Thursday, October 30, 2008

Hypocrites

Pro-lifers

Someone please explain to me why Pro-lifers get to be called any more than pro-fetus? They are in fact not pro-LIFE, that would involve being pro-universal healthcare, pro-living wage, anti-war, anti-death penalty, pro-gun laws (not banning, just restrictions to prevent violence)….in my experience they might be some of these things, but if you really want to call yourself pro-LIFE, you have to be all of them. In reality, the pro-lifers, are anti-abortion – they are one issue, and that makes them pro-group of cells in a woman’s body. I would hazard to say that the real Pro-lifers are liberals, progressives who thing that all people deserve and equal shot, and if they mess up, or catch a bad break, then we should lend a hand.

And, I heard this sanctimonious Catholic scholar/spokesman/representative (?) on NPR this morning, talking about how he was anti-choice because he believed in the equality of the whole human race. Oh really guy? Because I don’t see you lining up to support gay rights, or the fair pay act, or the priesthood for women- those are all equality issues too. So really, say what you want, but say what you mean. Because you don’t mean that woman are equal to men, and you don’t mean that gays should have the same rights as heteros. You don’t.

Speaking of wackos,John McCain has been running around A LOT in Pennsylvania. He thinks that he can swipe this blue state away from Obama. He is deluded. The pollster average shows Obama up by 11 in PA – the most recent polling indicates that Obama is up by 12, 14, 9, 7, and 11 (in order, (Quinnipiac, AP Marist, Insider Advantage, Rasmussen, Muhlenberg). Just look at the pollster graph:



There is not a race here. John McCain will not close this gap. And yet, the media, along with McCain insists that this is a battleground state. If that were the case, then we would need to take states that McCain is winning by less than (the pollster average) 11% and call it a battleground. Let’s see, that would include such bastions of Republican Red as Montana, North & South Dakota, Georgia, Mississippi, and OOPS!
Arizona!

Recent polling in Arizona indicates a significant tightening to the presidential race here in McCains HOME state.



This should be HUGE news, if Obama was winning IL by only 6% we would be hearing nothing but that (he’s currently winning IL by 25%). Just another example of “it’s ok if you’re a republican.”

Moreover, McCain is doing robo-calls in his own state. He may lose Arizona – what a huge slap in the face! And all the media can talk about is how Pennsylvania is a battleground, NO. IT’S. NOT.

Sidenote. Thank GOD, my staging location on election day has wireless internet. I will not be without information from the world on one of the most important days in American history. The space itself is actually pretty cool – I just have to figure out what to do with it, and what the hell I am doing. I’ll be commanding an army of 150 volunteers. Better get my plan together… by tonight.

Friday, October 24, 2008

I think I know who's going to be Keith O's worst person in the world...



Meet Ashley Todd. Ashley Todd is a McCain supporter that made up a story about being mugged and beaten up at an ATM by a big black man that didn't like her McCain bumper sticker. AND he allegedly carved a "B" into her face - "B" for Barack. Um...she lied. Oh, and that "B," it's backwards - kind of like it would be if you did it yourself in a mirror....

Worst Person in the WORLD!

Fun with numbers

First a video:



Ok folks, here’s some numbers for you:

Of the 30 states that Bush carried in 2000, Obama holds a lead in 10 of them. Additionally, McCain has lost GOP support in all but seven of the states that Bush carried. The most striking of these, and two that Obama currently has leads in, are Montana and North Dakota. Obama holds leads of 3% in both – and the GOP support has collapsed -28 and -30 points respectively since 2000. Montana and North Dakota! Bush won these two states by 25% and 27%! Are you kidding me?!

Other tidbits:

Support for the GOP has collapsed +15 points in Virginia, North Carolna, Wyoming, Indiana, and (you betcha) Alaska. That’s right, despite have America’s favorite governor (/snark), McCain has lost 15 points of support since 2000. HAhaHAhaha..

Though not leading them, Obama is down by 10% or less in West Virginia, Mississippi, Georgia and Indiana.

Anyway, here’s a handy chart I made up, read ‘em and weep.



