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Politics: October 2008 Archives
If these numbers are to be believed, 3/4ths of Colorado and 55-60% of New Mexico has voted, with a large advantage to Obama and Democrats in each state. Please let it be true. Please let this lead persist.
Dwight Eisenhower was a socialist, according to McCain's logic. So was Nixon. Ridiculous BS argument.
The worst of the GOP mailers. To date anyway.
Georgia's Republican Secretary of State is authorizing racial profiling to disenfranchise non-white voters.
In Florida, the GOP is freaking out that "carloads of blacks" are voting in an email called "The Threat". More target="_blank">here.
Barring the real problem of Republican voter suppression, some positive trends to look out for.
That said, courts have thrown out idiotic GOP lawsuits in Indiana and Pennsylvania that sought to suppress voter registrations. So, good news there, I hope.
Early voting here in Clark County and across the state are exceeding expectations. At the current rate, at least half of the expected voters will have done so by 6 pm tonight.
The Democrats are empowering women on a variety of ballots. You know, competent women and not just some nitwit eye candy like Palin. Good luck to all of them in their races.
This article reviews the situation in Nevada, along with GOP attempts to sue their way to victory here. Don't laugh, that's how we ended up with Bush the Lesser.
A closer look at yesterday's encouraging numbers, as of yesterday morning.
From earlier in the week, an interview with Barack Obama (audio).
From this week's CityLife, Steve Sebelius on the election, George Knapp on the hopes of getting our country back, and Hugh Jackson on why conservatives think you are lazy for not earning a quarter million a year. That's right, you aren't onboard with McCain because you are lazy. And that is supposed to turn undecideds TO him?
To wrap up, the tally to date from early voting down here in southern Nevada.
Go vote folks, wherever you are.
Read this. Go vote. And STAY THERE until you actually HAVE voted!
The results of the Global Electoral College shows that McCain is getting his ass kicked. And this is from subscribers to The Economist, which is never getting confused as a liberal media source.
If Obama is a socialist, let's look at others throughout history:
Speaking of socialists, let us look at which states receive a lot of something for next to nothing. You will not that BOTH Alaska and Arizona are high on the Federal welfare list, and Illinois and Connecticut are essentially paying for the right for McCain and Palin to paint their favorite sons as Marxists.
Strange, no? If McCain hates socialism so much, let's cut off his state from their welfare plan. Tough love, bitch.
Just for fun, a couple polls of no consequence, except that they may somewhat reflective of reality. The 7-11 7-Election cup poll, which has Obama up 60-40 nationwide (strangely mirroring the 59% Obama lead in early voting).
Over at the Domino's Pizza Tracker poll, Obama holds a 52-36% lead over McCain.
So, hey, go vote early, then grab a Slurpee or coffee and scare the Rethugs. I'd say buy Domino's but they'd only give the profits to some abortion clinic bomber, so why don't you skip that stop, okay?
Hitting back at McCain's love for anti-American corporations:
Plus a couple from the Obama campaign itself:
Esquire on the racist vote. You'd be surprised who is for Obama, if not quite why.
No extended early voting in Georgia. Gee, I wonder what the GOP is worried about? Someone please ask them why they hate democracy.
Luckily, those vote suppression efforts aren't working so well. Also, check out TPM's Republican Voter Suppression Guide.
McCainiac electrocutes a 9 year old for trying to steal his yard sign. These assholes don't just love Gitmo, they are building the home version.
"Here's the simplest measure of how this piece was effective: it reminded us what it's like to look forward to hearing from our President. What Obama has reinvented here is not the campaign ad but the fireside chat."- Eric Liu, at Politico
"Obama can go on TV for 30 minutes and not mention John McCain even once.
No way would the reverse be true."- BM, at Talking Points Memo
If you missed the informercial, please check it out here:
Also, just for fun, check out his interview with John Stewart last night.
In general:
"Please, dear god, after Tuesday let me never again hear the phrase 'my friends' and never again hear the squeaky, empty-headed voice of Sarah Palin."- poster Jesus Jones, at Unknown News
The Economist endorsement.
There is no getting around the fact that Mr Obama's résumé is thin for the world's biggest job. But the exceptionally assured way in which he has run his campaign is a considerable comfort. It is not just that he has more than held his own against Mr McCain in the debates. A man who started with no money and few supporters has out-thought, out-organised and out-fought the two mightiest machines in American politics--the Clintons and the conservative right.Political fire, far from rattling Mr Obama, seems to bring out the best in him: the furore about his (admittedly ghastly) preacher prompted one of the most thoughtful speeches of the campaign. On the financial crisis his performance has been as assured as Mr McCain's has been febrile. He seems a quick learner and has built up an impressive team of advisers, drawing in seasoned hands like Paul Volcker, Robert Rubin and Larry Summers. Of course, Mr Obama will make mistakes; but this is a man who listens, learns and manages well.
Bonus: Photo fun with the candidates.
Some old links that have comforted me to date.
There is a reason why a huge electoral lead does not lead to a massive popular vote total. Read this for an explanation.
This article says what we've known all along: none of this was going to be easy.
Some electoral vote analysis over the past few months.
Now you can breathe a little, no?
More Republican lies, this one of Obama's supposed "patriotism gap". Findlay is where Leslie was born and is apparently ardently conservative. So, um, not exactly a community of swing voters as the GOP claims.
"By the end of the week, he'll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in Kindergarten." - Obama, on McCain's devolving campaign slander
I believe they are underestimating turnout, but a lot of CEOs are offering a Vote Hour next Tuesday.
Take 'em up on it.
Obama supporters mobbed by McCainiacs in Florida. Stay classy.
I already linked this vile video, but the comments on this blog have been instructive.
Digging deeper in this article, a history of folks Palin has backstabbed to get where she is today.
Sobering stuff, but focusing on Obama's protective detail. It can't be any easier with Palinites getting motivated to Get Out The Violence.
More on the fraud that is the GOP myth of voter fraud.
Plus, additional GOP dirty tricks coverage.
The GOP tried to disenfranchise this Latino voter and stole and abused his personal info:
Could it have been the color of his skin?
Why does Matt Drudge only show Obama in black and white pictures on his site? What is he saying? I mean, I'm pretty sure *I* know, but let's get him to say it.
Well, sort of. But, you know, anything to make you conservatives more comfortable with voting for Obama.
Plus, a story on early voting in Florida.
Bonus: Someone needs to find out if Ted Stevens voted early. Because if he did, someone needs to pull his ballot. From Daily Kos, a look at Alaska state law:
I was convicted of a felony, but have served my time and am on probation. Can I register to vote?No. A convicted felon may not register to vote unless unconditionally discharged from custody. When you are no longer on probation, a copy of your discharge papers will allow you to register.
It is hard to stay positive lately.
All this talk of voter suppression, stolen votes, missing votes, votes the GOP wants removed because they are likely not for them.
Then you have the constant stream of Palinite racist BS, with death threats and neo-Nazi scumbags wanting to decapitate black kids. All across America we see the ugliness that is the Republican Party, and McCain won't calm it down and Palin just encourages it.
That said, read this. It is Obama's "closing argument" and probably a harbinger of what we'll see tomorrow night on TV as well as for the next week.
"In one week, you can put an end to the politics that would divide a nation just to win an election; that tries to pit region against region, city against town, Republican against Democrat; that asks us to fear at a time when we need hope."
That's what we need to hear.
When rain came to Pennsylvania today, McCain stayed inside and cancelled a speech. Obama went outside and spoke to 9,000 people. It isn't much in the grand scheme of things, but it counts. It matters that a little rain won't stop Obama, but will halt the McCain campaign in a battleground state. When McCain has nothing left to lose, he still gives up.
Instead, from Obama: "Whether it's rain or sleet or snow, we are going to go out and we're going to vote, because there's too much at stake ... We're going to keep on going until we finish the job."
That is, unless you're from Texas. Seriously, this asshat accuses Obama of having no sense to get out of the rain. Hell, if nine thousand people stuck around to listen to me, I'd venture into a hail storm until I got knocked down. That said, read the comments on that article. Priceless.
I know these are difficult times for America. But I also know that we have faced difficult times before. The American story has never been about things coming easy - it's been about rising to the moment when the moment was hard. It's about seeing the highest mountaintop from the deepest of valleys. It's about rejecting fear and division for unity of purpose. That's how we've overcome war and depression. That's how we've won great struggles for civil rights and women's rights and worker's rights. And that's how we'll emerge from this crisis stronger and more prosperous than we were before - as one nation; as one people.
Markos Moulitsas of DailyKos on what we should demand from a new Democratic era.
Black mothers discuss their hopes and fears concerning Obama.
And while I may be very down on organized religion, this article discusses Obama's inroads with people of faith. Yes, this excludes the Talibangelical Psuedo-Christians.
Chicago is preparing for a crowd of one million in Grant Park on Election Night. I sure wish I could be there.
More hatred from so-called Christians.
Repression on the ballot in Colorado in the form of Amendment 48 and in California in the form of Proposition 8. Prop 8 is being funded by out-of-state Mormons. State's Rights, yo!
In Iowa, pro-McCain supporters are thrown out of a McCain rally. What? You want to know why? Since they are college students, they were profiled as potential protesters. Fear the Young!
In Ohio, a Rethug decided to shoot a teenager trying to steal his McCain yard sign. Yes, both sides should put a stop to these shenanigans whenever they can. But not with a hollow point.
Silly Republicans. Always turning to violence the first chance they get.
The GOP is sending emails to Pennsylvania Jewish voters comparing Obama to Hitler. In Florida, a GOP mailer says Obama is no friend of Israel. Way to go positive you evil bastards.
Not all is bad. Good news on expanding early voting hours in Florida and votes for the homeless in Ohio. Hey, if Obama loses because everyone got a chance to vote, I'm going to be a lot better with it than if he loses to all the GOP voter suppression we've been seeing of late.
That said, these fine folks in Georgia stood in line for up to 12 hours to vote predominantly for Obama. That's a good sign, people. Keep up the good work.
"You're No Maverick" says the Maverick Family:
When you see an article on Bloomberg about how vile the GOP campaign has been, you know you are starting to hit rock bottom.
Oh wait, even further to rock bottom is the McCain campaign's senior economic policy advisor admitting that your health care tax credit can't buy you decent insurance after all.
Oops.
So what do the Republicans and Al Qaeda have in common? Divisiveness. It is the 'with us or against us' approach, the delineation of patriotic vs. non-patriotic parts of the country, the Red states vs. the Blue states, the black man vs. the white man that that strikes a chord with Al Qaeda, for they too have the same approach -- if you are not with them, you are going to hell.It is the puritanical attitude that both groups share, the belief that all those who are different are to be shunned and that uniformity is the only way to achieve unity.
And it is the use of fear as an operating mechanism that brings these two groups together. One side woos its voters by telling them the other candidate will take their money, turn their nation into a socialist state, coddle criminals and be an open target for the Russians and the Muslims. The other side recruits its followers by telling them that they will be enslaved by the immoral West, their wives will stop listening to them and there will be lewdness and orgies on the street.
Both these groups cater to an uninformed audience. Both these groups preach intolerance. And both lure their followers by claims to "return to the core values" -- a proposition which sounds good until you ask, what values? And more importantly, whose values?
Read the whole thing here.
Some random links I'm going to throw together for ya.
A collection of older angry Palinite videos some of which I've already linked you to.
Joe Biden can explain what a Vice President's job is. His counterpart obviously has no fucking clue.
Robert Kennedy Jr. and Greg Palast worry that the election is already stolen and it is getting covered up for ACORN distractions. Read more in this Rolling Stone article (PDF link). Also, check out their comic at Steal Back Your Vote.
Sarah Palin has been spending a lot of time trying to paint Barack Obama as a socialist. Which, frankly, I wouldn't mind, but the charge isn't true. The REAL socialist, however, is the Witch of Wasilla herself.
"And Alaska--we're set up, unlike other states in the union, where it's collectively Alaskans own the resources. So we share in the wealth when the development of these resources occurs. ... It's to maximize benefits for Alaskans, not an individual company, not some multinational somewhere, but for Alaskans."
There's the Witch herself in the New Yorker, describing how she's a hypocrite.
More on the bullshit socialism charge.
Rick Sanchez at CNN calls out the McCainiacs on the supposed assault of a GOP troll.
Delusional FAUXNews bitch on the charge of her network being biased. Seriously, I really think she believes the bullshit "fair and balanced" mantra.
Obama is actually supporting old school Adam Smith capitalism. Not that you can tell from these idiots who think buying air time is communism.
Rethugs are whining about McCain getting more negative coverage than Obama. Well, I can explain it as well as the article can. McCain is running a crappy campaign. All his rally attendees seem to be terrorist Klan members. He inspires "boos" in his speeches against his opponent rather than trying to elicit cheers for anything he is for. And his VP pick is a fucklng lunatic. Got it?
Vote flipping caught on camera in West Virginia:
Olbermann on McCain's continued silence on the racism in his campaign:
Esquire on the 10 Worst Members of Congress. Yes, it is even bipartisan
Leslie and I were part of the 30,000+ who voted here in Clark County yesterday, part of the 2100 or so who voted on campus. Clark County has over 240,000 early votes already with a few days to go with that process.
For more on early voting in all states reporting info, click here.
The view from UNLV. Even slightly biased for the GOP, as Las Vegas print media is, not a bad article.
I can't keep up with the Republican slime.
Over at Amazon.com, an Obama mask was (until they were caught) designated a terrorist costume.
Palin is fine with her zealots calling Obama a "n***er"
That said, in Pennsylvania, many racists say: "We're voting for the n***er". Wherever you can get the votes, I guess.
The GOP in Virginia has released a statement trying to fool Democrats into voting on Wednesday, November 5th.
The Pennsylvania GOP is suing to disenfrachise 140,000 new voters. Why do these people hate democracy so much?
The ATF arrested two teenage Palinites who wanted to shoot 88 black students, decapitate another 14, and THEN assassinate Obama.
Yes Palin and McCain. YOU are at fault for this. YOU called this out. YOU should stop it.
Once again, THIS is what happens when Palin inspires MY neighbors to hate and fear.
And THIS is what happens in western Colorado when Palin comes to town. These assholes outright say they are going to kill Obama if he wins.
Where the hell is the Secret Service on this?
Terry Tate is back and delivering the smackdown on Sarah Palin:
Not as much funny as creepy, but here is a Palinite clone who reacts to McCain's adoration as if she actually WERE Palin:
Leslie and I went to early vote on campus. Gabriel helped me choose Obama/Biden so he's got his first taste of voting at two months. He even got an "I voted" sticker. Let's hope they count them correctly. The following makes one wonder.
As if losing on the issues wasn't bad enough, the GOP and McCain are determined to cheat their way to victory. And it is happening nationwide.
- Voter intimidation in New Mexico
- They just steal your ballot in Florida
- Using foreclosure lists to illegally disenfranchise voters in Michigan
- 50,000 voters purged in Georgia
- 30,000 illegally purged in Colorado
- More on the shenanigans in Philadelphia, now including a lawsuit to force enough polling places and machines to be present
- Some CNN video on the Georgia purge. Apparently people are being informed they aren't even US citizens.
- Sequoia Voting Systems could not be bothered to print 11,000 absentee ballots that it said it had sent out. Diebold isn't acting alone.
- In North Carolina, you can't vote for president. Or at least it is very hard to.
- In Michigan, the GOP is trying to stop new voters from voting absentee, thus disenfranchising predominantly young and college going voters. You know, because it is really hard to come in for election day from out-of-state.
In short, they are on the ropes and pulling out all the stops to take your vote away. I'm sure there are far more stories like this nationwide.
Wherever you are, vote. You might be replacing the vote of a fellow citizen screwed by the Republican Party.
I really, REALLY had no motivation to vote for Shelley Berkley. She was amongst the most shrill, condescending, disgusting of Hillary supporters in Nevada. Her performance at our first Clark County convention.made what was a very bad situation damn near anarchy. Look, if you have a room full of Democrats TRYING to work together, don't go campaigning for your candidate by insulting the backers of her opponent.
Yeah, I know she's popular and have enjoyed supporting her to date, but her behavior during the primary season and even at the state convention was truly shitty. I even voted for her opponent in the primary just because I couldn't stomach casting a vote for her.
And then the GOP made it just a bit easier to do.
I listened to part of an interview with her opponent, Rethug Kenneth Wegner, the other day. After listening to his vile extremist GOP bullshit (audio), I decided to vote for Berkley after all.
Congrats! The Republican demagogue got me to vote for the Democrat one. Oh the joys of democracy!
The world weighs in.
Even the conservative Reader's Digest provides global results that are decidedly pro-Obama.
Plus, the New York Times endorsement.
One last request before the election:
Thanks.
You can read up on voter fraud from two fine articles at ThinkProgress and over at Daily Kos.
At Kos, you can also read the history of Republican efforts to suppress votes since 2000.
Recent proof of this can be found in Lake County, Indiana, where early voting sites were reopened by court order after the GOP "leaders" shut them down. They also stopped processing new voter registrations. No clue on when THAT will start again. And, of course, they wanted to throw out all the thousands of early votes cast prior to their illegal shutdown.
Word from some disheartened McCain workers that, yes, they ARE working on voter suppression and fraud as a way to win. Big surprise.
Some Palinites are resorting to vandalism, burglaries and death threats of ACORN employees. Now, in Ohio, they've tried to hack websites, send suspicious packages, and issued death threats to state officials.
Freedom lovers? Not so much.
Even Palinite campaign dittoheads can't believe the shit coming out of their mouths. Chris Matthews FTW.
Here is a Talibangelical poll I'd like you all to vote for Obama on. If you don't, I imagine some GOP asshat will use it as "proof" Obama is losing support.
Meanwhile, in Indiana, the GOP shut down early voting centers in Lake County. This part of Indiana is heavily African-American and very pro-Democratic. So the powers that be shut down the voting sites and stopped registering new voter registrations? Why? Presumably because they are asshole racist Republicans with an axe to grind.
Now, they have to reopen the voting centers by court order.
Talking Points Memo brings you the interactive Map of Sleaze.
Meanwhile, meet Bill the Rancher, screwed by a Republican. Big surprise.
And yes, Cindy was there on stage with him. In fact, watch her flinch when he says it.
A message from Al the Shoe Salesman
I had mentioned "The Talk" along with the "Great Schlep" last week. Here's a promo from Natalie Portman on the same subject:
Want to know who wants McCain as president? Idiots like this:
Republicans are idiots. Particularly those who don't know their ass from an Ohio state flag:
More to come.
Not likely, but got a few spare bucks? Here are some useful places for it.
Michele Bachmann is among the worst pieces of shit the GOP has. Along with Palin, she's one of those "only Republicans can be REAL Americans" zealots. More on this here and here and here. You can sign a petition to censure her here or donate to her opponent here.
Though honestly, he's made over $800,000 since last Thursday so here are some other options.
In North Carolina, Rethug Robin Hayes declares that "liberals hate real Americans". Last I checked, I love this country and was assholes like Hayes to shut up and let freedom grow across this land, not strangle it in theocratic hatred. So, slide a few bucks to Larry Kissell, Hayes' opponent.
Saxby Chambliss stole an election from a decorated Vietnam vet by screaming 9/11 real loud. Now he would like to "arrest every Muslim who crosses the state line" into Georgia. Send this asshole back to Georgia by donating to Jim Martin's campaign.
If all else fails, the Obama campaign is looking to spread the wealth, so you can always donate to his campaign and watch it get to where it is most needed. Donate here.
The Rethugs have not disappointed me. According to them, Obama isn't going to Hawaii to visit his sick grandmother. He's supposedly going to hide that he was born in Kenya.
Wait a minute. Which candidate was born in a place that is not currently part of America? Yeah, that would be McCain you assholes.
More here.
"Get the Obama signs off your property--now. Failure to obey this order will result in the immediate death of all family members."
Read this. Loath the Republican party some more.
Philadelphia is on a collision course with voter suppression thanks to election officials.
More from Lake County, Indiana. The GOP has decided to ignore ANY registrations from there. Nice move jackasses.
A McCain lacky was arrested in LA for voter fraud. Um, I'm not surprised he did it, just that they are actually charging the GOP with these kinds of acts.
A 66-year old grandmother in Kansas City is suing McCain and Palin for promoting hate speech. Good for her.
For her part, Palin swears she has never heard such talk. Apparently not even when she's saying the words herself? Wow, she IS a parrot.
Scenes from Preston, MO
In Democratic Lake County, Indiana the GOP swears there is a conspiracy concerning ACORN. That said, ACORN says "We turned them in three separate stacks: ones we had been able to verify, ones that were incomplete and ones that were questionable or suspicious."
And you know, since they have to turn EVERY form in BY LAW....
In Ohio, the Greene County Young Republicans laid out plans to commit voter fraud.
ALSO in Ohio, Joe Deters, McCain's SW Ohio co-chair (and a local prosecutor) has subpoenaed info from early voters, namely those who registered and voted on the same day. Just a tad Draconian, no?
ALSO, ALSO in Ohio, this racist prick:
In North Carolina, white Palinites heckle early voters, calling them "cheaters" for some reason. Voting is cheating? Only to those who let Diebold or the Supreme Court pick their leaders I guess.
Also in North Carolina, 30 families had their tires slashed. Why? They attended an Obama rally and their racist neighbors wanted to thank them I guess.
Racists for Obama? Who knows? Maybe not ALL of them are voting for McCain.
That said, there is this guy:
More national news in that story as well.
In an evil combination of Stephen Colbert and Palinite sickness, a dead bear was dumped on the Western Carolina campus with Obama campaign signs stapled on it. Yes, stapled. Guess the racists couldn't find a monkey.
The Talibangelicals are handing out their biased voting "guides" again.
In Michigan, the GOP has been stopped from blocking foreclosure victims from voting.
Confusing ballots in North Carolina could benefit the GOP. Go figure.
Voting for Obama in West Virginia will end up as a vote for McCain. Other Dem votes end up going for Rethugs as well. Stay tuned.
This article says the GOP is terrified of voters. Given everything I just linked you to, I figure you'd agree.
Even with all the early voting (info here as well as early results) it is going to be a busy election day.
For his part, Colin Powell gets compared to Benedict Arnold. And one in blackface at that:
Which is why Seth MacFarlane is totally in his rights to call it like he sees it:
Awhile back I linked to a Wired article on some advice for the next president.
Yesterday there was a Wired article asking for a renewed focus on rebuliding our infracstructure: a modern WPA. Apparently the American Society of Civil Engineers grades us at a D average - and that was three years ago.
CQPolitics covers the issue of health care in the campaign, as well as many other challenges facing America.
On the way back from lunch today, I got to hear part of Michael Pollan's argument about how to address the problem of food in our country. How we get it, where we get it, the subsidies, waste, agribusiness, and other blights on our existing farm system. It bears a good listening to (which I am doing now).
Plus, another point of view on the candidate's stances on technology.
Most surprisingly - to me - anyway, comes the endorsement of the Chicago Tribune:
"On Nov. 4 we're going to elect a president to lead us through a perilous time and restore in us a common sense of national purpose."The strongest candidate to do that is Sen. Barack Obama. The Tribune is proud to endorse him today for president of the United States."
This from the newspaper that has NEVER endorsed a Democrat for president.
Here, however, is the most damning part:
"McCain failed in his most important executive decision. Give him credit for choosing a female running mate--but he passed up any number of supremely qualified Republican women who could have served. Having called Obama not ready to lead, McCain chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. His campaign has tried to stage-manage Palin's exposure to the public. But it's clear she is not prepared to step in at a moment's notice and serve as president. McCain put his campaign before his country."
The Los Angeles Times endorsed Obama "without hesitation" after not endorsing ANYONE in 72 years.
"But for all the excitement of his own candidacy, Obama has offered more competence than drama."He is no lone rider. He is a consensus builder, a leader. As a constitutional scholar, he has articulated a respect for the rule of law and the limited power of the executive that make him the best hope of restoring balance and process to the Justice Department. He is a Democrat, leaning further left than right, and that should be reflected in his nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court. This is a good thing; the court operates best when it is ideologically balanced. With its present alignment at seven justices named by Republicans and two by Democrats, it is due for a tug from the left."
From the Washington Post endorsement:
"The choice is made easy in part by Mr. McCain's disappointing campaign, above all his irresponsible selection of a running mate who is not ready to be president. It is made easy in larger part, though, because of our admiration for Mr. Obama and the impressive qualities he has shown during this long race. Yes, we have reservations and concerns, almost inevitably, given Mr. Obama's relatively brief experience in national politics. But we also have enormous hopes."Mr. Obama is a man of supple intelligence, with a nuanced grasp of complex issues and evident skill at conciliation and consensus-building. At home, we believe, he would respond to the economic crisis with a healthy respect for markets tempered by justified dismay over rising inequality and an understanding of the need for focused regulation. Abroad, the best evidence suggests that he would seek to maintain U.S. leadership and engagement, continue the fight against terrorists, and wage vigorous diplomacy on behalf of U.S. values and interests. Mr. Obama has the potential to become a great president. Given the enormous problems he would confront from his first day in office, and the damage wrought over the past eight years, we would settle for very good."
And, simply, from the San Francisco Chronicle endorsement.
"Barack Obama is the right president for these troubled times."
David Brooks will never be confused for a liberal, but even he is amazed by the steadiness of Obama, and the lack of stability in McCain.
Young voters of faith are trending Obama's way. Is there a hope that our future evangelicals will be more Christian than Taliban?
And a glimmer of hope in West Virginia, though still an uphill climb for Obama:
"I'm 84 years old. I had a lot of good colored people. They didn't bother me. I didn't bother me. They was good to me; I was good to them. That's all I can say."- Steve Nagy, retired miner, Logan, WV
You take what you can get I suppose.
Besides, who would you rather be on the side of? Obama backers Al Bundy (Ed O'Neill) and former Bush supporter Dennis Hopper...or Stephen Baldwin?
Come on people!
Leaving no stone unturned, the Obama campaign has bought ad space in online games.
Put down the controller and vote gamers!
We have not won. Not until the rigged voting machines say we have.
Not In The Bag Posted by JumpyPantsWe have the best candidate we've had in 50 years. He is also the best qualified person for this moment. He has the endorsement of major and minor newspapers across the nation. He is up in the polls. He has won all three debates.
But.
He is competing against people with no honor, no shame, no fairness, no regard for laws. They are robocalling. They are getting voters thrown off rolls. They have Diebold on their side. They are the worst of the worst.
We underestimate them at our peril.
Volunteer. Donate. Get involved. We have 19 days.
Robert Kennedy Jr. already thinks the election has been stolen for McCain and lists the reasons why he thinks this.
Over at Slate an explanation of why the GOP wants to shake the rattle of ACORN in your face while stealing the election with the other hand.
More on Republican fraud.
And God bless Paul Shaffer. Even if Dave was planning to softball it, Paul was going to skewer McCain with his intro music: "Can't Explain" by The Who:
Got a feeling inside (Can't explain)
It's a certain kind (Can't explain)
I feel hot and cold (Can't explain)
Yeah, down in my soul, yeah (Can't explain)
I said ... (Can't explain)
I'm feeling good now, yeah, but (Can't explain)
Dizzy in the head and I'm feeling blue
The things you've said, well, maybe they're true
I'm gettin' funny dreams again and again
I know what it means, but
Can't explain...
Here is a writeup of the high points and here is a link to the whole interview.
You gotta give Dave credit, he came as hard at McCain - and moreso - than the actual media has. I would have loved for him to go harder, but that's not his job.
Two observations. 1. McCain NEVER apologized. 2. Threatening a man with increased taxes for disagreeing with you is the mark of a dictator.
Speaking of dictators, here is what Florida GOP assholes think of Obama:
For a party inviting the fear of racial division and hatred, working to suppress millions of votes to say THEY aren't the heirs of Hitler and Stalin is vile. And wrong.
"Ignorant Christian Fascism is not a recipe for success, it's Saudi Arabia under a different prophet. Count me out. Despite differing with the Democratic platform on a great number of policies, I will gladly vote for the Obama ticket because at a minimum it promises adults at the helm, a rational approach to policymaking, the return of science over theocracy, the restoration of the primacy of the rule of law, and the creative destruction of that assemblage once known as the GOP."- email sent to Andrew Sullivan from a conservative
And what of Joe the not-so-licensed Plumber? Turns out he'd get $401 MORE from the Obama tax plan than the McCain one. Oops.
Palinites kick a reporter to the ground as the Witch of Wasilla avoids watching the news so as to not be "depressed". Great, she wants to be president and won't listen to outside voices. And they say they aren't like George Bush. Ha!
Not that it matters to a standard Republican troll, but the world overwhelming demands we elect Obama.
Don't just win on November 4th. Crush the GOP and their evil agenda across this nation.
While, of course, Nevada is a "swing state" and I'm definitely voting, I'm not really in a district to do anything on the list, but I encourage you to vote if YOU are and to find out if others are to get the job done.
This ad for Tom Udall, running for Senate in New Mexico, who really IS supporting our troops. And they know it.
Sergeant Erik Schei:
"Anything I would say about this ad probably just detracts from how moving it is. Even us die-hard campaign hacks here at Udall HQ get quiet and a bit choked up when we watch it. I just wanted to share it here because it is so easy for us all to get wrapped up in the horserace, the tit-for-tat and the minutiae of campaigning that we can forget why we do this. And who we're really working for."Steve Olson
Internet Director
Tom Udall for Senate
Bonus link:
If you invested $10,000 only during years with a Democratic presidency, you'd have made over $300,000. If only during GOP-led years, you'd have under $12,000.
Seriously, who is working for YOU?
"For those of you who are feeling giddy or cocky and think this is all set, I just [have] two words for you: New Hampshire. You know I've been in these positions before where we were favored and the press starts getting carried away and we end up getting spanked. And so that's another good lesson that Hillary Clinton taught me.
"We've got 19 days. We're going to have to work absolutely as hard as we've ever worked in our lives in order to just to get to the start of what is going to be a very difficult and very challenging but ultimately a very fulfilling four years where we can get this country back on track."
- Barack Obama, this morning
Donna Brazile weighs in on the Obama Effect. We'll see.
"Anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear had to feel sorry for the old lion on his last outing and wish that he could be taken somewhere soothing and restful before the night was out. The train-wreck sentences, the whistlings in the pipes, the alarming and bewildered handhold phrases - 'My friends' - to get him through the next 10 seconds. I haven't felt such pity for anyone since the late Adm. James Stockdale humiliated himself as Ross Perot's running mate. And I am sorry to have to say it, but Stockdale had also distinguished himself in America's most disastrous and shameful war, and it didn't qualify him then and it doesn't qualify McCain now."- Christopher Hitchens on rejecting McCain as he sort of endorses Obama
Also, Esquire endorses Obama. Once again, more to counter the sins of the Bush years that McCain would continue more than anything else. And truly, once having read it, let's vote for Obama, and let 88-year old John Paul Stevens retire from the Supreme Court and treat him as the hero he is for saving us from the horrors of neoconservative tyranny.
"More than any other recent election, we are voting this year not merely for a president but to overthrow two governments. The one we can see is the one in which constitutional order has been defaced, the national spirit degraded, and the country unrecognizable because so much of the best of itself has been sold off or frittered away. The other one is the far more insidious one, a doppelgänger nation of black prisons, shredded memos, and secret justifications for even more secret crimes. Moreover, the current administration has worked hard not only to immunize itself from the political and legal consequences of the government we can see, but it has also worked within the one we cannot see in order to perpetuate itself.
"For the past several months, it has worked to make extricating ourselves from the catastrophe it has wrought in Iraq as hard as possible. It has sought to make permanent the culture of corporate brigandage and predatory incompetence that it has made a hallmark of its stewardship of the country and its government. Salted throughout the vast bureaucracy are dozens of little homeschooled land mines, the products of a dozen cheapjack diploma mills selling patent-medicine history to the spiritually gullible. The fantastical hiring practices that only recently have come to light in the Department of Justice are only the most visible example of this, but the poisonous philosophy that has guided this administration is in all the institutions of the government Barack Obama hopes to lead. It is not dormant. It is there, replicating itself like a virus does in the cells of the body, waiting until it can erupt and debilitate him and his administration."
More Racist Republican BS coming later today. Shameful stuff.
And then there's THIS disturbing image of Zombie McCain wanting to grab Obama's ass:
Plus, Photoshopping McCain.
Also, the moment McCain failed the debate:
And if looking confused for 11 seconds didn't do it, dismissing the entire concept of women's health with some air quotes probably should have: