Posts with the tag MSNBC

Vice President Biden On Morning Joe.

MyHomeIsIllinois — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:16:58 EST

Vice President Biden was absolutely right. Our country dosen't want to own Afghanistan. We just want to hand the political football off to its citizens and maintain our own national security. I know y'all are frustrated. These things take time. Give the President and the staff some time and slack, and let's get this thing right for a change.

FOX, IS IT NEWS?

"NERVIE" — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:19:24 EDT

Journalist Jeff Greenfield responded to the ongoing battle from the media this week, when reporting, that the FOX NEW’S DEPARTMENT is being accused of being the research and communication’s arm of the Republican Party. He also says that “. . . Fox’s bottom-line has increased 13% since Obama came into office. So perhaps they are crying all the way to the bank”.

Obama accuses Fox News as appearing “to be more like a talk show format and not a news format”.

There is no question that the Rupert Murdoch owned conglomeration’s opinions predominately favor the far Right Republican agenda. So when the White House decides not to give more fuel to Fox’s perceived negativity and refuses to be on their programs, is this an exercise of free speech? On the other hand, is it an exercise in futility? The points of views coming from the White House will be interpreted as the voice of the Obama Administration no matter what the administration representative says when they appear on FOX. Being fair however, MSNBC has been called the most left in their presentation of Obama’s opinions. So to whom do we listen for the “true news story”? Nevertheless, who would that be?

Where do we find a news source that is truly balanced? Personally, I find I have to listen to them all and weigh what seems “logical”, but I was taught in journalism school and at the LA TIMES that politics are highly hinged in “manipulating emotions and the illusion”.

The boy (not) in the balloon

Steven — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:56:20 EDT

The "boy (not) in the balloon" story reveals one thing and one thing only: the American mass media, especially the cable channels, including CNN and MSNBC, have forgotten what their purpose in life is: present the news. Not stupid, sensationalist nonsense out of TV land (the family in the Colorado balloon story starred in "Wifeswap") but significant events that might actually affect people's lives. How many 6-year-old boys died today because of violence or malnutrition or disease, around the world? Why did none of the news channels mention them? They weren't from a zany middle class family in a plush suburb of Colorado, perchance? Their father had not invented a flashy, shiny helium balloon that looked like a UFO? CNN are still plugging the story, except it is NOT a story--NOTHING happened! No child died, no one was even in danger. Yet the network, and to their shame MSNBC, cut away from Barack Obama's "town hall meeting in New Orleans in order to show sensational, but as it turns out completely empty and meaningless film of the shiny balloon. This, by the way, after the cable news channels had been incessantly plugging the line that Obama had not shown enough respect to NOLA because he was only spending 4 hours there. But as soon as a shiny object diverts them, the magpies at the cable news channels cut to the shiny UFO and away from Obama answering thoughtful questions about New Orleans' crisis and recovery. Who is showing disrespect for New Orleans, might I ask? A president who fulfills a promise to go to NOLA, even though, God only knows, he has enough things to occupy him, or the news channels, who can't be bothered to stick with the meeting when a balloon (which turns out to be empty) flashes through the Colorado sky? What is it about shiny vehicles (OJ’s SUV for instance) that acts like catnip for TV producers? CNN and MSNBC should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for being suckered into devoting their precious TV time to a non-event. If anyone thought that there was any integrity or intelligence left in the mass media in the USA, then today should have set them right. American news channels have become another form of infotainment, and have nothing to do with keeping the public informed about what they really need to know. Where, might I ask, were the stories about the six-year olds in New Orleans today suffering from poor education, lack of food, or simply lack of safety and prospects? But to report on THAT would have required some intelligence and effort, not the sort of thing, apparently, that CNN or MSNBC (let alone Fox) are interested in. A sad day for the fourth estate, and for democracy.

HAVE YOU FINALLY "HAD IT" WITH ALL OF THE LIES?

Steve Sulkin — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:48:48 EDT

Have you finally had it with all of the absolutely unbelievable political maneuverings by the fringe right, the lies, the distortions, the twisting of facts, the outright hatred towards our President simply because a minority (yes it's a minority, remember they lost) of our society are unhappy he is our President?

If so, it's time to do something about it.

Remember, when we were "all one" working hard for the would-be-President, to get him elected because we felt for once we had an intelligent person who was running? Well, we were right. He was the best person running. He is the best President we've had in a long time and we're lucky such an honest, caring individual with vision for our future is in office. Given our world situation, we need him now more than ever. Our future depends on him.

But we are no longer supporting him with the fervor as we did, nor are the same numbers of people supporting him.

Can you believe, his poll numbers are dropping? Yes I understand, post the honeymoon period numbers drop. But to this degree and while he's saving our country, maybe our world? The man that inherited the worst our country has ever seen in terms of war, finance, enviornment and more, who is helping us drag ourselves out of this recession and fight two wars he didn't even want - his poll numbers are dropping? The man who has accomplished more in months than others before him accomplished in lifetimes, his poll numbers are dropping? It's ludicrous. It's like Lincoln's or Roosevelt's poll numbers dropping as they were saving our country. But I must remember, we live in a world where Lincoln was assassinated.

I wear my Obama hat and my wife at times tells me to "take it off Steve, you might anger people" Wow, what a world. I might anger people that I support our President. That is the times of our current times, little by little, it's less acceptable to support our President because the fringe right has made it seem so.

As we fall off in numbers, the extreme fringe right takes advantage by spreading hatred and lies. And there seems to be no limit to how crazy of a story that can be spewed and believed by those who want to believe it and spew it. If I wrote such stories in a screenplay, I'd be told to modify my words because it would be unrealistic that the public would believe such nonsense. But apparently, the public's benchmark for naivety knows no bounds when fueled by hatred.

For instance (one tiny example) think about the outrage (yes outrage) regarding President Obama speaking to school children this Tuesday (as though that's a new idea).

President Obama is the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. He is the mentor of our country the image of our country to the world. He is doing what millions have done before him, speaking to school children. He was elected to lead our country. Get over it fringe right, he gets to lead. You lost.

The cynicism and hatred that drives those who dislike President Obama so much, so as to try to make speaking to school children seem as anything more than what it is, an attempt to inspire and lead our children, is beyond my understanding.

People say, is President Obama's speech to children "political?" Well, he is a politician, he is the President of the United States and yes he will weigh the pros and cons of his every action (as will the world), so I guess he'll weigh the politics of his actions, but that doesn't mean that everything he does, because it's weighed, is a sham or diabolical as some are actually seriously suggesting.

The fringe right who are the strategic architects of the nonsense we hear every day on so called "news" have lost all credibility to argue against anything. Even if they had a legitimate complaint, it's lost in the shuffle of their ludicrous positions and lies.

So, let's start writing, talking, doing - not taking this anymore.

And by the way, I hate to say, "I told you so", but my video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4srDYEPoqo

"Yes We Can (Change our Destiny), which I produced for the inaugural, was written because I feared that we'd lose the spirit of optimism, that phenomenon of involvement that occurred during the election. To some degree, we have. So be re-inspired. Pass the link on

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4srDYEPoqo

and get others re-inspired.

Don't take this anymore, because as the famous phrase says,

“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing”

Heath Care Costs - Reaching for the Moon

Dale — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 00:11:47 EDT

Thanks - well said! In addition, the health care bill has a long ways to go yet to achieve the objectives of reduced costs. Ultimately it requires fundamental changes in the way business, insurance companies, group purchasing organizations, medical equipment manufactures, and finally medical facilities themselves, are doing business.

Orwell's Conservative Republican Party

Polit from Overland Park, KS — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:18:12 EDT

This is the year 2009 right? And next year is 2010!
I just needed to know. I needed to know because if you listen to FOXNEWS or Rush Limbaugh or Shawn Hannity or any of the conservative / republican talk shows (and most republican politicians) you’d think it was 1984!

Not “the real” 1984, when the Celtics beat the Lakers for the NBA championship but George Orwell’s make believe “1984.”

In this “1984”, FOXNEWS is the FicDep or Fiction Department. Rush Limbaugh is Parsons:
“a fattish but active man of paralyzing stupidity, a mass of imbecile enthusiasms—one of those completely unquestioning, devoted drudges on whom…the stability of the Party depended…."

Republican Party elected officials make up the Ministry of Truth. While the voting members of the Republican Party play the role of the Proles.

Oh yeah, Ronald Regan is Big Brother—a fictional leader.

This is the only way one can explain the mindlessness of the Conservative / Republicans.

They speak in Orwellian BlackWhite: “ The ability to accept whatever "truth" the party puts out, no matter how absurd it may be."

Orwell described it as:
"...loyal willingness to say black is white when party discipline demands this. It also means the ability to believe that black is white, and more, to know black is white, and forget that one has ever believed the contrary."

This so perfectly describes the current state of the Conservative / Republican party that if you didn’t know better it would be hard to believe that everything I just attributed to them came from a book written in the 1940’s.

How else do you account for the fact that they twist the truth and blame President Obama for EVERYTHING that THEY do. And by the way, just like in the book, the…” titular head (of the Conservative / Republican Party) is a person whose whereabouts nobody knows."

The latest rendition of “blackwhite” is this notion that somehow President Obama is responsible for a racist neo-nazi, white supremacist, shooting up the Holocaust Museum.

They say it’s because Obama is dividing the country.

Some are even suggesting that it was all a hoax created by—OBAMA?

A black Security Guard is killed in a Jewish Holocaust Museum and—OBAMA DID IT!

People… the Conservative / Republican Party has moved into a fictional and very dangerous world.

GOD please protect President Obama.

A Bumpy Ride

Linda from Winter Springs, FL — Mon, 25 May 2009 21:42:00 EDT

Five single-payer protestors arrested. And so it begins. MSNBC’s Ken Strickland reported the arrest of five protesters at a Senate hearing on healthcare reform. Why am I not surprised? It seems the Senate Finance Committee had a roundtable discussion with “experts” but declined to invite physicians or nurses. So, they invited themselves.

25 nurses stood up wearing red shirts with signs taped on their backs that read “Nurses say patients first. Pass single payer.” They stood for five minutes, turned their backs and walked out silently. Message received. However, shortly thereafter, the physicians had another agenda. Someone shouted, “We want guaranteed healthcare. We’re tired of private insurance” leading to their arrests. The chaos reminded me of the refrain from the 1976 movie, Network: “I’m mad as hell; and I’m not going to take it anymore.” Something has to give.

I implore all Americans to beg the following questions: Why does an IUD in Egypt cost $20.00 but the American version $400.00? Retin A cost $10.00 in a Mexican drugstore but $95.00 in a U.S. pharmacy. God bless Wal-Mart for the $4.00 generic drugs. And thank you Publix for your free drugs as well but it’s still not enough although every little bit DOES help.

I’m presently in the midst of a pitched battle with a local hospital who “sold” my bill to a New York City commercial bank with an interest rate of ten percent. I’m determined to pay it in full. They will NOT profit from my pain and suffering.

I encourage all of my colleagues to be relentless and ride this train to the end of the line. If not us, then who? If not now, then when? It’s time for us to take back our profession.

http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05222009/watch.htm

lhttp://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/05222009/watch2.html

limbaugh and gingrich worry that obama will bring us to socialism

Puppy from Boise, ID — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:24:19 EDT

Yes, fellow travelers!

We TOO can experience the wonders of Obamian Socialist Ideals.

Much like the ones that created the modern 'middle'class"...

It was called the GI BILL of Rights I believe.

It socialistically allowed people who might otherwise not ever have afforded it-- to own a first house.

Yes, the evil totalitarian socialists (the post ww ii government) hatched the insidious plot.

We're in RUIN this very day due to it.

Damn poor people got houses, got cocky and uppity and began investing in stocks!!!!

Oh, tis a tangled and odious weave we web....when Stalin comes a knockin'

Beware! Beware!

If Obama keeps up more people might own houses!!!!

Get yer pitchforks and meet me at the church at midnight!!!

(oops, I forgot...newt and rush can't use hand tools and besides they got a dinner party tonight)

There goes the revolution!

Now the damn fish are addicted to tea and i got 5,000 pitchforks i can't sell.

Maybe I'll loan em to some real people so they can pitch that line of crap out of the way before we all get it on our shoes.

So, we leave the reader, agape at Rush and Gingrich's 'paper-revolt"...a document written on

toilet paper...and head, fearful of socialism but contrite that our country

is much too spoiled and lazy to ever adapt to it, into the brave new world of twitter.

(yes, and scrap that "meeting at the church" too! WAY, way too socialist for twiddle and dee)

bow--wooo!

What is bias in the middle east conflict? [March, 2009]

Natalia from Acampo, CA — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:57:01 EDT

What is bias in the middle east conflict? [March, 2009]

Arabs’ racist killing (specifically) Jews *, is accepted “freedom fighting’'.

Israelis worried of Arab terror *, branded as “racists”.

War crimes, crimes against humanity by Palestinian Arab leadership - regime in Gaza * * * of using Arab civilians, making sure their kids die, for the “greater good (Jihadi-fascism’s goodness) of making Israel look bad…” * * * * * * *, using hospitals *, schools, UN medical vehicles * *, even aid material sent by humanitarian Israel * for murder, targeting at Israeli civilians, - shoved aside, ignored *.

Israel’s humane army’s extreme measures not to hit civilians (including 250,000 warning phone calls to Arab residents to evacuate a particular area designated to be included in an op., knowing full well terrorists can cease the opportunity and flea, as well as risking young soldiers’ lives in going door to door) * * * * aiming only at Hamas terrorists is denounced of “random shooting” and “war crimes”.

[Arab led pressure forcing Israel to conduct] Uprooting Jews from their homes and their ancestors’, AKA Transfer * * AKA Arab Palestinian Apartheid * is “good for peace”.

Transfer of Arabs (who don’t have more than 2 or 3 generations of history in Judea / Israel / Palestine * * * *) is “apartheid, fascist and racist” * (AKA Avigdor Lieberman).

While Hamas or even “Moderate” Fatah refuses to recognize Israel *, international aid is flowing their way.

UN is “busy” condemning Israel * * on whatever is being told (forced) by the global Arab Muslim oil lobby.

My First Time Hosting an Event

Obama for President — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:46:17 EDT

Hello friends,

I am just going to let you how my first time as an event's Host went. To tel you the truth it was not like I expected it to be, but I learned from it, and next time I will be more prepared. We went to a K-Mart store located in Bellflower on Rosescrans and McNab , CA and we could not hand out pledges because for them to let us do so, we have to contact their headquaters, and since it was week-end headquaters was close. Also I expected 8 people who sign up for the event, , and only 6 peoples showed up, only 3 was from the signed up list. and I am wondering if there is something that I did wrong or if the event was not advertized enough. How do people actually get more people. The weather was not favorable so we could not really do much. but it was my first time I guess, I hope next time will be better. I am counting on any of your advises, strategies in how you made your event more successfull. I will be reading your post with interest.

Thank you

Salma

Omar Dyer for Governor: His plans on for New Jersey.

Omar Dyer — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 15:15:25 EST

Building a Foundation!

As this nation strives for new leadership, we have to be patient on the direction we are going. We have been in a 10 year -- uncontested balance of wasteless government. We just knocked down the building of greed. We are know working on digging up that bad under-rooted foundation. We are now laying the brick works of a new foundation. A stable ground where, Government Intervention was need to stop the ways of greed.

People are asking for help, and they want it right now. I say: let's stop looking at the figures on numbers in the budget. When you tear down a bad building to build a new one it's going to cost you plenty. When you have everyone with their hands out, you need to make them wait. No more blank checks, and worry later on projects. We need people that's going to give you an itemized plan on everything the money will be spent on. Page by Page, Price by Price, company investment with company confirmation (Meaning a letter head on expenses): That's how you lay out the foundation of a business. A Business needs to grow on ideas, and not money to create ideas. Yes, there's loopholes in business opportunities. Yet, we can't create martial law on the next administration. We are throwing money around like it grows on trees.

I'm running for public office because the problems we face are too great. Everyone I have talked to claims that my skills in leadership, and my skills in knowledge on Government can lead this state back to the glory days. They said I need to wait 4 years, and get experience. We can't wait 4 more years of do nothing, everything thrown at the wall on election day. Or 4 year proposal that just happens to come about on election week. The hidden scandals with political pundits getting back for losing. We need an economic Governor: where cutting spending in Education won't Be the only source to save money. Where raising property taxes won't be the only out source to stimulate an economy. Or giving small rebates, while inflation rise, can't be the only tax supplement to give an economic boom in down spots.

I plan to give you 21 century governing for 21 century problems. I plan to make all cities, and county records on bills exposed on the internet. Our problems are not tide to the melt down on Wall Street. Our problems came about because of the non-over sight to the inflation happening on Main Street, or People's Street. While you get sweetened deals, the price of living is on the rise. Wages are on the verge of collapsing. I'm tired of these collectors using greed to profit deals. I'm tired of politicians nickname becoming Scandals. I'm tired of dirty attack ad, or out of character name calling, stealing votes -- and lack of dive to turn out the vote. I'm tired of if you're with this party you can't side with the ideas of the other. I'm tired of the all or nothing approach, or what have you done for me lately. The, you need experience to lead! You need to be in the system to lead.

The problems we face today and the direction our leaders are looking into is not the vision of Barack Obama. We can bring real change into New Jersey, and here's how. With the T.A.R.P. Program from the 700 billion dollar bailout: Obama created a EDA board in New Jersey. Well, we Need a leader from Obama's camp that understands how to fill in the systems need. Economic Development Authority will be in charge of bonds. The same type of bond plan that I proposed -- which will work with Omar Dyer, which is me at the controls. You need too know when to spur a down turn in the state economy. The bonds will give a small relief. We need people to man power these jobs. This will allow small business to get the information need to man power their business. That's how an economy grows. What my opponents propose are cuts to education, and raising taxes. My opponents are looking at figures and running around with their heads cut of. We need a leader that will solve problems on a month to month basis, year to year -- with a day by day approach. Like solving Health Care, I believe the more people you have working the less health care will cost. That's why it's important to get people back to work. Then there's rent and mortgage problems: I plan to eliminate property tax, and implant a no increase flat rent -- eminent domain free law for seniors over 60. This is the best way to recycle the Medicad System, by allowing our seniors to have more cash in their hands. They can't balance rent / mortgages, and have food / energy, health care cost rise on a limited budget. With the way we have inflated the economy a pension can't retire you, and Social Security will only tease you. We need to make sure that when you retire / you retire. That don't mean you retire from a middle class job, to join the kids at the retail store. That's what I'm going to bring to Trenton.

My Job creation plan will cost more at the start to create the foundation, but as the years go through and you allow the system to grow. We can save more money than any competitive state. This is why I'm running for Governor. So I sask you: Do age give you front running rights to lead. Look at the other plans, then look at mine. If you want to get out of the ditch my age shouldn't hold back a leader your tax dollars created.

(Join the Omar Dyer for New Jersey campaign, and don't wait until the end, be the first to talk about Omar Dyer. This is the type of leadership we need.

www. coaches101. org

Articles for discussion: Telegraph & MSNBC.

EMK — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:13:52 EST

Whoa! The Pentagon seems serious about this: Pentagon to detail military to bolster security; Plan would dedicate 20,000 uniformed troops inside U.S. by 2011 -- http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27989275/

What is Citigroup talking about with the gold??? Citigroup says gold could rise above $2,000 next year as world unravels -- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/3526645/Citigroup-says-gold-could-rise-above-2000-next-year-as-world-unravels.html. They've been bailed out already! *Errgh!*

See also: Vid clip from Democracy Now! Seriously??? (http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/emk/gGgYfB)

EMK

Open Letter to Timothy Geithner c/o Obama

Nervie — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 22:56:51 EST

Here is an open letter and 10 cents worth to Timothy Geithner, President of the New York Federal Reserve. Just don’t tell me we are not a corrupt financial bunch.

The amount of money our banks are required to keep in reserve, relative to the amount they are able to loan out, have increased dramatically from 1:15 per actual monetary value to 1:30, and in some cases, even more. Who makes up these rules?

The day before the 9/11/2001 Donald Rumsfeld declared a war on the money waste at the Pentagon and proclaimed it “War on Waste”, armed with stacks of paper work questioning $2.3 trillion, according to Vince Gonzales on a CBS’s “Eye on America” expose. Gonzales said that 2.3 trillion was equivalent to $8,000 for every man, woman and child in America.

Visit this site: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=xU4GdHLUHwU

The video will tell you that Jim Minnery of the Defense Department was reassigned when he tried to expose the path of financial allegations at the Pentagon; Franklin C. Spinney, a Dept of Defense analyst, claimed that the numbers for various budgets were “pie in the sky” and never added up. Vice Admiral Jack Shanahan (ret) U.S. Navy asked for oversight in the Pentagon Budget while question $48 billion spent by Pentagon officials. Rumsfeld’s War was interrupted and we have never heard anything more about the escaping billions in the Pentagon’s war chest. Could these same individuals or tactics be what we are witnessing on Wall Street and now affecting Main Street USA?

We have been masking financial chicanery by calling it “derivates”, “subprimes” and “swaps”. In the late 1989’s we called them “junk bonds”. Bush’s new Christian politicians had a baptismal and are calling it them in 2008 “derivatives and swaps”. Neal Bush, his brother, was involved in the savings and loans debacle and so was Jeb of Florida, but the media doesn’t seem to mention this and did Bush before he starts pointing fingers forget the family connection. Dress it up and you call it “Platinum Plungers”, look at the DOW members who are affected by these “pieces of paper”, “High yields” or “risk instruments”,

Bush said unequivocally, the lower middle and poor income Americans are the blame for the catastrophic financial situation affecting the world. Homeowners who exaggerated their incomes, bank accounts, job and credit history purchased brand new homes with escalating interest rates but no money down for the first three to five years (depending on the offering). Mortgage brokers wrote the loans that exaggerated the income, job, bank accounts and credit history of the homeowners. Banks officials accepted the loans that the mortgage brokers wrote that exaggerated the income, job, bank accounts and credit history of the homeowners. Loan bankers took the paper and sold to larger American and foreign banks. These banks in turn bundled these papers as derivatives that the bank officers bundled that were the mortgages of the homeowners. Didn’t anyone notice the sudden rush of individuals and families moving into these brand new developments at unheard of numbers, suspect that something was either “on fire” or “slightly unsual activity” during an economic time that was otherwise relatively flat? Don’t tell me we are not a corrupt financial bunch.

So if these homeowners didn’t have the opportunity to purchase these brand new homes at these extra ordinary rates then, who would have purchased them? Why did the developers build so many units during the time in question and not question how they were going to be able to sell the units? Is there something that the developers knew that the homeowners didn’t know? And didn’t the developers have to find the line of credit to build these huge developments unless they knew that the market was prime for such buyers? So everyone always points their fingers to “the other guy”?

The rest of the world is weaning away from us. We say look north, and the rest of the world knows to look south. We scorched South America and Russia this way which is why they pay attention to our game playing and these people know because we have demoralized their economies and have harmed their financial outlooks. We are not to be trusted.

Using the example of the Philippines, under the guises of spiritually we robbed them materially. We go over to the Islands with the missionaries and ministers and give the natives a few pieces of silver. With the intelligence and knowledge gathered of the area we then send in the business negotiators. We went in demonizing their people, demanding their land and capital resources, militarizing some of their people by providing clothing, shelter, transportation and ensuring that those that we had embraced did in fact deserve more, although the morality and control we held on these chosen few did our bidding and were compensated. This division caused many Filipinos to become jealous, greedy and to fight over market shares.

Don’t tell me we are not a corrupt financial bunch.

Our economic future seems to be unraveling a Ponzi scheme and we may never know the pathetic individuals who started it, because they have liquidated their assets, taken their money out of the situation, and run out of the deal. Meantime, we obviously must know they are the ones who can also afford to buy the economic assets at 10 cents on the dollar, receive tax credits to boot under the guises of “helping to stimulate the economy that they originally destroyed”.

The Byzantine Chronicle leads us to an Asian village where this mad woman is walking the streets. She has in one hand a brassier of burning flaming coals, and on the other hand she has a pale of water. So obviously people are asking her, “What are you doing?” She says that she is burning down heaven and extinguishing hell.

Those that sold the mortgages started toe dancing in 2003 and kept expanding and pretty soon they got to the point that the bankers took the limits off. Now those limits have exponentially raised the bottom line beyond corruption. How do you do this and not arrange security on what you are doing? This is no longer merely just an incident of corruption but has become a deliberate effort to destroy the banking system as we know it. This is a rationalization for privatizing the banking system.

I was reading that in 2004 or right about then, that Obama made a presentation to the owners of the automobile industry. He indicated to them that they should alter their auto planning and reorganize for “green industry”. Industry leaders didn’t listen to the skinny young kid with the dumb name from Chicago Illinois or appreciate him telling them what he recommended that they do. Then 4 years later that same skinny young kid with the funny name is now running the country and they have to come with hat in hand asking for his assistance to keep their companies running. Pride comes before a fall, but they arrived in private Lear jets. So to think that they weren’t paying attention to this guy, they must be putting their heads together now saying,

“It wouldn’t have cost us much to be nice to the kid, who now holds our industry’s future in his hands and the 3.5 million people we represent.” Don’t you believe it was only fair that they should have come with their own plans in their hands instead of expecting to receive a $25 billion dollar check? Yes, you walk into a room with millionaires and billionaires, who hold clout with the industry. They believed they had all the aces and to some extent they do, but they didn’t expect “the no”. They had buffaloed him before and now they have been taken aback. Four years ago he didn’t have the power and permission, but now he is President of the United States. Could Obama, with Pelosi’s help, just be allowing them to stew in their own mess? Well, the odds of Obama at that time having any significant influence were very small and the likelihood of his rising any faster was also unknown. But didn’t anyone tell the industry leaders to pay attention and to set aside their arrogance and down right rudeness. Don’t tell me we are not a corrupt financial bunch.

So, I’d rather see Obama take that $8,000 per every man woman and child and send us a bonus check at tax time and let’s see how fast that kick starts the American economy since no one questioned it in 2001 and then call Rumsfeld back to follow the Pentagon trail and find out who started this financial mess.

My Lil' Auto "Bale" Out Plan

Josh — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 04:09:37 EST

It's a great opportunity to permanently get off foreign oil by getting the big three to create green cars:

Stipulations for Big 3 Government Aid:

Step 1: Require loan applicant to come up with a modern and extremely detailed business plan including employee pay and benefits, as well as a time horizon for developing a practical fleet of clean, oil free autos.

Step 2: No management or executive pay shall be derived from the loans. Loans are to be used for R & D (with detailed weekly progress reports or funding is pulled), worker compensation, care, and benefits, advertising, and building materials.

Step 3: Funding will be granted on an "as needed" basis and all allocations must be requested from the government monthly. The government will issue individual checks to employees and contractors employees directly.That's It..

Give them a time horizon to get it done. 5 years should suffice and those rich executives will have the incentive to turn a profit in order to get paid anything! They do have the choice to quit. Let this be a model to expanding the "greening" of our infastructure to:

1. Wind turbine production and installation companies

2. Solar Power Companies

3. Road and Bridge Improvements

4. GeoThermal

5. Other Great New Clean Energy Inventions

Josh Needleman BA

(Musician, Composer, Tutor, Philosopher)

The Oscillating Pendulum

"Voice for Humanity" — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 21:09:16 EST

The historic election is over and the new administration is in the process of recruiting members for key positions.

It is still important to reflect on the role of media and news organization in this electoral process.

Extreme media bias towards one candidate and overwhelmingly condescending against another caused a great deal of frustration, anger and disappointment among the electorate.

The anti-media sentiments reverberated all over the cyberspace.

Media hype was intense during the Democratic Primary election.

Since I was vigorously involved during that time, I have great memories that will remain part of me for a long time.

There were several incidents but some of them have a greater impact on individuals, more severely than others do.

Mainly due to the smear tactics and negative attacks hurled on people like me entering the political campaign for the first time as surrogates, representatives or grass root supporters.

One particular incident is worth the spotlight because it is about the media personalities conducting themselves as the world authority in all matter especially the political race such as the Presidential election.

Ironically, in this Presidential election they were repeatedly wrong with both Democratic and Republican nominees.

Why?

They followed the conventional wisdom and failed to see or accept new possibilities and developments.

Only to steer course once the tide turned in a different direction sweeping anything and everything on the way.

The spotlight is precisely on MSNBC.

The network that took lot of heat from the public and rightfully so, for being excessively in favor of Obama Campaign in an unprecedented appeasement of the candidate then, Senator Barack Obama.

It is noteworthy that MSNBC initially rejected the candidate Senator Barack Obama against their preferred candidate, Senator Hillary Clinton.

Likewise, the venerable New York Times endorsed Senator Hillary Clinton way back on January 25, 2008 as the “IDEAL COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.” and

Emphasizing that President-elect Barack Obama was not qualified in that respect,

Quoted by the recent Nobel Laureate Paul Krugman through national and international telecast on CNN.

I was devastated to note the hasty decision by a leading and the most respectable news organization such as New York Times.

Immediately, I made my first and only contact with the cable media outlet, Free Speech and World Link Television expressing my emotion on the endorsement.

Here is extract of the email titled The Moment of Truth sent to Amy Goodman of Free Speech Television on January 25, 2008, 12.22P.M PST , in that context:

“This morning the endorsement by New York Times is another way of indicating that Senator Clinton will be the future President of the United States.

Senator Clinton made many overtures in her recent T.V talk show appearances that I should go away and abandon the Obama campaign to suppress the Iraq war issue finally.

The impression I have is,

If Senator Obama becomes the nominee, there is absolutely no turning back for him as he would win the general election.”

———————————————-

In reality, what exactly happened prior to our President-elect Barack Obama establishing himself as a formidable candidate in the election is attention worthy.

First, my personal experience with MSNBC goes back to the days when the incumbent administration laid out the strategy to sell the unpopular Iraq war to the public and the United Nations.

I happened to be one of the unfortunate victims of mandatory public opinion survey superficially conducted by the administration to gain public support for the illegal invasion of Iraq.

This matter verified and confirmed truthful by the Institute for Public Policy, a non-profit organization, following the claim in my blog post during the Democratic Primary election.

With the relentless pro-Iraq war rally from networks such as MSNBC and FOX, the administration successfully launched their mission.

Although, there were other major networks equally involved in drumming their support for the Iraq war…

MSNBC displayed no qualms in abruptly eliminating dissent like the popular and visibly democratic, none other than their own talk show host, Mr. Phil Donahue.

My first unpleasant experience with MSNBC is regarding the anti-Iraq war message conveyed to the administration in response to the mandatory survey.

In my statement, I clearly emphasized the blunder by the administration on their commitment to wage war against Iraq and,

The consequences ensuing in terms of loss of lives, economic costs, national reputation and everything else that followed the disastrous war.

The born again liberal MSNBC demonized and targeted me as anti-patriotic with spam mail flooding my Inbox.

Further, the obscene materials via virus corrupted my database, forcing me to abandon the hard disk for a new one.

It was nothing short of homegrown terrorism for my anti-war position.

It is important to cite the article by Victor Davis Hanson, A senior fellow at the Hoover Institution,

Ref. San Jose Mercury News, November 13, 2008.

The article quotes “Most polls reveal that American voters believed that their media was biased in favor of Obama.

The popular journalist Chris Matthews even bragged that it was his job responsibility to see that Obama succeeds.”
———————————————————————-

Chris Matthews brags about his support to Obama during the election.

It might be the case but the evidence is against such claim.

Chris Matthews threw his weight not until the candidate Barack Obama proven the Democratic nominee against all odds.

Mr. Chris Matthews clearly knows about what this is.

During the fiercely battled Democratic Primary election, Nevada Primary & Caucus held on Saturday, January 19, 2008.

I published the following blog post that morning 4.19 am EST, my time 1.19am PST causing fury and anger among the Clinton campaign and their surrogates in the media, especially Chris Matthews of MSNBC.

Post from Padmini Arhant’s Blog: - www.my.barackobama.com

Electability Factor
By "Voice behind the movement" - Jan 19th, 2008 at 4:19 am EST

Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report Objectionable Content
Electability Factor:

The voters should focus on the electability factor when casting the vote in the primaries for their respective candidates.

The candidate, who can eventually lead the Democratic Party to victory in the general election in November 2008, will be the ideal nominee.

There will be various issues discussed and debated between the two parties during the general election.

Given the track record of the Republican Party in the general election, the Democratic Party would be well positioned with a candidate voting against the Iraq war.

Senator Barack Obama had consistently opposed the Iraq war.

He voted for the funding of the Iraq war to protect the interest and security of our brave young men and women in harm’s way and enable Iraq stabilize as a sovereign nation ultimately leading to the withdrawal of our troops.

The illegitimate Iraq war has been a major catastrophe for our national economy, security, credibility to deal with International crisis, and our image as the leader of the new world.

The Republican Party nominee voting for the Iraq war could be challenged and held accountable by the Democratic Party nominee voting against the war.

The victory strategy for the Democratic Party in the general election should be on the premise of Iraq war to honor the sacrifice by brave young men and women who lost their lives and all those currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The victory for Democratic Party would then truly represent the ‘real change’ against the ’status quo’ or the establishment.

Padmini Arhant - Copyrights reserved

OBAMA SUPPORTER

————————————————————

To emphasize again, the blog post created enormous outrage with the Clinton campaign bitterly complaining about my attempt to influence the election negatively on that date.

As usual, mainstream media lend support to the power and establishment expresses their reaction in a manner to warn a private citizen like myself to stay off the campaign trail.

Like the BET CEO, Mr. Robert Thompson a close Clinton surrogate, with his exclusive appearance on–

The Situation Room, hosted by Mr. Wolf Blitzer, on CNN specifically advised me by referring to me as,

The “woman of color” to cease my campaigning for the candidate then, Senator Barack Obama.

The Nevada Primary was won by Senator Hillary Clinton.

President-elect Barack Obama had the caucus victory.

The MSNBC coverage on Saturday, January 19, 2008, the day Nevada results was declared, is evidence to the outburst of a media commentator against a private citizen.

Chris Matthews, in particular admonished me directly by wagging his finger and in uttermost condemnation of my interference in the Presidential election.

He said, “This is not a horse race for betting. It is a serious Presidential race.

Individuals with no knowledge or experience should stay out of political campaigns.”

It was a clear indication that individuals like me have no place in politics or public forum.

The sentiment was shared by another MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell who initially tried to remain objective during the discussion with Clinton aid about that particular blog post that morning.

However, she later on made a bizarre remark about a possible substance abuse by me because of my daring attempts to envision a future with an African American Presidency.

Only, if Andrea Mitchell would have played a similar role in critiquing her spouse and the ex-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan,

Equally responsible for neglecting the warnings of the economic turmoil that nearly brought the domestic and international financial markets on the brink of collapse,

The recent bailouts may not have been necessary.

Thankfully, we are living in a technology driven age, where such incidents cannot possibly be buried in a time capsule with a hope of never being found until it becomes irrelevant.

All these blatant attacks and innuendoes were to demoralize me and debilitate my effort in spreading the message of our movement.

I owe my passion, commitment and drive to get further involved in the campaign to my children especially my eleven-year-old child.

He encouraged me to stand up to partisan politics and send a strong message to commentators like Chris Matthews, Andrea Mitchell and the likes,

That, ordinary people can do extraordinary things in life.

In fact, he was targeted as well with a nickname sidekick by the President-elect Barack Obama’s opponents for his exceptional role in exploiting the web technology with the publication of my blog posts.

My son’s advice to me was, not to rest until Senator Barack Obama is elected "The President" Barack Obama.

I am glad and proud of my son’s advice to fight against the odds given the extreme stressful situation at that time.

Surely, children have a better sense of rationality enabling them to behold a different vision for the world.

They realize the burden on them with respect to the national debt, credibility and financial security as future taxpayers of the economy.

Prior to the election coverage, MSNBC’s show –

The Countdown by Keith Olbermann targeted the American idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar and

Sadistically mocked him almost on a daily basis to survive competition with condescending remarks through critic like Maria Melito.

Maria Melito in her brutal attack against Sanjaya Malakar claimed that the reason for Sanjaya to gain unprecedented votes was because…

“The people of his ethnicity i.e. India, voting for him never had anyone rise to the hall of fame in history.”

Sadly, such comment reflected ignorance as anyone born on Planet Earth, should know the ancient Indus valley civilization which is India is not new to fame and wisdom.

The land in South East Asia is the origin and birth place of celestial beings like the Holy Lord Krishna, Holy and Graceful Gautama Buddha and sentient beings of the twentieth century such as Mahatma Gandhi –

The noble soul, the light of the world, the mentor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dr. Nelson Mandela, preached and practiced non-violence, peace and unity that are oxy-moron in the contemporary world.

Not excluding other notable scholars like Nobel laureates…

The Poet Rabindra Nath Tagore for literature in 1913 and DR. Har Gobind Khorana for Physiology or Medicine in 1968 to name a few.

Besides, Sanjaya Malakar fan base sprawled across the social spectrum as demonstrated by his young admirer, Ashley Ferl awestruck during his performance.

Young Ashley Ferl, was in return summoned to the Senate for rigorous interrogation by the elected officials…

Prioritizing investigation of genuine admiration for a young performer on the national stage over serious issues like Abu Ghraib, Katrina and deliberate exposure of CIA overt operative Mrs. Valerie Plaim.

To revert to the article by Victor Davis Hanson, ref. San Jose Mercury News, Nov 13, 2008, titled — “The kind of real ‘hope and change’ we can believe in for next year”

“The media, meanwhile should be careful not to abandon fairness and discretion for short-term political advantage.

When the wheel turns - and it too, always does - what you did or said will come back to haunt you.”

I could not agree more with the affirmation.

I hope Chris Matthews and others learned a lesson or two from this historic political event.

When Change occurs, it happens all around much to the dismay of those consumed with fallacy and egocentrism regardless of the empire they reign.

The mainstream, far left and right media as well as some news organization with an exception of cable network like –

“The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”, “The Colbert Report” and “The Late Night Shows”,

Failed to meet the journalistic standards of objectivity and professionalism required in the presentation of views and analysis of any events particularly a Presidential election or for that matter, serious missions like the war.

The role of MSNBC and FOX in their relentless bashing of the candidates from both political aisles successfully drove the viewers to the cyberspace in search of…

Truth and Transparency desperately sought by people of the human race.

Whether it is young Sanjaya Malakar reaching for the stars or young Senator from the State of Illinois, President-elect Barack Obama successfully taking a shot at the highest office on land,

Their audacity of hope was challenged with rhetoric filled with racial slur, negative attacks and divisive politics to deny them the spotlight.

It is admirable that both individuals displayed a decorum signifying unity and poise seen unlike before in dealing with excessive criticism from the entities exhibiting power in the corporate media and Public office.

United States is a nation of immigrants from all over the world.

Any social progress to the satisfaction of all those feeling disfranchised is attainable only if the media and the elected officials recognize their share of responsibility in the service to democracy.

Further, the author of the cited article, Mr. Victor Davis Hanson, concluded with the following passage:

“Obama and his giddy Democratic majority sound like they think they will now be novel exceptions to these iron laws of politics, as if they really believe their hype that they are the “change” we have been waiting for, with cosmic power to stop the planet from heating and the seas from rising.

But the only real difference from the past old politics is that the present avatars of “hope and change” apparently don’t believe that the age-old adage - “The more things change, the more they remain the same” - will really apply to them as well.”

————————————————————–

It does not require the cosmic power to stop the planet form heating and the seas from rising.

It is doable by the ordinary human power to respect life in general and act responsibly for their survival now and in the future.

Failing that,

Perhaps the cosmic power could influence the resisting human nature to preserve and protect the ecological balance necessary for the sustenance of the planet.

As for the age-old adage referenced above applying to the present avatars of ‘Hope and Change”,

It entirely depends on the agents of change and their target.

The age-old adage applies to those involved in cosmetic change rather than fundamental change, the ultimate goal and mission of the present avatars of “Hope and Change.”

Cosmetic change is delusional and beneficial for short-term gains affecting a selective few, hence it yields “more of the same” result.

Whereas, fundamental change target the philosophy of the institution as the sovereign power and,

Therefore, it is real, long lasting and universal.

As per the Hindu mythology, Almighty God Shiva is depicted the

“Lord of Destruction.”

Destruction is Deliverance for a New beginning with a divine commitment to depart from the age-old adage towards new-era prophecy, a divergence from

“The Oscillating Pendulum.” –

The significance and the sole purpose of the avatars of “Hope and Change.”

Thank you.

Padmini Arhant

In Dreams I Wander Nameless Streets in Search of Faceless Voters

Mark Wiznitzer — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 19:11:10 EST

Dear Friends:

To those of you who so kindly congratulated me for Tuesday’s election outcome, as if Barack Obama’s victory resulted from my personal and deeply committed efforts. I thank you for your generous comments.

To those who may have wondered how I fared in “radio silence” for six weeks on the Ohio battleground. Be assured that I survived.

To those who do not know me or are unfamiliar with my previous descriptions of the realities and ironies of the 2008 election. What follows is the final chapter of my life as a political activist, a missionary for democracy, an apostle of Change. Hopefully you will also understand how it is that for the first three nights after I returned home I woke up from the same dream in which I wander nameless streets in search of faceless voters.

The Buckeye State

On September 23 I joined the Ohio Campaign for Change as a member of its newly created Vote Corps. The invitation had warned of 14-hour days, seven days a week, right up through Election Day. I accepted because the Obama campaign considered this important enough to make it a paid position and because it was in the one state McCain had to win to become President.

I left home certain that my life experiences -- in retail sales, as diplomat and political officer, and Obama volunteer in seven states – would be useful in the Buckeye State. Stopping at Starbucks on the way out of Burlington that Sunday morning, I noticed the first trace of red on the outer edge of a leaf on a small maple tree in the parking lot. I realized that by the time I returned to Vermont the leaf peepers would have come and gone. Fortunately, it turned out to be a mild autumn in Ohio that showcased the Buckeye State’s own colorful foliage.

The Akron Vote Corps

A hundred of us reported to Columbus for Vote Corps training and by the first night we were already deployed across the state. I was assigned to the city of Akron, birthplace of Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James and Pretenders’ singer-songwriter Chrissie Hynde, who wrote about her birthplace in “My City Was Gone”. The Akron Campaign for Change Office was headed by Regional Field Director Max Lesko. In charge of Summit and Portage Counties, he proved himself a very capable and genial manager. My hosts, Cathy and David, and their daughter Nicky, lived in a northwest suburb. Their friendship and cozy accommodations would be my home for the next six weeks.

At first the Akron Vote Corps consisted of six whites, from metropolitan DC, Iowa, Pennsylvania, Texas and California. Like most of the Obama staff and volunteers I met during the primaries, they were young and well-educated. In fact, I was two-and-a-half times their average age. By the end of the second week we lost one and gained five new members. Our new team-mates were all African Americans, from California, Texas and Georgia. Their average age was early forties and many had worked on the Kerry campaign. One of my first initiatives was to buy half a dozen fingerless gloves for our new friends from the warm weather states. Our Vote Corps was rounded out by a “Lead,” a young lawyer from Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown’s Washington staff.

The Vote Corps’ mission was to register voters, identify supporters and get out the vote for Barack Obama. Our primary targets were “Sporadics,” first time voters and people who voted Democratic in the past, but did not always turn out. For a while we were also instructed to knock on every single door in a targeted neighborhood. I successfully resisted attempts to create competition within our group for most doors knocked, “Doors” being the campaign’s primary measure for the work accomplished by staff and volunteers. My feeling was that competition focused on this imperfect metric would distort our effort, demoralize some members of our group, and sacrifice quality for quantity. For in the end, the real measure of our success would be the vote count on Election Day. And to that end, it was our diligence after the “knock” that would help determione the outcome.

Registration

Our first task was registering new voters and re-registering people who had moved before the deadline of October 6. We knocked on doors and scoured bus stops and other public places to register as many people as possible. Most people were already registered, as they clearly understood the importance of this election. Those who had not yet done so enthusiastically signed up, particularly in the African-American community. My first Saturday in Akron, I missed my first grandchild’s first birthday party back in Virginia. But my reward on that day was registering many first-time voters, including former felons who had recently regained the rights of other free men and women.

Many of our Sporadics were transients who frequently moved from one run-down Akron neighborhood to another. This city was in decline for a long time, and the recent economic downturn just aggravated conditions. In older residential neighborhoods there are a growing number of abandoned homes or houses soon to be vacated due to lost jobs or foreclosure. Many porches are marked by hand-painted signs announcing “Copper Already Stolen” or littered with trash by people who have given up. It is in this environment that we spread our message of Hope and Change.

Starting on September 30, we entered “golden week” when voters could both register and vote early. Ohio’s new rules allowed “no fault” early voting by absentee ballot or in person. A single polling place was created for Summit County at the Job Center in northeast Akron. The Job Center is well-known, because job losses have been ongoing for many years. The building, also known by locals as “the old library,” is next to another landmark, the County’s Auto Title Office. For those without cars, bus number 12 took people there from downtown in 15 minutes.

Early Voting

Registration and early voting at the Job Center was very convenient. Open every day, including Saturday and Sunday, there were 50 polling booths and seating for voters waiting for their paper ballots. But many Ohioans, especially African Americans disenfranchised in previous elections were suspicious. They worried that ballots were going to “disappear,” as reportedly happened in 2004 in Cuyahoga County. Overcoming these legitimate concerns required some persuasion. Our most important argument was: “Barack Obama wants his supporters to vote early.” That usually did it. We helped to spread the word that this process would protect, not suppress voting rights. And by November 3, the daily early vote turnout had grown from hundreds to thousands, the wait from 15 minutes to three hours.

By my third week I had developed a routine for creating a multiplier effect in conversation with early voters. Once they had made an Early Vote Commit, I introduced community organizing techniques to build on the widespread desire to help Obama get elected. Within the family, a grandparent or parent, or maybe the principal driver would agree to take responsibility for getting the entire household to vote early. I also encouraged voters to take along a relative or friend, or a neighbor who needed a ride.

Finally, I would make the following pitch:

“I’m working for Obama and I want you to work for him too. So I’m going to deputize you. No badge, no pay, just the satisfaction of knowing you helped to elect Barack Obama."

That always earned a smile. Then I continued:

"Now I'm sure you know someone who wouldn’t vote unless you drag their lazy a-- to the Job Center to vote. Do you know anyone like that?”

I could tell when they were hooked. Eyes turned skyward. Faces revealed minds thinking of who they would get to early vote. A knowing smile indicated they knew exactly who they would take along. In closing I urged them to let everyone know how easy it was to vote at the Job Center and that Obama wanted them to do so. By the time I left their door, the early voter had been empowered and had taken ownership of the Obama campaign. Now it was their campaign too.

Get Out The Vote

During our last week in Ohio, the Vote Corps was dissolved. We were detailed to assist Field Organizers with their neighborhood teams of volunteers, which were part of the Ohio get out the vote (GOTV) strategy at the precinct level.

I was assigned to Barberton to work for Sol, an energetic field organizer from Texas. My main “turf” was the south Akron neighborhood of Kenmore. Unlike my earlier work with Sporadics in largely African American neighborhoods, I was instructed to “persuade” and “motivate” the remaining “Undecided” voters. But with Election Day closing in fast, there would only be minutes to talk to any single voter.

In Barberton and Kenmore, the Undecideds were predominantly white, working class Democrats. Most did not want to vote for McCain, but were not yet sure about Barack Obama. I understood their concern. Not only was Obama a relatively new and unknown political personality. Most of these voters had supported Hillary in the March primary. And like voters elsewhere, they were being bombarded with smear emails, Republican mailings about Ayers and NRA propaganda warning Obama would take away their guns.

With openly racist voters there was the curt “Thanks for your time.” But it was not difficult to pull the other undecided voters off the fence, especially with the credibility of being an older white man with a knowledge of history and 23 years of federal service under five US Presidents. These voters knew that Obama and Hillary shared a common policy agenda and that she was campaigning hard for the Democratic ticket. They also recognized Rove tactics and our argument that: “They can’t win with the truth, so they are attacking him with lies.” Second amendment concerns were easily neutralized with Biden’s quote: “No one’s taking away my Beretta.” But the simplest most effective argument was “Are you happy with the way things are going or do you want change?” And Change is what voters wanted more than anything this year.

Election Day

November 3rd and 4th were taken up with the final GOTV effort, primarily distributing door hangers and reminding voters of their polling places. From 3:30 pm on Election Day until it was too dark to read house numbers, I scoured for remaining undecided voters who had yet to cast their ballots. I actually found several and they agreed to go to their local poll station, which by then was no longer crowded.

I was at the Barberton volunteers’ party at Lake Anna Hall when MSNBC announced Ohio for Obama. Having already won Pennsylvania, I knew it was all over except for reaching 270 electoral votes. While happy, I was so physically and mentally exhausted that the victory did not seem real. I headed back to my host family home and watched the candidates’ speeches before turning in and resting for the long drive home. Now as my dreams of knocking on doors in Ohio recede, the enormity of our achievement and the challenges facing Barack Obama are coming into better focus. I have no idea what my next step will be, but I will continue to do what I can to get our country back on the right track.

Epilogue

After 40 days of walking the streets of Summit County, I had knocked on or distributed campaign literature at over 4000 doors.

More importantly, I had in-person conversations with more than 1500 voters and obtained about 1000 Early Vote Commits, which probably understates the number of people who were convinced to go to the Job Center. Along the way I also helped remove several hundred bad addresses from our “Turf,” easing the task of later attempts by volunteers to find our voters.

The Akron Vote Corps’ effort over five weeks contributed greatly to the early vote turnout, which by Election Day totaled 90,000, or fully one-third of the 272,000 ballots cast in Summit County. And while he won Ohio’s 20 electoral votes with 51% of the state’s popular vote, Barack Obama won Summit County with 57.45%.

If you would like to be notified whenever Mark Wiznitzer posts a new article join Food Tasters For Obama.

Moments to Cherish ...

Scott A. Giordano — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 18:14:02 EST

Powerful Network Coverage from the Moment We Made History ...

Cabinet Curiosity... Want to recommend?

EMK — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:06:50 EST

I know that President-Elect Obama has been pretty tight-lipped about his cabinet proposals, but MSNBC has put out some names, though they may not be officially from Obama himself.

Frankly, if you have any better recommendations, feel free to post a reply and tell me why.

Seriously, we don't want to have a lousy, greedy, trigger-happy Cabinet!

Also, how do you think we can get these recommendations to him? I'm not sure he'll be reading these blogs much righ now.

(On a side note, there's some interesting Lieberman developments, for those who are interested.)

P.S.: Keep reading up on all the issues from as many sources as you can, and don't be afraid of seeing a diversity of opinions on the matter, as the best solutions will come from that diversity of thought. Besides, Obama needs a Cabinet with a diversity of thought as well as a diversity of party/field/background.

Lata,

EMK

Former (London) Times Editor Harold Evans Smears the US Media in an Article in the UK Guardian

mathpol — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 22:22:33 EST

“Mad about The One. The US media have been captivated by Obama, at the expense of their curiosity and scepticism.”

This is the title of an article by Harold Evans in The Guardian on November 1, 2008. He resorts to the bias he decries in his one-sided column. I have reproduced it below in its entirety, along with my annotations {…} . Phrases that I comment upon are in boldface.

It's fitting that the cynicism "vote early and vote often" is commonly attributed to Chicago's Democratic boss, mayor Richard Daley, who famously voted the graveyards in 1960 to help put John Kennedy in the White House. In this 2008 race, it's the American media that have voted very early and often. They long ago elected the star graduate of Chicago's Democratic machine, Barack Obama. {Obama is a hardly a “graduate“ of the machine. What about Harvard Law, Columbia, etc.?}

I am not talking of editorials in newspapers, though Obama has the preponderance of the endorsements over John McCain. Obama certainly deserves the credit for recruiting impressive advisers and running a more efficient campaign machine than any one in the US's political history.

What's troubling to anyone old-fashioned enough to care about standards in journalism is the news coverage in mainstream media. Forget the old notions of objectivity, fairness, thoroughness, and so on. The nastiest rumours on both sides haven't been published, but the coverage has been slavishly on the side of "the one". {“Slavish”? Evans’s description.}

Compelling & Inspiring Videos On MSNBC on Senator Obama

Lovenrockets - New Smyrna Beach, FL — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 20:22:53 EDT

I found these three videos to be quite heart felt and thought provoking, perhaps you will too.

The first and third were so deeply touching, but the second was equally as compelling. Never before have I wanted someone to be President more than I do now.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27460577#27460577

interviews

j.b. — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 02:56:46 EDT

the interviews on the daily show and rachel were phenomenal. heres hoping wolf is as satisfying today. KUDOS

IS Douglas Holtz-Eakin just another lying political hack?

l.t. Dravis — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 23:13:37 EDT

MSNBC NEWS – Friday, October 24, 2008 – Here we go again . . . another day, another hour, another minute, and another talking head comes on the air to ‘answer’ questions asked by a cable news host.

In this case, we’re watching ‘Race to the White House’ hosted by David Gregory on MSNBC.

By way of full disclosure, I am an avid MSNBC and CNN watcher, often flipping between both channels at a frantic rate, trying to catch as much of Wolf Blitzer, Jack Cafferty, Chris Matthews, and David Gregory as I can.

So let me ask you (again), are you as sick of listening to lying political hacks as I am?

If so, let’s take a listen to Senior Economic Advisor, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, ‘answering’ David Gregory’s questions.

Who is the real Douglas Holtz-Eakin?

Though he’s an incredibly bright guy (Senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, Director of the Congressional Budget Office, Senior Staff Economist for President George H.W. Bush, etc.), he’s probably best known for having imputed the creation of the BlackBerry to John McCain.

Hmmm.

In any case, we need to know . . . Is Douglas Holtz-Eakin just another lying political hack?

Let’s see how he did in an interview with David Gregory this afternoon.

David Gregory: “I want to welcome Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Senior Economic Advisor to the McCain campaign who joins us this evening. Doug, it’s good to see you.”

Douglas Holtz-Eakin: “Good to see you, Dave.”

David Gregory: “L-let me follow on this point, this ad that the McCain campaign is running in the context of an international crisis. Let me ask you the question in terms of an economic crisis, you’ve seen the polls, I don’t have to remind you of those . . . the advantages of taxes and the economy goes (sic) to Barack Obama. That’s in our poll. So if it comes to a test, what to you point to, to show the voters, the undecided voters, that John McCain has passed and that Senator Obama has not?”

Douglas Holtz-Eakin: “I think there are three or four key points here. The first is that Barack Obama is firmly aligned with the Bush administration in not getting it that the key to this financial crisis is taking care of the housing market. Keeping people in their homes will help stabilize the real economy, help keep unemployment from going up, keep consumers spending. Stabilizing the housing market will take care of the banking sector and the idea that you just want to throw the cash at banks is really, uh, uh, uh, an incomplete and mistaken policy. I think the second major point is on the substance, Barack Obama is bad news for the economy. The kinds of things he wants to do, misplaced tax policies that hurt small businesses, trade policies that are protectionist, bad health policies are all going to hurt jobs and John McCain is not going to turn this recession into a depression like Barack Obama is.

“Third key point is, you know, Barack Obama’s got more money. He gave up the, uh, the pledge for public financing in the general election. He’s trying to buy this election by running misleading ads about all this and, and the question is, can he get away with it?”

AND THE ANSWER WAS . . . NO ANSWER. Holtz-Eakin failed to answer David Gregory’s question . . . which was, ‘What do you point to, to show the voters, the undecided voters, that John McCain has passed the test and Senator Obama has not?’ Holtz-Eakin threw out some unsubstantiated stuff about Barack Obama being ‘firmly aligned with the Bush Administration’. He lectures on the obvious benefits of stabilizing the housing market and he gives us a few more unsubstantiated claims, says Obama will turn the recession into a depression (again, without substantiation) and complains that Barack Obama has raised more money and is running misleading ads. Translation: Who put a gun to the McCain campaign’s head to force them to take public financing and the limitations thereof? And, is Holtz-Eakin calling the kettle black when he accuses the Obama campaign of running ‘misleading ads’?

David Gregory: “Let me ask you the question about tax policy and the debate that’s being framed here in the, in the, closing days. Explain to me why this pitch about Joe the plumber and about tax cuts is anything more than a play for non-college educated, working class voters in a state like Pennsylvania which is key on the electoral map for the McCain campaign.”

Douglas Holtz-Eakin: “People tried for months to get Barack Obama to reveal, A, the details about what he really plans to do and, B, what exactly was the philosophy that somehow underpinned it. Without success . . . I mean, you still cannot get the Obama campaign to tell you what is the definition of a small business that gets the differential tax treatment. They, they, refuse to actually come clean.

“Joe the plumber in Ohio got Barack Obama in a moment of losing his verbal eloquence to actually lay it out. What he believed. And the American people don’t like his agenda. Ah, that’s not, ah, ah, a judgment made by this campaign. It’s a judgment made by the American people. And all we’ve done is see it exposed.”

AND THE ANSWER WAS . . . NO ANSWER. Again, Holtz-Eakin failed to answer David Gregory’s question . . . which was, ‘Explain to me why this pitch about Joe the plumber and about tax cuts is anything more than a play for non-college educated, working class voters in a state like Pennsylvania which is key on the electoral map for the McCain campaign?’ Holtz-Eakin opened with a vague criticism about Obama’s alleged refusal to reveal something about ‘what he really plans to do’. He expresses a concern about the definition a small business, criticizes Obama’s loss of ‘verbal eloquence’, and closes with a blatant lie when he says the ‘American people don’t like his (Obama’s) agenda’.

David Gregory: (interrupting): “. . . Are you saying they don’t like his agenda on taxes? On general handling of the economy, Barack Obama gets the higher ratings. The polls show that . . . “

Douglas Holtz-Eakin: (Interrupting) “ . . . Barack Obama has gotten, B-Barack Obama has gotten the higher rating but this election is not over. If you look at the only poll, the only poll that called the 2004 election right, Investor’s Business Daily, this is a 2 point race. And we shall see whether Barack Obama, uh, by revealing exactly what he’s up to, which is, let’s spend a lot of money, let’s raise taxes to, to pay for and let’s not worry about economic growth, let’s not worry about prosperity that’s generated by ss . . . having a jobs, saving for college, saving for retirement, uh, we’ll see if that plays so well.”

AND THE ANSWER WAS . . . NO ANSWER. For the third time, Holtz-Eakin did not answer the question . . . which was, ‘Are you saying they don’t like his agenda on taxes? On general handling of the economy, Barack Obama gets the higher ratings.’ Holtz-Eakin tells us the obvious – the election is not over – and then dismisses every other poll in the nation by claiming that the only accurate poll is the ‘Investor’s Business Daily’ poll because it happened to call the 2004 election right (unsubstantiated). Holtz-Eakin then makes a few more unsubstantiated claims about a secret Obama agenda to spend a lot of money, raise taxes, not worry about economic growth, not worry about prosperity generated by having jobs, saving for college, or saving for retirement.

David Gregory: “Right . . . you know, I-I was asked by, uh, uh, a voter the other day, uh, w-who was not necessarily coming from, from the other side of the aisle, but who said, look, ‘cause I-I often will say in covering the, the Bush White House that I can remember well John McCain bucking President Bush and bucking the Republican party, uh, but the facts are also clear I remember covering John McCain when he did talk about voting with the Bush Administration ninety percent of the time. So, how do you reconcile that . . . in our polling that shows nearly six in ten voters think that McCain would be more Bush at a time when you’re saying that the Bush Administration doesn’t get it. You’re going for separation pretty late in the game.”

Douglas Holtz-Eakin: “Well, I mean, the reality is it’s not the number of votes, it’s, it’s what votes matter. Uh, a-at key moments, John McCain has in fact done the right things standing up to the Bush Administration. He’s done the right thing at times in standing up to the Republican party, uh, and he, he will continue to do that for the American people. That’s the key moment. The leadership moments. That’s what the ad was about today.

“Barack Obama has never displayed one moment of leadership . . . when he said that his party or his political backers, ‘no I won’t do that for you because there’s an important issue that the American people need for me to deliver on’. He’s never shown any, uh, uh, ability to do that and without that, he is truly untested and dangerous.”

AND THE ANSWER WAS . . . NO ANSWER. Once again, he failed to answer the question . . . which was, ‘You’re going for separation (from the Bush Administration) pretty late in the game (aren’t you)?’ Rather than answer the question, Holtz-Eakin talks about John McCain’s ‘maverick’ image and refers to an unknown ad. He then goes on to criticize Barack Obama for never having displayed even ‘one moment of leadership’ and he warns us that Obama is untested and, moreover, dangerous.

David Gregory: “Al right, we’re going to leave it there. Senior Advisor on the economy, uh, Doug Holtz-Eakin. Doug, uh, good to see you. Thank you for being here.”

Douglas Holtz-Eakin: "Thank you."

Though David Gregory, an experienced, well-respected journalist asked a series of insightful questions, Holtz-Eakin didn’t answer even one of them.

If Holtz-Eakin was hired by John McCain to give folks like you and me reasons to vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin, he didn’t earn a dime’s worth of his pay today . . . unless bad-mouthing Barack Obama works for the McCain campaign.

But I’m curious . . . why on earth wouldn’t Douglas Holtz-Eakin take this opportunity to tell hundreds of thousands of MSNBC viewers why they should vote for John McCain and Sarah Palin?

Why would he waste your time, my time, David Gregory’s time and his time by leveling a bunch of unsubstantiated attacks on Barack Obama?

Could it be that Douglas Holtz-Eakin is just another lying political hack?

Good question . . . what do you think?

P.S. Doug . . . take a shave, willya?

If you have questions, comments, or concerns, Email me at ltdassociates@msn.com (goes right to my desk) and since I personally answer every Email, I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Want to go to a Blog that listens to you and speaks for you as well?

GO TO http://bothsidesnowbiz.blogspot.com/ AND SPEAK UP . . .

It's Happening Again

Henry M — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:39:41 EDT

Even the conservative "Washington Times" is reporting on voter intimidation at the polls in swing states:

http://washingtontimes.com/weblogs/bellantoni/2008/Oct/20/mccain-supporters-call-early-voters-ch/
An organizer at the rally rattled off the addresses of early vote sites nearby that would be open after the event.
Photographer Joe Eddins and I headed over to the closest one and found a steady line of voters hoping to cast ballots early. Most seemed to be Obama supporters and several had come from the rally. Nearly all the voters were black.
Also at the polling site was a group of loud and angry protesters who shouted and mocked the voters as they walked in. Nearly all were white.
As you can see from these videos, no one held anything back. People were shouting about Obama's acknowledged cocaine use as a young man, abortion and one man used the word "terrorist." They also were complaining that Sundays are for church, not voting.
...
At the voting site, I asked a local sheriff monitoring the scene if the protesters were allowed. "They're fine," he said. I asked if he'd ever seen anything like that and he said he'd never seen Sunday voting.
One group was handing out fliers "comparing" McCain and Obama on social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. Among those listed on the sheet were:
Opposes gay pride? McCain YES Obama NO
Supports human cloning? McCain NO Obama YES
The flier is a lie, Obama does not support cloning. Also, I know the McCain camp would dispute him "opposing gay pride."

And in the New York Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/21/opinion/21herbert.html?_r=5&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=slogin&oref=login
The Real Scandal By BOB HERBERT
It never ends. The Republican Party never gets tired of spraying its poison across the American political landscape.
So there was a Republican congresswoman from Minnesota, Michele Bachmann, telling Chris Matthews on MSNBC that the press should start investigating members of the House and Senate to determine which ones are “pro-America or anti-America.”
Can a rancid Congressional committee be far behind? Leave it to a right-wing Republican to long for those sunny, bygone days of political witch-hunting.
Ms. Bachmann’s demented desire (“I would love to see an exposé like that”) is of a piece with the G.O.P.’s unrelenting effort to demonize its opponents, to characterize them as beyond the pale, different from ordinary patriotic Americans — and not just different, but dangerous, and even evil.
But the party is not content to stop there. Even better than demonizing opponents is the more powerful and direct act of taking the vote away from their opponents’ supporters. The Republican Party has made strenuous efforts in recent years to prevent Democrats from voting, and to prevent their votes from being properly counted once they’ve been cast.
Which brings me to the phony Acorn scandal.
John McCain, who placed his principles in a blind trust once the presidential race heated up, warned the country during the presidential debate last week that Acorn, which has been registering people to vote by the hundreds of thousands, was “on the verge of maybe perpetrating one of the greatest frauds in voter history.”
It turns out that a tiny percentage of these new registrations are bogus, with some of them carrying ludicrous names like Mickey Mouse. Republicans have tried to turn this into a mighty oak of a scandal, with Mr. McCain thundering at the debate that it “may be destroying the fabric of democracy.”
Please. The Times put the matter in perspective when it said in an editorial that Acorn needs to be more careful with some aspects of its voter-registration process. It needs to do a better job selecting canvassers, among other things.
“But,” the editorial added, “for all of the McCain campaign’s manufactured fury about vote theft (and similar claims from the Republican Party over the years) there is virtually no evidence — anywhere in the country, going back many elections — of people showing up at the polls and voting when they are not entitled to.”
Two important points need to be made here. First, the reckless attempt by Senator McCain, Sarah Palin and others to fan this into a major scandal has made Acorn the target of vandals and a wave of hate calls and e-mail. Acorn staff members have been threatened and sickening, murderous comments have been made about supporters of Barack Obama. (Senator Obama had nothing to do with Acorn’s voter-registration drives.)
Second, when it comes to voting, the real threat to democracy is the nonstop campaign by the G.O.P. and its supporters to disenfranchise American citizens who have every right to cast a ballot. We saw this in 2000. We saw it in 2004. And we’re seeing it again now.
In Montana, the Republican Party challenged the registrations of thousands of legitimate voters based on change-of-address information available from the Post Office. These specious challenges were made — surprise, surprise — in Democratic districts. Answering the challenges would have been a wholly unnecessary hardship for the voters, many of whom were students or members of the armed forces.
In the face of widespread public criticism (even the Republican lieutenant governor weighed in), the party backed off.
That sort of thing is widespread. In one politically crucial state after another — in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, you name it — the G.O.P. has unleashed foot soldiers whose insidious mission is to make the voting process as difficult as possible — or, better yet, impossible — for citizens who are believed to favor Democrats.

We can win, but only by getting out the vote and vigilantly montitoring the polling places

If you appreciaterd this message, then please have a look at the rest of my blog, http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/blog/henrymu and support and contribute to the campaign (it’s not over until the polls close): http://tinyurl.com/henrym4obamafundraising

Henry M

Strange things happening today.

Annette Sousley — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:44:09 EDT

Well, things are starting to happen it seems. A bear found dead with Obama signs on it at WCU near Ashville, NC today, tires slashed at the rally in Fayetteville yesterday, phone calls to some of the ACORN offices with threats. We can't be too careful. These things are going to happen I am afraid. Please, be careful out there. If you can don't go to vote alone. Take someone with you. If you have a sign in your yard, be careful with it. There are reports of vadalism and burning. If you have signs or bumper stickers on your car, be very careful with that. Just really watch yourself out there. We just don't know what we are dealing with anymore. With the people who are trying to divide our country and stir up hate, we just can't take a chance.

Then, charges that Gen. Powell only endorsed Barack because of race. Even though he directly addressed that. Very eloquently I thought. Yet, some people still said it was all about race. In fact the things Gen. Powell said yesterday really made a lot of sense. He spoke very well and said a lot of things that needed to be said. He defined what a lot of people have hinted at, yet never said, and he said it in a way that really could not be argued with. I guess that is why the only argument left is the one some are using. It has to be about race. Because they just don't know what else to say.

I listen to the people talk and I listen to McCain speak and I hear them say how far to the left Barack is and I am amazed sometimes when I hear it. I don't know how many realize it, but he really isn't that far left. He is more of a centrist than he is to the left. Yet he is charged as being very liberal, way left, the most liberal of all. The list just goes on. I have to laugh sometimes when I hear it. But, I guess we will have the last laugh one day.

Well, that is my thoughts for today. Just my rambles, random thoughts from my mind.

Oh, yeah, about 50,000 people have signed up to censure Michelle Bachman, and they have collected nearly $1 million just over the weekend for her opponent. Just thought I would update that. She is now denying she said it, saying her comments were taken out of context. Not sure how you can do that when it is on tape but ok. It was live when I saw it so that's hard to take out of context. But, you have to do what you have to do I guess. It got lots of play over the weekend in her local area on the TV I guess...not in her favor either.

Talk to you tomorrow.

Ten Things Our Next President Needs to Do - and Fast

Robert M. Blevins — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 03:25:04 EDT

Although this writer supports Barack Obama for President, and the polls do favor him right now, it is by no means a done deal. And whether it is John McCain or Barack Obama who ends up winning the presidency, that man is going to inherit the job at a most difficult time in our history.

Talk about a bait-and-switch for the highest office in the land. In his wildest dreams, our next President had no clue he would enter office at the worst possible financial moment for Americans in almost eighty years. Both the U.S. and the world are teetering on the edge of another Great Depression. Any citizen with a 401K is either losing money, or is at risk. Any citizen with a house now wonders if it's worth less than he paid for it. Working families worry whether they will have a job next spring. Due to the Wall Street fiasco, government-sponsored bailouts are running through Congress, and those have a poor track record. Don't count on them alone to save us from financial meltdown. Herbert Hoover tried them in 1931. So did the Japanese in 1998. In Hoover's case, it only staved off collapse for a few months. The Japanese bailouts lasted a bit longer, but with the same result.

the unlawful maverick

stephen h — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:39:01 EDT

a bipartisan legislative investigation in alaska today concluded that sarah palin "unlawfully abused her authority in firing the state's public safety commissioner."

after all that's happened in the political landscape this week, especially all the accusations made by palin herself about obama, her credibility is now officially toast. this is a blatant ethics law violation, and consisted of not 1 or 2, but 19 separate phone calls by both palin and her husband trying to get his ex-brother-in-law fired.

apparently, a maverick is someone who roams the countryside spreading hatred and racism after abusing power and public office for their own personal gain, at least if you use her own quotes against her. of course, now she'll blame political partisanship for this report - even though the investigation was launched before she was even tapped to be the VP nominee - because that's just what a maverick does!

did i mention already how she does not deserve to be anywhere near the white house? i think i did, but i'm not sure...

-h

My email to the Presidents of NBC and MSNBC

Patrick Frank — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 08:29:43 EDT

Please add your voice to mine...Below, are the relevant email addresses of the presidents of NBC and MSNBC...

phil.griffin@nbc.com

steve.capus@nbc.com

Dear Mr. Capus and Mr. Griffin:

The below is a MoveOn release, followed by my own comment...

"Sunday on Meet The Press, Tom Brokaw moderated a debate between McCain strategist Steve Schmidt and Obama strategist David Axelrod on topics ranging from Iraq to the Wall Street bailout. At the end, Tom Brokaw did something strange. He opted to give himself the last word and told the audience:

In fairness to everybody here, I'm just going to end on one note. And that is that we continue to poll on who's best equipped to be Commander in Chief, and John McCain continues to lead in that category despite the criticism from Barack Obama by a factor of 53 to 42 percent in our latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

The latest NBC poll actually has no question about Commander in Chief. Brokaw was referring to a poll taken weeks ago—right after the Republican convention and well before Friday's big national security debate. And in each of NBC's last two polls, Americans chose Obama over McCain."

I have noted over the weeks that Brokaw has consistently mischaracterized polling data, in a way that favors McCain.

He has repeated over and over data on the commander-in-chief and "riskiness" questions, while ignoring other numbers that clearly indicate that the American people favor Obama on such issues as the economy, energy, the environment, empathy, and concern for the needs of average Americans.

Further, he and some others on MSNBC and NBC cite only the NBC polling, seemingly refusing to cite aggregate figures or other major polls. This is not a good journalistic practice.

Thnk you for listening.

Patrick Frank

Grassroots Obama volunteer

Box 1283

Kingstree, SC 29556

(843) 372-8851

patrickgfrank@yahoo.com

Protecting American Voting Rights!

Omar Dyer — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:40:11 EDT

In America, your right to vote makes you an American. In America, your right to vote makes you a tax-payer. In AMerica, your right to vote gets you one step closer at being a citizen. All around the country, voter registration drives, have re-boasted the vibe of voting. Organizations like A.C.O.R.N. which means: Association of Community Organization for Reform Now, have been working too hard in order to get people registered. Yet, the House Republican Base, who's seats are endangered see this organization or any organization like A.C.O.R.N. as a problem. This problem is the same problem that helps people get registered to vote: more like Rock the Vote. In fact both of these two organizations fuel off the same information and ideas set down by the federal government.

What I can't understand is why two programs that do idnentical things, in terms of functioning and voter's rights -- are at the opposite side of the House/ Republican's table: here's an idea! A.C.O.R.N. brings in 90% of their voter drives to the Democratic Party, While Rock the vote brings in 45% of their drives to the Democratic Party. Rock the Vote turns in 55% for the Republican Party, and A.C.O.R.N. turns in 10% to the Republican party -- so this means the Republicans can't inspire their base so they want to pick which program works and what doesn't to favor them. Fact are: 55% of newly registered voters are Democrat, with 25% are independent -- with 20% Republican. Now they want to take away your rights.

The Repubs base wants to say this: These people are criminals, these people are illegally here; these people are not competent enough to vote. Listen, they ARE WRONG: During the primaries, you voted on the voter act initiative; which protects your rights unless you are mentally challenged -- and even then you still have the right to vote with assistance.
Here's you voting rights for 11/4/2008

1: To be registered by 10/4

2: U.S. Citizen that has a residence in the states county for more than 30 days on Election Day: Including a P.O. Box from the stats post office.

3: 18 years of age before Election Day.

4: If you are not in prison or on parole for a felony convicition on or two weeks before election day.

5: College students have a right to use the dormitory as a primary residence -- home or school: and they can oly vote ONCE.

6: Only a person with a misdemeanor conviction can still vote, and they have the right to vote from the jails: MISDEANORS ONLY.

7: A felony conviction can only register: after they have been cleared from: parole, probation, and their current charge.

8: A homeless person can vote if were they usually stay: they can use that place like: a park, a shelter, or a citizen sibling in good standing -- in which they reside in the county of the state they are registering in to vote.

These are the rights you have to vote and these are the rights that A.C.O.R.N. and Rock the Vote is using. One problem: Rock The Vote is an online company, and A.C.O.R.N. is a minority based community program: running under the cleanest rules in America, and just like Coaches! 101 they are under federal investiagtion. I get it when you are clean: you must be evil if you're not a Republican. When you are dirty, and create scandels -- like the financial crisis: you are good with the Republican base. Please be aware of your rights:

http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/intro/intro_b.htm

Open Letter to Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball - Mission Accomplished?

Brian M Ross — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 06:43:25 EDT

Chris:

Talk about old school spin, what the heck were you thinking dicing up Obama's "I agree..." clips to try and turn this into some point of weakness, when, even as the CBS sample poll figured out, it was a point of strength. Your hacks edited out the BUTs.... , and you missed the bigger point.

Do we want another George W. Bush who is digging his heels in and can see no common ground with people across the aisle? NO. True statesmanship, versus third-rate debate gamesmanship, is shown when you can...

But it's hard to say the name...

Nanci — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:12:46 EDT

I had an epiphany today to answer those who tell me Barack Obama's name is too hard to pronounce, and doesn't sound "American". Just say "Mr. President"! Rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?

The more I watch the events surrounding this election and the unfolding of the economy, the more certain I am that Senator Obama will be called just that in a matter of a few weeks. I cannot imagine how people cannot see the games-playing and blundering going on in the other party. I do see the level headedness of a true leader who puts the country's good ahead of his own ambitions and politics. Every day I am more convinced I have chosen the candidate that the country needs to handle the job of President at this most critical time in history. It is far to scary to imagine otherwise.

I also came up with another plan for the Bailout, not to be outdone by the Republican House. Mine involves getting a contribution of several million dollars from each of the executives making over $200,000 per year toward the Bailout. That should cover a fair chunk of it. Well, now you know why I am supporting a candidate and not running. I know Senator Obama can manage better ideas than that.

I am likely the last liberal-progressive on the planet to find out about MSNBC. I plead innocent because I simply do not watch television. Well, maybe two or three times a year. But I turned it on the other night, just because I was needing to chill mindlessly and it happened to be on MSNBC. Wow! They really can sock it to 'em. I'm giving away my age to say I wish Rowan & Martin's Laugh In and the Smothers' Brothers were part of television now. They could have a field day with this election. Guess we'll have to settle for David Letterman and Saturday Night Live.

Hey, I went to the opening nite of the Tri-Cities Americans Hockey Game. Whoa! I didn't know that many people even Lived in the Tri-Cities. I got there later than I was supposed to (sorry) but still managed to set up a table inside the entrance to the Toyota Center and register voters. A friend once told me, "until you ask you already have a No" so I asked to be let in through the main doors after everyone had arrived, and was told YES! Added an additional 12 voters to total 17!! Young people mostly, one had served 5 years in the military, several address changes, and a number of NEW young voters. Some who encouraged young spouses to register. Great fun. I only wish I could guarantee each for Obama, but I put my Mojo on them (not the witch) and that may work.

I had another great idea, but it's gone now, so guess we'll catch up later. Keep your eyes out for events coming up in your area, most will be fun, and sign up. Keep working for Obama! The stakes are high. The debate is tomorrow. Obama will be there, and I'll be watching. Encourage everyone you know to tune in. Should be instructive. Who's afraid of the Great Debate!!? Not Barack.

Vote for Change--REAL CHANGE!! Vote for OBAMA!!

link to my blog

ic1foru — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:04:28 EDT

economic shake-up = wake-up

http://ecoshakenwake.blogspot.com/

I keep this up daily please pass along ... news .. from a persons perspective ....

sample:

Monday, October 13, 2008 Unite Not Fight It is time to unite not fight. McCain / Palin want to fight for you...fight this fight that...fight fight fight....allot to be said about fighters. Angry by nature, combative in actions. I am convinced by what I see from their campaign rhetoric, actions, speeches. They want to fight....that's one good reason enough for me to support the Obama / Biden ticket. It is an easy read to listen to Obama / Biden talking about uniting, a responsibility to maintain civility through unity. After all this is the United States of America..I am sure you wont see this talked about much in the news.

One Campaign wants to Fight .... and One Campaign wants to Unite makes the choice allot easier for me ... Unite is just Right .....

fight: McCain / Palin =

fight·ing, fights
v.intr.
1.
a. To attempt to harm or gain power over an adversary by blows or with weapons.

2. To engage in a quarrel; argue: They are always fighting about money.
3. To strive vigorously and resolutely: fought against graft; fighting for her rights.
b. To wage or carry on (a battle).
c. To contend for, by or as if by combat:
. To contend with or struggle against: fight cancer; fight temptation.
5. To try to prevent the development or success of.
6. To make (one's way) by struggle or striving: fought my way to the top.
n.
1. A confrontation between opposing groups in which each attempts to harm or gain power over the other, as with bodily force or weapons.
2. A quarrel or conflict.
3. A struggle to achieve an objective. See Synonyms at conflict.
5. The power or inclination to fight; pugnacity:

Unite: Obama/ Biden =

v. u·nit·ed, u·nit·ing, u·nites
v.tr.
1. To bring together so as to form a whole.
2. To combine (people) in interest, attitude, or action: "the love that unites humanity" Germaine Greer.
3. To join (a couple) in marriage.
4. To cause to adhere.
5. To have or demonstrate in combination: She unites common sense with vision.
v.intr.
1. To become or seem to become joined, formed, or combined into a unit.
2. To join and act together common purpose or endeavor. See Synonyms at join.
3. To be or become bound together by adhesion.

More on the CNN Tune-Out

Brian M Ross — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 07:18:37 EDT

OPINION - If you haven't noticed, the "Best Poltical Team on Television" at CNN has been playing a kind of epic spin game to keep the campaign close. While CBS, NBC, ABC and MSNBC have been done what they always do, hunt down stories on Sarah Palin to tell us more about her, identify inconsistencies, fibs and outright lies in her stump speeches, and document the immense waffling of John McCain on every politically sensitive issue on the economy this week, CNN covers it very lightly, and is always careful not to step on the McCain camp's toes, even when they have to follow the press pack into a story.

While dozens of media outlets were lambasting McCain for saying that he would fire the SEC chairman one day, and then do a 180 on the next, news cycle or come up with a "Plan" for the bailout even though everyone knows that the Fed and the Treasury Secretary will have a "plan" long before McCain can do anything about the financial crisis, CNN reported the facts of the event, and kept its talking heads away from calling McCain on any of it.

Hands down THE BEST politcal news show on TV

katmarz — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:50:52 EDT

I have a new favorite news show on TV. It's the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC which airs nightly at 6 PM PT and repeats at 8 PM PT. Rachel Maddow is obviously partial to the Democratic cause and Barack Omaba, yet she is not afraid to call out both Democrats or Republicans on their prevarications, flip flops and erratic behavior. She always has the best guests like Bill Maher, Michael Isikoff from Newsweek, Pat Buchanan, Keith Olberman, as well as reporters from The Nation and the Washington Post, and various and sundry talking heads from Congress and the Media.

She also has a regular show on Air America which airs weeknights from 6 to 8 pm ET.

She holds a D.Phil in Political Science from Oxford University in Great Britain (yes, THAT Oxford University). It shows too, she is smart as a whip, funny, nervy and not afraid to ask the hard questions.

If you get the chance you should check out her show.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/

http://airamerica.com/maddow/

First thoughts: The Electoral Map 50 days out : from MSNBC: Turn on the Steam in (leaning Obama) IA, MN, NM OR, PA, WA (61 votes) Toss up: CO, MI, NV, NH, OH, VA, WI (78 votes)

Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor New Mexico Sun News — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 18:08:11 EDT

Posted: Monday, September 15, 2008 9:23 AM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: First Thoughts

From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carrie Dann

The map 50 days out:

The Palin bounce has erased Obama's lead in the national polls, and it has now cut into his electoral-vote advantage, according to NBC’s latest map. Obama holds a 233-227 edge here, down from his 228-200 advantage from last week.

The biggest changes: We moved Florida -- with its 27 electoral votes -- from Toss-up to Lean McCain, and New Mexico from Toss-up to Lean Obama. We also shifted Oregon and Washington from Likely Obama to Lean Obama, as well as Alaska, Georgia, North Dakota and South Dakota from Lean McCain to Likely McCain.

The good news for McCain is that the map looks better for him than at any point so far in this race, and many of those red states that looked like opportunities for Obama (AK, GA, IN) look to be longer shots for him. The bad news for McCain is that given the wave his campaign has been riding from the Palin bounce, is this as good as it gets?

If he isn’t leading in some states now, he might not ever lead in them. Bottom line: You'll know the map is starting to move in one direction or the other if either Pennsylvania or Florida moves back into Toss-up before Election Day.

VIDEO: NBC Political Director Chuck Todd discusses the Sarah Palin affect on the NBC electoral vote map.

Likely Obama: CA, CT, DE, DC, HI, IL, ME, MD, MA, NJ, NY, RI, VT (172 electoral votes)

Lean Obama: IA, MN, NM OR, PA, WA (61 votes)

Toss-up: CO, MI, NV, NH, OH, VA, WI (78 votes)

Lean McCain: FL, IN, MO, MT, NC (67 votes)

Likely McCain: AL, AK, AZ, AR, GA, ID, KS, KY, LA, MS, NE, ND, OK, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, WV, WY (160 votes)

Voter Caging

Donnaj — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:17:59 EDT

I recently heard about this term while listening to the Thom Hartmann show last week and was dumb-founded to hear about this tactic that was used during the 2004 Election, specifically in Ohio. The Republican Party is determined that they are going to stay in power and will stop at nothing to make sure they do. Please take a few minutes and click the links to the following stories concerning this issue.

http://www.truthout.org/article/nearly-600000-voters-subject-possible-caging-ohio

http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/10432334/was_the_2004_election_stolen

Of course you don't hear about any of this on any network news cycle and only one cable news broadcaster has spoken about it. That of course is the MSNBC champion of democracy, Keith Olbermann! Go Keith! This effort to disenfranchise voters is disgusting and the GOP have made the last two elections a blatant takeover of power and have turned this country down a path toward facism. No wait, maybe it's socialism, no it's fascism. Of for heaven's sake, I wish the administration would make up their mind.

And, on a side note, here is nice little story about the new GOP darling Sarah Palin and her undying love for wolves. NOT!

https://secure.defenders.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=c406_090308palinwolf&JServSessionIdr012=9efh7nked1.app23a

Republicans want China to own your SS Benefits!

Omar Dyer — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:41:08 EDT

Are we getting this foolish on matters that have nothing to do with this election, and forget about the outsanding facts. When John McCain gets into office he will take us to war, he will make you SS benefits open to the stock market where China can control your retirement funds. Just think about it would China allow America to own their retirement funds: NOT A CHANCE. John McCain is so out of touch, that we are fool by subtance, and not actuality. Here's you chance to make an important vote from and this will be a pettition sent to washington to stop them from placing SS benefits into the exchange market.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Y6XcMss8G2v8qjO3EEAXmQ_3d_3d

Thank You, Keith Olbermann, For Stating The Truth

Robin Z — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:26:18 EDT

A great Special Comment by MSNBC's Keith Olbermann this evening on the Republican Party's disrespectful misuse of Sept 11 as a campaign tactic, and John McCain's so-called promise that he knows how to get Bin Laden.

Go to MSNBC.COM to hear it, if you haven't done so already.

And thank you, Keith, for using your air time to state the TRUTH.

Special comment by Keith Olbermann on MSNBC tonight!

Paul Algreen — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:53:04 EDT

Tune in as Keith Olbermann drops knowledge regarding the latest developments in the 2008 election. My guess is he will have plenty to say regarding the way the media and America as a whole has responded to the introduction of Sarah Palin. 8PM EST.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/

New Source For Election Coverage / MSNBC's First Read

Robin Z — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:58:42 EDT

I just found a new source for daily up-to-date political news coverage, from the MSNBC research team. it's very detailed-oriented:

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/

Check it out.

"Bring Back Matthews & Olberman" Sign this Petition

Jacob Fran�ois — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:59:46 EDT

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/bringback?e

MSNBC Drops Olbermann & Matthews

Karen in St. Joseph, Missouri — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 00:59:52 EDT

The Washington Post is reporting that MSNBC is dropping Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews as news anchors. Here is the link:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/08/AR2008090800008.html?hpid=topnews

Both have been fair to our candidate, and now they are out.

Don't like the change? Email MSNBC President, Phil Griffen.

BARACK OBAMA FOR PRESIDENT!

LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD

Mary — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:49:12 EDT

As I sit and listen through the news, conventions etc. I find it hard to stomach FOX NEWS' cable station. I have never in my life heard such angry, hateful people deal with a candidate the way they deal with Barack Obama, his family and campaign.

I am overwhelmed by the fact that there are so many issues that his family have gone through that has not even been spoken of, yet this act of control and poise has not been portrayed to the viewers at all.

Barack is right because he doesn't fly off the handle. He doesn't play childish games of "copy cat" or "top this". He does what he does, he does it in excellence and it shows all throughout this campaign. Barack is forward thinker. He has come through several hard issues and still kept his pride and dignity no matter what the attack and they were ugly.

There is so much to say but I'd like to hear from you. What's on your mind?

Tune In! Dem. VP nominee Sen. Joe Biden on "Meet The Press" Sun. Sep. 7

E from New York, NY — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:18:36 EDT

Tune In! Dem. VP nominee Senator Joe Biden on MSNBC's "Meet The Press"
this Sunday, September 7.

In his first Sunday morning interview since accepting the Democratic
Party's nomination for Vice President, Sen. Joe Biden goes one-on-one
with Tom Brokaw -- live from Wilmington, Delaware.

"Meet the Press" airs Sundays in most places across the U.S. from 9-10
a.m. ET on the NBC-TV network, and from 10:30-11:30 a.m. ET in New
York and Washington.

The show re-airs at 6 p.m. ET Sundays and 2 a.m. ET Mondays on MSNBC
on cable. To check the time in your area, visit this MSNBC Web site:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3080248/

Pick a side, any side!

deliziosa: 8 is Enough — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:53:48 EDT

Am I the only who has been feeling like the coverage from the media is becoming more and more... biased? I don't want to be like those whiney Republicans who claim that "to question = to attack", but I must say, most of us Obama supporters have given the so called "liberal" media the benefit of the doubt when they have been hard on Obama over the months. Though they seem to obsess over every little thing done by the Obama campaign, especially the gaffes. I know for myself I thought, well, he is relatively new on the scene, maybe that's why they spend their every waking coverage dissecting his speeches & requesting "more substance", investigating relatives abroad, playing clips of poorly chosen words over and over again, looking at any poll that suggests a Hillary gap, a Working Class gap, a Women gap, a blue gap, or a red gap.

I, for the most part, gave them the benefit of the doubt. John McCain has of course been in the senate for 26 years trying to "shake up Washington" ( i kid, i kid), so maybe they are just trying to give the viewers balance. Fast foward three to four days ago...

McCain announces a vice president whom no one in the media, "the google", not even spokespersons in the McCain camp know anything about. First the media begins by giving us campaign talking points. She's a reformer, a fresh face, a maverick, they said... examples? No.

How to handle Sarah Palin

Laura — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:15:00 EDT

Dear Blog Buddies,

Sarah Palin gave a very effective political speech last night and she must have been under enormous pressure. She has undoubtedly added alot of heat to this campaign.

Steady now!

Steady!

A cool hand and a strong response is what is called for here.

Instead of aggression, meanness, sarcasm and distortion offer ASSERTION, STRAIGHT TALK, CLARITY and POSITIVITY.

Serve to unite people by NOT descending to the TACTICS (YES TACTICS!) of aggression, meanness, sarcasm, and distortion. Do not be lured into this! That's the purpose of the tactic, to push you off balance and stray from your message and what you stand for.

Stand for UNITY.

Talk about the issues. Reach out. Open conversations.

Be very clear about your stance and the DATA that supports your case.

BE STRONG. BE FIRM.

BE ASSERTIVE not aggressive, BE POSITIVE not mean and negative, OFFER STRAIGHT TALK not sarcasm and cynicism, BE CLEAR on facts and data, don't overstate your case and do not distort the facts.

OFFER CONTRAST.

"Battles are won by slaughter and maneuver. The greater the general, the more he contributes in maneuver, the less he demands in slaughter."

Winston Churchill

Maneuver, my friends, do not slaughter!!

Stay cool!

Laura

www.yourpotentialpower.com

MSNBC POLL on Palin's speech

MatthewP — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:02:54 EDT

Was VP pick Sarah Palin's speech effective in introducing herself and boosting John McCain's campaign? Log on to msnbc.msn.com to participate in the poll.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26536487/

Please pass this on!

Thanks,

Matthew

Joe Lieberman

Laura — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 13:56:28 EDT

Dear Blog Buddies,

Joe Lieberman is a registered democrat.

Joe Lieberman is an American.

Reach out to him and let him know he is always welcome back into the fold. Promote where you stand together. Promote an individuals liberty to choose. Promote courage. Promote ways to reach across the aisle. Promote unity and connection. Promote peace.

Stay cool, don't get angry and all riled up, it does not serve your purpose!

Please, do not be swayed by the turbulent storms of politics. Be sure of what you stand for and then shout it from the rooftops. Please, do not turn to vitriolic personal attacks.

Don't take Joe Lieberman's choices personally.

Barack is asking us all to believe in change. We must be the change.

Please consider your responses and speak of what you stand for not what you stand against.

"We will never know how much just a simple smile will do."

MOTHER TERESA

Stay cool!

Laura XXX

www.yourpotentialpower.com

John McCain playing the American Voters!

Omar Dyer — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:14:01 EDT

John McCain Ad!

If I ran an ad on John McCain it would go just like this:

Please don’t get fooled by John McCain stating that his VP pick was vetted like any other candidate or the like in the Democratic Party.

John McCain wants off-shore drilling, and war – plus cut taxes. How are they going to pay for those ideas: by going to war and borrowing money from China.

Sarah Palin wants to implant the windfall profits tax, and end the war. How will she get her way in John McCain’s plans? She won’t! Sarah Palin will not have a say in McCain’s government, she will be placed as a photo opt to get voters to vote for him.

Why was Sarah Palin picked over Kay Hutchinson, Elizabeth Dole, Judy Martz. Linda Lingle, Olene Smith-Walker, M. Jodi Rell – all of those that supported him during the primaries.

John McCain pick Sarah Palin because she’s young – inexperienced, and is a distraction on McCain’s true identity of pandering politics. Just like Bush, McCain will blame someone else. He had 2 months before Barack Obama became the DNL and he comes with a one-day pick and vetting of Sarah Palin. McCain was just looking for the first available Republican woman that was young enough to swift vote women voters. I am a male and if I am the only one that sees what he has done – it’s a shame on women’s right, and how had some males have actually fought for women’s rights.

That’s the real John McCain: Are you ready for Change or are you tired of the same.

GOP Pundits mock Palin

Scott — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 23:41:37 EDT

This is an excerpt from my DailyKos Diary. I'm gonna use this to feed traffic there, please. My aim is to keep it recommended, so as many people see it as possible and also so the embedded video goes viral. It is essentially Joe Scarborough and Pat Buchanon, openly mocking Sarah Palin's qualifications for VP saying, "That... will... not... work." They are just laughing at her.

Problem, just moments later, Palin is announced and within hours, Buchanon is making the rounds of the talking heads show to crow about what a "brilliant" pick this is. It's a blatant look at the GOP message machine, how quickly they change their tunes.

This is perfect antithesis to the GOP talking points that have obviously made the rounds in the last few days.

I would recommend you forward this to everyone. If they are right-leaning, trying being a little stealthy, use a subject line like "Buchanon (or Scarborough) on Palin" since they're likely to watch it then.

Please click on my Kos blog and recommend if you have a sign in. Please click the "Digg" link too.

The video is here

Klobuchar: Palin Reminds Her Of Bush, No Different Than McCain

Xavier Lopez-Ayala — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 13:22:46 EDT

Senator Amy Klobuchar was on MSNBC this morning responding to John McCain's choice of Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

The bottom line is: she didn't indicate that she would be any different than John McCain. She talked about being a maverick, but John McCain voted 90% with George Bush.... We want to put a team in place like Barack Obama and Joe Biden who are really going to fight for the middle class instead of a continuation of the same.

Check out the video of Senator Klobuchar below:

Sarah Palin will join George Bush and John McCain in St. Paul next week at the Republican National Convention. If you haven't already, CLICK HERE to sign up to doorknock in your neighborhood during the RNC.

From New Mexico Wishing I was In Denver

Erin Oliver — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 00:36:48 EDT

Watching the DNC made me wish that I was able to make it to Denver. I am so proud and hopeful of the sort of people that are working with this campaign. I have to say that Joe Biden is an amazing man and I have so much respect for Barack Obama for choosing such an ethical, stand up, salt of the earth type of man and I have no doubt he will be a great vice president. Beau Biden's speech made me cry which I have a lot in the last three days. John Kerry was great too I wish they had featured him more. And big props to Barack for calling invesco field, mile high stadium. End corporate Terrorism!

I was unable to make it to Denver because I have had to borrow from my 401k to pay my bills this month. I was already -500 in my bank account. I am on the verge of getting my water shut off my fiance is going to have to go get a payday loan so he can get his son a birthday present. I feel horrible about it but I am on disability for a work accident that my corporate job denied me workers comp for. I have had to file suit in court to try to recover from the devistation this caused financially. I am now also having to file for social security disability. State won't give me medicad or any assistance until Verizon verifies that I am on disability so I am the closest I have ever been to being homeless. At 28, growing up with parents who were very successful in acheiving the "American Dream" I sit, and I feel sorry for myself sometimes about this precarious situation I am in. But I think about my parents being first generation college graduates getting scholorships via athletics lifting themselves out of dire poverty in Texas and moving on to graduate school where they became VERY successful and powerful people in new mexico: one a lawyer and the other became well now she is the Deputy Secretary of Prison reform and reentry. I envy their success. I guess I have to learn things the hard way. Motherhood at 17 to a little boy who is now in 4th grade with a 7th grade reading level and in a gifted program. Of all that I sacrifice- I will sacrifice all I have for him. I will figure out a way to pay for the water, and my books for school next week--Sadly it is asking my parents for help which at 28 I didn't want to ever do.

Anyway, I donated to Barack despite financial issues with my 401k money because that's my future and I believe that this election is where my future lies. Honestly if he doesn't win, it is so bad here that once my degree is finished I am going to try to get sponsored for citizenship to the EU, France specifically because of my medical issues and I used to be fluent in french. This election is just that important to me. These promises are just that important to me.

In 1992 Bill Clinton had a rally in albuquerque at 3 am-the morning of the election. I was in 7th grade at Sandia Prep School at the time. My mom woke me up and took me in the cold cold of November early morning waiting for him. When he arrived he electrified the sleep deprived followers of the Clintons. Afterwards my mom and I went to the closest indoor place to find coffee and she and I talked about politics for about 2 hours. That night made me more aware and I can really think back to that time as to when I got into loving politics more than any poli sci class that I have taken. We even named our two cocker spaniels puppies Tipper and Hillary! Bill Clinton has been somebody I have admired my whole adult life and although I have supported and voted for Barack because of the inspiration I got from reading the Audacity of Hope. I am really pleased to see that there was so much of the convention tuned to Hillary. She had 18 million votes! She deserves the accolades that she has received. Bill Clinton, getting the 3.5 minute standing ovation pleased me as well. He said some things he shouldn't during the campaign but he was a husband speaking for his wife who was fighting a hard fight. I would have been disappointed if he hadn't reacted emotionally.

I am very excited to listen to Al Gore and hear Barack's speech. I have met Al Gore at a fundraiser shortly after he won (but lost) the election with Bill Richardson. He is such a funny guy.

Well I'm hopping around subjects. Today was a great day though. I am going to give as much as I can to make sure that Obama is elected.

Seriously though? Why would anybody vote for Mccain? c'mon he's 72 years old and he has a growth growing out of his face. You know he's not the same senator he used to be. I mean granted he's a tough guy but I think if you have to be at least 35 to be president there should be a cap on that as well. What if dementia sets in or alzheimers? Who his VP nod goes to is probably the most important thing in his whole campaign. But I wont be watching the republican convention-- it almost seems like a new standard has been set in women in politics this year and the sexism and mysoginy that oozes from certain Republican's angry and sick. Speaking of sick I have been watching MSNBC and I cannot STAND Pat Buchanan and the way he pronounces the word "woman" it really is very offensive in my opinion.

Well goodnight Barack Land! what a great convention you all are lucky if you got to go!

xoxo

Erin

Convention Day 1

Renee — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 23:27:17 EDT

Hello, Denver!

Four years ago we watched a nearly unknown junior senator from Illinois give a keynote speech for Sen. John Kerry's campaign. From that moment, many people knew that we would be hearing a lot from him.

How could we have known we'd ever get to this point?

John McCain's Secret Line of Attack

Darrick — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:47:50 EDT

John McCain is going to select Sen. Joe Lieberman (I) CT as his Vice-Presidential running mate. There are two reason for this selection. It display's McCain's bi-partisanship muscle. The second reason requires some set up. First, John McCain's been dropping Judeo-Christian like it's hot lately. He's planning to paint Sen. Obama as a Muslim v. the Christian and the Jew. Secondly, Mike Huckabee is dispatched to Israel to rally the troops. That is the master plan and it must be defeated now.

Rachel Maddow Replacing Dan Abrams On MSNBC Effective Immediately

Tanya — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:43:37 EDT

Rachel Maddow will replace Dan Abrams as host of the 9PM hour on MSNBC, the New York Times' Bill Carter reports. Just last month in a Times article by Jacques Steinberg, MSNBC president Phil Griffin declared Maddow "at the top" of a "very short list" for those who should have their own show, though at the time he said he "[didn't] know when" that would be. As Carter reports, the final stretch of the 2008 election season will be Maddow's debut as the host of her own MSNBC show:

MSM's Selective Focus - as a Sign of Bias

ZapDuff — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 23:13:08 EDT

Early today, Senator McCain summoned television crews.. so he could make a speech on his position regarding the deadly crisis between Russia and Georgia. The effort was to show his expertise when it comes to international relations. The first thing I noticed, was how the wrinkly white haired dude (as referred to by Paris Hilton) pronounced the name of the Georgian President... three different ways... and ALL of them badly wrong.

Even if you give him a pass on a tough to spell name like Mikheil Saakashvili.. it's impossible to ignore three parts of his speech were lifted from Wikipedia. Even though news of this became public knowledge a little after noon, neither Fox (as expected) nor CNN bothered to mention the transgression... preferring to continue their preoccupation with the Edward's indiscretion.

Hiding Racism In "Colorful & Weird" Words

ZapDuff — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 11:14:53 EDT

I think MSNBC did huge disservice to American voters the other day. Race for the White House host, David Gregory dedicated much of his hour to investigating, "Is Obama Weird?" That lead to more than a few postings to the Obama blogs and listservs.

Lisa Owen wrote:

Race for the White House, MSNBC, Tuesday, August 5th...

Conservative talk show host Michael Graham, quote, "...I've met all people from all kinds of strange and colorful backgrounds, and I can honestly say I don't know anyone like Barack Obama."

Hello?!?!?!? THIS is one of the a-clowns Barack is talking about when he refers to, "Those Guys.." then gets attacked by the McCrap Campaign for "playing the race card."

MSNBC is now "Making" news

stillonline — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 00:40:14 EDT

To: david.gregory@nbcuni.com Cc: phil.griffin@nbc.com ; steve.capus@nbc.com ; jeff.zucker@nbcuni.com

Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2008 9:25 PMSubject: MSNBC is now "Making" news

MSNBC is now "Making" it's own news. Is it the loss of Tim Russert? Or is it the pervasive influence of Pat Buchanan? No matter what the time of day, flip on MSNBC and there sits Buchanan and Barnicle like the two old men in the balcony on Sesame Street, only lethal. Barnicle has the perfect face for radio. Watching him speak is like watching someone eating a lemon. His loaded language and obvious dislike for Senator Obama pour out of his puckered lips. His descriptions of Obama are always loaded and demeaning. Buchanan, besides his neo-Nazi leanings and his constant plugs for his latest book about how we shouldn't have fought the Nazi's occupation of Europe, is up to his Nixon era tricks. He is the single best "spinner" on the Republican attack machine.  MSNBC gives his propaganda a free reign all day long. Only when Rachel Maddow shows up does anyone challenge his misrepresentations or lies.  But she is a lonely soldier.

As an example, on the same day when NBC has just turned three more states blue on the electoral map - basically predicting an win for Obama - what's the storyline for most of the MSNBC shows? The storyline is "Why can't Obama win. Why is he losing the white, women, poor working, whatever vote." All of which has been proven wrong with recent surveys that show he in fact IS winning those votes. He's winning OHIO. But if all you listen to are the talking head at MSNBC, you wouldn't know that.

When will you tell the truth about John McCain? Regardless of how charming he is or how many good jokes he tells - when will you turn a critical eye on his campaign?   His elitist lifestyle? His racist, sexist history? His complete surrender to Bush? His fitness, not to be an interesting candidate, a good buddy, but to hold the office of president? At his age, given his health, his temper and his loyalty to Bush?

MSNBC seems determined to create a narrative, regardless of it's validity. For an industry that was complacent in allowing this president to send us to war(the consequences of which will be measured in more that blood and billions) you still don't seem to remember how vital a free press is to the survival of our democracy.  You are not supposed to create news, regardless of what that does to your ratings.

What you do matters. Where would we be if the MSM had not spent so much time reporting that Al Gore was boring? "W' was a whole lot more fun. So what if he was a drunk and coke addict and not real smart. What you do matters and we will all pay the price for your short sightedness.

I was a solid MSNBC viewer. I have found that I miss much of the real news watching MSNBC. I also can't stand more that a few minutes of Buchanan a decade. His constant presence is ominous. sharon

Is Chucky T. getting vetted?

Obamanizer — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:02:27 EDT

I only heard about it but didn't see it yesterday that Chuck Todd got a full one hour on MSNBC yesterday afternoon. Could it be that they're testing the waters for him to become the next "Meet the Press" host?

Sure enough he seems to show the same sports like fanatism and enthusiasm as Tim Russert had about the politics game (whitout the obvious partisan approach Olberman has).

Go Chucky, go!

Obama Called a Liar by MSNBC Pundit

Niteskolar — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:27:50 EDT

The MSNBC pundit just asked Democratic strategist Chris Kofinis if Obama was a liar. Unbelievable.

Re: Meet The Press

Joanne Urish — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 10:50:03 EDT

I watched Meet The Press this morning and, WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT. I know that Tim will be missed and cannot be replaced, but certainly there is someone who could do better. I never realized, until now, what it means to be truly objective and fair. Those two statements, "objective and fair", describe the way Tim operated as the Moderator of Meet The Press, but have gotten lost with Tom Brokaw as the Moderator.

Certainly Chris Matthews, Chucky T. or Keith O. (all of MSNBC) would have been a better choice. This is my second time watching the show without Tim, and am awfully afraid it may be my last. I almost changed channels the second time Tom interrupted John Kerry (especially after he let Joe Leiberman go on and on and on and on....) Perhaps Tom should join the crowd at Fox News.

I would suggest Andrea Mitchel to be Moderator, but don't think she is strong enough. But anybody would be better than Tom Brokaw...........

Joanne/Go Barack Go/Obama in the Heart

Barack's shift on Offshore drilling - how he can still seize this issue

John from Hawthorne, CA — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:28:24 EDT

Now that Barack Obama position on offshore drilling is more flexible there are many that disagree with this shift. Rachael Maddow an MSNBC political analyst and a strong defender of Barack Obama against conservative analyst on a daily basis called this shift idiotic. I think she is wrong and I think in the immediate short term it was wise to do considering the majority of the american public is in agreement with the idea of offshore drilling. Although the majority of the american public are not fully aware (in my opinion) that offshore drilling is environmentally unsafe and will take years before anything positive happen at the gas pump, their desperation for relief has led the majority to believe that this is the solution.

After the shift by Barack Obama what next? I believe it is now time for Barack Obama to seize this issue with a new approach and a new plan in addition to what he has already proposed. A plan that is simple and easy, and offers immediate and realistic relief at the gas pump right away. It is also a plan that will put the Mccain camp on the defensive and force them to respond to an issue that Obama has put forward. If Obama fails to do this then Mccain will have won on this issue of who best can lower prices at the gas pump.

So what is this plan? Barack Obama need to speak daily this week proposing and pushing the need to release millions of barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve. This is the plan and a new approach to solving the problems that ordinary americans are faced with because of the high price of oil. This needs to become Barack's issue! An issue that will immediately help families and an issue Mccain, the republicans, the oil industry, and the white house will certainly disagree with. This will put them all on the defensive and change the discussion from offshore drilling which is a risky long term approach, to releasing oil right away which provides practical short term relief.

If George Bush could deplete the budget surplus he received from the Bill Clinton Presidency to finance an illegal and unjust war why can't we use some of the oil in the strategic petroleum reserve to help bring relief to american families and citizens? I have posted below a well thought out position on the need to release oil.

By Daniel J. Weiss | July 14, 2008

President George W. Bush plans to announce today that he will lift the executive moratorium on oil drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf, which was first established by his father, President George H.W. Bush, in 1990. The current president has argued that the United States should be “drilling for more oil here in America to take the pressure off of gasoline prices.” The congressional moratorium on OCS drilling—first signed into law by President Ronald Reagan—remains in effect, but must be renewed annually.

A Department of Energy analysis determined that opening the OCS to offshore drilling “would not have a significant impact on domestic crude oil and natural gas production or prices before 2030.”

A much faster, more effective action to reduce oil prices would to sell a half million barrels of oil per day from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to increase supply, reduce prices, and burst the “speculative bubble” that leads speculators to buy oil futures based on the assumption that supply will remain fixed and prices will escalate.

On July 8, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi wrote President George Bush to urge him to “draw down a small portion of the oil held in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in order to expand available supplies and help reduce the record prices.”

The White House predictably rejected this common sense suggestion that would lower oil prices—and oil industry profits. White House spokesperson Tony Fratto said that the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, “is not there to try to market-time and to try to manipulate prices in the market.” Yet he did confusingly acknowledge that, “as long as we keep the sources of oil off the market, we’re not going to see increases in supply…if you don’t increase supply and you only increase demand, prices are going to rise.”

There are many reasons that selling a small amount of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is our best short-term option for lowering oil prices. Here are eight.

1. Record oil prices have hurt American families Ordinary families are struggling with record high energy prices. Many families’ gas costs have increased by hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year. The price of home heating oil has doubled in the past year. And the Department of Energy predicts that average electricity prices will increase by 5 percent this year, and go up 9 percent in 2009.

A recent Center for American Progress analysis found that families are spending an average of 4 percent of their after-tax income on gasoline—the highest proportion in 25 years. Rural and low-income households are hurt even more because they spend an even greater proportion of their post-tax income on gasoline.

2. There is a lot of oil in the reserve The United States sits on 706 million barrels of oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is 98 percent full. It is “the largest stockpile of government-owned emergency crude oil in the world.” It was created in the wake of the 1973-74 oil embargo to prevent future supply disruptions from wrecking our economy. Although there is not currently a supply disruption, the record oil prices are nonetheless wreaking havoc on our economy and families. This situation warrants using reserve oil to help alleviate the pain of record prices.

3. Reserve oil can get to the market fast Under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, “decisions to withdraw crude oil from the SPR are made by the President…SPR oil would be distributed by competitive sale.” President Bush agreed to sell up to 30 million barrels after Hurricane Katrina. The on-line sale of this oil ended September 9, 2005, and the first oil was delivered to oil companies for refining on September 26. More significantly, it reduced oil prices in a day (see #4).

President Bush and many conservative congressional leaders want to drill for oil in the protected Outer Continental Shelf to address price and supply problems. Yet this “solution” would take over a decade to produce any results. As noted above, the Department of Energy says that drilling in the OCS will have no impact until 2030—a generation from now.”

4. Reserve oil would significantly increase worldwide supplies The International Energy Agency believes that “these abnormally high prices are largely explained by fundamentals. Supply growth so far this year has been poor and higher prices are needed to choke off demand to balance the market.” The IEA predicts that worldwide oil demand will average 86.8 million barrels per day in 2008, while oil supply was 86.6 million barrels per day in May 2008. “OPEC countries are running close to flat out” to keep up with demand. Adding a half million barrels to the daily market would be a significant addition to the worldwide supply of 86.6 million barrels.

To put this increase in perspective, compare it to President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney’s efforts to beg Saudi Arabia to increase production. Eventually, the Saudis agreed to increase production to 9.7 million barrels per day, a total increase of 600,000 barrels per day since March 2008. Selling a half million barrels per day from the SPR would nearly double this production increase, and this additional SPR oil would only be sold in the United States. This will ease competition for the world oil supply, which should reduce prices.

5. Past reserve releases lowered oil prices In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, oil markets were roiled due to some damage to oil rigs and infrastructure. On September 1, 2005, the spot price for oil was $69 per barrel—up 10 percent from two weeks before. President Bush announced the impending release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve the next day. Oil closed at $66.91—a 3 percent decrease. On October 10, a month after the oil sales closed, the spot price was $60.74, a 12 percent drop from September 1. Oil averaged $62 in October, $58 in November, and $59 in December.

On January 16, 1991, on the eve of the first Gulf War, President George H.W. Bush announced that he would sell 34 million barrels from the Reserve to “minimize world oil market disruptions.” That day oil sold for $32 per barrel. The day after the announcement, the price dropped to $21 per barrel. Oil remained in the $20 per barrel range during and after the war. The Department of Energy concluded that the “partial drawdown…help[ed] restore stability to world oil markets during the Persian Gulf War.”

6. There is plenty of oil in the reserve to withstand a supply disruption The SPR has more oil than ever before—706 million barrels, which is 98 percent capacity. Selling 50 million barrels over 100 days would still leave it filled to over 90 percent capacity. This is enough oil to cope with a complete foreign supply disruption for nearly two months, assuming zero reduction in demand in the wake of such a catastrophe.

Is such a supply disruption likely? No. There has never been a complete supply disruption. The last major disruption occurred nearly 30 years ago during the Iranian revolution. What’s more, the United States gets its 13.4 million barrels of oil imported daily from a diverse array of producers, including Canada (18 percent of imports), Mexico (11 percent), Saudi Arabia (11 percent), Venezuela (10 percent), and Nigeria (8 percent). This means that even if we are suddenly unable to import oil from one country, it will not affect the availability of imports from other nations, thought it could affect price.

7. Selling SPR oil would yield significant funds to help families cope with high energy prices Selling 50 million barrels of oil at today’s prices would produce over $7 billion. Even if the oil price was cut by 40 percent to $100 per barrel, selling this amount of SPR oil would still raise $5 billion. These funds could help families cope with high energy prices via the home weatherization program, the Low Income Heating and Electricity Payment program, or via direct rebates. Or these funds could promote research, development, and deployment of energy-efficiency technologies that would reduce consumption, energy bills, and global warming pollution.

8. Putting SPR oil on the market could help burst the speculative bubble Various government and private energy experts believe that speculators account for one-third or more of all oil trades, and have increased the price of oil by anywhere from $10 to $30 per barrel. Since January 2, oil prices increased from $100 to $145 per barrel. This steady ascent in price makes it tempting for speculators to buy oil futures as a safe bet, particularly given that record prices have not led to more supply. Putting some SPR oil on the market in one sudden spurt could burst the speculative bubble. Investors and speculators in oil contracts could no longer assume that oil supplies will remain stagnant even as prices rise. When institutional investors and oil traders sense that the supply and price of oil might go in different directions, all bets are off. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2008/07/eight_reasons_spr.html

Thanks for reading my blog

JohnR

The John McCain Campaign Show - Cartoons and Commentary

Robert M. Blevins — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 05:44:18 EDT

I think it's true that Americans are sometimes slow to react to the times. In both world wars, we were latecomers but when we did enter, we acted decisively. Today, America is in real trouble with problems that have gone unaddressed for too long.

The legacy of the Bush Administration is going to be felt for a long time, and America is now gauging the measure of two men who promise to lead us out of the nightmare of the last eight years. It is a daunting task, and there are questions about both these men. One promises change, the other a continuation of what has gone before with a few reservations. One offers a positive message, the other a negative one based on fear.

America has reached a crossroads, and in less than a hundred days we will have to come together as a nation and decide who will lead us into the 21st century and away from the damage caused by the Bush Administration. It will not be an easy task for whomever gets the job at 1600 Pennsylvania.

Rick Davis, bozo extraordinaire

squarevince — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 19:28:38 EDT

I'm not sure how people like Rick Davis get important jobs like running a presidential campaign. This guy gives Bill O-Reilly a run for his money. Both in terms of effortlessly spouting twisted garbage in response to every question, and his blatant ignorance of the facts. Too bad he wasn't actually in the MSNBC studio, I would have liked to see him try to physically assault Andrea Mitchell and get bodychecked by some security guys. Maybe Tased. That would have been fun. ha ha ha.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/25951733#25951733

MSNBC First Read with Chuck Todd

Beth from ColoradObama — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:14:38 EDT

More from Chuck Todd with NBC/MSNBC. No one can ever fill Tim Russert's shoes, but many say Chuck has the same approach to dissecting politics much like Tim.

Media Accountability: Letter to Mark Halperin, Time

RhOrdway — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:47:45 EDT

Dear Mr. Halperin,

Have you read the latest study by George Mason University's Center for Media and Public Affairs? The link is provided at the end of this for your convenience.

The study results oppose the views that you expressed on MSNBC. In fact, the study shows that ABC, NBC and CBS have been tougher on Obama than on John McCain during the general election campaign. Statements about Obama were 72% negative, compared with 57% for McCain.

Further, the study indicates that much of Senator John McCain's confusion on issues and mistaken facts have gone unreported by the media. Examples of this selective reporting includes Senator McCain calling Social Security a "disgrace", referencing Czechoslovakia as a country in existence and discussing the "Iraq-Pakistan border" another obvious error.

In my opinion, these are examples of "imbalanced" and "unfair" coverage. I believe continuing to screen out factual reporting about Senator McCain's confusion and errors is a true disservice to the general election.

I respectfully ask you to consider reading the study. With facts in hand, it should illuminate to you that inaccurately reporting about a false pro-Obama media slant feeds this right-wing belief and both your readers and the general election deserve better.

Sincerely,

Rhonda Ordway

Portland, Oregon

"In study, evidence of liberal-bias bias," Los Angeles Times, July 27, 2008

http://tinyurl.com/6lbhjw

From MSNBC First Read

Beth from ColoradObama — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:48:57 EDT

Political Polling: consider your sources...

Sealing the Deal (Stay Tuned)

Dr. Mark Elrod — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:22:31 EDT

Most mornings, I begin my day with "Morning Joe" as in Joe Scarborough on MSNBC.

The most endearing features of "Morning Joe" are "News You Can't Use", news updates from Mika Brzezinski and frequent visits from Pat Buchanan who normally rises from his cot in a janitor's closet at NBC studios around sunrise and immediately starts railing on camera about Barack Obama's lack of support among blue collar Irish Catholics.

Joe usually does a good job of getting my dander up but by the end of my morning bike ride, my dander is right back were it ought to be.

Scarboriugh is a former Florida ("Redneck Riviera") congressman and lapsed Southern Baptist who claims to know the evangelical mind. One of his favorite lines of attack is to skip all the "liberal" ad hominems and immediately accuse someone (usually Mika) of being a Marxist.

As such, he likes guests who are either former congressmen, Washington insiders, Hollywood celebrities, and Mike Huckabee. I've always suspected that Scarborough's support for Huckabee is a form of Baptist penitence for his suggestion that Fred Thompson's wife was a stripper.

And, like President Bush and Senator McCain, he likes to tout his lack of intellectualism when it's obvious a guest knows more about a problem than he does. Scarborough generally likes to get these people on camera as quickly as possible.

I like MSNBC but I think "Morning Joe" is a prime example of everything that's wrong with the mainstream media as it reports and discusses presidential campaigns. Namely, that it's crucial for the MSM to make the process as entertaining as possible.

The latest meme is that in spite of the tremendous publicity and positive reception given to Barack Obama, Scarborough, Buchanan and company have continued to beat the dead horse that Obama has failed to "seal the deal."

Well...

We are still 99 days from an election that most people really don't start paying attention to until after Labor Day.
John McCain has had almost two decades to "seal the deal" and he's trailing in almost every national poll. If anybody has failed to "seal the deal" it's Senator McCain.
Zeroing in on one national poll (Gallup) at odds with almost every poll taken up to this point is probably a bad idea. At least wait until the next national poll comes out tomorrow morning before declaring that Barack Obama's momentum has stalled.
More down-ballot candidates are actively seeking the support of Barack Obama in their own races than are seeking the support of either John McCain or George Bush. A few weeks ago, GOP Senate leaders told members to vote anyway they wanted on legislation if they thought it would mean winning reelection. That fact alone should indicate that the 2008 election is not going to be a squeaker.
Barack Obama now has a sizable lead in Pennsylvania and in several other battleground states that should never be in play for an African-American with a funny name who is frequently identified as "most liberal in Congress."
Foreign policy, the single greatest advantage that Senator McCain has over Barack Obama, was neutralized somewhat by Obama's trip to Europe and the Middle East and the fact that Senator McCain has all the subtlety of a hydrogen bomb when it comes to actual diplomacy. Telling the Russians that he wants them out of the G-8 has already alienated his administration from a nation we need to work with rather than against in the coming years.
Every Electoral College projection map I can find shows that Obama may have already "sealed the deal" with respect to how many electors he's going to need on November 4.

It's easy to sit back and wonder why with all of the gaffes and missteps by John McCain in the last few weeks and the domestic and foreign policy failures of the incumbent party, why Obama is not ahead by 15 points in every poll, three months before the election.

The reason is pretty simple (imho): Voters are still getting to know Obama, particularly in middle America. They seem to know John McCain and he's already hit his ceiling with respect to national polls while Obama hasn't.

But stayed tuned. I suspect when Obama does get to that 15 percent lead in national polls that Joe & Co. will attribute it to John McCain's poor performance or just set the bar a little higher for Senator Obama.

Next Oil Company Ad Campaign

Jerod Poore — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EDT

I'm registered with Harris polling as a representative member of a target demographic for all of those ~~propaganda pieces~~ informative advertisements that sponsor Countdown and other news programming on MSNBC and the other cable news channels. Like the one that touts 2/3rds of our oil and natural gas coming from North America. Or the one about if you own a mutual fund you own an oil and/or natural gas company. You can also blame me for those ads running incessantly on cable news (that and the ad rates are cheap).

They key factor in all of the statistics they present is lumping natural gas in with oil.

So I get contacted whenever they're ready to create another ad.

The selection process for those being polled includes the typical demographic questions: age, gender, where I live and how much money I make. Then they get into politics. Liberal vs. Conservative vs. Middle-of-the-Road (their terminology), did I vote in 2004 (I love the "I don't know" answer), and 20 or so questions on how politically active I am. Everything from writing letters to the editor to going to school board meetings and political rallies to running for office.

And my favorites, how informed I am on energy issues and much I like the oil and natural gas companies, on a scale of 1-100. I consider myself reasonably informed. Because natural gas companies are involved I give them a 25. If it were oil alone I'd give them a 10. Mainly because I don't have anything against most of the people who work in the industries.

What's likely to be coming soon: ads dealing with how the oil and natural gas companies are involved in helping you carpool and do other things to conserve oil and natural gas. Plus they are being ever so involved in designing cars that are more fuel efficient. Because everyone is worried about what is going on in the Middle East. Not that they ask about Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola or Venezuela. Or the commodities traders who know about what is going on in those countries and freak out. Or even the extended hurricane season and strengths of the storms which will, on average, cause more interruptions in production of both oil and natural gas in the Gulf of Mexico.

Results of the polling so far:

86% are worried about US fuel consumption.

A whopping 21% carpool. Don't look at me, I live near the crossroads of No and Where and leave my house once a week at the most. I do give a neighbor a ride or pick something up for them so they don't have to make a drive (as do most people around here), and I'll pick up a hitchhiker every once in awhile, but I don't think that counts.

91% are doing stuff to conserve fuel other than carpooling.

For 92% fuel efficiency is going to be a major influence on their next purchase of a new vehicle. Which was true the last time their was a big spike in gas prices. Once prices leveled off and the economy picked up it was SUV city for all of those freaking soccer moms.

Hillary Clinton supporters trying to rig MSNBC poll

Philip from Columbia, MD — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 21:35:11 EDT

From Obama and anyone but Hillary in 2008

Another blog that is demanding Barack choose Hillary is encouraging Hillary supporters to flood MSNBC's online Veepstakes poll.

MSNBC is doing an online poll. The MSNBC poll closes at noon on Monday -- we have until then to help Hillary win it. You have closed the gap from 20 points to 8 points. Please take a moment to forward this link to every Hillary supporter and friend you know and ask them to take 30 seconds to vote for Hillary. MSNBC will spend all next week talking about who wins this contest -- let's make sure its Hillary.
MSNBC VP Poll

To vote: after the page loads click the small arrow next to Hillary's name and then press submit towards the bottom right hand side.

These folks are taking a cue from Hillary's primary campaign, say or do anything to win!

MSNBC's Veepstakes poll is fashioned after tournament where potential VP nominees are paired up and participants are asked to choose between them. The last two are Senator Joe Biden and Hillary. Biden isn't necessarily my first choice but he would be a fine VP for Barack and is infinitely better than Hillary. I have voted for Biden and encourage others to do so. Don't let Hillary and her dishonest supporters railroad the VP selection process!

If you haven't already voted in the MSNBC poll, please do so!

Read Before Writing

Henry M — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:22:53 EDT

Yesterday, Media Matters posted a transcript (http://mediamatters.org/items/200807150006 ) of one of Monday's MSNBC "How to Attack Obama" pieces.

Thank you for providing the transcript, Media Matters!

It would be great if people actually READ the transcript, rather than Media Matters' irritated reaction to it. And if they did a little research, they'd notice that it was a "live" discussion, hosted by Tamron Hall (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamron_Hall ).

Tamron Hall is no McCain partisan. Not only did she interview Obama one-on-one shortly before he declared that he was running for President, but she has been supportive of his candidacy since then, e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPTTWtLocwg . She was no less supportive when she interviewed the other side on MSNBC (MSNBC hosts Keith Olbermann, but doesn't want to appear to be as one-sided as McFox "News"), as shown in the following example:

HALL: Well, we've been hearing that, but is it hard -- or has it been difficult for the GOP to make that argument stick?

MUSSER: It has -- well, it has, but in large part because we've had a real trouble with the issue that you alluded to in the lead-in, is that we've had a situation where third-party surrogates have repeatedly thrown the messaging efforts of the campaign off -- off-kilter. And that's, you know --

HALL: On both sides

If you need another example of Hall's interview being fair to Obama, how about:

WATKINS: <snip> They'll attack him on all the issues because he's flip-flopped. He's made so many big changes. Democrats are having buyer's remorse.

HALL: But is that smart when they can counter, Joe, and say, "Look, John McCain did the same"?
WATKINS: Well, he hasn't.
HALL: I can just bring up one thing: the tax cuts. That's what the -- the Democrats point to.

If you're not convinced, ask a McSame supporter how they feel about MSNBC!

By the way, all my.Obama group and personal blogs and mail lists, including my own are "third party surrogates." For example, I've seen a series of mail-list messages that, rather than correctly referencing http://my.barackobama.com/page/votercontact/walklist , incorrectly pointed to one message on one blog for a walk list, and thereby wasted the valuable time of supporters.

We ALL need to ensure that our messages don't make things difficult for Obama's campaign. Enthusiasm and belief are our most valuable qualities, but don't spread rumors!

Read, research, consider and reconsider, before writing!

Thanks!

HENRY M

Information, Media, and Technology Consultant

Please contribute to Obama if you can: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gddt

If you appreciate my blog, then how about being my friend on the My.BarackObama.com network: http://my.barackobama.com/page/socialnet/register/33qzpcr2sl

It's like Letterman and Cronkite had a baby

Michael Hubbard — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 03:45:11 EDT

You know, it accurs to me that Limbaugh and Hannity and their types are in fact what they claim Networks and other "liberal media" organizations the mainstream media.

Limbaugh and Hannity do a three hour radio show five days a week. The two shows run back to back and in our area Boortz precedes Limbaugh for two hours and a local right wing host follows Hannity for another two hours. That's fifteen hours per week on air for Limbaugh AND Hannity plus ANOTHER FOUR HOURS worth of right wing programming bringing us to a grande totale of THIRTY-EIGHT HOURS PER WEEK of RIGHT WING PROGRAMMING

Now we've got three networks that have a national newscast that last one hour each hmmm, that's five hours each per week bringing us to a grand total of 15 hours per week of "left wing indoctrination." OH! But the networks newscasts are usually run in most cities at the same time. So really that's five hours of the "liberal media." If you want to count Olberman and Matthews at MSNBC, sure that's a total of SEVEN HOURS PER WEEK of so called "LIBERAL MEDIA" PROGRAMMING.

It would seem that Limbaugh and Hannity types are the mainstream media. Limbaugh has forty odd million listeners per day. Hannity is probably not far behind (he's also got two television shows on Foxx News). The nightly news couldn't even comprehend numbers like that. People used to listen to top 40 radio while they were at work. But much of the entertainment industry's dollars are spent on right wing political programming. Obviously top 40 radio has suffered. Politics seem to be the new background music. NO WONDER PEOPLE WITH DEPRESSION IS UP! Think about it though, Limbaugh and Hannity are simply entertainers. They aren't reporting the news. They use the news as a prop for their daily "shows." Limbaugh has funny little songs and uses a lot of what used to be called "Schtick." and mixes in a lot of opinions about newstories he reads that someone else wrote.

Really I guess what I'm trying to say is it seems so obvious who is really controlling the media as far as exposure goes. Hannity, Limbaugh and company get a huge share of the market billing a bunch of entertainerment at the news. This not news, it's commentary on the news, the programs like this at one time were very boring, the had very old men discussing very boring issues, usually fighting over them. Now they dress the shows up with Foxxy chicks, cool theme music and special effects. It's all like David Letterman meets Walter Cronkite.

Not counting the fact that pretty much all media is bought and paid for, be it by Rupert Murdoch of Foxx News or whatever Ted Turner type of conglomoration. I think that may be why neither right wing or left wing commentators are really interested in getting to actual gut issues that plague this country in nearing Biblical proportions. The modern day robber barrons at the top don't want us to notice just how much money they are making selling this country out. By focusing on Barack Obama bumping fists with his wife, running cute little cartoons to Bob Dylan tunes and cute comical lyrics over and over again they know that we'll get distracted by whether or not Obama wears a flag pin and that makes it harder to get back to the fact that the dollar is humiliatingly low in value, we pay eight or ten bucks to fill up our mowers, ethanol burns faster than gas but we still pay around four bucks a gallon, our jobs are being sent to communist countries helping the economies of people who dislike us very much while we struggle to earn and save enough money up to go back and forth to work everyday so we can compete daily with people who don't mind making TWENTY-FIVE CENTS PER HOUR.

MSNBC OUT OF CONTROL PLEASE HELP!!!!

CorpusMama — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:29:55 EDT

This would never have happened if Tim Russert was still alive. What hippocrits his teleprompter readers who call themselves journalists are please take a minute and send them these 62 McCain Flip-Flops!

Lisa Owen gets the credit for finding all these facts but she is always very accurate and checks her resources. Its too bad the media doesn't do the same!

Beginning at 9am today to the present time- 12:45pm, MSNBC has done a segment entitled "How to Attack Barack Obama" every 15 minutes with the "host" speaking to 2 different Republican strategists and NO Democrats- not a single time. They gave free reign to the Republicans and it's been UGLY. The main thrust of their attacks was that Obama flip-flops on all his positions and he has no real positions, blah blah. This is outrageous that they would do this all morning and into the afternoon. It's still going on. I estimate they have had 16 segments today on "How to Attack Barack Obama" so far.
Why do they even have "hosts" when they say nothing for the other side and just go along? The hosts partaking in this were Tamron Hall, Contesssa Brewer, Monica Novatny.
I expect it to continue. It is horribly unfair, especially because Hendrik Hertzberg, senior editor for The New Yorker, was on Morning Joe and said that "Obama hasn't changed his position on anything except maybe FISA." This was in response to Mica Brzezinski constantly saying that "Obama changes positions every 20 minutes" and "he's changed 5 positions in 5 days." She has been saying this for a week and said it again this morning. Email her the facts: mika.brzezinski@nbcuni.com
EMAIL the bosses of MSNBC about their ridiculous smear on Obama all morning:
phil.griffin@nbc.com
steve.capus@nbc.com
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Please cut and paste as you please and spread this to as many groups as you can!!!!

Jukebox John changes his tune every few minutes- McCain Flip-Flops
Posted July 8th, 2008 at 11:05 am
Share This | Spotlight | Permalink
Atrios mentioned yesterday, "…I don't think the 'Obama is a flip-flopper' will be an especially useful line of attack for the McCain campaign, but it makes sense that they're using it. The script is already written, making it easier for the barely literate cable newsers to run with it."
Quite right. At first blush, the line of attack against Obama seems utterly ridiculous, but the McCain campaign seems to have settled on it anyway, in part because it's the closest available, already-written Republican narrative, and in part because McCain staffers haven't been able to think of anything else.
The irony, of course, is that the McCain campaign couldn't have picked a more hypocritical line of attack. For John McCain to accuse anyone of excessively changing policy positions is a bit like George W. Bush of attacking someone's grammar. Or Dick Cheney whining about a political figure being overly secretive.
But if this is the game the McCain campaign wants to play, so be it. Let's play. As the self-designated keeper of the Official List of McCain Flip-Flops, I'm pleased to report, thanks to reader contributions, we now have a whopping 61 policy reversals from the Republican nominee. If McCain wants to argue that flip-flops are an example of a political leader who can't be trusted to keep his work or honor his commitments, McCain might as well drop out of the race now.
Based on some reader suggestions, we're going to do things a little differently this time. Now, I've numbered the list and organized it by category for easier reference.
Remember, just two weeks ago, John McCain said, "This election is about trust and trusting people's word." Just a few days prior, the McCain campaign admonished Barack Obama for trying to "have it both ways" on issues.
And with that in mind…

National Security Policy
1. McCain thought Bush's warrantless-wiretap program circumvented the law; now he believes the opposite.
2. McCain insisted that everyone, even "terrible killers," "the worst kind of scum of humanity," and detainees at Guantanamo Bay, "deserve to have some adjudication of their cases," even if that means "releasing some of them." McCain now believes the opposite.
3. He opposed indefinite detention of terrorist suspects. When the Supreme Court reached the same conclusion, he called it "one of the worst decisions in the history of this country."
4. In February 2008, McCain reversed course on prohibiting waterboarding.
5. McCain was for closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay before he was against it.
6. When Barack Obama talked about going after terrorists in Pakistani mountains with predators, McCain criticized him for it. He's since come to the opposite conclusion.
Foreign Policy
7. McCain was for kicking Russia out of the G8 before he was against it.
8. McCain supported moving "towards normalization of relations" with Cuba. Now he believes the opposite.
9. McCain believed the U.S. should engage in diplomacy with Hamas. Now he believes the opposite.
10. McCain believed the U.S. should engage in diplomacy with Syria. Now he believes the opposite.
11. McCain is both for and against a "rogue state rollback" as a focus of his foreign policy vision.
12. McCain used to champion the Law of the Sea convention, even volunteering to testify on the treaty's behalf before a Senate committee. Now he opposes it.
13. McCain was against divestment from South Africa before he was for it.
Military Policy
14. McCain recently claimed that he was the "greatest critic" of Rumsfeld's failed Iraq policy. In December 2003, McCain praised the same strategy as "a mission accomplished." In March 2004, he said, "I'm confident we're on the right course." In December 2005, he said, "Overall, I think a year from now, we will have made a fair amount of progress if we stay the course."
15. McCain has changed his mind about a long-term U.S. military presence in Iraq on multiple occasions, concluding, on multiple occasions, that a Korea-like presence is both a good and a bad idea.
16. McCain said before the war in Iraq, "We will win this conflict. We will win it easily." Four years later, McCain said he knew all along that the war in Iraq war was "probably going to be long and hard and tough."
17. McCain has repeatedly said it's a dangerous mistake to tell the "enemy" when U.S. troops would be out of Iraq. In May, McCain announced that most American troops would be home from Iraq by 2013.
18. McCain was against expanding the GI Bill before he was for it.
Domestic Policy
19. McCain defended "privatizing" Social Security. Now he says he's against privatization (though he actually still supports it.)
20. McCain wanted to change the Republican Party platform to protect abortion rights in cases of rape and incest. Now he doesn't.
21. McCain supported storing spent nuclear fuel at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Now he believes the opposite.
22. He argued the NRA should not have a role in the Republican Party's policy making. Now he believes the opposite.
23. In 1998, he championed raising cigarette taxes to fund programs to cut underage smoking, insisting that it would prevent illnesses and provide resources for public health programs. Now, McCain opposes a $0.61-per-pack tax increase, won't commit to supporting a regulation bill he's co-sponsoring, and has hired Philip Morris' former lobbyist as his senior campaign adviser.
24. McCain is both for and against earmarks for Arizona.
25. McCain's first mortgage plan was premised on the notion that homeowners facing foreclosure shouldn't be "rewarded" for acting "irresponsibly." His second mortgage plan took largely the opposite position.
26. McCain went from saying gay marriage should be allowed, to saying gay marriage shouldn't be allowed.
27. McCain opposed a holiday to honor Martin Luther King, Jr., before he supported it.
28. McCain was anti-ethanol. Now he's pro-ethanol.
29. McCain was both for and against state promotion of the Confederate flag.
30. In 2005, McCain endorsed intelligent design creationism, a year later he said the opposite, and a few months after that, he was both for and against creationism at the same time.
Economic Policy
31. McCain was against Bush's tax cuts for the very wealthy before he was for them.
32. John McCain initially argued that economics is not an area of expertise for him, saying, "I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues; I still need to be educated," and "The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should." He now falsely denies ever having made these remarks and insists that he has a "very strong" understanding of economics.
33. McCain vowed, if elected, to balance the federal budget by the end of his first term. Soon after, he decided he would no longer even try to reach that goal. And soon after that, McCain abandoned his second position and went back to his first.
34. McCain said in 2005 that he opposed the tax cuts because they were "too tilted to the wealthy." By 2007, he denied ever having said this, and falsely argued that he opposed the cuts because of increased government spending.
35. McCain thought the estate tax was perfectly fair. Now he believes the opposite.
36. McCain pledged in February 2008 that he would not, under any circumstances, raise taxes. Specifically, McCain was asked if he is a "'read my lips' candidate, no new taxes, no matter what?" referring to George H.W. Bush's 1988 pledge. "No new taxes," McCain responded. Two weeks later, McCain said, "I'm not making a 'read my lips' statement, in that I will not raise taxes."
37. McCain has changed his entire economic worldview on multiple occasions.
38. McCain believes Americans are both better and worse off economically than they were before Bush took office.
Energy Policy
39. McCain supported the moratorium on coastal drilling ; now he's against it.
40. McCain recently announced his strong opposition to a windfall-tax on oil company profits. Three weeks earlier, he was perfectly comfortable with the idea.
41. McCain endorsed a cap-and-trade policy with a mandatory emissions cap. In mid-June, McCain announced he wants the caps to voluntary.
42. McCain explained his belief that a temporary suspension of the federal gas tax would provide an immediate economic stimulus. Shortly thereafter, he argued the exact opposite.
43. McCain supported the Lieberman/Warner legislation to combat global warming. Now he doesn't.
Immigration Policy
44. McCain was a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act, which would grant legal status to illegal immigrants' kids who graduate from high school. Now he's against it.
45. On immigration policy in general, McCain announced in February 2008 that he would vote against his own bill.
46. In April, McCain promised voters that he would secure the borders "before proceeding to other reform measures." Two months later, he abandoned his public pledge, pretended that he'd never made the promise in the first place, and vowed that a comprehensive immigration reform policy has always been, and would always be, his "top priority."
Judicial Policy and the Rule of Law
47. McCain said he would "not impose a litmus test on any nominee." He used to promise the opposite.
48. McCain believes the telecoms should be forced to explain their role in the administration's warrantless surveillance program as a condition for retroactive immunity. He used to believe the opposite.
49. McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade to saying the exact opposite.
Campaign, Ethics, and Lobbying Reform
50. McCain supported his own lobbying-reform legislation from 1997. Now he doesn't.
51. In 2006, McCain sponsored legislation to require grassroots lobbying coalitions to reveal their financial donors. In 2007, after receiving "feedback" on the proposal, McCain told far-right activist groups that he opposes his own measure.
52. McCain supported a campaign-finance bill, which bore his name, on strengthening the public-financing system. In June 2007, he abandoned his own legislation.
Politics and Associations
53. McCain wanted political support from radical televangelist John Hagee. Now he doesn't. (He also believes his endorsement from Hagee was both a good and bad idea.)
54. McCain wanted political support from radical televangelist Rod Parsley. Now he doesn't.
55. McCain says he considered and did not consider joining John Kerry's Democratic ticket in 2004.
56. McCain is both for and against attacking Barack Obama over his former pastor at his former church.
57. McCain criticized TV preacher Jerry Falwell as "an agent of intolerance" in 2002, but then decided to cozy up to the man who said Americans "deserved" the 9/11 attacks.
58. In 2000, McCain accused Texas businessmen Sam and Charles Wyly of being corrupt, spending "dirty money" to help finance Bush's presidential campaign. McCain not only filed a complaint against the Wylys for allegedly violating campaign finance law, he also lashed out at them publicly. In April, McCain reached out to the Wylys for support.
59. McCain was against presidential candidates campaigning at Bob Jones University before he was for it.
60. McCain decided in 2000 that he didn't want anything to do with former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, believing he "would taint the image of the 'Straight Talk Express.'" Kissinger is now the Honorary Co-Chair for his presidential campaign in New York.
61. McCain believed powerful right-wing activist/lobbyist Grover Norquist was "corrupt, a shill for dictators, and (with just a dose of sarcasm) Jack Abramoff's gay lover." McCain now considers Norquist a key political ally.
And while I realize there are some who believe these constant flip-flops are irrelevant, I respectfully disagree.

Staying above the fray and trying to figure out what matters and what doesn't

Beth from ColoradObama — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 00:28:47 EDT

Between a dinosaur of a computer and an endless parade of e-mails that tell me I NEED TO DO SOMETHING AND I NEED TO DO IT RIGHT NOW, I don't know what to do anymore and I sure as hell can't get it done quickly enough to satisfy all the people telling me I should do it RIGHT NOW.

FYI...Links for the day.

EMK — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:06:35 EDT

Just some links.

Another Article of Impeachment by Kucinich? (First Read: Kucinich at it again)

Curious about the plane? Try here. Never heard of that before! Why would it do that? (NTSB on Obama plane landing -- First Read)

Fed wanting more power, again! What Bernanke has to say is puzzling. (MSNBC: Bernanke: Empower Financial Regulators) (See also Open debate thread...Fed Bank and the economy.)

Yeah, they're MSNBC. However, if you guys got any indie links, share 'em!

Lata!

EMK

McCain's Vulnerability on Vet Issues

Scott — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 09:29:42 EDT

I'm so glad Rachel Maddow is fact checking McCain's claim to being a favorite of Veteran's groups. She spoke last night on MSNBC's Countdown with Paul Rieckhoff of the Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans Of America to discuss John McCain's exchange with a veteran at his recent rally about his voting record on veterans benefits and issues (exchange included): Paul is obviously no fan of McCain.

Watch it here.

Fight Back Strategy: McCain's Energy Plan

Fighter501 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:02:49 EDT

It is incomprehensible that Democrats are in a fight with Republicans over environmental and energy issues. This just doesn't make any sense. What is even harder to understand is how the GOP is walloping Dems in the media on this. It's unbelievable. These are the people that said that "we need an energy policy that encourages consumption."

Today, they are offering everything from patriotic offshore drilling and summer gas tax holidays, to $300 million cash prizes to scientists. These things sound awesome.
The current Democratic strategy seems to be "that won't work, we have a comprehensive plan."

That is not a winning strategy during an election. If you want to defeat someone, you never attack their strengths, you attack their weaknesses. It's the simple surefire path to victory and Republicans have been using it since 1968.

The GOP energy plan is full of holes and here's how to fight back and fight back hard.

Hero Worship Gone Out of Control

Mister Anderson — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:41:13 EDT

I just got done watching the Andrea Mitchell interview with Wesley Clark on MSNBC and she demonstrates first-hand why and how the media'a "hero worship" of John McCain has gone ridiculously too far.

She went on a couple of one minute tirades defending and supporting John McCain's "honorable service" instead of conducting a interview with Wesley Clark to allow him the opportunity to defend his position and have a honest and open discussion on the facts. The most troubling part about the media's response is that they're throwing one hero under the bus for another. Did Wesley Clark not serve in Vietnam and get wounded? Was Wesley Clark not the Supreme Allied Commander of the Bosnian War without losing a single American life during the combat operation?

Where was the media in defense of John Kerry when the Swiftboaters carved up his military service even though George W. Bush was MIA during the Vietnam War?

When did John McCain get the monopoly on patriotism and heroism to the extent that not even a four-star war General can question his judgement to be Command-In-Chief based on his military record?

He's not George Washington, he's John McCain.

And John McCain has just as much executive experience as Barack Obama. That fact should not be lost in the media's lovefest and sensitivity to any and everything military.....even in a time of war. Even though the media has selective memory on this issue, but I remember during the 2004 campaign that the Republican argument was that "we" shouldn't be allowed to question the Commander-In-Chief (Bush) during a time of war.

Well, we didn't sufficiently question him, and look at the end result. With all due respect to the media, both left and right, that honestly believes that John McCain is the modern day Douglas MacArthur, I personally refuse to make the same mistake twice.

Attack Back Strat: Supreme Court gun law ruling

Fighter501 — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 15:50:35 EDT

When headlines read:

"Ruling Provides Much Guidance"
or
"Not the End of Our Struggle"

Which article would you read? Personally, I like fighting in struggles and want to help the oppressed. Wait, that's McCain commenting on the unconstitutionality of the DC Gun Ban! Who gave me these slanted headlines? They are from the Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/06/26/politicians-pundits-react_n_109373.html

Democrats consistently lose the media battle, and "defining your enemy AS the enemy" is rule one in the Karl Rove playbook.

It's time to fight back and fight back hard.

The Sandy Path to Oil & Gas

Nick Danger — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:22:29 EDT

Yesterday I turned on MSNBC's "Hardball" for a couple minutes while taking a break from a tedius day making money to fill my tank. CNBC's Jim Kramer was chatting with guest host Mike Barnacle about gas prices in the good ol' USA and the effects of outside. They touched on speculators and offshore drilling, a sore spot for us sunny southern California regulars. Eventually they got to the effects of the Iraq war on oil prices. Behind the scenes our government, The Bush administration is calling on Opec for an additional 2 million barrels of crude a day to bring prices back down to manageable levels that existed before the spike in prices. No official figures have been released but it is estimated that Iraq's pre-war levels were 2 to possibly 4 million barrels a day. So in essence we were told on national television that Iraq was pumping more than enough oil to end our high gas prices before George W Bush invaded on false pretenses. Where is the rest of the media in covering this story? Where is the investigative journalism? Why have there been no questions on this issue? And to add injury to insult, much of the oil pumped in Iraq today has been stolen and/or funneled off to a black market that is in some cases funding the very terrorists whose influence we are attempting to oust!

Meet the Press Today!!!

Mike P — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 23:16:34 EDT

Today, Meet the Press featured Senators Biden & Graham. They are both worthy proxies for their respective candidates. The netcast is available at (http://www.msnbc.com). I was particularly interested in one statement that Senator Graham made in regards to some of the interaction on Campaign Finance and the decision Senator Obama made. "I want my country to be trusted..." was the exact statement he made. If he thinks the United States is trusted right now, he's dreaming. I think Senator Graham is to be commended for his service to our country. But I respectfully disagree with his assessment on Iraq and the trust factor. Iraq is broken. Bringing it back from the abyss cannot happen without a President who is bold enough to admit the error and in turn work to change it.

Senator Graham also made another assertion that I trust the Obama campaign will work to immediately address. Senator Graham noted that the changes in position (from NAFTA to Campaign Finance) is for one reason and one reason only: for Senator Obama to "...win the election not change this country." It is a damning assessment that Senator Obama's campaign must overcome to avoid falling into the trap that Senator Kerry's Campaign which led to four more years of George W. Bush.

The rise of the Citizen-Journalist....

Mike P — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 23:54:17 EDT

I have simply been frusturated and mad. I am thankful everyday for the BBC, Al Jazeera, France 24, CCTV and others that gives me a true picture of what is going on in the world. I am sorry to say that CNN, MSNBC, FOX and their local affiliates will not live up. Although I think the Huffintong Post, politico and other aggregate sites have worked quite dilligently to provide a broader perspective, it seems to me that nothing will replace the citizen-journalist. I think my blog is a step in the right direction. I still have a lot of work to do on it to truly evolve it into something like the calibre of Huffpost, politico and others. But, as a citizen-journalist/commentator, I thought I had an obligation to reflect upon this world. I remain committed to it. I also am quite thankful for such forums like here that gives us the ability to broaden our perspective further and allow us a chance to share our views. I wonder if the powers-to-be listen though.

For me, the struggle continues to rise above the crowd and not be ordinary.

BARACK IS RIGHT / THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS IN A CHILDS LIFE

scorpi2000 — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 17:43:43 EDT

By scorpi2000 - Jun 16th, 2008 at 5:18 pm EDT

I’m a single dad, I’ve been with my son since before birth. talking to him while he was still in his mothers womb. Seconds after birth he recognized my voice opened his eyes and smiled at me while reaching out. I raised my son as a single father since he was three. That’s him next to the D.N.A. model we worked on together. That’s also him at three years old at the end of the video.

“Please daddy dont leave“. VISIT scorpi2000 wordpress.com

This song was inspired by him. WHILE LEAVING FOR WORK MY SON SAID CRYING PLEASE DADDY DON’T LEAVE, STAY WITH ME. I PROCEEDED TO WORK THAT DAY WITH TEARS IN MY EYES, AND AFTERWARD TOOK MANY DAYS OFF TO GIVE HIM WHAT ALL OF OUR CHILDREN NEED.

UNITED SCHOLASTIC STUDENT MOTIVATIONAL PROGRAM was also inspired by him and my experience with the public school system.

I live in the city, an African American neighborhood, where their is a lack of fathers present to support and giude their children.

THE DECLINE OF THE TRADITIONAL BLACK FAMILY

This is not just a problem that is all the fault of black fathers . The divorce rate, The laws that support womans rights over mens rights.when it comes to children, and who has to pay child support. the government has traditionaly supported mothers in thier quest to raise the children. Forcing many fathers out of the picture only to be finacial providers. Many of those black fathers were discriminated out of a job. or the job owners moved to the suburbs. Many women changed thier perspective about allowing the man to be the man of the house ., making the easier choice of divorce, child support, and a new boy friend and public aid. As you can see thier are alot of cause and effect issues that plauge our black families and communities. This battle between who is going to be the leading influence in a childs life has seriously effected our black families and have manifested in what we see today.

I sacrificed jobs and money to personally walk my son thru his formative years. I really felt all alone, mostly mothers and their children. Many without fathers present in their lives. I sacrificed also dating because I felt it would distract me from my double duties. His mother was not available. Many mothers overwhelmed me with their request for me to be there for their children and be a good influence for their sons too. Where were their fathers ? Some working, some not there. I reluctantly turned the mothers down because, they were not willing to make the same sacrifices. They were not aware of the some of the issues and beleifs I was instilling in my son that were absent in their lives. Not only did I not have time or extra to sacrifice ,but trying to combine the up bringing of my child, as a single father and help with their children, would have been too much for me to handle . Being an only child I took on the roll of being father, mother, brother, and friend.
I taught him computers before kindergarten, and stayed close to him all along the way as he maintained an A average. He graduated from grammar school Valedictorian 3.9 average. I was so proud of him and glad I made the sacrifice.
Hes a junior in high school now, and so far wer’e beating the odds…….Now college ,,,,some how Im going to pull that off too.

A Fathers Involvement makes a Biiiiig difference.

Thanks
SCORPI2000

Barack, you are 100% the right person to be president of the United States.
Your words are my words.
Thanks for being who you are. and bravely taking on these sinsitive issues plauging our culture

scorpi2000

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Tim Russert. approximately 3:00pm 06-13-08

Herman Soto — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 19:02:24 EDT

I had MSNBC in the background as I laid in bed, fairly sick. I was checking my email, when I heard in the background the "NBC Special Report/Breaking News" music-intro that is so famous. din dun don. When I looked up at the TV and I saw Tom Brokaw's face on the screen, I knew it was bad news.

"Tim Russert, moderator of Meet The Press, has died."

This is a terribly sad day for America, and it undoubtedly will reverberate on throughout all of the world. Journalism, Politics, and all of the entertainment and government industries will never be the same.

Tim Russert had a neutrality that the rest of us can only dream of. He had a kind of presence as someone you trusted to be fair. He wasn't a prosecutor, like so many journalist, pundits and commentators tend to present themselves... he was an advocate. An advocate for the country, for the American people and for the truth. He knew what the avarage guy wanted to know.

Tim Russert was not a partisan hawk, most people didn't even know whom he voted for or what party he was a member of. But he had a sense of good eggs and bad eggs. Not only was he not afraid to call them out, he felt a sense of responsibility to the American people. To the truth.

Tough but always fair, Tim Russert will go down in history as one of the best.

I will not soon forget this day.

NBC News’ Washington bureau chief and the moderator of “Meet the Press”
TIM RUSSERT (1950-2008)
RIP

Tim Russert and Future Journalism

Doug Robinson — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:17:33 EDT

It can only be hoped that collective grief combined with general recognition of Tim Russert’s great contribution to television journalism will serve to elevate the general standard at least for a while. The climate giving rise to the overall success of polarized reporting so often shown in FOX News broadcasts is systemic in our political culture. It may not change until a new administration takes office, gradually renewing American faith that progressive rather than reactionary ideas can in fact bring beneficial results for all elements of our society.

Obama is "exotic"

Scott — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:24:15 EDT

This is the adjective Pat Buchanan and Republican strategist Brad Blakeman used repeatedly to describe Obama on Dan Abram's MSNBC show "The Verdict" last night.

It got me thinking about the nature of that word: EXOTIC and I looked up its formal definition:

1. of foreign origin or character; not native; introduced from abroad, but not fully naturalized or acclimatized

And though I don't think most of us think about this word in such precise detail, I do see how it dovetails perfectly into the most scurrilous accusations the GOP make about Obama, "He's a secret muslim terrorist! What's with the fist pumping? Why no flag on his lapel? Michelle is his 'baby mamma!' not his wife."

See the point Buchanon and Blakeman are trying to make?

He's not a real American. Real Americans aren't brown! Real Americans don't come from Hawaii or broken homes! Real Americans don't fist pump! It's all very strange and foreign and scary. Be afraid, be very afraid. Don't think too much and just vote for the white guy.

I would be offended by their xenophobia if I didn't find it so amusing and honestly believe, in the end, it will backfire on them.

These people are old, white and out of touch. They don't realize that Obama is only exotic to Buchanan and McCain's contemporaries (so, essentially, the 70+ crowd).

Most of America now has more in common with Obama than McSame (my pet name for Johnny as he is indistinguishable policy-wise from Bush).

Our generation, as often as not, is also from broken homes and know the upheaval and discomfort of moving around in childhood as Obama did. If we're not of color--and so many more of our generation are--we at least shared dorm rooms and ate with people of color in our cafeterias. Fist pumping doesn't frighten us.

Americans are smarter than the GOP gives them credit for. For that I'm grateful and will relish seeing them go down in November.

Keith Olbermann's "Special Comment" 6/12/08

Bruce Mirken — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 00:31:25 EDT

This is brilliant and an absolute must-see. Sometimes Olbermann gets a bit overwrought, but this time the tone is just right:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#25130683

Obama, be wary of secret meetings!

EMK — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:37:33 EDT

Sen. Obama:

I read this CNN article and watched this MSNBC video about your meeting with Sen. Clinton at D.C. Please Sen. Obama, this is the time to put Chicago and New York politics behind! I don't know what you were talking about, and I am not a Democrat, but secret meetings, especially in cases like these have more negative consequences than positive ones.

I hope that what happens tomorrow with HRC's speech has nothing to do with HRC muscling in with the VP slot!

I've been quiet about this recently, but out of concern for you, I'd rather vote for someone else (not including McCain since his policies are not worth my vote) than see you get shammed, politically and personally, with HRC being your VP.

Please take your time with your VP decision, as I feel that someone other than HRC will be a better choice for it.

I'm sorry to bring this up now, Sen. Obama, but I was not aware of this particular meeting. For future meetings, please don't make anymore of these, as your policy suggests transparency!

The time may come that you might have to stand up to her like you did with Sen. Lieberman!

Maybe I'm an idiot, but please don't fall into her trap!

I hope I'm not overreacting!

Sincerest Regards,

EMK

Senator Barack Obama Wins Democratic Nomination!!!

Natsuki the Neko: GO OBAMA-BIDEN GO! ^_^ — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:57:02 EDT

Check out this video as CNN and MSNBC project Barack Obama as the winner of the democratic nomination!!! OBAMA 08!!! YES WE CAN!!!--not only that, but YES WE DID!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf4Pywy7iQg

Who Ya Gonna Trust?

ZapDuff — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 18:45:11 EDT

My wife was out of town for a series of business meetings this past week. Although we only got a few minutes to talk a couple times a day, she accurately sensed I was getting pretty distraught over how various media stars were trying to steer public opinion, instead of delivering the news.

Until about a decade or two ago, working journalists honored a creed to never show personal bias, for fear of it tainting the facts they delivered. Credibility depended on it. Back then, there was a fear - without credibility a journalist would be unemployable. My, how times have changed! Credibility no longer seems important, as facts and reality have lost their relevance when so laden with personal opinions.

So where can we turn when we want the real story? Who ya gonna trust?

Clinton, you invoked a political nightmare

N. Julio Barthson - E-Campaign Leader — Sun, 25 May 2008 04:59:33 EDT

An amazing commentary by Keith Olberman of MSNBC about Hillary Clinton's Freudian moment RE: staying in the race and the specter of an RFT-style assasination...

An email I sent to afterhours@msnbc.com

Joanne takes a stand — Wed, 21 May 2008 08:03:14 EDT

I sent this email after watching the election results last night into the early morning hours. I had a lot on my mind and wanted to be heard. Read below:

I tried to call in this morning but the phones were very busy. However, I feel that I had to tell you how I feel about the way things are going...I am a 25 year old African American (holding a B.A. in English) female that voted early by absentee ballot in SC because I was 9 months pregnant and afraid that I would miss the chance to vote for Barack Obama in January by being in the hospital. In January, I would have voted for Clinton if she was elected the party nominee. However, I don't quite feel the same now. Because of Hillary's extremely negative attacks on Obama and her dismissal of the power of the African American vote, if she was the front runner, I would not vote at all (instead of voting for McCain) because I am so angry at her. I am even angrier now, as a woman, because she has "lost" the race at this point and refuses to throw in the towel and unite our party. Could she, like the majority of her voters, be so against an African American president that she would actually make it hard for him to take the nomination, when she knows her chances are slimmer as every primary and caucus passes? I think so. As Barack has come closer and closer to winning the nomination, "Billary" has found innumerable ways to deny him the right: by changing the number of delegates needed, by claiming she's the swing state queen. What is even worse is that she's now claiming to lead in the popular vote, which shouldn't be taken into account because caucus votes are not included in the popular vote, and by which Barack would still lead. She's also so desperate that she's claiming Michigan when Barack wasn't even on the ballot. All of this is making her less of an "honest" woman and more of some sort of psycho maniac that wants to be controlling and feels that she has the right because her last name is Clinton. I have lost all respect for both of them. Would she have come this far in the election if she had divorced Bill when he committed adultery? I could go on and on, but I think you get my point. This election is really stressing me out and I've never even been that interested in politics, because of Barack, I am now, and might find myself in a political career in the future. Yes, he's had that great of an impact on me.

Joanne Green, endorser of Barack Obama, democratic presidential nominee of 2008. With Barack Obama, it's always "Yes We Can" (change is possible). ROCK THE VOTE.

The final statement above is my signature on my actual email address. Do you have any comments or opinions about the things I wrote above? I would love to hear them.

Political News:

Omar Dyer — Mon, 19 May 2008 23:45:49 EDT

The Bad Man Called President Bush-- once again is laying a formula of dictation on America. Bush in a press release told Reporters that he wouldn't "Golf" until after Memorial Day because of the War in Iraq. (Just like the war Bush lied)-- news cameras caught the president in a private meeting with oil C.E.O.'s taking a few rounds on the white house lawn. How ironic, a few days later he leaves to Iran and oil prices rises-- oil prices rising has nothing to do with the consumption of oil. It has more to do with the top guys creating a price war. Then Bush said he plans to veto the new bill which was proposed and worked hard on by both dems and republicans to get it passed.

Using MSNBC's number - 27 superdelegates to shut out Clinton

Thatcher — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:17:25 EDT

On March 28, over at Chris Weigant's blog, Chris asked his readers to place their bets (in quatloos) when Clinton would drop out of the Presidential race. Well, I've done pretty well so far. I predicted that Obama would surpass Clinton in Superdelegates before the West Virginia primary (got it right) and several of my delegate totals from the primaries were darn close (I didn't do so well on my original delegate estimate for Indiana). Also, I was only 1 day off for the John Edwards endorsement of Obama. My final prediction is Clinton drops out on June 16, just 31 days from now.

27. This is the magic number.

The blog editor won't allow tables ... so the rest of the post is over at The Dead Guy

Bush honors US War dead in Iraq by not playing GOLF!

Dread O'Knight — Wed, 14 May 2008 22:35:39 EDT

As once again, George W. Bush, holds OTHERS accountable for his gross negligence, persistent failures and mental deficiencies from a truly 'handicapped' leader.

Below is Keith Obermann's most powerful and historic "Special Commentary", yet to Bush's recent admission that the Iraq War has "handicapped" his golf game. (From his interview on Politico.com)

Kudos To Chris Matthews-- Finally Some Straight Talk

Candace N. - V.O.B — Wed, 14 May 2008 21:59:55 EDT

I had just posted a blog about the lack of straight talk from commentators, about an hour later I turned on Hardball with Chris Matthews (as I usually do) and finally heard some straight talk on cable news about racial issues. It was refreshing. He let Pat Buchanan have it. It should not be taboo to talk honestly about racial issues and tell it like it is, instead of saying "I don't know why Barack is not getting certain voters". As I said in my previous post, some people no matter how great the candidate is, will not vote for a black person. There is nothing wrong with being honest in ones observations. Kudos to Chris for always standing up for his beliefs. He and Keith Olbermann are the two most fair and balanced people on cable news. They should make a movie like alien vs predator with the cable news guys. We could have Olbermann vs O'Reilly and Matthews vs Hannity. LOL.

MSNBC "Obama Picks Up Nine Superdelegates Friday"

Deborah Simmel — Sat, 10 May 2008 05:28:50 EDT

When I saw the day's count it stood at seven. (Sometimes it's good to be wrong!) Take a look at what MSNBC's Race to the White House with David Gregory reported late Friday.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24538157/

Tim Russert says Obama is the Nominee

Deborah Simmel — Wed, 07 May 2008 08:00:55 EDT

What a wonderful morning! (Even on just four hours of sleep . . .) Take a listen to NBC's venerable Tim Russert as Indiana's final count was coming in last night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEV_fTu8taU

MSNBC Online Liver Than On Cable

Obamanizer — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:37:29 EDT

At least here, the live stream of MSNBC is about 5 seconds ahead of the cable channel. A quite amazing fact - and so important for all of you desperate ...

Barack is ahead . . .

Myrna from Bellaire, MI — Mon, 05 May 2008 14:00:24 EDT

I simply cannot believe the media sometimes. It is remarkable how they can slant information depending on what will give them the best benefit. Today, as I watch MSNBC, I would think I'd tuned in to the Hillary Channel. Just prior to this, it was owned by Rev. Wright. Today it's all about the 'gas tax' thing. The poll they showed said 70 % knew it was a 'gimmick' and then the talking head went on to say how so many people were in favor of the Clinton suggestion (and it is just that, because it ain't gonn' happen!) My god! How many times can you talk about the same stupid things. It's race about whether or not you want to change Washington and who can do that effectively. Their positions on almost every issue are virtually the same so it's all about who you like and think can do the job.

I doubt few of us actually think much change will occur. Washington is a very entrenched place with special interests locked in with money, big money. But it has been my hope that Mr. Obama could affect even a little bit of change, maybe a few less lobbyists, a bit more orientation to what they people of the USA feel, want and need.

When I listen to Hillary, I cannot believe her. She has gotten better at the game of campaigning, becoming what is needed in a given area. I don't think it's relevant that she was born in Scranton, lived in Illinois and Arkansas. Sometimes the best people to fight for the 'everyday' man is the super rich guy or woman. It is not where you came from, but what your philosophy is . . . what you believe is the right thing to do and whether or not you can do it.

We desperately need a paradigm shift in politics. I honestly feel Obama is the only one running this year who can do it or even be willing to approach it. Hillary is old politics, knows all the old tricks, knows how to fit into the old guard so if you wish to keep it the way it was, then she is the one to elect.

But all this is actually insane. Barack has won. There is no way for her to catch him in any way except in a Tanya Harding move. Would she be willing to do it? Yes, she is willing. As is her unscrupulous husband, the infamous 'slick willy'. What would it do to those of us with hope for real change? Guess, just guess.

I Couldn't Bear an Obama Bust

ObamaMama Kris — Sun, 04 May 2008 08:47:43 EDT

Big day in the Fort. The Obamas will be downtown for a "family picnic" at Headwaters Park. I'm delighted they'll be here (should be a nice, sunny day out, too), but after my Bubba Bust yesterday, I'm not about to go down there to be part of the chaos! It will be crazy!

I"m looking forward, however, to watching NBC's "Meet the Press" in a few minutes to see how Tim Russert handles his opportunity to interview Senator Obama.

MSNBC seemed to run it's Obama/Rev. Wright special multiple times yesterday. I'm not sure there's an objective way to determine whether that particular show is a + or - for the Obama campaign, but I just feel uncomfortable with the graphics promoting it -- and host Dan Abrams has a pretty snarky vibe going throughout. I don't know. Maybe I'm mis-reading it.