Positive Obama thread

I was watching part of that Frontline documentary about the election again last night and one part really jumped out at me--the near collapse of McCain's campaign a year ago.  The film was put together prior to McCain's most recent troubles, so the point of view was that McCain stumbled badly but righted himself and learned his lessons.  But clearly he didn't learn his lessons.  He's having the exact same problems now that he had a year ago.  No cohesive message, in-fighting, sloppy, wasteful organization.  He fired most of his campaign staff then and supposedly got better people.  So what's the problem?  McCain!  According to the film, people within his campaign a year ago were questioning his leadership skills, that if he couldn't keep a national campaign together, how was he going to lead the nation?  How many comebacks and do-overs would we have to endure with him as president?  Doesn't matter how long his legislative resume is, he doesn't have the skills or temperment to lead on a grand scale.  And if he hasn't acquired them by age 72, he's not going to acquire them now.

I don't care how much money Palin spends on clothes and hair, as long as it's not my tax dollars.  But you have to wonder what they were thinking when they went on that spending spree.  They must have known it would come out.  Didn't they think it would look bad?  It's just more evidence of how disconnected they are from the every day world. 

Little-G, good luck with your neighbor! 

Okay, the implosion of McCain's campaign (another example of his lousy leadership abilities) is starting to be downright entertaining!  Read on....

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/27/palin.tension/index.html

From Dana Bash
CNN

(CNN) -- Some aides to Sen. John McCain say they weren't happy that running mate Sarah Palin went off script Sunday and turned attention back to the controversy over her wardrobe.

 Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin deviated from her prepared remarks to talk about her wardrobe controversy Sunday.

The Alaska governor on Sunday brought up the recent reports regarding the Republican National Committee's $150,000 spending spree on clothing and accessories for the Palin family.

Palin denounced talks of her wardrobe as "ridiculous" and declared emphatically: "Those clothes, they are not my property."

"Just like the lighting and the staging and everything else that the RNC purchased, I'm not taking them with me," she said at a rally in Tampa, Florida.

A senior McCain adviser told CNN that those comments "were not the remarks we sent to her plane." Palin did not discuss the wardrobe story at her rally in Kissimmee, Florida, later in the day.

A Palin aide, however, told CNN that the governor clearly felt like she had to say something to defend herself, because "that's really not who she is."

Over the weekend, sources told CNN that long-brewing tensions between Palin and key aides to McCain were on the rise.

Several McCain advisers suggested that they have become increasingly frustrated with what one aide described as Palin "going rogue."

A Palin associate, however, said the candidate is simply trying to "bust free" of what she believes was a damaging and mismanaged roll-out.McCain sources say Palin has gone off-message several times, and they privately wonder whether the incidents were deliberate. They cited an instance in which she labeled robocalls -- recorded messages often used to attack a candidate's opponent -- "irritating" even as the campaign defended their use. Also, they pointed to her telling reporters she disagreed with the campaign's decision to pull out of Michigan.A second McCain source says she appears to be looking out for herself more than the McCain campaign."She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone," this McCain adviser said. "She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else."Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom." Watch more on the 'diva' criticism »A Palin associate defended her, saying that she is "not good at process questions" and that her comments on Michigan and the robocalls were answers to process questions.But this Palin source acknowledged that Palin is trying to take more control of her message, pointing to an impromptu news conference on a Colorado tarmac last week.CNN contributor and Republican strategist Ed Rollins said Palin was "mishandled" during the earlier part of the campaign, and as a result, "she's become a target of a lot of ridicule." But, he said, "She definitely is going to be the most popular Republican in this country when this thing is over."The Politico reported Saturday on Palin's frustration, specifically with McCain advisers Nicolle Wallace and Steve Schmidt. They helped decide to limit Palin's initial media contact to high-profile interviews with Charlie Gibson of ABC and Katie Couric of CBS, which all McCain sources admit were highly damaging.In response, Wallace e-mailed CNN the same quote she gave the Politico: "If people want to throw me under the bus, my personal belief is that the most honorable thing to do is to lie there."But two sources, one Palin associate and one McCain adviser, defended the decision to keep her media interaction limited after she was picked, both saying flatly that she was not ready and that the missteps could have been a lot worse.They insisted that she needed time to be briefed on national and international issues and on McCain's record."Her lack of fundamental understanding of some key issues was dramatic," said another McCain source with direct knowledge of the process to prepare Palin after she was picked. The source said it was probably the "hardest" to get her "up to speed than any candidate in history."Yet another senior McCain adviser lamented the public recriminations."This is what happens with a campaign that's behind; it brings out the worst in people, finger-pointing and scapegoating," this senior adviser said.This adviser also decried the double standard, noting that Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama's running mate, Sen. Joe Biden, has gone off the reservation as well, most recently by telling donors at a fundraiser that America's enemies will try to "test" Obama.Tensions like those within the McCain-Palin campaign are not unusual; vice presidential candidates also have a history of butting heads with the top of the ticket.John Edwards and his inner circle repeatedly questioned Sen. John Kerry's strategy in 2004, and Kerry loyalists repeatedly aired in public their view that Edwards would not play the traditional attack dog role with relish because he wanted to protect his future political interests.Even in a winning campaign like Bill Clinton's, some of Al Gore's aides in 1992 and again in 1996 questioned how Gore was being scheduled for campaign events.Jack Kemp's aides distrusted the Bob Dole camp and vice versa, and Dan Quayle loyalists had a list of gripes remarkably similar to those now being aired by Palin aides.

Daisy6 - Try reading this link.  I don't know where you get these crazy ideas from and please do not insult those of us here who are democrats.  This country is a democracy and why we have elections.  So vote for who ever you prefer but do not insult those of here who prefer Obama.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/10/27/happening-now-obama-makes-closing-argument-in-ohio/#more-26690

Republicans backing Obama  -

 Fri, 10/17/2008 - 12:45am - John Martin

As we wait for Hagel's endorsement, here's a recap of some of the biggest Republicans, Republicans-turned-independents, and conservatives who have come out to support Barack for President.  

If you know of any we've missed, please post it!

Elected Officials: 

Jim Leach, Former Congressman from Iowa

"For me, the national interest comes before party concerns, particularly internationally.  We do need a new direction in American policy, and Obama has a sense of that."

Lincoln Chafee, Former United States Senator from Rhode Island

"As I look at the candidates in order who to vote for, certainly my kind of conservatism was reflected with Senator Obama, and those points are that we're fiscally conservative, we care about revenues matching expenditures, we also care about the environment, I think it's a traditional conservative value to care about clean air and clean water."

William Weld, Former Governor of Massachusetts

"It's not often you get a guy with his combination of qualities, chief among which I would say is the deep sense of calm he displays, and I think that's a product of his equally deep intelligence."

Arne Carlson, Former Governor of Minnesota

"I think we have in Barack Obama the clear possibility of a truly great president.  I would contend that it's the most important election of my lifetime."  

Wayne Gilchrest, Congressman from Maryland

"We can't use four more years of the same kind of policy that's somewhat haphazard, which leads to recklessness."

Larry Pressler, Former Senator from South Dakota

"I just got the feeling that Obama will be able to handle this financial crisis better, and I like his financial team of [former Treasury Secretary Robert] Rubin and [former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul] Volcker better."

Richard Riordan, Former Mayor of Los Angeles

"I'm still a Republican, but I still will always vote for the person who I think will do the best job."

Lowell Weicker, Former Governor and Senator from Connecticut

"At issue is not the partisan politics of two parties, rather the image we have of ourselves as Americans.  Senator Obama brings wisdom, kindness, and common sense to what is both his and our quest for a better America."

Jim Whitaker, Fairbanks, Alaska Mayor

"If we are as a nation concerned with energy, then our consideration should be a national energy policy that is not predicated on crude oil 50 years into the future.  We need to get to it, and I think Barack Obama is very clear in that regard."

Linwood Holton, Former Governor of Virginia

"Obama has a brain, and he isn't afraid to use it."

Government Officials: 

Colin Powell, Secretary of State under Bush 43 

"...he has met the standard of being a sucessful president, being an exceptional president.  I think he is a transformational figure.  He is a new generation coming into the world-- onto the world state, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama."

Douglas Kmiec, Head of the Office of Legal Counsel under Reagan & Bush 41 

"I was first attracted to government by Ronald Reagan, who lives in our national memory as a great leader and an inspiring communicator.  Senator Obama has these gifts as well, but of course, more rhetorical flourish without substance would be worth little.  Is there more to Senator Obama?  I believe there is."

Charles Fried, Solicitor General of the United States under Reagan

"I admire Senator McCain and was glad to help in his campaign, and to be listed as doing so; but when I concluded that I must vote for Obama for the reason states in my letter, I felt it wrong to appear to be recommending to others a vote that I was not prepared to cast myself."  

Jackson M. Andrews, Republican Counsel to the U.S. Senate

"Barack Obama is a thoughtful visionary leader who as President will end the decline of American law, liberty, and fiscal responsibility that are the hallmarks of the extremist policies of the current Administration, now adopted by John McCain."  

Susan Eisenhower, Granddaughter of President Eisenhower & President of the Eisenhower Group

"Given Obama's support among young people, I believe that he will be most invested in defending the interests of these rising generations and, therefore, the long-term interests of this nation as a whole."

Francis Fukuyama, Advisor to President Reagan

"...Obama probably has the greatest promise of delivering a different kind of politics."

Rita Hauser, Former White House intelligence advisor under George W. Bush 

"McCain will continue the wrong-headed foreign policy decisions of Bush, while Obama will take us in a new direction."

Larry Hunter, Former President Reagan Policy Advisor

"I suspect Obama is more free-market friendly than he lets on.  He taught at the University of Chicago, a hotbed of right-of-center thought.  His economic advisers, notably Austan Goolsbee, recognize that ordinary citizens stand to gain more from open markets than from government meddling."

Scott McClellan, Former Press Secretary to President George W. Bush

"From the beginning I have said I am going to support the candidate that has the best chance for changing the way Washington works and getting things done and I will be voting for Barack Obama and clapping."

Bill Ruckelshaus, served in the Nixon and Reagan administrations

"I'm not against McCain, I'm for Obama."

Ken Adelman, served in the Ford administration

"The most important decision John McCain made in his long campaign was deciding on a running mate.  That decision showed appalling lack of judgment... that selection contradicted McCain's main two, and best two, themes for his campaign-- Country First, and experience counts.  Neither can he credibly claim, post-Palin pick."

Lilibet Hagel, Wife of Republican Senator Chuck Hagel

"This election is not about fighting phantom issues churned out by a top-notch slander machine.  Most important, it is not about distracting the public-- you and me-- with whatever slurs someone thinks will stick."

Columnists and Academics:

Jeffrey Hart, National Review Senior Editor  

"It turns out that these political parties are not always either liberal or conservative, Democratic or Republican.  The Democrat, under certain conditions, can be the conservative."

Andrew Bacevich, Professor of International Relations at Boston University

"For conservatives, Obama represents a sliver of hope.  McCain represents none at all.  The choice turns out to be an easy one."

David Friedman, Economist and son of Milton and Rose Friedman

"I hope Obama wins.  President Bush has clearly been a disaster from the standpoint of libertarians and conservatives because he has presided over an astonishing rise in government spending."

Christopher Buckley, Son of National Review founder William F. Buckley & former NR columnist

"Obama has in him-- I think, despite his sometimes airy-fairy 'We are the people we have been waiting for' silly rehtoric-- the potential to be a good, perhaps even great leader.  He is, it seems clear enough, what the historical moment seems to be calling for."

Andrew Sullivan, Columnist for the Atlantic Monthly

"Obama's legislative record, speeches, and the way he has run his campaign reveal, I think, a very even temperament, a very sound judgment, and an intelligent pragmatism.  Prudence is a word that is not inappropriate to him."

Wick Alison, Former publisher of the National Review

"I made the maximum donation to John McCain during the primaries, when there was still hope he might come to his senses.  But I now see that Obama is almost the ideal candidate for this moment in American history."

Michael Smerconish, Columnist for the Philadelphia Enquirer

"...an Obama presidency holds the greatest chance for unifying us here at home and restoring our prestige around the globe."

CC Goldwater, Granddaughter of Barry Goldwater

"Nothing about the Republican tickets offers the hope America needs to regain its standing in the world, that's why we're going to support Barack Obama."

Former Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S.D.), who was the first Vietnam veteran to serve in the United States Senate, is the latest Republican to back Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Pressler, who said that in addition to casting an absentee ballot for Obama he'd donated $500 to the Illinois senator's campaign, cited the Democrat's response to the financial crisis as the primary reason for his decision.

Holy crap. I just read on Yahoo news that two guys were arrested in Tennessee for an alleged plot to rob a gun dealer and kill Obama and "as many non-Caucasians as possible."

This stuff scares me. I hope the SS keeps Barak in a cocoon.

Anne

Madalyn........RIGHT ON!!! :-)  I am so happy to hear that!!  Now you are freed up to remind everyone else to get out there and ROCK THIS VOTE!!!!  We are doing it!!!!  

I was just listening to the radio, I have no link to this yet so if anyone else has heard it let me know, they just arrested some neo-natzi's that were planning to go on a shooting spree in a predominately black school and supposedly Obama was their next target.  Might this be the "real America" the troll is talking about???  What is his version of "real America?"  Every freak that can be is coming out in support of the troll.  If this is what they stand for...they can have each other!!   We are onto a brighter, caring US!!!! 

GET THE VOTE OUT!!!!  Great job again Madalyn!!!  And all the rest of you who can, and are voting early!!

I'll be out hitting the streets for Obama/Biden tomorrow.  If anyone else is in the Portland area, and wants to join me..let me know!!  :-)

g

OBAMA '08...it's almost here!!!

On CNN's "Cafferty File" today's question is:

"Did McCain make a mistake choosing Palin as his running mate"?...

Someone answered "....she makes Dan Quayle look like Einstein".....   Bwahahahahahhaha.... 

I voted on Friday--absentee ballot. In CA, we were told to put $ 0.59 postage. I did that, but others didn't. However, they said on the news that all ballots will be delivered no matter what postage is on them.

MY mom got a postage paid ballot. Wonder why?

Have a great day and looking forward to next Tuesday night. Go Obama!!! 

This is hysterical. The "performers" are friends of a friend. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bh9BmNuqeiQ

You know I don't really blame Palin for her 150,000 wardrobe - I doubt she demanded it. But she's got it and it is a bit silly to claim it is like the stage lights. Neiman Marcus isn't going to like to take this stuff back and save it for reuse with the next vp candidate. But she can sell it on e-bay and let the profits go to the Republican party. She's a celebrity and there may well be a net gain.



Good grief!! I think the Repubs need me. I'm a spin doctor.

...read often--both threads...just don't post much on other thread.   I will be sooooo glad when this election is over.  It has been an electrifying time for me.   Maybe because I've finally reached a time in life that I have time to read newspapers and watch TV, internet access...and have a very with-it, intelligent DH to chat with...this has been a very exciting time.

So--tonight I'm in a slight panic because I ask DH--where do we go vote?  What do we need to have--voter regis card?  In the big city we lived in prior to retiring, the voting location changed with each election--this school--that school--this place--that place.......well, DH just assumed we'd go to the last place we voted at here.   Having a little twinge of "living in the boonies" anxiety--will figure it out tomorrow, for sure.

I have many cyber friends on both sides of this political fence...but have to close with this...[the devil made me do it!!]      Chorus from a song from a very long, long time ago.....

"Over there, over there,

Send the word, send the word over there -

That OBAMA'S coming,

OBAMA'S coming........

So prepare......"

 I have much respect and admiration for ALL of us who have traveled this journey--I have enjoyed learning from each of you and reading web sites that you ALL have posted.   From the bottom of my heart--I thank you all for enhancing this time of my life....