Elizabeth Berry's Blog

campaign themes are important

Liz — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 23:33:37 EDT

Themes are important to the continuity and the success of any campaign--regardless the product that is being advertised. I believe that one of the primary reasons why Hillary's campaign failed was because its theme of "experience" and inevitability.

"Experience" was not a theme that resonated well with the American people this year. Experience translated to many Americans as meaning "more of the same old Washington politics." Another thing about theme that any copywriter will tell you is that it must be consistent or the consumer will become muddled in regard to your brand. Obama began with the theme of Change and he continues with that theme. His theme is very very strong and very much associated with the Obama brand.

McCain? Anyone know what his theme is? I think it is security, but I'm not certain. Securitiy is another theme that is not too popular this year as it is very much tied to Iraq and the awful failure that represents for the American people.

People are standing up to Wal-Mart

Liz — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 20:09:13 EDT

CAMPAIGN UPDATES: More than 60,000 Ask the FEC to Investigate Wal-Mart We were outraged when we heard Wal-Mart was telling its employees to vote against pro-worker candidates like Barack Obama - and so were you. More than 61,192 people signed a petition supporting our complaint to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), demanding that the FEC investigate Wal-Mart for potentially illegal campaign activity. Our petition was covered by CNN, the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and more.

» Watch the video of our delivery and read press clips

One Million Strong for the Employee Free Choice Act: 500,000 and Counting

We’re well on our way to one million! Since we launched our campaign in June, more than 500,000 people have signed our petition to support the Employee Free Choice Act. Along with your signatures, you helped us meet our goal of raising $10,000 to support our efforts. Thanks so much for your support!

» Sign the petition. Already on board? Tell your friends.

CONSUMER CORNER: Check out the Companies that Do Well by Doing GoodWind energy producer Gamesa Technology Corp. is leading the way in creating “green collar” jobs of the future, protecting the environment, and helping to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Gamesa is setting the example on how private industry can partner with government to harness the vast potential of renewable energy.

» Read more about Gamesa

Better Suit UP for the Battle with Corporate America

Liz — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 15:03:06 EDT

Most ordinary Americans are now wise to privatization = corporate welfare and the real definition of "privatization": A financial arrangement whereby a private corporation holds all the assets and profits while the taxpayers underwrite and pay for the risk, operations expenses, and losses of that corporation.

What's more, the fact of their awareness of our awareness has moved them to action. I see evidences all over mainstream media to indicate that corporate America is moving into battle mode with the American citizen. Here is but one example:

ANTI UNION NEWS:
"Corporate America prepares for Battle Against Worker Campaign to Roll back Assault on the Middle Class. Big Business has prepared a war chest of at least $150 million to stop progressive economic legislation that would seriously tax the rich.

There is nothing more terrifying to corporate America than the prospect of dealing with its workforce on an even playing field . . ."

http://www.alternet.org/election08/94004/?page=entire?

For those who are having trouble coming over to Obama

Liz — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:22:47 EDT

Watching these two videos might help win you over. In the final analysis, it does not matter what anyone says on this blog or any blog. It does not matter if the candidate you wanted to win the nomination lost. What matters to you and your family is whether McCain or Obama will be our next president.

The first one is a video that was recently posted by Lincoln Park. In it a woman who is testy and angry challenges Obama by asking him how she can trust him because he has changed his position in Iraq and because of his FISA vote. (I didn't like Obama's vote on FISA either so his answer was of particular interest to me.)

http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/politics/2008/08/18/sot.obama.left.critiques.cnn

The second video is one about McCain and the jokes he tells that degrade women.

I really don't see how any woman could vote for McCain after watching this video.

McCain, the Joker”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPnfnB7fRek

FOCUS: The Important Point About Saddleback

Liz — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:15:29 EDT

More red herrings tossed out by the conservatives from both sides.

THE ISSUE WITH MCCAIN NOT BEING IN THE 'CONE OF SILENCE' AS WE WERE LIED TO ABOUT IS NOT EXCUSED BY ALL THE RED HERRINGS BEING THROWN OUT BY CONSERVATIVES, AND SOME OF THEM ON THIS SITE SUCH AS: "Both candidates got the questions before hand."

The real issue is that McCain had the advantage of listening to his opponents responses BEFORE he gave his responses.

THAT IS A HUGE ADVANTAGE and it skewed McCain's responses. END OF STORY. Anyone who offers up excuses for McCain is a conservative and obviously prefers a Republican over a Democrat. Fine. But what are you doing blowing your hot air for the Republicans on this site?

What This Election Is Really About: Conservatives vs. Progressives

Liz — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:20:30 EDT

The following post discusses what I think is the REAL elephant in our living room that no one is discussing:

In my opinion, and I'm sure others may disagree as well as agree since this is after all a democracy, I think that the bottom line for this election is really about wrestling our government out of the hands of conservatives and into the hands of progressives--and that includes conservative Democrats as well as conservative Republicans.

Our Democratic Party has its own unofficial conservative wing--the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) of which both Clintons have been very active over the years. By my standards, based on much of the legislation that they have supported, neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton are "progressive democrats". I would categorize both of them as conservative Democrats.

I have a lifetime of experience in the financial industry and I can tell you for certain that bankers have no greater friend than Bill Clinton.

About Pakistan

Liz — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 07:06:18 EDT

When I was thinking about the fate of Pakistan last night, an old adage “. . .the more things change the more they remain the same . . . ” drifts across my mind like a hauntingly familiar ghost. Amost 10 years ago an article titled Oh Pakistan appeared in the 1999 October issue of The Economist. The article was written a few days after General Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan’s new military leader, had taken charge:

“Pakistan has been in such a mess for so long that it is tempting to conclude that the country is doomed. It was created in the chaos of partition, and torn since birth between conflicting cultures. It has a tribal social structure, an Islamic ideology and a legal and political system that is British in origin. Islamic and secular law battle each other. Tribal loyalties distort the democratic process. Shia and Sunni Muslims shoot each other on the streets. From the west, Afghanistan’s Taliban spill into Pakistan and bolster the growing ranks of its fundamentalists. On the other side of the country, the perpetual conflict with India over Kashmir helps destabilise domestic politics. In response to one mess or another, the generals have ousted politicians before, in 1958, in 1971 and in 1977.”

The same words could be used to describe Pakistan today, ten years later.

A Guide to Republican Family Values

Liz — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:46:32 EDT

LOL I found this earlier today. If you select the link you will be taken to a table arranged by state. By selecting the state you will then get a display of information regarding what your local Republicans have been doing. All free.

You Don't Know Me details over 100 cases of sexual misconduct by Republican officials, office holders, and ideological supporters. In addition to augmenting the public's knowledge of infamous scandals of recent times, the book unearths a multitude of other instances of Republican sexual waywardness, most criminal in nature.

Exhaustively researched with extensive, irrefutable documentation, including court records.
Includes an introduction by author and political commentator Win McCormack and a foreword by Arianna Huffington.

See what your local Republicans have been doing >>

"In graphic, devastating, and sometimes hilarious detail, Win McCormack reveals the true hypocrisy and depravity of those who love to quote the Bible but act like Caligula. When you finish You Don’t Know Me, you will know for sure that the “Family Values” phonies who have infected the GOP should never again be entrusted with the well-being of America."
—Arianna Huffington, author of Right Is Wrong

http://www.youdontknowmebook.com/person_list.php

Information and Questions Regarding McCain's Health

Liz — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:02:09 EDT

I 've noticed lately from watching McCain on TV that his left eye appears much smaller/squinted than his right eye. Also the left side of his face (where the cancer was removed0 appears larger to me.

And that is another thing that I don't understand. He had a melanoma that was on his temple. Why does it look like he had jaw surgery and why is that gland or whatever it is swollen? It doesn't make sense to me. Does anyone know and/or is familiar with this sort of surgery?

Reading over that medical report that was released in May (not all 1,173 page lol just an excerpt) I found this:

Reaching out to Low Information Voters

Liz — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:05:03 EDT

More on the topic of Reaching out to Low Information Voters

The Republicans have perfected the art of reaching out to the low information voters with their smear campaigns and swift boat attacks. These messages have worked in the past because of three primary reasons:

1) These messages are short

2) These messages concern issues about which the voter is likely to have an emotion such as fear or anger. And these short messages are designed specifically with words that will trigger these emotions in the listener.

3) These messages are broadcast widely and repeated often. In the last election, emails were the most frequently used format for these messages. However the Republicans still, even today, send a lot of direct mail with these messages. Then, of course, we hear them repeated on Fox News, and increasingly on other mainstream media as well.

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THIS?

What Obama and the Democrats can do to save Democracy.

Liz — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 09:52:37 EDT

Ok it looks like that Senator Obama and the Democrats will carry the day in November. By all realistic predictions it will be by a landslide. The next question is: SO WHAT?

George Bush and the Republicans with their deficit spending (purposefully carried out like all previous Republican administrations from Reagan through Bush and the current administration to assist in busting our government and establishing privatization as the new government). They have effectively wrecked our government. Washington DC has been turned into a farce where we have 70 corporate lobbyists for every elected official.

What can the Democrats possibly do to save democracy?

Well, as my grandfather used to say: "It won't be easy Magee, but we can do it. And hang onto your St. Christopher medal because we are in for a rough ride and you'll need all the help you can get."

Regarding Privatization of Public Education

Liz — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:20:17 EDT

David Lester Young recently wrote a post on public education. Most of us realize what a sorry state that it has become and how badly it needs reform.

But what really needs to be emphasized is that what is happening to our public schools is but another example of the Republican road to privatize our entire government--to turn us over to private corporations who will rule over us like their own little mini nations, charging us whatever they choose and imposing their arbitrary rules for participation. They have made huge inroads and they must be stopped now if we are to have a democracy left.

If Republicans like McCain have their way, we eventually will no longer have public schools. Instead, parents will have "government vouchers" that will assist in paying the corporate welfare to the privately run educational institutions. These institutions, in turn, because they are "private" will impose whatever rules they choose to accept or reject students.

At Last! Musharraf Resigns This Morning

Liz — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 07:13:57 EDT

Pakistan People Party (PPP) activists protest against President Pervez Musharraf

CELEBRATION IN THE STREETS
FROM Agence France Presse

ISLAMABAD, Aug 18, 2008 (AFP) - Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf announced his resignation on Monday in the face of looming impeachment charges, ending a turbulent nine years in power for the key US ally.

The former army chief, who seized power in a bloodless coup in 1999, had been under huge pressure to quit before the coalition government launched the first impeachment proceedings in Pakistan's 61-year history.

Celebrations erupted in several cities after the announcement, with people dancing in the streets, although the country's political future -- as well as Pakistan's role in the US "war on terror" -- now is far from certain.

"After viewing the situation and consulting legal advisers and poltical allies, with their advice I have decided to resign," a grim-faced Musharraf, wearing a sober suit and tie, said in a televised address to the nation.

"I leave my future in the hands of the people."

Pakistan coalition gives Musharraf two-day ultimatum

Liz — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 22:00:35 EDT

from Agence France-Presse

"ISLAMABAD (AFP) - Pakistan's ruling coalition tightened the screw on President Pervez Musharraf Sunday, saying that it had readied impeachment charges against him and was giving him two days to stand down.

Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar told AFP that "the charge sheet will be presented in parliament by Tuesday." Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said a day earlier that Musharraf had to decide on quitting "by today or tomorrow."

