — Wed, 14 May 2008 08:25:05 EDT

This race should really be over. But, as times goes on, I am beginning to realize what, and why, it isn't. In case any of you have read Bill Schneider's comments this morning,( you may or may not agree with him) perhaps you will see what I am talking about.

At the beginning of this race, I felt that the motivating force behind Hillary was the need for Power. It is my view that ABNORMALLY ambitious people are always seeking do to better all the time. They seem to never be satisfied with their status quo. They will pursue an "illusive dream" their whole lifetime. But the problem is, they are never satisfied, and never truly happy unless they are seeking to do more, be more, and have more than their counter parts. Believe me, I know people like that. Sometimes you admire them, and sometimes you resent them, and sometimes you feel sorry for them. It's like a hungry lion that is never full. The more it is fed, the more it wants.

Everyone associated with Hillary in this campaign keeps saying that she needs to be allowed to end her race when she is ready, that she deserves the courtesy to stay in as long as whe wants. Well, that has a nice ring to it, and suggests a respectful and concilliatory attitude by those who surround her and compete against her. But, I fear that there is a "Woe is me" awaiting for everyone who takes this attitude.

Once one achieves that ultimate power of the Presidency of the United States, there is no where to go to top that. At least I can't think of where else you can go. So, what does this power hungry person do to satisfy their hunger? Frankly, I got a taste of a possiblity when she off handidly made the comment about Iran and how easily they could be "annihilated". Does the potential of taking over other countries seem tempting? Just how far would a person go to achieve that? I don't think such thoughts about Hillary are outside the realm of possibility.

Just look at how well Bush has been able to creat havoc and chaos, all in the name of "protecting" the United States. And I don't happen to believe that the current president is power happy. I just think he is not very smart and lets others do too much of his thinking for him.

That doesn't mean that I think she is planning to do anything harmful to this country. Far from it. I feel she truly believes that she, and only she, is able to decide what is best for America, and only she can make it happen. It's more a matter of a "Control" thing. All power hungry people have a BIG control problem. She has already said how she intends to stay in control of those around her once she is in the White House. In fact, she took Obama to task because he admitted that he liked to delegate responsibility. I recall distinctly when that came up in one of their debates. Frankly, that was a red light to me.

Anyhow, as far as I am concerned, it's time to call a halt to the doubts and negative suggestions generated by Hillary and her staff towards Barack. Can't understand why those in a position to do so just won't go ahead and pull the plug. Senator Obama will be able to bring others to his side when he is not being distracted by the Hillary crowd. Just give him a chance and quit letting FEAR of Hillary's influence be a deciding factor. She has had her day in the sun. It is time for her to say "night night" and give it a rest.

Joanne/Go Barack Go

Electabull

Larry — Sat, 03 May 2008 01:46:44 EDT

It was inevitable. The Republican party has their nominee and the Democrats are still in a fight to find out who it will be.

Naturally as an Obama supporter I believe that having won the most pledged delegates should automatically make Sen. Obama the presumptive nominee but, as a Democrat, I also believe in rules so we march on to the convention.

So in the middle of this fight between Sens. Obama and Clinton for the Democratic nomination, the main stream media has begun their favorite game of prediciting whom would be more electable. I love this time of year because it forces the pundits to finally pick a horse! Perhaps the DNC should have a third set of delegates called pundits? Just kidding!

So the premise here is that either Sen. Obama or Sen. Clinton is more electable, nay, can beat Sen. McCain in the fall. So apparently the point of the campaign has been all wrong for the more than 15 months we have been going! Instead of trying to improve people's lives, ending the war in Iraq, lowering taxes for the middle class - we should have campaigned on beating John McCain! Now we would have looked really silly had Ron Paul been the nominee.

Of course the notion of electability has one major flaw - YOU ACTUALLY HAVE TO GET ELECTED to be electable! If you think about it, George W Bush had zero electability in 2000 and became President, John Kerry had oodles of electability in 2004 and lost! So lets focus on the issues and the people and maybe, just maybe 100 years from now - the MSM will stop talking about it :)

ADAPT :: Dems PR Ref ADAPT Arrests At McCain Office..

Cindy Sue Causey — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:49:34 EDT

Goodness gracious, but it would take an office full of people to go through all the great info flowing into my inbox today.. The following came just as I clicked "publish" regarding today being Blogging Against Disabilism Day..

If you visit the below referenced Democrats.org website and do a very quick search, you'll receive this blog post back:

ADAPT Activists Protest John McCain, RNC
Posted by Matt Ortega on April 29, 2008 at 06:10 PM
democrats.org/a/2008/04/advocates_for_t.php..

Haven't found this particular press release online by Dean himself, and right now don't have any more time to spare trying to research.. Not my usual publishing style, just not wanting this to go "stale" is why I'm going to take an unusual leap of faith in forwarding it on..

Hmmmm.. Here's a wee bit of a humdinger for your considerations.. Seems Democrats.org is a standout in the crowd.. They recognize persons with disabilities as................

Gasp (not)..

People..!

Right there.. There it is.. Under the heading "People".. "Disability Community"..

Their website is set up near the same as this one, too..

Guess where these fingerips are headed.............. See you all there.. :sticks her tongue out and winks:

Cyber hugs from Talking Rock..

PS.. Yeehaw for OCD.. Was checking Democrats.org ONE LAST TIME for "proof" of the following press release from Dean.. Here 'tis:

democrats.org/a/2008/05/dean_arrests_sh.php..

Yay..

Apparently, the Democratic Party released this statement today about how the RNC and Sen. McCain's office treated ADAPT on Tuesday. Just fyi,
Marsha
ADAPT
ADAPTPR@adapt.org..
www.ADAPT.org..

For Immediate Release
May 1, 2008

Contact: Damien LaVera 202-863-8148

Dean: Arrests Show McCain Out of Touch With Americans With Disabilities

Washington, DC - This week, even as McCain was traveling the country outlining a flawed health care agenda that does little to increase access to quality, affordable health care for Americas working families, John McCain showed how out of touch he is with Americans with disabilities. Instead of meeting with disability rights activists to explain why he refuses to co-sponsor the Community Choice Act of 2007, Senator McCain's staff allowed more than 20 activists to be arrested in front of his Senate office. [Associated Press, 4/29/08]

Both Democratic presidential candidates are co-sponsors of the bill, which would allow countless Americans with disabilities the choice to live and work in their own homes and communities. In addition, Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean has met with community activists and repeatedly expressed his support for the bill. By contrast, McCain has refused to join the effort to end the persistent institutional bias in America's health care system that forces too many people with disabilities into nursing homes and institutions. The bipartisan bill would amend the Social Security Act to allow people who are eligible for Medicaid coverage of nursing home costs to spend it instead on home-based or community care.
DNC Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:

"At a time when John McCain is on the campaign trail talking about health care choices, he refuses to explain why he opposes a bill that would let Americans with disabilities choose how and where to live, work and receive care. I am proud to lead a Party that supports the fundamental right of every single American to make his or her own choices about where to live and work. Apparently John McCain and his staff would rather let activists get arrested outside his office than explain his position on this critical issue. John McCain is either profoundly out of touch with the needs and challenges confronting Americans with disabilities or just doesn't care.
Either way, he's the wrong choice for Americas future."

Paid for and authorized by the Democratic National Committee, www.democrats.org. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Where is Our Leadership? (Has Anyone Asked Illinois?)

Concerned Citizen, Iraq War Veteran, Equal Shareholder in the American Dream — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:14:32 EDT

This is stunning, and a disappointment...

I wish someone could explain to me why the best candidate we've had for President of the United States continues to have to be drug into the media to defend himself over two individuals. Whether it's a former pastor or real estate developer, why do we continue to see any candidate weather a storm like this with so much as stake right now?

Have we forgotten about the characters in the lives of both Bill & Hillary Clinton? Of John McCain? In our own lives?

Again, it is stunning to see that in the year 2008 we are here on a Tuesday night in the Spring season and our attention remains fixed on this while gas is almost unaffordable, food choices at the grocery store are having to be seriously altered to meet a budget that no longer can sustain it, and jobs that can sustain average Americans are harder and harder to find. We have troops on the ground in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, and all over the world. A soaring trade deficit, national debt, and we are talking about a man not even in the running for the most powerful political office in the world?

Where is our Leadership? Where is the muscle in the Democrat and Republican Parties of the United States? Where are the decent political leaders who should be outraged that Barack Obama is continually being attacked over this mess? Where are any of our leaders?

Are we going to gamble away this wonderful opportunity we have to shake this off, roll up our sleeves, and make a fantastic nation even better?

Still want answers? How about asking Illinois? I ask you. Barack Obama is the junior Senator from your state. Are we to believe that your collective judgment somehow overlooked this man, passing through your State Senate, onto the U.S. Senate, and to the position of Presidential Candidate Frontrunner and you somehow missed whatever secret everyone keeps digging for? Or, can we just say that Senator Obama is a great guy, and we can all follow him together?

Re: Howard Dean on Meet The Press

Joanne Urish — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:35:54 EDT

I want to thank Ben for giving a blow by blow accounting of Obama's interview with Chris Wallace. That was very good. Had I known he was going to do that I would not have bothered watching although I am glad I watched too. I always enjoy watching and listening to Barack. I was all primed because I had just finished watching Howard Dean on Meet The Press. Sorry, but I did not do as good a job as Ben. I never documented anything, just relied on my memory, which is not very good!!! I am really mostly left with an impression of the overall discussion.

I hate to sound critical, but I can't help but feel that Howard Dean is a "Woos" (whatever that means). I've heard that term before and I think it means weak or timid or not much back bone. Anyhow, as far as I am concerned he comes across that way. What disturbs me the most about him is his attitude about the Super Delegates. According to him, it appears that they can, indeed, change the end game of the election if they decide that the person "most electible" is not the one with the most delegates or the highest number of votes. I find that appalling and will protest with much vigor should Barack be denied the nomination because of the "whim" of the Super Delegates. There is no way that should be allowed!!

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

I am angry

Kevin of Green Mountain — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 23:35:04 EDT

Here is a note I sent to Howard Dean:

I am a new Democrat. Until last fall, I was unaffiliated for my 18 years as an eligible voter. Among many other issues, Republican political tactics were tantamount to my decision to call myself a "Democrat."

I was disgusted when Max Cleland was slandered. When John Kerry was swift-boated, I was incensed. Watching the Republicans use religion and patriotism as political footballs made me ill. Surely I could no longer sit on the fence when one party exhibited such behavior.

Now I watch Hillary Clinton slander Obama, associating him with terrorists, questioning his patriotism, throwing her "kitchen sink" at him. She is behaving no different from Karl Rove and his henchman, who caused me to at last call myself a Democrat.

I will not tolerate it. Please suggest to all "superdelegates" that they do not either. If they cannot discourage this kind of behavior, what is their purpose?

Fund Raiser

Joanne Urish — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 21:39:48 EDT

I started my own Fund Raiser a short time ago. Am not sure whether to solicit donations from those of you on the web-site or not. I see that many of you have fund raisers of your own and that probably keeps you busy. But, should any one feel motivated to donate to mine, please feel free to do so.

I have decided that each time I get frustrated from now on, I am going to donate to my fund. Perhaps it will be an incentive to get my emotions under control...ha

I have cut back on my TV viewing. And each time "you know who" comes on, I turn the TV off or change channels. That helps. I do want everyone to know though, that Jack Cafferty of CNN is my hero. Just love that guy. It is so obvious that he is an Obama supporter. Have decided I'm going to send him a Christmas present this year.....Maybe I should make a donation each time Jack says something nice about Obama. that happens quite often.

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

Time to challenge John McCain

Joanne Urish — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:47:26 EDT

I had another brainstorm this morning. Why couldn't Barack challenge McCain to a Debate? Rather than waste time and energy on a Democratic opponent who can't overtake him, it seems to me that each time he is challenged to debate her, he could instead turn his attention to debating the person who matters, John McCain.

I realize that debates take time and energy, and he needs to concentrate on the rest of the Primary states, but this is one way of showing everyone that he is not "afraid" to debate, he just sees no point in debating someone that only wants to argue instead of discussing issues.

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

I agree with the New York Times

Joanne Urish — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 07:19:39 EDT

It was nice to read something this morning that my mind could say, "Yes, right on". The New York Times hit the nail right on the head. It's too bad they didn't have the forsight to see through Hilary Clinton before they endorsed her.

Anyhow, The sentiments they proclaimed are pretty close to what I had expressed a short time ago. Regardless of what the various News Media and even some of what Obama's own supporters have declared, (including myself at one time), I have come to the firm conclusion that Barack's decision to "fight back" with negative attacks was a tactical error in judgement. He simply must not resort to that again.

I can't help but believe that Barack's speech last night gave a hint that he, too, realized it is time to go back to the High Road. He as much as admitted that he had gotten sidetracked and allowed himself to be drawn down to Hillary's level (so to speak). NO MORE !! He is much better than that. He doesn't need to do that. His message is carried more accurately when he stays on message. You just can't mix Hope with Negative. It's either one or the other, and Senator Clinton has to keep that in mind.

I want so badly to get my message to him, but it's pretty unlikely he will read this because of all the e-mails that are sent to him. So, I decided to write this Blog and send it out that way. Hopefully someone will see it and send it on.

I have every intention of fighting on until we get him in the White House, but without any further reference to Hillary Clinton. I am thinking that if a person just totally ignores her, perhaps she'll just GO AWAY.

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

Clinton Wins PA - But By How Much?

Carole@www.Americans-Away-From-Home.com — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:04:12 EDT

Hillary Clinton has won the PA primary, according to American news networks and newspapers, by 10pm EST (3am GMT). The only question now is by how much.

The margin of victory will determine bigtime - how much bandwidth Clinton gets out of this; whether or not she'll get enough money to help her finance her campaign; whether Democrats will take more Clinton attack ads; whether enough superdelegates will say enough; whether Howard Dean will step in to stop the bloodying to come by an empowered Clinton.

Latest news, 10pm EST (3pm GMT): (NY Times story here).

Carole

Million Voices

Jim Lee — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:05:39 EDT

Here is what I wrote to the DNC about ensuring that the voice of the voters is heard:

As the primary season draws to a close, it is imperative that our nominee have the two months between the primaries and the convention to heal the rifts caused by the close-fought battle between two great candidates. Please do all that you can to ensure that the candidate who most closely reflects the will of the electorate through popular vote and pledged delegates gets a clear vote of confidence from the superdelegates to enable him or her to campaign through the summer as the presumptive nominee and to avoid acrimony at the Convention.

I hope that the DNC and Chairman Dean will work to make sure that the nominee (read: Obama!) has the time to consolidate the Democratic base without the distraction of the runner-up continuing to flog her supporters to the Convention. Is she as good as her word that Obama would have her support if he wins? We will see if she is able to put the party first.

Pennsylvania here we come!!

Joanne Urish — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 13:46:49 EDT

I did some phone banking after I took my head out from under the covers. Whew! 'Twas getting hot under there.

Even decided to watch a little MSNBC this morning. An addiction is awfully hard to break. Anyhow, I heard Barack say that this election in Pennsylvania is going to be closer than people think. That is all I needed to hear. He seems confident and calm. That is what I needed to see. He just has a way of calming the seas of frustration when he makes up his mind.

I still would just LOVE to see the whole thing end tomorrow evening. Who knows? Maybe it will...

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

DNC Ad

Mom for Obama — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 21:32:45 EDT

I'm glad the DNC is taking up the slack while we are still in this primary.

I think we should also donate to the DNC to support this kind of thing.

http://www.democrats.org/a/2008/04/our_first_natio.php

Enough is Enough

Joanne Urish — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 12:26:40 EDT

I think I've had it. Have spent the morning watching too much TV instead of going to church. Had a feeling I would pay for that..

This whole Primary thing is getting out of hand. When Obama first started "our" campaign, it was intended that he was going to take the High Road with No negativity. Well, it has slipped off of that High Road. He is allowing Hillary to drag him down. IT HAS TO STOP!

Also, I believe Barack needs to go back to his Strength. He does well with speeches and that is what we need to hear more of. One of the news commentators said he should have given a speech about Gun Control, using that as an opportunity to point out the safety problem the rest of the country is facing, rather than cater to the Pennsylvania gun lovers. Instead he pandered to them, sounding more like a politician than a leader of policy. At first I was offended, but have given it more thought and now I think I agree. Especially since I am not a gun lover myself, but do have mixed emotions about how the whole thing should be handled. I would really appreciate some guidance and leadership in that area.

Hillary is being allowed to set the stage and run the show. WHY???? She can't fight against his authoritive manner and his oratorical skills, so he needs to make better use of them. He needs to make better use of the humor in her "childish" attempts to be a fighter. The Annie Oakley thing was great. Need more of that, instead of losing his cool.

Obama can have a press conference and address the issues which he feels are creating the most problems for voters. Take the conversation to a higher level like he did with the Rev. Wright issue. I know he can do it. We need to get out of the quagmire Hillary has dug for us.

Unless we close out this Primary soon, I think I'll just throw the covers over my head until it's over.

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

Re: News Reporting

Joanne Urish — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:16:01 EDT

I would like for someone to help me understand why there isn't more made out of the fact that there were 35,000 people who came to a Rally to see Barack Obama in Pennsylvania. I suppose I could pass it off as an oversight, but then I see on TV that there is so much being made out of the 15,000 who were at the White House to see the Pope. And I am not seeing any numbers to see the Pope that even come close to the 35,000 in Pennsylvania to see Barack.

Don't get me wrong. I do admire the Pope and believe he deserves all of the news coverage that he gets, but fair is fair and it seems to me that a crowd of 35,000 people to see one of our Presidential Candidates is not anything to sneeze at.

Did I miss something, or perhaps I am crying "sour grapes". If so, please set me straight. Thanks.

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

NO MORE DEBATES!!

Candy Barr 4 Obama! — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 17:59:10 EDT

I am still reeling from last night's debacle (not a debate!) and just got done listening to Howard Dean feed me more BS on CNN about how the battle to find a nominee is no big deal and we should all just chill out! Does he even consider the voters who are sick and tired of being "sick and tired" of rehashing the same old crap day in and day out? Are they seriously considering going against the will of the people by nominating Sen. Clinton?? If that's the case, then they will destroy any semblance of the Democratic Party. Is that what their goal is?

The superdelegates will ultimately decide who the nominee is. Why then, are they not coming out NOW to show their support for either candidate? Only the superdelegate count is in Hillary's favor and by a nominal amount. This is such BS! Two months ago the pundits said Hillary couldn't win without the help of the superdelegates....no matter what happened in the remaining states.

My question is WHY people think Hillary would make such a great president. I just don't get it! Anytime a person has to change who they are by painting a picture that isn't in contrast with their true character, is weak, insecure and an imposter. That leads me to think they would have no problem duping the american public without batting an eye. This part scares the hell out of me!

Do they even consider the fact that BILL will again occupy the White House? The White House has taken on a scarlet color for the last 10 years. Which color paint are we going to buy come Nov? The United States was made a mockery of by these two politicians. They've had only ONE goal to achieve in their livetimes....money and POWER! That's what fuels them no matter the cost.

If reading the contents of the link doesn't open your eyes, then I don't know what will. http://citypages.com/authors/summary.asp?PPDID=89

This video says it all. http://www.youtube.com/user/jedreport

Again, I implore Sen. Obama to NOT do any more debates! PLEASE!!

Hillary's Real Goal

Joanne Urish — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:23:05 EDT

I copied this from another Post so I could send it to Barack and Campaign Headquarters. I am hoping they have Obama STAY in Pennsylvania from now until the 22nd. I believe that if he really bombards Pennsylvania with his presence, and spends the time talking in a positive way about what he intends to do once he becomes President, that he can win the state.

There is no way he should give Hillary a chance to take the presidency away from him..

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

I have tried to resist this thought, but Hillary Clinton's real goal is becoming clear to me: Make sure Barack Obama does not win in November. She knows that her constant attacks have little chance of getting her the nominamtion. It therefore seem that she is going to see to it the Sen. Obama loses in November, so she can run again in 2012.

I do not believe her strategy will work, but time will tell.

Reader Comments I agree... | Report to Admin Reply By Marty K. 24 minutes ago My friends and family (all Obama supporters) have called me "paranoid" for thinking such thoughts... but I agree with you.

Hillary is the quintessential egotist and is ferociously selfish and self-promoting. It is certainly not unreasonable for such a fratricidal plot to be part of her "playbook".

It brings me back to halcyon kindergarten days, when the bully would rather smash a toy than let someone else play with it. IT'S SICK!!

No More Butterflies

Joanne Urish — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:01:30 EDT

I watched Obama and Hillary give their views last night on their Faith and how it affects their views regarding how they would function as President.

Well, I am here to say that I have no more butterflies in my tummy. I also watched the video where Obama took on Hillary for her game of politics and said "shame on you".

If there are those who still choose to be critical of Barack and want to put him down, then those people can't be satisfied no matter what he says. For those who choose to not recognize the goodness in this man, then it is their loss.

I do believe that Barack will ultimately become our next President. For this country to choose otherwise would be the biggest mistake we could ever make. I shudder to think what we are in store for if we don't put Obama in the White House.

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

Another hurdle to climb

Joanne Urish — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:05:30 EDT

Here I go again with those butterflies in my stomach. The same butterflies I got when the Rev. Wright thing exploded. Well, Barack made it through that one, so now I am praying he will make it through this one.

But, for the life of me, I just can't figure out what all of the hullaballoo is about. He has clarified his remarks and said he regretted any hurt feelings which were incurred, etc. And frankly, I never thought there was anything that disparaging said in the first place. Maybe I am an Elitist also, and just don't know it. (Haven't yet figured out just how an Elitist thinks.)

I always thought I was a normal average middle class American. Because I take refuge in my Faith and familiar things that feel warm and fuzzy when other things around me start to fall apart, like food and gas prices soaring sky high, driving an older car because the new ones are too expensive. I could also name the fact that we don't take vacations due to lack of funds. Everything we do revolves around that almighty dollar it seems. And it seems to go to those who "have", and those of us who "have not" just do without. Now, if I sound a little "bitter", then I sound like a lot of my friends. We all talk the same lanquage.

