Disqus - Latest Comments for taritac

Re: Obama Campaign Launches Neighbor-To-Neighbor Community Organizing Tool

taritac — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:16:42 -0000

Okay, thanks! Don't let my question distract you from your other duties. I will figure it out some kind of way. I figured I'd devote 2 weekends between now and election day.

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

taritac — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:14:15 -0000

So much for saving the taxpayers money: Palin Billed State for Nights Spent at Home
Taxpayers Also Funded Family's Travel:

ANCHORAGE, Sept. 8 -- Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has billed taxpayers for 312 nights spent in her own home during her first 19 months in office, charging a "per diem" allowance intended to cover meals and incidental expenses while traveling on state business.

The governor also has charged the state for travel expenses to take her children on official out-of-town missions. And her husband, Todd, has billed the state for expenses and a daily allowance for trips he makes on official business for his wife.

Palin, who earns $125,000 a year, claimed and received $16,951 as her allowance, which officials say was permitted because her official "duty station" is Juneau, according to an analysis of her travel documents by The Washington Post.

I was about to call her a crook, but then read on where it said that the expenses are permitted under Alaskan law. I must say that I, too, would like to get per diem for driving an hour to and from work and to sleep every night in my own bed!

Re: Obama Campaign Launches Neighbor-To-Neighbor Community Organizing Tool

taritac — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:35:21 -0000

Okay, Thanks! I've been talking to a couple people about canvassing, so I may be able to get a group of 3 or 4 people together.

I'm excited. I did GOTV on election day 2004 in some rough parts of B'More, and people really seemed to appreciate being asked face-to-face to participate.

Re: DNC08 Jack At Invesco

taritac — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:30:35 -0000

HAHA!

From Politico via Wonkette:

* ENOUGH OF THIS CLOWN: “Joe Lieberman returned to Capitol Hill today — his first day back since speaking at the GOP convention — and was greeted by the resignation of his $120,000-a-year legislative director Joe Goffman.” He probably just got a job offer to do, well, anything else.

I have a feeling Old Joe is going to be losing a lot of friends this year! :D

Edited to add: This guy was no lightweight:

Since 1992, [Joe] Goffman had been a senior attorney at Environmental Defense (formerly known as the Environmental Defense Fund), where, in addition to managing the climate and air quality program, he specialized in the use of market-based mechanisms to address a wide range of air pollution problems. As associate counsel to the Committee on Environment and Public Works of the U.S. Senate in 1989 and 1990, he was chiefly responsible, working with former Senator George Mitchell and Senator Max Baucus, for the development and drafting of Title IV of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, which established the acid rain trading system.

Re: Obama Campaign Launches Neighbor-To-Neighbor Community Organizing Tool

taritac — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:12:14 -0000

Maryland

Re: DNC08 Jack At Invesco

taritac — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:10:53 -0000

I was thinking that Obama could make great, cheap, straightforward campaign ads by taking the best 30 seconds from the best speeches and play a series of those on a constant loop until the election. Since there were so many great speeches they could target some to particular parts of the country and particular demographics.

Re: Obama Campaign Launches Neighbor-To-Neighbor Community Organizing Tool

taritac — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:59:16 -0000

Texas_Girl_in_LA, since you are here, I'll use you as a resource. ;)

I wanted to devote one weekend to canvassing in a swing state, but I'm not sure how to go about identifying which offices in nearby (driving distance) states could use my help. Neighbor to Neighbor doesn't help because it wants me to canvas my neighbors. This, in my opinion, would be a gigantic waste of time considering I live in the bluest section of a blue city in a blue state. I have repeatedly looked on the Obama site for some direction, but I guess I'm not doing it right.

Can you please help?

Re: While Mayor, McCain’s Choice Billed RAPE VICTIMS for cost of THEIR RAPE KITS

taritac — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:48:11 -0000

When was this policy started? Was this the way it was done before she became mayor? Was this a case of her initiating a disgusting practice or was it a case of her failing to end it?

