Saturday, August 16, 2008

Government Fail: America's Image

Two months ago, I wrote a post about how much attention the presidential election was getting overseas.
I have lived in China since August 2003 and one thing that has always amazed me has been the global reach of American politics. For sure, criticism of American foreign policy in the Middle East is to be expected, and I have often found myself in heated debates over the War in Iraq.

SNIP

These days, whenever I find myself in a discussion about American politics, it usually involves the 2008 election. The interest is stunning. Just months into the election of 2008, in April 2007, I found myself in an intense Obama v. Clinton debate (guess which side I took) with an Austrian acquaintance over dinner. We talked about hope, change, experience, symbolism, the war in Iraq.
The world is watching this election closely. The historic primary battle between Senators Clinton and Obama is one reason. But there is another reason. The world doesn't like our president or his foreign policy. A British newspaper nicely summarized the world's reaction to George Bush's relection in 2004:

Photobucket

In the summer of 2006, Pew released a report on how foreign countries view the United States. They compared the results of international polling data going back to 2000. Pew reported that favorable attitudes toward America have declined during the course of George Bush's presidency.

Even in Great Britain, our closest ally, the attitudes toward America have slipped 27 points. In 2006, barely half of the population had a favorable opinion of the United States.

Why have attitudes toward America changed so much? The invasion of Iraq and the arrogant, condescending attitude of our nation's leader. On the second anniversary of September 11th, the New York Times reported that the war had cause support for the United States to deteriorate:

In the two years since Sept. 11, 2001, the view of the United States as a victim of terrorism that deserved the world's sympathy and support has given way to a widespread vision of America as an imperial power that has defied world opinion through unjustified and unilateral use of military force.

''A lot of people had sympathy for Americans around the time of 9/11, but that's changed,'' said Cathy Hearn, 31, a flight attendant from South Africa, expressing a view commonly heard in many countries. ''They act like the big guy riding roughshod over everyone else.''

In interviews by Times correspondents from Africa to Europe to Southeast Asia, one point emerged clearly: The war in Iraq has had a major impact on public opinion, which has moved generally from post-9/11 sympathy to post-Iraq antipathy, or at least to disappointment over what is seen as the sole superpower's inclination to act pre-emptively, without either persuasive reasons or United Nations approval.

Who cares? No matter who is president, things will change and the world will be pleased, right?

Not exactly. For all his talk about how he was right about the surge and how he stood up to the president and his own party, there is no daylight between George Bush and John Mcain on Iraq. When Iraqi leaders came out in support of Obama's Iraq policy, John McCain, channeling George Bush's arrogance, rejected Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's statement that the US needed to set a timetable for leaving Iraq. Electing John McCain means four more years of the Bush Iraq policy: more war and more false attacks on his political opponents.

The United States of America--and the world--cannot afford four more years of Republican rule. On Tuesday, August 26, Hillary Clinton is going to address to the Democratic National Convention. She is going to reiterate her support for Senator Obama and she is going to call on all of her supporters to join her in helping him get elected. That certainly is not the speech that Hillary wanted to give, and it's not the speech this blogger wanted to watch.

But the reality is that Obama is the nominee and we only have two choices in this election--war or peace. Hillary chooses peace. I choose peace. What about you?

VP Madness: JOHN KERRY??!!

I usually value The Democratic Daily as a terrific progressive blog that I don't think gets all the attention it deserves. So imagine my surprise today when Pamela Leavey wrote this on John Kerry possibly being picked as Obama's VP. OK, you can stop laughing now. Really, STOP LAUGHING!! :-D

Seriously, rumors are spreading about John Kerry being given a second chance by Barack Obama. Would it be smart? Would it be crazy? Would Kerry strengthen Obama's foreign policy credentials? Would Kerry weaken Obama's "change" message?

So what do you think of our friend Pamela's idea of a VP John Kerry?

The Irony

AP is reporting that President George W. Bush has critiqued the Russian engagement in Georgia:
Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century.
I have no doubt my fellow Democrats appreciate the rich irony in the President's observation.

Truth Fights Back

Terrific! Here's another great weapon we can use to fight back against the right-wing smears against Democrats. We can thank John Kerry & his team for this one. Kerry knows what it's like to be "swift boated", so I'm glad to see him do this.

So anyways, please check out Truth Fights Back to see the GOP's rumors, myths, & outright lies debunked.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Convention Coverage brought to you by Big Oil???

In case anyone missed it, ExxonMobil will be sponsoring the CNN, CBS and the National Journal's coverage of both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.







And just in the nick of time, the Exxon Mobile Citizen Action Team (CAT) issued its summer newsletter.

The ExxonMobil program that provides information on public policy issues and encourages employees and retirees in the United States and those citizens living abroad to get involved in issues that affect our business, families and communities. With nearly 100,000 U.S. employees and retirees providing representation in every congressional district, the ExxonMobil family is an important political force and a vehicle for positive change. By harnessing our collective strength, we can make a difference through the elections process, lobbying and grassroots communications.


Isn’t it nice seeing a corporation take an active role in democracy?

Late Nite Open Thread: Friday Edition

Wow. Just wow. I guess the troops appreciate those that actually support them. I wonder how McBush will try to explain this away. I really don't think the troops want to fight perpetual war for perpetual "peace".

OK, enough at my surprise. What's been surprising you this week? This late nite open thread is for YOU. Tell me what's on your mind tonight.

OK, the floor's open... Chat away! ;-)

Now Showing at Yes to Democracy...

Check out my new diary on the new lows of "PUMA" hypocrisy. Jeez, those GOP trolls never cease to amaze me! They're now going after our patriotism!

Have you ever heard a "PUMA" talk about "putting country before party"? Well, that's a big crock of crap coming from them! If "PUMAs" love America so much, why are they so willing to risk our nation's future by allowing John McBush & the GOP four more years to cause more damage?

So anyways, check out my new rant at Yes to Democracy. Hopefully, anyone even considering going "PUMA" will consider what I & others here have said. As Hillary Clinton has said herself, there's just too much at stake to give the Bush-Cheney GOP cronies (including John McBush!) four more years to continue hurting America.

Government Fail: The Health Care Crisis (Updated)

(Proudly Cross-Posted to ComputerQueen.Net and MyDD)

In the continuation of our "Government Fail" series, I'd like to take a moment to highlight how Senator McCain would be just as bad, if not worse, than the Bush Administration has already been in regards to health care.

What I find the most troubling, is McCain's stance on Bush's veto of the Children's Health Insurance Expansion. Bush's reason for the veto was that he felt it was a step towards "federalizing" medicine.

McCain's response to CNN's John King:

"Right call by the president.


In short, because they don't want to look like they're federalizing medicine, they have left 10 million children without health care through the vetoed expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program. What a great way to stand up for our children!

NEXT! ...

McCain is proposing a health plan that is nearly indistinguishable from President Bush's, including dislodging State insurance regulations:

McCain's plan would allow companies to offer national plans based in states that don't have requirements passed by the vast majority of other states, including emergency care, required by 44 states. "Mr. McCain would also allow people to buy insurance across state lines." [Wall Street Journal, 10/11/07]


Some of the State Mandates that would be overridden would include :

• Emergency Room Care (currently required by 44 states)
• Direct Access to OB/GYN (44 states)
• Diabetes (47 States)
• Colorectal Cancer Screening (23 States)
• Mental Health Parity (45 States)
• Post-Mastectomy Breast Reconstruction (33 States)
• Off-Label Prescription Drug Use (36 States)
• Chiropractors (46 states)
• Clinical Trials (20 States)

The McCain plan would also move away from an Employer-based system.

"The existing tax break for employer-sponsored insurance would be eliminated, taking a step away from the work-based model in place for the last half century and toward an individual market." [Wall Street Journal, 10/11/07]


The NY Times also weighed in:

Health Care

Mr. McCain’s proposal to eliminate tax breaks that encourage employers to provide health insurance for their workers is very similar to one that Mr. Bush pushed last year, to little effect. The Bush plan offered a $15,000 tax deduction for families buying their own insurance, while the McCain plan would give a refundable tax credit of $5,000 to families for insurance whether or not they pay taxes. Both men opposed a 2007 bill to expand a children’s health insurance program for lower- and middle-income families.


I've shopped for insurance - I know that most comprehensive plans for a healthy individual start around $150 per month. And the price increases exponentially for those with pre-existing conditions. McCain wants to claim he's doing this for the little guy, but what little guy can afford to insure his family wihtout the breaks of a group insurance plan, such as the ones that many employers offer. While the current system isn't the best, this plan would only further disadvantage the lowest of wage earners, and give money back to the corporate monster.

And the newest piece to the puzzle - adding ideology into policy.

The Bush Administration recently floated a draft rule to the Department of Health and Human Services redefining how monies are spent. While the basis cited by the Administration was to prevent discrimination in employment based on a medical provider's aversion to abortion, it also gave some new language to what falls under the category of abortion.

Again, from the New York Times:

The proposal defines abortion as follows: “any of the various procedures — including the prescription, dispensing and administration of any drug or the performance of any procedure or any other action — that results in the termination of the life of a human being in utero between conception and natural birth, whether before or after implantation.”


With all of McCain's quotes about America being founded on Judeo-Christian beliefs, it takes little conjecture to see where he will land on this issue.

While I can understand the point of not wanting to bar medical providers from employment based on their personal beliefs, I have to be reminded that Roe V. Wade guaranteed that the Right to Choose rested with the woman, not the doctor.

Additionally, the Hippocratic Oath in short requires a doctor to do no harm, regardless of their personal convictions. If a woman might die without an abortion, the doctor is ethically bound to perform it, regardless of their personal beliefs. Bush's plan would effectively give them a policy based exemption that is ethically and morally wrong.

Also, I'm sure I don't need to go into detail, again, about how Bush has (and McCain will further) tear away at the Ryan White CARE Act.

These are just a few examples of how, in the vein of health care, McCain would seriously be McSame, and how the Republican Controlled Government (read President Shrub) has Failed the American People.

[UPDATE]

Someone just e-mailed me a link to this video that MORE than underscores my previous article in the Government Fail series from C4O ...


So, A BIG thanks to Liberty Balls for the following video:



Just my 2 Cents - comments always welcome


Dizzy

More Facts for Friday

If you've seen the latest McBush scare tactics, don't believe them! Here are the facts:

I've Said It Before & I'll Say It Again


My contribution: $





(Proudly cross-posted at Clark Community Network)

I think you all know what I'm about to say. So often, we forget as we become excited about ending the eight year long Bush-Cheney nightmare currently haunting the White House. We forget about how Bush & Cheney have been able to get whatever they want. We forget about how they've been able to avoid any kind of accountability. We forget about the 535 people who can make a HUGE difference in changing course from Bush-Cheney and helping President Obama forge a new & better path for this nation.

I think you now know what needs to be said... Now don't you?

President Obama is NOT enough! While you all know I'm as excited about the Presidential election as all of you are, I also know that we can't stop with the White House. If we want a more progressive government, we also need more & better Democrats in Congress!

Remember that as long as Republicans control at least 41 Senate seats & a significant chunk of House seats, they can obstruct the Democratic agenda. Why do you think House Speaker Nancy Pelosi & Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid have been unable to do much of anything lately? The Republicans currently have enough votes in both houses of Congress to obstruct whatever Pelosi & Reid try to do. And when we combine the present strength of the Republicans with the number of moderate or conservative "Blue Dog Democrats" that sometimes break away from the rest of the party on key social, economic, and/or foreign policy issues, we have a recipe for complete & ugly stalemate.

If you care about a smart & sane energy future that benefits our people & our planet, please send more & better Democrats to Congress. If you want and end to Bush's Iraq occupation as well as a new commitment to real global cooperation, please send more & better Democrats to Congress. If you prefer to see real progress on advancing civil rights for all, please send more & better Democrats to Congress. If you can't wait to see the dream of universal health care become reality, please send more & better Democrats to Congress. And if you'd like to see an end to the Republican war on the poor & middle class, please send more & better Democrats to Congress!

Come on now. We can't wait. We
can't hesitate. Labor Day has not even arrived yet, and the GOP is already tossing its ugliest dirt our way. We need to make sure our Democrats have enough resources to continue fighting the good fight... And ultimately win this fall!

Please join with us in supporting these awesome Democrats today! Let's make sure we have more & better Democrats in Congress. Let's make sure President Obama won't be alone in delivering change we can believe in. :-)

Andrew Rice (OK-Sen) $
Tom Allen (ME-Sen) $
Annette Taddeo (FL-18) $
Bill Hedrick (CA-44) $
Julie Bornstein (CA-45) $
Nick Leibham (CA-50) $
Michael Montagano (IN-03) $
Sam Bennett (PA-15) $
Judy Baker (MO-09) $
Kay Barnes (MO-06) $
Christine Jennings (FL-13) $
Betsy Markey (CO-04) $
Gary Pritchard (CA-SD-33) $
Al Franken (MN-Sen) $
Jill Morgenthaler (IL-06) $
Dan Seals (IL-10) $
Judy Feder (VA-10) $
Ronnie Musgrove (MS-Sen) $
Rick Noriega (TX-Sen) $
Eric Massa (NY-29) $




Maverick My Ass

I'm sick of this "John McCain is a maverick" bullshit. He is a political opportunist who embraced his party orthodoxy in exchange for embracing the far right-wing agenda. This week, for instance, he hinted that he might be willing to choose a running mate with non-traditional beliefs, but there were limits to how far a potential running mate could stray from the Republican Party line.

"I think it's a fundamental tenet of our party to be pro-life but that does not mean we exclude people from our party that are pro-choice. We just have a -- albeit strong -- but just it's a disagreement. And I think Ridge is a great example of that. Far more so than Bloomberg, because Bloomberg is pro-gay rights, pro, you know, a number of other issues."

Asked about it today, Bloomberg predictably dodged jumping into the mud by praising McCain as someone who's done great things for this country but then added this dig, "I think that choice and gay rights are personal things -- particularly if you are a conservative, the government should get out of the bedroom."

Let's put this issue in Republican words so we can get the full effect of his statement. John McCain is open to choosing a running mate who believes that it should be legal for women to murder their babies, but not a candidate who believes in equal treatment of heterosexuals and non-heterosexuals. In his eyes, being pro-gay is worse than be pro-baby-killing.

Why is pro-gay worse than pro-choice? Deep down, they hate gays more than they hate doctors who "kill" babies. The former is perceived as a "threat" to themselves, while the latter is not.

As the LA Times noted this week, anti-gay marriage advocates try to frame their arguments in terms of preserving traditions and protecting families. Despite this front, when given the opportunity to speak freely about their beliefs, the anti-gay affect comes to the surface. Before announcing it's opposition to Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage, the editorial board met with supporters and opponents to allow them to make their case.

The measure's supporters are generally careful to avoid appearing anti-gay, probably because they realize that, for all the voter split on same-sex marriage, Californians generally support gay rights. They professed in our meeting to have no ill will toward gay people...until the talk went deeper.

At one point, the conversation turned to the "activist judges" whose May ruling opened the door to same-sex marriage, and how similar this case was to the 1948 case that declared bans on interracial marriage unconstitutional. According to one of the Prop. 8 reps, that 1948 ruling was OK because people are born to their race and thus are in need of constitutional protection, while gays and lesbians choose their homosexuality. So much for the expert opinions of the American Psychological Assn. and the American Academy of Pediatrics that people cannot choose their sexuality. Oh, those activist doctor types.

In any case, one Prop. 8 supporter said, gay rights are not as important as children's rights, and it's obvious that same-sex couples who married would "recruit" their children toward homosexuality because otherwise, unable to procreate themselves, they would have no way to replenish their numbers.

It's not clear that John McCain agrees with the anti-gay activists who push the homosexual recruitment conspiracy theory, but many of his anti-gay positions fly in the face of current social science research.

For example, despite the fact that study after study after study after study has shown that children raised by same-sex parents turn out no better, no worse, no gayer, no straighter than children raised by heterosexual parents, John McCain still believes that it is better for children to grow up without parents than it is for them to be raised by gays and lesbians.



And despite research which shows that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military would not harm readiness, John McCain still supports Don't Ask, Don't Tell.



John McCain is not a maverick. He's a conservative Republican adn a bigot. And if he'll sell homosexuals down the river to pander to the right-wing lunatic fringe, what do you think he'll do to the "McCain Democrats" once he's gotten your votes?

Don't fall for it!

Go to Denver!

Hillary Clinton is giving her supporters another chance to win a free trip to Denver and join her for dinner.  Today, I received this email from the Clinton campaign.

Dear Andrew,

I cannot wait for the lights to come up and the cameras to roll at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. When I join Democrats from across the country who are unified and ready to get to work to elect Barack Obama, I want you there.

So many people have reached out to help us pay down our campaign debt, and I was just overwhelmed by the generous spirit of so many of you. I'm pleased to announce that Leslie of Tacoma, WA won our contest and will be joining me for dinner soon. But so many people participated that I knew I just had to give you another chance. So will you enter today for the chance to join me in Denver?

Join me in Denver. Contribute today.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see an event that will truly make history. I'll make sure you get great seats to see me speak on Tuesday night when I address the nation and see Senator Obama accept the nomination at Mile High Stadium on Thursday.

We're going to have an amazing convention and head into the fall campaign unified and ready to work. And if you contribute today to help us pay down our campaign debt, you might be the one to join me in Denver!

Join me in Denver. Contribute today.

If you're the lucky winner, we'll fly you to Denver, where you'll be my special guest at the convention. And I'll make sure that you and I have some time together to chat. You'll get to see me speak Tuesday night and see Senator Obama accept the nomination at Mile High Stadium on Thursday.

You know that we're still working hard to pay off all the small vendors we owe from our presidential campaign. And your help continues to make a huge difference.

So let's have some fun in Denver -- try your luck and contribute today. You might be the one joining me for the 2008 Democratic Convention!

Contribute today, and you might be my special guest for the convention.

Thank you again for your incredible support!

Sincerely,





If you are interested in joining Hillary in Denver, donate to her campaign today!



"Swift Boat" Attacks Unfit for Publication

FYI, this is HUGE. Democrats are saying no more to right-wing "swift boating". See below why these new attacks are simply unfit for publication.

C4O Reader --

Yesterday, you learned about the right-wing's latest attack: extremist Jerome Corsi and his book of the same old smears and lies.

Today, you can take the next step.

Tackle this smear campaign head on. The Obama research team released a 41-page rebuttal called "Unfit for Publication," refuting Corsi's rehashed distortions point-by-point, leaving no smear unanswered.

Arm yourself with the facts and write a letter to your local newspapers telling them to do their job by debunking this kind of garbage. The media are not playing their role as watchdogs. In fact, they are fanning the flames of controversy and legitimizing a discredited political bottom-feeder.

Take action now and tell the media to report the truth, not debunked lies and smears that are unfit for publication.

The right-wing smear machine is in full force -- blasting out Corsi's stale fabrications far and wide to a media that's so far been eager to pick them up. In just three days, Corsi's made front page news in both the New York Times and Washington Post.

We've posted the full truth online so you have the tools to fight back in your community and local papers.

Can you write a letter to the editor exposing Jerome Corsi and his book for what they really are -- another hack job by a desperate right-wing fabricator?

In 2004, Corsi helped launch the Swift Boat smear campaign with a book of distortions and lies he wrote about John Kerry. This time we won't be Swift Boated.

Keep up the good fight,

Obama Action Wire



The Obama Action Wire is a grassroots rapid response group for supporters to fight smears, spread the truth, push back on misleading media, and take positive action.

"Family Values" McBush

Awwwww! How precious! "Mr. McMaverick" is taking money from someone operating a gay crusing (as in, cruising for a one night stand) site?

I don't know who will be more outraged by this... Gay guys who find out their $$$$ is going toward electing a President who will discriminate against them more, or the Christianist wingnut fundies who will scream at the thought of "Mr. McFamily-Values" taking $$$$ from a "Sodomite"? Yippee for McBush! :-D

VP Madness

Yesterday, the speaking schedule for the Wednesday night of the Democratic Convention was released. Apparently, both Sen. Evan Bayh (D-IN) & Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE) will be speaking on this night. And already, the pundit class is chattering as Wednesday is also supposed to be "VP night"... And both of these people have been mentioned as "short list" VP picks.

So do we have an idea now on who will be Obama's VP? Or is the media making something out of nothing? I dunno... I still have a feeling we may be in for a HUGE surprise. ;-)

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Late Nite Open Thread

I'm tired. I've had a crazy day. Has your day been as crazy as mine?

OK, time to relax... And chat away! ;-)

ACTION ALERT: Tell MSNBC to Tell the Truth About "PUMA"

I've been told by a friend that the infamous Will Bower will be on MSNBC's "Hardball" tonight to discuss the "PUMA movement". While "PUMA" claims to be a group of "Hillary Clinton supporters fighting for democracy", we've pointed out repeatedly their real motives of aiding & abetting John McCain & the GOP agenda. Yet for some reason, the corporate media continues to allow "PUMA" a national podium to spread their lies.

We need to speak up. We need to let the corporate media know that neither Hillary Clinton nor we Hillary Clinton Democrats stand with "PUMA" in their scurrilous attempts to smear & trash Barack Obama. We need to tell the media that "PUMA" does NOT speak for us!

Please send an email to hardball@msnbc.com & urge them to tell the whole story about Hillary Clinton Democrats!

With every lie "PUMA" people tell about Hillary Clinton implicitly supporting John McCain or Barack Obama not being "a real American" or the media not being "fair" in only giving them 15 minutes of infamy instead of 45, they slander Hillary & trash her reputation. With every ugly, low-blow attack they toss at our Democratic Party, they attack all of us. They claim to be speaking in our names, and it's time we stop their lies & tell the truth!

Please email hardball@msnbc.com & ask them to ask the tough questions about "PUMA" and consider inviting someone like our friend Christina from yestodemocracy.org to debunk the "PUMA" smears. There's no time to waste. We can't let "PUMA" stand unchallenged, so please email hardball@msnbc.com & ask them to tell the real story on the "PUMA" con-artists.

Thanks.

In Case You Missed This...

Hillary Clinton's name will be put into nomination at the convention. Whatever controversy the corporate media & the right-wing trolls tried to generate has been killed off. Hillary & Barack negotiated it out, and we will be a part of the convention.

It's all good now. ;-)

Superdelegate Hillary Clinton To Vote for Obama

Reports across the World Wide Web are announcing that Hillary's name will be put in nomination at the Democratic National Convention. We learn:
Senator Obama’s campaign encouraged Senator Clinton's name to be placed in nomination as a show of unity and in recognition of the historic race she ran and the fact that she was the first woman to compete in all of our nation’s primary contests.
Hillary Clinton, of course, is a superdelegate. She will use her vote to assist in Barack Obama's nomination as the Democratic candidate for president of the United States.

The "Swift Boat" Mudslingers Are Back

Are you as sick & tired of right-wing lies & smears as I am? If so, watch out! The same liars who spread untrue smears against John Kerry are back... And they're out to spread the ugliest lies about Barack Obama.

Please check out this urgent message from DNC Chairman Howard Dean... And please take action to stop the lies!

C4O Reader --

This morning our team here sent this email to a group of dedicated supporters, but I'm sending it to everyone I know.

In 2004, the media let right-wing crackpots like Jerome Corsi spread lies about John Kerry. Now Corsi is publishing another hit piece attacking Barack Obama.

This year I'm drawing the line -- we're not going to let Corsi and the Republicans get away with it again.

Go here to check out Corsi's track record of ideologically driven lies and conspiracy theories, then sign up for the DNC Rapid Response Team and help keep these dirty tricks from ruining another election.

I hope you'll forward this to everyone you know, too.

Thanks,

Howard Dean

I Think the DCCC Likes Our All-Stars...

Take a look at where they are spending money. I think they like us... And they like our Democrats. Keep it up. We're making a BIG difference! :-)

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Assumptions

I am tired of hearing them, and I am tired of speaking about them.  My thoughts focused on the recent re-opening of the primary wars, and how much time we spend either promoting or defending our choice for the Democratic Primary...It made my stomach turn.

I, in no way, am faultless in this pointless exercise.  Whether it be scouring the latest "in the know" websites for some ammunition or "fact checking" many of the accusations hurled at our fellow Democrats.

I, for those who don't know, have been an Obama supporter since day 1.  My past actions toward the Clintons can be summed up in one word...shameful.  Thanks to fellow Mydd members and Clinton supporters who took the time to listen to me, I was afforded their wisdom and saw a new Hillary Clinton.  See under all the animosity and hate was just a plain old ignorant person who refused to see the truth, and that truth was Hillary Clinton was a great person who only had the country's best interest at heart.

She wanted equal opportunity for all, she wanted healthcare for all, she wanted a safe America, she wanted to start America on a new path with strong leadership, and above all she cared...She cared about me and my family.

She wanted exactly what Barack Obama wanted, an end to a disturbing and selfish reign by George W. Bush for the past 8 years.  The problem?  They both wanted to be the person who led us down this new path, and so sides were chosen.

And the assumptions flew and continue to fly...

Hillary & her husband played the race card, Barack is a sexist, Hillary is sabotaging the election so she can run in 2012, Barack is purposefully shunning the Clintons during the GE, Hillary is leveraging for the VP slot, Barack chose Warner for the keynote to spite Hillary, Hillary is a war-monger, Barack hates progressives, Hillary will only do things that are beneficial to her, Barack hates Bill, Bill hates Barack, the DNC hates Hillary, Hillary was cheated, Barack thinks Clinton supporters should just "Get over it", Hillary isn't doing enough, Barack isn't doing enough, Hillary is a racist, Bill is racist, Barack doesn't want a roll call, Hillary just wants to cause a fuss at the convention, Barack believes Jerimiah Wright, Hillary is in a secret religious clan, Barack loves Hamas, Hillary loves lobbyists, you get the picture.

I'm tired of it.  Why is it, we Democrats, continually try and tear one another down?  Are we not the Big Tent Party who prides itself on acceptance and tolerance?  Here we have two people who gave their heart and soul campaigning for the invisible people of this country and all we have to offer is insults and assumptions.  It is a disgrace to what they both stand for and what Democrats stand for.

So instead of assuming anymore, I am going to start believing.

I believe Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have been selected by the people to be the leaders of our party.

I believe, regardless of their positions, they will fight together to restore our country and make us proud again.

I believe they are friends who respect each other and share common goals for the common people.

I believe they both will do what's best for the Democratic Party.

I believe, regardless of the past, they realize it was a hard fought primary and things were done in which both sides have apologized and forgiveness was granted.

I believe we will  come together.

That's what I choose to believe.

Pushing into the Red States

Cross-posted at MyDD


Mark Halperin has a brief article up at The Page questioning Obama's strategy of targeting traditionally red states with staff and spending:

But every dollar and every hour spent in places like deeply Republican Georgia divert resources from must win battlegrounds like Michigan. Some strategists wonder, then, if Obama’s campaign risks trying to win by a landslide and possibly losing by a hair.


Thanks for your hand-wringing concern, Mr. Halperin, but you couldn't be more wrong. Progressives can't gain ground by playing it safe, and neither can the Democratic party. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton increased turnout in the primaries to never before seen levels, and that includes those red states where Mark Halperin believes Obama is now wasting our money.

We have to expand the electorate, and we don't do that by singing to the choir. This is a mistake that Democrats have been making for years, and finally, we have a candidate who sees that flawed strategy for what it is. Howard Dean's 50 state strategy is a good one, and it's the model of future Democratic politics. We don't cede half of the country to the Republicans, we fight them on their own turf.

John Kerry followed the "battleground states" approach in 2004, and we see how that turned out. One of the worst mistakes he made was pulling out of Missouri when he did.

I don't know if Obama is going to actually win Georgia or not, but he's going to make John McCain spend some money here. Obama is going to get more Democrats and Obamacans out to the polls in Georgia, and that might be enough to slide Jim Martin into office. The down-ticket races matter.

Here's a bit of gleeful nonsense from the Washington Times:

Sen. Barack Obama's campaign laid out a list of 18 battleground states earlier this summer, and spent money advertising in each.

But the new Obama ad released just now will only run in 16 states. Seems red states Georgia and Indiana have been dropped from the list.


The fact is, Obama is aggressively pursuing voters in red states, much more so than John Kerry ever considered. John Kerry fought in basically two states - Florida and Ohio, and ignored the rest of the country.

And let's not forget, that Obama outreach seems to working in Alaska.


Obama - strong 138/400 35%
Obama - not so strong 28/400 7%
Undecided - lean Obama 15/400 4%
Total Obama 181/400 45%

McCain - strong 127/400 32%
McCain - not so strong 26/400 7%
Undecided - lean McCain 8/400 2%
Total McCain 161/400 40%


This is how it's done, folks. This is how you get a mandate - a real mandate, not the imaginary mandate Bush claimed in 2004. If we want universal health care, expanded FMLA and a constitution that's actually intact, we push into the red. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Late Nite Open Thread

Here's your awesome story for tonight.



Wow. Isn't that amazing? OK, now. Let's chat. This thread's wide open! :-)

FACT CHECK: Obama Would "Raise Taxes on the Middle Class"

Check it out. I guess the McCainiacs just got caught with their pants on fire. Too bad for them. ;-)

2,000,000

I just got word from the Obama campaign that they're extremely close to breaking a HUGE barrier. But you know what? They need our help. And with our help, we can really make history.



Nearly 2,000,000 people own a part of this campaign. And if we take action now, we can break this barrier. We can do what no Republican operative would ever think of doing. 2,000,000 of us can come together and tell McCain & his fat cat, big money overlords that we've had enough of the same old Beltway game... And that we want real change!

I'll try not to make this too long, but I'd like to ask all of you who can contribute to donate to make history. Obama's ready to be an agent of change as our next President, but he can't do this alone. He needs our help. He needs us to be agents of change as well.

Are you ready to help Barack Obama make some lasting change? :-)

FIght Back for Our Coast

Consider this a reminder... To keep our coast beautiful.

CREDO Action: Tools for Change from Working Assets




Are McCain and Obama playing politics with our environment?

Fight back against
Big Oil

Tell McCain and Obama: No offshore drilling.




In 1969, an offshore rig spilled 3 million gallons of oil off the coast of Santa Barbara. Oil-drenched sea birds and beaches galvanized concerned citizens, who worked to institute a moratorium on offshore drilling. However, in June of this year, President Bush demanded that Congress lift the ban on offshore oil drilling that's been protecting our beaches for 27 years.

Why? It comes down to fearmongering and oil company profits. Economists, environmentalists, and energy experts agree that this plan would have zero effect on gas prices in the next six years, let alone the next six months.

Unfortunately, the presidential candidates are now playing politics with our beaches. Senators McCain and Obama were both against oil drilling before they were running for President, but times have changed.

In June, McCain did a complete 180 on his original position, and his switch has left him awash in oil industry donations. As a leading voice on campaign finance, his position is also hypocritical. McCain knows the right position on drilling — he supported it in the past. No new drilling off our coasts.

Click here to tell Senator McCain to reverse his flip flop on offshore drilling.

Obama hasn't done a 180 on this issue like McCain. But he is flirting with allowing some drilling, even though he knows that it couldn't help relieve gas prices until 2014 at the earliest. Obama shouldn't compromise on offshore drilling just because it's become a central front in the battle for the presidency. He needs to do what's right and oppose all new offshore drilling.

Click here to tell Senator Obama not to cave in to fearmongering on offshore drilling.

After you sign the petitions, please be sure to tell a few friends.

Kate Stayman-London, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action from Working Assets





Working Assets proudly introduces CREDO Mobile. Click to learn about our phones, rate plans and special offers.

McBush-o-nomics

You know it's true! John McCain = George W. Bush... Especially on economic issues!






H/T to Taylor Marsh for catching this. :-)

It's All About the Spectrum

I recently stumbled upon this gem as I was perusing the web. Apparently, the Electoral College can be seen as a spectrum ranging from dark red to dark blue, with plenty of purple in-between. When one candidate crosses a certain threshold (in this case, the State of Pennsylvania), he wins.

Check it out. It's a fascinating read, especially if you're a "horse race junkie" like me. ;-)

Mark Warner is the keynote speaker at the convention

Mark Warner is giving the keynote at the convention. He will speak the same night that Hillary gives her address. I would guess that Warner will give his speech after Hillary's, but I suppose there will be a whithering welter of analyses to unlock the inner meaning of Clinton's and Warner's placements in the schedule.

As the "McMentum" Fades Away

Wow. Just wow. From Gallup:

Obama- 45%
McCain- 38%

Whoops! I guess Obama just broke through all the "McMentum" that's supposed to be propelling "Maverick McCain" to an amazing... NEAR TIE!! I know the corporate media is trying its hardest to make this Presidential Race into a 50-50 draw, but it simply isn't working.

Americans want real change, and they know that McCain & the GOP simply aren't "changing" anything by providing more of the same Bush-Cheney crap. Obama's rising again. I just wonder how long it will take before the corporate media notices their dear "McMaverick" is losing to the skinny guy with the funny name. ;-)

CO-02: Jared Polis, My New Hero

Jared Polis

I haven't said this in a while, but I have to say this now. Matt Stoller is right on! I simply can't believe it.

In case you haven't heard the HUGE news already, Jared Polis will likely be the next member of Congress representing Colorado's 2nd District. And in case you didn't know, Jared Polis is openly gay. He's the first openly gay challenger to be elected to Congress.

As a gay person myself, this is BIG news. This is a major breakthrough for us LGBT people and another breaking down of the homophobic barriers holding back progress. If elected in November (which is highly likely, as CO-02 includes Boulder & tilts quite Democratic), Polis will be the 3rd open LGBT member of Congress along with Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) & Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI).

So please excuse me today if I seem extra happy... I'm just glad to see yet another advance for not just LGBT people, but for civil rights for all. :-)

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Late Nite Open Thread

Wazzup, homies? What's happening? I've had quite the hectic day. How's your day been.

Relax here in the Open Thread Lounge. Enjoy a drink, watch the Olympics with me, & let's have a good time. :-D

Delegate Conundrum.

I came across a story today about Hillary Clinton delegate Sacha Millstone of Boulder, Colorado. Apparently Millstone has hired an attorney after she received a Democratic Party email that ordered her to come to headquarters to 'explain' disparaging remarks she made about Barack Obama.

Her attorney wrote the DNC asking for the rules that allow the party to threaten a person’s removal from the state delegation. Party officials say the issue has been dropped.

Now I don't know anything about this particular person, nor her motivations. But this raises an interesting conundrum for the Party - should delegates be free to criticize the nominee? And if so - why would they be forced to 'explain themselves' for remarks they make. Thoughts?

Government Fail: The Planet

(Proudly cross-posted at Clark Community Network)

I think we all know by now how horrible George W. Bush's environmental record has been. He's denied the climate crisis, pushed millions of acres of protected public land to be opened to private developers, and called for reckless oil drilling off our coast. Basically, this President has been a complete disaster for our planet. He's failed to be a good steward of our natural resources, and our children will soon pay the price of these Bush failures if we don't act now to reverse them.

So do you know what can make our current crisis worse? As bad as Bush is, there's someone who will only worsen our environmental problems... If we let him.

John McCain wants us to believe he's a "Friend of the Earth". He's green washed his web site. He's fine tuning his "green message" to sway voters. He's doing everything he can to convince us he's the real "green" candidate.

However, all we need to do is his record to see for ourselves that McCain is no friend of our planet. McCain always manages to say the right thing, but his actions are something completely different. He's really no different from George W. Bush in his laissez-faire attitude when it comes to requiring big polluters to clean up their act.

Oh yes, and here's an inconvenient truth about McCain that he doesn't want us to know. He may sound "green", but that's all talk. The only green he actually cares about is the "green $$$$" the oil companies are giving him.



Come on, now! Haven't we had enough of Bush doing nothing to solve the climate crisis while doing everything to allow big oil & big developers to ruin our natural resources? Now why the heck would we want more of the same ignoring our planet in peril? Why do we want another President who ignores us to placate his Big Oil bosses?



We need real change. We can't allow our government to continue to fail on protecting our planet for future generations. Let's make sure we have a President who will end the "epic government fail".



Let's support someone who will clean up this epic fail for a change. :-)

Government Fail: The Case for Change

As Clintonistas for Obama, we well understand the hard feelings that remain after the primaries. We were on the front lines for Hillary and like many of her supporters, the process of reaching out to the Obama people and working for unity hasn't always been easy. Since Hillary conceded, there has been a lot of debate over Hillary's role at the convention and in the Obama adminsitration and the possibility of a unity ticket and there's also been--thanks to the media, mischievous Republicans and bitter Democratcs--a lot of re-hashing the primary wars.

In the midst of all of the debate over whether party unity will happen and what form it will take, there's been little discussion about why it is so important that we rally behind the nominee. While many stay focused on past grievances and future power plays, few have been making the case for change. Starting this week, that is going to change here at Clintonistas for Obama. In a new series of posts we call Government Fail, we are going to highlight the greatest failures of the Bush administration and the Congressional Republicans. We will demonstrate that this country cannot afford to send John McCain to the White House to continue the failed policies of George Bush.

Please feel free to leave comments or suggestions in this thread. And stop by throughout the week as the Clintonistas for Obama make the case for change.

Tuesday Strategy Session: Winning the Swing States

OK, I hope you've all seen today's polling report at 538.com by now. Basically, it's a mixed bag. Still, Obama overall looks to be in good shape... Even if the post-primary "bounce" has come back down to a slight Obama advantage.

Here are the new polls:

Virginia- McCain +1
Colorado- Obama +4
Iowa- Obama +5
Oregon- Obama +10

Nate at 538.com used the new polls to make an interesting argument: New Mexico, Iowa, & Colorado are Obama's "Firewall States". As long as he holds onto all the "Blue States" Kerry won in 2004 as well as these "Firewall States", Obama wins this fall. But if McCain can break through into one or more of these states, we may very well end up with a third Bush-Cheney term.

So what are you thinking? Should Obama remember to focus resources on these "Firewall States" as he's also out to snatch traditionally "Red States" like Virginia, North Carolina, & Montana... As well as hold onto barely "Blue States" like Michigan & New Hampshire? Do you think there's a better strategy for an Obama victory?

OK, let's discuss some strategy this morning. Let's talk about where Obama should be spending our $$$$ to win this election for us. Now let's begin the session. :-)

Monday, August 11, 2008

2,000,000: We're Almost There!

This just in! Check out what's happening as our people power continues to grow. I don't think the CReeps can compete with us on this... ;-)

Andrew --

We're within reach of an unprecedented goal -- 2,000,000 individual people owning a piece of this campaign.

Meanwhile, John McCain and the Republican National Committee are trying to convince you that you've been swept up and tricked into wanting change.

They want you to believe that we need to stay the course and elect someone who's voted with George Bush 95% of the time.

And to sell this ridiculous idea, McCain and the RNC are using huge checks from Washington lobbyists and special interest PACs to spread the smear that Barack is just a "celebrity" and that our grassroots movement is just a bunch of mindless fans.

Help fight back against McCain's negative attacks and reach this historic goal. Make a donation of $5 or more today.

Your donation will help this movement reach a goal that few believed was possible -- 2,000,000 people giving only what they can afford.

Thank you for building this movement for change,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Donate

CA-46: Crazy Dana Walking Precincts... WHERE??!!


My contribution: $








(Proudly cross-posted at Swing State Project)

Ah, how I love me the right-wing blogs! Sometimes, I find it amusing to simply lurk over there and see the vile garbage spew out of their keyboards. But to my surprise, I found out today that some of my recent diaries have been featured on an infamous local right-wing blog.

Apparently, Debbie Cook is foolish for actually talking to voters. I mean, why should she actually take time to talk to voters? "Crazy Dana" Rohrabacher obviously doesn't. I have yet to see one neighborhood outreach walk, volunteer phone bank, or any other kind of voter outreach activity happening with his campaign.

Well, I guess it's Crazy Dana's loss that he doesn't talk to voters while Debbie Cook does. The more voters here in the 46th District find out about him, the less they like him. And as they learn more about Debbie Cook, the more they like her for her hard work to protect our quality of life as well as her plan to make real change that benefits real people.

 
 OK, so Dana doesn't want to earn his votes? And he'd rather continue with his extreme right-wing agenda than listen to the more moderate voters in his own district? So be it.  
I just hope Dana's ready to face the consequences. From what I understand, voters don't like to be ignored. And if Dana keeps ignoring his own voters, he may have a tougher November than what he's planning for. I just wonder if he & his GOP buddies have actually thought this through.
Whatever. I shouldn't have to worry about Crazy Dana & his far-right GOP pals. We have enough work to do ensuring that great Democrats like Debbie Cook get elected this fall.

Barack Obama (President) $
Hillary Clinton (President) $
Debbie Cook (CA-46) $
Jeanne Shaheen (NH-Sen) $
Kay Hagan (NC-Sen) $
Jeff Merkley (OR-Sen) $
Dina Titus (NV-03) $
Linda Stender (NJ-07) $
Darcy Burner (WA-08) $
Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-01) $
Mary Jo Kilroy (OH-15) $
Debbie Halvorson (IL-11) $
Suzanne Kosmas (FL-24) $
Martin Heinrich (NM-01) $
Dan Maffei (NY-25) $
Jon Powers (NY-26) $
Charlie Brown (CA-04) $
Jim Himes (CT-04) $
Gary Peters (MI-09) $
Glenn Nye (VA-02) $





Are you with me? ;-)

John McCain: All Celebrity Hype, No Real Change

(Proudly cross-posted at Clark Community Network)

He's one of the biggest celebrities in Washington, DC. He's beloved by the Beltway Insider establishment. He'd rather schmooze with big media than connect with us regular people on the major issues.

Beware: This DC celebrity is dangerous. He's even more shallow than Paris Hilton.

I'm sure you've seen this by now:



And come on, you know it's true. McCain comes from a party known to promote empty-headed celebrities. Mccain always craves complete media attention on him. McCain even has celebrity anger management problems!

McCain may be trying now to make us ignore his own celebrity status as he attacks Barack Obama's "celebrity fame", but let's not fall into that trap. McCain's the real celebrity elitist. McCain's the real media darling. McCain's the one who's actually out of touch with working-class Americans.

So let's not forget about the real facts on McCain. Let's spread the word on these real facts. Oh yes, and let's make sure Obama has enough resources to continue getting the truth out.

Same Old Washington Games

McCain is releasing another web ad today that touts Obama's celebrity status. I think atdleft's diary immediately above this one shows that the Obama campaign is toughening up their response to this silliness.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Darfur.

Darfur, which means 'land of the fur' is a region in western Sudan. The region is divided into three states: West Darfur, South Darfur, and North Darfur. Approximately the size of Spain, the arid and impoverished region has been in a state of humanitarian emergency since February 2003.



The original conflict broke out after a rebel group began attacking government targets, claiming that the region was being neglected by its capital in Khartoum and oppressing black Africans in favour of Arabs.

One side of the armed conflict is composed mainly of the Sudanese military and the Janjaweed, a militia group recruited mostly from the Arab Abbala tribes of the northern Rizeigat, camel-herding nomads. The Janjaweed are accused of the worst atrocities. The other side comprises a variety of rebel groups, notably the Sudan Liberation Movement (SLA) and the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), recruited primarily from the land-tilling non-Arab Fur, Zaghawa, and Massaleit ethnic groups.

The Sudanese government, while publicly denying that it supports the Janjaweed, has provided money and assistance to the militia and has participated in joint attacks targeting the tribes from which the rebels draw support.

The current lines of conflict are seen to be ethnic and tribal, rather than religious, some attest that the combination of decades of drought, desertification, and overpopulation are among the causes of the conflict, because the Arab nomads searching for water have to take their livestock further south, to land mainly occupied by Black African farming communities. There are now more than a dozen rebel groups - making peace talks extremely difficult.

The Sudanese government, led by President Omar al-Bashir admits mobilizing "self-defence militias" following rebel attacks, however it denies any links or control to the Janjaweed, who are accused of trying to "cleanse" black Africans from large swathes of territory. Refugees say that following air raids by government aircraft, the Janjaweed ride into villages on horses and camels, slaughtering men, raping women and stealing whatever they can find. Many women report being abducted and held as sex slaves for more than a week before being released.

After strong international pressure and the threat of sanctions, the government promised to disarm the Janjaweed. But so far there is little evidence this has happened. Trials have been announced in Khartoum of some members of the security forces suspected of abuses - but this is viewed as part of a campaign against UN-backed attempts to get some 50 key suspects tried at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

Millions of civilians have fled their destroyed villages, with more than two million in camps near Darfur's main towns. The Janjaweed patrol outside the camps and Darfuris say the men are killed and the women raped if they venture too far in search of firewood or water.

As the conflict enters its sixth year, with much of Darfur inaccessible to aid workers and researchers, conditions continue to deteriorate for civilians. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed, even by the most conservative estimates. The United Nations puts the death toll at roughly 300,000, while the former U.N. undersecretary-general puts the number at no less than 400,000. Up to 2.5 million have fled their homes and sought safety in camps throughout Darfur, or in refugee camps in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic. But many of these are camped along the stretch of the borders remain vulnerable to attacks from Sudan. As well Chad's eastern areas have a similar ethnic make-up and the violence has spilled over into the border area. Both capitals have also been attacked this year by rebel groups.

Based on Sudan’s actions over the past five years, it is clear that unless the international community imposes additional political costs for Sudanese President Bashir, his government will continue to buy time by either accepting initiatives only to backtrack later or impose new conditions that render them useless. The Sudanese government stresses that the situation and numbers are being exaggerated.

Humanitarian assistance in Darfur continues to be at risk of collapse, in part because of sustained harassment by the Sudanese government, and in part because of the government’s militia allies and common criminals. In September 2006, the United Nations estimated that such a collapse would cause up to 100,000 civilian deaths every month. Troublesome developments suggest that such a failure is becoming more likely with the World Food Program’s Humanitarian Air Service receiving no funding in the first three months of 2008. Last-minute donations totaling six million dollars funded it through the beginning of May and many aid agencies working in Darfur but they are unable to get access to vast areas because of the fighting.

The Save Darfur Coalition who is raising awareness and demanding an end to the genocide describe the current situation as follows:
In the second half of 2007, the Sudanese government’s divide-and-conquer strategy, described by Human Rights Watch as “chaos by design,” caused an increasingly frenzied free-for-all in Darfur. Rebel groups fragmented further and criminal activity as well as intertribal fighting increased exponentially. Still, the effects of tribal fighting should not be overemphasized. Of the eight largest displacements between January and November 2007, seven resulted from government or Janjaweed attacks. Only one was the result of intertribal fighting. In early 2008, deaths and displacements from military operations by the government, its allied militias and rebels were even more common relative to those caused by tribal conflicts.
Darfur activists and other human rights organizations wrote a letter to both presidential candidates this week outlining resolution SR 632:
Senator John McCain
Senator Barack Obama
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510

August 7, 2008

Dear Senators McCain and Obama,

The day before Olympian Joey Cheek, a 2006 Gold Medalist in speed skating, was to travel to Beijing, the government of China revoked his visa. Mr. Cheek is one of the strongest voices in the pursuit of peace in Darfur.

Mr. Cheek and a group of other current and former Olympic athletes had been calling for an Olympic Truce for Darfur – a cessation of hostilities in the Darfur region for a period before, during and after the Games. The Olympic Truce dates from ancient Greece and has been revived as a diplomatic tool over the past several decades.

Earlier this week, Darfur activist leaders and human rights groups from across the country sent an open letter calling upon each of you, as US Senators and presumptive presidential nominees, to promptly announce your intention to co-sponsor a new resolution, SR 632, that urges the Chinese government and the broader international community to use the upcoming Olympic Games as an opportunity to push for peace and security in Darfur. We also asked that you support an Olympic Truce for Darfur in your public statements in the coming week and during the Olympic Games.

Although the Senate is in recess, additional Senate co-sponsors can submit their names now, to the offices of current co-sponsors, and those names will be officially recorded in September when the recess is over. As presumptive presidential nominees, your co-sponsorship will send a clear message to China and the international community that you are committed to help bring an end to the genocide in Darfur.

Your co-sponsorship of the resolution is critical, particularly in light of the significant advertising time your campaigns have purchased to air during the Olympic Games. We believe there is an obligation to balance the purchase of Olympic advertising time with a message about Beijing’s responsibility, as Olympic host and close partner of Sudan, to do more to bring security to Darfur.

Mr. Cheek’s visa revocation and Senate Resolution 632 both present important opportunities for you to act. The White House has already expressed the President’s concern and instructed the US embassy in Beijing to discuss Mr. Cheek’s visa with the Chinese government.

Last month, Mr. Cheek and more than 200 other athletes issued an open letter to world leaders calling for an Olympic Truce for Darfur. The athletes, including more than 70 hopefuls for the 2008 Games, called on world leaders to (1) ask the Government of Sudan to cease hostilities against civilians, at least for the 55-day truce period of the 2008 Beijing Games, (2) use the truce period to allow humanitarian workers to access the civilians in Darfur who have been without food, clean water and medical care for years and (3) make progress on deployment of peacekeepers.

We ask both of you to join these athletes – men and women who represent all that is great about American and Olympic values – and release public statements announcing your co-sponsorship of Senate Resolution 632 and your support for an Olympic Truce for Darfur.

Sincerely,

American Jewish World Service
Ruth Messinger, President
New York, NY

Americans Against the Darfur Genocide
Nikki Serapio, Director
Palo Alto, CA

Colorado Coalition for Genocide Awareness and Action
Roz Duman, Founder/Coordinator
Denver, CO

Darfur Action Coalition of Wisconsin
Sachin Chheda, Coordinator
Milwaukee, WI

Damanga Coalition for Freedom and Democracy
Mohamed Yahya
Founder/ Executive Director
Washington, DC.

Darfur Metro
Eileen Weiss, Director
New York, NY

Darfur People's Association of New York
Motasim Adam, Director
Brooklyn, NY

Dream for Darfur
Jill Savitt, Executive Director
New York, NY

Essex County Coalition for Darfur
Gloria Crist, Founding Member
Montclair, NJ

Investors Against Genocide
Eric Cohen, Chairperson
Boston, MA

Kentuckian Interfaith Taskforce On Darfur
Bob Brousseau, Chair
Louisville, Kentucky

Louisvillians Helping to Save Darfur
Dave Robinson, Chair
Louisville, KY

Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur
Susan Morgan, Director of Communications
Boston, MA

New York City Coalition for Darfur
Sharon Silber, Director
New York, NY

Physicians for Human Rights
Frank Donaghue, Chief Executive Officer
Cambridge, MA

San Francisco Bay Area Darfur Coalition
Esther Sprague, Executive Committee
San Francisco, CA

Save Darfur Washington State
Deborah Jones, President
Seattle, WA

Team Darfur
Martha Heinemann Bixby
Executive Director
Washington, DC

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Charlie Clements, President and CEO
Cambridge, MA

Use Your Voice to Save Darfur RI
Sandra Hammel, Director
Providence, RI
In addition to contacting both Senators Obama and McCain (who have both remained silent on this to date) to co-sponsor SR 632 , you can also contact the Save Darfur Coalition.

Be The First To Know

Do you want to be among the first to be notified of Obama's VP decision? Sign up to receive a text message announcement from the campaign by visiting this website or send a text VP to 62262. When the announcement is made, you will receive a text message from the Obama campaign.



So who is it going to be? Give me your predictions!

Our Rising Stars

(Proudly cross-posted at Swing State Project)

In case you haven't noticed, we have something new up at C4O. We wanted to start this because all of you gave us so many good suggestions, but we couldn't fit them all onto one page. That's why we're doing something that will hopefully enable us to give the Rethuglicans a real run for their money.

Want to see what I'm talking about?

This is our brand new C4O Rising Stars project! As you all already know, 2008 is a horrible year to be a CReep. Bush & Cheney are at historic lows of approval. John McBush thinks he can win by being just like Bush. And now, all these House & Senate GOP candidates are trying to "break ties" to the top of the ticket while still accepting whatever help they can get from them. This is why I think it's time for us to take additional action.

We have many great Rising Star Democrats who may now be seen as "hopeless", but we know this is just plain wrong. These candidates already have the GOP running scared, and they're already making a whole lot of progress in turning red seats blue. Let's help these rising stars make it all the way to DC!

Andrew Rice (OK-Sen)$
Tom Allen (ME-Sen)$
Annette Taddeo (FL-18)$
Bill Hedrick (CA-44)$
Julie Bornstein (CA-45)$
Nick Leibham (CA-50)$
Michael Montagano (IN-03)$
Sam Bennett (PA-15)$
Judy Baker (MO-09)$
Kay Barnes (MO-06)$
Christine Jennings (FL-13)$
Betsy Markey (CO-04)$
Gary Pritchard (CA-SD-33)$
Al Franken (MN-Sen)$
Jill Morgenthaler (IL-06)$
Dan Seals (IL-10)$
Judy Feder (VA-10)$
Ronnie Musgrove (MS-Sen)$
Rick Noriega (TX-Sen)$
Eric Massa (NY-29)$




We've listened to your suggestions, and with your help we've picked some great Democrats from all over the country. We have House candidates and Senate candidates. We have candidates from coast to coast, from the Wild West to the Deep South to the Great Midwest. What these candidates have in common is their success so far in making the Republicans run scared and their ability to win these supposedly "difficult races".

So please if you can, donate to help us in this cause. These are true progressive heroes who are taking the good fight onto GOP turf. And with our help, these good Democrats can win! :-)


My contribution: $