The First Puppy?
Now that the 2008 presidential election is over, the burning political question is: What kind of puppy will the first family choose!?! What's your choice?
Now We Begin Again
Like many Americans, the lead-up to the 2008 election was not the healthiest time period for me. It was an anxiety-filled time; at one point, I even woke up in the middle of the night thinking about something awful Sarah Palin had said, my heart pounding.
Clarion-Ledger Layoffs Coming Dec. 3?
The Jackson Free Press has learned that the next round of Clarion-Ledger layoffs ordered by the Gannett home office in Virginia could come as early as Dec. 3. Bizarrely, even as the newspaper is shrinking staff and doing less substantive news coverage than ever, it has asked staffers to literally work overtime to help take pictures of people hanging out in bars (a photographer even showed up at our Election Night party at Hal & Mal's last night). On Election night, as the world watched Barack Obama become president-elect of the United States, the Ledger was busy launching its new Metromix Web site, which is part of a national chain of fluffy entertainment Web sites, now operated by many Gannett Corp. newspapers nationwide. The U.S.' largest newspaper chain is not known for local entertainment coverageThe Clarion-Ledger notoriously reported that nightlife is "non-existent" in Jackson at one pointbut believes that its future profits may lie more in fluffier coverage. The local outlet of Metromix was set to launch in the summer, but was delayed likely due to The Clarion-Ledger's first round of layoffs.
Four Years Ago Today
In my election hangover today, I've thought a lot about how four years ago today felt after a very bad president was re-elected. Here's our post the next morning, "Mourning in America." It was hard to feel worse than that day with a mess in Iraq and progressives under fire, here in Mississippi and around the country. We didn't know just how bad it would get during Bush's second term, or that Katrina would change us forever, or that the Republican Party of recent years would crumble under its own greed and corruption right before our eyes. We sure couldn't have known that four long years later the country would elect an openly progressive African American president with record turnouta president with the ability to help us first face, and then heal, our divisions.
Barbour's Lobbying Firm Now Open to Dems
In a dramatic sign of how the political winds have shifted, lobbying firm BRG (formerly known as Barbour, Griffith & Rogers) today announced that it has acquired a Democratic lobbying firm. This is huge because Haley Barbour and partners revolutionized what had been the bi-partisan nature of lobbying in Washington by opening a firm that would not cater to Democrats, helping create an intensely divided Washington. [...]
The Real Sarah Palin Unveiled
Now, it seems, we're going to hear all about the woman who helped McCain lose the election. A Newsweek story out today starts telling the rest of the story:
Obama Wins
The closing of the polls in California, Oregon and Washington at 11:00 pm Eastern time was enough for the major networks to put Senator Barack Obama over the top in the historic election of the 44th president of the United States. Having won Ohio, Iowa, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire -- all of which were necessary to the McCain strategy -- the closing of polls in the electoral vote rich West was enough to cement the victory for the first African-American president of the United States.
Open Thread: Thoughts on Returns, Exit Polls
The polls are starting to close in some spots on the East Coast. Here's where you can chat about the returns.
JFP Election Party at Hal & Mal's Tonight 7 p.m.
The Democrats are at the Jackson Convention Complex, 105 E. Pascagoula St. Anyone know where the Republicans will be?
Watch the Obamas Vote
Here's some eye candy for all you Obama junkies:
Open Thread: Election Chatter - Presidential
What is it you need to say about the presidential election? Let 'er rip!
Open Thread: Election Chatter - Mississippi Elections (Senate, etc.)
What's on your mind about the Mississippi elections? Musgrove v. Wicker? Cochran v. Fleming? Congressional seats? What about Supreme Court seats? Here's your spot.
Open Thread: McCain-Palin's Lies, Damn Lies and Distortions
The whole coal-gate controversy, pushed by McCain and especially Palin, has inspired me to start a list of the lies/distortions that duo has pushed in recent weeks. I need y'all to help beef it out.
Black Angst
Every supporter of Barack Obama seems to be elbow-deep in anxiety over whether this election will be stolen. But for black Americans, it may be worse, writes Jonathan Capeheart in The Washington Post:
Obama's Grandmother Has Died
The day before the election, may she rest in peace:
"It is with great sadness that we announce that our grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has died peacefully after a battle with cancer," Obama said in a joint statement with his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng. "She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility."
Why Won't Palin Release Her Medical Records?
The fact that Gov. Sarah Palin is stonewalling on releasing her medical records in any form is raising eyebrows. CNN Political Ticker:
Obama: ‘Brothers Should Pull Up Their Pants'
In a substantive MTV interview (especially compared to most mainstream media), Barack Obama weighed in on the baggy-pants culture:
U. of Florida Student McCain Leader Now An 'Obamacan'
The Independent Florida Gator is reporting a last-minute conversion of the student leader of Gators for McCain:
The. Best. Photo. Ever.
No kidding:
Crossroads
It's three days until the election. (In my need to get it over with, I don't count the current day or Election Day. That makes it come sooner.) It is so stressful waiting to see which way America will turn on Nov. 4; will we choose hope and progress, or fear and regression? Will enough Americans buy Sarah Palin's hate-soaked tirades and give her the opportunity to further divide our nation, or John McCain the chance to fall apart on a national stage?
Reagan Chief of Staff Endorses Obama
The Obamacans keep coming. Per CNN:
Obama, Wicker Win Mississippi ‘Early Voting'
Sen. Barack Obama is the presidential choice of a majority53 percentof Mississippi public and private school students who voted in the 2008 Mock Election. "This year, 514 schools are signed up to participate in our Promote the Vote program," said Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann in a statement. "Of those 514 schools, 328 submitted their results for the Mock Election portion of Promote the Vote. This is a tremendous turnout for our students and a great way to get them started in the democratic process." Vote program.
Is Palin Kidding!?!
I've about stopped posted absurd statements by Sarah Palin, but this one strikes at the very core of our American birthright. She actually thinks that being criticized for being too "negative" in her statements about Obama is, somehow, a violation of her First Amendment rights. One of the most dangerous things a politician (demagogue?) can promote is that Americans do not have the right to *respond* to speech they don't like. Speech, dear Palin heart, flows to directions, not only out of your mouth. ABC News:
Feds Allege Melton's Past 'Crimes,' Including Bribery
See U.S. v. Melton filings here.
Palin-McCain Camp Disses Penn State President
So much for reaching across the aisle, eh? The Chronicle of Higher Education reports:
Business Owners of Both Parties Supporting Obama
USA Today is reporting the surprising trend of Republican business owners supporting Barack Obama for president, ending with this quote from one: ""I would rather pay a little higher tax on a higher profit than a lower tax rate on lower profits." Here's some more:
ALERT: Young Voters, African Americans Getting Phony Calls
From the Mississippi Democratic Party/pass the word and let us know if you get any of these calls. Better yet, record them and send us the file:
McCain Advisers Turning on Palin the ‘Whack Job'
And Roger Simon at Politico says McCain has no one to blame but himself for the vice-presidential calamity:
Alaska Ethics Complaint Filed Against Palin for Kids' Travel
CBS News is reporting that Gov. Sarah Palin has more ethical problems back home:
Obama-the-Communist: ‘I Shared My Toys in Kindergarten'
Boo! Alert the media! Obama is a communist because he shared his peanut butter sandwich and his toys in kindergarten! Watch Obama make fun of McCain and Palin's stupid red-baiting today:
Whiskey River Take Me Home
Lawyers for the U.S. Department of Justice are having no part of Mayor Frank Melton's attempt to defend his attack on a Ridgeway Street duplex by claiming that the building itself had a history of drug sales. It seems that the law still requires a warrant. There was no lawful basis for the destruction of the home at 1305 Ridgeway Street; a point which is essentially conceded by Melton in his public statements and in his public failure to make even a token effort to rebut the arguments in the government's Motion," the prosecution wrote in an Oct. 20, 2008, motion in U.S. District Court.
FOX News Skewers Joe-the-Plumber's ‘Israel' Remarks
Really. It's remarkable that the McCain campaign has set this guy up to make a fool a fool of himself to try to spread their hateful lies about Obama and Israel. Watch this:
McCain Camp Suddenly Upset About Professor He Helped Fund
The absurdity du jour is that the desperate McCain campaign and right-wing media are suddenly demanding the release of a video of a party Obama attending with Palestinian studies expert and Columbia University professor Khalid Rashid Khalidiwhose group to study Palestinian issues was funded by none other than ... get ready for it ... John McCain!
VoteVets Fight Back ...
... against the people who sent them to war, but wouldn't vote to give them adequate safety equipment. Watch:
Problems with Voting/Registration in Jackson/Mississippi?
If so, please post below, and we can get you help. You can also call the JFP at 601.362.6121 ext. 5 through Election Day to alert a reporter. Also visit the new 601 voter blog at http://601vote.wordpress.com/ for all sorts of must-know voter information. Do not allow your vote to be suppressed or intimidated! It's your right.
UPDATED: Voter Suppression Growing Nationwide
CNN is reporting:
The voter-purge machine is kicking into overdrive this week. Down below, and in the comments, we will keep you apprised of stunts being pulled, so we can watch for them here on the homefront. Please add to the list as you see examples.
No Complacency: It Ain't Over ‘Til It's Over!
OK, folks, it's one week until the election. Change is in the air: Even on my neighborhood walk route, Obama yard signs outnumber McCain signs 14-to-1. No, that's not scientific, but this is Mississippi, and that could be different. The main thing now is to not get complacent. Every person must vote and do everything in your power to get friends and family out to vote. Unlike, say, the leaders of the Republican Party, I have long believed that the more people vote, the more the people's will is done. So please, please do everything in your power this week to get involved. Vote, drive people to the polls, volunteer, educate yourself and others on how to prevent voter intimidationanything you can do to bring change to this great nation next week. This election is not over, and it's up to you to bring it on home. And to get at least five people to the polls. ;-)
Drudge, FOX News Distorts Obama ‘Redistribution' Comment
Media Matters is warning:
On-screen text on Fox News echoed the Drudge Report in falsely claiming that Sen. Barack Obama said it is a "tragedy" that the Supreme Court has not addressed wealth redistribution. In fact, the "tragedy" Obama identified during the interview was in what he said was the civil rights movement's overreliance on the courts to pursue political and economic justice.
Ted Stevens ‘Rocks GOP'; Cochran to Take Spot
Politico is reporting that Sen. Thad Cochran will take the seat of Sen. Ted Stevens on the Appropriations Committee as Republicans decide what to do with him since his indictment for corruption today:
FOX ‘News' Chick Makes Ass of Herself
I fully realize this probably happens over at FOX News every day, but this video is unbelievable. She is so outclassed by Bill Burton of the Obama campaign:
Hilarious: Texas Man Thwarts the Obama Sign-Stealers
Stealing Obama signs has become high sport in recent weeks. One Texas man found a way around it, though: He just painted his damn lawn.
AP: Feds Disrupt Plot to Assassinate Obama
Just in from the Associated Press:
Which Is Worse: the Race-Baiting or the Red-Baiting?
OK, you don't have to pick. Every trick-o'-the-hour the Republican Party is coming up with to try to turn the election is sleazy at this point. For instance, here's race-baiting in Wisconsin and here's more red-baiting nationally. American to McCain: If you want votes, you're going to have to stop waging bigoted attacks and tell the American people what is so great about you and Sarah Palin, and how you're going to help Main Street. You have not done that, yet, while you're bending over backward to defend George Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy. You're not fooling us.
NASCAR's Junior Johnson Endorses Obama (!)
The support of Junior Johnson may be Obama's biggest endorsement, yet. Here it is, as posted on Sean Hannity's forum. (Tee, hee.)
Why Republican Chuck Hagel Doesn't Support Friend McCain
The New Yorker has a good piece on why Sen. Chuck Hagel isn't supporting John McCain, one of his closest friends:
CNN: Palin-the-‘Diva' Is ‘Going Rogue' on McCain
I don't want to say "I told you so," but Sarah Palin had drama queenor small-town "diva"written all over her since the day she was appointed. (The tanning bed in the governor's mansion was a very good clue.) But don't listen to me: Listen to John McCain's campaign staff, who are accusing her of being a "diva" and "going rogue" on the campaign. CNN is reporting:
Anchorage Daily News Endorses Obama
Up in Alaska, the Anchorage Daily News published a ringing endorsement of Barack Obama today, says neither John McCain or Sarah Palin are ready to be president:
Palin's Pipeline Problem
The Associated Press just published a long investigative piece on Sarah Palin's vaunted pipeline successand the parts she's not talking about. It starts:
Update II: McCain Camp, Young Republicans Pushed Mutilation Story
KDKA in Pittsburgh is reporting that Ashley Toddthe Susan Smith of 2008?made up the story that she was attacked by a large black man at an ATM because she was a McCain supporter:
L.A. Times: Palin's Patronage Problem
A Los Angeles Times investigation found: