This Woman is Crazy.

Seriously. Insane. She has absolutely ZERO respect for animals and thinks nothing of it. The cameraman asked her if she wanted a turkey getting its head ripped off as the background, and she replied, "No worries."

Just imagine for a second if McCain won. How would you be feeling about the future of this country right now?

Misery...I Mean Missouri

Editor's Note: If you voted for McCain, I must urge you to stop reading now. This post can do nothing but harm to your psychological well-being, and I don't really feel like reading your hateful comments.

It's November 18th, and the presidential vote in Missouri has yet to be called. Out of almost 3 million votes (2, 914, 866 to be exact), McCain leads by 4,393. That, my friends, is close.

This is my formal request to President-Elect Obama that he ask for a recount.

Here's why--I worked my ass off for Obama in St. Louis City all summer and fall. We knew we had a great chance before it was even considered a battleground state. I took the day off on election day and knocked on almost 400 doors. Thousands of volunteers sacrificed more than a small percentage of their free time to help close the gap in Missouri. A lot of field organizers I met worked 20 hour days for weeks without a day off. We DESERVE this recount.

I know it doesn't matter in the end, but I'd like people to think about this guy I met the last weekend of the campaign. He flew all the way from London the Friday before the election just to help get Obama elected. He spent hours upon hours knocking on doors and making phone calls with us until the polls closed on Tuesday.

The Obama people threw a huge watch party that night at the Chase Park Plaza Hotel, and this guy bought a bottle of champagne to open when they called Missouri for Obama. I last saw him as we were leaving around 1 AM. The champagne had long since gone warm, but he vowed to stay true to his word and keep it corked until we heard the good news. I don't know if they let him take it on the plane back to London, but giving this guy's conviction, I'm sure he found a way.

I urge those who think a recount in Missouri is over the top or unnecessary to remember that guy from London and the rest of us here who dedicated everything we had to turn this red state blue.

So, here is the message I'm forwarding to Chicago:

Dear President-Elect Obama,

I know you have a lot on your table what with cabinet appointments, saving the country from financial collapse, tackling climate change, dealing with Joe Lieberman, ending the war, and everything else, but I guarantee you there are thousands of volunteers around Missouri willing to work a few more hours to get this thing done. We'll donate more money if that's what it takes. Hell, I'll count all three million votes personally. Just give us the thanks we deserve by asking for a recount. I'm sure it would take little more than a phone call.

Sincerely,

Some dude who worked his ass off to help get you elected.

President Elect Barack Obama

Say that a few times. I still can't believe it. What a night! Remember it, because your grandchildren will one day ask you where you were when we turned this country around.

To my Republican friends. Watch his speech, abandon your anger for a moment, and think about the possibilities. You are an American. You can be proud. It's okay. If you give President Obama a chance, you can still be a part of this defining moment in history.

OBAMA WINS PENNSYLVANIA

My day started at 6:45. I went to my Obama staging location. Drove around to a bunch of polling locations delivering things and getting phone numbers. At 9:30 I went out to bang on some doors. Did that until 1:00. Ate a sandwich. Went to bang on more doors. Did that until 5:00. My feet felt like they would fall off. Hung out at Iron Workers for a while. Went to my polling location to get vote count. 1400 out of 1600 voted at Mount Taber in the 23rd Ward. Hell yes! Now I'm watching the results come in.

McCain spent the last two weeks in Pennsylvania and they called it twenty minutes after the polls closed. IT'S GONNA HAPPEN!!! FUCK YES!

I'm heading up to the Royale, then Chase Park Plaza for the Obama (knock on wood) VICTORY PARTY! Prediction: Missouri is called for Obama at 9:28.

My Argument for Barack Obama

***
I keep a journal. My journal writing, like my blogging, is sporadic at best. In both cases, I wish I could be more diligent. Reflection is an important part of growth. It helps you understand and learn from the mistakes you've made in the past. Everyone should keep a journal of some sort, and I kick myself every time I look at my journal and realize that it's been three months since I last wrote. The other day I took out one of my old journals and realized it had entries from 2000-2004 in it. I checked the entry for November 4th, 2000. It's funny reading through the journals and watching how my political awakening occurred.

