Gail Collins has written a delightful piece in today's New York Times, "A Tale of Two Turkeys". For the political among us (and I am one) Thanksgiving is a day to go "cold turkey" -- when I am asked to not mention politics, stay off the computer. (oops! that is why I am here tapping away at 7am before the family awakes...)
So for fellow political junkies looking for a little light Thanksgiving reading, I commend Collins' piece. President Obama is quoted as saying "“There are certain days that remind me of why I ran for this office. And then there are moments like this, where I pardon the turkey and send it to Disneyland.” First Daughter Malia chimes in that the bird reminded her of 'a large chicken'..."
Collins concludes:
"It’s not really fair. The president knows he could jump-start the economy, fix health care and do his ambitious energy policy — if only the last administration hadn’t cut taxes, started two wars and created a new, large Medicare entitlement without paying for any of it.When he’s not making his way through Thanksgiving photo-ops, he’s adding up the numbers over and over in his mind, and sending mental daggers at the Republicans who are yelling at him about deficits that they created.Although what else could he expect in a Washington that thinks you can pardon your turkey and eat it, too?"
When he’s not making his way through Thanksgiving photo-ops, he’s adding up the numbers over and over in his mind, and sending mental daggers at the Republicans who are yelling at him about deficits that they created.
Although what else could he expect in a Washington that thinks you can pardon your turkey and eat it, too?"
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/opinion/26collins.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsieAmgCbUE&feature=player_embedded
“Members of the Nobel committee, I accept this award on behalf of all these American men and women soldiers, past and present, because I know — and I want you to know — that there is no peace without peacekeepers."
These are the words that Tom Friedman (columnist for the New York Times) suggests President Obama use when accepting the Nobel Prize in Oslo in December--to honor the the "most important peacekeepers in the world for the last century"...the US military.
Join Michelle Obama outside the Hippodrome Theater in downtown Gainesville on Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 2:30pm. People can start arriving as early as 1pm. Streets in the area will be closed to accomodate the expected crowd. The Hippodrome is located at the point where SE 1st Street dead-ends into 2nd Place.
Michelle's visit is part of a statewide effort to encourage Florida voters to voter early. Early voting in Florida starts Monday. Given the length of the ballot this year, and the surge in new registrations, election day (Tues. Nov. 4th) is expected to be crowded (which is great news!). By voting early, we can all help ease the crunch on election day, and perhaps volunteer an hour or two election with the Obama campaign--driving older voters to the polls, handing out literature, making sure friends or family members and especially new voters turn out to vote.
"This is a 51/49 country, not a 60/40 country... If you want to elect Barack Obama, go to Florida, go to Ohio. Go to the battleground states."
Obama supporters are more confident now than at any time this year. (Who even remembers the depressing days right after Sen. McCain chose Gov. Palin?) The media echo chamber is largely reinforcing this confidence, just as they have in months past. The powerful endorsement by Colin Powell today on Meet the Press will likely dominate press coverage for a day or two, with only two weeks and two days left to election day. That is huge.
But we should keep our eye on the ball! Lets focus our attention on the battleground states, because if Obama wins only one of these, we likely win the whole ballgame: Florida, Colorado, Ohio. And the single thing that will tip the balance is a significant move by older voters, particularly in places like Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The Great Schlep
Sarah Silverman gives a funny take on our mission: go to your grandparents, your parents, your friends and family in these toss-up states, and make sure they are on board. It would be great to win North Carolina or Virginia, but it is essential that we will our share of toss-ups.
Fair warning: this humorous video does contain expletives.
http://www.thegreatschlep.com/
Conservatives sing the praises of Barack Obama
"I sense in this guy a first-class mind who might just do smart things." --Christopher Buckley
"Barack Obama is the sharpest knife in the [Democratic] drawer." --Rush Limbaugh
Colin Powell is now endorsing Barack Obama on Meet the Press.
"I have gone back and forth between someone I have the highest regard for, John McCain, and someone I have been getting to know, Barack Obama." Both candidates would be good presidents.
However, Barack Obama displays "intellectual vigor, intellectual curiosity", and he is surrounding himself with people that will give him the advice that he needs. "I think he is a transformational figure... I will be voting for him."
While Powell continues to love and admire John McCain, who he has known for more than 20 years, he is very concerned about the rightward direction of the Republican Party. "We must stop polarizing our country. John McCain is an non-polarizing as anyone I know, but there is a polarizing element in the Republican Party." The effort by the McCain campaign to tie Obama to terrorism (via his relationship to Bill Ayers) is a "terrible stretch, its demogogary" and its further evidence that the McCain campaign has been "narrow, ... too narrow for America."
Powell tells a compelling story about a young man who was 14 at the time of 9-11. This young man was born in New Jersey, and waited until he was of age to join the military and serve his country. That young man was killed in combat, and is buried in Arlington Cemetary. His gravestone has the star and crecent of his Muslim faith, just as others there have a cross or a Star of David. The McCain campaign effort to tar Obama as Muslim (despite the fact that it is not true) insults the memory of this young man, and the millions of American Muslims who should be able to aspire to serve this country, and yes to become President of the United States.
Barack Obama will electrify this country, and the world. He has established himself as the right candidate. At this point in history, we need a president who will be transformational, a generational change. That is Barack Obama.
While Powell continues to love and admire John McCain, who he has known for more than 20 years, he is very concerned about the rightward direction of the Republican Party. "We must stop polarizing our country. John McCain is an non-polarizing as anyone I know, but there is a polarizing element in the Republican Party."
The effort by the McCain campaign to tie Obama to terrorism (via his relationship to Bill Ayers) is a "terrible stretch, its demogogary" and its further evidence that the McCain campaign has been "narrow, ... too narrow for America." Powell tells a compelling story about a young man who was 14 at the time of 9-11. This young man was born in New Jersey, and waited until he was of age to join the military and serve his country. That young man was killed in combat, and is buried in Arlington Cemetary. His gravestone has the star and crecent of his Muslim faith, just as others there have a cross or a Star of David. The McCain campaign effort to tar Obama as Muslim (despite the fact that it is not true) insults the memory of this young man, and the millions of American Muslims who should be able to aspire to serve this country, and yes to become President of the United States.
Dear Friends,
Please come over to our house (820 NE 5th Ave) this Thursday at 7pm for a presentation on the Wild Spaces/Public Places sales tax initiative. Wild Spaces/Public Places is a citizen-led effort to protect natural resources and improve public recreational facilities in Alachua County, and will also be on the ballot Nov. 4th. If approved, it would add a one-half cent to the sales tax for two years. Half the funds would pay for a specific list of park improvements in Gainesville, Alachua County and the county’s smaller cities. The other half would pay for Alachua County and City of Gainesville land conservation. (See http://WildSpacesPublicPlaces.org for more information.) This is an important opportunity to continue investing in our public parks and natural areas. The meeting gives you a chance to ask questions of primary sponsors of this initiative—and we hope to lend your support to the effort. Please RSVP to conexos@gmail.com or 335-8874. Your comments on this or any other matter are welcome. Thank you, Randy and Ondine Wells 820 NE 5th Ave tel: 352-335-8874 conexos@gmail.com PS—If you would like to receive future notices (like this) on the economic vitality, environmental health, and social wellbeing of our community, please e-mail conexos@gmail.com. Your e-mail will never be shared or spammed. Thank you.
WHAT: "Obama-rama: A Kids' Convention that's Anything but Conventional" -- a fully kid-friendly political event!
FREE event that's a combination carnival and kids' political convention, featuring performance by Shana Banana (award-winning singer/songwriter), PLUS games, crafts, kid-focused political activities, door prizes, an update provided by the local Obama campaign office, and more.
In the words of Shana Banana, "We're going bananas for Obama!"
WHEN: Saturday, September 6, 10 a.m to 12 noon, rain or shine
WHERE: Lightin' Salvage Enterprises at Satchel's Pizza; 1800 NE 23rd Ave., Gainesville
RSVP at <A href="http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/44djk">Obama-rama Kids' Convention</A>
WHO: Organized by "Gainesville Mamas & Papas for Obama", a group of local moms including Eliana Bardi, Carol Church, Leah Cohen, Dahvi Fradkin, Shana Smith, and Marnie Wiss
CONTACT: Marnie Wiss, 352-275-6381; marniewiss@gmail.com.
Though no final decisions have been made, a second vote looks increasingly likely for Democrats in Florida and Michigan.
Sen. Obama continues to hold a 100+ delegate lead, despite a narrow primary loss in Texas and wider loss in Ohio. Few likely scenarios for Pennsylvania, North Carolina and the other states remaining to be contested would result in a closing of that gap, even with victories by Sen. Clinton with 60% of the vote. By comparison, Sen. Clinton has thus far failed to exceed 60% in any of her victories except Arkansas. Even New York, where she is the twice elected Senator, only delivered 57%; with no active campaign for the first go around in Florida, she just managed 50%; in Michigan, with no other name on the ballot, she polled 55%.
Short of a stampede by superdelegates, Sen. Clinton simply cannot lay claim to the nomination. And with the Democratic Party reluctant to allow non-elected superdelegates to decide the nomination, a re-vote in Florida and Michigan look almost inevitable.
The list of specific policy proposals were long, even as Sen. Obama delivered stirring oratory in his victory speech from Houston tonight. The win was in Wisconsin, but he spoke from the biggest city in Texas to set the stage what may be the last big battle for the Democratic nomination.
From education to health care, immigration to trade, environment to energy, and including foreign policy, Sen. Obama laid out specific if at times lofty policies. Largely liberal but in a language that was inspiring, and always with a call to bring the country together, Sen. Obama described the goals as only needing the political will and support of the American people, while cutting out the lobbyists and special interests.
A second message, though more subtle, perhaps awaits the general election. We must not only challenge the special interests, but also ourselves. A president who truly seeks to unite not divide (remember Pres. Bush's promise to be a "uniter not a divider"?) will also be willing to compromise on specifics to accomplish broad goals. But that is for another day...
A terrific column in the Washington Post by Eugenen Robinson pokes fun at the fears going around the Democratic party about why so many Republicans are saying nice things about Barack Obama. Are they using reverse psycology to lure us into nominating someone they actually think they can beat easier than Sen. Clinton? Or perhaps double super secret backward reverse psychology to make us think they want to run against Sen. Obama so that we nominate Sen. Clinton instead?
Robinson concludes: "I think there's a simpler reason that so many Republicans speak admiringly of Barack Obama and say he would be the tougher candidate to run against. Obama disagrees with conservatives without demonizing them. He even invites Republicans to join him in building the post-partisan America he envisions. Hillary Clinton, author of the phrase "vast right-wing conspiracy," is more confrontational, to say the least."
Source: Washington Post, "The Dr. Evil Dilimma", Feb 12 2008 (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/11/AR2008021102269.html?hpid=opinionsbox1)
Political analysts speaking on today's (Feb 10 2008) Meet the Press provided much interesting commentary on the Democratic race for president. Chuck Todd called the race so far "a remarkable fight." Some interesting facts and comments:
Both Chuck Todd and Gwen Ifill noted there could be a monkey wrench in caucus states for the Obama campaign. Unlike primary states, caucus states' results must be confirmed through county and state conventions, where Clinton folks could find ways to get delegates even where Obama won the caucus. The comparison was made to the way the Mondale campaign did much the same in 1984 to the Hart campaign.
I have just lost the exact data, but Meet the Press showed data on the total number of votes cast in all primaries and caucuses to date. Sen. Obama is slightly ahead of Sen. Clinton, with about 48% of the votes.
They also showed their estimate of delegates chosen, which also showed Sen. Obama in the lead, though when pledged superdelegates are included a small edge goes to Sen. Clinton.
Finally, and perhaps most of interest to those of us in Florida: How will the party deal with Florida and Michigan delegates, who are now set to not be included at the convention because we both voted earlier than party rules allowed. Quoting Howard Dean, chair of the DNC, the party will leave this decision up the creditials committee. This committee will be divided (as things stand now) equally between Obama and Clinton representatives. If Florida pushes for a decision, the committee will likely allow Florida delegates to be seated at the same proportion as the national vote (roughly 50/50), so as to not swing the results either way.
Sen. Obama just keeps coming, in what one blogger calls the "tidal wave" and "a very special sort of fellow who may come along in politics only once every generation of two."*
While Sen. Clinton saved herself on Super Tuesday with a win in California, it was only by a sufficient margin to keep the days 22 states at roughly a tie. All attention (at least for the next 3 days) turns to the new "Potomac Primary," with Maryland, DC and Virginia voting on Tuesday. An Obama victory in all three (not unlikely, with both candidates focusing on Virginia) would further build his momentum. Only Pennsylvania, Ohio and Texas (the few large states left to vote who appear to favor Sen. Clinton at the moment) appear poised to keep this race tied; everywhere else, the momentum, the enthusiasm and the votes all favor Sen. Obama.
Which leaves one big unanswered question: If neither candidate gets a clear majority of pledged delegates (i.e. those selected by the primary and caucus voters), could the party allow the superdelegates (Democratic officials and office holders) to swing the nomination? I for one think that would be an outrage, particularly if a surging Sen. Obama were to win a plurality of delegates, but not the nomination. There is a movement afoot now to call on the superdelegates to vote for the candidate who wins the most delegates from the voters--which would insure him or her the nomination, and validate the popular vote (rather than negate it).
One other option is also being bandied about: a re-vote of some kind in Florida and Michigan. This seems rather impractical and costly (one estimate I saw for a re-vote in Florida would cost $10 million). Some have called for seating delegates from Florida and Michigan based on the votes in those 2 states in their disallowed early primaries (Sen. Clinton got a majority of votes in Florida, but absent a real campaign surely that result is in doubt, and Sen. Clinton was the only name on the ballot in Michigan). The national party has said for months that both states could hold a caucus instead, but it is hard to see how that could be done in a fair way either.
* Source: Comment #1, end of article in Washington Post, "Obama Sweeps Clinton in Louisiana, Nebraska, Washington," http://blog.washingtonpost.com/livecoverage/2008/02/clinton_obama_resume_tough_del.html?hpid=topnews
