Wed, 14 May 2008 10:00:04 -0400
I woke up very happy this morning when I turned on the news and saw the percentage!
Wow- that crowd was aching, yearning, swelling with high energy.
This lady is so, so, so, so ready to be President.
The Creative Class' Condescension Towards Clinton Democrats
The narrative of the racist southern and/or working class white voter serves disappointed liberals by giving them a way to cope with rejection, and it serves Republicans by reassuring them that people can still be easily manipulated by racial bias.
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A. Serwer, The American Prospect, via John PettyAs an elitist myself, someone who chuckled at the jokes about Bill Clinton's "feeling your pain," it has not been easy to see how the Democratic problem with white working class voters has been endemic. But this campaign season has opened my eyes. BTW, it is not about God, guns and gays. It is about standard of living. It is about respecting these voters.
In denial about Barack Obama's problem with white working class voters across the entire Eastern part of the United States (as well as parts of the Midwest and Western part of the United States), the Creative Class blogs are clinging to the fallacious Appalachian theory to explain Obama's problem with white working class voters. Josh Marshall now takes up the cause:
Obama's problem isn't with white working class voters or rural voters. It's Appalachia. That explains why Obama had a difficult time in Ohio and Pennsylvania and why he's getting crushed in West Virginia and Kentucky. If it were just a matter of rural voters or the white working class, the pattern would show up in other regions. But by and large it does not.(Emphasis supplied.) This is simply false. By and large it does show up everywhere except the West, Iowa, Wisconsin and Virginia. It shows up everywhere else. And it shows up with women, seniors and Latinos too.
~ snip ~
The Obama blogs are in deep denial. I hope the Obama campaign is not. It is fashionable now to have deep disdain, even disgust, for all things Clinton. It is time for Democratic politicians to learn some political lessons from the last Democrat to win the White House. Twice. "Feel their pain." Find a way to connect to these voters. Insulting them is not the way to do that. Heck, it is time to start insulting the elitists like me, Josh Marshall and the Creative Class.
The Obama Phenomenon needs a second act. The Change thing is so five minutes ago. Time to feel their pain.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
Is the weird "separate & unequal" chasm pushed by the O! team & reinforced by the Wurlitzer- when I hear Hillary say working class I know she means all those of us on the bottom of the food chain, and obviously this country has a long history of placing African Americans at the very bottom there as well- often in the lowest tiers of the service sector- nurses' aides, janitorial, restaurant staff, low skilled industrial, call centers.
That said- here's the thing. When I hear her say working class & hard working Americans, I don't for one red second believe she excludes African Americans from that- whatsoever, on any level. It's just that the working class & the working poor are a hell of a lot larger of a group than that- and, yeah, invisible. Cripes- look around your roster of friends, relatives & acquaintences, neighbors. "Some call you the elite- I call you my base?" Erm. Not in my neck of the woods. 98% of my peeps are still trying to climb INTO the shrinking middle class.
I do not process that as code or anything else- I think she's more of a civil rights equality fighter than he is- perhaps tending to see the line as more on the economic rather than more on the tribal affiliation line- and that goes the same for their approach with Social Security contributions as well. There's a basic thinking highly & well of people- okay, open house, gotta go. heh
supporters at dkos/huffpost etc so on so forth are not O's team - they are supporters only;
ya know I don't think the brain trust of America plays professional politics I think bull dogs have taken the field;
maybe that will change over time going forward when corrupt money doesn't dictate politics;
Get over it. It's so old by now. - Justice Antonin Scalia
Well put Moon. "I do not process that as code or anything else". This season has been so unique in the wild compulsion to jump, leap and fly to the nearest "interpretation" of what's said that suits the ear and the agenda at the time.
The He Said She Said's have been astonishing in their twistings. I think we can attribute much of it to being lied to so deeply and destructively for so many years by our govt and their press arms.
So we automatically shift into code breaking mode to decipher the lies - and try to survive the onslaught.
But unfortunately we have now spread that modus interpretus flat across the gamut of all messages (except of course from the candidate of our choice who can speak no wrong)
People say something simple and basic and the dirty, juicy between the lines is added later by the rabid mob. Under the auspices of "inference" "implication" "innuendo" and "nuance"..... It's positively frightening what "we" have become and how bizarrely it has all muddied and distorted communications.
Hope you have a successful Open House!
Time to go work.
"It is fashionable now to have deep disdain, even disgust, for all things Clinton. It is time for Democratic politicians to learn some political lessons from the last Democrat to win the White House. Twice. "Feel their pain." Find a way to connect to these voters. Insulting them is not the way to do that. Heck, it is time to start insulting the elitists like me, Josh Marshall and the Creative Class.
The Obama Phenomenon needs a second act. The Change thing is so five minutes ago. Time to feel their pain."
of how Obama and his campaign have used the race card to their advantage -- and how Clinton and her campaign have failed to get out in front of the accusations.
At Taylor Marsh.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
every argument made in it, except that I continue to maintain that the Clintons' words and actions did nothing to lose Hillary the black vote. Like Michelle said, once the majority of black people realized that her husband could win, they would come aboard. The pattern of blacks voting for blacks holds true all over the country. They continue to put people like Marion Berry and William Jefferson right back into office. And, just as telling, whites go heavily for other whites. Most regions require gerrymandering for black legislators to be put into national office. This is sad but true. Did the Dem elites who decided to front Obama forget all this? Yes, it took the black vote away from Hillary, but what about everyone else? White-guilt-tripping apparently works among the liberal priveleged, who have little else to lie awake worrying about. (They're comparable to conservatives whose number-one concern is the threat of terrorism on U.S. soil.) But people who struggle to make ends meet have to be concerned about whether a Dem can get elected President.
I woke up to Air Obamica this morning.... I listen so you don't have to.... OK, I had a week off virtually all news sources so I indulged the gluttony and slapped myself with Stephanie Miller. Oy.
Here is what I found. Truly ashamed to call these people "progressives".
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They were playing Deliverance music in the background and asking callers to offer their best W. Virginia jokes.
"Why are divorces in West VA like tornados? After they come, you lose the trailer..."
Yuk Yuk Yuk - they all yuk it up
The sidekick then does an imitation of a southern "hick":
"Ah hadda tayke mah Confederate Flag offa mah truck an' put up a Hillary flag! Here in WV, we like our black people to be playing football, not gettin all uppity an' runnin' fer office!" (yuk yuk yuk Oh those W Virginie rubes...and more Deliverance banjo)
Then he breaks into his Bill Clinton dialect and does a few Monica Lewinsky bits. Ends by offering some woman to "take you behind the barn and break both your legs like Eight Belles..." Yuk Yuk Yuk. Seriously. He later is having Hillary bark like a dog-- which Stephanie charmingly characterizes with:
"She's a jackal in a pantsuit!"
Ha ha ha.
Stephanie goes on about how Hillary - LIKE REPUBLICANS - always has to find that one black person in the crowd to be near her for on-camera time. A caller makes a HaHa about a black man in a yellow shirt who "had no teeth" standing by her after her win and shouting "Woo Woo!" More big yuks. Another caller says one of her supporters was wildly waving a bowling pin in celebration. Oh ha ha.
Yet another caller gets a big kick out of her plea to "send money" at the top of her victory speech (hahaha) He then tells all the listeners to Google "HillaryClinton dot com" and when it comes up- "Her link is the first one-- But don't click on that, click on the Sponsored one... and make HER pay for it!!" Ha. Ha. Ha.
This is the new comedic tone of the "Progressive" wing of the Democratic party. Remember when narrow minded mean-spiritedness used to be associated uniquely with the Republican party?
I really need a new affiliation.
tea party. The far left is so full of hatred for common folk who are against their radical agenda that they're willing to alienate a huge segment of the Democratic electorate as well as Republicans who might cross over in response to the W debacle. Now, they've apparently gotten the notion that they can purge the party of middle-of-the-road nuisances like Christians who believe in the free exercise of religion and hillbillies who believe in the right to bear arms. If BO is the nominee, they'll get their wish to a great extent. Then, when he loses in a landslide, they can sit, smugly sip wine, and muse about those debased neanderthals who wouldn't vote for an African-American.
If this is a "directional" thing... meaning "far left" or even "left".
Classism is more generally associated with the right side of the spectrum, so it's so odd to see it so markedly pronounced in people proud to call themselves "left". But it's all gotten so out of whack these past years... the directionals of politics -- that we no longer know left from right from center.
Repubs like to call Obama-- an extremist Centrist who borders on republicaniness-- a far left liberal... mostly because it helps them engender their hostilities amongst themselves... But he's about as Liberal as the Blue Dogs if you really listen closely and especially when you examine the hand picked advisory panel he's selected. Oy. Liberal my arse. I wish he were.
So who are these forgotten workers of all colors who've slipped off the grid during these bush years? They're self declared Dems but are they right left or center? And who are the Kossacks and Air Obamica's who spew hatred towards fellow Dems, poor hard working Dems, and anything Clinton with the fervor of the original Arkansas Project, even borrowing the same talking pts and scripts...? Left, right? Center Left? I'm not sure we can package us in the same way anymore. Hey... maybe what we need is a "new kind of politics"! Ha! ;)
O! is no liberal lefty. Don't buy the spin being fed us -- look at his record in the Senate. Both he and Hillary are fairly moderate. Hillary is further left of center than O! who I place somewhere on the right side of center. And remember, center is further right than it has ever been. I'd consider him a moderate to liberal Repub if I had to label him at all.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
are. BO, in my opinion, is whatever his audiences want him to be. He reminds me of a weaker version of Mitt Romney--though I don't know if he's more savy for pushing nebulous ideas like hope, change, and bringing everyone together, or whether he would be more successful telling people Mittish bold-faced lies. My Chicago-bred husband tells me that in the Windy City, both parties cooperate to game the system. I suppose BO became a Dem to get traction with black voters there. And then I think the left wing of the national party picked him in order to pull the vast majority of black voters away from Hillary. The Dem lefties, of course, liked the idea of a black candidate for the bleeding hearts to rally around. It's interesting that some group named him the most liberal member of Congress, though I haven't read the reasons in any detail. The Repubs, of course, will try to brand him a pinko, and his associations will give them all the fire they need to do so.
As for rocking, do you have "sea bands" that go on the wrist? I found that those helped me after returning from my second houseboat excursion. You get warned about seasickness before a journey, but no one tells you what it might be like after you get off the boat.
I know I should be happy today, but it's hard to overlook this. Last night, Hillary won because Obama didn't campaign there. This morning it seems Hillary won, because everyone who voted for her is racist. It started with that article earlier in the week about how Obama campaign workers were subject racist comments. I wondered about the timing of the article...coincidence?
We of course had our fair share of misogynist comments, or comments about Monica, or Bill, or just your run of the mill Hillary hate stuff, but I guess that just isn't as glamorous a news story as the racism claims.
Of course none of this is okay, and it's sad that in this day and age people can still be so narrow minded. But don't sit there and tell me that these voters are all racist. I guess she couldn't have won because they thought she was the best person for the job. That working class people get her. That they feel she'll fight for them. Nah... these hillbillies are racist.
As for Stephanie Miller and the rest of the Air America stooges, well... they lost a listener in me months ago when they jumped on the O! bandwagon and started trashing my candidate. Gawd I miss Al Franken. I bet he wouldn't be piling on Hillary the way the rest of them have. The whole thing makes me sick. I think I need a new affiliation too, ms.
Wes Clark Democrats...let the Clinton campaign know who sent you
anymore. I can't identify with these people on AAR. And to think I was so happy that progressives, or liberal had a radio network. As far as I am concerned they can all go back into the woodwork and disappear. Their values are no better than those of Rush Limbaugh, whom I have always detested.
How about a peek at progressive bloggers?
From your Daily KObama last night. Worst language edited:
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[new] Hey Hillary, (1+ / 0-)
F**K OFF if you think that 2209 s**t is gonna fly. I will personally kick your smarmy surrogates' asses if Obama hits 2025 and your rotten rule-changing minions scream "2209."
Play by the rules, b**ch, or we are gonna lay down the law.
F**k, can't we kick these a**holes out of the party? What's the protocol for that?
by jre2k8 on Tue May 13, 2008 at 09:23:12 PM PDT
___________________
Brought to you by the Hope, Unity & Inspiration Coalition.
hysterical people? Maybe it's a side-effect of zombification. You recall that in the old flicks these mind-robbed beings were supposed to just be docile farm workers and follow orders...but--uh oh!
http://www.truemajority.org/dontbombiran/
Bomb Iran - True Majority Video
Get over it. It's so old by now. - Justice Antonin Scalia
(snip)
I'm in this race for everyone who needs a champion.
For the hardworking families who are losing sleep over gas prices and grocery costs and mortgage payments and medical bills -- but who never lose that American can-do spirit and optimism.
I'm in this race for the more than 16 million people like you who have supported me -- for the people who have put their hearts into winning this race. You never gave up on me, and I'll never give up on you.
We are in the homestretch. After sixteen months, there are only three weeks left to compete in the final contests. With your help I'm going to keep fighting until every last American has a chance to be heard, and as we learned last night in West Virginia, I know we can win.
Your support has made the difference for this campaign before -- you know you can make the difference for me again. Please help keep our campaign moving forward.
In a couple of days - off goes another donation to Hillary. Keep fighting Hillary. Keep fighting for the Democratic Presidential Nomination until the last vote at the Convention!
WE'RE GOING FOR THE WIN!!!!!!!!!
Uncommitted TN superdelegate goes for Clinton
From a press release: Tennessee Automatic Delegate Vicky Harwell announced her support for Hillary Clinton today. Harwell, of Pulaski, is president of the Tennessee Federation of Democratic Women.
"Hillary's decisive victory in West Virginia is the latest evidence that she is the strongest candidate to take on John McCain and win back the White House," Harwell said. "Hillary has the plans, leadership and experience to deliver real results as President."
Yay Vicky!!! A SuperD with brains and courage!!!
"The mark of leadership is not to standup when everybody is standing, but rather to actually stand up when no one else is standing" - Pulitzer Prize winning author Samantha Power, introducing Gen Clark
http://www.cincygasprices.com/Prices_nationally.aspx
Get over it. It's so old by now. - Justice Antonin Scalia
List of bloggers selected for Dem Convention
DENVER - A list of blogs selected by the Democratic National Convention Committee for a "state blogging corps" to be seated with state delegations during the Aug. 25-28 event in Denver. The committee also plans to credential a "General Blogger Pool" of local, state and national political bloggers for the convention.
ALASKA: Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis: http://divasblueoasis.blogspot.com
ALABAMA: Doc's Political Parlor: http://www.politicalparlor.net
ARKANSAS: Under The Dome.com: http://www.underthedome.com
ARIZONA: Ted Prezelski - Rum, Romanism and Rebellion: http://www.rumromanismrebellion.net
CALIFORNIA: Calitics: http://Calitics.com
COLORADO: SquareState.net: http://squarestate.net
CONNECTICUT: My Left Nutmeg: http://myleftnutmeg.com
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: DCist.com: http://dcist.com
DELAWARE: TommyWonk: http://tommywonk.blogspot.com/
DEMOCRATS Abroad: Democrats Abroad Argentina: http://www.yanquimike.com.ar
FLORIDA: Florida Progressive Coalition: http://flaprogressives.org
GEORGIA: Tondee's Tavern: http://www.tondeestavern.com
GUAM: No Rest for the Awake - Minagahet Chamorro: http://minagahet.blogspot.com
HAWAII: iLind.net: Ian Lind Online: http://www.ilind.net
IOWA: The Iowa Independent: http://iowaindependent.com
IDAHO: 43rdStateBlues.com: http://www.43rdstateblues.com
ILLINOIS: Prairie State Blue: http://www.PrairieStateBlue.com
INDIANA: Blue Indiana: http://www.blueindiana.net
KANSAS: EverydayCitizen.com: http://everydaycitizen.com
KENTUCKY: BlueGrassRoots: http://www.bluegrassroots.org
LOUISIANA: Daily Kingfish: http://www.dailykingfish.com
MASSACHUSETTS: Blue Mass. Group: http://www.bluemassgroup.com
MARYLAND: The Center for Emerging Media: http://www.centerforemergingmedia.com
MAINE: Turn Maine Blue: http://www.turnmaineblue.com
MICHIGAN: Blogging For Michigan: http://bloggingformichigan.com
MINNESOTA: Minnesota Monitor: http://minnesotamonitor.com
MISSISSIPPI: The Natchez Blog: http://natchezms.blogspot.com
MISSOURI: Fired Up! LLC: http://www.firedupmissouri.com
MONTANA: Left in the West: http://www.leftinthewest.com
NORTH CAROLINA: BlueNC.com: http://bluenc.com
NORTH DAKOTA: NorthDecoder.com: http://www.northdecoder.com
NEBRASKA: New Nebraska Network: http://www.NewNebraska.net
NEW HAMPSHIRE: Blue Hampshire: http://www.bluehampshire.com
NEW JERSEY: PolitickerNJ.com: http://www.politickernj.com
NEW MEXICO: Democracy for New Mexico: http://www.DemocracyForNewMexico.com
NEVADA: Las Vegas Gleaner: http://www.lasvegasgleaner.com
NEW YORK: Room 8: http://www.r8ny.com
OHIO: Ohio Daily Blog: http://www.ohiodailyblog.com
OKLAHOMA: DemoOkie: http://www.DemoOkie.com
OREGON: BlueOregon (blog): http://www.blueoregon.com
PENNSYLVANIA: Keystone Politics: http://www.keystonepolitics.com
PUERTO RICO: Jusiper: http://jusiper.blogspot.com
RHODE ISLAND: Rhode Island's Future: http://www.rifuture.org
SOUTH CAROLINA: CracktheBell.com: http://www.crackthebell.com
SOUTH DAKOTA: Badlands Blue: http://www.badlandsblue.com
TENNESSEE: KnoxViews/TennViews: http://www.knoxviews.com
TEXAS: Burnt Orange Report: http://www.BurntOrangeReport.com
UTAH: The Utah Amicus: http://utahamicus.com
VIRGINIA: Raising Kaine: http://www.raisingkaine.com
VIRGIN ISLANDS: Democratic Party of the US Virgin Islands: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/democratvi
VERMONT: Green Mountain Daily: http://greenmountaindaily.com
WASHINGTON: HorsesAss.org: http://www.horsesass.org
WISCONSIN: Uppity Wisconsin: http://www.uppitywis.org
WEST VIRGINIA: West Virginia Blue: http://www.wvablue.com
WYOMING: Hummingbirdminds blog: http://hummingbirdminds.blogspot.com
and the DNC were looking for to represent the "party" at the convention.... I clicked on the first 14 blogs just to see their front page coverage and get a feel... Out of curiosity.
I was surprised by some of what I found but have to say - of those first 14, they were just about all Obama leaners, if that tells us anything from the Dean perspective.
Here's what I found A thru I:
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ALASKA Blue Oasis
Top of their front page:
I don't have to say a word...
I'm reposting this from Americablog because it says exactly what I feel.
Go away you horrible human being
by John Aravosis (DC) · 5/13/2008 09:25:00 PM ET
IT'S NOT CLOSE. YOU FREAKING LOST THE NOMINATION, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?
Good God. What is wrong with her? The Clintons and their campaign staff don't give a damn that they are now hurting our electoral chances in the fall against McCain and against the Republicans in Congress. Their campaign isn't happening in some vacuum, and they know it. Our candidates can't fundraise because of her. Obama can't focus on McCain because of her. Obama is wasting money on HER, rather than spending it on McCain, because of her. EMILY's List, and AFSCME, and the American Federation of Teachers and others are wasting their members' money on her now-failed race - money that they could be spending, should be spending, on other real races, races that haven't already lost. She can't win, the math says she lost the nomination, but she doesn't give a damn. She's going to stay in the race like some spoiled hateful egotistical brat.
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and it goes on much the same....
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ALABAMA Doc's Political Parlor
Oddly enough....this looks VERY balanced and without any over the top hysteria or partisanshipiness. Almost like the old fashioned "news" reporting!
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ARKANSAS Under the Dome
Again... very balanced - slightly pro Clinton but no Obama derogatory postings or Clinton Hallelujahs... very reasonable and calm reporting. Nice to see some of these objective type blogs exist!
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ARIZONA Rum Romanism and Rebellion
OK here's another balanced look at politics, with a stronger focus on the local and generally just pro-Dem, no bashing no histrionics- no hate. This is getting so encouraging! After being accustomed to Daily Kobama's diatribes, we tend to think all Dem blogs will be some form of a knock off of one side or t'other.
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CALIFORNIA Calitics
I'm familiar with these guys from several conference calls with candidates and officials. They run a good site, even though they are decidedly Pro Obama, it's not the in your face style. They also hold Ahnold's feet to the fire regularly and keep up on all our local CA shenanigans for us.
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COLORADO Square State
Gently pro Obama with a slant towards the local as well. Funny, most of these sites have NO mention whatsoever of any sort of election having occurred yesterday in W VA... I find that kind of strange for Democratic political blogs. But when you read on and see they are Obama sites -- I guess it was the unwritten memo to just ignore that one for obvious reasons. Didn't happen. Lalalalalala.
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CONNECTICUT My Left Nutmeg
Pro Obama and Anti Lieberman basically. Again... not in any offensive way though.
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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA DCist
This is a real potpourri-- doesn't seem at all like a political blog. It's a selection of art, music, events, a bit of Obama hype, and articles on the Lottery! Interesting choice coming from the seat of the government...you'd think it would be hyper political. Oh and again-- not a word about any primary taking place yesterday... Very strange!
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DELAWARE Tommy WOnk
Spotlight on all local politics with a focus on energy and green issues. But.... hmmm-- not a PEEP about any ole election occuring yesterday... Not a peep.
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DEMOCRATS ABROAD Argentina
I believe they've endorsed O! also but they have a good and informative site packed with everything and primarily anti-Bush. They have an excuse for not knowing there was a primary yesterday... they are far away! :)
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FLORIDA Fla Progressive coalition
Pro Obama and NO mention of the W Virginia primary anywhere. The last primary they blogged about on the site was Mississippi...
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GEORGIA Tondee's Tavern
"What is comforting is that Obama does appear to be the nominee"
They sort of mention that well, yes...there was a primary in WV --but it's only to warn the bloggers not to go to the sites covering it... They are excited about and cover the Childers and Cazayoux wins in the south and how it helps Obama. No West VA though... Not the best written blog, but passable. Surprised there wasn't any better in GA.
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HAWAII iLind.net
They too were apparently either bored or unimpressed with the West VA primary last night. Not a word about it on their front page... or anywhere else. But it is Obama's childhood home.
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IOWA Independent
Front page top story:
No Change on Iowa Electronic Markets After WV
May 14, 2008 at 07:31 AM
John Deeth
Barack Obama's big lead in the Iowa Electronic Markets is virtually unchanged despite a big loss Tuesday in West Virginia.
....well, at least they knew there was an election.
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http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/375071.aspx
and how are they going to spin a loss in Kentucky this time? They can't say he isn't trying....
And you are absolutely correct -- if a Repub did this, the lefty blogosphere would be up in arms. And if any other Dem did this -- same thing. Daily KObama would be spewing hatred, disgust and anger. But watch how they react when it's St. O! doing it. They will either ignore it, or they will be happy with it because he's just doing what he has to do to win. Nevermind they have vilified Hillary as a lying sack o'chit who will do and say anything to win. When St. O! does the same thing, we hear various versions of WORM. (What O! Really Meant)
Honestly, St. O gets scarier and creepier as time goes on. He long ago disgusted me when he was spewing his religious crap and getting down on Dems for not embracing religion enough! Ugh.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
you worded that perfectly!
He can get away with anything. His supporters will make excuses and justify anything he does.
(Remember the big to do with the cross in the background of a Huckabee Ad?)
May 14 (Bloomberg) -- Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama picked up the endorsement today of three former chairmen of the Securities and Exchange Commission, two of whom were appointed by Republican presidents.
Meet the Three New Obamasketeers -- offering up more of that "new kind of politics" Why you can practically 'smell' their freshness...No more of that "old icky" style of politics guys!! Yeah!!! In with the NEW!!!:
___________________________________________
Arthur Levitt, William Donaldson and David Ruder.
___________________________________________
Arthur Levitt
Since May 2001 Levitt has been employed as a senior adviser to the defense Carlyle Group and is a board member of Bloomberg LP, parent of Bloomberg News.
In 1997, the SEC under Levitt's leadership approved the exemption of some Enron partnerships from the tight accounting controls of the Investment Company Act of 1940. Without this exemption the company would have been constrained by strict rules found in 1996 legislation that would have prohibited certain foreign investments and the shifting of debt to its foreign subsidiary shell companies.
Levitt, in an interview today on Bloomberg Radio, said their (the three) backing was prompted in part by Obama's opposition to a summer gas-tax holiday. ... `We felt that Obama's position on this particular issue was fair and balanced.'' (--for the oil companies profit margins!)
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--
William Donaldson
On February 28, 2003, investment banker William H. Donaldson became the 27th Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission. He was nominated to the position by President George W. Bush on December 10, 2002.
Donaldson attended both Yale University (B.A. 1953) and Harvard University (M.B.A. 1958). While he was a senior at Yale, he joined its Skull and Bones secret society. Donaldson served as Under Secretary of State in the Nixon Administration and as a special adviser to Vice President Nelson Rockefeller.
From 1982 to 1998 he was a director at large US defense contractor, Honeywell.
He was also Chairman, President, and CEO of Aetna, Inc. a position he retired from in April 2001. In 2000 Donaldson raked in $35,739,914 in total compensation from Aetna. He has $18,314,940 in unexercised stock options from previous years.
William H. Donaldson was a former non-managing Director of the Board of Philip Morris.
Member of Council on Foreign Relations, member of George Herbert Walker Bush's Presidential Economic Delegation to Poland in 1989, and a trustee of the Aspen Institute.
Donaldson is a Republican with a sex scandal... but... oh my- with the wife of a Dem congressman!
"Administration officials insisted yesterday that they're not worried about Fortune magazine's scandalous scoop about William H. Donaldson, President Bush's choice to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Fortune reported that in the 1980s, the married Donaldson had an affair with the wife of then-Rep. Bruce Morrison (D-Conn.). Jane Morrison, who worked at the Yale School of Management when Donaldson was dean, gave birth to a love child by Donaldson. Donaldson's first wife died of a cerebral hemorrhage in 1994, and he and Morrison wed the following year. Messy as this revelation sounds, administration types said the White House knew all about it. They predict that it won't interfere with Donaldson's nomination..."
Then the inimitable Molly Ivins speared him deliciously at Common Dreams after his Bush appointment:
The media report "Wall Street is delighted" that 71-year-old Donaldson, a longtime friend of the Bush family, will be their new regulator. Of course it is all-important that Wall Street should be delighted. Who do you think we're running this game for?
Now just because he had that little problem at Aetna, don't worry about a thing. According to The Wall Street Journal, "In Dec. 2000, nine months after he took over, Mr. Donaldson told investors that the company's problem with skyrocketing medical costs were finally under control and projected rosy 2001 earnings, driving Aetna's stock price up.
"It turned out that Aetna's system for calculating costs was out of whack (oops!). In April, four months after Mr. Donaldson's upbeat predictions, Aetna announced that earnings would be 'significantly lower' than expected, driving its stock price down by 18 percent in one day. Mr. Donaldson had retired 10 days before the profit warning. Aetna's board months earlier had set his compensation for his 10 months of service as CEO in 2000 at a $1 million salary, a $6 million bonus and more than $11 million in restricted stock and options." Our kind of guy.
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/1215-02.htm
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David S Ruder
Republican appointed to SEC by President Reagan
He presided over the crash of October 1987. From WaPo:
"Stock Market Suffers Largest Loss in History as Dow Industrial Average Drops 508 Points"
The stock market was devastated by the worst one-day collapse in history yesterday in a pandemonium of panic selling that shattered all records and swamped stock exchanges around the country and overseas.
The best-known market barometer -- the Dow Jones average of 30 industrial stocks -- plummeted 508 points, five times the previous record set last Friday. The Dow closed at 1738, dropping 22.6 percent, or nearly double the 12.8 percent plunge of Oct. 29, 1929, the crash that began the Great Depression.
A remark by Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman David S. Ruder, discussing the possibility of a government-imposed halt in trading, added to the binge.
Following a speech in Washington, Ruder told reporters, "There is some point, and I don't know what point that is, that I would be interested in talking to the New York Stock Exchange about a temporary, very temporary, halt in trading."
The mention of that possibility, even though denied later by the SEC, spooked investors who feared that a trading halt would prevent them from selling. The market dropped about 100 points in the hour after Ruder's remarks and continued to decline for most of the rest of the day. Spoo!
Yesterday afternoon, President Reagan sought to calm the markets, observing that the U.S. economy is fundamentally sound. "Leading indicators are sending a message: steady as she goes,"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/business/longterm/blackm/87oct.htm
RESUME
SEC Chairman (1987-89)
Quarles & Brady Associate (1957-61)
Schiff Hardin & Waite (1971-76)
Baker & McKenzie Partner and Senior Counsel (1990-99)
Member of the Board of NASDAQ (1990-94)
George W. Bush for President
Mutual Fund Directors Forum Chairman (1999-)
Obama for America
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It just looks so funny to see Obama for America just a hair under George W Bush for President. But I guess I should be used to it by now...
spin this? Ignore it? Or I know! These guys have seen the light due to St. O's! awesome changey, hopey, unity agenda and are now ready to mend their ways and do the right thing!! Yeah! Even old, icky white men like these can be redeemed! St. O! is amazing, isn't he? Wow!
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
There are no primary contests on May 31. But there will be a meeting of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee where the issue of the Florida and Michigan delegations will be taken up. This meeting will no doubt be the central political event of the day. It will garner a significant amount of coverage. And what will the Democratic Party say to Florida and Michigan on that day, on that stage? During today's Clinton Media Call, I asked about the May 31 RBC meeting:
I asked about the May 31 RBC process whereby the FL/MI question will be decided. I asked specifically who will be participating. I further asked that since the Clinton camp, the Obama camp and the DNC Chair Howard Dean have all said they want the delegations seated, is it possible that a faction of the DNC, led by Donna Brazile, could block the seating of these delegations over the wishes of the candidates and the DNC Chair.
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Phil Singer responded that the Clinton campaign is confident that the DNC will act in the best interests of the Party, which is to act in a way that helps the Party win in November, which would mean seating the Florida and Michigan delegations. Phil made the point that if the purpose was to protect the early primary shcedule, that purpose has been served and thus it was time to look towards the best interest of the Party, which required seating the delegates.
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In terms of the RBC process, Singer was unsure what would happen as the agenda had not yet been released, but that it would be an open and public process that will be seen by the entire country.The nation will be watching. And Florida and Michigan will be closely watching. May 31 will be the biggest day left in the Democratic campaign, with serious consequences for the November general election.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
of St. O!
NARAL: As Bad As I Always Thought
“I think it is tremendously disrespectful to Sen. Clinton - who held up the nomination of a FDA commissioner in order to force approval of Plan B and who spoke so eloquently during the Supreme Court nomination about the importance of protecting Roe vs. Wade - to not give her the courtesy to finish the final three weeks of the primary process. It certainly must be disconcerting for elected leaders who stand up for reproductive rights and expect the choice community will stand with them.” - Ellen Malcolm, Emily's List
That's the rumor. If this happensNARAL's donations will dry up from at least half the population of this country. I'm not a member, nor do I give (this endorsement is just one reason I don't, because I don't trust these women), but plenty of women I know do.Get on the phone: Nancy Keenan, 202-973-3000. Email.
To add... Screw NARAL. They backed Joe Lieberman, so what do you expect?
Lieberman said he believes hospitals that refuse to give contraceptives to rape victims for "principled reasons" shouldn't be forced to do so. "In Connecticut, it shouldn't take more than a short ride to get to another hospital," he said.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
Just got off the phone with the local office in NY and they are as horrified as we are. They were not even consulted, just notified this morning. The Board in Washington took the position that they didn't need to consult the affiliates, or concern themselves with the fundraising problems this will cause them. They forwarded me this:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mary Alice Carr
.
May 14, 2008 646-326-4238.
Statement from NARAL Pro-Choice New York on NARAL Pro-Choice America’s endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President
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Today, NARAL Pro-Choice America endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President.
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This decision was made internally by NARAL Pro-Choice America, based in Washington D.C., and without the consultation of the NARAL state affiliates across the country.
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NARAL Pro-Choice New York will not be issuing an endorsement at this time. NARAL Pro-Choice New York believes that this endorsement in the Democratic primary is premature. We are fortunate to have two pro-choice candidates in Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Senator Barack Obama. When a nominee is named, NARAL Pro-Choice New York will stand proudly with the pro-choice Democratic candidate in order to defeat anti-choice Republican candidate John McCain in November.
******
SezU @ TM
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
Do I expect any rational decisions to be made
regarding supporting the O candidacy?? I keep
wondering what the powerful secret is that
makes people endorse a candidate who has not
shown one indication that he will stand up for
anybody's rights in any circumtances. What am
I missing that overides the reality of his past
(and current) behavior and his own mealy-mouthed
words? I certainly feel like I'm watching some
kind of bizarro world being set up by Obama
supporters where his words and deeds count for
nothing but rather the worshiper projects her
own extravagant hopes and dreams onto him with
no reference to reality.
I am simply and continually astounded.
O is from Hawaii, then Indonesia, and finally the U.S. He's also still a citizen of Kenya, through his father.
We're electing the President of the United States, not some g.d. prom king.
When did we get rid of it? Don't know much about geography...
"It takes two to speak the truth - one to speak and one to hear." - Henry David Thoreau
Too bad for us, but he almost missed being born a citizen of the US by a few years.
We're electing the President of the United States, not some g.d. prom king.
If you knew him you would know he doesn't have any logical thinking. His way is only the right way. He argues with anyone who does not agree with him. But I do get my shots in also.
When I say anything about going by the constitution, he told me then I wouldn't have a vote. (silly man)I told him neither would he because he would not be a land owner if it was not this woman. (silence)
We're electing the President of the United States, not some empty suit.
just saw it on MSNBC, Edwards has just declared for the O!
Come on Kenyucky and Oregon, prove the pundocracy wrong!
...'his fight for the poor" was pure BS
Shame on him
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
that by far the bulk of the POOREST voices in this country have had a chance to make their call known who they want to be their president... and that choice has been across the board Hillary Clinton. If he truly cared about these people (above his own future) he would easily see that demographic and what they are clearly saying and go with them.
But he's bucking what the poorest and least of us are saying, are calling for. He's giving them the proverbial political finger and moving with the audacity of hype instead.
It does not help his 'authenticity' ratings one bit. And I was really starting to give him the benefit of the doubt and sympathize with him when the press gave him the Wes Clark silent treatment during his brief run.
Once a Bilderberger....
Where Hillary's words and DEEDS mirror what
this person says he supports. Yet, his
endorsement goes to Mr. Pie-in-the Sky.
he wasn't going to endorse during the primaries ... or maybe I just imagined that...
Too bad.
Hey, who needs universal health care anyways? We can listen to lots of reallllly long and eloquently crafted speeches for the next several months while we try to figure out how to pay our rising cost of living bills and eat at the same time.
Until Pres McCain swears in. Then we'll be stuck with 4 yrs of "My friends...."
..as usual.
Remember what the Edward's source said two wks ago.
(snip)
May 1, 2008
Quote from a top Edwards source: "John [Edwards] is all about the little people - and himself."
"He's been advised to hold out for the bigger stuff - and he would love to be attorney general or have a big role in the Cabinet."
...and who knows what he's offered SOMW.
Armando wants to know if Elizabeth will be there, because she voted for Hillary.
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
...per Yahoo News
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
asking for help in NC for his College for Everyone fund drive. I unsubscribed.
Once in a while you get shown the light, In the strangest of places if you look at it right.
...and he didn't run for re-election to his senate seat. Wonder what, if any, real difference this will make--other than the propaganda boost.
What a jackass.
The Dem party really is leaving me.
Wes Clark Democrats...let the Clinton campaign know who sent you
Strike while the iron is hot, pick a name (I'd guess: "Progressive Party"). How about The "30/50 Party"? Oh wait - that might confuse the Obama wing of the Dem party - they're so well educated they might think its a math club.
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
Progressive Party sounds good, unless someone has a better suggestion!
Wes Clark Democrats...let the Clinton campaign know who sent you
I'm always up for a little rebellion - it's in the genes.
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
suitably rebellious...and want to demonstrate how really pissed off they are about their party. Consider this a semi-serious, semi-constructive, vent thread, heh heh.
"Our public servants work for us - we don't work for them. We have an obligation, as citizens of this country, to always remember that - and to never let them forget it." - DeadMessengers
There's the elitists... and then there's the bitter rural folk clinging to guns and religion.
Wes Clark Democrats...let the Clinton campaign know who sent you
n/t
http://www.taylormarsh.com/archives_view.php?id=27679
One of my pet peeves is being called "sweetie" by people I don't know. Condescending as hell.
Blech!!!
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
Used to happen ALL the time to me when Hubby and I went out for the "early bird", in FL. It got to be a running joke in as much, as I would tell Gerry to leave less of a tip if ONE server called me "sweetie.
I HATED it.
"A nation that is afraid to let its people judge the truth and falsehood of ideas in an open market is a nation that is afraid of its people." JFK
Googled "Obama sweetie" and got more:
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/erbe/2008/4/4/obamas-sweetie-problem.html
"While flirting with female factory workers in Allentown, he called one "sweetie," a paternalistic way to address a woman if there ever was one. It might have worked had he been trying to do his best imitation of Lily Tomlin's Ernestine, the telephone operator, but this was no spoof. This was Obama trying to relate to working-class women in a way that went directly south."
What I find appalling as I look around at other sites is the number of folks who have no problem with it and call the reporter a Hillary plant.
For instance: http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/14/obama-hold-on-sweetie/
One downside of the internet is that people say what they would be unlikely to say face to face. Think it, but not say it. Saying it adds fuel to the fire. I'd like a time machine back to manners of Jane Austen's day.
...on board.
the more pissed I am.
What timing he picks. A few breaths after her biggest victory and she is permitted the rare and brief basking in a clear and important win... a win of the very people he claims to care for and represent. And in a North Carolina Minute he turns around and does this-- it has to be JUST to bring those wayward hillbillies to Obama that he could not wrangle himself.
That truly sucks.
It shows no respect for the actual people who have weighed both sides - and made their choices. Then in he comes to upset the applecart and confuse the remaining ones.
Chicken.
Pluck pluck pluck.
I'm mad.
None of this surprises me and I've got to the point that none of this upsets me. It's just politics as usual. (Edwards was my second choice) In fact most of this just puts a smile on my face.....so predictable
Edwards was Teddy's pick for VP last go around. This all seems to be heading towards a certain outcome.
in politics." Wes Clark
We're electing the President of the United States, not some pimply prom king.
Job well done...