Posts with the tag fight

Next generation of Leaders: Summit with Omar Dyer (Job Creation)

Omar Dyer — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 15:18:17 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ui8PkQR9os

Click on that and learn about the Next Generation of Leaders Barack Obama talked about.

Omar Dyer was recently on a radio station promoting a job fair for NP and SBA in New Jersey.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/1357295

Omar Dyer is the onlu candidate that has a real chance for an independant to win. The media is not talking about him and will not give this young kid a chance to change politics for the better.

Don’t Give Up Because of One Decision!

Mickiboop (P.O.B.) Be the Change — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 23:29:30 EST

To all Americans who are against Rick Warren giving the invocation at P.E. Obama’s inauguration:

You are American whether you are gay or straight, and that makes you an important part of our country. Don't move away, don’t loose hope, and don’t believe for one second that you are being defeated. Stay in the fight - this presidential victory was hard fought and long overdue for all of us. We must continue this fight to take back our country together. It is important that ALL Americans stay in the fight because as P.E. Obama told us more than once, THIS WAS NEVER ABOUT HIM, IT’S ABOUT US – We The People of the United States!
Some of my family members were slaves and most of us have had to fight for everything for our entire lives. Don't you give up hope because of ONE seemingly stupid and unexplained decision. P.E. Obama told us that he is not a perfect man and would not be a perfect president. But he is the best person for the job to come along in my life time, and I bet he has a plan!

You cannot fight against ignorance or bigotry from afar. You have to look it in the eyes and go round for round with it – up close and personal until you choke the life from it. You have to be here, in America, and in the moment to stand up against all who will continue to breed ignorance, hatred and bigotry of any kind where ever you find it. Now is not the time to live in fear, we are through with that madness; Now is the time for boldness, courage, strength and a damn fine fighting spirit full of the determination to battle and win! Fired Up - Ready to Go!!!

PERFECT UNION, A POEM FOR YOUR VOTE

caring_independent — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 15:15:03 EST

PERFECT UNION
i can leave out the names, the places, times
tell you a story - message of your crimes
have you really swirled each and every glass
filled with spit for each server you harass
you must have lost perspective sometime back
you're still thinking your tip makes you a mack

and me perhaps, an Uncle Tom or worse
Walmart-Mary who earning less than a nurse
for all you thought you knew and hid aside
like Church turned inside-out to Corporate pride
giving blessing to government's a foil
you've stolen peoples' souls and their own soil

accountable for greed is just romance
you'll steal from your own mother on a chance
tax and tariff - i'm milked like a cash cow
force my support of war against One vow
raise premiums against your rules of Law
you try to make me beg and give my paw

thinking this trick of playing dead is good
but dogs and whores last only as there's food
still further and front-most i joined a clan
where true survival is instinct and human
so tax my ass and take my underwear
i'm higher than you feel you are up there

without your greed and falser sense of right
we were ever able to see the brighter light
so Plumber Joe get all your wrenches cast
this pipe dream's leaking and it's breaking fast
we'll boycott all that is untrue and fake
and with that nightmare you'll wish you would wake

with homegrown and homemade our place is here
we checked in with our heads and shed our tear
Blacks, Natives, women - all with our future
in billions to cause financial fracture
any shell you try to hide the blame with
will shock and awe find the gloried state myth

so hike and drop those gas bills one last time
it proves your kind and sort of fascist crime
till when the free man's way reverses free
we will be united and soon you'll see
forget the who and their imperfect lights
the casting of truth and unity fights

*****VOTE THE PEOPLE*****

Written 11/04/08 copyright ME Wilson

Are YOU Ready to Get Out The Vote?

Anne Marie @ NH HQ — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:47:14 EDT

Change happens because the American people demand it. Because they rise up and insist on new leadership and new ideas, a new politics for a new time. - Sen. Barack Obama

Six days until the election - six days to join us in making history. This isn't the time to let up and rest on our laurels, it's the time to push forward to victory. This is what happens if we get complacent:

Don't trust the polls. We need to push through the finish line.

Sign up now to help us fight for every last vote.

Make calls with us, knock on doors with us, help out in your local office, bring food to volunteers and staff, house a volunteer, make calls from home, put Obama flyers around your town... whatever you can do our staff can help you with.

This is our time.

Fighting the smears

Sharpstick — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 22:12:22 EDT

It has taken several months of dialog, but my Mother now sends my the "scare tactic" emails that she gets from her friends and alows me to do research on them and give her another point of view. I don't know if she will vote for Obama, I just don't want her to live her life in fear of her President.

The Fight Against Voter Supression

Kelson Philo — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:59:08 EDT

I was skimming other sources out there in bloggoland when i came across an excellent summary on voter registration fraud. Commenter "lightning" had this to say:

84. lightning on 15 Oct 2008 at 10:27 pm

We have several kinds of "fraud" here.

1. Registration fraud. Pay registrars by the signature, and you'll get a lot of "Mickey Mouse" registrations. Effect on elections: nil, unless Mr. Mouse shows up to vote.

2. Voter fraud. "Mickey Mouse" actually votes. Effect: slight, except in a very tight race or a wildly corrupt district. Think of the organization that you'd need to get, say, 1000 fake voters. Remember, each fake vote is a felony.

Why I fight: Meeting America's Expectations

mhanch — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:41:31 EDT

It is always interesting how conversations turn in topic, taking you places where you didn't expect to go.

Last night I was sitting in my kitchen with my wife, and as I was opening a bottle of wine, she asked me to explain the bailout to her. She said that she has been hearing so much from so many people, almost all of it in panic, and wanted my explanation of what the hell is happening.

"And keep it short, I don't want one of your two-hour explanations!" she said, smiling.

Two hours later, we had finished a completely different conversation.

Gloves Off!! Fight Truth to Power!!

Nia "Hussein" J. — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:55:33 EDT

I've gathered some information that should help us fight back the smears and the lies. I agree that Obama needs to stay above the fray and keep the message on the economy. It's surrogates and supporters like us who have to fight back. We have come to far and worked to hard canvassing, phone calling, registering voters, convincing and informing undecideds, etc. for it to all go the way side like Kerry in 2004. We cannot afford another 4 years of the last eight. time is drawing close and we need this win. Fight back with truth. mccain and palin have allot of political skeletons that need to be forced out of the MSM closet. I've gathered some info, if you have more please share.

CNN truth report On Obama and Ayers:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMRON2GPXUA

Obama gives the go ahead to surrogates, to bring up Keating five and other associations:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/10/5/19317/4480/333/621072

The Obama campaign already has an ad related to it - make it viral

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHW-RO1_WN0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsI_0bV2CZo

Also bring Up Mccains lobbyist:http://www.mccainslobbyist.com

Donald Diamond:

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/04/23/it-goes-well-beyond-the-keating-five/

Richard Quinn:

http://politicalconsultantmisconduct.blogspot.com/2008/01/richard-quinn-associates-employee-of.html

George Gordon Liddy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6F3biK1Mb0&feature=related

Mccain Voted to protect Domestic Terrorist

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/06/mccain-abotion-bombers/

Lets also include the GOP's newest talent, Palin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmt0rLtgmK0

Changing the "Fight"

MJ — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:18:18 EDT

I watched the debates tonight. I, like so many other Obama supporters, was pleased with his performance. Post-debate debating is not my style. There are others who are much better at that than I am. Still, something formerly "un-crystalized" labeled itself for me tonight.

I have been trying to figure out why the man comedian Chris Rock defined as "the guy with one house" is so often tagged as an elitist and an unknown quantity. I don't know why his resume is so easily forgotten and his passion for people--his facility with candid, unrehearsed conversation--seems over the head of some people in the press. He has been on message from the start, and he is accused of flip flopping. He is mocked for being smart. He has worked with the poor, but his hands aren't dirty enough. He's too black for rural white folks, too white for urban black folks, too educated for "joe six-pack," too mean and arrogant, too nice and gentlemanly...

What are some people looking for that they have not seen? I see a real, confident, and consistent guy. I see a man who cares about people. I see a person who clearly respects women if his choice of a mate is any indication. I see a man of judgement and clear leadership capabilities. I see a man who is not afraid to tell the truth as he sees it. I see a man who looks you in the eye and weighs outcomes, is reasonable and intelligent.

What are people who mockingly call him "the professor" or "unconnected" and "out of touch" missing?

Then it hit me. It's not that they are missing something. It is that they are SEEING something that they don't recognize, so they have mislabeled it and mishandled the man in the process. In all fairness to them, they don't recognize it because they haven't seen it in a very long time. It has become a faint memory in American politics, and in too many day to day lives.

It is DIGNITY.

Barack Obama has refused to dumb himself down in the face of people who mock his Harvard education because it is a part of who he is as much as his upbringing with a single mother. He is not going to pander to lazy observers who are waiting for all the buzz words and pat answers. He's going to give fresh, well-thought out responses to their questions and make them think; something that is fast becoming an annoyance in our culture. He has said more on race--and on his race--than any candidate in history. But he has the wisdom not to let himself be defined as simply "the black guy running for president," or the president of black America, blue-state America, or pro-choice America.

He is not "proud." He is dignified. He manages to appreciate and express all that he is, not just what will impress others. He is a man with struggles and stories, and hardships. Dignity has taught him that they are too precious to be peddled for votes, but he has talked about them. I know about them.

If you don't know him, you haven't been looking at him, his family, his record, or taken him at his word. If you don't trust him, it might be because he is challenging your assumptions or your long-held beliefs. If you think he's weak, I am certain it is because you only know one way to fight and he is pushing back at your imagination.

He is not a pugilist, looking for a cut to exploit or willing to win by any means necessary. That is yesterday's game. That is yesterday's leader.

It was clear to me that Barack Obama was in a contest tonight. But his weapons were reason and rational thought. His emotion was firmly rooted in his convictions and understanding, and not in temperament and snarky disrespect.

Obama is not a bully. That fact alone speaks volumes. America's greatness was once imbedded in the power of her example. Today it has been reduced to brandishing examples of her power.

Patriotism should not always drive us to war. Passion is not always expressed in bluster. Politicians are not always leaders. And great leaders do not always carry a big stick. Ask Ghandi, Lincoln, Mother Teresa, MLK Jr., Bono, and Mattie Stepanek. Ask Barack Obama.

Barack Obama was the cooler head, the reasonable debater, the communicator, the resonant. He didn't sneer. He managed to prevail without personalizing the conflict or disrespecting his opponent.

I heard one commentator say, with some disdain it seemed, that Obama appeared "above it all." Is it possible that he was actually engaged in the right kind of "fight" finally?

Has anyone considered that for too many years, American politics has been "below it all"?

We must fight, We must stand up, We must for it is our lives that are affected

Brandon Martin — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 23:04:36 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdHtW_81kwg

We Have To Be Tougher Now--report from Boulder, CO

Madama Ambi — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:39:16 EDT

"They have misjudged us. Just because our political heroes were murdered does not mean that the dream does not still live, buried deep in our broken hearts." Joe Biden September 1993 New Jersey State Democratic Convention, Atlantic City

To My Friends and Family--some of whom are freaking out or undecided or worried

Lately I’ve been struggling to bear the turn things have taken in the presidential campaign. Every time someone wants to talk to me about how horrible it is, show me more evidence of the terror in the polls, the lies of all kinds, tricks to forestall young and minority voters, I feel like a nail is pounded deeper into my heart. It’s been a long haul. I’m tired and crabby, and I only started volunteering in January. There are people who have been giving their hearts for 19 months.

So I have something to say. We are only weeks away from election day. We still have a brilliant tough strategic unblinking candidate with a vice presidential partner who can hold his own with anyone. (Let me know if you want to hear my story of listening to Joe Biden at a women’s economic round table discussion in Denver or excerpts from his biography).

I wonder why we seem surprised at the turn things have taken.

read Marjorie Larner's full essay here

Marjorie Larner is a writer and educator and co-chairs a team of volunteers for Obama '08. She is also my oldest and dearest friend.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE

Joe DeRupo — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:44:31 EDT

The Republicans are up to their old, dirty tricks again. Not that they've ever stopped. Consider this: John McCain and the GOP don't give a flying hoot about this country. For all their rhetoric --"national security," the "war against terrorism," conflation of Iraq and 9/11, talk about being experienced on day one to be commander in chief -- they nominate a profoundly inexperienced woman as their vice presidential pick. It shows their rhetoric is sheer malarkey -- how can they consider nominating a woman like that to be a hearbeat away from the presidency? All they care about is trying to maneuver to win the election.

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, Senators Obama and Biden -- PLEASE speak out forcefully about this travesty. We Democrats are inclusive and kind by ideology and nature, but we must put that aside in the interest of enabling our inclusiveness and kindness. Only election success can empower you to implement the sane and humanistic public policy we so desperately need. I'M PETRIFIED that you are risking the mistakes of Dukakis in '88 and Kerry in '04.

Bottom line -- PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE shed the kid gloves to unencumber the innate strength and compassion of Democratic hands.

Still Ad

Supporter of a Revolutionary Guy — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 23:32:43 EDT

I am soo happy the tone of the campaign is changing.. With McCain adhead by 1 point in the polls it is time for Sentor Barack to Fight back and put John and Sarah in the their place and truley insure November for the Democrats

Answer McCain's challenge: Debate him NOW!

Q Manning — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 16:51:03 EDT

I have no idea if these blogs get anywhere near Barack Obama or his closest advisor's eyes, but look -

JOHN MCCAIN HAS CALLED BARACK OBAMA OUT ALL WEEK LONG. OBAMA MUST ANSWER THE CALL AND DO A DEBATE/JOINT TOWN HALL! IMMEDIATELY

He has asked you, repeatedly, to debate him in a town-hall setting, on tv, in a conference, in another debate before September 26, and Barack Obama has ignored his calls.

Why? I don't get it. I am a HUGE Obama Supporter. I have already gotten a number of friends, who were staunch apathetics or conservatives, to understand the importance of the issues and this election, and they support Barack Obama's plan.

But I can't get 250 million people to pay attention. God knows I've been trying.

MCCAIN DOES NOT WANT TO DEBATE OBAMA EARLY.

Do not doubt this. He is very scared, and he only calls Obama out on this because he knows Obama will continue to ignore it. So why the hell don't you guys call his bluff?

Obama will mop the floor with McCain in a debate or a town hall.

Right now, at this point, our team is losing the spin war. McCain will play meaner, dirtier, and will lie. He doesn't care, his honor has disappeared, because he needs to get elected. McCain will say and do anything to make that happen.

EXCEPT TALK ABOUT THE ISSUES!

Obama, you HAVE to understand this is the ONLY place you have left. The only way to get the American people to pay attention to you, to realize that McCain is offering nothing new, nothing real, nothing at all.

Call him on his bluff. Do it today, before the news cycle is out. Tell him to choose the place, and you just meet him there. Or you choose the place. It doesn't matter. Make it a town hall, schedule it for next week, and then tell him you'll do as many as he likes.

Because he cannot spin your words when you are saying them directly to the American people.

"Enough" is not enough

steve4obama — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:29:59 EDT

If today’s new ads are what we call going on the offense, then the Dems might as well pack up shop.
You don't bring a knife to a gun fight.
And, despite conventional wisdom that it's the "Top of the Ticket" that matters, it doesn't in this election. Go after Palin. She is propping up McCain. Knock out his crutch and he will crumble.
Palin is scary. Use a witch, a dominatrix , a nasty nun, to identify her with. I don't care if they say it's sexist, inflammatory, whatever.
This is a war for our country. If Obama doesn't win, this country is done. We might as well start calling it the United States of the Corporation, hell bent on anything that makes money for the wealthy, including wars. "Enough" is not enough, and if us Dems can't fight, dirty if necessary, than we don't deserve to take power.
"Enough" is like a pea shooter.
Time to launch a "take no prisoners" war.

Where is the outrage?

Willburg — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 13:29:32 EDT

Hello Justin,

Thank you for directing me to the group "Beating John McCain".

I am however very disappointed to see that my group was not approved. I think that the group that I was creating had a more specific goal: TO SOMEHOW TRY TO DRIVE HOME THE MESSAGE AND INDEED DIRECTLY TO MR. OBAMA, USING THE TOOLS THAT SENATOR OBAMA HAS GIVING US WITH HIS WEB SITE, THAT THE LOUD CHORUS OF VOICES ON THE STREETS, IN OUR KITCHENS, IN OUR LIVING ROOMS, IN THE OFFICE, ON THE RADIO; "AIR AMERICA", ON THE INTERNET; "THE HUFFINGTON POST", TPM, ON T.V. AND IN NUMEROUS NEWS PAPERS ARE CLAMORING FOR SENATOR OBAMA TO COME DOWN FROM WHEREVER HE IS, ROLL UP HIS SLEEVES AND START THROWING SOME SERIOUS PUNCHES BACK AT THE OPPONENTS.

Am I clear? Look Senator Biden has now been drowned and he was supposed to be the attack dog for the Obama campaign? Where is he? Just the other day he said that perhaps Hillary was the better candidate for the Vice-presidency. Hello? Is this what he needs to be telling people?