How dare the likes of Hillary Clinton and her gang take issue with how we feel! She comes from the group of people who make so much money that she can well afford to dole out milliions of dollars for Charity to make herself look good and deduct from their income tax. It make more sense for a politician to give more money to charity and not to the IRS. Right? And further more, I read in the Journal Star that her campaign now has stickers that say, "I Am Not Bitter". Well, hoopdydoo, and bully for you, you hypocrite! We should make stickers that say, "I Lie a Lot And Get By With It" and send them to her free of charge. She really pulled it off with her whopper about the sniper bullets in Bosnia. Too bad we didn't make some stickers about her dodging bullets.

**********************************************************************************

I just got back to the computer after taking time out to watch "Meet The Press". I do feel better. Leave it to Tim Russert to lift my spirits. He is so fair and accurate with his reporting. Anyhow, the overall assessmenet of the campaign according to his panel this morning pretty much concluded that Obama would get the nomination, because of Hillary's numerous flaws. I concur..Butterflies are gone. At least for now.....

Joanne/Go BArack Go/Obama in the Heart

Howard Dean's error: History tends to repeat itself

Jim Dietz — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:50:15 EDT

I don't care for Howard Dean--even before his Hitlerian rant in Des Moines as a presidential candidate. I think every one of his views is wrong and that he is an arrogant so-and-so. BUT...I also thought he was an inspired choice to run the DNC, presuming he'd keep his mouth shut. His skill at fundraising has changed the Democratic party--putting it on equal terms with the Republicans (an impressive accomplishment).

The key is keeping his mouth shut. And unfortunately for him, the DNC, and Barack Obama, Dean does not do that. This week Dean made a bad insinuation without regard for a past election where the same issue came up.... Dean suggested that either Clinton or Obama would have no problem facing down McCain in a general election because Americans don't want an old president.

SAFETY TIP: Please remember, I am Republican. Old-school Republican.

In 1984, the Democratic Party tried to use the same line against an older, western old-school Republican president/candidate: Ronald Reagan. And when the issue was raised in a national debate, Reagan countered with a brilliant riposte: I won't hold my candidate's youth and inexperience against him. Reagan slaughtered Mondale in the election.

McCain can use this same line of reasoning--made more effective because he does have much more experience, especially in defense and foreign affairs, than the Democratic candidates. And worse for Obama, Dean's insinuation is negative campaigning--the EXACT type of campaign that Obama has managed to avoid sinking in to for most of the primary season.

Dean....well, he's an idiot.

1 - Americans are tired of negative campaigning. They want to know what the candidates intend to do to work together and not continue partisan bickering.

2 - Americans don't care about the age issue because McCain represents a different direction/style than the current Republican regime. If McCain actually was more of the same, it wouldn't matter either--because Bush is incompetent (and isn't a real Republican in any event).

Dean needs to check his history and learn from past elections: 1984 because of his age-comment blunder and 1960 for how to work with a candidate who is young and a great orator (to avoid the experience issue which --if not for cheating in Chicago-- wuold have made Nixon president in 1960...as he should have been! *

*Think how much better off the US would've been with Nixon in 60. No Vietnam, no Watergate, an understanding with Communist China a decade sooner which meant more stability in the Cold War. Sigh.

Battle Hymn of the Republic

Joanne Urish — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 09:38:32 EDT

Check this out, it is really cool. This is a school choir and band that is grades K-12

JOANNE/GO BARACK GO/OBAMA IN THE HEART

Turn your speakers up for this.

http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Battle%20Hymn/index.htm

A Convention for All Americans

Doug Robinson — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 17:37:02 EDT

One of the strongest attributes of the Obama campaign is inclusiveness. A position effectively excluding all Democratic residents of Michigan and Florida from direct convention representation only exposes the Obama campaign to criticism that it is acting against its principals. Counter arguments designed to absolve Barack Obama from responsibility will remain unconvincing to those feeling cheated of their vote if the Obama campaign does nothing to resolve the issue.

Clinton's Newest Losing Strategy: the Fight via the Credentials Committee to Seat Fla. and Michigan Delegates

Paul Evans — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:59:55 EDT

Clinton's Convention Strategy in Doubt

By DAVID PAUL KUHN: The Politico | 3/31/08, 8:31PM, EST

Clinton has already won enough pledged members to meet the 20 percent threshold required to vote out a minority report.

If the fight over whether to count the results in Florida and Michigan makes it to the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton will not have enough pledged votes on the 169-member Credentials Committee to deliver a majority decision in her favor, according to an analysis conducted for Politico.

Her only hope of getting the key committee to vote out a “majority report” supporting her position rests on her ability to persuade an as-yet-undetermined number of the 25 members appointed to the committee by party Chairman Howard Dean to cast votes for her position.

((Note by P.E. -- Howard Dean is not believed to be in favor of seating those Florida and Michigan delegates, and so it is unlikely that he will appoint many delegates to the Credentials Committee who are in favor of that.))

The DNC’s Credentials Committee consists of 144 pledged members (Florida and Michigan are not included) plus the 25 party leaders and elected officials appointed by Dean. The 25 Dean appointees include a mix of Dean loyalists, Obama supporters and at least several individuals who have endorsed Clinton. ((Can someone clear this up?? They're already appointed and we know how they'll vote?))

"If the formal process of seating a delegation cannot be resolved," a Clinton senior adviser said, "those 25 will be important."

The analysis was conducted by Matt Seyfang, an attorney and a former delegate counter for past Democratic presidential candidates including Bill Clinton in 1992 to Bill Bradley in 2000. According to his projections and a calculation of the number of committee seats that each candidate is entitled to based on their proportion to the statewide vote or the relevant caucus rules, Obama holds roughly 65 seats and Clinton 56. There are slightly more than 23 seats still to be decided in the remaining contests.

Seyfang’s findings reveal that Clinton faces an uphill battle if, as she signaled on Saturday, her campaign decides to take her fight to seat the Florida and Michigan delegations to the Credentials Committee.

“I have no intention of stopping until we finish what we started and until we see what happens in the next 10 contests and until we resolve Florida and Michigan,” she told the Washington Post. “And if we don't resolve it, we'll resolve it at the convention — that's what credentials committees are for.”

While it is mathematically impossible for Clinton to win a majority without winning over a number of Dean’s appointees, it is also highly unlikely that Barack Obama will have enough votes to capture a majority without doing the same. He would need to sweep the remaining contests by runaway margins to win the roughly 20 seats necessary to gain a majority.

Clinton has, however, already won enough pledged members to meet the 20 percent threshold required to vote out a minority report, meaning that both Democratic candidates could have their positions voted on by all seated convention delegates.

The prospect of a convention that begins with a contentious vote on a “minority” or “majority” report is “the nightmare scenario,” according to one Democratic party insider.

Neither campaign tracks projections on Credentials Committee seats, according to aides charged with the arcane process of counting delegates. The DNC also does not track these totals but relies on state parties to report their totals as they are determined.

Adding to the confusion surrounding the Credentials Committee, a subject that has perplexed many party veterans, is the fact that Democrats have not found themselves studying the minutiae of convention rules since 1980. Since then, convention votes, including those in the Credentials Committee, have been pro forma.

Clarification: The Democratic National Committee's Credentials Committee consists of 186 members who cast 183 votes when Florida and Michigan members are included in the count.

