Elect Barack Obama
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Well, as we all know, election season is once again upon us. Our choices are, as always, a great source of controversy and strife among the American people. This is understandable as not every candidate fits our ideals of the perfect President.
However, I've noticed some very disturbing trends among voters and, most glaringly, the Democrats. Frankly, it's appalling. I can't get through a blog or a chat room without seeing Democrats at each other's throats, each bashing the views and private lives of one another's pick as the Dem candidate.
You know what, people?? Knock it off. I'm not particularly wild about Hillary nor Obama either, to be honest... but all have a common goal here. That goal is to do everything we can to keep the GOP out of the White House.
Haven't the GOP done enough damage already? For the past 7 years, we've been subjected to two recessions, the invasion of a sovereign country with no violent designs on us, over 935 lies from this administration ABOUT IRAQ ALONE, and the blatant trampling of our civil rights such as our privacy with the warrantless surveillance and with free speech with arrests of peacful protestors and even people whose only "crime" was merely wearing an anti-war or anti-Bush T-shirt.
John McCain has stated that he plans on continuing our occupation of Iraq. He has also stated that he not only wants us to stay in Iraq for 100 years, but is already planning on attacking Iran, as he so playfully reiterated in his rousing rendition of the Beach Boys song "Barbara Ann" titled "Bomb Bomb Iran."
Obama and Hillary's ideas are really not so different from one another. They have similiar ideas on health care, Iraq, national security in general, etc. There are subtle nuances that make their plans slightly different but when it comes down to it, one is really just as good as the other.
It's bothersome that people are saying things like "Hillary is a warmonger"... or "Obama is a Muslim sympathizer." These same lines that Rightwingers were using against the two of them just a few short months ago and the Dems were scolding them for, the Dems are now using. I, personally, never chose a particular party with which to label myself. I consider myself an Independent even though I never formally even declared myself as such... and this is why. Both sides seem to go off the deep end when elections come up and I am so disappointed that Dems have allowed themselved to stoop to the level of "The Righties."
I don't like any party spreading lies and innuendo about any candidate, whether he or she be Republican or Democrat. It's juvenile and ignorant. I don't approve of McCain's policies but I'm not going to perpetuate the rumor that he committed treason while in the service. I have no proof that he did. On the same token, I won't perpetuate the rumor that Barack Obama is a Muslim terrorist sympathizer. We have more than ample evidence that he is not.
Let's think about that particular rumor for a moment. George W. Bush has been more in the pocket of Muslim terrorist sympathizers than anyone else. Despite the fact that the Saudis not only have an appalling track record on human rights but they're also funding terrorists and helping to fund the insurgency which is killing our soldiers... Bush calls them "friend." Not only that but he's also given them weapons which are in turn being used against our troops in Iraq.
Same with Pakistan who has openly harbored Al Qaeda and Osama Bin Laden for a couple of decades. Then there's Uzbekistan, a nation with a record of committing unspeakable atrocities against its citizens...again, Bush calls them "friend."
So to say anything about Obama is not only stupid but incredibly hypocritical if you're Bush supporter. If you're a Dem, it's insincere and ridiculous. We need to pull together in these elections this year and vote for whomever the Dem nominee turns out to be, even if we have to hold out collective noses to do it. I know I will. If a GOP president gets in again, I would hate to look back and know that my missing vote helped to get him in.
So come on... remember that common goal we have to do something good for this country and keep the GOP out.
VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE!!!
_________________
Don't blame this mess on me... I'm an Independent!
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VOTE FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE?
Dunno about that.
The Party seems to have decided I'm worth half a person ( a cowardly decision at that ), right about now that'll get me halfway to the polls.
That's got nothing to do with the candidates personalities, and everything to do with the Party itself.
Obama wasn't even on the ballot in Michigan
was he?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan_Democratic_primary,_2008
How is counting every vote without his name
on the ballot fair?
Hiya Kwahlf, no Obama nor
Hiya Kwahlf, no Obama nor Edwards was on the ballot in Michigan they had their names removed. I abstained from voting in the primary because of this. I did not think it fair to only have one choice on the ballot. but the candidates themselves took their names from the ballots and no one came here to campaign.
Hey Study...LTNS :^)
As for Michigan...Obama and Edwards took their names off the ballot in order to curry favor with other states. In both of their cases, it was their political inexperience and/or political stupidity that caused them to do that.
Clinton, Dodd, Gravel, and Kucinich left their names on the ballot as they were allowed to do under the terms of the no campaigning rules.
Kucinich of course, actively campaigned in Michigan. Obama used the campaign services of his surrogate John Conyers to campaign. It was Conyers who told the Obama supporters to vote as uncommitted. So, actually, Obama did campaign by bending the rules that the others honored.
Outcome: Obama was given half the delegates plus 4 of Hillary's delegates. Not fair at all. Smacks somewhat of the Diebold/other machine rigging in Florida 2000 and other states.
The recent moves made by Pelosi, Reid, and Dean in Obama's favor and an attempt to close out the primary are just more of the same.
A mind once expanded can never return to its original dimensions.
Anne Hathaway: 1556-1623
The greatest derangement of the mind is to believe in something because one wishes it to be so.
Hi Belinda!
- Good to see you here!
That must have been difficult- no one campaigning
and only one name of the big three on the ballot .
I sure hope this doesn't happen again.
Our party does not need the strife and division
resulting from the primaries in Michigan and Florida.
I would be angry too if my vote didn't count.
But realizing that the primaries were in jeopardy
for violating DNC rules would be a big tip off
that this would happen.
IMHO, you made a difficult but good choice to abstain
from voting.
This is one of the few times you will EVER hear me say that.
Good to see, ya- Please, don't be a stranger, OK?
:-)
Hamshoe: Don't blame the party(DNC)...
because they were operating from an agreement agreed to and signed in all 50 states.
In both Michigan and Florida, it was the STATE party machine that screwed the pooch by changing the date of their state's primaries.
Some solutions were offered. A revote for one. Those were declined by one of the two candidates so did not come about.
Your vote is not half a vote and you are not half a voter. It was, after all, Obama's cutsey idea to pull his name off the ballot--to actively campaign in Michigan using his surrogate John Conyers--and his idea of supporters of Obama to vote uncomnmitted.
Who really benefits from the final solution? Obama of course. He gets the uncommitted votes at half value--before he had no delegates due to his own transgressions.
Citizens from the other 48 states sympathise with the balked voters from Michigan and Florida.
Your own votes count at full value in November and I guess that about the best we can look for.
Don't blame however, the National Party. It was the state party apparatus that fouled up in both Michigan and Florida. You guys can keep all of them out of office from this time forward.
A mind once expanded can never return to its original dimensions.
Anne Hathaway: 1556-1623
The greatest derangement of the mind is to believe in something because one wishes it to be so.
It was the state party apparatus that fouled up in both Michigan
...but it was the Rules commitee of the DNC that just decided that the rules were more important than the votes. It's an effed up situation that could have been handled so much better.
I appreciate the consideration, but I wish Pat Buchanan or Lyndon LaRouche were running this time. If I can't work for a cause I can support, I do enjoy making sure people are aware of the lunatics.
Correction: the Rules
Correction: the Rules Committee of the DNC did not "just decide" anything about the importance of the Rules. The Rules were in place long before the State Legislatures of both States decided to flaunt them just so they could be "first," and get a jump on the other states.
The other 48 States followed the Rules, and have not complained. Why do Florida and Michigan deserve special treatment?
grinch re: Hamshoe: Don't blame the party/DNC
Please, please note that the Florida Democratic Party, while in disarray (and heaven knows it's such a mess that it was nailed by the Feds for not paying it's payroll taxes in the last couple of years), was not responsible for the date change. A Republican legislature, with a better than 2 to 1 majority tacked the date change on election reform bill. The DNC punished Florida Democrats for a Republican action. Not really feeling the love or unity here.
The DNC didn't "punish"
The DNC didn't "punish" anyone -- they simply followed their Rules.
