A World AIDS Day Message

Hello amigos/ amigas,

Today is just not another day that your rent is due. I am writing to raise awareness for the 3.3 million people living with HIV worldwide on behalf of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of HIV/AIDS Policy’s AIDS.gov. Members of the BlogCatalog network are sending messages through the blogosphere for Bloggers Unite For World AIDS Day.

Even if just 10 percent of the members get involved, we can reach an estimated 4 million blog readers. And if half of our members participate, we can reach 20 million. And if all bloggers participate, we can reach the entire world.

Nearly half of all AIDS cases in the U.S. involve people 13 to 24 years of age. More than 250,000 are estimated to be HIV positive and not know it. And more than 1 million are estimated to have AIDS. It affects every country, city, and town in the world. And, the most frightening thing about it is that is going largely unchecked. In fact, that is one of the reasons that worldaidscampaign.org is continuing its "leadership" theme, which it developed after learning that many leaders who promised to support AIDS were not keeping their promises.

So, get tested, do your homework and contribute to the cause to prevent AIDS. And by doing that, you might not only save someone, but save someone close to you.

Check out a video from the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City where people from around the world made their pledges to stop AIDS. More videos here.

Was Clinton Really Offered the Sec of State Gig?

So, rumors are flying about that President-elect Barack Obama’s Secretary of State offer to Senator Hillary Clinton may be as real as Spencer and Heidi Montag’s wedding stunt (sorry, my first and last The Hills reference). According to “two senior Democratic officials,” Obama “offered” Senator Hillary Clinton the position of Secretary of State during their meeting on Thursday in Chi-town.

The Huffington Post reported that:

Mrs. Clinton's and her closest advisers' turning a suggestion by the President-elect that she might, among other things, head the State Department into an "offer" and reports that she was agonizing over whether to accept it, did not please officials in Chicago, some of whom hoped that issues over disclosure of Bill Clinton's post-presidential record might block the appointment. But the former president's camp blocked that by promising to cooperate with requests for information and to accept limits on his activities, including clearance of speaking engagements abroad.

Statements by the Hilary camp on November 21 saying that "she's ready" for the position but then backtracking, saying that some matters were "under discussion," typified the whole mess, the only snag thus far in an otherwise unusually smooth transition involving impressive choices--an object lesson to Obama (which he had reason to know already) that getting involved with the Clintons is rarely uncomplicated.

Don’t get me wrong, I have no doubt that Senator Hillary Clinton would be a smart, tough and capable department head - but given her disagreements with Obama on foreign policy - I'm iffy on whether this is the best position for her. We'll know for sure after the T-giving holiday!

Obama Announces the E-Team

Howdy Politicas y politicos! The last few weeks have been pretty insane for yours truly and yet life continues onward and the economy continues downward. Much chatter has been going on about Obama’s economic team picks so let’s review:

Today, our Presidente-Electo announced the key members of his economic team tasked with creating jobs, stabilizing the economy, and getting our country back on track.

Timothy F. Geithner, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, will serve as Secretary of the Treasury.

Lawrence H. Summers, former Secretary of the Treasury under President Clinton, will serve as Director of the National Economic Council.

Christina D. Romer will serve as Director of the Council of Economic Advisers, Melody C. Barnes will serve as Director of the Domestic Policy Council, and Heather A. Higginbottom (woot!) will serve as Deputy Director of the Domestic Policy Council.

And what did our dear friend Joe Lieberman have to say about his team picks:

“Everything that President-elect Obama has done since election night has been just about perfect, both in terms of a tone and also in terms of the strength of the names that have either been announced or are being discussed to fill his administration.”

Hmmm...how quickly his tone changed.

Check out Barack Obama's live press conference explaining his economic plan. Um yea, George Bush who?

What the 2008 Electoral Map Would Look Like if the Election Were Decided By...

WOMEN

THOSE EARNING LESS THAN $50,000 A YEAR

SELF-DESCRIBED MODERATES

Check out other maps here.

Stevens Behind by 3 votes in Alaska Senate Race

Alaska Republican Senator Ted "convicted" Stevens trailed by three votes on Wednesday. Democrat Mayor Mark Begich holds a slight lead of 125,019 votes to 125,016. In Alaska, the losing candidate or 10 voters has three days to petition for a recount unless the vote was a tie. Get this: If Stevens wins his seat but faces expulsion, a special election would be held -- and Gov. Sarah Palin has stated she'd be interested in serving that role. Wut wo.

Mike Huckabee: Barack Obama, My President

Check out the below editorial written by Mike Huckabee on FoxNews.com:

It's no secret that I personally supported John McCain for president. I agreed with him on core issues and he and I are in the same party, but I also truly believe he's an extraordinary and honorable American hero.

I campaigned hard for him — to the point of losing my voice in fact. But Americans elected Barack Obama and it's time to put the election behind us and the country in front of us. Barack Obama wasn't my choice, but come January 20, he will be my president. I will pray for him and his family. I want him to be successful in leading our country.

I will not seek to see all of his faults and none of his qualities.

Some of President Bush's harsh critics went beyond loyal opposition and engaged in angry, vile and mean-spirited hate. Those of us who found that kind of attitude and behavior despicable can hardly engage in similar conduct toward a President Obama.

We can show our true patriotism conducting ourselves in the way that we wanted people to have treated President Bush.

The rest of the article is here.

The Sunday Funnies

HOT or NOT: The Week-In-Review

HOT: Change.

NOT: More of the same.

HOT: CNN Useless Technological Toys. CNN was superjazzed to play with their new “hologram” toy and beamed CNN correspondent, Jessica Yellin, from Chicago, to the CNN press center in New York. Beam me up, Scotty!

