Barack Like Me

Garth Brooks Really Likes Obama

2011-08-21T23:45:00.002-04:00

Oh Yes We Can - Again

2011-06-20T13:23:00.002-04:00

Less Fear More Hope

2011-06-09T09:21:00.002-04:00

Richard Gere Commends President Obama

2011-06-09T08:50:00.001-04:00

O'Bama!

2011-05-24T09:36:00.002-04:00

Obama Birth Certificate Coffee Cup Fundraiser

2011-05-23T13:36:00.002-04:00

Obama in Ireland

2011-05-23T13:27:00.002-04:00

Obama 2012

2011-05-21T22:35:00.001-04:00

Start Me Up

2011-05-15T01:31:00.002-04:00

Yes She Can

2011-05-05T21:47:00.000-04:00

Tracy Knauss Graphic: Obama Got Osama

2011-05-02T21:08:00.000-04:00

Osama Bin Laden is Dead

2011-05-02T01:16:00.003-04:00

Obama Says "You're Fired"

2011-04-18T11:55:00.001-04:00

(photo credit: Vilma Fox)

Michael Franti - Obama 2012 Song

2011-04-17T19:49:00.001-04:00

Poll: Obama Winner re Shutdown Standoff

2011-04-12T09:50:00.004-04:00

Americans Deem Obama The Winner Of The Shutdown Standoff

A new CNN/Opinion Research Poll released today found that the budget deal that avoided a federal government shutdown is viewed as big win for President Obama with the American people. 58% of Americans approve of the budget deal, and the President got the lion’s share of the credit 48%-35% over the Republicans.

The CNN/Opinion Research Poll painted a picture of country that really didn’t want the government to shutdown. 63% of respondents would have considered a shutdown either a crisis or a major problem. From this viewpoint the budget agreement was viewed as a positive, and widely approved of by a margin of 58%-38%. President Obama got much of the credit for avoiding the shutdown. 48% of those polled believed that Obama and the Democrats deserve the credit for the deal, 35% credited the Republicans, and 11% felt that the credit should be shared.

Obama personally received a 54% approval rating for his handling of the budget negotiations. The Republicans were given a 54% disapproval rating for their handling of negotiations.

Given that 76% of respondents said that Obama didn’t give up too much to get the deal, and 67% also believed that Republicans did not give up too much, it is safe to say that a majority of Americans view this as a fair deal.

A President In Good Form!

2011-04-11T11:23:00.002-04:00

I Am "All In" for Obama (from DKos)

2011-04-08T00:02:00.001-04:00

Daily Kos: I Am The Kind Of Democrat Who Is ALL IN For President Obama

.. read here accomplishments in several key areas

Obama 2012

2011-04-05T22:58:00.001-04:00

No Dem Challenger Planned in 2012

2011-01-02T21:08:00.001-05:00

No challenge to Obama in 2012 race: party leader
(AFP) – 7 hours ago
WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama is unlikely to face a serious challenge in the 2012 White House race from within his party, the Democratic Party leader said Sunday.
Obama, who became the first black president of the United States after defeating Republican rival John McCain in the November 2008 presidential election, is expected to run for a second term in office next year.
"I think it's very unlikely that the president is going to face any kind of a serious primary challenge within the Democratic Party," party leader Tim Kaine said on CNN.
"You can always get a fringe candidate or somebody to run. So, you know, could somebody throw in their name? Yes, it's possible. But I think the likelihood of any serious challenge to the president is virtually nil."
Usually there is no serious opposition against a sitting president from within his party if they run for a second, and final, term.
Obama has yet to officially say whether he will stand in the November 2012 election.
But amid the worst economic downturn in decades as Obama's popularity has sunk from the heady highs he enjoyed just after taking office to a disapproval rating of around 47 percent, there has been some media speculation on a possible Democratic challenge.
No Republican candidate has yet declared plans to run for the party's nomination, although former vice-presidential hopeful Sarah Palin is believed to be preparing to throw her hat into the ring.

I Stand With President Barack Obama

2010-12-11T20:00:00.000-05:00

I stand with President Barack Obama
Share53 2
by jackstorange

Sat Dec 11, 2010 at 11:54:28 AM PST

President Obama may not be as liberal as many of you would like. Rest assured if he was, he would never have been elected President. While I admire the passion and ideals of Howard Dean, Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich, I never voted for any of them and none of them would ever stand a chance of being elected President. No, I voted for Barack Hussein Obama and I am as proud today of that vote as I was the day I waited outside for hours in freezing temperatures to witnessed his inauguration.

jackstorange's diary :: ::
The problem as I see it is that many on the left are suffering from a few unrealistic expectations. First, expecting Obama to be someone that he never promised to be. Second, expecting change to happen overnight.

First, you called him a sell out when he sent more troops into Afghanistan even thought that's exactly what he promised he would do in the campaign. You called him a sell out when he didn't push harder for a public option, even though that phrase was never even mentioned during the campaign. Look, I'd like a President who would stand for legalizing gay marriage, but that's not who he is and he made no bones about that during the campaign either. I realize that he did talk about rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy during the campaign. But, the Republicans have the votes to make sure that won't happen, a fact that many on this site would like to ignore.

Secondly, many of you apparently expected everything to change whole sale the day Obama was sworn into office. Progress doesn't work that way. The Emancipation Proclamation did not end prejudice and discrimination in this country, nor did the The Civil Rights Act. It's been a long slow struggle, but we continue to move in the right direction because progressives have always had the dedication and endurance to fight for incremental change.

Ironically, some pundits and liberals claim that Obama isn't a fighter. Meanwhile, they're ready to abandoned ship every time he doesn't advance an agenda that is 100% in line with their ideals. We couldn't get a Universal health care bill passed, but thanks in part to President Obama's leadership, we are closer to that goal than any other time in the history of this country. We may or not get DADT repealed, but this wouldn't have even been a discussion three years ago. We can find many other examples where we're moving in the right direction, even though you might be frustrated that we're not at the finish line yet.

President Obama is the best progressive leader we've had since Bill Clinton. If you believe in progressive ideals, be proud that you voted for him, recognize that change comes slowly but we are heading in the right direction. Be willing to support our President even when you don't agree with him 100%. If you don't like the way the country looks right now, how do you think it will look with a President Romney or President Palin and both housed controlled by Republicans, a distinct possibility if the base does't not rally around this president.

Thanks for the Rec list. Clearly a lot of folks disagree with me. But, I also know many share my POV. But, some how our voices are not featured as often. Maybe it comes down to the John Stewart philosophy that only the folks with the pitch forks yelling the loudest ever get through all the noise.

The Only Adult in the Room

2010-12-05T12:44:00.000-05:00

Check out Blackwaterdog's new blog

http://blackwaterdog.wordpress.com/

Harvest for the World - Starting the 2012 Campaign

2010-11-14T19:08:00.000-05:00

Obama in Hawaii

2008-12-22T21:04:00.002-05:00

Obama Art from Minneapolis

2008-12-19T20:24:00.002-05:00

see website

Person of the Year

2008-12-18T09:51:00.006-05:00

The Story of the Obama Logo

2008-12-13T20:07:00.001-05:00

Obama Nation

2008-12-06T22:06:00.001-05:00

Kickin' It

2008-11-29T14:25:00.002-05:00

44

2008-11-16T22:12:00.005-05:00

Obama Art Keeps Coming!

2008-11-15T18:58:00.001-05:00

Full Body Transplant is the blog of Rian Fike, a Miami artist and teacher. In an entry called "President Obama, the Artist," he presented some of the work he did during the election cycle and talked about how it was inspired. He found that Barack Obama supports the arts in education, and considers them important to society. Rian also presented the work of

Michael Murphy

, exhibited at Georgia College. (For the full impact, you must go to his site directly, for you can see closeups, for detail.)

The black protruberances are carefully-driven nails!

This piece is shown from several angles, at several distances, but impressed me most displayed thus.

This is a wire piece - the video below is amazing!

nice poster

2008-11-10T21:57:00.003-05:00

Michelle Obama Painting

2008-11-08T18:06:00.000-05:00

I was just reading about the exhibit by artist Peyton, who has done portraits of people such as Curt Cobain. She has a show at a gallery in New York City and her portrait of Michelle Obama was just sold to an undisclosed buyer. There were quite a few articles, but I had a hard time tracking down an image of the actual painting. When I did, I noticed that it is going to be displayed in the Twin Cities before long.

information on the artist, Elizabeth Peyton

Elizabeth Peyton, "Michelle and Sasha Obama Listening to Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention August 2008" (2008) - unveiled in NYC 11/08/08

We Survived!!

2008-11-05T02:58:00.002-05:00

Obama Media

2008-11-04T11:52:00.001-05:00

Obama Art

2008-11-04T11:51:00.001-05:00

Obama for the Arts

2008-11-03T21:55:00.002-05:00

written about at DKos

Virginia Rally

2008-11-02T14:31:00.001-05:00

Qui est Barack Obama

2008-11-01T21:10:00.001-04:00

Qui est Barack Obama ?
by iPolTV

Seattle Street Visibility

2008-11-01T19:02:00.000-04:00

Florida for Obama

2008-10-30T00:34:00.000-04:00

Amazing Obama Ad - Unprecedented

2008-10-29T22:34:00.000-04:00

Charles of Colorado Meets Obama

2008-10-28T22:05:00.001-04:00

100,000 in Denver

2008-10-26T16:06:00.001-04:00

Obama in Albequerque

2008-10-26T10:20:00.005-04:00

Obama in Paris

2008-10-25T00:00:00.001-04:00

This isn't new but I love it and it is the future!

William Weld and Scott McClellan Cross Aisle to Support Obama

2008-10-24T12:22:00.002-04:00

Guardian - Obamicons

Obama in Indiana

2008-10-24T00:17:00.000-04:00

50,000 for Barack and Hillary in Orlando

2008-10-20T21:14:00.003-04:00

Republicans continue with lesser donations, smaller crowds and reliance on hate speech, smears & robocalls.
Obama's grandmother in Hawaii is very ill so he is heading there to see her.

Obama in Fayetteville, NC

2008-10-20T13:04:00.001-04:00

(photos by Muzikal)

Powell Endorses Obama, As Predicted

2008-10-19T23:49:00.001-04:00

It happened this morning!!

Obama Wins International Race

2008-10-19T23:43:00.000-04:00

(from Carolyn in Colorado, graphic from Umbrella Painting Journal)

Too bad other countries can't vote here. It's not as if our government doesn't affect most of the world.

La Presse newspaper in Canada released a poll stating that Obama is crushing McCain in public polls around the world.

CANADA 70%
FRANCE 68%
SWITZERLAND 83%
POLAND 43% (McCain 26%)
JAPAN 61%
MEXICO 46% (McCain 13%)
GREAT BRIT 64%
BELGIUM 62%

Read more Cyberpresse.CA

Grand respect pour la communauté du monde ! Vont, l'Obama, vont !

Biden Takes Over Cheney Stadium, Tacoma WA

2008-10-19T22:37:00.000-04:00

We drove south to Tacoma to see Joe Biden, who promoted the Governorship of Chris Gregoire be extended. More than 40 years ago, John F. Kennedy spoke from the same podium, to promote the Governorship of Warren Magnusen.

This was Joe's biggest crowd so far - my estimate is 10,000. They did "the wave," which is said to have originated in the NW, and the music was a lot R&B, a little bit C&W. All ages, all walks of life, heavy union representation (lots of plumbers), lots of vendors (I almost thought I was back in Denver the DNC.) Our line was very long - it 2-1/2 hours to get everyone inside.

Here is video I shot of Joe Biden talking about the Colin Powell endorsement and enhancement of Obama's foreign policy credentials and more. I also noticed what a DailyKos diarist who wrote about the event did - it was positive, unlike the McCain/Palin rallies. Real things were talked about, not so much the opposition, other than that devastatingly horrific Bush/Cheney policies cannot be continued.

At the state level, Gregoire emphasized not her opponent but the special interests that would like to come in and make WA state less progressive. That is what her opponent Dino Rossi represents, just as McCain represents a continuation of the Bush/Cheney policies. The last photo is where we ate - Southern Cafe - soul food.

Obama in St. Louis

2008-10-18T16:49:00.004-04:00

FOX to Delay Baseball Game Oct. 29 for Long Obama Ad

2008-10-18T11:56:00.000-04:00

the story

This is a testimonial to the small donations which add up to quite a lot. This is part of the way to win in America and there is no getting around it. Money, Obama, Baseball - All-American.

Inspirational Video by a Canadian

2008-10-18T11:54:00.003-04:00

The Moment I've Been Waiting For

2008-10-18T11:35:00.000-04:00

from a friend

Obama Mural Painted in Ohio

2008-10-18T10:28:00.001-04:00

Watch!

Texans Vote En Masse to Early Vote for Obama

2008-10-15T23:18:00.000-04:00

Debate III: Obama Cool

2008-10-15T23:10:00.000-04:00

Dennis Hopper for Obama

2008-10-13T20:01:00.000-04:00

from Wonkette

Republican Dennis Hopper Endorses Obama Monday

Republican movie actor Dennis Hopper is so Republican that he starred in that shitty wingnut movie not even Republicans bothered to see, An American Carol. But now the hippie icon and Republican-since-Reagan is in the tank for You Know Who, That One, Barack Obama. “I voted for Bush, father and son, but this time I’ll vote for Obama,” Hopper said in Paris, which is also in the tank for Obama. “I pray God that Barack Obama is elected.”

Ronald Reagan Endorses Obama

2008-10-13T12:28:00.000-04:00

ND for Obama - Red State Roundup!

2008-10-13T12:23:00.001-04:00

Poll: Obama Ahead In North Dakota

A new Forum Poll in North Dakota gives Barack Obama a 45%-43% lead, within the ±4% margin of error, in a red state that hasn't voted Democratic since the LBJ landslide of 1964. All the other recent polls have given McCain the lead here, but it does seem possible that the economy is pushing even this state towards the Democrats.

Talking Points Memo Morning Roundup

Why It Matters - a homemade video of support

2008-10-13T01:25:00.001-04:00

Seattle - Children for Obama Rally

2008-10-12T22:58:00.001-04:00

Four Days in Denver

2008-10-12T03:46:00.001-04:00

Watch the whole thing - I was there!

Obama in Philly

2008-10-11T19:37:00.000-04:00

William F. Buckley's Son Supports Obama

2008-10-11T16:14:00.001-04:00

Christopher Buckley, son of conservative icon William F. Buckley (now deceased) has written an article called, "Sorry Dad, I'm Voting for Obama." (Christopher Buckley is shown at left, and the larger photo shows his father, with Ronald Reagan)

"For the first time in my life, I’ll be pulling the Democratic lever in November. As the saying goes, God save the United States of America."

Christopher Buckley

Obama Speed Painting Inspired by Beatles Album Cover

2008-10-11T11:18:00.002-04:00

The Obama Experiment

Obama Will Be The Greatest American President

2008-10-11T11:10:00.000-04:00

By Frank Schaeffer, author, Hollywood screewriter and director, and public speaker, a self-described, "White, fifty-six year-old life-long Republican and former Evangelical leader, who was turned into an independent voter and ardent Obama supporter.
Obama Will Be One of The Greatest (and Most Loved) American Presidents
Great presidents are made great by horrible circumstances combined with character, temperament and intelligence. Like firemen, cops, doctors or soldiers, presidents need a crisis to shine.

Obama is one of the most intelligent presidential aspirants to ever step forward in American history. The likes of his intellectual capabilities have not been surpassed in public life since the Founding Fathers put pen to paper. His personal character is also solid gold. Take heart, America: we have the leader for our times.

I say this as a white, former life-long Republican. I say this as the proud father of a Marine. I say this as just another American watching his pension evaporate along with the stock market! I speak as someone who knows it's time to forget party loyalty, ideology and pride and put the country first. I say this as someone happy to be called a fool for going out on a limb and declaring that, 1) Obama will win, and 2) he is going to be amongst the greatest of American presidents.

Obama is our last best chance. He's worth laying it all on the line for.

This is a man who in the age of greed took the high road of community service. This is the good father and husband. This is the humble servant. This is the patient teacher. This is the scholar statesman. This is the man of deep Christian faith.

Good stories about Obama abound; from his personal relationship with his Secret Service agents (he invites them into his home to watch sports, and shoots hoops with them) to the story about how, more than twenty years ago, while standing in the check-in line at an airport, Obama paid a $100 baggage surcharge for a stranger who was broke and stuck. (Obama was virtually penniless himself in those days.) Years later after he became a senator, that stranger recognized Obama's picture and wrote to him to thank him. She received a kindly note back from the senator. (The story only surfaced because the person, who lives in Norway, told a local newspaper after Obama ran for the presidency. The paper published a photograph of this lady proudly displaying Senator Obama's letter.)

Where many leaders are two-faced; publicly kindly but privately feared and/or hated by people closest to them, Obama is consistent in the way he treats people, consistently kind and personally humble. He lives by the code that those who lead must serve. He believes that. He lives it. He lived it long before he was in the public eye.

Obama puts service ahead of ideology. He also knows that to win politically you need to be tough. He can be. He has been. This is a man who does what works, rather than scoring ideological points. In other words he is the quintessential non-ideological pragmatic American. He will (thank God!) disappoint ideologues and purists of the left and the right.

Obama has a reservoir of personal physical courage that is unmatched in presidential history. Why unmatched? Because as the first black contender for the presidency who will win, Obama, and all the rest of us, know that he is in great physical danger from the seemingly unlimited reserve of unhinged racial hatred, and just plain unhinged ignorant hatred, that swirls in the bowels of our wounded and sinful country. By stepping forward to lead, Obama has literally put his life on the line for all of us in a way no white candidate ever has had to do. (And we all know how dangerous the presidency has been even for white presidents.)

Nice stories or even unparalleled courage isn't the only point. The greater point about Obama is that the midst of our worldwide financial meltdown, an expanding (and losing) war in Afghanistan, trying to extricate our country from a wrong and stupidly mistaken ruinously expensive war in Iraq, our mounting and crushing national debt, awaiting the next (and inevitable) al Qaeda attack on our homeland, watching our schools decline to Third World levels of incompetence, facing a general loss of confidence in the government that has been exacerbated by the Republicans doing all they can to undermine our government's capabilities and programs... President Obama will take on the leadership of our country at a make or break time of historic proportions. He faces not one but dozens of crisis, each big enough to define any presidency in better times.

As luck, fate or divine grace would have it (depending on one's personal theology) Obama is blessedly, dare I say uniquely, well-suited to our dire circumstances. Obama is a person with hands-on community service experience, deep connections to top economic advisers from the renowned University of Chicago where he taught law, and a middle-class background that gives him an abiding knowledgeable empathy with the rest of us. As the son of a single mother, who has worked his way up with merit and brains, recipient of top-notch academic scholarships, the peer-selected editor of the Harvard Law Review and, in three giant political steps to state office, national office and now the presidency, Obama clearly has the wit and drive to lead.

Obama is the sober voice of reason at a time of unreason. He is the fellow keeping his head while all around him are panicking. He is the healing presence at a time of national division and strife. He is also new enough to the political process so that he doesn't suffer from the terminally jaded cynicism, the seen-it-all-before syndrome afflicting most politicians in Washington. In that regard we Americans lucked out. It's as if having despaired of our political process we picked a name from the phone book to lead us and that person turned out to be a very man we needed.

Obama brings a healing and uplifting spiritual quality to our politics at the very time when our worst enemy is fear. For eight years we've been ruled by a stunted fear-filled mediocrity of a little liar who has expanded his power on the basis of creating fear in others. Fearless Obama is the cure. He speaks a litany of hope rather than a litany of terror.

As we have watched Obama respond in a quiet reasoned manner to crisis after crisis, in both the way he has responded after being attacked and lied about in the 2008 campaign season, to his reasoned response to our multiplying national crises, what we see is the spirit of a trusted family doctor with a great bedside manner. Obama is perfectly suited to hold our hand and lead us through some very tough times. The word panic is not in the Obama dictionary.

America is fighting its "Armageddon" in one fearful heart at a time. A brilliant leader with the mild manner of an old-time matter-of-fact country doctor soothing a frightened child is just what we need. The fact that our "doctor" is a black man leading a hitherto white-ruled nation out of the mess of its own making is all the sweeter and raises the Obama story to that of moral allegory.

Obama brings a moral clarity to his leadership reserved for those who have had to work for everything they've gotten and had to do twice as well as the person standing next to them because of the color of their skin. His experience of succeeding in spite of his color, social background and prejudice could have been embittering or one that fostered a spiritual rebirth of forgiveness and enlightenment. Obama radiates the calm inner peace of the spirit of forgiveness.

Speaking as a believing Christian I see the hand of a merciful God in Obama's candidacy. The biblical metaphors abound. The stone the builder rejected is become the cornerstone... the last shall be first... he that would gain his life must first lose it... the meek shall inherit the earth...

For my secular friends I'll allow that we may have just been extraordinarily lucky! Either way America wins.

Only a brilliant man, with the spirit of a preacher and the humble heart of a kindly family doctor can lead us now. We are afraid, out of ideas, and worst of all out of hope. Obama is the cure. And we Americans have it in us to rise to the occasion. We will. We're about to enter one of the most frightening periods of American history. Our country has rarely faced more uncertainty. This is the time for greatness. We have a great leader. We must be a great people backing him, fighting for him, sacrificing for a cause greater than ourselves.

A hundred years from now Obama's portrait will be placed next to that of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. Long before that we'll be telling our children and grandchildren that we stepped out in faith and voted for a young black man who stood up and led our country back from the brink of an abyss. We'll tell them about the power of love, faith and hope. We'll tell them about the power of creativity combined with humility and intellectual brilliance. We'll tell them that President Obama gave us the gift of regaining our faith in our country. We'll tell them that we all stood up and pitched in and won the day. We'll tell them that President Obama restored our standing in the world. We'll tell them that by the time he left office our schools were on the mend, our economy booming, that we'd become a nation filled with green energy alternatives and were leading the world away from dependence on carbon-based destruction. We'll tell them that because of President Obama's example and leadership the integrity of the family was restored, divorce rates went down, more fathers took responsibility for their children, and abortion rates fell dramatically as women, families and children were cared for through compassionate social programs that worked. We'll tell them about how the gap closed between the middle class and the super rich, how we won health care for all, how crime rates fell, how bad wars were brought to an honorable conclusion. We'll tell them that when we were attacked again by al Qaeda, how reason prevailed and the response was smart, tough, measured and effective, and our civil rights were protected even in times of crisis...

We'll tell them that we were part of the inexplicably blessed miracle that happened to our country those many years ago in 2008 when a young black man was sent by God, fate or luck to save our country. We'll tell them that it's good to live in America where anything is possible. Yes we will.

Frank Schaeffer is the author of CRAZY FOR GOD-How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back.

Vote for Change Art

2008-10-11T00:06:00.001-04:00

McCain blog is full of Obama and Ron Paul trolls tonight and Obama blog is full of art and photos and HOPE.

man when you've lost Scarborough you know it’s too late

2008-10-09T15:21:00.003-04:00

Colbert to Scarborough: 'MSNBC Has Changed You!'

By Justin McCarthy (Bio | Archive)
October 9, 2008 - 14:52 ET

The transcript follows.

STEPHEN COLBERT: How does McCain win this one Joe? How does McCain bring it out of the pooper?

JOE SCARBOROUGH: Well, you know, the prob-

COLBERT: You were a Republican Congressman. Help the man. Give him advice right now. What does McCain have to do?

SCARBOROUGH: It is Stephen, and I am serious about this, it’s too late. And the reasons why-

COLBERT: Oh come on!

SCARBOROUGH: The reasons-

[applause]

COLBERT: Never say die! Never say die!

SCARBOROUGH: And I talked about this before. The Republican party inherited a $150 billion surplus, we’ve got a $500 billion debt [sic] this year, eight years later. Inherited a $5 trillion debt which was being paid down in 2000. Now it’s a $10 trillion debt. Social Security and Medicare are closer to bankruptcy than it was eight years ago. Medicaid also going bankrupt. We got a trillion dollar bailout right now because of what’s been going on. We have- the markets keep crashing, but-

COLBERT: Joe, Joe, Joe.

SCARBOROUGH: When there’s peace and prosperity Stephen you can talk about certain issues. But you can’t, at this point, you have to talk about the economy and as long as this economy-

COLBERT: Look at how MSNBC has changed you!

[laughter]

SCARBOROUGH: I know. I know.

COLBERT: I mean I watched you for six years of the Bush administration.

SCARBOROUGH: I know. I know.

COLBERT: And you went along with whatever that cat did!

[laughter]

SCARBOROUGH: I know. I know.

COLBERT: And now you’re down on the Republicans? I mean, they certainly haven’t changed. You must have.

SCARBOROUGH: Well, I have changed.

COLBERT: You have changed.

SCARBOROUGH: Well, you know, actually the funny thing is it really does- not really funny- ironic thing is everybody talked about how the Iraq War hurt the Republican party. I can tell you that it actually- a lot of this goes back to Hurricane Katrina. That’s when the light switch- because the thing that Republicans-

COLBERT: So you don’t think the Iraq War hurt the Republican party.

SCARBOROUGH: No, it actually- it hurt them in 2006, but I will tell you this, and you can look at every poll. I don’t know what those laughs were about. [laughter] But, if- as long as this election is being run McCain’s territory, the Iraq War, the War on Terror, McCain was ahead 15-20 percentage points over Obama. And again, I know that there’s- I know it’s hard for Manhattan and Georgetown to figure out.

It's About You!

2008-10-08T23:40:00.001-04:00

Obama Wins 2nd Debate

2008-10-07T23:17:00.002-04:00

The Boss - Voter Registration Rally in Philly

2008-10-04T22:31:00.001-04:00

Jay-Z Having TWO Free Concerts in Miami - to Register Voters

2008-10-04T12:25:00.000-04:00

Tickets For Jay-Z's Second Free Concert Available At Noon

MIAMI -- Due to widespread enthusiasm and in support of Senator Barack Obama's Campaign for Change, seven-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist Jay-Z has added an additional Last Chance for Change voter registration rally and concert in Miami for Monday, Oct. 6.

On Sunday, Jay-Z will perform for thousands of voters for free at Miami's Bayfront Park Amphitheater. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets for Monday's concert at 12:30 p.m. will be available Saturday at noon. They can be picked up at any of Obama's campaign offices in South Florida.

.. that's what you gotta do ..

Homer For Obama!!!

2008-10-02T17:28:00.001-04:00

General Clark in Florida for Obama

2008-10-02T09:10:00.002-04:00

Florida is Obama's unless secret purging in 19 states has an impact, in which case there will be trouble in the streets!

Seattle Gallery Event Sells Out Obama (and other Artists' Political) T-Shirts in Minutes!

2008-09-29T12:41:00.001-04:00

This comes from Pamela Kealey, who wrote to us about the Obama fundraiser she and Fay Jones organized and held at the Catherine Person Gallery in Seattle. Over two dozen Seattle artists donated hand-painted and custom designed T-shirts, which sold out in just minutes. The event raised $5,558 for the Obama campaign. I have included a few photos, to give an idea of the variety. Wish I'd known about the event! Slugbug
link to all the photos

Last Push for Voter Registration - Pike Market, Seattle

2008-09-28T22:53:00.002-04:00

I took off with my clipboard to First and Pike in the area of the Pike Place Market.

I quickly found that the tourists off the cruise ships ignored me. I suspected that they found the Market an exotic and possibly scary place and that it might be a mistake to talk to someone like me. I also suspected that alot of them came from flyover states and were already registered - to vote for people I do not think would be good for this country.

I know the Market well and it is labyrinthine. I knew I would be wasting my time to stand out in a busy area like a hawker. I went down in the depths of the market and across to the competing Sanitary Market and I focussed on the merchants themselves. I was surprised to learn how many work seven days a week. Some were unclear about what they needed to do to be able to vote, though they had the intent to do so.

I processed new registrations, name changes, address changes and gave out forms for elderly parents. I was also thanked many times for what I was doing, but mostly by the merchants and a few young people. I was assured by some merchants that they had in fact already registered and were desperate to vote.

It was encouraging enough that I may try to it tomorrow, before returning to work, as this is the last weekend before the deadline. I did have quite a few people tell me they were uneasy because they didn't have their absentee ballots yet, or assurance in writing that they could vote. I told them to check on line and wish I'd had with me the link for doing so. Most didn't know it existed.

Overall, there was an excitement about being able to vote, a suspicion about the system and its integrity and a skepticism about the results of the last two elections. There was a nervousness about whether their ballot would be received, sent off properly, read and annotated and finally counted. There was also an enthusiasm this year that I have never seen before.

The "Ubiquitous Pig" book was part of a display of used goods. I picked up the book, to take a closer look, and the card which is shown in the photo fell out of it!

Last Push for Voter Registration - Westlake Mall, Seattle

2008-09-28T22:51:00.000-04:00

Josh Castle once again organized a really successful Voter Registration effort. I'm waiting to hear how successful in terms of numbers, but judging by previous efforts (2004, 2008), it will be impressive. As Josh said, every vote is a treasure.

Ben Doko was out waving his sign, along with other recruits, at Westlake, 5th and Pike. They had a table which consistently had people crowded around. Nearby, musicians, coffee stands and merchants strongly supported their candidate.

At one point, a tall guy with a McCain-Palin shirt strode by and said to one of the volunteers, "What a waste of campaign money." In actuality, this Republican could not conceive of the fact that people would volunteer their own time, without being paid, to uphold democracy. It seems one party would rather have ordinary people vote and the other would seek to disenfranchise them.

As a voter registrar and volunteer, I did not encourage people to vote for a particular candidate. The people I registered very openly supported the same candidate I support, and vigorously. They did not need a push from me. In any event, we had plenty of Republicans for Obama and Independents for Obama buttons and they moved right along with the rainbow ones with Space Needles.

Even the bus ride home was a seminar - from the dockworker at the back of the bus who was an ex Navy Seal and favored Obama, to the fifteen year old too young to vote but politically astute, to the Florida transplant who favored Ron Paul and was able to articulate his belief that it was a mistake to ever go off the gold standard. I love this town.

After the Debate

2008-09-28T22:50:00.001-04:00

P.S. Polls are looking great, and most are from BEFORE the debate!

Mr. Cool v Mr. Hot

2008-09-28T11:58:00.001-04:00

VA Rally 2- 26,000 in the Rain - after 18,000 in NC

2008-09-28T11:17:00.005-04:00

Obama Wins Debate

2008-09-27T08:38:00.002-04:00

Joe Klein at TIME

9:40pm MSNBC Chris Matthews "Barack Obama, who kept agreeing with McCain over and over again…looked more presidential."

9:43pm MSNBC Buchanan "He did what he had to do in the sense he came off as a tough fellow, a counterpuncher."

9:40pm MSNBC Chris Matthews: "Obama Looked More Presidential"

9:45 PM CBS – Katie Couric: "The issue of meeting with Iranian officials without preconditions and Henry Kissinger's position on that came up during my recent interview with Governor Sarah Palin. Now, after than interview I called Secretary Kissinger to clarify his position – he said he does support face-to-face talks with high-level officials in Iran without preconditions."

10:42 PM ABC - David Wright: "Obama, we saw him do 22 debates or so during the primary. He was much crisper tonight, he was much more on message."

10:45 PM FOX News – Juan Williams: "If we come back to the economic at the top, I'd have to give it to Barack Obama."

10:52 PM CNN- David Gergen: "I think John McCain needed a clear victory tonight. I think a tie was not in his interests. He is behind. This is his best subject night because the last night, they're going to be talking about the economy. I think he needed a clear victory tonight. I think that eluded him, even as strong as he was, I think Bill Bennett is absolutely right… but I don't think he walked out of here with a clear victory of the kind he needed."

CNN (Gloria Borger)- "I think you'd have to watch this debate, Anderson and say Obama held his own. He didn't give an inch to McCain on the issues of talking with Iran."

CBS News (Ambinder) "Knowledge Network Undecideds Give Debate To Obama": According to CBS News / Knowledge Networks' poll of undecided voters: 40% of uncommitted voters who watched the debate tonight thought Barack Obama was the winner. 22% thought John McCain won. 38% saw it as a draw. 68% of these voters think Obama would make the right decision about the economy. 41% think McCain would. 49% of these voters think Obama would make the right decisions about Iraq. 55% think McCain would.

Associated Press (Liz Sidoti) A night of contrasts This debate, primarily focused on foreign policy, was supposed to be McCain's sweet spot; Obama held his own. "You were wrong" on Iraq, Obama repeated three times in succession as he pointedly looked his opponent in the eye. "John, you like to pretend the war began in 2007."

The Atlantic (Marc Ambinder) The Rumble In Oxford: First Thoughts - McCain did not filter himself, letting his frustration and contempt for Obama show; he wouldn't let himself look at the challenger.

NY Daily News – "Final Verdict on Eight Years of Failed Economic Policies." After all those months of buildup, it took exactly 106 seconds for the gloves to come off, when Democrat Obama laid the blame for the current economic mess on Republican leadership in Washington. "This is a final verdict on eight years of failed economic policies promoted by George Bush [and] supported by John McCain," Obama said, taking direct aim at his GOP opponent… Obama seemed at ease in the early rounds as McCain struggled to find his feet.

Philly Daily News - Will Bunch blog: McCain "Needs a Knockout" … "Didn't Get It Tonight." I think Obama held his own, which is what he needed to do. He clearly showed he was knowledgeable on foreign affairs, and made kind of silly the argument that Sarah Palin has more experience than he does. McCain was a lot more restrained than I would have expected. …McCain can't afford to win on points. He needs a knockout. He didn't get it tonight.

Denver Post PoliticsWest (John Andrews) Zinger at McCain - Obama landed a good jab with his reference to McCain "threatening extinction to North Korea" and "singing songs about bombing Iran." McCain: "I'm not going to set the White House visitors schedule before I'm president. I don't even have a seal yet." Cute line at the Messiah's expense, but it was wasted in this setting. Obama was impressive, agree with him or not, in his big picture statement near the end when he panned back from Iraq to talk about China, the economy, and the fate of empires in history. McCain for all his courage and honor didn't paint on that kind of global canvas. More points scored into the Dem's column.

Tampa Tribune (Blog) McCain's Final Judgment: "Knowledge And Experience" McCain relied repeatedly on emotional but non-substantive or factually incorrect claims: That Obama "voted against funding the troops," wouldn't declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as terrorists, wants to increase taxes on people who make $42,000. But Obama's vaunted eloquence, somewhat surprisingly, failed to overwhelm the nitpicking. The verdict: Probably a tie, which means McCain will probably hold his advantage on the issue. The future debates will be between the vice presidential contenders, and between McCain and Obama on domestic issues.

TNR Blog- Focus Groups, Undecideds For Obama: For what it's worth: The Frank Luntz and Stanley Greenberg focus groups went overwhelmingly for Obama. And a CBS poll of undecideds went for Obama 40%-22%.

Manifest Hope - Obama Art Show (Denver)

2008-09-26T00:04:00.000-04:00

YES WE CAN CD Released

2008-09-22T00:03:00.001-04:00

Inspired by the grassroots movement created by Barack Obama’s historic presidential run and his call for the change Americans need, artists supporting Barack Obama teamed up to create a new CD that taps into the campaign’s universal themes of hope, unity and change. The disc, titled Yes We Can: Voices of a Grassroots Movement, includes a collection of artists from across genres, including such renowned performers as Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Adam Levine from Maroon 5 and John Legend. Through their musical contributions, the artists seek to mobilize voters in the final stretch before the November election. Many of the artists involved will also be volunteering their time to promote voter registration.

Billboard in London

2008-09-21T23:41:00.000-04:00

30,000 in Charlotte

2008-09-21T17:35:00.001-04:00

True Leader (by "A Concerned Citizen"

2008-09-21T11:30:00.001-04:00

True Leader from iocomposer on Vimeo.

Canadians Favor Obama 5:1 Over McCain

2008-09-20T20:12:00.001-04:00

I'm listening to the new Metallica and reading from the IFPTE magazine. That's the Machinist's union.

They have an article that says Washington Times called Obama "too Canadian." It was because he wanted more respect for international law, diplomacy and to curtail antiAmerican sentiment. Studies actually show that American and Canadian values are quite similar. Both value health care, that US should have signed the Kyoto protocol and shouldn't have gone to war with Iraq (a majority in both countries.)

Canadians also support Obama 5:1 over McCain and supported Kerry 4:1 over Bush. Canadians admire Obama more than they do their own Prime Minister Steven Harper. The values of his that they lilke at Hope, Change, Stewardship, Service, Sacrifice (shared) and they believe Canada would be much better off under an Obama than a McCain presidency.

Honest Abe Wants His Country Back

2008-09-20T19:12:00.002-04:00

Republicans for Obama

button designed by a Republican for Seattle rally for Honesty in Government
to coincide with Cindy Mccain's visit on Sept. 24th

Concerned Citizen Reveals Bush III

2008-09-20T14:39:00.001-04:00

Go Tell Mama I'm For Obama

2008-09-20T12:27:00.002-04:00

A new study shows a discouraging number of racist individuals in America, so this is a very uplifting video to see at this time.

Chillz Peoples, Chillz

2008-09-20T01:53:00.002-04:00

Seattle Times Endorses Barack Obama

2008-09-20T00:05:00.000-04:00

In an Editorial, the Seattle Times has endorsed Barack Obama.

The endorsement opens with a reference to current economic crisis.

An economic Katrina is shattering the confidence of hardworking, middle-class Americans. The war that should never have been in Iraq is dragging on too long. At a time of huge challenge, the candidate with the intelligence, temperament and judgment to lead our nation to a better place is Sen. Barack Obama. Obama should be the next president of the United States because he is the most qualified change agent.

The conservative-reputationed Times at one point unmasks McCain's inability to be effective in dealing with the nation's economy:

McCain is at heart a deregulator. But it is the hands-off and ineffective federal regulatory system that allowed this mess to fester. Obama offered a more coherent approach months ago when he called for regulating investment banks, mortgage brokers and hedge funds and streamlining overlapping regulatory agencies.

The endorsement then goes on to highlight Obama's positions on the economy, energy, the Iraq war and education. This section is "meaty" enough that I will reprint it in full.

On the issues:

• The economy: The Good Ship America is listing in turbulent waters. Sinking mortgage and banking institutions are wreaking havoc at home and abroad. The problem is in the private sector, but it has been made worse by a federal policy favoring big corporations. The Bush administration has not regulated these companies effectively or done what it takes to curb their wants.

Obama understands this better than McCain and makes clear he would do more to correct it. Obama's assistance to the middle class in the form of tax cuts and college-tuition breaks is a centerpiece of his campaign.

• Energy: The energy crisis is zapping our economic well-being. What does McCain want to do? "Drill, baby, drill," to quote the mindless chant at the Republican National Convention. That is not an energy policy. It is a cheap, shortsighted slogan.

Obama has a coherent plan that includes some drilling, as a stopgap, but he looks to a mix of renewable resources. He is more likely to move America off its dependence on foreign oil. McCain has been in office for 26 years and done little to change this dynamic.

• The Iraq war: Many Americans will cast their vote on this one issue alone. Past performance is the best indicator of future conduct. Obama opposed the war, McCain supported it full-bore. Obama has a plan for moving the troops out; McCain seeks "victory," whatever that actually means. The net effect will be more time and money wasted in a country that did not participate in 9/11.

Afghanistan harbors the key culprits, and the situation there is worse than it has been in eight years. Afghanistan is where our bigger effort should be, as Obama has articulated.

• Education: Obama is more practical than ideological on education. He wants merit pay for good teachers and extra training or firing for lousy ones. He wants to double federal funding for charter schools, but not in a way that cuts into the heart of public schools. Obama recently gave a major speech on education. McCain is too low-key on an important issue.

On numerous other issues, from media consolidation to health care, Obama has the stronger take. He makes up for a thin résumé with integrity, judgment and fresh ideas. Obama can get America moving forward again.

DailyKos also has an article on this, which is where I got my original pleasant "head's up" before heading off to bed before a long day. I then wrote the above article for NW Progressive Institute

Obama Backers in New Mexico

2008-09-19T00:05:00.000-04:00

Obama in Vegas!

2008-09-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

Obama's Two Minute Energy Plan Ad

2008-09-17T21:55:00.002-04:00

..while McCain suddenly pretends to switch to populism ..

Got A Bridge to Sell You Up in Alaska

2008-09-15T17:52:00.001-04:00

Grand Junction, Colorado

Why to Vote for Obama in 2008

2008-09-15T16:59:00.001-04:00

new footage