Saturday, September 13, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Off Topic: Project Runway 5; All 6 are finalists for the Grand Prize at Bryant Park (Video)
Final 6 ‘Project Runway' designers put best looks forward
If there is one burning question electrifying the air in the fashion world this week it is who will be the winner "Project Runway Season 5" as the cable TV hit wraps filming and prepares to make its much talked about move from the Bravo network to Lifetime.
That question came several catwalk strides closer to being answered Friday morning, as the show filmed its finale under the tent here at Bryant Park, showcasing the 10-piece collections of each of the six semi-finalists: Jerell Scott, Stephen "Suede" Baum, Joe Faris, Kenley Collins, Korto Momolu, and Leanne Marshall.
Before a packed house that included a nexus of fashion and Hollywood elites like show producer Harvey Weinstein, Padma Lakshmi, stylist Rachel Zoe, the "Project Runway" iconic judging trio of Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, and Heidi Klum strode down the runway and mugged for the camera pit. Then, after thanking the magical elves, Bravo, and numerous others, host and executive producer Heidi Klum, clad in a deliciously snug green-black dress, introduced guest judge and beloved mentor to the designers Tim Gunn, who stepped in at the last minute for Jennifer Lopez who had cancelled due to a foot injury.
Seeming almost weepy, Gunn said, "I promise to be impartial and unbiased and to put my relationship with the designers on a metaphorical shelf."
Then the ever perky Klum set the production in motion with her trademark command, "Let's start the show!" continue
Photos of the finalists collections, here.
Entertainment Weekly, Spoilers
Born to runway
The move to L.A. from New York City
Looks like it is between Korto and Leanne. Stay tuned.
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Obama Evening Wrap Up....Palin Begging for Hillary Voters
dover, new hampshire
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Still Wanting Hillary Voters, Just Not Ready for Prime Time
To be honest, what Hillary voter would fall for Sarah Palin? This woman, first off is not Hillary. Second, her postitions are a 180 to Hillary. Third, anyone voting for Palin it is personal about Barack Obama.
But Palin still is wanting the Clinton voters, stating Obama should have put her on the ticket.
After watching Palin last night on ABC, my conclusions were sealed. She is nothing. I mean, absolutely nothing.
The questions on foreign policy was startling. The look on Charlie Gibson's face and he was being nice, told the story. The woman is an empty pantsuit. See for yourself, here:
Sorry, folks, Sarah Palin was clearly scripted and tried to dance around the "Bush Doctrine" questions, indicated we could go to war with Russia, a Bush/Cheney hardliner and is just clueless. First off, Senator Claire McCaskill was frank today. Want to go to war with Russia? Draft time. And Chris Matthews, from Hardball nails it about Palin:
This is a woman who is a heartbeat away from the presidency, with a presidential candidate who is 72 years old and had 4 bouts of cancer. Do we really want her in charge? As Matt Damon said, "She will have the nuke codes." Do we? After last night, she is incredibly frightening, a Bush/Cheney in a skirt, and is NOT HILLARY CLINTON.
Oh, since Charles Gibson did ask the questions, her next spot is Sean Hannity, Fox News, a non-journalist hack who will not ask the questions.
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Obama/Biden Campaign Dates
September 13, 2000, Manchester, NH, Change We Need Rally with Barack Obama and Joe Biden
September 13, 2000, Dubuque, IA, Community event with Jill Biden
September 14, 2000, Elyria, OH, "Change We Need" Rally with Hillary Clinton
September 14, 2008, Akron, OH, "Change We Need" Rally with Hillary Clinton
September 15, 2008, Flat Rock, MI, "Change We Need" Rally with Joe Biden
September 15, 2008, Pueblo, CO, Change We Need Rally with Barack Obama
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Ladies of "The View" Take it to McCain
Senator John McCain bounded onto the set of “The View” this morning, perhaps expecting a fun session chatting with the ladies about the softer side of his presidential campaign.
But once he settled onto the couch, he got a pretty good grilling — on earmarks, on his erstwhile image as a “maverick” and, of course, about his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin. He also defended his ads against Senator Barack Obama, saying “they are not lies,” and his wife, Cindy, who appeared later, declined to answer a question about how many houses the McCains own.
Mr. McCain also had some kind words for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who may have been the first choice for president among many viewers of “The View.” The show is watched by 3.4 million people, according to Nielsen, 78 percent of whom are women and whose median age is 56 years old.
A visit to “The View” is becoming a rite of passage for candidates as they try to shore up their appeal among women (Mr. McCain also taped a segment today for the Rachael Ray show.)
Anyway, Ms. Walters led off the questioning of Mr. McCain, and right away set the tone for the rest of the interview.
She first asked Mr. McCain to defend his earlier statement that Ms. Palin was “the greatest vice presidential candidate in the history of the United States.” Was he perhaps overlooking John Adams or George H.W. Bush? continue
Video of the full interview, here.
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obama in dover, nh
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Which Country is First to McCain?
A good question.
"Just ask the machinists in Pennsylvania who build Harley-Davidsons," Obama said of McCain's record. "Because John McCain didn’t just oppose the requirement that the government buy American-made motorcycles, he called Buy American provisions 'disgraceful.' Just ask the workers across this country who have seen their jobs outsourced. The very companies that shipped their jobs overseas have been rewarded with billions of dollars in tax breaks that John McCain supports and plans to continue.
"So, when American workers hear John McCain talking about putting 'Country First,'" Obama said, "it’s fair to ask –- which country?"
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Breaking News! Subpoenas Granted In Alaska.......Todd Palin Subpoenaed
Biden Son Quits Lobbying Firm
Obama says some ads against him “fabricated” and “lies”
Palin, as Mayor of Wasilla, billed rape victims for the rape kits
New Obama Ads, here.