((P.E. -- Folks it's going to get ugly. Thank you Hillary Rodham Clinton for what you are doing for the Democratic Party and the Progressive movement everywhere.))

Catching up!!

Tovala — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:01:53 EDT

It has been a while since I last wrote on this blog. 3 weeks in fact, but forgive me my absence. I have been working hard on the Obama campaign here in Texas and many things have taken place since then. So I will start from this moment and go backwards and fill you all in on the happenings on the campaign trail. Firstly, I received an internship in Philly to work for the Students for Barack Obama while on Spring Break. I am typing this blog 30,000 feet in the air on Continental Airlines. I am excited but the road to getting me on the plane was quite hellish. First, I saw my friend off to NYC. She had the audacity to leave her minivan with me because I am the responsible one. Needless to say I was in a car accident because some idiot decided to slam on his brakes causing the woman behind him and myself to hit each other. Of course he kept driving, oblivious to the mayhem he caused behind him. Unfortunately, through all this, I came to find out that my friend only had liability insurance and her vehicle was totaled. The SFBO did a fundraiser and raised $600 dollars for me including $440 given to me by my boss who was impressed by the fact that I was sacrificing every thing so that my friend was not assed out. She felt it showed I had character, which caused her to have pity on me. I realized that my friend’s string of bad luck spilled over into my life the day she brought me her car. I know now not to ever drive anyone’s car. Also, I had already purchased my airfare to Philly and the ticket was non-refundable so my family and friends gave me another $200 so that I could eat while on my internship since I had gave $400+ to my friend’s car fund, emptying out my nest egg. Sidebar--I am currently looking for full time employment, if anyone in the Houston area know of any openings in a law firm or government agency please email me. After all that, I arrived 20 minutes late for my flight but the one of the workers took pity on me when he heard I was on my way to intern for Obama in Philly and now I am on my way. I am one of those people who refuse to freak out in the midst of grief and stress. I kept a level head and spun my wheels until things were taken care of. Hopefully, my friend will have a car by tomorrow so that she can return back to Austin and my life can return back to normal and I can begin to repay my family and friends what I owe them. New York The wonderful state of New York has sworn their 55th governor who happens to be their first black American governor and the first blind governor in this nation’s history. I find it quite amazing that black Americans are making history all over the place this year because of circumstances. First, Barack Obama and now, Gov. Patterson. I am amazed at how everyone in New York are opened to the possibility but also sadden that Gov. Spitzer represent the day of old politicians who did not practiced what they preached. This scandal is just another blemish on the American political history and another sore spot in the Clintons’ campaign. What people do not know is that Gov. Spitzer was a super delegate that supported Senator Clinton. He was forced to step down because of his $80,000 involvement in a prostitution ring. Which by the way was what he built his career on—that is, prosecuting government officials for their involvement in the seedy business of prostitution. I find it ironic but not unbelievable. Just a few years ago, we found out that Strom Thurman, a fanatical supporter of segregation and a self proclaim racist had a bi-racial—half black—daughter. I have come to find that those who are fanatical about particular things tend to be those who are guilty of indulging in those very, same sins. The one thing that did actually disturb me about this incident was how Gov. Spitzer’s wife stood by his side as he announced to the whole world that he is another man guilty of not only illegal dealings but also of humiliating his lovely wife who stands by him solemn and near tears. As a woman, this situation borders on abuse. I find it quite distasteful that he allowed her to stand there with him. Even if it were her idea, as a man of integrity—oh yeah he has proven that he lacks integrity-- he should have told his wife that this walk he had to walk alone and refrain from humiliating her further. 2 months ago the Gov. of Michigan did the same thing to his wife. It makes me ill, and believe me I can taste the bile in my mouth, that women in this country have not come much further from the women of the 1800’s who stood by their men no matter what. I need to step off of my soap box before I drown in the deep end, but needless to say this month has been rife with scandal. The good thing is we have another super delegate throwing his hat into the ring for Obama. Woohoo. Philadelphia, PA Currently, I am in Philly helping out with the campaign while on Spring break. I have met many people since I have been here. Took pictures with “Black Thought” at a student rally and took pictures of Caroline Kennedy when she came into the HQ to phone bank. I have had a rough and tumble ride in Philly. My luggage was lost by the airlines when I first got here. I had to spend $50 on my first day for cab fare because my ride had his car locked in the garage—he showed up too late to retrieve it. I have gotten sick and have had my debit card stolen by the security guard who frisked me at an event—I will never see it again, I had to cancel it—and was harassed by a wino on the train. Despite all this I have met the most brilliant of minds, although most of them were a bit narcissistic and micro-managing. I was especially moved by Sen. Obama’s speech on race last week. I liked the fact that he did not let anyone push him into a corner and pretty addressed an issue in this country that needed to be addressed for a long time. I was very proud that he did not throw his pastor under the bus but instead stood firm on his loyalty to the man while denouncing his words. I particularly loved the fact that he brought into the light the grievances that both whites and blacks feel toward each other and at the same saying to each respective groups that these grievances are real and need to be dealt with by working together. I shed a tear when I heard the “We are the ones song” two days ago for the first time—and I am not the least bit emotional--but seeing little Zoe Kravitz all grown up moved me. I almost swallowed my tongue when I saw Bill Richardson endorse Obama--now that's an interesting turn of events and was equally sadden that Michigan and Florida have to suffer and not allow their voices to be heard because the democratic party in their respective state did not stand up to their Republican councilmen when they moved the primaries up knowing full well that their democratic constituents would have to pay the price for it--of course this was done on purpose to cripple the democratic party. I am somewhat perturbed that Donna Brazile, Nancy Pelosi and Howard Dean have not put an end to this bickering between Clinton and Obama and pressure Hillary Clinton to end what is becoming a dirty campaign that has begun to split the democratic party. Let's end this nonsense and form a unified front and stop giving the Republicans ammunition against the front-runner. And for God's sake don't say on national TV that you think Sen. McCain would be a better C.I.C than the guy in your own party. And then say after discrediting him that you think that he would make a good VP--what? Everyone knows that Sen. Clinton cannot catch up to Obama's tally and what is up with her saying that the smaller states do not count--what is she going to be the President of the big states? What happened to running for the President of the United States? Interesting. Despite it all, this movement has proven time and again that when people unite as a stalwart front they will not and cannot be moved.

Dean: "This Will Be Settled by July 1"

Herman — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 17:59:06 EDT

Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean, hoping to avoid a divisive fight on the convention floor, weighed in on the Clinton-Obama battle Friday by calling on all party superdelegates to declare whom they support by July 1.

The 800 or so Democratic superdelegates will almost certainly decide the presidential candidate, because it’s unlikely either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton will gain enough pledged delegates in the remaining primary contests to win the 2,025 delegates needed to clinch the nomination outright.

Dean, appearing on CBS’ “Early Show” Friday morning, was asked about the prospects of a vote among the superdelegates before the convention, an idea floated as a way to settle the still undecided Democratic race.

Senator Leahy calls on Clinton to step down

Mary from Vermont — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 14:07:26 EDT

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/79888/

What are they waiting for?

Dr. Owen Scott, III — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 11:55:25 EDT

An article in the Seattle PI online edition (http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/356579_delegates27.html?source=mypi)
discusses the uncertain commitment of Washington (state) superdelegates to Hillary Clinton.

