See Full Video of John Edwards Endorsement of Barack Obama

John Edwards Endorsement of Barack Obama…

See Full Video of John Edwards Endorsement of Barack Obama - HERE

(sorry…if i could figure out how to get a video on this new editor i would have put it here)

Should Michelle Obama have the Power to Veto Hillary Clinton as VP?

Should Michelle Obama Have The Power To Veto Hillary as VP? — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at The Care2 Election Blog)

Michelle Obama is a strong, educated, and empowering woman, as you can see from this video. But, when it comes to deciding who Barack should choose as his VP, I don’t want to believe she is laying down the law on who is forbidden. It hardly seems far fetched that Michelle would be against Hillary as VP, and who could blame her? I just don’t think Hillary or anyone else should be taken off the table, simply because Michelle Obama has put her foot down.

Full Video of Barack Obama Victory Speech in N.C.

See FULL VIDEO of Barack Obama Victory Speech in N.C. HERE

Do We Need A Gas Tax Holiday?

Do We Need A Gas Tax Holiday? Will We Get One? — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at The Care2 Election Blog)

What is a gas tax holiday? And would one help you? We have three candidates and three positions on this idea. McCain’s proposal doesn’t replace the tax revenue lost by this plan, but Hillary’s does, and Obama is against it altogether.

Here are video clips of each candidate, and then I’ll tell you what I think. Let me know how you feel about this issue in comments.  [STILL CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET A VIDEO ON THIS NEW EDITOR -- SEE VIDEOS HERE]

So, what do you think?  Who is right on the gas tax holiday?

The way I see it is…At best this would be a band-aid on a gaping chest wound, and at worst it’s simply political pandering. Either way, this gas crisis brought on by the policies of the Bush administration, is going nowhere but up. The truth is…There is no end in site, with or without a gas tax holiday. Sorry.

If we are going to get through these tough economic times, we are going to have to come together, both Democrats and Republicans (and I’m not talking about the politicians here - I’m talking about the people). Sadly, our government isn’t going to be able to get us out of this one. So if you are feeling the crunch - Come together with your neighbors (Democrat and Republican), and carpool to work, to the grocery store, to the mall, to the bank, and anywhere else you need to go. If you have to run out to the grocery story, call your neighbor and see if she needs you to pick up something, or would like to come along. Try to reduce unnecessary car rides by planning ahead and getting errands run in one or two days, rather than three or four.

Don’t expect a gas holiday…Go on a gas diet. How do you do that? If you normally fill your car up once a week, see if you can reduce your driving enough to make it to day 8 or 9 (keep track of it on your calender). Once you have done that, try to cut back some more. Put yourself and your car on a gas diet.

Look at this gas crisis for what it is…a disaster. And what do we do in a disaster? We prepare, attempt to prevent, and we come together as communities to help each other when the disaster strikes. Yes, this is a disaster (one that I expect will get much worse before it gets better). And yes, we need to come together and help each other out if we are going to get through this. You can start by organizing - The same way we do a town watch, or a neighborhood garage sale. Or invite your neighbors over for coffee to brainstorm ideas that will fit your needs. And if you are reading this thinking…”This gas crisis can’t hurt me, I could afford to pay 6 bucks a gallon for gas.” Well, if that’s what you are thinking, I would challenge you to think past yourself (as in a disaster), and see if there is someone less fortunate in your community that you might be able to help.

So…Tax holiday or no tax holiday. We all need to start looking ahead, and facing our new reality. We have been through worse, and we certainly can get through this, as long as we come together.

YouTube Video Roundup of Clinton, Obama, and McCain on the Economy

A Video Roundup of Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and John McCain on the Economy — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at the Care2 Election Blog)

The economy continues to be the most important issue to voters. And with all the bad news in the housing market, the falling dollar, and rising gas prices, it’s easy to see why people are so concerned. Here is a quick video round-up from the last few days, on how the candidates are planning to address the economy. Who do you think is the best candidate for solving the many problems facing our economy? Let me know what you think in comments.

See the YouTube video clips at the Care2 Election Blog

How Does McCain’s Healthcare Plan Measure-up?

How Does McCain’s Healthcare Plan Measure-up? - by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at Care2 Election Blog)

It’s no secret that we are facing a healthcare crisis in this country. I’ve heard quite a bit about the healthcare plans of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, but I just realized that I’ve neglected to look at John McCain’s healthcare plan. So, I thought I could use this post to take a closer look at McCain’s plan, and what others are saying about it. I would love to know what you think about too…let me know in comments.

In the above clip, Shawn Tully of Fortune Magazine, begins his interview with CNN by saying that Healthcare (specifically Medicare) is going to bankrupt our country, and that is why the McCain plan is more “fiscally” responsible. Is he kidding? He loses me right there, because as far as I am concerned, the Iraq war is what is going to bankrupt this country (if it hasn’t already). If you don’t believe me, check out this post on military spending…
But to get back to John McCain’s Healthcare plan - here is some of what other bloggers are saying about the McCain Healthcare Plan.This is from An Insider’s View on Health Care…

McCain’s Healthcare Plan is the Worst - Consumer Driven Healthcare Not the Answer

FORTUNE magazine published an opinion piece in their March 17, 2008, issue titled Why McCain has the best health-care plan. McCain like many of his fellow Republicans believes that giving individuals more responsibility is a way to solve the healthcare crisis.

From The Carpetbagger Report - John McCain and the ‘disaster’ of his healthcare plan…

From time to time, McCain has made encouraging noises on the issue. He’s supported re-importation of medicine from Canada; he’s teamed up with Ted Kennedy on a “patients’ bill of rights”; and he’ll occasionally criticize HMOs and big pharm.

But TNR’s Jonathan Cohn reports today on the healthcare plan McCain unveiled in October, and labels the policy a “disaster.”

. . .

The main point of McCain’s proposal is to change tax policy to make it easier for people to have more insurance options outside their employer.

. . .

No matter which Dem gets the nomination, this is a fight to look forward to. If McCain support for an unpopular war doesn’t undermine his campaign, his useless healthcare policy will.

There were also some interesting comments on this Carpetbagger post. Here is part of one…

There are arguments out there that every US citizen should get access to the same type of healthcare system that federal employees, including all elected federal representative, receive. Until that day occurs, how about making federal elected officials having to live with the same system the rest of have to deal with. Let John McCain see what it’s like to get insurance after three bouts of melanoma along with a spouse who had a stroke and a past issue with drug dependence or to watch his family’s coverage get dropped because the insurance companies feel like it. Maybe then Congress would take some action if they weren’t so insulated from the problem.

Personally, I’m not sold on this plan one bit. As a person with chronic illness and pre-existing conditions, it’s actually a little scary. But that’s just me, what do you think?

Also See:

Lack of Health Insurance is Killing Americans

Brit in a Red State

Grizzly Mama: McCain and Healthcare

Florida Will Not Get To Re-Do Presidential Primary

No Re-Vote For Florida Primary — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at Care2 Election Blog)

As a Florida resident and a registered Democrat, I have blogged several times on my annoyance as well as outrage I am feeling over Florida delegates not being counted. My most recent post was - Should Florida and Michigan Have Do-Over Primaries? (there are actually 68 comments ranging from - why people think we should have revote to why they think we should just shut-up and take our punishment for breaking the rules).

I was really holding out hope that the Florida legislator would find a way to at least have a mail-in revote. It seems to me this would have been the best solution, but it apparently doesn’t seem that way to the Florida Democratic Party officials.Hillary Clinton continues to try and keep a plan for two revotes alive.

New York Times - Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton’s hopes of ending the primaries with game-changing victories from new contests in Florida and Michigan grew dim on Tuesday as Florida officially scuttled plans for a new vote and Michigan lawmakers appeared far from a deal.

In a sign of how badly she thinks she needs the Michigan delegates to catch the Democratic front-runner, Senator Barack Obama, Mrs. Clinton made a last-minute schedule change and planned to fly to Detroit on Wednesday to plead with Michigan lawmakers to approve a new primary election in June to replace the January contest that awarded no delegates.

“We will go and make the case for a revote,” said Mo Elleithee, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton.

Mr. Obama’s campaign has resisted a new contest, saying that Michigan Democrats are divided, that a revote would not make much difference in the overall delegate count and that the Clinton camp was trying to change the rules to suit itself.

I’m happy to see that Hillary Clinton is willing to stand-up against the DNC and fight for Florida and Michigan voters. I am, however, very disappointed that none of the democratic nominees made any attempt to stand-up for us at the time Howard Dean was making these ridiculous punishments. I think if one or all of them had stood up to Howard Dean and refused to allow him to disenfranchise Florida or Michigan voters, things would be a lot different right now. But instead, they all went along with him…more like followers than leaders. Instead we just have Barack who doesn’t care at all about us, and Hillary who only cares because she needs our delegates. That’s not going to play so well in the general election.

In my opinion, if Hillary wins the Democratic nomination there is a chance that Florida could go blue in November. Floridians obviously like her, and they do see her as someone at least trying to help the people of Florida. Even though she was a little late to the party, she is at least here now. But you can’t say the same for Barack Obama. It’s my opinion that many Florida voters are disappointed in him for his lack of concern over whether or not our votes count, and that’s a pretty big deal. For that reason, I believe that if Barack Obama is the Democratic Nominee, Florida will most likely be red in November. Although, if he unites with Hillary and begins to fight for the voting rights of Michigan and Florida, this could turn the tables for him.

See YouTube Video of Obama’s Speech on Race and Politics.

What Did You Think of Barack Obama’s Speech on Race and Politics? - by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at the Care2 Election Blog)

SEE FULL VIDEO OF OBAMA SPEECH AT THE CARE2 ELECTION BLOG

Five Years of the Iraq War: When Will It Ever End????

The Iraq War: Five Years Later - by Catherine Morgan -(cross-posted at Care2 Election Blog)

Personally, I have always been against war and violence of any kind. I didn’t even let my children play with toy guns when they were young (not even water guns). Now I find myself worried that my son or daughter could actually be drafted someday. [Over a year ago I did a post addressing my concerns over a possible draft or mandatory military, it still seems very relevant today.] So yes, I am one of the people that are against this war in Iraq, and I have been since day one. And I really hate that we are now talking about the fifth anniversary of this horrific war. What I find myself wondering the most about today is, there seems to be no end in sight and five years from now we might be talking about the tenth anniversary of the Iraq war. How many people have to die? When will ‘man’ realize that war is not the answer?

People have been saying that we aren’t talking much about the Iraq war anymore, and I suspect it is because of the attention our tumbling economy is getting. I wonder? Has it occurred to anyone that $275 million a day spent in Iraq could be adding to the trouble we find our economy in? The National Priorities Project has a running tab of the cost of the Iraq war…

Let’s take a look at how this five year anniversary of the war in Iraq is being reported by the news and on the blogs.

Associated Press: Iraq War Disappears as TV Story.

Remember the war in Iraq?

The question isn’t entirely facetious. The war has nearly vanished from TV screens over the past few months, replaced by stories about the fascinating presidential campaign and faltering economy.

Yet Americans continue to fight and die there, five years after the war started in March 2003.

“It’s no big secret that this is a war that everyone has grown tired of,” said CNN correspondent Arwa Damon, whose documentary “On Deadly Ground: The Women of Iraq” is airing several times this month. “Iraqis are aware of it. They think it’s a story that people are tired of hearing about. That’s what makes our job more crucial.”

ABC News will draw attention to the war this week with the fifth edition of its “Where Things Stand” series, polling and interviewing Iraqis about what is happening in their country.

The War In Iraq - Five Years of Cultural Fallout

Since U.S. forces began bombarding Iraq in 2003, the impact of the war has been felt far beyond the battlefields.

From AFP - Iraq: A Three Trillion Dollar War?

The war in Iraq has already cost the United States more than 400 billion dollars by the most conservative tally, but the total bill could surpass three trillion dollars, according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.

By the Pentagon’s count, 527 billion dollars were allocated from September 2001 through December 2007 to finance the war against terrorism, including 406 billion dollars for Iraq.

The Congressional Budget Office reported in October 2007 that Iraq accounts for 421 billion, or 70 percent, of the 602 billion dollars that the Congress has authorized for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The CBO estimates that the total cost of the two wars could reach 2.4 trillion dollars by 2017 including interest on the debt, with Iraq accounting for 70 percent of the spending, or 1.68 trillion dollars.

But even that pales by comparison with estimates put forward by Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes, a Harvard professor, in a book called “The Three Trillion Dollar War: the True Cost of the Iraq Conflict.”

This is from a post by Connie at Connie Talk. She has done a post on the Fifth Anniversary of the Iraq War.

Yesterday, March 15th, 2008, marked the fifth anniversary of the Iraq War. To be honest, I don’t really understand why so many people call it an “anniversary”: a word that most often indicates something to celebrate. But, regardless, we have been occupying the Middle East in wartime for exactly five years now. There were thousands of people who showed up in Los Angeles, California, yesterday to march the length of Hollywood Boulevard.

Thanks to hard-working YouTuber’s, you can get a peek at the protests from many corners of the Earth without leaving your computer chair.

Check out Connie at Connie Talk, where she has videos of protests that took place all over the world.

What the bloggers are saying…

Wash Park Prophet: The Iraq War Five Years Later

The Political Inquire: The Iraq Debate Must Continue

PoliJam Blog: Clinton Memo Slams Obama on Iraq War’s 5th Anniversary

The Kicker: The Psychological Damage to Soldiers Caused by the Iraq War

Iraq War: Five Years of Protest

A Plan To End The Iraq War

So, what do you think? Did you originally support the war? Or were you against it? How are you feeling about it now? Do you see a light at the end of the tunnel? Has the Iraq war reduced the chances of terrorism in America? Do you feel safer because of the Iraq war? Do you want our next president to get us out of Iraq? Do you think it is possible to get out of Iraq? Do you think the $275 million being spent each day on the Iraq war, is contributing to the serious economic problems we are facing today?

These are just a few of the questions I wonder about, let me know how you feel in comments.

Stop The Hate: Writer’s Strike and now Reader’s Strike at Daily Kos

This is a post by Sue at Nailing Jello To The Wall — Writer’s Strike At The Daily Kos

It is so tiring and stressful to read the Hillary Clinton-bashing that has been allowed to go on at so many if the big “progressive” liberal blogs, such as americablog, Huffington Post, and Daily Kos. I read the quotes taken out of context, the facts misrepresented, and rumors posted as fact, and I am torn between just clicking away and standing up for her. The problem is, if I post a comment that defends Hillary Clinton on any of those sites, I am assured of hateful, often disgusting replies. Sometimes directed at Clinton, sometimes at me. So I’ve pretty much just given up on those sites.

And that’s why I was so pleased to read this post from Alegre, a regular writer at Daily Kos.

I’ve been posting at DailyKos for nearly 4 years now and started writing diaries in support of Hillary Clinton back in June of last year. Over the past few months I’ve noticed that things have become progressively more abusive toward my candidate and her supporters.

I’ve put up with the abuse and anger because I’ve always believed in what our on-line community has tried to accomplish in this world. No more. DailyKos is not the site it once was thanks to the abusive nature of certain members of our community.

I’ve decided to go on “strike” and will refrain from posting here as long as the administrators allow the more disruptive members of our community to trash Hillary Clinton and distort her record without any fear of consequence or retribution. I will not be posting at DailyKos effective immediately. I will not help drive up traffic or page-hits as long as my candidate – a good and fine DEMOCRAT - is attacked in such a horrid and sexist manner not only by other diarists, but by several of those posting to the front page.

I have been checking in on those sites every once in a while, just to see what people are saying. But I have to say I agree with Alegre: I don’t want to have any part in driving up their traffic or giving them an audience.So, in addition to her writer’s strike, let’s have a reader’s strike, as well!

ALSO SEE:

Taylor Marsh Blog

and

Tennessee Guerilla Women

Is Sexism Hurting The Clinton Campaign

Is Sexism Hurting The Clinton Campaign? — Posted by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at Care2 Election Blog)

I didn’t really want to do a post on Hillary Clinton and sexism, but it is just getting too difficult to ignore. Am I the only one that has noticed? Let me just say that I am not favoring either Obama or Clinton…When (and if) I do get a chance to vote between these candidates, my decision will be based on the issues. And this post is not about the issues, it’s about all the gender and sexism banter thats been going on.

As a woman I find it offensive, especially considering much of it is coming from other women. What is with that? I guess my sensitivity to the subject of women verbally bashing other women, was triggered when I read this article by Charlotte Allen in the Washington Post last week - We Scream, We Swoon, How Dumb Can We Get? Here is a taste of Charlotte Allen’s rant against women…

Then there’s Clinton’s nearly all-female staff, chosen for loyalty rather than, say, brains or political savvy. Clinton finally fired her daytime-soap-watching, self-styled “Latina queena” campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle, known for burning through campaign money and for her open contempt for the “white boys” in the Clinton camp. But stupidly, she did it just in time to alienate the Hispanic voters she now desperately needs to win in Texas or Ohio to have any shot at the Democratic nomination.

What is it about us women? Why do we always fall for the hysterical, the superficial and the gooily sentimental? Take a look at the New York Times bestseller list. At the top of the paperback nonfiction chart and pitched to an exclusively female readership is Elizabeth Gilbert’s “Eat, Pray, Love.” Here’s the book’s autobiographical plot: Gilbert gets bored with her perfectly okay husband, so she has an affair behind his back. Then, when that doesn’t pan out, she goes to Italy and gains 23 pounds forking pasta so she has to buy a whole new wardrobe, goes to India to meditate (that’s the snooze part), and finally, at an Indonesian beach, finds fulfillment by — get this — picking up a Latin lover!

This is the kind of literature that countless women soak up like biscotti in a latte cup: food, clothes, sex, “relationships” and gummy, feel-good “spirituality.”

Needles to say, I wasn’t the only one who had a visceral reaction to this. PunditMom had a few choice words, and Jeff from Shakesville had this to say, in response to Allen’s response - Shorter Charlotte Allen

Basically, Allen’s argument boils down to this:

1. *I was serious about women being stupid.
2. *But I was also just kidding.
3. *It’s okay to make fun of women, they haven’t been historically oppressed.
4. *I really don’t know that much about women’s history.

Well! Good job, WaPo, hiring someone capable of making such a winning argument to talk about women.

I can’t imagine that anyone, at any time, thought that all women would rally around Hillary just because she’s a woman. However, I also couldn’t imagine the severity of the rift this division would have on women in general. And frankly, it’s kinda disappointing. Why are women o.k. with dissing Hillary over her clothes, ambitions, and emotions? Most of us would agree that sexism is wrong, yet there is little outrage over the treatment that Hillary Clinton is receiving…It just doesn’t make sense to me. Are we so use to being at the center of sexism ourselves, that we have become desensitized to it? If so, that’s pretty sad.

Fighting sexims in politics - Adrian Northrup

This is an exciting time in American politics. For the first time in history, the frontrunners for Democratic ticket are two minorities - a woman and an African American.

But still, there’s a gray cloud hanging over this diversity victory - sexism. Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is not only under fire for her political stances, but for her gender.

Clinton has endured sexism from all angles. Opponents have criticized her for using the gender card and allow the sexist remarks to continue. Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) explained how he was going to beat Clinton when a supporter in South Carolina asked “How are you going to beat the bitch?” The event inspired a YouTube video, titled “How Do We Beat the Bitch.” It now has more than one million viewings.

On his MSNBC Show, Tucker Carlson said “There’s just something about her that feels castrating, overbearing and scary.” Couldn’t he find a better word than castrating? Other opponents, like MSNBC’s David Shuster accused her of “pimping” her daughter when Chelsea Clinton campaigned for her.

This was from a post at BlogHer - On What Planet Is This OK?

One what planet is this OK? A female Fox & Friends presenter weighs in on the in-studio banter regarding Hillary Clinton’s dress sense by proudly proclaiming, “Here at Fox, we like to be feminine. So we don’t wear the pants.” (If player fails to load, click HERE to view video.) It’s like the feminist movement never happened. This Faux News woman is utterly oblivious to the damage she’s doing. It’s so sad that women are so often their own worst enemies. Evolve people. Then again, along with pant suits, she probably doesn’t believe in evolution either.

Also See:

Hear Her Roar from Tennessee Guerilla Women

Talking Points Memo Cuts Female Writer Not Supporting Obama - Linda Hirshman

Apples vs. Oranges: Sexism vs. Racism

Sexism at the Democratic Underground and the Daily Kos?

Clinton is Fighting an Uphill Battle for Male Votes

Op-ed in the New York Times by Gloria Steinem - Women Are Never Front-Runners

Feminist Rule: We Must Vote For Clinton

Are SNL, Colbert, and other comedy shows Shaping Election News Coverage?

Are SNL and Colbert (and other comedy shows) Shaping Election News Coverage? — See several more videos at the Care2 Election Blog

Are SNL and Colbert (and other comedy shows) Shaping Election News Coverage?  — SEE FULL POST HERE

Howard Dean Should Be Fired! Clinton and Obama Should Pay For Do-Over Primaries In Florida and Michigan

Should Florida and Michigan Have Do-Over Primaries? — Posted by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at Care2 Election Blog)

Let me just start with this…Is there some way to “impeach” Howard Dean as the Chairman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC)? This whole situation is 100% his pig headed fault. I keep hearing him repeating over and over again, that Florida and Michigan are being “punished”, and that is that. Has Howard Dean ever heard of the CRAZY idea that the punishment should fit the crime? When a handful of people make a decision that is punishable…those people should be punished (not a couple million people). Howard Dean appears to be is on some sort of power trip, and as far as I’m concerned, he should be the one that is punished. He should be fired for making such an overwhelmingly irresponsible decision regarding a state’s right to move up their primary. Disenfranchising millions of voters because their state has moved up its primary, is just insane.

Why should the rest of the country care whether or not Florida and Michigan voters are disenfranchised? Well, let me tell you. In less than a year, Democrats need to win the general election, or McCain will end up in the White House. Need I say more?

I don’t care how they do it, but the DNC better fix this problem before it is really too late. I recommend all Democrats contact the DNC and voice their opinion on this issue. You can use their contact form or you can call them at 202-863-8000. This isn’t just a Florida/Michigan problem, this is a problem for every Democrat in this country. Take a stand. Insist that all votes be counted. This is the United States of America, we pride ourselves on our ability to conduct fair elections, and we DO NOT disenfranchise our citizens.

[As soon as I find a video clip of Howard Dean's comments from earlier today, I will post it here]

From The Wall Street Journal…

With no end in sight for the Democratic nomination fight, the past 24 hours have brought on a new round of debate over what to do about Michigan and Florida, including discussion of holding a second round of nominating contests to award the two states’ delegates.

Govs. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan and Charlie Crist of Florida released a joint statement Wednesday calling for a resolution to the matter so their states’ voters are not disenfranchised in the nomination fight. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean is open to a second round of contests but shot down suggestions that delegates be awarded based on the first primary results. “We are not going to change the rules in the middle of the game,” Dean said in statement Wednesday.

From Kay B Day at Covering Florida - Dems Stuck In Punish Mode Over Florida Primary

Dean’s missing the boat on the importance of the legislative system, something that doesn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s observed him over the years. The Florida Senate passed legislation enabling the earlier primary. The Florida House voted 118-0 to do the same—in May, 2007. Maybe next time we want to pass a law in the Sunshine State we better check with Howard Dean first?

The DNC hardline position is nothing more than a move to control candidates. Party of the people? Not. If Sen. Barack Obama had won Florida, you think the DNC would refuse to count the votes? Not. Try tacking on those 210 delegates to Sen. Hillary Clinton’s numbers and see how they look.

Also See:

From Crooks and Liars

WizBang Blue

From CNN Political Ticker

The Huffington Post

The Buzz: Florida Politics

Don Surber - I Tried To Warn Them

The Reality About Legitimacy

So, what do you think about this issue?

Hillary Wins Ohio (and Texas) - Could this be her comeback? See YouTube Video of Her Victory Speech

Could this be a comeback for Hillary?

Texas is still too close to call.  12:52am — CNN has announced that Hillary Clinton is the projected winner in Texas.  This is HUGE.