So, on the eve of New Year’s Eve 2008, I put my baby down to sleep and turned off the TV for the night. And here I sit, with a goblet of aged, Spanish sherry…okay, it’s 30 year Scotch…okay, you got me, it’s really just a Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon, but it’s 2001, a good year…oh, alright, it’s actually Franzia from a box…
It’s all I can afford on a teacher’s salary, sadly…
Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is set to appoint former state attorney general Roland Burris to the Senate seat of president elect Barack Obama. Although Senate Democrats have vowed not to seat any Blago appointee, there appears to be little that they can legally do to not seat Burris.
Usually the holidays are a dead zone for political news, but we can thank Chip Saltsman and the racist faction of the GOP for showing us the true spirit of the season for his gifting of a political satire CD with the track Barack the Magic Negro.
George W. Bush’s resume padding reached new heights when during an interview with The Washington Times he referred to No Child Left Behind as civil rights legislation. Isn’t civil rights legislation supposed to promote equality instead of penalizing those who need help the most?
While President Bush is frantically making the media rounds trying to spin a positive legacy out of whole cloth, he and his administration are continuing their war with the New York Times. This time the administration is accusing the newspaper of liberal bias because of a front page story about the causes of the mortgage crisis.
On Fox News Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney denied that he had dangerously expanded the powers of the executive branch while also criticizing Vice President Elect Joe Biden for wanting to diminish the office of the vice president.
Vice President Elect Joe Biden was on ABC’s This Week program today, where he talked about the state of the economy, the incoming administration’s goals for the economic stimulus package, and thei
In the biggest show of political bravado I’ve seen in a long time, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich read a statement today that not only showed him to be defiant, but also promising to beat the federal corruption charges brought against him.
Here is the video:
“Brothers! Oh, brothers! We have all gathered here, to preserve our hallowed culture and heritage! We aim to pull evil up by the root, before it chokes out the flower of our culture and heritage! … All those smart-ass folks say we come descended from monkeys! That’s not my culture and heritage. Is it yours?”
– Homer Stokes, from O Brother, Where Art Thou?
A new Marist College poll released today of registered voters found that a whopping 83% said that president elect Barack Obama is doing either about or better than expected. The poll also found that voters think Obama will move the country in the right direction, and they approve of his choice of Hillary Clinton for Secretary of State.
.Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich published a letter to RNC Chairman Mike Duncan on his website that denounced a recent video by the RNC which attempts to link president elect Obama to the soon to be impeached Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. Gingrich said Republicans need to focus on solutions, not negative attacks.
Here is the RNC video titled Questions Remain:
With the confirmation that Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was the unnamed Senate Candidate number five who supposedly offered a million dollars to the now arrested Gov. Blagojevich in return for an appointment to Barack Obama’s vacant Senate came a strong denial from Jackson that he was involved, but his denial doesn’t seem to quite add up.
As is to be expected the Republican National Committee put out a statement today which called president elect Barack Obama’s statement about arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, “insufficient at best.”
With the news that Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich have been arrested on federal corruption charges, it is almost a given that some Republicans will try to link Obama to this, while ignoring the small detail that Obama is not involved.
Please keep this in mind as you read through my article. A window company in Chicago decided to lay off its entire workforce due to financial issues. The large group of former employees decided to storm the business and are now refusing to leave until their demands are met. When this news first broke the first thing that came to many, as observed through my diligent evesdropping, was how the building must be in shambles now, and completely trashed. This tidbit of info may not make sense now, but just wait, it will come together. Now onto the rest of my op-ed.
A couple of very interesting points have come out during today’s Senate Banking Committee hearing on helping the auto industry. First, not all three companies are in the same condition, and secondly, the cost of keep them alive could be much higher than $34 billion.
The bitterness between Democratic challenger Al Franken and incumbent Norm Coleman has continued beyond their race for a Minnesota US Senate seat. The Franken campaign claims to have taken the lead in the recount, while the Coleman people say that the Franken camp is lying.
