Christy,

The Obama ad loaded in the window in the previous post, but seems stuck in this one.

Can’t sleep…been up since 0400 our time (an hour ago),

This one’s a YouTube — some folks can’t watch the other format, so I thought I’d give everyone a shot at viewing. Sorry you can’t sleep…ugh, I hate that!

Pretty good. But

“outworn ideas of the left and right”

has a distinctly high-Broderite sound to it.

sorry for the early morning drive by,but….OMG!!

In perhaps one of the strangest twists to date in the story of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a video now shows the governor crediting her electoral success to a preacher who claims to successfully hunt witches.

The speech, shown below, was filmed in June. Palin describes the visit of Pastor Thomas Muthee to the Wasilla Assembly of God in 2005.

“As I was mayor and Pastor Muthee was here and he was praying over me, and you know how he speaks and he’s so bold. And he was praying ‘Lord make a way, Lord make a way,’” Palin remarked.

“And I’m thinking, this guy’s really bold, he doesn’t even know what I’m going to do, he doesn’t know what my plans are,” she continued. “And he’s praying not ‘oh Lord if it be your will may she become governor,’ no, he just prayed for it. He said, ‘Lord make a way and let her do this next step. And that’s exactly what happened.’”

“So, again, very very powerful, coming from this church,” she added.

In 1988, Pastor Muthee and his wife traveled to Kenya after being “called by God.” Setting up shop in the basement of a grocery store, they claim to have brought 200 people “to God” and away from the town’s “spiritual oppression.”

The source of the oppression? Witchcraft, Muthee says. When researching the community, they found that a woman named “Mama Jane” ran a divination clinic that drew a large following in the town.

“We prayed, we fasted, the Lord showed us a spirit of witchcraft resting over the place,” Pastor Muthee said.

It’s general election season — they are all making that play to the middle that happens every election cycle to scoop up the undecideds and independents. I’m not certain that sort of language is all that effective, frankly, but it’s what they do at about this point in every presidential campaign that I can remember…

Is this a new version of that video? If not, that one’s been out for a while, hasn’t it?

what we’ve seen the last few days is nothing less than the final verdict on an economic philosophy that has completely failed

This is the theme I want Obama and Biden to hammer over the next two months. We tried the Republican “smaller government with less regulation” thing, with John McCain and his lobbyists as chief enablers, and what did it get us? This message will resonate with the people who are living the consequences of this failed policy.

In fact, someone needs to add to the viral “Epic Fail” youtubes some footage of McCain railing against regulation and the subsequent bailouts of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and AIG.

haven’t watched it yet, as i am generally trying to avoid advertisements, but may make an exception for this one.

The lobbyists versus regular folks having a voice in the process

is there any evidence that this is something different than the bullshit obama gave us about fisa? (telcos vs the regular folks). because i don’t see it and i’d like to.

disclaimer: this is NOT a comment on the presidential elections. this is just my attempt to understand and to try to separate the bullshit from what is real.

My husband lost his job of 15yrs right after the 4th of July weekend. Downsizing to please shareholders who just couldn’t make enough money.Yay. We’re lucky,at least he got a severance package. But that runs out in Jan,and the job market ain’t looking so good.

This is the first time in my adult life I’ve really been scared because of finances,and I’ve been homeless before. And even then,I knew I could find work. Now,not so much. I’ve been home raising an autism spectrum teen for 14 yrs,I can’t even get a job making minimum wage,I’ve tried.

We’re supposed to trust Mr Keating Five and Ms Bridge to Nowhere with the nation’s financial rules and regulations? Um.NO.Do.Not.Want.

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/....._0917.html

This is the theme I want Obama and Biden to hammer over the next two months.

even more than that, i’d like them to believe it. any sign of that so far? for example - has obama fired furman and hired stiglitz?

((( A Mom Anon )))

I liked the format of Obama speaking directly into the camera. The goal is for people to see him rather than videos of dancing bears or midgets. He has a tremendous voice and should continue to use it.

The key to this election is that he made the economy his centerpiece issue instead of Iraq and it looks like he hit it spot on. McCain’s whole convention was built around Iraq and it isn’t the issue that it was in 2004. Obama’s ads point to the waste of Iraq but it is the economy that he stays focused on.

I think this ad will increase his favorable rating.

I like this ad but it’s TOO LONG.

Obama needs a 10-word telegram for the election.

He needs a 10-word telegram for every issue.

I look forward to him boiling down his message, because if he doesn’t, he’s going to lose. Simple as that.

Communication is not what you say. It’s what the other person says. A 2-minute ad says to a lot of people blah, blah, blah, blah.

Well, there was the Ethics and Lobbying Reform bill he and Feingold co-sponsored last year, for starters.

I want more ads about the Americans he is talking about when he says this election is about YOU.

The only problem I have with that part of the ad that you quoted is that I am afraid this may not be the “final” verdict

ETette just finished her first post-college job as a scientist, working on a team performing the first-ever butterfly count-survey in the North Cascades National Park.

She decided to apply for work in Seattle, for the Obama campaign. They called her for an interview yesterday, suggesting she come into the Seattle office (she’s living in Bellingham, WA) Friday.

But, then the interviewer asked where she is from.

She replied, “Wasilla, Alaska.”

He said, “Be here tomorrow!”

LOL — hilarious! How did the butterfly survey go? I’m not seeing as many in our yard this year, just as a totally anecdotal note…

You’re right about that. Maybe the language should move toward these ongoing events being the death-knell of that economic philosophy. I agree that we haven’t seen the end of it, if that is what you mean.

LOL. no shit, that’s great.

Happy Constitution Day,pups.

Celebrate it…if you can find it….

If you all click through the link, you can read the speech in its entirety — I only pulled a small segment of it.

Well, I don’t know about everyone else, but I have a copy on my desk. *g*

That is precisely what I mean.

Here’s mine.

I like this add, it’s definitely directed at those of us looking for answers instead of slogans.