(all 2000 & 2004 election number courtesy Dkos, 2008 data courtesy pollster.)

Thursday, October 23, 2008

NO on CA-Prop 8

Ok, so I’m not taking credit for this, but, the polls have switched in CA! The good guys are back on top 52-44! Thank you Ellen! You knew she had a lot of influence, didn’t you?

And thank you everyone that got involved or gave money or talked to anyone about this issue. And keep up the good work! There’s plenty of time for the polls to switch again, and that would be BAD. So keep fighting until Nov 5th.


Wednesday, October 22, 2008

So, I’m not saying that she did it for me or anything. I am saying that it’s a mighty coincidence that Ellen appeared on Leno in opposition to Prop 8, gave $100,000 and cut a PSA, all mere days after I wrote me letter. I’m not saying she did it for me. I’m just saying.

Also, I’m not saying that Sarah Palin is a complete idiot, but I am saying that she asserted yesterday (after a question from a 3rd grader) that the Vice President is in charge of the Senate.

Additionally, she was recently photographed wearing a scarf; nothing funny about that, it is fall and it’s getting cooler and scarves are fashionable…the scarf says “vote.” Nothing funny about that, nothing curious about that, it is election time and she is running of high office. The scarf has donkeys on it. No really, donkeys. Donkeys, of course being the symbol of the Democratic Party. So here we have the vice presidential candidate of the Republican Party, sporting an accessory with the opposition party’s logo.



Now I’m saying she’s a complete idiot.

What other Sarah Palin scandals can be dug up. How about this one?

RNC spends $150,000 in two months to outfit the gov and her family at sak’s fifth ave and neiman marcus?

How about this one?

Sarah Palin charged the state for her children’s plane tickets when the accompanied her to events…and later amended expense reports to show they were on “official business”?

Me thinks that when little Sarah gets sent back to Alaska, she better watch her political back because Alaskans are going to send her packing come reelection time.

Here’s a fun video of John McCain trying to say “rates were cut” and instead comes out with “rates were cunt-cut in the Bush years.”



Oops, not really a word that you accidentally say. Unless, maybe you’ve been saying it in private, maybe to your wife….let’s not forget about this incident witnessed by three reporters and two aides:

At one point, Cindy playfully twirled McCain's hair and said, "You're getting a little thin up there." McCain's face reddened, and he responded, "At least I don't plaster on the makeup like a trollop, you cunt." McCain's excuse was that it had been a long day. If elected president of the United States, McCain would have many long days.


Yeah, not so much with this guy and being the president. I don’t think so.

Monday, October 20, 2008

A study in contrasts

The Obama rally in St. Louis on Saturday drew a crowd of over 100,000 people. Just look at these pictures. That’s awesome.





and just for shits and giggles, here's a pic from McCain's rally in St. Charles:


HAHAHAHA.


Big Bill Clinton will be in St. Louis tonight, Kirkwood HS, doors open at 6:30pm. I managed to get out of work early and so I’ll be there working the event. If I can get a pic with Bill and me, I’ll post it.

Meanwhile, Sunday I had GOTV training at our field office – I’m not sure what I can disclose, so let me just assure you that you should feel extremely confident in the Obama GOTV operation. It is thorough and extensive. I am expecting to be in a room, directing traffic, WITHOUT internet for 16 hours. So, if anyone wants to text me important news that day, I would be much obliged.

If you know anyone that needs a ride on election day, and they live in St. Louis city or county, they can call 1-877-MO-CHANGE for a FREE ride to and from the polls.

I read today that 5000 lawyers in Florida have volunteered with the Obama campaign to monitor and manage problems at the polls. That is awesome. Missouri also has a large number of lawyers ready to address issues here, as we will be a swing state. (we WILL go for obama.)

Pollster.com currently has MT and ND in play. That’s right, Montana and North Dakota – McCain can’t even hold those.

Update on Ellen
Jen informs me that Ellen has donated $100k for the Prop 8 opposition. Thank you Ellen! Who think that it was my letter that did it?

More on Prop 8
Through their Hell to Pay program, the Dkos community raised in excess of $100k for Prop 8 opposition this weekend. Proudly joining the opposition and donating, was my grandma. Thanks Grandma!

Speaking of raising money, the latest fundraising reports show that Obama raised $150 million last month. The average donation was $84. That is awesome. Obama will not be beholden to any special interests, he truly will be the people’s president.

I love finding democrats at work. I especially love when it’s someone who I thought was a Republican.

Oh, and there was a little announcement this weekend, something about Colin Powell endorsing Obama. That’s big. It’s hard to make an experience based argument against Obama when you have Colin Powell backing him up.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Post Debate

From last night’s debate –





(Via Americablog)
(This photo, taken by Reuters, was not photoshopped.)



Is cable news getting completely out of control? I was watching pre-debate on CNN last night, and they had no less than 10 pundits commenting. They probably all spoke for only a couple of minutes apiece. And Jen caught one guy logging on to facebook. HAHAHA.

After the debate, all the talking heads were saying that McCain clearly had his best night, and he won, and blah blah blah. Then the snap polls came online and they had to shut the fuck up as those polled affirmed what all Americans saw – Obama won big.

CBS poll of undecided voters:
Who won the debate?
McCain (R) 22 Obama (D) 53

and CNN:


Just keep in mind, that with out the snap polls, it would be the talking heads that set the narrative, that would have told us who won. Everyday Americans would say to themselves, well, I thought Obama won, but all I hear on the TV and the radio is that McCain won. Maybe I’m wrong. But, with snap polls, there is instant confirmation of what we saw. I love it.

Meanwhile, Daily Kos reports that Joe the Plumber isn’t an umcommitted voter as the media is making him out to be. He fully backs McCain. Additionally, Obama’s employer healthcare plan exempts small businesses, so Joe would not be fined. Also, I am going to make it my life mission to someday be referred to as “Jalynn the lesbian” in a nationally televised federal election debate.

Incidentally, Joe the Plumber originally registered with the Natural Law Party. From wikipedia – “The party based its platform on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's view that natural law is the supreme organizing principle that governs the universe, and that the problems of humanity are caused by people acting against this natural law. The Natural Law Party claimed that it could realign humanity with this organizing principle through techniques such as the practice of Transcendental Meditation and TM-Sidhi program, and problems would be alleviated.”

“The U.S. Natural Law Party, led by Dr. John Hagelin, ran as a third party that was largely center-left in ideology. It took liberal positions on abortion and gay rights, promised that it had scientific solutions to combat social ills such as poverty, crime, racism, bigotry, and came off as being politically moderate to conservative on economic issues.”

Yeah, it certainly sounds like this guy is pretty confused. I mean, I don’t think that a strong McCain (2008) supporter is going to take liberal positions on abortion and gay rights… just saying. OH, and Joe may not even be a licensed plumber...and he owes back taxes. A real stand-up guy - and now he's a registered Republican.

And how about crazy McCain on abortion. Note the air quotes “health of the mother.” Note to John McCain, using air quotes to mock health of the mother exemptions is NOT they way to win over independent women. I also enjoyed CNN’s focus group tracker that showed men way up, when McCain talked about restricting a woman’s right to choose, and the women’s line, way down. Seems about right. Men want to tell women what they can and cannot do with their bodies. Reminds me of how some health insurance policies will cover Viagra and not birth control. See, because birth control (in a radical rightwing view) is akin to abortion, but get an old, tired penis up for some horizontal boogying is totally fine.





Also, Obama will be in St. Louis this Saturday at the Arch. Gates open at 10:15am, program begins at 12pm. RSVPing is not required, but suggested. More information here.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Thank you Ellen!

Now, I'm not saying that it was my letter that led Ellen to produce the following PSA, but I did post my letter two days ago...just saying.



This video was released with the following press release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ellen Urges Californians to Vote NO on Prop. 8

Campaign Applauds Ellen's Move

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14, LOS ANGELES – The NO on Prop 8 campaign, Equality for All, today thanked Ellen DeGeneres for releasing a video message urging Californians to vote no on Proposition 8. Ellen released the public service announcement to confront the false and misleading scare tactics being used by the proponents of Prop 8.

Ellen's message says, "Hi, I'm Ellen DeGeneres. I got to do something this year I never thought I'd ever be able to do: I got married. It was the happiest day of my life. There are people out there raising millions of dollars to try and take that right away from me. You've seen their ads on TV. They're twisting the truth, and they're trying to scare you. I believe in fairness. I believe in compassion. I believe in equality for all people. Proposition 8 does not. Please, please, vote NO on Prop. 8."

"Ellen DeGeneres is someone Californians know and respect," said Patrick Guerriero, Campaign Director. "Her voice has a tremendous ability to elevate this conversation above the scare tactics and help people understand what's at stake for the people they know and care about."

Ellen's video can be viewed on line at:
http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2008/10/prop_8_psa.php and at www.NoOnProp8.com

"Fair-minded Californians agree that we should not eliminate the fundamental rights of our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers and our family members," said Guerriero. "Like Ellen, fair-minded Californians are going to vote no on Prop 8."

The campaign released information to debunk the lies of proposition supporters late last week. Ellen says the proposition proponents are "twisting the truth and trying to scare you," and the Equality for All campaign agrees.

Dear Ms. Lee of the lemon drops

From the comments:

"Defining marriage as between one man and one woman is not taking away anyone's rights. The definition simply distinguishes a union that is biologically capable of producing its own children. Whether a married couple has children or not, I feel like this deserves a separate name--even the potential is kind of a miracle.

Actually this definition can be seen as the ultimate expression of equality our society has to offer: it takes one man and one woman. One could see a lesbian union as a marginalization of men, or a homosexual union as a marginalization of women.

Equality is especially important when it comes to raising children. Children deserve/need a father and a mother. Neither parent should be marginalized.

Yes, many children are already growing up in single-parent homes. Prop 8 should be a reminder to everyone that as a society we need to assist and strengthen families as much as possible. Really, as a society we should be most concerned with the success and health of our families.

peace! "

You’ll all have to forgive my response. It is early in the morning and my brain is still a bit muddled from sleep. I am not quite as eloquent as I can be.

Ms. Lee: “defining marriage as between one man and one woman is not taking away anyone’s rights.”

Um, actually it is. Setting aside for a moment the fact that CA currently allows gays the right to marry, defining marriage as between one man and one woman DE FACTO takes away the rights of gays. But even setting that very obvious counter to your initial claim aside for a moment…defining marriage as between one man and one woman denies same-sex couples all the RIGHTS, benefits, privileges and responsibilities that come with marriage, all 1400 of them (400 state, 1000 federal). These include, but are not limited to:

Joint parenting
Joint adoption
Joint insurance policies
Immigration and residency
Automatic inheritance
Annuities benefits
Hospital visitation
Wrongful death standing
Etc etc etc.

So yeah, Prop 8 takes away someone’s rights.

Ms. Lee “The definition simply distinguishes a union that is biologically capable of producing its own children.”

Um, it doesn’t “simply” do anything. Please see above. The definition does not exist in a vacuum – it has real world consequences – like excluding a whole category of people from a whole mess of rights.

Additionally, your argument implies that those marriages of people that are incapable of “producing children,” like infertile couples, naturally or by choice, older couples, etc. that those couples should not get the vaunted label of “marriage” simply because they cannot produce children. And what of couples that don’t want children – they have the potential but are refusing to use it. What would you call them?

Your definition also seems to imply that children are only possible within the definition of marriage, as if two people can’t produce a child outside of marriage. Or, alternately, that if two people do produce a child, they are automatically “married.”

Ms. Lee says: “Whether a married couple has children or not, I feel like this deserves a separate name.”

Ok, here’s a name: “breeders” or how about just “parents.” And what’s with the emphasis on “producing its own children?” Because there are not so many parentless children in this world, that we have to be so insistent on bringing forth progeny of our own blood. Are you kidding me?