Palin links 9/11 to Iraq War
McCain picks "lobbyist" for transition team
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The Ladies of ABC's "The View" Ask the REAL QUESTIONS to John McCain, (Video)
part one
part two
part three
Finally, someone asks the tough questions.
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Palin links 9/11 to Iraq War (Video)
The reason this is ludicrous is because it has be proven that Iraq had NOTHING to do with the 9/11 attack.
The Bush Administration has stopped using this talking point because they have been proven LIARS in doing so.
Why in the world is Sarah Palin using this talking point?
I am sorry folks, but the more that I read about Palin the more she is a George W. Bush/Dick Cheney in a skirt. We saw that show and are living that show as Americans.
We don't need a repeat.
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Obama Campaign Manager, David Plouffe, On the Final Stretch of this Race
TO: Interested Parties
FR: David Plouffe, Campaign Manager
RE: Heading into the Final Stretch
DA: September 12, 2008
Summary
With both conventions and the vice-presidential selections behind us, the campaign is now heading into the final stretch. The race has settled into a tight race nationally with Obama well-positioned in the key battleground states, a historic enthusiasm gap, and a debate being waged on Obama's home turf - change.
In recent weeks, John McCain has shown that he is willing to go into the gutter to win this election. His campaign has become nothing but a series of smears, lies, and cynical attempts to distract from the issues that matter to the American people. But as Barack Obama said earlier this week "enough is enough." This election is too important and the challenges too big to spend the next 54 days talking about trivial non-issues.
Today is the first day of the rest of the campaign, and today we are releasing two new ads that go directly at the fundamental issue in this race: John McCain is out of touch with the American people and unable to address the challenges facing the country in the 21st century and bring about real change, and that Barack Obama is the candidate who will bring about change that works for the middle class.
We will respond with speed and ferocity to John McCain's attacks and we will take the fight to him, but we will do it on the big issues that matter to the American people. We will not allow John McCain and his band of Karl Rove disciples to make this big election about small things.
Senator Biden will be integral to that effort, both in pushing back on the lies that we'll continue to see from our opponents, and in keeping the debate focused on delivering for everyday Americans. After all, that's what Joe Biden has done throughout his career: passing the Crime Bill to put more cops on our streets, passing to the landmark Violence Against Women Act, and serving as a steadfast voice every day for those more concerned about the price of gas and saving for retirement than the latest political charade in Washington.
A Change Election with Two Converts
For the entire general election campaign, the McCain campaign has insisted that years in Washington should be the yardstick by which Americans measure their next President. But in recent days, and with his selection of a running mate with no Washington experience, Senator McCain has abandoned his core argument. Now he and his strategists have belatedly come to the realization that, after eight disastrous years, the American people are demanding change.
So the candidate who just months ago was openly boasting that he has been a faithful supporter of George W. Bush's policies, and would continue them as President, now is improbably scrambling to offer himself as the candidate who will deliver the change America needs - even as President Bush holds a fundraiser for him today in Oklahoma.
This is a debate we welcome. It is the debate America needs.
For two decades, Barack Obama has challenged political insiders and outworn thinking to bring about real, meaningful change that helps people, not special interests. From welfare reform, to tax relief for working families, to health care for children of working families who lacked coverage, Obama has been at the forefront of fights that have made a difference in the lives of everyday Americans.
In Washington, Obama has been a consistent opponent of the Bush policies that have hobbled our economy and weakened the middle class, and his proposals for the future would steer us away from that disastrous course.
He's challenged leaders of both parties by passing landmark reforms that took dead aim at the campaign contributions and favors through which corporate lobbyists have rigged the system. He worked across the aisle to pass laws reining in no-bid contracts and opening the budget process to the American people.
And Obama has lived by those principles in this campaign, refusing the contributions of Washington lobbyists and political action committees and imposing those same rules on the Democratic National Committee. Lobbyists don't run his campaign. And when he's President, they won't run his White House.
But what about John McCain?
Can we really expect change from a Senator who supported the Bush policies 90 percent of the time? Who has said the Bush policies have brought about "great progress economically" and who just three weeks ago proclaimed the economy fundamentally strong?
The fact is that while he mouths the word "change," Senator McCain's record and proposals scream "more of the same." His plans for the economy, energy, health care, education and Iraq barely stray from the Bush policies that are in place today.
And can we really expect change from a candidate whose campaign is being run by some of the most powerful corporate lobbyists in Washington?
While Senator McCain loudly declares that he will tell the special interests in Washington that their day is "over," they are working overtime to elect him.
Seven of the top officials in his campaign are lobbyists. Between them, they have lobbied for Big Oil, the drug and insurance industries, foreign governments-even Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. His campaign manager routinely lobbied for corporations who had business before the Senate Commerce Committee that McCain chaired.
Corporate Lobbyists and PACs have contributed millions of dollars to his campaign and the Republican National Committee on his behalf.
Does anyone believe they are spending their time, money and energy to put themselves out of business?
That is not change. It's more of the same.
A debate about delivering change is a debate we're happy to have. Because no matter how many times McCain and Governor Palin use the word "change" or try to reinvent their own records, one thing stays the same: the fact that when it comes to the economy, education, Iraq, or the special interests' stranglehold on Washington, they both are stubborn defenders of the past eight years and they both promise more of the same.
One final note:
Senator McCain has called the news media "his base" because of the friendly treatment he has received. And he undoubtedly is counting on his "base" to overlook the gulf between his newly minted "change" message, and the realities of his record and campaign.
His lobbyist-manager said Sunday that Governor Palin would only submit to questions about her record, statements and views when they determine that the news media will treat her with due "deference"-a startling and arrogant new standard for public officials in our democracy.
But we trust that the obvious conflicts between their rhetoric and records, their promises and their plans will not go unreported in the last 53 days of this campaign.
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Thursday, September 11, 2008
Sarah Palin, "Painful Interview, Don't Know What the Bush Doctrine Is", ABC Interview (Video)
and Palin on banning books.....
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Obama Evening Wrap Up....Polls.....
obama in nyc with mayor bloomberg for 9/11 memorial
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Polls
Daily Kos has commissioned Research 2000 or R2000 for daily tracking poll results, such as Gallup and Rasmussen. The difference is the poll will be published without any bullshit attached. You will see the break down and can make your own opinion from there. In other words, no spin.
Right now this race is a dead heat. Make no mistake about it. We need all hands on deck and you can start by looking to your left, under "About Barack" and get involved in this campaign.
I am a firm believer that you can win only so much with the "air war", meaning ads on TV, but in the end it is about targeting your voters, getting them to the polls. If you are an early voter state, get them to the polls, sooner versus later.
This race will be won on the ground. Period.
Daily Kos has also commissioned for battleground states. The first one is North Carolina. It appears this poll is in alignment with SUSA, which has an almost 20 point swing to McCain. But PPP and other North Carolina polls have it a dead heat. In other words, somewhere in the middle but we are behind. North Carolina is an early voting state, get those folks to the polls ASAP.
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Obama's statement on 9/11
Today, we honor the memory of the lives that were lost on September 11, 2001, and grieve with the families and friends who lost someone they loved in New York City, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We will never forget those who died. We will always remember the extraordinary efforts of our firefighters, police and emergency responders, and those who sacrificed their own lives on Flight 93 to protect their fellow Americans. And we give thanks for the Americans defending us every day in our communities at home, and in our military abroad.
On 9/11, Americans across our great country came together to stand with the families of the victims, to donate blood, to give to charity, and to say a prayer for our country. Let us renew that spirit of service and that sense of common purpose. Let us remember that the terrorists responsible for 9/11 are still at large, and must be brought to justice. Let us resolve to defeat terrorist networks, defend the American homeland, stand up for the enduring American values that we cherish, and seek a new birth of freedom at home and around the world.
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Voter Suppression Alert
The chairman of the Republican Party in Macomb County Michigan, a key swing county in a key swing state, is planning to use a list of foreclosed homes to block people from voting in the upcoming election as part of the state GOP’s effort to challenge some voters on Election Day.
“We will have a list of foreclosed homes and will make sure people aren’t voting from those addresses,” party chairman James Carabelli told Michigan Messenger in a telephone interview earlier this week. He said the local party wanted to make sure that proper electoral procedures were followed.
State election rules allow parties to assign “election challengers” to polls to monitor the election. In addition to observing the poll workers, these volunteers can challenge the eligibility of any voter provided they “have a good reason to believe” that the person is not eligible to vote. One allowable reason is that the person is not a “true resident of the city or township.”
The Michigan Republicans’ planned use of foreclosure lists is apparently an attempt to challenge ineligible voters as not being “true residents.”
One expert questioned the legality of the tactic. continue
I hope the Obama Campaign has lawyers in all these SWING STATES, because this is not just going to happen in Michigan, expect it in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Colorado, etc. This is as scummy as it gets.
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Full video of Barack on David Letterman
Former Aide Says Palin Isn't Up To The Job
Purchase the Obama Campaign Book, "Change We Can Believe In"
McCain finally answers some questions -- or tries to answer some questions. He's terrible.
ABC News: Palin says war with Russia may be necessary.
Frameshop: The Winning Frame has Emerged by Jeffrey Feldman
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Obama on David Letterman (Video), September 10, 2008
obama on letterman, nyc
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part one
part two
part three
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Obama Evening Wrap Up....What shade is your lipstick?
barack in norfolk, virginia
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Lipstick, Faux Outrage and the "iffy" Press
If you don't know, then you should. Obama referred to the McCain/Palin Campaign as "putting lipstick on a pig." But, the McCain Campaign states he was talking about Sarah Palin.
Yes, this is bullshit, trivial nothing. But again, remember when you have a horrible record and parties of liars as in the Bush Administration, what can you possibly run on? The truth? Here is Barack's response:
Does anyone believe the GOP is outraged? This is a party that will do or say anything to win. They are even lying about the McCain/Palin record and have been called OUT repeatedly. As Barack says, "spare me the phony outrage." And with the media, it is starting to work.
CBS pulled that webad attacking Obama about the "pig" message against Palin. In fact, the McCain Campaign used footage of Katie Couric who was speaking on another topic. Youtube has pulled the webad.
What is happening is that the press is slowly, starting to perform their duty. That is to REPORT the facts. All three networks started out with some indication of the McCain/Palin ticket lying, distorting facts, untruthful, etc.
McCain can stay in the mud, but the viewpoint of him will eventually turn. We, that is, those that follow politics are always gnashing teeth at the possibility that the public will, fall again, for tricks instead of facts. The opinion is still out on that one, this time around. I do know people want to know what you are going to do to solve problems, not this continuous cry-baby game that the McCain Campaign is playing.
Lastly, when the debates come around, some truth must come out of John McCain's mouth and Sarah Palin's mouth. For now, it is the proverbial "he said, she said" game.
Oh, my lipstick shade is blood red. That is how badly the Republicans need to leave Washington, D.C. And read, "There is more going on than "Lipstick on a Pig".
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McCain-Palin Distorts Our Finding
A McCain-Palin ad has FactCheck.org calling Obama's attacks on Palin "absolutely false" and "misleading." That's what we said, but it wasn't about Obama.
Our article criticized anonymous e-mail falsehoods and bogus claims about Palin posted around the Internet. We have no evidence that any of the claims we found to be false came from the Obama campaign.
The McCain-Palin ad also twists a quote from a Wall Street Journal columnist. He said the Obama camp had sent a team to Alaska to "dig into her record and background." The ad quotes the WSJ as saying the team was sent to "dig dirt."
Update, Sept. 10: Furthermore, the Obama campaign insists that no researchers have been sent to Alaska and that the Journal owes them a correction. continue
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Matt Damon on Sarah Palin
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and.....................
Biden: Second wife 'restored my life' after tragedy
Fact Check: Palin and the Bridge to Nowhere
New Obama Ads
McCain plays dirty on Obama & sex-ed
Palin lies could lead to Bridge to Oblivion
McCain's Integrity
As Campaign Heats Up, Untruths Can Become Facts Before They're Undone
And Obama Aide Slams McCain on Sexism
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Where was McCain at when someone called Hillary a bitch? (Video)
Here comes the surrogates.
h/t americablog
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Matt Damon on Sarah Palin (Video)
Transcript
"I think there's a really good chance that Sarah Palin could be president, and I think that's a really scary thing because I don't know anything about her. I don't think in eight weeks I'll know anything about her. I know that she was mayor of a really, really small town and she's been governor of Alaska for less than two years. I think the pick was made for political purposes but in terms of governance its a disaster. If you do the actuary tables, there's a 1 out of 3 chance - if not more - that McCain doesn't survive his first term and it'll be President Palin. (You know) we were just talking about it earlier. Its like a really bad Disney movie. You know, the hockey mom (saying) "Oh, I'm just a hockey mom from Alaska!" And she's the president! and its like, she's facing down Vladimir Putin (using the) folksy stuff she learned at the hockey rink. Its just absurd. Its totally absurd and I don't understand why more people aren't talking about how absurd it is. Its a really terrifying possibility. The fact that we've gotten this far...and we're that close to this becoming a reality...is ....crazy. Crazy. I mean, did she, I mean I really need to know if she thinks dinosaurs were here 4000 years ago. That's an important...I wanna know that, I really do. Because she's gonna have the nuclear codes. You know, I wanna know if she thinks dinosaurs were here 4000 years ago. Or if she banned books, or tried to ban books. I mean, this is...this is...we can't have that."
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There is more going on than "Lipstick on a Pig"
I stayed away from all the hand wringing and teeth gnashing over this past weekend.
I was busy working my family schedule to volunteer my weekend time to the Obama Campaign.
Many believe that he must hit back immediately. I thought so at one point, but don't look at it that way now.
Why should Barack soil up his image when McCain/Palin are destroying theirs?
I mean, isn't McCain/Palin doing a good enough job right now to themselves?
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The lipstick on a pig remark has been used three times by the McCain/Palin campaign. So, the faux outrage is real. Everyone knows this remark means trying to "doll or fix something up, that is not fixable", and that is the McCain/Palin Campaign.
Over the weekend everyone was ready to jump off their nearest bridge because of a poll, well the numbers have shaken out and Barack is even or slightly ahead in most of the polling. The bounce is done.
John McCain thought by picking Sarah Palin that it would be a massive shift, but that is not happening. All this pick did was rev up the base, the "fundy" base that is. Listen to what Matt Damon said to the AP. It is these questions that millions of Americans are asking about Palin right now. The Palin pick eventually will be a turn off to many independents and moderates, both republicans and democrats. Now it is wait and see time.
John McCain must come out negative earlier than later, the polling numbers are not there for him. He knows it and Obama knows it. He must destroy Barack Obama and the only way is by character. McCain/Palin won't win on the issues, the polls tell them that, so going negative, lying and racial is their last card. But, there is another issue at hand, money.
McCain just got his 84M dollar check from the feds, but right now there is fighting amongst the McCain Campaign on what to defend and how.
McCain has been the "presumptive" since February but has done nothing to build a ground structure. He has not opened offices, until lately, hired field operatives, etc. He did not have the money and only had enough to get him around the country and pay his own staff. McCain has not had any staff on the ground all these months for voter registration drives that cost money. Right now this is about money.
Yes, the fundys are aboard, but it may not be enough this late in the game. The RNC will help, but remember the RNC has to defend their own down ballot seats across this country. Again, watch the money.
Watch the movement. Not Barack's but McCain's. Watch what he will defend or what he will let go dark. Pennsylvania will be dropped. It cost a lot of money to defend the keystone state, along with advertising in the Philadelphia market. Keep an eye on Florida. This state has not been given much McCain love, the Florida market is expensive and you need MASSIVE offices open for GOTV. McCain will attempt to defend Virginia, but watch the ad buy for the expensive DC market. McCain will continue to campaign in Michigan, which the Detroit market is not cheap, but watch the state polling numbers. If McCain cannot pull that one from Barack, he will abandon it by mid October. McCain must defend Ohio. Ohio is the wildcard. Yes, they have a huge "fundy" base, but there are more non-fundy's who are hurting economically right now and McCain may not be their cup of tea. I look for New Mexico and Colorado to move to Barack. Yes, Colorado Springs got a lot of "fundys" but they are not the whole state, remember that. I am not sure about Montana, but a friend told me last night that Montana loves their guns, but hate the Patriot Act. This state could be Barack's.
This is what is going on. See what McCain must do? Again, folks this will be won on the GROUND. Not the air. Of course, we see the whining, crying McCain/Palin ad that Barack called Palin a pig. Of course, we just saw Barack mock that statement and make fun of the GOP. Nobody believes that the GOP is offended, not after putting out that bullshit ad on Obama about sex education for Kindergartners! Please.
Lastly, people need to get off this blog and work the Obama Campaign until the election. It means doing something every weekend instead of whining, moaning, bitching and handwringing.
John McCain sold his soul, reputation, image out to play the ugliest, nastiest, racist campaign for the next 56 days. It is all he has left to do. It is up to us, not to get caught up in bullshit but keep our eyes on the prize. Let McCain/Palin become caricatures, because that is what is happening. And let us, the supporters remember to focus on Obama and not the Drama.
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Donate, here
Volunteer, here.
Phonebank, here.
Register to vote, here.
Voter registration drive information, here.
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cross-posted @ Daily Kos
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Obama says, "Spare me the phony outrage" (Video)
He has found his footing. Mock the GOP and the Republicans for fools that they are. Force a debate on the real issues.
Obama Says 'Enough' About 'Lipstick' Smear
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Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Obama Evening Wrap Up...."The truth shall set you free"
barack at stebbins high school in riverside, ohio
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The truth shall set you free
That is something Sarah Palin, along with her sidekick, John McCain need to look at.
The truth.
Sometimes, eventually, when you keep stating something as true, when you know it is a lie, it becomes true. Maybe, that is what is happening to Palin/McCain. The continuous lie of the "Bridge that went nowhere" and the uncovering that Palin was FOR IT, initially then against it, as it became a political albatross says much about the Governor from Alaska and her sidekick, John McCain.
My question is why?
It goes back to the premise of who is this woman and why is she lying?
Charles Gibson, ABC News, is interviewing her later this week. The very LEAST he can do professionally is ask the real questions, and this bridge is top of the list.
Oh, by the way, most of the news organizations are starting off with this story, finally. This is one trick that needs to be put back in the Palin/McCain trick bag.
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barack in dayton, ohio giving an education speech
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Obama Turns Up Heat on Palin
Barack Obama tried to reclaim his message of change on Tuesday as he confronts a sudden shift in momentum in the race sparked by Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
"You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig," Sen. Obama said during a town hall style event in Lebanon, Virginia. The comment was a reference to Gov. Palin's joke during the Republican National Convention that lipstick is the only difference between a pit bull and a hockey mom.
Sen. Obama continued: "You can wrap an old fish in a piece of paper called 'change,' it's still going to stink. After eight years, we've had enough of the same old thing. It's time to bring about real change to Washington and that's the choice you've got in this election."
Republicans struck back calling the attacks on Gov. Palin old-style Washington attacks that run counter to Obama's promise of change. "Sarah Palin's maverick record of reform doesn't need any 'dressing up,' but the Obama campaign's condescending commentary deserves some dressing down," says RNC spokeswoman Amber Wilkerson. continue
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Well, looks like the polls have shaken out
And in the end, it is a tie.
Barack ahead slightly, or a tied in the polls.
Yes, even with Palin on the ticket, a tie.
As I have said previously, all Palin did was firm up the base, the "fundys", the fundamentalists of the Republican Party. That is it.
Now, there is much work to do. The one saving grace is this, 74% want CHANGE. McCain/Palin is not that. Right now Palin's onion is being peeled. She has more skeletons in the closet it is unreal. Read this, this and this. Just the beginning.
Palin wants the public to believe she is beyond "reproach" but from reading about her hustle of Alaskans, she is just another politician trying to get over. Charging the state daily per diem to stay in her own home? That is straight up stealing.
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Joe Biden went after Palin on stem cell research
I never understood the Republican Party's reject of embryonic stem cells. Especially, eggs in facilities that are going to be thrown out, not used, period.
Many families are faced with all kinds of debilitating diseases and ailments. Under the Bush Administration most funding for anything with the word, "science" has been evaporated.
This is a losing position for the Republicans. Remember Claire McCaskill running for the senate in 2006? Actor, Michael J. Fox cut an ad for her, off his Parkinson's Disease medication, it was startling and moving. Well, the republican gas bag, Rush Limbaugh mocked and challenged Fox in that ad.
Guess who won the Missouri senate seat?
Here is the Obama/Biden statement on stem cell research:
"Barack Obama and Joe Biden believe that embryonic stem cell research represents real hope to millions of families dealing with debilitating conditions. John McCain has adopted and promises to implement a Republican platform that takes an even more extreme position in opposing stem cell research than that of George Bush four years ago. While the McCain campaign may not believe the American people deserve a debate on the issues, it's simply insulting for them to suggest that raising a substantive difference on this critical issue is playing politics," said Obama campaign spokesman Hari Sevugan.
Read it all, here.
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joe in columbia, missouri
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and.........................
New Obama Ads, here and here
McCain's daughter, "no one knows what war is like than my family, seriously."
Students pick Obama in landslide
Nasty attack ad against Obama for education
Busted!: Gallup, CBS, USA.Today, etc. Tinkers With Party ID Again
Brown breaks convention to praise Obama
Barack Obama and the White Women Vote—Democrats Just Don't Win That Group
McCain Launches Sex-Ed Spot; Obama Camp: "Perverse"
and Morning Break, here
chuck todd, nbc/msnbc on their new poll
Obama/Biden Tomorrow:
Obama: Norfolk, VA
Biden: Nashua, NH
Michelle Obama: Fishers, IN; Cincinnati, OH
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Obama Morning Break....Still in Michigan
Barack at Mott Community College in Flint, Michigan
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Obama talks economy in Flint, Michigan
Democrat Barack Obama had a message for his Republican opponent on Monday: Visit Flint if you want to witness the effects of a lagging economy.
The presidential nominee issued the challenge to Arizona Sen. John McCain here after recalling his rival's recent claim that the economy is "fundamentally sound."
"He needs to come to Flint and meet some of these folks," Obama told an invitation-only crowd of more than 200 at Mott Community College. "You don't need to tell people in Flint ... that our economy is not in good shape. But you do need to tell John McCain."
Obama gave a roughly 30-minute speech to mostly union workers and campaign volunteers before taking a handful of questions from the audience. The Illinois senator touched on Flint's high unemployment and housing crisis, all the while criticizing McCain's recent claims that the Republican ticket is for change.
Obama said McCain and his running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, are trying to repackage themselves as agents of change. He said his campaign has run on a slogan of change from the beginning.
"And it must be working, because suddenly John McCain said, 'I'm for change, too,'" Obama said. continue
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Barack in Farmington Hills, Michigan
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Obama and McCain are 30 miles apart from each other in Michigan
Funny, this is my thought, McCain/Palin are doing a lot of rallies now. Nothing wrong with rallies, but Obama got a rap about doing these rallies a lot in the early days. Now he is sticking more with town hall meetings, a few a day, and moving through each state. It just feels that McCain has either copied what Hillary had done or what Barack has done.
Anyhow, Barack is giving a speech on Education in Riverside and McCain a rally in Lebanon, this morning.
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Barack in Farmington Hills, Michigan
part one
part two
part three
part four
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and.....................
Obama on Keith Olbermann, "Countdown"
Streisand to Sing for Obama
Polls Even, Obama Seeks Sharper Message
Obama: How to respond to Palin?
Why I love Eugene Robinson
Obama Talks Fannie, Freddie In Michigan
Palin and supporters stretch truth on Obama
Obama: 'American People Aren't Stupid'
and Evening Wrap Up, here
No Maverick, Ad
Home Page
Monday, September 8, 2008
Obama Evening Wrap Up....It will go down to the wire...Michelle Obama on Ellen
obama leaving for michigan
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This race will go down to the wire
I wrote this morning about the proverbial handwringers and then read Al G from The Field's diary up on Daily Kos, who called out all these "Chicken Littles". Bravo, Al!!
The last thing I need, going down to the wire is a bunch of "we can't win" folks hanging on my back, because I believe WE CAN WIN. I am in Wisconsin this weekend and will be there, every weekend until the final week of the campaign, then I am going to either Michigan or Missouri for the final battleground push, but Wisconsin needs to be solidly in our corner. That is why I am volunteering my weekend time, going forward.
Everything you need to get started is to the left, under About Barack Obama.
No excuses for doing absolutely nothing.
You can even phone bank from home.
NO EXCUSES.
So, what the Republican Party is fired up with Palin. We have been fired up since Barack announced. He would not have raised over 10 million dollars after Palin spoke if people around this country did not believe in him.
This campaign and election is about us, not Barack Obama. If Barack loses, he is going to be alright, but will this country? I don't think so.
Oh, p.s., for the "handwringers" Obama only down by 2 points in the new CBS/NTY and ABC/WAPO poll. For the information, click to the right under Pollster.com.
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barack in flint, michigan
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Palin has extreme views
Joe Biden said Monday that vice presidential opponent Sarah Palin seems to have "some very extreme views."
Speaking to a union crowd in Wisconsin, Biden also said he hasn't heard enough specifics from the Alaska governor, and that he's hoping to learn more about her positions before the two debate October 2.
"Hopefully by the time the debate takes place, we’ll have a better sense of her other than some of what she says and what appear to be some very extreme views," Biden said. continue
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Michelle Obama on Ellen
part one
part two
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Palin needs to go to VP School, Quick
To state the following means she does not have a grasp of what or who Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae are:
Speaking before voters in Colorado Springs, the Republican vice presidential nominee claimed that lending giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had "gotten too big and too expensive to the taxpayers." The companies, as McClatchy reported, "aren't taxpayer funded but operate as private companies. The takeover may result in a taxpayer bailout during reorganization."
The problem is that Fannie and Freddie are "privatedly owned". Sarah, just because they are in D.C., does not mean they are run by D.C.
sigh.
Is this what we need in Washington, D.C.? Another clueless, don't know, totally irrelevant, duh, politician? Shit, we got enough of them running around in elected and appointed offices. We already know she does not know much about Iraq, because she said so. And a liar. Do we want this for Vice President?
Something to think about.
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new ad, "no maverick"
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and.........................
State of the Race 9/8/08 (panic edition)
Daily Kos jumping into the polling game, daily polling that is
Charles Gibson, ABC Nightly News Anchor, is John McCain's FAV!!!!!!
Andrea Mitchell pushes McCain Aide on Palin Press Conference
Why Obama will defeat McCain in November
and Chris Matthews, Hardball takes the GOP strategist/talking head to task on Palin
Home Page
New Obama Ad, "No Maverick" Video
This is a good one.
to run in battleground states
Narrator: They call themselves Mavericks. Whoa. Truth is, they're anything but. John McCain is hardly a Maverick when seven of his top campaign advisers are Washington Lobbyists. He's no maverick when he votes with Bush 90% of the time. And Sarah Palin's no maverick either. She was for the bridge to nowhere before she was against it. Politicians lying about their records? You don't call that maverick. You call it more of the same.
Home Page
Obama Morning Break...Handwringing? Do Something.
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Polls and Handwringing
There is a recent poll out by USA Today/Gallup Poll.
The handwringers are out HEAVY. And if you don't know what handwringing is, read the following:
wring your hands - to show that you are very sad or anxious about a situation but do nothing to improve it
The reason for handwringing is that for registered voters it is 50-46, McCain up by 4. For likely voters, 54-44, McCain up by 10.
Obviously, folks don't understand the ebb and flow of polls. Did people think McCain would not get a bounce from his convention? Hell, he stepped on Obama the NEXT DAY AFTER HIS CONVENTION with the announcement of Palin. He did that because he had too. Picking Palin was a political move for his base, nothing else. He needed shock treatment and he got that with the Palin pick.
National polls mean NOTHING 7 weeks out of the election. Folks need to pay attention to state polls, period. National polling comes into play 10 days before an election.
For those handwringing, some of it is concern trolling by the other side, but the other is Obama supporters who can't seem to get from behind their computer and DO SOMETHING.
Did people think this would be easy? That Obama would just walk into the presidency? No, this election is about each and everyone of us, and we need to start doing out part, share instead of the continuous complaining on blogs and listservs.
We need the positive energy to win, that means getting off your duffs and working this campaign. All the tools to get started are at Barack's website. Instead of whining and complaining, do something to help this campaign win.
Lastly, here is an excellent writeup by Joe Trippi. Former strategist of John Edwards and Howard Dean. This write up states EVERYTHING of what this campaign is coming down to. The unknown.
The unknown are cell phone users, the continuous under polling of minorities, and new voters. This element was in Iowa and it is nationwide.
Read the article and then get f*cking busy to win in November.
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NBC are cowards. Matthews and Olbermann are out.
NBC kowtowed to the Republicans. Now David Gregory, who is the worst moderator on television will be the prime anchor person for any upcoming debates, election night. Can NBC see? Gregory is a biased Republican, period. NBC would be disastrous to even think Gregory can fill Tim Russert's shoes, for Meet the Press replacement. Russert is missed. Anyway, this is my opinion, everyone has one but I am done with these cable desk clerks.
Yes, David Gregory sucks.
Read it here.
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The Government takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is serious. At least 50 percent of home mortgages are through these organizations. This is another indicator of the economy and the spiral downfall we are in. With the unemployment numbers at the highest in five years, for anyone to think the Republicans will fix this, while they have been in charge, keep whistling dixie. The Republicans are out of touch.
Read bonddad on the Fannie/Freddie situation.
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When you are handwringing, look at this video
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and...........................
Obama, McCain must set priorities on energy plans
Palin's first interview will be with Charles Gibson, ABC
ZOMG. SYFPH. by Elise
Obama needs better ads
New McCain/Palin ad, "The Original Mavericks"
and "This Week With Barack Obama", here
biden enroute and in montana
Home Page
Sunday, September 7, 2008
This Week With "The Democratic Nominee", Barack Obama, September 2-6, 2008
columbia, pennsylvania
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joe biden on meet the press, sept 7, 2008
Polls
Zogby National; ARG National; Diageo/Hotline National; Time/CNN Battleground States; Democracy Corps North Carolina; DFM Research North Dakota; American Viewpoint Alaska; Democracy Corps National; CBS National; Howey Gauge Indiana; You Gov/Economist National
Themes Set, Both Campaigns Begin Dash to Election
McCain and the Green Screen
Clinton Will Be Used to Attack McCain, Not Palin
Biden sneaks out, teaches class
Obama rolls up his sleeves, hits hard
Concern, care for Palin’s teen should extend to all
Palin's cold shoulder
The Year of Speaking Conventionally
Sarah Palin: George Bush In Lipstick?
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The Ground Game Begins
Many of us have been through the primaries by participating in the Obama Campaign. For many it meant going to a state and working it. Well, working the battleground states we must.
The speeches, the conventions are over. The VP picks, are picked. The new VP families have been introduced. The vetting for some, still continue. The gloves are off.
As the Obama Campaign has been doing since 2007, registering people to vote is top priority, NOW. Getting them to the polls is priority for November 4, 2008. Record numbers are being broken in the voter registration area, as in Virginia.
This is crucial, now. While many are looking at national polls, which are irrelevant now, it is time to get activated. It means getting off these blogs, turning off these worthless pundits and cable desk clerks, and putting time into the Obama Campaign.
Getting activated is easy. First, if you want to start a voter registration drive in your community or get involved with one, click here, oh this also includes information for Democrats Abroad. We need folks for these battleground states, so if you live in one or near one and want to volunteer, click here. Want to phonebank from home to help the campaign? All the information is here. And to donate to the campaign, tip my obama jar, here.
Remember, this is going to won on the ground, period. So, sitting around nagging and criticizing does nothing going forward. No campaign is perfect, from this point forward we need to focus on the eye of the prize, while swatting the proverbial McCain/Palin flies that are continuing to cloud our vision.
Just keep all of this in mind and get off you duffs and get going. icebergslim is in wisconsin this weekend.
jill biden in langhorn, pa
Photo Diaries
We Registered 1107 Voters This Weekend. by kath25; Cheers and Jeers TUESDAY: Obama in Detroit Edition! by virgomusic; Biden Goes NUCLEAR !!! by Al Rodgers; Backstage with Barack; A Break from the Insanity by Muzikal203; From the Obama Blog, A Day in Ohio; From the Obama Blog, A day in Pennsylvania; Photoblog: Obama visits Pennsyltucky by politicslovr; John Lewis (D. GA) helps net 400 new volunteers at Pensacola Obama/Biden HQ by Literacy; Dean, Matthews, Cafferty ----- STRIKE BACK !!! ----- by Al Rodgers
Obama says Palin's family off limits
Obama talks storm, campaign themes
Obama's dose of perspective just what we needed
Obama nomination reshapes racial landscape
Obama talks science
Ten reasons for John McCain to worry
michelle with ellen to air september 8, 2008
Audio/Video
Joe Biden in Sarasota, Florida; Joe Biden in Philadelphia, PA; Triumph the Insult Comic Dog at the Republican National Convention; Obama in Duryea, Pennsylvania; LIVE MIC: Chuck Todd, Peggy Noonan, Mike Murphy: "It's Over"; James Carville on Larry King destroyed the Palin Pick; Tucker Bounds, McCain's Spokesperson taken to TASK by CNN's Campbell Brown; Susan Eisenhower and Republicans for Obama; Obama on Community Organizing; Obama in York, Pennsylvania; Joe Biden: Bipartisanship; Joe Biden: Virginia Beach, VA; Obama on the RNC Convention; Obama at Siemans Hydro Power York, PA; Joe Biden: Sarasota, Florida; Joe Biden returns to Scranton
Obama's high-tech edge in presidential politics
Clooney's Obama fundraiser in Geneva a sellout
Biden Brings Out The Tough Talk
McCain Ad Wrongly Claims Obama Plans "Painful Tax Increases for Working Families"
With Palin Pick, McCain Undermines His Claims about Obama's Experience
Joe Lieberman Misleads on Obama's Record
Palin and McCain’s Shotgun Marriage by Frank Rich
Rival Tickets Are Redrawing Battlegrounds
barack in terre haute, indiana, "they must think you're stupid"
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'I Don’t Believe in Coming in Second,' Obama Tells Bon Jovi Fundraiser
Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., hit a couple swanky Garden State fundraisers this evening, starting at the house of Democratic National Committee treasurer Phil Murphy and his wife Tammy.
