Little Known Facts

According to a search at the Alaska Department of Administration Public Offices Commission, several financial disclosure reports for Sarah Palin were just put online on 8/29/08. Here is what I found out while looking at Governor Sarah Palin's Annual Public Official Financial Disclosure Statements:

> Sarah Palin's husband Todd works part time for BP Alaska, and part-time as a commercial fisherman.
> Sarah Palin and her husband own a home and 2 other properties.
> Sarah Palin and her husband have an account with Smith Barney.

(Remember that man named 'Barney Smith' that spoke at the last night of the Democratic National Convention? He had lost his job because it was outsourced. Mr. Smith said he wanted the government to care more about 'Barney Smith' instead of 'Smith Barney'.)

* In a New York Times article (4/9/08), BP Oil and ConocoPhillips made plans for a pipeline in Alaska. Does the fact that Todd Palin is employed by BP have anything to do with this agreement in Alaska?

*Sarah Palin supported the 'Bridge to Nowhere' in Alaska during her campaign for governor in 2006, according to Newsminer. Then she was against it.

* Cindy McCain said Sarah Palin has foreign policy experience because Alaska is close to Russia. I walked by a brain surgeon today. Does that make me a brain surgeon?

______________________

John McCain is going to be the candidate of the photo-op. Right now McCain and Palin are schmoozing it up with Republican big shot, Haley Barbour, in Mississippi. McCain and Palin are painting themselves as people who care. Remember this-----

John McCain voted against all funding for the victims of Katrina.

Here is more about McCain from Bob Geiger:

....Too bad he (McCain) spent the months to follow leading the Republican charge against every Senate bill that would have actually helped Katrina victims or mandated investigations on how the Bush administration could have blown disaster response so thoroughly.

Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Biden jumped immediately to the aid of hurricane victims in the week after the 2005 disaster, authoring S.Amdt. 1661 "…to provide emergency funding for victims of Hurricane Katrina."

......But with John McCain's help, the Republican-led Senate shot down the funding on a 41-56 vote with McCain voting against, while Biden and Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama voted for the funding.....

Cold-hearted McCain suddenly wants to appear like he cares???? We remember how McCain and Bush spent their time while Katrina was devastating New Orleans: You Tube---

McCain = Bush
Eight years is enough!

Compare and Contrast

The Republican talking points must say that Sarah Palin is just as qualified as Barack Obama. Really? Those Republicans sure think we're dumb. Here are a few comparisons between Sen. Obama and Sarah Palin.

* Barack Obama has an undergraduate degree from Columbia University and a law degree from Harvard University.
* Sarah Palin has an undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho.

* Barack Obama graduated summa cum laude from Harvard Law in 1991.
* Sarah Palin was elected to city council in Wasilla, Alaska (U.S. Census population in 1990, 4,028).

* Barack Obama is a constitutional lawyer.
* Sarah Palin was a beauty contest winner.

* Barack Obama was sworn into office as U.S. Senator on January 4, 2005 for the state of Illinois.
* In 2005, Sarah Palin was the mayor of Wasilla, Alaska (U.S. Census population in 2000, 5,469).

* Population of Alaska (source: U.S. Census Bureau)
1990 = 550,043
2000 = 626,932

* Population of Illinois (source: U.S. Census Bureau)
1990 = 11,430602
2000 = 12,419,293

* I graduated from Ohio State University in 1974 and there were 7,000 in my graduating class. (That is more than the population of Wasilla.)

Sarah Palin, as Governor of Alaska, awarded the building of a gas pipeline to a Canadian company, because Palin would not allow any other companies to bid. Why wouldn't she let American companies bid?

Sarah Palin has zero foreign policy experience.

McCain's pick for VP shows his poor judgment. Those women who say they will support McCain now were never going to vote for Obama-Biden in the first place.


No way.
No how.
No McCain.

Now Hear This!!!!!

I'm still thinking about Sen. Barack Obama's acceptance speech in front of 88,000 people and millions of people viewing him on TV. I will proudly cast my vote for the Obama-Biden ticket because they care about regular Americans. Sen. Obama's has been able to get millions of people active in the political process. For the first time in years, the electorate is excited and ready to participate in the choosing of the President. If you haven't signed up yet, visit http://www.barackobama.com to volunteer and contribute.

__________________________________

John McCain's decision today to pick the Governor of Alaska is insulting to women. Does McCain think that his VP pick is on par with a Geraldine Ferraro or a Hillary Clinton? Does McCain think that just because he has picked some token woman that Democratic women are going to vote Republican this November? John McCain is mistaken. He has underestimated the intelligence of the Democratic women.

Women in the Democratic Party believe global warming exists.
Palin does not.
Women in the Democratic Party are against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Palin supports drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
Women in the Democratic Party believe in reproductive freedom.
Palin does not.
Palin supports teaching creationism in schools.

*** Palin would outlaw abortion even if the woman had been raped, had been the victim of incest, or the woman's life was in danger.

It is apparent to me that John McCain has a very low opinion of women. No matter what, McCain still does not believe in equal pay for women. McCain is against a woman's right to choose. McCain wants to continue to stay in Iraq and spend $10 billion per month.
McCain has had malignant melanoma 4 times. Palin has no foreign policy interest. (Isn't that comforting?) We know that the Democratic VP nominee, Joe Biden, has extraordinary qualifications and international diplomatic experience. For me, I'd rather have Joe Biden as the person who is one heart beat away from the Presidency.

{Note: The Atlantic has part of John McCain health records including his cancer screenings. He certainly has had many cancer screenings. Check it out HERE. This is an excerpt:
....The records document the following major issues that he has faced over the last eight years:

cancer (melanomas on his left face, his left arm and his nose); dizziness that was diagnosed as vertigo; blood in the urine, which was diagnosed as caused by an enlarge prostate and bladder/kidney stones; high cholesterol, which appears to be successfully treated with medicine; some pain in his shoulder, hand and knee joints diagnosed as degenerative arthritis; evidence of polyps and diverticulosis in th colon, and some other minor medical ailments along the way.....}

>>> Sarah Palin is under investigation in Alaska for Troopergate.
KTVA:

Lawmakers will hire someone within a week to investigate whether Governor Sarah Palin abused her power in firing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. The legislative council approved 100,000 dollars for the investigation that will find out whether Palin was angry at Monegan for not firing an Alaska State Trooper who went through a messy divorce with Palin's sister.

On Monday afternoon, the Joint Legislative Council, filled with Republicans and Democrats, voted 12 to 0 to formally call for an investigation against Governor Palin in a manner—that they are stressing—will be unbiased and done in a timely fashion.

Legislators approved hiring a special investigator to look into the controversial firing of former Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan. Monegan was fired two weeks ago without explanation and has said he was pressured by the governor and her staff to fire a trooper who was once married to Palin's sister....

By the way, Pat Buchanan just called Palin a "girl" on MSNBC's Hardball. Looks like Pat didn't read the GOP talking points.

Just a few things to say....

* Our national election is just 69 days away. Americans have to decide whether they want to continue with the failed policies of the Bush administration that John McSame has endorsed or to vote for change. As Joe Biden said tonight about the Republicans "....They want us to reward them for the last eight years by giving them another four. Thanks, but no thanks....."

* What is up with Joe Scarborough? He is acting like an angry guy. Is it because he supports old Grumpy McSame?

* John McCain has voted against raising the minimum wage 19 times. How pathetic! I guess if you've never really held a job that paid you by the hour, you just don't understand how difficult it is to live on peanuts. McCain has also voted against bills that would guarantee equal pay for women.

* I saw this picture over at Americablog:




Awesome.

* I know you'll be surprised by this story: The Ohio GOP is in trouble again!
Raw Story:

The Ohio Republican Party funneled $495,000 into an account used to support the candidacy of former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell that should have only been used to support candidates for national office, according to a letter from Ohio's current Secretary of State and a GOP spokesman.

The letter says Ohio's Republican party collected nearly half a million dollars from a federal GOP account in October 2006. They also took in $20,000 from a state GOP account the same month and another $25,000 in November 2007.....

Does the Ohio GOP know how to operate within the law?

* We've had people in our neighborhood passing out campaign literature for Mary Jo Kilroy, Democratic candidate for Ohio's 15th district. They've flooded the entire area.

* I was talking today with someone about who they were planning to support in November's election. She said she can't afford to vote Republican. She also mentioned that, unlike John McCain who owns 7 houses, she has always been a renter. By the way, there is a bumper sticker out there at Irregular Times that would be appropriate for her and others:

"No way! No how! No McCain!"

Last night the Democratic National Convention had some powerful speakers, but none as powerful as Sen. Hillary Clinton. Here are a few excerpts from Sen. Clinton's speech (posted at Huffington Post):

...I haven't spent the past 35 years in the trenches advocating for children, campaigning for universal health care, helping parents balance work and family, and fighting for women's rights at home and around the world . . . to see another Republican in the White House squander the promise of our country and the hopes of our people....

...Tonight we need to remember what a Presidential election is really about. When the polls have closed, and the ads are finally off the air, it comes down to you -- the American people, your lives, and your children's futures.....

"....I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids? Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?"

....But remember, before we can keep going, we have to get going by electing Barack Obama president.

We don't have a moment to lose or a vote to spare.

Nothing less than the fate of our nation and the future of our children hang in the balance....

Sen. Hillary Clinton was awesome. After the speech, I switched around the channels to MSNBC and CNN. All the pundits on these two cable news stations offered nothing but praise for Clinton's speech. They were clearly blown away.

Then I ventured into the enemy territory of Fox News. Their political pundits looked like they had sh** their pants. Their voices all but said, "We're f*****." Yes they are.

Thank you, Sen. Clinton for your service and your words of encouragement! Now we need to get to work to get Barack Obama to the White House. Visit BarackObama.com and see what you can do to help Sen. Obama become President Obama.

* Remember, with a Democrat in the White House, we've got to get more Democrats in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Here in Ohio's 15th district, we've got a fantastic Democratic candidate,
Mary Jo Kilroy, running for Congress. Sign up with Kilroy's campaign today.

Why are you waiting? It is time to roll up our sleeves and get to work!

Now You Know

> Ohio Republicans have threatened to sue Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, over a law that the Republican controlled Ohio legislature passed. (See Cleveland.com.) Go figure.

> John McCain was on the Tonight Show last night. When Jay Leno asked McCain about the 7 houses he owned, John McCain pulled out the P.O.W. story. OMG! We know McCain was a P.O.W. but he needs to answer the damn question and stop hiding behind the P.O.W. thing.

> Have you noticed some of McCain's recent rallies are in front of high school students? What is the deal? Does the McCain campaign force some high school teacher to bring her class to stand behind him at one of his town hall meetings? I really feel sorry for those kids. If I had been a teacher in that position, I would have refused the request. Is McCain so hard up for audiences that he has to pull in reluctant school children to use as a backdrop?

> Here is a story that will let you think McCain has lost it: (from The Guardian)
John McCain sent his wife to Georgia to talk with President Mikheil Saakashvili. Would you send your wife to a war zone. Is the McCain campaign sooooooooooooo desperate for attention that they'll send anyone to an unstable part of the world just for publicity?

> Update: I just caught McCain at the VFW convention. McCain tried to explain why he voted against the "New G.I. Bill" but it just did not make any sense. He kept talking about keeping the V.A. medical services available for only "eligible" vets. Which vets would McCain say were ineligible for treatment? McCain has talked in the past about restricting medical benefits for vets. He also mentioned that if he were president and any type of amendment was attached to a funding bill for vets, he'd veto the whole thing. McCain seems more and more like a jerk. Why would he have the right to decide which veteran was more deserving of treatment? Sounds to me like he is trying to ration medical treatment. When our young men and women joined our military service, they were promised V.A. benefits. Now McCain wants to change that?

> Thank goodness that the Big Ten Network and Time Warner Cable have worked out a deal so that we can see our Ohio State Buckeyes!!!!!! (see Dispatch.)

The Democratic Party

I absolutely had to watch the gavel to gavel coverage of the Democratic National Convention. C-SPAN had the best coverage because it did not have news anchors talking over the speeches. Just in looking at the delegates makes one understand that the Democratic Party is an all inclusive political party. Every ethnic group was represented and that made me proud. In between speakers, music was played in the convention center last night. And, as my husband said, the Democrats always have the best music.

I was especially moved by the appearance of Sen. Ted Kennedy. Despite his illness, it looks like nothing could keep him away from making it to the podium.

Michelle Obama spoke of her roots in the south side of Chicago, how she met Barack, and how her husband has the compassion and fortitude to be President. She was terrific.

I'll be tuning in again tonight to watch the convention. We Democrats certainly know how to throw a party!!!!

______

John McCain's campaign wants to pull women over to his campaign. If McCain were elected President, women's rights would become secondary to the rights of corporations. Besides, do you want an old man like McCain deciding if you can have access to birth control? Do you want judges appointed by McCain that would decide if you have certain rights because you are a woman?

Biden's Working Class Roots

Sen. Joe Biden's biography looks like something that a lot of people will understand. Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Biden's parents had to leave Scranton in the 1950's because his father could not find work. However, as Biden said, "Scanton never leaves you." Biden, according to the Scranton Times, is no stranger in Scranton, especially at Hank's Hoagies.

According to an interview in the Scranton Times, over the years, Biden has returned to Scranton while he was growing up. Many in Scranton regard him as a hometown kid.

Both Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden offer a real contrast with the affluent lifestyle of the McCains. Neither Obama or Biden own 7 or 8 or 10 homes. Obama and Biden do not own their own private jet, like the McCains. Obama and Biden have had rough beginnings as kids with families that struggled to put food on the table. McCain grew up in an affluent family.

If Americans can't decide who to vote for, they just must remember that Obama and Biden know and share their working class beginnings.

McCain's father was an admiral and McCain grew up with servants. McCain left his first wife after she had an accident that left her disfigured. While still legally married to his first wife, McCain moved in with Cindy Hensley. Before he was legally divorced from his first wife, McCain applied for a marriage license to marry Cindy. Not only does the McCain lifestyle seem so distant from regular working class people, the McCains have not been part of the "family values" that Republicans claim is important to them.

By the way, McCain thinks that women are going to flock to his side because Hillary Clinton is not the nominee. McCain is crazy to think that American women would vote for a man who is against women's reproductive freedom and against equality for women in the work place. If women want to turn back the clock on women's rights to the 1890's, McCain, would be their candidate. Here is a You Tube video in which McCain talks about equal pay for women:

Making A Choice

Every four years, we have a chance to evaluate what has happened in our country and where we'd like our country to go.
Here is a brief summary of what the Republican Bush administration has given us:

1. Bush invaded Iraq, based on a lie. As a result, 4,146 Americans have been killed in Iraq, along with 30,000 American wounded.

2. The Bush administration introduced other words into our American vocabulary: IEDs, Abu Ghraib torture, unarmored Humvees, troops without bullet proof clothing, dirty drinking water given to our troops, hundreds of thousands of homeless military vets, a poorly run veterans' medical system, failure to capture Bin Laden, failure to go after the groups that planned 9/11, the failures of an unfunded No Child Left Behind Act, releasing the name of an undercover CIA agent, manipulation of our energy policy with cooperation of Bush-Cheney, Blackwater, etc., etc., etc.

3. The Bush-Cheney years created havoc in our banking system. Thousands and thousands of Americans lost their homes.

4. I cannot possibly continue because I will make myself physically ill.


We can spend years examining the complete failures of the Bush administration, or we can decide to pick ourselves up, and change the course. Senators Obama and Biden can give our nation the chance to get back to basics------ creating good jobs, health care, protecting our children and seniors, and making our country respected in the world. Obama and Biden can be agents of change for us and our families.

OR......

Americans can support McCain----a crusty, old guy with an anger management problem. McCain makes no apologies for his support of the Bush administration. A major problem with McCain is that he is out of touch with the lives of regular American people. He has never held a job outside of government. He has never had to face layoffs, losing his medical insurance, or losing his retirement benefits. He and his wife own 7 or 8 homes (they're not even sure). The man didn't even know what kind of car he drove and he had to ask his staff. Last year, the McCains had a payroll of over $250,000 for their employees!!!! McCain is proud of the fact that a majority of his campaign staff are lobbyists. Are these people working for the common good of the American people or their clients?

We have to change the course of our country. Obama and Biden will provide us with fresh ideas, an infusion of enthusiasm, and programs to get our people back to work. Our time is now.

Don't delay. Visit BarackObama.com and see how you can help. Don't forget to get your bumper stickers!!!!

What Obama and Biden can mean to Ohio

The excitement surrounding the announcement by Sen. Obama about his pick for Vice President was the topic of conversation the last few days around the nation. With Sen. Obama choosing Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate, voters clearly have a choice. Do Americans want to continue with the failed policies of the Bush administration by selecting Bush cheerleader, John McCain? Are Americans ready to set the course for fixing our country, our health care, and our world standing by voting for Obama and Biden?

Ohio's economy is in the toilet. With auto plants closing, businesses laying off workers, and retail stores barely able to survive, we need an infusion of new ideas and programs to get our people back to work. John McCain would be quite happy to continue along the Bush economic policy road without doing anything to increase the economy. McCain would be quite satisfied to continue to reward his good buddies at the oil companies by refusing to tax their windfall profits. Oil companies have been making obscene profits off the backs of hardworking American. McCain seems to think that is fine.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, can get our state's workers back to good paying jobs by encouraging companies to stay in our state, help students get to college, and create a climate where innovation is rewarded.

Those people who would vote for McCain are essentially saying that they enjoy having a poor economy and our troops in Iraq forever. There is more to being President than just leading the troops. A President must be able to inspire and encourage people to move the country forward, and understand economics to get our workforce back to their jobs.

McCain is out of touch. Do you think he has had to deal with filling his own gas tank? He has "staff" that deal with those trivial matters. Do you think if he and his wife own 7 homes that they have to deal with things like shopping for groceries, cleaning the house, and worrying about if they'll have enough money to pay the electric bill? The McCains have staff and business managers to deal with those things. John McCain's life is so removed from the ordinary American that he is completely clueless about what people face day to day.

If we want change, Obama and Biden will help us get there. Ohioans need change.

Got my text message----- Obama Biden!

I got my text message this morning at 3 am from the Obama campaign:

Barack has chosen Senator Joe Biden to be our VP nominee. Watch the first Obama-Biden rally live at 3pm ET on www.BarackObama.com. Spread the word!

While I was doing my errands yesterday, I wore my Barack Obama shirt. People asked me if I had gotten a text message yet from Barack Obama. One woman even said that if I heard about the VP choice while I was in the store to let her know. Obviously, the announcement and the method it was delivered, created a lot of excitement.

In case you are interested, CafePress already has a collection of Obama Biden materials.

Meanwhile....... John McCain had to check with his staff to see the type of car that he owned. Oh my.

The Dilemma of Owning More Than One Home

It is too bad that John McCain doesn't know exactly how many houses he and his wife own. Some news outlets say it might be 7 homes or as many as 10. Wow. How do they decide where they'll spend the night? I'm sure that the people who have lost their homes through foreclosure feel such empathy for the McCains.

Here are some questions to ponder:
*If you own 7-10 homes, does that make you an elitist?
*Do you think that the McCains have maids and cooks in each of their homes? Do they pay them a prevailing wage?
*If you have homes at different locations and states, do you have automobiles at each of those locations? (Someone needs to ask McCain how many cars they own.)
*At which point do you lose track of exactly how many homes you own--- after 4, or 5, or 6?
*Do you think the McCains have mortgages on all these homes or did they pay for them in cash?

Since McCain did not know exactly how many homes they owned, was he having a 'senior moment'? If McCain were elected president, would he know how many nuclear weapons we had?

(Full disclosure: In case you are interested, my husband and I have one home with a mortgage. We do not employ maids or cooks.)

If you don't know much about McCain's political history, I'd suggest you search Google with the terms "McCain and Keating Five." You'll be surprised.

More On McCain's Houses

From Philly.com:

THE SEARCH IS ON: McCain Can’t Remember How Many Homes He Owns – Can You?

CAMPAIGN SEEKS PENNSYLVANIANS WHO HAVE TOO MANY HOMES TO KEEP TRACK

PHILADELPHIA – This morning, Barack Obama’s Campaign for Change launched a statewide search to find Pennsylvanians who, like John McCain, have so many homes that they just can’t keep track of the number. Our new media team will be at Love Park in Philadelphia beginning at 1:00 PM and volunteers and field staff will be calling voters throughout the day in an attempt to uncover even just one person who doesn’t know how many homes he or she owns.

Yesterday, McCain was asked how many homes he owns. Clearly uncertain, he responded, “I think – I’ll have my staff get to you,” he told reporters in Las Cruces, N.M. “It’s condominiums where – I'll have them get to you.” [Politico.com, 8/21/08]

Here is a partial list of McCain’s homes:

1. Condo in Phoenix, $4.7 million
2. Condo No. 1, Coronado, Calif., $2.7 million
3. Condo No. 2, Coronado, Calif., $2.1 million
4. Hidden Valley Ranch, Sedona, Ariz., $1.8 million [AP, 4/3/08]
5. Condo in La Jolla, Calif., $1 million
6. Condo in Arlington, Va., $847,000
7. Meghan McCain’s Loft in Phoenix, $700,000....

Amazing.

McCain=Bush=McCain=Bush

>>>> Saw this at Raw Story:

.....the GOP's presidential nominee says he feels no need to demonstrate a clear break from George W. Bush.

"I don’t have any need to show that I’m different than President Bush," McCain told Politico's Mike Allen and Jonathan Martin Wednesday.....

There we have it-----If you like George W. Bush, you'll love McCain.

>>> Did you know that Rick Davis, a lobbyist and McCain's campaign manager, made $600,000 when he helped DHL buy Airborne Express? Davis and McCain may ultimately cost 8,000 DHL jobs in Ohio. Here is a video from You Tube made by Jedreport.com:

How many homes do you own?

Considering the recession our country is experiencing, as well as the record number of home foreclosures, it does seem incredible that John McCain is unsure exactly how many homes he and his wife own.
Politico:
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in an interview Wednesday that he was uncertain how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own.

"I think — I'll have my staff get to you," McCain told Politico in Las Cruces, N.M. "It's condominiums where — I'll have them get to you."

The correct answer is at least four, located in Arizona, California and Virginia, according to his staff. Newsweek estimated this summer that the couple owns at least seven properties.....

There are some who say the McCains own 10 homes. How many homes do you own?

Update: It appears the McCain campaign is unable to name all the McCain homes but they do want to remind us that he was a POW. (The Republicans are trying to distract us from the opulence and avarice of the McCains and their lack of interest for those who are not part of their income category.) I've said it before and I'll say it again. We honor his service, BUT..... McCain's ideas, plans, and programs for this country are outdated and nothing short of a re-stating of the Bush-Cheney years. McCain's voting record against veterans and our military is disgraceful for a man who was a POW.


*** The good people over at the AFL-CIO have listed some facts about John McCain's voting record:

...McCain Voted Against Funding for After-School Programs. McCain voted against additional funding for after-school programs under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (S.Amdt. 1609 to S.Amdt. 1542 to H.R. 2660, Vote 340, 9/10/03)

McCain Voted Against Funding for Head Start. McCain has voted repeatedly against funding for Head Start programs, as recently as 2005. In 2003, McCain voted against increasing spending on Head Start programs by $24 billion and on after-school programs by $18 billion over 10 years. That year, he also voted against a Democratic effort to add $350 million to Head Start, the federal program for poor preschool children. In 2001, McCain voted against fully funding Head Start to ensure that all eligible children have access. (S.Amdt. 2254 to H.R. 3010, Vote 272, 10/26/05; S.C.R. 23, Vote 86, 3/25/03; H.R. 2660, Vote 333, 9/9/03; H.R. 1836, Vote 154, 5/22/01)...

McCain voted against funding for after school programs and Head Start???? What a fool. Obviously, McCain knows just as much about educating children as he does economics------- nothing.

* Looks like the Republicans might be party poopers. According to the StarTribune, the "official venues" for the Republican convention are not getting booked.

* Even though the Republicans have promised "diversity" in the speakers at their upcoming convention, there will be none. In a recent posting at Huffington Post, the list of speakers includes Giuliani, Scwarzenegger, Cheney, Laura Bush, and Lieberman. It appears that the only diversity that will be seen has to do with the shade of grade hair each has. The Republican lineup looks like rich white people.

McCain Not Winning Friends in Colorado

Update: According to a townhall meeting response, John McCain might re-instate the military draft
(see ThinkProgress for story and video). This would help him keep our troops in Iraq forever.

* OMG! John McCain apparently wants to take water from Colorado and divert it to the state of Arizona. Apparently, people in Colorado are not happy with McCain's planned water grab. Here is a news story from Marketwatch:

McCain Suggests Renegotiating Colorado River Compact at Expense of Western States

The following was released today by the Democratic National Committee:

Today in Las Cruces, John McCain will face more questions about his out-of-touch comments in favor of renegotiating the 1922 Colorado River Compact, which set water-sharing guidelines among Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. McCain's comments are the latest example of how out of touch he is -- and reflect a profound disconnect with New Mexicans over the delicate nature of the compromise and its vital importance to the millions of Americans whose lives and livelihoods are affected by the compact.

In Colorado, McCain's proposal to renegotiate the water compact provoked heated opposition from Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO) and both Senate candidates, Republican Bob Schaffer and Democrat Mark Udall. Sen. Salazar's response to McCain's comments, "Over my dead body," was topped only by Schaffer's answer: "Over my cold, dead, political carcass." The Denver Post called McCain's statements "politically suicidal ramblings.".....

People in Colorado are shocked that McCain would dare to make a play for their water. The Colorado River Compact has been in force since 1922 and yet McCain dares to suggest a move that would devastate at least 7 states. If he went through with his plans, it could completely destroy the economy in the western states. What other plans does McCain have up his sleeve?

Wednesday

***Another Ohioan has been killed in Iraq:
(Dispatch)
There was a calm to James Hale, a U.S. Army corporal and Franklin Heights High School graduate, before his and his family's worlds were shaken....
....Hale, 23, a military policeman since 2003, died last Wednesday in Baghdad, about six weeks after starting his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was a member of the 978th Military Police Co. helping to train Iraqi police.....

Hale is survived by his wife and three young children. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

*** I'm sure the Ohio GOP will complain about this!!!!!
(Dayton Daily News)

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner issued a directive Tuesday, Aug. 19, that will end the practice of allowing poll workers to take voting machines home overnight in the days leading to Election Day.

That's right: poll workers in 20 counties had been taking voting machines home — a practice quaintly referred to as "sleepovers."

Brunner said it just didn't fit with the goal of promoting confidence on Nov. 4.....

I can't wait to hear the whining from Kevin DeWine.

**** Is Republican candidate for congress, Kirk Schuring, acting like a "copycat" on energy??? SwingStateProject:

Months after U.S. Congressional Candidate John Boccieri first announced his energy plan, opponent Kirk Schuring has finally offered an energy proposal that endorses many of Boccieri's policies.

Senator Major John Boccieri said in a statement, today:

"I'm flattered that Sen. Schuring has finally embraced energy ideas I've been talking about for months, but I'm disappointed it took him this long to realize people are concerned about high gas prices. Unfortunately, his plan still doesn't provide enough short-term solutions to our high gas prices, and I think voters will wonder whether someone who raised their gas taxes and has taken $20,000 from oil executives is really serious about making the big energy policy changes we need."

Is Schuring aware of what the voters in his district are facing at the gas pump? Maybe Schuring just doesn't care.

McCain's Visit to Dayton

Once again it appears that John McCain cannot muster up enough of a crowd for his tired, old, worn out, failed, Bush policies. The McCain campaign said that they will announce his running mate next Friday in Dayton, Ohio.
Dayton is near to Wright Patterson Air Force base and the home to many retired military. However, Dayton has been called a "dying" city by Forbes Magazine. WHIO-TV had this story about Dayton:

....The Forbes list mentions four Ohio cities, including Cleveland, Youngstown, Canton and Dayton.

Forbes said the cities were once the manufacturing backbone of the region, and now they are part of the “rust belt.”....

Isn't it appropriate that McCain with his old ideas is going to a "dying" city on his 72nd birthday to announce his running mate? Ohio, which has an unemployment rate of 7.2%, doesn't need a gas holiday or McCain's lack of knowledge about economics. Ohioans are just tired of the Republicans using our state as part of their road to the White House and then doing nothing to put our people back to work.

Time and Time Again, McCain Has Voted Against Troops and Vets

Time and time again John McCain has abandoned our troops and military veterans. You'd think that because of his own military history that McCain would go out of his way to help troops and vets, but he has instead let them down.

Last night on MSNBC's Countdown, Keith Olbermann, gave one of his Special Comments. This time, Olbermann listed the McCain's votes that hurt our men and women in uniform---past and present. Here are some excerpts from Countdown:

....Sen. McCain missed 10 of the 14 Senate votes on Iraq up to the middle of last year. This year, he has missed them all including one to honor the sacrifice of the fallen.

He (McCain) has voted to table or oppose:

• $20 million for veteran’s health care facilities
• $322 million for safety equipment for our troops in Iraq
• $430 million for veterans outpatient care
• $1 billion in new equipment for the National Guard

And, in separate votes:

• $1,500,000,000 in additional Veterans’ medical care, to be created by closing tax loopholes
• $1,800,000,000 in additional Veterans’ medical care, to be created by closing tax loopholes

McCain voted against safety equipment, health care facilities and medical care for our troops and some people still support his candidacy???????????

To read Olbermann's entire Special Comment, visit this LINK.

McCain has let down our troops and our vets. The only support he gives them is rhetoric. Now, McCain wants to ration medical benefits for our veterans. Which veterans will McCain dump---- those with PTSD, or Agent Orange problems or the vets with hearing loss? Which vets will McCain deem not worth treatment? Someone needs to ask him.

When it comes down to it, Sen. Barack Obama voted for bills to help our military and our vets.

Choosing the VP

The next big announcement from the presidential candidates will revolve around their choice for vice president.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama has many good candidates from which to choose. Obama's announcement is expected at the end of the week. Those on his list could be Sen. Joe Biden, Sen. Evan Bayh, Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, Retired General Wesley Clark, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, or someone else.

On the Republican side, Sen. John McCain has his list of possible running mates. Many names have been mentioned including Gov. Bobby Jindal, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee, Gov. Charlie Crist, or he could pick a person with a lower profile.

No matter which running mates are picked, it will be interesting to see what develops.

_________

I did watch that special forum that was conducted by Rev. Rick Warren on Saturday night. I watched the entire segment with Sen. Barack Obama. His answers were thoughtful, relevant, and intelligent------just as I expected. However, I could only watch about six minutes of the McCain questioning before I became uncomfortable. I quickly had to change the channel.

Pistols in School?

In my many years in the classroom, I was verbally assaulted by students, threatened with death, and even punched. I've seen fights in schools and even broken them up. I've taken knives away from students. Teachers that I've worked with have been hit and threatened by students and parents. There have been times when my possessions and those of my colleagues were stolen or vandalized. However, I would never support teachers carrying guns in schools.

(Note: Even though I may have had some "bad" experiences, I always regarded teaching as a wonderful profession. Let me relate one story...... I had a class with a rude, large, outspoken fourteen year old boy. The school was located in an upper middle class suburb. Without telling him, I invited the boy's mother to come to class and watch how her son behaved. After the class, the mother told me that she would work harder to have her son behave properly in my classroom. She also told me that she would never, ever want my job, even for a million dollars. I did see an improvement in the boy's behavior because I threatened to have his mother visit again. No guns were used.)

According to a story at Reuters, teachers at Harrold Independent School District in Texas will be able to carry guns into the classroom. The district school board approved the measure. Are they nuts??????????? What if a student takes the gun? Could the gun misfire?

I earnestly hope that the school board at Harrold Independent School District re-think their decision about guns in schools. It might be worthwhile for the school board members to spend some real time in their schools examining what really goes on in the classroom, in the school halls, and even the lunchroom.

Take That!

John McCain and the Ohio Republican Party are in trouble. Los Angeles Times:

Jackson Browne is suing John McCain for using the song "Running on Empty" in a campaign ad -- and the veteran rocker is also calling the candidate a great pretender when it comes to standing up for constitutional rights.

Browne, one of rock music's most famous activists for liberal causes, is "incensed" that the presumptive Republican candidate for president has been using Browne's signature 1977 song "Running on Empty" in campaign commercials, according to the singer-songwriter's attorney. Browne filed a copyright infringement lawsuit against both McCain and the Republican National Committee on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles seeking a permanent injunction prohibiting the use of the forlorn arena anthem or any other Browne compositions, as well as damages....

....Browne's attorney, Lawrence Y. Iser, says they have the right defendants. "We have sued the Ohio Republican Party as well, and we have been informed and believe that McCain and his campaign were well aware of the ad. We are also informed and believe that the ad was broadcast on television in Ohio and Pennsylvania.... The fact that it appears on the Internet means it also reaches an audience well beyond those states."

I wish that Jackson Browne would have sued for a much higher amount---- like $2-3million. It might help bankrupt the corrupt Ohio Republican Party.

* There is a new McCain ad that says Washington, DC is broken. Give me a break! McCain has been in DC for almost 30 years and he just noticed it.

Something to Think About....

I saw this video at Firedoglake and wanted to share. Youtube:






* Here is a nice picture of Sen. Norm Coleman (MN-R) and his buddy:

They look sooooooo cute together.

> Meanwhile, the economy has slipped more into the great abyss. Reuters:

Consumer prices shot up in July at the fastest annual pace in 17 years, underscoring the pressure on Americans who face soaring gasoline and food costs while their job prospects dim and incomes shrink.....
....The Labor Department said its Consumer Price Index, the most commonly used inflation gauge, rose 0.8 percent in July and year-over-year jumped 5.6 percent, its strongest yearly advance since January 1991 when the first Gulf War was under way.....
....The Labor Department issued figures on real earnings that showed the toll rising prices were taking on consumers. Average hourly earnings, adjusted for inflation, fell at a 2.5 percent year-over-year rate in July, the biggest drop since late 1980....

I guess this is just more of the George W. Bush legacy. The bad news is that McCain likes W's economic policies.

Republicans and McCain Fear College Students and New Law

Another day, another reason for Republicans to worry. It is no secret that college age men and women are enthusiastic supporters of Sen. Barack Obama for President. Obama is just like them---- he and his wife just recently paid off their student loans, he has innovative ideas to solve problems, and he knows how to use a computer (unlike McSame). Now Ohio Republicans are concerned that young people and citizens of every age in Ohio will exercise their right to vote. Here are some excerpts from the Dispatch:

.....Ohio has created a window in the election calendar that would allow residents instant gratification - register one minute, vote the next. It's also given the campaigns of Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain a chance to bank thousands of first-time voters during that Sept. 30 to Oct. 6 window.....

....Its impact is going to be felt in non-presidential races as well. For instance, Ohio State University is the largest college in the country, with more than 52,000 students enrolled on its main campus in Columbus. Democrats are eyeing it as key to helping Mary Jo Kilroy win her House seat to replace Republican Deborah Pryce, who is not seeking re-election....

......Ohio election law for the first time will allow voters to cast a presidential ballot by mail for any reason. In the past, there were specific provisions by which voters could cast a ballot early. But the law was changed; this is the first national general election in which it will be in play.....

Here is a list of the Ohio campuses where you can find Students for Obama chapters:

Ashland High School

Ashland University

Avon Lake High School

Baldwin-Wallace University

Bowling Green State University

Capital University

Case Western Reserve University

Cincinnati Country Day School

College of Wooster

Columbus State Community College

Denison University

Indian Hill High School

John Carroll University

Kent State University

Kenyon College

Lorrain County Community College

Loveland High School

Madeira High School

Marietta College

Miami University (Middletown)

Miami University of Ohio (Oxford)

Mount Vernon Nazarene University

Oberlin College

Ohio State University (Columbus)

Ohio University

Otterbein College

St. John's Jesuit High School

Troy High School

University of Akron

University of Cincinnati

University of Dayton

University of Toledo

Ursuline Academy

Walsh University

Wittenberg University

Xavier University

All eyes in the state will be on the campus of The Ohio State University and its 52,ooo students. Those Buckeyes for Obama may help bring Ohio to the Democratic side.

McCain

* John McCain certainly loves hanging out with those millionaires like Tilman Fertitta, a man worth over $200 million (see CBS News). Here are some pictures from a recent McCain fundraiser at the Fertitta home: http://www.kemah.net/tilmanmccain.html

* According to the San Francisco Business Times, John McCain receives $1930/month from Social Security. McCain says that "....the system is broken."

* McCain's lack of support of veterans' issues has been noticed by veterans. LA Times:

....McCain has built his political career on his Navy service, including 5 1/2 years as a POW in Vietnam, and he remains immensely popular with many veterans groups. But the Arizona Republican's appearance here suggested limits to that appeal.

The 1.4-million-member group said that in 2006, he voted for only one of the five spending bills the group considered most important -- 20%.

"It's a pretty low score," said David Autry, spokesman for the congressionally chartered nonprofit group. The group rated Obama (D-Ill.) at 80%....

* Questions are being asked about McCain's citizenship. McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone, not in one of the states. Is he a natural born citizen?

* I went grocery shopping this afternoon. However, before I walked into the store, I saw a large Cadillac with a bumper sticker that read, "Drill here. Drill now. Pay less." Between the bottom of the rear window and the top of the trunk was his gas cap.

I Did Not Know....

1) I did not know that this existed: Elvis and Priscilla Presley Barbie Doll Wedding Set



2) John McCain has been on The Daily Show 13 times! (Source) McCain sounds like a celebrity.

3) Republican Rep. Pat Tiberi has voted with his party 92.8% of the time (Washington Post). Word has it that Tiberi has plans to move up the leadership ranks within the Republican Party. That explains why he has been a major supporter of Bush's failed policies and his party's pro-business, pro-oil legislation.

4) The Republicans, who had a shortfall of $10 million for their convention, have hit another snag. Apparently, the good people of St. Paul, Minnesota, are not interested in the thousands of unfilled volunteer jobs for the Republican convention. LOL!!!!

5) John McCain mispronounced the name of the Georgian President Saakashvili, 3 times (You Tube).



6) Is John McCain dealing with reality? Are you better off today? See this YouTube video for McCain's answer.

Another Millionaire for McCain?

Last night, we saw comedian Lewis Black at the Palace Theatre in Columbus. He had a lot to say about everything, especially politics. Lewis Black had this to say about John McCain, "The Republicans should have nominated him in 2000, when he was still sane."

I found some interesting John McCain quotes (Source):

"There's no doubt in my mind that we will prevail and there's no doubt in my mind, once these people are gone, that we will be welcomed as liberators." --on the Iraq war, "Hardball" interview, March 24, 2003

"I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."

"It's not social issues I care about."

I did see a McCain bumper sticker this week here in Columbus. It was on the back of a very expensive Mercedes. Must have been another millionaire for McCain.

Are you ready for a President McCain?

Here is a video that will make you think twice about voting for John McCain. (You Tube)

Stivers Helping Factory Farm Come to Union County, Ohio

The proposed Hi-Q factory chicken farm for Union County will create lots of health and sanitation problems for residents. Republican Steve Stivers, a candidate for Congress, was one of the co-sponsors for the bill that would allow these factory farms in Ohio.

Fremont Farms in Iowa is owned by the same people who have plans for the large factory farm in Union County. Here are some excerpts from a posting about the people who live near Fremont Farms. CropChoice:

.....Before Fremont Farms of Iowa moved in next door, Ed and Sheila looked out over seemingly endless fields of corn and soybeans. Now their closest neighbor is a population of 2.7 million laying hens—-nearly as many chickens as there are people in the state of Iowa.....

....The early arrival of spring during the first year Fremont Farms was in operation brought with it more than warmth. The dense concentration of birds at Fremont Farms of Iowa and the volume of their waste provided new breeding ground for fly maggots living in and around its egg operation.

“I’d never seen anything like it in my life,” recalls Dean Earnhart, a nearby resident. “You don’t dare leave your window cracked in you car, literally thousands of flies will get in. I’m not joking here.”

I am sure that the people in Union County will find their lives changed forever if the 6,000,000 chickens move in down the road.

Call Steve Stivers at (614) 358-0800 and ask him how he will stop this Hi-Q Egg Farm from ruining people's lives.

Last minute things.....

* Republican Rep. Mike Turner (OH-3rd) has really been pulling in the big campaign contributions from some big PACs, which you can view here: http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/can_give/2007_H2OH03067
The ExxonMobil PAC has given Turner $12,000 over the years
(see: http://query.nictusa.com/cgi-bin/com_rcvd/C00373001/ ). ExxonMobil made $11.7 billion in their last quarter.

* On a blog entry written by a Steve Stivers volunteer, the blogger says that he had a discussion with Stivers and they talked about "...personal liberty...." Stivers, a corporate bank lobbyist and fan of big business, is the Republican candidate running against Democrat Mary Jo Kilroy. I find it amazing that Stivers says he supports personal liberty, yet he is against a woman's reproductive freedom. Perhaps Stivers only supports personal liberty for men.

* Raw Story has the debunking of the latest McCain ad. (LINK)

* When will John McCain tell the truth that he and his campaign manager, Rick Davis, have something to do with the possibility of Wilmington, Ohio losing 6,000 to 10,000 jobs? Is this how McCain does his stuff?
See: First Read.

Here is an interesting piece from The Plain Dealer at Cleveland.com:

When Republican presidential candidate John McCain meets Thursday with citizens and officials in Wilmington, Ohio, he won't need a playbook to understand why they're worried about deep job losses at the local freight airport.

Little known to those citizens, McCain and his campaign manager, Rick Davis, played roles in the fate of DHL Express and its Ohio air park as far back as 2003. Back then, however, their actions that helped DHL and its German owner, Deutsche Post World Net, acquire the Wilmington operations resulted in expansion, not retraction.....

"Those jobs are on the chopping block because Sen. McCain and his campaign were involved in a deal that resulted in control of those positions being shifted to a foreign corporation, and there's no getting around that," said Joe Rugola, president of the Ohio AFL-CIO......

Friday's News

> Here in Ohio, the payday lenders are trying to overturn a law that restricts the amount of interest they can charge. These payday lenders, who prey on the poor, are saying that the new law will cost the state 6,000 jobs in their industry.
Forbes:
A budding fight intensified Thursday as Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, a Democrat, joined Republican leaders in a campaign to protect one of the nation's most restrictive payday lending laws.

The law, which takes effect Sept. 1, limits borrowers to four short-term loans a year and caps annual interest rates at 28 percent. Lenders currently are able to charge what works out to an annual interest rate of 391 percent....

These payday lenders have adjusted in other states where restrictions have been instituted. They should stop whining or leave the state.

***Did you know that John McCain does not support a windfall profits tax for oil and gas companies?
I guess he wants his oil buddies to keep all the billions. Poor Exxon is only making $1500/second.

* Republican leader, John Boehner, is not hanging out with the silly Republicans on the floor of the House of Representatives. Boehner is working on his golf game. (LINK) We know about Boehner's priorities.

*** If elected, will John McCain push for privatization of Social Security? Here are some examples of McCain's statements on Social Security: (LINK)

2004: McCain Says Privatization Only Way to Go Forward. Responding to a question of whether "privatizing Social Security be a priority for you going forward?" McCain answered, "Without privatization, I don't see how you can possibly, over time, make sure that young Americans are able to receive Social Security benefits." ^[12]

2005: McCain Campaigned for Bush Social Security Plan. "McCain has been especially supportive of his onetime rival, appearing with Bush at three events over the past two days in trying to prod Democrats into negotiations to include private accounts in a plan to revamp Social Security." ^[13]

2008: McCain Said He Supports Privatization of Social Security "Along the Lines that President Bush Proposed." Earlier this year, McCain said " As part of Social Security reform, I believe that private savings accounts are a part of it -- along the lines that President Bush proposed." ^[14]

McCain: Not Very Sharp

Talkingpointsmemo.com put this together. You can see it on You Tube or below:




My 85 year old mother is sharper than McCain.

Obama Hits Back

10:45 pm EDT
Here is the new Barack Obama ad from You Tube (also posted at ProgressOhio):

Small Crowds for McCain

John McCain was in Jackson, Ohio today and he visited the Merillat plant. The Merillat plant employees 246 people, but the 8 or so people standing behind him at his speech looked bored to death (see Democratic Underground for the You Tube video). Can't McCain get a crowd? Why is it at his town meetings that we don't see too much of the audience? Is it because there isn't an audience?

McCain says he is a fiscal conservative. We know what that means: See LINK. Right now as I write this, John McCain is raising money in central Ohio at someone's home. Needless to say, I'm not giving him one cent. McCain--- same old, same old, same old politics.

'Wrinkly White-Haired Dude" aka John McCain

Paris Hilton's response to McCain's celebrity ad was very funny. Paris aptly called McCain "...the wrinkly white-haired dude..." in the video by Funny or Die featured on You Tube. Great job, Paris.

McCain appeared at the huge annual motorcycle event that can bring 500,000 bikers to Sturgis, South Dakota. Unfortunately for McCain, all those bikers did not show up for him. Since McCain is unable to attract a throng of people anywhere in the world, as Barack Obama did in Berlin with 200,000 people, McCain went to Sturgis to a trapped audience. However, according to KEVN-TV, only 3,000 to 4,000 people were in front of the stage where McCain appeared. The crowd was not necessarily there to see McCain, because they were waiting for a Kid Rock concert. Poor, old, 'wrinkly white-haired dude' McCain can't even muster up his own crowd.

In the video, at 2:33, McCain offers his wife for competition in the Miss Buffalo Chip contest. The contest is one in which nude and semi-nude women compete. I think that McCain's remarks are very disrespectful toward his wife.

In the You Tube video that shows John McCain's speech on the stage at Sturgis, he seems very ill at ease when he is not speaking from his prepared notes. If you watch the video, pay special attention starting at 3:14 when McCain can't even properly say $4/gallon for gas. This is sad. Since McCain has little experience pumping his own gas, he doesn't even have the proper words to describe the activity of pumping gas. (Those $500 Ferragamo shoes must do something to the brain.)

John McCain just seems so out of touch and so desperate. He also seems angry, cynical, and sarcastic. (Can you imagine the international incidents McCain's demeanor could create?) McCain has solidly stood with George W. Bush and his failed policies. McCain's campaign seems unable to bring fresh new ideas to the public. They seem to be recycling the same old Bush policies and the Bush political campaign smears. Haven't we had enough of the Bush/Cheney/Rove/McCain agenda?

Are you better off today than you were 8 years ago? Do you want a better future for your children and grandchildren? It is time to support Barack Obama for fresh, intelligent leadership that will guarantee our children and grandchildren a future.

I've Got A Few Questions....

> If McCain is such a maverick, why has he voted with his Republican Party 88.3% of the time? (Wash.Post) That doesn't sound like such a "maverick" position.

> Did you know that Democratic Al Franken, candidate for U.S. Senate, has visited our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan many, many times?

> If there are millions of acres of land available for drilling now, why haven't the oil companies already started drilling there? I guess even they know that if drilling started today, we'd still have to wait 7-10 years for the first drop, especially since drilling equipment is not available.

Norm Coleman has many pictures for his photo album. Here are a few:

(WCCO)

Coleman went to the Bush ranch? How nice. They must be close.

Bikes and Puppets

What an interesting combination!!!!

John McCain is in Sturgis, SD for a huge biker rally. Although, the picture below has been cut and pasted, it still is worth imagining that McCain would/could be in such a position (LINK):



Who are the puppet masters pulling McCain's strings??????

Does McCain disagree with NASCAR?

Sen. Barack Obama has an extensive energy plan. Recently Sen. Obama told Americans to inflate their tires to increase gas mileage. John McCain has mocked this. However, NASCAR and Sen. Obama are on the right page. NASCAR.com has information on their website under the title,

"Tire Maintenance Key to Safety, Fuel Economy"

and this.....

• Check tire inflation pressure (including the spare) at least once a month and before every long trip. Tires must be checked when they are cold; that is, before they been run a mile...

Yes. Inflating your tires will increase your gas mileage. If McCain actually drove his own car and pumped his own gas, he'd know a little about gas mileage. Instead, McCain knows that the oil lobbyists have been very, very good to his campaign and continue to give contributions.

I'm not a NASCAR driver, but I do drive a Honda Civic Hybrid. I know that having my tires properly inflated increases my car's mpg.

Here is Barack Obama's Energy Plan.

***By the way, why was the only Black reporter, Stephen Price of the Tallahassee Democrat Newspaper, not allowed in McCain's "town hall meeting" in Florida?

John McCain's Support of Civil Rights = 0%?

In 1983, John McCain did not support having a federal holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King. In 1983, Congressman John McCain voted against the legislation for the Martin Luther King holiday. Here is more from Political Punch (ABC News):

...In January 1987, the first act of Arizona's new governor, Republican Evan Mecham, was to rescind the executive order by his predecessor to create an MLK holiday. Arizona's stance became a national controversy.
McCain backed the decision at the time. But eventually he changed his mind.....

Eventually. Can you imagine the things he said while he opposed the holiday?

From Progressive Accountability:

• FACT: In 1994, McCain Sided With Senator Jesse Helms and Voted To Eliminate Funding For Martin Luther King Commission. McCain voted in favor of a Helms amendment “to prohibit federal financing for the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Holiday Commission.” The amendment failed 28-70-2. [S Amdt 1738, Vote #127, 5/24/94; CQ Vote Description]

• FACT: McCain Voted Against The Civil Rights Act Of 1990 FOUR Times. In 1990, McCain voted against a bill designed to address employer discrimination at least 4 times. According to the Washington Post, the “Civil Rights Act of 1990 is designed to overturn several recent Supreme Court rulings that made it much more difficult for individual employees to prove discrimination. The legislation, being fought by business, also would impose new penalties on employers convicted of job discrimination.” [S 2104, Vote #304, 10/24/90; Vote #276, Vote #275, 10/16/90; Vote #161, 7/18/90; Washington Post, 7/9/90]

John McCain: (You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfkKk2C1W1c)

Did you know....

*** According to Harper's, John McCain's children went to private prep schools. Sparrowblog has that "....Meghan, John and Cindy's oldest kid, went to Xavier College Preparatory before graduating from Columbia University in New York. Jimmy (a private in the Marines) and Jack (at the Naval Academy) graduated from Brophy College Prep, and Bridget is a sophomore who plays volleyball and basketball at a private school in Phoenix (she went to elementary and middle school here.)..."

Oh, my. Pass the tea.

*** On MSNBC-TV right now they are talking about the fact McCain has been disrespectful and condescending to Sen. Barack Obama. Is this how McCain plans to run his campaign?

McCain's Campaign

In some backroom of the McCain campaign office, the Swift Boat vets of 2004, Karl Rove, and some other lowlifes are sitting around coming up strategies to attack and smear Sen. Barack Obama. The McCainites are without a strategy to turn this country around. The only thing the McCain people have are the Bush policies and their dirty politics. Shame on McCain and his dirty, filthy campaign. I thought he was an honorable man. Fifty seven thousand people lost their jobs last month and McCain can't talk about it, so he attacks Obama.

What has Senator Obama done in the U.S. Senate? Here is what TPZoo found:

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 570 bills in the 109th and 110th Congress.

Senator Obama has sponsored or co-sponsored 15 bills that have become LAW since he joined the Senate in 2005.

Senator Obama has also introduced amendments to 50 bills, of which 16 were adopted by the Senate.

His record is in fact quite impressive for a junior Senator from Illinois.

Most of his legislative effort has been in the areas of:

• Energy Efficiency and Climate Change (25 bills)
• Health care (21 bills) and public health (20 bills)
• Consumer protection/labor (14 bills)
• The needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces (13 bills)
• Congressional Ethics and Accountability (12 bills)
• Foreign Policy (10 bills)
• Voting and Elections (9 bills)
• Education (7 bills)
• Hurricane Katrina Relief (6)
• The Environment (5 bills)
• Homeland Security (4 bills)
• Discrimination (4 bills)

• Of the 15 bills Senator Obama sponsored or co-sponsored in 2005-7 that became law:

  Two addressed foreign policy:

• Promote relief, security and democracy in the Congo (2125)
• Develop democratic institutions in areas under Palestinian control (2370).

Three addressed public health:

• Improve mine safety (2803)
• Increased breast cancer funding (597)
• Reduce preterm delivery and complications, reduce infant mortality (707).

Two addressed openness and accountability in government:

• Strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (2488 )
• Full disclosure of all entities receiving federal funds (2590)

Two addressed national security

• Extend Terrorist Risk Insurance (467)
• Amend the Patriot Act (2167)

One addressed the needs of the Armed Forces

• Wave passport fees to visit graves, attend memorials/funerals of veterans abroad (1184).

Of the 570 bills Senator Obama introduced into the Senate during the 109th and 110th Congress (Senate Bill numbers are in parentheses), they can be summarized as follows:

25 addressed Energy Efficiency and Climate Change

• Suspend royalty relief for oil and gas (115)
• Reduce dependence on oil; use of alternative energy sources (133)
• Increase fuel economy standards for cars (767, 768 )
• Auto industry incentives for fuel efficient vehicles (1151)
• Reduce green house gas emissions (1324)
• Establish at NSF a climate change education program (1389)
• Increase renewable content of gasoline (2202)
• Energy emergency relief for small businesses and farms (269)
• Strategic gasoline and fuel reserves (1794)
• Alternative diesel standards (3554)
• Coal to liquid fuel promotion (3623)
• Renewable diesel standards (1920)
• Reducing global warming pollution from vehicles (2555)
• Fuel security and consumer choice (1994, 2025)
• Alternative energy refueling system (2614)
• Climate change education (1389)
• Low income energy assistance (2405)
• Oil savings targets (339)
• Fuel economy reform (3694)
• Plug-in electric drive vehicles (1617)
• Nuclear release notice (2348 )
• Passenger rail investment (294)
• Energy relief for low income families (2405)

21 addressed Health Care

• Drug re-importation (334)
• Health information technology (1262, 1418 )
• Discount drug prices (2347)
• Health care associated infections (2278 )
• Hospital quality report cards (692, 1824)
• Medical error disclosure and compensation (1784)
• Emergency medical care and response (1873)
• Stem cell research (5)
• Medical Malpractice insurance (1525)
• Health centers renewal (901, 3771)
• Children’s health insurance (401)
• Home health care (2061)
• Medicare independent living (2103)
• Microbicides for HIV/AIDS (823)
• Ovarian cancer biomarker research (2569)
• Gynological cancers (1172)
• Access to personalized medicine through use of human genome (976)
• Paralysis research and care (1183)

20 addressed Public Health:

• Violence against women (1197)
• Biodefense and pandemic preparedness and response (1821, 1880)
• Viral influenza control (969)
• End homelessness (1518 )
• Reduce STDs/unintended pregnancy (1790)
• Smoking prevention and tobacco control (625)
• Minority health improvement and disparity elimination (4024)
• Nutrition and physical education in schools (2066)
• Health impact assessments (1067, 2506)
• Healthy communities (1068 )
• Combat methamphetamines (2071)
• Paid sick leave (910)
• Prohibit mercury sales (833, 1818 )
• Prohibit sale of lead products (1306, 2132)
• Lead exposure in children (1811, 2132)

14 address Consumer Protection/Labor

• Stop unfair labor practices (842)
• Fair minimum wage (2, 1062, 2725, 3829)
• Internet freedom (2917)
• Credit card safety (2411)
• Media ownership (2332)
• Protecting taxpayer privacy (2484)
• Working family child assistance (218 )
• Habeus Corpus Restoration (185)
• Bankruptcy protection for employees and retirees (2092)
• FAA fair labor management dispute resolution (2201)
• Working families flexibility (2419).

13 addressed the Needs of Veterans and the Armed Forces:

• Improve Benefits (117)
• Suicide prevention (479)
• Needs of homeless veterans (1180)
• Homes for veterans (1084)
• GI Bill enhancement (43)
• Military job protection
• Dignity in care for wounded vets (713)
• Housing assistance for low income veterans (1084)
• Military children in public schools (2151)
• Military eye injury research and care (1999)
• Research physical/mental health needs from Iraq War (1271)
• Proper administration of discharge for personality disorder (1817, 1885)
• Security of personal data of veterans (3592)

12 addressed Congressional Ethics and Accountability

• Lobbying and ethics reform (230)
• Stop fraud (2280)
• Legislative transparency and accountability (525)
• Open government (2180, 2488 )
• Restoring fiscal discipline (10)
• Transparency and integrity in earmarks (2261)
• Accountability of conference committee deliberations and reports (2179)
• Federal funding accountability and transparency (2590)
• Accountability and oversight for private security functions under Federal
• contract (674)
• Accountability for contractors and personnel under federal contracts
• (2147) Restrictions awarding government contracts (2519)

10 addressed Foreign Policy:

• Iraq war de-escalation (313)
• US policy for Iraq (433),
• Divestiture from Iran (1430)
• Sudan divestment authorization (831)
• Millennium Development Goals (2433)
• Multilateral debt relief (1320)
• Development bank reform (1129)
• Nuclear nonproliferation (3131,977,2224).

9 address Voting/Elections

• Prohibit deceptive practices in Federal elections (453)
• Voter access to polls and services in Federal elections (737)
• Voter intimidation and deceptive practices (1975)
• Senate campaign disclosure parity (185)
• Require reporting for bundled campaign contributions (2030)
• Election jamming prevention (4102)
• Campaign disclosure parity (223)
• Presidential funding (2412)
• Integrity of electronic voting systems (1487)

11 addressed Education

• Increase access of low income African Americans to higher education (1513)
• Establish teaching residency programs (1574)
• Increase early intervention services (2111)
• Middle school curriculum improvements (2227)
• Public database of scholarships, fellowships and financial aid (2428 )
• Summer learning programs (116)
• TANF financial education promotion (924)
• Higher education (1642)
• Build capacity at community colleges (379)
• Campus law enforcement in emergencies (1228 )
• Support for teachers (2060).

6 addressed Hurricane Katrina

• Hurricane Katrina recovery (2319)
• Emergency relief (1637)
• Bankruptcy relief and community protection (1647)
• Working family tax relief (2257)
• Fair wages for recovery workers (1749)
• Gulf coast infrastructure redevelopment (1836)

5 addressed the Environment

• Drinking water security (218, 1426)
• Water resources development (728 )
• Waste water treatment (1995)
• Combat illegal logging (1930)
• Spent nuclear fuel tracking and accountability (1194)
• Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act (Introduced in Senate)[S.726.IS ]

4 addressed Discrimination

• Claims for civil class action based on discrimination (1989)
• Domestic partnership benefits (2521)
• Unresolved civil rights crimes (535)
• Equality or two parent families (2286)

4 addressed Homeland Security

• Judicial review of FISA orders (2369)
• National emergency family locator (1630)
• Amend US Patriot Act (2167)
• Chemical security and safety (2486)

Print it out and carry it with you. Thank you TPZoo for your work!