Ms. Lee says: “Actually this definition can be seen as the ultimate expression of equality our society has to offer: it takes one man and one woman.”

Hmm, this one is hard to approach because of its astounding inanity, but we’ll give it a whack. If you accept that equality = one man + one woman, you’d have to accept that two men + two woman = 2x equality. Or five men + five women = 5x equality. Since there are very roughly the same number of women and men in the world, let’s go for ultimate human equality, and we can all be married to each other.

On to the next ridiculous assertion…

Ms. Lee says “One could see a lesbian union as a marginalization of men, or a homosexual union as a marginalization of women.”

So, you could say that someone who stays single, refusing the company of the opposite sex is also marginalizing that opposite sex. Or you could say that since there are roughly the same number of gay men, and lesbians, that their unions cancel each other out, so there is no net gain of marginalization.

Or we could just agree that this argument is ridiculous, and gay unions do not marginalize either men or women. But, excluding gay people from marriage does marginalize those gay people.

Ms. Lee says: “Yes, many children are already growing up in single-parent homes.”

I like that she points out a major flaw in her argument and does nothing to counter it – I mean she doesn’t even attempt to make the erroneous and debunked claim that children that grow up in gay households have more social/psychological problems. At the same time, she concludes that allowing gay marriage, means that children will grow up in single-parent homes. First, that that marriage automatically results in children. And second, that two people that love a child cannot be called parents unless they are a man and a woman that have produced that child. I’m glad she has such a favorable view of foster and adoptive parents.

Ms. Lee says “Prop 8 should be a reminder to everyone that as a society we need to assist and strengthen families as much as possible. Really, as a society we should be most concerned with the success and health of our families.”

Really? Because to me Prop 8 reminds everyone that there are A LOT of misguided and yes, hateful bigots in this world. It reminds me that there are a lot of people that are so concerned with denying legal rights to an entire class of people, that they use children as rhetorical shields in their untenable position.

The truth is marriage is not defined by the presence or possibility of children. Very basically, it is defined as the legal contract, condoned by the state, of two people, that confer rights, benefits, privileges and responsibilities on the participants. Nothing more, and nothing less.

The truth is there are countless more productive ways to focus on the health and success of families, all families. Giving legal recognition of all kinds of families so they cannot be broken up. Promoting better work/family balances. Providing low-cost, quality childcare and healthcare. Providing more support for low-income families. More support for foster parents. More opportunities for gay adoptions. And a thousand other things. The way to not help families? Denying legal recognition for those families.

Ms. Lee says: “Really, as a society we should be most concerned with the success and health of our families”

I agree – we should be concerned with the success and health of ALL of our families.

So thanks, but no thanks on Prop 8.

Monday, October 13, 2008

T-minus 21 days

I don’t know if I mentioned it to everyone, but through my campaign office, I was afforded the opportunity to staff one of the senators that was in town as a surrogate for the Obama campaign at the debate. I got to be at and inside the debate site. I had my own credentials. I saw the SPIN ROOM as talked about in that famous Jon Stewart Crossfire takedown.



Yeah, I was there. I stood mere feet from senior Obama staff and senators and governors. In a word it was awesome. In several words it was awesome and crazy, hectic and stressful, fantastic and even more fantastic.

I got my picture taken behind one of the podiums after everyone had left. (I’ll post as soon as the woman who took the pic, emails it to me.) I got to frolick with the media in the AB hospitality tent (no thank you, pizza – I’ll have steak with the media). I saw Katie Couric get her picture taken from behind the podium. I saw what it was like to be behind the polished and efficient exterior. I have to tell you, behind that glossy surface, is a wild wild ride – and the Obama campaign is the most organized campaign EVER.

Did I mention not getting my credentials until 30 minutes before I was supposed to meet up with me Senator. Yep. The Secret Service was a little slow on getting the volunteers their passes, along with 80 other Obama people, including senior staff… I smell a rat! Though, the agent that was guarding our door was very nice. I blame the credentials problem on Fox News. Why? Because I can.

And watching the debate with a bunch of hardcore committed Democratic volunteers was great fun. Every time Palin winked there were loud groans, and cheers every time Biden slammed a point home. I don’t know what the point in having an audience is, if they cannot show any reaction to the candidates.

Speaking of debates, bring on the last debate – Obama is more than ready. Obama projected to win with 351 electoral votes. Fivethirtyeight projects that he will win nearly 94% of the time.

For an excellent discussion of the traditional media’s need for a close electoral contest, please see this Americablog post . The Washington Post is using some really wacky and intellectually dishonest numbers in their electoral map. To summarize, while Pollster show 60 Toss up electoral votes, WashPo claims 173. Basically, every McCain lead makes the state “Lean Republican,” and Obama leads of between 7.3%-13.8% are marked as “Battleground.” Really, go read the post.

Then take a look at NPR’s map, and NYT’s map, and tell me why MO is not marked as a battleground state when the Pollster average is 49-46? And bear in mind Obama’s ground game. He OWNS the ground war.

Regardless, Obama does not need to win MO, he’s winning all of the Kerry states and has leads 4.2%- 7.4% in five more state (OH, CO, NM, FL, IA) for a total of 320 electoral votes. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t work out butts off for him here in Missouri. I don’t want to be on the wrong side of history.

Crazy/Dangerous/RADICAL Republicans
Why are conservatives so rabidly, certifiably crazy? Why are they always violent? You don’t see liberals shooting up a Unitarian church, or bombing a women’s clinic. You don’t see liberals denying commuters parking on their lot because they sport an Obama bumper sticker. You don’t see angry Obama supporters ramming shopping carts and McCain supporters. insert You don’t see the democratic candidate inciting violence at their campaign rallies. You don’t hear liberals calling McCain/Palin a “terrorist” or saying “off with his head” or “kill him.” You just don’t see it.

And you don’t see such blind hate in liberals, watch these two videos of McCain supporters. Pay special attention to the “joke” about rape victims paying for their own rape kits under Palin.





And you have to ask yourself, what is wrong with these people? How can they be so blind to the truth? And why are they so angry, so violent?

ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now)

Once again, Republicans are hating on community organizers for no apparent reason. Here’s the run down on ACORN (like Maxine Waters said on Real Time, if don’t know what it stands for, you don’t get to talk about it.) ACORN organizes and advocates on behalf of minorities and low income people. In this election season, this has meant they are registering these traditionally underperforming (turnout-wise) groups to vote. There have been a small number of registrations that have been suspect.

By law ACORN must turn in ALL registrations, but they can flag the ones that they find suspicious, which is what they have done. And yet they have been raided and demonized for supposedly turning in fraudulent registrations with the intent of fraudulent voting. Which is ridiculous, as they flagged the problem ones in the first place.

Furthermore, voter fraud and voter registration fraud are two entirely different animals. And lastly, voter fraud is not near the problem that the Right makes it out to be. The false outrage engendered by the rightwing is a front for more restrictive voter laws that make it difficult for minorities and the impoverished to vote. And to what end? These groups overwhelmingly vote Democratic tickets. That’s the ACORN deal, so don’t be fooled.

Oh, and via Americablog, here’s a picture of John McCain with ACORN.


Troopergate
Here’s a mini refresher for you. While Palin was governor of AK, her sister went through a nasty divorce with her husband who happened to be an Alaskan State Trooper. Palin and her husband then embarked on a campaign to have the husband fired. Thwarted by the Public Safety Commissioner who refused to fire him, Palin fired the Public Safety Commissioner. She was then investigated by a bi-partisan panel that found her GUILTY of abusing her power as Governor. Let me say it again: Sarah Palin ABUSED her power as Governor of Alaska and VIOLATED the public trust. She’s quite a maverick, oh wait, nope. She’s exactly like every other political hack in the Bush Administration. That’s not change we can believe in.

Meanwhile, although the headlines screamed “Abuse of Power” when the story broke, there have been no calls for her to step down, step back, or step away. Now just imagine if it had been the Democrat who had lied to investigators, the press, the public and been found GUILTY of abuse of power. OH WAIT RIGHT, they impeached the last Democrat that lied. Silly me, I guess it’s ok if you’re a Republican.

Random Note
I have just run across someone that did not know who Xena was. Really? How can you not know Xena? She’s like a cultural icon. It must be a full moon, all the crazies are coming out.

(It must be a slow work day, because I’m feeling prettywordy.)

Gun Rights
Just to clear things up, I am pro-gun – the Constitution says we can have them so we can have them. (Note: The amendment reads “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” In my reading, it looks like a regulate militia is integral to the keeping and bearing of arms, however the amendment has not been interpreted this way, so we’ll have to stick to the current interpretation.)

I do, however, think that there can be reasonable restrictions on this right. Just look at Free Speech – you can’t yell “Fire” in a crowded movie theatre, you can’t verbally assault someone, you can’t use obscenities on public radio/TV. Rightly or wrongly, there are laws that restrict your first amendment right. And so goes the second amendment. I find nothing wrong with restricting the sale of automatic weapons. I see nothing wrong with running a background check on potential buyers. And I see nothing wrong with banning the carrying of weapons in certain places – courthouses, school yards, bars, etc.

Now, just imagine a world in which Republicans were for gun regulation (not banning, just regulating) and the Democrats were backed by a huge, wealthy lobby (the NRA) that didn’t want any regulation. Do you think that it’s possible that Republicans would make the argument that just like we have to give up some of our civil liberties in the cause of the War on Terror, we have to give up guns too, or make some concessions, like, oh regulations? Do you think they would make the argument that we shouldn’t let terrorists have easy access to weapons on our own soil? I think they might. Do you think that they would argue that if the Democrats and the NRA was anti-regulation, then they must be unpatriotic, because the want the terrorists to have guns? I think they might. That’s really the end of my point.

Dear Ellen

Everyone, below is my open letter to Ellen regarding Prop 8 in California. Prop 8 will strip gays and lesbians of our recently won right to marry. The initiative is being heavily funded by the conservative right-wing. Please read, and if you can, donate to the Courage Campaign. If nothing else, please pass this on.

Thanks!


Dear Ellen,

We are losing in California. Despite being the capital of Gay USA, despite being a liberal bastion, despite the thousands of gay couples that have already been married, despite California's historical propensity of saying no to all manner of Propositions, despite all this, California is turning on us. The polls have switched and the pro-Prop 8 campaign has a $10 million dollar advantage, funded by conservative right-wing coffers.

In these hard economic times, everyday people have raised thousands of dollars to defend marriage equality, but it's not enough. We cannot raise enough – we need you.

Ellen, we appreciate your words of support on your blog, but we need more. We need you and everyone you know to donate money - lots of it - to the Prop 8 opposition. So goes California, so goes the country. We won recently in Connecticut, but it's not enough. If we lose in California, it will set equality back a decade.

Ellen, we loved when you married Portia – it brought smiles to the faces of everyone I know, from my gay friends to my grandmother. Everyone should have the right to marry the person that they love. I'd like to marry my girlfriend too, but if Prop 8 passes, there will be no reason for us to take the trip to California in May.

I beseech you. Prop 8 must not pass. Though your voice is appreciated, your words kind, it is your influence that we need most. Hollywood has put up $250,000 in support of marriage equality, but the conservative right-wing has millions and millions more.

Ellen, please put your money where your heart is. Please put your influence where your beliefs are. Please defend the dignity of you, and me, and people everywhere. Though gay marriage does not demean the institution of marriage, denying this right to gays does.

Sincerely,

Jalynn

*The Courage Campaign is spearheading the effort to defeat Prop 8.

Wednesday, October 08, 2008

Well, we’ve now had two presidential debates, one VP debate and the longest campaign season in history. How can anyone still be undecided? On NPR this morning, I heard a bunch of undecideds – “I want to see the next debate” “I’ll keep researching” etc etc. WHAT are you talking about? Look at the issues, it’s pretty clear cut. Here, I’ll help.

