Sunday, August 31, 2008

Are the American People This Stupid? (McCain thinks so!)

Unbelievable!
MORE AMERICANS BELIEVE PALIN READY TO BE PRESIDENT THAN NOT!
39% Yes, 33% No (Repbublicans 63% YES, Independents 41% to 31% YES)
Even 47% of Democrats think she is qualified or they are not sure yet!

That is not an ONION headline folks! Polls show that more people think Mrs. Palin is ready to be president than not! That includes Republicans as wells as independents!

I would never think the American people could be this stupid, but remember that last two presidential elections and the idiot that sits in the White House!

The media are gushing over what "Mavericks" John McCain and Sarah Palin are! John McCain demonstrated that he is NOT a "maverick" at all--he caved in to the right-wing religious and gun fanatics to energize the base of the Republican Party!
McCain Wanted Lieberman, Caved in to Conservative Base!

That's not being a "maverick"--that's PANDERING! He put politics ahead of the well-being and security of the United States!

Palin Electrifies Conservative Base

The Democrats and Obama/Biden should have laughed and made the case that this former mayor of a small city with a B.A. in journalism who hasn't served 2 years as Alaska's governor shows that John McCain has lost it. He has already demonstrated how inept he would be as President! Instead they are praising her as a "historic" choice? How? She is NOT the first female V.P.! Even Geraldine Ferraro had more experience than Palin!

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I had to go to the Marshall Co. (Holly Springs) Mississippi courthouse Friday for my work, and here's an interesting look into the minds of some of our fellow Americans.. One old white guy was not happy that McCain picked "a woman," and called Obama a "dummy", and refused to believe than Obama writes his own speeches! We had a heated discussion to say the least, with me taking on a whole room full of red neck, right-wing Republicans who I got to admit that George Bush has been a disaster and we were better off under Bill Clinton...
But now the white male conservatives in the South have to choose between an inexperienced Woman for the V.P. or voting for an uppidty negro for President! (I predict they will go with the woman V.P.)
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Several women where I work seem to love Palin, some of them were Hillary supporters, some are conservative Republicans.

I hope that most women, especially Hillary Clinton supporters, will not fall for this cynical right-wing political ploy, but many will, especially the remaining Hillary PUMAs (Party Unity My Ass) dingbats.

The rest of the world may be laughing at us again in November!
(I'm going to start packing...If I can't get into Canada I may try to swim to Cuba!)

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William Greider seems more optimistic than I am:
John McCain's Hail Mary Pass

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Alaskan Republicans/Newspapers: Sarah Palin is NOT QUALIFIED!



Two Top Alaska Newspapers Question Palin's Fitness to Be V.P.

"It's stunning that someone with so little national and international experience might be heartbeat away from the presidency."
The Anchorage Daily News

From the Daily News-Miner in Fairbanks:
"Sen. John McCain's selection of Gov. Sarah Palin as his vice presidential running mate was a stunning decision that should make Alaskans proud, even while we wonder about the actual merits of the choice.... Alaskans and Americans must ask, though, whether she should become vice president and, more importantly, be placed first in line to become president.
In fact, as the governor herself acknowledged in her acceptance speech, she never set out to be involved in public affairs. She has never publicly demonstrated the kind of interest, much less expertise, in federal issues and foreign affairs that should mark a candidate for the second-highest office in the land. Republicans rightfully have criticized the Democratic nominee, Sen. Barack Obama, for his lack of experience, but Palin is a neophyte in comparison; how will Republicans reconcile the criticism of Obama with the obligatory cheering for Palin?

Most people would acknowledge that, regardless of her charm and good intentions, Palin is not ready for the top job. McCain seems to have put his political interests ahead of the nation's when he created the possibility that she might fill it."

Alaskans are in Disbelief!

From the Republican State Senate President Lyda Green:
"She's not prepared to be governor. How can she be prepared to be vice president or president?" said Green, a Republican from Palin's hometown of Wasilla. "Look at what she's done to this state. What would she do to the nation?"
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The Obama Campaign should get ads up NOW with quotes like these and others from REPUBLICANS in Alaska who say Palin is NOT QUALIFIED to be VP or President! It would be a major mistake for the Obama Campaign to use kid gloves because Palin is a woman! She is not qualified! That must be drilled into the public's mind NOW!

The Republicans are hoping that Obama and Biden will be too afraid to attack Palin because she is a woman. If they DON'T attack here (the way the GOP attacked Obama and Biden) the Democrats will LOOSE this election!!

Pam Spaulding (Pams Houseblend) Agrees: The Obama/Biden Campaign MUST ATTACK Sarah Palin!

Even Presidential Scholars Question Palin's Qualifications

Presidential scholars say she appears to be the least experienced, least credentialed person to join a major-party ticket in the modern era.

So unconventional was McCain’s choice that it left students of the presidency literally “stunned,” in the words of Joel Goldstein, a St. Louis University law professor and scholar of the vice presidency. “Being governor of a small state for less than two years is not consistent with the normal criteria for determining who’s of presidential caliber,” said Goldstein.

“I think she is the most inexperienced person on a major-party ticket in modern history,” said presidential historian Matthew Dallek.

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From Moveon.org
Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:

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

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

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

Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.4

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

She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.6
How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position.7


This is information the American people need to see. Please take a moment to forward this email to your friends and family.

We also asked Alaska MoveOn members what the rest of us should know about their governor. The response was striking. Here's a sample:

She is really just a mayor from a small town outside Anchorage who has been a governor for only 1.5 years, and has ZERO national and international experience. I shudder to think that she could be the person taking that 3AM call on the White House hotline, and the one who could potentially be charged with leading the US in the volatile international scene that exists today. —Rose M., Fairbanks, AK

She is VERY, VERY conservative, and far from perfect. She's a hunter and fisherwoman, but votes against the environment again and again. She ran on ethics reform, but is currently under investigation for several charges involving hiring and firing of state officials. She has NO experience beyond Alaska. —Christine B., Denali Park, AK

As an Alaskan and a feminist, I am beyond words at this announcement. Palin is not a feminist, and she is not the reformer she claims to be. —Karen L., Anchorage, AK

Alaskans, collectively, are just as stunned as the rest of the nation. She is doing well running our State, but is totally inexperienced on the national level, and very much unequipped to run the nation, if it came to that. She is as far right as one can get, which has already been communicated on the news. In our office of thirty employees (dems, republicans, and nonpartisans), not one person feels she is ready for the V.P. position.—Sherry C., Anchorage, AK

She's vehemently anti-choice and doesn't care about protecting our natural resources, even though she has worked as a fisherman. McCain chose her to pick up the Hillary voters, but Palin is no Hillary. —Marina L., Juneau, AK

I think she's far too inexperienced to be in this position. I'm all for a woman in the White House, but not one who hasn't done anything to deserve it. There are far many other women who have worked their way up and have much more experience that would have been better choices. This is a patronizing decision on John McCain's part- and insulting to females everywhere that he would assume he'll get our vote by putting "A Woman" in that position.—Jennifer M., Anchorage, AK

So Governor Palin is a staunch anti-choice religious conservative. She's a global warming denier who shares John McCain's commitment to Big Oil. And she's dramatically inexperienced.

In picking Sarah Palin, John McCain has made the religious right very happy. And he's made a very dangerous decision for our country.


For MORE on Sarah Palin, visit the Huffington Post's Growing Palin Page!

Friday, August 29, 2008

McCain Goes for the Dingbat Vote!



John McCain has picked Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin for his VP Running Mate

A marriage equality opponent, Palin supported the 1998 amendment to Alaska's constitution banning marriage between people of the same sex. During her 2006 campaign, Palin said she had gay friends and was "not out to judge anyone" despite her support of the amendment.

"America may not know much about Sarah Palin," said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solomonese, "but based on what our community has seen of her, we know enough."

"Signing this bill would be in direct violation of my oath of office," Palin said in December of 2006, vetoing legislation that would have denied same-sex partners of gay state employees equal health and retiree benefits. The bill was written to counter the state Supreme Court's ruling that denying such benefits violated citizens' rights to equal protection under the Constitution. Palin maintained support of a constitutional amendment to the same effect of the legislation she vetoed if there was public approval.

"When you can't even support giving our community the rights to health insurance and pension benefits," Solomonese added, "it's a frightening window into where she stands on equality."

The 44-year-old conservative is the second female Vice Presidential candidate running on a major party ticket. Palin's political career began in 1992. She served two terms on the Wasilla, Alaska City Council before being elected mayor in 1996. Following an unsuccessful run for Lieutenant Governor in 2002, she defeated incumbent Republican Governor Frank Murkowski in the primary, and former Democratic governor Tony Knowles in the 2006 general election for her current post.

"Gov. Palin is an inclusive Republican who will help Sen. McCain appeal to gay and lesbian voters," said Log Cabin Republicans President Patrick Sammon. "She's a mainstream Republican who will unite the Party and serve John McCain well as Vice President."
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Can you believe the (Gay) Log Cabin Republicans actually claim Sarah Palin is an "inclusive Republican" like John McCain?

Here's The Anti-Gay Record of Gov. Sarah Palin (From National Stonewall Democrats)

The Contrast Between the Obama/Biden Democratic Ticket and the McCain/Palin Republican Anti-Gay Record

And talk about "false consciousness", can you believe the "feminist" Tennessee Guerilla Women actually cheer McCain's choice of an ANTI-CHOICE, ANTI-GAY, CONSERVATIVE RELIGIOUS FANATIC, who has been condemned by every feminist pro-choice women's group? Is this what Air America's Rachel Maddow meant by "post-rational" on MSNBC???

I guess McCain is going for the "post-rational" DINGBAT vote!

More:
Pam's House Blend

National Organization for Women

NARAL: Selection of Anti-Choice Palin Shows How Extreme McCain Presidency will Be

This has got to be the worst choice for V.P. since Dan Quayle! At least he had SOME national political expericence!
BAD JUDGMENT from John McCain already!
This is SCARY!

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Obama Delivers Knock-Out



After a weak start to the Democratic Convention, Barack Obama picked up where Bill Clinton left off and delivered one of the greatest political speeches I've ever heard before 84,000 people in Denver! This is what we've been waiting for--A Democrat who will stand up and FIGHT for us!

We haven't had a Democratic presidential nominee who took it to his Republican opponent like this in a while (since Bill Clinton!), but I think we have a winner in Obama!

I wasn't too impressed with the DNC the first few days, but I think it ended with a BANG (literally) in Denver and I think McCain and the GOP are starting to shake in their boots again...

Obama is not a radical socialist like me, but he will bring much needed change to this country and get it back in the right direction, but we should learn from Bill Clinton's election that the election is only the beginning. WE THE PEOPLE must get politically active, engaged and organized. We will have to work hard to elect him and even harder to keep him going in the right direction. Our history teaches us that political leaders follow the people and THE PEOPLE have to start leading!

So I just want to follow up my prior posts which were downers, with this one to say, Barack Obama has given me HOPE tonight!

Let's get Obama elected and then get on with the really hard work..

Obama Includes Gays and Lesbians in Nomination Speech!

Obama Makes Gay History

Obama's Speech

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Obama-Biden Accept Nomination/DNC Pulling Punches



Barack Obama made history tonight as the first African-American presidential nominee by a major political party.
Joe Biden was also formally nominated. Biden and Bill Clinton gave good speeches finally taking on John McCain, but I don't think the Democratic convention has effectively made the case against John McCain. Too many punches have been pulled, and the GOP will not be so kind next week. This was the last chance the Democrats had to define John McCain, and they have failed so far. There should have been more speeches attacking McCain/Bush/Cheney (like Dennis Kucinich who was censored) and fewer dull speeches like Mark Warner's "Keynote Speech" which put the convention to sleep.

While the focus of the convention has been on Bill and Hillary Clinton supporting Obama, John McCain is now tied with Barack Obama in national polls. While there was formal unity at the convention, a significant number (25-30%) of Hillary supporters say they will not vote for Barack Obama.

I don't expect much of a bounce out of this convention. The Republican convention will continue to tear down Barack Obama and emphasize John McCain as a P.O.W. war hero, and a "maverick." McCain will probably get a significant bounce out of the Republican convention.

I hate to be a party pooper, but a few good speeches are not going to defeat John McCain.

I'm sure Obama will deliver a great speech tomorrow, but he is already being viciously attacked for the staging of that speech by the Republicans and the anti-Obama Clintonistas who do not support Hillary Clinton's call for "party unity."

I suspect that the Republican machine is behind most of the "anti-Obama" Clintonista nonsense, and is using them to divide and weaken the Democratic Party. Part of the blame lies with the vicious campaign Hillary ran against Barack Obama which did question Barack Obama's fitness to be "commander-in-chief". Don't forget that every major attack the McCain campaign has made against Barack Obama (from Rev. Wright to the "terrorist" Ayers, to raising questions about Obama's patriotism and religion) started in the Clinton campaign! (Evidently, Hillary Clinton convinced about 25% of her supporters that Obama is not fit to be President.) In fact, Hillary Clinton made it easy for the McCain campaign to just cut and paste her own ads against Obama.

Bill & Hillary partly atoned for their sins with their great speeches, but it may be too late to repair the damage they caused to Barack Obama.

Lesbian Pioneer Del Martin Dies



Lesbian Pioneer Del Martin Dies at 87

A great loss for the LGBT community, but Del Martin lived a long life and helped create the modern LGBT movement.
She earned her wings.. She and her partner Phyllis Lyon were the first gay couple to marry in California.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Hillary Hits a Home Run!



If you have read this blog, you know I'm not a big fan of Hillary Clinton, but she earned my respect tonight! She gave the next best speech (after Kucinich!) and finally, FINALLY, went after John McCain!
I think she gave her supporters the best reason NOT to vote for John McCain, and to vote FOR Barack Obama... her campaign was not about HER, it was about health care, women's rights, the middle class, workers rights, gay rights..
If you care about these issue, if you supported Hillary Clinton's campaign, you MUST vote for Obama!
Any "Hillary supporter" who votes for John McCain is spitting in the fact of HILLARY CLINTON!

As a critic of the Clintons, I say bravo!
I can almost forgive her for all those vicious, nasty attack ads she handed to John McCain, and which inspired so much hatred for Barack Obama among her followers.

Reactions to Hillary Clinton's Speech

Kucinich: WAKE UP AMERICA!

Mark Warner's "Keynote" address was a dud! Who put the Democratic Convention together?? Is anyone going to ATTACK John McCain?

This should have been the "Keynote" address, Here's Dennis Kucinich giving the best speech at the DNC so far.. WAKE UP AMERICA!



And Wake Up Democratic Party!

"Post-Rational" Clintonistas Make Fools of Themselves at DNC



Anti-Obama Clinton PUMAs ("Party Unity My Ass") making asses of themselves as the DNC!

And the Clintonista in the John McCain ad, Debra Bartoshevich, was unaware that John McCain is "pro-life" and wants to overturn Roe v. Wade!

This an an example of what Air America's Rachel Maddow calls the "post-rational" Clintonistas! What idiots!

Apparently, many of the Clinton supporters who now support John McCain seem ignorant of John McCain's actual positions!

Here's John McCain proclaiming his pro-life position:



Angry Clinton Supporters Toast McCain, Roast Obama

Do these ding bats not realize they are being USED by the Republican Party????

Hopefully Hillary Clinton will talk some sense into these idiots tonight..

An Inclusive DNC



It was An Inclusive First Day at the Democratic National Convention
Well-known LGBT supporter Sen. Edward M. Kennedy brimmed with emotion as he addressed the Democratic National Convention on its opening night Monday in Denver. "Barack Obama will close the book on the old politics of race and gender and group against group and straight against gay."

Sen. Kennedy made a surprise appearance and gave what may be his last rousing speech at the DNC. He passed the torch to Barack Obama!

Monday, August 25, 2008

Will the Clintonistas Elect John McCain and Destroy the Democratic Party?

The Democratic National Convention starts today, and the Clintonites are working to destroy the Party.

While Bill and Hillary are trying to play nice and support Obama, the WINNER of the Democratic primary, they don't seem too enthusiastic, and Bill is now mad because he doesn't like the topic he was assigned at the DNC. Obama has bent over backwards to appease Bill and Hillary, even going along with her rollcall vote and major speech slot, but that is not enough for the Clintonites.

Now instead of focusing on uniting behind Barack Obama to defeat John McCain and the Republican Right, the Clintonites have stolen the media's attention away from Obama and back on the Clintons and what Obama has to do to please them.

The truth is, that Bill (& Hillary) Clinton nearly destroyed the Democratic Party in the 1990s. They brought us Newt Gingrich and the "Contract with America," NAFTA, "Defense of Marriage Act", "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", and don't forget the very anti-women and anti-child "Welfare Reform", and the failed attempt at national healthcare that most experts, on the left and the right, blame on Hillary Clinton. The Democrats lost Congress and state offices across the country.

Then Bill disgraced the White House with that slut and lied to the country and got impeached.

If it wasn't for Bill Clinton's disgraceful behavior, Al Gore would probably have been elected President instead of George W. Bush!

So I've had it with Bill and Hillary Clinton and their bitter followers who care more about the Clintons than the Democratic Party or the country! Obama should not have to kiss Bill Clinton's fat ass to get the support of the Clintonites.

A third of Hillary supporters say they will vote for John McCain, and Clintonistas are in campaign ads for John McCain urging people to vote for "the Maverick" John McCain!
If these ding-bats think electing John McCain will help elect Hillary clinton in 2012, they have another thing coming! I will not vote for Hillary Clinton, and I doubt many Obama supporters will either.

UPDATE: Air America's Rachel Maddow just nailed the Clintonistas on MSNBC: They are "post-rational" !!!

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Will McCain Pick Hillary Clinton?



The McCain Campaign has released another ad responding to Obama's VP pick Joe Biden, this time using Hillary Clinton's despicable attacks against Barack Obama and claiming she was "snubbed" for "telling the truth." Actually she was not a serious consideration because of these negative attacks on Obama, and for endorsing McCain for "Commander-in-Chief" over her Democratic primary opponent Barack Obama. Is Obama supposed to reward her for her nasty campaign against him that may end up costing him the presidendency.

Maybe McCain has joined the Clintonista Resistance !

If he doesn't pick Joe Lieberman, maybe McCain will pick his other political partner, Hillary Clinton!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Obama Picks Biden



Obama has picked Joe Biden

A good choice, but a mixed bag.

Biden is not as progressive as I would like, but he's better than most of the other candidates being considered.
Thank goodness he didn't pick Bayh, Kaine or Hillary Clinton!
Of course, the Clintonista Resistance is not happy their princess was "SNUBBED"!
It's up to them now to support the liberal, pro-choice, Democratic candidate or the anti-choice, anti-gay, right-wing Republican candidate.
Unfortunately, the Clintonistas are so bitter they may help elect John McCain!
They think Obama cannot win without Clinton, but I can't wait for them to be proven wrong!

Biden Has a good record on LGBT issues.
Stonewall Democrats: The Biden Record on LGLBT Issues

He also has a good record on women's issues, and has sponsored or supported several important bills to help women, including the Equal Rights Amendment! (Why do the Clintonista Guerilla Women call him a sexist?)

Biden has a strong background in foreign affairs and can take on McCain and his VP (Romney).

Unfortunaely, Biden was a strong supporter of the illegal Iraq War (but later repented), and he has been a lap dog for the credit card industry and supported the horrible anti-consumer bankruptcy bill.

More on Joe Biden

A Mixed Bag for Progressives
Joe Biden's Record

Thursday, August 21, 2008

The REAL McCain: McCain's 7 Mansions

Here's another great video from Brave New Films on John McCain's SEVEN mansions!



See The Real McCain

Obama Fights Back!

Here's what we needed!
Obama attacks McCain on his 7 Houses



John McCain Not Sure How Many Houses He Owns

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

McCain Gaining on Obama

Recent polls are not looking good for Barack Obama.

According to a new Reuters/Zogby Poll, McCain Takes 5-Point Lead Over Obama

This poll may be an outlier, most other polls still show Obama leading McCain, but only by a few points.

John McCain's attacks on Obama, and the negative ads and anti-Obama campaigns, are taking a heavy toll.
It is time for Obama to FIGHT BACK!
Enough of the polite, nice guy stuff. Politics has become a fighting match. You must ATTACK your opponent!
Obama must STOP prefacing every remark by praising John McCain. The Obama campaign must do a better job of defining John McCain as another career politician who will do or say anything to win. He is changing his positions. He does NOT have more experience or better judgment on foreign affairs, and is nothing more than Bush II on domestic issues.
Obama started punching back after returning from his vacation. But it is critical to take this fight to John McCain.
Don't be another Dukkakis or John Kerry Barack! FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT!

Another problem for Obama are the Clintonista Resistance who still want Hillary Clinton to be the nominee and refuse to support Obama. Like the Clinton campaign, these Clintonistas agree with most of the right-wing attacks on Obama-- they started them! The reason Obama is struggling to stay ahead in the polls is because he has been getting attacked by the Clinton Campaign (remember Hillary Clinton basically argued that Obama was unqualified to be Commander-in-Chief and praised John McCain for being more qualified!), the Republicans, John McCain and the right-wing anti-Obama forces. The Clintonistas continue to side with John McCain and the GOP against Obama! If Obama loses, it will be because of the bitter Clintonistas who prefer the anti-choice, anti-gay, conservative Republican over the black, male, feminist, liberal Democrat!

(I wish the racist Obama-hating Clintonistas who accuse Obama of sexist attacks on Hillary Clinton would give ONE example of Barack Obama ever making a sexist attack on Clinton! He never did!)

Obama is about to make an important decision that may decide this election in the next few days--picking a V.P running mate. The VP rumours are not encouraging!
Evan Bayh? A conservative war hawk who supported the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq?
Tim Kaine? Another conservative, PRO-LIFE, Democrat? You can kiss the Hillary women good-bye for sure!
That leaves Joe Biden or Bill Richardson, two moderate/liberal Democrats who are pro-choice and support gay rights.
I'd prefer Al Gore, or even Hillary Clinton over any of them, but if Obama picks Bayh or Kaine he can kiss the election goodbye.
He would loose the progressive base of the Democratic Party.
Obama can turn this around and get back on track by (a) picking a liberal candidate like Biden or Richardson and (b) attacking John McCain on foreign policy as well as domestic issues, like energy, women's rights, etc.

Obama, we're waiting for you to CHANGE now!

NBC/WSJ Poll: McCain Halves Obama's Lead (Obama 45% McCain 42%)

CNN Poll of Polls: Obama's Lead Evaporates (Obama 45%, McCain 44%)

Pollster.com: Obama Still Ahead in Electoral College (State Polls) (260 Obama, 191 McCain, 270 needed to win)

Note to Clintonistas: Nearly half (49%) of voters still stay they do NOT want Hillary Clinton to be President!

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Rachel Maddow Gets Her Own MSNBC Show!!



Rachel Maddow to Replace Dan Abrams on MSNBC

Finally, MSNBC is giving Air America's brilliant progressive lesbian Rachel Maddow her own TV show! Now we can watch and listen to Rachel every day!

(Rachel, if you read this, I Love You!)

See:
Rachel Maddow Online

Maddow Fan Site

Mad for Rachel Maddow

McCain's Gay Poll Numbers Worse than Bush

John McCain has less LGBT support than George Bush

Gay voters overwhelmingly support Senator Obama over Senator McCain in the presidential election according to results of a Harris Interactive poll released this morning, it is also predicted that McCain will garner less of the LGBT vote than President Bush did in 2000 and 2004.

68 percent of those polled between August 1 and 7 prefer Obama. 10 percent favor McCain, while three percent prefer the Green Party's Ralph Nader and one percent back Libertarian candidate and Georgia Congressman Bob Barr. Three percent chose "Other," while 15 percent remain undecided.

In the 2000 and 2004 elections, Bush got 23 percent of the vote among gays, lesbians and bisexuals. In contrast, President Clinton had 66 percent of the gay vote in 1996.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Obama V. McCain at Saddleback Church



I couldn't watch the forum at Rick Warren's Saddleback church with Obama and McCain pandering to the Christianists.
I'm tired of hearing Democrats and Republicans try to appeal to religious bigotry by emphasizing that marriage is only for heterosexuals, and I'm tired of hearing the same meme on abortion and other social issues.

You can read more about the forum and McCain and Obama's answers to questions about marriage and abortion on other progressive blogs.
Start here at Towleroad

I wish someone would ask these candidates if they will defend he separation of church and state and keep their religious views out of public policy!

Join Freedom From Religion!

Saturday, August 16, 2008

Stop Becky Ruppe!



Here’s an example of the Tennessee “Democrats” that need to be ran out of the state!
BECKY RUPPE

Becky Ruppe is a conservative "Democrat" running for the TN State Senate in East Tennessee. Her webiste and web ads (including on the TN Democratic Party website) emphasize her opposition to gay rights and her support of “Christian Values”!

Why are candidates like this, who oppose the Democratic Party’s basic principles of inclusion and equality for all Americans, tolerated in the TN Democratic Party?

Let’s Stop this bigot from being elected!
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Here’s my letter to Becky Ruppe: (email: BeckyRuppe@beckyruppe.com)
August 16, 2008

Dear Becky Ruppe:

As a proud gay Democrat, I’m embarrassed that you call yourself a Democrat! If you read the Democratic Party’s platform, Democrats support EQUAL RIGHTS for all American citizens, including gays and lesbians. The DNC and Democratic leaders across the country, including our Presidential nominee Barack Obama, defend the rights and dignity of gay Americans from the anti-gay, theocratic Christian Right.

Our Constitutional rights are NOT based on “Christian Values,” and this is NOT a “Christian” country. We have a secular constitution that prohibits the “establishment” of religion or religious tests for politicians or citizens.

I will be working with the Stonewall Democrats, DNC and other progressive Democrats to keep right-wing conservative “Democrats” like you out office!

Jim Maynard
Memphis, TN
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See:
Sean Braisted: Ruppe "Courage" Ad

Grand Divisions: Gratuitous Jab At Marriage Equality

UPDATE: In response to those who argue that Becky Ruppe is the "lesser of two evils" I have this to say in the comments:

Sorry, I don't buy this "lesser of two evils" political strategy. I'd rather a GOP with these right-wing views win the election than have a Democrat "win" by attacking gays and lesbians and undermining the constitutional separation between church and state.
Let the GOP win on these issues. The Democratic Party needs to stop rewarding candidates who take these right-wing views. Sometimes it is better to loose an election standing for principles rather than win by sacrificing those principles!

Friday, August 15, 2008

John McCain Says He'd Consider a Pro-Choice VP, but NOT a Pro-gay One!



Let's see how the Gay (Uncle Tom) Log Cabin Republicans Spin this one..

McCain: I'll Take a pro-choice VP, but not a pro-gay one

John McCain was asked if he'd rule out a pro-choice V.P. like Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman. He said he would not rule out Tom Ridge who is pro-choice, but he would have a problem with a pro-gay candidate like NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg!


He said, "Tom Ridge is one of the great leaders and he happens to be pro-choice. And I don't think that that would necessarily rule Tom Ridge out."
"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."

So pro-choice is OK, but pro-gay is NOT???

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Killed by Gunman

Arkansas Democratic Party Chairman Bill Gwatney Killed in Shooting

Is it another right-wing, liberal hating terrorist acting out the wishes of right-wing talk radio, or just another bitter unemployed white man who blames Democrats for Republican economic policies that are destroying the working class??

Two's a Trend

The Tragic Arkansas Shooting and Conservative Hate Speech

Owner of Gay Sex Site Manhunt Donates to McCain



McCain Takes $2300 from Owner of Gay Sex Site Manhunt

Manhunt co-founder Jonathan Crutchley has donated the personal maximum of $2300 to John McCain's presidential campaign.

Crutchley responds: "Yes, my contribution to John McCain's campaign was listed on the Huffington Post. I believe John McCain will be a better commander-in-chief than Obama, who also opposes gay marriage. If we have an experienced, seasoned person defending the country in this dangerous age, we will be able to argue about the gay agenda later. I'm a Massachusetts Republican, which is about the same as being an Alabama Democrat. But, don't call me a "liberal," that's an insult."

Well Mr. Crutchley, you are an insult to gay Americans. It is Uncle Tom Republicans like yourself who helped elect George W. Bush and are responsible for the disastrous 8 years of the worst President in modern U.S. history, WHO FAILED TO DEFEND THE U.S. AGAINST A TERRORIST ATTACK HE WAS WARNED ABOUT REPEATEDLY! If John McCain is a decent human being, he will be returning your check very soon, when he realizes he accepted $2,300 from a sleaze bag like you.

John McCain: The War Candidate

Here's another great video on John McCain, too bad it's not from the Obama Campaign!

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

John McCain: The ONE for Lobbyists!

Why can't the Obama campaign put out ads like this??

Monday, August 11, 2008

Clinton Campaign Memos: Paint Obama as Un-American

The Penn Memos: Advocate Brutally Negative Campaign Against Obama

John Green at The Atlantic has released internal campaign memos from the Hillary Clinton campaign that confirm what many of us have been saying all along: the Clinton campaign laid out a vicious negative campaign against Barack Obama. If those negative John McCain ads against Obama sound familiar to you, they come from the Hillary Clinton campaign book!

The memos include these revelations from the campaign strategy of Mark Penn, Clinton's campaign manager:

* Penn proposed targeting Obama's lack of American roots -- but also said the campaign could never do this publicly. Early accounts of Green's piece note a key revelation: That in a memo on March 19, 2007, Penn explicitly proposed drawing attention to what he called (with a rather jarring oxymoron) a "very strong weakness" for Obama: "His roots to basic American values and culture are at best limited."

But the memo has something that makes this even better: Penn said they'd never publicly do this. "We are never going to say anything about his background -- we have to show the value of ours," he wrote, adding: "I cannot imagine America electing a president during a time of war who is not at his center fundamentally American in his thinking and in his values."

* As early as December of 2007, Penn was advocating a brutally negative campaign against Obama and even floated the idea of painting him as completely unelectable, a position the Hillary campaign was unwilling to embrace publicly. In a memo on December 30th 2007, on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, Penn wrote that if Obama came out of those contests "riding high," then "we will have to take him down."

One message suggested by Penn: That Obama "took a series of positions that make him unelectable," such as supporting "letting up to twenty-thousand drug dealers out of jail." During a campaign conference call with reporters during the primaries, Penn openly suggested that Obama couldn't win a general election, but the Hillary campaign rapidly distanced itself from Penn's claim. Turns out he was pushing hard for this to be the campaign's position months earlier.

* Penn pressed for aggressive "vetting" of Wright and said that the issue should be raised "without hesitation." As earlier accounts of Green's piece note, in a memo on March 30, 2008, Penn asked: "Won't a single tape of Wright going off on America with Obama sitting there be a game ender?"

In the memo, Penn also wrote that "Obama must be vetted on Wright," adding: "If you believe that serious issues need to be raised then we have to raise them without continual hesitation and we should be pushing the envelope."

You will find these attacks echoed on anti-Obama Hillary Clinton Sites
The Clintonistas celebrate the polls showing a closer than expected race between Obama and John McCain, hoping Obama loses so they can say "told you so". They fail to realize that Obama is doing pretty well considering he has not only been battling McCain and the Republican party, but also the Clinton campaign and the Obama-hating Hillary nuts it spawned.

Former Top Clinton Aid (Mark Penn) Praises McCain Ads

Saturday, August 09, 2008

The John Edwards Affair/What About John McCain's Affairs?



Huffington Post lays it all out: The Anatomy of the Edwards Affair

I wanted to avoid talking about his, but as a former Edwards supporter all I can say is what a relief he wasn't the Democratic presidential nominee! (Guess he won't be V.P either.) What is wrong with "intelligent" heterosexual politicians who sacrifice their political careers, and their own families, just for a moment of sexual satisfaction? Is it in men's nature? Normally I think the private lives of politicians should be off the table, but it does say something about a lack of judgment and the two faces of some politicians. And it seems suspicious that the object of Edwards affection, Rielle Hunter, would be paid $114,000 to make videos for the campaign even though she had no experience in video production.

Not only did John Edwards LIE about the affair while running for the Democratic presidential nomination, evidently he continues to lie about it:
John Edwards' False Assertion During the ABC Interview

I'm glad he didn't win the nomination! What a mess!

I guess we should respect Elizabeth Edwards Statement on the Affair and reject tabloid journalism publicizing a private family tragedy.

Of course the media have been salivating all over this story. When will they stop ignoring the multiple adulterous affairs of John McCain? We haven't heard much more about Vicki Iseman.

Media Salivate Over Edwards Affair; Shrug Shoulders Over McCain's Infidelity

Friday, August 08, 2008

Anthrax Suspect Supported Anti-Gay Group AFA

From Democracy Now

Anthrax Suspect Supported Anti-Gay Group

More details have been revealed about Bruce Ivins, the government scientist who committed suicide last week after learning he would be charged in the 2001 Anthrax mailings. FBI documents show Ivins was a strong supporter of the anti-gay rights group American Family Association. Ivins gave the AFA eleven donations over a three-year period.

For more on the Anthrax Investigation see:
Democracy Now: Questions Raised Over Whether Government is Framing Dead Army Scientist for 2001 Attacks

Robert Scheer, The Nation: Anthrax Killer: The Enemy Was us

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Bush/CIA Forged Iraqi Letter



Add FORGERY to the list of impeachable crimes committed by George Bush and Dick Cheney!

In his new book: The Way of the World, Pulitzer Prize-winner Ron Suskind asserts that the Bush White House ordered the CIA to forge a letter from Saddam Hussein’s Chief of Intelligence, Tahir Jalil Habbush, stating that alleged September 11 hijacker, Mohamed Atta, had received his training in Iraq.

The Bush White House and the CIA were getting secret, direct reports from Saddam’s Chief of Intelligence in January 2003 that stated that Iraq had no nuclear weapons program since 1991. When the U.S. invasion started in March 2003, the Bush administration “resettled” the Iraqi Intelligence Chief in Jordan and paid him $5 million dollars in what could be considered “hush money.”

After the Joseph Wilson and Valerie Plame expose in July 2003, that proved that Bush and Cheney were trying to destroy those who were uncovering their lies about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and so-called links to the September 11 attacks, a new plot was hatched to cover-up Bush’s bold-faced lies.

The Forged Iraqi Letter: What Just Happened?
by Ron Suskind

What just happened? Evidence. A secret that has been judiciously kept for five years just spilled out. All of what follows is new, never reported in any way:

The Iraq Intelligence Chief, Tahir Jalil Habbush — a man still carrying with $1 million reward for capture, the Jack of Diamonds in Bush’s famous deck of wanted men — has been America’s secret source on Iraq. Starting in January of 2003, with Blair and Bush watching, his secret reports began to flow to officials on both sides of the Atlantic, saying that there were no WMD and that Hussein was acting so odd because of fear that the Iranians would find out he was a toothless tiger. The U.S. deep-sixed the intelligence report in February, “resettled” Habbush to a safe house in Jordan during the invasion and then paid him $5 million in what could only be considered hush money.

In the fall of 2003, after the world learned there were no WMD — as Habbush had foretold — the White House ordered the CIA to carry out a deception. The mission: create a handwritten letter, dated July, 2001, from Habbush to Saddam saying that Atta trained in Iraq before the attacks and the Saddam was buying yellow cake for Niger with help from a “small team from the al Qaeda organization.”

The mission was carried out, the letter was created, popped up in Baghdad, and roiled the global newcycles in December, 2003 (conning even venerable journalists with Tom Brokaw). The mission is a statutory violation of the charter of CIA, and amendments added in 1991, prohibiting CIA from conduction disinformation campaigns on U.S. soil.

So, here we go again: the administration full attack mode, calling me names, George Tenet is claiming he doesn’t remember any such thing — just like he couldn’t remember “slam dunk” — and reporters are scratching their heads. Everything in the book is on the record. Many sources. And so, we watch and wait….

Pulitzer Prize-winner Ron Suskind is the author of The Way of the World. See http://www.ronsuskind.com

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

Nikki Tinker Runs Racist Ad Against Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN 09)



TPM says this brutal new attack ad by Nikki Tinker against liberal TN Rep. Steve Cohen "might be the nastiest, more race-baiting ad of the entire election cycle"

Nasty Attack Ad Hits Jewish Dem Congressman for Visiting "Our Churches"

This brutal new attack ad from House candidate Nikki Tinker, who is challenging liberal Tennessee Rep. Steven Cohen in tomorrow's Democratic primary, just might be the nastiest, most race-baiting (and Jew-baiting) ad of the entire cycle.

Nikki Tinker race baits Steve Cohen. @ Yahoo! Video

"While he's in our churches, clapping his hands and tapping his feet ... he's the only senator who thought our kids shouldn't be allowed to pray in school," the announcer says, referring to an old vote against school prayer from when Cohen was a state senator. And remember, this is coming from a Democrat.

(The Ad has Been Taken Down by the Tinker Campaign)

This follows another ad that tried to link Rep. Steve Cohen to the Ku Klux Klan:



This ad got the following reply from the Memphis Commercial Appeal:
Tinker Ad Lowers Bar in the 9th

See Also on Bilerco: Why is EMILY'S LIST Endorsing Anti-Semitism, Racism and Homophobia?

Re-Elect Rep. Steve Cohen August 7 in the TN 9th District primary!

UPDATE: Niki Tinker just made Keith Olbermann's "Worst Person in the World" on MSNBC's "Countdown" !

UPDATE: Emily's List Condemns Tinker's Ads

UPDATE: Barack Obama Responds to Tinker Ads
Democratic Presidential Nominee Senator Barack Obama has just issued the following statement regarding the negative campaign ads issued by Nikki Tinker in her 9th District Congressional campaign against Congressman Steve Cohen:
“These incendiary and personal attacks have no place in our politics, and will do nothing to help the good people of Tennessee. It’s time to turn the page on a politics driven by negativity and division so that we can come together to lift up our communities and our country,” said Barack Obama.

UPDATE: Cohen Wins!

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

CDC Underestimates New HIV Cases by 40%

CDC Underestimates New HIV Cases by 40%: About 56,000 cases, up from previous estimates of 40,000 cases.
Judging by the new calculations, officials believe annual HIV infections have been hovering around 55,000 for several years.

"This is the most reliable estimate we've had since the beginning of the epidemic," said Dr. Julie Gerberding, the CDC's director. She said other countries may adopt the agency's methodology.

According to current estimates, around 1.1 million Americans are living with the AIDS virus. Officials plan to update that number with the new calculations but don't think it will change dramatically, a CDC spokeswoman said.

The new infection estimate is based on a blood test that for the first time can tell how recently an HIV infection occurred.

Past tests could detect only the presence of HIV, so determining which year an infection took place was guesswork — guesswork upon which the old 40,000 estimate was based.

The new estimate relies on blood tests from 22 states where health officials have been using a new HIV testing method that can distinguish infections that occurred within the past five months from those that were older.

The improved science will allow more real-time monitoring of HIV infections. Now, CDC officials say, the estimate will likely be updated every year.

Yearly estimates allow better recognition of trends in the U.S. epidemic. For example, the new report found that infections are falling among heterosexuals and injection drug users.

Some experts celebrated that finding, saying it's a tribute to prevention efforts, including nearly 200 syringe exchange programs now operating in 36 states despite a federal ban on funding for such projects.

But they also lamented the CDC's finding that infections continue to increase in gay and bisexual men, who accounted for more than half of HIV infections in 2006. Also, more than a third of those with HIV are younger than 30.

Some advocates say that suggests a need for more prevention efforts, particularly targeting younger gay and bisexual men.

For years, AIDS was considered a terrifying death sentence, and since 1981, more than half a million Americans have died. But medicines that became available in the 1990s turned it into a manageable chronic condition for many Americans, and attention shifted to Africa and other parts of the world.

Last week, President Bush signed a $48 billion global AIDS bill to continue a program that he called "the largest commitment by any nation to combat a single disease in human history."

But some advocates complain that CDC's annual spending on HIV prevention in the United States has been held to roughly $700 million since 2001, while costs have risen. (That's about 3 percent of what the federal government spends on AIDS; much of the rest is on medicines, health care and research.)

The new estimate is "evidence of a failure by government and society to do what it takes to control the epidemic," said Julie Davids, executive director of the Community HIV/AIDS Mobilization Project.

Whether more funding comes or not, the revised estimate clearly is a "wake-up call to scale things up," said Dr. Kevin Fenton, who oversees CDC's prevention efforts for HIV/AIDS.

Some said more attention needs to focus on prevention among blacks, who account for nearly half of annual HIV infections, according to the new CDC report.

A recent report by the Black AIDS Institute concluded that if black Americans were their own nation, they would rank 16th in the world in the number of people living with HIV.

"We have been inadequately funding this epidemic all along. We need to step it up," said former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher, who is now an administrator at Atlanta's Morehouse School of Medicine.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Obama/Bayh 08 ?



Bill Browning on Bilerico: Obama will name Bayh his VP Choice on Wednesday

More over on Queerty

I wasn't thrilled about Bayh, but he may be a good choice:
He's moderate/liberal on social issues (89% HRC rating,"pro-gay", opposed the anti-gay Federal Marriage Amendment, supported adding Sexual Orientation to Hate Crimes), more mixed on Abortion rights.
He's more moderate/conservative on economic issues (fiscal conservative)

See Evan Bayh on the Issues

He may help Obama win Indiana and some other swing states, and calm some nervous white folks.

Sunday, August 03, 2008

Weekend Wrap Up

John McCain's negative Attack Ads have Paid Off!
Obama's 9 point lead in the Gallup Poll prior to July 26 has been erased. Obama and McCain are now tied at 44% in the Gallup Poll.

Obama is starting to look more and more like John Kerry. Kerry did not attack Bush aggressively and failed to respond swiftly to the "Swift Boat" attack ads. Obama is quickly running out of time to turn this around and win in November. It is looking more and more like John McCain will be the next President, because the Democratic Party just doesn't seem to know how to fight a national campaign anymore.

John Kerry was on Meet the Press Sunday with the despicable Joe LIEberman. Kerry did a fair job of responding to the Bush/McCain/Lieberman lies about the success of "The Surge," but he was too nice to the wessel sitting next to him. Lieberman basically confirmed that he will speak at the Republican convention to praise John McCain.

Why do the Democrats tolerate Joe Lieberman? He is a rat. He should be kicked out of the Democratic Senate caucus NOW!
He has been no help to the Democratic Party, and is causing great harm.

I predict the Democrats will win more seats in Congress and the Senate, they will no longer need LIEberman to keep the Senate. They will have Congress, but the Republicans will win the White House.

It looks like Obama Hating Clintonistas will get their wish--President John McCain! That should really be a boost to women's rights.

Friday, August 01, 2008

McCain Campaign Sinks Lower/Advice for Obama


New McCain Ads mock Obama, comparing him to Britany Spears, Paris Hilton, and Now Moses!

John McCain's campaign continues to follow the Hillary Clinton Campaign's playbook to mock Obama as "The One", a lite, inexperienced, uppidty black man. By accusing Obama of playing the "race card" (just as Hillary Clinton did!), McCain has successfully destracted the media and the public from real, serious issues like:

Jobless Rate Jumps to 4 Year High 5.7 Percent!

While McCain has been attacking Obama with negative ads, he has cut Obama's lead in national polls. Negative/Attack Ads Work! Democrats need to learn how to do them! You would think after the last few presidential elections, the Democrats would learn that they have to attack their Republican opponents!

Obama Must ATTACK John McCain, not with mud, but with the FACTS about McCain's flip-flopping record on the issues!

Apparently, Obama is not getting his money's worth from the highly paid "political consultants" and strategists, so here is some FREE campaign strategy and advice to the Obama campaign:

1. Quit praising John McCain! He's a Scumbag! You can't say that, but you can show his many recent gaffes and flip-flops in an effective ad, like the many videos on You Tube made by amateurs which are better than any of the expensive ads you have put out so far!

2. Define John McCain! Don't let them define you! Don't just react to the negative GOP attacks, go after John McCain!

3. Tell the truth about Iraq! The "surge" FAILED! McCain has gotten away with claiming the surge was a great success! Why haven't you made McCain's support of the Iraq invasion and occupation a central campaign issue? Don't let McCain and the GOP change the subject from the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq to "the surge"!

4. Don't compromise your progressive primary campaign positions by moving to the political "center" (right)! Wage a progressive campaign not a reactionary campaign! Stand up for social equality, social justice, the environment, and ending the U.S. occupation of Iraq! Don't embrace Republican issues and positions just to "win" the general election.

5. DON'T pick a boring conservative white male V.P. running mate (like Evan Bayh, Tim Kaine or Sam Nunn!)! Excite voters with a bold choice, like Al Gore, Wes Clark or Hillary Clinton.

6. Learn from the mistakes of Mondale, Dukakis and Kerry! You can't just Play nice! You must be tough and stay on the offensive. Don't be afraid to ATTACK your opponent.

UPDATE:
Well, the road to Democratic self-defeat has already begun. First it was caving in on FISA, now this:
Obams Shifts, May Support Offshore Drilling

See Also:
Barackis Dukakis ? McCain Slings from the Sewer While Obama Says Little

The Low-Road Warrior: Mudslinging will damage McCain's bran, but it may be the only way he can win