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:02:10 -0000

Flip flops only matter if you are a Democrat.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:01:06 -0000

I've thought about Clinton as Secretary of Defense, too, but didn't really know how to justify it based on her credentials. But, next to Palin as VP, she looks like General Effing Patton.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:54:58 -0000

No, I'm not shocked by that. In fact, if the Republicans weren't so racist, they'd probably have a lot more people of color from all ethnicities. I'm sure they'd be able to attract a lot more Black people on "cultural" issues like abortion and gay rights. Republicans are adept at getting people to vote against their own well-being.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:30:53 -0000

Have I let the media know that I don't like their reporting? Yes.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:22:32 -0000

I take your and Craig's point that action is a good antidote to worry, and msmartin, I certainly don't mean to get on your nerves or depress anyone. But I take issue with the notions that 1) Obama can never be criticized, 2) that I have somehow demeaned him by having something critical to say, 3) that because I'm not a politician, then I should just stay quiet, and 4) most importantly, that because I have a problem with certain aspects of his campaign, then I should just vote for someone else.

99%, publicly castigating those who are worried about another 4-8 years of Republicans in the White House doesn't actually do anything either. Actually, it does one thing: shut down participation. That may be what you are aiming for, but that doesn't help elect Barack.

You know what does help? When you or Craig or whoever highlights a positive article or aspect that me or one of the other worriers may not have seen. It really does help. In a community, we do better with support and encouragement rather than ridicule. Right now, I just feel attacked for being concerned.

My concern has less to do with my confidence in Obama and more to do with knowing how the media operates. Last week during the peak of the Sarah Palin coming out party, I was FIRED UP. I had to talk a few of my friends off the ledge, and I donated more money that I don't have. But this weekend, when I saw the media fawning over the Republican ticket in spite of all we know about them, I just got depressed and discouraged. I saw how the media coverage for rest of this campaign season is likely to go. So, I posted about my fears here, expecting people to tell me how wrong I was and that I have nothing to fear. Instead, I mostly got nastiness and insults calling me a Republican.

I am a person who is honest and expressive about my feelings, good and bad, but if being honest brings everyone down, I'll stop. This community is more fragile than I anticipated, and I don't want to contribute to bringing "doom and gloom".

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:05:02 -0000

I think you are right. He was "raised right," meaning he's a gentleman and won't beat up on a woman or an old man. He's got to get over that, because they are willing to reject every principle they've ever learned about fighting fair.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 18:00:27 -0000

I've seen these stories in a couple of places. In the story about Virginia Tech, everyone interviewed said that no one has ever challenged a student's status, insurance, or scholarship based on voter registration. It is clearly an attempt to quell student participation in the election. The bad thing about it is that Republicans WILL try to push this issue, even if the law has never been used in this manner before. I hope Obama's legal team is on it.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:44:11 -0000

The MSM ignoring the fact that McCain has blatantly co-opted the change message bothers me a great deal. They actually PRAISED McCain OVER Obama on "This Week" yesterday. McCain is hoodwinking people and the MSM is letting them.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:22:31 -0000

You aren't allowed to express fear and anxiety. See previous comments.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:02:38 -0000

Yeah. It will not be pretty. Republicans do "outrage" much better then Dems.

I don't know why Obama (or anyone) wants to be the president of this crazy place. When he wins, the Republicans will come after him with knives. Sigh. The fight won't be over on November 4. We'll have to be on point for 8 solid years. Exhausting!

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:54:37 -0000

Obama does have an effective, wide-ranging strategy, but it is clear that this election is going to come down to fighting for every single vote. Becoming a more effective interviewee and debater is a SMALL thing that will have BIG dividends.

Every time I see him in non-scripted settings, I wonder where his coaches are. These are simple "Debate Team 101" principles that he isn't effectively employing.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:48:37 -0000

Very astute analysis, Truthseeker.

A lot of my consternation about Obama this week is the way he speaks. He does need to simplify his message quite a bit. I would add to your analysis:

1. Stop equivocating. There are always two or more sides to an issue, but Obama needs to let the other side tell their story instead of acknowledging it.

2. Stop stuttering. It's just good public presentation to speak without umming, ahhing, and aaanding. He is the only one of the 4 presidential contenders who does this. He sounds like an amateur who isn't sure what he thinks.