"Clinton superdelegate, U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell, said this week that she hopes the issue is settled without the intervention of the superdelegates -- a scenario that might require Clinton or Obama to withdraw from the race. But Cantwell told the Vancouver newspaper The Columbian that she wants the nominee determined in June in any case.

The candidate with the most pledged delegates from the primaries and caucuses can make the best case for the nomination, Cantwell said, while also mentioning most states won and highest popular vote total as secondary factors. Obama leads in all three categories, and it's considered unlikely that Clinton will overtake him -- but neither Obama nor Clinton, at this point, can win the majority of delegates needed for nomination solely through the primaries and caucuses."

It has been known for weeks that Sen. Clinton will not catch Sen. Obama in any category unless Obama's campaign implodes. With the success of "the speech," addressing Rev. Jeremiah Wright and the issue of race in America, it is clear that Sen. Obama will come out ahead when the convention rolls around. Why does the leadership of the Democratic Party allow the situation to hang suspended as Sen. Clinton forces Sen. Obama into an ongoing spitting match? Now Sen. Clinton is attacking Nancy Pelosi and wealthy Clinton backers are threatening to pull their money from the Democrats if they don't get their way and have Clinton as the nominee. Where are the leaders, Al Gore, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, John Edwards, Howard Dean? Do they want to remain the old-time party of big money liberals, dishonest tactics, allowing the GOP to have its way with them, taking minorities for granted, and treating voters as if they're stupid? Or do they want to be part of the future, of empowered cyber-roots activitists, creative and compassionate self-starters, of bottom up power and accountability of elected representatives for their votes? What are they waiting for?

A Message to Howard Dean

Chasphil — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 09:03:42 EDT

Gov. Dean:

Your ability to appoint the committee members who will determine which delegates will be seated at the convention places you in an extraordinarily powerful position this electoral season. The fate of the Michigan and Florida delegations will be determined by your actions.

I began this campaign as an avid Edwards supporter. When he withdrew, I turned to Obama. Recently, in the Texas primary, I housed five out-of-state Obama supporters. They were all young, energetic people who need to stay active in politics and active in the Democratic party. But, they are not party activists. They are in this election because of Barack Obama. They are, in essence, like hundreds of thousands of other new voters. If Obama goes into the convention with a delegate lead and loses because of the machination of the Clinton campaign or because of your appointees decisions about Florida and Michigan, then the Democratic party will lose those voters forever. Our party's best chance in decades to re-create itself into a winning coalition for the next two or three decades will be lost.

The Florida and Michigan delegates must be seated. But, they should be chosen in such a way that they reflect the proportion of delegates won by the candidates in other States. By their violation of the rules, these State parties lost the right to have an independent voice in selecting the candidate (unless rules mean nothing). They are still Democrats, so they must come to the convention, but they can't be allowed to affect the outcome. That is a right that they forfeited when they broke the rules.

I'm a old, lifelong yellow-dog Democrat. So, no matter what happens, I will be at the polls in November voting a straight ticket because I know what another eight years of Republican administrations would do to this country. But, in this election, I am the exception,not the rule.

There are those moments in history that are truly momentous. In the political history of this nation, this is one of those moments. I pray that this is one instance in which the Democratic Party will not, because of its sordid internal dynamics, boldly snatch defeat from the gaping jaws of victory.

Super Delegates: The Reluctant "Elder Statesmen"

Mark Wiznitzer — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 22:09:50 EDT

We all know that this play looks increasingly like a Greek tragedy. I've already suggested the worst-case scenario. That's the "Train Wreck in the Station" that turns the Denver Democratic Convention into a modern-day "Chicago '68". There is also the more insipid, but similarly destructive possibility for which there is already evidence in the tone of the campaign and polls of Democratic voter attitudes. That is the nominee is selected "free and fair", but fails to win a significant share of other contender's support, allowing McCain to slide through in November. The chances for this outcome could improve the longer this race drags on.

No wonder the pundits are now wringing their hands in search of an elder statesman to save the day. Albert Hunt sees the need for someone to sort out the Michigan/Florida mess. After all, if George Mitchell can hammer out a plan for Northern Ireland and the Middle East, as well as professional baseball, he can certainly work out something for the DNC. I concede that these renegade states are important to the Democrats’ electoral total in November. But solving the problem created by the queue-jumpers may not solve the Clinton-Obama stalemate, only prolong it.

In response to major Clinton donors threat, pleave give to the DNC

Joanne from Los Angeles, CA — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 14:51:00 EDT

By the time you read this other Obama supporters may have called for the same action, but just in case I wanted to post this by taking the lead of Daily Kos diarist, “nj mom”

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/15/8222/89130/817/477167, and to encourage all of us to give to the DNC whatever we can spare (beyond your Obama donations ;-). Per the New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/15/us/politics/15donate.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin,

major donors of Hillary Clinton are threatening to withhold their donations to the DNC if they don’t handle the Florida and Michigan delegate situation to their satisfaction. Though Terry McAuliffe told over 250 donors last week to call DNC leaders, in the article he claims he never asked them to withhold their money. So, it’s apparently “coincidental” that major Clinton donor, Paul Cejas has already demanded his over $28,000 donation back from the DNC, and they apparently have agreed to do so… Another donor, Christopher Korge notes in the article that if it isn’t resolved he would be asking for the return of $140,000… While it is great for the DNC to have large individual donors, we as the rank and file -- who far outnumber “them” -- cannot let these major donors hold our party financially hostage, because the DNC won’t do what they want. We’ve seen enough of that tactic in the Bush Administration, and it pains me to see fellow Democrats do the same against the party. So, my fellow Obama brothers and sisters-in-arms, let’s show the world as we did in January, February and I’m so sure in March as well, that collectively through small donations we could donate much more money to the DNC than any individual donor. Let’s not have the DNC beholden to individuals, but to the people… Show Howard Dean that we have his back all the way on this one… And as requested by “nj mom” add “.01” to whatever donation you give so they know it came from those of us who want to show solidarity with the DNC behind this threat. Here’s the link to the DNC website http://www.democrats.org and just hit “Contribute” in the top right hand corner. And again, don’t forget to add the “.01” to your donation. Thank you… Yes, We Can!!!

Another hill to climb

Joanne Urish — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 08:36:10 EDT

I see not point in belaboring all that has taken place the last couple of days. As far as I am concerned, Senator Obama satisfactorily addressed his position last night on all TV channels possible. He is an innocent man who happens to have a close friend who thinks differently than he does. And that's that. Period, exclamation point, 'nuff said!!!

He has my complete and unabridged support. I do hope everyone else will continue to support him also.

But, I do want to say that I am quite disappointed in our News Media. I never realized just how influential they are with what the general public thinks. It has been an eye opener. There is no doubt that whatever the way the Media goes, so goes most viewers. I am totally in awe of their power!!! There is no doubt that FOX NEWS has to be the most vicious. Hannity & Colmes, Bill O'Reilly seem to top the list with negative attacks and self righteous attitudes. But I refuse to let my disappointment in them steal my complete belief and hope for the future with Obama as our President.

I have signed a petition that was sent around in support of Obama, and sent a letter to him declaring my support. This can be overcome! Just one more little hill to climb.

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the heart

Senator Obama Responds

Joanne Urish — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 18:25:16 EDT

Check with CNN tonight at 10 pm on the Anderson Cooper show. Due to the difference in time frame for some of you, you might want to check at 9 pm.

Senator Obama is scheduled to be on Anderson's show, according to Wolf Blitzer. Also, Wolf read a rather lengthy response from Barack denouncing his minister's quite enflammatory and divisive remarks during sermons at his church. Senator Obama spoke with very strong language stating his position about such matters. I only heard it read through once and it sounded convincing to me. But, wouldn't you know that Lou Dobbs came on the show and discussed his opinion with Wolf Blitzer. Regarding his opinion (just give me a break)...yuck.....

I put Lou Dobbs in the same catagory as Rush Limbough, Hannity on Fox News, and all those radical Media Madonnas who think they are God's gift to mankind, put in charge of policing the airwaves. Heaven forbid we are allowed to think for ourselves. I tune them out the minute they open their mouth.

Frankly, the only person on CNN that I have any use for is Jack Cafferty and Larry King. As for FOX News, forget them. I do like Tim Russert on MSNBC and Morning Joe. In fact I do believe MSNBC is probably the closest you'll get to acceptable news reporting, and they do it with some humor too, which makes it easier to watch.

I think the best thing is for Pastor Jeramiah Wright to issue a statement, or go on one of the talk shows and totally exonerate Barack Obama from any of Pastor Wright's views. It would be even better if Pastor Wright himself would apologize for his statements and attempt to make amends. But I don't expect that to happen. We'll see what develops tonight..... I feel certain Senator Obama will calm the storm....................

Joanne/Go Barack Bo/Obama in the Heart

Time to wake up before it's too late.

Joanne Urish — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:51:03 EDT

This article pretty much clarifies what the present situation within the Democratic party is leading to. It makes me think of the person who says, "If I can't have you , then neither can anyone else", as they proceed to shoot the person and then themself. Only in this case the person being fought over is the Presidency of the United States. This may not be the best example to explain what's happening, but it's all I could come up with right now. None of what is going on makes any sense at all. In reality, it's a very sad thing, because I repeat again. The danger of splitting the Democratic Party and giving the election to John McCain is a very real and imminant danger. Somehow, Hillary and her supporters must wake up to this fact. Click onto the lower MSNBC article.

Why McCain Might Wi

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

Howard Dean -- HELP!!!

oc voter — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 18:12:40 EDT

Where is Howard Dean's leadership in this mess with Hillary? We need to unite the Democratic candidate around the one candidate that can, and WILL, beat McCain. That candidate is Barack Obama. Let's get on wiht the real fight.

Ferraro Should Be Held Accountable

Manya4Obama — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:45:27 EDT

Not for the first time, an elder member of the Democratic party has made objectionable racial remarks about Senator Barack Obama. There were former President Clinton's inelegant statements after Mr.Obama won South Carolina and now we have Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro suggesting that Senator Obama is "lucky" to be black because were it not for his ethnicity he would not even be in this contest.

Ferraro remains defiant and unapologetic about her remarks. In fact, she claims she is being targeted by the Obama campaign because she is white. When the Obama campaign asks the Clinton campaign to do the decent thing and dismiss Ferraro, their response is lukewarm. Instead the Obama campaign, in responding to these absurd statements, is blamed for the situation and criticized for "playing the race card".

Where is Howard Dean, head of the Democratic National Committee? He should conndemn Ferraro's statements and make it clear, once and for all, that this kind of ignorance has no place in this campaign. As The Clintons, their tolerate someone who expresses these kind of sentiments is nothing short of disgusting.

DNC LEADERSHIP AND CHANGE

Citizen20854 — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:37:11 EDT

Where is our party leadership when we need it? It is difficult to understand that a person who briefly was on the winning side of the presidential campaign trail, Gov. Dean, has opted out of standing on ethics and standards. For a man who went down because of the media echo chamber's spin on his victory cry, I just do not understand why he has chosen to remain silent. Each time the middle name of Barack Obama is used as a liability, each time Sen. Clinton refuses to answer whether Sen. Obama is a Muslim, we are left hearing, INTOLERANCE AND RACISM. By denying the truth to the people, Sen. Clinton is accepting the lies being spread. Any candidate from our party should be denouncing outright the implications that religion, race or ethnicity can be barriers to winning.

In January, I had the opportunity to say a few words to Howard Dean, while he was in the halls of the World Economic Forum in Davos Switzerland. Running from meeting to meeting, I had the chance moment that I ran into him on the staircase. I introduced myself and then asked him, "Gov. Dean, just how good is our Party with emergency preparedness for the Tsunami to come." He looked at me quizzically and answered a nice, "policy wonk answer on being better than the republicans." I said, "No, I am not talking about that tsunami, I am talking about the one that will hit the Democratic National Convention when this election comes down to the super delegated. That's the disaster I am asking if you are prepared to respond to." Once again, he looked as if I was a doomsday forecaster to be soothed. He said with the perfect political expression (NONE WHATSOEVER). "Oh, that is not going to happen. Don't worry, this will be settled long before."

It was at that moment that I was relieved he never made it past Iowa. He failed my red phone standards then and there. If the DNC leadership was in denial in January, it may explain why the members of the party who are apparently equally divided with their enthusiasm for the two candidates, are running around in circles trying to make their voice heard. Common sense was left behind when the first signs of problems began to surface. This is because, the party is still heavily weighted with the politics of old, and the behind the door power brokers who decide the future political arrangements.

It is so difficult to believe that the Party I have fervantly supported since my first vote was cast 37 years ago, does not stand up on ethics. While names are becoming liabilities, our party and their leadership should be the first to confront these unethical campaign tactics. It is unethical and unAmerican to be slandering a candidate. I do not understand how Hillary Clinton, if she is all she says she is morally, why she does not stand up and say who Barack Obama is, what his religion is and denounce the abuse of his middle name and the fear implications. And, go one step further denounce the use of religion as a wedge issue. Any American, muslim, catholic, protestant, buddhist, from any ethnicity or race, has the constitutional right not to be discriminated against particularly on the road to the Whitehouse. Our DNC leadership should be the first to lead the behavior of people who claim to be members of the Democratic party. The party has standards and we should demand we be led with those standards.

Gov. Dean, I urge you, if you are listening, to stand up and say, "NOT ON MY WATCH". Meet with the Clintons and ask that they remove race, ethnicity and religion from the slate by standing up against the use of these tactics.

Furthermore, there is another solution that must be lead, not haphazardly left to fall in place. The message coming out of the Florida/Minnesota debacle is an embarrassment to our party. We cannot stand on the rule of the procedures and then change those rules. There are a few basic kindergarten rules of life. If the rules are broken, there must be consequences to be paid.

The voters of Florida and Minnesota knew far in advance the decision of their state leaders and legislature. This was a hotly debated issue locally. When the step was taken, every person who voted knew that their vote was disenfranchised because they accepted this disenfranchisement when they did not protest the move. Had the citizens of the two states objected to the violation of the party rules and the resulting punishment, then why did they not stand up then.

There should be a stance by Gov. Dean and the least of which should be...."I'll concede to each states decision,." We lead with the rules, the consequences were well known, published, discussed and negotiated. There was no surprise response. If I know my hand will get burned, is it fair to put it in the fire and then ask why it got burned and how unfair it is that I got burned. Don't think so.

Governer Dean, stand up and bring together your party. It is more about the voters who have followed the rules than those who broke the rules. Senator Clinton is violating the ethical standards of our party and she should be confronted. The party's standards are our standards, therefore we identify with the Democratic Party. If you choose to change those standards, then CHANGE may be in the air for the party as well.

DNC Plans for a Florida Mail-In Primary

Manya4Obama — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:04:44 EDT

Looks like Florida is shaping up to ruin our government all over again. Maybe they're jealous because Ohio outshined its 2004 efforts? Who knows but the possibility of a mail-in primary sounds suspect. From John Dunbar of the AP:

A consensus began to emerge Sunday that the best way to give Florida's Democrats a voice in electing a candidate for president lies with the U.S. Postal Service.
[...]
DNC Chairman Howard Dean said a mail-in primary is "actually a very good process."
"Every voter gets a ballot in the mail," the former Vermont governor said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "It's comprehensive, you get to vote if you're in Iraq or in a nursing home. It's not a bad way to do this."
As for who pays, Dean said, "That is a problem," reiterating that the party needs its money for the general election campaign against Republican John McCain.
He also ruled out the state of Florida, where Republican Gov. Charlie Crist has nixed the idea. Dean suggested the state Democratic party might foot the bill. Florida's political parties, unlike the DNC, can accept unlimited contributions.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., supports the mail-in solution, comparing it to an absentee ballot process. He also pinned his hopes on the state party to pay for it.
"Since Governor Dean has said he's not going to do it in the DNC, the Florida Democratic Party's going to have to go out and raise the money," he said. "We're looking at about $6 million."
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., appeared to be amenable to a mail-in solution for his state, though with less enthusiasm.
Speaking on ABC's "This Week," Levin said doing the election again would be against state law. "That can't be changed, and that can't be paid for," he said. Levin also said caucuses would be difficult, with 500 potential sites.
"The one possibility would be some kind of a mail-in caucus," he said. "But there's some real problems with that, too. Not just cost, but the security issue. How do you make sure that hundreds of thousands, perhaps a million or more ballots can be properly counted and that duplicate ballots can be avoided?"
Obama currently has more delegates than Clinton, but that could be eclipsed if Clinton were to win a large enough portion of Florida and Michigan's delegates.

A Note to Chairman Dean Regarding Florida and Michigan

Patrick A. Howell — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 13:22:49 EST

March 7, 2008

Gov. Howard Dean, M.D.

Chair, Democratic National Committee

430 S. Capitol Street SE

Washington, D.C. 20003

Dear Governor Dean:

I am a lifelong member of the Democratic Party and I have voted for the Democratic national candidates since 1976. I am extremely troubled by the looming issue facing our party as concerns the primary elections of Michigan and Florida. As Chair of the DNC, I would urge you to take a strong and firm position on this issue: Michigan and Florida violated clearly communicated party rules and as a result, there should be neither new primaries in those states nor should their delegates be counted. All of the Presidential candidates knew going into the primary season that the Michigan and Florida primaries would not count. As a consequence, none of the candidates campaigned in either of those states, no one devoted resources to those states and no one factored those states into their primary strategies.

It would be a travesty for you to allow new primaries to be conducted in one or both of those states or, worse, for you to count those delegates based upon uncontested votes. It is axiomatic that the rules of the game should never be changed once the game starts. To do so might appear to pander to the interests of one candidate or the other. To do so would ultimately undermine the confidence which members of the Party have in the predictability and basic fairness of the system. To do so would cause me to make the personally difficult decision to abandon the Party and its candidates in future elections. I trust that you, as leader of the Party, will take a strong position on this issue to ensure that all Party members and indeed all Americans will have confidence in the principles and practices of the Democratic Party.

Thank you.

Very truly yours,

Election 2000 (The Clinton Remix)

Manya4Obama — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:24:35 EST

I've just read "Democrats Try to End Impasse Over Delegates" in the New York Times in which John M. Broder states that party leaders and the rivals themselves are attempting to seat barred delegates from Florida and Michigan. There are 367 delegates on the table and I get the distressing impression that Howard 'Byaaaah' Dean and Mrs.Clinton's other cronies are happy to reward her for actively participating in two sham primaries and handing her the majority of these delegates on a silver platter. I feel outraged!

The Democratic primary is becoming eerily remininscent of the 2000 Presidential Election in which the people spoke but were silenced by cronism through the US Supreme Court. I couldn't be more disappointed in Mrs.Clinton's campaign, not just for the general incompetence but for the methods they've chosen to employ in order to win at all costs - even if that means circumventing our democracy.

RULE BREAKERS repost

Stripes, I'm calling Fouls — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:13:08 EST

RULE BREAKERS By Stripes, I'm calling Fouls - Mar 6th, 2008 at 4:22 pm EST Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content Tags: barack obama, chairman, election, Florida, hillary clinton, Howard Dean, Michigain, rules, U.S., world

If you don't believe me look at these quotes from a CNN article titled If allowed, Florida, Michigan could tip nomination:

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist says "common sense would dictate that every vote should count."

1. Why does Charlie even have a say in the rules of the DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE? He is a REPUBLICAN. He is certainly not looking at this from a non-partisan point of view.

2. Did Charlie Crist not decide to break the rules of the DNC in the first place by moving up the primary? He could have avoided the situation from the beginning by FOLLOWING RULES. He obviously did not take in to consideration of the problems and the grief it would cause the people of FL and by doing this.

Crist, who is a Republican, says he wants the votes that were already cast to be counted because the "people should be heard and not party bosses in Washington."

He and Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat, on Wednesday called on the Democratic National Committee to seat their states' delegates.

They accused the party of silencing "the voices of 5,163,271 Americans" who voted in their primaries.

"It is intolerable that the national political parties have denied the citizens of Michigan and Florida their votes and voices at their respective national conventions," they said in a statement.

1. Why is Granholm even talking? MI only had one candidate on the ticket. THEY had it WRONG from the beginning.

2. I know we should unite and be bi-partisan but if there's one thing I don't like is A RULE BREAKING REPUBLICAN SIDING WITH A RULE BREAKING DEMOCRAT. That is absurd.

SOMEONE HAD TO LOSE... 5,163,271 is a lot of someones. But 296,139,947 is a lot MORE

What has happened to the citizens of FL and MI, and the whole of Democracy is a travesty because their voice was not heard. BUT BUT BUT it would DESTROY an entire country if 48 out of 50 states followed the rules and had the candidate of their collective voice get OVER RULED, and NEGLECTED. It is unfair that those 48 are even subjected to the notion that the entire hopes of this campaign and who is going to win may be placed in the hands of RULE BREAKERS. To the PEOPLE of FL and MI I feel for you whole heartedly, but these are the officials that you voted for. They were elected by YOU and they did not have the DECENCY, or INTEGRITY TO FOLLOW RULES. Blame THEM. Hold them accountable for it but do not punish the rest of the country. SHOW SOME DECENCY and elect better officials. FL.....LOOK AT HOW BUSH WAS ELECTED...TWICE.

HILLARY CLINTON. Why are you doing this? You are the biggest RULE BREAKER of them all. YOU and Mr. OBAMA were both given the same rules and you both AGREED to ABIDE by them. And you have the AUDACITY to stand in front of the AMERICAN public and DEMAND a rule CHANGE! We want CHANGE Hillary but NOT that kind. It is unconscionable of you, to portray yourself as the STRONG candidate. That is WEAK. If you felt so strongly for the people of FL and MI you would apologize and join them in holding those rule BREAKERS accountable. Instead you JOIN them because you never thought in a Million years that you'd be DEFEATED by BARACK OBAMA. Please STOP your charades and bow campaign legitimately or bow out gracefully because any thing else is UNCIVILIZED and Being the DEMOCRAT who Handed the PRESIDENCY back to the REPULICANS is the last person I'd want to be.

CNN.COM

RULE BREAKERS

Stripes, I'm calling Fouls — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:22:39 EST