Whoops! Sarah Palin Told a Fib on That "Bridge to Nowhere"

Like P nominee, like VP nominee:

Today, the 20-month governor of Alaska said the following:

"And I championed reform to end the abuses of earmark spending by Congress. In fact, I told Congress -- I told Congress, 'Thanks, but no thanks,' on that bridge to nowhere. If our state wanted a bridge, I said we'd build it ourselves."

This is a misstatement:

She did not oppose the bridge to nowhere.

Here's what she told the Anchorage Daily News on October 22, 2006, late in the race for the governor's seat (via Nexis):

Would you continue state funding for the proposed Knik Arm and Gravina Island bridges?

"Yes. I would like to see Alaska's infrastructure projects built sooner rather than later. The window is now--while our congressional delegation is in a strong position to assist."

So she was very much for the bridge and insisted that Alaska had to act quickly-the party of Ted Stevens and Don Young might soon lose its majority, after all.

Uh oh! There goes Palin's "maverick" credentials! Well, she's following some great footsteps. I mean, hasn't her running mate John McBush done the same... On just about EVERYTHING??!!

Gallup Daily for Saturday is Out

Yesterday was a very busy political day. It was the first day since the completion of the convention and the day that McCain announced Palin as his choice for vice president. As Gallup Daily Tracking observes:

The Friday interviewing was conducted in an unusual political environment -- the first conducted fully after Obama's well-regarded acceptance speech and McCain's surprise announcement of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate. Each event in isolation has usually been associated with increased candidate support for the relevant party.

The long and short of it is that McCain's vice presidential nod seems to have held Obama at the same level he was the day before:

Obama 49
McCain 41

Since Gallup called it 45-45 when the convention was starting, the fact that we now have an eight-point lead means we got an eight-point bounce out of our convention.

Since 1964, the average convention bounce has come in around 10 points. My guess is that if McCain hadn't announced Palin yesterday, we would have gotten that.

Update: TCQuad in the thread pointed out I made an error. On Sunday a week ago, McCain was up by two points: that was the last full day before the convention started. Monday data probably didn't reflect the convention much, but it had Obama up one point over McCain 45-44. In other words, Obama made the typical 10 point bounce and would have gone further probably without the McCain announcement.

Nevada GOP's in Great Shape...

Really! The GOP did a bang-up job of shutting out Ron Paul supporters. Oh yeah, they really know how to alienate their own just as Nevada's turning blue!

The national party's ruling [shutting out Ron Paul delegates from the convention] threatens to alienate an energized group of ready-made foot soldiers at a time when the state party is struggling to keep pace with Democrats. Democratic voters outnumber Republican voters by 60,000 and the campaign of Sen. Barack Obama has invested heavily in the state. By months end, the campaign expects to have 20 field offices and 75 paid staffers statewide. The McCain campaign, on the other hand, has seven offices across the state. Spokesman Rick Gorka has declined to offer specifics, saying staffing is adequate. [...]

Still, some Republicans worry that the Democrats advantage poses a considerable threat to the party, which let its organizational machine languish after four straight successful election cycles.

University of Nevada, Reno, political scientist Eric Herzik said Republicans lost their edge after 2002. The Republican Party went into a nose dive, from which only now its seeking to recover, he said. The chaos of the state convention, he said, made clear McCain has to do it himself; he cannot rely upon a smooth-running state- and county-level machinery.

Horray! The GOP seems to be going out of its way to allow Democrats an opening in Nevada & in other swing states. Good on them. ;-)

What Palin Pick Says about McCain

Politico writers Jon Vandehei and John F. Harris have written a piece that is worth reading. They titled it, 6 things the Palin pick says about McCain. So what are the six things?

1. He's desperate.
2. He's willing to gamble big.
3. He’s worried about the political implications of his age.
4. He’s not worried about the actuarial implications of the age issue.
5. He’s worried about his conservative base.
6. At the end of the day, McCain is still McCain.

You might have caught the previous article at Politico titled, 5 things Biden pick says about Obama:

1. He's fixing for a fight.
2. He's a lot more conventional than advertised.
3. He's insecure about security.
4. He’s more worried about Lunchbox Joe than Bubba.
5. He doesn't hold a grudge — or at least he doesn't let it get in the way.

All-in-all, given these assessments, I think what Biden says about Obama is a lot better than what Palin says about McCain.

The former speechwriter for George W. Bush, David Frum, is fretting this morning about the Palin choice. Observing that it "looks cynical," Frum notes:

It's a wild gamble, undertaken by our oldest ever first-time candidate for president in hopes of changing the board of this election campaign. Maybe it will work. But maybe (and at least as likely) it will reinforce a theme that I'd be pounding home if I were the Obama campaign: that it's John McCain for all his white hair who represents the risky choice, while it is Barack Obama who offers cautious, steady, predictable governance.

The New York Times and The Washington Post on Palin

This morning, the editorial pages of both The New York Times and The Washington Post comment on the selection of Ms. Palin as the vice presidential nominee of the Republican Party. Both editorial pages offer several warm assessments. For instance, The Times observes:

The Republican Party has hardly been a champion of diversity in recent memory. So it was heartening to see Senator John McCain choose Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska as his running mate.

And The Post similarly notes:

Now Mr. McCain can say he is giving voters a chance to make history by electing the first woman to be vice president.

Both papers also seem to appreciate the fact that Ms. Palin, who is 44, brings as The Times styled it, "some youthful counterbalance," to Mr. McCain's very advanced age. Beyond the obvious and undeniable appeal of the first woman to serve as vice president of the United States, and a relatively young one at that, the editorial boards of both papers express real caution about the prudence of the choice. As The Post observed:

But the most important question Mr. McCain should have asked himself about Ms. Palin was not whether she could help him win the presidency. It was whether she is qualified and prepared to serve as president should anything prevent him from doing so. This would have been true for any presidential nominee, and it was especially crucial that Mr. McCain -- who turns 72 today -- get this choice right. If he is elected, he will be the oldest man ever to serve a first term in the White House.

Though The Times finally concludes it is up to the voters to weigh the worth of Mr. McCain's choice, it doesn't shirk from stating the obvious:

Governor Palin’s lack of experience, especially in national security and foreign affairs, raises immediate questions about how prepared she is to potentially succeed to the presidency. That really is the only criteria for judging a candidate for vice president.

We Clintonistas fought hard to make Hillary Clinton president because she is extraordinarily capable, extraordinarily experienced, and extraordinarily presidential. Mr. McCain might have chosen Kay Bailey Hutchison, but his chose Sarah Palin. I like Ms. Palin, but she's no Hillary Clinton, and I am not going with Ms. Congeniality because I can't have Ms. Universe. This Clintonista finds Mr. McCain's cynical ploy more than a little cloying. Too cute by half.

LMAO, McCain PWN3D himself!

(cross-posted at MyDD)

ROFL!!!

"I am so disgusted with McCain and whoever led him in that direction. He has REALLY messed in it." - my maternal grandmother, about 10 minutes ago

LOL, thank you McCain! My 71-year-old lifelong Republican grandmother is voting for OBAMA!

