Positive Obama thread

NoH8

I also thought Obama did a good job of answering the questions vs. the stump speech. I rarely listen to McCain, but I had heard all of his... let me tell you a stories... before. McCain was clearly in campaign mode where as Obama was more nuanced and conversational. Obama addressed Warren and McCain addressed the audience. Obama saw shades of gray where McCain was (for lack of a better phrase) black and white. I want a thoughtful president and one who's not so steadfast in his beliefs that he isn't willing to examine alternative opinions.

LAphoenix

Did you guys hear about the "cross in the sand" story?  Seems McSame has been playing fast and loose with the facts of his POW internment again.  First there was the changing football team reference, now he's "borrowing" from his favorite writer Solzhenitzen.  It's not unusual for people to get confused and rewrite their own stories over the decades, but when you're repeating those stories over and over again to get yourself elected president, you should be consistent with the details of your rewrite, don't you think?  Here's the story: 

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-nickolas/did-mccain-steal-his-cros_b_119471.html

I also read a disturbing report about McSame's foreign policy adviser.  Not only is he a former lobbyist, he's a full-fledged neocon who was involved in ginning the intelligence about WMD immediately after 9/11.  He's a total Bushie.  I hope Obama points out that, contrary to McSame's claim to be a "maverick," he voted with Bush 100 percent of the time during the last 4 years.  Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.

Well, I'm headed out of Dodge for some much-needed R&R. Need to rest my weary eyeballs before Denver.  Hope everyone has a great week!

NoH8

I've heard him tell the cross story before, maybe on 60 minutes. Interesting how McCain concluded his vietnamese guard was also christain rather than someone respecting McCain's religion (unlike McCain does to others).

Is anyone going to the convention parties? I've been invited to a few but I'm not sure I'll go. In the east coast it's kind of late for me to be out with a speech starting at 8:30 pm. On the other hand it'll be fun to be with the other volunteers cheering Obama on.

NoH8

Did you guys hear that Rachel Maddow is getting her own show on MSNBC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It'll be on 9:00 EST right after Countdown. I'm soooooooooooooooooo happy. You could see how excited she was. I believe she'll be the first openly gay host of a political show.

I'm back volunteering for the campaign, making phone calls for the convention speech party. They reopened the field office near me so i have 2 offices within 4 miles of me.

NoH8

Have you guys seen these youtube videos?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioy90nF2anI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c&feature=related

NoH8

BTW, what's up with the guy not knowing how many properties he and Cindy know? Lying? Dementia? Stupidity? How can anyone trust this man with the economics of the country when he doesn't even know his own family's economics?

NoH8

 http://blogs.venturacountystar.com/greenberg/archives/2008/08/deficits.html

sccruiser

Hi,

Have been away dealing with my garden (needed fertilizing, pruning & mulch) and spending much time w/hubby (who's off work for a month) and darling granddaughter--she's spent several nights at our house on 2 occasions and did really, really well. I forgot how sweet it is to have a baby sleeping in your arms, exhausted from playing with grandma & grandpa LOL.

Watching and laughing at all McSame's (love the title) my friends & his "stories." He seems to think he's talking to children with his tone of voice and facial expressions. I thought he was considering a woman for VP as he (or his advisors) think he can sweep the election and be Prez?

Will be watching the last of the olympics (actually nice to get away from the election stuff for a few days) and have enjoyed all the different games--a few I have not seen before. Loved the diving and of course Phelps swims and 8 gold medals--seems like a young man with his head taking him in the right direction. He'll be a millionaire if he isn't already.

One of my dear friends is dying from cancer and heart failure. I am in prayer mode these days. I am so saddened by this news. She is an amazing woman. 

NoH8

Sorry to hear about your friend Grace. What do you think about Biden? Living in a neighboring state I've been witness to Biden's good works and good will for years. He's a good man and it's nice to know that the ticket is filled with two good, honorable men. I'm not sure how much you know about him. He lost his first wife and daughter in a horrible car crash a few decades ago and his two sons were injured.  His son Bo (Beau?) is DE's attorney General and due to be deployed to Iraq before the end of the year.

Ivylane

WOOHOO!!!!  I was sooooooo hoping for an Obama/Biden ticket!  I agree with Amy.  Joe Biden is a good and honorable man.  He has a boat-load of foreign policy experience and the support of blue-collar and union worlers.  I think this is a fabulous ticket. 

  

abbadoodles

As an independent voter who has not committed to either candidate for a number of reasons, I am pleased with the selection of Biden for VP running mate.  I wish he could have been the presidential candidate. 

Now it remains to be seen who the Republican running mate will be.  I have a feeling these choices are unusually crucial in this election year.

NoH8

That's interesting abba. I'd love to see McCain choose one of his prochoice candidates, although I was unhappy with Ridge as our Governor. I like the LA governor Bobby Gindel (sp?) and Leiberman would probably be good in pulling in some independents. I would have been satisfied with Biden as a candidate if Obama hasn't been in the race-- but I've been pro Obama for 4 years and I really like him (except for his stance on marriage).

Ivylane

Amy...I also like Gov. Jyndal (ap?) but he was on some show last night and said he is not interested in being VP.. All I've heard the last few days are the names Pawlent and Romney.

Ivylane

oops...meant Pawlenty

NoH8

Don't they all say they're not interested, but will serve if asked? I heard someone said that Jyndal? wasn't a likely pick because he lacked experience, and that would make going after Obama on that issue.

I loved when Biden said, "Being a good soldier is one thing, being a wise leader is another." I'm so sick of McCain using the POW card, talking about the Hanoi Hilton and saying "my friends". Do you remember when Biden said that all Rudy says is a noun, verb and 9/11? McCain is doing the same with his POW experience.

sccruiser

Hi Obama supporters and respectful conversationalists!

I'm absolutely delighted Obama chose Biden. He made an excellent decision--and one speaks to his presidential ability. Just 2 days ago, my hubby and I were talking about VP choices, and we both thought Biden would be a good choice. I think he will bring in some of the voters that were unhappy about Hillary's run in the primary and losing nominee position.

Amy, I too, am unhappy about his lack of support for gay marriage. McC is going to have a tough road to the WH, and hopefully he won't make the climb. I just read the latest AARP magazine, and there is a section there on presidential choices. The magazine asked McC and Obama for their opinions on 3 crucial issues, as well as checking the "support" or "oppose" boxes. McC chose not to mark any of the boxes, either for or against. His statements were very general and rather condescending--why is it he comes across as if he is speaking to 3rd graders?

Obama was very clear on what he would do and how as President, and he checked his support and opposes boxes as I would have checked them. I can see why people support his candidacy, and I believe that some older voters may move more toward Obama as president with the AARP support and his selection of Biden.

My hubby read somewhere (he can't remember which newspaper 2 days ago) that McC had another "serious" gaffe--anyone know what it might be about?

Thanks for your sympathy Amy regarding my friend. She is really on my mind every hour of every day. Yesterday was another spend working in the garden--it's my catharsis through this grieving process. Today we will finish mulching, and planting some groundcover. It looks lovely--we can now work on cleaning up the patio and outdoor furniture--having a BBQ on Saturday while the nice weather is here.

Hope everyone is having a lovely weekend. It's onward to the WH!!!! 

djd

I have decided to quit worrying about whether Obama gets elected.  I just KNOW he's going to win.   The press is really trying to make it seem like McCain and Obama are in a dead heat.  But that's based on polls of the popular vote.  When you look at the polling by state, and count the electoral college votes, it's not much of a contest at all.

My mom was a Hillary supporter, swore she wouldn't vote at all after Hillary ;lost the primary.  But yesterday she put an Obama sticker on her car.

My brother, a diehard Rush-Limbaugh following wingnut from Arizona' said yesterday that he can't stand McCain.

A few minutes ago, at a cash register at a video rental store, I heard a customer telling the sales clerk that he might have his account under a Wyoming address, as he owns "multiple houses".  I joked and said, "just like McCain!"  He laughed and said, "Nope, I'm voting for Obama.  I am the biggest red-neck you can find, and I'm voting for Obama.  The world is really changin'"

I can't wait until Election day.

NoH8

I'm not going to get a lot of sleep the next couple of days. Since friday night (saturday morning) I've woken up really early so excited to get out of bed and see what's happening. Did you hear the rumors Ted Kennedy was going to speak tonight? Tonight is going to be action packed with Michelle, the Obama story movie, Caroline Kennedy-Schlossberg (sp?), the Kennedy movie and hopefully, hopefully Teddy. I feel so nervous about his health because we haven't seen him or heard much about how he's doing and his cancer is particularly aggressive.

Donna, does your brother dislike McCain enough to vote for Obama? I guess you can't tell a book by it's cover when it comes to voting. A lot of people in my life were surprised I was gung-ho Obama, they assumed because I'm lesbian I was going to be for Hillary because she's a woman.

Grace, not sure what the latest gaffe was, they're all running together.  I still can't get over the "houses" response--- I think the dems need to pounce on this more/ People all over the country are losing their homes to predatory lenders and a bad economy and McCain has so many he can't remember the exact amount. If McCain picks Romney there will be about 15 homes between them. The latest house count for McCain is 10, it was 11 but two of their condos were combined to one larger one. MSNBC listed all of the houses, but to be fair, sometimes there are more than one on particular properties LOL.

LorenaB

I didn't realize that Obama isn't pro-gay marriage.  That's too bad.  I live in Massachusetts and it seems like a no-brainer at this point, it's so obvious that nothing catastrophic has happened since gay couples started getting married 4 years ago.

During the primary campaigns I heard somewhere that none of the other Republican candidates could stand Mitt Romney.  He is such a phony, and a total opportunist, choosing his positions so he could be elected in MA and then changing them all to appeal to a more conservative Republican base across the country.  It would be terrifying if McCain chose him as his running mate, got elected and then kicked the bucket.  (Sorry if this sounds crass, I don't mean to be disrespectful, the truth is I think McCain is about 50 times more intelligent and with-it than our current president, I hope he doesn't win but at this point just about anyone would be an improvement.)

My concern about Obama being elected are all the closet racists -- people who like what he has to say but when it comes down to the privacy of the voting booth, might not be willing to cast a vote for an African-American.  I fear that there are more people like that in our country than it appears on the surface  I hope I am wrong!

NoH8

McCain's VP choice is very important and I would love to see him pick someone pro-choice but not so liberal it would pull votes from Obama.

I'm also concerned about not just the closet racists, but the racists who don't even admit to themselves that they're that way. You know the ones who would criticize Obama for the same thing they would praise McCain because of the different standard they aren't even aware they have.

BethNY

Day 1: Monday, Aug. 25, 2008

Convention Prime-Time: Pepsi Center, 5PM-11PM ET / 3-9PM MT
Theme of the Day: "One Nation"
Highlights to Watch: Michelle Obama's speech, a tribute to Sen. Ted Kennedy (Mass.)
Other Speakers: Former President Jimmy Carter, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Claire McCaskill (Minn.), Gov. Bill Ritter, Jr. (Col.), Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (Ill.), Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, family members of Barack and Michelle Obama

Other Events:

• Caucus Meetings: APIA (10AM-2PM MT), African American (10AM-2PM MT), Hispanic (12-2PM), Rural (2-4PM MT)
• Council Meetings: Native American (10AM-2PM MT), Senior (12-2PM MT)
• Opening Night Reception, 7PM MT at the Colorado Convention Center: Event will commemorate and benefit Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts

Check Out Full Monday Schedule

---

Day 2: Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008

Convention Prime-Time: Pepsi Center, 5PM-11PM ET / 3-9PM MT
Theme of the Day: "Renewing America's Promise," a focus on the economy
Highlights to Watch: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's speech, Former Va. Gov. Mark's Warner's keynote address
Other Speakers: Govs. Chet Culver (Iowa), Jim Doyle (Wisc.), Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Janet Napolitano (Ariz.), David Paterson (N.Y.), Deval Patrick (Mass.), Ed Rendell (Pa.), Brian Schweitzer (Mont.), Kathleen Sebelius (Kan.), Ted Strickland (Ohio), Sens. Bob Casey, Jr. (Pa.), Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) and Patrick Leahy (Vt.), Sens. Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Mary Landrieu (La.), Maria Cantwell (Wash.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.) and Debbie Stabenow (Mich.)

Other Events:

• Caucus Meetings (Colorado Convention Center): Women's (10AM-12PM MT)
• Council Meetings (Colorado Convention Center): Veterans and Military Families (12-2PM MT), Youth (12-2PM MT), Disability (12-2PM MT)
• Faith Forum, 12-2PM MT at the Colorado Convention Center
  Check Out Full Tuesday Schedule
  

  ---

  Day 3: Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

  Convention Prime-Time: Pepsi Center, 5PM-11PM ET / 3-9PM MT
  Theme of the Day: "Securing America's Future, " a tribute to veterans, active duty military and military families
  Highlights to Watch: President Bill Clinton's speech, Joe Biden's vice presidential acceptance speech
  Other Speakers: 2004 Democratic nominee John Kerry, Gov. Bill Richardson (N.M.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, former Sen. Tom Daschle (S.D.), Sens. Evan Bayh (Ind.), Jack Reed (R.I.), Jay Rockefeller (W.Va.), Ken Salazar (Colo.) and Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), Rep. Patrick Murphy (Penn.), Tom Udall (Colo.) and Robert Wexler (Fla.)
  
  Other Events:
  • State Delegation Meetings: 7-9AM MT at delegate hotels
  • Delegate Service Day
  • Caucus Meetings (Colorado Convention Center): APIA (10AM-2PM MT), African American (10AM-2PM MT), GLBT (12-2PM MT), Hispanic (12-2PM), Rural (2-4PM MT)
  • Council Meetings (Colorado Convention Center): Native American (10AM-2PM MT), Senior (12-2PM MT)
  • Opening Night Reception, 7PM MT at the Colorado Convention Center: Event will commemorate and benefit Hurricane Katrina recovery efforts
  Check Out Full Wednesday Schedulee
  

  ---

  Day 4: Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008

  Convention Prime-Time: INVESCO Field at Mile High Stadium (Gates open at 1PM MT)
  Theme of the Day: "Change You Can Believe In"
  Highlight to Watch: Barack Obama's acceptance speech
  Other Speakers: To be announced later this week.
  
  Other Events:
  • Unity breakfast to mark 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech
  • Council Meetings (Colorado Convention Center): Veterans and Military Families (12-2PM MT), Youth (12-2PM MT), Disability (12-2PM MT)
  • Faith Forum, 12-2PM MT at the Colorado Convention Center
  Full Thurdsday Schedule to Come

NoH8

Thanks Beth--

Ted Kennedy is in the house!  Well, he's in Denver and will attend tonight, against Dr's orders and rumors are that he might speak. i hope he does and I hope he's not as sick as I gthink he is.

LAphoenix

Hooray for Biden!  I think he'll be very good for the ticket, as he seems more than willing to remind people how much like Bush McCain has become in the last 8 years.  I think that's going to be the key to winning.  McCain wants to push his political bio from 20 plus years ago, and remind people that he was a POW at every turn (while conveniently glossing over his serial adultery and major ethics violations during the Keating scandal), but the Dems need to stress that he has supported Bush on almost all of his policies.  Whether he's done that for purely political reasons or really believes in the Bush doctrine makes no difference as far as I'm concerned.  Who knows who the real McCain is?  I think the selection of Biden also shows that Obama isn't afraid to have a strong presence on the ticket, one who balances him in an obvious way.  A less confident person might have chosen a milquetoast yes-man.

So glad to hear that Kennedy is going to appear.  They were saying just this morning that he wasn't.  I hope his presence, and his enthusiastic endorsement of Obama, helps quiet the Clinton faction a bit.      

Yeah, and great news about Rachel Maddow's new show!  It's funny that she's such a rising TV star, considering that she doesn't even own a TV.

Almost time for the show to start.  Go Dems!

          

NoH8

OMG, how great was Monday night at the convention. I sobbed through Kennedy's tribute and speech. What a magnificent man and great American. I wish he could live in good health forever.  He's done more good for the average person that almost anyone who has ever lived. (Can I just say I have a crush on Caroline)

Michelle rocked the house down. Anyone  who questions the type of woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister, human being and patriot has got to be missing a few brain cells. How cute were those girls after her speech, especially the little one who's usually more quiet. I laughed so hard when she said hi to the family Barack was introducing. Who cares that the next president of the United States is introducing to the world, Sasha welcomed them.

Tonight I'm more nervous, I hope Hillary hits a homerun and shows genuine support for Obama and doesn't make the speech about how great she is.

Tomorrow I'm even more nervous for Bill's speech. I hope he takes his meds LOL.

thursday's going to be great, I'm not sure if I'm going to any of the parties. I enjoyed the private emotions of Monday night so much I don't think I want to share thursday with a bunch of other people.

LAphoenix

Loved Ted's and Michelle's speeches.  I was impressed by the way the personal side of the speeches echoed the themes of the campaign.  Like when Kennedy talked about the importance of health care for all.  He didn't have to say anything about his own illness to make his point.  Or when Michelle talked about her parents and their struggle to make ends meet, she didn't say, just like many of you out there.  It was understood (I hope).  The kids were fun and very sweet.  

I think Hillary's going to come through tonight, just as she did in her concession speech.  I don't know whether her most diehard supporters will go along with her but I think she knows her own political future rests on being a "uniter not a divider."  Really, her legacy could be cemented if she makes the grand gesture.  People are talking about her becoming Senate majority leader, and that won't happen unless her support of Obama seems enthusiastic.  One of the things that I hope people were reminded of last night was that Obama's nomination is just as historic as Hillary's would have been.  If Hillary had won, would Obama's black supporters be justified in claiming that their candidate had been derailed by an overly ambitious white person?  Either way, one historically disenfranchised group wins, and that's what people should be thinking about, IMO. 

I was channel hopping among the networks, curious to see how they all reacted.  It was pretty predictable, but I did sense that some usually neutral types, like Larry King, were getting annoyed at the more outrageous remarks by the conservatives.  When one blowhard, Lars Larson, said in response to Kennedy, that health care should be a privilege and not a right, I thought King was going to blow a gasket. 

On the local news here in LA, they reported that after his Tonight Show appearance last night, McCain went to a Beverly Hills fundraiser with a bunch of Hollywoood bigwigs and stars.  The Republicans love to paint the Dems as Hollywood's darlings, but they're just as determined to get Hollywood's money when they can.  They just do it behind closed doors--literally, they wouldn't let the press inside.   

I guess the feel-good part of the convention is over.  Hope all the Dems are in proper attack mode.         

LAphoenix

OMG, I just heard McCain using his POW experience to deflect Leno's question about him not knowing how many houses he owns!  This man is shameless.  Most veterans I know don't even want to talk about their war experiences, let alone brag about them.  They certainly don't use them to deflect criticism about their behavior as old men.  He even brought it up when someone asked him about what popular music he liked (he hasn't followed pop music since he was shot down by that missile in Vietnam, so he likes ABBA, who weren't even recording in 1965).  It's outrageous, particularly as his record on veterans issues is terrible and he has gotten little support from soldiers.  Biden's going to have to come up with a quip for McCain's relentless invocation of his distant past, something along the lines of noun, verb, POW.        

junie

I thought Michelle's speech was flawless and endearing.   Tonight, Hillary rose in my estimation with her speech, stressing unity and her support for Obama.   The press has had a field day with who's playing the race card; who's playing the gender card...I'm getting a little tired of the POW card being played so often.   That is a given fact and it should not come up in almost every conversation/speech that McCain gives--he's losing major ground with me on that issue.  I lost several friends during the Viet Nam "war".   I have had the honor of visiting the WDC memorial and looking up their names and finding them on the wall, and have stood before their names and cried.  I wore a silver POW bracelet for several years--don't remember what orgn started that, but you picked a name and swore to wear the bracelet until that POW was freed or officially declared dead.  I wore mine for several years and remember the tears I cried as I watched a tv telecast late one night as they announced the names of freed POWs coming off the plane--and my guy's name was one of them!   He was the son of a man I had worked under at an AFB when my 1st hubby was in the Air Force......so, I'm not immune to the POW rhetoric, but just getting a bit tired of it being such a big excuse for McCain...its a card that shouldn't be played at all.

sorry--off that soap box!  On to another--whoever is elected president is only as powerful as the people under him/her--congress.  We really need to focus on who is elected as our state senators/representatives...for any pres to accomplish great things, it seems to me that everything has to wade through congress to get to that point.   s i g h--wish I was more politically edjumicated and savvy......just crossing my fingers and hoping for the best outcome...

Ivylane

Hi everyone....haven't been on this thread in awhile.  What did you all think of Hillary's speech last night?  I thought she was great!!!  I really liked the fact that she stressed that the 18 million people who voted for her need to think about the bigger picture and vote for the party's sake and not focus on the fact that she didn't get the nomination.  I hope they listen. I love Hillary Clinton and she is my NYS Senator, but I don't know how you can support the other side just because she is not the nominee.  I have a theory about that, but am curious what you all think.

AnnNYC

blue16, I thought Hillary spelled it all out extremely clearly -- it was very pointed when she said,

"John McCain doesn't think that 47 million people without health insurance is a crisis. John McCain wants to privatize Social Security. And in 2008, he still thinks it's okay when women don't earn equal pay for equal work."

How any woman who truly supports Hillary's policies could vote for John McCain is beyond me -- and Hillary's speech said the same thing!

NoH8

Hillary far exceeded my expectations in her speech. I think she should have spent a little more time on why Obama is ready and qualified for the job and about why she supports Barack, not just the democratic agenda. I also think Michelle O, should have been the one to introduce hillary, because it would have been great to see past first lady and future first lady. Chelsea doesn't play a part in the elections and I think that was a bit of a waste of a prime time speaker.