2008 Congressional Campaigns Blog

where's Hillary?

purple summer — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 20:44:53 EDT

Does anyone know where Hillary is and what she's doing?

Watch our broken government make

Frank Lynch — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 17:15:44 EDT

the Wall Street speculators rich.
They will come up with some goofy plan for Fannie and Freddie that will leave serious invesstors wondering how it will affect the stock price

But the insiders will know beforehand and get rich ahead of us.

They should stop trading the stock and have a true takeover just like with the banks where the stock is wiped out forever

But the Wall Street insiders will get rich and you and I will probably pay $10,000 per person in taxes for the bailout
I want to hear barack saying we will not bail out the insiders

Calling all Precinct Committee Persons and County Chairs

Micheal DeCoria — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:14:31 EDT

We are attempting to set up an information and educational group set up to help new Democrats. Topics covered will be:

1. fostering enthusiasm in all aspects of the political process.

2. identifying strong candidates for leadership positions.
within individual states. and connecting them to their corresponding leadership.

3. Insuring that willing volunteers are connected to leadership that will put them to work.

If you are in a leadership position your help would be appreciated. WE NEED LEADERSHIP FROM ALL 50 STATES

SEND ME A MESSAGE OR A FREIND REQUEST.

The groups name is:Party Builders Volunteer Action Group

HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY
MICHEAL

Palin - American Coward

Angel — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 15:24:48 EDT

Why has this woman not agreed to any interviews? Is it because she has all the qualifications of a PTA president and nothing more? Or that her past is so riddled with corruption it would only further embarass Republicans?

Can we all send emails to the networks to point out that she's ducking the interview circuit? If she's really as tough as she says she is, then she shouldn't be so scared.

Then again, Republicans are never as tough as they say.

Calling all Precinct Committee Persons and County Chairs

Micheal DeCoria — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:37:40 EDT

Calling all Precinct Committee Persons and County Chairs

Micheal DeCoria — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:09:45 EDT

"Joe Biden On Fire" -- 3-min 13-sec video, Obama-Biden campaign stop in Langhorne, PA Sep 5

Erin Medlicott — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:36:57 EDT

Short Video: "Joe Biden On Fire" - Obama-Biden campaign stop in Langhorne, PA Sep 5

Here is the Web link to this three min, 13-sec campaign event video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=955Y3NJTRIE

GIVE 'EM HELL, JOE!!!!!!!!!

You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

Frank Lynch — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 10:23:35 EDT

A few days ago I criticized the Repub for defrauding investors for permiting trading in the stocks of Fannie mae and Freddie Mac.

http://www.democrats.org/page/community/post/franklynch/CxMV

Today its was announced that 9 percent of mortgages are late or delinquent. Astoundingly, One of eleven mortgages are bad.

When those people become homeless, things will get much worse.

The cost to the economy and to us taxpayers for all the bank bailouts that will follow will place the US on the verge of bankruptcy.

Homeprices are going to continue to decline, which means more mortgages will be upsidedown (where the mortgage is larger than the home value). That will result in even more people walking away from their mortages, and HOME PRICES WILL DECLINE EVEN FURTHER

for years. . . .

and revene from property taxes will continue to decline, robbing our already short-changed schools of much needed revenue, so our children will pay the price of government lack of regulation

Tune In! Dem. VP nominee Sen. Joe Biden on Meet The Press Sun. Sep. 7

Erin Medlicott — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:51:11 EDT

Tune In! Dem. VP nominee Senator Joe Biden on MSNBC's "Meet The Press" this Sunday, September 7

In his first Sunday morning interview since accepting the Democratic Party's nomination for Vice President, Sen. Joe Biden goes one-on-one with Tom Brokaw -- live from Wilmington, Delaware.

"Meet the Press" airs Sundays in most places across the U.S. from 9-10 a.m. ET on the NBC-TV network, and from 10:30-11:30 a.m. ET in New York and Washington.

The show re-airs at 6 p.m. ET Sundays and 2 a.m. ET Mondays on MSNBC on cable. To check the time in your area, visit this MSNBC Web site:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3080248/

Join Us! Dem. VP nominee Sen. Joe Biden At Iowa State Fairgrounds Monday Sep 8

Erin Medlicott — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 23:22:13 EDT

NOTES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL:

Dear Obama/Biden friends and supporters:

We've just gotten word that Sen. Biden's event in Des Moines on Monday afternoon will be at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in the Paul Knapp Animal Learning Center, beginning at 3:15 p.m. Doors will open at 1:30 p.m.

There is no charge for the event, which is open to the public.

An email will be sent by the campaign tomorrow morning which will have a link to a special Web site for people to RSVP.

We may have more information Saturday morning about any special seating arrangements.

Pass the word among your Iowa Obama/Biden friends who may be able to attend. Hope to see you Monday.

Attention Biden Supporters In The State Of Iowa...

Erin Medlicott — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:34:04 EDT

Hello Biden friends,

I've been asked by the Obama/Biden campaign to send to them a list of Biden supporters who should receive a special invitation to Sen. Biden's appearance in Des Moines on Monday.

I have a pretty good list, but don't have contact information for many of those who caucused for Joe in local precincts.and who would love to see him again. That's where we need your help.

Would you search your memory (or call lists, or personal email contact list) and pass along to me the names and email addresses of Biden loyalists who might like to have a ringside seat for his appearance next Monday, and perhaps the chance to personally welcome him back to Iowa as the next Vice President of the United States?

Just send them to me and I'll get them to the campaign staff ASAP.

Hope you'll be able to be part of the "welcome home event" on Monday!

Erin Medlicott
(201) 592-9994
Erin_Medlicott@yahoo.com

Confused Convention

Travis — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:36:07 EDT

The 2008 Republican National Convention was more confused and unfocused than any other convention of either party in recent memory. Sen. John McCain knows it.

In complete contrast, the GOP conventions of 2000 and 2004 both had a set goal, and they reached it. In 2000, it was the creation of the passionate conservative. Gov. Bush promised a satisfied America that he would continue the growth, prosperity, and peace of the 90's, but with the home grown moral compass of the average American to bring back integrety to the Oval Office. The convention of 2004 was much different. The goal was to remind Americans of the horrors and realities of the post 9-11 world, and the determination and success of Bush's leadership in keeping America safe. The passionate conservative phenomenon won two unwinnable elections for a party that unashamefuly took America back the Reaganomics of deficit spending. Democrats must not forget those lessons, even if the Republicans themselves have.

John McCain is a republican of another generation. He has never fully identified with the Reagan conservatives or the Bush elites. McCain is now the head of a party not yet willing to admit the wrong doings of a failed administration, so will find it difficult to give the power of full leadership to that of McCain. The Senator from Nevada is fully aware of this challenge. If he didnt before the convention, he sure knows it now.

Neither convention made an attempt to sway and rewrite the narrative of this election to focus on the issues. Things are still more about personalities,rather than the lives of struggeling Americans. It is shameful, and irresponsible.

A Script, Not a Speech!

Robert Pike — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:15:06 EDT

In the 1977 interview of former President Nixon, David Frost had taken a defensive position, nit-picking Nixon and, with skillful questioning, brought him close to accepting responsibility for the Watergate disaster: "I gave them a sword," Nixon acknowledged, "and they stuck it in, and they twisted it with relish, and if I had been in their position I'd have done the same thing."

A Very Useful Link

Lee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:49:41 EDT

I just found a very useful link to a site called PolitiFact.com. It is operated by the St. Petersburg Times and Congressional Quarterly.

Really not sorry Sara....

John — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:44:45 EDT

We're so sorry, sara palin,
We're so sorry if we caused you any pain.
We're so sorry, sara palin,
But there's no one left at home
And i believe it's gonna rain.

We're so sorry but we haven't heard a thing all day,
We're so sorry, sara palin,
But if anything should happen
We'll be sure to give a ring.

"we're so sorry, sara palin,
But we haven't done a bloody thing all day.
We're so sorry, sara palin,
But the kettle's on the boil
And we're so eas'ly called away."

Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh,
Doo-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh,
Uh-uh -

Fact check on Palin speech last night...

Lee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 14:08:22 EDT

I am posting a lot today...I read a fact check on Sarah Palin's speech last night. It caught a few more misrepresentations...here is the link. -Lee

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080904/ap_on_el_pr/cvn_fact_check

Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passion, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence. John Adams (1735 - 1826), 'Argument in Defense of the Soldiers in the Boston Massacre Trials,' December 1770

The Republican mind set...

Lee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:50:31 EDT

I was just reading my email and got to an email from a member of Women for Obama. The article I am posting came out of my email...sorry, I don't know the link...Lee

Psychopathology of The Republican
By Richard Greene

Fear, Domination, The Reptilian Brain and The Non-Goodness of Man

Republicans are different. We must understand them in order to reason with them.

As proud Republicans begin their convention in earnest in Minnesota today it might be a good time to reflect on why a dedicated, patriotic, intelligent adult would choose to be a Republican.

It was a question that always haunted me - until Dennis Prager, super dedicated, super patriotic and unbelievably intelligent Republican - answered it, ironically at the Democratic Convention last week in Denver.

Thank you, Dennis

The answer came at the beginning of a debate I moderated at the Seachange Ideas Forum at The Starz Green Room, a refreshingly deep and cordial debate between Dennis, famed right wing talk show host and Thom Hartmann, my colleague on Air America, one of the most brilliant Progressive minds in the country.

What I learned helps me understand why Republicans are hawks, why they still give George W. Bush a 67% approval rating compared to 29% from the public at large (USA Today/Gallup Poll, August 23, 2008) and why FEAR plays such a vast role in the lives of Republicans. Here is a summary and some analysis.

Basic Belief About Mankind

Underlying everything, Dennis Prager made this bold statement:

"I don't think we're basically good, as it happens/ And that is at least a theoretical political divide . . . It is so obvious to me that people are not basically good that I stand in awe of those who think that people are basically good. You have no evidence for it. . ... . Babies are not good . . . What is so good about a baby . . . This notion that we are born good is nonsense . . . We don't start off good. This is fantasy . . . We aren't basically good. People stink as a rule. . . ."

Forever On Guard Against Evil

If Dennis Prager speaks for most or all Republicans and Conservatives, there are huge practical consequences to this life philosophy. As a result of this core, existential belief, Republicans/Conservatives must, above all, always be on guard against evil. Saddam Hussein, Hitler and others. then, are overwhelming evidence that, if not vigilant and fearful, the inherent non-goodness of mankind could erupt, like a bad case of herpes, the virus lying dormant, for ever, in the collective nervous system of mankind.

Dominate (Before You Are Dominated)

Having to be on guard, leads to another core belief, according to famed author Rianne Eisler. She writes, in "The Power of Partnership" that fear leads to a life philosophy and political philosophy of "Domination" rather than the less fear based and more evolved "Partnership" model. Dominate before you are dominated. Fear partnership because, as Dennis explained, individuals are NOT good and, ultimately, can not be trusted, no matter what "agreements" you might negotiate.

The Party of Domination

The Republican Party is a party of domination, not partnership. Dominate the earth - drill, excavate and justify all and any penetration and exercise of control by denying that we humans could even contribute to climate change. Dominate Iraq, because they and their evil leader could someday dominate us. Dominate/attack Iran for the same reason. Fight for your interpretation of The 2nd Amendment because only by having unlimited access to guns can we dominate if and when necessary to suppress those that want to hurt us. Use Lee Atwater tactics and, now, Karl Rove tactics to try to control all branches of government. And, for some who may be even more desperate, use corrupted electronic voting machines and steal elections (on the ground or from The Supreme Court) because it is necessary. All is justified because only "we" are strong enough and understand the true threat of domination that others present. Being dominated is not an option.

It is Republicans, Not Democrats, Who Are Inherently Weak and Need A Strong Protector to Feel Safe

And that leads us to the ultimate irony about Republicans. They are hawks, they are tough, they go nuts about the concept of negotiating (unless there are preconditions that can preserve the domination and superiority) and appeasement . . . precisely because they are afraid. They are afraid and Democrats, those "weak," "Neville Chamberlain loving", "pacifist tree huggers" are actually LESS afraid.

But isn't it always the case. Rush Limbaugh, the bombastic hawk, got a deferment from service in Vietnam. So did Dick Cheney, five times and we all know that Bush, the cowboy who is genuinely afraid of horses, did not choose to go into battle when he had the chance. And just like the many gay Republicans who lashed out against homosexuality over the years, it is this unwillingness to face one's own nature and one's own demons that threatens our country. It is always the case that the bully is more insecure than those he bullies.

Sincere, win-win negotiation and partnership with our enemies and the world is, without question, the least fearful and most effective way to eliminate war and to make our country and the world safer. Yet, the specter of putting down the implements of warfare and adopting a softer approach so ignites the "Oh Daddy, protect me from the bogeyman in the closet" fears of those who are fearful and weak, that they must lash out against it. One would think that Neville Chamberlain was even more evil than Hitler - that is how scary it is for Republicans to not have a strong father running the show to protect them. Dr. George Lakoff brilliantly discusses this in his fine work yet the perception of Republicans as "tough" still remains.

Bush, Thompson, Guiliani, Palin, McCain Speeches

Watch for this recurring theme in all of the Republican speeches and even Joe Lieberman who has adopted the fear of his Republican brothers and sisters. You will hear three major things that come from this underlying philosophy of "mankind is not good", "we must dominate so as not to be dominated".
1. We must "Win" the "War on Terror"
2. Our opponents are "weak." This will be communicated in dozens of different ways.
3. Only we are strong enough to put "Country First" and protect America.

The Republican/Reptilian Brain

But the Republicans have to emphasize and re-emphasize these themes because, in reality, Barack Obama is, tougher than John McCain. Obama's foreign policy is not one that acts out of childish fear but one who is, himself, afraid, can never see this through their overriding screen of fear. The neurology of the human brain, as Dr. Drew Westin and so many neurologists teach us, is such that when you can make people afraid, nothing - not rational thought, nor any other emotion except fear - can be engaged in or experienced. The Hind Brain, popularly called "The Reptilian Brain" responds first and overwhelms the higher Limbic and Neo Cortex parts of the brain. And as long as the "Fight or Flight" response of our Reptilian Brain is triggered, we, as individuals and as a nation, can never escape the fear pattern. Abraham Maslow understood this many years ago with his Hierarchy of Human Needs which says, among other things, that human beings will be frozen in their development as long as they feel they do not have safety or security.

And having Osama bin Laden out there, un-captured, as the eternal bogeyman, is one way to keep that Reptilian brain activated.
A dear friend of mine, a very successful person in the media who is otherwise very socially liberal confirmed this for me. This very savvy man admitted to me that he is "obsessed with" and "petrified by" Osama bin Laden. He even did so publicly on my radio show.

I do not believe that babies or even adults are not good, Dennis. I believe that human beings are, indeed, inherently good and given the right soil, sunlight and water, will blossom into productive and caring members of society, participating and contributing in positive ways. It is the role of that other thing you are afraid of, "Government", nothing more than the collective of our individual assets and desires, to help cultivate that soil and provide the opportunities and the social justice to bring out the inherent good. Promulgate fear and prejudice and we lay the seeds for the weeds of the lesser qualities, of individuals and our country, to take root and grow.

The Republican psychology, or psychopathology, is borne of fear and weakness and, thus promulgates both. As one of our strongest Presidents, a Democrat who won a real war with a legitimate enemy said, "The only thing to fear is fear itself." Well, today, in light of the continual "boogeymaning" of the country, we might paraphrase President Roosevelt. "The only thing to fear is fear itself and those who stoke it and those who profit from it. In other words, the only thing to fear is . . . those who reject the basic goodness of man, those who huddle in St. Paul this week and many of those who call themselves "Republicans".

Our response to this dangerous psychopathology that will be on full display this week in St. Paul is, above all, to understand the dysfunction, not to attack it. Rejecting the dysfunction of another often causes one to retreat further into it, to justify with even more force that which is essential to their current identity. As a communication strategist who greatly appreciates the importance of human psychology I suggest that the communication of the Democratic cause and the future of our country depend on allowing those who are stuck in fear of mankind and stuck in the Reptilian part of their brain to know that we, at least, acknowledge that fear and their reality. No communication is ever possible without the sharing of some commonality, to be, in at least some small way, on the same "wavelength." So, while the dangerous Neo-con, domination based ideas, ironically, threaten the very safety of our great country, we must step back and, as if we were coaxing a scared third grader to get out of bed and open the closet door, treat our fellow Republican citizens with love and respect, listen to them and, gently, help them feel safe in ways that do not always involve guns or bombs.

The bridge to nowhere...

Lee — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 11:40:37 EDT

Last night, I watched Sarah Palin's speech on PBS. At one point, she implied that she refused the federal monies offered for the bridge. In the commentary after the speech, Mark Shields pointed out that she, as governor at the time, did accept the federal monies for the bridge. The Republicans are really audacious!!!

Lee ;-)((fist bump))

I'm asking you to believe. Not just in my ability to bring about real change in Washington...I'm asking you to believe in yours.-Barack Obama

Palin - Spiro T Agnew in skirts

John — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:16:50 EDT

Many of you younger people will not remember this former Republican Vice President who was chosen by Richard M. Nixon to be his hatchet man and was Vice President from 1969-1973. Like Palin, Agnew was a Governor, only he was from Maryland, Agnew was the first Vice President to resign after being found guilty of tax evasion and fined.

The real reason I bring up Agnew is that the RNC will always in presidential elections use an ideologue right winger somewhere to keep their so called base happy with pablum. Nixon did this with Agnew in 1968 and so McCain is doing this with Palin in 2008.

I heard the GOP anger this morning on MSNBC as Joe Scarborough(R) and Mika Brzezinski(R) kept praising Palin as a new fresh voice, Joe saying I never heard anything like this before! as he was berating Senator Amy Klobuchar (D) from Minnesota. Senator Klobuchar correctly was making the point that what Palin said last night is the same divisive rhetoric we have been hearing from the Republican right wing for the last 8 years. What we really were hearing was a script that had been played out in the election of 1968 between Agnew against Democrats and the press.

Once again Americans are being played by the Republicans who canâ��t run on the economy, who canâ��t run on peace in the world, who canâ��t run from a position of US strength in the world, who basically have nothing to run on because the record is clear, Republicans have failed American families once again. We see a lot of fluff in St. Paul with failed politicians that try to label true Americans like Obama and Biden as your enemy.

Democrats we live in a very serious time, we cannot afford, allow or be confident in a future for America with Republicans again, please do not fall once again for the GOP lying and hate machine.

Elect Barack Obama President of the United States and Joe Biden Vice President of the United States, truly the future of our great country cannot take four more years of Bush Cheney policies masked under the package of McCain and Palin.

Thank you

Essays - Let's Light a Path To The Future

Ray Pairan — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 08:01:37 EDT

All the below essays may be read at-

http://structuraleconissues.blogspot.com/

[The Illusion of Justice]
Unique boundless power is exerted upon those citizens that are unfortunate enough not to be among the corrupt few. Regardless of your stature, education, or intelligence those unscrupulous corporations and other guardians of government 'disservice' who command influence over our judges will engage in any action that will perpetuate our obedient servitude to their slanted economic system. It is an economic system integrally tied to a legal system woven to snuggly fit our corporate culture manipulated by a few business elite who use it to their exclusive benefit.

With staggering sums of money being spent by the elite to maintain a legal web of forced obedience on the part of the general citizenry is it any wonder that a citizen of modest income is 'priced out' of obtaining council for anything other than trivial cases.
...

Essays written in August-

Our Survival Depends Upon Cooperation
Don't Become another One of the Worn-Out
Citizens Gather to Hear Message of Hope & Change
A Sustainable Future for America Built Upon Equali...
Americans United Behind a More Equitable Future
One Nation, One World Willing To Dream
Pragmatic Solutions to Global Economic Problems
Henry Ford Realized the Importance of Adequate Wag...
Reach Out For the Radiant Light of Hope
Production Camps Build Upon Tumor of Greed
Unity Vanquishes Selfish Destruction
Business Alchemists Believe In Their Infallibility...
Democrats and Republicans Extol Business Party Lin...
Russia's Plan for Reestablishing Empire
The Programming Wasteland
Crumbling, Neglected, Cheap American Society
Shock Waves from Russian Conflict with Georgia
Corporate Masters Marginalize Current Citizens
Collusion to Lower Wages and Thus Fix Prices
The Corporate Beast Reigns Supreme over Everything...
Human Labor Exploitation Has Occurred For Eons
Message from Behind the Economic Iron Curtain

It is important that all our efforts be directed at getting Barack's message of positive change out because it is currently being overshadowed by the news coverage devoted to Sarah Palin.