Response to Obama Parody

Pictured are Peter, Paul, and Mary

By now you’ve heard the buzz surrounding the controversial “gift” that was passed around Capitol Hill last week. The parody “Barack the Magic Negro” has brought the creator of the original song “Puff the Magic Dragon” out to voice his concern. Peter Yarrow of the 1960’s folk-singing group Peter, Paul, and Mary released this statement:

My Response to the Mean-Spirited “Barack the Magic Negro”

The sending of a Christmas
greeting by Chip Saltsman to the members of the Republican National
Committee that includes a recording of the so-called parody, “Barack
the Magic Negro” is not only offensive, it is shocking and saddening in
the extreme. It flies in the face of America’s deeply held hope for a
new era in which common ground and mutual respect characterize the
exchanges between our national leaders.

I and my co-writer of “Puff,” Lenny Lipton, have been eagerly awaiting
an end to the mean-spiritedness, outright disrespect and bigotry that
was commonplace prior to this last presidential election. What might
have been wearily accepted as “the way it was” in the campaign, is now
unacceptable. Obama is not a candidate. He is the President-Elect, and
this song insults the office of the Presidency, the people who voted
for him, as well as those who did not — and taking a children’s song
and twisting it in such vulgar, mean-spirited way, is a slur to our
entire country and our common agreement to move beyond racism.

It is almost unimaginable to me that Chip Saltzman who sent the CD,
would seriously be considered for the top post of the Republican
National Committee. Puff, himself, if asked, would certainly agree.

Why is it that some of the GOP (see, I didn’t say all of them) still insists on spreading hatred and racism? It seemed like for a solid six weeks, that is all that the McCain camp did. As Yarrow has said, Obama is no longer a candidate. Like it or not, he will be YOUR president starting January 20th, 2009.

For those of you who have not yet heard the song will be out of luck to find it linked on this blog.

Although the song came out in 2007, I heard the song on Rush Limbaugh earlier this year and was absolutely disgusted with it. First of all I couldn’t believe that the guy singing the song was trying to sound like Al Sharpton and secondly, Limbaugh tried to lay all blame that “liberals” and the LA Times as the ones that started the “Barack the ‘Magic Negro’” term. (Yes, I did not link you to the source because it is Limbaugh’s own site and I refuse to be linked to him at all.)   This was about the same time that Limbaugh was urging people to participate in Operation Chaos. How’d that work out for ya Mr. Limbaugh?

And just how in the hell did Don Imus get kicked off of radio for his
“nappy” comments while Jabba the Recovering Dope Fiend continues to spew this garbage? Ok, I apologize. That was rude and stoops me to the level of Limbaugh; then again, I’m using the same freedom of speech that he makes millions off of.

I’ll be thanking Mr. Limbaugh for his efforts in Operation Chaos and use of the 1st Amendment while I stand among the many in DC who will witnessing history on January 20th.

My Journey to D.C. Will Begin Soon

A whirlwind of events have occurred since I last blogged. My fellow Houstonians and I have somewhat recovered from Ike, our nation has a new president-elect, Halloween and Thanksgiving has come and gone, and we are quickly approaching the Christmas season. Work and family have kept me busy along with my graduate studies. Additionally, my husband just received orders for a deployment to Iraq next year so any free time that I’ve had is now spent with the National Guard Family Readiness and Yellow Ribbon Programs.

However, I did receive some good news In October. I was awarded a scholarship to attend an academic seminar that will take place in Washington, D.C. in January. The Washington Center is offering the Presidential Inauguration Academic Seminar which explores the new administration and the role that the media has in the process of the campaign, election, and presidency. The best part about the program is that it concludes during the Presidential Inauguration; therefore, I will be in the nation’s capitol to witness the historical swearing in of Barack Obama as the U.S.’s first African American president.

Once I found out that I would be making the trip to D.C., I got on the phone and began contacting the offices of my local senators and representatives to get my name on the list for inauguration tickets. I’m glad that I did this early, but we’ll see how that pans out. Even if I don’t get an actual ticket, I’ll be able to see the parade and attend some other parties/balls. I’m even going to dinner at the Chamber of Commerce while I’m there.

As part of my scholarship and the graduate credit that I’ll be earning, I’ll be blogging from the capitol daily and presenting a paper at our annual research symposium on campus in the spring. I’ve agreed to some local PR and a contribution the university magazine. For someone who never enjoyed writing anything longer than an I.O.U., I have found myself in the land of research and journal papers.

For now I’ll be doing the occasional blogging about events related to the big January day such as shopping for a ball gown (oh dear God),  an inauguration ticket confirmation, and maybe an Obama staff appointment or two.

The end of the fall term and January is right around the corner; there’s still so much to do.

I’m off to reserve a U-Haul truck for our current sitting Prez. (Is it just me or did Bush look like he was ready to hand over the White House keys right then to Obama during the recent tour?)

Humor: Academic Salaries

From PhD Comics:

The 7-Eleven Election ‘08

Did you know that you can participate in the 7-Eleven Election?

The convenience store chain is conducting a 7-Election presidential coffee cup poll, which gives coffee drinkers their choice of a red 20-ounce cup for John McCain or a blue 20-ounce cup for Barack Obama.

Currently, Barack Obama is leading the 7-Eleven polls 60% to 40% for John McCain.

Scanned votes are reported weekly in USA Today. The latest results can be viewed at 7-Election.com. Drink up and cast your opinion at the same time.

POLL: If the election were held today, who would you cast your ballot for?

Early Voting in Texas Starts Monday

Early voting in Texas begins Monday, October 20th and goes through Friday, October 31st. This election will have an extremely high turnout so take this opportunity to cast your ballot early.

Don’t forget that you’re not just choosing a president, but other leaders in our state and cities. Check out VoteTX.org for a sample ballot where you live.

Check the Texas Secreatry of State website for locations in your county. Be sure sure to bring your Voter’s Registration card and your Texas Driver’s License or Texas ID. Most importantly, BRING YOUR VOTE!!!

Palin’s Experience Lands Her a New Job

Snaps to an old friend of mine for this…

How to Fail Tests with Dignity

Another Victim of Hurricane Ike: Reliant Energy

As my fellow Houstonians and I are finally getting back to some sense of normal post Hurricane Ike, Reliant Energy says that they are looking for a buyer. The Houston Chronicle reported a week ago that the power outages related to Hurricane Ike will cost Reliant more than $300 million in lost sales. In a statement this morning the wholesale and retail electric giant said it is exploring “strategic alternatives,” a phrase that generally means a company is either looking to be bought or to sell off a large part of its assets.

Given the fact that almost 3 million of us went without electricity for days and even weeks, Reliant’s loss is not surprising. At least we have begun to put the pieces back together; the same cannot be said for Reliant.

As my neighbors and I were moving into day 10 before our power came back on (some areas were without power for 3 weeks), I kept singing this old Schoolhouse Rock song to get me through the boredom, heat, and misery:

Pink October: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It seems that each and every one of us has been touched by this horrible disease in one way or another. According to BreastCancer.org:

• Estimated 180,000 women will be newly diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
• Roughly 41,000 will die from breast cancer this year.
• More than 2 million women are survivors of breast cancer.
• 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
• 1 in 33 women will die from breast cancer.
• Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women, behind lung cancer.
• When it is detected early, the five-year survival rate exceeds 95%.

But this type of cancer is not a gender bias disease. Although rare (approximately 1% of cases in the United States) men have the possibility of developing breast cancer as well. Unfortunately, men are more like to be diagnosed with an advanced stage of the disease due to the fact that they do not undergo yearly screens or monthly home exams.

Many events are taking place this month to not only bring awareness about this disease, but also to raise money for research and a possible cure.

Despite Hurricane Ike weeks ago, a record breaking 30,000 people participated in the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event on Saturday, October 4th in Houston. The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event will held on Saturday, October 11th.

For more information about breast cancer, including risks, signs, and treatment, check out BreastCancer.org.

Also, look at these organizations that support breast cancer awareness in October:

The Breast Cancer Site Store

7-11 Stores and the pink ribbon donut

Comcast

Target

Walmart

Kroger

Campbell’s Soups

Yoplait

and many, many more… Look for the pink ribbon when you shop.

Sarah Palin’s 10-Nation Tour at Epcot

Leave it to the Onion to combine Sarah Palin, Walt Disney World’s Epcot, and foreign policy:

ORLANDO, FL—Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin sought to silence those who have criticized her lack of foreign affairs experience Tuesday by announcing plans for a weeklong, 10-nation tour of Walt Disney World’s Epcot. According to Palin, the trip—her first past Frontierland—will include speaking engagements at Norway’s famous Viking ride, sausages at Germany’s Kaufhaus, and, time permitting, a fact-finding mission to Future World. “This ambitious trip should finally demonstrate that I am ready to assume the vice presidency, whether by standing in long lines at Morocco’s Tangierine Café or by sitting down face-to-face with Mexico’s Three Caballeros,” Palin announced during a campaign stop outside a Chinese restaurant in Tulsa, OK. “All of our neighbors deserve good diplomacy, from the Universe of Energy down to the French pavilion.” Palin also promised a visit to the American Adventure exhibit before returning home, adding that she hoped to learn more about her own nation and the diverse peoples within.

Women, Work, and Family in Politics

Think that Sarah Palin’s story of family and politics is a rare one? Meet Rep. Sara Gelser of Oregon. She has her own story which should be heard. And just because she is a woman with young children (including one with a disability) doesn’t mean that she will be supporting Palin in the voting booth this November:

“I won’t vote for Sarah Palin because I disagree with her on the issues, but I do not question her competence because she is a mother,” says Gelser.

Julie Sullivan of The Oregonian examines Gelser’s story and how voters still tend to view political mothers and fathers differently. From “For Women, work and family create a political minefield“:

In the topsy-turvy nature of this presidential campaign, liberals have been scandalized by Palin’s return to work three days after giving birth, and conservatives have been inspired by her typical family. Families of children with Down syndrome have been thrilled at the prospect of a larger, bipartisan conversation about their children’s potential.

But Sara Gelser could have told the other Sarah long ago that voters judge a mother with young children differently from the way they do a father.

One voter once told Gelser he couldn’t support a candidate “who couldn’t keep a commitment. You’ve got four children. Certainly when you had them, you intended to mother them.”

“I was like, ‘Wow,’” Gelser said. “I didn’t understand why it was anyone’s business but mine and my husband’s.”

Celinda Lake, a Democratic pollster and national strategist said that voters worry about who will raise the children if a mother is elected. For men it’s like, “‘Great! He will care about the future.’

“It’s one of the clearest double standards still left in politics,” Lake said.

Much of the emotion around Palin arises from women’s own recent parenting experiences.

“I do think her family needs her more right now than the Republicans do,” said Judy Turner, a Northwest Portland mother of three small children who left a high-powered job for a more flexible arrangement as a consultant. “A special-needs child and a pregnant teen daughter need extensive support, love and attention from both parents. I believe she is making the wrong choice and setting a poor example for the country.”

But Rep. Linda Flores, a Republican mother of five grown children from Clackamas, cheers the complex Palin family portrait.

“This is a real person who has real life experiences,” Flores said. “And she is the best person to gauge whether her family can handle this.”

“Besides,” Flores said, “if she were a man, we wouldn’t even be having this discussion.”

Political scientists say Flores is right. Motherhood is so complicating that most women wait until their children are older to pursue higher office — like Flores and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. — or they downplay the presence of youngsters altogether. U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., for instance, didn’t disclose her 2006 pregnancy — the first in Congress in a decade — until after she was re-elected.

“The picture of the candidate with the spouse, the kids and the golden retriever is priceless for a male, but sometimes the female candidate won’t even put the picture in the brochure,” said Debbie Walsh, director of Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University.

Walsh said that as a result, fewer women than men in Congress and in state legislatures have children younger than 18. Women enter office later in life, have shorter political trajectories, and thus, are less likely to become leaders.

“It’s a double bind,” said Melody Rose, an associate professor and chairwoman of the political science division at Portland State University. “If a woman waits, she may postpone her chances to rise to leadership, and if she has young children, she comes under intense scrutiny for her mothering. It’s like the woman who wants to have children and a political career simply cannot win.”

…Women make up about 16 percent of both houses of Congress, 24 percent of state legislators and 16 percent of mayors of cities with populations over 30,000. Palin is one of just eight women governors.

Gelser said she and her husband, Peter, have balanced her legislative career by relying on his caregiving, extended family and constantly talking to their children about what is important to them. She’s sought advice from the grown children of other Oregon legislators and staged memorable family moments, such as a mock family debate on the deserted House floor or a night singalong in the Rotunda.

Sam Gelser, who has a rare developmental disability called FG syndrome, told his mother during opening day of the 2007 session how proud he was of her.

Still, when people contacted Gelser about running for retiring Rep. Darlene Hooley’s seat, Gelser declined, in part because she saw only about 10 women in Congress with children younger than 18.

“I do think if I had seen 20 or 30 women you could see how it would work and how you can still have kids who are happy and healthy,” she said.

 

Should Assistant College Professors Get Paid More Than Tenured Professors?

Here’s the question: Should assistant professors be paid more than tenured ones? James Miller of Inside Higher Ed defends this argument and examines how this concept may benefit colleges (while ticking off a whole bunch of tenured profs!):

Assistant professors in many ways have harder jobs than tenured professors do. They have more pressure to publish. They usually spend more time on class preparation because they have taught their classes relatively few times. And, keeping in mind their looming tenure bids, they often feel compelled to be more deferential to their senior colleagues than they would prefer. Those who care about economic fairness consequently should support the idea of assistant professors making more than tenured professors. And those who care about markets should understand that the less pleasant the job, the higher salary you must pay to attract top talent.

Job security is a large part of tenured professors’ compensation. So even if a tenured professor has a somewhat lower monetary salary than an assistant professor does, he probably, over all, receives more total compensation than his non-tenured colleagues. After all, I suspect few tenured professors who are not superstars or close to retirement would agree to exchange, say, $3,000 in extra salary in return for abandoning tenure.

I can see the whole logic behind the busyness of assistant professors but hmmm… I know a few tenured professors that work just as hard, but also know of several that are nothing but slugs. Besides, isn’t part of the reward of being tenured is that you’ve already worked your tail off to get there?

This discussion leaves me wondering what UST professors think…

Read the rest of his article here.

Bush Humor From the Onion

President Bush recently toured America to survey the damage caused by his disastrous presidency.

Another great parody from the Onion:

Just tragic!

Texans Need to Prepare For Hurricane Gustav

As a supporter of Lt. Col. Rick Noriega for Senate, I received this email a couple of hours ago:

Dear Theresa,

As many of you know, Hurricane Gustav is gaining strength in the Caribbean Sea with maximum sustained winds over 145 mph.

This is a serious time for Texans. We must be prepared for the possibility it will make landfall anywhere along the Gulf Coast, including here in Texas.

As Incident Commander of Houston’s Katrina relief efforts at the George R. Brown Convention Center, I have seen first-hand the devastating consequences of major hurricanes, and we know we must take these threats seriously.

We have created a page on our website of links to important resources. You can find it at:

http://www.ricknoriega.com/gustav

Please keep the residents of the Gulf Coast in your prayers, and please be safe.

Sincerely,

Rick Noriega
Democrat for U.S. Senate

If you go to his website, you’ll find links to important resources in preparation for Hurricane Gustav:

Texas Department of Transportation Hurricane Information

Gustav Situation Reports

Texas Emergency Preparedness Page

National Hurricane Center

Please check out his website and vote for him this November.

Craig Ferguson Calls Sarah Palin A Naughty Librarian

This is a video from a little over a year ago. The Governor of Alaska (and now McCain’s Vice Presidential pick) sends Craig Ferguson a personal video offering honorary citizenship to the host.

Even Rush Limbaugh called Palin a “babe” in the past and again today. What a pig. Read his comments from today here.

So as she reaches the glass ceiling, she’ll still get wolf whistles, wagging tongues, and more will be looking at her instead of listening to her…this could be either a good or bad thing, regardless of which party you’re supporting.

Clinton Texas Delegates On Board With Obama – Why Wouldn’t They Be?

Obama’s acceptance speech at last night Democratic National Convention not only brought the house down, but seemed to have eased some diehard Hillary Texas delegates.

Photo from the AP

From the Dallas Morning News:

Former Texas Democratic Party chairman Bob Slagle, a leading Hillary Rodham Clinton backer, said the Obama speech will help sway conservative independents.

“It’ll sell pretty damn well,” he said. “He spoke of individual responsibility, of government helping when it should and getting out of the way when it shouldn’t.”

Obama supporters said he hit all the high points, taking on issues they cared about and moved the ball forward.

“It was awesome,” said Fernando Villarreal of Waco. “He touched the heart of every American.”

Mr. Villarreal said he appreciated Mrs. Clinton and all she achieved. “But now, I’m 100 percent Obama,” he said.

And Barbara Rosenberg of Dallas, who came here with a heavy heart because it would not be her favorite candidate crowned, left Invesco Field at Mile High a little lighter.

“I’m happily on board,” she said. “He covered all the issues important to me – the ones why I supported Hillary. Now we’re going forward on all those issues with Obama.”

Even Lulu Flores, an ardent Clinton delegate from Austin and chairwoman of the National Women’s Political Caucus, said: “I’m getting there.”

“He was really good. And he said what I needed to hear,” she said.

The speech was a good start, but it wasn’t going to be the Hail Mary pass that won her completely over in the convention’s final seconds.

“It’s still a 12-step program. But now I’m past at least the second step,” she said.

The candidate of change was changing her, too, she acknowledged. “I’m ready to work for that change for all of us.”

This is good to hear seeing that I have yet to comprehend how someone who had supported Clinton would even consider changing party sides to vote for McCain. This past Tuesday, Clinton asked the DNC crowd:

“I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me?…Or were you in it for that young marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage?”

Those individuals who are still holding a grudge over Hillary’s defeat must come to the realization that they were only in it for themselves. Watching the convention (and yes, I watched all four nights) I saw several people who were crying and mad that Clinton was either not nominated, or the fact that Clinton herself spoke out during the Roll Call. These very same people were making statements like, “As a woman, she deserves to be president” and “She gave a presidential speech tonight; America has just shut the door on what women can accomplish.” ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Clinton DID open the door for women, inlcuding myself. I thank her for that. Look where we were 8 or even 4 years ago? She (or any other woman for that matter) would have never made it as far as she did in this election.

As Clinton herself stated:

“Although we weren’t able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, it’s got about 18 million cracks in it…And the light is shining through like never before, filling us all with the hope and the sure knowledge that the path will be a little easier next time.”

If Clinton supporters are still willing to cross party lines on Election Day, then they have failed to accept what Clinton’s campaign brought to the table.

I’m all for being passionate for a candidate and taking a stand to support someone. But when one chooses to cross party lines because their candidate failed to get the party nomination, then that individual is being selfish and irrational.

If you were/are a Clinton supporter and considering trading in your vote for a McCain vote, think about who he may appoint to the Supreme Court over the next four years. Have you considered the Supreme Court? The Court affects each and every one of us. Think about civil rights and liberties, women’s (pro-choice) rights, a person’s right to marry regardless of one’s sexuality, and so on.

If you supported Clinton on these very things, then it is your duty and responsibility to vote her party ticket. If you are still so pissed off that she lost and are going to ‘get back at the democrats’ for not nominating a woman for president, then vote for McCain. Cast a vote for someone on the other party ticket that is Pro-Life (which seems to go against the whole ‘woman’ president thing) and who has the ability to pack the Supreme Court with individuals that support the same ideas as he does.

Can you see how this would be like spitting on Clinton’s campaign and not the democratic party? Can you?

Oh, and by the way…for those who have just decided to say, “Well screw it – I just won’t vote!” Oh boy…I can attack this in a whole new post. You’re not off the hook…

AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall

TGIF Humor – Cluelessness

As we head into a three day holiday weekend, I thought that we could all use a little humor. For all of you who work or go to school, you’ll appreciate this.

From despair.com:

 

 

 

Obama Meets Obama Girl: The Hope Years

Obama and his internet girlfriend, Obama Girl, finally meet. Well, sort of.

The folks at Barely Political has a new video reminiscent of the tv show “The Wonder Years” (1998-1993).

Here is “The Hope Years” starring a young Barack Obama:

Blogger Arrested Over Unreleased Guns N’ Roses Music

Another blogger getting in big trouble.

From Anthony McCartney of the AP:

A blogger suspected of streaming songs from the unreleased Guns N’ Roses album “Chinese Democracy” on his Web site was arrested Wednesday and appeared in court, where his bail was set at $10,000.

FBI agents arrested 27-year-old Kevin Cogill on Wednesday morning on suspicion of violating federal copyright laws. Cogill appeared in court in the afternoon wearing a T-shirt; his girlfriend sat in court and afterward said, “Rally the troops,” but declined further comment.

Federal authorities say Cogill posted nine unreleased Guns N’ Roses songs on his Web site in June. The songs were later removed.

In later posts, Cogill wrote that the FBI had questioned him and asked his readers if any of them knew a good attorney. He was represented Wednesday by a federal public defender.

According to an arrest affidavit, Cogill admitted to agents that he posted the songs on his Web site. Prosecutors said Wednesday the leak could result in a “significant” financial loss for the band.

Cogill will not face any special Internet restrictions, but was ordered to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 17.

No statement was issued by the band or frontman Axl Rose after the arrest.

“Chinese Democracy” is a much anticipated — and repeatedly delayed — new album by Guns N’ Roses that is more than 10 years in the making. At least one of the album’s songs could be heard legally: The band wrote on its Web site in July that its track, “Shackler’s Revenge” will be featured on the video game Rock Band 2, slated for release in September.

Now why would you go and post something like music that has not been released? The same would go for copies of books or movies that have not been released to the general public. At 27, I would expect a little more common sense from Mr. Cogill. Go figure.

John Edwards: Liar, Liar Pants on Fire

Wow. In an interview to be broadcasted on ABC’s Nightline Friday night, John Edwards admits that he lied during the Presidential Campaign about an alleged affair.

From ABC News:

Edwards told ABC News correspondent Bob Woodruff he did have an affair with 44-year old Rielle Hunter, but said that he loved only his wife, Elizabeth.

“Two years ago I made a very serious mistake,” Edwards said, blaming the prominence of being a vice presidential candidate. “All of which fed a self-focus, an egotism, a narcissism that leads you to believe that you can do whatever you want,” he said.

Edwards also denied he was the father of Hunter’s baby girl, Frances Quinn, although the one-time Democratic Presidential candidate said he has not taken a paternity test. He said he would be happy to take one.

Edwards said he told his wife, Elizabeth, and others in his family about the affair in 2006.

“She was mad, she was angry, I think furious would be a good way to describe it,” Edwards said.

Edwards made a point of telling Woodruff that his wife’s cancer was in remission when he began the affair with Hunter. Elizabeth Edwards has since been diagnosed with an incurable form of the disease.

When the National Enquirer first reported the alleged Edwards-Hunter affair last October 11, Edwards, his campaign staff and Hunter vociferously denounced the report.

“The story is false, it’s completely untrue, it’s ridiculous,” Edwards told reporters then.

He repeated his denials just two weeks ago.

Remind you of anyone??? So much for Mr. Squeaky Clean eh?

Paris Hilton Enters Election Race

Last week I did a post about John Mccain’s new campaign ad in which he used flashes of celebrities such as Paris Hilton. Now we have Paris’ take on the whole election:

I wonder how many takes she had to do while trying to deliver her energy plan.

The McCain campaign, revealing that it had received an “extraordinary number” of requests for a response to Hilton’s ad, said it was impressed by the socialite’s energy policy.

Starbucks Promoting $2 Drink in the Afternoon

Today when you get your morning Starbucks fix, save your receipt and go back this afternoon for a $2 iced grande drink! The national promotion is geared to boost sales and will run through September 2nd. The kicker – you must present a receipt from a morning purchase of the same day.

So, I’m out the door to get my grande non-fat, no whip raspberry mocha so I can go back this afternoon for an iced mocha during my commute in Edouard.

Ted Kennedy Won’t Be Going to Denver

With treatment for his brain tumor taking a toll on his immune system, Sen. Ted Kennedy will be staying behind for the Democratic National Convention. Although not physically there, Kennedy will be at the Denver convention by video. Shot at his home in Cape Cod, Kennedy has taped a five-minute video over the weekend to air during the party gathering at the end of the month.

At this stage in his illness, attending a large convention would be much too risky and the possibility of catching some illness won’t be chanced. The AP had no further details about his present condition.

Kennedy was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in May of this year. He had surgery in June and began chemotherapy shortly after.

Edouard Who?

This storm came up so quickly that when my mother-in-law phoned yesterday afternoon to ask us if we were ready, my husband and I looked at each other and said, “Who’s Edward?” A few hours later, my husband received yet another phone call from his National Guard unit, calling him once again. It hasn’t even been a week since he came home from Hurricane Dolly.

Now corrected by others in other states about the tropical storm’s name, I have realized that Edouard popped up in a matter of hours and it seems that everyone around the country seems to be more panic stricken than our very own Houstonians. Panic leads to chaos, which is exactly what I had to deal with when I stopped by the store on my way home from classes today.

The check out lines were long with people snatching up batteries and water. I only came for something for dinner and chlorine granules for our pool. I’m sure some of these shoppers had family members (like ours) calling from outside of Texas, doing the same thing which made people think that they needed to run to the store for emergency necessities.

Now why is it that those of us in hurricane areas know that hurricane season is from June to November, but yet still fail to have their hurricane stuff ready? They wait until the last minute and freak out, which only leads others like me to be completely frustrated when I just wanted to but something for dinner and the pool! People need to just chill out and calm down.

Everywhere you turn, the news is reporting the storm’s path which is making a bee-line right through Galveston. Now don’t get me wrong, those people on the coastline SHOULD be preparing. But those of us on the north end of Houston? Get a grip people. It’s too early in the hurricane season to be losing your marbles.

Along with the rest of southeast Texas, I’ll be watching the storm’s route. It is expected to make landfall by morning around 1pm, but the storm’s strength is anyone’s guess. It failed to pick up strength overnight, but that doesn’t mean much. Remember Humberto? That hurricane popped up in a matter of 18 hours and was supposed to hit land as a tropical storm, but decided to turn into a Category 2 hurricane. I won’t let my guard down, but I’ll remain rational which is what more people should be doing.

So, as I settle in for an afternoon of wind, rain, and news, I’ll continue to trudge on through a final research paper that is supposed to be due tomorrow. Come Edouard or not, I still have to have the stupid thing emailed tomorrow. Ugh.

I’m just glad that I filled up my gas tank yesterday. You should do the same before those lines get long too.

UPDATE as I’m getting ready to post this, my university has canceled classes tomorrow. I still have this paper though. sheesh.

UPDATE as of 4:00pm CST, the National Hurricane Center says that expected landfall at Galveston is 1pm, Tuesday.

New McCain Ad Portays Obama as Top Celeb

Flashing images of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, the new campaign ad from John McCain calls Obama “the biggest celebrity in the world,” then goes on to point out that Obama is for “raising taxes” and against “offshore drilling.”

Putting Spears and Paris at the beginning of this ad just made the credibility factor drop for McCain, not Obama. How petty. Is this what his campaign is resorting to? Sheesh.

Here’s the ad:

Willy Wonka v. The Pawtucket Patriot Beer Room

While channel surfing this morning, I stumbled upon the original Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I couldn’t help but laugh when I thought about how much that movie scared me as a kid.

Now that I’m all grown up (ha!), I’d rather think of this version of the magical factory:

Willy Wonka just kinda freaks me out a bit.

Newspaper Bias or is McCain Just A Bad Writer?

An essay piece written for the New York Times by John McCain has been rejected by the newspaper. The piece, about his policy on the war in Iraq, was written by Sen. McCain in response to an op-ed piece that the NyTimes published last week by Sen. Barack Obama. Is this media bias (the NY Times is widely known as being a liberal paper) or does McCain just need help with his writing?

From CNN.com:

In an e-mail to the McCain campaign, Opinion Page Editor David Shipley said he could not accept the piece as written, but would be “pleased, though, to look at another draft.”

“Let me suggest an approach,” he wrote Friday. “The Obama piece worked for me because it offered new information (it appeared before his speech); while Senator Obama discussed Senator McCain, he also went into detail about his own plans. It would be terrific to have an article from Senator McCain that mirrors Senator Obama’s piece.”

In a statement released Monday, The New York Times said it is “standard procedure on our Op-Ed page, and that of other newspapers, to go back and forth with an author on his or her submission.”

“We look forward to publishing Senator McCain’s views in our paper just as we have in the past. We have published at least seven Op-Ed pieces by Senator McCain since 1996. The New York Times endorsed Senator McCain as the Republican candidate in the presidential primaries. We take his views very seriously,” the statement said.

McCain’s rejected op-ed was a lengthy critique of Obama’s positions on Iraq policy, particularly his view of the surge.

“Senator Obama seems to have learned nothing from recent history,” wrote McCain, criticizing Obama’s call for an early withdrawal timeline. “I find it ironic that he is emulating the worst mistake of the Bush administration by waving the ‘Mission Accomplished’ banner prematurely.”

Obama’s July 14 essay had taken shots at McCain for not further encouraging the Iraqi government to take control of the country.

“Instead of seizing the moment and encouraging Iraqis to step up, the Bush administration and Senator McCain are refusing to embrace this transition — despite their previous commitments to respect the will of Iraq’s sovereign government,” Obama wrote in his op-ed.

The article goes on to say that McCain will not change his essay or policy on Iraq to meet the demands of the NY Times. Guess he’ll just have to submit it to Guns And Ammo for now.

Read McCain’s rejected piece

Read Obama’s essay

Read the rest of the story here.

John McJoker’s New Campaign Ad: Why So Serious?

John McCain has a new ad that criticizes Barack Obama for his lack of foreign policy experience and his irregularities when it comes to key issues including the war in Iraq.

Some of the attacks in the ad are: “Barack Obama never held a single Senate hearing on Afghanistan,” “He hasn’t been to Iraq in years,” and “He voted against funding out troops.”

According to the voice in the ad, those “positions” helped Obama secure the Democratic party’s nomination, but “now Obama is changing to help himself become president.”

Of course the ad concludes by noting that McCain “has always supported our troops” and the surge in Iraq. “McCain: Country first.”

I personally like this ad better:

The Dark Knight Has Arrived – What a K’night’ Indeed

“A little fight in ya. I like that.” – The Joker to Rachel Dawes

I can gladly say that my sleepiness and stiff neck this am is attributed to the long anticipated The Dark Knight.

As I purchased our tickets early yesterday morning, I was mesmerized to hear the ticket clerk ask me exactly which midnight showing I wanted to see. It appears that the movie theater we were at had the film showing on 7 of its 17 screens. Hearing the clerk rattle off show times such as 12:01, 12:05, 12:10, 12:15, and so on, I couldn’t help but think, “Are you kidding me? Are that many people going to show up at these ungodly hours?” The answer: YES. I overheard a couple of young men next me who wanted to buy tickets for Friday’s ‘official’ premiere, but were turned down by the clerk stating that all shows for Friday had already been sold out.

We arrived to theater about 40 minutes before the film began with our prepurchased tickets in hand, but only to find out that the entire theater had already been seated. We were left to find seats in the third row. There were a few people who were channeling the Joker’s spirit by walking around in face paint along with quite a few who were wearing Batman shirts. One guy, riddled with tattoos, was wearing what looked like a 6 year old’s Batman mask and cape. Good for them. It took all I had to throw on sweats and sneakers to make it to the showing that was well past my bedtime.

Now I generally hate going to movies when they premiere because of how packed the house usually is and the immaturity of the audience with their talking, whooping, and personal sound effects (not to mention the constant illumination coming from their cell phones as they’re texting during the movie). This was the first instance EVER where as soon as the first titles came up, in this case the DC Comics logo, the audience went silent. Then when the first scenes of tall buildings in Gotham City appeared, I realized that I could hear my own heart pounding. The audience was so quiet that I swear I could hear the person breathing next to me. Throughout the movie, we seemed to share in laughter, jolts, and gasping all at the same moments. Everyone was truly respectful to one another.

A little over two and half hours later, the film ended in applause and many stood up and gave an extra nod when Heath Ledger’s name came up. Was the film worth all the hype? Did Ledger’s performance truly withstand all the anticipation that has led up to this moment? Does he steal the show? I would say yes to all and even more so than I had imagined. It was a nice change to have more focus on the villains and other characters in the movie other than Batman himself. Don’t get me wrong, I think Christian Bale does an excellent job reprising his role as the Dark Knight; however, the spotlight goes to The Joker and Harvey ‘Two-Face’ Dent.

“You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain.” -Harvey Dent

The Joker’s character is not the same one from the cartoons, the old t.v. series, or Jack Nicholson’s creation. This one is far more sinister and for the most part, shockingly violent. Every time he would hold his knife up to someone’s face or his own, I would quickly put my hand over my mouth and hold my breath. Most frightening, his only motive is to create chaos because he can. He’s not interested in money, fame, or even killing ‘The Batman.’

“Introduce a little anarchy… Upset the established order… Well then everyone loses their minds!” – The Joker

Batman: “Why do you want to kill me?” The Joker: “I don’t want to kill you. What would I do without you?”

How can we like a villain that is so evil? I think the answer needs to be credited to Ledger’s performance. His mannerisms and nonchalant sayings make you squirm and laugh at the same time.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. We’re tonight’s entertainment.” – The Joker as he crashes Bruce Wayne’s party for Harvey Dent.

Unlike Batman Begins (during which I managed to fall asleep not once, but twice), The Dark Knight left me on the edge of my seat, hoping that it wouldn’t end. Speaking of the end, much remains open except for the fact that we know that we won’t be seeing Ledger’s Joker again. Do be careful though about taking young children to this one. For a Batman film, The Dark Knight is by far the most violent and scary for those under the age of 8.

Bad guys in clown masks, mob guys, rottweilers, and politicians who are turned into talking, rotting skulls of peeling flesh are just a few of the contemporary changes to this comic book film. Even the Scarecrow makes a brief appearance almost as an ordinary criminal. Gotham City is much brighter (except at the end when ‘the night is darkest just before the dawn’) and resembles present day instead of some ghastly, dark introverted society.

Alongside the main cast, look for some other familiar faces including Anthony Michael Hall as a reporter (yes- Farmer Ted from Sixteen Candles) and Eric Roberts as a slimy but suave mob boss.

So, plan on getting your tickets well ahead of time, arrive at least 45 minutes early, use the restroom facilities, and settle in for 2 hours and 32 minutes of thrilling, sinister, and explosive entertainment.

And by the way, I only have two words for you: Joker and Nurse

The Cast (from IMDB.com):

	Christian Bale	…	Bruce Wayne / Batman
	Heath Ledger	…	The Joker
	Aaron Eckhart	…	Harvey Dent / Two-Face
	Michael Caine	…	Alfred Pennyworth
	Maggie Gyllenhaal	…	Rachel Dawes
	Gary Oldman	…	Lt. James Gordon
	Morgan Freeman	…	Lucius Fox

Eric Roberts

…

Salvatore Maroni

Anthony Michael Hall

…

Mike Engel

William Fichtner

…

Bank Manager

Also check out Manhola Dargis’ exceptional review from the NYTimes.

Posthumous Oscar for Heath Ledger’s Joker Performance?

Read the story from Wired.com.

Two-Face and the Dark Knight Mania

The Dark Knight mania is all over the Web and not soon to be slowed down. My own blog has been getting close to 2,000 over 3200 6,150 7,600 hits a day for a post I did back in March about the movie. — Not that my biggest post has ANYTHING to do real politics – see where society’s priorities are?

We have all seen what the Joker looks like, but until recently, Two-Face’s image has been under close wraps. Warner Bros. has done their best to keep the grotesque Harvey Dent/Two-Face image out of site.

Far from Tommy Lee Jones’ campy version in 1995’s Batman Forever, Aaron Eckhart’s rendition goes beyond just superficial facial scaring. In May, Eckhart told the Los Angeles Times that his Two-Face should make you “get sick to your stomach…like you would feel if you met someone whose face had pretty much been ripped off or burned off with acid.”

By the way, be sure to check out MTV.com’s ‘Dark Knight’ Dogma: Everything We Need To Know We Can Learn From Batman. Then read their take on Harvey ‘Two-Face’ Dent:

What if Barack Obama were killing off bad guys in his spare time, all in the name of “change we can believe in”? What if we discovered that Mahatma Gandhi had inspired all those movements for civil rights by secretly doing away with those who opposed him? What if a crusading attorney general for a city known as Gotham was exposed as breaking the very laws he claimed to enforce, revealing a dark side that lusted for … $1,000-an-hour call girls?

So is this the real thing? Guess we’ll just have to wait one more day to find out. Midnight showing, here I come

Jack Reed Does Not Want to be Democratic VP

Not that many even know his name, but Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Islands says that he is not interested in becoming Barack Obama’s Vice President.

The AP reports that Reed described the vice presidential spot as a “position which I have no interest in,” adding he has not been asked by Obama’s campaign to provide information that could be used to scrutinize running mates.

“There are people that are spending a lot of time, one, looking for candidates, and … trying to promote themselves as candidates,” Reed said. “And I’m in neither category.”

Reed said he was focused on winning a third term in the Senate and doesn’t take seriously much of the discussion surrounding him as a possible vice presidential candidate.

Some information about his bio:

After graduating from West Point and receiving an active duty commission in the United States Army, Reed attended the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University where he received a Masters of Public Policy. Reed, an Army Ranger and a paratrooper, served in the 82nd Airborne Division as an Infantry Platoon Leader, a Company Commander, and a Battalion Staff Officer. He returned to West Point in 1978 as an Associate Professor in the Department of Social Sciences.

Reed resigned from the Army as a Captain in 1979 and enrolled at Harvard Law School. In 1982, he graduated from Harvard and served a year as an associate with the Washington, DC law firm of Sutherland, Asbill, and Brennan. In 1983, he returned to Rhode Island and joined the Providence law firm of Edwards and Angell.

Reed was elected to the Rhode Island State Senate in 1984 and served for three terms.

Reed is a senior member of the Armed Services Committee and a former Army Ranger. Prior to serving in the Senate, Reed was a three-term Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District.

 

After reviewing the list of Obama’s possible V.P. choices, I never really considered Reed to be in the top picks. I wonder who will be next to distant themselves from the Obama campaign?

Self-defense Unbreakable Umbrella Right Out of Get Smart

A gadget that Maxwell Smart might use? Too good to be true? Wired.com shows us Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s secret weapon:

From Real-Self-Defense.com:

The Unbreakable Umbrella from Real-Self-Defense.com works just as well as a walking stick or cane but does not make you look funny or feel awkward. Whacks just as strong as a steel pipe but it weighs only 1 lb. and 9 oz. (710 g). And yes, this umbrella resists the wind and will keep you dry in rain just like the best umbrella should. www.UnbreakableUmbrella.com

This ain’t your Mary Poppins’ style of umbrella. I have to get one of these

Houston’s Dr. Michael DeBakey Dies at 99

Dr. Michael DeBakey has been considered by many one of the parents of cardiovascular surgery thanks to his discoveries and inventions in the domain. The famous surgeon died Friday night of natural causes in the hospital where he worked most of his life, the Methodist Hospital in Houston. He was 99.

Watch the video about Dr. DeBakey’s life here from Houston’s ABC Channel 13.

His many innovations (including medical instruments), procedures, and causes made him truly an angel.

Remains of 2 Missing Soldiers Recovered

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictured Sgt. Alex R. Jimenez (left) and Pvt. Byron W. Fouty (right).

 

Last May, I posted on a story about 3 missing U.S. soldiers. At the time, only the body of Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr. had been found while his 2 commrades remained missing. All 3 had been kidnapped in Iraq.

Now, over a year later, the bodies of Specialist Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence, Mass., and Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich. are back on U.S. soil.

From CNN:

The military has not yet issued a public confirmation, but Ramon “Andy” Jimenez said in a broadcast interview that officers visited his Lawrence, Massachusetts, home to tell him the body of his son, Sgt. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, was found.

The officers told Ramon “Andy” Jimenez that information from an informant led investigators to the remains of his son and those of Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Michigan, on Wednesday, Jimenez family friend Sandy Almonte said.

The senior Jimenez, a native of the Dominican Republic, said the military told him the soldiers’ remains were identified in the U.S. by their dental records.

The father said his son died for a cause he cared about.

“He decided since he was young to join the Army,” he said. “I’m very proud of my son.”

The military did not give the family any other details, such as where the bodies were found, Almonte said.

Gordon Dibler spoke of waiting for news of his stepson Army Pvt. Fouty after military officials came to his home, The Associated Press reported Thursday.

“Every day that he’s been missing has been a day of `what could have been’ … but after hearing the news … I’m still in shock,” Dibler said.

Major Dan Elliott with the U.S. Army’s 10th Mountain Division confirmed to CNN that human remains were found in the division’s area of operation in Iraq. He said the remains were sent to the United States for positive identification.

The body of a third soldier who was kidnapped in the May 12 ambush — Pfc. Joseph J. Anzack Jr., 20, of Torrance, California — was pulled from the Euphrates River in Babil province 11 days after the attack near Mahmoudiya, which is south of Baghdad.

Four American troops and an Iraqi interpreter were killed in the ambush, which happened in a section of Iraq that was known as the Triangle of Death.

Black ribbons of mourning replaced the yellow ribbons around the Jimenez home Thursday afternoon.

A POW/MIA flag that had been hanging from the home for more than a year was also immediately replaced by a U.S. flag.

Wendy Luzon, another Jimenez family friend who was with the father when the military officers read the official notification to the family, said “It brings closure to the whole deal.”

Pictured above is Pfc. Joseph J. Anzack Jr.

This has become an all too sad and familiar scenario for military families around the world.

Be sure to visit the Iraq Page Website which is dedicated to the servicemen and women who have lost their lives during the Iraq War.

College Humor: Ninjas vs. Professors

From PhDComics.com:

Heh

Bill Clinton’s Dior Dress Goes Back in the Closet

Another hilarious parody from the Onion:

After months of tirelessly supporting his wife on the campaign trail, devoted spouse and former president Bill Clinton breathed a resigned sigh Monday and carefully folded the charcoal silk, fitted sheath dress he had hoped to wear as first lady during next January’s inauguration and placed it back in its beautiful box.

The 61-year-old Clinton, who has appeared on the covers of both Time and Newsweek and has recently been lauded for his work as an outspoken advocate for human rights, purchased the Christian Dior gown earlier this year after wife Hillary announced her bid for the presidency. Though he has promised to stand by her until rival Barack Obama is officially named the Democratic nominee in August, Clinton told friends that he “could not bear” to look at the dress any longer.

“A beautiful gown like this shouldn’t be wasted on any but the most special of occasions,” said Clinton, who, before packing the garment away, spent a quiet moment running his fingers over the expert stitching and delicate cascade of ruffles. “No. This dress deserves to be worn by a real first lady.”

After slowly tying the original silk bow around the box and clutching it to his chest for 45 seconds, the former world leader gently placed the dress inside his so-called “first lady hope chest.” Sources close to the Clintons have confirmed that the chest includes items the 42nd president had planned to bring with him to a Hillary-led White House, among them a pair of unworn white satin gloves, some hand-blown glass Christmas ornaments, a pewter locket bearing a portrait of his mother, a pressed daisy, two pearl drop earrings, and a handful of wallpaper and fabric swatches.

“My, my, would you just look at this—all dressed up and no place to go,” said Clinton, removing a ruby brooch from a small box marked “Final Iraq Pullout.” “I suppose the American people want better for their first lady than some pie-eyed boy from Arkansas with a head full of dreams and all the grace of a peeled potato. I only hope Michelle [Obama] or Cindy [Hensley McCain] will have the courage to change those hideous drapes in the Lincoln Bedroom.”

Can you just see him?

It goes on quite a bit more, but worth the laugh. Read the whole “article” here.

Paralympic Fencing Team from Iraq

With the Beijing Olympics less than a month away, here is an inspiring story about athletes of a different sort and spirit.  

From the NYTimes:

The country that has been in three wars in two decades has a remarkably robust and competitive Paralympic team:

Makes the rest of us sit back and realize that far too many times, we do not push ourselves to do the things that we think we are uncapable of doing.

No Freedom of Speech: Russian Blogger Given Suspended Jail Sentence

Bloggers beware in Russia: fellow blogger Savva Terentiev has been convicted on charges of “inciting hatred or enmity” and given a one-year suspended jail sentence.

From Reuters:

A Russian man who described local police as “scum” in an Internet posting was given a suspended jail sentence on Monday for extremism, prompting bloggers to warn of a crackdown on free speech online.

Savva Terentiev, a 28-year-old musician from Syktyvkar, 1,515 kilometres (940 miles) north of Moscow, wrote in a blog last year that the police force should be cleaned up by ceremonially burning officers twice a day in a town square.

“This was an absolutely unjustified verdict,” Alexander Verkhovsky, director of the SOVA centre in Moscow, a non-governmental group that monitors extremism, told Reuters. “Savva for sure wrote a rude comment … but this verdict means it will be impossible to make rude comments about anybody.”

The verdict was discussed in Russian blogs on Monday. “I don’t know now if I should be writing here or not,” blogger Likershassi posted on one website.

“The fact that Terentiev got a conditional sentence is unimportant. What’s important is the precedent,” a blogger named Puffinus wrote.

BONFIRE

Contacted by Reuters on Monday, Terentiev confirmed the sentence but said he was unable to make further comment.

The blog entry for which he was prosecuted has been removed from the Internet. Russia’s Kommersant newspaper quoted him as saying in the post: “Those who become cops are scum,” and calling for officers to be put on a bonfire.

After the prosecution was launched, Terentiev wrote an open letter to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev protesting his innocence.

“It is our duty to take responsibility for words on the Internet but … I did not call for the inflaming of social hatred towards the employees of the police department,” he wrote in the letter, posted at one of his sites, www.zasavva.ru.

Most Russians receive their news and information from television stations and newspapers controlled by the state or by businessmen with links to the Kremlin, with opposition voices confined largely to the Internet, talk radio and low-circulation publications.

Medvedev has said he views freedom of speech and a flourishing civil society as essential and that Russia should use a light touch when policing the Internet.

“Thank God we live in a free society,” Medvedev said last month in an interview with Reuters.

“It’s possible to go on to the Internet and get basically anything you want. In that regard, there are no problems of closed access to information in Russia today, there weren’t any yesterday and there won’t be any tomorrow,” he said.

Just chalk Russia up on the same list as other tyrannical countries who insist on suppressing speech on the Internet.

Obama’s Success A Result of 24’s President Palmer?

Dennis Haysbert, the actor that portrayed President David Palmer on Fox’s “24,” says that he would like to believe that he helped paved the way for Barack Obama.

From the AP:

“If anything, my portrayal of David Palmer, I think, may have helped open the eyes of the American people,” said the actor, who has contributed $2,300 to the Illinois Democrat’s presidential campaign.

“And I mean the American people from across the board — from the poorest to the richest, every color and creed, every religious base — to prove the possibility there could be an African-American president, a female president, any type of president that puts the people first,” he said Tuesday.

Haysbert, who now stars on “The Unit” on CBS, made his comments to reporters during a teleconference call promoting the upcoming American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe.

Haysbert, who also played Nelson Mandela in the 2007 film “Goodbye Bafana,” said his role as President Palmer seemed to “confuse people” who would approach him on the street “every day, almost every hour, and ask me to run.”

“I still, even after three seasons into `The Unit’ playing Sgt. Maj. Jonas Blaine, I’m still asked by people on the street to run,” he said.

Haysbert, 54, said he recently stopped for dinner south of Los Angeles with his daughter in Dana Point, Calif., a town he described as “very wealthy, very white and very Republican.”

“I go into this little restaurant with that demographic and a lady comes up to me and says, `You know, I want to vote for you,’” he said. “I don’t know if it is a joke or that people just like to say those things. But to me, for them to say it out loud means they are thinking about it.”

An update about 24:

Fox still plans on airing season 7 in January 2009.

Back in March, Reuters reported that Fox is creating a 24 two-hour TV movie which will be a prequel to the next new season. The story will cover the two years between the end of season six and the beginning of season seven. The actors are being cast now, presumably the essential members of the team who survived the previous 24-hours of a nuclear disaster, terrorism, lies, betrayals, shootings and tragedies.

What is known about the upcoming full season of 24 is that it will introduce the first female President of the United States. Tony-winning actress Cherry Jones will be playing Madame President. This would suggest that President Wayne Palmer (D.B. Woodside) didn’t survive his injuries from the assassination attempt in season six, although his fate could be a storyline in the prequel TV movie.

Maybe Jones is paving the way for a female president down the line?

For all of you who need a 24 fix, here’s an oldie – the Season 2 promo:

Chinese Bloggers Overpower the “Great Firewall” of China

China’s suppression of freedom of speech on the Internet is nothing new. Bloggers took to their computers this past weekend to blog about a riot that broke out in China’s Guizhou province. It didn’t take long for the government to cut them off from the rest of the world, but as sneaky as we bloggers can be, they figured out a way around the Great Firewall of China.

From the Wall Street Journal (subscription required):

Some 30,000 rioters set fire to government buildings over the weekend to protest the way authorities handled the death of a teenager in the province’s Weng’an County. While state-controlled media provided immediate coverage, government censors moved fast to delete online posts providing unofficial accounts and deactivate the accounts of those users.

So bloggers on forums such as Tianya.cn have taken to posting in formats that China’s Internet censors, often employees of commercial Internet service providers, have a hard time automatically detecting. One recent strategy involves online software that flips sentences to read right to left instead of left to right, and vertically instead of horizontally.

China’s sophisticated censorship regime — known as the Great Firewall — can automatically track objectionable phrases. But “the country also has the most experienced and talented group of netizens who always know ways around it,” said an editor at Tianya, owned by Hainan Tianya Online Networking Technology Co., who has been responsible for deleting posts about the riot.

With the Beijing Olympics slightly more than a month away, the Chinese government has shown little patience toward dissent, online or offline. On June 27, authorities in Nanjing imposed a four-year prison sentence on Sun Lin, who had written posts on the overseas dissident Web site Boxun.com, after convicting him of “gathering crowds to cause social unrest” and other offenses. Media-freedom group Reporters Without Borders says that since the beginning of 2008, there have been 24 cases of journalists, cyberdissidents or free-expression activists being arrested or sentenced to jail terms.

Here’s how they did it:

Pretty clever!

Reagan Girl – Tribute to the 80’s

This reminds me of how bad some of the music was in the 80’s.

REAGAN GIRL (Parody to Debbie Gibson’s SHAKE YOUR LOVE):

The real song:

Will Smith as Barack Obama?

Known for playing prominent biographical characters such as Muhamad Ali and Malcolm X, Will Smith says that he would be more than happy to add the role of Sen. Barack Obama to his list of credits.

In an article on MTV.com today, Smith says that he won’t be doing any political stumping for Obama, but would rather keep all political action up on the big screen. Additionally, Smith would wait to take on Obama’s persona (and ears) ‘as soon as he [Obama] writes the end of the story.’

Smith has another July 4th blockbuster getting ready to open. He’ll play a grumpy, alcoholic superhero in the film “Hancock.” His past summer slamdunks include “Men in Black” and “Independence Day.”

“Hancock” opens July 2nd:

 

McCain v. The Secret Service

Couldn’t help but picture McCain as Rambo in this parody from The Onion.

 

Get Smart is Here

This weekend’s movie pick: Get Smart – now in theaters

As the trailers are shown before the movie, you might see some familar political pundits in a Coca Cola commerical:

Houston Air Traffic Controllers Are Recently Hired with Little Training

I’m already nervous enough when I fly, but this morning’s story from the Associated Press has now confirmed my need to drink when I’m soaring above the skyline.

From the AP:

Feds: Many of Hobby’s air traffic controllers have little training

 10:09 AM CDT on Wednesday, June 18, 2008

 

FORT WORTH, Texas — Two big airports in Texas have among the least-experienced staffs of air traffic controllers in the country, according to congressional researchers.

Many of the controllers who guide flights in and out of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport are recent hires with little training, the Government Accountability Office said in a report issued last week.

Hobby ranked last in the percentage of fully certified controllers, at 56 percent, although officials for the Federal Aviation Administration say the airport has since added more certified controllers.

Hobby was followed by LaGuardia Airport in New York, with 61 percent of its controllers being fully certified, then DFW at 62 percent.

Five airports had at least 90 percent of their controllers fully certified.

Controllers are hired by the FAA, not the airports. The agency is facing a tidal wave of retirements in the next few years — 15,000 by 2017. That’s because many current workers were hired soon after President Reagan fired more than 11,500 striking controllers in 1981.

The article also points out that some of Houston’s air traffic controllers are too busy monitoring trainees; therefore, stress and fatigue levels are rising. One of the contributing factors to the FAA’s decrease in the number of air traffic controllers being hired is the smaller recruiting pool from the military. With larger re-enlistment bonuses being offered, trained and certified controllers are staying with military career and not merging into the civilian workforce.

The average salary for air traffic controllers ranges from $45,000 – $104,000, depending on experience. More information about employment can be obtained from the U.S. Department of Labor.

This weekend’s DVD rental pick:  Pushing Tin (1999) starring John Cusack and Billy Bob Thornton. Comedy/Drama.

from IMDB:

Nick “The Zone” Falzone (Cusack) is an air traffic controller at New York TRACON, where it’s busy 24 hours a day. He’s acknowledged as the best, until a quiet guy Russell Bell (Thornton) arrives on the scene from the Southwest somewhere. Russell and his wife Mary don’t quite fit into the close-knit community of controllers and their wives, and a rivalry soon builds.

 

Grad Student Humor: What Do You Do?

From June 16th’s PhD Comics:

Al Gore to Endorse Barack Obama Tonight

Jeff Zeleny of the The NY Times’ The Caucus just posted this announcement:

Former Vice President Al Gore will appear in Detroit tonight for his debut campaign appearance with Senator Barack Obama, extending an endorsement and urging all Democrats to rally behind the party’s fall ticket.

“A few hours from now I will step on stage in Detroit, Michigan to announce my support for Senator Barack Obama,” Mr. Gore said in an e-mail sent to his supporters. “From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected President of the United States.”

“I’ve never asked members of AlGore.comto contribute to a political campaign before, but this moment and this election are too important to let pass without taking action,” Mr. Gore said. He added, “Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action.”

The decision to stage the appearance in Michigan underscores the importance of the state for Mr. Obama. It was also in Michigan where former Senator John Edwards unveiled his endorsement of Mr. Obama in a surprise setting.

“Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges — including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our economy, and solving the climate crisis,” Mr. Gore said. “Barack Obama is clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America.”

Not that this is very surprising. His endorsement list keeps growing as McCain’s…ummm… how long is McCain’s list? Sponsor’s such as Depends, Geritol, Centrum Silver, and pharmaceutical companies for ED medications do not count.

Walk of No Shame – AMP Energy

How many of you woke up Sunday morning singing this??? 

 

Happy Father’s Day! Take Dad to a Movie

Maybe take Dad to lunch or dinner, but definately take him to a movie today! Here is a list of what’s playing:

The Incredible Hulk

The Happening

Kung Fu Panda

You Don’t Mess With the Zohan

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

Iron Man

Remembering Tim Russert

As the moderator’s chair was left empty this morning, colleagues and friends of Tim Russert gathered in front of his desk, remembering a great contributor to journalism and the media. Tim Brokaw hosted the remeberence on the set of Meet The Press, while James Carvell, Mary Matalin, Mike Barnicle, Betsy Fischer, Doris Kearns Goodwin, and Gwen Ifill shared similar stories and tears about Russert’s career and life. Maria Shriver was there via satellite.   

Everyone agreed (even Matalin who wept every now and then and at a few points, held hands with her husband) that Russert was not only hard, but fair. Stories about his love for Buffalo, sports, family, music, work, and his Irish Catholic background were accompanied with video and photo images. Flags are even being flown at half-mast in Buffalo today.

As I look around the Web this am and see the various blogs and opinion pieces that are being posted, I have read many that are surprisingly crude and disrespectful. Some have said that there has been too much coverage about Russert’s death and that enough was enough. Others see him as being nothing but a “muppet to the media.” I think what these bloggers and web journalist are forgetting is the fact that with Russert’s discussions and coverage on Sunday mornings, he set the agenda for the remaining week for political banter, including banter from us. Best example? The ton of posts that have been written about him since Friday.  

Russert set the example of a good journalist. He had said that it was the responsibility of the journalist to study and know his guests, then take the opposite side to get to the heart of what the public needs to know. James Carville said that one of the things Russert hated most was when his guests showed up unprepared. To Russert, this was not only an insult but a reflection of how that guest’s lack of preparation inferred that they did not take his show seriously.

Russert has said that Sunday mornings were like a “town hall” where people could gather around their television sets and hear the answers to questions that politicians reluctantly answered. Maria Shriver said that she saw firsthand the fear that guests would exhibit, citing examples of her conservative husband and liberal uncle as they too prepared to appear on Russert’s show. They understood the importance of being on Meet The Press.

So as you go about your daily Sunday activities, hopefully getting ready to celebrate Father’s Day, remember that Russert was a father too – not only to his own son, Luke, but also to all of those he mentored in the studio, in the relationships he made, and to all of us in front of the television screen.

 

 

As to my point above about Russert leading the political discussion for the week, we can see that even in death, he has accomplished this. Thank you Tim Russert.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1950-2008 

I Only Sleep With Democrats

From TruthThroughAction.org, this is their short film called, “Blue Balled.”

WARNING: Explicit language and sexual images…but pretty humorous!

 

Students + Energy Drinks = Risky Behavior

Go to any college campus and one can easily find a student carrying one of those trendy energy drinks: Red Bull, Rockstar, Monster Energy, etc. Hell, I went to a new media forum this past weekend and they had a case of Red Bull on ice. At a professional forum? I have to admit that for a moment I thought that they were trying to send a subliminal message about how interesting the forum would be; hence, the need for energy drinks. Needless to say, my coffee worked just fine and there was no need for sugar and caloric overload.

James Heggen of Inside Higher Ed has an article today about a study done recently from The Journal of American College Health in which their research shows a correlation between students who drink energy drinks and the risky behavior that they partake in.

From his article:

Of the 795 public university undergraduate students who were surveyed, 39 percent reported drinking at least one energy drink in the last month, and 26 percent had consumed energy drinks mixed with alcohol at least once (about half had done so more than once). But of students who scored highly on the risk-taking scale, 49 percent had consumed energy drinks, and 39 percent had mixed energy drinks and alcohol.

The findings emerged from a larger study of “toxic jock identity,” which is characterized by “sport-related identity, masculinity and risk taking,” according to the report. Kathleen Miller, the report’s author and a research scientist at the Research Institute on Addictions at the State University of New York at Buffalo, said she included a question on energy drinks because she had observed individuals with this type of behavior consuming energy drinks.

Miller called energy drinks and risk taking behavior a “natural fit.” Energy drinks are marketed to people who engage in “extreme sports” and other types of risky behavior, and the physical rush associated with the drinks appeals to risk takers, she said. Miller clearly notes, though, that while energy drinks may signify risk taking behavior, there is no evidence that the drinks actually cause such behavior.

Experts on college health say the study raises intriguing issues, but they are divided on whether Miller’s findings resonate with what they see on campuses.

Ok, agreement here. For some reason I don’t see students hanging off of their dorm railings with a Red Bull in hand or streaking through the quad while pumped up on Monster Energy. Can you just see John Belushi chanting, “Toga, Toga, Toga!” with a Rockstar in his hand? I think the key here is that these drinks would have to be mixed with some sort of distilled spirits to make you act like an idiot.

The only risky behavior I see is from this Red Bull commercial about a male college student (who should be studying) and female student who is feeling quite amorous. Notice that he actually grabs a handful of something after he turns the light back on. That’s what Red Bull will do for ya!

Can anyone tell me what the fascination is anyway with these energy drinks? I’ve never had the slightest inkling to even try one.

The Banning of Laptops Going Corporate

 

The Political Science Department at UST wasn’t the first to implement such a policy of “No laptops or electronic devices” on univeristy campuses. Now boardrooms are accepting the same policy.

From Inside Higher Ed:

More and more professors — hell, entire departments — are banning laptops from their classrooms. Now the business world’s doing it too, since people in meetings are using their laptops for the same reason, and in the same way, most students are using theirs:

[Meetings] can be quite a pain for many people involved. They can get pretty boring, so the participants start to lose interest. As a result, many people have started bringing their laptops into these meetings, presumably to entertain themselves… [Companies] are starting to crack down on the practice [because] most people are watching YouTube videos and posting comments on Facebook walls…

Along these lines, it’s a good moment to remember Joseph Weizenbaum, an MIT professor who died recently. His New York Times obituary notes that, although an important innovator in computer programming, Weizenbaum grew to regret the effects of screen-dependency:

[Weizenbaum] came to believe that an obsessive reliance on technology was indicative of a moral failing in society. [In one of this books, he wrote a] passionate criticism of systems that substituted automated decision-making for the human mind. [He argued that] computing served as a conservative force in society, by propping up bureaucracies as well as by redefining the world in a reductionist sense, by restricting the potential of human relationships.

Weizenbaum anticipated the lights-out classroom, where kindly PowerPointers shed valium rays over children adrift among their own images. In the tradition of Huxley’s Brave New World, Weizenbaum saw the way in which much of the technology he’d had a hand in would play into our infantile preference to be left alone, to blot out the world, to have nothing asked of us. These impulses are shared among professors, students, and business people, and if the technology’s there to indulge them, many will use it.

The brave new classroom’s anthem.

So for all of you students at UST who roll their eyes when you get your poli sci class syllabi and read the policy on the (non)use of laptops during class, realize that more professional people are in the same boat as you. I’m happy with our department’s decision, mostly becuase I think it’s absolutely ridiculous to see students sending IMs to one another while they’re practically sitting on each other’s lap.  Whether it’s MySpace, Facebook, or personal email, enough is enough.

If you think that you are that important that you must be connected to technology every minute, than you must also have that stupid bluetooth attatched to your ear and answer by the name of Jack Bauer.

By the way, I don’t care to see your personal party pics of your binge drinking from the weekend before either.

Is it wrong to see half naked women on someone’s laptop screen during Theology class? Just wondering…

The McCain Campaign Stategy to Win

The McCain campaign, specifically campaign manager Rick Davis, has released a 14 minute powerpoint presentation outlining what McCain will do to win in November.

Some of Davis’ points are:

- McCain can build a better political environment than Bush (not that Obama can do this right? After all, he’s not linked to favoring Bush Administration policies)

- McCain has more favorable image than Obama (say what?)

- Voters see McCain as an ideological match (Um yeah, if you’re a white male, over 48, and stingy with your money. Hey, I didn’t say anything this time about Centrum Silver or Geritol).

- McCain and Obama are in a tied race according to Gallup weekly averages thru June 3rd (as of today, Obama leads McCain, 48% to 42%)

He also goes on to discuss the electoral map and McCain’s fundraising. Davis says, “McCain was outspent in the primary and won.” He will no doubt have his work cut out for him in this area as Obama breaks even more campaign finances and donation records.

I can go on in detail about the excessive presentation, but I think that I’ll leave that up to you, the intellectual and informative blog reader that you are. 

College Students: When To Meet With Your Advisor

Humor from PHD Comics:

Cheers to Drinking Liberally

 

Photo from Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

Cheers to J. Courtney Sullivan of the New York Times for today’s article about Drinking Liberally, a progressive social networking group that meets weekly (some cities less often) to discuss politics over a few drinks!

Liberal bloggers are very familiar with the networking group who’s tagline is: “Promoting democracy one pint at a time.”

From the article (free subscription required):

On Thursday night in Hell’s Kitchen, an impassioned discussion of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s remarks about the Bobby Kennedy assassination as a reason for her staying in the presidential race took place in the backyard of Rudy’s Bar and Grill. Across the yard, Rachel Maddow, a host on Air America Radio, poured glasses of beer for a table of friends and debated Senator John McCain’s war record.

Among the regular patrons at the bar on Ninth Avenue were a few unsuspecting tourists. Dozens of people were squeezed together talking politics, drinking beer and eating free hot dogs. The conversation was cut short for an anniversary toast.

“To many more years, and many more chapters,” said Justin Krebs, 30. Mr. Krebs was one of the founders of the progressive social networking group called Drinking Liberally that has been meeting at Rudy’s every Thursday night for the past five years.

“We knew our friends wanted to talk about politics and the state of the country, but it felt like that was a taboo thing to do in a social setting,” Mr. Krebs said. “We wanted to create an environment where people would be told that politics is not off the table — that in fact, it’s what we’re here for,” said Mr. Krebs, a founder of The Tank, a nonprofit space for performance and public-affairs events in Midtown.

In the beginning, Mr. Krebs and his partner in starting the club, Matthew O’Neill, 30, would show up on Thursday, with just the two of them sharing a pitcher of beer. Since then, online social networking has helped the group grow into a national organization with 250 chapters across the country, at least one in each state.

“Eight years ago, someone told me that the Nader folks were trying to create a sort of potluck dinner group in every state across the country — the idea being that you organize people socially and out of that can grow a network that will move progressive politics forward,” said Sam Seder, a radio host on Air America. “The brilliance of this group is that they’ve actually done that.”

Four years ago, a person who attended meetings in New York moved to San Francisco and started a second Drinking Liberally chapter.

After the 2004 Republican convention, the Daily Kos and Atrios, two political blogs, began posting Drinking Liberally meeting times on their sites. By the time Election Day rolled around, 16 new chapters had sprung up.

“For a lot of us, it’s the only time that we really get to talk politics across generations, other than at Thanksgiving dinner,” said Katrina Baker, 27, the group’s national organizer.

Fred Gooltz, 30, was one of the early regulars in New York. At the time, he was an actor, but through Drinking Liberally he was introduced to political organizations that were experimenting with using online social networking to reach potential voters. Mr. Gooltz started volunteering with several of them.

“The Howard Dean movement went viral on the Internet, and all kinds of new technology emerged,” he said. “I walked out of the 2004 election with a newfound understanding of how to organize politically through the Web.”

Since then, he has worked for several campaigns, including John Edwards’s last presidential run, using online social networking tools to promote voter registration.

“While working on campaigns, I would go to other states and bring a bunch of Drinking Liberally buttons with me to recruit people,” he said. “But everybody had already heard of us because of blogs.”

So it is my duty to inform you! The Houston chapter meets the second Wednesday of every month (the next meeting is June 11th) at 7:00 p.m. at the Pearl Bar.

Check out their blog at http://houston.drinkingliberally.org/.

Look for a chapter near you.

Condoleeza Rice and KISS Team Up

Today from Scott Thill of Wired.com:

In what has to be a sign of some sort of apocalypse, Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice took time off from the war on terror to enlist in the KISS Army during a stopover in Stockholm for a conference on Iraq.

Can Condi help this Army’s chances of being greeted as liberators? Probably not.

But at least she got to spend what the Associated Press called a “late-night encounter” with Gene Simmons and walk away without becoming one of his thousands of bedded women, dignity intact — despite a photograph that may some day rival one of Richard Nixon and Elvis for head-scratching “What the hell led up to that?!” honors.

“I was thrilled,” the classically trained, piano prodigy Rice told reporters. “It was really fun to meet Kiss and Gene Simmons,” she added, noting that she has yet to catch the band whose fan club she just joined in, er, the flesh.

That’s debatable. While in Australia in 2004, the Israel-born Simmons notoriously slammed Islam, saying “This is a vile culture and if you think for a second that it’s going to just live in the sands of God’s armpit you’ve got another thing coming…They want to come and live right where you live and they think that you’re evil.”

That less-than-diplomatic remark may mean that you’re more likely to see a picture of Rice in Simmons’ hotel room than Gene at Foggy Bottom.

Photo: State Department/Ann Lyons

Wow…never thought that they would look better WITH the make-up on. Maybe we should send them in au-natural to scare Bin Laden out of his cave.

Pre-school Political Ads

The Politics of Preschool

If she wasn’t carrying around a red ball, you’d think this was about a present female presidential candidate…or is it?

By the way, “No one should have a ball that big.”

Proposed Hurricane Names Honoring the Bush Administration

These are great…

From the Daily Kos:

Cheers and Jeers: Tuesday

by Bill in Portland Maine

Tue May 27, 2008 at 05:39:22 AM PDT

From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE…

Hurricane season starts in five days. If the Grand Committee of Meterological Poobahs hasn’t come up with their list of names yet, may I suggest the following as a way of commemorating the greatest hits of the Bush administration in this, its final year:

Ashcroft
Brownie
Condi
Dick
Enron
Feith
Gonzales
Hughes
Iraq
Jack Abramoff
KBR
Lieberman
Matalin
Negroponte
Osama
Perle
Quagmire
Rummy
Scooter
Turdblossom
Uranium from Africa
Viceroy Bremer
Wolfowitz
Xenophobe
Yoo
Zell

On second thought, that would really be unfair. To the hurricanes.

 

Texas Awaits TAKS Results

Students across the state were tested in reading, math, writing, social studies, science at the end of April and first part of May. Tomorrow statewide results of Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) testing should be released.

The controversial exit-level test will be phased out during the next few years under a law signed last year. The TAKS will be replaced with 12 end-of-course exams throughout high school takes effect in 2011-12, but only for the ninth-grade class. Students in the upper-level grades will continue to take the high-stakes exit-level TAKS test until the class of 2015 enters 12th grade.

Districts could also use the TAKS as a final exam.

How crucial are these tests for students? At least 100 high school seniors in Galveston County failed the TAKS and will not graduate this year. While state law prohibits high school seniors from receiving a degree if any part of the exam is failed, it is up to school district administrators to allow students to walk on commencement day. Students are allowed to retake the exam at a later date.

There have been past allegations of death threats and injury to teachers and administrators if students in their schools do not pass the test. Additionally, there has been ongoing controversy surrounding teacher bonuses that are shaped around TAKS results.

The Houston Independent School District (HISD) wants accountability to move away from minimum standards and towards measuring growth, which is the basis for the teacher bonus system.

For now, as long as any type of testing and exit exams are in place, the controversy will remain.

 

 

Scott McClellan: Outing the Bush Administration

Some harsh criticisms and allegations were brought to light Tuesday as an ex-spokesman for President Bush releases a new book.

Scott McClellan’s What Happened: Inside the Bush White House and Washington’s Culture of Deception details his time as White House Press Secrerary and gives a crushing negative perspective about the president’s handling of the administration. According to the Politico, who was the first to break the story yesterday:

• McClellan charges that Bush relied on “propaganda” to sell the war.

• He says the White House press corps was too easy on the administration during the run-up to the war.

• He admits that some of his own assertions from the briefing room podium turned out to be “badly misguided.” 

• The longtime Bush loyalist also suggests that two top aides held a secret West Wing meeting to get their story straight about the CIA leak case at a time when federal prosecutors were after them — and McClellan was continuing to defend them despite mounting evidence they had not given him all the facts.

• McClellan asserts that the aides — Karl Rove, the president’s senior adviser, and I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the vice president’s chief of staff — “had at best misled” him about their role in the disclosure of former CIA operative Valerie Plame’s identity.

Karl Rove and the White House has disputed McClellan’s book. McClellan also describes the involvement of others such as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Dick Cheney, Scooter Libby, and Bush’s Texas “connections.”

Read the story from the New York Times here (free registration may be required).
 

 

Summer Classes Begin…Already?

Summer I classes begin today at UST. Why so soon?

Courtesy of Gary Larsen:

Commencement Skit with Steve Carrell on SNL

Click on image above for the Commencement skit from the May 17th show (WARNING: MAY BE OFFENSIVE – ADULT HUMOR). – you have to sit through a short commercial first.

Mike Gravel Humor

Many have forgotten that there are still Libertarians running for president, including former Democratic Sen. Mike Gravel, who switched to the Libertarian Party in March after an unsuccessful bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. At 78, Gravel is taking part in the Libertarian National Convention in Denver, Colorado. The convention runs from May 22 – May 26.

This year, the Libertarian Party is boasting two former members of Congress: Senator Gravel from Alaska and former GOP Congressman Bob Barr, who joined the Libertarian Party in 2006 and has since served on the Libertarian National Committee.

Mike Gravel Humor:

Senator Gravel Lobbies Obama Girl (he may be barring for a VP slot in this one)

Crank That Mike Gravel

Happy Birthday Mike (May 13th)

Hillary Gone Wild

This is disturbing on so many levels…

From BarelyPolitical:

Political Science Graduate Humor

For all my fellow political science graduates

The Nightmare Ticket: Clinton, McCain, Obama

From The Onion:

After nearly a year of verbal attacks and negative campaign ads, the nominees announced that, for the good of the country, they were willing to push their differences to the forefront and grant the American people the ticket they’ve been dreading all along.

“No other ticket is capable of rallying this nation around a clearer, more unified message of chaos and hopelessness,” the candidates said in unison from three separate podiums, each adorned with its own American flag arrangement and personal message. “Together, we will lead this nation into the future—a future where absolute deadlock over even the most minute decisions and total inefficiency on matters of the war, the economy, and the environment will launch a bold new age of confusion and social decay. For America, the only choice is [indecipherable]!”

The candidates said they had not yet decided who would fill the offices of president, vice president, and a new post the nominees are calling “the middle president.” They did, however, confirm that each would choose his or her own full cabinet, would be able to veto any bills the others sign into law, and would reserve the right to cast the tie-breaking, tie-making, and tie-rebreaking votes in the Senate.

“This nightmare ticket presents the American people with an unprecedented lack of opportunity in 2008,” Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen wrote Tuesday. “For just one vote, citizens will get four years of McCain’s brilliant temper, the incredible inexperience of Barack Obama, and the powerful two-headed monster of Hillary and Bill Clinton.”

“It will be very exciting to see what they’re capable of destroying, ” Cohen added.

Hmmm…..

Sam Graves: What Were You Thinking?

Missouri GOP Rep. Sam Graves’ campaign ad, released last week, blasts Democratic opponent Kay Barnes, former Kansas City Mayor, for her “San Fransisco Values” and liberal backing by Nancy Pelosi. S.F. Values? What was this guy thinking? The ad–the message and the ridiculous dancers–is horrible and only proves that this guy must be either a homophobe or an idiot (I say both) to approve an ad like this. Sad…

Graves’ campaign ad:

Barnes’ campaign ad response:

Graduation Hangover

With multiple trips to and from the airport, last minute scurries to Macy’s for a graduation outfit, and absolutely no rest for the weary, I’m STILL nursing a graduation hangover. Oh, my head…

I am officially a University of St. Thomas graduate with a B.A. in Political Science and minor in Theology!

Family from Oregon and California made this trip, including my father who has not flown on a plane since 1995. My son and his girlfriend came from Linfield College and my husband’s parents came from Menlo Park. Of course my son, Matt and my wonderful husband were here to keep picking me up off the ground and helping me get through the chaos.

So…

All my thanks and love to my family and friends who have helped me get through the last few years. It hasn’t been easy balancing school, homework, multiple jobs, family, and sanity; I’ve wanted to throw in the towel several times. Everyone has been so supportive and I thank each and every one of you.

As for my professors, you rock! I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to sit in front of you daily these last couple of years. Not only have you inspired me, but you have shown me the importance of a higher education and what a wonderful tool it can be to inspire others.

I have received so many emails, cards, and Facebook wall postings telling me that I have set the example of the saying, “If you put your mind and heart into what you want, you can accomplish anything.”

AMEN.

I look forward to this type of hangover again in two years (Master’s Degree here I come!!!)

Family, Friends, and Professors:

Obama Brings Record Crowds to Oregon

Being an Oregonian true and true (I’m a Texas transplant), I had to post on Barack Obama’s speech Sunday in front of a record breaking crowd of people in Portland, Oregon. He criticized John McCain on social security, lobbyists, and foreign policy. Obama ended out his week of criticisms and campaigning in the Rose City.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Obama drew a roaring crowd of 75,000 (another 15,000 couldn’t get in)– the biggest of his presidential campaign, and equivalent to one-sixth of Portland’s population — to an afternoon rally in a park along the Willamette River here. The size of the turnout served as a reminder that Obama is strongly favored to win Tuesday in Oregon, a state whose voters — comparatively well-educated and liberal — appear tailor-made for him.

Today he spoke in Billings, Montana where he said that voters should be concerned that “after nearly three decades in Washington, John McCain can’t see or won’t acknowledge what’s obvious to all of us here today — that lobbyists aren’t just part of the system in Washington, they’re part of the problem.” He also defended McCain’s remarks about Obama’s “inexperience and reckless judgment” in regards to Iran.

Kentucky and Oregon hold their primaries tomorrow. The latest polls from Real Clear Politics show Obama leading in Oregon and Clinton leading in Kentucky.

Additionally, Obama also picked up another endorsement today: Sen. Robert C. Byrd, 90, a former member of the Ku Klux Klan and a one-time opponent of civil rights legislation. Pretty interesting when you consider that if elected, Obama will be the first black president.

In the picture above, Petey and I are watching Obama’s speech in Montana.

UPDATE: VIDEO ADDED-

John Edwards Endorses Barack Obama

John Edwards is expected to endorse Barack Obama at a rally this evening in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Having Edwards’ endorsement may help Obama with the voting public that he is lacking–the white working class which has been in favor of Hillary Clinton.

From CNN:

An endorsement from Edwards, who ran as vice president on Sen. John Kerry’s ticket in the 2004 presidential election, would have a significant impact on the race, Democratic strategist Peter Fenn said after Edwards dropped out.

“You could make an argument that the change issue does benefit Barack Obama, that he picks up that support. You could also make the argument that there’s a lot of support out there amongst people that will go to Hillary,” he said. “The big issue here is who will he endorse.”

Some political pundits predicted that Edwards’ supporters are more likely to lean in Obama’s direction.

“The conventional wisdom is that Barack Obama will pick up maybe 60 percent of them, and in some places, that makes a huge difference,” former presidential adviser David Gergen said in January.

Hmmm…think Edwards is looking for a job in the new administration?

Jenna Bush Gets Hitched

Jenna Bush, 26, was quietly married this weekend at the Bush family’s Crawford Ranch. The bride wore a white Oscar de la Renta gown and no veil. The press was not invited, but the White House released pictures late Sunday afternoon. Her grandparents, George H. W. Bush and Barbara, spoke at the ceremony.

Jenna wed Henry Hager, 30, less than one year after he proposed at dawn atop Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park on Maine’s coast. The couple were married around 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening.

From the AP:

Jenna’s twin sister, Barbara, was maid of honor and 14 other women were in her “house party.” Barbara Bush wore a long, moonstone blue dress with a low-cut back. The women in the “house party” were clad in seven different styles of knee-length dresses in seven different colors that match the palette of Texas wildflowers — blues, greens, lavenders and pinky reds.

The ceremony began about a half hour or so before sunset. The couple stood at a cross, made of beige colored Texas limestone, that was erected near the ranch’s man-made lake. The cross and altar, made of the same stone used to construct the Bush’s ranch house, will be a landmark at the ranch for years to come. The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston officiated.

Henry Hager met Jenna during her father’s 2004 re-election campaign. He graduated from Wake Forest University and worked as an aide to Bush’s former top political adviser Karl Rove. He is set to receive a master’s degree in business administration later this month from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.

After the wedding, the couple is rumored to be honeymooning in Europe, although the White House would not comment. After that, they plan to live in a two-bedroom, two-bath town house on the south side of Baltimore. She plans to return to teaching and he will work for Constellation Energy, a power supplier based in Maryland.

You have to be impressed in how well Jenna has matured from her early days in the White House. She could have picked a huge, overpriced, gaudy wedding at the White House, but chose to keep it simple and away from the cameras.

By the way, why does their wedding cake look like the top is going to come tumbling off?

Congratulations to the happy couple!

News to Clinton: You Can’t Win

As Jimmy Kimmel and his panel of political experts the Worst Political Team on Television give their opinion on Clinton still winning the nomination, others have deemed that it’s over.

CBS News is only one of many media outlets that is calling the Democratic nomination. On yesterday’s evening news and their opinion section from the New Republic, expectation of Clinton winning the nomination is close to zilch when looking at her delegate or popular vote count.

Dan Payne of the Boston Globe agrees stating, “Hope is all she has left.”

Sam Donaldson also calls the race.

Bill Clinton, on the other hand, states that Hillary CAN win… sounds like someone needs a math lesson

This video is from CBS news and includes commentary from former Dean Howard campaign manager, Joe Trippi:

Hillary – Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)

Although Clinton catches Indiana in yesterday’s primary, the delegate math still doesn’t add up for her to possibly win overall, and it hasn’t for a long time now. It makes me wonder who’s telling her that she still has a chance.

How come we all know that the race is over except Clinton? Don’t get me wrong, I love a good fight and the remaining states should have their chance to vote as well; however, I said I love a good fight…this is no fight. Ouch…

MSNBC has coverage about yesterday’s primaries and Obama as the perceived nominee here.

If you get upset over this video, than I guess you can’t figure out the delegate math either. Just take the video with a grain of salt and acknowledge the fact that this has been the most exciting primary race in decades.

Oregon Voter Hotline Leads to Phone Sex Line Instead

You want to know why Oregon has a record turn out in voting? You would think it’s because they have a mail-in ballot option; however, I think I’ve found another reason…

from Stateline.org:

Oregonians who called a voter-information hotline recommended by Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury reached a different sort of hotline — the kind that offers “an exciting new way to go live, one-on-one, with hot, horny girls” for just $2.99 a minute (99 cents for voice mails). The glitch came when Bradbury’s office accidentally switched the correct 866 toll-free area code to an 800 area code, The Oregonian reports. Bradbury released an apology statement and emphasized, “Don’t call that wrong number.”

Visit the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division.

Barbara Walters Reveals Past Affair With Senator

From the AP:

After three decades of keeping mum, Barbara Walters is disclosing a past affair with married U.S. Senator Edward Brooke, whom she remembers as “exciting” and “brilliant.”

Appearing on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” scheduled to air Tuesday, Walters shares details of her relationship with Brooke that lasted several years in the 1970s, according to a transcript of the show provided to The Associated Press.

A moderate Republican from Massachusetts who took office in 1967, Brooke was the first African-American to be popularly elected to the Senate. Both he and Walters knew that public knowledge of their affair could have ruined his career as well as hers, Walters says.

At the time, the twice-divorced Walters was a rising star in TV news and co-host of NBC’s “Today” show, but would soon jump to ABC News, where she has enjoyed unrivaled success. Her affair with Brooke, which never before came to light, had ended before he lost his bid for a third term in 1978.

Winfrey asks Walters if she was in love.

“I was certainly, I don’t know, I was certainly infatuated.”

“Infatuated.”

“I was certainly involved,” Walters says. “He was exciting. He was brilliant. It was exciting times in Washington.”

Wow. Somehow this doesn’t surprise me. But who cares? Obviously she does because she’s trying to promote her new book and I’m sure she’s hoping that this little bit of juicy scandal will help book sales.

No thanks Barbara.

Ron Paul: Only member of Congress to vote against bill

Wired has a story today about an anti-genetic discrimination bill that is expected to be signed by President Bush.

The bill (H.R. 493), blocking companies from using a person’s genetic information to set insurance premiums or determine eligibility, was passed today by the House. The bill would also state that employers could not use genetic information in hiring, firing or promotion decisions.

The vote was 414-1. Who was the lonely on standing in the corner? Yup, that would be Texas’ own Ron Paul.

Voting against a bill like this? And he want to be President…

Paul is also pimping promoting his new book, The Revolution: A Manifesto on his campaign blog and at book signings.

From his April 30th blog post:

Today is an exciting day for our campaign and our movement: my new book, The Revolution: A Manifesto, is officially released.

Although a short book, it is the product of many years of thought and action. It is a defense of the principles to which you and I have devoted our lives.

My friends are calling it “Ron Paul’s legacy.”

These principles – individual liberty, sound money, the Constitution, and the foreign policy of the Founding Fathers – have had no home in American politics for a very long time. With The Revolution: A Manifesto, I’m letting the establishment know we’re not going away.

Finally, Americans can hear and judge these great American principles for themselves, instead of through an unfriendly media filter. And they can learn once and for all that they need not be satisfied with the phony choices the system offers them every four years. Another way really is possible.

Two days ago I did a book signing in New York at the Borders on Wall Street. All 530 copies had been sold before I even arrived.

They had underestimated you again.

Imagine the attention our cause and our principles could attract with a fantastic opening day today, with people marching into bookstores across the country for their copies. If it should become a publishing phenomenon, The Revolution: A Manifesto can fuel our revolution for a long time to come. You can make that happen.

I hope you enjoy this book, which was a real labor of love for me. Please spread the word.

And may the future be ours.

For liberty,

Ron Paul

D.C. Madam Found Dead

Deborah Jeane Palfrey, a.k.a. the D.C. Madam, has committed suicide. She was found hanged in a storage shed today. Suicide notes have been found but police have not released details about those notes.

She was found guilty April 15 of money laundering, racketeering and mail fraud and faced a maximum 55-year prison term at her sentencing, which was scheduled for July 24. She had vowed that she would never go to prison for running the high-end Washington prostitution ring.

Palfrey has denied that her escort service was involved in prostitution.

Breaking news HERE from CNN.com

Obama Couldn’t Get the Catholic Vote in Pennsylvania

The Pew Research released their findings of Catholic voters and candidate choice during the Pennsylvania Presidential Primary.

It shouldn’t be by anyone’s surprise that the exit polls showed Clinton winning the Catholic vote while Obama did well with the African American vote.

According to the Pew Research:

( in the exit polls), Clinton did very well with white Catholics, winning 72% of their vote. She also did well with white Protestants and Jews, winning 59% and 61% of their votes, respectively.

As in the past, Obama did very well with African Americans, most of whom are Protestants, winning 90% of their vote. He also won 62% of the religiously unaffiliated vote. Obama generally did well with non-whites and with religious minorities as well.

Were there any big surprises in the results?

The big surprise was how little change there was in the support for the candidates among religious groups despite the fierce campaigning in the state, which included extensive outreach to the Catholic community. Obama, for example, received strong support from Sen. Bob Casey, a popular Catholic politician. Some analysts expected the “Casey Democrats” to shift toward Obama and help him break into the white Catholic vote, but this didn’t really happen.

This result is reminiscent of the inability of Ted Kennedy to deliver white Catholics to Obama in the Massachusetts primary. All told, Clinton’s outreach to Catholics appears to have been more effective than Obama’s — but the same could also be said about her outreach to other faith groups.

Do we know why white Catholic voters have been choosing Clinton over Obama?

Not exactly. But the exit polls and other data reveal that the economy was the most important issue to Pennsylvania Democrats. We know that Catholic organizations, such as Catholics United, Catholics in Alliance for the Common Good and Catholics for the Common Good, have been emphasizing the theme of “the common good” in Pennsylvania and elsewhere. Clinton’s speeches on the economy, which include long lists of specific policy proposals, may well have boosted her standing among the state’s Catholics who share these concerns. She also likely benefited from memories of the more prosperous economy during her husband’s administration.

So does Obama have a serious problem attracting Catholic voters nationally?

From the point of view of the primaries, it appears that he does. The Obama campaign has made a strong effort to deal with this problem but has had only limited success so far.

Could this problem persist in the general election if Obama is the Democratic nominee? It might, and, if so, it would pose a challenge for Obama in battleground states like Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan. We should keep in mind, however, that many of the Democratic Catholics who did not vote for Obama in the primaries might well support him in the fall against John McCain. But on the other hand, not all white Catholics are Democrats — many are independents or Republicans. If nothing else, this means that white Catholics are a key group to watch.

To be fair, one might also ask if Clinton has an “African American problem” or an “unaffiliated problem.” After all, she has not done well with these groups in the primaries, and she will need strong support from these voters in the fall if she is her party’s nominee. One substantial difference, however, is that black Protestants and unaffiliated voters tend to be more strongly Democratic in their partisanship than white Catholics, so it might be easier for Clinton to rally them.

Read the full report about Obama’s Catholic Vote Problem here.

Roger Waters for Obama

From the AP:

Roger Waters brought Coachella to a close with an epic two-set performance that included playing all of “Dark Side of the Moon” and unleashing a giant inflated pig into the night sky.

The 64-year-old Waters, the third headliner of the three-day music festival following Prince and Jack Johnson, performed an elaborate, almost retrospective concert Sunday featuring music from throughout Pink Floyd’s catalog.

Old photographs of the band often flashed across the screen behind Waters and his current band, which played songs from “The Wall,” “Wish You Were Here” and “Animals,” among other Floyd albums. They also played “Dark Side” in its entirety, culminating with the album’s iconic triangle prism rising above the stage.

But Waters’ biggest prop was an inflatable pig the size of a school bus that emerged while he played a version of “Pigs” from 1977’s capitalism critique, “Animals.”

The pig, which was led above the crowd from lines held on the ground, displayed the words “Don’t be led to the slaughter” and a cartoon of Uncle Sam wielding two bloody cleavers. The other side read “Fear builds walls.”

The underside of the pig simply read “Obama” with a checked ballot box alongside.

As Waters drew the song to a close, flame bursts exploded on the sides of the stage and the swine floated into the night sky. Waters said sadly and comically, “That’s my pig.”

The performance also included speaker towers placed around the outside of the crowd. Smoke machines funneled across the stage and over the audience, thickening the atmosphere.

Post Penn Primary Commentary: Red State Update

Oh dear God…If you have not seen these guys before, be prepared.

These guys have been posting YouTube videos for quite some time. They’re rude, crude, and claim to be residents of a heavy red state. Their website is like a train wreck – you can’t help but look around.

Whether you’re a Dem or Republican, you can’t help but laugh.

From their website:

Red State Update with Jackie Broyles and Dunlap, coming to you from a bunker underneath Jackie’s Market in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Y’all feel free to look at our latest videos, buy stuff with our face on it, hell, stay all night with us if you like– we’ll make y’all a pallet on the floor.

WARNING: explicit language

Sen. Clinton Victory in Pennsylvania

As of this posting (10:19pm CST), CNN is reporting Sen. Hillary Clinton the victor in the Pennsylvania primary, 10 points ahead of Sen. Barack Obama and 88% of the precincts reporting.

The exit polls were already showing a sharp division per CNN:

Exit polls indicated that Philadelphia and its suburbs made up more than 30 percent of the vote, and those boxes were tilted heavily toward Obama. But Clinton supporters turned out heavily in Pittsburgh and the counties of western Pennsylvania, and she was racking up similarly lopsided margins in the state’s industrial northeast, those surveys found.

Clinton was expected to clench the blue collar workers while Obama drew in the college vote. The Democratic electorate in Pennsylvania includes more college-educated voters — a voting bloc that has reliably supported Obama.

The exit polls (2,217 respondents) also showed 59% of voters were women and 41% men. 52% of the males were for Obama and 57% of the females were for Sen. Clinton. Looks like in Pennsylvania the men stuck with the male candidate and the women stayed with the female candidate.

Voters under 40 years old were for Obama; over 40 for Clinton.

David Paul Kuhn of The Politico gives his explanation for how Clinton pulled off Pennsylvania.

Bill Clinton and the Voodoo Doll vs. “Race Card” Defense on Radio

Listen to Bill Clinton defending past remarks about Sen. Obama playing the race card, not himself. Be sure to listen to the very end…former President Clinton thought he had hung up the phone. You can hear him saying, “I don’t think I should take any sh** from anybody on that, do you?” obviously speaking to someone in the car or room where he was calling from.

After hearing Bill Clinton on the radio today (taped radio interview from the 21st) I needed some humor. Sooo…

This is from 2006 but still fun to watch! Enjoy

I wonder if Hillary is planning on using one of these…

S. Carolina High School Student Arrested For Bomb Plot

It still amazes me how easy it is for anyone – especially a high school student – to get the materials to make a bomb.

From ABC News:

The alleged plotter, Ryan Schallenberger, 18, was due in court Monday afternoon for a bond hearing. He was arrested Saturday after his parents called police because 10 pounds of ammonium nitrate was delivered to their home in Chesterfield. Police also said they discovered a disturbing journal.

“He seemed to hate the world. He hated people different from him — the rich boys with good-looking girlfriends,” said the town’s police chief, Randall Lear.

Schallenberger was one of the top students at the high school of about 580 students and had not caused any serious problems before his arrest, principal Scott Radkin said.

The teen was in the Chesterfield County jail Sunday night, charged with possessing materials to make bombs, the police chief said. Other than the bomb-making material, no other weapons were found at his home, Lear said.

Schallenberger kept a journal for more than a year that detailed his plans for a suicide attack and included maps of the school, police said. The writings did not include a specific time for the attack or the intended targets.

The teen planned to make several bombs and had all the supplies needed to kill dozens, depending on where the devices were placed and whether they included shrapnel, Lear said. Ammonium nitrate was used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995 that killed 168 people.

The 13th anniversary of the Oklahoma City Bombing was yesterday, Sunday the 20th.

Civil Rights Act 1871 aka Ku Klux Klan Act: Political History for Thought

The Civil Rights Museum

137 years ago today:

April 20, 1871

Congress passes the Civil Rights Act of 1871, a.k.a. the Ku Klux Klan Act. The Klan had formed in the immediate aftermath of the Civil War to keep the freed slaves down, and many of the recently repatriated Southern states had governments that were sympathetic to the Klan’s campaign of terror and violence. When, in 1870, the Republican governor of North Carolina, William Woods Holden, tried to call out the state militia to fight the Klan, he was impeached. The Klan Act made it possible to use federal troops to enforce the law and to prosecute Klansmen in federal courts. And it worked. Many Klansmen were imprisoned, and the Klan was effectively neutralized, not re-emerging as a major force until 1915. However, the civil rights gains of the former slaves were short-lived. Within a few years Southern Democrats had regained control of their states, and in 1877 President Rutherford Hayes withdrew federal troops from the former Confederacy, ending Reconstruction and leaving the freedmen on their own.

Be sure to click on the picture above to visit the museum and learn more about the various civil rights acts.

From Today in Political History on Newsweek.com

Obama and Clinton Debate: Who Came Out Ahead?

Democratic Debate Between Sen. Obama and Sen. Clinton Sponsored by ABC News and Facebook

Did you watch the Democratic debate on ABC Wednesday night? While Sen. Obama seemed to struggle the first part of the debate, Sen. Clinton really offered nothing in the way of a “take charge” kind of campaign. Well, I guess if you call her attacks on Obama taking charge. She really needed to stand out at tonight’s debate but I’m left scratching my head and wondering who really came out ahead. I tend to lean more toward Obama, mostly because he had to answer questions about Rev. Wright’s remarks and defend his own “bitter” comments.

Sen. Clinton stood tall and well versed but seemed to stammer and never really come to a clear answer when she was questioned about her misstatements regarding sniper fire in Bosnia.

And what about the comment to Sen. Obama about his patriotism and not wearing the American flag pin? To the person that asked him about the pin – Where in the hell have you been? This is so old news and he must have answered this type of question at least a dozen times last year. You couldn’t ask him something about taxes or something more important?

Neither one of them would really comment on agreeing to a “dream ticket” however, Clinton did say that she has confidence that Democrats will go to the polls for either her or Obama come November. She said that there may be differences between the two of them, but the differences are much closer in comparison than to those of McCain. In other words, she was making a point to tell Democrats to support the blue ticket and that McCain is not an option come November. AMEN.

According to an ABC poll, viewers seem to think that Obama came out ahead in the debate.

I’m not so sure. I do think that both candidates need to be answering more questions about taxes and the economy. Anyway, I’m a little disappointed by the whole thing.

What do you think?

From Facebook:

Will Hillary Get The Colbert Bump?

I have a political science professor that gave me this paper to read this past weekend. The paper, which will be presented in the upcoming July issue of PS: Political Science and Politics, explains the pattern of success or lack of, when a congressional or presidential candidate appears on The Colbert Report and in turn, receives a “Colbert Bump” in financial support. He compares the “Hall of Heroes” (those who are brave enough to go on the show) and the “Hall of Cowards” (speaks for itself!). I had to chuckle yesterday as I was reading it, wondering how long and even if Sen. Hillary Clinton was going to make the big step and appear on the show just for the possibility that it might help her campaign. Low and behold, I read last night that she will indeed make her appearance on the Comedy Central political news show this Thursday.

James Fowler, author of the academic paper, “The Colbert Bump in Campaign Donations:
More Truthful than Truthy,” discusses Stephen Colbert’s own presidential run and popularity.

These graphs show that Democrats who appear on The Colbert Report enjoy a significant
increase in the number and total amount of donations they receive in the next 30-40 days, compared to similar candidates who do not appear on the show.

Fowler also states that some politicians are leary of going on the show:

Nancy Pelosi recommended that members of her own party avoid the show—she might have been projecting her expectations about her own performance if she were to appear.

You’ll have to read Fowler’s paper to understand just how this plays in. I suggest you print it out (it’s not as dull as you think), pour a cup of coffee and enjoy what political scientists really get to study. I guess I wasn’t too far off when I decided to do Political Blogs as a thesis. In any case, I’ll be watching Thursday night and we’ll just have to see if Clinton gets the bump or not.

McCain is Banking on Obama’s “Bitter” Remark

 

Wow. If thisisn’t flooding the blogs and new media this afternoon. McCain’s campaign jumped right on the heels of Sen. Obama’s “elitist” comment last week to head a new campaign strategy.

From an email sent to Sen. McCain’s supporters entilited, “A bitter America?”:

If Barack Obama is the Democrat nominee in the general election, the American people will have a clear choice between two different visions – Senator Obama’s liberal, elitist philosophy and John McCain’s faith in the small town values that continue to make America great. John McCain will not forget them or write them off. Neither should Barack Obama.

We are up against a large fundraising hurdle if Barack Obama is the nominee and we need your help now. Even before the general election begins, the differences are clear, we must do everything we can to make sure these beliefs don’t make it into the White House.

The fundraising email was sent out to encourage America to keep such an “elitist” out of the White House. What about Hillary’s whiskey “chugging” (that’s not how you take a whiskey shot!) and beer chaser antics at an Indiana bar on Saturday? Next McCain’s campaign will be attacking that alcoholics don’t belong in the White House either.

Don’t you just love dirty politics???

President Bush to Reduce Troop Size and Time in Middle East

President Bush will announce today his plan to decrease troop size and tour of duty lengths per the Washington Post. General Petraeus’ testimony on Capitol Hill this week seems to have left an impression with Bush.

I will honestly believe this when I see it happening with my own two eyes.

From the Washington Post (free registration required):

President Bush plans to announce today that he will cut Army combat tours in Iraq from 15 months to 12 months, returning rotations to where they were before last year’s troop buildup in an effort to alleviate the tremendous stress on the military, administration officials said.

The move is in response to intense pressure from service commanders who have expressed anxiety about the toll of long deployments on their soldiers and, more broadly, about the U.S. military’s ability to confront unanticipated threats. Bush will announce the decision during a national speech, in which aides said he will also embrace Army Gen. David H. Petraeus’s plan to indefinitely suspend a drawdown of forces.

The bottom line seems to be that after pulling out the extra forces Bush sent last year, the United States will keep about 140,000 troops in Iraq at least through the November presidential election. In the short term, the debate in Washington instead will focus more intently on trade-offs at home, including the strain on the armed forces and the Treasury.

The elimination of 15-month tours will restore deployments to an equal balance of one year in the war zone followed by one year at home. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates extended the tours almost exactly a year ago to provide enough forces for Bush’s “surge” of 20,000 additional combat troops and 8,000 support troops. But Army leaders have complained about the strain.

Gen. Richard A. Cody, the Army’s outgoing vice chief of staff, told the House Armed Services Committee yesterday that the Army is “out of balance” and that the current demand for forces in Iraq and Afghanistan “exceeds the sustainable supply.” He added that “soldiers, families, support systems and equipment are stretched and stressed by the demands of lengthy and repeated deployments, with insufficient recovery time.”

“Stretched” to say the least. Where do you see this most notably? How about when there is a natural disaster such as flooding or tornado clean-up and there is little of the National Guard left to go around. It’s the same scenario with boarder duty right now. A lot of land to keep an eye on, little troops to assign down south.

Being around the military for as long as I have, I just never count on anything until it actually happens. I never understood the whole 15 month tour. It’s bad enough to have to stay focused on your mission for a year, but 15 months? I only hope that Bush’s plan is true and followed through as promised.

Please, please stop by America Supports You and send a message to the troops.

Obama’s Gonna Take Away My Second Admendment Rights!

Ummm.. No he isn’t. Living in Texas, I have to hear crap like this all the time and not just about Sen. Obama but also about Sen. Clinton.

This posting today is in response to a comment that was left on my previous post but I need to address it because I had to endure comments like this at the senate convention and occasionally when people try to put their “knowledge” in about which candidate will really being screwing society. I’ll be putting my own two cents in (because I’m a blogger and I can!) at the end of this post so be sure to read through.

First of all:

The comment posted was:

“Obama isn’t telling how he stands on issues, such as he is for the banning of guns. Obama will not be able to be wishy washy in the general election. The American people have a right to know where he stands on issues! Hunters should be flopping to Hillary Clinton now and to McCain later!”

Okay, first of all, as I put in my response, whether you vote Obama or Hillary, just be sure you vote for either!

PROTECTING GUN RIGHTS
Respect the Second Amendment: Millions of hunters own and use guns each year. Millions more participate
in a variety of shooting sports such as sporting clays, skeet, target and trap shooting that may not necessarily involve hunting. As a former constitutional law professor, Barack Obama believes the Second Amendment creates an individual right, and he greatly respects the constitutional rights of Americans to bear arms. He will protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns for the purposes of hunting and target shooting. He also believes that the right is subject to reasonable and commonsense regulation.

Secondly, I almost wanted to reach over and strangle the man sitting close by me at the convention when he said if Hillary didn’t win, he was voting for McCain. Are you kidding? He said that Obama is going to get rid of all of our nuclear weapons and that Russia will just be waiting to wipe us off the planet. I have no idea where he pulled this little tidbit from because I have never heard like this. As usual, he may have only heard a blip of something Sen. Obama has said or something that was taken out of context, but here is Obama’s stand on the issues of nuclear weapons and foreign policy. I must be blind because I don’t see where his plan is to get rid of our nuclear weapons. Keep in mind, when this man at the convention made his declaration for Hillary and then McCain, it was before Sen. Obama’s recent statement,

I think it would be a profound mistake for us to use nuclear weapons in any circumstance” in Afghanistan or Pakistan, Obama said. He then added that he would not use such weapons in situations “involving civilians.”

“Let me scratch that,” he said. “There’s been no discussion of nuclear weapons. That’s not on the table.”

Now I’m not sure if this was taken out of context or exactly how it was meant, but I know that he did make a statement about not using nuclear weapons against Osama bin Laden. Why would you anyway? All it would take to get rid of bin Laden is to actually FIND HIM, maybe include a grenade, mortar round, and throw in a few shots from an M-16. But go nuclear? Good grief. If a top advisor on foreign policy has endorsed Sen. Obama, than that’s good enough for me.

I’m so blasted disgusted with hearing people who call themselves Democrats making statements such as “If ’so an so candidate’ doesn’t win, I’m voting for McCain!” MCCAIN? Seriously people, that is not a statement you should be proud to make if you are truly are a democrat. Just sit back and think about.

You may not like certain things Clinton says or certain things Obama states, or whether or not you “think” you know how they stand on issues that liberals believe in. BUT and I stress a big BUT here, who would McCain appoint to the Supreme Court? How much longer is your husband, son, brother, loved one or even your children (AS THEY GROW OLDER ) going to be in Iraq or Afghanistan? We are only in 2008 and my husband has been slated for a 2010 deployment.

Yes…reality is that the military IS planning that far ahead. Before you think of going red and leaving your blue morals at home, what are the long term effects? I’m stressing longer term in the case of a president coming and going but members of the Supreme Court AND their decisions hanging around. On one hand McCain says that he doesn’t believe that a woman’s right to choose should be a judicial issue but then he goes on to state that the Pro-Life movement has made tremendous strides and that adoption might be a better path. Furthermore, he even has the statement, “At its core, abortion is a human tragedy. To effect meaningful change, we must engage the debate at a human level.” right on his website! Before you get into a tiffy, see what he has to say about the issues directly from his website.

Is this a choice for Democrats? NO.

Shame on any “democrat” that says he/she won’t support the candidate that they didn’t vote for in the primaries.

Whether it’s Sen. Clinton or Sen. Obama on our ticket this November, I’ll be there in my BLUE shirt, BLUE jeans, and BLUE vote.

There’s my two cents.

Have You Flip-Flopped Your Choice For the Democratic Nomination?

You’re not the only one. I went back and forth, only deciding the month before we went to the polls. Gallup released their findings today stating that 1 in 4 Democrats have switched candidate choice at least once. The report also shows that support for Sen. Obama has increased since the start of the primary season in January. 19% of all Democrats and Democratic leaners — have moved out of Clinton’s ranks and into Obama’s, while 7% have taken the reverse path, switching from Obama to Clinton per their report.

Despite the cumulative amount of change in the Democratic race since January, only 26% of Democrats indicate they have changed their preference from one of the top two candidates to the other. Most appear to be steadfast in their support for either Clinton or Obama.

Obama has been in front, with his lead over Clinton reaching 10 points (52% vs. 42%) in late March.

Should be interesting to watch is these numbers tighten again after the debate on the 16th.

Blogger Protection Act of 2008

So I’m a week late and a dollar short. I was doing research tonight for my thesis “Political Blogs: Are they an influence in the political realm?” that I’m presenting this week (don’t worry, just the final touches for any last minute breaking news) and I stumbled upon this. I was aware of talks about the bill last month but I’ve been so up to my eyeballs in thesis work that I’d forgotten all about it.

On April 3rd, the “Blogger Protection Act of 2008” was introduced by Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-TX). The bill would protect bloggers from strict campaign finance regulations.

What does this mean? Bloggers and their blogs would have the same protections granted to other forms of media under federal campaign finance laws. Additionally, they would have the same First Amendment rights as those in traditional media. (Just don’t get paid by their campaign to blog!)

The legislation also protects bloggers from ever being considered to have made a contribution or expenditure on behalf of, or in opposition to, a candidate by simply linking to campaign websites or writing about the positions of federal candidates.

Another advancement for recognizing bloggers as the “citizen journalists” they (we?) are! You may recall the decision in favor of DailyKos last September. The ruling stated that the elite Liberal Political Blog did not violate the Federal Election Campaign Act and any campaign finance law.

Woohoo!

From Rep. Jeb Hensarling’s website:

Two years ago, the Federal Election Commission (FEC) issued regulations that protected bloggers from being hampered by certain campaign finance laws. Under these regulations, bloggers cannot be considered to have made a contribution or expenditure on behalf of (or in opposition to) a candidate simply because they link to campaign websites or write about the positions of federal candidates. Additionally, blogs are treated as any other publication under the general media exemption from most campaign finance restrictions. Without such protections, bloggers could be subject to various limitations and reporting requirements under campaign finance law.

But these blogger protections are just regulatory—they are not in statute. As you may know, regulations can be changed without congressional action, and there’s no telling what a future FEC might decide to do. Furthermore, the FEC is currently defunct because of vacancies and a lack of quorum. Therefore, we shouldn’t put the freedom of bloggers in the regulatory hands of the FEC. Congress should protect them in law.

That’s why next week I’m introducing the Blogger Protection Act of 2008—to put the FEC’s regulatory protections of the freedom of bloggers into law.

If you want to support the bill, you can download this pdf file from Comparative Politics and send it to Congress. HURRY!

Blogging is Hazardous to Your Health

Seriously…weight loss or gain, sleep disorders, exhaustion from blogging? Sheesh. I’m glad that I’m just a nobody who doesn’t get paid to do this…

As for blogging being the cause of stress and even death in these individual’s lives, substitute blogging for any other job like let’s say, a surgeon, air traffic controller, or even a mother of three year old twins and this story wouldn’t even be making the news rounds.

Here’s a piece from the full story at the NY Times:

They work long hours, often to exhaustion. Many are paid by the piece — not garments, but blog posts. This is the digital-era sweatshop. You may know it by a different name: home.

A growing work force of home-office laborers and entrepreneurs, armed with computers and smartphones and wired to the hilt, are toiling under great physical and emotional stress created by the around-the-clock Internet economy that demands a constant stream of news and comment.

Of course, the bloggers can work elsewhere, and they profess a love of the nonstop action and perhaps the chance to create a global media outlet without a major up-front investment. At the same time, some are starting to wonder if something has gone very wrong. In the last few months, two among their ranks have died suddenly.

Two weeks ago in North Lauderdale, Fla., funeral services were held for Russell Shaw, a prolific blogger on technology subjects who died at 60 of a heart attack. In December, another tech blogger, Marc Orchant, died at 50 of a massive coronary. A third, Om Malik, 41, survived a heart attack in December.

To be sure, there is no official diagnosis of death by blogging, and the premature demise of two people obviously does not qualify as an epidemic. There is also no certainty that the stress of the work contributed to their deaths. But friends and family of the deceased, and fellow information workers, say those deaths have them thinking about the dangers of their work style.

The pressure even gets to those who work for themselves — and are being well-compensated for it.

“I haven’t died yet,” said Michael Arrington, the founder and co-editor of TechCrunch, a popular technology blog. The site has brought in millions in advertising revenue, but there has been a hefty cost. Mr. Arrington says he has gained 30 pounds in the last three years, developed a severe sleeping disorder and turned his home into an office for him and four employees. “At some point, I’ll have a nervous breakdown and be admitted to the hospital, or something else will happen.”

Some advise for the “working” bloggers of the world, take a vacation and destress. It’s just a job like everyone else’s. At least you are getting paid to do so. Would you rather be broke and without work?

Obama Girl’s Video to Hillary Clinton

Obama Girl to Hillary Clinton: Stop the Attacks!

Chris Matthews has a crush on Obama?

Just a note: If you watch the commercial at the end, there is language that some may find offensive.

Remains Found of Last Missing/Captured Soldier in Iraq

Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin is finally coming home. Captured during an ambush in April of 2004, SSG Maupin’s remains have been confirmed as being his through DNA analysis.

Read the story from the Cincinnati Enquirer.

My heart and prayers go out to Matt’s family.

More than 100 people gathered Sunday night in a candlelight vigil in a drizzling rain outside the Eastgate office of the Yellow Ribbon Support Center, the organization founded by Matt Maupin’s parents to help other military people serving overseas. (From the Cincinnati Enquirer)

Texas State Convention This Weekend Amongst Talk Radio Host Controversy

As I put on my delegate running shoes for this weekend’s state convention, I will hope and pray that it goes ten times smoother than our state caucus did.

I have been in contact with the TX State Democratic Party and confirmed that indeed I am on the list as a delegate. The fiasco that we endured on March 4th left me wondering.

I have also signed on to volunteer for Rick Noriega’s Senatorial Campaign and will be out spreading the word about Lt. Col. Noriega’s accomplishments as a United States Serviceman, TX House Representative, and where he stands on the issues that Texans are concerned with. Make sure you stop on by his website and get to know him. It’s time to get rid of John Cornyn.

With my Rick Noriega for Senate sticker on, my comfortable shoes, and proud Democract smile, I’ll be there amongst all the other Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama supporters. I’ll let you guess who I’m voting for.

Now there are some that are trying to stir up controversy, maybe because their hungry or having relapses of previous addictions, or whatever, but to make it sound like this is the first time that a voter has crossed party lines to screw things up for their true party, just isn’t so. I know of a certain individual that crossed his party line to vote for the opposition not too long ago. In fact, in January, Daily Kos (liberal blog) urged readers in Michigan to vote for Mitt Romney in the GOP primary for similar reasons. So this is nothing new. GET OVER YOURSELF.

Just be frank, you cross party lines because you’re either pissed off at who your party has elected as your presidential candidate or you didn’t have a decent array of presidential candidates to choose from. Yes, there is the fact that you don’t want the opposing party in office, but it’s the satisfaction of trying to corrupt the opposing party’s votes that motivate you. This gives you permission to lie and deceive.

Ahhhhh… true democracy

“Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.”–Robert Byrne.

Yes, you may be making an impact, but I am too. The difference? I’m doing it truthfully and honorably. I am from the Left and an example of a Liberal and a Democrat. Oh wait, you said:

“Everybody is going on and on and on about Mrs. Clinton, surprised that she is a liar. I said yesterday, “Why should this surprise anybody? The Clintons lie.” It isn’t that we know she lies, but don’t all liberals lie? Not necessarily in their personal lives, but liberalism is an ideology built on lies. It doesn’t work, it cannot work, and yet liberalism requires the making of false promises and the breaking of promises, so all liberal politicians lie because liberalism is a lie.”

 

Hmmm…liberalism ideology is an ideology built on lies. I think you have your facts backwards. Put down the crack pipe, hero sandwich and prescription medications and look up the history and meaning of liberalism. But hey, what does Stanford know? Obviously those in talk-radio know all. Do you use Conservapedia as a resource on a regular basis? Very scholarly!

But whatever huh? I’m just a part of what you refer to as the “Drive-Bys” or “Liberals.”

Anyway, I refuse to let my blood boil because I believe I am above that. I’m just proud to be a part of this election and have the opportunity to be a delegate. I’m also proud to be a supporter of a true American, who serves his country and never disrespects his soldiers.

But I’ll be sure to keep my eye out for those “operatives” that are “under the radar.” Covert operation. Ha!

As I lay down tonight, I will remind myself that I am a liberal. To put it simple terms for you, “anything that is not conservative.”

So put that in your crack pipe and smoke it.

One last personal note:

What would I know anyway? I’m only educated and happily married (yes, only once and not 3 times) to a military service member. I didn’t flunk out of college and my husband went through boot camp with a broken hand. I guess having some kind of pimple on your rumpus constitutes not serving your country.

Bravo to Thomas F. Schaller for his piece called “Microphone Marines” in the October 10, 2007 edition of the Baltimore Sun.

Street Fighting with the Democrats

You chose. Do you want to be Obama or Clinton?

Ready…fight!

Click on image to play

Easter at the White House:Waiting for Your Caption

Ummm… what is this picture saying to you?

Hillary Clinton and the CBS Controvesy

Did Sen. Clinton simply “misspeak” as her campaign reports or is she simply making up stories as she goes along the campaign trail? I would think that the exhausting trek across the country while giving speeches and campaigning for the Democratic vote might even make Einstein mix up certain past events and trips to foreign countries.

Hell, I can’t even remember which grocery store I went to last week, let alone what day of the week we’re on.

During a speech last Monday on Iraq, Senator Clinton recalls the Bosnia trip: “I remember landing under sniper fire. There was supposed to be some kind of a greeting ceremony at the airport, but instead we just ran with our heads down to get into the vehicles to get to our base.”

CBS is contradicting Sen. Clinton’s memory of the Bosnia trip because of the fact that one of their reporters was there with Clinton at the time.

Here’s the clip so you decide:

Happy Easter!

Old School Parody: The Capitol Hill-Billies

From Season 4 of In Living Color (1993-94)

That’s Jim Carrey as Bill Clinton.

Joke of the Day – State Mottos

State Mottos

Alabama: Hell Yes, We Have Electricity

Alaska: 11,623 Eskimos Can’t Be Wrong!

Arizona: But It’s A Dry Heat

Arkansas: Literacy Ain’t Everything

California: By 30, Our Women Have More Plastic Than Your Honda

Colorado: If You Don’t Ski, Don’t Bother

Connecticut: Like Massachusetts, Only The Kennedy’s Don’t Own It-Yet

Delaware: We Really Do Like The Chemicals In Our Water

Florida: Ask Us About Our Grandkids

Georgia: We Put The “Fun” In Fundamentalist Extremism

Hawaii: Haka Tiki Mou Sha’ami Leeki Toru (Death To Mainland Scum, But Leave
Your Money)

Idaho: More Than Just Potatoes…Well Okay, We’re Not, But The Potatoes Sure
Are Real Good

Illinois: Please Don’t Pronounce the “S”

Indiana: 2 Billion Years Tidal Wave Free

Iowa: We Do Amazing Things With Corn

Kansas: First Of The Rectangle States

Kentucky: Five Million People; Fifteen Last Names

Louisiana: We’re Not ALL Drunk Cajun Wackos, But That’s Our Tourism Campaign

Maine: We’re Really Cold, But We Have Cheap Lobster

Maryland: If You Can Dream It, We Can Tax It

Massachusetts: Our Taxes Are Lower Than Sweden’s (For Most Tax Brackets)

Michigan: First Line Of Defense From The Canadians

Minnesota: 10,000 Lakes… And 10,000,000,000,000 Mosquitoes

Mississippi: Come And Feel Better About Your Own State

Missouri: Your Federal Flood Relief Tax Dollars At Work

Montana: Land Of The Big Sky, The Unabomber, Right-Wing Crazies, And Very
Little Else

Nebraska: Ask About Our State Motto Contest

Nevada: Hookers and Poker!

New Hampshire: Go Away And Leave Us Alone

New Jersey: You Want A ##$%##! Motto? I Got Yer ##$%##! Motto Right Here!

New Mexico: Lizards Make Excellent pets

New York: You Have The Right To Remain Silent, You Have The Right To An
Attorney….

North Carolina: Tobacco Is A Vegetable

North Dakota: We Really Are One Of The 50 States!

Ohio: At Least We’re Not Michigan

Oklahoma: Like The Play, Only No Singing

Oregon: Spotted Owl… It’s What’s For Dinner

Pennsylvania: Cook With Coal

Rhode Island: We’re Not REALLY An Island

South Carolina: Remember The Civil War? We Didn’t Actually Surrender

South Dakota: Closer Than North Dakota

Tennessee: The Educashun State

Texas: Si’ Hablo Ing’les

Utah: Our Jesus Is Better Than Your Jesus

Vermont: Yep

Virginia: Who Says Government Stiffs And Slackjaw Yokels Don’t Mix?

Washington: Help! We’re Overrun By Nerds And Slackers!

Washington, D.C.: Wanna Be Mayor?

West Virginia: One Big Happy Family… Really!

Wisconsin: Come Cut The Cheese

Wyoming: Where Men Are Men… and the sheep are scared

Joke of the Day – What is Politics?

 

As I’m trying to frantically finish my thesis, I decided the next two weeks will have light postings and mostly filled with jokes and video clips; that is, unless, something juicy happnens!!! 

What Is Politics?

A little boy goes to his dad and asks, “What is politics?”

Dad says, “Well son, let me try to explain it this way: I’m the breadwinner of the family, so let’s call me capitalism. Your Mom, she’s the administrator of the money, so we’ll call her the Government. We’re here to take care of your needs, so we’ll call you the people. The nanny, we’ll consider her the Working Class. And your baby brother, we’ll call him the Future. Now, think about that and see if that makes sense,”

So the little boy goes off to bed thinking about what dad had said.

Later that night, he hears his baby brother crying, so he gets up to check on him. He finds that the baby has severely soiled his diaper. So the little boy goes to his parents’ room and finds his mother sound asleep. Not wanting to wake her, he goes to the nanny’s room. Finding the door locked, he peeks in the keyhole and sees his father in bed with the nanny. He gives up and goes back to bed. The next morning, the little boy says to his father, “Dad, I think I understand the concept of politics now.”

The father says, “Good son, tell me in your own words what you think politics is all about.”

The little boy replies, “Well, while Capitalism is screwing the Working Class, the Government is sound asleep, the People are being ignored and the Future is in deep poo.”

Friday Fun: The Dark Knight Countdown

With the weekend here, I’d figure to back off of politics for the day and post something to look forward to.

The Dark Knight, the sequel to Batman Begins is scheduled to open this July and with a lot of anticipation. Read the story from the AP here about the movie’s recent screening and tribute to late actor Heath Ledger, the movie’s Joker.

Enjoy the clips and see you at the movies!

“Dr. Death” is Considering Michigan Congressional Run

Talk about publicity stunt. Assisted suicide advocate Jack Kevorkian plans to run as a candidate with no party affiliation for a congressional seat representing Detroit’s suburbs. I thought this was truly a joke when I first read it, but alas, the story is breaking all over the web. Does he really have a chance?
What makes a convicted felon and suicide advocate qualified for such a political and public role?

Well, according to the AP:

“Jack is in great spirits, and he intends to do this. He just hopes for some honesty in government,” said Ruth Holmes, Kevorkian’s longtime jury consultant.

Kevorkian plans to focus on prison reform and bringing integrity to the government, Holmes said. She said the retired pathologist was not available for an interview and would make a formal announcement next week.

Kevorkian told The Oakland Press of Pontiac, Mich., which first reported his plans on Wednesday, that his campaign was in a “formative stage” and that he was running because “we need some honesty and sincerity instead of corrupt government in Washington.”

Holmes said Kevorkian would need to collect 3,000 signatures by mid-July to be placed on the ballot. “That will be very easy for Jack,” she predicted.

Kevorkian, 79, claims to have helped at least 130 people die from 1990 until 1998 — the year he was charged in the death of Thomas Youk, a 52-year-old Oakland County man with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Kevorkian has promised not to help in any other assisted suicides and could go back to prison if he did.

He was released from prison in June 2007 after serving the minimum of his 10- to 25-year sentence for second-degree murder in Youk’s death. He spent eight years and 2 1/2 months behind bars after earning time off for good behavior.

Hmm… “prison reform and bringing integrity to the government.” Guess I could see his experience about prison, but integrity??? As for the whole convicted felon aspect, Kevorkian CAN run.

Again, from the AP:

To serve in Congress, the Constitution requires someone to be 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for seven years and to reside in the state they would represent, but it does not prevent a convicted felon from seeking office.

House ethics rules say members who have been convicted of a crime while in office that leads to at least a 2-year sentence should not vote or participate in committee work. But it says a lawmaker’s privileges are reinstated if the member is found innocent or re-elected after the conviction.

Kelly Chesney, a spokeswoman for the Michigan secretary of state’s office, said state election law only governs legislative and state offices and there is nothing that would prevent Kevorkian from running for federal office.

Michigan allows convicted felons to vote once they’ve served their sentence.

Well, all I can say is that if I were Kevorkian’s opponents, I wouldn’t try any of his special cocktails that he whips up.

Texas Caucus Missing Precinct Packets

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???

Following up on my Texas Caucus nightmare, 74 of the 874 precinct packets have yet to be located! One excuse is that some precincts didn’t have any democrats – but 74 of them???

Isn’t this proof enough that the 2008 Texas caucus needs to be thrown out or redone as a LEGAL process? I’m just so completely appalled by the whole fiasco and the fact that a week later Texas Democrats are still waiting for an official caucus count.

Sen. Clinton’s Campaign and LULAC (The League of United Latin American Citizens) has even considered filing lawsuits over the caucus while Texas Democratic Party chairman Boyd Richie urges the party to work from within to prevent such lawsuits.

From the Houston Chronicle:

March 11, 2008, 8:42PM
Harris County Dems have yet to start caucus tally
Files still being collected as clerk eyes irregularities

By CAROLYN FEIBEL
Copyight 2008 Houston Chronicle

The outcome of the March 4 Democratic caucuses remains unknown in Harris County.

The count has not even begun. Instead, Harris County Democratic Party Chairman Gerry Birnberg said Tuesday, party volunteers still are collecting packets from the 874 precincts, copying the caucus documents, and tracking down precincts that did not deliver a packet to party headquarters.

About 800 of the precincts have been accounted for, said April Lloyd, the assistant primary director.

“We think there are some precincts with no Democrats, so they didn’t have a caucus, and some may have (incorrectly) mailed theirs to the state Democratic Party,” Birnberg said.

Precincts should have turned in their caucus materials to the county party by last Friday. The delegate lists from each precinct will be sorted into their respective state senate districts — there are seven covering Harris County — and sent to the district officials for the actual count of local delegates. The handover to the districts could be completed as early as today, Birnberg said.

Regional party conventions are set for March 29. Before then, party officials in each district will have to screen the people who caucused on March 4. If any are found ineligible, the delegate allocation between Clinton and Obama could be adjusted for the regional convention.

Some caucus-goers may be found ineligible if their primary vote is disqualified. The Harris County Clerk’s office is reviewing voting irregularities. The clerk’s office said 1,473 provisional ballots were cast — a record for a primary election. Two-thirds of those have been disqualified as ineligible, said county clerk spokesman Hector de Leon.

The office also is reviewing 884 voters who appeared to have voted twice — during early voting and on election day. The office also is examining 1,091 voters who appear to have voted in both the Democratic and Republican primaries.

“(They) took literally the admonition that they should ‘vote twice,’ ” Birnberg said. “It’s also a criminal offense.”

Under the state election code, voting twice is a third-degree felony.

TEXAS DELEGATE COUNT

This is an unofficial delegate count for Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. (The precinct caucus count is not yet complete.) Based on popular vote: Clinton, 65; Obama, 61

Projected from caucuses: Clinton, 30; Obama, 37

Superdelegates: Clinton, 12; Obama, 10; uncommitted, 13

Unofficial total: Clinton, 107; Obama, 108

 

Is Geraldine Ferraro A Racist?

Tempers and words were flying today on both sides of the Democratic candidate camps. While the focus should have been on the Mississippi primary, statements were issued from both Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama about a recent statement that former 1984 VP candidate, Geraldine Ferraro made.

From the AP:

In a brief interview with The Associated Press, Clinton said she regretted Ferraro’s remarks. The Obama campaign has called on the New York senator to denounce the comments and remove Ferraro from her unpaid position with the campaign.

Last week, Ferraro told the Daily Breeze of Torrance, Calif.: “If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position. And if he was a woman (of any color) he would not be in this position. He happens to be very lucky to be who he is. And the country is caught up in the concept.”

She also faulted a “very sexist media” in the historic race between a man bidding to be the first black president and a former first lady seeking to become the first female president.

In the AP interview, Clinton said, “I do not agree with that,” and later added, “It’s regrettable that any of our supporters — on both sides, because we both have this experience — say things that kind of veer off into the personal.”

“We ought to keep this on the issues. There are differences between us” on approaches to issues such as health care and energy.

Ferraro is a former New York congresswoman and was Walter Mondale’s running mate when he was the Democratic presidential nominee in 1984. She has endorsed Clinton and raised money for her campaign.

Obama called Ferraro’s comments “patently absurd.”

“I don’t think Geraldine Ferraro’s comments have any place in our politics or in the Democratic Party. They are divisive. I think anybody who understands the history of this country knows they are patently absurd,” he told the Allentown Morning Call.

Obama senior adviser David Axelrod said Ferraro should be removed from her position with the Clinton campaign because of her comments.

“The bottom line is this, when you wink and nod at offensive statements, you’re really sending a signal to your supporters that anything goes,” Axelrod said in a conference call with reporters.

A defiant Ferraro dismissed the criticism in an interview with Fox News. (see video below)

So is Ferraro a racist or is she merely stating the truth that no one wants to admit? While anyone can stand there and argue that race and gender is not an issue in this election, I ask you to look at the droves of people turning out to vote in this election. It’s not an issue of blacks voting for blacks or women voting for women, but an issue of electing a history making president in a role that has been dominated by white males since our forefathers. Let’s say Sen. Clinton and Sen. Obama were not the presidential candidates but rather John Edwards and Dennis Kucinich. Would we still see the record breaking turnouts at the polls as we are witnessing? NO. You know it and I know it. We may be sick of the current Bush Administration but the fact that the nomination is now between an African American and a female IS AN ISSUE OF RACE AND GENDER. Like it or not, admit it. We may not head into the polling booth with race or gender on the mind, but it IS there subconsciously. I would hope that the majority of voters are going to the polls with issues and agendas as the main focus for our choice, but we wouldn’t be standing in line for hours if those two white male candidates were on the ticket.

I am currently taking a Politics and the Media course and I have learned a lot more about bias in the media than I ever cared to know. Now it could be that we are only hearing sound bites that the gatekeepers of the media want us to hear, (just look at past political sound bites) and it could be that Ferraro merely spoke before thinking. Either way, I don’t condone what she has said but is what she said intent or interpretation?

Remember, this IS politics and as the horse race gets tighter, words will get nastier.

Here is the video from FOX News:

SNL and Hillary’s 3am Phone Call

The real campaign ad:

The SNL version :

click on picture to go to link

Want to Know Where to Find the Best Price in Gas?

As gas prices continue to soar, I thought I would post a link to help you find (hopefully) low gas prices in your area. I found one story about how college students will be hanging back this Spring Break and not taking the driving vacation once planned. My Spring Break may be over but I still have a 40 minute commute each morning to class.

Ron Paul Says He’s Done? Not really…

Releasing the following video (ugh – over 7 1/2 min!) to his supporters on his website, Ron Paul says that he’s calling it quits in the the Presidential race is winding down. No offense Dr./Rep. Paul, but even here in Texas we’ve already forgotten that you were still in this race. All he’s really doing in this video message is saying that he’s taking a back seat and while not officially dropping out, he’ll remain in to encourage the vote for liberty.

Gotta give the man credit though. He ran his campaign off of his own money and Grassroots support from his die-hard fans supporters. You were fun to watch though!

See you in 2o12.

UPDATE: I’m thinking Paul never officially got out of the race to help promote his new book and book sales.

The Texas Caucus Chaos: What A Nightmare We Had

I’m in Precinct 874 in Harris County, Houston/Spring.

So we arrived at 7:00pm with two huge lines already formed. We were told that if we supported Barack Obama to stand in one line or if we supported Hillary Clinton to go into another. My husband and I are voting differently so we went our separate ways. As I’m standing in line, a man in front of me and I were talking about why there was a separation of the candidates. He didn’t think it was right either. Our line actually went out into the street with cars honking at us but yet we remained composed and orderly.

After about 45 minutes, the line began to move and excitement filled the air. We were then instructed to get in to groups according to precinct. It was very dark and chaos was only beginning. My husband and I met up again and we couldn’t figure out why we were separated to begin with. With precinct numbers being shouted out (I think we heard 5 or 6 of them), we formed another group of about 150-200 people off to the side. Outside we stood, in the cold, waiting.

Around 9:15pm or so, our precinct was told to move under a covered area and form another line. We still had no idea what was going on. When we finally started coming up to a table, we realized people were signing in with their name, address, and candidate choice, THEN LEAVING. We looked at one another and thought this was wrong because delegates were still needing to be chosen. With no one in charge and the volunteer at the table telling people to leave after they signed in (he was wearing a Clinton button), I became furious. Another volunteer (wearing an Obama sticker) came running into the covered area shouting at people to NOT LEAVE after they signed in and to make sure they waited. Looking around, 2/3 of our precinct had left! There were still many who were walking off after signing in.

Our turn came, we signed in and waited. Now there were about 20 of us left. As the last man was signing his name, a woman who had come out of the voting center announced that we needed to pick a secretary and a chair. After that, she turned and collected all of the sign-in sheets and said that we needed to choose delegates. She said we needed 16 delegates, immediately 16 (of the 20) hands went up. Presto. Done. She said sign the sheet (yes another sheet) with name, phone number, email, and candidate of choice and that we would be delegates for the next level on March 29th. I was the 15th to sign (my husband was the 16th) and noticed the candidate preference listed by the names above mine were clearly for one candidate. I only saw four others that listed the other candidate.

My husband and I were walking back to the car and again something didn’t seem right. Weren’t we supposed to know which candidate got a certain number of delegates??? There wasn’t a vote count from the caucus list. She literally gathered the lists up and turned around to say that we had to choose delegates.

We hadn’t even gotten back to the car as I was dialing the Democratic Precinct Convention Hotline number that I so cleverly programed in my phone. I only wished that I had called them sooner. After talking to 2 different people and explaining what the experience of the evening was, the young man told me that he would look into it Wednseday and almost hung up. Didn’t he want my name? Precinct number? County? Sounding disgusted that I asked, he said, “fine, go ahead.” Then he hung up after my 30min phone call. Mind you, the whole time that I was talking to him, he was talking to others around him about making copies, moving stuff, and not really paying attention to what I was saying. Thanks Jason for making me feel like I was making a difference by voicing my concern.

When I got home, I shot off an email to the County Clerks Office at the elections email on their website. I’m not so pissed off at the process and the long wait, but at the actual problems – no organization that led to people not really getting to be a part of the caucus process other than writing their names down. I understand that it was very cold out and that people were tired and wanted to go home, but had they been told that the next step was to vote on delegates, we would have had a hell of a lot more than 20 people left out of 150-200 people. What is the point of the caucus when those that waited just as long didn’t get to participate, or have the option to, in the entire process. You had one lonely Clinton volunteer telling people to sign and leave but yet keeping his family of voters very close by him.

I am still glad that I went so that I’m able to tell everyone what happened but aside from that, what was the point. I was very happy to see that we had that many Democrats in Harris County, let alone in our subdivision.

At one point, my father-in-law called us from California and asked if it was a chaotic in Texas as they were showing on CNN. My husband could only put his hand on his forehead and say, “even worse.”

Our local affiliate, ABC13 has a story about caucus problems here and the Houston Chronicle has some interviews from people that also attended the caucus here.

This clearly was NOT democracy at its finest or a prime example of how the caucus is actually supposed to work. There was no “convention” like meeting, no calling the meeting to order, etc.

So when you look at the numbers today, no matter who wins, please keep that in mind. There are hundreds of other stories out there today, from both sides.

Super Tuesday Part II; Texas Just Has to Make This Difficult

Make or Break Tuesday? A Democratic Presidential candidate could be decided today. Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, and Vermont all hold their primaries today. Ohio has 164 delegates up for grabs while Texas has a whopping 228. Should Senator Clinton take Ohio, Texas, or both, she may charge on; however, if the votes are not close and she loses by a wide margin, there will be pressure from the Democratic Party for her to throw in her hat.

As for Texas, we just can’t seem to do primary voting like everyone else. Some states have primaries and some have caucuses. Texas does everything bigger (ok, at the least more confusing) so we have both. What has become known as the “Texas Two Step,” voters not only have to show up at the polls to vote, we then have to return to our precinct for the caucus.

What is the caucus (a.k.a. precinct convention)? The caucus turnout will determine roughly one-third of the Texas delegates needed by Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama. Republicans distribute delegates based entirely on primary votes, although they will caucus Tuesday night to conduct party business. Be sure to bring proof that you voted in the Democratic primary, either a stamped voter registration card or a receipt of primary voting from the polling place. If you have neither, you may still participate in the caucus; your vote will be confirmed later.

Arrive before 7:15 p.m., but be prepared to wait. Caucusing cannot start until polls close, and high turnout means voting could run late. You may “sign in” your presidential preference and leave. Your “sign in” will be used to allocate delegates among Clinton, Obama and other candidates. If you stay, you can also vote to choose delegates to the next level from your precinct. Depending on turnout in your precinct, you may be there a while.

I foresee chaos and confusion at the larger precincts. This will be my first time participating in the caucus. Had this race not been so close, I’d actually look forward to going to the caucus and chit-chatting with other voters about the candidates, taking the vote, and going back home. Turnout for the caucuses are usually low, but this time things are different. It’s gonna be a long night.

Jack Nicholson Endorses Hillary Clinton

And the entertainment endorsements keep rolling in! Here’s the latest:

Jack for Hillary

“There’s nothing sexier than having to salute a woman in the morning.”

And remember these?

Chuck Norris and Mike Huckabee

Arnold Schwarzenegger and John McCain

and a Multitude of Celebrities for Barack Obama

SNL is Back! Political Humor Returns!

The best seasons are the ones with heavy political influence!

Here’s the sketch about Texas Democratic Debate between Clinton and Obama. Geez. I have no idea why she feels like the media is picking on her. Of course, Obama Girl (yes that’s the real deal) shows up to hog even more limelight from Hillary.

Tina Fey returns as host and appears on Weekend Update with a segment about women’s issues including Hillary for President. Wait for the jab about Rush Limbaugh.

And check out Mike Huckabee on Weekend Update. It’s good to see that he can keep his sense of humor! Superdelegates!

Here he is backstage.

Hillary’s Campaign Criticized Over Ann Richards in Campaign Ad

Hillary Clinton’s Campaign released a campaign ad this week inferring that the late former Governor Ann Richards would have supported Hillary. Not so says Richard’s sons.

From the AP:

Clinton’s campaign had permission from Richards’ youngest daughter, Ellen, who said in a statement provided by the campaign that her mother was an “ardent feminist” who would be thrilled by her friend Hillary Clinton’s candidacy.

“I believe that if my mom were alive today that she would be stumping across Texas and around the country supporting Hillary for president,” her statement said.

But sons Dan and Clark Richards, partners at an Austin law firm, say nobody can know who the outspoken and opinionated former governor would have supported in the race between Clinton and Barack Obama.

“As her children, we never presumed to know her mind when alive and we are not prepared to make a claim as to who she would endorse or what she would do if she were still with us,” they wrote in an e-mail last week. “We are not granting permission for her name to be used in advertisements on behalf of either candidate.”

The e-mail, provided to The Associated Press by Dan Richards, was sent to Cathy Bonner, a friend of their mother’s and member of Richards’ administration. Bonner is working with Clinton’s campaign and sent Dan and Clark Richards an early copy of the video on Feb. 19 “to make sure you are okay with it.”

Dan Richards said in an interview Tuesday that they denied permission and he’s angry the campaign published the video anyway. He said the campaign contacted him again last Friday to ask him to reconsider, and he repeated his objections.

“They asked me if I would sue the campaign, and I said no, I wasn’t in the business of suing the campaign, but I didn’t think they should do it,” he said in a telephone interview. “To try to present who she would endorse a year and a half after she died is offensive to me.”

Cathy Bonner said in an interview that after Richards’ sons objected the video was edited to remove photos of the family. “We’re not saying we speak for the family,” Bonner said. She said the video is a statement from the former governor’s supporters about the strong bond between Clinton and Richards.

Hmmm… you be the judge. Is this in poor taste or just an honorable tribute to the now infamous Texas Governor? The ad is still being played for the time being throughout Texas.

By the way, listen how Hillary’s Texas drawl comes out when speaking about Richards.

Pakistan Causes YouTube Blackout Because of Censorship: Follows Path of Other Countries

I followed this story as it broke on Sunday. Apparently Pakistan was trying to restrict its citizens from accessing a cartoon that was considered blasphemous about the Prophet Mohammed. Pakistan, like many other countries, tried to censor the video sharing network. The result was a two hour blackout in many parts of the world. Pakistan is now stating that they have lifted the restrictions of viewing the website.

This is just another example of a country’s abuse of censorship. Remember this post about the Prisoners of Freedom City?

UPDATE: China says that it will continue talks with the United States about the concern for human rights – mostly focusing on the fact that many countries have vowed to ban the Olympics which is scheduled to be hosted by Bejing in August.

From Bloomberg:

Chinese President Hu Jintao wants to prevent the world’s largest sporting event from becoming a pressure point on issues from political freedom to China’s role in Sudan and Myanmar. Director Steven Spielberg on Feb. 12 quit as an artistic adviser for the games’ opening and closing ceremonies, citing his concern over China’s failure to help end Sudan’s ethnic conflict.

HOWEVER, today China:

“Voiced its opposition to any organization or person making irresponsible remarks on the Hu Jia case, which the country has handled according to the law.

‘China is a country under the rule of law …In China, anyone who breaks the law will be punished by the law. It is the same in any country of the world,’ Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said at a regular press conference, responding to a question concerning the case of the HIV/AIDS activist.

Punishment will be imposed on Hu Jia as well when he breaks the law, according to the spokesman.

Relevant international organizations or people should be clearly aware of that. They should not make irresponsible remarks on China’s judiciary and its handling of the case according to law, Liu said.”

-above taken from www.chinaview.cn

Click on picture for the official website of the 2008 Bejing Olympics

Mother Jones Releases Torture Playlist

Ever wonder what type of torture military prisoners have to endure while being detained? Mother Jones released a list of music that guards and interrogators use during a captive’s stay. WARNING – some songs contain graphic titles and lyrics. Take extra precaution when listening to the Barney Theme Song. It’s enough to make any prisoner choose waterboarding over having to listen to that non-stop

Ralph Nader Running for President…Again

Ralph Nader made his announcement on Sunday’s Meet the Press. You can watch his big news HERE.

The only thing that surprises me about this is the fact that he has waited this long. He hasn’t been as outspoken as he is usually is. Oh well, the third time is a charm isn’t going to make this run for president any different from the ones in 2000 and 2004. (Technically the fourth run if you want to go back all the way to 1996.)

Now the poor makers of Geritol are going to have to decide whether to endorse McCain, 71 or Nader, 73.

Just for the record, the picture above frightens me.

I guess Election ‘08 really will be going GREEN.

Hillary’s Last Stand: Austin Debate

So I guess if you went from being the democrat’s shoe-in for the presidential nomination to a sky-rocketing meteor (just take a look at how her campaign is going down in flames) then you would pull out all the stops too.

On Wednesday the Clinton campaigned put their flack vests on and fired two more rounds off at Barack Obama.

Shot One:

They began circulating a video labeled “Must-See TV” of Texas State Sen. Kirk Watson failing to name any of Obama’s legislative accomplishments during an interview with Chris Matthews of MSNBC.

Shot Two:

Her campaign created a new website called “The Delegate Hub: Facts and Myths about the Race for Delegates” which is lame to say the least. It isn’t very interactive and what videos you can click on will surely bore you to tears. One link to a video boasts, “Guess Who Agrees With Clinton:See who agrees with Sen. Clinton on Super Delegates.” Once you click on it, you go to a 17 second video of David Axelrod discussing Superdelegates, never mentioning Clinton or how this video agrees with her.

This website is actually a spin off of “Hillary Hub” and “Fact Hub.”

It may all come down to the debate in Austin Thursday night. Lift off is at 7pm CST. You can catch it on CNN.

I don’t know about you, but I’m really sick of all the BS going back and forth. But hey, this IS politics . Jesse Jackson is is even jumping in the middle of the fire and telling the dem children to play nice.

Kiss and make up already!!!

Obama in Houston – The Hype Has Left The Building

The crowd awaited for hours outside and in. Doors opened at 6pm and a mad rush was made for the chance to be as close to the podium as possible. The place was sold out and some with stand-by tickets were allowed in while others waited outside. With chants and anticipation of 19,000 people filling the Toyota Center, the time FINALLY arrived about 8:45pm. No, this wasn’t a major rock concert or even a Hannah Montana venue, this was a democratic presidential candidate rally.

Odd? I was baffled at the amount of people that had shown up. I guess just not the amount of people, but the cross-cultural audience itself. I was amazed to see people of all ages and races cheering and supporting the same ideas as those sitting around them. Amongst the chants of “Barack Obama” and “Obama ‘08,” the democratic candidate finally stepped out from behind the black curtain.

The crowd was boisterous, leading Obama to start off stating, “Houston, I think we’ve achieved liftoff here.”

After thanking those who were involved in and putting on the event, he made it a point to stress the importance that Texas will play in his nomination as the democratic candidate for the race in November.

“Early voting has started here in Texas. And so everybody has received one of these [voting] cards, and everybody knows that you can start voting today. And if you didn’t vote today, you can start tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that. But we have early voting in Texas. I don’t want you to wait until March 4th. I want you to go ahead and start voting tomorrow here in Texas.

You’ve got February 19th until 29th to vote, and you can also vote on election day, March 4th.

Now, I know this was explained to you. This is a little confusing. You’re going to have to do two things for me now. Not only do you have to vote — and we would prefer you to vote early — but on election day, March 4th, you’re going to have to attend the caucus at 7 p.m. to get us a few more delegates. Can everybody do that, Houston? Everybody going to do that?

And on the back — on the back here are all the sites for all the early voting locations, so you don’t have an excuse for not going. And we want you to grab your cousin, and your uncle, and your niece, and your nephew. Don’t go alone. Take some friends and family to the polls.

He acknowledged his win in Wisconsin which the audience had seen projected on the screens aroud the Toyota Center prior to him coming out.

He repeated his rhetoric on hope and change that we have come to know as typical of his speeches, but he interlaced some of his plans for the types of change. Although I wish he would have elaborated more on just HOW some of the changes would be implemented, he gave a “cliff notes” version of his plans.

I put forward a plan that says everybody will be able to get health insurance that is at least as good as the plan I’ve got as a member of Congress. And if you already have health insurance, we will lower your premiums by $2,500 per family, per year. And if you can’t afford it, we will subsidize your care, and we will emphasize prevention so we have a health care system instead of a disease-care system.

And we won’t do this 20 years from now or 10 years from now. We will do it by the end of my first term as president of the United States of America.

Sounds great…but HOW???

He talked about how CEOs get tax breaks while the workers get nothing.

I want to take away those tax breaks to companies that are shipping jobs overseas. We’re going to give them to companies that invest right here in America.

And we’re going to rollback those Bush tax cuts that went to all the wealthy people, and we’re going to give tax cuts to ordinary families, people who are making less than $75,000. We will offset your payroll tax.

Senior citizens who make less than $50,000, we want to say to them: You don’t have to pay an income tax. You’re already having a hard time making ends meet.

We want to promote trade and we embrace globalization, but we also want our trade deals to have labor standards and environmental standards and safety standards so our workers aren’t undermined and our children aren’t playing with toys based in lead paint. That’s the change we want.

Great again! But HOW?

And I will raise the minimum wage not every 10 years, but to keep pace with inflation, because if you work in America you should not be poor. And that’s a goal that we should set for ourselves when I am president of the United States of America.

Nice goal, but unreachable in any immediate sense such as in 4 or 8 years.

As for education:

We can assure that every child in America has the best education this country has to offer… every child needs to be nurtured and embraced. And so we are going to invest in early childhood education to close the achievement gap.

And I won’t just talk about how great teachers are; I will reward them for their greatness…by giving them higher salaries and giving them more support.

And I want the highest standards in our schools. We have to have high standards, standards of excellence in order to compete in this global economy. But I don’t want our standards measured just by a single high-stakes standardized test, because I don’t want our teachers teaching to the tests.

I want our students learning art, and music, and science, and literature, and social studies.

And I don’t know about you, but I think it’s about time we made college affordable for every young person in America. So we’re going to provide a $4,000 tuition credit, every student, every year, but, students, you’re going to have to give back something in return. You’re going to have to participate in community service. You’re going to have to work in a homeless shelter, or a veteran’s home, or an underserved school, or join the Peace Corps.

Hey, I think this is one of his best ideas yet. We don’t have enough young people getting involved in their communities. Had this been an opportunity for me, I would have been more than happy to pay back my loans in this way. By the way, here is his plan for Lifetime Success Through Education. Is there a reason why he didn’t mention that some of this funding comes from our space program? Oh wait, this is Houston – home of the Johnson Space Center.

Next was talk on energy and immigration, phrasing that immigration has been used as a “political football.”

We can get serious about our borders and crack down on employers who are taking advantage of undocumented workers and undermining U.S. labor.But we can also provide a pathway for those who are living here. They can pay a fine and learn English and go to the back of the line, but we’ve got to give them an opportunity, too. We’re a nation of immigrants.

Of course the war in Iraq came up with the billions of dollars that have been and will continue to go in to the fight.

We are spending $9 billion a month in Iraq, $9 billion. We can invest that money in rebuilding roads and bridges and hospitals right here in Houston, building schools, laying broadband lines, putting people back to work, employing young men and young women in our inner cities, in our rural communities. We can create the kind of foreign policy that will make us safe and will lead to renewed respect of America around the world.

Respect? We’re still going to be seen as power and money-hungry Americans who can never get our fill. Hey, I’m right.

We will hunt down terrorists; yes, we will lock down loose nuclear weapons that could do us harm. But we are also going to lead on climate change. We’re also going to lead on helping poor countries deal with the devastation of HIV-AIDS. We’re also going to lead in bringing an end to the genocide in Darfur.

We are going to lead by example, by maintaining the highest standards of civil liberties and human rights, which is why I will close Guantanamo and restore habeas corpus and say no to torture.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I really like Barack; however, knowing that he doesn’t have any military experience, I urge him to sit down one-on-one with military issues and discuss Guantanamo and torture. That’s all I’ll say about that.

While John McCain’s wife was mocking Obama’s wife, Michelle’s comments about being “proud of America for the first time,” Obama praised McCain’s military service and called him an American hero but disagreed with McCain’s support of Bush’s economic policies.

He says that change isn’t going to be easy and that change is also attitude but it can be done. While I admire his push for change by driven hope, I came away from last night’s speech with little more than what I started in with. I really didn’t learn anything more about how these changes will take place or if there are actual plans rather than just a “plan” such as an idea. I’m a very detailed-oriented person and I want specifics.

One thing is certain, Obama has that certain appeal that Bill Clinton had when talking to an audience. When he speaks, you listen. He stands tall and projects himself with a positive and confident aura. Kool-aid wasn’t passed out at this rally so I’m beginning to think that it’s something in the air and coming through the airwaves that has made democrats follow him like the pied piper.

Here is the complete transcript of his speech.

Early Voting in Texas

Early voting began in Texas yesterday for the Presidential and State Primary and will end on the 29th. In Harris County, Houston, turnout for the first day was 8 times that of the turnout in 2004. Regardless of the increase in participation for the first day of voting, we were able to walk right up to the voting booth, 30 minutes before closing! I STRONGLY recommend early voting this year unless you feel the need to stand in the voting line on March 4th. See ya at the caucus!

So get out there and vote!

For more information about voting in your Texas county, check these out:

Montgomery County, Harris County map (PDF), Harris County voting information, Ft. Bend County, Brazoria County, Galveston County, Waller County, Walker County, Liberty County.

If your county isn’t listed above, go here to find a phone number with information on early voting.

For our military members, here is info about absentee ballots for US Service Members from Texas.

I’ve also included some national website for you:

Rock the Vote information for the younger voter

Declare Yourself learn about super delegates here!

Voto Latino works to promote an enfranchised America by leveraging celebrity voices, the latest technology, and youth themselves to promote positive change

Vote Democracy geared at the young and new voters with information on voting and how to get involved

WE Vote from the women orientated tv network

Do Something! this is a great site for first time voters and those not old enough to vote

Project Vote Smart get informed!

Adiós Fidel Castro – It’s About Time

Fidel Castro has finally turned in his resignation as president of Cuba. His decision to step down on Tuesday has brought mixed opinions from all over the world. President Bush is speaking out and voicing his concern that post-Fidel rule should be one of a democratic nature. Our fellow allies, France and Spain, are echoing Bush’s call to democracy. If this is Cuba’s first real change in almost 50 years, can a democracy immediately work? The leader of Russia’s Communist Party is actually commending Castro’s decision today stating, ” “It’s a brave decision and in taking it, I’m sure Fidel Castro was guided by the interests of his country and his people.”

The 81-year-old leader made his resignation official in a letter to the Web site of the Communist Party’s newspaper. He expressed confidence that the country would be in good hands with a government composed of elements of “the old guard” and “others who were very young when the first stage of the revolution began.”The announcement puts Raul Castro in position to succeed as the Cuban head of state when the National Assembly meets on Sunday. There has been speculation for some time now that Fidel’s brother would be less of an enforcer and is the basis of hope for reform in Cuba if he were to take over the presidency.

Time magazine reported on Fidel’s slighty younger brother back in 2006:

Raul is also called “the practical Castro,” and when and if he does succeed Fidel permanently, many Cuba watchers speculate that he’ll actually bring a less confrontational, more reform-minded rule to the communist island. “I think he will try to adopt more of a China economic model, probably continuing much of the harsh political regime but allowing more private enterprise and loosening foreign investment rules,” says Latell, a senior researcher at the University of Miami’s Cuba Institute and author of the recently published book After Fidel. “And I think he’s also going to want better relations and more dialogue with the U.S.”

We could only hope.

Fidel and his brother, Raul (age, 76).

President Bush is calling for the international community to help Cuba move toward democracy. The UK’s Prime Minister Gordon Brown is backing Bush’s message.

I hope Cuba can change, for the people’s sake. As for Fidel, I say good riddance.

Texas’ Seven Largest Newspapers Endorse Obama

Straight from Obama’s website:

With the Texas primary just weeks away, the editorial boards of the seven largest newspapers in Texas have all formally endorsed Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee for President.

Today’s edition of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram calls Obama a “transformative” candidate and notes that:

Obama is smart and experienced in working directly with low- and middle-class Americans to better their lives, and he brings a message of hope that the country needs in this moment.

While today’s Corpus Christi Caller-Times explains:

The Editorial Board endorses Sen. Barack Obama because it believes that he offers the kind of inspirational leadership the country is hungry for… His candidacy is rooted in the notion that politics can be about solutions, not divisions, that elected leaders are elected to lead, not to drive wedges between groups of Americans.

The Houston Chronicle writes:

Obama vows to reach out to independents and Republicans with a message of inclusion and cooperation. He offers a historic opportunity to elevate national political dialogue to a higher ground.

As the Dallas Morning News explains:

Mr. Obama is our choice because of his consistently solid judgment, poise under pressure and ability to campaign effectively without resorting to the divisive politics of the past.

The San Antonio Express-News writes:

America needs a president that tries to create unity out of diversity, marshalling all the forces — red, blue or purple — that make this country great.

Sen. Barack Obama is the Democratic candidate that offers the best chance to reach that lofty objective.

The Austin American-Statesman says “Yes, Obama Can”:

Obama is the best pick Democrats could make.

Resolving the big issues confronting the nation requires a leader who can attract support from independents and Republicans. Of the two front runners, only Obama has shown the ability to bring divergent interests together. He did that as a state senator in Illinois and as a U.S. senator in Washington. And he has staked his presidential campaign on doing that in the White House.

… His optimism, unifying vision and ability to inspire are the kind of healing balm the country needs at this moment in history.

Finally, the February 10th edition of the El Paso Times writes:

The El Paso Times recommends that El Pasoans voting in the March 4 Democratic presidential primary cast their votes for Barack Obama. A weary America, tired of the status quo, fed up with business as usual, is longing for a positive change — and Barack Obama is that change.

In addition, Barack won the endorsement of the influential Texas blog Burnt Orange Report.

If you live in Texas, visit TX.BarackObama.com for more information on events in your area and to learn how you can get involved.

See the full list of over 100 newspapers that have formally endorsed Barack Obama…

What Will It Take To Win Texas?

At this point, the race for the democratic nomination is too close to call. Both candidates need a win in Texas and secure the 228 delegate votes that come along with The Lone Star State. Speeches are lining up, including a debate between Obama and Clinton on Feb. 21st in Austin. Obama will rally in Houston on Tuesday, Feb. 19th. Both candidates are alreay in Texas and campaigning for the win.

From Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News:

For Barack Obama, winning Texas means first looking to urban areas, especially to blacks in Dallas and Houston and energized young people in liberal enclaves like Austin.

Next month’s showdown in the Lone Star State offers one of the last big delegate paydays and the prospect of bragging rights for two Democratic candidates in hot pursuit of their party’s nomination.

Winning the state is never easy – it’s big (four times the size of Iowa and New Hampshire combined), expensive (advertising in Houston and Dallas can cost $1 million a week each) and ethnically, religiously and geographically diverse.

How important is Texas? Some Clinton allies, including political consultant James Carville, say she must win the Lone Star State or she’ll lose the nomination.

According to interviews with party officials, campaign operatives and political experts, here’s what it takes to win.

First, recognize that March 4 is not one race, but two. There’s the popular vote and there’s the delegate count – a candidate might win the vote total but get fewer delegates.

Second, this is not a battle to win pieces of geography, but a fight for constituency groups. Win your group – then try to poach from your rival.

“Hillary needs to maintain her advantage with women voters, which seems to be slipping nationally,” said Democratic consultant Glenn Smith. “Obama needs to be working on coalition, which seems to be growing. And he needs to continue to make inroads into the Hillary base.”

The Clinton blueprint suggests getting two-thirds of Hispanics, a majority of women and enough moderate “yellow dog” Democrats in East Texas to win.

Early voting begins Feb 19th and the primary election will be held on March 4th.

No Season 7 of 24 Until 2009!

As of this posting, Fox’s website still has the new of season of 24 starting in 2008; however, the network released a statement Thursday stating the seventh season will NOT return until January 2009.

Originally, the show was set to return this past January, following Kiefer’s release from jail on DUI charges, but the writers strike left producers unsure of a resume date and whether or not there would be enough episodes to last until the picket lines fell.

Well, the strike is over, Kiefer is out of jail, and 8 new episodes sit on a shelf collecting dust.

From the AP:

If it [the network] had started airing new episodes soon, the season finale would not have taken place until the summer, when TV networks rarely show their high-profile programs.

Even though eight episodes for this season had already been filmed before the beginning of the writers strike, producers would have had to ramp up production soon to complete the season.

A January 2009 start seemed the best way to comply with viewers’ wishes that a season’s episodes run without interruption to conclusion, Fox said on Thursday.

THE VIEWER’S WISHES??? Obviously, Fox is not keeping track of their own message boards. The fan majority does not want to wait until 2009 to see Jack Bauer and the cast return. Fans want the show back now.

Day 7 takes place in Washington D.C. and 3 years after the end of season six. There’s a female president (was this a Hillary prediction?), CTU has been dismantled and an old friend returns from the dead but whose side is he on?

(For now) the cast for season 7 includes (don’t look if you want to be surprised later!):

• Kiefer Sutherland as Jack Bauer
• Mary Lynn Rajskub as Chloe O’Brian
• Carlos Bernard as Tony Almeida
• James Morrison as Bill Buchanan
• Annie Wersching as FBI Agent Renee Walker
• Colm Feore as First Gentleman Henry Taylor
• Bob Gunton as White House Chief of Staff Ethan Kanin
• Janeane Garofalo as FBI Agent Janis Gold
• Jeffrey Nordling as FBI Agent Larry Moss
• Rhys Coiro as FBI Agent Sean Hillinger
• Cherry Jones as President Allison Taylor
• Carlo Rota as Morris O’Brian
• John Billingsley as Michael Latham
• Carly Pope as Samantha Roth

Here’s a sneak peak of the new season. Whether or not the storyline actually stays this way is left to be seen in 2009.

VIDEO CONTAINS SPOILERS!!!

Dear Iraq, Be My Valentine

Bush sounds like he is taking sides with his Democratic successor based on his/her support for the war in Iraq. Interesting perspective from David Ignatius of Real Clear Politics:

Bush seems more comfortable with Sen. Hillary Clinton as a successor than Sen. Barack Obama, judging by his comments in the Fox News Interview. He told Wallace that he had predicted a Clinton victory months ago “because I knew that she understands the klieg lights and understands the pressures.” He also defended Bill Clinton, saying that he understands why the former president “wants to campaign hard for his wife.” He seems confident that Clinton won’t abruptly withdraw from Iraq, regardless of her campaign rhetoric.

As for Obama, Bush was almost disdainful. “I certainly don’t know what he believes in,” Bush told Fox. He criticized Obama’s statements last year that he would be ready to attack al-Qaeda bases in Pakistan unilaterally, if necessary, and that he was prepared to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The editorial also states that the Iraq issue makes it easy for Bush to back up McCain because of the veteran’s stance on completing what the Bush Administration started in the middle east. But let’s face it, it doesn’t matter who Bush supports as a presidential candidate. Much of the public is tired of American soldiers dying for not OUR freedom, but another’s country’s age-old political and religious problems. Ultimately, it will be the voters’ decision which blue candidate will be taking up residency in the White House next January.

Congressman Tom Lantos Dies at Age 80

Tom Lantos, who as a teenager twice escaped from a Nazi-run forced labor camp in Hungary and became the only Holocaust survivor to win a seat in Congress, died Monday. He was 80.

From The New York Times:

His death, at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., was announced by Lynne A. Weil, a spokeswoman for his office. Mr. Lantos said last month that he had cancer of the esophagus and would retire early next year, at the end of his 14th term.

Mr. Lantos, a Democrat, represented a district that includes southwest San Francisco as well as his hometown, San Mateo. He became chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee early last year after the Democrats had regained control of the House.

The congressman was known as a strong defender of human rights, an ardent supporter of Israel and an outspoken critic of Communism. He also worked for stronger protections for animals and the environment.

It was his defense of human rights, though, that most clearly defined a Congressional career that lasted nearly three decades. That focus was an outgrowth of his experience during the Holocaust, in which much of his family, including his mother, perished.

Mr. Lantos, a Hungarian-born Jew who was 16 when the Nazis occupied his native country, once said his entire life had served as preparation for the chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Though he held the post for little more than a year, the committee took a number of bold steps in that time, demanding, for instance, that the government of Japan apologize for wartime sex slavery by its military and declaring Turkey’s mass killing of Armenians in World War I an act of genocide, a move that angered the Bush administration and nearly provoked a confrontation with the Turkish government.

He was frequently critical of China, citing its record on human rights, and was arrested outside the Sudanese Embassy in Washington in 2006 during a protest against the mass killings in Darfur.

Thomas Peter Lantos, born into a family of educators in Budapest, twice escaped from forced-labor camps after the Nazis occupied Hungary. His survival was due in part to the efforts of Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews by issuing them Swedish-protected passports and declaring them Swedish subjects. “This was like me declaring you to be prima ballerina of the St. Petersburg Ballet; it had no validity,” Mr. Lantos was to say. And yet, he said, “these miraculous, worthless pieces of paper worked.”

One of Mr. Lantos’s first acts after being elected to Congress in 1980 was to introduce legislation naming Wallenberg an honorary United States citizen.

Mr. Lantos was one of five Hungarian Holocaust survivors featured in the film “The Last Days,” which won the 1998 Academy Award for best documentary feature.

After the war, Mr. Lantos managed to reunite with his childhood friend Annette Tillemann, who had escaped to Switzerland. They moved to the United States after he won a scholarship, and married in 1950. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics at the University of Washington and then a doctorate in economics from the University of California.

He taught economics at San Francisco State University from 1950 to 1980 and also served as a television commentator on international affairs. He was a member of the Presidential Task Force on Defense and Foreign Policy in 1976 and was an aide to Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr., Democrat of Delaware, in 1978-79.

Besides his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Annette Dick of Denver and Katrina Swett of Bow, N.H.; 17 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren. Ms. Swett’s husband, Richard Swett, is a former congressman from New Hampshire and onetime ambassador to Denmark.

Glossary of Election Terms – Onion Style

Courtesy of The Onion:

• delegate

  A demented, often screaming individual who experiences intense arousal at the sight of a vertically printed placard bearing his or her state’s name.

• absentee ballot

  A form of voting that does not involve the inconvenience of having to get up off the couch and walk to a high school gymnasium.

• ballot

  An object recording a voter’s decision that is frequently counted toward an election’s outcome.

• caucus

  The process by which Americans are quadrennially reminded of Iowa’s existence.

• change

  Can be found

  1. In the air/wind.
  2. At hand.
  3. Inside us all.

• convention

  The best four-day-long chance a politically active, overweight Kia salesman from Tulsa has to nail one of them blond Fox anchors.

• corruption

  The most effective and efficient way to produce results in government.

• debate

  A contest to see which candidate can answer the fewest questions.

• democracy

  A moderately representative plutocracy.

• Diebold voting machine

  A sophisticated, computerized balloting terminal that electronically changes your vote into a vote for Mitt Romney.

• election worker

  A male or female at least 70 years of age.

• electoral college

  A process by which the number of states in the Union is narrowed down to the most important seven or eight.

• experience

  A quantitative score any politician may increase by slaying foes or solving riddles.

• hope

  An intangible object within every American that is destroyed every four years in November.

• likability

  The degree to which each candidate is able to hide the extent to which he or she is full of sh*t.

• lobbyist

  A better-paid legislator.

• MoveOn.org

  A company offering routine tests of your e-mail’s spam filter.

• platform

  1. A list of the subjects that candidates are willing to discuss.
  2. A raised structure, almost entirely covered by flags, upon which candidates are placed.

• political consultants

  Individuals who are very savvy politically, but don’t have enough hair to run for office themselves.

• political philosophy, conservative

  1. A great way to meet chicks at Princeton University.
  2. U-S-A; e.g., U-S-A, U-S-A(!).

• political philosophy, liberal

  An ideology steeped in a proud tradition of ineffectual whining.

• pollster

  A person who willingly communicates with the elderly.

• Rock The Vote

  Something that is, apparently, still happening.

• voter apathy

  The reason most American politicians are able to achieve and maintain office.

You Can’t Escape Facebook

Be careful what you post online because it will be out there FOREVER. This goes for not only Facebook, but images captured from blogs, MySpace, and other social networking sites.

From the New York Times:

Some users have discovered that it is nearly impossible to remove themselves entirely from Facebook, setting off a fresh round of concern over the popular social network’s use of personal data.

While the Web site offers users the option to deactivate their accounts, Facebook servers keep copies of the information in those accounts indefinitely. Indeed, many users who have contacted Facebook to request that their accounts be deleted have not succeeded in erasing their records from the network.

In response to difficulties faced by ex-Facebook members, a cottage industry of unofficial help pages devoted to escaping Facebook has sprung up online — both outside and inside the network.

“I thought it was kind of strange that they save your information without telling you in a really clear way,” said Magnus Wallin, a 26-year-old patent examiner in Stockholm who founded a Facebook group, “How to permanently delete your facebook account.” The group has almost 4,300 members and is steadily growing.

Facebook’s Web site does not inform departing users that they must delete information from their account in order to close it fully — meaning that they may unwittingly leave anything from e-mail addresses to credit card numbers sitting on Facebook servers.

Only people who contact Facebook’s customer service department are informed that they must painstakingly delete, line by line, all of the profile information, “wall” messages and group memberships they may have created within Facebook.

But even users who try to delete every piece of information they have ever written, sent or received via the network have found their efforts to permanently leave stymied. Other social networking sites like MySpace and Friendster, as well as online dating sites like eHarmony.com, may require departing users to confirm their wishes several times — but in the end they offer a delete option.

Facebook’s quiet archiving of information from deactivated accounts has increased concerns about the network’s potential abuse of private data, especially in the wake of its fumbled Beacon advertising feature.

That application, which tracks and publishes the items bought by Facebook members on outside Web sites, was introduced in November without a transparent, one-step opt-out feature. After a public backlash, including more than 50,000 Facebook users’ signatures on a MoveOn.org protest petition, Facebook executives apologized and allowed such an opt-out option on the program.

The network is still trying to find a way to monetize its popularity, mostly by allowing marketers access to its wealth of demographic and behavioral information. The retention of old accounts on Facebook’s servers seems like another effort to hold onto — and provide its ad partners with — as much demographic information as possible.

As mentioned, you and your friends are not the only ones looking at your personal pages. Who’s reading your facebook and MySpace pages? Potential or present employers keep tabs on your actions to see if you are “material” that is worth keeping in the company. Additionally, schools and universities have spied on their students and in some cases, taken disciplinary action against students who have pictures showing underage drinking or anything that paints their institution in a negative light.

If you don’t want it coming back and biting you in the butt down the line, don’t post it on the internet today!

Romney Out – Are We Surprised?

From the NY Times:

Mr. Romney, who had vowed to press on despite disappointing results in the Super Tuesday primary contests, made the announcement at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington.

In a speech that touched on the messages of his campaign, Mr. Romney said he had come to his decision to help unify the Republican Party, and he charged that Democratic candidates, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, would not pursue the war in Iraq.

“Because I love America, in this time of war, I feel I have to stand aside for our party and our country,” he said.

Mr. Romney had hoped to use Tuesday’s results to narrow the gap between him and his chief rival, Senator John McCain of Arizona. Instead, he saw Mr. McCain widen the lead at the same time that Mr. Romney’s campaign lost ground to Mike Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, who racked up solid gains.

Speaking before an enthusiastic crowd at the conference, hosted by the American Conservative Union, Mr. Romney said he would have preferred to continue until the Republican convention.

“You are with me all the way to the convention,” he said. “Fight on, just like Ronald Reagan did in 1976.”

But by fighting to the convention, he said, “I’d forestall the launch of a national campaign and, frankly, I’d make it easier for Senator Clinton or Obama to win.”

Are we really surprised???

Full text of his withdrawal speech here.

Super Tuesday Hangover

Ouch…my aching head…

As McCain skated past his GOP rivals, Clinton and Obama played a mean game of tug-o-state. The votes are still coming in but as of this morning, Obama has won 14 states to Clinton’s 8. Obama was able to secure most of the midwest but the most shocking feat of the evening was the swiftness of the media to predict Clinton the winner of California. The polls had been closed a little over an hour on the west coast when news outlets started making their announcements. The delegate count is in Clinton’s favor for now.

You can call the battle between Clinton and Obama a split decision. Washington is the next key state this weekend but Texas and Ohio and their high delegate counts will be the major focus in the coming weeks. Those primaries will be held on March 4th. The demographics seem a little more friendly toward Obama but at this point, it’s anyone’s game.

The low point of the night? Having to endure the Facebook polling on ABC News. The questions really do open your eyes (I’d rather keep them shut) to the issues that youth voters feel important. Such idiotic questions included “Which of these [choices] would make you most likely to vote?” see below for the ridiculous choices. iPod anyone? Is that what they meant by incentives? sheesh. By the way kiddos, voting is a PRIVILEGE and your incentive is to live in a country enveloped in democracy.

The following are actual Facebook polls, still being updated:

On a sad note, voters braved bad weather yesterday in several southern states as approximately 38-40 tornadoes touched down. Some reports state as many as 7 states and 70 tornadoes were part of the storm. The death count now is at 47 but that will likely climb as daylight has come. The National Guard has been called in for search and support throughout these states.

Super Tuesday Has Arrived

A history making Super Tuesday is underway. The question isn’t who will win the GOP nomination (we all know it will be McCain), rather who the GOP winner will go up against in November: Obama or Clinton.

It will be interesting to watch as the vote counts are returned this evening and how much of the focus will actually be on the delegates. Barack seems to have won the popularity contest in California but lacks delegates; although, this is too close to call for now and very possibly could change. Does the fact that Kennedy endorsed Obama and not Clinton make a difference to the average pollster? Are voters now trying to strategize which Democrat can beat McCain in November and basing their vote on this plan of attack?

Is the public ready to make such a critical decision? After all, the contest started extremely early this time, but how much has the public REALLY learned about each candidate and how much of your vote is being made based on what the media has painted for us? Do you really know where the candidates stand on issues such as Iraq, global warming, the economy, immigration and health care? Try this quiz and see if you are on track with the candidate that you support.

Just FYI…I am on the right track.

All of the questions I brought up are legitimate ones. They should all be considered and pondered over BEFORE you walk into that voting booth today or in the upcoming months – no matter which political party you belong to. Just GET OUT THERE AND VOTE. If you don’t vote, you don’t have the right to complain later.

One thing is for certain, Super Tuesday will pave the way for how the rest of the nation will be voting in the upcoming months. Here in Texas, our primary is in March and it too will be a closely watched one.

The contenders are in the ring…

The Greatful Dead Reunites for Obama

Dead Heads for Obama

From Reuters:

Saying Barack Obama embodies political hope absent since Robert Kennedy was killed 40 years ago, three surviving members of the Grateful Dead reunited on Monday to back the presidential candidate.

“Every few generations a guy like this comes along,” percussionist Mickey Hart told a news conference a day ahead of California’s primary, in which Obama is the underdog against Hillary Clinton. “It seems like desperate times and we’re desperate people.”

The band known for its loyal fans, known as “Deadheads,” broke up in 1995 after band leader and guitarist Jerry Garcia died. They have since played together occasionally, most recently in 2004.

At a San Francisco concert in front of 2,400 fans, singer-guitarist Bob Weir, 60, said the counter-culture band has never performed on behalf of a presidential candidate before, though they have often embraced liberal social causes.

“The last time hope was in the air, it was ended by a bullet,” Weir said, referring to Kennedy, who was assassinated on the night he won the California Democratic primary in 1968. “We’ve been reluctant to do political events all along.”

Bassist Phil Lesh, 67, said he met Illinois Senator Obama, who told him he has some Grateful Dead songs on his iPod music player, last year.

Obama’s dapper, clean-cut image contrasts with the tied-dyed shirts and long, shaggy hair of fans who lined up for hours to attend the “Deadheads for Obama ‘08″ reunion. Some concert-goers, including those with gray in their hair, addressed each other as “dude.”

Dude??? I hope Barack isn’t considering a Grateful Dead song as a possibility for a theme song. Just looking at their lyrics, one can see how much the wacky tabacky contributed to their “far out” mumbo jumbo…

Example:

 

U.S. Blues

Red and white, blue suede shoes, I’m Uncle Sam, how do you do?
Gimme five, I’m still alive, ain’t no luck, I learned to duck.
Check my pulse, it don’t change. Stay seventy-two come shine or rain.
Wave the flag, pop the bag, rock the boat, skin the goat.
Wave that flag, wave it wide and high.
Summertime done, come and gone, my, oh, my.

I’m Uncle Sam, that’s who I am; Been hidin’ out in a rock and roll band.
Shake the hand that shook the hand of P.T. Barnum and Charlie Chan.
Shine your shoes, light your fuse. Can you use them ol’ U.S. Blues?
I’ll drink your health, share your wealth, run your life, steal your wife.
Wave that flag, wave it wide and high.
Summertime done, come and gone, my, oh, my.

Back to back chicken shack. Son of a gun, better change your act.
We’re all confused, what’s to lose?
You can call this song, the United States Blues.
Wave that flag, wave it wide and high.
Summertime done, come and gone, my, oh, my.

Chicken shack? Thank GOD the 70’s are over

Here’s the Dead from 1978:

Yes We Can – New Video for Barack Obama

A new video has been released commemorating Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” Speech.

Written by the Black Eye Pea’s Will.I.Am, the video features well recognized celebrities such as John Legend, Scarlett Johannson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Kate Walsh, Adam Rodriguez and many more.

Recorded on January 30th and 31st, the song echoes Obama’s voice in the background with the celebrities’ voice tracks and music accompanying.

The CEO of Inspiration is listed as Barack Obama. Nice tribute.

http://www.yeswecansong.com

Here’s the video with the words to the song below it:

It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation.

Yes we can.

It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail toward freedom.

Yes we can.

It was sung by immigrants as they struck out from distant shores and pioneers who pushed westward against an unforgiving wilderness.

Yes we can.

It was the call of workers who organized; women who reached for the ballots; a President who chose the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land.

Yes we can to justice and equality.

Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity.

Yes we can heal this nation.

Yes we can repair this world.

Yes we can.

We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change.

We have been told we cannot do this by a chorus of cynics…they will only grow louder and more dissonant ……….. We’ve been asked to pause for a reality check. We’ve been warned against offering the people of this nation false hope.

But in the unlikely story that is America, there has never been anything false about hope.

Now the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in the American story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea –

Yes. We. Can.

Prisoners of Freedom City

Censorship in China is nothing new but the communist country is making international headlines once again as a popular human rights advocate was officially brought up on charges of subverting state power.

Hu Jia was arrested in late December and detained while his wife, Zeng Jinyan, was allowed to remain under house arrest with their new baby daughter. Remaining in custody, Hu was issued a formal arrest warrant this week despite calls from notable Chinese intellectuals and attorneys for his release.

Hu and his wife have gained international attention for their advocacy on behalf of AIDS patients, farmers and the environment. They are also well-known Internet bloggers who have faced official scrutiny for years for their writings on human rights in China. During a long period under house arrest in 2006, Hu filmed a documentary, “Prisoners in Freedom City.” By posting the video online, Hu angered the state further. He has consistently criticized his country for not abiding by its word to improve human rights conditions. Now his accusations are being tied to the upcoming Olympics.

The family’s phone and internet lines have been cut off. Zeng can no longer blog. No one is allowed to have contact with her and the baby except for Hu and Zeng’s parents. Journalists, friends, and supporters are not allowed near the apartment complex where mom and baby are being held prisoner. By the way, their apartment is in a complex named Bo Bo Freedom City.

Although Hu’s attorney says that he knows of no formal plans to send Hu to trial, international rights groups are reporting that China is indeed planning to do so.

Amnesty International has a PDF file called Urgent Action which YOU can use to send an appeal in Hu’s defense. HURRY~ APPEALS MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEBRUARY 12th!!!

The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint program of the World Organization Against Torture (OMCT) and the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) lists the following addresses of individuals to whom appeals can also be sent to:

President Hu Jintao, People’s Republic of China, c/o Embassy of the People’s Republic of China; 2300 Connecticut Ave., NW, Washington, D.C., 20008, USA, Fax: +01 202 588-0032;

Minister of Justice of the People’s Republic of China, Buzhang Sifabu, Wu Aiying, 10 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Chaoyangqu, Beijingshi 100020, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 6529 2345;

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, Buzhang Waijiaobu, Mr. Yang Jiechi, 2 Chaoyangmen Nandajie, Beijingshi 100701, People’s Republic of China, Fax: +86 10 6588 2594, Email: ipc@fmprc.gov.cn;

Ambassador Sha Zukang, Permanent Mission of the People’s Republic of China, Chemin de Surville 11, P.O. Box 85, 1213 Petit-Lancy 2, Geneva, Switzerland, Fax: +41 22 7937014, E-mail: mission.china@ties.itu.int;

Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brussels, Avenue de Tervuren, 463 1160 Auderghem, Belgium, Tel: + 32 2 663 30 10 / + 32 2 663 30 17 / +32 2 771 14 97 / +32 2 779 43 33; Fax: +32 2 762 99 66 / +32 2 779 28 95; Email: chinaemb_be@mfa.gov.cn.

Please also write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of the People’s Republic of China in your respective country.

 

 

Hiatus Over! I’m Back!

After a month long hiatus, it’s time to get back to political humor and what the media calls “news.”

The news in my life? I spent a week in Oregon the second week of January. My stepmother passed away from a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease so my dad needed me and I needed him. It was a good visit. Someday I hope to return to teach at a university closer to him.

Looks like that time may not be too far off in the future. I am completing graduate school applications as I sit here. I am also busily working on my undergraduate senior thesis and winding down my last term at the University of St. Thomas.

My life is filled with the stress of taking care of my family, work, school, and the responsibilities of being a military spouse. Oops, almost forgot the stress of all the presidential primary hoopla. Honestly, I don’t know how I would cope without the stress. Years ago it would have bogged me down and medication would have been necessary to pull me above water. (Wait, that DID happen!) Now I seem to thrive on stress. Even a day off from class or work is not one with complete rest and relaxation. I have to be always doing something. I guess that I have learned to cope with stress better as I have gotten older.

Anyway, blogging must go on. I appreciate the comments and emails from those of you looking for me or wondering if I had permanently quit making light of political news. Nope, I’m still here. I’m fired up and ready. I still read the news daily, just wishing there were an extra 3-4 hours in my day.

Be sure you read this article from Keith Greene in the Chronicle of Higher Education (Subscription may be required). Obviously, I’m not the only one balancing school, work, family, and stress. At least for me, my children are older! I was there though! I have been trying to complete my undergrad degree since 1989! With a class here, and a military move there and 19 years later, I’m almost there!

Good luck Keith!!!