Is this the best that we can do? Me. Obama owes to fight for the the millions of his supporters. He needs to fight back for us! If he does not fight back for himself how on earth are we going to expect him to fight back for us? Have you NOT guys learned from the Gore and Kerry debacles?

My God. Governor Palin goes about the country telling lies and Mr. Obama just smiles???? She delivered one of the most vicious political speeches at any convention ever and Mr. Obama goes on national television and says that worst things have been hurdled at him in the basketball court????? Senator Biden even praised her speech? What are we? Enablers?

So if you actually take the time to read this, and please forgive my grammar as I type this fast and furiously so I can make my meeting in time, and if you are in a position to forward this to the right people please do. This email is nothing but one of million of opinions going on right now.

And one more thing......Mr. Obama also needs to fight not only for those that supported him but also for those that he intends to attract and for the rest of the Democrats that did not support them......18 million Hillary Clinto's backers.

THAT'S WHY I WANTED TO CREATE THE "WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE?" group. To rally the grass roots supporters to speak up and urge Mr. Obama to stop playing nice. Arianna Huffington already did it on her site........Was enybody paying attention over at the Obama camp?

I love Mr. Obama. He needs to fight!!!!

Lipstick on a pig! Our new battle cry!

We shall overcome — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 07:59:51 EDT

I would love to hear Obama use this phrase over and over again, at every event and speaking opportunity. Let them eat cake, Obama should stand his ground. Make this our new battle cry.

McCain campaign is nothing but a lipstick on a pig.

Let's use their tactics against them.

Please repeat "Lipstick on a pig" at every speaking chance you get! Drive the point home, get the McCain-Rove camp a taste of their own medicine.

This will unify the Democratic base, it will help drive the point home that you are not backing down and that we have a backbone. The media will eat it up, and will actually become your trump card.

Use a bit of in-your-face attitude. "Yes, I said that, and I will say it again, "Lip stick on a pig" is what the McCain camp is all about these days when it comes to their policy."

Lipstick on a pig is not an insult to women, but it shows how Obama will stand up for his beliefs. NEVER EVER backdown.

Out-bully the bullies.

Time to Fight Back!

Deborah — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 20:44:59 EDT

I hope to see the Obama/Biden campaign pull off the gloves and go after McCain and Palin - one way that I can think of immediately is to have a Democratic Southern female congresswoman or female senator to call a press conference and tell McCain and Palin: "don't know about you folks from the North, but down here in the South, our mamas and daddies tell us 'If you dish it out, you better be able to take it, baby!'" - so get ready, 'cause we're just getting started!!!" - I guarantee you, there' a lot of folks down here who can "relate" to that!!

WILL WE FIGHT OR SHOULD WE THROW IN THE TOWEL

Caldarone — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 01:41:59 EDT

First of all the American people are NOT SMART... so you can kill that crap. Its a pompus way to think, Come on Obama you have travel all around this country but talking to people who already support you, don't just drink that water.. You need to get out there talk to those people who DO NOT support you, and look at the reasons.. its because of ignorance or because they do not understand you.. YOUR TALKING OVER THEIR HEADS..

YOU GOT TO DUMB DOWN YOUR MESSAGE SO EVERYONE GET ITS.. YOU ALSO NEED TO CALL THE BASTARDS OUT ON THE LIES .. THEY ARE LYING.. there is no way around this. This taking the HIGH ROAD , you can NOT do that with SLIME.

They are making this election into a MUDDY WATER CAMPAIGN FULL OF DISTRACTIONS , no issues. This is turning into a nightmare with everyday, KEEP SAYING JOHN MCCAIN voted with George Bush 90% of the time.. OK WE GOT THAT ALREADY. YOU GUYS HAVE SAID THAT .... .. Now you got to tell us about the LIES, FLIP FLOPPING ON HIS OWN WORDS OF RUNNING AN HONORABLE CAMPAIGN, NOW THEY ARE IN FULL FORCE KARL ROVIAN DIVIDE AND CONQUER .. they are going to divide the country to win this election..

GET UP AND FIGHT BACK.. THIS HIGH ROAD CRAP WORKED IN THE PRIMARIES BUT NOW YOUR IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, AND THE FAR RIGHT WING IS ENERGIZED, AND THE INDEPENDANTS ARE DUMB WILL GO WITH THE POLLS..

I am so discouraged, I am going to bed.. This is the farest right ticket to run for office , its worse that George Bush, and it looks like we are about to elect that back in again based on BS. I can not believe the O campaign is allowing this shit to happen.

Obama Daily Fact 09/10/2008 - Spread Truth!

Tanya Mitchell Graham — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 00:38:17 EDT

Here is what I sent out already today!

E-mail: Obama Daily Fact: Barack Obama will enact a windfall profits tax on excessive oil company profits to give American families an immediate $1,000 emergency energy rebate to help families pay rising bills. This relief would be a down payment on Obama's long-term plan to provide middle-class families with at least $1,000 per year in permanent tax relief.

Text: Obama Daily Fact: As President, Sen. Obama plans to enact a Windfall Profits Tax to provide a $1,000 emergency energy rebate to American families. Spread Truth.

Please forward this information to those who are not members of www.barackobama.com.

Let's spread the word!

Fight Club

srvlonghorn — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:37:57 EDT

John McCain's acceptance speech was approximately 49 minutes long. He used the words "fight", "fighting", and "fought" - a total of 32 times. That's once every minute and a half. He clearly likes to fight, perhaps he has an overactive amygdala...

IT'S MY PARTY AND I'LL CRY IF I WANT TO

Kaz — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 20:43:07 EDT

"The republicans win by throwing the first punch. They win by not being defensive. And they win by not punching back. They always start the attack, and follow it up until you cry uncle and admit defeat. They don't get in a defensive posture, mainly because one has to be attacked first in order to defend ones self. And they certainly never go over and over and over what their opponent's talking points are in a whiny, silly attempt to defend ones self!"

"Go, OBAMA, go!! Take them down with those one liner's your so good at. Why does your opponent keep attacking you? Because it works. They win the news cycle and make you look weak because now you have to defend yourself or come off as looking weak. Where are those brilliant come backs? Those one liners that shut them up and make them look stupid! To win the news cycle is to win the day!!"

The first time we lost to Bush was an outrage. They lied and cheated and stole and WON.

The second time we lost to Bush was ridiculous, to know that that many people actually voted for Bush and not Kerry. It was absurd. It was a time of great cynicism in politics and America and the future.

The third time we lose to Bush? I will be so angry at the Democrats for being given the white house on a silver platter. And still losing. I was angry the first two times. Every time I hear about some Republican outrage ( Iraq, Iran, the constitution, the federal corporate bail outs, the lies and indifference about the economy, etc., etc.) I get more cynical and disillusioned. Are there really that many people in this country that don't know a terrorist from a Muslim?

To put salt on the wound is the fact that we now know that they stole the 2000 election. We now know they sanctioned torture. We know that there were no weapons of mass destruction and THERE NEVER WERE. We know that Carl Rove and Cheney bullied the press into passively going along with their outing of Valerie Plame. We know that they wiretapped us illegally. And WE let them. So whose to blame for the sad state of affairs? And we seriously wonder why there are so many disenchanted, apathetic youth in this country? Maybe because they see Republicans lying and us Democrats hoping that if we fight for what is right, that people will be drawn and inspired to us. UM...newsflash! This is not working!

Democrats, heck even Republicans are angry at the way this country has been mishandled. We're frustrated.

It's time to teach the world how to win the good fight. Democrats say, don't attack a woman, it's un presidential for the presidential candidate to go after the vice president, people are tired of division and scare tactics. Well, have fun losing another election to a bunch of lying thugs.

Why is it wrong to expose Republicans of all their wrong doing? Why do we think that we can beat them on the issues when the average American on the street doesn't know what Obama's stance on taxes is? Why do we stubbornly stick to the issues and only the issues when no one listens? Have these last eight years really taught us that little? We are tired and angry and fed up. We have not waited this long to see another gentlemanly debate about issues. We want to see them sweat. Heck, after all the money the campaign has raised, you owe it to your supporters to at least go down swinging. This is not some academic historical exercise.

So what do I suggest? Change the topic, please!! Before it's too late. Make this campaign about their failures, not personal attacks, or underhanded viciousness. There are a bazillion ways to show the Republicans' mistakes in a honest, straightforward, no nonsense way. Barak did it during his convention speech. The crowd loved it when he took a punch. It was a punch for all of us who have had to simmer on the sidelines. And it felt good! The crowd loved it. The press loved it.

How is this election going to be won? By who wins the news cycle. Their attacks are going to get more vicious because the press and public are loving it. And they have always worked. Always.

Go, OBAMA, go!! Take them down with those one liner's your so good at. Why does your opponent keep attacking you? Because it works. They win the news cycle and make you look weak because now you have to defend yourself or come off as looking weak. Where are those brilliant come backs? Those one liners that shut them up and make them look stupid! To win the news cycle is to win the day!!

The republicans win by throwing the first punch. They win by not being defensive. And they win by not punching back. They always start the attack, and follow it up until you cry uncle and admit defeat. They don't get in a defensive posture, mainly because one has to be attacked first in order to defend ones self. And they certainly never go over and over and over what their opponent's talking points are in a whiny, silly attempt to defend ones self!

Oh, and don't underestimate Palin's ability to hold her own in a debate or interview. She can't be worse than Bush and he beat Gore AND Kerry.

I used to be a Republican

WNYmathGuy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:38:21 EDT

I was born and raised as a Republican, though I was not registered to vote till after Reagan got in office, and after my contract in the Marines was completed. I listened to talk radio and Rush Limbaugh from about 1987 to about 1997. So what changed and made me a Democrat and nearly a Delegate at this year’s convention?

Towards the end of the 1980's my wife and I had a produce store, a hobby farm and 2 full time jobs. As an adult with so many responsibilities I was learning fast, and I was developing great reasoning skills. I started to find things wrong in what was being said on talk radio. I found that if you want to get on a talk radio show, you have to fit one of two requirements; agree with them with out seeming psychotic, or disagree with them in a lame way that makes their opposition look bad. They will not air a solid argument against themselves because truth has nothing to do with their message. I found that level of deceit deplorable, but never detected it before I grew an open mind and listened to both sides. I was capable of good thinking, but was never in a position to try it.

In the late 1990's I went back to school and studied many things but loaded heavily in Economics coursework. During the first campaign of Lil' Bush, I was phoned by a GOTV Republican party volunteer. I said I wasn't voting for them because it was too much Texas Oil power in one area and that if they won something would happen that would raise the prices of fuel such that Texan's would be able to profit again on their local oil production. I may be a little off, but it was kind of prophetic if not just openly cynical. That volunteer treated me so badly on the phone that I wondered what I was doing in the same party.

I felt like the Democrats had little to offer me at that time. This is because of the persistence of propaganda in the human mind. Old thoughts in the human mind that were learned well remain intact until overwhelming new evidence proves them wrong. Thus I had only heard all of what's wrong with Democrats. That is not an easy hurdle for an ordinary person to get over, and mental assaults don't work; if you meet a person like I was, try calm discussion with the proper rules of debate. If the discussion becomes heated, our brains get into defensive positions and loose the ability to think rationally.

I went to the Denver convention and found that everything I ever heard about Democrats was a lie. I watched the Republican convention and now I am embarrassed that I was ever associated with them; I know good Republicans, but those people are not in any position of power. I'd really like an opportunity to punch a lot of those jack-asses in the face that control the Republican Party.

As a mathematician of sorts, I advise you to whenever you get to discuss anything with potential opponents or undecided voters, get their definitions of what they say they are. As I said in the beginning, I was raised a Republican, but hearing Senator Wexler of Florida go on about fire breathing Liberals, I heard the definition of a Liberal for the first time and realized I have always thought like a Liberal, and I was only against them because I held a mistaken definition of Liberal in my head. Find out what the person you are talking to really wants to happen and you may find out they are on your side, but they don't know it yet.

Good luck to you all, and remember change a mind = change a vote, and that one changed vote = a gain of 2 votes at the booth. The worst you can hope for is an opponent looses their enthusiasm when you shed the light of truth and they stay home on voting day.

I used to be a Republican

WNYmathGuy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:37:49 EDT

I used to be a Republican

WNYmathGuy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:36:58 EDT

I used to be a Republican

WNYmathGuy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:35:42 EDT

I used to be a Republican

WNYmathGuy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:33:49 EDT

I used to be a Republican

WNYmathGuy — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:32:32 EDT

Some Thoughts on McCain's speech while at work...

JayB — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 14:20:04 EDT

I've seen McCain's speech enough times now to wonder, what's with all the fighting? He wants people to fight for this and that... a whole laundry list of things. And I'm left wondering who are we fighting??? Our own government? Our local and state governments? Society? What!?

I think it's great that we encourage people to improve themselves. I'm all for that. I don't think everyone can do it, and that's where I have to disagree with so many things right-wing. I feel like they tend to view things in so much of black/white nature, when nothing is.

So, with that in mind, are we fighting our own ineptitude? Are we fighting the party in power? Are we fighting the corruption and mistakes of the past 8 years?

Expand or Die

Brad Jarvis — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:37:34 EDT

In his acceptance speech for the Republican nomination for president, Senator John McCain summarized his primary philosophy of life, that all of us must fight for everything we have and hope to get, with country first. This followed a convention that promoted the world view that protecting, enriching, and growing the ranks of people like us is the duty of every American.

In a nutshell, this world view explains much of what has happened over the past eight years under ultra-conservative political domination: Military occupation and economic plundering of other countries, privatization of government, arbitrary detention and torture (of “others” who might pose a threat), domestic spying (finding the “others” among us), and environmental destruction (where the rest of Nature as simply a set of resources to be consumed). People who don't match their rigid definition of a “real American” as a Christian, heterosexual, economically productive Caucasian have been at best pitied, and at worst subjected to ridicule and restriction of opportunities to survive and thrive.

That many liberals choose to broaden the definition of “us” to include all of humanity (for some, even other species) is too much for ultra-conservatives to handle. They are lost in a world where “others” can't be easily identified and controlled; where behaviors rather than people are evil; and where survival depends more on cooperation than competition. Unfortunately for them, such a world is the one we currently live in, and pretending that it's something else can only lead to pain and suffering on a massive scale (as fundamentalists of other faiths and cultures continue to prove).

The “us versus them” attitude has had historical value. In small, relatively isolated groups, it has led to the evolution of different behavioral and physical attributes attuned to the unique environments where they reside. “Others” who did not have such attributes threatened the survival of the groups, which meant they either had to be assimilated, marginalized, or eliminated. As resources ran out and waste overcame them, groups needed to expand or die, which led to either conflict with occupants of areas they expanded into, or exploration and settlement of uninhabited areas that required a strong focus on taking risk for personal gain.

Most such groups have merged into larger communities with global reach (or are in the process of doing so). These larger communities are forced by common interest to cooperate with each other in an era where their actions can jeopardize the future of the entire human species. At the same time, our exponentially growing consumption of resources (such as fresh water, arable land, fossil fuel, precious metals, other species) and its attendant waste (pollution) is forcing our new global community to make the same choice its ancestors dealt with: expand or die. To expand, we will all need to work together as the problem is too big for any of us. If we choose to die, by complacency or mindless pursuit of self-interest, then competition will sadly become more valuable as resources run out and the environment gets more toxic.

Expansion cannot include the increased drilling and environmental exploitation that ultra-conservatives like John McCain champion. In fact, pursuing such a strategy will only make the problem worse, by adding waste and increasing the rate of depletion. What we must do instead is increase the amount of renewable resources we can use as fast as possible (and not using them any faster than they can regenerate) while limiting the amount of non-renewable resources that we use. We will need new non-renewable resources to be sure, but only to create and be able to use renewable ones. What this means immediately is that we must focus the majority of the world’s economic growth on developing our ability to use renewable energy, and reuse (or get more use out of) the products we make. What’s left of our growth should be spent acquiring more non-renewable resources to further this effort, without adding harmful waste; this may involve a serious and vigorous pursuit of the settlement of other worlds such as the Moon and Mars, a task well suited to those driven by competition and stressed by highly ordered and unavoidable social interaction.

There are those of us who are comfortable with fighting for what we want, and there are others who work best when we are cooperating with other people toward improving our common welfare. Both types of people are necessary in a society, but they must be free to be productive in their own way; otherwise they will clash and the resulting stress will become too great for all of them. There is no one left to fight except ourselves, and we can’t expect that learning to better live together will solve our problems. In the world we share today, converging toward a single community that faces the historical challenge of expanding or dying, the competitors need to be turned loose to find and develop new resources while the cooperators work on getting the most use out of what we have.

Reaching out for help....fight fight fight

i am rasa — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 11:20:52 EDT

The lesson he learned was always to “fight for what’s right for our country,” he said, bringing the crowd to its feet for a sustained ovation with a determined call for action:

“Fight for the ideals and character of a free people! Fight for our children’s future! Fight for justice and opportunity for all! Stand up to defend our country from its enemies! Stand up for each other — for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America!