Obama
Healthcare - Universal
Taxes - 95% get a tax break
Iraq - bring them home
Economy - help the middle class
Change - The change we need.

McCain
Healthcare - Tax employer benefits
Taxes - Continue Bush cuts for the Rich
Iraq - stay forever, bomb bomb bomb Iran
Economy - Economy is fundamentally strong
Change - BUSH

See, it’s easy. Oh, and more about you crazy undecideds. I was watching the debate on CNN last night because I love the audience dials. Basically, CNN gives ~25 undecided voters a dial, when they like something one of the candidates says, they spin it up, when they don’t like it, they spin it down. Sounds simple, but the effect is mesmerizing. Ok, so at one point when Obama was talking about healthcare, the women’s line was maxed out at the top for a good 30 seconds. Most of the rest of the time, the line was very positive for Obama and mostly flatlined for McCain – clearly the ~25 liked what Obama was saying. BUT when asked who they would vote for, a majority picked McCain. WHAT is going on here? Racism much?

And McCain last night, trying to weasel his way out of the “bomb bomb bomb Iran” charge, said that he had been talking about Iran to one of his veteran friends. WRONG. You sang bomb bomb bomb at a campaign rally, and there’s video of it. Lying in the age of YouTube is just stupid.



And et tu NPR? When talking about how both campaigns have gone negative and are playing the associations game, NPR mentioned the debunked relationship between Obama and Ayers, and then said “The Obama campaign has also tried to associate McCain to Charles Keating.” And they said it in the same breath as Obama and Ayers! Here’s the problem with that – Obama and Ayers sat on the board of a charity group together, that’s all. You should know the name Keating from the Keating FIVE scandal. MCCAIN WAS ONE OF THE KEATING FIVE. It’s not “playing the associations game” to link McCain to Keating. He was one of the five! He was reprimanded on the floor of the Senate for his involvement. He confessed! There is no similarity between attempting to link Obama to a domestic terrorist and pointing out that McCain was one of the Keating Five. Ridiculous.

And, I think that there is kind of a big difference between pointing out things that are true, and making shit up. So when you hear on the news that the campaigns have both gone negative, just remember, the Obama campaign is just pointing out things that are damaging, but true about McCain, whereas the McCain campaign is just making shit up.

And negative isn’t working for McCain. Fivethirtyeight now projects Obama to win 345-192. Pollster.com pegs Obama at 320-163, with 55 electoral votes in “Toss Up”. At the very least, I expect Obama to win out of those toss ups, Missouri (new Rasmussen poll puts Obama +3 in MO), Indiana and Nevada – which would give him a win of 347-190. Gobama! AND he could still pick up North Carolina and Virginia. Incidentally, the margin in WEST VIRGINIA is about 4%. WEST VIRGINIA! AND, in Georgia, though Obama trails by 10% in the pollster composite, he’s been posting HUGE voter registration numbers, if he can pull them all in, he might make a run for 375 electoral votes- 375+ considered a landslide. (Note: fivethirtyeight has three newer GA polls that put McCain’s lead at between 6%-8%.)

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Meant to post this last night....

As you know, the $700 billion dollar bailout failed yesterday, and the market proceeded to crash 778 points. What you might not know, is that the GOP is trying to blame Nancy Pelosi (yes, Nancy Pelosi). Minority Leader Boehner said that he could have had the votes had it not been for her partisan speech prior to the vote. Yes really, apparently PARTISAN speeches aren’t allowed on the floor of the House. Apparently there are some GOP members that had their feelings hurt and thus would not vote for the bill, though they had intended to at first. That’s like meeting a team in the park to play Frisbee, but the other team, who was bringing the Frisbee, heard your team cheer, and decided not to come. I call BULLSHIT.

The Dkos daily tracking poll has Obama up by +10 today. And the two most current MO polls have Obama down by 1 and 2 points, well within the margin of error.


AND Tina Fey has agreed to continue to reprise her role as Sarah Palin on SNL until the election. God help Sarah Palin.


Rock the Vote is sponsoring a Free Debate watching party at the Pageant on Thursday, doors open at 7pm, more info to come….