On Fox News this morning Sen. Saxby Chambliss went out of his way to credit Sarah Palin for helping to put him over the top in his runoff against Jim Martin. We can now count Chambliss and in the bag for Palin and her Overhyped Express bid for president in 2012.
Shadowy rooms with figures slipping in and out. Whispered words, plots, conspiracies.
A government at the side, eyes glancing, warnings being exchanged between members.
The government is at risk of falling; their adversaries are beginning to grumble louder and louder…El Presidenté might be deposed in short notice.
After it was formally announced that Sen. Hillary Clinton was President Elect Obama’s choice for Secretary of State, the Republican National Committee put out a statement which highlighted the differences between Clinton and Obama on foreign policy. It seems that the RNC is already trying to stir up trouble in the new administration.
With the latest news that Robert Gates has agreed to stay on as Secretary of Defense, should liberals be getting concerned that so far President Elect Obama’s cabinet has the look of governing from the center? I think Obama is right where he needs to be.
The pardoning of the turkey given to the President of the United States of America is a fairly modern tradition. In fact, it isn’t even 20 years old yet. Contrary to popular myth, it wasn’t Harry Truman or Abe Lincoln who pardoned the first turkey. It was George H.W. Bush in 1989.
During his press conference announcing his economic team today, President Elect Obama stress that he is developing an economic plan, and will act on it immediately after taking office.
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid held a joint news conference today where they made it clear that the auto industry has to come up with a viable plan to reorganize or they will not get a dime of federal money.
In a bit political symmetry, John McCain put out a statement today, endorsing the Democratic governor of his home state of Arizona, Janet Napolitano to be Barack Obama’s head of the Department of Homeland Security.
In an interview with Katie Couric on the CBS Evening News Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman said that he feels closer to the Democrats now than he has since the 2006 election. He also backed off of the Obama is a Marxist line, and defended his speech at the Republican convention.
Here is the video:
Mark Begich’s victory over Republican Ted Stevens has brought the Democrats closer to the magic number of 60 Senate seats, but his win also points out that there are some major policy differences in the Democratic caucus. In Begich’s case, the disagreement involves energy and ANWR, but those looking looking for liberal legislation might be disappointed by Obama and this Congress.
NBC News and Newsweek are reporting that Barack Obama’s senior legal advisor Eric Holder has been offered and accepted the position of United States Attorney General, so who is Eric Holder, and what can we expect out his Justice Department?
After Democratic Senate Caucus voted 42-13 not to strip Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of his Homeland Security chairmanship, Lieberman admitted both that he owes Obama, and that he regrets some of the remarks he made about the president elect during the presidential campaign.
It is being reported tonight that Senate Democrats will vote tomorrow not to strip Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) of his powerful chairmanship of the Homeland Security Committee. Lieberman will lose his subcommittee chairmanship,and has Barack Obama to thank for his light punishment.
With the return of Sen. Red Kennedy to the Hill today, we are reminded that healthcare reform will be not only a prominent issue, but also it could be the biggest challenge that President Obama will face. Here are some of the pitfalls, and possibilities for healthcare reform.
After it was reported that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama met this morning about a potential role for her in his administration, Mrs. Clinton addressed the rumors about her becoming the next Sec. of State, with a little humor at a transit conference in Albany, NY.
So Hillary Clinton, the vanquished Obama foe for the Democratic nomination was seen boarding a plane headed to Chicago today. And this act has fueled tremendous speculation that she may be under consideration by the Obama transition team for a cabinet position.
As John McCain prepares to stump for Sen. Saxby Chambliss today, ahead of the US Senate runoff in Georgia, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released an ad that uses McCain’s past criticism of Chambliss against him.
The infamous ad that Chambliss ran against then Sen. Max Cleland in 2002, question the triple amputee, Vietnam War hero’s patriotism by linking him to Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden.
Here is the original ad:
Sarah Palin’s perpetual presidential campaign continued today, as she told reporters that she thinks she represents something more than a celebrity. She represents hard working American families. She also represents ignorance and the politics of division.
The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus unveiled his plan to overhaul the nation’s healthcare system. Much of his plan is in line with the goals that Obama laid out during his presidential campaign, but the Baucus plan imposes a mandate that everyone must be covered, which Obama opposes.
The latest AP-GfK poll was released this afternoon and it shows that the election of Barack Obama has led to a new wave of optimism among Americans. The poll found that most Americans are hopeful about the Obama administration, and 72% believe that he will make the changes needed to improve the economy.
With the news that Howard Dean will stepping down from his post as chairman of the DNC once his term ends in January, I wonder if Howard Dean helped or hurt the Democratic Party. The answer depends on whether we are talking Dean the spokesperson, or the man in charge of the DNC.
To say that expectations are high for the presidency of Barack Obama, would be an understatement. From the economy to Iraq, here are five changes that you can count on happening now that Democrats are back in control of the White House.
Showing that have learned nothing from being routed in two straight elections, the Republican National Committee and Minority Leader John Boehner each put out partisan statement’s criticizing Obama’s selection of Rahm Emanuel to be his chief of staff.
Barack Obama scored a key appointment for his administration today, as it is being reported that Rep. Rahm Emanuel has agreed to be Obama’s Chief of Staff.
A note in an AP story Rahm Emanuel being offered the chief of staff job caught my attention. According to some Democrats, John Kerry would like to be Secretary of State, but the freshly shaven Bill Richardson would also like the job, and let’s not forget the role of Joe Biden.
While America is basking in the glow of the historic election of Barack Obama, one historic shift should not be overlooked. With his election, perhaps the era of red state/blue state 50/50 political division has been broken.
Hillary Clinton released a statement that praised Obama’s victory in a long hard fought historic campaign, but she added the result was well worth the wait.
As I predicted John McCain wasted his time and money in Pennsylvania, as it was called for Obama about a minute after the polls closed, but the big flip was Ohio, which Obama is projected to win. This means that with only the West Coast, Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States.
The McCain campaign has put out a memo complaining about what they call voting irregularities in Pennsylvania, Florida, New Hampshire, and Virginia. The party that brought you Florida 2000, and Ohio 2004 is claiming that the Democrats are trying to steal this election.
How lopsided could the results of tonight’s election be? Even “Bush’s Brain,” Karl Rove is projecting a big Obama win.
In a rare moment for California, it is cold and raining this morning. But as I pulled up to my voting place, I noticed many people braving the rain (ok, in CA it’s more like a dirzzle), and the cold (it was a “freezing” 65 degrees!), many of them eager–almost too eager–to cast their vote.
Sometimes, as Americans, you do not realise how big your choice is.
Back in New Zealand, if I vote, I have a fairly clear idea of just how much my vote has an impact. The area of influence stops at somewhere around New Zealand maritime border. I know, with fair certainty, that the biggest impact my vote has internationally is on Japanese whalers and the occasional stray nuclear submarine.
Just witness the 2nd Iraq war, where New Zealand refused to join the US attack on Iraq. Impact this decision had on the International course of events? Absolutely none.
It was announced late this afternoon that Barack Obama’s Grandmother Madelyn Dunham has passed away after a battle with cancer.
Two anti-abortion groups, Missouri Right to Life, and the Family Research Council Action have launched ads on election eve which claim that Barack Obama supports infanticide, and he wants to overturn the ban on partial birth abortion.
The Missouri Right to Life ad is an excerpt from a longer video, which makes the claim that Obama supports infanticide.
Here is the video:
John McCain has pinned his hopes of winning the presidency on Ohio and Pennsylvania, but the final Quinnipiac University battle ground state poll shows Obama leading McCain, 50%-43% in Ohio, and 52%-42% in Pennsylvania.
In an interview with MTV, Barack Obama was asked about one of the hot button issues of this campaign, communities that pass laws banning saggy pants.
Yesterday Chris Rock appeared at an Obama rally in Tampa, Florida, and joked about McCain’s houses, marriages, and the lies being spread about Obama.
Wow.
Really?
Some times, a story is just almost too good to be true, too funny to ignore, and just too plain stupid to not pass along to as many people as possible.
Once again, Sarah Palin showed her fragile grasp of the Constitution when she claimed that media attacks on her violate her First Amendment right to attack Barack Obama. The problem is that the First Amendment deals with Congress passing laws regulating speech, not the media.
Many newspapers (and other news sources), including the Associated Press, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Denver Post reported last night that the Obama campaign has reached out to Illinois representative, and a veteran of Bill Clinton’s White House, Rahm Emanuel to feel out interest about becoming Obama’s Chief of Staff.
The presidential campaign of Barack Obama announced today that they are expanding their television advertising into Georgia, North Dakota, and John McCain’s home state of Arizona. This strategy is designed to put as many red states as possible into play, and force McCain to defend them.
The campaign said that they will be running the optimistic, “Something” ad in Arizona:
Hijack: (v) to steal, to rob, to seize by force or threat of force.
Americans, especially since 9/11, have become all too familiar with the word and the notion of hijacking. This is so true that if we were ever on a plane and someone stood up and shouted “We’re hijacking the plane!”, many passengers would rush the man and give him a thorough beating.
Two new Marist polls of Virginia and Colorado were released today, and each poll shows Barack Obama leading John McCain. In Colorado, Obama leads McCain 52%-43% with registered voters and 51%-45% with likely voters. In Virginia, Obama leads 49%-43% with registered voters and 51%-47% with likely voters.
Both John McCain and Barack Obama put out statements after it was announced today that the nation’s GDP dropped for the first time in seven years, and that consumer spending has fallen to a 28 year low. Obama used the data to highlight the need for change, while the McCain camp pointed to it as a reason not to elect Obama.
In an interview that will air on CNN’s Larry King Live tonight, John McCain admitted that he doesn’t believe that Barack Obama is a socialist, but he does think that Obama is far left. Once again, McCain undercuts his own campaign’s message.
King asked McCain if he believes that Obama is a socialist. McCain answered, “No. But, I do believe — I do believe that he’s been in the far left of Americans politics. He has stated time after time that
Trailing in the polls with six days to go, the presidential campaign of John McCain has decided to revive the Obama associates with terrorists line, by criticizing the LA Times for not releasing a videotape of Obama at a 2003 farewell dinner for Rashid Khalidi. I guess this is their version of an October Surprise.
According to a new Quinnipiac University swing state poll, John McCain has been able to make up little ground on Barack Obama in Ohio and Pennsylvania. In Ohio, McCain has made up five points, but Obama still leads 51%-42%. In Pennsylvania, McCain has made up one point. Obama leads 53%-41%.
Two new LA Times/ Bloomberg polls released today of Ohio and Florida show Barack Obama leading John McCain, 49%-40% in Ohio, and 50%-43% in Florida, but the most telling statistic might be that 7% of those asked thought that Obama was a Muslim.
The latest example of the fracture within the McCain /Palin campaign came this morning when an unnamed McCain advisor called Palin, “a whack job.” This comes after another member of the McCain campaign labeled her a diva who is only looking out for herself. It seems as if Sarah is no longer McCain’s favorite gimmick.
With only a week to go before the general election, the downward trend for John McCain continues. The new survey from the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press shows Barack Obama leading McCain, 53%-38%. Interestingly, Obama also leads 53%-34% with early voters.
After Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska was found guilty on seven counts of corruption charges today, Alaska governor, and McCain running mate, Sarah Palin put out a statement distancing her from Stevens. The problem is that Palin headed up an organization dedicated to raising corporate money for Ted Stevens.
In Canton, OH today Barack Obama will lay out his closing argument to the voters about why they should support him. He will focus on the economy and change. Obama will ask Americans, “Will this country be better off four years from now?”
The news just came in. Obama served on an institution that not only included war criminals, but aided, abetted and protected war criminals.
We’re talking an institution more responsible for undermining democracy that ACORN, responsible for more bombings than 1000 incarnations of the Weathermen and with dozens of members more corrupt than Rezko ever was.
In Tampa, FL Sarah Palin launched into in attack on the media and Barack Obama. She claims that the media and Obama are acting like the race is over.
Probably the last thing John McCain wanted to do on NBC’s Meet the Press was defend the $150,000 spent on Sarah Palin’s clothing, but Tom Brokaw asked about it and after some fumbling McCain called Palin a role model to millions and said that the American people don’t care about her clothes.
At a rally in Denver, CO, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will seize on comment by John McCain this morning on Meet the Press that he and George W. Bush share a common philosophy.
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe released a memo today that pointed out that the early voting statistics in North Carolina, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, Florida and Iowa. 20% of all early voting Colorado Democrats had never voted in an election before, and have an almost 300,000 new voter advantage in North Carolina.
WPXI is reporting that the story of a politically motivated attack against a McCain supporter in Pittsburgh is a hoax. Ashley Todd made up the story of mugging that turned into a political attack after the mugger noticed a McCain bumper sticker on her car.
At a rally today in Charleston, WV, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden took aim at John McCain’s recent criticism of the Bush administration, “John McCain is now attacking the Bush budget and fiscal policies. Folks, this is as crazy as the Sundance Kid attacking Butch Cassidy! They were in this together.”
Prominent Republican figure, and four-star General, Colin Powell, caused a big splash this past Sunday when he endorsed Barack Obama for president. But he’s not the only prominent Republican figure to offer an endorsement of Obama. Yesterday, former White House Press Secretary under George W. Bush, Scott McClellan, went on DL Hughley’s new CNN program “DL Hughely Breaks the News” and essentially gave Obama his official endorsement.
Director Ron Howard who to those of us of a certain age was Richie from Happy Days and to those with a bit more gray was Opie from The Andy Griffith Show has teamed up with former co-stars Andy Griffith and Henry Winkler to reprise his most famous roles in a pro-Obama video.
The latest Quinnipiac University poll of Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania was released today, and it finds that the economy has powered Obama to a double digit lead over John McCain in all three states. In Ohio, Obama leads 52%-38%. In Pennsylvania, the Democrat leads 53%-40%. McCain has narrowed the gap a little in Florida and trails, 49%-44%
Sarah Palin and John McCain were both interviewed on the NBC Nightly News tonight. Anchor Brian Williams asked Palin what she meant by Obama wanting to sit down with dictators without preconditions. Palin mentioned Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. The problem is that Ahmadinejad isn’t a dictator.
The latest batch of CNN/Time swing state polls came out today, and they show that Obama has small leads in 3 states that George W. Bush carried in 2004 North Carolina, Nevada, and Ohio. He has a big 10 point lead in Virginia. Most telling is that the McCain campaign’s Bill Ayers and ACORN attacks against Barack Obama are not working.
The presidential campaign of Barack Obama has today unveiled a new robocall to counter the calls sponsored by John McCain and the RNC that link the Democrat to terrorists and terrorism. The calls slams McCain for using hateful and sleazy phone calls and mail.
Today the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press released their latest national polls, which shows Barack Obama leading John McCain by 14 points, 52%-38% with registered voters. While voters are become more confident in Obama, they are questioning McCain’s judgment, and age, while Sarah Palin continues to drag the GOP ticket down.
In Reno, NV today Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin made the argument that Obama is too inexperienced to handle a foreign policy crisis. She used Joe Biden’s the presidency doesn’t lend itself to on the job training line against Obama. I guess Palin’s point could also extend to inexperienced running mates of 72 year old presidential candidates.
Today on his radio show, Rush Limbaugh continued his attacks on Colin Powell. In Limbaugh’s mind Powell’s endorsement was about race, and pressure from the black elites in the Democratic Party. Limbaugh also made the claim that as Sec. of State, Powell damaged the Bush administration.
Two new Suffolk University polls of Ohio and Missouri released today show Barack Obama leading John McCain 51%-42% in Ohio, and the race statistically tied in Missouri, where McCain holds a 46%-45% lead. Interestingly, Joe the Plumber is now famous, but providing little help to McCain with voters.
It is well known that the selection by Democrats of Barack Hussein Obama to be their candidate in the fast approaching 2008 United States presidential election made history.
He is the first African-American presidential nominee, and – if polling continues as is – will be the first black president.
It is also well known that race, heritage, and religion have all reared their heads into the campaign in the ugliest, bigoted of fashions.
Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama today was not a big surprise. He has been hinting at it for months. The shock is in how deeply a man who was Secretary of State a few years ago has broken with his own party. Powell not only rejected McCain/Palin but the entire direction of the GOP.
In reaction to a piece that mentioned Cindy McCain’s pain killer addiction in today’s New York Times, her lawyer wrote to the paper and asked why they have not investigated Obama’s drug use, and why Obama hasn’t “rescued” his family from Kenya.
Well, we are done with the final debate between the candidates and going down the home stretch towards Election Day. And it looks to me like McCain and his campaign are making every possible dumb move that can be made, and no Rovian tactic can help them. In fact, it is the Rove-like maneuvers that are hurting McCain/Palin in the eyes of the American people.
With Barack Obama opening up a wider and wider lead, both in national polls as well as state polls (even crucial swing states), and John McCain literally sinking quicker than the Titanic, the question must be asked: what happened to John McCain?
The mixed messages continue to fly out of the McCain campaign today. In Muncie, IN, vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin told reporters that she has no doubt that Barack Obama loves America. Didn’t she just call Obama a terrorist a couple of weeks ago?
Today, at the Miami, FL McCain rally, Cindy McCain revived her attack on Michelle Obama’s patriotism by saying, “And yes, I have always been proud of my country.” You can always tell when a political campaign is desperate because they try to resuscitate old attacks that they believe worked in the past.
Today, during a speech in Miami, FL, John McCain blamed Barack Obama for smearing Joe the Plumber. McCain claims that instead of answering Joe’s question Obama attacked him. The problem is that the Obama campaign hasn’t said anything about Joe the Plumber, and the attacks have been facts.
The latest AP-Yahoo News poll was released today and it confirms what many election watchers already know. John McCain’s negative campaign against Barack Obama has completely backfired. Carrying out a negative campaign when McCain isn’t well liked has resulted in Obama’s favorables going up, and McCain’s going down.
Ignoring all signs that their negative campaign against Barack Obama is backfiring, John McCain and the Republican Party continue to try to label their opponent as a terrorist by using robocalls in swing states like Virginia, Maine, Florida, Missouri, and North Carolina. There is also a direct mail piece from the Republican Party in Virginia that links Barack Obama and Osama Bin Laden.
In an interview with Fox News today, John McCain hinted that he could be soon campaigning with Joe the Plumber. The problem for McCain is that his latest gimmick held a press conference today where he sounded less like a concerned middle class citizen, and more like an empty headed neo-con.
Ever the cautious candidate, Barack Obama warned his supporters at a fundraising breakfast today not to get too cocky about their lead over John McCain, but due to his lead, Obama does have a chance to extend his campaign into more red states, to potentially give himself a mandate and extend the Democratic congressional majority.
The latest CBS News poll of undecided voters finds that by a 53%-22% margin, they thought Obama won the debate. Twenty four percent thought that the debate was a draw. The CNN poll of voters watching the debate thought Obama won the debate 58%-31%. This means that according to the polls, Barack Obama swept the debates.
