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wowza

A jam-packed 120 seconds:

compute your Obama tax cut

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).

Obama: the economists' choice

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).

NARAL Pro-Choice America endorses Obama

NARAL endorsed Obama today:



Clinton supporters are howling about this one. If you'd like to support NARAL in this decision, please contact them to thank them, or the establish or renew a membership.

If you encounter any Clinton supporters who are employing a "I'm taking my marbles and going home" mentality re: NARAL or other pro-choice organizations due to NARAL's endorsement (as you'll find on this open thread on Blog for Choice) please remind them of this fact:

NARAL itself gives BOTH Clinton and Obama 100% ratings.

It's a judgment call. NARAL made it.

I hope that Clinton supporters will not be fair-weather friends of the pro-choice movement...which is more important than any candidate, after all.

just when you thought it was safe...

...to say the "Barack is a Muslim" rumor is dead and gone, comes this op-ed from the New York Times.

An excerpt:

Senator Obama is half African by birth and Africans can understandably identify with him. In Islam, however, there is no such thing as a half-Muslim. Like all monotheistic religions, Islam is an exclusive faith.

As the son of the Muslim father, Senator Obama was born a Muslim under Muslim law as it is universally understood. It makes no difference that, as Senator Obama has written, his father said he renounced his religion. Likewise, under Muslim law based on the Koran his mother’s Christian background is irrelevant.

Comments for the op/ed are closed (the site was barraged with hundreds of comments within just a few few hours, given the incendiary nature of the op/ed), but opinions may still be voiced by writing a letter to the editor:

letters@nytimes.com

Here's a letter I just wrote:

Dear Editors, New York Times:

I write in response to Edward Luttwak's online op/ed of May 12, 2008.

Apparently the writer feels that if a father is a Muslim, then so is the son --- regardless of the logistical circumstances, or the religious beliefs of others, within a family.

It seems likely that Barack Obama's mother, Anne Dunham, a highly ethical woman who chose to worship no god at all, would have taken issue with that viewpoint.

Yes, Barack Obama's father was a Muslim. He also left his wife and child when Barack Obama was only two years of age, and only saw his son on one other occasion during his lifetime. On the other hand, Obama's mother, who actually bothered to raise her child, was a non-believer. Some would say she was an agnostic; others, an atheist.

If the developments of the last few weeks show us anything, it is that a strong ethical framework and a clear record of results, not the details of the religious beliefs of any candidate, that interest the American public.

Please don't publish any more inflammatory writings which only further the cause of those who would divide us based on race, gender, and religion. There are far too many extremely pressing issues for us, as Americans, to address. Your publication can help the American people come to clarity on these issues, or it can further muddy the waters. Please make the right choice, in the spirit of responsible journalism.

Sincerely,

Elise MacDonald
New Ipswich, New Hampshire

West Virginia contact information

Obama has all but conceded West Virginia to Sen. Clinton. But there's still plenty of effort that can be made to help close the margin.

WV media contact list

Information about WV

Olbermann on McClinton's pandering "Hail Mary pass" gas tax holiday plan

Here's a Newsweek article explaining why the gas tax "holiday" simply will not work...

UPDATE, 5/3/08:

Calitics.com estimates job losses of 20,000 or more in California alone if a gas tax holiday is implemented. Road workers are on payrolls, Sen. Clinton...and they can't just go out and make a few college speeches to make up the difference, like your hubby can.

Meanwhile, 200 economists have stood up against Sen. Clinton's gas plan. Not that she's listening.

UPDATE, 5/5/08:

Here's a new ad Obama is running on the gas tax issue:



FLIP the SCRIPT: The Bill Clinton Library is the beneficiary of a $10 million donation from the Saudis. Does that boost Sen. Clinton's credibility on energy policy?

Of course not. Which is why she's going on the attack against Obama instead. Here's her latest ad from Indiana:



Here's video of Barack on yesterday's Meet the Press. The differences between his policy and Sen. Clinton's couldn't be much clearer.



PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD!

Sen. Clinton is against the closing of an Indiana factory...

...which her husband's actions helped to close.

Gosh, it's complicated being Sen. Clinton!

ABC news goes into a little more detail here, and also in this video (below) from a recent episode of World News Tonight.



Please read and Digg this article! Please write letters to the editor on this topic, particularly in Indiana!

contact CNN

CNN Headline News's Glen Beck Show is planning yet another one-hour special on Rev. Wright tonight.

The Rev. Wright story been wrung like an old dish rag. Everything that could possibly said has been said. The rest is just echo-chamber. Further, many less "ratings-driven" news organizations, such as NPR, have a policy of not airing programs about a given candidate 24 hours before a major election. Such a policy would be a welcome change across the board.

Please contact CNN to complain about Glenn Beck's and CNN's lack of journalistic integrity.

Sen. Clinton's energy policy: "self-serve"

According to the Washington Post (excerpt):

A growing chorus -- including a top congressional Democrat -- labeled Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's proposal for suspending the federal gasoline tax ineffective and shortsighted yesterday, even as she continued to paint Sen. Barack Obama as insensitive to drivers' woes for not endorsing the plan.

Obama spoke about how the proposed 3-month gas tax "holiday" would only result in a $30 savings for most households. A point that I think might be added into the mix is infrastructure. Perhaps we should pull out some video of last year's Minnesota bridge collapse (pictured, above left)? Bridges and roads are in terrible shape nationwide. Suspending the gas tax would have a tiny effect on each taxpayer's wallet, but would have major implications for spending on infrastructure.

We have gargantuan amounts of work to do on the energy front. Band-aid measures like gas tax holidays will not get that work done --- plain and simple. How about a government SUV buy-back program instead? Offer drivers of the largest SUVs a chance to unload those monsters, because as it stands, NOBODY is buying them...particularly not the budget-minded shoppers in the used car market!

Obama is avoiding Clinton and McCain's pandering. (Pictured: Sen. Clinton riding with a "regular Joe" in a pickup truck to demonstrate the importance of car-pooling. She carpools all the time...pooling multiple cars to get her to her destination! She left the motorcade back at the hotel for a few minutes! Wouldn't it have made a better pojnt if she'd carpooled with a mom with her 2.2 kids on the way to daycare and work in her minivan, rather than a blue collar guy in his F-250 hemi?).

Once again, Obama refuses to just "tell us what we want to hear" because it would be popular. May it continue. As he said at a campaign speech this week:

"This isn't an idea designed to get you through the summer. It's an idea designed to get them through an election."

And some reaction from ABC news:

The fallout from the Rev. Wright kerfuffle

In case anyone was wondering what would happen in the wake of Obama's clear repudiation of Rev. Wright's viewpoints, here are three endorsements which have been made within the past 24 hours:

U.S. Rep. Baron Hill endorses Obama - TODAY

Iowa Congressman Bruce Braley to endorse Obama - TODAY

Representative Lois Capps (D-CA) (pictured) has endorsed Barack Obama for President - TODAY

And now...

The moment (well, one of the moments) we've been waiting for...

SENATOR CLINTON's EARMARKS!

Yes, we all know she's "Queen of Pork", so there's probably not much that will be surprising here...other than "WOW, her EARMARKS ARE THREE TIMES MORE THAN ANY OTHER SENATOR'S" (yes, I'm shouting. Sorry.) The important thing is that she's finally done what Sen. Obama did months ago, and made her earmarks public.

Now...how about

The 2007 Clinton taxes?

The Clinton Library/Foundation donor list (the latter should be most interesting in these days of $3.50+/galon gasoline...plenty of Saudi money there)?

Returning the $800K in lobbying fees from the Colombians?

etc.

Fun facts for letters to the editor. The mainstream media is falling down on the job on covering these questions. Keep them on the front burner!

Major media outlets in IN and NC

Indiana Major Media Outlets:
http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/14/majormedia

Indiana Newspapers:
http://www.mondotimes.com/world/usa/newspapers.html?state=14

Indiana TV:
http://www.mondotimes.com/world/usa/tv.html?state=14

~~~~~

North Carolina Major Media Outlets
http://www.mondotimes.com/1/world/us/33/majormedia

North Carolina Newspapers:
http://www.mondotimes.com/world/usa/newspapers.html?state=33

North Carolina TV:
http://www.mondotimes.com/world/usa/tv.html?state=33

South Dakota political blog

Badlands Blue is a SD-based political blog. Check it out, and make positive comments!

Indiana newspapers

Keep those Letters to the Editor coming! Keep 'em short, positive, to the point, and plentiful!

~~~~~

Anderson Herald Bulletin (Anderson, Indiana)
http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/contactus/local_story_347101743.html

Bloomington Herald-Times (Bloomington, Indiana)
http://www.heraldtimesonline.com/htoletters/index_s.php

Bedford Times-Mail (Bedford, Indiana)
http://64.151.143.34/tmnews/forms/news/letter_ed.php

Brazil Times (Brazil, Indiana)
http://www.thebraziltimes.com/opinion/letters/submit/

Brookville American-Democrat (Brookville, Indiana)
http://www.thebrookvillenews.com/democrat/letters/

Jackson County Banner (Brownstown, Indiana)
http://www.thebanner.com/opinion/letters/

Chesterton Tribune (Chesterton, Indiana)
http://chestertontribune.com/about%20this%20site.htm

The Post & Mail (Columbia City, Indiana)
http://www.thepostandmail.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,42/

The Republic (Columbus, Indiana)
http://www.therepublic.com/Formlayout.asp?formcall=userform&form=65

News Examiner (Connersville, Indiana)
http://www.newsexaminer.com/main.asp?Top=1&SectionID=6

Journal Review (Crawfordsville, Indiana)
http://www.journalreview.com/submit/

Decatur Daily Democrat (Decatur, Indiana)
http://www.decaturdailydemocrat.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,42/

Carroll County Comet (Flora, Indiana)
http://www.carrollcountycomet.com/news/2008/0423/Opinion/023.html

Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=EDIT09

Ink Newspaper (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
http://www.inknewsonline.com/contact.html

The News-Sentinel (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=EDITORIAL

The Times (Frankfort, Indiana)
http://www.ftimes.com/main.asp?SectionID=51&TM=34235.6

Banner-Graphic (Greencastle, Indiana)
http://www.bannergraphic.com/opinion/letters/submit/

Greensburg Daily News (Greensburg, Indiana)
http://www.greensburgdailynews.com/contactus/local_story_266140410.html

The News-Times (Hartford City, Indiana)
https://secure.townnews.com/hartfordcitynewstimes.com/forms/letters/index.php

Herald Press (Huntington, Indiana)
http://h-ponline.com/contact_us/

Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, Indiana)
http://www2.indystar.com/help/letters.html

Indianapolis Business Journal (Indianapolis, Indiana)
http://www.ibj.com/html/letters_to_the_editor.html

Indianapolis Recorder (Indianapolis, Indiana)
http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/contact_us/

The Southside Times (Indianapolis, Indiana)
http://www.ss-times.com/new/contact-us/

Evening News and Tribune (Jeffersonville, Indiana)
http://www.news-tribune.net/letters/local_story_159165300.html

Kokomo Perspective (Kokomo, Indiana)
http://www.kokomoperspective.com/FormLayout.asp?formcall=1

Kokomo Tribune (Kokomo, Indiana)
http://www.kokomotribune.com/contactus

The Herald-Argus (La Porte, Indiana)
http://www.heraldargus.com/Formlayout.asp?formcall=userform&form=3

Lafayette Journal & Courier (Lafayette, Indiana)
http://www.jconline.com/nie

Lebanon Reporter (Lebanon, Indiana)
http://www.reporter.net/contactus/local_story_327132352.html

Madison Courier (Madison, Indiana)
http://www.madisoncourier.com/FormLayout.asp?formcall=1&TM=37584.88

Chronicle Tribune (Marion, Indiana)
http://www.chronicle-tribune.com/our_newspaper/contact_us/#TALK_TO_US

Reporter-Times (Martinsville, Indiana)
http://www.reporter-times.com/?module=displaysection§ion_id=136&format=html

Post-Tribune (Gary/ Merrillville, Indiana)
http://www.post-trib.com/aboutus/contact/index.html

The News-Dispatch (Michigan City, Indiana)
http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=32&TM=58762.88

Herald Journal (Monticello, Indiana)
http://www.thehj.com/Formlayout.asp?formcall=userform&form=17

Mooresville Times (Mooresville, Indiana)
http://www.reporter-times.com/?module=displaysectionmdt§ion_id=141&format=html

The Star Press (Muncie, Indiana)
http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080425/OPINION/804250345/1014

The Times (Munster, Indiana)
http://nwi.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/

Brown County Democrat (Nashville, Indiana)
http://www.browncountyindiana.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=9&ArticleID=11123

Posey County News (New Harmony, Indiana)
http://www.poseycountynews.com/opinion.htm

Newburgh Chandler Register (Newburgh, Indiana)
https://secure.townnews.com/tristate-media.com/forms/letters.php

Noblesville Daily Times (Noblesville, Indiana)
http://www.county29.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=194

Plain Dealer Sun (North Vernon, Indiana)
http://plaindealer-sun.com/main.asp?SectionID=12&TM=43386.32

Peru Tribune (Peru, Indiana)
http://www.miamicountylife.com/about_us/

Hendricks County Flyer (Plainfield/ Avon, Indiana)
http://www.flyergroup.com/contactus

The Pilot News (Plymouth, Indiana)
http://www.thepilotnews.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,42/

Rensselaer Republican (Rensselaer, Indiana)
http://www.rensselaerrepublican.com/opinion/

Palladium-Item (Richmond, Indiana)
http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=CUSTOMERSERVICE03

Rochester Sentinel (Rochester, Indiana)
http://www.rochsent.com/Formlayout.asp?formcall=userform&form=15

Rushville Republican (Rushville, Indiana)
http://www.rushvillerepublican.com/contactus/local_story_277155432.html

Seymour News (Seymour, Indiana)
http://www.tribtown.com/sections/readerservices/feedback/

Shelbyville News (Shelbyville, Indiana)
http://www.shelbynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=41&SubSectionID=81&ArticleID=6849&TM=44553.5

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana)
http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?CATEGORY=CONTACT

Tribune Star (Terre Haute, Indiana)
http://www.tribstar.com/contactus/local_story_353113033.html

Osgood Journal (Versailles, Indiana)
http://www.ripleynews.com/contact.html

Vincennes Sun-Commercial (Vincennes, Indiana)
http://www.suncommercial.com/main.asp?SectionID=7&SubSectionID=7&ArticleID=1905

Wabash Plain Dealer (Wabash, Indiana)
http://www.wabashplaindealer.com/contact_us/

Times-Union (Warsaw, Indiana)
http://www.timesuniononline.com/main.asp?Top=1&SectionID=18

Zionsville Times Sentinel (Zionsville, Indiana)
http://www.timessentinel.com/contactus/local_story_320105633.html

Indiana political blog

Please direct positive Obama comments here!

Indiana LTTEs

the Fort Wayne, Indiana newspaper, The Journal Gazette, is putting out a DEADLINE for receiving letters concerning the primary! Here's their notice:

Election letters
The deadline for letters about the May 6 primary will be at 5 p.m. Monday.

Please write!

Media contact links for upcoming races

Indiana, North Carolina, etc.

Who won the 4/16 debate?

Quick vote at ABC.com...



They might have no idea of what journalistic integrity is (Stephanopoulos as moderator? Bill Clinton made George Stephanopoulos's career fercryinoutloud!), but at least Barack's winning this poll!

Not happy with the journalistic quality of this debate (probably the last of this nomination contest...what a shame that so much heat and so little light was shed on the issues)?

David Weston, President of ABC "News", has a personal FAX machine. The number is:

212-456-4292.

Please write Mr. Weston and tell him that the American people are tired of news outfits like ABC making such a travesty of journalism on OUR PUBLIC AIRWAVES. The network should be ashamed of itself.

Here's more ABC contacts:

ABC NEW YORK NEWSROOM:
(212) 456-5100
newsradio@abc.com
Newsroom Fax Machine 212.456.5150

Cristi Landes
Manager, Programming
212.456.5107
cristi.d.landes@abc.com

Wayne Fisk
Director, Programming
212.456.5327
wayne.fisk@abc.com

Jeff Fitzgerald
Executive Director, Operations
212.456.5554
jeffrey.t.fitzgerald@abc.com

Heidi Oringer
Executive Director, Entertainment
212.456.5541
heidi.b.oringer@abc.com

Jon Newman
News Coverage
212.456.5100
jonathan.m.newman@abc.com

Joyce Alcantara
Assignment Manager
212.456.5106
joyce.a.alcantara@abc.com

Jim Kane Deputy
D.C. Bureau Chief
212.222.6604
james.f.kane@abc.com

Andrew Kalb
Executive Director, Programming
305.567.2269
andrew.l.kalb@abc.com

Robert Garcia Executive
Director, News & Sports
212.456.5103
robert.garcia@abc.com

Peter Salinger (THE MAN IN CHARGE OF ELECTION COVERAGE)
Director, Special Events & Sports
212.456.5105
peter.salinger@abc.com

Steve Jones
Vice President ABC NEWS RADIO
212-456-5101
steve.jones@abc.com

If you're REALLY steamed, please contact the top brass at the Federal Communications Commission (let ABC know you're doing so):

Chairman Kevin J. Martin:
KJMWEB@fcc.gov

Commissioner Michael J. Copps:
Michael.Copps@fcc.gov

Commissioner Jonathan S. Adelstein:
Jonathan.Adelstein@fcc.gov

Commissioner Deborah Taylor Tate:
dtaylortateweb@fcc.gov

Commissioner Robert McDowell:
Robert.McDowell@fcc.gov

UPDATE, 4/17/08:

Barack's take on the debate:



Read more reaction to the "debate" here on Calitics.com.

UPDATE, 4/20/08:

...the moment when it started to dawn on Charlie Gibson that the crowd was not terribly appreciative of his work: