This Week With Barack Obama, October 28-November 4, 2007

cross-posted @ One Million Strong & daily kos

this is a late edition, due to me in iowa and getting back late sunday afternoon. this week will be back on line, at its usual time, sunday evening. ice.



obama in manning, sc


Debate Schedule

November 15, 2007 - Las Vegas, Nevada
December 10, 2007 - Los Angeles, California
January 6, 2008 - Johnson County, Iowa
January 15, 2008 - Las Vegas, Nevada
January 31, 2008 - California

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october 30th, debate, in philadelphia

Cheering for Obama Outside the Debate by Luam
Damage Control
Driver's License, You Decide
Full Debate Text

Obama Apperances and Campaign Events

November 6, 2007 - Town Hall Meeting with Barack, Cedar Rapids, IA
November 7, 2007 - Policy Speech by Barack, Bettendorf, IA
November 7, 2007 - Town Hall Meeting with Barack, Muscatine, IA
November 7, 2007 - Town Hall Meeting with Barack, Burlington, IA
November 7, 2007 - Town Hall Meeting with Barack, Fort Dodge, IA
November 10, 2007 - Barack, Michelle and John Legend - Rally, Des Moines, IA
November 14, 2007 - Countdown to Change, San Franciso, CA
November 17, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Austin, TX
November 18, 2007 - Michelle Obama, University Park, IL

Obama: 'I Cannot Support' Mukasey, by turneresq
Is (His) Biography (Our) Destiny?
Americans Yearn for Change of Direction

Announcements/Campaign Events

John Hutson, Dean of Franklin Pierce Law Center and former Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Navy, Endorses Obama; Obama opens office in Boise, ID; Mayor Bill Bell, Durham, NC, Backs Obama; Over 300 Republicans from NH and IA Support Obama; Obama's Sister to Join Campaign; D.C. Area Events by howardpark

New Polling is out. Clinton is still in the lead, but some erosion is starting to show. What has stuck out the most is the big difference of Republican and Independent voters. They do not fall Clinton's way. Is electability starting to concern the democrats? It just could be.


obama takes question from 5 yr old, durham, nc

Obama Statement on the Writers Guild Strike

I stand with the writers. The Guild's demand is a test of whether corporate media corporations are going to give writers a fair share of the wealth their work creates or continue concentrating profits in the hands of their executives. I urge the producers to work with the writers so that everyone can get back to work.

Obama Q & A
Obama: She Can't Have It Both Ways
Obama on HRC and Differences in Social Security

Blogs and Websites

This Week With Barack Obama; Washington State; Obama Dallas; NYC4OBAMA; NewYork4Obama; Texans for Obama; Republicans for Obama; Vermont for Obama; Independents for Obama; Seattle for Obama; Idaho for Obama; Asians for Obama; Bay Area for Obama; Sacramento for Obama; Families for Obama; Irish Americans for Obama; D.C. for Obama; Obama NH; Obama L.A.; Obama News Vine; Black Women for Obama; The Barack Obama Report; Obama Santa Cruz; Think on These Things; Iowa Republicans for Obama

Memo Wars
Obama, Civil Rights, and South Carolina


obama on snl

Obama Challenges Clinton's "Textbook"

Barack Obama just unleashed a corker of a speech that had students here at Converse College on their feet and cheering. He painted a bold new picture of a world in which he were president and that brought wild applause.

Senator Obama spoke at Converse College in Spartanburg, S.C.He also made several references to Hillary Clinton. He said she’s “a colleague and a friend, she’s a skilled politician and she’s run so far what Washington would call a textbook campaign.”

But, he added, “The problem I have, and the disagreement we have, is with the textbook itself.”

He said that textbook — not Mrs. Clinton, but the textbook — “says very little about how to bring the country together. It encourages vague, calculated answers instead of clear consistent principles about how you would lead America.” audio of speech in Spartanburg, S.C.

University of Iowa Poll: Clinton 28.9, Obama 26.6, Edwards 20
Restoring the Rule of Law by psericks
Treat These Kids Like Our Kids


the atlantic article by andrew sullivan

Dems challenged by Iowa’s new Hispanic voters

At La Favorita, a Mexican grocery store here, there is plenty of food for sale — and also a new brand of politics.

A handwritten sign, hanging over the door, proclaims in Spanish: “Wake up! Register to vote! It is the hour to unite and change our future, the future of our children — and the future of this country!”

And every weekend, at a small table behind the newspapers and a case of cold sodas, a trickle of newly minted citizens are doing just that — not in numbers large enough to constitute a voting bloc, but enough to make politicians take notice. more

govenor kaine and senator obama in charlottesville, va


Iran letter sparks new fight between Clinton, Obama
Much is being weighed, shifted, focused and talked about in regards to the Kyl-Lieberman Amendment.

For many, who remember 2002 AUMF for the Iraq War, the verbage and wordage is strikingly similiar.

The argument was for everyone to see on Tuesday Night Debate in Philadelphia. As Clinton, was the lone democrat who voted for this amendment, and many are hearing the rattling of sabers from the Bush Administration.

Sen. Hillary Clinton signed a letter to President George W. Bush on Thursday warning he has no authority from Congress for an attack on Iran, setting off a new round of fighting with Democratic presidential rival Barack Obama.

Clinton, battered in a debate earlier this week for backing a resolution labeling an Iranian military unit a terrorist group, joined 29 other senators in signing a letter expressing concern about "provocative statements and actions" toward Iran by the Bush administration.

Democratic presidential rival Chris Dodd of Connecticut signed the letter, but rivals Obama of Illinois and Joseph Biden of Delaware did not.

Obama instead introduced a binding Senate measure nullifying the earlier resolution. His campaign accused Clinton of using the letter to adjust her stance on Iran.

"While she's trying her best to change her position on yet another critical issue facing our country, Senator Obama knows that it takes legislation, not letters, to undo the vote that she cast," Obama spokesman Bill Burton said. more

Again. What good is a letter? Can anyone explain this to me? In fact, anyone of us can draft a letter, we all can sign on, and we send it to the president. Does anyone think this would mean anything? I don't. Obama is right. Binding legislation is the only thing that can stop him, not lip service or letter service. Obama's Resolution. NY Times; NY Times Transcript with Obama

Audio/Video

Obama on Today Show; Obama Got the Moves on Ellen; Obama on ABC World News Tonight; NH Ad Need; Frank Lutz's Focus Group, Obama Wins Debate; Full Debate Video; NPR on University of Iowa Poll; Drexel University Debate Video; Obama's Best Debate Moment; Obama in St. Louis

Will The Jan.3 Iowa Caucus Threaten to Erode the Obama Youth Vote?
NH Flips to Democrats

Violence against women, at home and abroad, must cease

President Bush has an opportunity to assert America’s moral leadership in the aftermath of last week's meeting with President Joseph Kabila of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). President Bush should seize it by stepping up efforts to stop the epidemic of sexual violence in the DRC -- an epidemic that is similarly devastating places like Darfur, where rape is the weapon of choice.

In recent years, tens of thousands of women and girls have been raped, tortured, and assaulted in the DRC by disgruntled soldiers and bands of marauders. One expert says this is so common in some places that it is "almost normal."

The decision to stop the violence rests with the Congolese, but the United States has a number of options -- many of which were included in legislation I helped pass last year and addressed in a letter I sent to Secretary of State Condolleezza Rice earlier this month. These options range from making U.S. support contingent on Congolese efforts to stop the violence and care for the victims to building a coalition of donor nations to pressure the DRC into action. President Bush should make it clear that no diplomatic option is off the table. more; Obama's Plan

manning, sc

If you appreciate the weekly Obama Roundup, then Tip My Obama Jar!! Minimum five dollars. This contribution goes directly to the Obama Campaign. We are in the last stretch of fundraising, Quarter 4, it ends December 31st. Remember to make your contribution.


spartanburg, sc

shoutouts: missed last week's obama roundup, here; clammyc; i oppose mukasey, senator ted kennedy; where they stand: voting rights, by democraticluntz; nyceve; financial meltdown - more to come by jerome a paris; must read of d.c. corruption by dengre; foreclosures up 30%; chrysler cuts 12,000 jobs; s.c. dems put the smack down to colbert; blackwater ongoing saga

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icebergslim's last word: debate. politicians. and why do you want to be our president.

Last Tuesday night, in Philadelphia, it was on.

The Democratic Debate.

Only this time it was simulcast from MSNBC and NBC. Meaning, “Your regularly scheduled program is being interrupted for the Democratic Debate.”

Well, for many, this is how this debate was seen. Believe me, many were not hunting down the channel, trying to remember the time, most not diehard political junkies, they just got preempted.

What happened is that most said, “Hey, what the hell, let me watch these politicians.”

Through all these debates and forums, which was like what? A hundred? Well, if not, it sure seems like there have been a lot of these debate-like programs. For me, personally, I got to see these candidates speak on issues that mean much to me. I remember Hillary Clinton’s first debate performance, stellar. She cleaned the clock on the guys. Give her the mojo, when she deserves it. Obama went back to debate school, he had to. The rest were just, whatever. They were.

Now, let’s move to late October. Obama is more precise, clear. Edwards is striking hard. Dodd and Biden are calling HRC out on various issues, and Clinton, herself, as my sister emailed me was, “stutter-stepping all night.”

Stutter-stepping. That is a throwback term, but was aptly appropriate by what many viewed on Tuesday night’s Debate, a presidential candidate not answering questions directly. But my question is this, why?

Well, basically it is quite clear. She is running a national campaign but running around the early states. She does not want to reveal anything of substance or position, afraid the Republicans will use it against her. So, she continues to talk around the issues versus stating what her direct position is.

I don’t know about many, but we already have this position in the White House in George W. Bush. The most secretive administration ever, worse than Nixon. Transparency is something this country is craving for, thus you need to speak clearly and candidly on your positions. She did not.

No one is piling on Hillary Clinton because she is a woman. This meme first came from her camp, but was quickly pulled off the table, because most women feel she must answer questions. She is running for President of the United States. The highest office in this land. To qualify, you must address the people. You must answer questions and state you position. You must let the populous digest your answers and decide if they agree or not. You must not appear to dodge questions. Say one thing, but totally something else to various persons or groups. But most importantly, Hillary, you got to appear honest.

This is a major problem with many. They don’t feel her honesty or candor. They appreciate her toughness. Love that she is a woman running for office, finally. But your honesty, just stinks.

Which makes many ask this question, “Senator Clinton, why do you want to be our President?” This question is asked by clammyc and you know what, not only do I want to know, but many others as well.

Will we get a straight answer? I doubt it, but we can still hope.



coralville, ia, oct. 29th


Well, fall is really here. My trip up to Cedar Rapids was an eye opener. The excitement for Barack is infectious. It truly is. The hard, dedicated work that Iowans are doing to make Barack our nominee is truly real. But the real test and chime I got from folk, was change. Many want change. Not what we had before, but someone new to take out the old. That is the feeling I got talking to many Iowans on my trip. That is what I came back to Chicago with. Ok, we are less than 60 days from the Iowa Caucus. We are going to make it happen.

remember to focus on obama, and not the drama

email me @ icebergslim1047@hotmail.com

This Week With Barack Obama, October 21-27, 2007

cross-posted @ One Million Strong


obama in new hampshire

Debate Schedule

October 30, 2007 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 15, 2007 - Las Vegas, Nevada
December 10, 2007 - Los Angeles, California
January 6, 2008 - Johnson County, Iowa
January 15, 2008 - Las Vegas, Nevada
January 31, 2008 - California

::

Obama Campaign Close the ($$$) Gap!!! We did, only the gap was closed in 3 days versus the 5 days that FirstRead is reporting.


obama, ridin' that bike to where?

Read kid oakland
For Obama, Not Politics as Usual
Obama Faithful

Excerpts From an Interview with Barack Obama

Q. Why have you not been more aggressive distinguishing yourself from Senator Clinton?

A. “We never planned on winning this thing in September. Our strategy has always been based on making the case to voters when they were paying attention and that is in late October, November, December. We feel like we’re on schedule. There’s no doubt that it’s important for us to make the case to the voters as to why I would be the strongest nominee and, more importantly, why I would be the best president for this particular time in history. I expect to make that case forcefully over the next couple of months.”

Q. How are you reassuring contributors?

A. “People who signed up for my race, I think, were pretty clear and have always been pretty clear that I was going to be the underdog. It’s not like that people got into this race with blinders on. We’re running against the most established brand in the Democratic Party for the last two decades, as well as strong candidates like Edwards who have been running for the last four years. So I think our supporters, our donor base, always understood that this was going to be a tough fight.”

Q. But if you’re running against an established brand, don’t you have to draw contrasts?

A. “Our first job was just getting known, and we’ve been able to do that in the early states. It’s interesting. I think what we’ve found was there was a lot of awareness of me as someone who delivered a speech in 2004, not much awareness of my track record as a community organizer, as a civil rights lawyer, a law professor, a state senator, a U.S. senator. There has been a lot of biographical work that we’ve had to do over the last several months, and where we’ve done it is in the early states; we’ve found ourselves in a very strong position to win.”

Q. Why would you be a better uniter than Senator Clinton?

A. “There is a legacy that is both an enormous advantage to her in a Democratic primary, but also a disadvantage to her in a general election. She, I think, represents a lot of old arguments.

“I recognize that she has reached out to Republicans in a very deliberate way in the Senate, but if you look at how she is perceived nationally, I think people perceive her as a tough, competent, intelligent person. But there’s no sense among independents or Republicans that she’s going to bring a new language to our politics.

“On the one hand, I think people know what they are going to get with Senator Clinton. On the other hand, if you believe that the country needs big change, if you believe that business as usual is not sufficient to solve health care or institute a major energy policy or help to heal racial divisions or religious divides in this country, then my candidacy looks more appealing.”

Q. Has she been truthful to voters about what she would do as president?

A. “No.

“I don’t think people know what her agenda exactly is. On Social Security, in the last debate, she was very explicit about not wanting to disclose how she would approach it. On Iraq and Iran, I think there has been a tendency to go back and forth in her positions. Now, it’s been very deft politically, but one of the things that I firmly believe is that we’ve got to be clear with the American people right now about the important choices that we’re going to need to make in order to get a mandate for change, not to try to obfuscate and avoid being a target in the general election and then find yourself governing without any support for any bold propositions.” more

Obama Lashes Out at Clinton
Buttery Voice for Obama
Question and Answer with Michelle Obama

Obama Apperances and Campaign Events

October 29, 2007 - Michelle Obama with Congressman Patrick Murphy, Philadelphia, PA
October 29, 2007 - Conversation with Barack Obama, Cedar Rapids, IA
October 29, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Charlottesville, VA
November 1, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Durham, NC
November 14, 2007 - Countdown to Change, San Franciso, CA

Obama's Opposition Mailer for The Iraq War
Michelle Obama in Slate



new new hampshire ad, "change we can believe in"

Hillary Clinton is Wrong For This Country
No More, Mr. Nice Guy
Black Farmers and Obama

Clinton v. Obama, Gallup, and Historical Precedent

Regular readers of mine know that I am not at all inclined to write off Barack Obama. This is not to say that I think he is the likely nominee of the Democratic Party. My point has simply been that people are underestimating his chances.

The reason I think this is three-fold:

(a) The guy has a real message that he has honed over the last few months. It could resonate with Democrats, who presumably are the most desirous of a national course correction. As evidence of this, we cannot overlook the fact that he has had donations from more than 300,000 individuals.
(b) He has raised $80 million to date. He will be able to compete as well as any presidential candidate ever has.
(c) He is fully staffed in Iowa and New Hampshire. He'll be blitzing both states with advertisements. He could win one or both states and turn those national numbers upside down.

Most pundits who are favoring Hillary Clinton so heavily (and remember - I am not saying that she is not favored; my objection is that people are favoring her too heavily) are using the polls - most often the national polls - to support their point. I have argued that this line of analysis is problematic because the national polls are too volatile. more

Obama Loggin' the Most Time in Iowa
Heart and Mind of Michelle Obama

Audio/Video

Clinton/Obama Battle for Black Voters Heats Up; Ben Affleck; History Repeating; The Women's Conference in California (look under Presidential Spouses); New Iowa Ad "Wind"

Convincing Voters is Key to Victory

Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., said convincing enough voters he can bring about systemic change to the politics of Washington – not race – is the greatest obstacle to victory in 2008.

"I have a stronger track record than any candidate in the race in consistently working to open up a government and making it more accessible to the people,'' Obama told reporters, after formally signing up Monday to appear on the first-in-the-nation primary ballot.

On that score, Obama wrote the following on a souvenir election notice Secretary of State Bill Gardner has candidates sign every four years, which is placed in the state archive: "It's time for a real change." more

obama in st. louis, mo


shoutouts: L C Johnson on valerie plame wilson and the ultimate betrayal; bonddad, on it, as usual; black kos; evangelical crackup; dengre on hillary and the tan family; turkana; perspective people! by cosbo; teacherken, keepin' it real; dishwashers for hillary; clammyc; FishOutofWater; fema and their fake reporters; obama in st. louis, wonderful photos

Announcements/Campaign Events

Obama opens up two more offices; Colorado Straw Poll; Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman Endorses Obama; Columbus Rally; SEIU Wisconsin Endorses Obama

Obama and Mountain Top Coal Removal
Democrats Invest Heavily in Iowa


obama in ohio

Iraq War, No. 1 Issue in Presidential Race
Obama Fights to Overcome View He's Inexperienced
Myths and Facts in Iowa

Most Money in Utah
Candidates Cash

Govenor Deval Patrick Endorses Senator Barack Obama
Over 9,500 attended the rally. One that will be remembered for many. I diaried the event here.


inevitability

Obama Go On Offense

Nobody is saying American voters are crazy, just that we are not especially rational. When reason and emotion collide, we go with our gut—roughly four out of five times. That is the core message from "The Political Brain," a recently published book by Drew Westen, a clinical psychologist at Emory University. Westen is one of a small group of liberal social scientists who believe they may hold the key to the Democratic Party's future. Democrats, they say, must do what Republicans have excelled at: appealing to people's prejudices and hearts instead of their brains. That insight may be particularly important this political season, when Barack Obama's skin color makes it impossible for him to avoid talk of race and John Edwards has chosen to define himself largely by issues of class.

Race and class are among the most loaded issues in politics, as Republicans well know. Many candidates have tried to walk a delicate line where they benefit from racial fears and yet appear to be nonracist. Ronald Reagan managed to do that in 1980 by taking his crusade for "states' rights" to Philadelphia, Miss., best known as the place where civil-rights workers were murdered in the 1960s. "Republicans talk about race, but they talk about it through code … and put the Democrats on the defensive," says john powell, executive director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University. (powell does not capitalize his name as a nod to e. e. cummings and to the political consciousness of the 1960s.) Democrats ought to engage, says powell. Just as many Republicans have relied on negative, latent racial appeals, Democrats should rely on positive, explicit racial appeals by evoking ideals like fairness, equality and common destiny. Newsweek

Obama: Role for Gore if He Wants
A Social Security Swing
Obama Will Take Up Arms to Protect You


obama at the national summit on agriculture and rural life in ames, ia

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icebergslim’s last word: tolerance. stank ho’ bitch. and daily kos.

Much has been written in this diary, about what happened in our community, yesterday. In fact I visited the diary in question, which is now deleted, and could not get past the images.

The first thing in my mind was WTF? For real. I mean, how anyone can post something like that, is beyond my senses. Then yes, of course, the reason is all about Barack Obama and the McClurkin controversy. But what happened is that the diarist used this moment, to not open dialogue, but to create another wedge issue.

The only reason he chose those particular images was to incense and open dialogue for racist and hate mongering. He was successful. Yesterday. A sad and bad day on Daily Kos.

This brings me to another painful incident in my life. I used to work for Washington Mutual. I travelled. In Irvine, California through the week, though my home office was in Illinois. Yes, I travelled on Sunday and was home Thursday evening or Friday afternoon. Ouch.

Anyway, the company had a big, huge project to bring their mortgage boarding to Windows compliance. This meant traveling around and training lending centers in the United States, etc.

It was a great job and I loved my co-workers across the United States. But an incident that happened changed me about Washington Mutual.

I and two other women had finished having drinks and dinner. We stayed at the Embassy Suites in Irvine, and we all decided to call it an evening and go to our rooms. There was a gentleman who was with the group, others were with us, as well. Anyway he asked if we (three women) would like to go to a sports bar and continue the conversation. We all declined and was at the elevator, practically pushing the button when all of a sudden the words, “You are nothing but a bunch of stank, ho, bitches anyway.”, was hurled at us. Stunned. We looked at each other and the man turned beet red.

One of the young ladies in our group was outraged, so much; tears were spilling from her eyes. I put on my “civil rights” hat and called my manager, woke him up.

What happened after this is what shocked me. We wanted this man fired. But the manager in Illinois “protected him”. He went to anger management classes, recused from flying anywhere but kept his job. But what happened to the three women was far worse.

We were retaliated against, written up bogusly, and one woman force from her job.

We got together and had to sue Washington Mutual for sexism, racism, job retaliation.

In the end, after having to file in federal court, the Bank settled. And it was not until a lot of dirty laundry about this department, manager and supervisors was revealed. All complicit were fired, the department totally revamped, and the three of us walked away, with a check from Washington Mutual.

Was this adventure nice? Worth it? No. I had a great job with wonderful friends and had to fight for basic respect and decency in the workplace. And yes, Washington Mutual had on the books, as long as the company paid for you in another city; you represented the company, after hours.

This brings me to daily kos. kid oakland is right on this statement.

It is not the whole statement that got me, but what does this mean about Daily Kos to allow such material on its site? That is what he questioned. What does it mean? Does it mean the next diary talking about Hispanics as “wetbacks” is acceptable? I would think not, but after yesterday, I think different.

Either the admins were asleep or did not deem it necessary to do anything. And are there any minority admins on kos? If not, believe me, if they were on board that diary would have been deleted. But the damage is done and it is too, late.

All this brings me to this.

Many need to remember that if not for the fight and death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. there probably would not be an avenue for Daily Kos, today. The man walked and talked tolerance. His followers, followed the lead. That is how they made a difference. And for this we have the Civil Rights Act, which many fall under, for which many are “protected” to this day.

We need to remember what tolerance is about. We all need a reminder and dose of it.

And we need to start right, now.

After you listen, remember, tomorrow is a new day for us all. Peace.

::

If you appreciate the weekly Obama Roundup, then Tip My Obama Jar!! Minimum five dollars. This contribution goes directly to the Obama Campaign. We are in the last stretch of fundraising, Quarter 4, it ends December 31st. Remember to make your contribution.

::

Blogs and Websites

This Week With Barack Obama; Washington State; Obama Dallas; NYC4OBAMA; NewYork4Obama; Texans for Obama; Republicans for Obama; Vermont for Obama; Independents for Obama; Seattle for Obama; Idaho for Obama; Asians for Obama; Bay Area for Obama; Sacramento for Obama; Families for Obama; Irish Americans for Obama; D.C. for Obama; Obama NH; Obama L.A.; Obama News Vine; Black Women for Obama

::


michelle in algona, ia

fall is here, the trees are changing, i am raking leaves....remember to focus on obama and not the drama

email me @ icebergslim1047@hotmail.com

This Week With Barack Obama, October 14-20, 2007

senator obama with gary lamb in chelsea, ia


Debate Schedule

October 30, 2007 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 15, 2007 - Las Vegas, Nevada
December 10, 2007 - Los Angeles, California
January 6, 2008 - Johnson County, Iowa
January 15, 2008 - Las Vegas, Nevada
January 31, 2008 - California