The coalition finalised the charges on Sunday after intense deliberations and would present them on Monday to the alliance's leaders, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif, Information Minister Sherry Rehman said. . . "

_______________________

Musharraf said that he will wait until the impeachment motion is filed before choosing a course of action.

I also read in the Pakistan News that Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday that granting asylum to embattled President Pervez Musharraf was not under consideration by the United States.

Interesting from Tehran Times

Liz — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:21:43 EDT

I find the following newsclip from the Tehran Times interesting:

"President Mahmud Ahmadinejad has called for full cooperation between the Majlis and the administration in implementation of the economic reform plan. The plan states that all subsidies for various products should be directly paid to the people. The president called energy a “national asset” and cited “saving the energy” as one of the aims of the plan. The plan was devised to tackle rising inflation (at 26.1 percent) and to ensure that low-income families pay less taxes and receive more government benefits.

In order to decrease inflation caused by middlemen, the plan calls for the creation of a direct link between consumers and producers through new chain stores and monitoring of the distribution of goods through the use of a new national coding system for all products."

Privatization--another bill of goods that we've been sold

Liz — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:07:47 EDT

The Congress of the United States of America Has Been “Privatized” (stolen) while America was asleep at the Wheel.

Tell people that privatization does not reduce their taxes and waste! Instead, it increases taxes and inefficiencies! And tell them how and why.

Privatization is the largest and most destructive of all the myths that have been sold to the American people. The conservative’s battle-cry, beginning at least with Nixon has been: “downsize big government”. As to be expected, those Americans who are unable to think beneath the depth of a political slogan, chimed in. They were sold on the notion that “big government” means “government control and waste.” If we just let private business take care of it—everything will be just great.

May I Suggest Harvard Next Time?

Liz — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 09:59:32 EDT

MAY I SUGGEST HARVARD?

It is obvious that the Republicans had the upper hand in selecting the location of the first presentation of Obama and McCain “almost” together. [Very convenient format for McCain who, in a side-by-side appearance with Obama, would come up as the much shorter stick.]

May I suggest that the Democrats manage the next ”debate”. Let’s have a real one with both candidates on stage at the same time and actually debating topics. Instead of holding the debate in a right-wing conservative church in the heart of a right-wing county, may I suggest that this next debate be held at Harvard, or perhaps Columbia, or perhaps even the University of Chicago?

Most of the leaders of the world that McCain will be dealing with will be of a much higher intellectual caliber than ones who graduated fourth from the bottom of a class of almost 900 students.

Postcards from Behind the Orange Curtain

Liz — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:45:02 EDT

POSTCARDS FROM BEHIND THE ORANGE CURTAIN

If you want an explanation for the enthusiastic clapping to John McCain’s canned responses last night. Please, look no further than the canned audience who were likely very close to being 100% Republican.Forrest Lake is located in Orange County CA. I lived there for almost 20 years.

People in CA which is mostly democratic make jokes about politically conservative Orange County. When one crosses from LA to Orange county going down the 405, Californians have an expression: “You are crossing behind the Orange Curtain” Nationally, I don’t know how the county ranks for wealth but most of its cities you could not buy anything, even a condo for less than $600,000. In cities like Newport, Laguna, Huntington Beach, and Irvine, I doubt that too many properties could be found for under two million dollars--even in today's depressed real estate market.

Anticipate Voter Questions: Prepare Short Answers

Liz — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 14:00:10 EDT

When getting ready to go out and talk with the public, it is a good idea to have your own short answers prepared in regard to the issues and questions that are likely to be asked.

First as a good base of knowledge, it is advised to go to the Obama for America site and read where Senator Obama stands on the various issues.

http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

With this understanding, I recommend preparing, in YOUR own words what these positions are. Keep it short! People that you talk with on the street are not going to have time for you to stand there and pontificate like a preacher with a captive audience on Sunday morniing in the First Baptist Chrurch. (or the Methodist or any other church--not to pick on Baptists).

Here is an example of my answer regarding abortion issues: