Must Win States for Obama

We did McCain last time. (Scroll down to see the map). McCain is certainly the underdog in this campaign. I focused on 5 battleground states that he would be wise to focus on. The main difference here is that Obama has vast sums of money to spend, whereas McCain is heavily relying on the RNC to make up the slack. McCain can only really afford to spend his money in a few key areas. Obama, on the other hand, has set up shop in all 50 states. He is pouring money to run advertisements in states he has become competitive but will likely lose, such as Georgia. His strategy seems to be the same for McCain as it was for Hillary: bankrupt the opponent by forcing them to play defense in favored but competitive states.

Obama can afford to spend money to build networks and run ads in every battleground state--as he should. If I was a McCainiac, I would tell John to focus hard on the 5 states he needs desperately to win. If I was an Obama-mite, I would say, well, keep doing what you are doing.

Nonetheless, here are the states in order I think Obama should focus on.

1/2 Wisconsin and Minnesota. Several polls have put Obama with massive leads recently, such as a 17-point lead in MN. Wow. I don't even think Pawlenty can help McCain now. Several of the sites I visit don't even have these two states as "toss-ups" anymore. These two are Obama's to lose. Start with 219 Electoral Votes.

2. Pennsylvania. This is the largest Democratic swing state. It didn't go blue the past few times and probably won't change in a Democratic year. McCain is making an effort, but this state has been sailing further into the Democratic column. Obama should dispatch Hillary here (and in Ohio) to really bring this state home. 240 EVs.

3. Michigan (Battleground)! I told McCain that this is one he should fight for. Putting Romney on the ticket would help. But this is one state that clearly is in a full-fledged recession. They are hurting badly and it's just too easy to tie McCain to Bush economic failures--especially since McCain hasn't said he would do much differently in this area. MI has moved from weak to moderate Obama, and Obama would be wise to see that it stays with him. Regardless, sandwiched between Ohio and Wisconsin, I predict this area of the country will be getting a lot of attention from the Obama camp. 257 EVs.

4. Colorado. Although it has been weak Obama, it hasn't budged from supporting him. This is one of the clearest flips from 2004, and the convention will only boost his chances here. 264 EVs.

5. New Hamphire. This is McCain's only real shot at picking up a Kerry state. And it's slipping fast. Right now, it is strong Obama. Again, it's Obama's to lose. 269 EVs.

To put Obama over the top, I recommend focusing on Iowa, another swing state that has consistently been favoring him. That would give Obama the presidency without even winning Ohio, Virginia and Florida. Although I really think he should fight for those in that order. And he will.

I'm Voting Repbulican

This really spells it out...

Must Win States for McCain

I take off my partisan hat every now and again and do my own prognostication...

I have consistently looked at polls from a variety of reputable pollsters and featured on a myriad of conservative, liberal, and neutral websites.

I don't believe in using all those different shades of blue and red--they are confusing and unhelpful. There are VERY few states in this election that are super solid one way or the other. Yes, you could argue that Mississipi is a solid red state, but if 90% of their African-American population votes and votes for Obama--then Obama would only need a little over 25% of the "white" vote. Alaska is another "solid" red that just had a poll from Rasmussen showing Obama a lousy 4 points behind.

On the flip side, deep blue Massachussettes' latest poll shows Obama only 3 points ahead. Texas is less "solid" than Oklahoma because OK has consistently polled for McCain since he won the nomination, whereas TX flirted with Obama back in March--yet now seems to have returned to its red roots.

In other words, some states are more solid than others. NC, Oregon, even Georgia, may be more competitive this year, but in the end barring an unexpected event (and those do happen) they will move to their proper columns.

The true swing states I have below in gray:



(Note Nebraska is purple--I think Obama has a real shot at winning a portion of their split EVs in the district with Omaha)

Right now, factors favor Obama. Not just the popular vote and EVs, but right now, Obama is leading in all of these swing states except for Nevada. The good news for McCain is that Obama is leading in all of these swing states by under 5%. (I didn't say great news.) But McCain doesn't need to win ALL of them, just the right amount to win the magic 270. If I were a McCainiac, these would be the states I would tell him to go after:

Starting with 187 pretty assured EVs:

1. Florida. Florida, like the rest of the nation, has been trending Democratic in the national polls. But this is still a red state with a red governor and overwhelming GOP state legislature. The GOP has built quite an apparatus here--(believe me, I know!). It would make sense for McCain to take advantage of it. But this state is also a must-win for McCain. It is the largest swing state with 27 electoral votes. He would have to win Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota just to make up a defeat here. Out of the big 3 (Ohio, PA, and FL), Florida is his best shot. up to 214

2. Ohio. No modern republican has won without Ohio. Like Florida, Ohio shows a blue lead for Obama. But the good news is that if any GOPer would win Ohio in this Dem year, it would be McCain or no one. He has got to spend a lot of RNC money here and a lot more time to get his lead back. But this is also a must-win. up to 234

3. Virginia. This state hasn't voted GOP since before I was born--Lyndon Johnson was the last one. But this year it is trending Dem. McCain should try to hold on to this state one more time using the typical conservative playbook in the Southwest and the moderate "maverick" playbook in the Northeast. PS--If Obama picks Webb or Kaine as veep, then McCain should spend his resources elsewhere. up to 247

4. Michigan. Out of the mid-west states, this one is the best shot for McCain with the exception of Missouri. Wisconsin has moved solidly to Obama. Iowa has consistently been with Obama over 5%, as has Minnesota (although the convention here may give it a short-lived crimson boost.) Although Michigan is currently trending Obama, it is under 5% and until recently favored McCain. Michigan also has the most electoral-votes as the other states mentioned here--17. He has got to fight here and fight hard. Since Ohio is just below, he should get a lot of mileage with his bus fleet between these two states. up to 264

5. Nevada. The only swing state that currently has McCain leading. McCain is favored to win here, although his lead has been shrinking steadily. But the other swing states have been trending Obama, so his best bet is to focus his attention on retaining this Bush state. up to 269

Where to get the remaining EV? Nebraska. Make sure Obama doesn't split NE, and that's it.

I would much rather be in Obama's shoes, but the task is not insurmountable.

Next week--Obama!

Learn to USE Veep-Hungry Crist

I wrote to the Sentinel after they had a legnthy editorial bashing him for changing positions on oil-drilling the SAME DAY McCain did.

I recommended to the editor there that they simply make a list of everything they are crowing about (red-light cameras, car boot laws, light rail, etc.), and ask McCain to list a few of those next time they interview him. I promise you'll see Governor Sock Puppet swing into action.

YOU ARE WELCOME!

GAMETIME: Try to find McCain at GOP.org

Go on -- try to find him: www.gop.org

He's nowhere.

Of course, Barack Obama is EVERYWHERE. No less than 7 pictures on the front page alone. Every story is on Obama, every headline is Obama, there is countdown clocks on Obama, there is "meet Barack Obama"--my God, it's like someone stumbled on the Democratic site.

Now compare:
www.democrats.org

Notice a difference?

Not really. Everywhere there is Obama! Not nearly as many pictures and articles, but he's there!

Maybe that's because we are genuinely PROUD of our candidate. Maybe because our candidate has something to talk about and share--

Not just Fears and Smears, which seem to be the GOP's ENTIRE platform.


What does McCain stand for? Good luck finding that on GOP.org. There is one small icon on "climate change". Everything is Obama this and Obama that. You won't even be able to see what a John McCain looks like--but maybe that's intentional:

The McCain camp doesn't even feature McCain in their sad promotional videos. My diary yesterday featured the "exclusive tour" of his Straight Talk Express ala "Cribs" -- Click here if you can stomach it. As always, no McSame.

I really feel for the GOP. Really I do. I can't blame them for not featuring McCain. He's just not that popular. You can't feature the president, or the vice president either. (that would be suicide!)

Who can you feature? The only one in politics who is popular I suppose.

Barack Obama!!

Obama's first ad

Well done...

McCain's "edgy" Bus Tour Video--very funny!!

Somehow or another I got on johnmccain's email list. As a regular visitor to this site, it is very interesting to see how they spin their recent string of disasters.

The latest email made me smile--and I thought you would enjoy it. It's called "McCain Cribs: Straight Talk Express". The video is shot similar to how MTV shoots their popular series "Cribs"--and it gives you an inside look at the STE. The email promises you can even get a look inside the refrigerator!! (It's soda-"No booze this time!"). Party animals.

If EVER there was a more pathetic attempt to make McCain hot, fly, and edgy ("Take that Hollywood!"), this is it. I warned you:

Here's the video:

http://www.johnmccain.com/STETour/


It's 4 1/2 minutes long--but at least watch the first few seconds to see that wicked MTV-style intro. It goes downhill from there. I'll give you the brief:

Cool man "Davis White - Director of Advance" pops out of the bus to give you the "exclusive tour". You get to hear all about the engine and baggage area with cool fast-forwarding camera effects.


White is happy to show diversity on the bus--their bus driver is a black man! He is "like family".

White says they like to be "rollin' in style" with

"8 inch tires sittin' on 22 inch rims--TAKE THAT HOLLYWOOD!!"

(gag)

They go overboard about all the technology (see, McCain gets it!!). Damn, someone "left their blackberry here" sitting out on the table--how convenient.

There is a shower on the bus--but no one has used it yet. But it's "ready and willing" (creepy)

We get to see where Senator McCain sits. Davis "don't want to disrepect it" by sitting there. (I could actually envision Mccain flying off the handle)

It ends with Davis throwing you off the bus, ala "Cribs",

You're gonna have to get off--seriously, you're gonna have to go before I call Secret Service!

Cue music.

What the hell were they thinking? THIS is what they are going to use to lure people from the Obama camp? Barack must be quaking. The sad thing is I can see the media consultant who dreamed this up to "reach out" saying "YES--Nailed it!"

Words on Oil to Forward to Every Congressman and Senator

I hate Neil Cavuto. But I hate more that I agree with him. He is responsible for the below tirade:

1. Stop the political grandstanding. And this goes for Democrats and Republicans. You're both to blame. Now, both do something.

2. Democrats, stop this nonsense about not looking for more oil here. We have it here. Let's drill for it here. It hardly means we're going to destroy every tree, spotted owl, and polar bear while we're doing it here.

3. Republicans, stop protecting energy companies with billions in subsidies they don't need and tax credits they don't deserve. It's one thing to say don't tax their profits, but don't tax my patience. They're doing fine on their own.

4. Democrats, quit picking and choosing what energy alternative you want. Pick them all, explore them all — solar, wind, nuclear, and yes oil. Jump ball. Have at it.

5. Republicans, stop resisting conservation. You look clueless and frankly, stupid, opposing simple step solutions to saving energy. Because here's a news flash: we need to save energy.

6. And this is for Democrats and Republicans. We know you each blame each other...one for not exploring for oil, the other for not exploring options to oil. Get over it, get on with it, explore for it, all of it, all here, all now.

Demagoguing the issue won't solve the issue. Working together just might. I want to see you doing so now. There's hell to pay on this show if you do not.

You have been warned.

Being a Democrat means thinking for yourself, and for me that means sometimes taking the best ideas from BOTH parties for a comprehensive solution. We have a real energy crisis. The GOP wants to drill for oil we already have here, and the Democrats want to conserve and seek alternative energy sources.

Why the hell can't we do BOTH?

The outrage here in Florida was drilling MILES off the coast for oil. I don't get this. There hasn't been an oil spill even after drilling stations were damaged with massive hurricanes. We have no trouble allowing huge antiquated tanker ships to come to our ports--which is much more likely to spill. And the drilling will be so far off shore you will not be able to see them without a telescope.

No, we can't dig our way out--but it makes sense for us to be as self-sufficient as possible. And we can allow the oil companies to drill here in return for generous subsidies to our state. It's WIN-WIN.

In addition to drilling here, we should also be putting wind turbines out to sea. We should be leading the nation in solar, wind, and tide energy.

WE should be doing everything we can to solve this energy crisis, which is only going to get worse.

Bill McCollum: "McCain is Out of Touch"

If you a Democrat in Florida, you need to make sure this video gets seen. McCain already had a lot to answer for in last week's visit concerning his opposition to Everglades restoration, but that is nothing compared to his dismal record on helping hurricane victims. He even bragged about disregarding Floridians who needed help after the devastating hurricanes:



Kudos to the Florida Democratic Party for putting this video together.


Not only does McCain oppose the bill for national disaster insurance, he does not understand it. From the Palm Beach Post:

He continues to insist that the bill, which would help to pay insurance claims from catastrophic hurricanes, tornadoes or earthquakes, would cost the government $200 billion. He has said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency could handle the problem.

In fact, states would have to qualify for the program by first setting up their own insurance pools, as Florida has done. If those resources aren't enough, states would go to the national program, which would issue private-market bonds backed by the government. The idea is to avoid the sort of bailout that happened after Hurricane Katrina. Having the plan would allow private insurers to base rates only on bad years, not catastrophic years. That would set limits on prospective claims, and rates would fall.

FEMA can't even find victims in a giant SuperDome or figure out housing for victims years later. It is appalling that our perpetually tanned governor, who is BEGGING for the veep slot, hasn't bothered to explain the plan, which he supports, to his potential new boss. As our right-wing attorney general, Bill McCollum, said, "McCain is out of touch".

If you are a Dem blogger, at the end of it--copy the embed code and put it on your blog or even email it. Floridians need to know how wrong McCain is for Florida.

McCain will OVERTURN Roe; Bad Record for Women

I just read a poll where people still think somehow that McCain is pro-choice. For God's sakes people, read something!!

McCain on Meet the Press:

I have stated time after time after time that Roe v Wade was a bad decision, that I support a woman — the rights of the unborn — that I have fought for human rights and human dignity throughout my entire political career," McCain said. "To me, it's an issue of human rights and human dignity.

His voting record is solid against family planning, teen pregnancy prevention programs, and even against the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act that simply forbade the use of force or threat of force to interfere with clinic access!!

He voted to codify a controversial regualtion that allowed states to make an embryo or fetus (but NOT THE PREGNANT WOMAN) eligible for health-care coverage.

Voted to deny low-income women access to abortion using Medicaid funds in any case.

He will appoint women-hating radicals like Alito, as he told the National Review

Let me just look you in the eye," McCain told me. "I've said a thousand times on this campaign trail, I've said as often as I can, that I want to find clones of Alito and Roberts. I worked as hard as anybody to get them confirmed. I look you in the eye and tell you I've said a thousand times that I wanted Alito and Roberts. I have told anybody who will listen. I flat-out tell you I will have people as close to Roberts and Alito [as possible], and I am proud of my record of working to get them confirmed, and people who worked to get them confirmed will tell you how hard I worked.

If you love pro-life radicals, then vote for McCain. But please don't vote for him and tell me he is really some sort of "moderate" on this issue!

Our Votes DO Count, Why Not Do This From the Beginning??

Big Surprise.

Florida's Votes Count. The little committee that normally gets unnoticed had the spotlight on them yesterday. They allotted proportionally, with the delegates getting a half a vote each.

Essentially, it's the same arrangement that the RNC made -- they took HALF the delegates from the beginning. We will count all but give them a HALF a vote each. In other words, no difference.

Soooooooooooooooo...

WHY THE HELL DIDN'T THEY DO THIS FROM THE BEGINNING?

Why did we have to endure literally MONTHS of Florida and Michigan bashing; and allow months of ads and op-eds that said Democrats don't count votes. The GOP got a free pass on this, and now Obama is having to play catch-up in two crucial swing states because of the antics of the DNC.

I still think we will win despite ourselves, but let's say we quit shooting ourselves in the foot from now on. K?

McClellan was Talking About McCain

McCain's Own Words...




In other news of the "quick and easy" liberation this week, McCain invited Barack to accompany him to Iraq, saying it would show him how great everything is there and would allow him to make "informed judgments" in the future.

Funny. It didn't have that effect on McSame.

McCain STILL doesn't seem to know the difference between the Sunni and the Shia, nor who is currently in charge.

McSame should also not count on Barack being as clueless as he is. I don't think Obama would take an entire company of men off of their posts (plus 3 Blackhawk helicopters and 2 Apache gunships) just for a photo opp. in a marketplace, only then to make a ridiculous statement about how "safe" everything is and that it's like a "normal outdoor market in Indiana in the summertime!"

PS--that same marketplace today? Controlled by Muqtada Al-Sadr:

Teacher Forces 5-Yr Old Disabled Boy to Be TAUNTED!!

WORST TEACHER IN THE WORLD: Wendy Portillo, a teacher in Port St. Lucie, FL, who forced Alex, age 5, to stand in front of his classroom and had EACH CLASSMATE tell him what they didn't like about him.

Alex has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. The kids called him "disgusting", "annoying", and so on.

He lost by a vote of 14 to 2 and was kicked out of the classroom.

This trauma has led the kid to be inconsolable, and he told his mom several times that he "wasn't special".

It gets worse...


The goddamned conservative rethuglicans who have a stranglehold on our state attorney's office said THIS DIDN'T CONSTITUTE EMOTIONAL ABUSE! They will not investigate.

WORST ATTORNEY GENERAL IN THE WORLD: Bill McCollum

Write your local paper and call the TV stations. This type of outrage is unacceptable, even for Florida.

Full story: Here

Who will be Barack's veep?

The blogosphere is lit up with people speculating who Barack's veep will be. I previously predicted a Hillary win--and predicted that Ohio governor Ted Strickland would be her Veep choice. A Hillary win seems less likely every day. The momentum is certainly on Obama's side, so let's speculate for him. Shall we?

1. HRC. This is the most obvious, and to some, the least likely choice. Thing is, they just don't like each other. Hillary feels that Obama took her rightful turn, and Obama feels that HRC is trying to sabotage him. Not a match made in heaven. But likability isn't everything.

Fact is, Obama needs Hillary's supporters to win the election: and many of them have said they would stay home or even vote McCain if Obama is the nominee. By choosing HRC, he could begin to mend a lot of hurt feelings and a few fences. Besides, they both seem to bring in two different constituencies within the Dem party. A united ticket could theoretically reach out to both of them. Not to mention that Hillary is HUGELY popular in necessary swing states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and of course, FLORIDA. She consistently beats McCain in those states while Barack has been struggling.

Of course, Obama may figure that would lose some of his most ardent supporters who share an intense dislike of HRC. Some hate her so much they will not support him if he chose her to share the ticket. Others may fear that she and her husband would try to manipulate him once in the White House ala Dick Cheney, but I don't think Obama is prone to manipulation like our current commander in chief. Finally, picking HRC could undercut his message of real change, especially since he campaigned against the status quo she partly represents. I am dying to know what he decides about this choice.

2. Senator Jim Webb. Former Marine. Former Navy Secretary under the GOP god Ronald Wilson Reagan. The new VA senator has great credibility with veterans--not just with his background, but with his signature initiatives to make veteran's lives easier. This is due in large part to measures that would have given them mandatory rest (unsuccessful) or the brand new GI Bill (successful--which McCain opposed by the way). Certainly, his addition to an Obama ticket would help in two ways: shore up national security credentials, and help put a 2008 swing state teetering on the brink into the Blue column. But if he doesn't pick Webb, there is another good Dem to choose from this state:

3. VA Governor Tim Kaine. Kaine was among the first to endorse Obama, which is a big plus when a Hillary tsunami seemed likely. Obama and he genuinely like each other; and besides, it's not like Kaine will run again (VA only allows one-term for their governors). And, as with Webb, it would put VA in play. Another bonus: although it's always a good idea to pick a veep from a different region, a ticket with a Midwesterner and a Southerner is a particular good idea since that is where the battleground will be this year.

4. The SWING STATE GOVERNORS: This group includes Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, or PA Gov. Ed Rendell. Yes, they are all Hillary supporters, but that makes the deal even sweeter. This is a way to reach out to HRC supporters if Obama just can't stomach HRC. More importantly, it would put these necessary swing states in play. By the way, if that is the thinking, then would definetly pick Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland out fo the three. PA will most likely go Dem anyway, although it won't be a sure thing. Iowa is important but doesn't have as many electoral votes as others. McCain, however, can't win without Ohio. Of course, besides Ohio's 20 electoral votes, Ted doesn't bring much else to the table. No military/nat. security credentials, same region, and there is really no chemistry between the two.

5. Gov. Bill Richardson. Would definetly put New Mexico in the Blue column come November, has extensive foreign policy experience, and would certainly help in bringing Hispanics over who have so far backed Clinton. Not the best public speaker and obviously not the best campaigner, however. Could be eaten up in a veep debate if McCain picks a smooth talker like Huckabee.


6. John Edwards. You keep hearing about the angry, blue-collar white men? John Edwards reaches them like no one else. Even though Obama's problem with these voters seem to be contained to the Appalachian region, John Edwards has a massive following of believers that would really enhance Barack's appeal and really show he is the candidate of change--unlike if he picked HRC. John Edwards, however, has no foreign policy experience. The fact that he lost in the past two elections also would give Obama some pause, and may decide he needs a fresh new face.

7. Senator Chris Dodd. Strong on foreign policy-- he served on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for many years. He is also strong on domestic issues, and he's a favorite of the Democratic left base. Negatives include that he is already from a blue state that will go Obama anyways, and bringing on a deep-blue New England senator may not be the best strategy to court needed indie voters in the South and West.

8. Gen. Wesley Clark. A Hillary supporter who also has some real military credentials to boot. He would also likely put Arkansas into play. This would be a good balance for Obama, but I honestly think that Obama would choose Webb before he picks Gen. Clark.

9. Senator Joe Biden. No one know more about foreign policy than Joe. He would eviscerate any of McCain's veep choices in debate when the talk focuses on terror and the Iraq War. Of course, Biden isn't from a large swing state. Besides, if Obama is going to pick another Senator, I think there are more compelling reasons for HRC or Webb to get the call.


10. SURPRISE!!: Some unlikely ideas are Chuck Hagel, former Republican Senator from Nebraska. Hagel is the GOP what Lieberman is to the Democrats. Hagel hates George W. Bush, hates the war, but is a conservative nonetheless. He could potentially bring disaffected GOPers and right-leaning independents into Barack's camp. Of course, like Lieberman, he is very partisan with everywhere else (anti-abortion, anti-universal health care, etc.) Therefore, very unlikely. I've also heard Mike Bloomberg-but I just don't see a billionaire on the ticket helping Obama very much. Finally, I have to say I don't see Janet Napolitano, current AZ governor. She can't really put Arizona in play since McCain is on the opposing ticket, and any of her strengths are trumped by any number of people already mentioned. Another longshot, although she has a strong following, is Kathleen Sebelius of Kansas. She is from a deep red state who underperformed in her response to the State of the Union, so I don't think she will be on his shortlist.

Who do you think it will be? The decision is coming sooner than you think....

Barack in Seminole County

Okay, technically Orange County since Maitland is right on the border, but you get the point.

He held a fundraiser that apparently raised about half a million dollars in small donations. Not too bad. No I didn't go--although I understand the "Maitland for Obama" and "Barack Obama is my Homeboy" Tee-shirts sold very well:

Maitland for Barack Obama Come help get him elected.

Funniest Video YET this campaign season!

Poor Kevin James. His career is on the ropes based on his appearance with Chris Matthews.

He was eviscerated on Hardball taking the Bush/McCain line that Obama is somehow an "appeaser" like Neville Chamberlain.

Problem is, as with Bush/McCain, he doesn't know what "appeasement" means--much less what Neville Chamberlain even did. Neville foolishly gave half of Checkoslovakia to Hilter as a means of "appeasing" him. That's what it means--giving things to the enemy. IT DOES NOT MEAN TALKING TO THE ENEMY! That is called DIPLOMACY!

The fact that Obama has a brilliant mind who can conduct diplomacy while Bush can't even put a sentence together (much less read one without a teleprompter) is not a weakness. It is a desperate need to correct the worst foreign policy blunders in American history that has weakened us as a nation and emboldened our enemies.

Watch the video. It's worth seeing the whole thing, but if you just want fireworks--move ahead to the four minute mark. You won't believe it.

PS--Listen to where Kevin claims to get his "facts" from. Maybe if Repbulicans quit burning history and science books and tried reading them, they would be more sensible. But then again, they wouldn't be conservatives...

Can Barack Win Florida?

The quick answer is yes. Not as easily as Hillary...all of the snowbirds from New York would travel down here to vote for her. She is a lock on this crucial state: She consistently wins Florida in head to head matchups with John McSame.

Barack, not so much. But he isn't doing bad. The latest poll shows Barack tied with McCain-- 43% to 44%, which is well within the poll's margin of error. Keep in mind that McCain has already spent a ton of time here in January trying to lock up the GOP primary and has spend a couple million for TV spots. Barack hasn't even set foot here yet and has not spent one single dime.

That is about to change. From TC Palm:

Next week, Obama plans to spend three days, starting May 21 in Florida, with stops in Tampa, Orlando, Palm Beach County and Miami. A spokeswoman for the Obama campaign said the details of the Florida stops have yet to be finalized.

He is already on the right track. From the Sentinel:

Barack Obama promised a group of uncommitted superdelegates today that he would seat Florida’s delegation at the Democratic National Convention this summer.

"He assured us that Florida delegates will be at the convention and they’ll have their party hats on," reported South Florida Congressman Tim Mahoney, one of the uncommitted superdelegates.

This appears to be the first time Obama, the front-runner for the nomination, has made such a clear, definite promise.

Good for you, Mr. O. Not that I was surprised in the least.

I have often said there was no way in hell that either Obama or Hillary would not allow the seating of the Florida delegates. It would have been suicide. Although this proves me right, what this more proves is that Barack is committed to winning in November. And I couldn't be happier.

(PS-I was asked to be a FL delegate--but I had the slight problem of being a Republican at the time. Long story.)

Barack is poised to build momentum here in Florida. And all the GOP has to throw at him is Jeremiah Wright, which is why it still lingers in the news. Although Obama has not brought up McCain's association with hatemonger Rev. John Hagee, he has thrown down the gauntlet on McCain's association with Charles Keating and being part of the infamous Keating 5.

Trying to tie Barack to words from a former paster 20 years ago, which he repeatedly denounced, is small potatoes to trying to keep a corrupt banker who stole people's lifesavings out of jail just because he donated millions to your campaign.

The election here is going to be close--much more than it should be. No one should wish a third Bush term on their worst enemy. But I honestly would rather be in our position than McCain's. Even without Florida, Barack will most likely win the election--but my job (and yours to) is to see that he doesn't have to.

I am committed to helping Obama win Florida's 27 electoral votes. I hope you will join me.

Why do Democratic Politicians go on Faux News?

Just this morning, I was flipping through the channels, trying to catch the news about the Indiana primary race. I stopped at what I thought was a legitimate news outlet (it had a scoll running across the bottom and everything). I got the results and was about to move on, but then I looked up....

Hatemonger Michelle Malkin was on. Why Stalkin Malkin still has a career after stalking a 12-year old boy and writing a book on why people should be locked up based on race is beyond me.

But there is always an audience for her on "Fair and Balanced" Fox.

It was only a minute I watched--just enough to catch the results, when I heard one of the "reporters" on that show ask Stalkin Malkin a perfectly fair question:

"Could you give some examples of how she [Michelle Obama] hates America?"

Malkin responded that she watched Michelle Obama on the Today show (one of the yokels tried to make a joke about mentioning their "competitor"--like they have any relation to a real news station). Stalkin Malkin went on some rant about Michelle Obama saying how proud she was of her husband, which according to Malkin's twisted logic meant that she hated America because she didn't mention how proud she was of her country as well.

(Yeah, that makes sense. I often tell my son I'm proud of him, but always follow up with "BUT not as much as AMERICA!" But I wear flag pins to bed with me, something you terrorist-loving America haters don't understand.)

I could laugh it off but it reminded me of how angry I was that both Barack AND Hillary decided to go on this stupid network very recently. For what reason, I have no clue. All they did was help FOX pretend to be a legitimate news source and allow them to inject this obvious right-wing vile as regular news..

I can imagine the outrage if this happened on any other network, but for some reason we seem to have outrage overload on FOX and just ignore it. They are a dangerous force and should be called out every time they cross the line.

And NO DEMOCRATIC POLITICIAN SHOULD EVER GO ON FOX!!! PERIOD!!

The GOP politicians don't EVER go on left-wing medium, like Air America or DailyKos. In fact, they call ANY successful left-wing venture, like MOVEON.org or DailyKos, "Anti-American". (In fact, Markos posted a front page clip of Fox and Friends hosts going ballistic over some politician posting a diary on the "anti-American site DailyKOS!!!")

WHY the hell don't OUR politicians do that with FAUX News? (I can't even get them to stop joining the GOP in condemning OUR OWN support systems!!)

WHY the hell should any of our politicians give them an ounce of legitimacy? WHY do I have to even explain to our politicians the stupidity of going on that network---no one on the right is telling their people to "Get on DKOS and try to reach that audience!"

But then again, at least we don't pretend that we are fair and balanced. Maybe if we did, then all GOP candidates will be forced to come here, post diaries, and try to win us over.

Yeah, I know that sounds stupid.

Think about it.

Poor, sweet, naive Karen Thurman

I met her several times. She is a tough, smart lady. Here is what she sent out:

I'm angry.

Earlier this week I was hopeful that the thousands of emails we sent to the Republicans in control would wake them up out of their special interest stupor.

Unfortunately, Republicans like Jeff Atwater proved once again that they just don't care about the people of Florida. It was business-as-usual for them.

They should be ashamed of themselves - but they're not. So we have got to throw the bums out.

Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper NOW to let people know about the Republicans' tax hikes, special interest giveaways, cuts to health care and gutting of education.

In the middle of the recession they created, Republicans chose special interests over the people of Florida. They raised property taxes and hiked every fee imaginable. They're sending pink slips to teachers across the state, and shuttering health facilities for the disabled.

But Atwater, who thinks he's going to be the next Senate President, has still got his $7000-a-month intern. And a major Republican developer got a $7.5-million connector road that will be a huge boon to their business. Sen. Mike Haridopolos still hasn't finished the book the state paid him more than $100,000 to write, and he's taking another $75,000 for a part-time lecturing job.

These Republicans don't see what's coming at them. Florida is boiling over and we won't forget the pain they've caused this November.

Also, the St. Pete Times:

Barring a Tallahassee miracle, when the Legislature adjourns Friday it will have failed in every respect to responsibly address the state's most pressing issues. It is hard to imagine re-election campaigns based on a record of imposing painful spending cuts, protecting special interest tax breaks, forcing universities to cap enrollments and raising local property taxes to keep public education limping along. But incumbents will try to paper over the sins of the spring with misleading campaign ads in the fall, and voters should not let them get away with it.
- St. Petersburg Times Editorial, 4/28/08

Florida IS boiling over mad. In today's Orlando Sentinel, the headline is how our state legislature threw away federal dollars for us to have a REAL rail system we desperately need here in Central Florida, along with it would have come money to WIDEN I-4. Logical, yes. Did it pass? NOPE.

Two weeks ago, front page Orlando Sentinel, GOP legislative leader Marc Rubio talked about gutting medical care for the needy because Florida citizens needed to "tighten their belts". Of course, that didn't mean his. The wealthy FL legislators receive free health care, and were insulted that they were asked to cut that benefit.

HOWEVER, I have lived here long enough to know this: FL won't throw the bums out. They will keep electing them just like a kid who can't resist touching an electric fence to see if he gets shocked.

The GOP is betting on voter's apathy and stupidity to keep them in office--even after this fiasco. Karen Thurman and the state Democrats are betting on their active participation and sensibility.

Sorry to say, I am with the Republicans on this one.

Mr. Straight Talk can't even get his own position straight

I LOVE that DNC add I featured in my previous blog post below. Watch it here if you haven't seen it. But the GOP is outraged--threatening lawsuits against TV stations who show it and attacking those (like me) who post it. I was attacked in a blistering email yesterday (and even threatened with "legal action") because even though McCain talked out loud on tape, he was "taken out of context". The email claimed that McCain was talking about staying there in the model of Germany and Japan where there are no casualties. (Keep dreaming.)

Well, 4,000 troops haven't been killed in the 60 years we have been in Germany and Japan. That is how many have been killed in the 5 years we have been in Iraq (along with half a trillion dollars spent). Germany and Japan are homogeneous nations, not three factions who have been killing each other for centuries.

McCain is talking about staying in Iraq NO MATTER WHAT. He has never said that he will pull the troops out of Iraq if the violence continues against our own troops.


Most people are smart enough to know that success in Iraq does not constitute any reduction in violence, no matter how mall (great news--our troops are now being slaughtered from 60 to 30 deaths a month!) This is, unless of course, the violence sharply increases, which apparently also means success. (PS-yesterday concluded the Deadliest Month so far on record. You guessed it, the GOP is saying this means we are being successful.)

In fact, watch this video montage below. McCain hasn't even been consistent on his backpedalling either---he screams that we neeed to leave SOON after the invasion and that Iraq will never accept a permanent US presence to being happy with our troops being there for 1,000 years no matter the conditions on the ground. (PS-the full clip of McCain talking about staying in Iraq is included):

Ad Against McCain so Effective, RNC is Trying to Sue!

This is unbelievable. The same corrupt committee that funded ads smearing decorated veterans running for office as terrorist sympathizers and the same committee that is supporting ads that play clips of Obama's former preacher is furious that the Democratic National Committe is running an ad of McCain saying that being in Iraq for 100 years is "fine with him".

This is not out of context, this is not a manipulation--this was HIS OWN WORDS in direct response to a question. It is a POWERFUL AD:



The RNC is now threatening legal action against any television station that runs this ad reminding the American people what John McSame said. Although the words and the images are powerful, it is the very last shot that is most devastating to McSame.

I am actually proud of Howard Dean. He is doing exactly what he should be doing--focusing his energy on beating McCain while Obama and HRC finish things up. And he is not afraid to play tough, a refreshing change. I have had my differences with the DNC this year, but PLEASE consider supporting this ad:

http://democrats.org/

Breaking: Islam Exists, Sem. County Parents Outraged

Channel 9 reported on the Lake Brantley scandal:

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. -- Some high school students in a Seminole County public school got a lesson in Islam. Outraged parents at Lake Brantley High School called Channel 9 after an Islamic group visited the classroom.


Parents say the discussion violated the separation of church and state, because, they said, the discussion touched on specific elements of Islam and the Koran. Students in one particular class at Lake Brantley High School didn't have a choice about whether they wanted to be involved.

It was just the second day of a new class at Lake Brantley High School called "Family Dynamics," but students said guest speakers were there to talk about something else.

"She said, 'Mom, three Muslim ladies came in and talked about Islam today in school,'" said parent Lisa Wagner.

Wagner's daughter was one of about 35 in the class who heard from the Academy for Learning Islam. The school district said it invited the group to talk about cultural diversity, but the conversation went beyond that.

"I just felt like it shouldn't have been available in the classroom at all. Religion should be separate from school," Wagner said.

"Would three nuns be allowed to come into a classroom and talk about Jesus and the Bible?" WFTV reporter Eric Rasmussen asked Regina Klaers with Seminole County Public Schools on Thursday.

"If those three nuns came in to talk about how their religion has affected history, yes," she said.

I would love if my child got a lesson in world religions. I wish to God that our moron-in-chief would have been briefed sometime in his life before he became president.

Seperation of Church and State does not mean that you never mention a major religion in any context. It means that you don't force kids to pray or promote a particular religious ideology.

If they were trying to promote Islamic beliefs, then that would be wrong. But I didn't get that impression from the article. I also got the impression that the parents would not have a problem if this was a Christian group.

Speaking of which, Seminole County has NO PROBLEM whatsoever inviting JMJ (Jesus, Mary, Joseph) Life Center to area schools to force kids to listen to their views on sex. This organization was exposed by the Orlando Weekley discrediting contraception, calling the Pill an "abortion agent", trying to link breast cancer to abortion (which, by the way, there is absolutely NO proof at all), and claiming that condoms don’t prevent the spread of HIV.

You see Seminole, THAT is violating Seperation of Church and State. And it's downright lying too.


Hopefully, rational thought will prevail. But then I read further in the article:

Local activist groups like the United American Committee have also denounced the presentation.

Who is the United American Committee? From their website:

... a non-partisan movement of concerned Americans, promoting awareness of threats which face America from within. The UAC is dedicated to educating and awakening the nation to the current threats confronting the U.S., with the primarily focus on confronting Islamic extremism. The UAC champions the fight in the ideological aspects of the War on Terror, and brings the War on Terror to the grassroots level.

Brings the War on Terror to the grassroots level? Translation: we are too chicken to enlist and fight overseas.

So we will keep our kids safe from evil-doers by opening up a front here at places like Lake Brantley High School. I am certain those kids were contemplating going to a radical madrassa after learning what a Koran is. Thank you for protecting Freedom's Fortress again, UAC.

But rest easy, Seminole. The district is now "reviewing" its guest speaker program. This glimpse of insight will be stopped and we can keep out kids ignorant.

Next week's topic: Parents Outraged. Why won't the county allow the 10 Commandments to be displayed in school?

McCain Video: U Are Better Off than 8 Years Ago?

What can McCain run on, since his 100-10,000 years in Iraq isn't a winning strategy. As this video demonstrates, certainly not the economy. He already admitted he is clueless about economics, (quote: the issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should), but this depth of denial really is frightening:

Unemployed Gonzales Gets Subsidized by UF

The president of the University of Florida, Bernie Machen, has tried for YEARS to get our state legislature to raise tuition rates. Here's a clue, Bernie. If you want more money, maybe you shouldn't blow it on things like this:

NY TIMES:

Alberto R. Gonzales, like many others recently unemployed, has discovered how difficult it can be to find a new job. Mr. Gonzales, the former attorney general, who was forced to resign last year, has been unable to interest law firms in adding his name to their roster, Washington lawyers and his associates said in recent interviews.

He has, through friends, put out inquiries, they said, and has not found any takers. What makes Mr. Gonzales’s case extraordinary is that former attorneys general, the government’s chief lawyer, are typically highly sought...

Places like Washington University in St. Louis, Ohio State University and the University of Florida have paid him about $30,000 plus expenses for appearances, and the business groups pay a bit more, said sources at the schools and elsewhere who are familiar with the arrangements. Pomona College debated inviting him and decided he was not worth the money, the college newspaper reported.

His first speech at the University of Florida last November was interrupted by protesters dressed as detainees.

Exactly what would be the benefit for Gonzales speaking to students at UF? How to be a professional suck-up? How to sacrifice integrity and independence for your boss?

Alberto Gonzales claimed he couldn't remember anything anybody ever said or did under a department he ran. SO either he was the most extreme idiot or a liar.

Before his embarrassing self-destruction, he made a career as a professional suck-up. EVERY SINGLE promotion he had ever received was from George W. Bush--who actually considered him for Supreme Court. (As much sense as a horse judge for FEMA. Thank GOD we only have a few more months of this idiot's "judgment")

For a school that wants to play top tier, I think those who made the decision to blow tens of thousands of dollars on Gonzales could work on their judgment as well.

Feeney: Let Me Squandor or U Hate Our Troops!!

Here in Seminole County, Florida, we are honored to be represented by a man ranked by a nonpartisan watchdog group as the most corrupt Congressman for a third straight year.

Besides being Jack Abramoff's bitch, Feeney is also an avid champion of our fighting men and women in Iraq. No, he doesn't want to the troops to come home. And he has a habit of voting against body armor and essential equipment for our troops.

But he is nonetheless a champion. Why? Because he is outraged that a city 2,000 miles away from us voted to close their recruiter's station. Feeney was so angry, in fact, that he spend thousands of TAXPAYER dollars to tell us how angry he is and of his solution: withhold federal money, including funds for the lunch program in their public schools. (Suck on THAT Berkeley!)

One local reporter questioned if the mailor was a good use of public funds. Feeney's response was unbelievable:

From Sunday's Orlando Sentinel:

Reporter Scott Maxwell: But there are hundreds of ways to support our troops--giving them adequate equipment for battle, providing them with the services they need after the war, honoring them at ceremonies...keeping them alive. This doesn't seem like any of those things. This seems like a way to spend public money to troll for votes in a very targeted manner.

Feeney: There is nothing more important to patriotic Americans.

Maxwell: So if I think your mailer wasn't a good use of public money, I'm not a patriot?

Feeney: You apparently don't have the same respect for the people who are fighting and dying for this country.

I guess you can count me among those self-hating veterans, because I don't think it was a good use of public money either. I don't think the concept of cutting federal funding to punish a few Berkeley legislators is a smart idea either--nor a particularly good use of Feeney's time. It has no chance of passage, and I don't know if Feeney is aware of this, but we have a few issues here in Central Florida--for example, like thousands of people losing their homes!

Suzanne Kosmas, a popular former state representative, is challenging Tom Feeney this November. Despite Feeney being able to draw his own damn district, Kosmas is his first ever real opponent who is getting national Dem backing. Maybe, just maybe, the most corrupt politician in Congress might lose this election.

But I guess that wouldn't be very patriotic of us, would it?

Please help Suzanne Kosmas by clicking HERE.

Just Six More Months....

We are within "arm's reach" of success according to John McCain. Just SIX more months.

Except we were told that six months ago, and six months before that, and six months before that, and so on. I was hoping someone would put together these ridiculous statements and show that nothing ever changes. Thank YOU MoveOn.org.

This is entitled Endless War on the Installment Plan:

Funny Anti-McCain (Palin) Slogans: Bumper-Sticker ready!

UPDATE August 20,2009: This post gets tons of hits every day, but I don't know why...the election is over!

I have a new post on bumper sticker slogans for HEALTHCARE REFORM, such as:

My death panel is an HMO
My other car is a health insurance payment
My car has more insurance than I do

Check out all 55 of them: http://seminoledemocrats.blogspot.com/2009/08/bumper-sticker-slogan-smackdowns-of.html





McCain: The Audacity of "Nope"

McCain. 4 More Years

McCain. 100 More Years



McCain. The 100 year Reich.

McCain: I was against MLK before I was for him.

McAncient.




McCain. When War and Poverty aren't enough.

Bush Bushly McBush: Even Bushier than the Original

McCain: MLK wasn't "Meaningful"

John McCain: More Bush, Less Sane

McCain is Bush on Viagra

McCain: Your Taxes for Endless War

McCain, McWar, McWhy?

McCain. Because McAbel is dead.

McCain. Because things still could suck even more.

McCain. Because America is tough enough to withstand him.



McCain. The latest Republican finger in America's eye.

McCain. Proof that "old" and "wise" aren't necessarily synonymous.

McCain. Who wants peace anyway?

McCain. He went through hell, and he'll take you there, too.

McCain. His 15 minutes were up eight years ago.

He'll bomb Iran for Pearl Harbor.

Get Off My Lawn!

McCain. Because everything's perfect just the way it is!!

McCain. Because Cheney was too damn stable.

McCain is a Third Term for Bush

Against Torture Before He Was For It

Riding the DoubleTalk Express

McCain thinks you're a fucking idiot.
That's why he thinks you'll vote for him.

Securing Personal Loans With Taxpayer Dollars

Because 19% of us know this country is on the right track.

Insane McCain

If The Surge Is Working, Why Will We Be In Iraq For 100 Years?

Not A Maverick, Not A Moderate

More War
Less Jobs
Vote McCain


McSame

McBushAgain 08

McCain Loves Lobbyists (literally!)

McCain & Unable

McCain has a Lobby hobby

Never once voted for a green energy bill.

Give MCain Your Vote
and
Your Draft-Age Child

Feel the Pain with John McCain!

NO YOU CAN'T!

McCain. USS Forrestal. Google it!

McCain = Bush/Cheney: The Sequel

"bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb IRAN"

Putting Americans to Work...In Iraq

Vote McCain, sell your other car for food.

McCain cut the cake while NOLA drowned

Other jobs Americans won't do: Vote McCain!

No Country for Old Men

Never thought I'd miss Nixon

Actually, McCain, I DO care if we are in Iraq 10,000 years

Vote McCain: Stick the final nail in the conseravative's coffin!

If he couldn't protect his own child from Rove, how can he protect our country??

McCain. Because I like my presidents mad and crazy.

McCain: Bush without the hat.

McCain: In Bed With Lobbyists

If you hate America you'll love McCain

McCain: Ready, Willing, Unstable


McCain: Finally a Liberal Republican!


Anti-PALIN or McCain/Palin:




Palin, because we think Hillary supporters are that stupid

Palin: FINALLY, a woman who's not afraid to hate women

Palin: Because after Quayle and Cheney, we just stopped caring.

Polluting, creationist, wingnuts for Palin

McCain's soulmates: 1st wife, 2nd wife, now Sarah Palin. What's with the former beauty queens, creep?!

Palin, like HRC, only right-wing and incompetent

McCain-Palin. What desperation looks like.

Meth Moms for Palin

A one-year, extremist governor with an ethics investigation—thanks McCain!

Palin, like Cheney, only more extreme and less compassionate

Palin: What a love-child of Cheney and Quayle would look like

Go Palin! You'll secede Alaska yet!



Anti-Choice, Anti-Environment, Anti-Stemcells, Anti-Women: ANTI-PALIN!

GOP: Where screwing up a small village makes you veep material

Palin: She doesn’t want to be a citizen, but she can be veep?

McCain-Palin: Alaska First!

How’d that abstinence-only education working out, Sarah?

SWM, 72, seeks attractive, fertile Alaskan for hunting, fishing, waterboarding. Must be anti-abortion.

McCain /What’s Her Name

McCain/Appalin

Karma: Palin slashed programs for teen mothers



Palin, single-handedly stopping the Soviets from invading!

Palin wants Polar Bears Dead

Self-righteous hypocrites for Palin

McCain/Palin: Bridge to Nowhere

Palin: Risking America’s Safety

Palin: Killed a Bridge that was already Dead

McCain/Palin: Too Old/Too Inexperienced

Drill me here, drill me now!

Palin - Corruption up the Wasilla

McCain/Palin: Mr. Mean and Beauty Queen

McCain/Palin: Just making shit up!

Eskimo village, America, what’s the diff?

Palin: Smearing Alaska's good name, One scandal at a time

Palin: Upholding Republican Family Values

Palin: Vote for Me -- I shoot wolves from a helicopter.

Palin: The Alaska Disasta

McCain/Palin: Unstable/Unable

McFailing

McPain

McCain Failin

McBush/Quaylen

McCain/Palin: Curses, Shot Down Again!

McCain/Palin: Same Old Snow Job

McCain: Would You Trust Him With Air Force One?

McCain/Palin: Dirty old man and dirty young woman

Soulmates without souls

Palin: Bush in a skirt

McCain/Palin: Vote for Pedro!

Vote McCain/Palin: Her kids can't, his won't!

McCain/Palin: A Ticket to Nowhere




McCain/Palin=Partners in Treason

McCain/Palin = Abstinence/Incontinence

Palin Killed Bullwinkle!

McCain/Palin: Same Old, Shame Oiled

Jesus was a community organizer, Pontius Pilate was a governor!

Anti-McCain:

Obama: One house, One spouse

A vote for McCain is a vote for Fear

Crapshoot McCain: Gambling on America's Future

FL GOP Surrenders Our Schools for Chartered-Boats

From FlaPolitics.com:

Despite a 10 percent cut to their state spending plan for next year, House lawmakers said Monday that a historic run of budget shortfalls might not be over. 'We are in uncharted waters,' said House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami. 'I don't think we've ever been in this place - certainly not in modern history in Florida.'"

Remind me. Which political party has been sailing Florida's ship of state for the last decade?

"The Florida House leadership presented a budget plan of $65.1 billion [Monday] and proposed an emergency stop-gap measure to head off any further shortfalls in state revenue collections. House Speaker Marco Rubio, R-West Miami, and budget chief Rep. Ray Sansom said the budget fiscal 2008-09 that will be considered by Sansom's House Policy and Budget Council is almost 10 percent below the final 2007-08 budget. That budget was about $70.3 billion after some reductions forced by state revenues not keeping up with projections."

And how is this for raw political courage?:

"state lawmakers are proposing giving Gov. Charlie Crist and a handful of legislators the power to spend up to $1.7-billion in reserves to avoid a deficit."

State Lawmakers, which are overwhelmingly GOP, have to cut services, such as education and health care for the poor, and can't think of anything to do about it. REALLY??

The Florida Tax Handbook lists 246 exemptions to the sales tax, including skyboxes, tickets to the ballet, and the sales of satellites and space vehicles.

The International Game Fish Association World Center skips $1.2 million in sales taxes. The Professional Golf Hall of Fame avoids $2.4 million.

On Thursday, Senate Democrats called to eliminate a sales tax break on chartered deep-sea fishing boats, which they say could raise $65-million. Of course, if you are a regular joe, there's a tax on cane poles and fishing rods!

If you look throught the handbook, you will notice a skew towards goods and services for the wealthier set. GO figure.

Remove all 246 exemptions and the state could bring in $12.3 billion in revenue .

Those who would be affected the least pay the least but make the most. Do you really think someone who can afford to charter a boat would be broke paying a sales fee--which is the backbone of our whole stupid tax structure here?

Unbelievable--Even for Fox News

This started with a conversation I had with a GOP co-worker who only gets her news from FOX. Now, far be it from me to tell folks who vist this website that Fox News is (gasp!) not "fair and balanced". But this takes the cake.

Last Thursday, March 27, the top news of the day was the break of the cease fire and the extreme violence that occured in the Green Zone. (Inconsiderate insurgents---ruined Bush's and McSame's speeches today on how great the surge was working). But those who get their news from FOX didn't know anything about it. My co-worker was trying to convince me that the surge had worked and the violence had ended.

I said "don't you watch the NEWS???" She doesn't. She watches Fox.

So I went online in the evening to check out what I found. I went to legitimate news orgs. websites, and then I went to FOX. Unbelievable what I saw. Let me show you.

Here are the screen captures from two legitmate sources and one from FOX. As you can see by the dates and times, I took each one around 7:45 pm (give or take a few minutes) last Thursday:

CBS News:

(Headline on the "deadly Shiite clashes" and the curfew that had to be imposed. Picture was of Shiite insurgents.):



CNN:

(Headline on embassy lockdown and the deadly fighting. Picture of massive plumes of smoke and helicopters around embassy.):



I didn't want to use up memory, but I can tell you that MSNBC, ABC News, and all other mainstream news featured this story on their front page.

And then there's FOX.

NOTHING on the attacks. NOTHING!! Nothing on the embassy lockdown. FOX readers only got to read the "important" news. At the same time as the screen captures for the legitimate news orgs, the big news on Fox was of Obama's former paster's retirement home:

FOX:
(Headlines: Rev. Wright's Dream Home, Michelle Obama's comment REVISTED. Picture of home being built).


Some dream home, huh? Looks like a normal house--something not fit for the pets of Pat Robertson, John Hagee, or Falwell. FOX "News", desperate to keep this Rev. Wright controversy alive, allowed this and a rehashed story on Michelle Obama, as well as a story on the Clinton/Superdelegate fighting, to be the stories of the day. There was a small mention of the Iraqi meltdown, but I really had to look for it. (I even had to use their search engine).

It is beyond the pale to understand how anyone can look at this and argue that Fox has no agenda. This is just one instance, the movie "OUTFOXED" documents hundreds of them. But I'm angry that so many Democrats still treat Fox as a regular news outlet and agree to do interviews with the filth that works there.


PS- In fact, go to FoxNews RIGHT NOW. Go on, I'll be here. And then compare to CNN.com. Notice anything? That's right It's the same deal right now. (As of 6pm 3/30)

Play the Redistricting Game

FairDistrictsFlorida.org is a nonpartisan state committee working to reform the way our state draws Legislative and Congressional district lines by establishing constitutionally mandated fairness standards.

They have drafted two amendments to the Florida Constitution which it plans to put on the 2010 ballot through the citizen initiative process that would establish fairness standards for use in creating legislative and congressional district boundaries.

No matter which party has control of the legislature, that party's main goal is to protect its majority and the seats of its incumbents. This is called partisan political gerrymandering. It is like allowing the fox to guard the henhouse!

Our present system is one of the worst in the country. It permits politicians to choose their voters instead of voters choosing their representatives. Legislators use sophisticated computers, voter registration data and past election returns to predict how particular voters will vote in the future--then they place just enough of those voters to create Districts they can win. They don't even have to connect!!!

And we get options like this:



You can put an end to this stupidity and have real representation. Visit the group's website, play the redistricting game, and most importantly, sign the petition.

How We Can Lose 2008

From the Orlando Sentinel:

I cannot for the life of me understand how anyone could even consider [Barack Obama] presidential material at this early stage of his life and experience. God help us all.

Are some people so brainwashed that they forget that months after Hillary Clinton denied knowledge of their whereabouts, the Rose Law firm legal records that were the subject of a grand-jury investigation suddenly appeared in the WH living quarters?

When it suits you to twist facts.. I have a real problem with that. [Electing Obama] would be like electing another george bush.

...the polarizing nature of Clinton will drive uncommitted voters to vote for John McCain.

Back and forth. The people hitting aren't Republicans. They are all Democrats. I know this because I took them from letters touting their support for the "other" Democratic candidate. Yesterday was even worse--one Dem voter said that if her candidate didn't win, she would have an "honorable" choice in McCain.

That's the point. All of these are on the editorial page--bashing Clinton or bashing Obama. NO ONE attacks John McCain. He gets to play above the fray.

This is from one venue from a mid-size city, Orlando, Florida. But this is playing out everywhere. These editorials have nothing on the venom between Obama and Clinton supporters on Democratic blog sites.

Scroll down and count the front page stories examining our primary GOP rival on DKOS and MYDD. More telling--Look at the Recommended diaries! I have counted up to four anti-Hillary diaries at one time. Right now there is at least one. If you are a Hillary supporter, don't worry--the same ratio applies to MyDD for anti-Obama diaries. (Right now, in fact, ALL of the Recommended diaries on MyDD are anti-Obama!)

How many anti-John McCain diaries are there on these sites? Count them. None. NO ONE attacks John McCain. He gets to play above the fray.

So where does one go to see anti-McCain diatribes? Not the MSM, they are busy covering the slugfest between our candidates or between FL/MI swing voters and other Dems. Not the liberal blogs, they make the reddest GOP hate blogs blush with their venom for the "other" Dem candidate.

The conservative blogs, FAUXNEWS, the MSM, radio talk shows, the liberal blogs, and almost every other venue has this in common--bash the Democratic frontrunners.

NO ONE attacks John McCain. He gets to play above the fray.

Never mind that he said he wants to keep us in Iraq for "10,000 years" at a cost of $12 billion and 60 soldiers lives a month. Never mind that he will appoint a right-wing nutjob to the Supreme Court, making this branch of government a permanent arm of the GOP. Never mind losing our freedoms and privacy.

WE lost the first two Bush terms in 2000 and 2004 because of a bad election and fear-mongering respectively. This time, for the third Bush term, we will have no one to blame for losing 2008 but ourselves.

At Least Crist's Dermatology Assistant Wasn't a Horse Judge

I know, he has great skin. But that's not what this is about: A lot of people are floating governor Crist as a name McCain may wish to consider for veep. McInsane may not know the difference between Al Qaeda and Iran, but even he should know what's wrong with this picture.

Let's play a game. Who is the most qualified to head up the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC), the most important job concerning our public employee's labor relations and union issues, (for which we are facing serious challenges right now), which requires a thorough understanding of labor law and unions.

Here are the candidates. Keep in mind they are all vying to replace an attorney who held this post for 33 years and has extensive experience in this area. GO pick one and see if you come up with the same decision as Crist:
1. Jonathan Oliff, attorney with an Bachelor's in business who specialized in labor law and employment law for the past 5 years. He graduated cum laude from FSU law school in 2001.

2. John Beeman, veteran law enforcement officer who is the current union head of the Fraternal Order of Police local. He has 20 years experience working with unions.

3. Sara Gonzalez, a young dermatology assistant who has an undergrad in biology and a master's in physician-assistant studies. She left the qualifications section of her application almost completely blank.

Before you vote, let me remind you that the Florida governor is a Republican. Also, although I'm sure Charlie will insist this was complete coincidence and played no part in his decision, I should mention that choice #3 is the wife of Crist's general counsel, Jason Gonzalez, (who already rakes in $130,000 a year).

Give up? Yeah, you knew where this was going.

With a straight face, Crist announced yesterday that Sara Gonzalez was the best choice. She had an "advanced degree" and besides, he likes having "new blood in the administration".

(That's the type of thinking that lets horse judges head major departments).

What do the current commissioners of PERC think. Charlie Kossuth:

You need to be acquainted with the law and be a lawyer. She will be completely lost.

It's not like she won't have help people. As head commissioner, she will have the ability to bring in additional highly-paid staff.

According to Charlie Kossuth, she is choosing a general counsel to help her. This individual will make even more than her salary, so the taxpayers will be footing over $200,000 for these two people.

And, according to Kossuth, this person she is considering also doesn't know anything about labor law.

I think it's great. In fact, I encourage all of you reading to contact the governor and thank him for his brave choice: Click here

Look on the bright side: at least she will be able to help Charlie with his perpetually tanned skin.

Happy Anniversary: 5 Years of Bush's War

U.S. Fatalities: 3,990
U.S. Casualties: 40,229
Iraqi Fatalities: Unknown
Iraqi Casualties: Unknown
Cost: $504,000,000,000.00


5 Year Anniversary of what Donald Rumsfeld said would last "6 days" or "6 weeks"--but he really doubted "6 months".


And we are told to rejoice because the "surge is working".

Stop and think for a moment.

If someone told you 5 years ago today that in 2008--5 years later:

-we would be spending over 12 billion a month with no end in sight
-the Iraqi troops would STILL not be able to handle their own security and STILL don't have enough trained soldiers! (Cripe! I was ready at 6 weeks after boot camp! 5 years is one hell of a long boot camp!)
-the Iraqi Parliament would not meet any benchmarks and still would be no closer to having a functioning, noncorrupt government
-and, by the way, the reason to go to war (WMD)was proven to be a lie by this administration
--troops would only be killed at an apparently acceptable rate of 30+ a month (but that is good because they were being killed at a rate of 60 a month!)


Would you be saying--HELL YEAH! Let's do this!

Now, even knowing these facts, would you still think this was a good idea. Bush and McCain still do. And McCain said he wants to keep this going for "100" or "10,000 years".

My only question is this: when are they going to erect a monument to Bush in downtown Baghdad that we were promised?

No Way to Avoid Brokered Convention: By the Numbers

Here are the options:

• Do not seat Florida or Michigan
  
• Seat them based on the elections that have taken place. Don't assume Obama gets the 55 Michigan uncommitted delegates.
  
• Seat them based on the elections that have taken place. Give Obama the 55 Michigan uncommitted delegates.
  
• Split the Florida and Michigan pledged delegations 50/50. Superdelegates are free to vote as they wish.
  
• Split Michigan 50/50 including supers. Give Florida pledged delegates 1/2 vote, but based on January election. 1/2 vote for superdelegates also. This is supposedly under significant discussion.
  
• Florida and Michigan hold new elections.
  

The guys at 2008 Democratic Convention Watch blog ran the delegate numbers for every option proposed. Check it out.

Bottom line: Unless one of the nominees drops out before the Denver convention, it is going to be months of hitting back and forth until the floor vote in August.

Just like us Democrats. Take an election that should be a shoo-in and manage to screw it all up. Why do we love to shoot ourselves in the foot? The only saving grace is that the GOP is sooooooooo corrupt and soooooooooooo incompetent and soooooooo bankrupt (morally and fiscally) that that alone may save our butts from the fire. Maybe.

Don't be Black and Missing

I still hear about Jon-Benet, Jennifer Kesse, and Natalie Holloway. But recently, a young and pretty black co-ed was kidnapped. Chioma Gray.

You can help:

Re-Vote in FL only would have benefited Obama

Who would a re-vote have helped:

Not Hillary. She already had good will by saying she would not punish 3 million swing voters by the actions of their GOP-controlled state legislature. Polls show her winning FL handily.

Not McCain. He has the most to gain by Florida being disenfranchised.

Only Obama would have gained. He refused to campaign here, but agreed to take money from some big state donors. If the delegates are seated, we all could have moved forward. But he is in trouble here. And this is why it matters:

In order to win an election, you need two out of the big three swing states: Ohio, Florida, and/or Pennsylvania. Right now, Obama loses Pennsylvania and Florida. He was creamed in Ohio by Hillary, although the latest poll shows him barely holding on against McCain.

Obama is ahead right now because of his risky strategy to win traditionally red states, like North Dakota and Virginia (which hasn't voted Dem since Lyndon Johnson!!) If anyone can do it, Obama can. But it's going to be tough.

I think both are historic, strong candidates and will support whomever the nominee is. I can tolerate Obama losing in FL and MI because people think he's inexperienced or some other reason--what I can't tolerate is him losing the election because people here punished him because of this foolish delegate fiasco.

If it comes down to FL, as in 2000, I don't want to lose this to John McCain. I don't want to lose the Supreme Court for an entire generation, or be stuck in Iraq for, as he says, "10,000" years. What I really don't want to say is "I told you so".

Breaking: God DOES Talk to Bush!

Reasons why the Primary Democratic Fight is GREAT for our party!

The "liberal" media I keep hearing about, (which is overwhelmingly owned by conseravative corporations no less), is telling me that the Democratic Party is in real trouble. The RNC is apparently writing these talking points for them because the outlets I watch or read are very similar--except for Rush Limbaugh who just said that America would not vote for a woman and a black guy. (Great analysis, Rush).

Lucky for us, Rush is wrong. Survey USA just released polls in all 50 states of potential head to head matchups between John McCain and BOTH Hillary and Obama. The results: Both CANDIDATES cream McCain.

So how exactly is this a disaster?

The GOP factions, including the base of the party, can't stand John McCain. Even if they "hold their noses and vote for him", as expected, they will NOT be in full force like they were for their idiot messiah Mighty W. They will not knock on doors, they will not work phones, and they will not donate cash.

Cash--there's something else to talk about. Obama raised a record $55 MILLION for February! An all time high!!! He broke Kerry's previous record of $44 million, but as someone from DKOS correctly pointed out, that was after he cinched the nomination. Obama is still in a highly competitive race with another DEM. In other words, party supporters haven't even consolidated behind ONE candidate!! (Also, Obama raised more than 90% from donations of under 100 dollars!--NICE!). Hillary--not too shabby. $36 million.

McNasty? After Bush's mighty endorsement and after he has sealed the nomination---$12 mil. Yep, that's excitement.

Oh, and did I mention the record turnout for our primaries!?! In Virginia, for example, Obama received 619,000 votes--more than all of the GOP candidates COMBINED!! If that happens in a red state like Virginia, imagine the turnout in real swing states!

We have two great, historic candidates that Americans are excited about!! And this fight is great for us. Why?

1. They are staying in the news and will continue to stay in the news because the DEM competition is where the action is. The GOP race is over. McCain has to say nasty things to try to get anyone to pay attention to him.

2. The lengthy competition is also great because it is building the state parties GOTV mechanism in preparation for the general election. I am thrilled because Ohio and Pennsylvania play crucial roles, and the Hillary and Obama factions are building extensive networks and operations to win the primaries in those states--which will be ready to go come November!

3. Since the GOP does not know who will be our candidate, they don't know where to fight. In Survey USA, they both beat McCain, but they both BREAK OFF different swing states. For example, Hillary wins Florida handily, but Obama takes Virginia. This also has the added bonus of #4.

4. Both candidates are criss-crossing the nation hitting McCain. Ask anyone in a fight, 2 on 1 is tough. As long as Barack and Hillary can focus on themselves and McCain, and NOT bash each other, either one will be ready to claim the mantle and win victory in November.


SO we have our candidates getting all of the attention, building extensive operations in every state, each getting record fund-raising and record voter turnout (many who are voting for the first time!), and each criss-crossing the country taking swipes at a weakened McCain. Oh yeah, and both are kicking the crap out of him in head to head match-ups.

So, what's the disaster I've been hearing about??

Prediction for the Democratic Primary

If I haven't said it already, it's going to be Barack Obama. Hillary is suffering from Rudy syndrome. Rudy was leading nationally, the large states, and the swing states. The only states he was behind in were the early states. He figured they wouldn't matter. He figured wrong.

You can't lose 6 states in a row and think that it won't have an impact on your campaign. I don't get the psychology, but that is precisely why states don't want to go last.

Hillary hasn't lost 6 in a row. She's lost 11 in a row. Obviously that has had an effect. Add that to the fact that the more people hear Obama, the more they like him. The more they hear Hillary, the less they like her. Since Iowa, she always starts with big leads, then loses those leads at the election.

Texas will be no different. Her last debate showed her whining about getting the first question, her negative ads are turning Democrats off (the phone call ad smacks of GOP ridiculousness), and worst of all, she is actually threatning to sue the Texas Democratic Party over their primary/caucus system. The VoteMaster from electoral-vote.com thinks she is bluffing, since suing them would "complicate the election, lose the nomination, come off as a whiny sore loser, shred her repeutation, and end any chance she could be the nominee in 2012 if McCain wins in 2008." But this begs the question: Why is she doing it at all? Texas is not going to change their system days before the election--especially since Hillary had no problem until now--with all polls showing her narrowly losing Texas.

Barack has grown in popularity and has handled the attacks from McCain and Bush with class. I personally can't believe Bush had the gall to say anything to Obama on Iraq. He just invites people to poke fun at him for his tremendous incompetence that unleashed this disaster to begin with. Note to W: worry about running the country and less about running McCain's campaign. The best thing you can do for McCain is NOT try to help. On second thought, go campaign with him. :)

Barack Obama will win Texas and barely will win Ohio. Once that happens, Hillary will move to Mike Huckabee status and continue to lose states, including PA in April. I predict that she will drop out at that point and that we will not be subjected to a brokered convention.

One year ago I predicted McCain would win the GOP primary, let's see if I'm right on my predictions for the Dem primary.

Congrats Sasso!

If a Dem can win a heavily GOP-gerrymanderded district, then this is a good sign for Democrats to come in November. It was close (obviously) but the good people of FL-32made the correct and obvious choice.

Congratulations Tony Sasso!