NOT: Karl Rove calls Rahm Emanuel too partisan. Is this for real? Too funny.

HOT: Reid Considers Ousting Lieberman from Chairmanship. There was probably no one more upset about Barack Obama’s win than Joe Lieberman. Now that Dems have a comfortable majority in the senate, there are rumors that Harry Reid will oust our dear friend Joe out of his chairmanship on the Senate Homeland Security Committee. So sad. Reid offered Lieberman a deal to step down as chairman of the homeland security committee and chair a subcommittee on economic or small business issues.

NOT: Mocking Your VP Pick. Now this is interesting. The people who introduced the world to the delightful Sarah Palin and defended her ridiculousness time and time again – are trying to take her down. Soon after the election, McCain staffers were more than willing to spill that Palin did not know Africa was a continent, what countries were in NAFTA and threw dramatic temper tantrums at bad news clippings.

And here is Our Fabulous Political Video of the Week:

Obama Announces Emanuel as Chief of Staff

Below are statements from President-elect Barack Obama and Congressman Rahm Emanuel on Congressman Emanuel being named White House Chief of Staff.


Statement from President-elect Barack Obama:

I am pleased to announce that my good friend, Congressman Rahm Emanuel, has agreed to serve as my White House chief of staff. I announce this appointment first because the Chief of Staff is central to the ability of a President and Administration to accomplish an agenda. And no one I know is better at getting things done than Rahm Emanuel.

Statement from Congressman Rahm Emanuel:

I know what a privilege it is to serve in the White House, and am humbled by the responsibility we owe the American people. I'm leaving a job I love to join your White House for one simple reason - like the record amount of voters who cast their ballot over the last month, I want to do everything I can to help deliver the change America needs. We have work to do, and Tuesday Americans sent Washington a clear message – get the job done.

It's A New Day

We. Did. It. Like many of you, I watched President-Elect Barack Obama’s acceptance speech with tears in my eyes, overcome with the emotion of that moment. Not just because this historic election broke down barriers of race (which is emotional in itself) but because of my pride in America for believing in change – for voting for hope over fear, unity over division, change over more of the same.

Those of us that are younger have developed such a defeatist attitude about the American political system. After watching two elections that were won by unethical and manipulative political tactics and eight years of failed policies, many of us had lost hope in the American political process. We could not believe that an election could be won decisively solely on the basis that a candidate could inspire people to go to the polls. We could not believe that an election could be won without long, drawn-out Supreme Court cases, state recounts, voter suppression and political platforms that seek to divide us. And yet, this moment in history has reignited the spark in the age-old American ideal that all things can be possible with hard work and determination.

Not only did President-Elect Barack Obama triumph last night. Dignity and integrity won out. Sincere, deeply-rooted, undying hope won out. Sacrifice against all odds won out. The American commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness won out. And the radical notion that everyday people can come together and change the world as we know it won out.

I will always remember this. Minutes after the news networks called Virginia, my father called me. And he said to me, “I never thought it would happen in my lifetime. Maybe your lifetime, but not mine. I just can’t believe it.” And my heart broke instantly because in that moment, I could feel the immense joy of millions across the nation whose faith in the American Dream had been restored.

I don’t know what’s to come. I will not make light the challenges that are before us and the work that’s left to be done in an Obama administration. But finally, the sun has arisen from behind the clouds of fear and apprehension and it’s a new day. And I thank you all for being part of this story. Thank you who believed, who sacrificed time and effort and money, who said “Yes We Can” when others mocked and doubted, and who voted for a better America hope beyond hope. Thank you for reaffirming my faith in America's spirit and promise. May God bless you all and may God bless America.

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Cross-posted on Huff Post's OfftheBus

Obama Wins!

YES WE CAN! YES WE DID!

According to all the major networks, Barack Obama is the President-Elect of the United States of America. We did it. We made history. Still processing here. Speechless.

America Votes for Change: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/election.president/index.html

Obama Wins White House, Becomes First Black President: http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/11/04/wrap-polls-start-close-frenied-day-voting/

Obama Wins: How He Did It: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/04/obama-wins-how-he-did-it_n_141231.html

Final Thoughts: Is America Ready for A Black President?

And. Here. We. Are. Just hours before the results come in (let’s hope). It’s been an amazing journey for us diehard Obama supporters. We have experienced the highs and lows, moments of joy and outrage alongside the Senator over the past two years.

During every major turning point in American history, there have always been the naysayers, the doubters or more conventionally “the haters” on all sides stating that America is just not ready for the emancipation of the slaves, women’s rights, fill in the blank with any subversive movement. This election presents yet another pivotal turning point in American culture and society.

There has arguably never been a better time or better candidate for such a phenomenon as a Black President to take place. Here we have a candidate who is clearly black but in a bizarre Oprah-esque fashion has the potential to transcend race and appeal to millions of white Americans. And here we have this moment in our history where the opposition party has created such a colossal mess of our foreign relations and economic standing that has allowed such a candidate to be viable in the eyes of the electorate.

Oddly enough, some of the biggest doubters in this election have been African-Americans who have lost faith in America’s sense of fairness and equality. And, in many ways, rightfully so. Call me naïve but I have an unrelenting faith in America and our commitment to justice, liberty and equal opportunity for all Americans (which could possibly change after Nov. 4). It is a faith that I must constantly defend at the dinner table with my parents who have seen some of America’s darkest days, a faith that I must defend as I knock on doors in poor black neighborhoods in South Philadelphia and a faith that I often must defend to myself as comments like “uppity” have reemerged during this election.

That’s why this election means so much more than two men running against each other at a unique time in history. It is a challenge to everything that we as a nation are and what we presume to stand for. It is an opportunity for America to prove how far we’ve truly come in the fight for equal rights – that the American people will not judge a candidate (in public or in private) by innate qualities but by their strength, intelligence and vision for America. With Obama up by a substantial lead in the polls -- this is a moment in which we will know for sure whether subtle racism still has its insidious grip on our belief system. It is a moment in which we will know for sure if we are ready to turn the next page in our nation’s history.

Cross-posted on Huff Post's OfftheBus

Coast to Coast: Election Night Parties

With one day to go, check out the hot Election Night Parties happening across the country on Tuesday.

California:

Host: California for Obama, Generation Obama LA, 008 The Movement, California Democratic Party
Tuesday, November 4
8:01pm-2:00am
Free Admission
They have a stellar line up of musical acts, comedians, and appearances by many of our state and local politicians.
*The event will reach capacity and they are guaranteeing admission to everyone who contributes.
Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles 90067
Rsvp: http//ca.barackobama.com/ElectionNightLA
Contribute here: http://www.the008store.com/elnica.html

Election Cruise in San Francisco Bay
Where: FDR's Yacht, Potomac
When: Sail from Oakland's Jack London Square at 5:00 pm and Pier 40 at 5:45 pm
Enjoy wine and food while sailing around the bay.

Official San Francisco Election Night Party
Tuesday, November 4
Doors Open at 6pm, Free Admission
Join Generation Obama San Francisco and other Bay Area Groups for the Official San Francisco Election Night Event!
First 100 Attendees Receive a Free Shepard Fairey "Hope" Poster.
Mezzanine (Near Mint Plaza)

444 Jessie St

San Francisco, CA

Orange County Election Night Party
Where: JT Schmid's Restaurant & Brewery in Tustin, California
When: 7:30 to 10:00 pm
Join your fellow Orange County citizens for fun and results.

New York:

Host: Democratic Leadership for the 21st Century of New York
DL21C's Election Night Bash!
Tuesday, November 4
6:00pm-LATE!
NYC's biggest party celebrating local and national Democratic victories!
Huge TVs, DJ, Elected Officials and more!
New World Stages
340 W. 50th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues)
RSVP: www.newworldstages.com

The Election Night Party
Where: Element in New York, New York
When: 7:00 pm
Dance away the election as DJ's mix it up.

Election Day Bash
Where: Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden in Astoria, New York
When: 6:00 pm
Nothing helps you forget about red & blue states like a pitcher of beer.

Washington, DC:

Host: African Diaspora for Obama Election Night Party!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
5:00pm
After you cast your vote on November 4, end your night with the entire ADO Family as we come out to cheer our man, Barack Obama, in the last leg of this historic race for President of the United States!
- TV Projectors of real time electoral stats, polls and analysis
- Kuku, Clarence “Bluesman” Turner, N’Digo Rose, Jessica Chambliss, Will Rast & the Funk Ark
- the Fatback DJ’s, Adrian Loving, and The Return of Party Bros
RSVP: info@africandiasporaforobama.com
Bohemian Caverns
11th & U St. NW
Washington, DC

Politics Magazine Election Night Party
Where: Lounge 201 in Washington, DC
When: 7:30 to 10:30 pm
Get some martinis, food and have some fun.

Vote Then Party
Where: Ultra Bar in Washington, DC
When: Open bar from 8:00 to 11:00 pm
Antonella Barba hosts a rockin' party only for those who vote.

Pennsylvania:

PW Election Night Party
Where: Loews Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
When: 8:00 pm
Listen to DJs and keep tabs on the exciting election results.

The Sunday Funnies

This week's Sunday Funnies is a David Letterman clip of the Top Ten Palin Excuses for Spending $150,000 on clothes.

HOT or NOT: The Week-In-Review

Happy Halloween, politcas and politicos! As we celebrate Halloween, remember that there's nothing scarier than a McCain-Palin administration so GOTV ya'll.

HOT: Obama Airs 30-minute Prime-Time TV Appeal. Barack Obama aired a $3 million special broadcast on three major networks on Wednesday night. According to rating reports, more than 26 million people watched the program on CBS, NBC or Fox. Hey, I guess when you have cash to spare, why not?

NOT: Elizabeth Hasselbeck on the Campaign Trail. Elizabeth Hasselbeck joined Sarah Palin on the campaign trail in Florida over the weekend. She introduced Palin at two rallies with plenty of female references to “cleaning up” Washington and being able to stand the heat in the “kitchen.” Puke.

HOT: The Economist Endorses Barack Obama. The Economist endorsed Barack Obama on Thursday, saying, "America should take a chance and make Barack Obama the next leader of the free world... the Democratic candidate has clearly shown that he offers the better chance of restoring America’s self-confidence." This of course means that The Economist is a socialist paper.

NOT: “Communism” as a campaign attack. Seriously, what year is this? I thought we were over the days when we labeled anyone who fought for equal rights a “Communist” (i.e. unions, Martin Luther King, etc). The McCain-Palin campaign is clearly so desperate that they’ve resorted to a campaign tactic from 1963. Obama recently responded to such attacks, saying, "By next week he'll be calling me a secret communist because I shared my toys in kindergarten." Zing!

HOT: John McCain Gets Stood Up by BFF Joe the Plumber. John McCain invited Joe the Plumber to join him at a campaign event in Defiance, Ohio this week. But when McCain called out for him: radio silence. Good ol’ Joe was nowhere to be found. Awwwwkward. A campaign aide later said he had "decided not to come" and may join McCain later in the day. But when contacted by CNN, Joe said it was "news to him" that he was supposed to be at the McCain rally and said that nobody from the campaign confirmed he was attending the event. Even worse: McCain had to bus in 4,000 school children from the surrounding area to fill the crowd.

NOT: Gun Sales Increasing as Economy Collapses. As the economy goes in the tank, Americans seem to be buying a lot of one thing: guns. Much of the 10% increase in firearm sales can be attributed to misguided paranoia that an Obama Administration would toughen gun laws as well as the uncertainty of a worsening economy. Yikes! Guns and economic uncertainty are a deadly (no pun intended!) combination.

And check out Our Fabulous Video of the Week:

Palin Looks to 2012, McCain Campaign Speechless

Responding to a question about what happens in 2012 if McCain loses, Sarah Palin said, "I'm not doin' this for naught." Uhhh. We all knew this is what she was thinking, but to say this six days before the election is admitting defeat. Bad form. I almost feel bad for the McCain camp on this one. Good luck defending this comment! Check out the CNN clip below.

BLITZER: I am not surprised, not surprised at all. It is one of those "wow, she is talking about 2012 if we lose," that is not supposed to be something that you say. You are supposed to say, "well, I'm not looking ahead, I'm not looking ahead only to Tuesday," and those are the talking points she's supposed to be saying, but she is obviously blunt and she is looking ahead if something were to happen on Tuesday that she wouldn't be happy with.

Major Alaska Newspaper Endorses Obama

A leading newspaper in Alaska, the Anchorage Daily News, endorsed Barack Obama on Saturday, saying, "[he] brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand."

Although the newspaper acknowledges Palin's success and notes she "draws huge crowds and sows excitement in her wake," they are not convinced that she is "truly ready to assume command of the important, powerful nation on earth."

Gov. Palin's nomination clearly alters the landscape for Alaskans as we survey this race for the presidency -- but it does not overwhelm all other judgment. The election, after all is said and done, is not about Sarah Palin, and our sober view is that her running mate, Sen. John McCain, is the wrong choice for president at this critical time for our nation.

Check out the article here.

One Week to Go...

So, I finally got my absentee ballot from Virginia last night. Phew! For three nights in a row, I've had the reoccurring dream that the ballot would never come and that Barack Obama would lose the election by one vote. Putting that bad boy in the mail this morning finally relieved me of my election guilt (sigh).

A few days ago, a friend of mine sent me this video. Although it's a rather extreme example, it's a great reminder what's at stake in this election. Customize the video for yourself and your friends here. Yes, Barack is up in the polls and some newspapers are already predicting his win, but we just won't know until Tuesday or thereafter - so let's not take voting and doing our part lightly, folks.

The Sunday Funnies

This week's Sunday Funnies is a hilarious comic strip on the Joe the Plumber-esque voter. Check it out:

HOT or NOT: The Week-In-Review

HOT: Palin Wears Democratic-Themed Scarf. VP Candidate Sarah Palin raised eyebrows this week when she was spotted sporting a donkey- themed scarf. She was photographed in Reno on Tuesday wearing a scarf with donkeys and the words ‘Yes’ and ‘Vote.’ There's just so much I could say about this one I don't even know where to start.

NOT: Naming Your Child “Zamboni.” In an interview with People Magazine, Palin said that if she had a sixth child, they have already picked the name for a boy – Zamboni. I already pity this poor hypothetical child.

HOT: Former Bush Press Secretary Backs Obama. So Scott McClellan recently announced that he would vote for Barack Obama on CNN’s new show with D.L. Hughley. He described Senator Obama as the candidate “who has the best chance of changing the way Washington works and getting things done." I wonder if Rush Limbaugh will say that he’s only supporting Barack because he’s black.

NOT: Louis Vuitton for Your Kids. Amongst the $150,000 clothes and accessories purchased for Sarah Palin and her family, is a $790 Louis Vuitton Canvas bag for her 7-year-old daughter, Piper Palin. I can't blame her though because she understands that people are voting based on "pocketbook" issues. Update: Piper Palin's Louis Vuitton Purse is FAKE!

HOT: The New York Times Endorses Barack Obama. And the newspaper endorsements keep rolling in for Barack Obama. The NYT described their decision as an easy one, saying that Senator Barack Obama “has proved that he is the right choice to be the 44th president of the United States.”

NOT: Distinguishing between Northern Virginia and “Real Virginia.” McCain senior adviser Nancy Pfotenhauer recently suggested that McCain would win Virginia because he is doing better in the southern part of the state or, as she called it, “real Virginia.” I wasn’t aware that I was living in an imaginary place for three years.

HOT: Michele Bachmann's Tightening Race. After Michele Bachmann’s comments accusing the House leadership of being “un-American,” donations increased for her opponent, Elwyn Tinkleberg. What was considered to be a cake walk is now a close race to keep her congressional seat in Minnesota’s 6th District. Love it.

And here is Our Fabulous Video of the Week:

And They Talked About John Edwards' "Elitist" $400 Haircut...

Reports are coming in that the Republican National Committee has spent $4000 for a haircut for Sarah Palin and a total of $150,000 to clothe and accessorize the Veep candidate and her family since late August. Just a regular American girl, folks.

With all the trubs that the Repubs have had with matching the Obama camp's campaign donations, you would think that they would want to put this money to more efficient use. Priorities, priorities, priorities.

Are they preparing for a Miss America contest or a Presidential campaign?

Colin Powell and Black Racism?

Rant of the Week: So after months of hinting at it, Colin Powell finally endorsed Barack Obama. This endorsement has prompted Republicans like Rush Limbaugh to suggest that Powell is only voting for Barack Obama based on race. I find these notions that African-American voters are voting for Obama solely on the basis of race particularly troubling. Especially when Republicans try to bring up blacks voting for Obama as a way to defend or excuse the white racists voting for McCain-Palin. Not the same thing, my friends!

First of all, most African-Americans do not blindly vote based on race. Sure, there are many more blacks that will likely vote in this election because they are energized by the idea of a Black President, but they would not be voting for Obama if he was a Republican. Think about the frustration that many black voters have for Alan Keyes and Clarence Thomas. For most black voters, race is meaningless if the candidate of choice does not appear to advocate for policies that benefit many African-Americans. The idea that blacks are ONLY voting for Obama because of his race is insulting to the millions of African-Americans who are making a rational, informed decision about who they are voting for.

Secondly, it is pretty ridiculous to say that white racists who are voting against Obama based on race are the same as black voters voting for Obama. White racists are voting based on hatred, bigotry and fear of the unknown. By and large, this is not the motivation for blacks to support Obama so the two cases are not quite comparable.

What's more, Colin Powell lists specific reasons for his support for Barack Obama. Among his reasons, he notes his disappointment with John McCain's campaign and his VP choice of Sarah Palin as running mate. Even Republicans have to admit that these reasons are not exactly coming from left field (no pun intended!) .

And while many Republicans criticize black voters for voting for a Black candidate based on race, they seem completely fine with female voters voting for Sarah Palin based solely on gender - in fact they welcome it and look for opportunities to exploit her "womaness." For shame.

Ok, stepping off soapbox now...

The Sunday Funnies

This week's Sunday Funnies is a Daily Show clip about John McCain's monster that he has created at his hate rallies.

HOT or NOT: The Week-In-Review

HOT: Obama wins debate. Again. CNN reported that 53% of uncommitted voters surveyed identified Dem nominee Barack Obama as the winner of the debate and 22% identified John McCain.

NOT: McCain’s temper. It was clearly the most emotional debate to date. But while Barack looked calm and composed, McCain looked like he was about to blow his lid. Gotta love those split screens.

HOT: Wash Post Endorses BO. The Post remarked that it was an easy decision for them when looking at McCain's campaign strategy and selection of a running mate who is unfit to lead. They admire Obama's "impressive qualities" and are hopeful about an Obama presidency.

NOT: Rally hate. Reports and videos are coming in of the angry words shouted at McCain-Palin rallies. While McCain has called them "fringe" types, him and his running mate have referred to Barack Obama by using his middle name - Hussein, provoking words like "Terrorist" and Kill Him" from their attendees.

HOT: Obama goes after FOX news. At Wednesday's debate, Obama challenged FOX News' "fair and balanced" coverage, saying, "If I Were Watching Fox News, I Wouldn't Vote For Me."

NOT: Joe “The Plumber” giving more interviews in one day than Sarah Palin As VP Candidate. Um, yea this guy is everywhere all of a sudden. He said in a recent interveiw, "I'm kind of like Britney Spears having a headache. Everybody wants to know about it."

Quote of the Week:
“I'm probably going to call him [Joe "The Plumber"] this morning," McCain said. "I thought he would probably be up late. I heard that his — that his phone lines were pretty well flooded. But I think we're going to be spending some time together.”

And check out Our Fabulous Video of the Week:

Debate Part 3: Republicans Heart "Joe (insert cliched Blue-collar job here)"

So, tonight was the last and final debate between Prez candidates Barack Obama and John McCain. Again, neither candidate caused fireworks but it was certainly the most interesting (translation: I didn't fall asleep) debate between the candidates.

In a nutshell: McCain played offense and went after Barack's associations. Barack stuck to the issues while McCain kept plunging away at "Joe the Plumber." What's next "Joe the miner" or "Joe the repairman?" B-rack picked up speed in the last few innings and McCain did a horrific job of trying to keep his cool.

Best moment: Watching the insta-poll dip for women when McCain talked about how Sarah Palin is a model for women everywhere. Women no likey the Sarah Palin.


Fun with wordle:

Obama:
McCain:

Philly Fans Never Disappoint

Being a native Philadelphian (woot!) myself, I know there is only one thing we like more than Philly cheesesteaks. And that's booing. The fans were more than up to the task when Sarah Palin came to town...

HOT or NOT: The Week-In-Review

HOT: Another Win for BO. Unless you’ve been living under a rock for two years, Tuesday's debate was a total bore and not a game changer, but Obama came out strong and hit McCain where it hurt.

NOT: Confusing Joe Biden with John McCain. A Tampa area resident and former Republican who supports Obama introduced Joe Biden as, "the next Vice President of the United States, John McCain." Um, awkward. Hey, at least, it’ll make for a good story at company icebreakers (?)

HOT: David Brooks on Palin. David Brooks has been taking a spoonful of straight-talk lately and called Sarah Palin a "fatal cancer to the Republican party" on Monday afternoon. He criticized Palin’s lack of intellectualism and her propensity to “scorn ideas,” comparing her to George Bush. Zing! And again, this is from David Brooks, not Barney Frank.

NOT: Cindy McCain Attacks. Cindy McCain accused Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama of running "the dirtiest campaign in American history." Really now?! According to an analysis by the Wisconsin Advertising Project, almost every ad that the McCain campaign ran last week was negative, compared to just 34 percent of those by Obama. Hmmm. If the campaign’s strategy is to make Cindy an attack dog, I say bring it on.

HOT: Voting Early and Often. The Wall Street Journal has reported that a large number of blacks in Georgia are taking advantage of the early voting option to avoid “polling problems” on Election Day. Ludacris was amongst one of the 263,408 ballots already cast in Georgia. Wonder who he's voting for...

NOT: FOX News Complains that Sarah Palin Photo is Not Retouched. So FOX News has officially run out of things to complain about and recently ran a segment in which a Republican strategist criticized Newsweek’s latest cover as a “gross slap in the face” to Sarah Palin. The commentator could not believe that Newsweek did not retouch the Palin photo! How tragic! There are Americans struggling to put food on the table and this is the subject of their criticism.

Quote of the week: "Lord knows I have a lot to repent for." - Joe Lieberman on MSNBC

And check out Our Fabulous Video of the Week:

Debate Wrap-up: Round 2 Goes to Obama

It's another W for Barack "That One" Obama. Woot! NBC's focus group of undecided Pennsylvania voters had the Illinois Democrat winning by roughly a 60-40 split. John "My Friends" McCain seemed particularly timid about attacking Obama during the debate and yet seems to be A-ok with Palin and his wifey going negative. Just like a man to make the women do his dirty work for him. Whether this non-strategy will work for McSame remains to be seen.

Using Wordle, I generated the "word clouds" from Obama and McCain's responses in the debate. Notice that McCain said the word "Friends" almost as much as he said "America." Check it out:

OBAMA:

McCAIN:

Karma At Work: Jerome Corsi Detained in Africa

I can't help but laugh about this one: Jerome Corsi, author of The Obama Nation: Leftist Politics and the Cult of Personality and co-author of Unfit for Command: Swift Boat Veterans Speak Out Against John Kerry, has been deported from Kenya. Just before Corsi was scheduled to announce his findings of his investigation into Barack Obama's Kenya connections, he was picked up by authorities at his hotel and detained at the Nyayo House in Kenya. He was briefly held at immigration headquarters and then brought to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for deportation.

Corsi's book makes erroneous allegations that Barack Obama was raised a Muslim radical. Check out the article here.

Keith Olbermann Is My Homeboy

In a Special Comment, Keith Olbermann addresses Sarah Palin's remarks that Obama was "pallin' around with terrorists." Great stuff.

The Sunday Funnies

Hello Politicas, this week's Sunday Funnies spotlights a Daily Show clip on Why John McCain is the 'Black' Candidate. Check it out:

HOT or NOT: The Week-In-Review

So while everyone heaps copious amounts of praise on Gov. Sarah Palin for remembering her own name at yesterday’s debate, check out this week’s HOT or NOT on the VP debate.

HOT: Exceeding expectations. After her failed attempts at interviews the past few weeks, Gov. Sarah Palin was clearly much more prepared for the VP debate (and by “prepared,” I mean well-scripted). Her rehearsed answers and folksy one-liners seemed to resonate early on and make any sane person want to rip out their hair by the end. Palin did, however, exceed expectations (and by “exceed expectations,” I mean she didn’t royally make a fool of herself). She certainly held her own against Biden (and by “held her own,” I mean… ok you get where I’m going here…). Clearly not a game changer but she lives to fight another day.

NOT: Refusing to directly answer questions. Did Palin know that there was a moderator on stage asking her questions? It sure seemed like she thought she could meaninglessly ramble off strings of memorized phrases in between words like “maverick” and “drill” and forget the minor detail of actually answering the question. Rrrrright. The best part was when the moderator, Gwen Ifill, asked the candidates to name their “Achilles heel” and Palin started uttering her prepared speech on having experience. Wink, smile, insert folky-ism, wink. Aw shucks, ya gotta love her!

HOT: Specifics. If we’ve learned one thing from the last few elections, it’s that personality matters. The American people are suckers for a warm smile and down-to-earth charm. But as Biden stated in the debate “facts matter” and having a solid understanding of the state of the economy, foreign affairs and other prominent policy issues is a real qualification for the POTUS and his/ her side-kick. Again, Palin stuck to her vague talking points without actually giving specific examples of policy proposals and couldn’t name one thing a McCain-Palin admin would do differently than Bush. Bad news bears.

NOT: Palin on Iraq. Two Words: Massive failure. (Enter here some lame joke about how her answer having less of an exit strategy than the War in Iraq).

HOT: Insta-polls. Gotta love/hate how CNN already has the public opinion polls on the debate before the actual debate has ended. Here’s the gist: Biden Wins Debate, 51% to 36%. Woot! Republicans can claim that Palin won the debate all they want but the poll numbers tell a different story.

NOT: Excessive Winking. Nuff said.

HOT: Biden’s restraint. I truly heart Biden and his straight-forward ways but he does have a reputation for inducing cringes when he opens his mouth. He had ample opportunity to hit back at Palin for her snarky comments or blatantly ignorant statements, and yet he restrained himself in an attempt to prevent a war with the whole female race. He was very cautious about attacking John McCain and not Palin personally.

NOT: Shoutouts at VP debates. Um yea, this is not the MTV Music Awards! What’s next – “Big ups to my boo” at the State of the Union? I mean really. It may have come off as cute to some cheeseballs but the rest of us were left feeling absolutely perplexed about this move.

And here are the quotes of the week:
Palin: "How Long Have I Been At This? Like Five Weeks?"
Biden: "Vice President Cheney has been the most dangerous vice president we've had probably in American history."

Stayed tuned for: The McCain-Palin campaign trying to backtrack from Palin's apparent agreement with Biden on benefits for same-sex couples. Send in the janitors to clean it up!

Check out Our Fabulous Video of the Week:

John McCain's Latest Target: Gwen Ifill?

Aside from playing the lowered expectations game in preparation for the VP debates between Sarah Palin and Joe Biden, the McCain camp has taken a shot at Gwen Ifill (?). Ifill, who is the moderator for Thursday's VP debate, has a historical book called "Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama" coming out.

Given the subject of her book, the campaign is McComplaining that Ifill is not nonpartisan enough to moderate the debate. Here's where it gets ridiculous: McCain agreed with the selection of Gwen Ifill as moderator two weeks after her book had been reported to the Associated Press. Yet, they've just decided to bring this up a day before the debate. Not to mention that Ifill broke her ankle on Monday night falling down the stairs in her home while carrying "research related to her moderating duties at Thursday's Vice Presidential debate in St. Louis." Hmm.

McCain Blames Palin Gaffe on 'Gotcha Journalism'

My apologies for the spotty coverage over the last few days, my friends! The school year is in full swing and statistics has drained me of my snarky ways. When I came back to life from seemingly endless reading this morning (i.e. turned on CNN), I realized that I'd rather be in denial that the world is falling apart around me. Speaking of denial - I'm skipping over the bailout blues for some comic relief...

So Palin enjoyed humiliating herself so much in her interview with Katie Couric that she went back and brought her running mate (I mean.. uh..) along with her. Katie Couric asked Palin about a statement she made this weekend that the U.S. should launch attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan to "stop the terrorists from coming any further in."

In that comment, Palin seemed to be voicing the same position McCain had attacked Obama for stating in the debate on Friday. John "I'm About to Lose My Temper" McCain responded with, "I understand this day and age gotcha journalism... Grab a phrase. Gov. Palin and I agree that you don't announce that you're going to attack another country.

Gotcha journalism, huh? I'm sorry, I'm having a hard time distinguishing between this and any other situation in which the press has questioned Obama or Biden on comments that they've made on the campaign trail. I guess one man's journalism is another man's ‘gotcha journalism.’

The Sunday Funnies

This week's Sunday Funnies features Chris Rock commenting on the 2008 Election. Hilarious! Check it out below:

You Can’t Make This Stuff Up, Folks!

Remember when you played tag when you were younger and just when you were about to get tagged, you’d yell “Time out” so you could catch your breath. That’s John McCain’s campaign strategy.

John “Country First” McCain has decided to suspend his campaign (but not his attacks on Barack Obama) and delay the debates so he can singlehandedly save the nation’s economy. How noble of him. The thing is that his website is still collecting campaign donations and his ads have continued running. I’m beginning to see a pattern with the McCain campaign: every time they run behind in the polls, they take a gamble. It makes you wonder that if McCain were elected President, would he make a non-commonsensical move every time he dropped in the polls.

Barack Obama is planning on hosting a townhall meeting on Friday if McCain is MIA. Is McCain really going to give Obama the opportunity to talk to millions of voters without him? Risky, risky, risky.

One person who has not happy with McCain’s decision to suspend his campaign was David Letterman. McCain called at the last minute to cancel his appearance on the show. Check out the clip of a not-so-happy Letterman:

McCain Campaign: WAHHHHHHHH!

John McCain’s senior campaign aides convened a conference call with reporters on Monday to do what they do best: feign outrage. This time the topic was to complain about being called “liars.”

Senior Campaign Advisor Steve Schmidt used the call as an opportunity to scold reporters and press them to scrutinize Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Schmidt proceeded to list a number of stories that he thought that reporters should focus on about Obama and Biden but couldn’t seem to get all his facts straight. He urged the press to criticize Biden’s son, Hunter, for his occupation as a registered federal lobbyist for the credit card and banking industry. Only Hunter Biden’s lobbying clients don’t include any banks or credit card companies. He did work, as a vice president and then as a consultant, for a Delaware-based bank and credit card giant but does not appear to have lobbied for the firm. Hmmm.

The conference call was a risky move for the McCain camp and may perpetuate the image that they are adverse to factual information.

Check out the below clip of Steve Schmidt getting his whine on.

Has Palin Peaked?

It was bound to happen. Over the past few weeks, the media has gone into high gear dissecting the life and times of Sarah Palin, a relative unknown on the national political stage. But the magazine cover shoots, the tired diatribes about women with families in politics and the seemingly endless media hysteria over all things Palin couldn’t last long. The media has the attention span of a six-year-old with A.D.D. on red bull. All they needed was Britney Spears to go bald again – and Palin coverage would immediately subside.

A clear turning point was on September 11th. Just prior to that, the lipstick-pig foolishness had reached obnoxious proportions. Republicans had been itching for an opportunity to present any statement by Barack Obama as a sexist jab against Palin. Accuse Obama of sexism? Check.
But it was short-lived. The recognition of September 11th brought a well-needed sobering look at the issues and a pseudo-ceasefire between McCain and Obama. Early the next day, however, Obama seized the opportunity and came after McCain with some hard-hitting attacks on McCain’s “honor” that brought the McCain v. Obama battle back to the frontlines. But this time Palin took a backseat as Obama judiciously zero-ed his attacks in on McCain.

The worsening economy coverage was the icing on Barack Obama’s cake. He was no longer playing defense against GOP attacks, was able to focus back on the issues and take advantage of McCain’s misstatements on the economy. Since then, McCain’s lead has retreated and stories about Palin’s tanning bed have been replaced by the AIG bailout and banking deregulation. Talk about a topic change.

The zeal that Palin first brought to the race as a female veep candidate continued to lose its’ edge as she came off as scripted in her interviews and failed to wow people with her knowledge on the issues. The American people began to see that all that glistened certainly was not gold and Palin fatigue began to set in.

Don’t get it twisted, massive crowds still flock to Sarah Palin’s events and she certainly has brought much-needed enthusiasm to the McCain ticket, but not with the considerable amount of fanfare that existed a mere few weeks ago. According to a CBS News/New York Times poll, Palin's favorability rating is at 40 percent, 4 points down from last week. Her unfavorable rating is at 30 percent, rising 8 points in a week. Suburban and independent women are now in reach for the McCain campaign, but so far the campaign has failed to attract new women voters in critical numbers.

There is still plenty of time for the pendulum to swing back in Palin’s direction and for her to regain her footing. The Vice Presidential debate with Joe Biden on Oct. 2 may provide that opportunity for Palin, as the expectations for her to succeed against Biden are embarrassingly low. On the other hand, if her performance is anything like her last few interviews, which were heavy on spewing the codewords “maverick,” “reform” and “ruffle some feathers,” a tad bit on substance with a dash of lies, she could lose the opportunity to prove herself as capable altogether and it could be costly for the McCain campaign. No pressure, right?

For now, it appears that Sarah Palin is that nickel in your pocket that has lost its shine. She still holds value to the McCain campaign but her charm and appeal have depreciated.

Cross-posted on Huff Post's Off the Bus

The Sunday Funnies

In an attempt to insert some comic relief in an intense political climate, I will begin a series called "The Sunday Funnies." Every Sunday, I will feature a political joke, article or clip that provides some light-hearted perspective on the political news.

So, take a breath, let go of the election anxiety and laugh. This week, check out this clip from SNL spoofing McCain's negative ads.

HOT or NOT: The Week-In-Review

HOT: Saving our economy. So after an emergency huddle, congressional leaders and the Treasury Secretary have announced a “bold approach” to attempt to save our economy. And by bold, they mean expensive. The rescue plan is expected to cost $1,000,000,000,000.00. And no, this is not in monopoly money.

NOT: Installing a tanning bed in your house. According to recent reports, Palin had a tanning bed installed in the Alaska’s governor’s mansion. Breaking News: Tanorexics across the country are now flocking to the McCain-Palin ticket in droves.

HOT: Getting your groove back. As Barack Obama has intensified his attacks on McCain and as McCain has intensified his blunders, Obama gets his BOmentum back in the polls. A recent CBS/New York Times survey put Obama up by 48 percent to 43 percent. Woot!

NOT: Refusing to testify in a probe. Sarah Palin's husband, Todd Palin, has refused to testify on Friday in the investigation of his wife's alleged abuse of power. Todd Palin was among 13 people subpoenaed by the Alaska Legislature, but it looks like the Legislative Council will not compel any witness to testify before Nov. 4. And we care after Nov. 4 because...?

HOT: Knowing where Spain is. During an interview in Miami earlier this week with Spanish-language station Union Radio, a reporter asked McCain whether, if elected, he would receive Zapatero in the White House. McCain responded with a statement about Mexico and Latin America — but not Spain — pressing the need to stand up to world leaders who want to harm America. Candidate has been officially stumped.

NOT: Having George Allen perform minority outreach. I know that this sounds like the headline of an Onion article, but I kid you not. Republicans have announced that George Allen will perform minority outreach for the Prez campaign. I'm beginning to think that this theory that Republicans want to lose in November has some validity to it.

Check out Our Fabulous Video of the Week:

Why Do Sexism Criers Fall Silent When It Comes to Michelle Obama?

One of the many blatant hypocrisies that has stood out for me during this election is the fact that Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin supporters, who are so quick to cry sexism, remain silent when seemingly sexist connotations are assigned to Michelle Obama.

Most recently, Bill O’Reilly stated, “Now, I have a lot of people who call me on the radio and say she looks angry. And I have to say there’s some validity to that. She looks like an angry woman.” I wouldn’t be surprised that if such a description was attributed to Clinton or Palin, supporters would assert that there’s a double standard that women who are smart, serious and professional are considered “angry.” Not to mention that such a statement seems completely untrue. At most appearances, Michelle is either smiling or serious – and certainly does not come off as an “angry woman.” What’s more, the Fox News’ characterization of Michelle Obama as “Obama Baby Mama” in June was also met with radio silence from the feminist community. But why?

Could it be that the intersection of race and gender just gets too hairy and so the battle is best left alone? The “Obama Baby Mama” comment is soaked in both sexist and racist connotations and perhaps many supporters of Clinton and Palin would rather avoid a subject where racism plays a role. It is clear that some republicans are trying to associate Michelle with pejorative images that are specific to African-American females. They would like to perpetuate the image of the “angry black woman” to instill hatred and fear in small-minded people – much like Ronald Reagan tried to do with the image of the “welfare queen” during his presidential campaign.

Or are we dealing with that aged-old taboo question from the Suffragist Movement that Women’s Rights has always been an exclusively white middle class woman phenomenon and black women are rarely invited to the dinner table? Such a question reemerged during the primary election, when Geraldine Ferraro asserted that; “Gender is the most restricting force in American life.” It is a zero-sum game to try to quantify sexism, racism or any other “ism” for that matter, but many women of color shuttered when they heard this comment. It brought back the fears that women of color and black women in particular have always been on the sidelines when it comes to fighting for equal rights for women and that they are virtually ignored when sexist comments are hurled their way.

Cross-posted to Political Voices of Women