My Big Fat Pre-Election Blog

I have been thinking so much about the lead up to the election, the election itself and what is going to happen after, that it's been impossible to put all these thoughts into the written word. One huge advantage radio has over blogging is that on radio, I would have hours to say everything that is on my mind. Over the course of hours and days, I could completely flesh out my ideas, thoughts and opinions. If all I did was blog it would be the same. However, to do that I would have to write constantly and edit endlessly. I certainly don't have the time for that, so here is some stuff thrown out there for what it's worth.

THE RACE IS TIGHTENING The McCain / Palin ticket is making up ground in this election and I am very worried. Believe it or not, the negative campaigning, name calling and "Joe the Plumber" nonsense is pushing the button of the very people who are hurt most by Republican policies. There is also real hate being generated out there by the GOP and that's also working. It is beyond sad to see millions still buying into a philosophy that could not have failed more clearly. I have to give it to the Republicans, one thing (perhaps the only thing) they do well is frighten and fool people. If McCain and Palin win - they certainly won't have much of a nation to govern. One half, their half, are intellectually useless ditto heads and the other half will just walk away from the process after seeing hard work, pragmatism and honesty rejected again by the voters.

RESULTS ON WEDNESDAY? Voting day and night will probably be chaotic. Look at the lines now an imagine what it will be like Tuesday. In Red states there will be efforts to prevent people from voting and that will cause problems and delays as well. I doubt we will have a result until Wednesday because I think people will be waiting in lines until after midnight all across the nation and it will take a long time to count the record number of votes. If the race is close, it will take even longer for a winner to be projected. I would not be surprised if a winner was not declared until Wednesday afternoon or evening.

WHAT'S THE FUTURE OF SARAH PALIN? There has been much discussion as to the future of Sarah Palin. Many feel she will be rejected by the GOP and thrown under the bus or will float away due to her lack of gravitas. I strongly disagree. I believe that Sarah Palin will be the symbolic leader of the GOP (if they lose next week) and she will take the party in an even uglier direction. I know it's hard to believe in this day and age, but she has no problem with blatant race bating and fear mongering. She IS another George Wallace and she is not going anywhere. I also suspect that many hard right wingers will move to Alaska, in the event of an Obama victory, and that state will become a hotbed (pun intended) of White Supremacy and other far right activities and strategies. She will begin running for President on her own almost immediately, and will have something close to torch bearing followers standing behind her the whole way.

GET OUT THE KLEENEX. I think this Tuesday and Wednesday will see more Americans crying than any day in history, maybe even including 9-11. Why? Think about it. No matter what, I think most Obama supporters will be crying. If he wins, it will be such a relief, such a change, a real end to our long, long nightmare, it will be impossible not to get emotional about it. If he loses, well there will certainly be a lot of tears too. I don't know about how McCain voters will react. Some might cry if he loses or win, but I expect either anger or obnoxious boasting. Tears not so much.

MQAblog 2009? I have also been thinking about the future of my blog. I have worked hard for more that 15 years on radio and on line to alert people to the dangers of the right wing. I have seen from the start that this is not simply a difference of political philosophy, but a real difference of intent. I believe that the movers and shakers in the Conservative movement don't care about America. They are simply using our democratic freedoms to paralyze people into fear and hatred so they can make billions of dollars and run international policy to their liking. They just say what they have to, to assure loyalty from their misinformed followers. I have long believed that most of their followers are naive to what going on. I have no doubt that I have been proven correct. So if Obama wins, much of my work will be done. That's not to say that the Right Wing will disappear. On the contrary. They will be smaller but much more nasty, hateful and even violent. It will be very, very ugly and will need constant monitoring. But now, with the Internet and blogs, there are many who now see this and can fight this fight. I'm not sure I have the energy to do it any more. If Obama looses then I will really give it up. It will be clear that the American people are not interested in logic and reason and my efforts to enlighten and educate are pointless. Democracy will have failed this country and I, for one, will no longer see discussion and debate as a productive use of my time.

PREDICTIONS I don't have any new predictions for Tuesday. I did predict way back when that Obama would win the Presidency so I stand by that. However, I have seen victory snatched away too many times and with the tightening polls I just fear the worst. I just plead with everybody to go out and vote - no matter how long the lines. While you are standing there, think about what 4 years of McCain and Palin would mean. Think about how Republicans would never fear being held responsible for anything if they are elected to the White House again despite the complete mess they have made. Think about situation we are on and ask yourself if rewarding hatred and lies is the best way to start the nation's healing and recovery.

LAST DAYS OF OLD AMERICA Next week this country and the world will change. One week from now, things will be completely different. Have no doubt about that. We could finally break away from this dark cloud and begin to move in the right direction, or we as a nation, could just fall off the cliff into hopelessness, fear and despair. If the hatred of the McCain/Palin campaign is rewarded, it will increase exponentially throughout the bloodstream of America. Hope would have been defeated and therefore extinguished for a generation. Democracy will have lost it's luster and faith in the American dream will disappear - likely forever. The world will never look at us with respect again and for good reason. However, if Obama wins then it will allow Americans to believe again. Believe that competence is preferred over rhetoric, facts over fear, hope over hatred and unity over divisiveness. Next week things will be completely different. Old America will either start it's resurgence or complete it's decline. Whichever, it will be different, sudden and noticeable. It will be change.

V O T E !

The Closing Argument

"In one week, we can choose hope over fear, unity over division, the promise of change over the power of the status quo. In one week, we can come together as one nation, and one people, and once more choose our better history."

Family Matters

Barack Obama has to fly to Hawaii later this week to check in with his very ill grandmother (pictured above with his grandfather - who he resembles more than I ever knew). Obama will return to the campaign trail Saturday. His grandmother, Madelyn Lee Payne Dunham, raised Obama during much of his life and is his last remaining parent figure.

The Loyal Solider says "Enough!" of G.O.P.

Colin Powell's endorsement today of Barack Obama is huge for a number of reason. First of all, Colin Powell is one of the most respected figures in this country. Second, he is a die-hard Republican who has shown absolute loyalty to his party throughout his life. Finally, the specific reasons he gave for the endorsement are a powerful argument for Obama and against the G.O.P.

Stressing that Obama was a lifelong Christian, Powell denounced Republican tactics that he said were insulting not only to to Obama but also to Muslims. “The really right answer is what if he is?” Powell said, praising the contributions of millions of Muslim citizens to American society. “I look at these kind of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me,” Powell said. “Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party has become narrower and narrower.”

The fact that General Powell came out against the Republican party and the McCain campaign so strongly tells me that this loyal solider understand the peril of four more years of the same old same old. Powell would have never come out for Obama and against the political party that gave him his career, if he didn't sense the real danger of a McCain / Palin administration. I share his fear.

“I don’t believe [Palin] is ready to be president of the United States,” Powell said flatly.

Powell's arguments why Barack Obama would be a good President are persuasive. He likes Obama's intelligence, temperament, curiosity and the people he has chosen to consult with on the issues. Colin Powell has been around and worked for a number of Presidents so when he says that Barack Obama has what it takes - we should take notice.

"Obama displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge," Powell said."He has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president," he said. ... "I think he is a transformational figure, he is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama,"

I hope that this endorsement resonates with voters. It should. Colin Powell is a sober, thoughtful and intelligent man. Any voters sitting on the fence, leaning toward McCain or thinking of skipping the election should take note. If General Powell see the urgent necessity of a President Obama then we should all take that very seriously.

LICKED! Obama runs the table (and "Joe the Plumber" proves it!)

Wednesday night was the final Presidential debate and it seems that it was another Obama victory. While McCain was more forceful and energetic in this encounter, he also came across as angry almost throughout the contest.

The biggest story of the debate, I guess, is "Joe the Plumber". He was used as an example by McCain throughout the debate. (read: "Don't pay attention to the policies favoring the rich that me and Palin support - look at Joe!! He's convinced he would be hurt under an Obama Presidency!!!!") I'm glad McCain did this.

McCain was trying to show Americans a poor, hard working businessman who would be punished by the mean old Obama economic plans. Apparently, he vetted the honesty of "Joe's" claims as little as he did his VP choice. Like much, if not all, of Conservative narratives, The story of "Joe the Plumber" it's an untrue myth. (These people rely so much on myths, symbolism and stuff that's simply made up, it it's astounding).

Turns out (no surprise) Joe is NOT a registered plumber, he does not make $250,000 and he is a registered Republican, not an undecided voter. Also he is NOT going to buy his boss' business (as he dishonestly said to Obama during their discussion) and even if he did he would not suffer additional taxes because his bosses business is not worth a quarter million dollars. Finally, Joe (that's NOT even his real first name for goodness sake) hates taxes so much, he won't even pay his "low" taxes now under a Republican administration.

So while the fictionalized story of "Joe the Plumber" seems to be the next shiny distraction the Republicans are using to try to persuade (trick?) their voters (again?), turns outs it is almost completely untrue. I know, a real shocker.

Quote of the Day

Another Republican for Obama. This time it's Christopher Hitchens:

On "the issues" in these closing weeks, there really isn't a very sharp or highly noticeable distinction to be made between the two nominees, and their "debates" have been cramped and boring affairs as a result. But the difference in character and temperament has become plainer by the day, and there is no decent way of avoiding the fact. Last week's so-called town-hall event showed Sen. John McCain to be someone suffering from an increasingly obvious and embarrassing deficit, both cognitive and physical. And the only public events that have so far featured his absurd choice of running mate have shown her to be a deceiving and unscrupulous woman utterly unversed in any of the needful political discourses but easily trained to utter preposterous lies and to appeal to the basest element of her audience. more

My Presidential Debate Analysis

I think it was clear win for Barack Obama. He had a real good night and John McCain had a bad night. In fact, there were times where I really felt kind of sorry for McCain. Gone is the John McCain I liked so much in the 2000 Presidential race. McCain now looks like he should be serving his last months in office, not seeking his first. Time and his complete sell out to the Bush Administration over the past eight years has taken a terrible toll. George Bush ruined it all for John McCain. In more ways than one. No wonder he's seething.

Think about it. In 2000 John McCain was pretty close to being a real Maverick. He railed against the Religious Right who pull the important strings in the GOP, he argued against then Governor Bush's doomed to fail economic plans and he condemned the lie and hate filled campaign that Bush was raging against him. But in 2000 he lost. George W. Bush took away his best chance of ever becoming President.

But it gets worse. In a calculation I still don't understand, John McCain decided to cross sides and join his enemies. He snuggled up to Bush for the general elections in 2000 and 2004. He embraced Bush's policies over 90% of the time. McCain even hired the smear merchants that slimed him for his own campaign in 2008. McCain appeased the fundamentalist with the Sarah Palin pick and got down in the gutter as bad as he got just 8 years earlier. This calculation seems to have failed. So this time, by joining up with George Bush and his people, McCain is having his second and final attempt at the White House going down the drain.

I just wonder how it must feel for him to hear himself now being tied to the failures of the Bush Presidency. He must truly hate the man. Not only did Bush take the nomination from him in 2000, not only did he convince McCain to back bad policies, but he also lead McCain into giving up his maverick status and even his honor this year. George Bush has just about ruined this country and caused immeasurable hardships on millions of people across the world. But John McCain might just have the unique distinction of being hurt by Bush more than anyone else still alive. Now, being (correctly) labeled as "McSame" (as Bush) must be galling beyond belief.

Back to the debate. Of course there were the idiosyncrasies we have all gotten used to. John McCain winking and blinking and saying "my friend" seemingly without control. Barack stuttering and using the word 'notion" a lot. And I would be remiss if I didn't point out that John Mcain's upper lip never seems to move when he speaks. The oddest phrase I heard was "nailing jello to the wall" uttered by McCain. Huh? Is that a common expression? Why would anyone try to nail jello to the wall anyway? Also, McCain blundered greatly when he suggested that people could drive to Arizona to get health care. Tennessee, where the debate was held, is a long way from Arizona and I doubt anyone in the audience saw that as a good idea.

Finally there is the "that one" comment that is big news today. I grimaced as soon as I heard John McCain say that. It sounded racist to me, as in "that (black person)". Now, I do NOT believe that McCain meant it that way or is a racist at all. In fact, I assumed it was an expression from the olden days that he trotted out. But, wow what a mistake to say it! He is catching a ton of flack about it today. Rightly so. Even if it was an honest mistake, a slip of the tongue, an old expression lost in translation here in the present, McCain should not had said it.

As for the aesthetics of the debate, the audience, for most of the event, looked like frightened hostages. They came across as people who were forced to dress in fancy clothes against their will and told not to make a sound. They loosened up a bit as the debate went on but overall looked very uncomfortable. Tom Brokaw, as I expected asked weak questions. Why would he give multiple choice, yes or no questions to complicated issues? Why insist that the candidates prioritize certain issues? And why constantly complain about the time. None of it contributed to the substance of the discussion and Brokaw looked silly and small doing that.

Overall, it was the best of both worlds for me. Barack Obama really looked on his game. He was informed, articulate, energetic and enthusiastic. McCain was pretty much the exact opposite of all that. He was bad even for John McCain. I think it is definitely advantage Obama now. There is one more debate to go (right here in New York) and now less than a month until election day. I hope that Obama can continue the momentum he has going right now.

Debate Tonight: 9PM

Tonight's Presidential debate is in the "Town Hall" format which would seem to favor John McCain. I will be very interested to see if he continues the attacks that he and Starburst have stepped up in the past few days. I will be watching closely to see how the audience reacts if he does. Typically, voters don't like to see smears up close (unless they are Reds) and McCain could be hurt if he goes to far in front of the audience of undecideds. Also, McCain will have to look at Obama this time. It will be fascinating to see how much that pains him.

Obama has a delicate balancing act to pull off tonight. He will have to stay above the fray and address the REAL needs of the voters while trying to simultaneously fight back against the attacks as to not look weak. He has to maintain his advantage of "feeling the pain" of voters without coming across like John Kerry, unwilling or unable to fight back. Not an easy task.

Tom Brokaw is the moderator. I've never been a big fan of his. On 'Meet The Press' he has been very unimpressive and some strong arguments have been made that he leans in favor of McCain. I think that he is professional enough to not let that come through, but if his Sunday morning performances are any indication, he will ask unimaginative and sometimes uninformed questions. This debate is so important that I just hope he doesn't ask stupid questions and that he is as balanced as possible. Also, there will be questions from the audience and the internet. Those are always interesting and often unpredictable.

John McCain needs to do something huge to make up the lead that Barack Obama is building. As we've seen in this campaign, nothing is too dirty or too superficial. Maybe McCain will call his opponent Osama or come out with a Playboy bunny on each arm - who knows? But it will be interesting, and probably and little sad, t0 see what he tries.

Post-Debate Analysis

It was great watching the debate last night and it's amazing to think that the election is only 6 weeks away. McCain actually looked alive and alert in his performance last night which might stop his free fall in the polls. But only temporarily. Obama was very strong throughout the debate and I think he crossed that invisible "commander in chief" threshold. I believe that the poll I am showing here is the most important sign of an Obama victory last night. If so many undecided voters have a new, positive view of him, that bodes very well for his election prospects. The fact that so few got a less favorable opinion is surprising, and also very encouraging.

In the days to come there will be a lot of post debate spin to come. The GOP is masterful of creating a new reality and count on them to push home the point that John McCain really won. Unless they succeed in convincing Americans that they did not see what they think they saw, (the Republicans are very good at that), then Barack Obama should be able to use last night's strong performance to ride a wave into the White House.

Person of the Day

Wick Allison

Better Than Me

One of the reasons I like Barack Obama is that, in so many ways, he is better than I am. He has more education, more first hand experience travelling the world, more focus and certainly a better ability to rise above dirty politics than I do. I wish I could "fight fire with water" instead of "fighting fire with fire", but my patience with that is gone. I try not to play dirty, but I am certainly not afraid to play hard. After 8 years of having a president and a party who plays dirty all the time, I want a President Obama, who can show me and many others, a better way.

Barack Obama from a just-completed press conference:

I have heard some of the news on this and so let me be as clear as possible. I have said before and I will repeat again, I think people's families are off limits, and people's children are especially off limits. This shouldn't be part of our politics, it has no relevance to governor Palin's performance as a governor or her potential performance as a vice president. And so I would strongly urge people to back off these kinds of stories. You know my mother had me when she was 18. And how family deals with issues and teenage children that shouldn't be the topic of our politics and I hope that anybody who is supporting me understands that is off limits.

Oh What A Night!

Last night's speech was so great it's hard to find the right words. Barack Obama, in one evening, managed to destroy all the arguments his opponents have used against him. He has substance as well as style and can be sharp in criticism as well as soothing in explaining common ground. He laid out the failures of today's politics and offered real solutions and change. The sights and sounds were simply amazing and came across as All American. I think it may have resonated with independents too. The ultimate judgement came from a real Conservative friend of mine (non-neocon), disaffected with the GOP but not yet sold on the Democrats who simply stated that Obama "hit a Grand Slam". I hope that Independents and even Conservatives gained the impression last night which we Obama supporters have felt for a long time. That Barack Obama is not a messiah nor an empty celebrity, but a serious, smart and determined patriot who will fight to restore the United States. Oh, what a night indeed.

UPDATE: Even long time right winger Pat Buchanan loved it! Unbelievable!!

Democratic Convention: Day 3

I have to admit that work and fatigue prevented me from seeing much of last night's festivities. I did watch Bill Clinton who beautifully articulated the difference between the parties and gave a resounding endorsement of Barack Obama. The rest I will have to catch up on. Tonight should be a remarkable evening. Barack Obama will speak to 80,000 Americans on the 45th anniversary of the "I Have A Dream" speech by Martin Luther King. I know that he will be more high minded than myself, but I hope he reminds people that while he is a product of MLK and progressives of a generation ago, John McCain did not even support the MLK holiday and comes from a party that only achieved power after absorbing the racists that once populated the Democrats. What a long way we have come and what a stark difference there still is in these United States.

Democratic Convention: Day 1

Unfortunately, I am working crazy hours this week, unable to watch every moment of the convention as I love to do. I saw a replay of the Kennedy speech and watched Michelle Obama live when I got home from work. So, from this limited perspective I would say that it was a terrific night.

Teddy Kennedy looked surprisingly healthy and vibrant in his passing of the torch speech. Michelle's speech was just terrific too and the part where the kids and Barack chatted was priceless. It's a shame, but Monday had to be set aside to undo the damage of the lies spread by the Right. Last night was an attempt to show the country that Barack Obama is just a regular guy who has lived the American dream. Not a Muslim and not the anti-Christ. Now, I'm sure all the pill popping, impotent, right wing talking heads will jump all over it today, but they will only succeed in making the ignorant less knowledgeable, the confused more baffled and the hateful more violent.

The Democrats will never reach into those dark corners of American society. But to anyone watching this week with an open mind, a clear difference between the parties and ideologies will be made clear. If that occurs, the Convention will be a success and the American people can begin to have the type of campaign and election we deserve.

Our Loyal Opposition Is Back

As I predicted, more and more of this sort of thing will be happening now that Democrats are beginning to be elected. It has happened every time Progressives start to make gains in American history - domestic terrorists from the right step in to violently oppose the wishes of the American people. It's what they do. It's who they are.

"CBS4 has now learned at least four people are under arrest in connection with a possible plot to kill Barack Obama at his Thursday night acceptance speech in Denver. All are being held on either drug or weapons charges. CBS4 Investigator Brian Maass reported one of the suspects told authorities they were 'going to shoot Obama from a high vantage point using a ... rifle ... sighted at 750 yards.' "Law enforcement sources tell Maass that one of the suspects "was directly asked if they had come to Denver to kill Obama. He responded in the affirmative."

Joe Biden

I got the text at 3:19 this morning. It's a very good choice. They will appear together at 3pm this afternoon. Time to make the coffee and go to work.

My preferences for VP

In this order...
Check back... I may add to this later. I expect my text message from Barack in the morning.

1. Dick Gephardt - I wish he had won the nomination in 2004. From middle America, smart, experienced and mentally mature.

2. Al Gore - very long shot but I would be pleased.

3. Mark Warner - Already took himself out but would prove my very early prediction right. I always love to be proved right.

4. Tom Daschle - Another Washington insider but a really thoughtful and intelligent man.

5. George Mitchell - Why not? He has as much experience and talent as any Democrat out there.

6. Joe Biden - One of the presumptive front runners. Has the mouth for this campaign and the brains to govern.

7. Robert Rubin - An unorthodox choice but he is an economic whiz and would make a capable President if necessary.

Back In The Day

Some blogger found an old interview of Barack Obama from 1995 when he was promoting his first book, "Dreams From My Father". I was struck at how composed and thoughtful he was even at a young age and how much of what he says today is consistent with his feelings back then. See the entire 3 part interview here. This is the final segment from it.

Got Messiah?

One of the new myths being built by the Republican establishment is that Barack Obama’s followers looking at him as if he was the Messiah. They call it Obamessiah, and Rush Limbaugh and his dittoheads have taken to repeat it like mindless parrots in a cage. Typically, this is not only untrue – but also best describes their own tendencies over the years.

First of all, the Obama supporters I know, have heard or read, look to him to help rescue America from the politics of division and dishonesty. There is no significant or organized attempt to portray him as someone who will save the world or our soul. There is no attempt by the campaign or the Democratic Party to claim that he is a direct messenger from God and no one is elevating him anywhere near the heights that we have seen for Ronald Reagan and, up until recently, George W. Bush. Indeed, when you take a look at the Right, you see that presenting their politicians as “God’s Choice” is pretty darn close to S.O.P for the G.O.P.

Next, let’s look at Ronald Reagan. An untrained observer could easily be lead to believe that Reagan all but walked on water. They claim that he single handedly brought down communism, saved the economy and restored morality to the USA. Not only do Republicans speak of him as if he was a supernatural being, but when they took over Congress they couldn’t name enough things after him!! Everyone now sees all the roads, buildings and other things that now have Reagan’s name plastered on it. If that is not hero worshiping, myth building and yes – Messiah creating – I don’t know what is.

Finally, we all recall the Presidential campaigns for George W. Bush. Not only did he personally appear to believe that God wanted him to be President but, up to a couple years ago, most right wing churches and talking heads also pushed that narrative. Listen to any call in programs and you would have heard George W. Bush either compared to Jesus or described as His modern day successor. In fact, if it wasn’t for the idea that Bush was God’s chosen candidate – he never would have become President at all. Bush Messiah indeed!

For any Republican to criticize Obama as trying to be a Messiah with this sad history is the height of hypocrisy. Yet we must respond no matter how ridiculous the charges.