3. Get to the point. Stop explaining stuff. Undecideds don't care about the solution, they only care that you know what the problem is. All policy positions should be able to trip off his tongue in 10 words or less.

4. Know your talking points. Twice this weekend, Stephanopoulus got him off message. When explaining "change," he only talked about policy positions. He didn't talk about partisan rancor, extreme ideologies, treating each other as enemies-- all the things that made his acceptance speech so effective.

5. Turn every answer into an attack on McCain. Make McCain into a boogie man. People who aren't paying attention think it will be okay to vote for McCain because he seems like a benevolent, grandfatherly war hero patriot. He has to make a vote for McCain a vote for recklessness, inexperience, and economic and foreign policy DISASTER. This will be hardest for Obama, but right now, he's not making it clear enough how awful McCain will be for this country.

6. To Truthseeker's point, if he doesn'tt believe it strongly, he shouldn't say it. Obama is a terrible liar, and when he makes unfounded accusations, he backs down when pressed. Republicans lie with aplomb, Obama doesn't, so he needs to make sure he strongly believes everything he says.

7. Never back down. Once Obama has taken a position, he needs to stick with it to the end. Capitulating only makes him seem weak.

Anyway, I guess I'm just talking to air. I'm sure he's heard these suggestions a thousand times by now.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 13:11:51 -0000

Some Obama supporters are pathetic, chicken little scaredy cat gutless wonders who are afraid of their own shadows. Weak-kneed lily-livered double-minded cowards.

Hey, THANKS, 99% Sure!! Way to insult your fellow Obama-ites!!

Disagree with me as is your right, but really, how are ad hominem attacks going to help?

I am not pathetic, gutless, afraid of my own shadow, weak-kneed, lily-livered, double-minded, or a coward. But you wouldn't know that because YOU DON'T KNOW ME.

You were right about one thing-- I AM scared. I have seen the media and Republicans work hand in hand to take down the more qualified, smarter, better candidate in two elections, and it is happening again. Obama has been a masterful candidate thus far, but right now I am WORRIED that he is too insulated in an echo chamber to hear the train barreling down the tracks at him.

I feel that I am JUSTIFIED in my worry. No, one poll does not mean everything. I hope that you are right that Obama has already figured this shit out, but right now, I'm doubtful. He hasn't changed his game at all since the general. We're three weeks from the debates, and he STILL can't give an answer in 25 words or less or without stuttering, umming and ahhhing. These things are petty, but they DO matter, especially to undecided voters. If he is the only person on the stage umming and ahhing and stuttering, while everyone else gives pithy, straightforward answers, he's going to look like an amateur.

Anyway, I won't use JJP anymore to write about my fears, release my anxiety, or question Obama. I thought this was a place for ideas and community, and was strong enough to handle a little fear, but I see I am wrong.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:53:37 -0000

Very good point, 99%.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:32:54 -0000

The vote suppression issue is very scary.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 10:29:53 -0000

These are not reforms to Washington. These are policy positions.

McCain is no real foe of earmarks. He will veto the first bill, but after lobbyists and his friends in Congress lay into him, there will be no more of that. This is not a serious proposal. Any fool can see through this.

The other positions he simply stole from Obama, just like he stole his "Change" meme. McCain is a joke.

Re: Monday Open Thread

taritac — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 08:41:42 -0000

McCain has big convention bounce.

Analysis by MyDD.com

I know many of you say that we shouldn't panic, but this campaign is deeply in trouble. Not because of the convention bounce so much, but because the MSM will run with this with glee. This is the "rightful order" of things, and instead of looking at McCain more intensely as the new frontrunner, they will pile on Obama because he's not winning anymore.

It's going to be: oh, what happened, Obama? How did the wheels come off the campaign? I guess he's not able to convince voters about the change he brings, etc. etc. They will fail to look critically at Palin's experience and qualifications, they will continue to promote McCain as a "maverick" who is going to shake things up in Washington without asking him specifics about how he plans to do this, they will fail to question how McCain's economic and foreign policies that are JUST LIKE BUSH'S will produce different results than Bush.

I am getting worried. Obama has to retool or we've got a trainwreck on our hands.