I was 20 years old and more or less apolitical. As a teenager, Bill Clinton never really impressed me when I paid attention (it probably didn't help that my dad is a RAVING conservative). Gore just seemed an extension of the legacy. Bush seemed like an idiot AND an obvious extension of a legacy. I thought both men were power-hungry cowards.

So, I didn't vote. And I watched George W. Bush win. And I didn't care too much.

When I woke up on September 11th though, something changed in me. I began to realize the importance of our leaders. I began the realize the consequences of destructive ideology. With each speech that Bush gave, I became more unsettled. I couldn't believe the things coming out of his mouth. The threats and cries of blood-thirsty revenge. I watched as anger gripped the country. I didn't feel angry though. I just remember a feeling of dread and sadness. War was coming. People were going to die. The balance of the world would be shaken. Then, war. And another war. When they didn't find any WMDs in Iraq, I vowed to leave the world of the passive bystander and do something to stop these assholes ruining our country. Ever since, I've been a political junkie.

Bush's reelection was a dark time in my life, but in 2006, I began to feel a tinge of hope. Bush continued to do stupid things and systematically dismantle the constitution, but we had this group of potential presidential candidates. And I liked them. When Obama announced he was running, I was excited (I remembered his speech at the convention and had looked up his speech in '02), but I didn't think he had a chance. I thought he had a better chance putting another 8 years in the Senate before making his run. Then, Iowa. That speech made me feel something I had never felt before, pride in my country (yeah, I said it).

Republicans want to pretend that we have some sort of obsession with Obama. It's nothing of the sort. He is a good speaker, but it's much more than that. It's his vision of America. He sees an America of optimism and promise. He sees an America where fear is countered with reason, not stoked by anger. He sees an America that embraces all cultures and faiths, not one that scapegoats and marginalizes those who look or sound different. He sees an America where there is hope for the future, trust in the goodness of ones neighbors, and sacrifice for the greater good. He sees an America where we celebrate compassion, not selfishness. This is an America of peace and prosperity and one I can't wait to see realized.

Here are my 7 reasons you should vote for Barack Obama:

1. His plan for the economy. Many conservatives would like for you to believe that this economic crisis was inevitable. That the stars were just aligned against Bush. This is typical. The republicans haven't taken credit for any of the disasterous crises created by their dangerous, irresponsible, and blind faith in a tired and broken ideology (see Iraq, Afghanistan, Katrina, the housing crisis, the banking system collapse). The truth is that we are seeing the failure of ALL tenants the neoconservative ideological platform. I'm sorry Mr. Reagan, but trickle down economics DOES NOT WORK. Greed does not trickle down. Executives pocket those tax cuts while lowering wages, stripping benefits, cutting jobs and shipping them overseas, and plundering the earth.
   
   Barack Obama's plan eliminates Bush's tax cuts for corporations and restores them to the SAME LEVEL THEY WERE IN THE 1990s. He's going to give a TAX CUT to ALL people who make under $200,000 annually and most people who make under $250,000 (those who will not receive the cut will remain at their current tax level). McCain likes to argue that 23 million small businesses would have to pay more in taxes, but Factcheck.org debunked that claim long ago: "McCain has repeatedly claimed that Obama would raise tax rates for 23 million small-business owners. It's a false and preposterously inflated figure."
   
   READ MORE ABOUT THE ECONOMY
   
   2. Barack Obama's Plan to End War in Iraq and His Proven Foreign Policy Judgment. Barack Obama was absolutely right about the invasion of Iraq. From the beginning. If you have any doubts about Obama's even-handed and pragmatic grasp of complex foreign policy issues, READ HIS 2002 SPEECH AGAINST THE INVASION OF IRAQ! Don't vote McCain until you read this. He gave this speech October 2, 2002 in Chicago. Here is the best part, and the first indication that Barack Obama had the potential to be our next great leader:
   Obama giving '02 Speech

   "I don’t oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism. What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other arm-chair, weekend warriors in this Administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne.

   
   What I am opposed to is the attempt by political hacks like Karl Rove to distract us from a rise in the uninsured, a rise in the poverty rate, a drop in the median income — to distract us from corporate scandals and a stock market that has just gone through the worst month since the Great Depression.

   
   That’s what I’m opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.

   READ MORE OF SPEECH MORE ABOUT IRAQ
   
   
2. The Principles of his Foreign Policy Vision. Two words: direct diplomacy. It works. Unilateralism, isolationism, and threatening rhetoric has failed President Bush every step of the way. The more extreme your threats, the more credibility you lend to the extremists on the other side. President Bush was the best thing to happen to Al Qaida and Osama Bin Laden. His response to the war played right into their hands. Their stated goal is to bankrupt the United States by provoking unsustainable and endless wars. Today, we're spending $10 billion in Iraq EVERY WEEK and our economy is in serious decline. This is not a policy we want to continue. Yet, McCain is as much of a warhawk as Bush. Just listen to him talk about Russia, China, or Iran. His foreign policy platform is no different from that of George W. Bush. Take a look at it. Why do you think he won the endorsements of Dick Cheney and Al-Qaeda? Does this make anyone else nervous as hell? Anyone?
   
   Obama will restore our credibility in the world by creating a more responsible foreign policy agenda. Along with direct diplomacy with friends and enemies alike, he will expand our diplomatic (not military) presence around the world, strengthen NATO, and seek out new partnerships in Asia. I know the far right has many people scared of direct diplomacy, but every president (including W lately) has sat down and had direct talks with the leaders of foreign threats. Clinton, Bush I, Reagan, Carter, Ford, Nixon, Johnson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Truman, Roosevelt. It's not a new concept. It's what responsible presidents have always done.
   
   READ MORE ABOUT FOREIGN POLICY VISION
   
   
3. He has the Ability to Motivate and Mobilize People at a Grassroots Level. Think about it. If Barack Obama can motivate and organize millions upon millions of people to sacrifice their time and money for his campaign, just think of what he can do for the country. I love his emphasis on encouraging young people to serve the country in other ways besides killing people and dying. Why don't we have more programs like Teach for America, Peace Corps, and AmeriCorps that reward service to country by forgiving student loans or paying for post-graduate degrees? Why not offer young people, eager to give back, the opportunity to serve their community? I'm telling you, this could have a tremendous impact on eliminating the overwhelming and disheartening apathy of young people across the country, while doing amazing things for impoverished communities.
   
   There's only one candidate talking about this type of service. That's Barack Obama.
   
   
4. Refreshing Answers in Education. As an educator, No Child Left Behind is the absolute bane of my existence. It is has undermined the true goals of education by forcing teachers to analyze meaningless data and waste time teaching to unfair and biased tests. It has also created funding gaps for schools not seen since the segregation era. Barack Obama has promised to reform NCLB in two major ways. He's going to improve the assessments used to measure success, and reform the accountability system so that we are "supporting schools that need improvement, rather than punishing them." He is also going to fully fund the program--something Bush never did. These improvements will not fix the system, but they're a step in the right direction.
   
   The next thing I really like about his education platform is it's emphasis on early childhood education. I taught lower-level readers for five years. These were kids that read at levels as low as the 2nd grade--in 9th grade. There are two main reasons for kids who fall through the cracks in the system without learning to read properly, and both have addressed been addressed by the Obama campaign. First, access to early childhood education. Most of these students were from lower income areas without access to Pre-K programs. They start behind, and never catch up. Second, many of these kids were never read to as kids. Obama has made an emphasis on parenting a major part of his education platform regularly suggesting that they, "turn off the TV-set. Put the video game away. Buy a little desk. Or put that child at the kitchen table. Watch them do their homework. If they don’t know how to do it, give ‘em help." These are both common sense ideas that could bring about major changes in education (and make my life easier).
   
   
5. The Environmental Revolution. The minute McCain and Palin started inciting crowds to chant "Drill, baby, Drill," he discredited manyof his environmental promises. While he's a DRAMATIC improvement on Bush, he's still in the pockets of the same industries trying to get in the way of the dramatic changes we need to reverse global warming trends. Obama's plan, titled "New Energy for America" is ambitious, responsible, and comprehensive.
   
   If Obama is elected, I predict that this document will become one of the most important in the modern history of the United States. So read it now. If not for yourself, so you can tell your children you were a part of something important. We're talking about energy independence. We're talking about five million new jobs. We're talking about one million cars that get 150 mpg. We're talking about changing the gluttonous American paradigm. This is huge.
   
   I know that sounds scary to those of you who cling to the status quo like it's the steering wheel of your Hummer as you cut off a poor teacher in a station wagon, but just once, think with your brain instead of your penis as you read this thing. Please. Then compare Obama's ideas to the simplistic solutions of McCain (drill, drill, drill or nukes, nukes, nukes). If nothing else, you have to admit that Obama and his people have put a little more thought into this than McCain and friends. If that isn't a reflection of who is better prepared to lead right now, I don't know what is. If that isn't a reflection of a candidate with substance, I don't know what is. Don't listen to the bullshit anymore people.
   
   READ MORE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENTAL REVOLUTION
   
   
6. He Understands the Complexities of Race Relations. I know many readers of this blog don't care about this issue, but it is important. Barack Obama has a unique background that allows him to understand all sides of the extremely sensitive and volatile race relations in this country. If we can start now, to work towards his vision for "A More Perfect Union," we could finally move towards truly achieving the dream Martin Luther King Jr. had many years ago. He gave this speech on March 18th amid the media's obsession with Reverend Wright. It took courage to give this speech. It's the most honest assessment of race in this country by a politician I've ever heard. Here is my favorite part of the speech:
   

   "That is one option. Or, at this moment, in this election, we can come together and say, "Not this time." This time we want to talk about the crumbling schools that are stealing the future of black children and white children and Asian children and Hispanic children and Native American children. This time we want to reject the cynicism that tells us that these kids can't learn; that those kids who don't look like us are somebody else's problem. The children of America are not those kids, they are our kids, and we will not let them fall behind in a 21st century economy. Not this time.
   
   This time we want to talk about how the lines in the Emergency Room are filled with whites and blacks and Hispanics who do not have health care; who don't have the power on their own to overcome the special interests in Washington, but who can take them on if we do it together.
   
   This time we want to talk about the shuttered mills that once provided a decent life for men and women of every race, and the homes for sale that once belonged to Americans from every religion, every region, every walk of life. This time we want to talk about the fact that the real problem is not that someone who doesn't look like you might take your job; it's that the corporation you work for will ship it overseas for nothing more than a profit.
   
   This time we want to talk about the men and women of every color and creed who serve together, and fight together, and bleed together under the same proud flag. We want to talk about how to bring them home from a war that never should've been authorized and never should've been waged, and we want to talk about how we'll show our patriotism by caring for them, and their families, and giving them the benefits they have earned.
   
   I would not be running for President if I didn't believe with all my heart that this is what the vast majority of Americans want for this country. This union may never be perfect, but generation after generation has shown that it can always be perfected. And today, whenever I find myself feeling doubtful or cynical about this possibility, what gives me the most hope is the next generation - the young people whose attitudes and beliefs and openness to change have already made history in this election."
   
   Barack Obama as "A More Perfect Union", ink on Bristol, John Sokol, 2008

Scarier than ACORN?

No way, right!?!

The McCain camp wants you to be scared of ACORN. Maybe you are. Let my tell you why you shouldn't be. ACORN is a group that dedicates itself to protecting the rights of poor people. They run multiple campaigns to help families in low to moderate income areas. According to their website:

"ACORN members across the country work to raise the minimum wage or enact living wage policies; eliminate predatory financial practices by mortgage lenders, payday lenders, and tax preparation companies; win the development of affordable housing and community benefits agreements; improve the quality of and funding for urban public schools; rebuild New Orleans; and pass a federal and state ACORN Working Families Agenda, including paid sick leave for all full time workers."

Terrifying, I know.

They don't make a lot of money, but they do a lot of good. They should be applauded, not demonized. Every presidential candidate should work with them to help rebuild out country into a healthy, participatory democracy.

The far right wingnuts are up in arms because some of the people they hired this year, instead of doing their job and actually registering voters, wrote in fake names to make some easy money. The percentage of ACORN employees who do this is minuscule, and according to Factcheck.org, "no evidence has yet surfaced to show that the ACORN employees who submitted fraudulent registration forms intended to pave the way for illegal voting." They are not destroying the fabric of our democracy.

These guys could though.

Diebold (now Premier Election Solutions) are the guys who won Ohio for Bush last time. They make voting machines. They donate to Republicans. And they have the power to rig elections. Huffington Post's Michael Carmichael wrote an eye-opening article called, "Arc of Darkness" that you should all take a look at. It takes a comprehensive peek at the lengths desperate Republicans are willing to go to in order to win an election.

Here's a Democracy Now interview of Mark Crispen about Diebold and 2004. You should watch if you still aren't convinced:



___________________________________________________________________

A lot of commenters on Carmichael's article made calls for revolution if the GOP steals this one.

Dear these people,

Be careful with the revolution talk. Violence only breeds more violence. It does nothing be lend credibility to the extremists on the other side (see Bush's response to 9/11 and the spreading of Al Qaida).

I hate to even consider this, but how terrifying would it be if the election was stolen again and there was a violent reaction? This is exactly how it would go down.

McCain declared winner despite overwhelming inconsistencies. People (whites and blacks alike) go nuts, hit the streets in record numbers to protest. Violence breaks out in a few areas. Mainstreammedia media shows image after image of these few instances. Limbaugh and friends rally the racists and stoke the flames of fear, making it look like the public wants the government to "restore order." President Bush finds some loophole to bypass Congress and declare Martial Law. Troops and tanks hit the streets. Funerals for American democracy held throughout the country. I move to Canada.

Okay, maybe I exaggerate a little, but I couldn't resist a scary story for Halloween. And though this scenario is unlikely (see state-by-state polls), it IS possible.

If you are not insane, and you want to prevent even the remote possibility of this nightmare, I have the following recommendations:

1. VOTE. The only way to make sure this doesn't happen is if it's a landslide. EVERY vote in EVERY state is important. I don't care if you live in Illinois and Obama's up 30.
2. VOTE WITH A PAPER BALLOT!!! It takes a little longer, but at least you don't have to rely on software that could easily manipulated.
   
3. VOTE. Obama will win Missouri if there is a large turnout in St. Louis and Kansas City.

Sincerely,

A guy who's concerned about people who talk about revolution and shit like that.

Whoa!

As of 10:07, it seems that even Foxnews readers thought Obama won the debate. How about that? More reasons why to vote for Obama to come soon.

Question of the Day

Who won the final presidential debate?

John McCain 31%

Barack Obama 69%

Total Voters:23462

This is not a scientific poll.

Ignorance is Strength

Note: This post was inspired by the article "McCain says Obama is 'making up facts'" over at Politico.

Wow...it's amazing how conservative robots will adopt the mantra spewed by their radio prophets and pathetic candidates. The irony in everything these people say and is almost beyond belief. And I'm getting tired of it.

They have to be doing it on purpose. Come on. They have to. McCain accuses Obama of distracting the public from the economy when the economy is Obama's strength right now. Are you serious??? McCain accuses Obama of mudslinging when he flat out lies about Palin's bridge to nowhere and flat out lies about Obama's plan to educate kindergartners about dealing with sexual predators. Really??? McCain says he's the agent of change but his entire economic platform is based on the same disasterous neoconservative free market deregulation policies as George W. Bush, and the same strong handed simple minded fear fear fear cowboy foreign policy as George W. Bush.

This is doublespeak. Plain and simple. War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.

The Republicans have been using fear to get elected as long as I've been alive. They tell us to be afraid of the evil that's out there. But, what about the evil right in front of our faces. Wake up people. We are the oppressors. We invaded a country unprovoked and justified it with lies. We destroyed an entire nation. We are responsible for the deaths of over a million innocent people and thousands of young American soldiers. Iraq will never be the same. Despite the rosy picture created by the failures at foxcnnnbc, it is NOT a better place than it was. Just ask an Iraqi still living there. We are the oppressors.

I say we, but I really mean our neoconservative government. And with the Palin pick, McCain showed that, just like George W. Bush, he is enslaved to the radicals in the far right (he's gotta think about reelection, right). Bush's team has been prepping Sarah "the Barracuda" on foreign policy since her appointment. Did you watch the interview? Miss I'm-qualified-because-of-my-approximation-to-Russia didn't think twice about using force against Russia if it came down to it. Have we learned nothing about using threats and bombs to solve our problems?

If another puppet in the pockets of the neocon think tanks is elected, there will be a war in Iran. Now, that's scary. Palin may have even hinted at the new PNAC strategy to "rebuild America's defenses" (aka fight "theater wars" to prepare for a "large-scale war" while fattening the pockets of your future employers along the way). Since lying our way into war is somewhat unpopular these days, they'll just fight wars in the name of defending our allies. Everyone knows Israel is chomping at the bit to drop bombs on Iran. We'll secretly advise them to let 'em fly and simply "support our allies" by following right behind them. Former Soviet territories are itching to join NATO to protect themselves from Russia. McCain is elected and continues Bush's Russia taunting be making this happen. Russia reacts by invading Georgia again. Just like that, the neocons will, at long last, have their "large-scale war." Horray! It's all in that PNAC document I linked to. That vicious thing explains most of the seemingly idiodic decisions of the Bush/Cheney administration. And it terrifies me to the core.

Let me make this clear...McCain has the same foreign policy as Bush. He's in the pockets of the same guys. He drank the same Kool-aid. He'll make the same threats. He'll start the same wars.

Get used to the doublespeak from his team. War is Peace. Freedom is Slavery. Ignorance is Strength.

Read some Orwell...and if McCain is elected, watch in horror as this country becomes Oceania.

Conspiracy Theory?

Interesting stuff...AP and Yahoo News both made the article about Joseph Dwyer (see prior post) disappear. I'm not sure how long articles usually last in the AP archives, but it's been a little over a month. Hmmm.

I'm sure PTSD is a drag for the Army's marketing department. It's probably best for our national security if this whole "disorder" and the so-called "veterans" suffering from it just go away.

I 'm just saying.

Here's an updated link (let's see how long it takes this one to disappear).

Pay your Debts

Since I haven't posted in over a year, I don't expect many people to read this. So, I guess this is more for my own mental stability than anything. This story was so tragic, I broke down into tears before finishing.

On June 28th, Former Army Private First Class Joseph Dwyer died of an accidental overdose after an excruciating battle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. You may remember him from a picture taken days after United States forces invaded Iraq in 2003. AP writers Allen Breed and Kevin Maurer describe the photo and Pfc. Dwyer's story in this heartbreaking article published today:

As the sun rose along the Euphrates River on March 25, 2003, Army Times photographer Warren Zinn watched as a man ran toward the soldiers carrying a white flag and his injured 4-year-old son. Zinn clicked away as Dwyer darted out to meet the man, then returned, cradling the boy in his arms. "

The photo was published all across the United States and Dwyer was celebrated as a hero. But just like may other heroes coming home from Iraq, Dwyer's battle continued for five more years. I encourage you to read every word of the story before even finishing this post. We owe brave men like Joseph Dwyer that much. Every American should be required to understand the true and complete destruction of the Iraq War.

___________________________________________________________________

This mindless, catastrophic, unjust, and disgusting war is going to continue to claim lives long after the future President Obama brings it to an end twenty months from now. We must...let me repeat that...WE MUST learn from the horrible regime of George Bush and Dick Cheney. We cannot allow this to ever happen again. Ever. America's amnesia is unacceptable. We owe it to Joseph Dwyer. We owe it to every single casualty of this war. We owe it to all of the soldiers fighting while we sleep in our air conditioned homes at night. We owe it to the soldiers at home waiting to be sent back. We owe it to the millions of veterans suffering from the physical and emotional damage irresponsibly inflicted upon them. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to make sure this NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN.

We have to learn from this mistake. Read each story about a veteran struggling to adjust to civilian life. Read about the heroes who have lost their lives and those still serving. Read about the mistakes that brought us to this point and think about it for a while. Then act. Speak out. Call you Senator and Congressman. Sign Petitions. Participate in protests. Vote in November.

With all of the focus lately on the economy and people complaining about filling up their wasteful SUVs with $4 a gallon gas, the war and those devastated by it has shoved to page 2. The everyday American has not paid his and her debt to the world for voting George W. Bush and Dick Cheney into office so they could commit this crime. We all must pay this debt. Go out and get started. We have a war to end and an election to win.