Press to Digitate
Sure sounded bitter today at the RBC meeting...
The Hillary rep indicated they would take it to Credentials, and, by implication, Beyond - to the Convention Floor. Rather than quash the speculation his statement triggered, the Clinton campaign issued a press release, fanning the flames, saying as much, officially.
A spectacular video appeared on YouTube tonight, catching an aggrivated Hillary supporter as she stormed out of the meeting room. She seems typical of a large block of female Clintonites. Assuming that Sen. Obama will give the Vice Presidency to someone psychologically better qualified for the office than Hillary Clinton, "What approach might we take - as individuals - to win over disappointed HRC supporters, such as this hysterical woman?:
The observation has been made that the most apt comparision of Sen. Barack Obama's leadership may not be to that of FDR, or JFK, or the Reagan Revolution, but toTeddy Roosevelt, at the dawn of the 20th Century.
Exactly. He's that Transformational; a Trans-generational figure that leads us from the 20th Century paradigm to that of the 21st. [Bill] Clinton was the culimination of the post-WWII political aspirations of 20th Century American society; George W. Bush was a retro "pushback", a 'last gasp' of the Traditional Establishment, the Rooted Culture, and the Old [New World] Order.
Its about how the integration of our parochial, sectarian, and tribal beliefs enable the transition into a true planetary culture. Here are some thoughts on how each of us might help ease our families, friends, and associates into this new reality, with as little wailing, flying of fur, and gnashing of teeth as possible...
Poll 11 votes Show Results My family, friends, and associates who arent yet for Obama: Cant seem to put into words why not, though I know them not to be racist/sexist Commit to McCain over some specific issue or policy difference with Obama Have always voted Republican, and I havent been able to pry them loose yet Are disgusted enough with the process, they've commited to Ralph Nader Are disgusted enough with the process, they've commited to Bob Barr Have been told something fishy about Obama which puts them off him Really are racist, and cant see past it; all other factors are secondary Really are sexist, and cant see past it, all other factors are secondary Openly fear Change for Specific Reasons (Loss of Subsidies, Tax Breaks, Benefits) Openly fear Change for Reasons Undefined (Voting based on "Experience") Just view Obama as "alien" to them (name, race, religion, urban, lawyer, Harvard) Are just contrarian; the more who go for Obama, the more they'll opt for McCain Other (Explain in Comment) 11 votes Vote Now! My family, friends, and associates who arent yet for Obama: Cant seem to put into words why not, though I know them not to be racist/sexist 9% 1 vote Commit to McCain over some specific issue or policy difference with Obama 0% 0 votes Have always voted Republican, and I havent been able to pry them loose yet 2 votes Are disgusted enough with the process, they've commited to Ralph Nader 0% 0 votes Are disgusted enough with the process, they've commited to Bob Barr 0% 0 votes Have been told something fishy about Obama which puts them off him 4 votes Really are racist, and cant see past it; all other factors are secondary 9% 1 vote Really are sexist, and cant see past it, all other factors are secondary 0% 0 votes Openly fear Change for Specific Reasons (Loss of Subsidies, Tax Breaks, Benefits) 0% 0 votes Openly fear Change for Reasons Undefined (Voting based on "Experience") 9% 1 vote Just view Obama as "alien" to them (name, race, religion, urban, lawyer, Harvard) 0% 0 votes Are just contrarian; the more who go for Obama, the more they'll opt for McCain 0% 0 votes Other (Explain in Comment) 2 votes
Following Sen. Barack Obama's historic landslide election victory in November, the election of large numbers of a new Democrats to the House and Senate on his coattails, and a stirring Inaugural Address, the new Obama Administration will settle in to at least four years of running the United States of America.
Let us assume that he/they follow through with an American de-escalation in, and subsequent withdrawl from, Iraq; that Bush tax cuts for the wealthy are repealed, and Seniors under $50,000/yr. become exempt from tax. In short, let us assume that President Obama fulfills pretty much all of that which he has promised during the campaign.
So far, wisely, Obama's campaign has been about thematics rather than specifics. He cannot help but to change the "Zen" in Washington, coming as he does from a completely different vector than anyone to previously hold the office. In 1971's The Candidate, the suddenly elected Sen Bill McKay (D-CA) turns to his campaign manager in astonishment and muses "My God, we WON!?!?? What do we do NOW???" To save our Hero such angst, lets post a pot of legitimate ideas for the next Administration...
Poll 28 votes Show Results I'll be happy as long as a President Obama just.... Doesnt start wars for no apparent reason Wont lie to us for short term political gain Refrains from giving huge federal contracts to campaign contributors Appoints people based on qualifications, not political connections Conducts vital business, such as Energy Policy, in the Sunshine Declines to politicize the Federal Judiciary, U.S. Attorneys, etc. Allows Science to drive Policy, Instead of Policy filtering Science Stops spying on Americans, and fixes our broken Foreign Intelligence instead Treats 'Big Oil' like 'Big Tobbacco' to pay to cure our Addiction to Foreign Oil Makes government more responsive to those 'Most in Need', not 'Most in Greed' Fixes the Process itself, so that debacles like Chad & Hillary cant happen again. Declare "Victory" over both 'Terror' & 'Drugs', dealiong with Causes & Effects instead Gets the pothole on our street at the foot of my driveway filled in Other, Comment... 28 votes Vote Now! I'll be happy as long as a President Obama just.... Doesnt start wars for no apparent reason 3 votes Wont lie to us for short term political gain 3 votes Refrains from giving huge federal contracts to campaign contributors 0% 0 votes Appoints people based on qualifications, not political connections 7 votes Conducts vital business, such as Energy Policy, in the Sunshine 4% 1 vote Declines to politicize the Federal Judiciary, U.S. Attorneys, etc. 0% 0 votes Allows Science to drive Policy, Instead of Policy filtering Science 3 votes Stops spying on Americans, and fixes our broken Foreign Intelligence instead 4% 1 vote Treats 'Big Oil' like 'Big Tobbacco' to pay to cure our Addiction to Foreign Oil 0% 0 votes Makes government more responsive to those 'Most in Need', not 'Most in Greed' 3 votes Fixes the Process itself, so that debacles like Chad & Hillary cant happen again. 4% 1 vote Declare "Victory" over both 'Terror' & 'Drugs', dealiong with Causes & Effects instead 3 votes Gets the pothole on our street at the foot of my driveway filled in 4% 1 vote Other, Comment... 7% 2 votes
The many examples of the Bush Administration's Infringment of Civil Rights (known to real Conservatives as "the Government's Latest Assault on the Constitution) are now many and varied enough to forge a new political concensus in opposition, which can span the ideological spectrum.
There is reason to fear that unless we begin to think in broad, strategic terms about a new bulwark against the unconstrained excesses of the State, future leaders, possessed of [even] less patriotism, integrity, or restraint than the current Administration may employ the 9/11 powers assumed by the executive in more self-serving, politically predjudicial ways than has the Bush/Cheney regime.
After 218 years, the constraints on government imposed by the Bill of Rights are every bit as relevant, valid, and important today as when they were adopted. The problem is that our 21st Century legal machinery is more complex, and those who exercise the levers of power often become confused. Its time to buttress that original wall with a stronger and more specific layer of protection, suited to modern jurisprudence. It is time that we consider criminal and civl penalties for violating the Bill of Rights...
Poll 98 votes Show Results I'm not that angry; they can have my Rights to Freedom of Speech Freedom of the Press Freedom of Religion Freedom of Assembly Right to Counsel and a Trial by a Jury of my Peers Protection from Unreasonable Searches & Seizures Protection Against Cruel & Unusual Punishments Protection of my Life, Liberty, & Property through Due Process of Law Right to Warrants upon Probable Cause, Supported by Oaths & Specifics Right to a Speedy Trial, to Confront One's Accusers Right to Keep and Bear Arms (Be careful what you wish for....) Its OK if the IRS runs amok, so long as I'm not considered among "the Rich" Cops are Bad, Bureaucrats are Good Cops are Good, Bureaucrats are Bad Equal Protection Applies to ALL 98 votes Vote Now! I'm not that angry; they can have my Rights to Freedom of Speech 0% 0 votes Freedom of the Press 0% 0 votes Freedom of Religion 4% 4 votes Freedom of Assembly 0% 0 votes Right to Counsel and a Trial by a Jury of my Peers 0% 0 votes Protection from Unreasonable Searches & Seizures 0% 0 votes Protection Against Cruel & Unusual Punishments 0% 0 votes Protection of my Life, Liberty, & Property through Due Process of Law 0% 0 votes Right to Warrants upon Probable Cause, Supported by Oaths & Specifics 0% 0 votes Right to a Speedy Trial, to Confront One's Accusers 0% 0 votes Right to Keep and Bear Arms (Be careful what you wish for....) 6% 6 votes Its OK if the IRS runs amok, so long as I'm not considered among "the Rich" 4% 4 votes Cops are Bad, Bureaucrats are Good 0% 0 votes Cops are Good, Bureaucrats are Bad 1% 1 vote Equal Protection Applies to ALL 83 votes
All across the nation, millions of ardent Obama supporters are waiting anxiously for Speaker Pelosi and the 209 other Superdelegates to step up to the plate, display some moral courage, and end the self-destructive, expensive, and really annoying continued nomination fight, immediately (if not sooner).
Many have wondered why the Superdelegates are still waiting. They waited past Super Tuesday. they waited past Pennsylvania, and the decisive Indiana/North Carolina split, and Kentucky/Oregon. Some will probably wait until their choices no longer matter.
In trying to understand the strange hibernation behaviour of this herd, we have queried the uncommited Superdelegates anonymously to gather the Top Ten Reasons They're Still Waiting to Endorse their candidates...
In a further bid to compete with the perception that Sen. Barack Obama has the Democratic presidential nomination locked up, the campaign of his rival, Sen. Hillary Clinton today leaked the list of prospective Vice Presidential choices that the fiesty "gal from Scranton" is considering to invite to join her on her ticket.
Reportedly, the top contenders Clinton is considering include:
Poll 141 votes Show Results Hillary should choose as her her V.P. runningmate: Sen. Larry Craig Gov. Elliott Spitzer Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Admiral William Fallon Gov. Rod Blagojevich Former Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings Former Sen. Lloyd Benson Other (Suggest in Comments) 141 votes Vote Now! Hillary should choose as her her V.P. runningmate: Sen. Larry Craig 38 votes Gov. Elliott Spitzer 41 votes Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick 9% 12 votes Admiral William Fallon 1% 1 vote Gov. Rod Blagojevich 6% 8 votes Former Sen. Ernest "Fritz" Hollings 1% 2 votes Former Sen. Lloyd Benson 24 votes Other (Suggest in Comments) 15 votes
Okay, enough is enough.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is on record as saying the superdelegates should step in and end this and convey the nomination to the candidate that wins the majority of the elected, pledged delegates. As of now, Sen. Obama has won this majority.
So, Where is Speaker Pelosi?
The Speaker holds sway over enough California superdelegates alone to start the avalanche, and end this dangerous, self-defeating nomination battle, once and for all. If Pelosi fails to step up to the plate, and use her power as the nation's highest ranking elected Democrat to help the party's chosen nominee, right now, when needed, then perhaps Cindy Sheehan would make a better Congresswoman from California's 8th District in November, and should attract national contributions to help oust Rep. Pelosi, if she fails to take this responsibility seriously...
Kos has a keen interest in the nuts and bolts of the Great Struggle, in the individual Senatorial and Congressional races across the country. Given the self-admitted failure of Republicans in Congress to satisfy their base, and, as well, the dissatisfacton that many Democrats have expressed in the letdown from their expectations after the 2006 takeover, its worth examining what specific actions that a Democratic Congress might take, to appeal to the [millions of] disaffected Republicans. It is not true that the wish list of the Democratic base and that of the Republican diaspora are mutually exclusive.
A wise Democratic congressional leadership could marshall itself to take some action which would transcend Republican loyalties to their party, and help forge a new realignment much to their longterm political benefit. Here's how you nibble around the edges of the Republican base, without selling out your loyal following:
Poll 20 votes Show Results Okay, I'll buy it; none of that's a problem, as long as the same Congress will also: End Homelessness in America Feed Every Child in School, Every Day, w/ Free 'Pre-K' & Smaller Class Sizes Meaningfully Reduce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cover All of My Family's Health Care Bills with Universal Insurance Coverage Trigger the New "Green Industrial Revolution" & Millions of "Green Collar": Jobs Dismantle Bush's Invasive Unconstitutional High-Tech "Police State" End the "War on Drugs" and Stop Imprisoning Victims of Addiction Make "Free Trade" = "Fair Trade" on Environmental & Occupational Safety Regulations Tax Hedge Funds More, and the Working Poor Less Investigate Big Oil and the OPEC Cartel & Prosecute Price Fixing/Collusion Streamline the Immigration Bureaucracy & Path to Citizenship for Illegals Put "Teeth" into the Constitution's Bill of Rights & Penalize Violations by Govt Agents Give Better Federal Oversight of Genetics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Nanotech Index the Minimum Wage to the Consumer Price Index Other (Describe in Comments) 20 votes Vote Now! Okay, I'll buy it; none of that's a problem, as long as the same Congress will also: End Homelessness in America 0% 0 votes Feed Every Child in School, Every Day, w/ Free 'Pre-K' & Smaller Class Sizes 0% 0 votes Meaningfully Reduce U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions 0% 0 votes Cover All of My Family's Health Care Bills with Universal Insurance Coverage 6 votes Trigger the New "Green Industrial Revolution" & Millions of "Green Collar": Jobs 2 votes Dismantle Bush's Invasive Unconstitutional High-Tech "Police State" 2 votes End the "War on Drugs" and Stop Imprisoning Victims of Addiction 2 votes Make "Free Trade" = "Fair Trade" on Environmental & Occupational Safety Regulations 0% 0 votes Tax Hedge Funds More, and the Working Poor Less 0% 0 votes Investigate Big Oil and the OPEC Cartel & Prosecute Price Fixing/Collusion 0% 0 votes Streamline the Immigration Bureaucracy & Path to Citizenship for Illegals 0% 0 votes Put "Teeth" into the Constitution's Bill of Rights & Penalize Violations by Govt Agents 2 votes Give Better Federal Oversight of Genetics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Nanotech 0% 0 votes Index the Minimum Wage to the Consumer Price Index 4 votes Other (Describe in Comments) 2 votes
As a [now formerly] lifelong Republican, a [Goldwater] Conservative, and a former GOP activist, operative and professional campaign manager, now ardently supporting Sen. Barack Obama, I feel that I have the proper perspective from which to advise this audience on how to "sell" Obama to your Republican friends, relatives, and business associates.
There is a large reservoir of discontent among Republicans who are dissatisfied with John McCain as the GOP nominee. As the recent 25% votes against him in the now uncontested primaries indicate, this dissention is far deeper and more persistent than it will be among Clinton Democrats, when the dust settles in August. These votes, and those of other Republicans now disenchanted are ripe for the picking this fall - IF you know how to make the case to these people.
Below the fold I'll try to give several viable talking points which should hold you in good stead with most any Republican you come across, talking politics with between now and the election...
Poll 3031 votes Show Results But I cant sell Obama to my Republican friends; just talking politics with them makes me feel I need to .... Take a Shower Gnaw My Own Head Off Commit Mayhem Mix Up Some More Koolaid Find a Large, Blunt Object Talk Politics with my Cat, Instead Drink Heavily Open up a Can of Whup-Ass on Them Light Up 3031 votes Vote Now! But I cant sell Obama to my Republican friends; just talking politics with them makes me feel I need to .... Take a Shower 6% 178 votes Gnaw My Own Head Off 410 votes Commit Mayhem 3% 98 votes Mix Up Some More Koolaid 5% 158 votes Find a Large, Blunt Object 351 votes Talk Politics with my Cat, Instead 529 votes Drink Heavily 591 votes Open up a Can of Whup-Ass on Them 380 votes Light Up 336 votes
In the tragedy of the Dineh-Navajo federal land swindle engineered by Sen. McCain (PL 93-531), we have a human drama writ large of political corruption and influence peddling to wealthy corporate special interests. The Dineh Navajo people were forceably relocated to Church's Hill - a radioactive toxic waste dump (recognized by Superfund) - in order to steal their land for strip mining by Peabody Western Coal Company, polluting the entire region's water table with Coal mine effluent in the process.
This didnt begin as a political issue, but it certainly deserves to become one later this year. Here is one clip from the indie documentary "Vanishing Prayer", which details the situation:
Part One:
For a clip from Part Two and the background, keep reading below the fold...
Poll 41 votes Show Results Sen. McCain's greatest [perceived] strengths in the fall will be: He is a Man of Impeccable Integrity. His Character is Beyond Reproach. He is a Fair Man, Who Looks Out for the Little Guy. He is Independent of Special Interests. His Favor Cannot be Bought by Major Contributors. He's the "Green Republican", who Cares for the Environment. He's Supports the Vulnerable Seniors, Especially in Health Care. He's Been Faithful to his Contituents in the Senate for Decades. He Encourages New Cleaner Sources of Energy. He Doesnt Sell his Influence to the Wealthy. His Wife's Business Empire Never Intersects with his Political Affairs. He's "Wise", and Can be Counted on to 'Do the Right Thing'. His Experience Keeps him from Making Terrible Mistakes. His Record will Draw the Respect of Nations Around the World. Other (Detail in Comments) 41 votes Vote Now! Sen. McCain's greatest [perceived] strengths in the fall will be: He is a Man of Impeccable Integrity. 7 votes His Character is Beyond Reproach. 5% 2 votes He is a Fair Man, Who Looks Out for the Little Guy. 2% 1 vote He is Independent of Special Interests. 4 votes His Favor Cannot be Bought by Major Contributors. 0% 0 votes He's the "Green Republican", who Cares for the Environment. 2% 1 vote He's Supports the Vulnerable Seniors, Especially in Health Care. 0% 0 votes He's Been Faithful to his Contituents in the Senate for Decades. 2% 1 vote He Encourages New Cleaner Sources of Energy. 0% 0 votes He Doesnt Sell his Influence to the Wealthy. 5% 2 votes His Wife's Business Empire Never Intersects with his Political Affairs. 0% 0 votes He's "Wise", and Can be Counted on to 'Do the Right Thing'. 6 votes His Experience Keeps him from Making Terrible Mistakes. 4 votes His Record will Draw the Respect of Nations Around the World. 2% 1 vote Other (Detail in Comments) 12 votes
Following recent investigative articles by the New York Times and the Washington Post which detail two separate instances in which Sen. McCain apparently used his influence to bring about federal land deals lucrative for his friends and campaign contributors, another such case is about to come to the forefront.
This new land swindle is far less benign than the other two. It involves wealthy corporate mining interests, electric utilities, and a Coal slurry pipeline through the homeland of Native Americans, which took not only their land but their precious water along the way as well.
In this case, Sen. McCain's influence did more than just bring profits to campagin contributors, it dispossessed thousands of indigenous people from lands they had occupied since before Columbus, not in the 19th Century, but in the 21st. A story similar to that of many tribes sold out and taken advantage of by ruthless politicians, this wasnt the work of some banana republic dictator, but of the Republican candidate for President of the United States.
Poll 52 votes Show Results My favorite John McCain scandal involves: Donald Diamond and his development at Fort Ord, in Seaside, California Steven Betts and his SunCor development at the Yavapai Ranch in Arizona Del Web Corp. and its Las Vegas project Carl H. Lindner, Jr's Great American Life development in the Tonto National Forest Obstruction & Closure of the Senate's POW/MIA investigation 32 enemy propaganda broadcasts for special treatment as a POW Divorcing the handicapped wife who waited during his captivity for a younger heiress Taking the Dineh people's land, water, and Coal, to give to greedy corporations Campaigning in SC as a Baptist, after 15 years in a Methodist Church and never baptized Rev. John Hagee who preached that gays brought Katrina to New Orleans Revs. Falwell and Robertson who preached that abortions and the ACLU caused 9/11 Raising millions $$$ offshore from globalist kingpin Baron Rothschild in London March 20th The $2 Billion Lincoln Federal S&L bailout as a member of the "Keating Five" Federal mischief in the sweetheart deal for J.P Morgan to buy Bear Stearns Another McCain scandal that's not on the list (describe in comment) 52 votes Vote Now! My favorite John McCain scandal involves: Donald Diamond and his development at Fort Ord, in Seaside, California 2% 1 vote Steven Betts and his SunCor development at the Yavapai Ranch in Arizona 0% 0 votes Del Web Corp. and its Las Vegas project 0% 0 votes Carl H. Lindner, Jr's Great American Life development in the Tonto National Forest 2% 1 vote Obstruction & Closure of the Senate's POW/MIA investigation 8% 4 votes 32 enemy propaganda broadcasts for special treatment as a POW 7 votes Divorcing the handicapped wife who waited during his captivity for a younger heiress 13 votes Taking the Dineh people's land, water, and Coal, to give to greedy corporations 5 votes Campaigning in SC as a Baptist, after 15 years in a Methodist Church and never baptized 2% 1 vote Rev. John Hagee who preached that gays brought Katrina to New Orleans 5 votes Revs. Falwell and Robertson who preached that abortions and the ACLU caused 9/11 6% 3 votes Raising millions $$$ offshore from globalist kingpin Baron Rothschild in London March 20th 2% 1 vote The $2 Billion Lincoln Federal S&L bailout as a member of the "Keating Five" 10 votes Federal mischief in the sweetheart deal for J.P Morgan to buy Bear Stearns 2% 1 vote Another McCain scandal that's not on the list (describe in comment) 0% 0 votes
Following the March bombshell of presumptive Republican nominee, Sen. John McCain's offshore fundraiser in London (3/20)
An invitation sent out by the campaign says the luncheon will be held at Spencer House, St. James's Place, "by kind permission of Lord Rothschild OM GBE and the Hon Nathaniel Rothschild." Tickets to the invitation-only event cost $1,000 to $2,300. Attire is listed as "lounge suits." -- Washington Post Saturday, March 15, 2008; Page A06
An invitation sent out by the campaign says the luncheon will be held at Spencer House, St. James's Place, "by kind permission of Lord Rothschild OM GBE and the Hon Nathaniel Rothschild." Tickets to the invitation-only event cost $1,000 to $2,300. Attire is listed as "lounge suits."
-- Washington Post Saturday, March 15, 2008; Page A06
along with last week's sudden resignation of Clinton campaign manager Mark Penn, upon the discovery that he was a registered Foreign Agent, representing the Colombian government, and the weekend discovery that the Clintons have received $800,000 from shadowy Colombian organizations, a fresh new hell of a Clinton scandal broke this morning by Washington Post columnist Robert Novak.
Foreign campaign managers, foreign money, foreign influence...
Poll 54 votes Show Results I'm okay with my next President having: A Campaign Manager who is a Foreign Agent for the Colombian government A Campaign COO who runs a Britisn global media conglomerate in London An Offshore Fundraiser hosted by Baron Rothschild in London A Senior Staff composed of Five (5) top Washington lobbyists Fifty-Nine (59) finance bundlers who are special interest lobbyists A Spouse paid $800,000 by shadowy Colombian organizations for giving four speeches Received a $10,000,000 non-recourse loan - at no interest - from a foreign company Raised $15,000,000 in untraceable donations at an event held in another country NONE OF THE ABOVE - It all makes me want to Wretch & Puke 54 votes Vote Now! I'm okay with my next President having: A Campaign Manager who is a Foreign Agent for the Colombian government 2% 1 vote A Campaign COO who runs a Britisn global media conglomerate in London 0% 0 votes An Offshore Fundraiser hosted by Baron Rothschild in London 2% 1 vote A Senior Staff composed of Five (5) top Washington lobbyists 0% 0 votes Fifty-Nine (59) finance bundlers who are special interest lobbyists 0% 0 votes A Spouse paid $800,000 by shadowy Colombian organizations for giving four speeches 0% 0 votes Received a $10,000,000 non-recourse loan - at no interest - from a foreign company 0% 0 votes Raised $15,000,000 in untraceable donations at an event held in another country 0% 0 votes NONE OF THE ABOVE - It all makes me want to Wretch & Puke 52 votes
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