I also like the fact that this candidate has finally directed the problems where they started, at the Reagan economic strategy

Reagan took the assets that amassed for this country over gene ratios and landed them in the lap of wealthy people

those assets took some time to deplete but not too long, the middle class suffered immediately, the middle class shrunk under Reagan’s redistribution of their assets but the media was allowed to disguise that fact

Obama makes that case but subtly, I hope he is another FDR, that the will rebuild the infrastructure of this country, that he will strengthen the engine that runs the American economy,that engine is the middle class

and that he points out, as is demonstrated under Clinton, that when the middle class thrives the upper class thrives as well
strategy that is aimed at the middle class will benefit ALL classes across our economic structure, those directed at the upper class do not give more wealth to the wealthy over a middle class structure, the just create a greater Davide

I like how he said folks he’s talked to in “town halls”. A fight back to McCain blaming the negative tone of the campaign on Obama’s refusal to debate him in town halls. Like others, I was worried that 2 minutes would be too long, but after watching it, it went quickly.
Also liked rebuilding our country instead of rebuilding Iraq. I understand we have a responsibility there, but, especially after viewing the horrors of Ike/Galveston, Americans should want to help Her own.
Good ad, I think. Let’s see how “regular” folks hear it.

707!, go ETette, Go !

I knew Bush was never leveling with us about IRAQ. After reading Woodward’s book, now I know he was flat out lying about so many things. John McCain was right there with him. So when Bush or McCain stands up and talks about the economy, I know they are lying because their pitiful statements are being drowned out by the hundreds of experts who are telling us to get our house in order because it is going to get worse.

On a bizarre note, my lender just refinanced my house to a shorter-term loan, gave me a line of credit and a credit card. I decided to take the extra credit just in case.

The weather in the North Cascades was the worst in years. But the team spent as much time in the field as possible. One storm pitched hailstones so big, they lost gear and got bruised.

The scientists are still evaluating data, but they may have discovered some new species - two or three. As it is the only count ever done there, it is baseline, so until there’s a comparison made in 2010, they’re as anecdotal as you are.

OT I wanted to share what I thought was a really good piece on the press
http://www.scholarsandrogues.c.....the-press/

Rut ROH

FDIC

Federal bank insurance fund dwindling By MARCY GORDON, AP Business Writer
Tue Sep 16, 7:49 PM ET

WASHINGTON - Banks are not the only ones struggling in the growing financial crisis. The fund established to insure their deposits is also feeling the pinch, and the taxpayer may be the lender of last resort.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., whose insurance fund has slipped below the minimum target level set by Congress, could be forced to tap tax dollars through a Treasury Department loan if Washington Mutual Inc., the nation’s largest thrift, or another struggling rival fails, economists and industry analysts said Tuesday.

Butterfly counts way down in Fargo and in Northern Minnesota lake country, as well.

Polar bears’n'butterflies…canaries in the coal mine.

I thought the ad was great, especially given McSame’s prevarications of late. There needs to be an ad, as soon as possible, about the McSame/Mayor Heartbeat campaign’s economic adviser Phil Gramm, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.

My new synthesis of the mcPain campaign: It’s a war on the Rule of Law. War More Years. That’s what they want to give us.

The first vollies of this war are plain to see right now in Alaska. In my view, we need to confront their cynical, hypocritical, morally bankrupt campaign. I say no to War More Years. And no to people crying “moral relativism” when the McPain ticket is nothing more than two Exemplars of Moral Relativism.

I’ve now concluded: This election is a Referendum on the Constitution itself.

Disagree with the blah-blah-blah assumption. Two minutes is being spent with him speaking instead of clever commercial gimmicks. I would much prefer a candidate in front of the camera instead of lots of gimmicks. He could continue to speak but intersperse it with graphs or charts but it will encourage everyone who supports him and is getting demoralized by the attacks of the McCain campaign. Sometimes it isn’t about wooing the undecideds as much as bucking up the faithful. This ad worked for me.

Really?

I thought the exact opposite.

I like that he’s treating us like adults… but maybe i have a little more faith in the American public than you?

I wish he had talked more about Accountability, but we can hound him on those issues after he’s elected.

Sonny boy brought a reproduction of The Constitution home from his recent trip to DC. It’s up on his bedroom wall, along with the Declaration of Independence.

I thought it was Presidential.

How sad is it that “War More Years” is such an apt descriptor for them? SIGH

counter evidence from jan 2006, joint press release from pelosi, obama, reid and slaughter. if you read the whole thing it will probably make you ill (in fact when i posted it at glenn’s place his reply began “Of all the things I read today, the thing you just posted made me the sickest — which is saying quite a bit.”

here is the last paragraph.

“Ours must be a government ‘of the people, by the people, and for the people.’ That means all of the American people. Republicans have made it a government of, by, and for a few of the people. America can do better. We can and we will. With this agenda, Democrats will create the most open and honest government in history, and put power back where it belongs – in the hands of all the people. Together, America can do better.”

they broke all their own promises, so i’m thinking it was all a pack of lies to begin with.

not trying to make folks miserable here. but our country is in deep trouble (i don’t have to tell anyone here that) and we need to work hard not to be fooled by our politicians the way the republicans allowed themselves to be fooled by theirs. too much is riding on our ability to see and think clearly. - and imo, obama is a master of making us believe what we want to believe, regardless of what the facts of the matter are.

Wow, thanks, the whole speech is great. Here’s another part I really liked:

What has happened these last eight years is not some historical anomaly, so we know what to expect if we try these policies for another four. When lobbyists run your campaign, the special interests end up gaming the system. When the White House is hostile to any kind of oversight, corporations cut corners and consumers pay the price. When regulators are chosen for their disdain for regulation and we gut their ability to enforce the law, then the interests of the American people are not protected. It’s an ideology that intentionally breeds incompetence in Washington and irresponsibility on Wall Street, and it’s time to turn the page.

Spot on.

OT again A repub on c-span said that many in his church were concerned about McShames mental condition and requested that McShame release his psych records

THis line bears repeating:
“McCain’s economic policy was written by Phil Gramm, the man who brought you the bubble and collapse of Enron, the sub-prime morgage meltdown and the largest federal support program since the WPA. Only this time the only benificiaries will be billionaires.

from John Cusack at Huffpo today

Watch McCain repeat “maverick” 300 times a day, like a mantra, ’til Election Day. Republicans and hockey moms against corruption and Lear jets. Orwell for second graders: distraction and chaos, phony scandals and bullshit patriotics from the crew that would install an inexperienced neophyte — not even put through the crucible of the national stage — a heartbeat away from the greatest nuclear arsenal the world has ever known, and not blink. Darkest reptilian politics that speak to the ultimate calcified cynicism of Republicans.

Democrats need to ignore her — unless she speaks about policy — maybe she can explain and solve the collapsing world markets — and keep the focus relentlessly on the disastrous results of Bush/McCain/Republican rule. They need to remind voters of the disasters of the last seven-plus years. Specifically. And as people have been saying, we need to be mad as well as inspired.

John McCain is the Republican Party as much as Bush — we need to be constantly reminded of the policies (and, yes, the crimes) that are threatening this country from within.

Obama must hit Republicans ten times harder. Let’s hear about war profiteering, taxpayer-funded mercenary armies and privatizing core functions of state, habeas corpus and warrantless wiretapping and presidential signing statements, and Katrina and justice department politicization, and phony intel and Abu Ghraib, rendition and torture.

I hate to have to even ask this, but i think it’s a legitimate question:

Do you think enough voters have an attention span of 2 minutes on one issue.

Good Morning Christy and Firedogs,

I too like it when Obama speaks directly to the people - didn’t really notice until his speech on race, love, love, love when he treats the listener like rational adults capable of making up their own minds.

that said, now that he has unleashed the 527’s -

This needs to be animated and plastered all over the teevee for the next several weeks - it’s not like they don’t have the cash

Good morning firepups,

I think this ad is a good start, however it is only an overview of economic policy. What Americans want to hear is how Obama’s policy is going to help them with their finances in every day life in simple terms. I would suggest an ad such as this:

A McCain administration would amount to a third term of Bushie and lousy economics for the American people. But we can change that with an Obama presidency. Obama will make these practical changes for the American people:

* a tax cut for Americans making less than $150,000 a year
* eliminate income tax for seniors with income of $50,000 or less
* extending unemployment insurance beyond the 26-week limit and helping struggling state governments
* a $4,000 a year tuition aid to college students pledging community service or national service after graduation
* 34 million more Americans will be convered by healthcare compared to McCain’s 5 million
* Enact a Windfall Profits Tax to Provide a $1,000 Emergency Energy Rebate to American Families
* will eliminate all capital gains taxes on start-up and small businesses to encourage innovation and job creation.
* End Tax Breaks for Companies that Send Your Jobs Overseas

there’s more but at least it would spell out the details for the public

everytime i see phil gramm rightly condemned for his role in banking deregulation - but without mention of the important role played by the clinton administration, i’m tempted to post this:

White House Is Joining in Efforts To Loosen the Limits on Banking

By KEITH BRADSHER,
Published: February 27, 1995

The Clinton Administration plans to call this week for legislation that would allow commercial banks, securities firms and insurance companies to merge, forming giant financial services companies that would offer everything from checking accounts to mutual funds and life insurance, Federal officials say.

In a speech prepared for delivery in New York on Monday and in Congressional testimony scheduled for Wednesday, Treasury Secretary Robert E. Rubin will urge Congress to repeal the Depression-era Glass-Steagall Act, the officials said.

that would be the same rubin who after repeal went to work at citibank, probably the company which, in the short term, benefitted most by the deregulation. and that would be the same rubin mentioned here:

Union Critical of Obama’s Top Economics Aide

By LOUIS UCHITELLE
Published: June 12, 2008

Acting quickly after securing his party’s presidential nomination, Barack Obama picked a well-known representative of Bill Clinton’s economic policies as his economic policy director and signaled this week that the major players from the Clinton economics team were now in his camp — starting with Robert E. Rubin.

Senator Obama, Democrat of Illinois, hired Jason Furman, a Harvard-trained economist closely associated with Mr. Rubin, a Wall Street insider who served as President Clinton’s Treasury secretary. Labor union leaders criticized the move, and said that “Rubinomics” focused too much on corporate America and not enough on workers.

does it really make sense for us to believe that our economic problems are due solely or even primarily to the replublicans? or do we have a bipartisan problem here? because if it is bipartisan, we’re not doing ourselves any favors by ignoring our own party’s contribution.

I don’t know how anybody in their left mind can work on campaign ads.

If they’re long, there are complaints they’re not short and snappy. If they’re short, complaints about candidates who talk in soundbites vs. depth.

I’m not talking about anyone at the Lake…….just an observation that PR people (or whatever they’re called) must live in a *reeeeeeeeeeeeally* strange world. *g*

And with dial-up, I’m in no position to evaluate any of them. :-(

I like the add, particularly since it hints at an end to Gilded Age 2.0 economic philosophy we’ve been under since 1980 and possibly some return to the concept that government has a role to promote the general welfare. Any rational person who compares it, and Obama’s speech yesterday, with McCain’s striken, funereal statements and attempted philosopy reversals would have to conclude for Obama. Still, I’ve come to think I don’t know anything about the thought process of the remaining undecided voters and maybe a statement like, “Me give you job and plenty money” would work best.

I like the ad. I know it’s two minutes, but it sure didn’t feel like it.

I think Obama does a nice job avoiding coming off as an overeducated egg-head, and keeps the language simple.

But, as noted above, there isn’t a sound bite to be found.

What really bothered me was watching an Obama speech yesterday, the content of which was excellent, the delivery professorial.

Bring me passion!

And bring it to me in bumper-sticker sized bursts!

Eeeet eeeezzzeee allll booooshit!

Hurrah for ETette and for all of us!

Or think of it this way:

The wheel is turning
and you can’t slow down
You can’t let go
and you can’t hold on
You can’t go back
and you can’t stand still
If the thunder don’t get you
then the lightning will

Im sure that will help us alot

This link to another Hollywood Lefty article at Huff:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/.....26965.html
Sean Penn says “The divisiveness brought on by the policies of George W. Bush and John McCain has created an emotional civil war. We have to ask ourselves, at what point emotions may even turn to violence here at home.”

Here’s my problems with John Cusak:

1) though he bears a fairly striking facial similarity to me, imo, he has way more hair, and

2) he’s a better writer than I am.

heh.

Obama and Biden need to hold a series of press conferences on the economy and take questions from econ/financial reporters. It will make the network news programs every night. At the end of each session, they should challenge McCain/Palin to do the same.

you got a Coonhound…you lucky…i returned Murphy to her family last nite,found her on the highway….she was so very dynamite

Now watched the ad and skimmed thru comments. This is a powerful you-and-I-can-and-must ad, it reinforces the Obama theme, like watching a really great symphony or jazz concert or country ballad. Each verse, each riff, each movement is a piece of the whole.

Look at this ad the same way, it’s a piece of the whole, with a true maestro conducting the campaign. I hope that’s not too “elitist” for the trolls lurking–I could make my metaphor Willie Nelson or Johnny Cash instead of Leonard Bernstein–but then we have country bands and jazz quartets and a symphony and heck, even in the tall timber, there’s an opera company,

…and we know how to recognize a real talent from a lousy knock-off cover.

And at the end of the day it’s a song we all can join in on …and contribute to the power of the whole song.

1776 Trombones, Anyone?

but we love you equaly as much …prolly more!!

We got trouble. . .

i love the guy.He is trying very hard to reach everybody imo

except that obama conveniently ignores how much of the deregulation occurred on clinton’s watch. it’s like clinton took the locks off the doors, and then left them wide open - so that the republicans could steal us blind.

to me that just sounds like obama doesn’t get it at all - he’s just making nice sounding noises because he’s on the campaign trail. i want obama to get it - and if that’s not possible (and i don’t think it will be in the short term), then we need to understand that is the case.

if there is reason to think that obama really gets this, i don’t see it - look at who is advising him, why did he hire furman if he is not sold on the ideology of the free market, free trade bullshit that helped get us into this mess?

Bless you. I bet her family was grateful. You’re a good person for making that reunion happen.

In light of the nonstop lying from the McCain campaign, I was happy to find that one of my favorite posts from the early days of blogging is still online, and still highly relevant. If you haven’t been reading blogs since 2004, I recommend The D-Squared Digest One Minute MBA - Avoiding Projects Pursued By Morons 101. Sample:

Good ideas do not need lots of lies told about them in order to gain public acceptance.

‘Nuff said.

aww, thanks.

i’m sorry, i don’t understand. would you explain and i’ll get more coffee? thanks!

he is inan EPIC BATTLE…to win against the REPUKLICAN NOISE MACHINE…can we try to help him instead of taking him off message…HELP being the important meme

We got trouble. . .

with a capital “T“

now you’re singing my song. *g*

Bring me passion!

You’ve been watchin’ waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too much tweety. *G*

that is what i do…they were thrilled,and promised to be more vigilant…
drivers with cell phones= heartbreak for wandering pets

and fuck head Joe

and it starts with “P”. Ha. Good one.

ah, from my comment above:

disclaimer: this is NOT a comment on the presidential elections. this is just my attempt to understand and to try to separate the bullshit from what is real.

surely you’re not suggesting that i should try to stop thinking until after november?

What selise wrote is totally true, though.

When we win (NOT IF!) in November, we need to continue to hold everyone in DC’s feet to the fire.

Years ago I found a Aussie wandering with no tags. Had her for a couple of weeks when a kid saw her in the back of my truck and said she was his. I gave her up but it sucked.

The other thing he needs to do is talk about the need for new industry in the U.S. That’s where green jobs comes in. The reason the economy was good under Clinton was the digital revolution. If the U.S. government gets behind the idea of saving the planet, environmental technology will produce the next 1990s-esque boom.

He also needs to include in every econ. discussion the fact that the McCain healthcare plan will cause you to lose your health insurance in a few years.

why do you want to dilute his message….there is NO need to point up Robert Rubin,NOW..Obama understands very well,about deregulation.

fyi -

S.900 How They Voted

agree with you - but politically, they have cover for the next 6 weeks

Maybe you might consider that you are asking the same stuff day after day. Stop thinking? No. Stop posting the same negative stuff? Worth considering.

It’s simple:

1. re-regulate
2. green economy
3. fix healthcare

It’s not brain surgery.
Get Bill Clinton on the air to deliver this message.
Shame him into it.

i know that, he is(Robert Rubin) is from my home town…my family knows his family etc…WE NEED TO WIN…i dont know how much clearer i can be about this!!!AFTER the election we can PROBE him witha microcamera,and we should
UNITED WE STAND devided will be in for Sarahs ARMEGEDDON…dig?

Agree completely.
Fact is that this legislation was signed into law by one Big Dog.

I don’t enjoy the lesser of two evils argument, and it doesn’t work well in elections.

November 5 is the time to turn the sights on the Democratic Party.

McCain/Palin Because you can’t have Jesus without an apocalypse.

From BartCop’s: Scroll down just a little bit

thank you…i love you
it can get much worse here(merika) than it is right now

heh. Actually, I’ve cut waaay back on Hardballs.

But I’m *pissed*, way pissed, about a huge list of things from the existing Repub administration.

Is it too much to ask that the candidate acknowledge his pissed-off base by at least sounding somewhat ‘miffed’?

I *want* him to get medieval on their asses - but I’d settle for some righteous anger.

And speaking of the big “P”, I wish tweets would start evaluating mcsame’s…..or lack thereof. Every time I’ve seen him speak, he talks like death warmed over (not to mention looking like it).

i know…wish i coulod keep them ALL!!

I do. Meanwhile, I just deleted my fundraising e-mail from Bill Clinton.

You’re setting an unreasonable standard for a two minute political ad, where he’s trying to get some votes from those coy Republicans who call themselves independents.

If you want something that demonstrates better than he understands the problems go back into the Clinton administration, read his Cooper Union speech, a pretty good one aimed both at voters and a Wall Street audience. It’s rather absurd to think he should knock Clinton in a tv ad.

The mail in ballots here in CO go out in about ten days. It seems that your roiling of the waters is not going to help with what has to be done. Yes there have been many mistakes made in the past. Yes there are players out there in the political arena who do not share our views. There will be time after the election to deal these issues. There will not be anytime left to get Obama elected after the election.

Would “I will bring back your Constitution” be such a bad campaign slogan?

Maybe you might consider that you are asking the same stuff day after day. Stop thinking? No. Stop posting the same negative stuff? Worth considering.

i have been considering just that. but i think the stakes are too high.

if what i post is wrong, i expect and hope to be corrected. but that’s not what’s happening - your complaint isn’t that i’m wrong, it’s that the message is unpleasant.

from wiki: groupthink

Groupthink is a type of thought exhibited by group members who try to minimize conflict and reach consensus without critically testing, analyzing, and evaluating ideas. During groupthink, members of the group avoid promoting viewpoints outside the comfort zone of consensus thinking.

Okay, she’s a liar. That I get, but why bring Jesus into it?

we need a ,dare i say it….100% United front
S.BAnthony(my hero)and Katie also…FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION

Yesterday’s speech uses many of the points from the earlier speech, with the marvelous addition of the excerpt CHS posts:

So let’s be clear: what we’ve seen the last few days is nothing less than the final verdict on an economic philosophy that has completely failed….

i’d rather ignore it myself until AFTER the election. yes, i know you think we have leverage NOW, but i don’t agree with that. this feels more like “let’s shoot our own selves in the feets” than a winning strategy for our upcoming absolutely critical presidential election.

i’m 65 and, from my point of view, this is the most important election of my lifetime. i’m tired of distractions from focusing on WINNING. there is too much at stake.

i’m not believing our man’s a panacea or a progressive, but i’d just as soon not be focusing on the flaws til after november.

Loved the ad! Little lengthy though. I agree that Obama needs to get some really good sound bite stuff too. I heard the other day that someone asked him for a 3 sentence synopsis of what he could do to help the economy, and he rambled on for 5 minutes. I realize it’s a complex subject, but he needs to bring it down several notches and simplify some things for the common folks. Surely someone on his staff has the ability to encapsulate some of this stuff for him. But this ad seem to me to straight to connecting with people, and he needs that.

Selise i give up…you dont get it

I’ll raise you one. I will not comment on anything you say.

I appreciate the dual format. Some computers I use can’t view youtube, others can only view youtube. It’s really helpful!

Yeah, I see totally where you’re comin’ from but it just flat out doesn’t seem to be the man’s “style”. If he tried to fake it, there’d be a world of talkin’ heads jumping up and down. Plus when you consider the race factor, the tightrope he must have to walk is totally incomprensible to someone like me who’s never lived in his shoes.

Now, selise, of course it is a ‘bipartisan’ economic problem, but right now people want to momentariy pretend that it isn’t, with the hope, apparently, that it won’t continus to be. (”Course as long as the ‘Enablers’ are ‘with’ us, there really isn’t much ‘change’ likely, and not just as regards ‘economics’).

Your concerns that ‘promises’ from pollytishuns are ‘pie crust’ promises (2006 being fresh, still, in some minds) easily made, easily broken (all due praise to Mary Poppins), simply reflect political reality in this country.

Please continue to raise questions, as eventually we may all have to raise hell and your questions help frame what needs to be addressed; whether with e-mails or pitchforks, only time will tell.

;~D

You’re setting an unreasonable standard for a two minute political ad, where he’s trying to get some votes from those coy Republicans who call themselves independents.

that true.

but my major problem is that his past actions are not consistent with what he is saying (from christy’s post) - and there is very little he can say in a two minute ad to show that he has genuinely seen the light and is now thinking differently. don’t see that he can do anything about that - but if this does represent a genuine change, we will see it with time.

I’ll raise you one. I will not comment on anything you say.

that would disappoint me greatly. especially when you disagree with me.

The election is a zero sum game or binary math. Either Obama/Biden win or McCain/Palen win. I think there are significant differences between the two tickets and parties. I think that if it is possible to pull the country out of the nose dive it has been in for the last eight years, in almost every aspect of international and domestic affars, it is with the Democratic ticket.

If this election is similar to those in the past two decades, it will ultimately depend on the relatively small number of “undecided” and independent voters. I don’t think this add or the remaining campaign can be an attempt to persuade progressives who need additional convincing that the interests of progressivism are with the Democratic Party as opposed to the Republican or other party. As progressives, our efforts after November, would be either to try and convince elected Democrats to adopt more progressive stands, or to simply complain about Republicans and wait four more years and hope to have more influence in the primaries. I would rather work with Democrats in office.

CHS, you, as a white woman, say you cannot vote for McCain but, sadly, that makes you part of the minority of white women voters thus far. MOST white women voters are actually voting for a vagina. Palin’s vagina.

McCain has a 13 point lead amongst white women and it is entirely because of Palin. Apparently, MOST white women think a vagina is a vagina is a vagina and that what policies or beliefs inhabit the head above that vagina are irrelevant.

I believe we need to have a test that one must pass (not just white women, ALL voters) before they are allowed to vote, and they must get at least an 80% to pass. The test would simply be for the prospective voter to go down a list of policies (for/against birth control, for/against nuclear war with Russia, for/against teaching creation in school as science, for/against taking away social security, food stamps, unemployment insurance, for/against affordable universal healthcare, for/against outsourcing jobs, for/against abortion even in cases of rape or incest, for/against requiring women rape victims to pay for their rape kits, believes/doesn’t believe in magic, etc). Anyone getting below an 80% doesn’t get to vote.

If people cannot state key policy points championed by one party or the other, by one candidate of the other, then they have NO BUSINESS VOTING. They are likely as not to do more harm than good to the society as a whole.

Fresh posty goodness up top…

I like the ad a lot, but I think it’s good to have ads that appeal to a variety of audiences. I’d like to see one where Biden and Obama are shown together, putting together a business plan, literally rolling up their shirtsleeves, one of them maybe writing bullet points on a chalkboard, talking casually, outlining specific goals with specific numbers.

Selise:

Do you want U.S. foreign policy to be turned over to Joe Lieberman, so he can start a war with Iran?

I’m just asking.

Yes, Obama’s got flaws, but we’re headed for a fatal iceberg here. Arguing about how the ship was constructed is secondary at this point in time.

Actually, her polling with the white vagina set is trending downward — rapidly. So I wouldn’t make that bet if I were you. Her negatives are rising and her support is trending very much downward across the board. To know her is clearly not to love her for anyone but the hardcore.

Fluid is how I’d term the situation, and not in Palin’s favor the more people learn about her policy pushes and her abuse of power problems.

does it really make sense for us to believe that our economic problems are due solely or even primarily to the replublicans? or do we have a bipartisan problem here? because if it is bipartisan, we’re not doing ourselves any favors by ignoring our own party’s contribution.

The difference would be oversight and real regulators - not hokum, WWF-style appointments. I mean, just look at the Drugs and Sex For $$$ Department.

[Groucho]
I don’t know what they have to say,
It makes no difference anyway,
Whatever it is, I’m against it.
No matter what it is or who commenced it,
I’m against it.

Your proposition may be good,
But let’s have one thing understood,
Whatever it is, I’m against it.
And even when you’ve changed it or condensed it,
I’m against it.

I’m opposed to it,
On general principle, I’m opposed to it.

[chorus] He’s opposed to it.
In fact, indeed, that he’s opposed to it!

[Groucho]
For months before my son was born,
I used to yell from night to morn,
Whatever it is, I’m against it.
And I’ve kept yelling since I first commenced it,
I’m against it!
(hackinbush)

thanks a lot david. can’t tell you how much a i appreciate your comment.

again, if i write anything that is wrong, i want to be corrected.

why fact based criticism of obama is seen as support for mccain, i have no clue - because it most surely is not.

Up with Raven!

Up with Groucho!

Up with up!

I’m sure tired of ‘down’, unless it’s

‘Down wid da bastids!!!!’

Here is the text of the ad (for those of you who can’t view it for whatever reason). What’s interesting is that it is a very different message from what he said so effectively in his speech yesterday. Obviously, I prefer the text of the speech to the ad, but I’ll defer to Obama’s political judgment here, because I think he’s a very good politician. Indeed, he’s being elected to be a politician, not an economist, though he’s genuinely an intellectual and clearly conversant in economics, unlike McCain. Anyway, my point is, Obama will have multiple messages for different audiences (gasp!) and that your known investigative and deductive skills will serve you better than merely consuming a necessarily shallow and brief form of political discourse that a tv ad offers.

“In the past few weeks, Wall Street’s been rocked as banks closed and markets tumbled. But for many of you – the people I’ve met in town halls, backyards and diners across America – our troubled economy isn’t news. 600,000 Americans have lost their jobs since January. Paychecks are flat and home values are falling. It’s hard to pay for gas and groceries and if you put it on a credit card they’ve probably raised your rates. You’re paying more than ever for health insurance that covers less and less.

“This isn’t just a string of bad luck. The truth is that while you’ve been living up to your responsibilities Washington has not. That’s why we need change. Real change. This is no ordinary time and it shouldn’t be an ordinary election. But much of this campaign has been consumed by petty attacks and distractions that have nothing to do with you or how we get America back on track.

“Here’s what I believe we need to do. Reform our tax system to give a $1,000 tax break to the middle class instead of showering more on oil companies and corporations that outsource our jobs. End the ‘anything goes’ culture on Wall Street with real regulation that protects your investments and pensions. Fast track a plan for energy ‘made-in-America’ that will free us from our dependence on mid-east oil in 10 years and put millions of Americans to work. Crack down on lobbyists – once and for all — so their back-room deal-making no longer drowns out the voices of the middle class and undermines our common interests as Americans.

“And yes, bring a responsible end to this war in Iraq so we stop spending billions each month rebuilding their country when we should be rebuilding ours. Doing these things won’t be easy. But we’re Americans. We’ve met tough challenges before. And we can again. I’m Barack Obama. I hope you’ll read my economic plan. I approved this message because bitter, partisan fights and outworn ideas of the left and the right won’t solve the problems we face today. But a new spirit of unity and shared responsibility will.”

I got yer back, selise.

thanks for that.

i actually like the ad - a lot.

just don’t see any reason to think its more than election rhetoric - hope i’m wrong about that. because we need real actions to back up those words

Also tellingly, he doesn’t mention McCain or the Republican party.

And what’s your problem with this:

real regulation that protects your investments and pensions.

I can’t think of the last time any politician has demanded regulation, and it’s not something he just started saying yesterday. That’s not boilerplate.

This “shared responsibility” is also a promising.

And what’s your problem with this:

real regulation that protects your investments and pensions.

no problem. sounds great.

just can’t reconcile it with choosing furman as his economic advisor. i want to pay attention to what obama does, not only how he sells himself to us.

It can’t just be “election rhetoric” because we actually have a financial calamity on our hands in which the Federal Reserve has just used a tool unused since the Depression three times. There’ll be “real actions” either way. At this point you should care less about the vagueness of Obama’s rhetoric and start putting at least some weight on Obama’s energy, intellect and political talent.

I DO truly hope so.

I still stand by my voter’s test requirement. If you cannot recognize most of the key positions/policies of the party/person you are voting for (or by extension, against), then you should not be voting - you are just random noise in the vote that usually slants towards the worst aspects of human failings.

Words are one thing, actions another.

“Sticks and stones may break …”

(Of course, in pollyticks, words CAN do much harm, but also, in pollyticks, ’tis wise for us being ‘ministered to’ to have SOME idea what’s behind the words AND who has been chosen to ‘interpret’, pomulgate or ‘enforce’ those words. Therefore, Obama’s choices for advisors and camp followers DOES matter very much. What are the philosophies of those whom he has chosen to surround himself with? Same applies to Mc$ame, and the public ought to be made familiar with the implications of said ‘choices’.)

The fix is fairly simple (by “fix” I mean to prevent future such situations): any company that is “too big to fail” is too big, period. Such companies MUST be broken up into smaller, independent entities, the failure of any or several of which would NOT devastate the economy.

There must not be allowed ANY corporation that is “too big to fail”.

As a corollary to this, those that fail must NOT get a bailout. Part and parcel to any corporation declaring bankruptcy must be divestment of any and all golden parachutes and benefits awarded to the top executives in charge during the failure.

RE-regulate banks so that they cannot do this crap any more. Ban the bizarro “instruments” that not even George Sorros could understand.

That’s just the beginning.

At this point you should care less about the vagueness of Obama’s rhetoric…

it’s not the vagueness that bothers me - it is the disconnect of the nice rhetoric with his actions. i suspect we’re being lied to - again.

…and start putting at least some weight on Obama’s energy, intellect and political talent.

not if i think he’s going to be using all that energy, intellect and political talent to fuck us over again. in that case, i want mechanisms of accountability. and i have no idea why mechanisms for accountability are seen as threatening the candidate.

i remember 2006. i remember being told to wait until after the elections and just work on getting Ds elected for now. and i remember where that got us. how many election years are we going to keep doing the same thing and refusing to judge our politicians with the same standards we judge R politicians. do we really believe that they can’t stand up to that level of inspection?

Obama’s choices for advisors and camp followers DOES matter very much. What are the philosophies of those whom he has chosen to surround himself with? Same applies to Mc$ame, and the public ought to be made familiar with the implications of said ‘choices’

yes.

and if we believe that a well informed public, including well informed about the strengths and weaknesses of our own candidates, will not choose our candidate - then doesn’t that say something about our candidate? that we have to cover up for them in order to help them get elected? and if we do that, doesn’t that say something about our commitment to an informed, self-governing citizenry?

TBogg has a shiny new post up for our enjoyment!

Who is covering up? We’ve done both pro and con posts on Obama for the last few years — as well as every other Dem candidate that’s gone through this cycle. I get that you are dubious of Obama and why, but I have no clue where you get this notion of “covering up” since you have been reading here for quite a while, including through every fact check post, questioning advisors post and so on.

There isn’t some concerted “covering up” effort going on here. There are supporters who don’t want to talk about the bad points, certainly. And there has been an emphasis on the bad part of McCain in a lot of what I’ve written because, in my opinion, McCain is far and away worse — which I made clear above pretty forthrightly, I thought.

Criticism and fact based back and forth are a good thing. And ought to be supported on either side of the arguments, in my opinion because you should not walk naively and wide-eyed into anything. But cover-up is a pretty strong word and I don’t see evidence to support that at all — and I’m wondering where exactly you are seeing that?

You are absolutely correct, so far as I’m concerned, and the ‘psychology’ of the behaviors you have described seem to be a part of the disconnect from reality and rational thinking, or even sound emotional intuition, that too often describe our democratic(meaning “Democracy) ‘participation’,
limited as it is, and further suggest its very limited and circumscribed nature in a way that SHOULD be of serious ongoing concern. But, after the exhaustion of each ‘election’ everybody is too weary and dis-spirited to even consider how pathetic, there is no other word, has been the whole ‘business’.

I cannot escape the deep sense that it is deliberately INTENDED to be that way.

I do not say this as a cynic, but as one who cares very deeply about people having meaningful say in the quality and nature of their own lives, communities and nation, their future.

Orherwise, ’tis all hypocrisy and a very poor joke on all of us.little.people.

I note the absence of heartfelt laughter in the wake of such ‘jokes’.

I don’t know which applies more: No pain, no gain! Or the fact that some things actually do come with birth pangs.

christy - i think when i’m asked to stop making negative comments about a candidate (not because my comment is untrue, but because it is unpleasant and is thought it might somehow hurt his chances for election) as i was above, i am being asked to participate in covering up for the candidate. not a cover up as in a conspiracy. covering up as in whitewashing the record, pretending things are not as i see them, wearing blinders, etc.

a couple of other points, just in case there are any doubts….

i think folks have every right to ask me to stop saying negative things about their candidate, and i’m not suggesting otherwise. what i am doing is commenting on what i think about that.

also, i do think that applying a different standard to the candidates it not something i’m comfortable with (i think it contributes to the development of cognitive biases and group think) - but that’s your call and that is not what i was referring to.

Do we ‘cover up’ or simply ‘excuse’, ‘ignore’, or ‘forget’ for ‘the moment’?

Semantics or ’semantic evasion’?

And ‘we’ certainly encompasses far more than meet at the lake …

Most of ‘us’ are (because we are ‘too busy’ or believe all pollyticks to be unimportant), hardly ‘informed’ and among those who are, ‘informed’, the abuses of the public and the public’s trust sometimes push us to be short-sighted in our desperate desire for genuine change.

Were we skeptical enough in 2006?

Or were we simply lied to?

And, in that case, who were the ‘liars’?

Was it ‘bipartisan’ or have some of our ‘own’ betrayed (who may honestly think of another word?) us in fundamentally destructive ways?

Is the answer obvious? Or not? Why?

These questions are directed toward everyone capable of rational thought, and DO NOT imply, nor suggest, ANY criticism of FDL or those who post or comment here.

the disconnect from reality and rational thinking, or even sound emotional intuition,

this is what so concerns me. the disconnect i see - in myself as well as those around me. we are being bombarded with massive amounts of propaganda, and i don’t know how to try to counter that except with others committed to what that thing we used to call the “reality based community”

Do we ‘cover up’ or simply ‘excuse’, ‘ignore’, or ‘forget’ for ‘the moment’?

thank you. that’s exactly right and what i would have liked to have said if i had your gift with words: excusing, ignoring, and forgetting - much better than “covering up”.

here is my poor attempt at your questions:

……………….

Were we skeptical enough in 2006?

no

Or were we simply lied to?

yes

And, in that case, who were the ‘liars’?

we lied to ourselves.

Was it ‘bipartisan’ or have some of our ‘own’ betrayed (who may honestly think of another word?) us in fundamentally destructive ways?

betrayed.

Is the answer obvious? Or not?

not obvious.

Why?

reality is painful

denial is more comfortable. at least for a time.

……………….

but what do i know? i’ve been really wrong about things before, and i’m sure i will be again.

Sometimes you have to take the bad with the good. We may have to swallow some bitter pills before things get better, but we do think that one prescription is better than the other.

I agree, Ann.

But it does raise questions of how ‘generic’ the ‘medicine’ or ‘cure’ might be as well as the ‘prejudices’ of those who ‘own’ the ‘pharmacy’, and the competence (if not ‘honesty’) of the ‘physician’ (and his ’staff’} and his ‘grasp’ of the ‘malady’.

‘Faith-healing’ probably won’t ‘cut it’ this time ’round.

There must be ’substance’ and a discerning ’story’ that individual humans can understand, embrace, and feel they can trust would truly help cure our (perhaps terminal?) disease.

We are not ‘there’ yet. By any means.

;~D

Blue Texan has a new post available for our enjoyment.

Very presidential

President Obama will need our ‘help’ to make him do what needs to be done.

Let there be no doubts.

We all intend to ‘help’ him a whole lot, more, probably, than he imagines.

May the devil help Palin/Mc$ame if they steal (or even attempt to steal) this election from the people.

There will NOT be polite acceptance of the ‘inevitable’ biblical ‘end times’ so coveted by the basest, least ’spiritual’ amongst us.

Note: Them what wish to ‘Rapture’ may do so at any time, as it may please them, but they may do it alone or in the company of their fellow ‘believers’ and damn well should leave.the.rest,of.us.alone! This is merely a hint, a word to the unwise.

President Obama will need our ‘help’ to make him do what needs to be done.

that’s my kind of help. and if i thought obama was getting enough of it, i’d be more inclined to vote for him.

Well unfortunately (you know all the reasons and realities)n we cain’t really hep him ’til he’s ‘in’, and then (well you know all the reasons and realities), he’ll probably disdain our hep.

But guess what? We ain’t gonna take “no thanks” for an answer and Obama can ‘believe in’ that reality! How’s ‘that’ for ‘change’?

Lesser weevils are, inevitably, the bane of Democracy.

Enough!

I forget if it was Anonymous Liberal or fivethirtyeight, but this ad was suggested by one of them in the past couple of weeks… It was AL, he’s proud that his idea got produced. Actually this isn’t the first time I’ve seen a blog post of his apparently be used by the Obama campaign. makes me go Hmmm.

I like it. And it is too long for much airtime. could be cut into a series of 60 second commercials though, and give more detail.

It did hit the real change meme, and that’s something that should be reinforced if there are more in this vein.

How incredibly frustrating that while Rome burns, this post is preoccupied with the distraction of whether Obama is pure enough, or angry enough, or political enough. Today the Reserve Primary Fund froze redemptions on money market accounts (the first time in history this has happened). Today the stock market hit 10,700 - the same place it was on the day Bush was inaugurated over 7 years ago. These things don’t just affect rich people. Many of us have our retirement savings in 410(k) plans and have modest investments in money market accounts. It’simple: In Bush and McCain’s America the CEOs make the profits and ordinary citizens bear the risk. If ever there was a time not to quibble, this election is it.

i remember 2006. i remember being told to wait until after the elections and just work on getting Ds elected for now. and i remember where that got us. how many election years are we going to keep doing the same thing and refusing to judge our politicians with the same standards we judge R politicians.

Forever! until things get better, all by themselves, with the help of More And Better Dems, motivated out of the goodness of their wittle hearts, not motivated by any negative reinforcement from anyone to their Left - they are getting all the negative reinforcement they can handle from the Right, and plenty, plenty of positive reinforcement from their generous corporate donors and their Leadership … so don’t cramp their style, they are the Leaders!

i don’t see anyone commenting on whether they think obama is “pure enough, or angry enough, or political enough” - my comments were about trying to separate the bullshit from what is real. why is that a problem? unless you think people wouldn’t vote for obama if they were to consider more than his rhetoric? i don’t believe that.

EPU’D, I lknow - but that made me bust out laughing. Scared the cat.
Keep us posted!

Hi, new to the FDL community, but have been reading for years now. I finally wanted to post something general about what I found to be lacking. I don’t see any way that the US will be able to dig itself out of its current financial mess without:

-raising income taxes on the upper and middle class
-cutting back program expenditures
-ending the current Iraq occupation.

The first 2 are not bona fide election winners, but I would like to see Obama tell the real truth the Americans. “We are currently living beyond our means and we need to get our financial house in order, so I propose that we…”