Posts with the tag campaign

McCain's V.P. Choice

funkfresh01 — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 18:12:16 EDT

After months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people.

Huh?

Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:

She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience. (1)

Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest. (2)

She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. (3)

Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools. (4)

She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change. (5)

Politics... Who put the "Con" in "Constitution"?

Gene Madison — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 19:29:19 EDT

Marketing has existed for as long as long can be. You could say that the snake in the biblical "Garden of Eden" was the first example of marketing. Then business required that people know of their product. No different than a political campaign. There is no doubt we expect the straight forward truth regarding the subject. The expectation often leads people putting their faith in that information.

So when I hear promises made by a campaign, I can't help but wonder to myself... by what Constitutional Authority do you suppose grants the executive a power to accomplish that? The truth is, there is no such power. Then why do Presidential Candidates run on such promises? I believe the answer is... Because if they don't meet those expectations, they can blame congress. If the 'other party' controls congress, it is warfare to take over seats in congress.

We need to stop listening to what programs they are going to offer, and find out more about what kind of person they are. You can find that out by asking questions.

If you ask a Republican if they believe in abortion, they will tell you "no, it's wrong, and there should be laws that make abortion illegal."

If you ask a Democrat if they believe in abortion, they will say, "I believe a woman has a right to choose, and no law should be passed violating that right."

Why don't we ask another questions.

Republicans & Democrats: Do you believe that the federal government has the power to take away a persons rights?

When a Bill of Rights was suggested and enumerated before congress, one comment made was that "The Constitution doesn't grant any power to restrict the freedom of the press." Nor does it grant any other power to restrict the actions of people.

So when congressman offer up bills to be passed into law, I think the phrase "& for other purposes" should be excluded from all bills. It means there are other provisions that aren't being discussed, and have nothing to do with the title of the Bill itself. They should also be required to state as part of the Bill the Constitutional Power that allows such a law to be passed. Any congressman opposing a bill should state any constitutional clause that forbids such a law to be passed. If you pass a bill contrary to the Constitution, then it was passed Unconstitutionally, since all laws must be made pursuant to the constitution, and bills contrary to the Constitution cannot have any affect and are immediately null and void, then why do we continue to allow ourselves to be kicked around?

Perhaps it's a lot like the beaten wife syndrome. After a while, we will protect the person inflicting the pain, and continue to blame ourselves for what has happened.

Helping Obama?

Matt Nisenoff — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 05:15:14 EDT

I will be in Okinawa for a few years and would like to do something to support Obama.

Write in Hillary!

Democrat in Halifax, MA — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 09:03:16 EDT

Yes, I will write-in Hillary no matter what the ballot will look like on the Election day. Please go on, Hillary!

Group

Larkin — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:03:41 EDT

I have created a new group exclusively for past, present, and future presidential candidates. Please join if you fit the category and invite others that also fit. Thanks-Larkin

Reports of Mosque Surveillance Concerns Muslims

funkfresh01 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 22:55:45 EDT

http://religion.info/english/articles/article_385.shtml

Source: Religioscope
Author: Richard Cimino

While there have been allegations in the past of government investigation of mosques on issues relating to terrorism, the recent report, first featured in the San Diego Union-Tribune newspaper, is said to be the first confirmation that surveillance is taking place.

An article in the Los Angeles Times (May 29) reports that information about the alleged spying surfaced in a case about classified files concerning terrorism that were stolen from a secure office used by military and civilian law enforcement officials at Camp Pendleton. Some of these classified records referred to the surveillance of Muslim communities in Southern California, specifically, the Islamic Center of San Diego. The records alleged that the mosque had been monitored as part of a federal surveillance program targeting Muslim groups, according to the Union-Tribune article.

The FBI's Plan to ‘Profile’ Muslims

funkfresh01 — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 17:28:30 EDT

http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2008/07/10/muslim_profiling/index.html

Source: Salon
Author: Juan Cole

The U.S. Justice Department is considering a change in the grounds on which the FBI can investigate citizens and legal residents of the United States. Till now, DOJ guidelines have required the FBI to have some evidence of wrongdoing before it opens an investigation. The impending new rules, which would be implemented later this summer, allow bureau agents to establish a terrorist profile or pattern of behavior and attributes and, on the basis of that profile, start investigating an individual or group. Agents would be permitted to ask "open-ended questions" concerning the activities of Muslim Americans and Arab-Americans. A person's travel and occupation, as well as race or ethnicity, could be grounds for opening a national security investigation.

The rumored changes have provoked protests from Muslim American and Arab-American groups. The Council on American Islamic Relations, among the more effective lobbies for Muslim Americans' civil liberties, immediately denounced the plan, as did James Zogby, the president of the Arab-American Institute. Said Zogby, "There are millions of Americans who, under the reported new parameters, could become subject to arbitrary and subjective ethnic and religious profiling." Zogby, who noted that the Bush administration's history with profiling is not reassuring, warned that all Americans would suffer from a weakening of civil liberties.

Boren for Congress Launches 2008 Campaign Website

Mike W — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:43:42 EDT

Boren for Congress Launches 2008 Campaign Website... make a donation or signup to help!

Boren for Congress
Friday, June 27, 2008

I am proud to announce the launch of the 2008 online headquarters of the Boren for Congress campaign.

http://www.borenforcongress.com

As we continue growing into the 21st Century Economy, I think it is important that elected officials recognize the importance of technology and the internet in our nation's political discourse, as well as use every tool possible to communicate with voters.

I hope you take the time to read through the resources on this site and send us any questions, comments or criticisms which come to mind. If you like what you see, I hope you'll consider a donation of time or money to our campaign, and that you'll sign up for email alerts so we can keep you updated about activities on the campaign.

Thanks again for being a friend and supporter!

Sincerely,

/s/ Dan Boren

Dan Boren, Second District Congress

---
Paid for by Boren for Congress, Post Office Box 1924, Muskogee, OK 74402; 918.683.2401

Time to make the $$ count!

ObamaBob NSB — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 13:35:22 EDT

The campaign sent out this email this morning...

Friend --

Barack Obama recorded a video message with an important announcement that he wanted you to hear first:

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

We have made a crucial decision that will impact how we compete in the general election, and it's important that you understand the decision, its implications, and the challenge ahead.

Please take a moment to watch the video.

Thank you,

Obama for America

If you'd like to help our local fundraiser, here you go: http://my.barackobama.com/page/outreach/view/maingroup/newsmyrnaforobama

YES WE CAN!!

Oil now, versus lose election!

John — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 22:49:58 EDT

I have been an Obama supporter starting from before he became popular. Just as I had predicted Barack’s current success I have recently predicted that the cost of oil and it’s effects would become priority number one with
voters. And it will, trust me! We must be willing to, while giving as much attention to environmental concerns as reasonably possible, explore for oil, coal, and natural gas immediately. We must retrieve and process our fossil fuels as soon as we can while frantically developing alternative energy sources with which to power our industry, motor vehicles and homes. Unfortunately, Mr. Bush and Mr. McCain have beaten Barack and the rest of our party to this unavoidable common sense approach. Barack will ultimately loss the election if he does not realize and act on the fact that our economy is presently and for the near future entirely dependant upon affordable and available fossil fuels and their derivatives. If we don’t act now we may not have the ability to research and develop the needed technologies to make us independent of these fossil fuels. The looming energy crises will put us into the basic survival mode, and the means for such activities will not be available as they currently are. Unless Barack and the rest of the Democrats get on board, the Republicans will continue to run things. Why can’t the Democratic party use some common sense. Why is it always one extreme or the other? It's embarrassing. To the Democrats I beg,… Please wake up??????? We need to get our nation back!
I am a white 61 year old Vietnam vet and a retired building trades union supervisor who retired out of the engineering department at my last job. I am just trying to say many smart common sense people like myself (all races and colors) who want Barack to win and to have a couple of successful terms in office are very concerned that he has not picked up on this. I share many of his views and would like to see a prosperous period where we are not so preoccupied with the fossil fuel crises that we can't implement the needed policies etc. I pray for the sake of our party that Barack and the rest of the party quickly become aware of the gravity closing the door to the immediate pursuit of our reserves will have. This is one of the few mistakes we can make that will allow the Republicans to stay in office, and we are very likely currently making it.

Spread the Word: 2032

Larkin — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:50:17 EDT

Hello again. You might want to read the previous posts before this one. I'd just like to take the opportunity to ask that my supporters spread the word about my presidential campaign for the election in 2032. If this confuses you at all, read my previous posts. Please tell me, by the way, where you posted any information regarding my campaign if you did so on the internet, as it is important that we can keep track. This is also an invitation to everyone to join the support group.

New York Muslim’s Struggle for Justice in America

funkfresh01 — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 16:30:37 EDT

http://atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/4016/32/ Source: Atlantic Free Press Author: Stephen Lendman Yassin Aref is a 37 year old Albany, New York resident and one of many Muslim victims of police state justice in post-9/11 America. They've been hunted down, rounded up, held in detention, kept in isolation, denied bail, restricted in their right to counsel, tried on secret evidence and trumped-up charges, then incarcerated as political prisoners or deported to where they face possible arrest and torture. Because of his faith and ethnicity, Aref was victimized by US "justice" in a post-9/11 climate of fear. He's an Iraqi Kurd who emigrated to the US as a UN refugee in 1999 with his wife and three young children. He's now in federal prison but committed no crime. He's also the author of a poignant memoir/autobiography titled "Son of Mountains: My Life as a Kurd and a Terror Suspect." He wrote it in custody at Troy, New York's Rensselaer County Jail after his wrongful conviction in October 2006.

Muslim Activists Seeking Probe of Reported Surveillance

funkfresh01 — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 15:33:24 EDT

http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_C_muslim30.426eaa8.html Source: Press-Enterprise Author: Paige Austin A civil-rights group and a coalition of Muslim activists headed by a Corona man called on Congress this week to investigate a report that military and law enforcement officials stole surveillance records of Southland Muslims from Camp Pendleton. The request stems from a news report that military officials and law enforcement members of the Los Angeles County Terrorist Early Warning Group illegally took the top-secret documents from the base's Strategic Technical Operations Center. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Marine Gunnery Sgt. Gary Maziarz has been court-martialed and convicted for his role in the thefts. While the details of the surveillance and the alleged theft remain largely unknown, the incident provides confirmation that the military and law enforcement groups have been gathering information about local Muslim communities, said Michael German, policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union's Washington Legislative Office.

Florida Muslim Leaders Testify at United Nation Racism Hearing

funkfresh01 — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 20:26:22 EDT

(MIAMI, FL, 6/4/08) - On June 2, 2008, Florida Muslim leaders met with Doudou DiÃ¨ne, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, at a Miami hearing to discuss Islamophobia and anti-Muslim discrimination. For photos of the event: http://picasaweb.google.com/bedier/UNMiamiHearingOnRacism Special Rapporteur DiÃ¨ne is visiting several cities across the United States to "gather first-hand information on issues related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia." Reuters: U.N. racism investigator to visit U.S. http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSL16843098

What is a concession speech?

Davidual — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 21:48:36 EDT

Last night Hillary Clinton made a very difficult heart warming speech, after winning in the South Dakota primary, in which she congratulated Barack O8ama for his primary success. She then went on to thank a multitude of campaign staff employees, her supporters, etc. Hillary then ended her speech with not knowing what her next move will be.

This statement, which I paraphrased, has been misinterpreted into meaning that she is not conceding. Well, duh!! On the last primary day in which all the votes are not even counted she's supposed to come out and concede? No way! Why should she be forced, or coerced, into conceding by CNN, Fox, MSNBC, or any other MEDIA outlet's schedule?

In the first place, she had 18 million votes, which is about the same as O8ama had, so she must ensure that the voters that voted for her are duly represented by the Democratic party platform agenda. She will ensure that before she concedes Barack will unite with her in creating the Democratic party agenda. Just as John Edwards did before throwing his support behind O8ama. It's just the way it works, and she owes that to her supporters.

Secondly, is the possibility of a political appointment amongst the O8ama administration. She will need to think out how she feels about a potential request from Barack O8ama. That's only natural. How would she fit into his administration and/or is that what she wants to do with her future, not to mention the political capital that she has developed through this campaign.

Lastly, is the fact that she does not need to concede in a negative 'I lost and Barack won' fashion. In my mind she conceded on Tuesday night when she congratulated O8ama and thanked all of her staff and supporters. It has been a long, very long, hard campaign. Give her a break and allow her to assess where she goes from here. All of this talk that she did not concede was generated by the media that is hoping that she will do as Harold Ickes warned and take her fight to Denver.

Beware the media hype because that is precisely what this concession, no concession, story is about.

Breaking News:Most Uncommitted Senators To Endorse Senator Barack Obama

Progressive Democrat — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:20:04 EDT

Sources: Most uncommitted senators to endorse Obama
Posted: 11:20 AM ET

Most of the 17 senators who remain uncommitted will announce their support of Obama, CNN has learned.

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Most of the seventeen Democratic senators who have remained uncommitted throughout the primaries will endorse Barack Obama for president this week, CNN has learned.

Sources familiar with discussions between Obama supporters and these senators tell CNN’s Gloria Borger that the senators will wait until after the South Dakota and Montana primaries to announce their support for Obama.

Two sources familiar with the sessions said the endorsements will come sometime later this week.

Obama supporters have been “pressing” for these superdelegates to endorse earlier in the week, but according to one source, “the senators don’t want to pound Hillary Clinton, and there is a sense she should be given a grace period.”

A series of meetings on the topic have been facilitated at different times by Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin. Durbin and Daschle are Obama supporters, while Harkin is uncommitted.

According to CNN’s Candy Crowley, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will remain uncommitted until Clinton officially drops out of the race.

Breaking News -Former Iowa Gov.Vilsack says it's over

Progressive Democrat — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 13:12:16 EDT

Vilsack says it's over
Posted: 11:41 AM ET

From CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney

Vilsack is a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton.

(CNN) – Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, one of Hillary Clinton's most ardent supporters, said Sunday it's time for Hillary Clinton to acknowledge she has lost her bid for the Democratic nomination.

Vilsack, who was briefly a presidential candidate himself last year, told the Associated Press it's "pretty clear that Senator Obama is going to be the nominee."

"After Tuesday's contests, she needs to acknowledge that he's going to be the nominee and quickly get behind him," Vilsack also said.

Vilsack first announced he was running for president in November, 2006, but dropped his bid three months later after the Democrat failed to drum up a significant level of support or raise the necessary campaign funds needed to compete. He endorsed Clinton shortly after and played a key role in the New York senator's unsuccessful Iowa campaign effort.

His comments came the same day the Clinton showed signs she plans to press on after Tuesday's contests — continuing argue she has won the popular vote and that the party's superdelegates are able to switch their allegiances before the convention in August.

RBC MAKES FAIR DECISION ON Florida and Michigan Lets Unite

Progressive Democrat — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:59:09 EDT

WASHINGTON (CNN) “ Democratic leaders hopeful that a deal to seat delegates from Florida and Michigan would mark an end to the deep division the controversy has brought to the party got some instant “ and less than encouraging “ feedback as they finalized the measure Saturday evening. As members of the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws panel voted in favor of the measures, some supporters of Hillary Clinton's White House bid rose from their seats and began to shout Dont steal my vote! and Lets go, McCain! Several paced the back of the ballroom, yelling at the committee members and chanting Denver! Denver!“ the site of this summer's Democratic presidential nominating convention. When Barack Obama's name was mentioned, boos filled the room. "This motion will hijack, hijack, remove four delegates won by Hillary Clinton and most importantly reflect the preferences of 600,000 Michigan voters, said Clinton senior adviser and RBC member Harold Ickes, who added that the White House hopeful reserved her right to bring an appeal before the DNC's Credentials Committee later this summer. The delegate allocations were a blow to Clinton, who comes away with an advantage of just 24 delegates. She is favored in Sundays Puerto Rico primary. But Obama is thought to hold an edge going into next Tuesdays contests in Montana and South Dakota “ meaning Clinton™s chances of pushing Obama™s delegate lead down into the double digits before the Democratic convention have virtually disappeared. After the vote, as knots of Clinton and Obama supporters circled each other and faced off in the lobby outside the ballroom, uncommitted Florida superdelegate Mitch Caesar “ who said he would weigh in soon after the last primary Tuesday praised the party for taking the first step toward unity. Nearby, Obama supporter Laura Mitchell wasn't so sure the party had started down the path to comity. I think it's going to be a disaster if this goes past Tuesday, said the Maryland resident. Every day it gets a little harder to imagine we will be able to come together. Boston native and Clinton backer Jenny Doggett, an organizer of grassroots group Count the Votes Cast, called the DNC spineless.I think what they've done is divisive, destroying the party. I'm disgusted, said Doggett, who expressed hope that the popular vote in Puerto Rico and a shift in superdelegates might still be able to deliver the nomination to Hillary Clinton. I'm done with the Democratic Party, she added. I'm an independent voter now. The Rules committee ultimately adopted modified versions of a Florida delegate proposal presented by Jon Ausman, and the Michigan Leadership Plan developed by Democratic officials in that state. All delegates from both states, both pledged and superdelegates, will be seated but each will only be able to cast half a vote. Florida's delegates were split The decision adds 313 new delegates, but only 156.5 votes, to the summer convention, and raises the number of delegates required to win the nomination to 2,118. The Florida proposal was passed unanimously by the panel but faced a rockier reception on the Michigan plan, which employed a complicated and controversial delegate allocation formula that awarded a 10 delegate, 5 vote edge to Clinton. The Clinton campaign later released a statement from Ickes and fellow Clinton adviser and RBC member Tina Flournoy that said the Michigan decision violates the bedrock principles of our democracy and our Party, and repeated their willingness to challenge the decision before the delegation is seated at the Democratic National Convention. The Obama campaign released a statement from campaign manager David Plouffe praising the RBC decision. We're extremely gratified that the commission agreed on a fair solution that will allow Michigan and Florida to participate in the Convention, said Plouffe. At a press conference at the hotel following the final vote, a skeptical reporter pressed Alexis Herman on her claim that the panels decision would unite the party. As Herman responded, chants of Denver! Denver! could be heard from the lobby outside

U.S. MARINES ACCUSED OF PROSELYTIZING IN FALLUJAH

funkfresh01 — Sat, 31 May 2008 21:46:29 EDT

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004444827_iraqgospel29.html Source: McClatchy Newspapers Author: Jamal Naji and Leila Fadel At the western entrance to the Iraqi city of Fallujah on Tuesday, Muamar Anad handed his residence badge to the U.S. Marines guarding the city. They checked to be sure he was a city resident, and when they were done, Anad said, a Marine slipped a coin out of his pocket and put it in his hand. Out of fear, he accepted it, Anad said. When he was inside the city, the college student said, he looked at one side of the coin. "Where will you spend eternity?" it asked. He flipped it over, and on the other side it read, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16."

Sexism may be an excuse, but it is not the Reason

Liz — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:34:10 EDT

As a woman, I find it extremely offensive for Hillary surrogates to put forth sexism as a reason for Obama’s impending Democratic nomination.

Hillary began this campaign with a huge advantage over Obama. She had it all: more money, more promised support, and a well-established Democratic brand against an unknown. From my observations, Hillary has defeated herself, assisted by her surrogates and campaign managers—not the press, and not Obama. All three of the candidates have had to deal with some vestige of prejudice whether it is sexism, racism or ageism.

Following is the long laundry list that better explains why Hillary Clinton will likely not get the nomination. I put this forth not to disparage Hillary, but to insert what I believe are the real reasons so the claims of “sexism” don’t discourage young girls and women who might want to run for the highest office in the land. Hillary did not lose because of sexism—even though it is true that she encountered it. It is just as true that there is probably not a black person alive in the USA who has not had to deal with racism and just as true that any person alive in the USA over the age of 65 and seeking employment has not had to deal with ageism. All three are still very much alive and well in the USA.