“Are you guys fired up?” bellowed Gov. Jon Corzine to the $2,300-per-person crowd. “You better be, because I think you’re liquored up!”
Obama again said that the GOP convention didn’t discuss solutions to problems facing ordinary Americans, unlike the Democratic gathering.
“The Republicans had a different approach to their convention,” he said. “They had a different theory, which was that ‘We are just sarcastic. We spent a lot of time talking about John McCain’s admittedly compelling biography, and we spent a lot of time lying about Barack’ -- that, somehow that’s a political philosophy or an economic theory.” continue
Congressman says he didn't know 'uppity' has racial overtones
Debate Not Relate
Most Clinton backers say Palin's too far a stretch
Poll: Only 4 in 10 say Palin has enough experience
McCain and Obama campaigns grapple for 'change'
Sarah Palin and the "Women's" Vote
Government Takes Over Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
Barack Obama's Statement of the Government Take Over of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
Given the substantial role that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac play in our housing system, I believe that some form of intervention is necessary to prevent a larger and deeper crisis throughout our entire economy. I will be reviewing the details of the Treasury plan and monitoring its impact to determine whether it achieves the key benchmarks I believe are necessary to address this crisis.
First, this plan must not focus on the whims of lobbyists and special interests worried about their bonuses and hourly fees, but instead on strengthening our economy and helping struggling homeowners who are also being hit by lost jobs, stagnant wages and spiraling costs of everything from gas to groceries. Second, the plan must protect taxpayers, not bail out the shareholders and management of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Third, once we ride out the current crisis, the plan must move toward clarifying the true public and private status of our housing policies. In our market system, investors must not be allowed to believe that they can invest in a "heads they win, tails they don't lose" situation.
A shrinking black presence at GOP convention
The Scrutiny of Sarah Palin
Jewish voters may be wary of Palin
'October Surprise' Over Palin Investigation?
Patience, Poll-Watchers
DeLay says Dems better organized
Women of Steel to McCain: Palin Wrong Choice for Working Women, Families
In Ohio, Obama Identifies with Working Mothers
John McCain, Barack Obama to appear together at Columbia University
Scarborough On McCain Campaign’s War Against The Media: ‘I Think They’re Making A Mistake’
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Weekly slideshow............
Shoutouts, stuff you should read....
A Disastrous Mayor by Andrew Sullivan; Palin tanking with targeted voters by WereBear; George S. McCain by scout finch; "You can't just make stuff up" by JedReport; O'Reilly insists Sarah Palin supervised her daughter's sexual escapades by kos; Real Vetting Roundup by georgia10; NYT: Fed to Seize Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae by oxfdblue; Time to call Sarah Palin what she is, a "LIAR". by icebergslim; McCain campaign can offer no explanation or defense of Palin special needs budget changes by Julie @ MOMcrats; Unemployment Rate Hits 6.1%, Foreclosures At a High by Bogleg; CNN Documents Sarah Palin's Truthiness Problem by JedReport; BRILLIANT Move: Dems to Force McCain Vote on Fair Pay Act by Glic; Toobin: McCain's Speech 'Shockingly Bad' by JedReport; Educating the GOP: A Photo History of Community Organizers by BonnieSchlitz; Cindy McCain's $300,000 outfit. Unbelievable. by icebergslim; "Race Matters." by the field negro
biden on fire about the economy and gop
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icebergslim’s last word: palin, mccain and change
Well, this is been a predictable week. Slime was thrown from the republicans, because that is what you do when you don’t have a plan and a piss, poor record of governing.
Now McCain wants us to buy into his “reform plan” or the “change is coming train”. The problem is that Obama owns that and it was tried to be taken away from the Clinton Campaign with little avail. His “reform” or “change” would be much more believable if he had picked a vice presidential candidate who did not have as much baggage as he does. Sure Palin comes from Alaska, but her record indicates “more of the same” and not “change”.
This race eventually, if not already will/is taking a bad turn.
When politicians don’t have a good record to back their party’s positions, the politics of “identity” and “personality” arise. The Republican Party will do everything in their effort to not make this election about issues. On the issues the party is a failure and they followed behind George W. Bush at every turn. They are now paying for it.
So, if Americans really want change, they will vote their pocketbooks. If they don’t, then they cannot complain how things will continue as if George W. Bush never left office.
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is this change????????
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well, the republican convention if officially over, not without its criticism and controversy. in all my life, this is the weirdest election cycle ever. with every twist, here comes the turn. we are less than 8 weeks away from the election. whatever time you have, use it for this campaign. i will post a diary this week with dates of early voting states and voter registration deadline. if we are going to win this, it is all hands on deck, NOW. as always, remember to focus on obama and not the drama......
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