“Fight with me! Fight with me! Fight with me! Fight for what’s right for our country!” SAID JOHN MCCAIN TO ME IN SAINT PAUL WHILE AT THE REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, THURSDAY NIGHT SEPTEMBER 4th.

WOW!!! I'M READY TO FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT.....Being the MAVERICK I AM, accepting your hand reaching out to HELP YOU...I JOIN YOU in thanking GOD above ALL else...THANKING GOD that WE both survived the Vietnam War (i forget what was the purpose of that war?) THANKING GOD that serving HIS CAUSE is serving the greatest cause of ALL, serving the CAUSE of ONESELF...THANKING GOD for the freedom and opportunity to CO-CREATE HISTORY with the IDEALS and CHARACTER in the MOLD of individual unique miraculous genius that WE were CREATED...THANKING GOD for the opportunity to educate the children to the TRUTH, GOODNESS and BEAUTY of ONESELF....THANKING GOD for knowing that all enemies and terrorists are within oneself and by making PEACE with ONESELF the NATION will be FREE...THANKING GOD ...for knowing I am a slave to no one, and at service to ALL. THANKING GOD...for knowing the balance(thank you Shawn Johnson) of health and wealth for the NATION. THANKING GOD that my lessons in life of staying HOME to learn and master the lessons of PEACE are as of equal importance to your story of LEAVING HOME to FIGHT and learn the lessons of WAR. THANKING GOD...that in becoming Owakened to BEING my own MAN, I am a co-creator and co-designer in forming a MORE PERFECT UNION for our NATION. THANKING GOD ....that WE join hands in knowing the highest VALUES of oneself, family, communities, state and nation are ALL based on LOVE. THANKING GOD...for the opportunity to know the enemy and the peacemaker within as the creator of the ultimate freedom of oneself and the NATION. THANKING GOD ..that SIN and SEPARATION are one and the same...that tearing down walls, stepping out of the box, building bridges and roads is the way of justice and opportunity for ALL. THANK GOD ...that within the SPACE of beautiful pure perfect love that surrounds us within as without, has NO SCARS. THANK GOD ...FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT for a CULTURE based on the heart of reality. THANK GOD ....FOR ONE NATION UNDER GOD....THANK GOD ...for being able to surrender the EGO in order to know the heart of what is right-wrong, cold-hot, up-down, in-out....THANK GOD ...for the love of men and women in joining together in co-creating THE CHILDREN. THANK GOD for remembering to remember WE ARE THE CHILDREN. THANK GOD for BEING a player in the ultimate game of life and that the game is in creating systems of playing the game within the RULES of being oneself...THANK GOD that politics is about forming relationships that unify the diverse nation of ONESELF...THANK GOD...for the inspiration of our leaders inspiring US to Owaken and Ompowered to change and transform all aspects of poverty into wealth ....THANK GOD ...that pow might transform into the ultimate meaning of freedom, POW!!! THANK GOD for the freedom of expression that ALL our stages and courts of playing THE GAME are of equal importance in the Owakening and Ompowering of every individual unique miraculous artistic genius to be the peace, love and freedom of the NATION at play. THANK GOD for EVERYONE reaching out their hand for help and connecting with YOU! Infinite and Eternal BLESSINGS, GOD!

Joinging McCains Fight?

Brian from Roanoke, VA — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:38:38 EDT

"We live in a dangerous world. And we need a president who understands the lessons of Sept. 11, 2001: that to protect America, we must stay on the offense, stop attacks before they happen and not wait to be hit again."

-Bush, RPN 2008

I'm going to fight for my cause every day as your President. I'm going to fight to make sure every American has every reason to thank God, as I thank Him: that I'm an American, a proud citizen of the greatest country on earth, and with hard work, strong faith and a little courage, great things are always within our reach. Fight with me. Fight with me.

Fight for what's right for our country.

Fight for the ideals and character of a free people.

Fight for our children's future.

Fight for justice and opportunity for all.

Stand up to defend our country from its enemies.

Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America.

Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight. Nothing is inevitable here. We're Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history. We make history.

-McCain, RPN 2008

I say: my feeling as a Christian points me to my Lord and Saviour as a fighter. It points me to the Man who once in loneliness, surrounded only by a few followers, recognized these Jews for what they were and summoned men to the fight against them and who, God's truth! was greatest not as sufferer but as fighter. In boundless love as a Christian and as a man I read through that passage which tells us how the Lord at last rose in His might and seized the scourge to drive out of the Temple the brood of vipers and of adders. How terrific was His fight for the world against the Jewish poison. Today, after two thousand years, with deepest emotion I recognize more profoundly than ever before the fact that it was for this that He had to shed His blood upon the Cross. As a Christian I have not duty to allow myself be cheated, but I have the duty to be a fighter for truth and justice.

- Adolf Hitler, April 12, 1921

… if, as in propaganda for sticking out a war, the aim is to influence a whole people, we must avoid excessive intellectual demands on our public, and too much caution cannot be extended in this direction… all effective propaganda must be limited to a very few points and must harp on these in slogans until the last member of the public understands what you want him to understand by your slogan. As soon as you sacrifice this slogan and try to be many-sided, the effect will piddle away, for the crowd can neither digest nor retain the material offered. In this way the result is weakened and in the end entirely cancelled out.

Hitler, Mein Kampf

Number of times McCain mentioned fighting 35

McCain Mob Mentality

Jim — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:37:45 EDT

Like a member of a mob yelling "Jump" to a potential suicide jumper, McCain yelled "Fight" about 40 times in his closing speech at the Republican Convention.

Is "fighting" the way he intends to "reach across the isle?" McCain's angry, bitter nature is exposed once again. He is not fit to lead this country.

19th Century Argument in the 21st Century

BRGHTSD1 HOPE & COURAGE — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:03:31 EDT

It seems to me that the differences were made abundantly clear if not last week, this week. The extremists had their way with the Republican party and highjacked this campaign. FINE...because this is an antiquated argument with old ideas that aren't popular with anyone outside of that extreme way of thinking.

We should thank them for proving themselves narrow minded, intolerant, without the ability or desire to compromise for the sake of solution. We should thank them for standing up for FIGHTING. Fighting does nothing but encourage more reasons to fight.

We on the other hand:

Tolerance

Freedom

Science

Future

Reason

Pragmatic

Populist

Thank you for revealing yourselves far right extremists...your self exposure is a wonderful gift.

Watching the RNC - Throw Up Now???

Mickiboop (P.O.B.) Be the Change — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 23:06:14 EDT

After watching the lies and smears the republicans are throwing at Barack and Joe, I decided that I've got to donate a little to someone's fund. I will donate $5 each (I know it's not much) to the first four responses (yes I'm pandering) that I get to this post. Just make sure that your responses say something about the circus of lies currently showing on primetime television.

Sarah Palin and the Republicans are making this campaign into a real bare knuckled fight, so we've got to take it to them! Let's fill the Obama - Biden campaign bank with the funds they are going to need in order to fight these liars, deceivers and fanatics with no soul!

Donate - Donate - Donate
Obama - Biden '08, Can't Wait!!!

Countering The Palin VP Choice

Kanin from Brooklyn, NY — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 01:58:21 EDT

The Republicans managed to blunt the effectiveness of Obama's amazing, inspiring, near perfect speech last night...with a gimmick. The choice effectively saturated the news media with Palin's biography, which ofcourse, is a positive. Palin is new to the scene, unknown to the nation, and therefore she will be defined in the minds of the undecided voters by the constant message that is shown on the news networks. The challenge is to be the force who has the strongest and clearest voice. The democrats did not effectively respond to this challenge today. Surrogates on the cable news shows were obviously unprepared and simply didnt know what to say.

My humble suggestions of angles of attack:

1. "In his first test of presidential judgement, John McCain made a calculated and purely political decision by picking Sara Palin. With Joe Biden, Barack Obama made a Commander-In-Chief decision."

2. "If you look at her positions on the issues, Sara Palin is out of the mainstream of America and therefore cannot effectively fight for the middle class"

3. "Sara Palin stands against everything Hillary Clinton stands for, including a womans right to choose...even in the case of rape, incest, or to protect the life of a mother"

4. "John McCain put politics first, and would potentially intrust the most powerful job in the world with someone who has no foreign policy experience, and indeed, no national experience to speak of"

5. "Sara Palin has had an extremely short career of public service and she is already under a cloud of corruption in her own state".

6. "By choosing a running mate that he did not personally take the time to get to know, John McCain put political points ahead of finding a capable potential commander-in-chief"

7. "In choosing Sara Palin, John McCain past over plenty of qualified women with experience in order to attempt to reap an immediate political benefit That is an insult to hard working women everywhere and it does not reflect the judgement of a commander and chief."

8. "Like George Bush and his history of cronyism, John McCain has selected to pick someone for VP for reasons that have nothing to do with them being the best person for the job. Like the current administration, Sara Palin's administration is not above firing public servants for unethical reasons. More of the same.

9. "Pandering Pandering Pandering. Gimmick Gimmick Gimmick. Corruption Corruption Corruption."

10. "If John McCain cannot stand up against the right wing of his party and choose a capable person like Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman, how can he stand up against Putin or Chavez or Ahmadinejad?

And PLEASE, OBAMA campaign...get a video up already about Palin is a bad choice. The other side hide video up within hours of Joe Biden's selection! Right before you put out an ad with highlights from last nights speech highlighting the most effective lines!

Another great local story and warning!

George A Sanders — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 22:51:13 EDT

Quoted from an email sent by Barb Paulin:

"A young volunteer stopped by to pick up something from me to deliver to Tracy at HQ. We didn't know this young man but we were all chatting when one of my husband's customers came by for salsa and tomatoes. We had never talked politics with him, so after introducing Courtney and this young volunteer as our Obama kids, we asked our customer if he supported Obama.

He DID. He voted Obama in the primary. But he told us he has been hearing things on the national media lately that made him wonder and he is actually thinking of voting for McCain. I asked for an example and he told us that CNN had reported that Obama had taken the American Flag out of his campaign jet and replaced it with a picture of himself. I was shocked. That is not the Barack Obama I know, and I admitted that if true, that upset me as well. I vowed to look into it.

This young volunteer that Tracy had sent to my house spoke up and acknowledged he had also seen this report on cable news and had looked into it. The truth? The Obama campaign had been leasing a plane from American Airlines during the primary. It carried the AA logo. Now that he is the presumptive nominee, he can still lease the plane, but it cannot carry the logo of any corporation. So the AA logo along with the linked US flags were removed. The plane still bears flags of the US. And no, there is not a plane flying about America with a picture of Barack Obama on the side!! Or if there is, Obama is not a passenger in it!

Folks this is nuts! How is the media getting away with such lies! Why do otherwise smart and successful people believe them? Well those are questions for another evening.

But I do want to give kudos to that young volunteer that Tracy sent to my house. He is Stephen Kemp, a Penn State York student from the Shrewsbury for Change Team. Robby, you have way too many exceptional young people. I want some of them :)

Don't believe everything you hear on tv and maybe we should follow the lead of our young people this time around???"

The 3 Brained Monster: Feeling before thinking

Food Fascist — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 23:52:54 EDT

...."as humans, being the product of a long evolutionary process, we really have three brains."

Politicians who win campaigns do so because they can speak to all three of those brains.

The Reptilian Brain

This is the part of the brain we share in common with reptiles like alligators and komodo dragons. The reptile brain knows one thing: survival.

The Reptile Brain only knows fight or flight, hunger and fear, attack or run. You can stimulate it with some right words, but it operates purely at the level of visceral stimulus/ response.

The Mammalian Brain

This brain handles complex emotions like love, indignation, compassion, envy, and hope. Anybody who has worked with a animals or had a pet knows that mammals share these emotions with humans because we share this brain. Although a snake can't feel shame or enthusiasm, it's completely natural for a dog or cat.

The brain expresses itself exclusively in the form of feelings, most often felt in the heart or the gut.

The Neo "New" Cortex is something we share with the higher apes. It is where we process abstract thought, words and symbols, logic, and time.

So based on the excerpt from Cracking the Code above, can you picture your opponent as the big wily reptilian creature with the sounds of cracking skin you have to tame to tell that they must vote for Barack Obama? Can you do it?

Hartmann, Thom (2008). Cracking the Code. San Francisco. Berrett Koehler.p. 56.

Fight Back: New Yorker Cover Offensive? Ya' Think?

Fighter501 — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 22:53:59 EDT

Fight back strategy: I am shocked with the disappointing response from the Democrats to the cover from the New Yorker featuring Barack as a Muslim extremist and Michelle as a Guerrilla militant. "It's tasteless and offensive." What was your first clue? How about doing something worthwhile with this opportunity like saying, "I'm excited to see the John McCain caricature?" Then next thing you know every artist with an once talent would be drawing them and posting them everywhere possible to cash in on the hype. Instead, Democrats are revelling in getting picked on. This worked for which Presidential candidate again?

Reports of Mosque Surveillance Concerns Muslims

funkfresh01 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 23:00:53 EDT

http://religion.info/english/articles/article_385.shtml

Source: Religioscope

Author: Richard Cimino

While there have been allegations in the past of government investigation of mosques on issues relating to terrorism, the recent report, first featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, is said to be the first confirmation that surveillance is taking place.

An article in the Los Angeles Times (May 29) reports that information about the alleged spying surfaced in a case about classified files concerning terrorism that were stolen from a secure office used by military and civilian law enforcement officials at Camp Pendleton. Some of these classified records referred to the surveillance of Muslim communities in Southern California, specifically, the Islamic Center of San Diego. The records alleged that the mosque had been monitored as part of a federal surveillance program targeting Muslim groups, according to the Union-Tribune article.

The FBI's Plan to ‘Profile’ Muslims

funkfresh01 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:03:03 EDT

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/07/10/muslim_profiling/index.html

Source: Salon

Author: Juan Cole

The U.S. Justice Department is considering a change in the grounds on which the FBI can investigate citizens and legal residents of the United States. Till now, DOJ guidelines have required the FBI to have some evidence of wrongdoing before it opens an investigation. The impending new rules, which would be implemented later this summer, allow bureau agents to establish a terrorist profile or pattern of behavior and attributes and, on the basis of that profile, start investigating an individual or group. Agents would be permitted to ask "open-ended questions" concerning the activities of Muslim Americans and Arab-Americans. A person's travel and occupation, as well as race or ethnicity, could be grounds for opening a national security investigation.

The rumored changes have provoked protests from Muslim American and Arab-American groups. The Council on American Islamic Relations, among the more effective lobbies for Muslim Americans' civil liberties, immediately denounced the plan, as did James Zogby, the president of the Arab-American Institute. Said Zogby, "There are millions of Americans who, under the reported new parameters, could become subject to arbitrary and subjective ethnic and religious profiling." Zogby, who noted that the Bush administration's history with profiling is not reassuring, warned that all Americans would suffer from a weakening of civil liberties.

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.

ALERT... More of our Blogers Wanted at Huffingtonpost

Unknown user — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 08:30:09 EDT

Alert: Please Consider the Matters of Our blogs at "huffingtonpost"

We need Extra help, New More Obama Supporters to write small comments in order to FIGHT by answering and promoting our Candidate. All You need to do is to register in order to be able to post your blogs.

As an example since yesterday We had an article to comment, "Obama undercuts his brand" ... Of course it's a threat.. but we have to tell them in our comment that for ex. "Obama is calling for all Americans" and by doing that we fight against the McCain's blogers, now!

Obs: We also need help from our campaign to send DEM Moderator.

Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them..... by William Shakespeare.

Register yourself to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Please, Join Us... now !

Getting into the fray, not used to fighting

Barbarella — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:25:06 EDT

I was taught to be polite. Giving others the benefit of the doubt and listening to others points of view is one of my policies. I listen patiently, with compassion to some of the most offensive points of view, and I try to see things through the speakers eyes. I believe that we are all deeply connected, and that if I had experienced what the other person had, I might feel that way too. So I listen, ask questions, get closer, try to understand, and gently introduce new ideas. It is a very yin way of being.

Now, it is time to change. If change is what I want, and it is, change I must. Yang is what I seek. I need to learn to argue. For I am confronted with a barrage of unsavory smears about Obama. You don't have to scratch the surface to sniff the fear and hate. The scum of lies are open and ferocious. I don't see the possibility of changing the more virulent of our opponents. However, I need to know how to engage these folks. I also need to learn how to persuade those who might be more open to change. I want to do some door to door campaigning for Obama, and I will need to learn how to fight.
I need information on how to counter each accusation, find a group of people who need to do the same thing and practice with them point by point.

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.

fight the smears

Ajay — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 10:30:25 EDT

In case anyone reading has not yet heard about it, the Obama camp set up a new website, www.fightthesmears.com The purpose of the site is to fight back against the smears thrown at Obama over the past months...rumours and gossip, largely spread online and/or by right wing commentators. So go visit it...information on everything from once again saying he is not a Muslim, to the Michelle Obama "whitey" rumour. I think this was a very smart move on Obama's part. Confront the rumour mill head on, debunk the lies before they become something larger and uglier. And really, I don't think the McCain campaign has any right to throw ANYTHING negative at Obama.

I would like to see Senator (soon to be President) Obama drill McCain on the fact that, while he claims to be so supportive of veterans like himself, why would he consistently vote AGAINST bills to better veterans' treatment and lives. Furthermore, I'd like to see him ask Sen. McCain how it is that he recieves $50,000+ a month for his war-related disability, when most vets get very little. Some sources have put his monthly disability pay at upwards of $75,000. Not that I think McCain or ANY veteran of war should get a small check for their services and sacrifices, but why should one man of priviledge get so much more than the others?

Perhaps the second part he could skip, Obama is better than that, that may be stooping to their level, but he should definitely question John McCain's loyalties to the veterans, especially when McCain questions Obama's loyalty to the country, which we all know will happen.

Personally, I can't wait for the Obama/McCain town halls, to see those two side by side will just further drive home what a great choice Obama is for the next President of the United States.

Peace,

Ajay

Ready to Fight again!

Marie — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 22:45:23 EDT

As asked By Kelly

Is it over yet?

I am so glad the last primary is here. It has seemed like months! I have not been here much at all lately, I got really sick of politics these last few months. I'm here ready to fight again.

No! We regroup and begin again. Here's the latest Folks!

Good Morning Kennesaw and Acworth!

I am the Northwest Atlanta Metropolitan Organizer for the Obama campaign, newly arrived on the ground here in Georgia. I just wanted to point you toward an important voter registration event in the Kennesaw/Acworth area this coming Saturday, June 14th at noon. We’ll be meeting at the Twisted Taco (address included in link below) and heading out to register voters at targeted locations. Sign up here so we know to expect you:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4bdp

You all have a great group of dedicated volunteers already in Kennesaw, so I would urge you to get plugged in as soon as you can if you are interested in helping to lead the efforts. Come to the organizational meeting this Thursday, June 12th at 7 PM at US Play at 775 Cobb Place Blvd. We’ll discuss the Saturday event and beyond, and continue developing plans for moving forward. Sign up here if you can make it:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4ggb

Lastly, we are building a massive volunteer movement across the state of Georgia. Barack is within striking distance of Senator McCain here but there is no way we win this state without a tremendous voter registration push and a huge outreach effort to swing voters and new voters. You can be a crucial part of kicking this movement off by hosting a house party, where a campaign staffer will help you plan to have people over to your house and make the pitch to bring them on board to the most substantial person-to-person grassroots effort in campaign history. Be a part of making this history and host a house party on Saturday, June 28th. You can sign up by going here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/uniteforchange/

I have been working on this campaign since last June, and I can tell you that I have never been more excited to be a part of this campaign than since I’ve come to Georgia.

You all have gotten off to a tremendous start, and I see the incredible potential we hold in the palm of our hands. All we have to do is step up as a collective group and this state – and likely the presidential election – will be won. Imagine waking up on November 5th and realizing you’d been a part of electing Barack Obama as President. I hope you won’t wait any longer to join us and make that a reality.

Regards,

Charlie Anderson

Charlie Anderson

Northwest Atlanta Metropolitan Area Organizer

Obama for America

(919) 723-7144

canderson@barackobama.com

New York Muslim’s Struggle for Justice in America

funkfresh01 — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:08:55 EDT

http://atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/4016/32/

Source: Atlantic Free Press

Author: Stephen Lendman

Yassin Aref is a 37 year old Albany, New York resident and one of many Muslim victims of police state justice in post-9/11 America. They've been hunted down, rounded up, held in detention, kept in isolation, denied bail, restricted in their right to counsel, tried on secret evidence and trumped-up charges, then incarcerated as political prisoners or deported to where they face possible arrest and torture.

Because of his faith and ethnicity, Aref was victimized by US "justice" in a post-9/11 climate of fear. He's an Iraqi Kurd who emigrated to the US as a UN refugee in 1999 with his wife and three young children. He's now in federal prison but committed no crime. He's also the author of a poignant memoir/autobiography titled "Son of Mountains: My Life as a Kurd and a Terror Suspect." He wrote it in custody at Troy, New York's Rensselaer County Jail after his wrongful conviction in October 2006.

Muslim Activists Seeking Probe of Reported Surveillance

funkfresh01 — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:18:08 EDT

http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_C_muslim30.426eaa8.html

Source: Press-Enterprise

Author: Paige Austin

A civil-rights group and a coalition of Muslim activists headed by a Corona man called on Congress this week to investigate a report that military and law enforcement officials stole surveillance records of Southland Muslims from Camp Pendleton.

The request stems from a news report that military officials and law enforcement members of the Los Angeles County Terrorist Early Warning Group illegally took the top-secret documents from the base's Strategic Technical Operations Center.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Gary Maziarz has been court-martialed and convicted for his role in the thefts.

While the details of the surveillance and the alleged theft remain largely unknown, the incident provides confirmation that the military and law enforcement groups have been gathering information about local Muslim communities, said Michael German, policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington Legislative Office.

Florida Muslim Leaders Testify at United Nation Racism Hearing

funkfresh01 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:59:14 EDT

MIAMI, FL, 6/4/08) - On June 2, 2008, Florida Muslim leaders met with Doudou Diène, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, at a Miami hearing to discuss Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination.

For photos of the event: http://picasaweb.google.com/bedier/UNMiamiHearingOnRacism

Special Rapporteur Diène is visiting several cities across the United States to "gather first-hand information on issues related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia."

Reuters: U.N. racism investigator to visit U.S.

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL16843098

U.S. MARINES ACCUSED OF PROSELYTIZING IN FALLUJAH

funkfresh01 — Sat, 31 May 2008 22:07:21 EDT

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004444827_iraqgospel29.html

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

Author: Jamal Naji and Leila Fadel

At the western entrance to the Iraqi city of Fallujah on Tuesday, Muamar Anad handed his residence badge to the U.S. Marines guarding the city. They checked to be sure he was a city resident, and when they were done, Anad said, a Marine slipped a coin out of his pocket and put it in his hand.

Out of fear, he accepted it, Anad said. When he was inside the city, the college student said, he looked at one side of the coin. "Where will you spend eternity?" it asked.

He flipped it over, and on the other side it read, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16."

They

PK — Sat, 24 May 2008 20:14:18 EDT

I have spent MANY months supporting Barack Obama by a vocal presence alone. My thoughts dispensed only when asked by a friend or someone who respects my political decisions.

That time has come to an end. It is time for a new chapter. Time to be a soldier in this war against hatred, racism and hypocrisy and an overall degradation of basic human compassion, liberty and right!

I just finished watching a movie I have been meaning to watch for a while now. Its called 'American Blackout'

This movie finally raised my consciousness and awareness to the oh, so many trials and tribulations before a majority of voters in the democratic party. I can't stand around anymore just thinking my one vote is going to make a difference because for every one I give, 'they' are out there collecting two more against it. 'They' have the money to burn to fight me. 'They' have the numbers to override my vote. But 'THEY' can not and WILL NOT take away my voice and right to get every single person I see to vote for Barack Obama. 'They' will not have a successful 'Crossover vote' campaign to place Hillary Clinton as the Democratic nominee. 'They' will count every one of our votes in November. 'They' will not hold US back.

Hillary Clinton vs. Rocky Balboa

Kevin Bleich — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:12:03 EDT

I saw an article today about Hillary Clinton picking up a new superdelegate, North Carolina Governor Mike Easley (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/04/29/easley-on-clinton-she-makes-rocky-look-like-a-pansy/). In this article there was a reference to Clinton's perseverance by means of invoking the myth of Rocky Balboa once again ("rocky balboa" oddly enough contains all the letters in "barack"). Hillary did this at least once before in Pennsylvania and I know it got some attention because I heard it 3000 miles away less than an hour after she said it. So weaving in the tale of Rocky Balboa has in my opinion become part of the official myth of the Clinton campaign in the public canon. The fighter who doesn't give up. The tragic hero with a heart of gold. A diamond in the rough, street smart and bold, influential and admired the world over, and always overcoming adversity (unfairness). Wow! What a great fictional character he was!

I thought it my absolutely uncalled for duty to say something about this, because I have always had a soft spot for the Rocky movies (and hillary until recently). I am not a super freak about Rocky movies or anything but I've probably seen Rocky 3 about 150 times growing up, but that is neither here nor there, because I have only seen the new one once, okay.

I tend to think in epic sagas when the films are made to be an epic saga, so I thought about Rocky's story but I personally thought about the last film, Rocky Balboa, which came out last year. This, to me, was the big finale, the big resolution to the on-going struggles that have plagued this Rocky character's mythological narrative. I don't know how many people saw this film, and its honestly a better story than a film, but nonetheless, the actual myth of Rocky MUST include the events of this last film, which I insist parallel dramatically with the life of, what is about to happen to, Hillary Clinton and her run for the presidency. Hillary IS Rocky.

I found reading through the "plot" summary on Wikipedia, to be quite illuminating (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocky_Balboa_(film)). I hope you will read it but let me give you my semi-condensed version.

We meet up with Rocky in the present day. He lives modestly but is still influential in many ways, a business owner even. He is grieving the loss of his wife, as well as the loss of his son, who he feels alienated from. The family life that he may have at times took for granted during his high profile career is over and he is weighted with guilt and robbed of his vitality and thus self-worth. But this is Rocky, he has to be redeemed.

After a long and persistent lobby from opportunists, Rocky decides to train to fight against a hot and popular, yet seemingly overly confident, young up-and-coming fighter. What started as an exhibition fight turned into an all out war of the ages, and the struggle to feel alive and worth something to the world.

In this fight, Rocky struggles to reaffirm himself one, last, time.

So, what happens you ask?

Rocky goes the distance with this younger, more vital, opponent. Round after round, up and down, dirty and clean, back and front, left and right, yet sure enough he lasted to the bitter end.

And in the midst of this battle the two opponents find themselves some semblance of common ground and mutual respect for one another. A torch is essentially passed from one Age of heroes to the next. The perseverance Rocky maintained in the face of constant struggle and conflict, the strength to carry on is now passed to this young fighter who could potentially rock the world with his talents. And in a precarious moment during the fight, Rocky sees that perseverance not only got him through the tough battles in and around the ring, but also got him through the battles at home, with his family, and with his own self, his own "demons."

In this he finds the strength to carry on with no concern for the outcome of the fighting contest. He just had to keep rolling with the punches and keep on his feet, and that was all he had to do to win against the changing currents of his life.

And then…well…Rocky loses. In a split-decision. It was darn close, but it is no matter to Rocky as he easily leaves the arena to the cheers all those who admire him. He had been redeemed

So, its not all bad, actually its not bad at all. It was the bigger saga that mattered. The life he led while he led people, and the life he could be living if only he was brave enough to final start living it. Rocky didn't have to win the contest to win the hearts of the people. He just had to go the distance and pass the torch gracefully.

So, if Hillary wants to refer to herself as like Rocky, or similar to Rocky, or more X-TREME! than Rocky, then I say go for it! because the comparison is not only appropriate it is down right uncanny.

The important thing to take away from this is that Hillary has been through the ringer. She has had people telling her that she is going to be the first woman President for a very long time. She has worked hard through the system the way she thought was most appropriate for causes she thought were most appropriate at the time. When things started exciting with the first Clinton presidency she was eventually bamboozled and sacrificed by the right-wing, which transcended politics and got utterly personal. The criticism has been constant, the attacks relentless, but she has indeed persevered, and has had and can continue to have a wonderful career as a Senator. She persevered and she has already won. There is no need to go any further. She should not feel as if she has anything else to prove. The torch of influence shall be passed.

And dear reader ever be cold enough to consider Hillary Clinton simply as a First Lady turned Presidential candidate. This would not show respect for the political fighter she truly has been for a long time, scrutinized the whole way, learning to turn her adversary's own tactics against them, and consequently against any opponent she might have.

But let us not forget what the myth of Rocky teaches us. Rocky, like Hillary, can show us that perseverance is not about winning, its about going the distance and knowing that when its all said and done you were always the winner BECAUSE you persevered, rolled with the punches, took the hard hits, and there will come a time when you must have the courage to pass the wisdom you have gathered to the new heroes of changing time, and you let them lead, you let them lead the world you helped build,

Hillary Clinton, that time is now.

Kevin Bleich

I leave you with this quote from Rocky's son speaking to his father, from the film:

"Now, if you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain't you. You're better than that!" - "Rocky Balboa" (2006)

MR. OBAMA

OBAMA'S #1 SUPPORTER — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:30:51 EDT

I luv this guy to death you know?! I believe that he will bring change! However, I think he's gotta give hillary the FULL REAL HIM! He also has to reach out to the working class, white americans who are up there on the ladder that we know as life, catholics, hispanics etc! I think we have to go after both hillary and mccain to prove that we are strong and for CHANGE MR. or Senator Obama MUST FIGHT FOR AMERICA! WHO'S WITH ME!?

Help me out here, please

Mary from Vermont — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:42:09 EDT

Ok, I’ve been struggling with the media coverage of late saying that Senator Obama can’t fight the good fight, that he can’t defend himself against Hillary Clinton when things get tough. Therefore the question begs, can he defend himself and the Democratic party against John McCain in the fall. Is he the one to lead us to victory in November? I have never believed that Senator Obama has gotten or is getting a free ride from the press. I loathe the mainstream media and don’t pay much attention to it though I know there are many Americans who do and often believe, at face value, the information that is laid out before them whether it is accurate or not. I have been following the primary very closely (which would explain my growing depression) and swear that seven out of ten articles have a negative bias and subtly or overtly cut him down. I firmly believe that Senator Obama is the One. I know he’s aware that he can’t pummel Clinton during this process because he knows he can’t alienate her loyalists and voters. The fact that more of her base would defect to the McCain camp if he should win the nomination shows how hateful and short sighted her supporters are. I digress. He can’t beat her senseless (figuratively, of course) because they are of the same party for crying out loud (something that Hillary seems to have forgotten). He cares about the party, for the future of the party as is evidenced by his aggressive 50 state voter registration drive and recent partnership with the DNC. Is this something that Superdelegates will know and take into consideration? I hope so. To summarize: Can Barack Obama fight the good fight and take on John McCain and the GOP? The answer is Yes He Can!

Your thoughts are welcome and your encouragement is appreciated. Thanks!

Mary, a passionate Vermonter

McCain pressed on 'Islamic' terror label

funkfresh01 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:28:53 EDT

http://washingtontimes.com/article/20080421/NATION/438135169/1001

By Rowan Scarborough

A coalition of American Muslim groups is demanding that Sen. John McCain stop using the adjective "Islamic" to describe terrorists and extremist enemies of the United States.

Muneer Fareed, who heads the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), told The Washington Times that his group is beginning a campaign to persuade Mr. McCain to rephrase his descriptions of the enemy.

"We've tried to contact his office, contact his spokesperson to have them rethink word usage that is more acceptable to the Muslim community," Mr. Fareed said. "If it's not our intent to paint everyone with the same brush, then certainly we should think seriously about just characterizing them as criminals, because that is what they are."

An aide to Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee who is counting on his pro-Iraq war stance to attract conservative voters, said the senator from Arizona will not drop the word.

The Muslim myth still dogging Obama

funkfresh01 — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:24:38 EDT

http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19501048&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=6

BY ROJA HEYDARPOUR, STAFF WRITER

Source: Times Tribune

It’s been said many times: this is an election year of firsts. The first viable woman presidential candidate. The first viable black presidential candidate.

But the first Muslim presidential candidate?

One in 10 Americans believes that Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is a Muslim, according to a Pew Research Center News Interest Index survey taken in March.

Mr. Obama is, in fact, a practicing Christian, as underscored by the debate over the controversial sermon delivered by his pastor after Sept. 11, 2001.

The same survey found that 79 percent of the general public had heard rumors that Mr. Obama is Muslim, while 38 percent had heard “a lot” about it.

Indeed, rumors have circulated on blogs and comment boards since the fall, spurred by pictures of Mr. Obama in a turban, by talk of childhood time spent in Indonesia — a Muslim country — and by his middle name, Hussein, among other things.

Kindness != Weakness

Rae — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:44:31 EDT

There is a saying "Don't mistake kindness for weakness". "Hill-Rod" as she called herself on WWE has repeatedly tried to pump herself up as the "fighter"; a "Termin-at-ah" as Arnold would put it. She would obliterate Iran. (Maybe she and McInsane can join in a chorus of Bomb-Iran) She and only she would beat the RNC into submission because she is used to the fight. There is a difference however in being a fighter and being a bully. At some point, Sen. Clinton got so lost in the "fight" that she became the instigator. Her campaign believes that by employing Rove-ian tactics that she can show the weakness in this "nice guy who uses big words". He isn't up for the battle. He is a big-talker.

Well, let's take a look at the weaknesses of Sen. Obama...

First, his stance on the Iraq war. During a time when it was considered "unpatriotic" to not support the President in his rush to war with Iraq, Barack stood up and opposed the war. Possibly jeapordizing a promising political career, he spoke out about the poor judgement exercised in going to war with a country that had NOTHING to do with 9/11. And Hillarious was busy...well...um...endorsing it and actually TRUSTING Bush!!!

Second, the speech on Rev. Wright. The "political" way to handle this situation, as many pundits stressed, was to disown Rev. Wright. Sen. Obama should distance himself as much as possible from this angry black man or incur the wrath of the populace. Well, Barack was so weak that not only did he not disown a man that helped bring him to Christ, he gave one of the most thought-provoking speeches on race in recent history. Rather than talk down to people, he treated us like...well...adults. What did Hillary have to say after the speech? Well the first comment I recall was (and I paraphrase) "I didn't hear the speech". Wow, I am amazed by her muscles...they were so big that they blocked her eardrums. Her comments were then followed by "He wouldn't have been MY pastor".

Third, bowling. Men are known for being a prideful bunch. I have never heard of a man enjoying being beaten or humiliated (especially with cameras around). I don't take Sen. Obama as the kind of man that likes to lose. However, his bowling was a humbling event. My six-year old bowled better (though my bowling is only slightly better than Barack's). That took some guts to do that! After clowning on Barack, Hillary bowled on a talk show I think...straight gutterball.

These are only a few episodes. Before he was on the political scene, Barack had other events in his life that showed strength, leadership, and conviction.

You see, it is not the one who talks the most or the loudest that is most game for the fight. It is not those who find it necessary to continually speak of their toughness as if they are convincing themselves more than others. To be kind, is not a weakness but a strength. It is showing restraint in times of chaos (Iraq war). It is displaying loyalty and leadership, in the face of strife and attacks (Rev. Wright). It is being able to laugh at yourself and not be afraid to just be yourself (bowling).

After all, if you are truly "tough"...you don't have to say a word...your actions speak for itself!

Kansas Muslim Attacked with 'Molotov Cocktail'

funkfresh01 — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:38:06 EDT

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 4/17/08) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today asked local and national law enforcement authorities to bring appropriate hate crime charges against the alleged perpetrator of a March "Molotov cocktail" attack on a Kansas Muslim.

A clerk at a Lenexa, Kan., gas station told police that a man came into the store and asked the clerk if he was Muslim. When the clerk replied in the affirmative, the man reportedly started harassing him.

Soon after the man left the store, a Molotov cocktail incendiary device was thrown through the front window of the store. A similar incident occurred at another store in area. A 26-year-old man was later charged with two counts of criminal use of explosives and one count of criminal damage.

SEE: Molotov Cocktail Hurled At Gas Station (KCTV)

http://www.kctv5.com/news/15721008/detail.html

"We ask that local authorities and the FBI file any appropriate hate crime charges against the alleged perpetrator in this case," said CAIR Civil Rights Manager Khadija Athman. "The additional charges would send a clear message that bias-related attacks will not be tolerated in Kansas or anywhere in America."

Earlier this week, CAIR's Minnesota chapter asked the FBI to investigate reported threats against the Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy charter school in that state as possible hate crimes.

SEE: Muslim Civil Liberties Group Seeks FBI Probe of School Threats (Star Tribune)

http://www.startribune.com/local/17673284.html

The Kansas assault and the threats to the Minnesota school came following other recent incidents such as a fire-bomb attack on a Minnesota Muslim-owned business and an arson attack on a Tennessee mosque by three members of the white-supremacist "Christian Identity" movement.

SEE: MN: Investigators Say Fire Could Be Hate Crime

http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=24208&&name=n&&currPage=1&&Active=1

SEE ALSO: CAIR Applauds Arrests in TN Mosque Arson

http://www.cair.com/ArticleDetails.aspx?ArticleID=24197&&name=n&&currPage=1&&Active=1

CAIR is urging Muslim individuals and institutions nationwide to review security procedures using advice contained in CAIR's "Muslim Community Safety Kit."

SEE: CAIR Muslim Community Safety Kit

http://www.cair.com/ActionCenter/CommunityToolKit.aspx

CAIR, America's largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-488-8787 or 202-744-7726, E-Mail: ihooper@cair.com; CAIR Strategic Communications Director Ahmed Rehab, 202-870-0166, E-Mail: arehab@cair.com; CAIR Communications Coordinator Amina Rubin, 202-488-8787, E-Mail: arubin@cair.com

Can't Take It Anymore!

Tyrone (Ty) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:28:41 EDT

Hillary Clinton is on the verge of splitting the Democratic Party. I, for the most part, believed that she had the interests of the average American when she announced she was running for president. I actually believed that she would be a good president. When Barack announced he was running, I was kind of hesitant - I thought he needed more time to be groomed more. But, I knew I liked what he was saying more and more as I heard it. So, I switched to support him. I still admired Hillary.

NOW things have changed. Hillary has taken the low road - she is so bitter at the prospects of losing the nomination, she is doing a Lieberman. She would rather switch to Republican attack tactics to win, other than support the idea that no matter who wins this nomination, that we have to beat McCain. She is so clouded in her mind the idea of doing whatever is necessary to win this nomination, that she doesn't even realize that she is turning off voters who we need to beat McCain.

Barack - you have held your tongue too long. You need to go head to head, mano a mujer, with Hillary. Really show her record. Cry out from the top of the mountains about how she accepts money from lobbyists - scream about how she is the true elitist. She is the one who grew up with the silver spoon in her mouth. She is the one playing the "defender of the working class" role, not you. Did she give up the opportunity to become a prestigious corporate lawyer to work as a community organizer? No. Did she just recently pay off her student loans? No. Does her actions in life overall show that she cares about everyone, not just the people who support her? No.

We all need to bring up every point and difference between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Because when we do, the American public will automatically see who is the elitist and who is not. They will see who looks down on people and who doesn't.

IRAQ AWAITS CRITICAL FATWA

funkfresh01 — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:04:00 EDT

Date Posted: Tuesday, April 08, 2008

Posted By The Media Line Staff

IRAQ (The Media Line) April 8, 2008 — Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki announced on Monday he would ban a powerful Shi'ite parliamentary bloc from running in the next local elections unless it disarmed its 60,000-strong armed force.

The 'Sadri parliamentary bloc, led by Muqtada A-'Sadr, responded by saying it would disarm its armed force, known as the Mahdi Army, only if the Shi'ite religious authorities ordered them to do so.

"The Mahdi Army does not accept its orders from anyone except A-'Sadr and the religious authorities with whom he consults. If the religious authorities would ask him to disarm the Mahdi Army, he will definitely execute their demand," spokesman for the 'Sadri bloc, 'Salah A-'Ubeidi told reporters.

Ten things to know about Senator John McCain

funkfresh01 — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 22:54:51 EDT

For all the coverage this week of Senator John McCain's background, you will not learn some important things about him from the TV networks. His carefully crafted positive image relies on people not knowing this stuff—and some of it might surprise you.

Please check out the list below, and then forward it to your friends, family, and coworkers. We cannot rely on the media to tell folks about the real John McCain—but if we all pass this along, we can reach as many people as CNN Headline News does on a good night.

Click here to tell us how many people you can pass it on to—and to see our progress nationally:

http://pol.moveon.org/mccain10/?id=12407-5077189-XKR_ot&t=231

Ten things you should know about John McCain.

1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he has continued to oppose key civil rights laws.1

2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi."2

3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban Waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.3

4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned."4

5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.5

6. He is one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.6

7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he is too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He is erratic. He is hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me."7

8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than McCain has any of the other presidential candidates.8

9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult."9

10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a zero—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.10

John McCain is not who the Washington press corps make him out to be. Please help get the word out—forward this email to your personal network. And if you want us to keep you posted on MoveOn's work to get the truth out about John McCain, sign up here:

http://pol.moveon.org/mccaintruth/?id=12407-5077189-XKR_ot&t=232

Thank you for all you do.

–Eli, Justin, Noah, Laura, and the MoveOn.org Political Action Team

Saturday, April 5th, 2008

Sources:

1. "The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day," ABC News, April 3, 2008

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/the-complicated.html

"McCain Facts," ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008

http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts/

2. "McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq," Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF28rSCtk0ZM&refer=us

"Buchanan: John McCain 'Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,'" ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/06/buchanan-gandhi-mccain/

3. "McCain Sides with Bush on Torture Again, Supports Veto of Anti-Waterboarding Bill," ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/20/mccain-torture-veto/

4. "McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned," MSNBC, February 18, 2007

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17222147/

5. "2007 Children's Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard," February 2008

http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_learn_scorecard2007

"McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion," CNN, October 3, 2007

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/

6. "Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady," Associated Press, April 3, 2008

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-S1sWHm0tchtdMP5LcLywg5ZtMgD8VQ86M80

"McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,'" Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home

7. "Will McCain's Temper Be a Liability?," Associated Press, February 16, 2008

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022

"Famed McCain temper is tamed," Boston Globe, January 27, 2008

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/famed_mccain_temper_is_tamed/

8. "Black Claims McCain's Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: 'I Don't Know What the Criticism Is,'" ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/

"McCain's Lobbyist Friends Rally 'Round Their Man," ABC News, January 29, 2008

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4210251

9. "McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

"Will McCain Specifically 'Repudiate' Hagee's Anti-Gay Comments?," ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/

"McCain 'Very Honored' By Support Of Pastor Preaching 'End-Time Confrontation With Iran,'" ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/

10. "John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record," Sierra Club, February 28, 2008

http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/

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US ELECTION DIARY - THE RELIGIOUS RIGHT

funkfresh01 — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:07:56 EDT

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/E4C51233-2D21-4FBB-85FD-7D7F5AF173D9.htm

By Rob Reynolds in Columbus, Ohio

On the road to clinching the Republican Party nomination for president, John McCain worked hard for the endorsement of influential Evangelical Christian ministers.

The ministers are helping shore up McCain's support on the party's right wing, which has always been skeptical about whether the Arizona senator is a true-blue conservative.

But one of those minister's beliefs about Islam and Muslims raise disturbing questions.

Rod Parsley, the pastor of a large and profitable Ohio mega-church, calls Islam a false religion. He says Allah is a demon spirit and that Muslims are bent on world conquest.

Parsley endorsed McCain in February, praising him as a "strong, true, consistent conservative".

Sharing a Cincinnati, Ohio, stage with Parsley, McCain said: "I am very honored today to have one of the truly great leaders in America, a moral compass, a spiritual guide, Pastor Rod Parsley. Thank you for your leadership and your guidance. I am very grateful you are here."

He certainly had reason for gratitude - a week later, Parsley's support helped McCain win the important Ohio primary.

Evangelist

Reverend Parsley, who often holds services in which people are supposedly cured of disease by divine intervention, runs the sprawling World Harvest church near Columbus, Ohio.

World Harvest has a 12,000 member congregation, a bible college, and a television studio, which broadcasts his sermons.

A frequent theme of those homilies is the threat to Christian values posed by gays, liberals, and Muslims.

In his book, Silent no More, Parsley says the United States was ordained by God to defeat Islam.

In one chapter, titled The Deception of Allah he writes: "I cannot tell you how important it is that we understand the true nature of Islam, that we see it for what it really is. In fact, I will tell you this: I do not believe our country can truly fulfil its divine purpose until we understand our historical conflict with Islam. I know that this statement sounds extreme, but I do not shrink from its implications. The fact is that America was founded, in part, with the intention of seeing this false religion destroyed, and I believe September 11, 2001, was a generational call to arms that we can no longer ignore."

We asked Parsley for an interview, but through a church spokesman, he declined. We also sent him written questions, but he did not respond to those either.

Dividing communities

Abukar Arman, a Muslim community leader, says Parsley's remarks are threatening.

"It has a psychological toll on Muslims in central Ohio and beyond, that you are not part of the society that America was founded, in his words, to obliterate Islam," says Arman, president of the Central Ohio chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

McCain and other politicians should "distance themselves from the politics of hate and polarization", Arman said, noting that rhetoric that marginalizes American Muslims only contributes to poor relations between communities.

"In the grand scale of things," he says, "it hurts even the national security of this country because it fuels anti-Americanism."

Media interest

Interestingly enough, Parsley has been largely ignored by the US media, in sharp contrast to the intensive scrutiny given to sermons by Jeremiah Wright, Democrat Barack Obama's pastor.

Wright's homilies were widely criticized as unpatriotic and racially inflammatory, and have been replayed over and over on cable TV news channels.

Obama rejected Wright's remarks, but McCain has not denounced Parsley's comments about Islam, nor has he sought to distance himself from the minister.

In fact, some of McCain's campaign rhetoric virtually echoes Parsley's sermons. McCain, too, talks about a threat - although he focuses on extremism in Islam, not the religion as a whole.

"I'd like to talk to you for a minute about why I'm running, primarily," McCain told a Wisconsin rally on February 19.

"We face the transcendent challenge of the 21st century. That is the threat of radical Islamic extremism. My friends, I know you know that this is an evil of transcendent and unbelievable magnitude. You can see other times when our nation and our way of life were threatened, but this ranks among the greatest."

McCain's campaign told Al Jazeera that "... he [McCain] rejects politics that degrade our civics, and will be running a respectful campaign".

However, in seeking a path to the White House, it seems McCain is counting on the politics of fear and relying on a disturbingly belligerent spiritual guide.

Stop the insanity!!!

Rev Bry — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 05:42:33 EDT

If Hillary had any dignity left, she would concede this contest and start the healing process. To continue to fight a losing battle will only hurt her chances in the future.

Oklahoma Conference to Examine Islamic Perspective on Terrorism

funkfresh01 — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:42:03 EDT

(OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 3/25/08) - On Saturday, April 5th, the Institute of Interfaith Dialog will host a day-long conference, "Denouncing Violence in the Name of God: The Case of Islam." Participants at the event will have an opportunity to hear Islamic scholars, academics, law enforcement officials, and journalists discuss the "Islamic perspectives on terror, especially terror that is associated with Islam."

WHAT: Institute of Interfaith Dialog's "Denouncing Violence in the Name of God: The Case of Islam"

WHEN: Saturday April 5, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Oklahoma City University, The Henry Freede Center (Southwest corner of 27th and Florida)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. Cherif Bassiouni - Professor of Law at DePaul University College of Law and President Emeritus of the International Human Rights Law Institute

ADDITIONAL SPEAKERS: Robert Pape - University of Chicago; Muhammad Abu Laylah - Al-Azhar University, Egypt; Fred Von Der Mehden - Baker Institute for Public Policy, Rice University; Greg Barton - Monash University, Australia; Dr. Robin Myers - Oklahoma City University; Ekrem Dumanli - Editor of Zaman newspaper, Turkey; John Coyle - Special Agent of FBI, Oklahoma; Andrew Tevington - Daily Oklahoman; and Dr. Imad Enchassi – Imam of Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City (ISGOC)

CONTACT: Orhan Kucukosman, Phone: (405) 426 5425, E-Mail: osmanokc@gmail.com

The conference is free of charge and open to the public. Lunch will be provided.

Orhan Kucukosman, from the Institute of Interfaith Dialog, stated the reason for holding the conference in Oklahoma: "In the early days of Oklahoma City Bombing in 1995, there were speculations on individuals associated with a religion who might be responsible for the bombing.

As the truth was revealed, the bombing had no connection with any religion, but was a consequence of mentally challenged personality."

Sponsors include Wimberly School of Religion at Oklahoma City University, OU Religious Studies, Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism Texas, Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City and Mainstream Baptists, and the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OK).

For more information goto:

http://www.interfaithdialog.org/

US deaths in Iraq approach 4,000

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 19:40:48 EDT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080322/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb killed three American soldiers north of Baghdad on Saturday, pushing the U.S. death toll in the five-year conflict to nearly 4,000.

Also Saturday, Iraqi authorities reported that a U.S. airstrike north of the capital killed six members of a U.S.-backed Sunni group — straining relations with America's new allies in the fight against al-Qaida.

Two Iraqi civilians also died in the roadside bombing, which occurred as the Americans were patrolling an area northwest of the capital, the U.S. military said in a statement.

Two of the soldiers were killed in the blast and the third died of wounds, the statement said. The soldiers were assigned to Multinational Division-Baghdad, the statement said, but gave no further details.

The latest deaths brought to 3,996 the number of U.S. service members and Pentagon civilians who have died since the war began on March 20, 2003, according to an Associated Press count. Rocket or mortar fire killed one U.S. soldier and wounded four others Friday south of Baghdad, the military said.

Army Vet Speaks Against Mistreatment of Guantanamo Bay Detainees

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:52:54 EDT

http://media.www.dailytexanonline.com/media/storage/paper410/news/2008/03/21/University/Army-Vet.Speaks.Against.Mistreatment.Of.Detainees-3278241.shtml

Author: Lee Ann Holman

James Yee went from being a decorated U.S. Army soldier serving in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to being accused of espionage, spying and aiding the facility's detainees.

He spoke to students about his experiences Thursday night at the UT Law School Auditorium.

When returning to the U.S. for vacation after serving 10 months as chaplain, Yee was arrested in secret and accused of having classified documents in his backpack. While being transferred to prison Yee was subject to sensory deprivation, a torture tactic. He was held in solitary confinement for 76 days without being charged.

He was exonerated and honorably discharged after deciding to quit the army.

Yee converted to Islam shortly after graduating from West Point. He said it was a way to solidify his monotheistic faith in one God. Yee was hand-picked to serve as a Muslim minister to facility detainees.

While ministering detainees, Yee said he advised commanders on proper religious practices. He made suggestions on treatment of the detainees and spoke out against soldiers violating prisoners' human rights. Yee said that though he never participated in interrogation tactics, he counseled prisoners on their treatment.

Yee said he witnessed the desecration of the Quran. Prisoners also spoke of sexual harassment by female interferometers and being put in a pentagram while being forced to renounce Allah.

This treatment will not win the hearts and minds of the Muslim world, he said.

"People in the military have a gross lack of misunderstanding of the Muslim culture, which is counterproductive," Yee said.

Kristine Huskey, a clinical law professor, has been representing Guantanamo detainees since 2002. She said she believes any new presidential administration will shut down Guantanamo Bay, because it is not helping the U.S. fight terrorism and is breeding more people who hate America.

Muslim Leader Has Opposed War

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:31:54 EDT

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/sblow/stories/032008dnmetblowcolumn.6a03f9a.html

Author: Steve Blow

We first sat and talked in those numb days right after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.We mourned together, and Mohamed Elmougy helped me understand a little more about what had befallen us.

I returned several times over the years to visit with the local Muslim community leader. And this week's fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq seemed a good time to once again glimpse the world through his eyes.

Mohamed, 49, owns the Pyramids Hotel in Allen. He's Egyptian by birth and American by choice.

He opposed the war from the start. "You will remember that I said getting out won't be nearly as easy as going in," he said.

I remembered, particularly since I had bought the argument that Iraqis would welcome us.

"We were fools to think we were going to be seen as liberators," Mohamed said. "We are seen as occupiers, and we always will be."

Mohamed agreed that Saddam Hussein needed to go but says he should have been captured in a surgical strike and put on trial in an international court, like Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic.

Of course, hindsight is of little help at this point. I was most eager to hear his thoughts on what we should do now. And since the Republican and Democratic presidential candidates offer such divergent strategies, I asked the question in that context.

"Six months ago I had every intention of voting for John McCain," he said. "I felt he was very sincere, that he was speaking his mind, and I respected him as someone who really understands war.

"But after seeing how he has changed his tone to cater to the evangelical right, I just can't support him anymore. It would just be more of the same," he said.

He believes Hillary Rodham Clinton would be seen overseas as simply the return of the Bill Clinton administration, with whatever lingering baggage that involves.

After 5 Years, the Tragedy Continues

funkfresh01 — Sat, 22 Mar 2008 18:29:49 EDT

http://www.masnet.org/views.asp?id=4959

From the Desk of Ibrahim-Abdil-Mu'id Ramey, MAS Freedom Civil and Human Rights Directo

WASHINGTON, D.C. (MASNET) March 18, 2008 — The conundrum of American primary politics, American Idol worship, and the fall from grace of the former Governor of New York, may have shifted the market-based media focus from the story, but for those who may otherwise be unaware, March 19, 2008 marks the fifth anniversary of the most recent U.S. invasion of Iraq - yet another tragic date in U.S. history that will live in infamy.

What, exactly, has been the cost of the U.S. adventure in Iraq? We are now careening to the number of 4,000 American combat deaths and 40,000 seriously wounded troops. Many of the wounded have been abandoned by their government to a fate of permanent disability and mental distress from the psychological wounds of combat. But this number is dwarfed by the devastation suffered by the Iraqis themselves: 650,000 to one million dead; 400,000 persons displaced from their homes; and the bitter reality of a raging sectarian civil war that has left the nation terrorized and divided.

The recent U.S. troop "surge" has been a useful diversion for the proponents of the war, who now claim some hollow "victory" because of ephemeral military gains in the combat operations against Al-Qaeda and other assorted armed insurgents. But the fundamental contradictions and divisions in the country remain. And Iraq, for all the horrors of it's own history of dictatorship and war, is a far more dangerous and oppressive place that it was under the rule of Saddam.

In the meanwhile, the Iraq war has not only divided U.S. citizens, it has also consolidated world opinion against this nation in a way that no one could have anticipated five years ago. Blatant torture of Iraqi captives, attacks on the civil liberties of Muslim individuals, institutions, and charities in America, and countless violations of both domestic and international law have become the hallmark of the arrogant and recalcitrant regime in Washington that continues the prosecution of the war.

But the conflict in Iraq has also resulted in countless casualties at home, measured in increased domestic violence, family disintegration, alcoholism, and drug abuse suffered by returning U.S. combatants.

War, in every case, results in the massive transfer of wealth from one social class to another. The war in Iraq is no different.

But what is different is the reality of the naked ambition of the global energy and arms oligarchies that have feasted on the $1.2 trillion dollars spent by American taxpayers on the war to date. This violence continues, despite the deepening economic crisis in the nation and the devastation of the national social infrastructure.

In Washington, DC, activists from 40 states plan to gather to mark this tragic anniversary, and in some cases, to engage in non-violent direct action in opposition of the war in Iraq. We must continue to press for the demand to end the war, even if the Democratic Congress lacks the will to oppose the Bush regime's war machine.

The popular tide of resistance to the war will—and must—continue, until the war is ended, and the massive damage to both the United States and to the people of Iraq is fully repaired.

For more information about upcoming events and gatherings, please visit:

www.5YearsTooMany.org

McCain's ‘Spiritual Guide’ Says Destroy Islam

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:19:31 EDT

McCain's ‘Spiritual Guide’ Says Destroy Islam

http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html

Author: David Corn

Senator John McCain hailed as a spiritual adviser an Ohio megachurch pastor who has called upon Christians to wage a "war" against the "false religion" of Islam with the aim of destroying it.

On February 26, McCain appeared at a campaign rally in Cincinnati with the Reverend Rod Parsley of the World Harvest Church of Columbus, a supersize Pentecostal institution that features a 5,200-seat sanctuary, a television studio (where Parsley tapes a weekly show), and a 122,000-square-foot Ministry Activity Center. That day, a week before the Ohio primary, Parsley praised the Republican presidential front-runner as a "strong, true, consistent conservative."

The endorsement was important for McCain, who at the time was trying to put an end to the lingering challenge from former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a favorite among Christian evangelicals. A politically influential figure in Ohio, Parsley could also play a key role in McCain's effort to win this bellwether state in the general election. McCain, with Parsley by his side at the Cincinnati rally, called the evangelical minister a "spiritual guide."

Students Stage Die-In to Protest War

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:15:21 EDT

Students Stage Die-In to Protest War

http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2008/03/14/News/Students.Stage.DieIn.On.Quad-3269402.shtml

Author: Paolo Cisneros

Thursday morning was an unusual one for Karen Medina, graduate student in library and information sciences. Instead of studying for exams or sitting in class, she was chalking body outlines on the Quad.

Medina and dozens of other anti-war activists took to the streets Thursday morning to stage a march and "die-in" protest as a way of demonstrating their discontent with the upcoming fifth anniversary of the Iraq war.

"We're calling it a 'condemoration' because we're both condemning and commemorating the war," Medina said.

The two-hour event was organized primarily by the Campus Greens and University chapter of the Campus Antiwar Network.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Students for Justice in Palestine, Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice and the College Democrats co-sponsored the event.

The cooperation of the groups was a large part of the morning's success, said Jeremy Polacek, senior in LAS. "We (Campus Antiwar Network) don't have a monopoly on the anti-war effort by any means," he said. "The collaboration of these groups was really important."

The demonstration began at roughly 11 a.m. Activists gathered to chant anti-war slogans before marching down Green Street to Fifth Street and then back around the Quad.

Many held signs condemning the war as others provided vocal support for the cause.

"This war has been going on for five years now, and, at this point, most people are against it," said Mark Mallon, junior in LAS. "We need to stop spending billions of dollars on this illegal and immoral war."

War's Costs Will Be Felt for Years

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:10:50 EDT

War's Costs Will Be Felt for Years

http://www.dailybulletin.com/ci_8620269

Author: George Watson

The cost of five years of the war in Iraq can be seen in almost any community in the United States.

Families whose loved ones were killed or wounded struggle to put their lives back together. The economy teeters, thanks partly to what a renowned economist projects will ultimately be a $3trillion war bill. Gas prices soar. A political landscape that cost many Republicans their seats in Congress continues to fuel anti-American sentiment outside the nation's borders.

Despite substantial political and infrastructure improvements directly attributable to U.S. involvement in Iraq, few observers believe that as of today - the fifth anniversary of U.S. bombs first falling on Baghdad - an end to America's presence there is in sight.

The consequences of a continued stay, they say, will be felt in Americans' bank accounts and in politicians' ability to govern. . .

From the perspective of Hussam Ayloush, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations' Los Angeles chapter, the war's cost has been multifaceted.

Ayloush is an American with school-age children, and he worries about the state of their education, given California's budget crisis, cuts to education funding and teacher layoffs.

He, too, worries about the economy, the cost of gasoline, and the future of health care.

The war has other, less tangible costs, he noted.

"The biggest nonfinancial, nonmaterial casualty is the damage to our credibility and moral standing in the world today," Ayloush said. "When we issue reports on human rights, which the State Department does, people laugh at it now. They say, `Be quiet."'

Ayloush, who visited Syria and Jordan recently, said he was struck by how angry people are at the United States. The war in Iraq has displaced 2.4million people and induced another 2million to live abroad, primarily in the two countries he visited. Before the war, 500,000 Iraqis lived outside the nation's borders.

"We have caused misery to thousands of their lives and we haven't accepted responsibility," Ayloush said. "We expect neighboring countries to carry that burden without any financial help."

CAIR-LA Rep Speaks at Anti-War Protest

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 11:05:55 EDT

CAIR-LA Rep Speaks at Anti-War Protest

Author: Mike O'Sullivan

Protesters in several US cities held anti-war rallies Saturday to mark the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, March 20th. More rallies are planned in coming days in other U.S. cities. Mike O'Sullivan reports, several thousand joined an anti-war protest in Los Angeles.

Marchers chanted and some carried flag-draped coffins as speakers demanded that U.S. troops come home.

Sharaf Mowjood of the Council on American-Islamic Relations says the continued presence of American troops is worsening conditions in Iraq, and diverting attention from domestic U.S. problems, including rebuilding New Orleans. The city was devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

“We need to pull out immediately. That's the main thing right now we need to do. It's a conundrum as it is," he said. "So it's in a situation where the best viable option is to pull out because you have a lot of these internal problems you have to deal with, health care, sub-prime mortgage crisis, Katrina, all that. We need to work on those issues first."

Members of religious, labor and community groups joined the Los Angeles demonstration. Madelyn MacKay, a Quaker, says the protests are sending a message to the candidates in the November 4 presidential election.

United States Mosque Used by Iraqi Refugees Vandalized

funkfresh01 — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:58:46 EDT

United States Mosque Used by Iraqi Refugees Vandalized

http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080318/NEWS01/803180345

Author: Cheryl Wittenauer

Neighbors in the tidy, middle-class Southampton neighborhood in south St. Louis said Monday they barely noticed the comings and goings of one of their enclave's newest arrivals.

Nothing out of the ordinary anyway, aside from a steady stream of Iraqi cab drivers and other workers, and women and children, arriving for evening prayer services at the Islamic mosque.

The Islamic religious and community center, housed in a nondescript storefront building, was vandalized over the weekend. It was the second such incident since the Imam Hussin Foundation building opened last April.

"If someone is trying to send us a message," with this act, "we receive it," said Salah Ajmi, the mosque's imam and a businessman. "But we do everything right and legal. This is wrong."

Vandals damaged seven large glass windows with a blunt object sometime between midnight and 10:30 a.m. Sunday, police said. Vandals struck the first time last summer, and Ajmi said he suspected teenagers. This time the damage was more extensive.

Police took fingerprints and are investigating. They wouldn't say whether they consider it a hate crime. The FBI declined to comment.

Obama, energy, and a little light bulb

Tracy — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 03:13:43 EDT

One of the things I love about Obama's platform is his ambitious plan for advancing clean energy and reducing global warming. Joseph Romm has a good article on Salon.com today on why Obama and Clinton are so much better for the country on energy and the environment than McCain. Both of their plans include not just cap-and-trade, but also investing in both renewable energy research and commercial application, updating the structure of our energy grid, and working with other countries to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

Romm also points out that leadership ability will be critical to getting these plans in place, regardless of who the nominee is. Near the end of the article, he states "So who would be better, Clinton or Obama, at bringing conservatives along? I suppose that depends on whether you think we need a fighter or an inspirer to do this next-to-impossible task. My guess is you need both."

And that's when a little light bulb went on for me - of course, we need both! This is not an either/or situation! Clinton has done an excellent job of defining herself as a "fighter" (albeit a slightly dirty one) but has shown absolutely zero aptitude for inspiring. On the other hand, we have clearly seen that Obama is both a gifted "inspirer," and he has consistently demonstrated his ability to fight back against the Clinton machine and win.

Inspiration + Action = The power to change the world.

Keeping Cool and on the Path

VoteYourRebate in TX = Chrystal Hays — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 17:45:58 EDT

There has been a lot of pressure for Senator Obama to repond in kind to HC's antics. Finally, he made a clear statement that he is not running for VP and is good enough to be Commander in Cheif. But that is that: he said what he said, and he is moving on.

There are countless infractions by the Other Side. Many are upset by SNL skits. Accusations about NAFTA. Phrases like "He's not a Muslim, not as far as I know..." What HC staffers do and say, and so on. But these petty irritants speak for themselves.

When our wonderful and brilliant Samantha Power made an off the record comment that got onto the record, she resigned. Many people who don't know much about Obama ask why she had to resign when HC people do egregious things and stay on the campaign trail. And the answer is simple...our camp is better than that. Not only will Barack not stoop to mud-slinging, but he has a high standard that we are all must meet. Does the other campaign HQ have a standard? Well, not as far as I know. Samantha Power took one for the team, and in her sacrifice the message was made, loud and clear, "Not in MY camp" I thank her for that.

To my angry fellow Obamans, I say: be patient. Stay on track. Don't let them distract you from reaching out to the People. Because, as John Barth said,

"The key to the treasure

is the treasure"

The way we reach the hearts of the people of the United States of America is already in the hearts of those people, us. If you just persevere, it will be shown that what the people want and need is not a "fighter" who can fight, but a President who can preside.

This is why Barack Obama says the same things, again and again, to each crowd of new people. He is consistent and patient and he knows that this slow dissemmination through the grass roots will be rewarded in the political spring with great blooms.

No matter how misled and frustrating we find the HC and JM supporters, we must not mock them, or call them fools, or tell them they are "dreamers". We must consistently reach out and say, "Here we are; here is what we stand for; here is what we will do." And if they do bad things, we will not do bad things, because that is not what we do or who we are or what we believe in.

When you are angry, breathe deeply. If their target, Senator Obama, decides their sticks and stones and names do not bear mentioning, trust him. That is how we got this far. That is how we will get There.

Political Jiu Jitsu

seejake — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 03:25:07 EDT

There's been a lot of discussion lately about whether or not Obama is "tough enough" for the anticipated nastiness of the general election. Current [popular] wisdom - if we are to believe our ever so (what's the exact opposite of poignant?) main stream media - is that he is not, at least if you follow that part of the media that has bought into the Hillary tack.

In these same, or similar, discussions, we also hear that Clinton is trying to see if Obama is tough enough, but their premise is all wrong because to be attacked by a competitor is different than being attacked by an opponent.

While there may be some topical merit to this argument, I assert that an attack is an attack, and all attacks warrant defense. As anyone with combat experience - be it military, political, or straight up hand-to-hand street fighting knows, any attack warrants not just a good defense, but an ever stronger counter attack. But a strong defense does not have to be offensive. Jiu Jitsu teaches us that. Krav Maga teaches us that. Boxing teaches us that (generally). Chess teches us that.

Some might suggest that street fighting is for tacticians, while sanctioned fighting is more strategic. I would argue that all successful fights are won by those who "strategically" visualize the entire fight ahead of time, those who anticipate the bloody nose, or getting trapped in the guard, or the fight lasting all the rounds. Those who fight round by round, believing that their experience is enough to see them through the bitter end, are most often the ones who lose, and not by that lucky strike, but by the sheer failure of anticipating that the fight may actually go to the last round and end on decision.

It is painfully clear in every news cycle that Clinton's campaign is being tactically fought round by round. It has been quoted and repeated many times that the Clintons fight the fight that is on front of them, without regard to any strategic outlook, and that every battle is just another battle in an endless war, so strategy is only marginally relevant to one or two fights ahead. With every election day that rolls around, we see examples of this limitred approach to this contest, and the only real long-range plan they have is to sue the refs, the organizers, or the sponsors when all the rounds in the ring have been fought. No matter how good of a fighter you are, unless you have prepared ahrad of time to go the distance, barring a miracle, you probably won't make it.

Jiu Jitsu - the combination of raw physical combat with intellectual combat - is Obama's best chance, and he seems to be just that kind of fighter. He's already proven himself a deft intellectual, and a tough street fighter as well, but he needs to improve on combining both of these traits. I believe he is on track to doing so, I just hope he follows through. I know he sees the the full scope of the fight he's in, and I know he's got enough gas to get all the way through. I can only hope that he and his team have trained hard enough to go the distance.

As for the Clintons, they have no strategy beyond making it to the next round and hoping they get a lucky shot. This is not a winning strategy, it's just a series of spasmodic barks and gnashes of an old junkyard dog whose teeth are worn from too many bites of its own tail. That's not tough, that's sad. While every dog has it's day, some dogs' days aren't always that great. Some dogs just need to be put down for their own good, and the good of others.

Obama or Bust , Part 2

George A Sanders — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:13:52 EDT

Looks like the NY Times and a couple others in the media are starting to draw similar conclusions that I had in my last blog post. Senator Obama is now campaigning directly against fear. He has the right message to counter fear but it does take one on one connections and lots of time to be successful. Voters swayed by messages of fear are so dangerous because they will jump ship so fast and support someone who may in reality hurt them in the long run. Hope and the positive statement Yes We Can got us far but I propose an additional message - Fight Fear.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/08/opinion/08herbert.html?ex=1205726400&en=b6ccb4c4d6ec8590&ei=5070&emc=eta1

Thanks to Marc who commented on my first Obama or Bust post. He mentioned that Senator Clinton's suggestion that she can win the big states is not so powerful when you consider those states are consistently blue in elections, yet the recent Democratic Party candidates still lost with those states solidly in their camp. We need a candidate that pays attention to and gets vote in the mountains, the midwest and south as well as the northeast and pacific coast. In almost all of those 'red' states Senator Obama has beaten Senator Clinton by a significant 60% to 40% split and double or tripled voter turnout. Senator Obama has a 50 state strategy. Senator Clinton will again seek to spread fear and divide the country just like we have endured with President Bush for the last 8 years.

We can do better. Fight Fear. Usher in Hope. Yes We Can. Vote Obama

CAIR Co-Sponsors Letter to Congress on Wiretapping

funkfresh01 — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 23:02:26 EST

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 3/6/08) - On March 5, 2008, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) joined other individuals and institutions who work to preserve civil liberties in sponsoring a letter to members of Congress commending them for refusing to pass the FISA Amendments Act of 2007 and urging them to allow it to expire.

The letter is as follows:

March 5, 2008

Dear Representative,

We the undersigned organizations commend the House for refusing to yield to administration fearmongering by passing the worst possible surveillance legislation - S. 2248, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Act of 2007. This bill would grant the administration unfettered access to all communications coming into or out of the United States without any meaningful court review or finding of wrongdoing and grant complete immunity to companies that cooperated with illegal wiretapping over the last several years.

As you go forward with negotiations, we ask that you leave the Protect America Act exactly as it is -- sunsetted. As House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and the Cato Institute noted, America is in no danger from the expiration of this unconstitutional law. Orders issued since last August remain in effect until their internal cease date, up to a year after issuance, ensuring that current surveillance programs will continue, in some cases, into 2009. These programmatic orders are not limited to individuals or facilities so that new targets can be tapped under existing orders. Of course, the government always has the option of tapping targets immediately and returning to court within 72 hours to obtain a court order under the FISA procedures that have served our intelligence community for nearly 30 years.

COWBOY UP, OBAMA !

VoteAdvisor — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 18:11:35 EST

- Senator Obama, Are You Paying Attention ? -

1. Clinton has 3 heads, Hillary, Chelsey & Bill. Obama you're fighting all three. Get It!

2. Hillary is now in your rear view mirror! McCain is sharpening his sword.
3. The Republicans in Florida, have INTENTIONALLY resorted to Carl Rove's dirty tactics/tricks and want the Democratic Party to Pay for it.
4. Obama you are not going to WIN, if you play the "Mr. Nice Guy", with Hillary. Everybody in America knows what happened to Al Gore, when he took this unfortunate course, based on Bad Advice!
Where was Hillary then?
Take Charge ... and make it Soon!
5. You need to Go To the Political DOG POUND and get yourself some Pit Bulls type-of-advisor's, so they will take immediate Measures & Action, instead of shedding tears, over 'hurtful words from Hillary'. Got a hankie?
6. The 527 Groups on the Republican side are Sharpening their STAINLESS STEEL CANINES, awaiting their turn. Are U Listening ? Get some 527's, you are going to need them!
7. The Military is looking for a Real Leader to take over what the georgew Keystone Cops Era has left behind, and You better have the testes to MUSTER Up, or else Hillary takes it all!
8. You should have Roland Martin as one of your Key advisor's, as his Political Clarity, Wisdom, Breath of knowledge & Intuition is SUPERB!

You need a 1,000,000 deep Spartan-like Army, for this fight to the very end, count me me as one.
9. Remember this ... today's Actions will eventually be reflected by the square root of future contributions.

10. 2nd place is for Losers!
11. CowBoy Up, Obama! We are All watching.

Fight against Hillary

Peggie from Beaumont, TX — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 17:35:10 EST

Obama said he wanted to start getting tougher on Hillary Clinton. He regarded her foreign policy credientials - stating being first lady gave her what kind of insight. Here is what I think. If he wants to take her down he only needs to state so many facts that the People of the United States has so carelessly forgotten! What about White Water that Hillary was involved in. Remind everyone how crooked the Clintons are. What about all the misterious deaths that surrounded them on their way up and after they made the White House. It doesn't take much to dig all the scandal up. People needs to remember all this and then see if they vote for Hillary Clinton! She has NOT changed. She does NOT need to be in the White House! 8 yrs of Clintonism is all this country can handle!!

Learn to Adapt and Overcome

Jeff in SLC — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 10:02:32 EST

I stated several weeks ago in my blog to watch out that the devisive negative Clinton Machine was coming. I got a number of email saying that wouldn't happen and that this is a "clean campaign". Well it is hard for a dog to change its spots and we all have seen that proved last Tuesday. As I have said, this is a war. This is how Hillary sees it and we had better wake up to that fact or we will loose this opportunity for something great to happen to US politics. CLINTON WILL STOP AT NOTHING TO WIN THE NOMINATION AND ATTEMPT THE BECOME PRESIDENT! Hillary views this as her destiny and right - Barack is an outsider and usurper, not entitled to the opportunity or position. Do some research and see what happens to the people that attempt to get in the way of the Clintons - it is not pretty and perhaps even deadly. This is not just some happy exchange of words and ideas campaign and debate. This is a no holds barred attack Clinton attack machine to take what she believes is hers. This is real. This is serious. Tis is a war for the future of America. In the classic book The Art of War by Sun Tzu you learn that to be able to win you must know your enemy - all facets. We can look at what the Clintons have done in the past up to last week and know the enemy. Now the challenge is to adapt and overcome. Either that, or whimper and whine that "it’s all over" like so may are crying now. I say to those "shut up!" Look inside yourself and see if you really have any fortitude, believe, hope, and strength - if you do then stand up, overcome and fight because this is a fight! If not, step aside, be quiet and let the efforts of others determine your fate.

Hey campaign! We need to step it up a notch!!

Jonathan & Leanna from Austin, TX — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:51:12 EST

My wife and I just caught Barack's interview on ABCNews and are getting really worried. Barack seems ... dejected? He is clearly not fighting for the next phase, at least not yet.

The message is stale. We need to keep it fresh!

Here is our message to the campaign as unwitting consumers (not activists) of all this political fodder: Hillary is VERY WEAK when it comes to being sincere. She is TOO POLITICAL. Just say it! She is power hungry and thinks she somehow deserves to win. She doesn't!

CALL HER OUT on her naked ambition. Everyone suspects her motives and someone (Barack) needs to just say it. "She's a political animal - everyone knows it."

Fight team FIGHT!!

The Gilliams
Family of 4 in Austin!

Why We Fight - One week in the trenches...

pOi dOg demOcrat — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 17:25:04 EST

Thank you Bush/McCain!

McCain gets Bush's blessing (LA Times, 3/6/08)

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-mccain6mar06,1,1309701.story

Iraq: The $2 Trillion Nightmare (NYT, Op-ed 3/4/08)

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/opinion/04herbert.html?em&ex=1204952400&en=65268a75962719e6&ei=5087%0A

Home Foreclosures Hit Record High (AP, 3/6/08)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030601447.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Stocks Fall Amid Credit Concerns (Washington Post, 3/6/08)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030600851.html

Mukasey Refuses to Prosecute Bush Aides (Washington Post 2/29/08)

*this is related to the firing of the US Attorneys

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/29/AR2008022903349.html

In Search for Peace, a Shrinking White House Role (Washington Post 3/1/08)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/01/AR2008030101723.html

McCain's Economy Platform:
Big Tax Cuts, With Caveats (WSJ, Mar 3, 2008)

“On Social Security, the Arizona senator says he still backs a system of private retirement accounts that President Bush pushed unsuccessfully, and disowned details of a Social Security proposal on his campaign Web site.”

"While other candidates were scrambling in January to put together stimulus plans to boost flagging consumer spending, he proposed long-term tax cuts which could take years to come into law.”

These tax cuts would be a continuation of the Bush tax cuts to the wealthiest 1~2% while many American need to work 2 jobs to (maybe) stay ahead.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120451614688707083.html

Barack in 08

Steve "Hussein"

Right or Wrong

Comrade Kevin — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 11:57:15 EST

Right Or Wrong

Ten years ahead of time
or about one year behind

Sometimes it tends to get to me
Don't defy the hand

That leads to the light
of renown

It's a battle that won't make
any sound

Either you're with us
Or you're not

Sometimes lately
I just wanna be caught

Right or wrong
We're breaking their hearts again

Wonder what you're
waiting for?

Right or wrong
We're breaking their hearts again

This one's for the girls
There's no particular one in the world

Until I got a glimpse of what could be

Was shocked by what I couldn't foresee

And in spite of the times
I never really wanna come out

You're always with me
when you're not
Lights are up
We're all gonna be caught

Right or wrong
You're breaking our hearts, again

Wonder what you're waiting for?

Right or wrong
You're breaking our hearts

Right or wrong
We're breaking their hearts again

Right or wrong?

Right or wrong?

It is time to fight. for change...

THEONEKARMA — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:19:01 EST

Lets just say the fight is on, millions of people voted for change on Tuesday, March 4, 2008. A sense of sadness has washed over my family and my heart skipped a beat. I felt as if my drive was washing away, as the vote numbers kept coming in. This is about life and Hilary Clinton has beaten us in the negative add campaign. It is what elected Bill Clinton to office and it seems to be the only way Hillary will when the Democratic nomination.

Do we stoop to that level with the negativity? Yes and no, we must choose our battles carefully, we must always be on the defense and in attack mode. This is politics, not a cakewalk, we have to get our hands dirty and even bloodied for what we believe. It is time to bring the old demons of the Clinton family to light; it is either the Republicans or us. With us bringing to light the dirt, which will help in taking the Republicans fire away from the general election.

Senator Obama could possibly formalize his dreams better and offer solutions on how to obtain his dreams. It is also imperative that he reminds people of the post of president. You are there as a spokesperson for the people, by the people. The president very rarely makes decisions by himself, but needs to ask the right questions of his advisors and listen to the people's voices. Already we have seen what happens if people do not ask the right questions or research the topic before jumping on the band wagon and putting American lives in harms way. If more people would have asked questions we would not be in the predicament of a costly war, almost 4,000 soldiers killed, based of off lies and deception. Not one American life spent was worth Saddam Hussein’s capture and execution, no matter how or who spins what a horrible person he was, not even the 655,000 or so Iraqis are worth it.

Thinking

Yesterday's Blow to Decency

Lisa Betz — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 13:19:11 EST

Yesterday's defeat was disappointing on so many levels. The deepest sadness I feel is the reality that in order to get our guy into the power position, the dark forces of the Clinton campaign must be vanquished. How do we do this? Common thought is that one must fight fire with fire but can we do this without sullying our morals? Durst we do it if we compromise our ideals?

How do we do defend ourselves against this ugly, fear-mongering without striking back in like fashion, thus compromising our values? I pray that Obama will not reduce himself to similar mud slinging without true, substantive proof behind any allegations made. I pray that he does not take the position that to get to the office he will do what he must, THEN make the change. He would be totally discrediting himself if he did that.

It is oh so tempting to see Barrack Obama as a Christ-like figure, a God among men. We must remember that he is indeed a man, imperfect, capable of making mistakes and in the "fight" of his life. He is fighting the true old war of light versus darkeness, enlightenment versus ignorance. I pray that he will be showered with light and vanquish this darkness with light rather than going to the lower levels to fight the darkeness with it's own tactics.

Why do the American people love to fight so much? Why do we see someone unwilling to fight as weak? This is the heart of what must change in our society. It was even present when our country was born, we needed the right to bear arms in order to protect ourselves. Why not instead, create a society of peace which has no need to protect itself because of the very fact that it IS a peaceful society? Other countries have created this. Why can't we?

I wonder what Hillary promised the Canadian official in return for disclosing this "memo"? I find it difficult to believe that out of some misplaced sense of responsibility, this Candadian official acted alone in bringing this memo to light. The memo does not even prove any wrong-doing, merely has language that could be read in a misleading light. This does not necessarily prove anything wrong. All it proves to me is that the Clintons are at it again, fighting their dirty "war" to get Hillary in the Oval Office.

I am afraid that the darker forces in this country (the unenlightened ones) will respond to the lower energies of the Clinton campaign. Those in the gray zone will be coerced into a fearful position that might lead to voting for a candate who is unworthy of the Oval Office and spiritually ignorant and unenlightened.

This is the communication age. We need a real communicator. We need an enlightened light worker to fight the good fight. We need Barrack Obama!

Onward and Upward

Chris from Conway, AR — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 09:37:27 EST

I have mixed feelings about the results last night. I remember telling my friends back on Super Tuesday that I thought HRC would win Ohio and Texas, so part of me isn't surprised about last night. But then, I realized, part of me got caught up in the media windstorm and I thought we'd easily sweep last night. In posts and comments, I've always maintained that we cannot under any circumstances ignore the Clinton campaign. They are fighters and will continue to do whatever it takes (including very bad commercials) to win the nomination. Fortunately, our candidate is the one that takes the high road, and I'm proud of that!

After feeling a bit down last night, I have to say I was uplifted by an email I received this morning from Sen. Obama. In it he states, "We knew that the closer we got to the change we seek, the more we'd see of the politics we're trying to end -- the attacks and distortions that try to distract us from the issues that matter to people's lives, the stunts and the tactics that ask us to fear instead of hope." This is exactly what happened over the last two weeks and it's what we have to stop and defend against during the next 7 weeks leading up to Pennsylvania.

No time to stop now...we must continue the fight and continue spreading the message of restoring hope, dignity, and honor to the White House!

March 4, (one month later) still not over!

Lex — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:11:19 EST

I didn’t expect Obama to win neither OHIO nor TEXAS, history teaches us that very little have changed in respect to race relations and fairness, we have been caught up in the euphoria of believing that America can be fair for once, this has never been true for us.

Fight or foster cooperation

pwr2people — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 14:24:15 EST

She will fight
With all of her might
But she's losing sight
Of her ultimate goal

As we have seen tonight
It has been a fruitless fight
Because she just can't get it right
and perhaps she never will

We need someone with foresight,
Fortitude, aptitude, and insight
On how America can become dynamite
and back on the right path

Barack is the man who can relate to the plight
Of the average citizen whose budget is tight
Whose medical bills are high as a kite
Who want to see a change in their life.

He can bring people together both Black and White
Red, Yellow, dull or bright
He inspires us to reach for higher heights
and to expect nothing less than we deserve

As American citizens it is our right
to vote for the person we think just might
make our lives better and less uptight
so today we must decide.

For me, it is Barack Obama!

Supporting this candidate is a delight
He has what it takes to beat the right
Get us back to the white house with might
and get the country back on track.

What Do Smears Against Obama Say About Society?

funkfresh01 — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 11:31:18 EST

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-obamamuslim_thinkfeb24,0,6345949.story

Author: Ahmed M. Rehab

OK, we get the point. Barack Obama is not a Muslim. He has made that clear, time and again.

As well he should: The rumors are baseless, maliciously spun by political adversaries with the intention of taking votes away from Obama's promising presidential campaign run.

Obama is entitled to set the record straight. But that's not the end of the story.

The broader issue is: What does this attempt to smear Obama say about our society?

More personally, what does it say about my newborn nephew's standing in society? Is he entitled to the dreams of his Muslim father that the boy could grow up to be president if he works as hard as Obama and is as ambitious?

Obama has not gone far enough to challenge the notion that religious affiliation could disqualify Americans from serving their nation. Nor has Mitt Romney, a Mormon, Mike Huckabee, a Baptist, or any other candidate.

It's time for all of them to be quizzed on the meaning of citizenship as preached and practiced in this great democracy. As a voter, I would much rather know their stance on equal employment policies than which church they attend.

Whenever I address young Muslim audiences that may be struggling with identity issues, I remind them that this is their country, too. I tell them they should observe their civic duties, vote and, if it behooves them, run for public office and help bring about the positive reform they often passively expect of others.

The Urgency of Now

Sharon from Minnesota — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 08:41:44 EST

I'm really feeling the 'urgency of now'. Now is the time to pull out all the stops and double our efforts. We're getting assaulted from two fronts, count that three if you include the Fox News Network and others like it. Obama excelled last night. This means that all fronts are going to double their efforts. We must win big on Tuesday so we can begin to fight the Big Battle. The time is now!

Urge Congress to Halt Humanitarian Disaster in Gaza

funkfresh01 — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:37:38 EST

(WASHINGTON, D.C., 01/21/08) - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today called on American Muslims and other people of conscience to urge their elected officials to immediately intervene to put an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The crisis was triggered by an Israeli-imposed blockade Sunday evening, which forced the closure of the only electric plant that serves Gaza City's 400,000 residents and one third of the Gaza Strip's 1.5 millions residents. The blockade prevents the entry of fuel that is essential to the operation of the plant.

SEE: Gaza Dark Amid Israeli Blockade (LA times)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-gaza21jan21,1,576321.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-world&ctrack=2&cset=true

Gaza is already suffering from economic hardship, which according to the World Bank, is primarily a result of being cut off from the rest of the world by Israel. Without power, hospitals, water facilities and other crucial lifelines may completely shut off and homes may be left without heat, plunging Gaza into disarray.

"Then [We] Win "

Raskolnikov — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 20:26:49 EST

First, they ignore you.
Then they laugh at you.
Then they fight you. <-- We are here *****
Then you win.

-- Mohandas Gandhi

Remember I told you about Billary - check it the New York Times

Peace Now - Roseville, CA — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 04:59:56 EST

Please read this Op Ed from today's New York Times.

The Last paragraph, which I will copy here first says it all. He also notes that this column was written before the SC primary results were known, so take that into consideration.. And, in my last blog it occurred to me to call the monster machine BILLARY. I posted that everywhere. I knew someone would pick it up and that it would snowball, as it is so obvious. I posted a comment to the Op Ed below as follows:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted to the New York Times

27th, 2008 1:41 am

No BILLARY, No, Never, ever.

I am a lifelong Democrat. Senior, white, female, college educated, single, disabled, half Latina, low-income, Medicare. That is the demographic they claim will vote for Hillary. But I believe Hillary to be a woman who is battered and brow-beaten by her husband and does not represent a strong, independent, free-thinking woman suitable to be president. She doesn't inspire, she makes you feel sorry for her. No BILLARY for me, if THEY get the nomination, I stay home.

--------------

I have been using the term "Billary" on other blogs wishing a national source would pick it up, (yet knowing soon it would occur to someone else), but I had no idea The NYT would be brave enough to put it out there. Many thanks. You have my vote. It says it all.

-----

Now, will you say Hillary is battered and brow-beaten. The proof? Remember when she cried in response to a question re how she did it every day. I could visualize her getting up in the morning, Bill starting in on her, I could see it. I've been there. Then the tears. I could feel her pain.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Last paragraph first:

If Mr. Obama doesn’t fight, no one else will. Few national Democratic leaders have the courage to stand up to the Clintons. Even in defeat, Mr. Obama may at least help wake up a party slipping into denial. Any Democrat who seriously thinks that Bill will fade away if Hillary wins the nomination — let alone that the Clintons will escape being fully vetted — is a Democrat who, as the man said, believes in fairy tales.

Now the complete editorial:

Opinion NY Times

The Billary Road to Republican Victory

By FRANK RICHPublished: January 27, 2008

IN the wake of George W. Bush, even a miracle might not be enough for the Republicans to hold on to the White House in 2008. But what about two miracles? The new year’s twin resurrections of Bill Clinton and John McCain, should they not evaporate, at last give the G.O.P. a highly plausible route to victory.

Skip to next paragraph Fred R. Conrad/The New York Times

Frank Rich

Barry Blitt

Readers' Comments

Share your thoughts on this Op-Ed column.

Amazingly, neither party seems to fully recognize the contours of the road map. In the Democrats’ case, the full-throttle emergence of Billary, the joint Clinton candidacy, is measured mainly within the narrow confines of the short-term horse race: Do Bill Clinton’s red-faced eruptions and fact-challenged rants enhance or diminish his wife as a woman and a candidate?

Absent from this debate is any sober recognition that a Hillary Clinton nomination, if it happens, will send the Democrats into the general election with a new and huge peril that may well dwarf the current wars over race, gender and who said what about Ronald Reagan.

What has gone unspoken is this: Up until this moment, Hillary has successfully deflected rough questions about Bill by saying, “I’m running on my own” or, as she snapped at Barack Obama in the last debate, “Well, I’m here; he’s not.” This sleight of hand became officially inoperative once her husband became a co-candidate, even to the point of taking over entirely when she vacated South Carolina last week. With “two for the price of one” back as the unabashed modus operandi, both Clintons are in play.

For the Republicans, that means not just a double dose of the one steroid, Clinton hatred, that might yet restore their party’s unity but also two fat targets. Mrs. Clinton repeatedly talks of how she’s been “vetted” and that “there are no surprises” left to be mined by her opponents. On the “Today” show Friday, she joked that the Republican attacks “are just so old.” So far. Now that Mr. Clinton is ubiquitous, not only is his past back on the table but his post-presidency must be vetted as well. To get a taste of what surprises may be in store, you need merely revisit the Bill Clinton questions that Hillary Clinton has avoided to date.

Asked by Tim Russert at a September debate whether the Clinton presidential library and foundation would disclose the identities of its donors during the campaign, Mrs. Clinton said it wasn’t up to her. “What’s your recommendation?” Mr. Russert countered. Mrs. Clinton replied: “Well, I don’t talk about my private conversations with my husband, but I’m sure he’d be happy to consider that.”

Not so happy, as it turns out. The names still have not been made public.

Just before the holidays, investigative reporters at both The Washington Post and The New York Times tried to find out why, with no help from the Clintons. The Post uncovered a plethora of foreign contributors, led by Saudi Arabia. The Times found an overlap between library benefactors and Hillary Clinton campaign donors, some of whom might have an agenda with a new Clinton administration. (Much as one early library supporter, Marc Rich’s ex-wife, Denise, had an agenda with the last one.) “The vast scale of these secret fund-raising operations presents enormous opportunities for abuse,” said Representative Henry Waxman, the California Democrat whose legislation to force disclosure passed overwhelmingly in the House but remains stalled in the Senate.

The Post and Times reporters couldn’t unlock all the secrets. The unanswered questions could keep them and their competitors busy until Nov. 4. Mr. Clinton’s increased centrality to the campaign will also give The Wall Street Journal a greater news peg to continue its reportorial forays into the unraveling financial partnership between Mr. Clinton and the swashbuckling billionaire Ron Burkle.

At “Little Rock’s Fort Knox,” as the Clinton library has been nicknamed by frustrated researchers, it’s not merely the heavy-hitting contributors who are under wraps. Even by the glacial processing standards of the National Archives, the Clintons’ White House papers have emerged slowly, in part because Bill Clinton exercised his right to insist that all communications between him and his wife be “considered for withholding” until 2012.

When Mrs. Clinton was asked by Mr. Russert at an October debate if she would lift that restriction, she again escaped by passing the buck to her husband: “Well, that’s not my decision to make.” Well, if her candidacy is to be as completely vetted as she guarantees, the time for the other half of Billary to make that decision is here.

The credibility of a major Clinton campaign plank, health care, depends on it. In that same debate, Mrs. Clinton told Mr. Russert that “all of the records, as far as I know, about what we did with health care” are “already available.” As Michael Isikoff of Newsweek reported weeks later, this is a bit off; he found that 3,022,030 health care documents were still held hostage. Whatever the pace of the processing, the gatekeeper charged with approving each document’s release is the longtime Clinton loyalist Bruce Lindsey.

People don’t change. Bill Clinton, having always lived on the edge, is back on the precipice. When he repeatedly complains that the press has given Mr. Obama a free ride and over-investigated the Clintons, he seems to be tempting the fates, given all the reporting still to be done on his post-presidential business. When he says, as he did on Monday, that “whatever I do should be totally transparent,” it’s almost as if he’s setting himself up for a fall. There’s little more transparency at “Little Rock’s Fort Knox” than there is at Giuliani Partners.

“The Republicans are not going to have any compunctions about asking anybody anything,” Mrs. Clinton lectured Mr. Obama. Maybe so, but Republicans are smart enough not to start asking until after she has secured the nomination.

Not all Republicans are smart enough, however, to recognize the value of John McCain should Mrs. Clinton emerge as the nominee. He’s a bazooka aimed at most every rationale she’s offered for her candidacy.

In a McCain vs. Billary race, the Democrats will sacrifice the most highly desired commodity by the entire electorate, change; the party will be mired in déjà 1990s all over again. Mrs. Clinton’s spiel about being “tested” by her “35 years of experience” won’t fly either. The moment she attempts it, Mr. McCain will run an ad about how he was being tested when those 35 years began, in 1973. It was that spring when he emerged from five-plus years of incarceration at the Hanoi Hilton while Billary was still bivouacked at Yale Law School. And can Mrs. Clinton presume to sell herself as best equipped to be commander in chief “on Day One” when opposing an actual commander and war hero? I don’t think so.

Foreign policy issue No. 1, withdrawal from Iraq, should be a slam-dunk for any Democrat. Even the audience at Thursday’s G.O.P. debate in Boca Raton cheered Ron Paul’s antiwar sentiments. But Mrs. Clinton’s case is undermined by her record. She voted for the war, just as Mr. McCain did, in 2002 and was still defending it in February 2005, when she announced from the Green Zone that much of Iraq was “functioning quite well. ” Only in November 2005 did she express the serious misgivings long pervasive in her own party. When Mr. McCain accuses her of now advocating “surrender” out of political expediency, her flip-flopping will back him up.

Billary can’t even run against the vast right-wing conspiracy if Mr. McCain is the opponent. Rush Limbaugh and Tom DeLay hate Mr. McCain as much as they hate the Clintons. And they hate him for the same reasons Mr. McCain wins over independents and occasional Democrats: his sporadic (and often mild) departures from conservative orthodoxy on immigration and campaign finance reform, torture, tax cuts, climate change and the godliness of Pat Robertson. Since Mr. McCain doesn’t kick reporters like dogs, as the Clintons do, he will no doubt continue to enjoy an advantage, however unfair, with the press pack on the Straight Talk Express.

Even so, Mr. McCain hasn’t yet won a clear majority of Republican voters in any G.O.P. contest. He’s depended on the kindness of independent voters. Tuesday’s Florida primary, which is open exclusively to Republicans, is his crucial test. If he fails, his party remains in chaos and Mitt Romney could still inherit the earth.

That would be a miracle for the Democrats, but they can hardly count on it. If Mr. Obama has not met an unexpected Waterloo in South Carolina — this column went to press before Saturday’s vote — the party needs him to stop whining about the Clintons’ attacks, regain his wit and return to playing offense. Unlike Mrs. Clinton, he would unambiguously represent change in a race with any Republican. If he vanquishes Billary, he’ll have an even stronger argument to take into battle against a warrior like Mr. McCain.

Barack, PLEASE Don't Stoop to Their Level!

Mary H. — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:28:38 EST

Barack,

As one of your very first supporters, as someone who has walked miles, door to door on your behalf, please do not stoop to their level! Do not let these run of the mill politicians bring you down to the level of common bickering and mud slinging.

One of the reasons we the people first supported you, was because you were different, you were eloquent in the face of intimidation.

You are our hope. You could be our future. Our dreams for a change just might come true because of you. Please do not stoop to their level at this crucial point in time. We can be passionate about our cause without being ignorant.

Faithfully yours,

Mary

Resolution: Fight!

EMK — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:37:57 EST

President Obama:

Don't let ~~Bill & Hillary~~ get you into a "Yo Mamma" battle politic. They are simply trying to take advantage of their experience in "tooth-and-nail" campaigning to get you away from what you are representing. They are trying to get you so frustrated and focused on those two so that they can get to say, "Well, what 35 years of experience has showed us that [Hillary] can fight the Republicans without losing our cool."

You know what, if that is true, why does the Constitution allow candidates to run for president at 35?

That was probably your first true fight with such divisive Washington players, but you did okay, but don't let them get you off message.

I am 25 years old, but in when I was Sophomore Representative for the Undergraduate Branch of SGA in January of 2003, I was given the opportunity to author a resolution for students' rights that would have been sent to a lot of people in Washington, including all of Congress, the President, and the head of the Department of Homeland Security. The resolution was in response to SEVIS and NESEERS practicies December of 2002.

Agree or disagree with me on this matter, but I never had realized that the resolution was the Vice President of the Undergraduate Branch, placed his own political interests above his own, and used his knowledge of Roberts Rules of Order and his other contacts to try to stop me. The resolution was the most hotly debated resolution in the Undergraduate branch of SGA, while is was considered seriously by the Graduate Branch of SGA.

I had little experience with such dirty politics, but I managed to gain strength from it. I lost only because the Vice President convinced three people, two of them his friends, to walk out and keep us from voting on the resolution after attempts to prevent discussion, conference committee, tabling, and sending the resolution to the end of discussion.

I was unable to get the bill's final form passed, but I understand how some politicians will put their own political desires ahead of what's right and how they are willing to do anything to stop those who are meant to go forward.

This is what ~~Hillary and Bill Clinton~~ are trying to do to you. They managed to get you frustrated once, due to their Washington experience, but you don't need that to win. Show them your true strength. I got a lot of respect for that resolution, and I hope that resolution will inspire future SGAs to do others, like you are trying to inspire old and new voters to support you.

I wish you do get to read this, President Obama, and I hope this gives you the strength to get through S.C., Super Tuesday, and afterward.

Go for it!

What do you do when your opponent comes up from the ropes...

Scott from Normal, IL — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 13:55:14 EST

What do you do when your opponent comes up from the ropes...

Living through today, after a loss like last night is tough. When your opponent comes up off the mat and lands a dizzying series of unexpected blows. However, good things come from adversity. Character is built, lessons are learned. Here are a two that I see:

1. RECOVER Muhammad Ali said:

I never thought of losing, but now that it' s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That's my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life.

I think there is truth there. Remember that nothing worthwhile comes easily, and more importantly that fighting the good fight NEVER ENDS. Injustice, terrorism, poverty, they will not go away, so like the gladiators that have gone before. It's important to shake it off, take a moment. and then get back in the ring. Brian Williams famously observed, that this New Hampshire loss may actually have a positive impact on Senator Obama's candidacy. Showing resilience is an important character trait for a leader.

2. RESOLVEAnother lesson that MUST be learned. Resolve. It will always be the case that some opponents are simply too cruel, too cold, or too dangerous to not be utterly destroyed. Hillary has proven her resolve to fight. Senator Obama isn't the candidate I believe he is if he let's her down. The fight is now on a bigger stage. Like all great westerns, the stage is set for the final battle. The towns people are watching.

3. REGROUPWe, as supporters of Senator Obama also have a role to play, only together can we hope to succeed against these types of opponents. It is now more important than ever before to put actions to our beliefs. Volunteering, Donating, Praying, and VOTING. I believe that for this to be decided, we will all have to do our part. I think the question that really exists for us is: Are we townspeople, hiding and watching, or in the fight to save our town.

Inspirational Movies

Average Joe — Mon, 24 Dec 2007 11:10:41 EST

Hi all,

You might find the following movies interesting given that their protagonist's ideals closely resemble Mr. Obama's:

Gladiator (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/)

V For Vendetta (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409/)

The Count of Monte Cristo (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245844/)

The Matrix (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0133093/)

Some things to note:

1) Note that the personalities of the ACTORS of these characters is irrelevant--it is the personalities of the characters themselves that I'm alluding to.

2) Revenge is a common theme in the above movies, but so is a fight for what you believe is right. The latter is what I think is the defining characteristic of Senator Obama.

I hope you all enjoy these movies and agree with me :-).

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays,

-AJ

Does U.S. Tolerate Anti-Muslim Speech?

funkfresh01 — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 21:12:21 EST

Author: Omar Sacirbey

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1204/p02s02-usgn.html?page=1

Lu Gronseth listens regularly to WWTC, a conservative talk-radio station in Minneapolis, and even advertises his mortgage-loan business on the station. But when he learned that a nationally syndicated radio show host had told WWTC listeners that Muslims should be deported and made rude comments about what they could do with their religion, Mr. Gronseth pulled his ads from the station.

So have at least two other Minnesota businesses, at the urging of the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Washington, D.C., as have a handful of national companies, including OfficeMax, JCPenney, Wal-Mart, and AT&T. But the comments by host Michael Savage in October – and previous anti-Muslim speech – have not created the furor that knocked radio icon Don Imus off of MSNBC and CBS Radio after he denigrated a black women's basketball team. That leaves many Muslims-Americans – and non-Muslims like Mr. Gronseth – suspicious that Americans have a double standard when it comes to Islam.