Pork, Excellent Sarah and the Red Lines

Written by: Eric Weis on Sep 5, 2008 2:09 PM EDT

Linked to groups: The Passaic County Green Party, Pequannock DFA, Passaic County DFA, BlueWaveNJ, DFA County Committee Project, NJ for Democracy

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Today, I learned that Wasilla AK has received about $1000 per capita in federal ear mark spending.  That is twice the average of the State of Alaska ($500 per person) and 50 times the national average.  Turns out Sarah Palin was truly excellent at getting the pork.  Wow, what an excellent maverick reformer!

Now that I know this, I am planning to move to Wasilla.  That’s where I can grab some of that good handout money which has been sucked out of my own income, you know, from those taxes the Republicans say are too high.  Well, I'm going up there to get my money back.

By the way, today's news...unemployment hits 6.1% (but the real value is about 7.5%, taking into account those who have simply stopped looking for work), home foreclosures are way up in August, the stock market has plunged 300 points again and the inflation rate is now over 5%.  Hey, it's the economy, stupid.  Deja vu all over again.

Would somebody, please, dump some memory pills into the water supply so that we don't lose our memories of the past eight (how about 27) years of Republican free-spending, tax-giveaway and deficit-busting budgets!   If the American people buy into Republicans being the agents of change - SHAME ON US!

Oh one more nice factoid.  Our national debt is now at $9.7 trillion and counting.  A trillion is hard to think about.  Bring it down to human level, and understand it as $27,000 in debt for every American alive today.  Or look at it historically - NOW AT A 50 YEAR HIGH. 

There is a great graph on this. You can find it at http://zfacts.com/p/318.html and it shows that national debt from post WW II to the present time.  The curve shows debt in decline (black lines) and growth (red lines).  Pay attention to the red lines.  The RED lines.  From the RED party.  Get it?  The Chinese sure do.

Get the graph and paste it onto every surface you can.  Let it be our memory pill.

- ArcticEric

Discuss

Evening Watercooler

Written by: DFA Community and you

DFA's home for a free form, open-ended discussion of what matters most to committed progressive activists.

Voter Registration & Absentee Ballot Information for All 50 States

Written by: Paul Roden on Sep 5, 2008 4:15 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Obama for Pennsylvania, Montco DFA, Upper Bucks for Democracy, DFA Night School, PA for Democracy, Philly for Change, Northeast Philadelphia for Democracy, Lower Bucks for Democracy

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Dear Fellow DFA Members:

If this has already been shared or made available, I appologize, but it is too important to not share it again.

For one central place to find out procedures, forms, and deadlines for voter registration and absentee voting for all 50 states, go to http://www.declareyourself.com  It takes you to the various state department of state voting/election offices.  The Department of the Census has a nifty county finder, which you will need to send your forms to the right county voter/election/clerk location.  The URl is http://quickfacts.census.gov/cgi-bin/qfd/lookup . Just type  in your Zip Code and viola, your county pops up.

New voters will most likely vote the way we want them, according to studies at Yale.  We have 30 days to register new voters in most states, especially battleground states.  If we register 6,000 voters a day and bring them to the polls in the key battlground states, we can win for Obama.

Don't forget the Neighborhood Volunteer Program of Democrats.org, where individuals can canvass their own neighborhood precinct or ward from the PC and phone.

All these little steps will help us win.

Best regards,

Paul Roden

Coordinator, Lower Bucks For Democracy

Member of Team 4.5 Bucks County for Obama

Discuss

Oh, McCain's Most Wondrous (Or Not So Much) Creation

Written by: Kate Drazner on Sep 5, 2008 12:46 PM EDT

Remember back when stories of John McCain's misogyny and chauvinism toward his wife (hint: there was a specific word used) surfaced, stirring questions about that alleged contemptuous streak of his which may or may not have the utmost respect for women? I just have to wonder how accurate those concerns were, given that his completely transparent tactic of choosing Sarah Palin as his running mate with the hopes of snatching up wayward, disillusioned Hillary Clinton supporters. I can't imagine that McCain would think women are all that smart if he thinks we would gaze upon a person with the same anatomical makeup but without a single regard for women's issues, and think “potato, po-tot-o.”

Once again, the GOP only takes pains to present a polished surface, but with absolutely no regard for what lies beneath. A little like the RNC's sticks-and-stones approach to swinging at Obama, with only a faint afterthought of “wait, don't we have a platform to promote?”

Discuss

Friday frights from Gerry

Written by: Gerry L on Sep 5, 2008 9:06 AM EDT

an hour late...and shorter than usual...under the weather today..

Friday~

***************round of articles about our domestic ‘issues’ ~ September 5th,  2008

=========================================

You might throw some palpable ‘scorn’ into the mix, too…IMO

The Resentment Strategy

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/opinion/05krugman.html?hp

=========================================

Rambo and the Mean Girl

The Republican Party convention in Minneapolis gave us two American film narratives in an attempt to shift the national political debate away from issues and accountability to personalities and fluffy ideals.
Former Reagan speech writer Peggy Noonan let the strategy slip in an unguarded open mike moment. Asked if Sarah Palin is the most qualified woman Republican the McCain camp could have found, Noonan exploded: "The most qualified? No! I think they went for this -- excuse me-- political bullshit about narratives --"

http://www.juancole.com/

=========================================

Read more

Discuss

Read Nathan Gonzalez' Post at Huffington Post

Written by: Susan Kopicki on Sep 5, 2008 8:00 AM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for America - Orange County

From Ken Arnold:

Ken

From The Huffington Post:

It's about Knowledge, Not Experience

There is a false argument being peddled by supporters of the McCain-Palin ticket lately; one that equates the experience of Sarah Palin, the hockey mom and former mayor of Wasilla, AK (population 7,500), with that of Barack Obama, the former state senator and twelve-year professor of constitutional law.

What the pundits and newscasters seem to miss is the obvious: that this isn't about experience, but about knowledge. Anyone who has read or viewed any in-depth interview with Barack Obama will readily admit that the man knows his stuff. Here are links to just a couple of such interviews on foreign policy. Judge for yourself.

Discuss

Jesus was a community organizer. Pontius Pilate was a Governor.

Written by: Wendy Sejour on Sep 4, 2008 6:47 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), DFA-Link Organizers, 2006 Training Academy Hosts, Florida DFA, Democracy for Florida, Coral Park Young Democrats, Progressive Businesses and Professionals for America, Florida Trained Activists, Netroots Activism!, Training Academy Alumni, Class of 2007, Hispanic Democracy, Broward County Democracy for America, The Original Broward County DFA- DFAB, Veterans for Democracy, West Miami Dade Democrats for Change, FIU Campus Corps, DFA Campaign Academy Alumni, DFA Campaign Academy Alumni

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

Jody Finver has written the great piece below in response to Sarah Palin's attack on community organizers.  Also, check out the latest video post.  Do you like the title of this post?  Purchase gear at the DFAM Store!

I refused to tune in last night (in part because I was working) but I read Palin's speech and all I can think is just when you think the Republicans can't sink any lower, they prove me wrong.

In her snarky attempts to rile up her crowd, Governor Palin showed us who she really was. An ignorant water carrier with no comprehension of subtext and no concept of life in the lower 48 otherwise known as the Continental United States.

The media, from what I have read, have not caught on to two things:

the first - that Palin attacked a candidate that she never met and doesn't know.

and the second - she insulted every community organizer in the world and said we have no actual responsibilities.

Now the thing about attacking Obama I think is a bit ironic. Since last night was Rudy's wrap yourself in the memory of the twin towers, a noun, a  verb and 911 stampede -- for Palin to come out and attack someone based on hearsay, without any first-hand knowledge, comes off sounding like a radical, fundamentalist extremist.

Wait, aren't they the enemy? The very evil John McCain will stare down with steely eyes and defeat just by exhaling? Has history not taught the Republican party anything? I know science hasn't but is history too now subject for questioning?

Do they not realize that when they speak, people outside their inner fear mongering circle hear them?
I don't think so. Because if they considered for a moment that people outside of their ego-maniacal world are watching, they never would have allowed a former PTA, city councilwoman to insult community activists the way she did.

Read more

Discuss

The Anti-Howard Has Risen

Written by: Thomas Janowski on Sep 4, 2008 6:22 PM EDT

Linked to groups: dfaROCHESTER

I currently work (my last day is tomorrow) in an office that is about 98% Republican.  In fact, I can count the Democrats, including myself, on 3 fingers. 

Since 2003, I have been THE political talker in the office.  It got to the point where I was reprimanded on a few occasions and told I had to stop all political talk in the office and confine it to the break room.  I have managed to do that. 

Over the years, my coworkers have heard me talk about Howard Dean and various other progressive Democrats.  Over the years, I've felt that almost everything I have ever said fell on deaf ears.  Then there were signs of hope.  When Bush was about to sell the management rights of US ports to Dubai, several people finally uttered negative words about GW.  There have been other signs that the fanatical Republicans were weakening and most recently, with the rise of Obama, there have been very quiet whispers out of Republican mouths that they just might think about voting for Obama. 

And then last night happened.  I never would have predicted it.  But it happened.  This morning I arrived at work and during my stop in the breakroom for my first cup of coffee, I began to hear the stories.  The first woman who spoke to me said, "Tom, last night changed my life.  I am going to run for office."  My coworker went on to tell me she was up most of the night talking to her husband about the new direction her life is headed.  So compelled to run for public office, she was already trying to decide which office.  Other comments throughout the day were less emphatic, but still troubling.  "Doesn't she just have an awesome family."  "Boy, isn't she something!"

So, this is what Palin's speech did last night.  Somehow she instantly became the Anti-Howard.  She has encouraged a new group of conservative Republicans to run for office.   Palin energized even the Republicans who may have had second thoughts about Bush or were simply worn down by all the years of his stupidity.  This scares me more than I could ever communicate.

We cannot let ourselves believe that Obama has this election sewn up.  We cannot believe for one minute that things are looking pretty good for him.  We have to see view Obama as the perpetual Democratic underdog and do everything we can possibly do to get him elected. 

Watch out Ohio and Pennsylvania, here comes dfaROCHESTER!

Discuss

Carter getting fired up

Written by: Mike Cooper on Sep 4, 2008 12:46 PM EDT

Linked to groups: Hendersonville Democracy for America Group, Asheville Democracy for America, Democracy for the High Country, DFA Blog Network, Raleigh DFA Group, Blog For America

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFoHNJ7mX6Y

http://www.yesweekly.com/article-691-mayberry-style-progressive-takes-on-arch-conservative.html#commAjax

--

When he strode into the club after arriving from the grand opening of the Stokes County Democratic headquarters, the 64-year-old Carter looked like a beefy version of Andy Griffith, silvery hair glistening in the soft light of the lounge.

He conferred frequently with his wife Pat and campaign director Ryan Eller, a young ordained Baptist minister who has counseled marines preparing to deploy for Iraq at Camp Lejeune.

Read more

Discuss

The Palinization of Polar Bears and America

Written by: Eric Weis on Sep 3, 2008 10:30 PM EDT

Linked to groups: The Passaic County Green Party, NJ for Democracy, Passaic County DFA, DFA County Committee Project, BlueWaveNJ, Pequannock DFA

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

I guess I have to start blogging sometime.  Sarah Palin will address the nation soon.  It is 9:30PM EDT Sept 3rd on the eve of her appearance before the Republican DysConvention in Saint Paul. Perhaps this little blog will have some effect at deflating the impending dirigible coming our way. 

Why is America abuzz over Sarah? How does a woman with her qualifications rise to be one of 50 state Governors of the United States?  The answer is simple.  The media is the message, said Marshall McLuhan, and he was right.

Sarah Palin is the epitome of the talking head.  Trained in communication-journalism, she is ambitious and she is attractive.  These qualities are now engrained in the American culture; the handsome and pretty make it big in the networks, but Walter Cronkhite or Edward R. Murrow would not stand a chance these days.

Sarah undoubtedly knows how to handle a teleprompter, and deal with the cameras and lights.  As such, she advances even though the quality of her vision, of her thinking, and of her experience do not amount to a hill of tundra (known in Arctic parlance as a hummock). Scratch the permafrost that is Sarah Palin's exterior, and you will find a muddy mess below.

Just take one example, of a topic that she should have down "cold".  The Polar Bear.  Sarah has found it possible to reject the recommendations of the Bush administration (based on good science and years of pressure) to place the Polar Bear on the endangered species list.  Amazingly, she thinks otherwise.  Studies in the Beaufort Sea (only a small part of the Arctic) show an increase in PB populations.  So, to appease the hunting lobby (of which she is a card-carrying, gun-toting member), Sarah goes to an extreme which lies beyond even our sitting President.

Read more

Discuss

Sarah Palin and the Same Failed Conservative Values

Written by: Edwin Rutsch on Sep 4, 2008 3:47 AM EDT

Linked to groups: East Bay for Democracy, Oakland DFA Meetup, Lake Park, San Francisco for Democracy, Alameda for Democracy, California for Democracy, Courage Campaign, Take Back Red California, Capitol Area Progressives (CAP) , What are Progressive Values? Study Group, DFA-Link Organizers, Walnut Creek DFA, Blog For America, Blogs United, DFA Film Club, DFA-Marin, DFA Night School, Silicon Valley DFA, brought to you by Dean Democratic Club of Silicon Valley, Framing Committee, Florida DFA, NJ for Democracy, Democracy for Florida, Democracy for New York, Democracy for Texas, Democracy for NYC, PA for Democracy, Democracy for Washington, Sacramento For Democracy, Democracy for Illinois, Democracy for Maryland, Philly for Change, Democracy for Ohio (DFO), Democracy for America Miami-Dade (DFAM), Washington Fair Elections, Michigan Democracy for America, DFALA, DFA at Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos) July 17-20, blog for America Test and Poll Group

Linked to campaigns: Obama for America

 Like at past Republican National Conventions, there has been a lot of talk about conservative values. Nothing new there, but this time the convention has the feeling of a sinking ship.  The conservatives are doing a lot of  talking about the exact same Failed Conservative Values that they have been talking about for the past 30 years. It's the same Failed Conservative Values of indifference, incompetence, compassionate conservativism and corruption that brought us the disaster of Katrina. It's the same Failed Conservative Values of authoritarianism, secrecy, deception and violence that brought us the failed invasion and occupation of  Iraq. It's the same Failed Conservative Values of selfishness, greed and arrogance that brought us Abramoff and a conservative congress mired in a culture of corruption. 

Sara Palin 
 
It's the same Conservative Family Values and Traditional Conservative Values of 'you are on your own', that have lifted the national misery index. It's the same fundamentalism, self-righteousness and hypocrisy that brought the sex scandals of Mark Foley, Ted Haggard, Larry Craig, etc. etc

The problem is that progressives, liberals and democrats are not directly taking on the Failed Conservative Values. Progressives need to call conservative values what they are. Failed!  It's not just failed policies, it's failed values.  Even conservatives shout from the rooftops that they base their policies on their values. Take them at their word. I see progressives repeatedly attack the failed conservative policies, but they will not directly attack the Failed Conservative Values.

I've interviewed over 100 people and asked them if Conservative Values have Failed?  They all had no problem coming up with example after example after example of  the failures. People know in their heart, in their guts, in their bodies, how conservative values have failed the country. It's time for progressives to stand up and confront conservatives directly at the values level. Start off by telling them directly and with the conviction you feel in your guts that their values have failed.

Here are just a few of the stories people have shared with me.

Read more

Discuss