Actually, this is more like a pulpit used to talk back to bullies.
For anyone who missed President Obama's Q&A with Republicans, here is a big chunk of it. The sound is bad in the beginning but gets better after about 2 minutes.
Watching the Republicans speak directly to Obama on camera and seeing him answer them with facts and with toughness, made the Republicans look like the practiced liars and phony politicians they truly are, playing games with our lives for political advantage. It was reported that afterwards the Republic Party (that's for the creepy Congress lady who kept saying "Democrat Party") knew that by showing the forum live on national television, it had made a big mistake. A light was shone on their mendacity and it was ugly and mean-spirited. Whereas, Obama appeared calm, but clearly frustrated by their obstructionism.
Now that the meaty days of the election cycle have passed and all of us political junkies try and find something to quench ourselves, Sarah Palin continues to cruise along as if the election is still going on. Sure, we hear about rumors of who might be Secretary of State. We dissect the pros and cons of Rahm Emmanuel as Chief of Staff despite the fact that I'd wager a good chunk of us junkies couldn't name the current Chief of Staff (that'd be Joshua Bolton if you are playing at home). Palin, however, is cooking moose with Matt Lauer, taking questions from people other than Sean Hannity and seemingly having a wonderful time through it all.
And we watch. We watch, the Republicans watch, the chattering class of America watches. Democrats like us, we sneer and mock. We, without question, know that Africa is a continent. We've seen enough of Palin to bet our mortgages that she probably didn't know what counties made up NAFTA. Yet, there we are watching night in, night out. Like watching the early rounds of "American Idol", it's not great TV but it often beats the alternative. Why read about our economy crumbling on CNBC when, on MSNBC, we can watch Keith Olbermann eviscerate Palin for the umpteenth time?
And the reasons that Democrats watch are simple. Many of us think we could do her job better than her. We think we could pummel her in a game of Trivial Pursuit. We believe that, through some act of god, we too could be a governor. Few of us actually could, yet it doesn't seem that unrealistic. It's why we enjoy watching the little guy on a basketball team lead his team to victory. We could be them. Palin doesn't seem much different than the person in your office or your neighbor. Sure, most people's neighbors and co-workers aren't conservative zealots. Yet, I'm not sure Palin really is either. I think she was wise enough to know that acting as a conservative zealot was her only way of raising money and winning in Alaska. Finally, we Democrats know that she helped get our man elected. Had McCain chosen a capable alternative like Mitt Romney, it's quite likely that the race would have been much tighter.
And while she demurs about 2012, like Beyonce acting coy about whether she's married to Jay Z, we all know Palin will run. Wolf Blitzer may possibly collapse from a coronary live on the air when the announcement happens but its coming. And you know what? I'm ready for more. America loves reclamation projects and America strangely enjoys train wrecks. How many people voted for Hillary Clinton in the primaries that didn't like her in the 90s? I'd wager millions. Still, Palin won't win the Presidency and that's the best part of it all. She'll take the spotlight away from people that could make a plausible run (Tim Pawlenty I'm looking at you), she'll rebrand herself but it still won't be enough. She'll keep up the Pro-America rhetoric and she'll divide her party on abortion. She'll argue that we don't need an expert of anything to help us; we just need a hockey mom to fix it all. Would her turning the GOP primary into an absolute bloodbath be something I'd be interested in watching? You betcha!!
Matthews begins by noting presence of women on economic advisory panel. Pundits stress importance of style to "get off on the right foot" as new president. They bring up dire economic news of the day - retails sales down, high unemployment figures, auto makers problems, etc. Obama has to walk a fine line. Blah, blah, blah.
I don't know if I can stand much more of this punditry.
Switching channels. No sign of anything on C-Span. What's up with that?
CNN - covering school collapse in Haiti and Spitzer. But waiting for press conference.
Back to MSNBC - Election talk. More about diversity of panel - Republicans, women, Hispanics, etc. Eugene Robinson says. "Imagery is important." Matthews talks more about style. Jill Zuckman of the Chicago Tribune brings up importance of content - real solutions. Robinson says Obama has to figure out how to deal with economic situation. Matthews talks about getting jobs - mostly construction jobs - should be priority.
Please, Barack, come out soon and make these people stop blathering!!! It's almost 2:30. Yay!!!
Meanwhile on CNN: Candy Crowley opining that Obama will be flanked by panel of experts to give America confidence. Notes no. of business people involved on panel. Mixture of old hands and elected/appointed officials and newcomers. Will be interesting to see if group came to any kind of consensus. Joe Biden and Rahm Emanuel to be there. Change? Obama represents change. Less need to have new faces. Familiar old hands give sense of stability.
Gloria Borgia discusses Emanuel's role in choice of Obama advisors. Emanuel tough - Obama cool. Can't imagine Obama giving authority to others - ran his own campaign.
Note that Obama running late - always on time during election. Set piece on right wing reaction to Emanuel 's appointment. They don't like it. Call him "thug."
News: Sen. Byrd stepping aside from appropriations committee. He renews his support for election of Obama. He notes that both opposed invasion of Iraq.
Crowley offers tribute to Byrd.
On MSNBC: Talking about NAFTA. Dilemma for current White House. One president at a time. Avoid sending mixed signals. Blend what Obama plans with what they are currently doing about economic crisis. Balancing act.
and get to a local phone bank any day of the week or canvass in NH on Nov. 1st or help with the GOTV in NH on Nov. 4th.
Anyone who is complacent about the election is living in a dream world. We have to work until the last vote is cast to make sure that New Hampshire stays blue. It is the swing state closest to Massachusetts and they really, really, really need our help. Don't listen to the media and the polls. They are meaningless without the real votes on November 4th.
Here are your options:
Phone bank in Marshfield or Quincy. There is help needed at both centers every day until election day. Addresses are 988 Plain Street, Marshfield and 1458 Hancock Street-3rd floor, Quincy Center
Canvassing. Join one of the numerous buses from Mass. going to New Hampshire this coming weekend. See contacts on flip to find out hours.
Get Out the Vote. Vote early and volunteer to help get the vote out in NH on election day.
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Imagine if you wake up on November 5th and find out McCain has won by a mere 4 electoral votes (NH's number). How will you feel?
Now imagine you wake up and discover Barack Obama is the president-elect and you helped him get there. How will you feel?
We've had far too much negativity and divisiveness over the past 8 years with the Republican mantra of "if you're not for us, you're against us" -- well, after 8 years of Republican policies and politics, the nation's pretty much realized that today's Republican leadership is against America.
As November 4th approaches and the nation takes stock of the current state of our security, our economy, our infrastructure, our global standing and our fractured Constitution, it's time to turn and bid adieu to the Administration that has, with the full and complicit knowledge of the GOP, lied, cheated and stole its way through two terms of unadulterated, unapologetic corruption.
So let us all say goodbye to George W. Bush and the elephant he rode in on this November, by voting against the Republican party. In droves.
A White House summit meeting on Thursday meant to shore up John McCain's shaky campaign "devolved into a contentious shouting match." And that's how McCain's own campaign described it.
The meeting revealed that President Bush's $700 billion bid to combat the worst financial crisis in decades had been suddenly sidetracked by fellow Republicans in the House, who refused to embrace a plan that appeared close to acceptance by the Senate and most House Democrats.
And where does the "straight-talking" McCain stand on the issue - who knows?
What he said on the flip. See if you can figure it out.
The one group that I really worry about in the upcoming election is older Americans. Sure, the latent, often subconscious, racism of days gone by may be a factor in their strong support of McCain over Obama. And for some it may be so strong that no rational argument could reach them.
However, they should know, if they now, or in the near future (like me), expect to depend on Social Security in retirement, the fact that McCain was a proponent of Bush's scheme to privatize the system and the fact that he wants to cut present benefits. In this time of crashing financial institutions and burgeoning inflation, the McCain/Bush scam to help their corporate friends looks even more insidious.
That's why I'm so pleased to see this new ad from the Obama campaign in the nick of time.
Obama/Biden's full plan for Social Security on flip
In her disparaging remarks about community activism, Sarah Palin is the worst kind of elitist. She is mocking the very foundation of democracy - the right of citizens to come together to bring about change, right a wrong and have a voice in their own governing.
Sure, Sarah Palin lied about the rest of Sen. Obama's experience by ignoring his many years as a Constitutional law professor and as a state and US senator. But, by making me recall that Obama started out as someone who worked with regular people to teach them how to use their power and to give their community a voice, she made me realize that he is more than qualified to be our president. The skills Obama learned by listening, working with and supporting people in those Chicago neighborhoods are the ones I wish every leader were required to have.
Rather than top down rule (how Palin became VP nominee), community organizing is all about bottom up (how Obama became a presidential nominee) power. Any regular person who wants to clean a park, support her/his child's school, get a referendum on the ballot, build a homeless shelter, hold a block party or have an art show is a de facto community organizer.
In my book, they are the best, most gifted kind of people around. They are the ones who create neighborhood and community bonds that make a place worth living in. Without their hard work and ability to inspire people, it would be a dreary world indeed.
Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, Clara Barton, Ralph Nader, the founders of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, and some might even say . . . Jesus, were all community organizers. In other words, community organizers are the innovators and pioneers who push and pull to do something to make their neighborhoods, government, environment, schools, and country better. They are patriots and heroes who should be honored, not laughed at.
On the flip, hear Obama explain why he was so proud of his work as a community organzer.
The McCain campaign advance team must be made up of idiots.
First, John Mellencamp, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen, and Chuck Berry asked the McCain campaign to stop using their music. Then, the rock band Heart joined the group, requesting that McCain refrain from using "Barracuda" to introduce Sarah Palin.
Now, because of a presumed screw up, McCain gave his speech in front of a photo of a large building and there is more blowback. Although many assumed it was one of his homes (just kidding) or just some generic building, it turns out that it was a photo of the Walter Reed Middle School in Hollywood, California from the school's website. Presumably, the McCain team thought it was Walter Reed Medical Center. Doh!!!!
Today, according to Talking Points Memo, the principal of the school and others associated with it have formally sent their objections to the use of the photo. Here is an example from Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Tamar Galatzan:
"Though I am flattered that Senator McCain chose to use a school from my district as backdrop to his remarks at the Republican National Convention, I wished he had checked with me first. As a strong believer in public education, I don't think the Senator is the most appropriate person to showcase one of the premier schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He is unwilling to bring fairness and equity to No Child Left Behind and ensure that schools like Reed get the resources they need from the Federal Government. From what I've heard, that's not a priority for the McCain/Palin ticket."
As Bugs Bunny might say, "What a bunch of maroons!"
First, a wonderful tribute to Sen. Ted Kennedy, our liberal lion, the last son generation of Kennedys who could have had a million houses because they understood something John McCain and Mitt Romney never will, the obligation that great wealth brings.
Then great speeches by Gov. Deval Patrick and Sen. John Kerry and Sen. Terry Murray's great summary of our state's assets before giving the Mass. tally during the roll call vote.
And finally, this feisty performance for MSM viewers by our own former governor and 1988 Democratic presidential nominee Mike Dukakis.
How about David Schuster taking it right to him and refusing to back down? MSNBC is having severe domestic problems - Joe "I did not kill my secretary" Scarborough is now at war with Keith Olbermann, Chris Matthews, David Gregory and David Schuster. He doesn't have Rachel Maddow on the show, so she is safe. The pressure is building on these Republican thugs. They know the Democrats look really good and, by comparison, their candidate will look like Mr. Potato Head at the Repug Convention. If he can't get himself under control, Scarborough may have to move back to FOX News to get into his comfort zone.
In a democratic republic, the vote of the citizenry is tantamount to the voice of the people. Combined with a free press and an informed public, a democracy "of, by and for the People" is very achievable. Thus, gaming the system becomes a goal and objective of those who know that an informed public would choose to reject leaders and plans that don't serve the nation. Accusations of voter fraud, manipulation and "caging" -- as well as compromised voting tallies -- ebb and flow throughout the election process, ranging from substantive and verifiable to borderline (and "over the line") conspiracy theories.
The danger in complacency is that, when some elements normally relegated to overblown conspiracy theory conjecture begin to take on new form and accumulate mounting evidence, there is a tendency toward lethargy and it becomes more difficult to enact, to ensure and to protect the integrity of the process. Accountability becomes dead or dormant.
Are we there now, already, or is there still life enough in the nation to fight the apathy and take steps to ensure the security of the voice of the People?
I caught these reports last night and was amazed at how accurate and fair they were. The two documentaries will be re-aired this weekend and next.
• "Obama Revealed" airs Saturday August 23 at 0600, 1400 and 1900 GMT, and Sunday August 24 at 0600 GMT
• "McCain Revealed" airs Saturday August 30 at 0600, 1400 and 1900 GMT and Sunday August 31 at 0600 GMT
I found myself liking Obama even more than I already do (if that's possible :>) and becoming even more repulsed by McCain's self-destructive actions (if that's possible).
When just the facts are reported, no innuendo or lies, Obama shines in comparison to the seedy, frat boy McCain.
The reports even mentioned the USS Forrestal disaster and the fact that McCain did indeed write and tape anti-war, anti-American statements for his North Vietnamese captors. They didn't mention that McCain might have caused the Forrestal incident or that his nickname at the Hanoi Hilton was "Songbird," but they did put a slight crack in the mythology of the competent and heroic Naval officer.
Obama's bio, on the other hand, made him look a lot tougher and more of a leader than anything I've seen in the media. His grassroots work in Chicago, his tough, pragmatic political style and his healthy family life made him seem more substantial than any portrayal I've seen in the mainstream media before.
Side by side, without prejudice, it is clear that Obama is better candidate. The key words - without prejudice.
On the flip, some differences between the two that were highlighted in the bios.
Two excellent new ads from the Obama campaign focus like a laser beam on the economy and how it is affecting the middleclass. IMO, this is exactly the right tact to take against McCain. It's the economy, McStupid!!!!
Here's ad playing in Indiana:
Another one that is one of the ad buys during the Olympic coverage is on the flip
Well before the Iraq War, Scott Ritter (along with Will Pitt) wrote a prescient book: War on Iraq: What Team Bush doesn't want you to know. Ritter, a Marine, a Republican and former weapons inspector, knew the truth and tried to tell us. Maybe we should listen now.
Let's see how the McCains react to the depiction of Cindy holding all those pill bottles. Maybe the media will report more on her using her charitable foundation as a place to stock up on unprescribed drugs. Wow, can you imagine if Michelle Obama had done that? Or Hillary Clinton? Or any Democrat? It would be covered like a rug.
