The Obama Minute

Gone fishin'

2008-11-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

This blog is now officially closed to new posts...but not to comments! Please leave comments here, or anywhere else on the blog.

It's been an honor, and an education, to have been a citizen blogger throughout this campaign. I will continue to stay involved with my government, and I hope you will as well.

I hope to be at the inaugural, singing my heart out in a glee club of 500 long-time Obama supporters. Hopefully it will come to pass!

THANK YOU, everyone!

So proud and grateful...

2008-11-06T23:59:00.000-08:00

...to have been even a small part of the NH Obama volunteer force. I haven't worked huge amounts lately (I just started a new small business) but I've been working on and off for over a year, particularly leading up to the NH primary. During that time, I've been so honored to work with and learn from so many extraordinary Americans:

The 17 year olds who won't be quite old enough to vote (or who voted in the general, but weren't yet 18 in time for the primary) --- but who worked harder than just about anyone (thank you, Theo and Co.)...

The previously disheartened JFK voters who came back to active politics for the first time in 40 years (thank you, Mickey)...

The 2000 Bush voter, a down-the-middle independent, who came around slowly but surely, eventually won over by Barack's reason and calm integrity --- enough to rally a bunch of his Massachusetts co-workers to come to Nashua and work on visibility, send in a few donations, and even plant a yard sign out by our mailbox. I'm so proud of my husband (thank you, Rob [pictured, left, doing election day visibility in Nashua, NH])...

The inner-city Massachusetts public school teacher who came north to NH to canvass and who made more calls, more patiently and effectively, than I'd previously thought possible (thank you, Michelle).

The Web 2.0 Warriors who showed me how to help them fight smears, unbalanced media coverage, and downright misinformation at every turn (thank you, Obama Rapid Response Group and related folks!)

The local HQ staffers who handled so much, so well, and whose big-picture focus, energy, flexibility, and sense of humor never flagged (thank you, Matthew, Gerad, and Richard).

To the folks in Lowell, Groton, and Greenfield, MA, as well as Peterborough, Nashua, Hollis, and Merrimack, NH, who chanted "OBAMA '08...BE A PART OF SOMETHING GREAT" with me at town transfer stations, on city street corners, and at snow-covered rural intersections last winter (sometimes in 10-degree temperatures at 7 am while holding signs with hands wrapped in three layers of gloves)...or who so generously opened their lovely homes for debate-watch parties (too many to name...): thank you.

To my old friends and new Obama cronies all over New England and much farther afield, from Peterborough to Paris, who've cheered me on when I was feeling low and sent me great information to share with others (far too many to name): thank you.

It's been the experience of a lifetime. Win or lose, my faith in American politics is back --- a pretty tall order for someone who first came to political awareness during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979 and who worked for Dukakis, Bradley, and Dean, who never made it this far.

Thank you, Barack.

WWW.CHANGE.GOV

2008-11-06T21:44:00.001-08:00

The website of the President-Elect!

The final week of the campaign...in two minutes

2008-11-06T21:13:00.000-08:00

from Slate V...

One final silly online poll!

2008-11-06T17:31:00.000-08:00

What breed should the Obamas' new puppy be?

VOTE FOR THE MUTT!!! Rescuing dogs from the pound is the greatest!

Following Obama...

2008-11-06T08:07:00.000-08:00

Photographer Callie Shell travelled with Obama for years, taking some of the most iconic pictures of him of anyone. Here is a collection of these photos...from the splash page, navigate from the menu on the right-hand side.

Photographer Steve Simon was on hand in Harlem during election night. Here is his work.

THE PRESIDENCY

2008-11-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

11 pm EST:

NPR calls it for Obama.

This. Is. History.

The Global Electoral College

2008-11-04T19:38:00.000-08:00

As the results are coming in, it seems that American values may be coming into better alignment with global values...

Make it count!

2008-11-04T19:26:00.000-08:00

Got five minutes? PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO and be armed with good information to protect your vote and others', too!

Any questions about (or problems with) voting? Call 1-877-US-4-OBAMA (877-874-6226).

Spread the word...

In The Air Tonight...

