Obama - The Honeymoon is Over

Obama is not a liberal.

From continuing with the Bush bailouts, to keeping the Bush/Cheney secrecy policies, to his inaction on gay marriage, to shooting more missiles into Pakistan, if anyone thinks Obama is a Liberal, they are mistaken. Now he is selling clearcutting rights to a roadless rain forest -- and the government will probably build the roads. The honeymoon is now officially over for me.

Obama Approves Logging Contract For Largest US Rain Forest

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Purple America -- or, Take those Red States and Shove Them

The typical depiction of the 2008 red vs. blue electoral map looks like this:



It's a big improvement over the 2004 map, but it sure does seem top have a lot of red on it. The reason for that is that many red states take up a lot of real estate, but have very few people in them. Wyoming, for example, has about as many people in it as the city of Washington, DC. Yet Wyoming is huge and gets painted red, compared to the blue dot of DC.

Thanks to a professor of physics at the University of Michigan, there are now maps that represent the population of a state instead of its geographic size. These maps are called cartograms. Here is the one for 2008:



Now you can see why Obama was elected. Most of the country is "blue".

You can read more about it here, where he also colors the states red, blue, and purple based on the percentage of people who voted each way. For example, if a county voted 51% for Obama and 49% for McCain, is it really blue, or is it almost a perfect mix of red and blue (purple)? This is a purple map of America:



And here is the purple cartogram:



Pretty cool, eh? OK you purple Americans -- let's work together to make this country a better place and let's not give in to the Bush/Cheney/Rove/McCain process of trying to divide us. We have more in common with each other than Bush-McCain have with us. Time to get to work.

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Obama is Pro-Life

I am quite pleased that U.S. voters denounced the policies of George W. Bush and the damage he has inflicted upon our nation and upon the world. This so-called pro-life president has presided over hundreds of executions, both at governor of Texas and as president. He has waged war on the poor by his unfair tax policies that favor wealthy CEOs. He tried to wage war on the elderly by attempted to privatize Social Security. He has waged war on the health of every American by reducing our air and water quality. Bush conducted a preemptive war in Iraq based upon lies. According to Jesus -- Bush's favorite "philosopher" -- we should love our enemies, turn the other cheek, heal the sick, and feed the poor. Bush has been an anti-Jesus in many ways. John McCain would have continued Bush's war, his tax policies, and would have reduced the availability of health care.

Thank you America for electing Barack Obama!

According to Catholics for Obama:

Is Barack Obama Really Pro-Life?
The answer is "yes." Looking through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching, Senator Obama has spent his entire career striving for the common good. He supports health care programs that will cover all Americans, a living wage for working families, and solutions that allow distressed families to stay in their homes. And rather than trying to overturn Roe v. Wade, an ineffective strategy for 40 years, Senator Obama will reduce abortions. How? By promoting health care for pregnant women and better infant care, day care and job training. In fact, data has shown that social and education programs actually reduce abortions.

Additionally, Obama worked with the poor in the slums of Chicago. Here is more from the Catholics for Obama website:

Before he was a devoted husband and father, or a U.S. Senator, or a presidential candidate of historic accomplishments, Barack Obama took a job working as a community organizer for a group of 8 Catholic parishes in one of the nation’s largest cities. With funding from the U.S. Bishops and working for three years out of an office in a Catholic church rectory, he embarked on a campaign to empower the lives of thousands of people who were suffering through economic circumstances not unlike what has befallen our country today. This booklet tells the story of his early exposure to Catholicism, compares the contours of his public life with the Catholic Social Tradition, and explores the reasons why many Catholics will be enthusiastically voting in 2008 to elect Barack Obama as the next president.

George W. Bush and John McCain are Pro-Death and Pro-Rich.

George W. Bush has been the anti-Jesus. In the past eight years, John McCain has turned into W's cheerleader. Let's not forget that Bush was handed jobs by his dad -- jobs he did not work hard at and did not deserve. He was an alcoholic who nearly abandoned his family. John McCain would have flunked out of the Naval Academy (assuming he could have ever gotten in) and should have flunked out of flight school but for his admiral father and the legacy of his admiral grandfather. John McCain committed adultery -- cheating on his first wife with his current wife (and Cindy McCain was a drug addict and stole drugs from a charity she ran -- which she could only do because of the wealth her father amassed selling alcohol). John McCain has cheated on taxes, has been involved in financial scandal (Keating 5) and lied about his several plane crashes in his biography. And there is so much more that is immoral about these men. Bush and McCain are not honorable men and they are no friends of the poor, the sick, the destitute. Yet, because they say they are "pro-life", the Church endorses them and coerces its followers toward them.

Pro-life Christians who support either Bush or McCain represent the kind of illogical and hypocritical militancy that caused me to run from the Catholic church.

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Following the Election Results

Get out and Vote for Obama!

Here is a cool widget that you can use to track the election results today:



May the force be with us.

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Report Voting Problems

There are several resources that you can use to report problems at polling places. Here are a few ways to do it:

To report a problem or for general elections/voting questions:

Call: 866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)
Email: help@866ourvote.org
Twitter the problem: http://www.866ourvote.org/page?id=0057

ACLU Voting Rights Project: 877-523-2792

A few basics to help you out:

1. Bring ID. A driver's license or voting card are best. A passport or military ID are also good. Some places will also take a phone or utility bill with your name and address on it (you need to check your local laws). Some states (like Virginia) will allow you to vote without ID if you are not a first-time voter and if you sign an "Affirmation of Identity".

2. If you are not on the voting list, ask the poll worker to call the general registrar to double-check if you are on the official list.

3. If all else fails, state that you want to cast a provisional ballot.

 

 

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McCain's Chappaquiddick?

Did John McCain kill someone with his car while he was a young Lieutenant in the Navy?

For the past two months, a major American magazine and an allied news service have been engaged in a legal battle with the United States Navy over records that they believe show that John McCain once was involved in an automobile accident that injured or, perhaps, killed another individual.

Vanity Fair magazine and the National Security News Service claim to have knowledge "developed from first-hand sources" of a car crash that involved then-Lt. McCain at the main gate of a Virginia naval base in 1964, according to legal filings. The incident has been largely, if not entirely, kept from the public. And in documents suing the Navy to release pertinent information, lawyers for the NS News Service allege that a cover-up may be at play.

(Read more here)

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GOP Senator and Vietnam Veteran Endorses & Votes for Obama

Former Sen. Larry Pressler (R-S.D.), who was the first Vietnam veteran to serve in the United States Senate, is the latest Republican to back Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Pressler "cited the Democrat's response to the financial crisis as the primary reason for his decision."

"I just got the feeling that Obama will be able to handle this financial crisis better, and I like his financial team of [former Treasury Secretary Robert] Rubin and [former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul] Volcker better," he said. By contrast, John McCain's "handling of the financial crisis made me feel nervous."

(Read more)

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Palin Blinks - She Would Not do it Again

Given the chance to do it again, Sarah Palin says she would turn down John McCain's offer to be VP.

"You know, if I had to make such a decision today, it would be, no, there are a lot that Alaska could be, should be doing to contribute more to the U.S. and I think that I can help do that as governor of the state staying here."

Say it ain't "No", Sarah. I guess you can say that Sarah blinked -- a bit of a delayed reaction, but a big blink.

The sound clip can be found here:
http://www.entertonement.com/clips/20324/Sarah-Palin/John-McCain/John-McCain%27s-Running-Mate/It-would-be-no

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Bush Endorses McPalin

It is sad when comedy shows like The Daily Show and Saturday Night Live (SNL) are more honest than the "main stream" media. SNL cracks me up with their political skits, but the point(s) they are making are on the mark.

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Obama and Petraeus discuss Iraq

A very insightful display of steadfastness and informed reasoning, as Obama and Gen. Petraeus have a respectful, spirited discussion of how to proceed in Iraq (excerpt):

...Obama had a choice at that moment. He could thank Petraeus for the briefing and promise to take his views "under advisement." Or he could tell Petraeus what he really thought, a potentially contentious course of action — especially with a general not used to being confronted. Obama chose to speak his mind. "You know, if I were in your shoes, I would be making the exact same argument," he began. "Your job is to succeed in Iraq on as favorable terms as we can get. But my job as a potential Commander in Chief is to view your counsel and interests through the prism of our overall national security." Obama talked about the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, the financial costs of the occupation of Iraq, the stress it was putting on the military.

...Petraeus said he understood that Obama's perspective was, necessarily, going to be more strategic. Obama said that the timetable obviously would have to be flexible. But the Senator from Illinois had laid down his marker: if elected President, he would be in charge. Unlike George W. Bush, who had given Petraeus complete authority over the war -- an unprecedented abdication of presidential responsibility (and unlike John McCain, whose hero worship of Petraeus bordered on the unseemly) -- Obama would insist on a rigorous chain of command.

more at:
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1853025,00.html

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Powell Endorses Obama; Al Qaeda Endorses McCain

Colin Powell has endorsed Barack Obama for president.

Al Qaeda has endorsed John McCain.

The terrorist organization has determined that John McCain would be the best U.S. president to lead our country further into economic decline. Opinions were posted on several Al Qaeda web sites.

Remember when the right-wing lied about Al Qaeda endorsing John Kerry four years ago? They were outraged at Kerry. So, how do they feel about McCain securing this endorsement? (And this time, it is in writing.)

A vote for McCain = a vote for Terrorism.

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Ohio Young Republican Admits Fraud

A blog site for Greene County (Ohio) Young Republicans states:

I've called all my friends in Georgia and Alaska (states that are clearly leaning Republican) and had them register to vote (using the local YMCA's address) and to apply for an absentee ballot so the ballot will be sent to their homes in GA and AK.

Fraud, or (poor) sarcasm? With the GOP fraud arrest and other deceitful tactics in California, I wonder if this is a sign of Republicans getting exceptionally desperate.

Here's a screen shot of the blog:

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Save, Baby, Save! Jobs, Baby, Jobs!

Frustrated with the war cry, "Drill, Baby, Drill"? Sickened by the "green" campaign signs that read "Drill Now, Pay Less, Vote GOP"? Well those chants and slogans ring hollow.

With all the news about the economy, you may have missed an important report that speaks to the promise of Virginia's energy future -- and has profound relevance to our troubled economic times.

Following months of study of Virginia's energy production and usage, the independent American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has delivered a very important report to Governor Tim Kaine.

The ACEEE report found that by investing in affordable and already available energy efficiency measures, Virginia can meet 20 percent of its electricity needs by 2025 -- a strategy that would also cut Virginians' utilities bills by $15 billion by 2025 and create nearly 10,000 new jobs.

Jobs, Baby, Jobs!

In comparison, the increase in our electric bills to pay for the Wise County coal plant would result in a net loss of nearly 1,500 jobs around the state, according to the State Corporation Commission.

Even under a conservative scenario, we could "generate" 6138 MW of power through energy efficiency by 2025 -- more than the output of 10 Wise County coal plants!

Efficiency is also by far the cheapest way to generate new electric capacity for Virginia's growing economy, at about 3 cents per kWh. And, unlike coal and natural gas, the price of this power source won't keep going up to keep pace with rising fossil fuel costs.

In other words, energy efficiency -- not more coal plants -- is the cheapest way to meet our energy needs and grow our economy.

Grow, Baby, Grow!

Investing in efficiency will also improve the quality of our air and water and decrease the demand for mountaintop removal coal.

Breathe, Baby, Breathe!

Could you take a moment to forward the report on to your state representative? It's critical that our decision makers in Richmond understand that using energy more efficiently and shifting to renewable energy will save Virginians money on their power bills -- and cost less in taxpayer support:

http://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5020/t/3211/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=714

Virginia's political climate is ripe for making real and lasting changes to our state's energy policies. And this reports underscores that there are easy and readily available ways to use energy more wisely -- according to the report, Virginia ranks 32nd out of the 50 states in terms of energy efficiency.

Let's make Virginia a leader in using energy more efficiently when the legislature reconvenes in January.

But now is the time to lay the groundwork for that change, by arming our decision makers with the facts about efficient and renewable energy. Please, take a moment to forward the report to your legislator, and let them know that you support clean and renewable energy for the Commonwealth.

In these uncertain times, it's the only path that makes economic -- and environmental -- sense.

You can read more about the ACEEE report here: http://wiseenergyforvirginia.org/resources/#efficiency

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Joe the Plumber Owes Taxes!

This is just too ridiculous. In last night's third presidential debate, John McCain made a cartoon of a plumber named S. Joe Wurzelbacher from Ohio. During the debate, references to "Joe the Plumber" came up 14 times. Joe claimed that his small business would owe more taxes under Obama's tax plan, which turns out not to be true.

In an ironic twist, we find that Joe the Plumber actually owes taxes.

In addition, the union The United Association, which includes Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, has endorsed Barack Obama for president. That's right, the plumber's union has endorsed Obama.

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Barack gets the Hat-trick!

I watched all three debates. Obama won all three. I compare these to the Kennedy-Nixon debates, where Kennedy, a young, good-looking, smart guy shows the nation how presidential he is. Nixon looked scary and sleazy.

Obama was cool, logical, and presidential. That just increased through the three debates.

However, McCain looked mean, angry, and uncomfortable. The only thing he improved upon was eye contact, but then last night he ruined that by rolling his eyes a couple of times. McCain was grimacing, squirming, and constantly scribbling on his note pad -- he looked very un-presidential.

Last night, McCain brought up several points -- verbatim -- that he brought up in the previous debate. So Obama just refuted them again. He even said at one point, "As I said in our last debate..." McCain's only new material was "Joe the plumber". After invoking "Joe" (brought up memories of Joe Sixpack) 14 times, it became farcical. A joke.

McCain looked sad, corpse-like, and desperate. McCain may have shored up his base, but he lost the undecideds with his negativity and downright un-likability.

Barack gets the hat-trick!

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