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)

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.

Release of Declassified Torture Memo

Release of Declassified Torture Memo - by Catherine Morgan

Yesterday, the US Justice Department released a declassified 2003 memo that approved the use of harsh interrogation methods on al-Qaeda and Taliban suspects held abroad. Here is a look at some news and opinion on the release of this memo. What do you think about it? Should the U.S. be using torture as an interrogation method? Do you think information obtained by a person who has been tortured is reliable? Let me know what you think in comments.

SEE VIDEO AND FULL POST AT THE CARE2 ELECTION BLOG

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

John McCain’s Speech on Foreign Policy — see full video

See Full Video of John McCain’s Speech on Foreign Policy at the Care2 Election Blog.

Hillary Clinton’s Plan To Help The Housing Crisis - with youtube video

Hillary Clinton’s Plan To Help The Housing Crisis — by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at Care2 Election Blog)

* ALSO SEE:  Hillary…Don’t Quit!

Hillary Clinton unveils 4-step plan to help homeowners. Now is the time to help struggling people.

Hillary Clinton unveils 4-step plan to help homeowners. Now is the time to help struggling people.

This is from an article in Business Week…

Even though her proposals would involve tens of billions in government spending, Clinton moved to head off anticipated charges that such measures would constitute a bailout. “To those who object to our government helping middle-class and low-income families devastated by the housing crisis, I say this: We’ve given Bear Stearns a $30 billion lifeline, we’ve given their creditors, their lenders, their customers, and those associated with them the same lifeline,” she said. “How can you tell a family about to lose their home that there’s nothing we can do to help them?”

I think this is a great plan, and it would be much better for the housing market to help people not go into foreclosure. Not only does foreclosure hurt the family that is made homeless, but it hurts the whole neighborhood, by bringing down home values for everyone.

I personally know more than one family who have been struggling for years to pay their mortgages, and now find themselves facing possible foreclosure. These families have already made huge sacrifices to keep paying their mortgages, in hopes to someday have at least a small nest-egg in their homes. But now those homes aren’t even worth what paid for them, and even if they were able to sell their homes (and many can’t even do that), they would lose money. On top of everything else, the cost to heat these homes has skyrocketed, and so has gas, food, healthcare, and just about everything else. Finances have gotten so bad, that these people feel the only solution is to walk away from their homes and their mortgages.

We need to find a way to help people who (up until now) have been struggling each month paying their mortgages, but who now feel their only option is to abandon their American Dream. We need to find a way to throw these families some sort of life-raft and help them get through this crisis with their dignity and hopefully their homes. More foreclosures, more abandoned homes, and more homeless families is only going to prolong this housing crisis.

And the problems facing the middle-class is not limited to the housing crisis. Rising healthcare cost are seriously hurting many families…

This is from The Washington Post…

Recent history has not been kind to working-class Americans, who were down on the economy long before the word recession was uttered.

The main reason: spiraling health-care costs have been whacking away at their wages. Even though workers are producing more, inflation-adjusted median family income has dipped 2.6 percent — or nearly $1,000 annually since 2000.

There is no doubt that we are facing serious economic problems in this county. Since stopping this economic crisis is obviously not going to happen, we need to find the best way to get through it…and it shouldn’t be every man for himself. The more we collectively help Americans that need help, the fast are economy will recover from this crisis. The longterm costs of not helping these families, could end up being even more devastating to our economy.

What do you think?

ALSO SEE: POLITICAL VOICES OF OVER 375 WOMEN WHO BLOG ON POLITICS

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

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

Are You Addicted To Blogging?

How Addicted to Blogging Are You?

I have been spending a good part of today surfing the 300+ women bloggers on my list…I’ve been nominating many of them to Women’s Voices Making History at WVWV. But I had to stop for just a minute, when I came across a post at The Truffle (who is 67% addicted to blogging), and I found the above widget and a link to How Addicted to Blogging Are You? Of course, I had to take a little break, and find out how addicted I was. So, I took the quick little quiz, and guess what? I’m only 87% addicted. That’s not so bad. No need for intervention or a recovery program just yet.

Well, no more time for this. I have to get back to nominating as many women as I can for .

How addicted are you?

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.

John McCain Wins Republican Nomination - See YouTube Video of Victory Speech

So, John McCain is the official nomination of the Republican party.   What do you think about that?

March 4th For Child Care and Head Start

March 4th For Child Care and Head Start - Posted by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at the Care2 Election Blog)

Today is March Forth For Child Care and Head Start day, and you can help make a difference by calling or emailing your members of Congress. All day today, advocates for children will be joining-in to voice their support of an increase in funding for the Head Start program. This is such an important issue, and I hope you will consider taking action to support our children.

Earlier today, I wrote about my personal experience with this program, in a post at BlogHer — Bush’s War on the Single Mother. Here is an excerpt from a comment by Suzanne Reisman…

Head Start is one of the most cost-effective programs we have in this country. We need more Head Start, and we need full day Head Start programs (much of the funding only pays for a few hours of services) so that low income working parents can take advantage of the enormous benefits Head Start offers children and families. It is a comprehensive early learning program that supports the total well-being of children.

. . .

Further, study after study shows that quality early childhood programs like Head Start significantly reduce the incidences of teen pregnancy, juvenile crime, being held back in school, and other social ills that develop later in life. Every $1 we invest today in these programs saves taxpayers somewhere between $7 and $17 in future costs due to negative consequences of poverty.

From Womenstake: March Forth For Child Care and Head Start

Today, all across the country, thousands of advocates are joining together to March Forth in support of increased funding for child care and Head Start by calling or e-mailing their Members of Congress.

We are joining together because our children deserve a better and brighter future. Under the President’s budget, 200,000 low-income children and their families will lose child care assistance, and 14,000 children will lose Head Start.

Please add your voice by calling or e-mailing your Members of Congress today.

Here is how you can take action and help…

To call your representatives, use the script below and dial toll-free at 1-888-460-0813. The operator who answers the phone will ask which Senator or Representative you would like to speak to. To find out who your Senators and Representative are, search our directory before you call.

Tell the staffers who answer the phone in your representatives’ offices:

• Hi, my name is (INSERT NAME.) I’m a constituent. (If you are also a parent, child care provider, community leader, etc., feel free to mention that as well.)
• I am calling because I believe that child care and Head Start are essential programs for children and families. I urge Senator/ Representative (INSERT NAME) to support an increase of $874 million for child care and $1 billion for Head Start in this year’s budget.

I found this interesting statistic in a New York Times Op-Ed by Bob Herbert — The $2 Trillion Nightmare

And he cited the committee’s own calculations from last fall that showed that the money spent on the war each day is enough to enroll an additional 58,000 children in Head Start for a year,

Also See:

State Aide Helps Head Start…

The national Head Start program, which was a legacy of President Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society,” offers preschool to families unable to afford a private program. We don’t know how it functions elsewhere in the country, but in Morris County, Head Start is as refreshingly bipartisan as can be. Republicans and Democrats are on its board, and Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, long has been a supporter.

and

Children from poor families need a head start

I hope you will consider taking a moment today, to take action on this important issue.

Dear Senator Clinton, Please Don’t Step Down Until All States Have Voted.

Clinton & Obama: Unite Democrats, Insist All Votes Be Counted — Posted by Catherine Morgan (cross-posted at The Care2 Election Blog)

I know I am in the minority when I say this…But, I do not think that under any circumstances, either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama, should concede the Democratic nomination. At least not until every state has held it’s primary. This election is just much too important for that. Sadly, most would prefer Hillary Clinton bow out gracefully if she doesn’t have a landslide victory on Tuesday.

From The New York Times…

Top supporters of Senator Barack Obama, joined by at least one prominent Democrat yet to endorse a candidate, put pressure on Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Sunday to bow out of the presidential race unless she scores clear victories in the crucial big-state primary contests on Tuesday.

From Erin Kotecki Vest at The Huffington Post and BlogHer…

Dear Senator Clinton, Please Step Down

Like I said, “I don’t agree.” This isn’t just any election, this is an historic election. One where Democrats will be nominating either the first woman or the first African American to be our next president. And I think it is only fair that all Democrats (except of course Florida*), have an opportunity to vote in this primary.

If the candidates (and the DNC) truly care about uniting the party, then they should agree that regardless of the outcome, Clinton and Obama will run as a team. And then, from this moment, and until every state has had an opportunity to vote, Hillary and Barack should campaign on the issues only, and drop all the rhetoric and mudslinging.

I know this is a radical idea, and one that will probably not be adopted. However, by uniting the candidates, the party becomes united. And by allowing every state to hold a primary that “counts”, the DNC will continue to unite the voters in preparation for the general election. Let’s face it…How well has this primary system (of deciding the nominee before all states have had a chance to vote), served us in the past? Not so well.

It seems clear that voters want all votes to be counted, so why not just do it? I think it’s about time to recognize that the old system is not working. And the primaries are going to be held in every state either way, so why not let them all count?

Guess what? It’s not to late to do right by the American people.

Well, that’s what I think. What do you think?

*By the way…Governor Charlie Crist has announced that he would support another Primary in Florida.