::


a blast from the past, a very young barack with his grandpa

Obama Apperances and Campaign Events

October 22, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Newark, NJ
October 22, 2007 - Meet the Candidate, Dover, NH
October 22, 2007 - Lunchtime with Barack Obama, Concord, NH
October 23, 2007 - Rally in Boston with Barack and Govenor Deval Patrick, Boston, MA
October 26, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Columbus, OH
October 26, 2007 - Countdown to Change, St. Louis, MO
October 26-28, 2007 - Gospel Concert Series, South Carolina
October 29, 2007 - Michelle Obama with Congressman Patrick Murphy, Philadelphia, PA
October 29, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Charlottesville, VA
November 1, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Durham, NC

Former Denver Mayor Federico Peña in Iowa
Michelle Obama in London
Second Choices, Critical in Iowa


obama in madison, wi, 4000+

Obama to Participate on MTV/MySpace Forum, October 29th

Illinois Senator Barack Obama will be the next presidential candidate to participate in a MySpace/MTV dialogue when he takes the stage on October 29 at Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Following on the heels of the first forum with candidate John Edwards on September 27, Obama will answer questions from the live audience and watch as his responses are rated in real time by users weighing in over the Internet.

The forum, which will take place at 1:30 p.m. ET, will stream live on MySpace.com, MTV's ChooseOrLose.com and MTV Mobile, and will air at 7 p.m. ET that evening on MTV. The dialogue will be moderated by MTV News correspondents Gideon Yago and Sway Calloway, as well as WashingtonPost.com political reporter Chris Cillizza, who kept Edwards on his toes during the first forum by feeding him instant audience reaction to his responses with a polling tool supplied by Flektor. more

Obama Comes Out Against Telecom Immunity Bill
Barack Obama's campaign has just sent us a statement condemning the Senate FISA bill granting retroactive immunity to the telecoms:

“I have consistently opposed this Administration's efforts to use debates about our national security to expand its own power, whether that was on the Iraq war, or on its power grab to curb our civil liberties through domestic surveillance programs. It is time to restore oversight and accountability in the FISA program, and this proposal -- with an unprecedented grant of retroactive immunity -- is not the place to start.”

obama on the late show with jay leno

Audio and Video

Bill Moyers on Blackwater, a must see video; Obama on Cappy McGarr Show; Obama in North Las Vegas; Armstrong Williams; NPR on Obama and Cheney Being Distant Cousins; Samantha Powers

Obama Touts Foreign Policy Record

Presidential hopeful Barack Obama said his foreign policy record leaves him immune to Republican attacks likely to be lodged in a general election campaign.

"My Republican opponent won't be able to say that we both supported the war in Iraq, because I didn't," Obama told a crowd packed into a high school gym.

"My opponent won't be able to say that I haven't been open or straight with the American people or that I've flipped and flopped my positions, because I haven't. I've been consistent this whole time." more

DNC Chairman Howard Dean
The Nuts and Bolts of Winning Iowa, by psericks


obama at Arizona State University, 6000+

Announcements

Arizona Office Openings; Major Owens Endorsement; New Hampshire Activists Join Obama; Iowa State Representative Mark Smith Endorses Obama; New Jersey Office Opening; Latinos for Obama; Obama First on the Ballot in Vermont; Kansas City Office Opening; Child Advocacy Task Force; Missouri-Kansas SEIU Backs Obama

Pulitzer Winner Roger Wilkins Hits the Campaign Trail for Obama
Quick Notes on Obama
REGISTER TO VOTE HERE, DON'T WAIT, OR IT WILL BE TOO LATE!!

Govenor Deval Patrick Endorses Obama

In an e-mail sent Wednesday to his supporters, the contents of which were read to The Associated Press, Patrick praised Obama's "unifying, visionary leadership."

He added: "As a Democrat, I am proud that the field of Democratic contenders is so strong. Many are friends and colleagues with whom I have worked over the years. But frankly, I believe the importance of this election transcends friendships and party. I believe we need unifying, visionary leadership. I believe we need a president who would level with the American people. I believe we need Barack Obama."

The governor declared that "not just national policy but the national character is at stake." more

obama in reno, +2000

Money

Hollywood; State of Washington; State of Wisconsin; Military Voters; State of Indiana; State of New Hampshire; California, East Bay; Fundraises in Los Angeles; State of Massachusetts

Obama to Attend Congressman Braley's Fundraising Event in Cedar Falls
Reporting the Obama Campaign Coast-to-Coast


obama in north las vegas, nv

Blogs and Websites

This Week With Barack Obama; Washington State; Obama Dallas; NYC4OBAMA; NewYork4Obama; Texans for Obama; Republicans for Obama; Vermont for Obama; Independents for Obama; Seattle for Obama; Idaho for Obama; Asians for Obama; Bay Area for Obama; Sacramento for Obama; Families for Obama; Irish Americans for Obama; D.C. for Obama; Obama NH; Obama L.A.; Obama News Vine

Barack Obama's Black Wakeup Call
Lincoln Chaffee and Obama?
The Peru Free Trade Agreement and "Fair Trade", by Elise

Obama Demands that DoJ Fires Voting Rights Chief
Obama demanded that the Department of Justice fire Voting Rights Chief, John Tanner. As Tanner argues the voting id laws discriminate against whites.

When Justice Department lawyers and analysts found in 2005 that a Georgia law requiring voters to have photo ID would disproportionately discriminate against African-Americans, they were overruled by John Tanner, the chief of the Civil Rights Divisions' voting rights section. The law was subsequently halted by a federal appeals judge, who compared it to a Jim Crow-era poll tax.

This past weekend, Tanner showcased his own analytical skills, telling an audience that voter ID requirements actually disproportionately affect whites.

Tanner explained that "primarily elderly persons" are the ones affected by such laws, but "minorities don't become elderly the way white people do: They die first." So anything that "disproportionately impacts the elderly, has the opposite impact on minorities," he added. "Just the math is such as that." Video of Tanner's remarks were posted yesterday by The Brad Blog. We've supplied a transcript below. joy sinha, AP

I have read a many statements of total displeasure at something or the other, but with such flippance and ease this man had the audacity to make this statement as if minorites had no consequence, or importance. Yes, this man does need to be fired, but more importantly, Democrats 2008, I hope you have all your election law attorneys ready and set to go. If we think the antics of 2000, 2004 are going to stop because we are perceived as the the party of choice, think again. All mud and dirt will be slung to win at all costs. Look who is in charge!


obama gettin' a haircut in south carolina

Obama's Gospel Tour

As religious conservatives gather in Washington this weekend for the “Values Voters Summit,” Senator Barack Obama’s campaign announced its latest effort to attract people of faith to the campaign: a gospel concert tour.

All three of the dates of the “Embrace the Change” tour are in South Carolina, where Mr. Obama is locked in battle with Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for black voters

Gospel acts including Mary Mary, Donnie McClurkin and Hezekiah Walker, Byron Cage and the Mighty Clouds of Joy are scheduled to appear.

“This is another example of how Barack Obama is defying conventional wisdom about how politics is done and giving new meaning to meeting people at the grassroots level,” Joshua DuBois, the campaign’s religious affairs director, said in a release. “This concert tour is going to bring new people into the political process and engage people of faith in an unprecedented way.” more

Federico Peña Launches Nevada Latinos for Obama with Events in Reno
Democratic Luntz, Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama: Parts I, II, III
Obama Joins Fight Over GI Benefits


michelle obama in londonderry, nh

shoutouts: missed last week's weekly roundup, here; jeffrey feldman; rudy g's campaign official's "n" word problem; paul hogarth; teacherken, is it too late for outrage?, my answer no; voting information; notice a pattern here?; FishOutofWater; bonddad; black kos; is bush relevant?; sen. vitter, hypocrisy and creationism; pontificator; kos on stark; kid oakland; nyceve


obama on tavis smiley

Obama in East Los Angeles

Barack Obama dived into California's most contentious policy debates Saturday at an East Los Angeles appearance where he defended immigration reform and affirmative action and criticized Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto of a measure to extend college scholarships to students in the country illegally.

"That was wrong," the Illinois senator and Democratic presidential candidate told several hundred gathered at Garfield High School. "Instead of driving thousands of children who were on the right path into the shadows, we need to give those who play by the rules the opportunity to succeed."

Later, during a question-and-answer session, he returned to the topic, declaring that if a student had been brought to this country illegally but had been going to school "like every other American child, it is cruel and stupid for us to suddenly say to them: 'We're not going to give you college scholarships. We're not going to let you finance your college education.' "

Schwarzenegger vetoed SB 1, the California Dream Act, on Oct. 13, saying that the Cal Grant financial aid program and community college fee waivers should be for legal residents, not illegal immigrant students.

Schwarzenegger's office did not respond to Obama's remarks. L.A. Times

If you appreciate the weekly Obama Roundup, then Tip My Obama Jar!! Minimum five dollars. This contribution goes directly to the Obama Campaign. We are in the last stretch of fundraising, Quarter 4, it ends December 31st. Remember to make your contribution.

::

icebergslim’s last word: Sincerity. Honesty. Trust. Change.

The campaign is now ramping up and everyone is in combat mode, but other things are going on to question, judgment.

I wrote a diary about Obama and Iowa. This diary was about how Obama is doing in Iowa. But my conclusion of this diary was that we need a candidate who is sincere, honest, and trustworthy and a change.

Over this past week all of the attributes I wrote about has come to bear, why we need total change and not lip service.

The Clinton Campaign seems fit to continue in the lobbyist mode. Which for that campaign is ok, fair, because she has publicly stated that she will not preclude from accepting lobbyist monies, and she feel that lobbyists are representativeof the average American. Ok, one word for this, “whatever”.

Next, we have to deal with the Lobbyist Luncheon, with members of congress who sit on the Homeland Security Committee, and lobbyists that paid minimum $1000 for access. After the luncheon breakout sessions, with members of congress, with lobbyists. Again, ok? Another statement, “pay to play?”

Then there is the money from the weapons defense industry, another unnerving money scandal, and I can’t keep up because something is always going on with her fundraising, but now the ultimate insult.

The Rural Americans for Hillary Luncheon. Yes. Rural Americans. Only the luncheon is in Washington, D.C. at the lobbyist office of Monsanto. Ok, again, I am scratching my head. “Why is this being held in Washington, D.C., at a lobbyist office?” Why is this not in the middle of some farmland in Iowa? With farmers? And for reference here is the invite. Former Iowa Farmer's Union President and Clinton Administration appointee Gary Lamb had this to say about this luncheon:

Why the Clinton campaign is talking with Washington lobbyists about rural issues instead of listening to Iowa farmers? Lamb issued the statement in response to reports that the Clinton campaign is hosting a "Rural Americans for Hillary" event at a lobbying firm in Washington, DC.

"When it comes to the issues facing rural America, it seems like Senator Clinton is listening to Washington lobbyists instead of spending time in Iowa with folks who have been farming for decades," Lamb said. "I know Senator Clinton said that she believes Washington lobbyists represent real Americans, I just can't believe that she thinks they know how to farm."

Now we have a letter sent to Iowans from Clinton, explaining her vote of Kyl-Lieberman amendment. This letter defends her position and refers to her actions as “stepped up diplomacy.”

Ok, take a deep breath after all those links with information and video.

Now become outraged.

I don’t know what is going on, but all this stinks.

This cycle is about voting, caucusing for the best person to bring this country together. The best person to fill the gap. The best person to make us part of democracy. The best person to make us feel we are part of the process. Not for all the above.

If you want change. You got to fight for it. And folks, all the above is not change, it is business as usual.

Sincerity. Honesty. Trust. Change. Barack Obama.


obama in east l.a.


fall is in full swing, as we prepare for iowa, remember to focus on obama and not the drama

contact me @ icebergslim1047@hotmail.com

This Week With Barack Obama, October 7-13, 2007

cross-posted @ daily kos


women for obama training, des moines, ia, oct 13th



Debate Schedule

October 30, 2007 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
November 15, 2007 - Las Vegas, Nevada
December 10, 2007 - Los Angeles, California
January 6, 2008 - Johnson County, Iowa
January 15, 2008 - Las Vegas, Nevada
January 31, 2008 - California

::


obama at the pub

Obama Apperances\Campaign Events

October 15, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Madison, WI
October 15, 2007 - Michelle Obama, London, England
October 16, 2007 - Town Hall Meeting with Barack, Vinton, IA
October 16, 2007 - Town Hall Meeting with Barack, Amana, IA
October 16, 2007 - Town Hall Meeting with Barack, Tipton, IA
October 18, 2007 - Town Hall Meeting with Barack, Reno, NV
October 18, 2007 - Community Event with Barack, North Las Vegas, NV
October 19, 2007 - Rally for Change, Tempe, AZ
October 22, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Newark, NJ
October 26, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Columbus, OH
October 26, 2007 - Countdown to Change, St. Louis, MO
October 29, 2007 - Michelle Obama with Congressman Patrick Murphy, Philadelphia, PA
October 29, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Charlottesville, VA
November 1, 2007 - Countdown to Change, Durham, NC

Faith Plays Every Role With Obama

White House hopeful Barack Obama stood in front of a pulpit Sunday and told worshippers that his faith "plays every role" in his life.

"It's what keeps me grounded. It's what keeps my eyes set on the greatest of heights," Obama told members of the Redemption World Outreach Center, whose 4,200-seat sanctuary was mostly full.

Faith, he said, is "what propels me to do what I do and when I am down it's what lifts me up." The Democratic presidential candidate said God "is with us and he wants us to do the right thing," including breaking down the divisions between Democrats and Republicans and among religions.

When people work together, he said, there is "nothing that can stop us because that's God's intention." more

Obama Criticizes Clinton War, Torture Stances


lessons from iraq

Will Obama Rock the “Youth Vote?”
Good question. Will he? I wrote earlier this week a gotcha diary. Well, it was sort of. But the emphasis was on the youth vote.

We need to talk about them. Why? They are the enigma right now, of this campaign. Meaning? The unknown factor. Will they stand up and make a difference? Or will they stay home and say, forget it?

Fred D. Thompson, a Republican candidate for president, spoke to a few hundred people the other night in one of the ballrooms in the Marriott convention center here. The crowd, not unusually for Iowa, was decidedly older, for the most part north of 50. A few hours later, Senator Barack Obama, the Illinois Democrat, addressed an audience of over 1,000 just up the hallway. His crowd contained a striking number of people under 30.

That is something that is hard to miss at almost any event featuring Mr. Obama, be it in New Hampshire, Iowa or New York. He has clearly struck a chord among younger voters. And his campaign has made what seems to be the most sophisticated effort of any of the Democrats to reach out to them, taking steps like sending recruiting teams to Iowa high schools and trying to ensure that New Hampshire college students who might be out of state on primary day get absentee ballots. NY Times, AP, WSJ

Political Outreach on Facebook, by Peter Erickson
REGISTER TO VOTE HERE, DON'T WAIT, OR IT WILL BE TOO LATE!!
Obama Camp to Hillary: Not So Fast With That Coronation

Iowa, Iowa, Iowa
Wow. Finally we are seeing movement called rational thinking. Iowa. Yes, means, well, everything. It does.

Not only to the Obama Camp, but to all these camps. It has become crystal clear that Iowa must be won by all candidates.

For Clinton, to remain and prove that she is the “inevitable” candidate. The one candidate that cannot be stopped. Not only by her rivals, but more importantly the Republicans. For Edwards, a must win state. If he does not win here, it is over. For Obama, a momentum win. This can open the doors for all other states to follow Iowa’s lead and push Clinton aside.

So, now every campaign understands the matrix of an Iowa win. Clinton can lose in Iowa, but would rather do so to, Edwards. As she can combat him with money and organization that is lacking for him in New Hampshire. This means, she can still win it all with an Iowa loss. But if Obama wins, the game changes. As we see with the polling. Folks are undecided and waiting to see what happens. An Iowa win can catapult Obama to the top of the heap and will erode the “meme” in the African American community that he cannot win. He wins in Iowa the African American vote is his.

So, yes. It does come down to Iowa.

Blogs and Websites

This Week With Barack Obama; Washington State; Obama Dallas; NYC4OBAMA; NewYork4Obama; Texans for Obama; Republicans for Obama; Vermont for Obama; Independents for Obama; Seattle for Obama; Idaho for Obama; Asians for Obama; Bay Area for Obama; Sacramento for Obama; Families for Obama; Irish Americans for Obama; D.C. for Obama; Obama NH; Obama L.A.

nh photo blog by jhutson

I'm A Woman for Obama, by Peggo Hodes
Obama Goes Green: Comparing the Candidates on Credit Auctions, by psericks
Obama's Energy Rollout
Obama Calls for No New Coal-Fired Power Plants

Announcements

NH Environmentalist Steering Committee; howardpark's dc meetups; Oregon Straw Poll; Wisconsin Poll; IA State Rep Donovan Olson Endorses Obama; IA State Rep Dave Jacoby; Georgia Office Opening; Four Offices Opening in Nevada

Getting chilly outside? Fall is here, so is the Obama Gear.
In need of a new jacket, sweatshirt, headgear? Well, your wait is over. Click on any of the images above, and check it out.

The Real Obamas

Michelle Obama's role, as she describes it, is to introduce "the real Obamas, not the resumes." In a stump speech that she varies and delivers without notes, she tells of her upbringing in a working class family in Chicago. She goes on to say that, after Princeton University and Harvard Law School, she met this biracial guy from Hawaii with a funny name who overcame her skepticism by being authentic and principled -- and cute.

Mindful of doubts about Barack Obama's experience and toughness, she has added riffs that guide her listeners through his work as a community organizer, public interest lawyer, University of Chicago constitutional law professor and 11 years in elective office. Experience should not be equated with time spent in Washington, she says, arguing that old Washington hands led the nation into war because of their "inability to see the forest for the trees."

"We need someone who understands and respects the Constitution, particularly as we have seen it obliterated," Michelle Obama told more than 100 people at a Fort Dodge art museum Wednesday. Noting that skeptics ask whether he can take the GOP's best shot and still win, she reminded her audience of the political rough and tumble of his adopted town: "Look, we live in Chicago. Need I say more?" more

londonderry, nh

Obama at Plymouth State
Obama: I'm Moving Into New Phase of Campaign

Audio/Video

NPR Audio; Londonderry, NH; Obama Lingers in Iowa; Barack Stars; NH Ad on Energy; aiken, sc interview; prince georges, md; Obama Portrait; Blank Check; Situation Room

Obama criticizes Clinton's support for resolution on Iran

"There's nothing wrong with identifying the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, but it is a problem when you start using Iran as a justification for troop structures in Iraq and providing language that could potentially lead to military action in Iran," Obama told The Associated Press on Monday following a campaign event in Nashua. Obama missed the vote on the resolution because he was campaigning in New Hampshire.

"Sen. Clinton and others should have learned from 2002 that if you give President George Bush a blank check that he'll cash it. You've got to be very cautious and very sober regarding any kind of language or rationale that leads him to make more disastrous foreign policy decisions," Obama said. more

canvass for change

Turnaround for Obama?
Ross stumps for Obama


prince georges, md, oct 10th, 2500+

SEIU No National Endorsement
Republican for Obama
Obama Reorganizing
Obama's Finance Director

Obama urges Charles City voters to caucus for next U.S. president

In his second visit to Floyd County, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama urged voters to get involved in politics and caucus in January.

“We’re going to make it fun,”?said Obama in an interview with the Charles City Press after speaking at the YMCA on Friday. “Not only are people going to be able to meet others that are interested in public policy and politics, they’re going to be able to make a decision about who the next leader of the free world is going to be.”

He added that for those who have never caucused but have chosen to support his campaign, training is available so they can become familiar with caucusing. more

shoutouts: missed last week's roundup, here; how obama win the nomination; beyond left and right, kid oakland; clammyc; bondad; i love dolphins, thanks pinche tejano; black kos; why do you need immunity when you did not break the law?, cenk unyger; bush voters; bob johnson on hillary; jerome a paris; maureen dowd; rudy booed at yankees game; gonzo hires criminal attorney; mcauliffe gaffe; stop the fisa hysteria, by pontificator; paul hogarth; carter calls cheney a "disaster" for the USA; chris bowers; blackwater, nuff said

Blast from the Past

Barack Obama
February 6, 1990

The Harvard Law Review, generally considered the most prestigious in the country, elected the first black president in its 104-year history today. The job is considered the highest student position at Harvard Law School. The new president of the Review is Barack Obama, a 28-year-old graduate of Columbia University who spent four years heading a community development program for poor blacks on Chicago’s South Side before enrolling in law school. His late father, Barack Obama, was a finance minister in Kenya and his mother, Ann Dunham, is an American anthropologist now doing fieldwork in Indonesia. Mr. Obama was born in Hawaii. “The fact that I’ve been elected shows a lot of progress,” Mr. Obama said today in an interview. “It’s encouraging.”

Michelle Obama
Clinton-Obama Quandry for Many Black Women


des moines, ia, oct 14th

icebergslim’s last word: michigan, and political moves
Well, there was much to say about Obama these past few weeks. But what have stuck with me lately are the Obama political moves.

Why? Well, SEIU went down the toilet for Edwards, partly because the rumor is Obama was the stinker that stunk that endorsement up. Of course, this is rumor, but the fact is the viability question was brought up about the Edwards Campaign and SEIU took the bait. Resulting in no national endorsement.

Now the lines are being drawn of the differences of him and Clinton. When this campaign started Clinton constantly said, “We have no differences. The differences are minor.” Well, the differences are not minor but major. And Obama is craftily and decisively showing the differences. From the initial vote of Clinton’s for the Iraq War to the latest Kyl-Lieberman vote. A vote that left many Democrats wondering, “Why did she do that?”
Anyway, now Obama has made another political move, along with Edwards, Richardson, Biden, by removing their names from the Michigan ballot. Why this? Because it is a power move and a pledge move, rolled into one.

Why did Michigan jump the shark? What was the reason? Also, rumor the Governor of Michigan is ready to endorse Clinton? Michigan is also in a financial crisis. Why would you change from a caucus to a state run primary which will cost millions of dollars?

Yes. All those questions and now New Hampshire is chiming in:

Clinton can parse her decision any way she wants, but the obvious truth is that she made a calculated choice to break her word for political advantage.

Of course, all this is strictly political. It is called, “taking the wind out of one’s sails, if one does not win Iowa.” In other words, Clinton don’t win Iowa, she can say, “look I won Michigan, a larger, battleground state”. Making Iowa insignificant to voters. It is called, “voter psychology”.

So, the move by Obama, Edwards, Biden and Richardson, is to continue the pledge of not campaigning in rogue states, until the DNC can fix this. And makes Clinton looks like she is not abiding by the pledge. Again, “voter psychology”.

My take. I feel for the voters of Florida and Michigan. I do. No one wants to appear at a voting booth or caucus location and it does not mean anything. As fractured as this process is, it must be adhered too. It does. I know that many are divided on this, but you can’t change the rules in the middle of the game. Does this need to be fixed? YES. But all the states agreed to this process of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina being first. To change now, not only look suspect, but totally stinks if it means your vote does not count, in the end.

If you appreciate the weekly Obama Roundup, then Tip My Obama Jar!! Minimum five dollars. This contribution goes directly to the Obama Campaign. We are in the last stretch of fundraising, Quarter 4, it ends December 31st. Remember to make your contribution.


fall is here, the campaign is busy; always remember to focus on obama and not the drama

email me @ icebergslim1047@hotmail.com