Do you know why? Because of PALIN. Because McCain is old. And she's afraid he'll die, which would mean a woman with no experience and no real accomplishments would become president. And my Gammy's 74-year-old church friend is also voting for Obama. They've kept it a secret between themselves (because they hate Democrats, and it's supposed to be an embarrassment to vote for one). The most pro-life people you'll ever meet. Southern Baptists. Super social conservatives, fiscally conservative. Horrified by Wright. Bought into the "Obama is a Muslim" thing for months and sent me god knows how many emails about it. Thought he might be the ANTICHRIST. Don't think we should pull out of Iraq.

And yet... they're voting for him. That's right. They're Voting. For. Barack. Obama.

"He's either an incredibly gifted liar, or he's exactly what this country needs right now. I think Obama is a different thing. I really believe what he's saying."

That was her reaction to Obama's speech last night. McCain screwed himself out of a vote with Palin. Obama WON himself a vote with his impassioned speech. I'm so excited I can barely think straight. No one in my family has EVER voted for a Democrat (except me, of course, but I don't count).

"Michelle's speech was wonderful, just wonderful. And this thing about her not being patriotic is just a lie. She's pretty much right about how blacks were treated in America."

I'm in shock. Really. In SHOCK. My 71-year-old grandmother is an Obamacan.

She's not Hillary Clinton

But I wouldn't mind living next door to her. She's a hometown kind of person, your friend in her garden next door, the woman down the street you see at the grocery store on Saturday morning. I confess I kind of like her.



But at the moment, I am no more confident of her ability to assume the office of president than I am of my wonderful next door neighbor's ability to assume the office of president (or my own for that matter.)

Hillary was ready in every way to be president. However decent a person Sarah Palin is, she doesn't replace Hillary for me, and I don't need a consolation prize.

NH-Sen: C4O Spotlights Jeanne Shaheen

OK, now that the convention is over... It's time for us to get back to work! And for us here at C4O, this means getting more & better Democrats elected. So today, I'd like to introduce you to a truly awesome person who will make a fantastic Senator from New Hampshire.

Are you
ready to meet her?





Jeanne Shaheen was the first woman ever elected as Governor of New Hampshire. But not only did Gov. Shaheen make history this way, as she also worked hard as Governor to build a clean, green energy infrastructure in the state, as well as implement real ethics reform, improve New Hampshire's schools, and advocate civil rights for all. Oh yes, and her list of accomplishments didn't end after she left office. From 2005-07, she was Director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government.

Now contrast this with Republican Incumbent John Sununu. He's an out-of-touch George W. Bush Republican who would rather side with Bush than the people of New Hampshire. The people of New Hampshire are ready for change, but Sununu only offers more of the same.

Fortunately, the race here has become quite competitive. In fact, Democrats may even have a slight advantage here. But still, that doesn't mean we should take a win here for granted. Bush, McCain, and Sununu will do anything to win New Hampshire this fall, so we Democrats must be ready to fight back!

And guess what? Democrats are lining up to support Jeanne Shaheen! Emily's List is on board, as well as the DSCC, the Democratic organization that supports our Senate candidates. New Hampshire is poised to be one of our best Senate pick-up opportunities, so we need to be prepared to win!

So please join us in standing up for great Democrats like Jeanne Shaheen! let's say no more to the GOP and its watys of the past. Let's say "Yes, We Can" and make real change happen today! :-)

Governor, you're no Hillary Clinton.

Cross Posted to MyDD
Cross Posted to DailyKos

Well, today has brought an interesting selection of a Vice Presidential nominee. John McBush went out on a limb and selected Governor Sarah "Panderbear" Palin as his Vice Presidential candidate, citing her as the running mate who can "best help him shake up Washington".

Or she could be the running mate that "best helps him pander in an intellectually dishonest way" to disillusioned Hillary voters. Sarah went right to work on that today, of course, comparing herself to Hillary and Geraldine Ferraro as a "groundbreaker" and telling us how she's going to finish Hillary's job and break the glass celing that has 18 million cracks in it.

Well, Governor, I can assure you, Hillary Rodham Clinton did not mean to put 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling so that a pro-life, pro-gun, home-schooling nobody from the frozen tundra of Alaska could break it.

But hey, Gov. Palin wants some comparisons to other great female leaders, so why don't we do a bit of a timeline?

In 1984, Sarah Palin won "Ms. Alaska", winning a scholarship so she could go to college.

In 1984, Hillary fought a successful battle against the Arkansas Education Association, to establish mandatory teacher testing as well as state standards for curriculum and classroom size.

In 1988, Sarah Palin was a sports reporter for the Anchorage local news!

From 1987-1991, Hillary chaired the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession, which addressed gender bias in the law profession and induced the association to adopt measures to combat it.

From 1992-1996, Sarah Palin served on the Wasilla (AK) city council. Wasilla, Alaska is less populated than the three block radius around my house.

In 1993, Bill Clinton appointed Hillary Clinton to head and be the chairwoman of the Task Force on National Health Care Reform, hoping to replicate the success she had in leading the effort for Arkansas education reform.

In the late 90's, Sarah had a HUGE victory in getting re-elected to the mayor's office in Wasilla. Her biggest accomplishment she named was cutting property taxes.

What was Hillary doing in the late 90's? How about being a driving force behind SCHIP, the largest expansion of health care coverage in the US since the 60's, helping to insure millions of uninsured children.

I'm sure you get the point by now.

But there's one more thing...

Last month, Hillary Clinton was campaigning for change on behalf of Barack Obama and the Democratic Party.

But Sarah was campaigning too. She decided to campaign with indicted Alaska Senator Ted "Tubes" Stevens, the epitome of corruption and "old Washington politics", the same kind of "old Washington politics" that McCain says Palin is going to help stop.

But hey, they're very similar, right?

I'd like to paraphrase from a great Democrat, Lloyd Bensten, and close by saying:

Governor Palin, I know Senator Clinton. Senator Clinton is my friend. And Governor, you are NO Senator Clinton.

Sarah Palin: Hillary's Just a "Whiner"

OK, so let's see what Sarah Palin really thinks about Hillary!



Can anyone say "McHypocrite"?

McBush-Palin '08 for More of the Same Ol' S--t!

(Proudly cross-posted at Clark Community Network)

Wow! So John McCain has really proven his "feminist" street cred by picking Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin to be his VP. Oh yes, and aren't they both such mavericks! McCain-Palin just smells like real change now, doesn't it?

Wait... Hold on. So we have some pesky facts to get in the way of a lovely corporate media narrative? Oh, darn!

Oh, yes. We have the facts. John McCain wants us to believe that he and Sarah Palin are "mavericks", but the truth is that they're both only using that word to hide the fact that they're Bush-Cheney clones.

First off, let's examine Sarah Palin's swirling corruption scandal. She's misused her power to remove a state trooper, just because she had personal issues with him. Now who does that sound familiar with?

Secondly, let's look at how Palin has stood against women's rights. Palin may be a woman, but that doesn't automatically mean she's been adavncing the cause of equal rights during her career. OK, so what do I mean by that? I'll let National Organization for Women PAC Chair Kim Gandy speak:

Sen. John McCain's choice of Alaska governor Sarah Palin as his running mate is a cynical effort to appeal to disappointed Hillary Clinton voters and get them to vote, ultimately, against their own self-interest.

Gov. Palin may be the second woman vice-presidential candidate on a major party ticket, but she is not the right woman. Sadly, she is a woman who opposes women's rights, just like John McCain. [...]


In a gubernatorial debate, Palin stated emphatically that her opposition to abortion was so great, so total, that even if her teenage daughter was impregnated by a rapist, she would "choose life" -- meaning apparently that she would not permit her daughter to have an abortion.

Palin also had to withdraw her appointment of a top public safety commissioner who had been reprimanded for sexual harassment, although Palin had been warned about his background through letters by the sexual harassment complainant.

What McCain does not understand is that women supported Hillary Clinton not just because she was a woman, but because she was a champion on their issues. They will surely not find Sarah Palin to be an advocate for women.

Sarah Palin may occasionally dress in pantsuits like our progressive, feminist champion Hillary Clinton, but behind her Hillary-esque mask is just another Dick Cheney. Oh yes, and speaking of Dick Cheney... She's very anti-environment, just like Good Ol' Dick! All we need to do is listen to Sarah Palin's own words to determine how little she cares about our planet's and our people's future:

"When I look every day, the big oil company's building is right out there next to me, and it's quite a reminder that we should have mutually beneficial relationships with the oil industry."

"We have so much potential from tapping our resources here in Alaska. And we can do this with minimum environmental impact. We have a very pro-development president in President Bush, and yet he failed to push for opening up parts of Alaska to drilling through Congress -- and a Republican-controlled Congress, I might add."

"A changing environment will affect Alaska more than any other state, because of our location. I'm not one though who would attribute [global warming] to being man-made."

"I beg to disagree with any candidate who would say we can't drill our way out of our problem or that more supply won't ultimately affect prices. Of course it will affect prices."

Even though all the facts say otherwise, Sarah Palin would rather line the pockets of Big Oil than persue real energy solutions that respect our environment, provide more & better jobs for our people, and end our fossil fuel addiction that's been harming our national security. Sarah Plain refuses to recognize real science. She'd rather persue her own extremist ideology than promote real solutions.

But in addition to all these issue concerns with Palin, let's take something else into consideration. Can she handle the job of President if McCain couldn't. Is she ready for the job of Vice President?



Well, is she?

But you know what? McCain ultimately picked Palin as VP to distract us from the facts about McCain. He doesn't want to remember that McCain = Bush. Let's not allow the McCain-Palin illusion of "change" to make us forget that they are really more of the same old s--t that we've been suffering under for the last eight years. So really, do we want another four years of this crap? Or are we ready for real change?

A Parlour Trick

I was rather astonished this morning by McCain's VP pick. I actually thought that he might pick a woman and Christine Todd Whitman or Condeleezza Rice seemed obvious choices. I suppose Palin is a better match with McCain. Whitman is probably a bit too liberal and I would have loved seeing the ads with Rice saying "bin Ladin determined to attack in America" over and over and over.

I am astonished, because I have not been right about much lately. I thought Clinton would win, and then knew that she would be tapped for VP. I am not very good at sports metaphors, but I think that is batting 0. I am usually much better at predicting politics. We live in surprising times.

After hearing about the pick, I had a strange thought. If McCain wins, there is a decent chance that the next Presidential election could have two female nominees. Off into la la land here, but if McCain were unable to complete his term or decided to only serve one term, Palin would likely face Clinton in 2012. I am not even thinking about 2016, because the chance of McCain serving two terms is inconceivable to me. And I say la la land, because I actually think Obama will win in November. But remember, I haven't very good at this prediction thing lately.

I will give McCain some credit. He really pulled the media off the Democrats today. Today should have been all about Obama, his speech, the amazing convention, and the Democratic Pary. MCain did the one thing that would suck all of the oxygen out of the political sphere. I think it is a just a parlour trick, but as far as they go, this is a very good one.

It's just that this election has changed everything. I can now see a race between to African Americans or two women or any combination of a non white male at the top of the Presidential ticket. In the long run, I am glad that McCain picked a woman, just as I will be glad if they were to choose Rice or any other republican African American, man or woman, as their candidate in 2012 to run against President Obama. We do live in very surprising and awesome times. On to changing everything

The Bounce Continues

Gallup concluded most of the interviewing prior to Obama's acceptance speech last night, but Gallup Daily Tracking suggests that the Senator from Illinois has extended his bounce over the Senator from Arizona. Prior to the convention, Obama and McCain were tied at 45 each. As of Thursday evening, Obama led McCain by eight points:

Obama 49%
McCain 41%

Gallup highlights the significance of this margin with this comment:

Obama's largest advantage at any point in the campaign was a 9-point lead recorded July 24-26, so as his party's convention concludes, he is about as strongly positioned as he has been at any point this year.

That's it, baby; let's go win this election!

Sarah Palin: The Bridge to Nowhere

John McCain has chosen Sarah Palin of Alaska to serve as his running mate on his ticket. Ms. Palin, a Republican born in Idaho, has served as the governor of the smallest state in the union, Alaska, for all of two years. She previously was the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 residents. As far as I can see, her major qualification seems to be that she hunts moose.

I was one of the earliest Hillary supporters in the blogosphere. I have been desperate to see a woman shatter the glass ceiling for the last 40 years. But I would not support a woman who will set the lives of women backwards. Ms. Palin is anti-choice. She is pro-oil drilling. She is shaky on the environment. Personally, I think it's an insult to women. I think John McCain's trying to get the votes of disaffected Hillary supporters by picking someone in a skirt. It is a profoundly cynical choice. If John McCain was serious about a woman with meaningful credentials, why is Kay Bailey Hutchinson not his No. 2 choice? Disaffected Hillary women are smarter than that. Just look at their voting record and the woman they knew was presidential timber.

TPM has a local report on the abuse of power scandal in which Palin is embroiled in Alaska:



McCain chose Palin on the third anniversary of Katrina. Talk about omens.

McBush Picks Sarah Palin for VP

Yes, it's for real! McBush has picked a corrupt Alaska Governor with virtually no executive experience and no foreign policy experience at all. Oh yes, and she's also virulently anti-choice, anti-queer, anti-environment, anti-middle class, anti-fiscal sanity, and all around radical right!

Woo-hoo for Rethuglicans!

Happy 72nd Birthday!

Seventy-two years ago today, on August 29, 1936, in the midst of the Great Depression, just four years after the TV had been invented and five years before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Senator John McCain was born.



Senator McCain, I may be opposing you and your agenda for turning America back to the 19th century, but I am not without class. I did get you this lovely gift that I am sure will come in handy today.

Please leave your birthday message for John McCain here!

Obama's Speech

This is going down in history as one of the truly great American speeches.

BARACK OBAMA SPEAKS IN DENVER Open Thread!!!!

Are you as thrilled as I am to see our next President make history? I'm currently at a Democratic house party in Fountain Valley, where we're all watching the Democratic Convention together. We're all cheering on the real Americans speaking up for change now. So many people have suffered under Bush & Cheney, and we're all ready to say "no we won't" to four more years of McCain-Bush-Cheney BS and "YES WE CAN!" to real change with Barack Obama & Joe Biden!

So are you on the edge of your seat now? Are you excited about Obama now? Speak up, for now is open thread time.

Oh yes, and with Obama & Democrats... YES, WE CAN DO BETTER!! :-D

Are you as thrilled as I am to see our next President make history? I'm currently at a Democratic house party in Fountain Valley, where we're all watching the Democratic Convention together. We're all cheering on the real Americans speaking up for change now. So many people have suffered under Bush & Cheney, and we're all ready to say "no we won't" to four more years of McCain-Bush-Cheney BS and "YES WE CAN!" to real change with Barack Obama & Joe Biden!

So are you on the edge of your seat now? Are you excited about Obama now? Speak up, for now is open thread time.

Oh yes, and with Obama & Democrats... YES, WE CAN DO BETTER!! :-D

The Goracle Speaks...

Al Gore is about to speak in Denver. Are you excited? I am!!!!

OK, let's enjoy an awesome Al Gore speech... Consider this an open thread! :-D

Ohio's Really Feeling the "McMentum"!

Oh yeah!

According to the Dayton Daily News, Sen. John McCain is still giving away tickets to his Friday rally where he will unveil his running mate. He's having trouble filling a 10,000 seat arena.

The contrast with Sen. Barack Obama giving a speech before 75,000 people tonight is striking and speaks to the excitement factor between the candidates. Obama tickets have been sold out for weeks.

So McBush can't even get 10,000 people to see him with his running mate? After Barack Obama's historic acceptance speech in front of 75,000+ excited agents of change?

Haha. :-D

Michelle Obama at the LGBT Caucus

Wow!

The Other Hensley

Why won't Cindy talk about her half-sister?

 

Or her nephews? Wow. Now wonder why they're all voting for Barack Obama. Is this what Republican "family values" is really about? Disowning one's own family?

Well, I guess it explains why John McCain left his own wife to the wayside for Cindy and her family's many millions of $$$$. I wonder how the media would treat this story if it were Barack Obama's family being disowned. I bet they'd pay more attention.

John McCain's Plan For Universal Health Care

(Cross-posted at MyDD)

During the primaries, one of the ongoing disputes was over which candidate had a plan that would "really" provide health insurance to everyone in America.  That's in the past, and I think the past few nights of the convention have made it clear that the Democratic Party stands united in support of the idea that every single American should be able to receive health care.

But my friends, I have to acknowledge that the GOP has beaten us to the punch and once again shown itself to be the "party of ideas."  Yes, it's true, John McCain has come up with a plan that would make the category of uninsured Americans a thing of the past, and cheaply, too!  So in the spirit of putting country before party, and in furtherance of Barack Obama's message that there's nothing wrong with admitting when a Republican has a good idea, I feel compelled to share this one.

You see, when I said McCain's plan would "make the category of uninsured Americans a thing of the past," I was speaking quite literally.  John Goodman, president of a right-wing think tank and one of the architects of McCain's health care plan, helpfully explains:

Mr. Goodman, who helped craft Sen. John McCain's health care policy, said anyone with access to an emergency room effectively has insurance, albeit the government acts as the payer of last resort. (Hospital emergency rooms by law cannot turn away a patient in need of immediate care.)

"So I have a solution. And it will cost not one thin dime," Mr. Goodman said. "The next president of the United States should sign an executive order requiring the Census Bureau to cease and desist from describing any American - even illegal aliens - as uninsured. Instead, the bureau should categorize people according to the likely source of payment should they need care.

"So, there you have it. Voila! Problem solved."

My friends, the simplicity of this common-sense solution has to warm your heart.  Now, there are those who will say McCain is just offering more of the same,

"...I mean, people have access to health care in America. After all, you just go to an emergency room."

--President Bush, July 10, 2007

but I think you have to admire Candidate McCain's willingness to go into an actual election campaign armed with nothing but this sort of straight talk.  Really, I think it says a lot about what he would offer the country as President.

In Case You Missed It...

You just have to see President Clinton at the DNC yesterday!



:-)

Our Next Vice President...

Hooray!

Gallup Daily Reports a Nice Bounce!

The Gallup Daily Tracking Poll is showing a very nice bounce for the nominee of the Democratic Party for president, Barack Obama, and his running mate, Joe Biden. Hopefully, Obama's speech tonight, along with the speeches of Joe Biden and Bill Clinton last night, will widen this margin:

Obama 48
McCain 42

Gallup notes that because of the time of data collection, the data reflects public responses to Michelle Obama's and Hillary Clinton's speeches but not responses to Bill Clinton's and Joe Biden's speeches. Gallup mentions:

The general-election results are based on combined data from Aug. 25-27, 2008. For results based on this sample of 2,723 registered voters, the maximum margin of sampling error is ±2 percentage points.

That's it, baby; let's go win this election!

PUMA in Denial

Could they possibly look any more ridiculous?

UPDATE: If that wasn't lame enough, watch this.

Can Florida Turn Blue?

Mason-Dixon says it can happen this year!

Florida:
Obama 45%
McCain 44%

Whoops! I guess the list of "safe states for McCain" continues to shrink. If McCain can't even hold a lead in Florida, he's not in good shape for November.

Good for us... ;-)

The Nominees of the Democratic Party

Our national convention has named the nominees of the Democratic Party. In a disciplined convention focused on the themes of hope and change, things that the American people crave in this election year, our beloved Hillary went to the microphone and called for the nomination of Barack Obama by the acclamation of the convention. The crowd roared its approval, and the long march toward history ended this phase. Later in the evening, we witnessed the convention nominate Joseph Biden of Delaware, nominated by acclamation of the convention delegates, give a great stem winder where he took apart McCain and his cohort.

We are not Clintonistas now. We are not Obama partisans now. We all are Democrats now.

Obama-Biden 2008!

That's it, baby; let's go win this election!

Howard Hits Back!

(via Gotham Acme)

During an interview with Fox News today, Howard Wolfson sharply criticized Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann of MSNBarack MSNBC.



His anger was sparked by this exchange between Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann.

KEITH OLBERMANN: Irony upon irony, instead of the commercials designed to destroy Hillary Clinton, [the Republicans] are using Hillary Clinton in commercials designed to destroy the Democratic nominee.

CHRIS MATTHEWS: Those are crocodile tears. And you wonder whether an objective person, either rational or post-rational, would be able to appreciate the fact that that's clear politics--nothing wrong with it. But Republicans have no heart in Hillary Clinton's claim to the White House. They villainized her for years. Their commercials, their attitudes are--you go to a Republican hangout, it's all anti-Hillary. That's their point of view. To now hold her up as some victim of some sort of foul play, of unfair politics, is a joke. But the funny thing about it is, they're enjoying it. Fox News, for example, seems to enjoy it. It's no accident, for example, that they hired Howard Wolfson. They use him as some sort of, oh, little toy soldier waiting on the shelf.

OLBERMANN: Tokyo Rose was the thought that came to my mind.

Howard Wolfson was very professional during the course of the campaign and kept his public criticism of MSNBC to a minimum. For example, I'm sure that everybody remembers this psychotic tirade by Keith Olbermann accusing Hillary Clinton and her entire campaign staff of racism:



What you may be less familiar with was Howard Wolfson's response the next morning:

"We, obviously, vigorously disagree with that characterization, although many of us remain fans of Keith and enjoy watching the show on nights other than last night," said communications director Howard Wolfson.

After enduring more than a year of crap like this...



...and this...



...Howard had enough. Howard, good on you for standing up to those hypocritical windbags.

As for Tweety and the Edward R. Murrow wannabe, I'll let my young friend here do the talking...

Late Nite Open Thread: DENVER EDITION!!

Our next Vice President speaks tonight. Joe Biden is in Denver, and he's ready to tell us how it really is. Are you excited for Biden?

I am... So let's watch together & cheer him on! :-D

President Clinton Speaks Open Thread

Are you excited about President Clinton speaking tonight as I am? Yeah, I thought so. BIG DAWG IS IN DA HIZZY!!!!

OK, let's all watch together as Bill Clinton lights the hall on fire... Call this a very special open thread extravaganza! :-D

Today's Polls

Here are some interesting poll numbers via 538.com:

From Strategic Vision (R)-

Florida: McCain +7

From CNN-

Colorado: McCain +1
Nevada: Obama +5
Pennsylvania: Obama +5
New Mexico: Obama +13

The Strategic Vision numbers in Florida are bizarre. But since they're Republican pollsters, their numbers skew somewhat to the right of all other pollsters. We probably don't have to worry too much about them.

But regarding CNN, their numbers are quite fascinating. Colorado looks VERY tight, but the numbers in Nevada, New Mexico, & Pennsylania are quite encouraging. We stand a good chance of winning all these states in the fall, so we should continue working hard here.

Barack Obama really looks to be enjoying a rise in the state polls, and if this continues we can really look forward to a solid win in November. :-)

The Choice Couldn't Be Clearer

(Cross-posted at MyDD & The Liberal OC)

Have you been watching the Democratic Convention this week? I have. I cried during Michelle Obama's speech. And of course, I was moved to my head to my feet during Hillary Clinton's speech! I really felt moved after seeing some of my favorite Democrats speak.

But you know what's also been moving me?

During the last 72 hours, I've been reminded of the choice we will be making in November. I've been reminded of the choice we must make between change for the better and more of the same old garbage. I mean, haven't we had enough of this?



And this?



And this?



And this?



And this?



And this?



And this?



And this?



The choice can't be clearer for us. It can't be clearer for true-blue Democrats. It can't be clearer for Independents. It can't be clearer for former Republicans who are sick and tired of the same old Bush-Cheney nonsense.

We have a choice now. We have Barack Obama and John McCain. We must choose our next President. We must choose someone who will clean up the mess that George W. Bush has left behind. We must choose between someone who wants more of the same mess and someone who's ready to help us change this nation for the better.

The choice is ours.

I Think I Understand You

(cross-posted at MyDD)

I've spent the last two or three months demonizing and vilifying the people around here who said they couldn't or wouldn't vote for Obama. I've been pretty harsh about it. I've claimed that none of them were true Democrats and said their motivations were purely self-centered. I've called them fools and Republicans. I've even called some of them racists.

Well. I'm here to issue an apology.

Not to the assholes who call Obama "Obambi". Not to the jerks who attack Michelle. Not to the racists who use Hillary as an excuse to oppose Barack. Not to the selfish idiots who are using her as a mascot for a "movement" which has little to do with anything beyond their own overgrown egos. Not to people like Harriet Christian. Certainly not to PUMA as a group.

But I'm here to apologize to people like Ann Price Mills, a Clinton delegate who was interviewed by CNN last night just after Hillary's impassioned, spectacular speech. She doesn't know me, but I've thought of people like her with disdain. Why? Because she doesn't know whether she can vote for Obama, and I've always considered that petty and self-centered. Sometimes I get a bad case of tunnel vision and see things in black and white: vote for Obama or you're not a real Democrat, support him or you don't care about your country, be an adult or act like a stupid child. My top priority is to make sure Barack and his family move themselves and their belongings into the White House this January. I don't have a lot of consideration for people who haven't dedicated themselves to accomplishing that goal.

But last night I saw that woman's anguish and her dedication. I saw her indecision. And it was real, not feigned. It wasn't born of bitterness or spite or hatred. And it wasn't what she said, but the way she said it. I could hear the suppressed sobs in her voice, and she touched me on a very deep level.

I heard her express her faith in Hillary, her trust that she could have pushed this country in a new and better direction:

I saw in Hillary what my potential future could be. I saw more than just dreams. I saw things that could be realities. In her eyes and in her words I could envision the reality of knowing that we could actually have green jobs instead of just talk, that we could have the image that we once had of a United States that was respected and that went out and did the jobs it was supposed to do on a global level. I saw the country that we strive to be and wanted to be. And she could have made it happen.

And then I listened to her agonize about her vote in November. She never said, "I won't vote for Obama." It was pure indecision, and it was clearly painful. She doesn't hate Obama. She's worried about his "inexperience". And even though I think he's got plenty of experience to lead this nation (honestly, is anyone ever fully "ready" to be president?), I respect that she actually has a reason to doubt her vote.

I will not vote for McCain. I will not vote for McCain. But for the first time since I was 18, and that's been a long time, I may be faced with something I don't want to have to deal with. I've never not voted. I am one of the strongest Democrats I know. I call up all my family and say, 'You need to get out the house, I don't care how much rain is pouring down, I don't care what's going on in your schedule, you need to vote.' But for the first time I'm faced with not being the person who calls them and says go vote. They may have to call me and tell me and remind me of how hard and how long we strived to get to the right to vote, the right to be here. Experience counts, I don't care what anybody tells you, and his resume is just. . ."

When Ann Price-Mills tells me she's a lifelong Democrat, I believe her. Her passion and sadness and worry touched me last night. And truthfully, I strongly believe that a woman like this -- with her heart obviously in the right place -- will come around by November and vote for our nominee. For some reason, I feel little fear that this lady won't show up to cast her ballot for Obama in a few months. And in the meantime, she helped me understand something I thought I'd never understand.

To those of you who hang out on PUMA sites and bash Obama and his family and the Democratic party, well, I have no use for you. But to those of you whose struggles are genuine and heartfelt, those of you who are conflicted and honestly don't know what "the right thing" to do is, I'm sorry for assuming you were nothing but selfish assholes. I wish you the best of luck with your struggles, and if I can help in any way, I'm here.

For the record, however, I still don't think you should be on liberal blogs trying to cast doubt on Obama. If you don't know whether you can vote for him, I would recommend sitting back silently, watching and reading, or contacting people privately. This is a site dedicated to electing Democrats, and constantly raising concerns about him helps no one -- it will not engender a positive or open-minded reaction from anyone. Maybe this was a bad time to write this diary, since everyone's talking about unity. But I thought a small dose of understanding might compliment that move toward unity nicely.

Haven't We All Felt This Way?

We should all identify with her. I mean, haven't we all been going through what Anne Zarate of North Las Vegas, NV, has been going through?

Zarate went through what she referred to as a month of pouting. Obama, she said, was all style, no substance. He didnt have the experience to be president, Zarate said. And then, there was the historic nature of Clintons campaign.

But, slowly, the anger subsided.

I thought, Whats it really about? she said. Its about the issues and the country and whos going to take it forward. I thought they both presented a lot of opportunity for hope and moving forward. Obama is an extraordinary person, and economically, I couldnt reconcile where the Republicans are taking us.

Yes, she gets it. We should get it now. Can we really reconcile where the Republicans are taking us? Can we reconcile with John McCain & four more years of Bush-Cheney disaster?

As Hillary said last night, "No way, no how, no McCain!" :-)

Just Say No to the Swift Boat Smears

Already, the GOP attack dogs are preparing to toss out even more ugly smears of Barack Obama. And already, commercial TV channels are selling out whatever was left of their dignity to air these ugly commercials. However, we can do something to stop this mess!

Tell the advertisers to stop supporting channels that allow the Swift Boat garbage on the air. What good will their advertising be if all of us don't watch it? We had to endure the ruthless, baseless slanders against John Kerry. We refuse to see the same happen to Barack Obama. John McCain may have broken his promise not to lower the level the discourse all the way down to the gutter, but we don't have to sit by & allow this gutter trash to pollute the airwaves any longer!

If the TV channels airing the anti-Obama smears refuse to listen to us, that's their problem. Still, we have time to tell the companies airing ads that we won't be watching. So if they want our attention & our $$, they need to act responsibly. Tell them to stop supporting the smears.

Alegre's Corner

We Clintonistas all love Hillary Clinton, but though she perhaps may be rivaled, I doubt there is a Clintonista who loves Hillary Clinton more than does does Alegre. I have had the honor and privilege to meet Alegre. She and I worked the telephones on the day of the Potomac Primary at Hillary's headquarters in Arlington. At the time, my doubts about Obama were so strong that I suggested to Alegre I wouldn't vote for the ticket in the Fall if Obama were at its head. Alegre is a great Democrat, and she told me that the stakes were too high to let John McCain roll into the White House. She told me she would be for the Democratic nominee whoever she or he was. Alegre on Potomac Tuesday was of one mind with Hillary last night.

Alegre has posted on her web site what she styles, Hillary's Kick-@ss Speech from last night. I agree with Alegre's assessment of the speech, and I agree with Hillary, too:

You know, I'm -- I'm here tonight as a proud mother, as a proud Democrat...

... as a proud senator from New York...

... a proud American...

... and a proud supporter of Barack Obama.

My friends, it is time to take back the country we love. And whether you voted for me or you voted for Barack, the time is now to unite as a single party with a single purpose.

We are on the same team. And none of us can afford to sit on the sidelines. This is a fight for the future, and it's a fight we must win together.

Hillary spoke real words of wisdom last night, and I hope we all may be of one mind and one heart with the Alegre who spoke so compellingly to me on Potomac Tuesday and one mind and one heart with the Hillary who spoke so compellingly to us last night.

We all love Hillary Clinton, but love sometimes demands hard things from us: It is time to take back the country we love, and with Hillary, I am a proud supporter of Barack Obama.

Encore! Encore!

Was this not the best political speech of 2008?

It's Time to Let Go

I have been a Hillary Clintonista since before she became a senator from the State of New York. I followed her campaign closely. I bought her book. I joined her mailing lists. And I'll be honest, I first felt excited about her 2008 presidential campaign on the morning of November 3, 2004. I literally cried the day she announced her candidacy and I proudly signed up to join her.

That was 19 months ago. Tonight, in a speech that was very different from the one she envisioned that evening in January 2007 when she announced that she was "in it to win it", she graciously and unequivocally offered her support to the man who defeated her.

I have been supporting Hillary for nearly ten years. I walked with her during the highs of this campaign and I walked with her during the lows. I never stopped fighting, I never stopped believing, and I never stopped supporting her. And I will continue to support her anytime, anywhere, anyplace. And now, as the Clintons pass the torch to Barack Obama, as he officially becomes our nominee, as the dream officially comes to an end, I will continue to walk with Hillary.

She fought for the presidency for 17 long months. She donated more than $13 million of her own money. She endured relentless sexist attacks from the commentariat and the right wing and right-wing smears from members of her own party. Clintonistas, she's given enough of herself to our cause and to our party. It's time to stop fighting. It's time to let go of the dream. It's time to support Barack Obama.

I'm with Hillary. Are you?

No way, no how, no McCain

People who would follow Hillary off a cliff will do something far less daunting, that is, follow her into the voting booth to vote for Barack Obama. How can one trust your judgment in all the great matters of our age and not trust her judgment about her primary opponent.

I am a Hillary Democrat! Others may say they are Clintonistas, but true Clintonistas follow Hillary in both victory and defeat. Hillary is voting for Barack Obama, and so am I.

Late Nite Open Thread: HILLARY SPEAKS IN DENVER EDITION!!!!

So how are you liking Hillary Clinton's speech? Is she lighting the crowd on fire the way you hoped she would? Isn't she beautiful?

Let's talk about our trailblazer, our champion, our advocate, our hero! Let's talk about Hillary! Let's talk about her talk.

Consider this an open thread... And GO HILLARY!!!! :-)

Today's Poll Report

OK, OK, I know a few folks are freaking out over a tracking poll or two. Still, there are some new state polls out. Here's the news from 538.com.

Texas: McCain +10
Florida: McCain +4
North Carolina: McCain +3
Ohio: Obama +1
Pennsylvania: Obama +7

Overall, Obama's bouncing back in the state polls. 538.com is now estimating a 285 Electoral Vote Obama victory. We just need to keep up the hard work. And hopefully after this great convention, we'll win this fall! :-)

Claire McCaskill at the Democratic Convention

Here was another great speech from last night that I hope everyone gets to see.

Caroline & Ted Kennedy at the Democratic Convention

Weren't they amazing? Here they are...



:-)

mediaFail: The Convention

In case you missed this story from our AP ticker, do pay attention. It looks to me like the corporate media is once again trying to decide for us what "news" we want to see. Since they think of the party conventions as just "infomercials" for their own respective parties, they'd rather not actually show us the convention. Instead, they want to give us infomercials for their own respective networks & their "talent"!

Notice how so many of the corporate media pundits talked about how Democrats "weren't attacking McCain & Bush enough"? But when primetime speakers like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were doing just that, MSNBC was the only commercial "news" channel that covered her speech. All the other channels had... You guessed it, pundits bloviating during the speech!

So is this what we should expect from our "Fourth Estate"? They don't want to be seen as "spinning for the Democrats"... So they'd rather be ignoring the actual convention to SPIN AGAINST DEMOCRATS??!! Cheese louise, is it too much to ask for the media to report the story instead of twist it?

Hillary's Task

Tonight, Hillary has a thankless task. She has to convince her supporters to get behind Obama. There is no shortage of people waiting to pounce on any sign that her enthusiasm is not authentic or sufficient and they will be quick to use those words to fit the media's pre-decided convention theme: party infighting.

Compare the number of people who would be quick to praise Hillary for a brilliant speech to the number of people who would pounce on even a hint of hard feelings. Which story will the media cover more? That is what Hillary is facing tonight.

Marie Cocco has a brilliant piece at the Washington Post on this very topic.

If there is a political job more fraught with peril than running to become the next commander in chief, surely it is being cast as cheerleader in chief.

Hillary Clinton will be damned if she looks too methodically perfect, too much the purveyor of practiced routine and not enough the cheery personification of enthusiasm. She'll also be damned if she's too exuberant, too obviously raising her voice in unbridled exhortation for the team. She will either be deemed too cool or all-too-cagily warm.

Clinton can't win tonight. But then, she knows that.

The piece is brilliant, well-worth a read. Click here to read it in its entirety.

Moderate Repubs Exit the GOP, One by One

(Cross-posted at MyDD)

All the hype from the opening night of the Democratic Convention revolved around the speeches by Ted Kennedy and Michelle Obama, and deservedly so.  But I want to talk about something less publicized, before it slips through the cracks - the decidedly underhyped appearance by former Republican Congressman Jim Leach.

It's not every day you see a Republican speaking at the Democratic convention, and yet there was very little publicity concerning this event.  As a speaker, Rep. Leach didn't exactly blow the doors off - although I'm not sure what else people would expect from an Iowa Republican.  But that doesn't mean his speech isn't worth a read.

The politically significant lesson of Rep. Leach's speech was that it provided one more signifier of the ongoing exodus of moderate Republicans from today's hard-right GOP.  The realignment is ongoing - witness the Democratic takeover of virtually every Congressional seat in New England, which used to be solid Rockefeller Republican territory.  But we haven't finished the job yet.  In November we'll get a chance to take the full measure of our progress.

I've provided the full text of Leach's speech below.  I think it's very telling to compare his thoughtful, historical analysis with its mirror image, the nasty partisan stemwinder delivered by Zell Miller at the 2004 Republican convention.  (You know, the one where he smeared John Kerry as weak on national defense for supporting military cuts that had been recommended by Secretary of Defense Dick Cheney.)  If we're trading the Zell Millers for the Jim Leachs, I'm down with that.

As a Republican, I stand before you with deep respect for the history and traditions of my political party. But it is clear to all Americans that something is out of kilter in our great republic. In less than a decade America's political and economic standing in the world has been diminished. Our nation's extraordinary leadership in so many areas is simply not reflected in the partisan bickering and ideological politics of Washington. Seldom has the case for an inspiring new political ethic been more compelling. And seldom has an emerging leader so matched the needs of the moment.

The platform of this transformative figure is a call for change. The change Barack Obama is advocating is far more than a break with today's politics. It is a clarion call for renewal rooted in time-tested American values that tap Republican, as well as Democratic traditions.

Perspective is difficult to bring to events of the day, but in sweeping terms, there have been four great debates in our history to which both parties have contributed. The first debate, led by Thomas Jefferson, the first Democrat to be elected president, centered on the question of whether a country could be established, based on The Rights of Man.

The second debate, led by Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican to be elected president, was about definitions--whether The Rights of Man applied to individuals who were neither pale nor male. It took almost two centuries of struggle, hallmarked by a civil war, the suffrage and abolitionist movements, the Harlem renaissance and a courageous civil rights leadership to bring meaning to the values embedded in the Declaration of Independence.

The third debate, symbolized by the new deal of Franklin Roosevelt and the emphasis on individual initiative of Ronald Reagan, involves the question of opportunity, whether rights are fully meaningful if all citizens are not given a chance to succeed and provide for their families.

The fourth debate, which acquired grim relevance with the dawn of the nuclear age, is the question of whether any rights are possible without peace and environmental security.

The American progressive tradition reflected in these debates spans Democratic standard bearers from the prairie populist William Jennings Bryan to the Camelot statesman, John F. Kennedy. It includes Republicans like Teddy Roosevelt, who built up the National Parks system and broke down corporate monopolies, and Dwight David Eisenhower, who ran on a pledge to end a war in Korea, brought a stop to European colonial intervention in the Middle East, quietly integrated the Washington, D.C., school system and not so quietly sent the 101st Airborne to Little Rock to squash segregation in public schools throughout the country.

In models of international statecraft, progressive leadership includes Al Gore, who helped galvanize worldwide understanding of the most challenging environmental threat currently facing the planet, and our current president's father, who led an internationally sanctioned coalition to oust Saddam Hussein from Kuwait.

In Congress, Democratic senators like Pat Moynihan and Mike Mansfield served in Republican administrations. On the Republican side, Arthur Vandenberg helped President Truman launch the Marshall Plan, and Everett Dirksen backed Lyndon Johnson's landmark civil rights legislation.

In troubled times, it was understood that country comes before party, that in perilous moments mutual concern for the national interest must be the only factor in political judgments. This does not mean that debate within and between the political parties should not be vibrant. Yet what frustrates so many citizens is the lack of bipartisanship in Washington and the way today's Republican Party has broken with its conservative heritage.

The party that once emphasized individual rights has gravitated in recent years toward regulating values. The party of military responsibility has taken us to war with a country that did not attack us. The party that formerly led the world in arms control has moved to undercut treaties crucial to the defense of the earth. The party that prides itself on conservation has abdicated its responsibilities in the face of global warming. And the party historically anchored in fiscal restraint has nearly doubled the national debt, squandering our precious resources in an undisciplined and unprecedented effort to finance a war with tax cuts.

America has seldom faced more critical choices: whether we should maintain an occupational force for decades in a country and region that resents western intervention or elect a leader who, in a carefully structured way, will bring our troops home from Iraq as the heroes they are. Whether it is wise to continue to project power largely alone with flickering support around the world or elect a leader who will follow the model of General Eisenhower and this president's father and lead in concert with allies.

Whether it is prudent to borrow from future generations to pay for today's reckless fiscal policies or elect a leader who will shore up our budgets and return to a strong dollar. Whether it is preferable to continue the policies that have weakened our position in the world, deepened our debt and widened social divisions or elect a leader who will emulate John F. Kennedy and relight a lamp of fairness at home and reassert an energizing mix of realism and idealism abroad.

The portfolio of challenges passed on to the next president will be as daunting as any since the Great Depression and World War II. This is not a time for politics as usual or for run-of-the-mill politicians. Little is riskier to the national interest than more of the same. America needs new ideas, new energy and a new generation of leadership.

Hence, I stand before you proud of my party's contributions to American history but, as a citizen, proud as well of the good judgment of good people in this good party, in nominating a transcending candidate, an individual whom I am convinced will recapture the American dream and be a truly great president: the senator from Abraham Lincoln's state--Barack Obama. Thank you.

Tuesday Strategy Session: Reclaiming the O'mentum

Oh, my! Take a look at these new & interesting poll numbers via 538.com!

Ohio: McCain +1
Michigan: Obama +2
Colorado: Obama +5

538.com Projection:
Obama 284 EVs
McCain 254 EVs

So far, so good. Obama's closing the gap in Ohio, holding on in Michigan, and taking back the lead in Colorado. Still, the race looks close. However, it's a little reassuring to see Obama bounce back in most of these crucial swing states.

So what more does the Obama campaign need to do? What do you expect out of these next three days of the convention? What must be done for Democrats to win this fall?

The strategy session is now open. Come on in & grab a comfy seat. It's time for us to plan for victory this fall! :-D

Wow!

What a great speech!

I think this was a gaffe, but I don't see it becoming a GOP attack ad:

And in my own life, in my own small way, I've tried to give back to this country that has given me so much. That's why I left a job at a law firm for a career in public service, working to empower young people to volunteer in their communities. Because I believe that each of us -- no matter what our age or background or walk of life -- each of us has something to contribute to the life of this nation.

To most Americans, a $212,000/yr job isn't much of a sacrifice. But I don't see the Republicans making an issue of this.

It was an amazing speech. But I'm still not watching on Thursday night. There isn't enough dramamine in the state of Florida.

Late Nite Open Thread: DENVER EDITION!

So how's the first day of the Democratic Convention been? How's Michelle Obama's speech? Did you like Nancy Pelosi's speech? Did you cry during Ted Kennedy's speech? Oh yes, and which network do you prefer watching it on?

This is a very special Denver Edition of open thread... Enjoy & chat away!

Action Alert: Tell CNN That Enough is Enough

We've heard it from Ken Rudin, we've heard from Monica Crowley, we've heard it from Andrew Sullivan, we've heard it from Lars Larson and we're sick of it.

CNN should be ashamed of itself for allowing this comment to go unchallenged this evening:



(via Gotham Acme)

This is (at least) the third time that CNN has allowed this comment to go unchallenged on the air. It's not cute. It's not funny. It's demeanning and sexist and we cannot sit silent when a major news network allows commentators to make these kind of comments about our progressive leaders.

Follow this link to CNN and tell CNN that this kind of sexist discourse should not be tolerated by the network and demand that Alex Castellanos be fired as a CNN Contributor!

Be sure to include this link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xji9-AN-35o) in your message.

Here's a Sneak Preview...

Of what Michelle Obama will be saying tonight...



:-)

Barbara Boxer in Denver

Awesome! ;-)

PUMA = Rethuglicans

(Proudly cross-posted at Clark Community Network)

I know, I know. I probably shouldn't be talking about a sorry bunch of Rethuglican trolls... Except that they're now out to publicly smear Hillary Clinton's legacy and give Democrats a bad bname everywhere! These frauds must be exposed!

It's time for us to just say no deal to the PUMA liars once and for all!

I'm sure many of you have already seen this flaming pile of garbage...



And you're wondering just what the deal is with this person. And you may also be wondering why the "PUMA" crowd is cheering this new lie...



Well, here are the facts. First off, this supposed "martyr" Debra Bartoshevich has always been a McCain supporter. Despite her crocodile tears about being kickied out of the Democratic National Convention's Wisconsin Delegation because "she was a Hillary supporter", the truth is that she was removed because Democratic Party delegates do NOT support Republicans! She broke the rules, so the state Democratic Party replaced her with a true Hillary Clinton Democrat.

And now, Debra Bartoshevich is proving her Republican bona fides by lying in a national TV commercial for McCain. She refuses to mention McCain's embrace of all things Bush-Cheney. She doesn't mention how John McCain now stands for more wars, fewer protections for the middle class, more environmental destruction, fewer real energy solutions, more extreme-right judges "legislating from the bench", and fewer civil rights for all of us. Oh no, Ms. Bartoshevich refuses to tell the truth. She just lies for her beloved "Johnny Mac". And really, we're supposed to believe she's a Hillary Clinton Democrat?







Yeah, right!

Oh yes, and what about McCain's point about Barack Obama "snubbing" Hillary Clinton? Well, it simply isn't true! Don't believe me? Believe Hillary Clinton!

"Now, I understand that the McCain campaign is running ads trying to divide us," Clinton said. "And let me state what I think of those ads: I'm Hillary Clinton, and I do not approve that message."

"Let there be no mistake about it, We're united, and we're united for change. We are, after all, Democrats, so it may take (pause) a while. (Laughter). We're not the fall in line party. We're diverse. Many voices. But make no mistake, we are united. We are united on behalf of the Democratic Party values we hold dear."

Still don't believe me? Again, listen to Hillary.



I've said it before, and I'll say it again. "PUMA" is nothing more than a Rethuglican front group! They want to sow anger and division among us Democrats, just so that John McCain wins this fall and their beloved GOP can have at least four more years to destory this nation some more.

I've had it with their lies. I've had it with their attacks on Democrats. Before the corporate media slavishly laps up the "PUMA" falsehoods any more, it's time they hear from us on what the truth really is.

During the Democratic Convention this week, we'll finally see the party unite to win this fall. Hillary Clinton will speak once more in support of Barack Obama. Barack Obama will show his support for what Hillary Clinton and all of her voters support. And once and for all, this false meme of "Democrats in disarray" can finally be disproven.

As a Hillary Clinton Democrat myself, I've had it with Rethuglican tools like Debra Bartoshevich, Darragh Murphy, Will Bower, the Alegre's Corner pack of turncoats, and Riverdaughter's den of liars. I've had it with the "PUMA" faux-movement, and I'm speaking up now to expose them for what they are!

NM-01: C4O Spotlights Martin Heinrich

(Proudly cross-posted at Clark Community Network and Swing State Project)

As you all know by now, New Mexico will be critical to a Barack Obama victory this fall. However, what you may not know is that New Mexico will also be a critical battleground for us to strengthen our majority in Congress. Fortunately, we have Tom Udall running for the open Senate seat here. And even better, we also have Martin Heinrich running to turn blue a House seat that's been red for 40 years.



Martin Heinrich has spent his life helping and serving others. He's helped improve the community in Albuquerque with his non-profit work. He's fought for a healtheir environment as New Mexico State Natural Resources Trustee. He's worked to bring "green-collar jobs" to Albuquerque while on the city council, as he's also worked on the council to increase the minimum wage, reduce crime in the city's neighborhoods, and protect the area's precious natural resources. Basically, Martin Heinrich can be counted on to get the job done for the people.





Darren White,on the other hand, is nothing more than another far right Republican Bush loyalist. He served on the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign in New Mexico, and he's happily using his Bush-Cheney connections to raise money for his Congressional campaign. So even though White stresses he's an "independent leader", don't believe it. He's yet another Bush Republican offering more of the same when New Mexicans are looking for real change.

Fortunately for us, the voters in New Mexico's First District seem ready for change. The race is very close right now, and Democrats have a real chance of picking up this seat. That's why our friends like The League of Conservation Voters and The DCCC's Red to Blue program are lining up to support this people's environmental champion. We can win here... If we stand up and support our Democrat running!

So will you stand up and support good, strong, progressive Democrats like Martin Heinrich? This is one of the hottest races in the country, and this is one of best chances of turning a red seat blue and expanding our majority. So please, stand with us and support Martin Heinrich today! :-)