This is too funny. I love the reaction of the crowd.
Monthly Archives:
October 2008
This video of McCain/Palin supporters is frightening. It’s from a Palin rally in Johnstown, PA. It literally sends chills down my spine seeing people behaving like this. You half expect if someone tosses a piece of meat, or a Muslim, there would be a feeding frenzy right there.
I was at the Obama rally here in Cincinnati, and it was nothing like this. With 15,000 people it was one of the friendliest gatherings that I’ve ever been at.
Has HP resorted to naming their products by reading license plates from their parking lot? What printer do you own? The M2727nf MFP. That just rolls off the tongue.
I found Colin Powell’s endorsement in the video above to be very powerful, thoughtful, and inspirational.
Powell’s statement goes beyond just a simple endorsement, but a call for America to be an America for all people. His story of Kareem R. Khan, an American born Muslim who fought and died for the United States in Iraq is a story that I’ve never heard, but one that needs to be shared. America should be a country where a 7 year old Muslim can dream to one day become President, that prejudice against ones religion should not exist.
Contrary to what Sarah Palin says, it’s not just small towns with all white populations that are “Pro-America”. America became the success it has through the immigrants that have been welcomed to its shores, by those who only wish to live the “American Dream”. This is the country I want to live in. We’re all pro-America.
From ArlingtonCemetary.net: Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan, Specialist, United States Army
From NYTimes.com: More on the Soldier Kareem R. Khan
Mr. Powell mentioned Mr. Khan’s death to underscore why he was deeply troubled by Republican personal attacks on Mr. Obama, especially false intimations that he was Muslim.
Mr. Obama is a lifelong Christian, not a Muslim, he said. But, he added, “The really right answer is, what if he is?”
“Is there something wrong with being Muslim in America? No, that’s not America,” he said.
From NYTimes.com: Powell Endorses Obama
Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell endorsed Senator Barack Obama for president on Sunday morning as a candidate who was reaching out in a “more diverse and inclusive way across our society” and offering a “calm, patient, intellectual, steady approach” to the nation’s problems.
From Time.com: Halperin: How the Powell Endorsement Boosts Obama
In one of the most important symbolic moments of the general election, former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced today that he is endorsing Barack Obama for president. Making his decision public on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” the long-time fixture in Republican administrations effectively reinforced the sense of momentum Obama has been building, declaring the Senator from Illinois as a “transformational figure.” “I think that Senator Obama brings a fresh set of eyes, a fresh set of ideas to the table,” said Powell. “I think we need a generational change, and I think Senator Obama has captured the feelings of the young people of America, and is reaching out in a more diverse, inclusive way across our society.”
From NYTimes.com: Candidates Vie for Pieces of a Changing Electoral Map
Mr. Obama gave a striking sign of his electoral muscle when he arrived here Saturday morning and journeyed to the city’s Gateway Arch on the Mississippi River. He saw 100,000 people spread out before him, a vast turnout in a state that teeters between Republicans and Democrats.
Amazing.
From Reuters.com: McCain moment
Photographer talks about the photo:
In any case, when I saw McCain lunge and his hands start to come up I hit the shutter and made two frames before it was over. Some other photographers who were there expressed surprise when they saw my picture and said they had never seen it happen at all and asked when it had occurred.
From NYTimes.com: Whale Protection Is Bolstered as Palin Objects
On Friday, Ms. Palin said the state had had “serious concerns about the low population of belugas in Cook Inlet for many years,” but she called the listing “premature.” Her administration challenged the federal government’s data, as it did with the polar bear decision.
The commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Denby S. Lloyd, said state data showed “an increase of more than 30 percent in the population, from 278 to 375,” since 2004. (The National Marine Fisheries Service said estimates had been as low as 278 in 2005.)
…
“In spite of protections already in place, Cook Inlet beluga whales are not recovering,” James W. Balsiger, the acting assistant administrator for the fisheries agency, said in a written statement. The whales are in danger of extinction, Dr. Balsiger said.
So, Palin thinks that 375 of a population is ok. When does she think listing wouldn’t be “premature”? I bet Palin thinks you only need two Beluga whales to have a safe population, a male and a female.
Investing in Victory? I wonder if you’ll get a bailout on your donation if they lose.
The interesting thing is that the banner is requesting a donation for the McCain/Palin Compliance Fund. I had never heard of a “Compliance Fund” so I decided to find out what it is.
From JohnMcCain.com
Contributions to the Compliance Fund will be used solely for legal and accounting services to ensure compliance with federal law, including a portion of the cost of broadcast advertising, campaign offices, and computer/website expenses. Federal law prohibits the Compliance Fund contributions from being used for a candidate’s election. Contributions from corporations, unions, government contractors, national banks, and foreign nationals without permanent residency status are prohibited.
…
Because the McCain-Palin Campaign is participating in the presidential public funding system, it will not raise private campaign contributions after August 31, 2008. However, federal law allows the Campaign to establish the Compliance Fund to defray legal and accounting compliance costs and preserve the Campaign’s public grant for media, mail, phones, and get-out-the-vote programs.
The “Compliance Fund” is for “legal and accounting costs for complying with campaign finance laws.” But how much money do you need to pay for costs to comply with finance laws? And why would you need to fund-raise for it?
It seems like a banner ad would be a violation of the use of the Compliance Fund. I think they may be getting around it by saying that the ad is not for McCain/Palin for President but a McCain/Palin Compliance Fund ad. It accomplishes both, but allows them to use money that was not supposed to be used for the campaign to be used.
Ironically John McCain is using this as a loophole in his own McCain/Feingold Campaign Finance reform bill.
From NYTimes.com: McCain’s Camp Tests Fund-Raising Limits
Senator John McCain toiled for years to push a campaign finance overhaul through Congress. After the measure finally passed, Trevor Potter, a lawyer and vigorous advocate for reforming the system, was instrumental in defending the law from challenges and pressing for strict enforcement.
Now, as Mr. McCain makes his final sprint for the White House, Mr. Potter is again helping Mr. McCain, but this time by maneuvering to wring the maximum out of campaign finance laws in ways that some contend are at odds with the spirit of the reforms they championed.
From Slate.com: What’s a “Compliance Fund”?
A LOOPHOLE IN THE PUBLIC FINANCING RULES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
From NYTimes.com: Buy American. I Am.
A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful.
Warren Buffett’s words carry a lot of weight. If he’s buying, a lot of people will follow.
Barack Obama and John McCain both gave comedic speeches at the Al Smith Memorial Foundation Charity Dinner. There’s some pretty funny moments in both. It’s nice to see the two candidates having fun and enjoying themselves.