In 1992 George Bush Sr. ran against William Jefferson Clinton when it was “the economy stupid.”  The last market crash was during the Reagan administration in 1987 when market indexes dropped 43% in seven days.  George Bush 41 also left the nation in a recession when he left office in 1992.  It took democrat Bill Clinton to bring us out of  that recession.  Like father, like son, Bush 43 has twice upped his father by leaving the country in dire straights while he leaves office with his tail between his legs.  It was Republican control of all three branches of government that got us into this mess, now it’s time for the Democrats to come in and clean up. Putting a Republican in charge is like

Since 1929, Republicans and Democrats have each controlled the presidency for nearly 40 years. So which party has been better for American pocketbooks and capitalism as a whole? Well, here’s an experiment: imagine that during these years you had to invest exclusively under either Democratic or Republican administrations. How would you have fared?  SEE results

As of Friday, a $10,000 investment in the S.& P. stock market index* would have grown to $11,733 if invested under Republican presidents only, although that would be $51,211 if we exclude Herbert Hoover’s presidency during the Great Depression. Invested under Democratic presidents only, $10,000 would have grown to $300,671 at a compound rate of 8.9 percent over nearly 40 years.

First, the continued meme of the Right that it was the democrats support of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae that caused this economic meltdown is bogus.  What Republicans conveniently forget is that George W. Bush warned and pushed for more oversight of Freddie and Fannie back in 2001.  Did I mention that the Republicans were in control of Congress at the time and for five whole years after Bush’s clarion call.  Oh, and by Republican control, I include Sen. John McCain in that group.  Yes, McCain sat in Congress for five years after the leader of his party sounded the alarm about Freddie and Fannie and did absolutely nothing.  Did I further mention that the Republican party controlled Congress for 12 years prior to the Democrats winning the majority just two years ago in 2006.  And, five months after Democrats took control of Congress, Democrats passed a bill regulating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Nuff said.

It was the private sector, not the government backed entities that caused the subprime meltdown.  Freddie and Fannie were not at fault for this disaster 

Federal Reserve Board data show that:

• More than 84 percent of the subprime mortgages in 2006 were issued by private lending institutions.
• Private firms made nearly 83 percent of the subprime loans to low- and moderate-income borrowers that year.
• Only one of the top 25 subprime lenders in 2006 was directly subject to the housing law that’s being lambasted by conservative critics.

There are exactly 10 days, 21 hours, 38 minutes, to the minute before the first polls open on November 4th. My question to all of you is….what are you doing to make history?  What will you tell your grandchildren that you contributed to this historic event?  Will you tell them that you phonebanked for Obama through his revolutionary Internet phonebanking tool?  Will you tell them that you canvassed for Obama in the battleground  state of Virginia and turned Virginia blue for the first time in 44 years?! Will you say that you helped get at least five people to the polls on Election Day?  Will you say that during this historic election you lent your skills as an attorney to Obama’s voter protection program?  Will you say that you donated to Obama’s historic, built from the ground up, campaign?  What exactly will you say that you did to help create this historic movement for change?  This is the last stretch, do not take anything for granted, regardless of what the polls say, it is up the you to put Sen. Barack Obama over the finish line.  Volunteer at your local Campaign For Change  office and help to Get Out The Vote on November 4th.  100 billion more registered voters mean nothing if people do not come out, with their patience, and VOTE.  Volunteer to entertain people who are waiting in line to vote….bring water or snacks to folks who are waiting in line to vote.  This is our opportunity to experience what they experienced in the Sixties, our opportunity to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves, our opportunity to contribute to something so much more important than we ever thought it could be, our opportunity to return America to the shining beacon to the world that it once was.  This is our time, this is our moment,  DO YOUR PART to make this happen.  www.Barack.Obama.com

Speaking at a rally in North Carolina on Sunday, Sen Obama gave his requirements for any bailout for the financial industry.  Bush appointed Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson seems to want Congress to sign a blank check for 700 billion dollars giving him full discretion to spend it anyway he chooses.  When asked on Meet the Press on Sunday as to whether he would curtail excessive CEO compensation, Paulson opined such a requirement may discourage companies from participating in the program.  Not so much.  Meanwhile he is asking for 5% of the gross national product to spend as he pleases.  Hasn’t he been at the helm this entire time and could have raised the alarm about the potential of this happening years ago…..now he wants the Americans to just trust that he will prudently spend 700 billion in the best interest of the the majority.  I think not.  So, Mr Paulson, you and the other republicans keep saying how this needs to be a “clean bill.”  Well, if by “clean bill” you mean no oversight and no safeguards and assistance for the American taxpayers/main street………you’re on something.  As for Mr. Paulson’s objectivity, one reader summed it up perfectly:

Reuters reports today that “The incoming Treasury secretary, Henry M. Paulson Jr., was awarded an $18.7 million cash bonus for half a year of work as the chief executive of the Goldman Sachs Group.” The massive bonus was, not surprisingly, approved by Goldman Sachs at the very same time Paulson was both CEO and Treasury Secretary designate. This raises a very simple question: What is Goldman Sachs buying with this brazen payoff to someone they knew was headed to one of the most powerful government posts in America?
 

Sen. Obama insists that the following conditions must be included in any financial industry bailout.

Excerpt from Sen. Barack Obama’s speech in North Carolina on Sunday Sept 21, 2008 

The era of greed and irresponsibility on Wall Street and in Washington has led us to a perilous moment. They said they wanted to let the market run free but instead they let it run wild. And now we are facing a financial crisis as profound as any we have faced since the Great Depression
 
But here’s the truth:
 
Regardless of how we got here, we’re here today.  And the circumstances we face require decisive action because your jobs, your savings, and your economic security are now at risk.
 
We must work quickly in a bipartisan fashion to resolve this crisis to avert an even broader economic catastrophe. But Washington also has to recognize that economic recovery requires that we act, not just to address the crisis on Wall Street, but also the crisis on Main Street and around kitchen tables across America.
 
As of now, the Bush Administration has only offered a concept with a staggering price tag, not a plan. Even if the U.S. Treasury recovers some or most of its investment over time, this initial outlay of up to $700 billion is sobering.  And in return for their support, the American people must be assured that the deal reflects the basic principles of transparency, fairness, and reform.

First, there must be no blank check when American taxpayers are on the hook for this much money.

Second, taxpayers shouldn’t be spending a dime to reward CEOs on Wall Street.

Third, taxpayers should be protected and should be able to recoup this investment.

Fourth, this plan has to help homeowners stay in their homes.

Fifth, this is a global crisis, and the United States must insist that other nations join us in helping secure the financial markets.

Sixth, we need to start putting in place the rules of the road I’ve been calling for for years to prevent this from ever happening again.

And finally, this plan can’t just be a plan for Wall Street, it has to be a plan for Main Street.  We have to come together, as Democrats and Republicans, to pass a stimulus plan that will put money in the pockets of working families, save jobs, and prevent painful budget cuts and tax hikes in our states.

Currently, as this Republican president is about to leave office, our country is 9.7 trillion dollars in debt, the unemployment rate is 6.1%, we have a $357 billion dollar budget deficit, and gas is $4 a gallon.  We are also on our way to a fifty year high deficit.  Eight years ago, when President Bill Clinton, a democrat left the office, we had a 4.2 unemployment rate, $281 billion dollar budget surplus, we were only 5.7 trillion dollars in debt, and gas was $1.46  a gallon.  In addition, last month alone America lost 84,000 jobs.  McCain, in his attempt to re-brand himself,  claims that the Republicans have lost their way.  This is a proven falsehood, the last six Republican Presidents have been fiscal spendthrifts.

In 1981 the gross national debt, compared to the nation’s annual income, reached its lowest point since 1931. Despite his claim to hate the debt, Reagan instituted unprecedented peacetime deficit spending.  This is not partisan politics, this is straight off the White House web site.   Bush II repeated Reagan’s performance and turned the debt upward again. Bush II’s own Office of Management and Budget provides all the data.  See graphs and facts here 

As to the question….are you better off today than you were 8 years ago?  When Bill Clinton left office eight years ago, we had a budget surplus and the economy was thriving.  Things have turned abyssmal during the Bush administration.  Further objective evidence is that by every economic performance metric, except one, democratic presidents have out-performed republican presidents.  In the last fifty years, the democrats have done much better in terms of economic growth, reducing the deficit, and strengthening the middle and working class than republicans.  Therefore, logic dictates that if as a voter you are really interested in turning around this sinking economy and putting more money in your pocket, it is the democratic party that has the track record of doing just that. History further demonstrates that the republican claim that it is the party of fiscal conservatism is a myth.  No President has been more proof of such myth than George W Bush.  And, given the fact that the majority of the McCain campaign staff have made a beeline from Bush to McCain there is no CHANGE in sight if McCain has his way.  On NPR’s All Things Considered in April this year McCain claimed:

“I can eliminate $100 billion of wasteful and earmark spending immediately–35 billion in big spending bills in the last two years, and another 65 billion that has already been made a permanent part of the budget.”

The problem is that the Office of Management and Budget only identified $16.9 billion total in appropriations bills for 2008.  “The figure includes such items as $4 billion for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which could not be eliminated without halting hundreds of construction projects around the country. Another big chunk goes to military construction, including housing for servicemen and their families, which McCain has also promised not to touch.”  Sooo…exactly how does McCain cut 35 billion dollars in spending from 16.9 billion?  Sounds like “voodoo economics.”  Just goes to further demonstrate that the Arizona senator just doesn’t get it.

Listen, the leaders and big-time players of McCain’s campaign staff  were hired directly from the Bush unemployment line.  There is absolutely no chance that a McCain administration will be any different than Bush.  More fiscal irresponsibility and no accountability.  Especially if McCain gets away with dressing the emperor in new clothes and claiming he’s a different emperor.  Even Karl Rove now admits that he gives strategy advice to the McCain campaign.  Bush-McCain are exactly the same.  Please pay attention to history.  It clearly shows that the McCain and republican claim of  owning fiscal conservatism is imaginary.  History is our best guide as to which party is best equipped to get us out of this mess and history shows that that party is the democratic party.  Think about it folks, the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.  Don’t be distracted by the lipstick………vote your interest and your pocketbook

Larry Bartles of Princeton University

My examination of the partisan politics of economic in equality…….reveals that Democratic and Republican presidents over the past half-century have presided over dramatically different patterns of income growth. On average, the real incomes of middle- class families have grown twice as fast under Democrats as they have under Republicans, while the real incomes of working poor families have grown six times as fast under Democrats as they have under Republicans. These substantial partisan differences persist even after allowing for differences in economic circumstances and historical trends beyond the control of individual presidents. They suggest that escalating in equality is not simply an inevitable economic trend— and that a great deal of economic in equality in the contemporary United States is specifically attributable to the policies and priorities of Republican presidents.

Any satisfactory account of the American political economy must therefore explain how and why Republicans have had so much success in the American electoral arena despite their startling negative impact on the economic fortunes of middle- class and poor people. Thus, in chapter 3, I examine contemporary class politics and partisan change, testing the popular belief that the white working class has been lured into the Republican ranks by hot-button social issues such as abortion and gay marriage. Contrary to this familiar story, I find that low- income whites have actually become more Democratic in their presidential voting behavior over the past half-century, partially counterbalancing Republican gains among more affluent white voters. Moreover, low- income white voters continue to attach less weight to social issues than to economic issues—and they attach less weight to social issues than more affluent white voters do. The familiar image of a party system transformed by Republican gains among working- class cultural conservatives turns out to be largely mythical.

Today is the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s “I Have A Dream” speech.  On this historic day Senator Barack Obama will officially accept the Democratic Party nomination to be the party representative in the general election to become the President of the United States.  And ProgressPolitics will be there.  This marks the first time that an African-American has ever achieved this high honor and this writer predicts that there will not be a dry eye in the house.  As an African-American that will be sitting in the audience during this once in a lifetime experience, it is impossible to explain the range of emotions that are going through me right now.  Pride, Excitement, Optimism, and Joy are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind.  There are many people who have worked tirelessly for Sen Barack Obama because of his vision, his character, and his plan to return America to its former greatness.  All we can say is that this is the first step for many of us.  For many African-Americans who have never seen a person that looked like us in such a position, I would say that the predominate emotion is pride.  Sen. Obama has reached this great milestone not by changing who he is but because of who he is.  As a African-American male raised by a single mother, this is an all to common way that many African-Americans start out.   Witnessing someone who came from such humble beginnings achieve this great thing sends a message to every African-American child that anything and everything is possible regardless of how you start out.  The pundits may decide to try and spin this, by pundits I mean the Right (Fox, Limbaugh, Hannity), because of the size of the stadium and the aestetics of the venue but the truth is that Sen. Barack Obama is a candidate of the people.  It is the blood, sweat, and tears of millions that will have put Sen. Obama on the Invesco Field stage tonight.  The idea that it is a mistake to allow them to partake in this historic occasion is absolutely ludicrous.  There are thousands upon thousands of people who want to witness this historic event and to limit it to only a few people would be an injustice to all the volunteers and voters who are responsible for Sen. Obama being there.  For the first time in history we have an African-American of a major party as an official contender for President of the United States.   We are in the beginnings of a “dream” realized.

Ladies and Gentleman we give you Martin Luther King, Jr. 

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languishing in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. So we have come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we have come to our nation’s capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked “insufficient funds.” But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. So we have come to cash this check — a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quick sands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro’s legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. Those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. There will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice. In the process of gaining our rightful place we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred.

We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force. The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. They have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom. We cannot walk alone.

As we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead. We cannot turn back. There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied, as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the Negro’s basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their selfhood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating “For Whites Only”. We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. Some of you have come from areas where your quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive.

Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed. Let us not wallow in the valley of despair.

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.”

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of interposition and nullification; one day right there in Alabama, little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.

This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

This will be the day when all of God’s children will be able to sing with a new meaning, “My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim’s pride, from every mountainside, let freedom ring.”

And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!

Let freedom ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!

But not only that; let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! free at last! thank God Almighty, we are free at last!        

Progress.

GOP members are acting out an alleged protest in the House during this Congressional recess.  The GOP and Sen. John McCain are insisting that House leader Nancy Pelosi call Congress back from recess to vote on its “drill now” bill proposing off-shore drilling.  The GOP or McCain fails to mention that the leader of their party, Pres. George W. Bush, also has the power to call Congress back from recess to vote on the GOP proposed bill.  The grand old party consistently and conveniently forgets to mention that GOP House members asked Pres. George Bush to call Congress back from recess and the president refused.  So, ask yourself…..why would they expect a member of the opposing party to do what the leader of their own party has refused to do?  Also, why is the GOP not protesting against Pres. Bush, he has more power than Pelosi?  Why…..because it is a political stunt, nothing more, nothing less.

Further, for those tourist who are venturing down to the nation’s capitol to witness the GOP spectacle…..ask questions to those GOP members claiming that the domestic oil drilling will help make us energy independent.  One good question would be…..ask them if they will guarantee that such domestically produced oil will remain in the United States and not be sold to the world market?  Ask them if they can mandate that all the oil drilled domestically by the oil companies will remain here at home.  I bet you that they will either attempt to dodge the question or brush you off.  And by brushing you off I mean, they will say “that is a great idea, I agree with you.”  Then they hope that voters will forget that they asked the question.  Further, the GOP will not incorporate such restrictions because such restrictions would be against the interest of the oil companies and they do not want to lose out on all those oil company campaign contributions.  Second, they will not restrict the oil leases in such a way because oil companies are not going to allow the government to dictate to them where they can sell their product, even though said oil leases are granted by the United States government.  Such a requirement would probably reduce their profit margin significantly.  Oil companies sell to the country that logistically reaps them the most profit.  Republican members of the House are hoping that this little glitch will go unnoticed by American voters.  The GOP is well aware that drilling domestically will do very little to reduce energy dependence, but it will provide oil companies with significantly more profit potential.  Finally, ask those GOP House members whether increasing domestic production will cause OPEC members to decrease their production thereby eliminating any gains domestically except to oil companies?  They are attempting distraction to detract from real solutions that will help the majority of the American people instead of greasing the palms of a few oil companies……call them on it.