Floridians actually punished other Floridians by allowing their Republican legislature to "gerrymander" the Primary Election date. Incidentally, the idiots also violated their own Party's Rules.
Your recourse? Vote the bums out, and replace them with Democrats.
As I see it
the republicans did it to us again and the DNC was boxed into a corner with no good way out. There was no verdict from the DNC that could have pleased us all. Our party is split pretty much down the middle over this. When I say split don't hear that as irreparably divided. That being said, we need to give the Clinton people respect and time to come around to Obama as their best/only reasonable choice. I am one of them [Clinton voters] and the more rude, negative, confrontational comments that I hear about my candidate the more my heels dig in.
We can't bully or lecture people who are so passionate and expect to win them over. It is human nature to push back when one feels their strongly held feelings and beliefs are being attacked or at least not respected.
Obama is going to have to convince many democrats that he is their guy and that he is not just another Chicago, Daly "made man". We can help with that by arming ourselves with the facts and rebutting the republican lies and distortions as soon as they come up.
In Pennsylvania 42% of Hillary voters say, today, that they won't vote for Obama. All of us need to work to gain their support for Obama. It won't happen if we try to use force and insults. This primary turned into a cult of personalities. Obama and Hillary have to work together to fix the breach between their democratic voters and we have to help. McCain is the enemy and we must make sure that all democrats are very clear on that point.
As disappointed as I am that my candidate did not get the nomination I am fully aware that we can not stand another 4 years of Bush,Rove,Chaney,McCain,neocon,policys. I firmly believe that this November Democrats will be voting not just for a president, but also for the way of life that we all cherish, for America, and for our Constitution. With all that is at stake
we can't not vote for Obama. To paraphrase [never thought I would quote this guy] you go to war with the army you have and that means Obama and every one of us and everyone we can muster. This is war and we can't afford to lose again.
"When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross." ~ Sinclair Lewis
"I'm just pissed off that not enough other people are pissed off."~Bill Maher
So true Di.
Grinch brought up the rudeness occurring over at D.U.,towards Hillary, and I've visited there a few times since. Sheesh.
One caveat: For those who identify even semi strongly, as Democrats, more forceful reminders do work. I'm in Pa.
I haven't a clue as to why folks continue to put down Hillary. Then again our bloggers are also shitty role models for this.
Di, thanks for the kind words...
it wasn't just the horrible slurs against Hillary, Chelsea, and Bill on DU that were so terrible--the constant drumbeat of hate perpetrated by Obama supporters, it was the fact that this same set of slurs, in lockstep, also appeared on Kos and other major sites on the net and in the MSM by people who are known to be very public Hillary Haters.
There is no way that a woman can be trusted to run the company. That is the bottom line.
For example, Hillary was castigated beyond belief because she voted for the IWR. None acknowledged her very complete statement following that vote. No matter that 75 other senators voted for the measure--it was only important that Hillary had. Who else voted for it? How about Kerry? Edwards is still today, perfectly acceptable as a VP selection...and he was one of the sponsors of the IWR. But then, he is a man and men know best don't ya know.
The list of 'damming' things that Hillary has done or has not done is lengthy. St Obama has a perfectly clean record standing as he does on that ephemeral glob of his undefined "Faith, Hope, and Change mantra. Amazing just how faith, hope and change can come so openly from an old time Chicago Daly machine politician.
I have seen what I've seen. I have read all the words. Watched all the the shabbiest actions against a candidate who has clearly been for the underdog for her entire adult life.
I cannot, in good conscience vote for her opponent. My vote is my own. No one else, in our representitive democracy has the right to dictate who or what I expend that vote on.
Obama has won half the party. Hillary has won half the party.
Question is: Can Obama win the GE with the support of half the party?
I don't think so.
Hurt us in the long run? Naw. We will have to make sure that the Congress will finally wake up, Rip Van Winkle Style, and start doing the job we pay them to do.
I cannot, will not, vote for Obama.
A mind once expanded can never return to its original dimensions.
Anne Hathaway: 1556-1623
The greatest derangement of the mind is to believe in something because one wishes it to be so.
Awww, Grinchy...
I’m sorry about DU. I was a member there for a brief time but I asked Skinner to delete my membership because of the pack mentality there. It can get rather ugly.
I didn’t have a horse in this race. I don’t have free time I used to have to devote to politics. This year I decided not to watch as major media made a mockery of our electoral system. I wanted to make up my own mind, absent the opinionated garbage they spew 24/7 at the behest of corporate interests.
When I weighed the positives/negatives of both candidates, there was something I simply could not get past without getting angry every time I thought about it, and that is the DLC. I couldn’t forget all the smack they threw our way for all those years and the candidates they ruined for us, and the hope they buried for all those years that we lost the presidency.
Dr. Dean opened the door for us and he was destroyed for it – but grassroots did not forget the most important revelation of what had occurred: Grassroots can fund political campaigns just as easily as corporations can with the help of the internet.
So, I waded through this primary season and I kept coming back to a remark Sharpton once made that made so much sense to me. Paraphrased: ‘You dance with the one that brung ya.’
Progress isn't cheap and it ain't easy. I spent a lot of years and shed a lot of tears, just fantasizing about the day that the DLC would be handed its walking papers.
I don’t think Hillary lost because she’s a woman. I think she is just the wrong woman. I don’t think it’s because of her vote on the Iraq War. I think her association the DLC destroyed her. There are a lot of us out here who HATE the DLC AND the horse it rode in on.
Don't get me wrong: I am upset that a woman lost the nom. Just about the time I drown in that, I realize that we have opened so many doors – for women, for working people, and for blacks. And if that weren’t enough to help me get through this, I also remember that the DLC was handed its walking papers. And it makes it okay.
For now.
Lootie, I fully understand about the DLC...
this decision of mine was not a 'will o the wisp' thing that suddenly came to me in the dead of night.
This really would have been a year for a Wellstone, a Clark, a Feingold, or other candidate who would have been capable of putting our beleagered country back together.
We, the voters that is, have to select our nominee from those who choose to run. Back at the beginning of this election cycle, I made the remark here and on other boards that I looked for the 'None Of The Above' button and failed to find it.
From the dismal list of wanna-bees, my selection was based on the past records of all, what info I and others could discover, and what future possibilities each candidate offered for the immediate future.
Of them all, Hillary made the top of the list. First, she has a known record stretching back over her lifetime. Many of the others did as well, but in their cases, their pasts were more of a detriment than any sort of advantage.
I have no desire to aid McBomb in any way. This probably being my last national election, I have chosen to stay with a candidate where I don't have to hold my nose as I have during the past few elections.
My feelings are simply that we have been snookered again. This time, I won't go along.
A mind once expanded can never return to its original dimensions.
Anne Hathaway: 1556-1623
The greatest derangement of the mind is to believe in something because one wishes it to be so.
What do you mean
your 'last national election'? I thought that was my line?!? Planning on going somewhere, MM?
OK YOU 2.
I love you both, and you've both carried enough water to do whatever the hell you like ;)
BUT
now that I have your attention, I'm hoping what my daughters said will help you probe the great depths of metaphysics you're engaged in:
LOL! Classic...
LOL! Classic...
Hey! I just want to know
when he's going. So I'll know whether to ask him to leave the light on for me, or to leave it on for him.
Like Motel 6, we'll leave
Like Motel 6, we'll leave the light on for all y'all...
Take...
...your keyboard!
I'M TAKING MINE.
---------------
At least I would if I had this dreamy one:
All the images on the keys are individually programmable for ONLY $1500.
Only $1500 for pretty keys, and yet my wife looked oddly at me when I spoke of it. So immature!
Di, as you well know, the
Di, as you well know, the nature of Republican political machinery in the US today is that no matter who the Democrats choose for their nominee, the Republicans will attack them with lies, distortions, and innuendo. That is what Karl Rove and Dick Cheney taught them, and that is the way they wage their campaigns. So, what you say is very true: we must answer them with the truth, but above all, we must be unified -- because the Republicans certainly will be, lies and all.
Had the two Democratic front-runners both been white men (say Gore and Edwards) I doubt seriously that the Party divide would have been this wide. The issues of gender and race have been very apparent in the Hillary/Obama matchup, however, and I believe that there is more raw emotion involved over these factors, than is "ordinary" in a political race. When viewed from a different perspective, the 2008 Democratic Primary process has already had an extremely positive effect on the social progress of all Americans -- regardless of their gender or race.
If we can get back to the basics, and promote the American Liberal foundations and priciples that make us Democrats, and return our Party to those roots at the same time, we will have accomplished much more than just regaining the Oval Office. We will have taken a giant leap towards returning this country to its former greatness, and in restoring its Constitutional Rights to the American People.
The first three words of the preceeding paragraph comprise the key question that must be answered: "If we can..." I believe that we not only can, but must, at all costs, with no sacrifice being too large.
What a sweet, gracious, generous speech--Hillary endorses Obama!
Curious what others thought about the speech today. Here's my take, which is top of the page currently at opednews.com and at my blog at knoxvoice.com :
by Don Williams
Hillary Clinton can flat deliver a speech, and her latest is for the ages, because there was nothing flat about what she said or how she said it Saturday shortly before 1 p.m. The speech soared to high eloquence and descended to moments of sweet reflection, delivering its crucial, head-line grabbing message in wave after wave of electrifying support for Barack Obama.
I will work my heart out to make sure that Sen. Obama is our next president,” she said, in about as clear an endorsement as one is likely to hear. “And I hope and pray that all of you will join me in that effort!”
Standing between giant twin pillars of historic National Building Museum near the White House she’d yearned to occupy again one day, she had the audience drinking in every word. There were tears, cheers, laughter and hugs in the audience, including some from Chelsea and Bill Clinton, who took a bow, stage left.
Even die-hard supporters who vowed never to support Obama–and yes, there were some sitting on their hands–must’ve been moved. If anyone entered the hall with doubts in their hearts or minds as to Hillary’s commitment to America, the Democratic Party, Bill Clinton, women everywhere, but most importantly to Barack Obama, she surely emptied them of such doubt and poured in conviction.
This might be the best speech anyone ever delivered in support of Obama, and one of the best concession speeches ever crafted, right up there with Al Gore’s eloquent concession in 2000.
Obama is not a fool. Far from it. He will make maximum use of this woman, who has honed her talents to a fine point in the crucible of 54 primary contests and 22 debates. In this moment she just might be the single best politician in America, maybe the world. She was surging at the end of that complex process, winning lopsided victories in several states.
Surely that record, coupled with this speech, has secured her a spot on Obama’s short list of candidates for vice-president. If that notion proves too blessed unwieldy, he’ll surely find some other way to take her up on the pledge to work hard for him.
Hillary’s speech surpassed all expectations, surely. It blessed and vindicated her supporters. It lifted their hearts and minds.
It validated the long struggle to keep her nomination alive to reach this point. Most of all, it embraced Obama in no uncertain terms.
It also delivered a message in a bottle to future historians. In a speech she surely knew would be history-making, no matter what she said or how she said it, she said and did all the right things.
Speaking to women and girls, she admonished them never to give up.
Speaking to blacks, hispanics and others of color, she inveighed against racism and prejudice in absolute terms.
Speaking to inheritors of our Earth, she gave a clarion call, summoning us all to save the Earth and stop global warming for all creatures with whom we share our world.
Speaking to supporters of former President Bill Clinton she took pains to place in vivid perspective his accomplishment in winning two of the only three terms by a Democratic president in the past 40 years.
And her conclusion was a rousing plea for unity and victory.
I confess, the speech brought tears to my eyes, and I found myself wishing that she’d made a few different decisions, so I could’ve supported her for president.
I do support her for vice-president. She’s as charismatic as Obama. She’s tough, relentless, sunny, optimistic, attractive and bright. Surely she and Obama together will be an unstoppable force in American politics and American life.
Go Obama. Go Hillary.
Read the full text of her speech at www.nytimes.com.
For video and AP report, visit www.washingtonpost.com.