2008-11-03T20:22:00.000-08:00

Contemporary a capella group Naturally 7 sums up much of the national mood tonight:

A closing 30-second ad from the campaign:

And a video of Barack, paying tribute to his grandmother Madelyn earlier today in Charlotte, NC (she passed on early in the day on Monday, November 3):

Tweet the Vote

2008-11-03T08:05:00.000-08:00

Use Twitter? Let us know how your vote went tomorrow.

Here's an article form PBS.org about this new Twitter feature.

SuperBarack!

2008-11-03T07:40:00.001-08:00

Bring it home!

2008-11-02T09:01:00.000-08:00

12:01 EST, 11/3/08

Wow...

2008-11-01T09:04:00.000-07:00

Look at NV, OH, PA and FL here on 538.com's most recent map!

STAY FIRED UP!!!

GOTV!!!

2008-10-31T23:40:00.001-07:00

The Final Four Days...

2008-10-31T18:06:00.000-07:00

One final task...

You know all about phone-banking and canvassing and visibility and hosting out-of-state volunteers. Hopefully you're doing, and have done, as many of these wonderful things as you can.

But here's something that needs to be done, yet is probably a little too warm-and-fuzzy for Obama's website to come right out and ask for:

If you're not one of the troops during these final four days...then FEED 'EM.

They're working very hard, it's getting cold out there throughout much of the country, and there's only so much pizza you can eat in a weekend. Besides, many canvassers and other volunteers are cash-strapped college students, some of whom come from out of state and spent their limited funds to get here.

Please make up a crock of chili or stew and put it in a Tupperware container (that you're not terribly attached to. You can put your name on it and try to get it back, but don't bank on it). Add a batch of brownies or a bag of apples. Pack up some paper plates or bowls, some napkins, and picnic flatware too, if you can.

Take the homemade nosh over to your nearest Obama HQ, and...watch the faces light up!!!

John McCain: The Musical

2008-10-31T18:04:00.000-07:00

The Closer

2008-10-31T17:41:00.000-07:00

A little confused...

2008-10-31T16:29:00.000-07:00

CNN Quick vote

2008-10-31T15:55:00.000-07:00

Do you agree with Obama's policies as laid out in the 30-minute ad this week?

Scroll down, on the right.

Maybe I was the only one...

2008-10-31T13:49:00.000-07:00

...who missed this when it originally aired. But here it is again: the 30-minute infomercial!

Olbermann on Palin

2008-10-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

Helmets must be worn...

Colbert: it's Obama!

2008-10-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

Inspiration...

2008-10-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

...to keep your energy up for these final days of work! Here's a shot from the DNC convention in Denver a few months ago:

Many, many more similarly wonderful photos can be found here on Daily Kos.

McCain/Palin, Dr. Seuss style

2008-10-30T20:59:00.000-07:00

McCain on the Economy

2008-10-29T22:44:00.001-07:00

The Republican Shipwreck

2008-10-28T21:43:00.001-07:00

Just another day in the Kabuki theatre that the GOP's unravelling has become...(at left, Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens).

Gary Kamiya writes in Salon.com on "The Republican Shipwreck". An excerpt:

...But the problem isn't Bush, it's American conservatism itself -- or at least the debased, intellectually bankrupt and utterly failed thing that American conservatism has become. For McCain to truly renounce Bush, he'd have to renounce the tax-cut ideologues who have bankrupted the country. He'd have to renounce the neoconservatives who led us into a catastrophic war. He'd have to renounce the culture-war attack dogs like Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin who have coarsened conservatism's soul.

In short, he'd have to renounce the Republican Party -- and himself.

Yes, there's some part of McCain that stands apart from the disaster that his party has become. In the past, he has courageously taken principled stands on issues ranging from taxes to immigration to torture. He has some laudable independent instincts. His barely concealed rage and frustration, as he watches himself being pulled under by the enormous suction of the sinking GOP ship, bears witness to this. But his occasional maverick stands cannot change the fact that on the key issues, McCain is a faithful supporter of George W. Bush's policies. As Obama ads incessantly remind voters, McCain himself boasted that he voted with Bush 90 percent of the time. It's too late for him now to suddenly pretend that he represents anything other than more of the same.

On a personal note, I can vouch for the fact that it used to be different for McCain.

In 2000, I worked for New Jersey senator Bill Bradley's presidential campaign here in New Hampshire. At the time, Sen. McCain was riding the crest of his "maverick" wave and really WAS bucking the GOP quite a bit (rather than more or less just giving lip service to the "maverick" ideal, as he's done lately). He wasn't cozied up to the religious right (which is one of the reasons why he did well here in the NH primary, but lost to W in South Carolina).

I'd be out and about with Bradley volunteers, canvassing, and we'd occasionally see a group of McCain volunteers. We'd give them the thumbs up! The gesture was happily returned. There was even talk, only partially in jest, of a joint ticket between Bradley and McCain --- perhaps the two most centrist figures running in their respective parties that year.

Boy, that seems like a very long, long time ago...

Al the Shoe Salesman...gets a tax cut

2008-10-27T11:23:00.000-07:00

Let McCain continue to obsess about Joe the Hedge Fund Manager --- I mean, Plumber. We've got Al the Shoe Salesman (oh, and me, the music teacher; my husband, the letter carrier; my neighbor, THE PLUMBER; and my brother, the attorney).

IGNORE THE POLLS and STAY FIRED UP!!!

2008-10-27T11:18:00.000-07:00

Ben and Jerry's: vote 'n' scoop

2008-10-27T09:40:00.001-07:00

Ben and Jerry's is offering a free scoop of their world-class ice cream for voters on November 4th. As if you needed another reason to vote!

Obama pulls a crowd of 100,000+ in Colorado

2008-10-26T21:05:00.001-07:00

Early voting was a particular focus. Find out more about whether early voting is allowed in your district here. Then, if you have any free time on election day, volunteer with your local Obama office to help drive voters who need a ride to the polls.

Keep up the good energy...the polls look very stable (for whatever that's worth!). This graph of an average of polls comes from FiveThirtyEight.com:

But ignore the polls. The only poll that matters is the one that takes place on November 4th.

West Texas for Obama...

2008-10-26T20:44:00.000-07:00

The San Angelo Standard-Times, a paper in normally arch-conservative West Texas, endorses Obama:

IN OUR OPINION: Nation yearning for significant change

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Presidential campaigns are, in a sense, auditions for the highest public office. Candidates not only tell voters what they intend to do if elected, but they also give a sense of the kind of leader they would be.

Over the past year - especially in recent months - Barack Obama has presented a compelling message and presence, and the Standard-Times editorial board believes he is the right choice for president.

This was not an easy decision.

John McCain has a long and distinguished record, and we do not doubt that he could serve ably in the White House. However, he has run a disappointing campaign - his audition for the presidency - most notably at the start of the financial meltdown. His Democratic opponents did not exaggerate in labeling his actions as "erratic" and "lurching."

Equally confounding was McCain's selection of Sarah Palin as his running mate. While the Alaska governor may develop into one of the Republican Party's leaders, so many Americans doubt her readiness to step into the presidency if necessary that McCain's judgment has come into question.

Even though Palin has done what McCain couldn't - energize the Republican base - that does not mean she is ready to lead the nation as president.

Critics point to Obama's relative lack of experience as a disqualifier for the highest office, and that is a legitimate argument. However, during three debates, voters saw a candidate who not only had an exceptional command of the issues but also one who demonstrated the steadiness and temperament that Americans want to see in the Oval Office.

Those are the attributes that led Colin Powell, one of the most respected people in the country, to endorse Obama's candidacy. Obama also has endured months of rumors and scurrilous attacks on everything from his race and religion to his patriotism and family history.

From the beginning, Obama's campaign has been about change. That's an easy position to take when things aren't going well, yet Obama gives reason to believe he truly understands what's needed - a new tone in Washington and leadership that will seek common ground and dramatic change.

The next president faces enormous challenges - including frightening economic conditions, overseeing two wars and ensuring the nation's security.

Even if Obama were inclined to spend as liberally as his opponents warn, the reality of a staggering $10 trillion federal debt will require extraordinary budget discipline no matter who wins on Nov. 4.

Each of those issues and many others can't be adequately addressed without a bipartisan approach that rejects Washington's tendencies to divide politicians and the people they represent for cynical purposes.

Of the two candidates, Obama has shown himself to be the most committed to more inclusive governance. His message has been especially inspirational to young people, whom he has drawn to the political process in phenomenal numbers.

The historical significance of Obama's candidacy - a black person seeking the presidency of the nation that only a few years ago allowed much of the country to effectively exclude blacks from public life - can't be denied. Yet the stakes are so high this year that the racial implications are nearly incidental.

Obama's vision for the future of the United States is the right one. We believe he has the commitment and political skills to make it a reality.

W endorses McCain/Palin

2008-10-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

Plates for Obama

2008-10-23T10:16:00.003-07:00

Plates for Obama...commemorate our outgoing GOP president!

The Scare Card

2008-10-21T21:46:00.000-07:00

Another great evening for Rachel Maddow:

Salon.com has an interesting article on the secret behind Maddow's ratings success. She is indeed a breath of fresh air.

Seems that Maddow's theory is quite true, judging by the RNC's newest mailing. If they're trotting out this kind of bile, the McCain campaign must know that things look pretty dire for them...

President Reagan endorses Obama...or seems to

2008-10-21T13:42:00.001-07:00

Palin: VP is "in charge of the Senate"

2008-10-21T11:13:00.000-07:00

The VP's not merely a tie-breaker in the Senate, it seems. She's IN CHARGE --- and helps the Senators make new policies! WHIZ-BANG!

If her engaging tone (completely appropriate when answering the question of an elementary school student, as was the case here) seems familiar, that's because it's only slightly different from the tone she uses when speaking to Americans adults (see the VP debate).

Obama goes to Hawaii to visit his ill grandmother

2008-10-21T10:59:00.001-07:00

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama will leave the presidential campaign trail to visit his ailing 85-year-old grandmother in Hawaii, whose health has deteriorated in recent weeks, an aide said on Monday.

With two weeks left in an intense battle for the White House, Obama will hold a campaign event in Indianapolis on Thursday and then fly to Hawaii to see his grandmother before returning to campaigning on Saturday, aide Robert Gibbs said.

"Senator Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life," Gibbs said in a statement. "Along with his mother and his grandfather, she raised him in Hawaii from the time he was born until the moment he left for college."

Read the rest here, from Reuters.

Please take a moment today to keep Mrs. Dunham and Sen. Obama in your thoughts.

Why Obama?

2008-10-21T09:56:00.000-07:00

Please get this video out there...short and straightforward!

VOTE EARLY

2008-10-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

Vote early, if you can...

Find out if it's possible in your district.

Powell's endorsement

2008-10-19T18:52:00.000-07:00

Gen. Colin Powell gives Obama the first big endorsement in quite awhile...Hendrick Hertzberg has a good article in the New Yorker about it.

A picture...

2008-10-18T00:16:00.001-07:00

...is worth 1000 words.

Shout it from the rooftops...

2008-10-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

Please get this video out there!

Michelle speaks to Women for Obama gathering

2008-10-16T23:57:00.001-07:00

She *is* another Jackie O. --- except a bit more easy-going and eloquent!

Palin as President simulator

2008-10-16T09:46:00.000-07:00

Click on the objects around the oval office and find the "easter eggs". Updated daily, apparently!

Palin as President

Obama in 30 Seconds

2008-10-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

Award-winning short ads at Obama in 30 Seconds... These are extraordinarily compelling short films!

Starting with the overall winner (please forward this to people who seem to think that McCain has somehow cornered the market on patriotism and an appeal to members of the military...

Have "the talk" with your parents!

2008-10-14T21:02:00.000-07:00

The Name Game

2008-10-14T19:43:00.000-07:00

Play The Name Game...be the first on your block!

Please forward this to your friends...the smear e-mails will be multiplying like crazy in the coming weeks, and this is a funny way to counter them!

Safe, prosperous, and free...

2008-10-13T12:09:00.000-07:00

Obama '08 - Vote For Hope from MC Yogi on Vimeo.

The trendline

2008-10-12T22:35:00.001-07:00

Keep phonebanking, everyone! The numbers look beautiful (538.com)

Bill Maher's Real Time panel on keeping terrorism in perspective

2008-10-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

Do any GOP pols watch this show, much less the McCain gang?

Roseanne Cash: why she'd be a better VP than Palin

2008-10-12T19:54:00.000-07:00

Ranging from the serious:

I also believe that a teenager's pregnancy is a "private family matter." In fact, I believe that every woman's pregnancy is a "private, family matter."

to the comical:

Like the Governor, I now also believe that my will is perfectly aligned with God's will. When Governor Palin said that it was God's will for the Alaska pipeline to be built and asked for people to pray for that to happen, I was really inspired by her confidence in the absolute, seamless integration of her will and God's will. I have begun practicing this kind of supreme confidence on a smaller scale, but I am sure that I can quickly move to national issues. Starting with the sartorial, I know that it is God's will that I have the entire Chanel collection for the fall season, including those adorable high-heeled booties that were all over the runway shows.

(A couple things I'm still having trouble with regarding the will of God: I knew it was God's will that I win the Grammy in 2007 for my last record, but Bob Dylan won. This is clearly the work of Satan, but shouldn't my will/God's will have been strong enough to override that? And this Alaska pipeline--if it is God's will to have the pipeline built, then why isn't it built already? On a related topic, I don't own a single piece of Chanel.)

Read the rest in The Nation.

It would be funny...

2008-10-10T18:02:00.000-07:00

...if it weren't so predictable.

Debate #2

2008-10-10T08:39:00.000-07:00

Aside from the normal funnies from SNL, I think the guy playing Brokaw deserves a medal...the former NBC anchor has such an odd speech pattern, and this guy nailed it!

Talk with our enemies

2008-10-10T08:26:00.000-07:00

...says McCain's hero, General Petraeus, speaking at the conservative Heritage Foundation thinktank:

Just another video...

2008-10-09T20:43:00.000-07:00

...of Obama looking and sounding utterly presidential.

Please forward to your pals!

That One!

2008-10-09T11:29:00.000-07:00

Barack's newest moniker (not that he was looking for one) is gaining traction...

Just another reason...

2008-10-07T11:07:00.000-07:00

...to give to Planned Parenthood in John McCain's name: Sarah Palin's funhouse-mirror version of feminism...

Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley's new radio ad for Obama...

2008-10-06T20:24:00.000-07:00

via Talking Points Memo.

There are no words...

2008-10-05T18:08:00.001-07:00

...that can add to Tina Fey's performance last night on Saturday Night Live.

AFL-CIO's Richard Trumka on Racism and Obama

2008-10-05T17:24:00.000-07:00

compulsive gamblers...

2008-10-03T10:34:00.001-07:00

...need help. Not a promotion to the Presidency. George Will, certainly no lefty, sums it up.

The Daily Show's take on Palin and Couric

2008-10-03T00:28:00.000-07:00

Quick Wall Street Journal Poll: VP debate winner?

2008-10-03T00:22:00.000-07:00

This is the WSJ, so it's running towards the GOP.

PLEASE VOTE!

More debate result highlights, courtesy of OneGoodMove:

CBS Debate Poll

Forty-six percent of the uncommitted voters surveyed say Democrat Joe Biden won the debate, compared to 21 percent for Republican Sarah Palin. Thirty-three percent said it was a tie.

Eighteen percent of previously uncommitted percent say they are now committed to the Obama-Biden ticket. Ten percent say they are now committed to McCain-Palin. Seventy-one percent are still uncommitted.

CNN Debate Poll

Story Highlights * 51 percent say Democratic Sen. Joe Biden wins vice presidential debate * Republican Gov. Sarah Palin exceeds expectations, 84 percent say * Palin beats Biden on likability, 54-36 * 87 percent say Biden is qualified for job, 42 percent say Palin is

don't vote

2008-10-02T21:06:00.001-07:00

just...don't.

(Seriously, though: send this to anyone you think might not be registered. Anyone under 30, anyway --- they're less likely to be offended by the intermittently R-rated language!).

Need more reason to keep your energy levels up? Maybe a little renewed outrage at the NeoCons, perhaps?

OK...back to today. Now more than ever...STAY FIRED UP.

Good with letters to the editor?

2008-10-02T10:13:00.001-07:00

Like writing LTTEs?

Join this group of ghost writers on MYBO and get to work!

Obama yard sign shortage!

2008-10-02T09:44:00.001-07:00

Yep. There's a shortage. But it's for a good cause. CHILL, folks!

The Schlep and the Talk

2008-10-01T06:55:00.001-07:00

"The talk" is happening all over the country, in living rooms and kitchens everywhere.

Sometimes "the talk" also involves a schlep (caution: a blase' use of offensive language, a Sarah Silverman trademark, contained herein).

No wonder...

2008-10-01T06:51:00.001-07:00

...it's hard for McCain to keep track of his houses. Just keeping track of the bedrooms in one of his places is difficult enough. In any event, this little bungalow is up for sale:

McCain: Reformed Maverick!

2008-09-30T21:17:00.001-07:00

Quick PBS poll: Is Palin qualified?

2008-09-30T14:20:00.000-07:00

Please vote! This is a 30-second poll.

Making it up as he goes along...

2008-09-30T12:29:00.000-07:00

One thing all of this year's candidates can probably agree on...

2008-09-28T09:14:00.001-07:00

...the mainstream media seems to have completely lost track of what comprises a real presidential debate.

Tina Fey does it again

2008-09-28T08:18:00.001-07:00

Debate footage + historical footage = Advantage Obama on Iraq

2008-09-27T07:31:00.000-07:00

please hold your nose...

2008-09-26T22:19:00.001-07:00

...and go vote for Obama in the new Drudge Report poll on who won the debate!

And then head over to CNN.com and grade each candidate on their debate performance.

Initial debate results...

2008-09-26T20:49:00.001-07:00

According to CBS's initial coverage, undecided voters saw Obama as the winner of tonight's debate.

More results:

CBS Poll - 500 uncommitted voters (+/- 4 percentage points)

39% Barack Obama won
25% John McCain won
36% draw

On whether their opinion got better toward the candidate

46% Barack Obama
31% John McCain

Who would make the right decisions regarding the economy?

66% Barack Obama
44% John McCain

————————————————————–

MediaCurves (HCD Research)

Who won the debate?

Obama McCain
Republicans 10.26% 89.74%
Democrats 92.77% 7.23%
Independents 61.11% 38.89%

————————————————————–

CNN

Who Did the best job in the debate?

51% Barack Obama
38% John McCain

Who would better handle economy?

58% Barack Obama
37% John McCain

Who Would Better Handle Iraq?

52% Barack Obama
47% John McCain

McCain stands up Letterman....

2008-09-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

Nominally to go back to Washington and work on the economy...

But first, a quick appearance with Katie Couric, to make sure EVERYONE knows what a maverick he is!

Crunch time!

2008-09-25T08:01:00.000-07:00

Countdown to the 1st presidential debate: 1 day*
Countdown to the vice presidential debate: 9 days
Countdown to the 2nd presidential debate: 12 days
Countdown to the third presidential debate: 20 days
Countdown to Election Day 2008: 40 days
Countdown to Inauguration Day 2009: 117 days

*well, maybe...

Sarah's interview with Katie Couric

2008-09-25T07:50:00.000-07:00

Highlight:

Couric: But he's been in Congress for 26 years. He's been chairman of the powerful Commerce Committee. And he has almost always sided with less regulation, not more.

Palin: He's also known as the maverick though, taking shots from his own party, and certainly taking shots from the other party. Trying to get people to understand what he's been talking about - the need to reform government.

Couric: But can you give me any other concrete examples? Because I know you've said Barack Obama is a lot of talk and no action. Can you give me any other examples in his 26 years of John McCain truly taking a stand on this?

Palin: I can give you examples of things that John McCain has done, that has shown his foresight, his pragmatism, and his leadership abilities. And that is what America needs today.

Couric: I'm just going to ask you one more time - not to belabor the point. Specific examples in his 26 years of pushing for more regulation.

Palin: I'll try to find you some and I'll bring them to you.

More here.

Planned Parenthood and Sarah Palin

2008-09-24T21:32:00.000-07:00

Here's a concrete action you can take in support of Planned Parenthood...which will also have the extra benefit of telling Gov. Palin that her brand of politics do not speak for American women as a whole.

Helping to unravel the financial crisis: McCain at the helm?

2008-09-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

Let's hope not.

McCain was a central player in the last big government bailout: the Savings and Loan crisis of the late 80s. Here's some coverage of that issue from a paper in McCain's own Arizona.

Above, a picture of McCain celebrating his birthday with Charles Keating.

Repeat this phrase like a mantra: KEATING FIVE. Not only will it help congress guard against pitfalls in the process of unravelling our current financial crisis --- it will remind voters that it would be exceedingly difficult for McCain to help us through our current troubles when he is at the very center of the mindset which got us here (reckless deregulation).

Before-the-job training: Palin at the UN

2008-09-24T08:20:00.001-07:00

Does Palin even believe in the idea of the UN? One would have guessed that she'd be from the John Bolton school. Any port in a storm, it seems!

Enough!

2008-09-20T16:04:00.001-07:00

True Leader from iocomposer on Vimeo.

wowza

2008-09-17T23:39:00.000-07:00

A jam-packed 120 seconds:

compute your Obama tax cut

2008-09-17T21:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a fun site that allows you to compute how much your tax cut would be under the Obama administration, and how much more a McCain administration would tax you.

Unless, of course, you're in that top 1% of earners --- folks in that group should be prepared to see higher taxation levels by Obama than by McCain (or perhaps they leave their internet browsing to their butlers. Damned if I know).

more fun!

2008-09-17T11:37:00.000-07:00

Isn't it cool watching Barack smile?

Have a good laugh...and re-focus!!!

just for fun...

2008-09-17T08:43:00.000-07:00

The Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator!

Hi...my name is Recoil Zoo Palin!

Some other notable generated names:

Krinkle Bearcat ~ Stick Freedom ~ Crunk Petrol ~ Clamp Noodle

And my favorite:

Thump Hummer

Annie Lamott's Salon article has some great suggestions for getting through the next two months, sanity intact, while working for Obama. One of her suggestions is the Name Generator.

Jezebel more or less agrees with Lamott...but suggests that in order to fight Palin/McCain, we'll probably have to call them by their real names at least occasionally.

Obama: the economists' choice

2008-09-16T21:40:00.000-07:00

66% of economists, in a recent poll, will be casting their vote for Obama.

Perhaps those economists are more mindful than the average bear about the facts of our economic history, as broken down by political party. (Graphic: The Liscio Report).

let the back-pedaling begin

2008-09-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

When Karl Rove says "you've gone too far", you can most likely take that to the bank.

This one needs no explanation

2008-09-16T07:46:00.000-07:00

Please spread the word. Click on the image to enlarge it, or for an even bigger version, go to WashingtonPost.com.

Bad news first...then the good

2008-09-15T22:08:00.000-07:00

Plenty of Obama supporters have been feeling a little down of late. It's not hard to figure out why. While we were under the impression that we were in the middle of an election campaign, The GOP has instead gone back to its old standbys: culture warring and "image".

But Alaska residents are way ahead of us in terms of forming impressions of Sarah Palin. Some bad news and some good news here --- but it seems that the good outweighs the bad!

First, the bad. Alaskan residents who don't understand the most basic of all American values: free speech and dissent. Worse yet, radio shows (and entire stations, apparently) which feature such folk, seemingly unopposed.

Now, the good:

Read more about this amazing rally against Palin and all she stands for (the largest political rally in Alaskan history) here at Mudflats, a blog on Alaskan politics.

Rove...wow, who knew he was still around?

2008-09-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

Of course he is. You don't mess with "success".

Every time I see one of these distortions...

2008-09-11T10:50:00.001-07:00

...I send another $5 to the Obama campaign.

My credit card's not had much of a chance to cool off lately.

Obama debriefs the press on the RNC

2008-09-05T05:41:00.000-07:00

Palin makes $10 million for Obama

2008-09-04T19:13:00.000-07:00

From Politico.com

Barack Obama's campaign for president has raised $10 million since Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin spoke Wednesday night, the campaign announced, calling it a "one-day record."

Wasilla: Meth capital of Alaska

2008-09-04T10:14:00.000-07:00

...according to Andrew Sullivan of the Atlantic.

Of course, this wasn't the kind of problem that Sarah Palin tended to focus on, as mayor. Getting Alaska porkbarrel spending aimed towards her town (while decrying pork on a state level) and questioning the local library about the feasibility of banning books was more her speed.

Roger Simon "apologizes"

2008-09-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

Alex Koppelman of Salon's War Room column excerpted a column from Roger Simon of Politico.
His favorite excerpts of the piece:

On behalf of the media, I would like to say we are sorry...
We have asked questions this week that we should never have asked.

We have asked pathetic questions like: Who is Sarah Palin? What is her record? Where does she stand on the issues? And is she is qualified to be a heartbeat away from the presidency?

We have asked mean questions like: How well did John McCain know her before he selected her? How well did his campaign vet her? And was she his first choice?

Bad questions. Bad media. Bad...

[W]e should stop reporting on the families of the candidates. Unless the candidates want us to.

Sarah Palin wanted the media to report on her teenage son, Track, who enlisted in the Army on Sept. 11, 2007, and soon will deploy to Iraq.

Sarah Palin did not want the media to report on her teenage daughter, Bristol, who is pregnant and unmarried.

Sarah Palin thinks that one is good for her campaign and one is not, and that the media should report only on what is good for her campaign. That is our job, and that is our duty. If that is not actually in the Constitution, it should be. (And someday may be.)

Former McCain advisor trashes Palin

2008-09-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

As an NPR commentator said today (paraphrase): "The fact that McCain was considering both Lieberman and Palin on his final list shows that he is wiling to pick up ANY weapon in battle".

More info on the cast of characters here.

Putting Country Last

2008-08-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

Andrew Sullivan, not exactly known as a lefty, has a short piece in the Atlantic which sums it up...McCain's choice of Palin, while it will drive up his ratings, was nothing short of irresponsible.

As Paul Begala says over on CNN.com:

In choosing this featherweight, McCain passed over Tom Ridge, a decorated combat hero, a Cabinet secretary and the former two-term governor of the large, complex state of Pennsylvania. iReport.com: 'McCain pick might be a gimmick'

He passed over Mitt Romney, who ran a big state, Massachusetts; a big company, Bain Capital; and a big event, the Olympics.

He passed over Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Texas senator who is knowledgeable about the military, good on television and -- obviously -- a woman.

He passed over Joe Lieberman, his best friend in the Senate and fellow Iraq Kool-Aid drinker.

He passed over former congressman, trade negotiator and budget director Rob Portman.

And he also passed over Mike Huckabee, the governor of Arkansas.

Huckabee also has all of the cred with the Religious Right that Palin has --- and then some. But apparently he doesn't look quite as good when shooting a semi-automatic.

9/1/08 update:

I have been pretty disturbed to hear people criticising Bristol, Palin's daughter, regarding recent events. Here's the quick take I've been posting on various forums about it today:

Leave Bristol out of it. She was like a lamb to the slaughter. I'm with Barack --- family members, particularly the children of the candidates, must be off-limits.

A child of a mother who's consistently backed abstinence-only sex ed, yet who is obviously fine with trading on her looks and sexuality (as a beauty queen), never had a chance.

One thing is clear: the McCain/Palin ticket, on the topic of reproductive rights, would obviously be "you play, you pay".

Bristol will be fine --- at least materially --- because she comes from privilege. Be really concerned for the economically disadvantaged American teens who are receiving the same NeoCon-approved (bogus) sex ed as Bristol did. They're the ones who will really pay the price, as will we all, for the children they bring into this world as teen parents.