This is the latest e-mail sent to SUPERDELEGATES (remember those) by PUMA.  Originally the acronym meant  Party Unity My Ass, but it recently changed its name to People United Means Action.  These folks are the die-hard Hillary supporters who are refusing to accept her lost and are aggressively pushing for a roll-call vote at the convention.  Apparently, Clinton’s little speech in California regarding “catharsis” got them all riled up again.  First, let me say that the total group is nowhere near a representative sample of Clinton’s former supporters.  Last I heard there were about 100 of them with very big mouths.  They are widely believed to be Republican operatives acting under the auspice of Clinton supporters.  The group makes exaggerated claims about the number of  members so as to get as much press time as possible.  Second, they are still actively campaigning to change the mind of super delegates in a last ditch, desperate attempt, to give Clinton the nomination.  Yea Sen. Clinton, a “catharsis” will be very constructive (snark).  To think, this writer actually considered giving Sen. Clinton a few dollars to help toward retiring her debt.  It is stunts like these that remind all of us of all the emotions stirred up during the primary.  Further, last I checked the vast majority of Clinton supporters are now voting for Obama.  I’m very happy to hear that former governor Mark Warner of Virginia will also be speaking on Tuesday night, the same night as Clinton.  Thus Tuesday night will not be Clinton night afterall, hers will be just one of many speeches given that night.  Again, there is no need for a roll call vote.  Everyone else has moved on except the die-hard, unable to accept, legitimate defeat, PUMA people.  Below is the letter sent out to superdelegates by PUMA representatives.

From:

Sent: Monday, August 11, 2008 1:19 PM
To:
Subject: Hillary in Nomination

August 11, 2008

Puma PAC

Reply TO:XXXX@pumapac.org

Dear Super Delegate,

I am a Democratic voter and member of Puma PAC, People United Means Action  We represent the more than 18 million American voters who supported Senator Clinton and who reject the selection of Barack Obama as the Democratic nominee.

Barack Obama is simply the weaker of the two final candidates for nomination. He is losing ground to Senator McCain every day.  Millions of Democrats vow not to vote for him in November because of his inexperience and unreadiness to lead.

Only Senator Clinton can win back the White House for our Party in November.

PLEASE do your job and support Senator Clinton for nomination in Denver.

The Democratic VOTERS want you to support a real winner and leader. The American PEOPLE want you to. Common Sense wants you to. A commitment to DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES wants you to.

PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING. AMERICAN DEMOCRATS AND VOTERS WILL SUPPORT YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE AND WILLINGNESS TO STAND UP TO PARTY INSIDERS BY REPRESENTING THE VOICE OF THE VOTERS.

Sincerely,

W. Kronert, San Diego, Ca.

Puma PAC democrat

Your candidate lost…..GET OVER IT!

Sen Barack Obama will be in the DC metro area next week and ProgressPolitics has tickets available for the event.  If you live in the DC metro area or will be in the area on Tuesday and would like to see Sen. Obama please send us an email at progress@progresspolitics.com.  This will be a fundraising luncheon and will probably be the last opportunity to see the Senator in the DC metro area until well after the Democratic Convention.  There are two ticket levels available: $1,000 tickets for priority seating, photo-op, and a VIP reception.  There are also $500 tickets available to encourage young professionals, students, and grassroots donors to attend.

This is not a joke, Howard Wolfson will be working for Rupert Murdoch owned Fox News as a contributor for the 2008 election!  Perhaps he is the new token liberal there to support Juan Williams (NPR and Fox News commentator)…oh wait, not sure where Mr. Williams stands these days.  Good ol Juan tends to take every opportunity to knock down Obama.  I would swear that Williams is now a McCain supporter given his recent comments regarding the presumed democratic nominee.  To this writer, the NPR contributor seems to want to sabotage Obama by consistently using the GOP talking points against him.  Perhaps Mr. Williams has bought into the rhetoric of the right?  Maybe, OR, the more likely reason, his candidate (Hillary) didn’t win the primary so now he has set out to do his part to make sure that Obama doesn’t win the general.  This was most clear the past two Sundays on Fox News Sunday when Good ol Juan took stronger positions against Obama than his ultra-conservative republican colleagues.  Nice job Juan…..good looking out.

Jim Webb allegedly took himself out of consideration for the vice presidential spot of Barack Obama’s presidential candidacy.  In this writer’s opinion, which is total speculation, I don’t think that Webb was seriously being considered because of the series of hot buttons that plagued his senate run in 2006.  If it had not been for George Allen’s “mucaca” moment and youtube I am not sure the Jim Webb would be senator today.  There is the women in the military comment, the affirmative action and confederate flag comments and situation.  These are deal breakers for some folks.  Hillary’s women would not have been happy with a Jim Webb in Obama’s veep slot.  And if the slogan “stop the drama, vote for Obama” holds true, Jim Webb brings way too much unnecessary drama.  The GOP attack machine would have a field day.  This move seems to be a face-saving move by Webb because the main stream media has been talking him up so much.  Good move.  Okay, so the veepstakes is narrowed a little further, Wesley Clark is out, Sam Nunn is out , and now Jim Webb is out……Al Gore anyone?

Senator Jim Webb’s Official Comment 

Last week I communicated to Senator Obama and his presidential campaign my firm intention to remain in the United States Senate, where I believe I am best equipped to serve the people of Virginia and this country. Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President.”A year and a half ago, the people of Virginia honored me with election to the U.S. Senate. I entered elective politics because of my commitment to strengthen America’s national security posture, to promote economic fairness, and to increase government accountability. I have worked hard to deliver upon that commitment, and I am convinced that my efforts and talents toward those ends are best served in the Senate.

“In this regard, the bipartisan legislative template we were able to put into effect through 18 months of work in order to enact the new, landmark GI Bill will serve as a prototype for my future endeavors in government. This process, wherein we brought 58 Senators from both parties to the table as co-sponsors, along with more than 300 members of the House, gives me renewed confidence that the Congress can indeed work effectively across party lines and address the concerns of our citizens.

“At this time I am also renewing my commitment to work hard to make sure that Senator Obama wins both Virginia and the presidency this November. He is a man who speaks eloquently about our national goals and calls for the practical solutions that must be put into place to obtain them. I will proudly campaign for him.”

In an interview with Rolling Stone, Obama gave one of the best quotes to date from a democratic presidential hopeful concerning how he will react to the swiftboat attacks of the republican right and its 527 groups.  Per the New York Times:

It was not all about pop culture. When Mr. Wenner asked how Mr. Obama might respond to harsh attacks from Republicans, suggesting that Democrats have “cowered” in the past, Mr. Obama replied, “Yeah, I don’t do cowering.”

Yea baby…we don’t do cowering.  That is exactly the attitude that democrats need to exhibit toward the misleading, unfounded, right wing attacks of yesteryear. 

Last night in Detroit, Michigan, former Vice President and former presidential candidate Al Gore endorsed Sen. Barack Obama for president.  One interesting fact is that Gore announced his presidential run on June 16, 1999, exactly nine years to the day that he endorses Barack Obama for President.  In his speech, Gore spoke specifically about how important elections are to our foreign policy, our Supreme Court,  Katrina, the Iraq War, wounded veterans, food safety, tainted products from China, and the national deficit.  The former vice president and preeminent expert on climate change reiterated that we need change with respect to our government as well as to how we solve our global warming crisis.  Alluding to John McCain, Gore also stressed that a long tenure in Washington DC does not amount to “judgement, wisdom, and vision.”  This endorsement is significant for the Obama campaign for one reason, “Florida, Florida, Florida.”  After the 2000 debacle, Al Gore is the poster child for what could have been.  Gore out on the campaign stump will remind a significant portion of  Floridian voters of what happened in the 2000 presidential campaign against George W. Bush.  Given the state of the economy and the many colossal foreign policy blunders of the Bush administration, Gore will be a vivid reminder of what many believe to be the injustice of 2000.  His presence will remind Floridians how important it is that they turn out in great numbers.  Further, considering the reaction of the Michigan crowd when Gore brought up the 2000 election, there are many still hoping to right that wrong.  It doesn’t help that McCain has a 95% pro-Bush voting record thereby making it easy for Floridians to replace the GW of 2000 with the McCain of 2008 enabling them to exact their vengeance.  So though Gore did not come out when it really could have given the Obama campaign a boost, his endorsement is still very valuable to the campaign especially if he backs it up by stumping for Obama in Florida.   Si Se Puede! 

Two seconds after Obama clinched the nomination, the chattering class began punditing about who he should choose as his vice president.  Sen. Obama said as he was leaving DC that the next word that the public will hear from his campaign regarding the VP position is when he announces his vice president.  The Senator also said that his campaign will take its time deciding who will be his running mate.  Obama has also emphasized that this is one of the most important decisions that he will make and he will not be rushed in making it.  Obama confirmed that his campaign have begun the VP consideration process but such process will not be conducted in the press or through surrogates.  In addition, the Senator demonstrated just what kind of leader he intends to be yesterday.  Having just won the toughest, most protracted and contentious primary in decades, Obama did not rest on his laurels but flew to Washington DC and went to the Senate floor to introduce new legislation expanding public access to government spending.  While in DC Obama also INFORMED the party that Howard Dean would remain DNC chair.  The junior senator from Illinois and the new leader of the Democratic Party also INFORMED the Party that there will be no more lobbyist money taken by the DNC, a policy that he implemented in his campaign at its genesis.    And last but by no means least, Sen. Obama met with Sen. Clinton last night regarding beginning the process of uniting the party.  Both campaigns released the following statement,

Joint Statement from Obama and Clinton Campaign

Senator Clinton and Senator Obama met tonight and had a productive discussion about the important work that needs to be done to succeed in November.”

FINALLY, it is over!  Sen. Barack Obama is officially the presumptive democratic nominee.  After fifteen months of rigorous, high octaine, campaigning, Barack Obama finally claimed victory last night over this historic primary race.   After losing South Dakota to Clinton 55% to 45%, but trouncing her in Montana 57% to 41%, Sen. Obama made history last night by becoming the first African-American/black person in the western world to head the ticket of a major political party.   And he did it by running a positive, uplifting campaign.  The Illinois Senator said in front of a crowd of 30,000 in Minnesota “I will be the Democratic nominee for the president of the United States of America.”  Sen. Obama ended the night with 2156 delegates and made headlines around the world.  PROGRESS.

Headlines around the World (see below) 

El Pais (Madrid): Obama se convierte en el primer candidato negro a la presidencia de Estados Unidos
^{(Obama becomes the first black candidate to the presidency of the United States)}

Financial Times (London): Obama clinches the Democratic nomination

The Telegraph (London): Obama limps over line despite Dakota defeat
^{Senator becomes the first black nominee in history despite Clinton win in South Dakota.}

Le Monde (Paris) Interrogations sur la stratégie de fin de campagne d’Hillary Clinton
^{(Questions on the ending strategy of Hillary Clinton’s campaign)}

Berliner Morgenpost (Berlin): Barack Obama lässt sich als Kandidat feiern
^{(Barack Obama can be celebrated as a candidate)}

Reforma (Mexico City): Hace Obama historia; asegura nominación
^{(Obama makes history; nomination assured)}

Clarín (Buenos Aires): Obama logró los delegados necesarios y es el candidato demócrata a la Casa Blanca
^{(Obama obtained the necessary delegates and is the democratic candidate to the White House)}

Jakarta Post (Jakarta, Indonesia): Obama seals nomination; McCain eager for battle

The Australian (Melbourne): Barack Obama claims nomination but Hillary Clinton hangs on

Al Jazeera (Doha, Qatar): Obama ‘wins Democratic nomination’
^{Illinois senator projected to become first African-American presidential candidate.}

Jerusalem Post (Jerusalem): Obama seals Democratic presidential nomination
^{Defeated Hillary Clinton maneuvers for the vice presidential spot on Illinois senator’s ticket without conceding her own loss.}

Ottawa Citizen (Ottawa): Obama first black nominee for White House
^{Clinton vows party unity}

China Daily (Beijing): Obama seals Democratic nomination
^{Barack Obama sealed the Democratic presidential nomination Tuesday, a step toward his goal of becoming the first black US president.}

Obama is a mere 11 delegates away from becoming the presumptive democratic  nominee.  Sen. Barack Obama has 2107 delegates, gaining a total of 28 delegates so far today.  The Senator needs 2118 delegates to reach the majority and clinch the nomination.  See list below.

Compiled by davidkc

State Rep. Maria Chappelle-Nadal (MO)

DNC Member Joyce Lalonde (MI) (1/2 vote)

U.S. Rep. John W. Olver (MA)

DNC Member John A. Perez (CA)

Read the rest of this entry »

The Democratic National Committee Rules and Bylaws Committee will meet Saturday, May 31st in Washington DC in an effort to decide what to do about Michigan and Florida.  The entire meeting will be broadcast on CSPAN.  Most believe that the DNC will seat half the delegates of each state.  If the DNC decides to seat all of Florida and Michigan’s delegates as is, Sen. Clinton would make a dent in Obama’s lead.  This result is unlikely however given the following statement by Nancy Pelosi after speaking at meeting in front of the San Francisco Chronicle’s editorial board in California.  In expressing the neccesity for exacting some sort of penalty to Florida and Michigan, Pelosi said “[i]f you have no order and no discipline in terms of party rules, people will be having their primary in the year before the presidential election,” she said. “So there has to be some penalty.” 

In addition, Pelosi and Harry Reid released a statement Thursday night to the New York times pressing superdelegates to make their decision known by next week.  Reid and Pelosi made clear that they do not want this RBC meeting on Saturday to extend this protracted primary race any further by way of appeals, etc.  The two top congressional democrats plan to urge uncommitted superdelegates to make their decision known by the middle of next week to be exact.  Reid went further by saying that the nominee will be known by Wednesday of next week.  Because superdelegates are members or aspiring members of Congress, word from Reid and Pelosi add a new kind of pressure to the superdelegates. This is bad news for the Clinton Campaign who have been making utterances about taking this to the Credentials Committee at the August convention.

As for the RBC meeting this Saturday, Clinton supporters are expected to protest.  The Obama campaign however has opted to go a different route.  Campaign Obama has asked its supporters not to protest but to take this opportunity to register voters within their community.  The campaign has organized a mass voter registration drive and request that Obama supporters go to www.barackobama.com to find their local registration drive location. The following statement was released by the Obama campaign. 

On Saturday, the Rules and Bylaws Committee of the Democratic National Committee will meet in Washington D.C. to determine whether Florida and Michigan delegates should be allowed to participate at the Democratic convention in August. We look forward to the meeting proceeding smoothly—and we’re asking that our supporters not demonstrate or disrupt the proceedings in any way.

The following is a list of members, who are also superdelegates, of the Rules and Bylaws Committee and which candidate each member supports.

Co-Chairs - no endorsement
Alexis Herman (co-chair, Washington , D.C. )
James Roosevelt, Jr. (co-chair, Massachusetts )

Members - Clinton supporters (13)
Hartina Flournay (DC)
Donald Fowler (SC)
Harold Ickes, Jr. (DC)
Jaime Gonzalez, Jr. (TX)
Alice Huffman (CA)
Ben Johnson (DC)
Elaine Kamarck (MA)
Eric Kleinfeld (DC)
Mona Pasquil (CA)
Mame Reiley (VA)
Gary Shay (CA)
Elizabeth Smith (DC)
Michael Steed (MD)

Members - Obama supporters (8)
Martha Fuller Clark (NH)
Carol Khare Fowler (SC)
Janice Griffin (MD)
Thomas Hynes (IL)
Allan Katz (FL)
Sharon Stroschein (SD)
Sarah Swisher (IA)
Everett Ward (NC)

Members - no known endorsement (7)
Donna Brazille (DC)
Mark Brewer (MI)
Ralph Dawson (NY)
Yvonne Gates ( NV)
Alice Germond (DC) - DNC Secretary
David McDonald (WA)
Jerome Wiley Segovia (VA)

There has been significant punditry and widespread rumouring that Sen. Jim Webb would be a great VP for Barack Obama.  I disagree.  Sen. Webb has not endorsed Obama or any democratic candidate for that matter.  Webb continues to say that he has not felt the urge to endorse any of the candidates.  Webb also said that he would strongly discourage either of the democratic candidates from asking him to be their VP.  Okay, in my opinion this gives Obama an easy out.  Webb has quite a bit of baggage with respect to women’s issues and  political decisions.  Webb’s track record would definitely take away from Obama’s message.  When I hear Webb speak I sense an awkward uneasiness with respect to the democratic platform. Perhaps because he is only newly democrat. Also, While Web may be a good politician, word on the street is that he is not very good at the campaigning/running aspect of the the political game.  Rumors are also circulating regarding former Virginia governor Mark Warner.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton won Kentucky by a significant margin. With 100% of the vote in, Clinton won Kentucky 65% to 30%.  The fact that Clinton was able to garner such a significant amount of support when it is being reported that her campaign is on its last legs is a testament to her skill and tenacity.  The Kentucky win also increased Clinton’s popular vote count by 250,000.  The Clinton campaign also reported that she raised 22 million in the month of April.  Unfortunately, it will not make a difference in this primary process.  Most have concluded unoficially that Barack Obama is the democratic nominee.  During Obama’s speech he recognized Clinton for her contribution, formidability, and history making campaign.  The Ilinois senator said this about his rival, “Senator Clinton has shattered myths and broken barriers and changed the America in which my daughters and yours will come of age.”  I agree with this comment wholeheartedly.  Congratulations Sen. Clinton for a race worthy of a significant moment in history.

After John Edwards endorsed Barack Obama last night, one of his delegates did not wast any time in rallying behind the Illinois senator.  Joshua Denton,  a New Hampshire Democratic Party delegate and Iraq war veteran said that he will support Barack Obama now that Edwards has endorsed Obama.  See his statement below.

A New Hampshire Democratic Party delegate who had supported John Edwards says he will support Barack Obama, now that Edwards has endorsed his former political rival for the party’s presidential nominee.
more stories like this

Joshua Denton of Portsmouth, 26, an Iraq war veteran, says he thinks that both Obama and Hillary Clinton would be a better president than Republican nominee John McCain. He thinks that Obama is the change the country needs, along with having the best chance of beating McCain in the general election.

“My fear with Hillary was just because she is who she is — for better or worse — she would sink, not just lose the presidency,” but Democrats in Congress, Denton said Wednesday. - Boston Globe

Hours before bitter-gate at a speaking engagement just before the comments about guns and “bitter” were made, Obama revealed his true feelings about guns.  Obama made the following statement, “[w]e need sensible gun laws,” said the Senator. “I just got back from Montana where just about everyone has guns. In that culture, fathers and sons bond over hunting. You can’t take that away from rural America. But the inner city is different, and we should tighten the laws on gun purchases and close the loopholes in gun show sales to unscrupulous buyers. The gun control people and the right to bear arms people are talking past each other about disconnected topics.”  Obama said this just a few hours before the meeting in San Francisco where “bitter-gate” happened.  It’s unfortunate that the main stream media did not pick up this story but instead spun bitter-gate beyond recognition. 

The Obama campaign sent a message to all its surrogates and supporters not to beat up on Hillary Clinton and to allow her time to bow out of the presidential race gracefully and in her own time.  From the top down, the Obama Campaign sent word that it did not want its surrogates to pressure Clinton into a decision before she is ready.  So in repayment for this gesture, Clinton went out on the campaign trail and started the race-baiting once again.  Clinton said in an interview with USA Today:

“I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on,” she said in an interview with USA TODAY. As evidence, Clinton cited an Associated Press article “that found how Sen. Obama’s support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me.” ……”There’s a pattern emerging here,” she said…….”These are the people you have to win if you’re a Democrat in sufficient numbers to actually win the election. Everybody knows that.”

So now Hillary Clinton is openly and unabashedly playing the race card in her last desperate attempt to exploit instead of heal the racial divisiveness that has plagued our country for generations.  Why?  For political gain.    So much for her speech in Indiana emphasizing party unity.  This writer really believed that Clinton had turned a corner on Tuesday night when she for the first time in at least 13 Obama wins, actually acknowledged and congratulated the Illinois Senator for his win in North Carolina.  I guess that was just a weak moment on her part.  Instead Clinton seems to have initiated a new strategy which appears to be to shift the narrative to Obama can’t win “white” voters.  Well just to point out the obvious, democrats usually lose the white vote in the general election.  And, it is actually the black vote that enabled Bill Clinton to become President in 1992 and 1996.  As to this new strategy, it didn’t work when Sen. Clinton referred to such voters as “working class voters” or “blue-collar workers” and it will not work when she just comes outright and says ”white voters.”  At this point, Clinton is only damaging herself with this last ditch effort to polarize the electorate with such racially based undertones.  Working class voters do not want to be branded  as a group that will not vote for the black guy.  Just like men do not want to be branded as men who will not vote for the woman.  We all have higher aspirations of unification and healing.  Just like Rev. Wright is stuck in the 1960’s, Sen. Clinton may be stuck there also if she really believes that such tactics will help her gain votes.  

Clinton seems to be touting the idea that racial divisiveness makes her more electable than Obama in a contest with John McCain.  One problem with her theory, if Clinton were to miraculously win the nomination, she will not have an African-American as her opponent in the general election.  Hence, no racial divide.  It will be a white woman against a white man.  More importantly, it will be Hillary Clinton, with all the Bill baggage, against “maverick” John McCain.  Hmmm, I wonder which way those working class voters will go.  That is the problem when your winning strategy is heavily dependent upon voters voting against the opposing candidate instead of voting for you.  Such voters tend to be disloyal and transient when the object of their distaste is removed from the equation.  The other important point to be made is that Clinton’s statement is not true.  In fact, Clinton has slandered “working class Americans.”  The real truth of the matter is that Obama has increased his support among working class Americans from Ohio through to Indiana.  For voters earning less than 50k annually, Obama increased his support from 42% in Ohio to 50% in Indiana.  For voters with no college education, Obama increased his support from 40% in Ohio to 46% in Indiana.  The percentage of white Americans in Ohio and Indiana is 82.9% and 83.9% respectively.  So one might conclude that Indiana is whiter than Ohio.  Yet, Obama’s support among such voters increased to 50%.  So the “pattern” that Clinton speaks of is a steady increase of Obama support among “working class voters” as this primary winds up.   All that said,  it looks as if Obama’s hope that Clinton would exit gracefully is a different scenario than she has in mind.  Just goes to show you, no good deeds go unpunished.

Congressman and superdelegate Brad Miller endorsed Barack Obama after meeting with Obama during the Senator’s visit to Capitol Hill today.  Miller released the following statement. 

“I will cast my vote as a delegate in Denver for Senator Barack Obama. The decision was not easy. Senator Clinton has run an impressive campaign, and has spoken eloquently to the concerns to working and middle class American families. She is one of the great leaders of this generation.”  Senator Obama understands that he has the chance not just to win the election this year, but to be a great president. Americans know that Republican policies have failed because their ideas are wrong. Americans know that our government has not acted to use Franklin Roosevelt’s words, as trustees for the whole people, but have taken the side of powerful economic interests on every issue. Americans want a fundamental change in course.  Senator Obama seized that opportunity. If Senator Obama and Democratic candidates up and down the ticket win this year and then deliver next year, we can build a consensus that will last a generation.”

Rick Larsen, the Congressman and one of the superdelegates for Washington state, gave the following reasons for his recent endorsement of Barack Obama.  

Larsen said Obama is “the best candidate to turn our best hopes for a better future into reality.”  He went on to praise Obama’s fortitude in North Carolina and Indiana by saying,  ”he can take a pounding and come back strong to deliver his message of hope and change. He is tough as nails…….This week, Senator Obama has proven that he is tough and resilient. He has shown that he can take a pounding, come back and continue to communicate with the public to deliver his message of hope and change.   In my district, Senator Obama has strong grassroots support.  He has inspired and energized my constituents like no other candidate.  I believe that Senator Obama will be the best President for our country. I have been particularly impressed by Senator Obama’s truth-telling on a proposed gas tax policy – a proposal which would make little or no difference for Americans paying too much at the pump.  Our country faces great challenges.  As President, I believe that Barack Obama can unite our country to overcome obstacles and deliver real change.”

Congressman and superdelegate, Brian Baird also of Washington state, endorsed Barack Obama today. Baird gave the following statement regarding his endorsement.

“Our nation faces extraordinary challenges domestically and abroad,” Baird said in a statement released by the Obama campaign. “I believe Sen. Obama will bring a vision of unity that will rekindle the very best of our society and help all Americans move past the partisanship of the past and into the progressive partnership of the future.  It has been many years since Americans, particularly young Americans, felt the sense of enthusiasm, hope and involvement that Senator Obama has inspired. We need to nurture that enthusiasm for the good of all Americans, and I look forward to working closely in Congress with President Obama.”

I guess Sen. Obama’s trip to the House floor during session today really paid off.  That puts the total delegates, including superdelegates,  for Obama at 1851.5, and for Clinton at 1695.  Obama needs 173 to hit the 2025 that clinches the nomination.  Clinton needs 329.5 to reach the 2025 number. 

Trickle, trickle, drip, drip. 

ABC News has learned that David Bonior, the campaign manager for the 2008 presidential race of Sen. John Edwards, D-NC, will endorse Sen. Barack Obama, D-Illinois, today.Bonior, a former Michigan congressman, was once the second highest ranking Democrat in the House, and is influential with labor unions.

Tuesday night’s results were said to be key to Bonior’s decision — specifically the fact that Obama’s lead over Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-NY, appears insurmountable.

Bonior is also said to like Obama’s general positive tone, as well as Obama’s message of change and stance against taking money from federal lobbyists.

Yesterday after Obama’s decisive North Carolina victory and Clinton’s squeaker win in Indiana, the Obama campaign announced three new superdelegates: Jerry Meek, chairman of the North Carolina Democratic Party, Jeanette Council, a member of the D.N.C. from North Carolina and Inola Henry, a member of the D.N.C. from California.   Obama also gained a fourth superdelegate– Virginia Assembly member Jennifer McClellan, who switched from Clinton.  McClellan is the ninth Clinton superdelegate who have switched to Obama since the Super Tuesday primaries on Feb. 5.  Thus far there have been no switches from Obama to Clinton.  McClellan gave the following statement in a conference call with reporters as to why she decided to support Obama,  “I think the time has come to support Senator Obama as the likely nominee,”….. “Given what happened last night, it’s very unlikely we will have a different result, and it is time to come together as a party and prepare for victory against John McCain in November.”  The current delegate count, including superdelegates is Obama 1847.5, Clinton 1697.  A total of 2025 delegates are needed to win the democratic nomination.