Disqus - Latest Comments for taritac

Re: Tuesday Open Thread

Town — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:38:17 -0000

Obama schedules a "town hall" for Lebanon for today.

The McCain campaign, trying to ride his coattails, scheduled a rally for tomorrow at Fairfax High School in Fairfax VA.

Fairfax County Public Schools says "No way, find another venue."

So the McCain Campaign now claims that "due to overwhelming response" we have to find another venue.

The lying liars who lie:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/09/mccain...

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

Anderkoo — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:19:33 -0000

taritac, try starting here:

http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/vaoffices

I'm assuming your best bet is in Virginia, unless you have personal networks elsewhere (PA jumps to mind).

It's very likely your local Obama campaign office is organizing phonebanks and trips out to VA. (Our local one here is doing it for NH). So you might check in with them too. It's more fun to do these things with your neighbors. Oh, and as for why to reach out to neighbors -- these are all people who have signed up on the website as being interested in helping out. If you can convince even 2-3 of them to volunteer, that's a huge multiplier on your effort!

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

Texas_Girl_in_LA — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 02:05:17 -0000

taritac,

l remember seeing this diary over at DailyKos You click in the map on the state of your choice and it shows you were you will be most helpful to Obama.

Also, this is from the site. Registration in Maryland You may have already seen this one.

But I will try to find other info for you.

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

Texas_Girl_in_LA — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:26:39 -0000

ok. I will find out something for you as soon as possible. I'm in L.A. and what they are doing here is traveling to Nevada (swing state). Each weekend there are pools of people traveling and canvassing. Then in the offices and hangouts people are phone banking to Nevada.

So, if your state is a blue state, they would focus their attention on nearby swing states. Like Cali (blue) focusing on Nevada.

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

Texas_Girl_in_LA — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 01:08:21 -0000

Where are you?

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

Trumystique — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 00:05:12 -0000

I think his strategy has worked so far. He cant be the attacking, angry black guy but instead has to be the accomadating, friendly black guys who gets you to agree with him because he's cool.

Your 7 point plan is what the surrogates need to do.

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

delfinajones — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 22:48:48 -0000

I am sorry you feel picked--people are just nervous.

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

msmartin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:43:23 -0000

I'm starting to wonder about you. Of late, all of your comments have been negative and fear laced. You're bring down the crowd.

Re: Monday Open Thread

99PercentSure — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:29:11 -0000

Feeling justified has nothing to do with it and strength and fear are not synonymous; usually the weak are the most fearful. If your hand-wringing woe is me-ing was constructive and selfless, I'd be silent but it is not. It is just spitting in the wind.

Let me ask you - how many elections have you won? How many campaigns have you run? Because you are right; I have no right to judge you as chicken hearted, particularly if you've demonstrated success in the political field. On the other hand . . . .

As for criticizing Obama's method of speech here or anywhere else on the web, how is that going to change Obama's manner and method? Is that lifting Obama up or tearing him down? You either dance with the one who brung you with positive reinforcement and constructive criticism designed to help achieve the W, or you're working with the opposition by demeaning him at every turn beause YOU don't like the way he operates. There are other candidates; if you feel as you do, then choose one of them; perhaps they're more to your taste.

Worrying about how Obama speaks and berating him on blogs because of it is not going to improve his manner of speech nor his debating skills. All it does is to show the opposition how weak his supporters are and how little confidence and respect they have for the candidate they say they support. It is inappropriate behavior that shows a lack of trust in your own decisions, as well asbeing discourteous and unmannerly.

No, there's nothing wrong with constructive criticism but the criticism I'm seeing on this and other sites isn't constructive; it is ill-mannered and disrespectful, and it won't change a thing except undecideds' minds - in favor of the opposition. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

You are not going to change how Obama debates or speaks by berating him here; even if you knew him, it would be difficult to change how he speaks - he is who he is and either you accept the whole enchilada with or without salsa or you order the burrito and move on.

Courage and wisdom and trusting in the skill and the abilities of the candidates is what is needed along with hard work and positive public support, else you're no different than McCaint.

Now you can take your bat and ball and go home because you don't like being called out about your fear and panic not changing anything only depressing people OR you can decide to do something constructive to encourage supporters, whether it is donating or phone banking or talking to you neighbors or whatever. Handwringing and publicly demeaning the candidate will not get it done.

Re: Monday Open Thread

Sepia — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:13:01 -0000

No disrespect intended, but what have YOU done to let the media know that you don't like their reporting?

That is what this campaign is about: GETTING INVOLVED. That's why I'm so much in Obama's corner because he encourages the people to take responsibility for this country, for our lives and get involved.

Yes, the MSM is shady as hell but for so long WE, THE PEOPLE have sat back and allowed them to get away with spreading lies and deception. We don't realize that we have the power to change how things are run in this country. Hell, look at our ancestors for inspiration. If all they did was sit back and complain about how the system is, we would still be living on the plantation.

It's time to go Nat Turner, Jim Brown, Harriet Tubman with a sprinkle of MLK, Malcolm X and Big Momma and nem on these mofos. Yeah, it's gonna be hard and yeah, some days we're gonna feel discouraged but we have to keep fighting and encouraging each other to continue fighting.

DON'T GIVE UP.

Re: Monday Open Thread

msmartin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:08:31 -0000

They don't have principles - the goal is to win at any cost!

Re: Monday Open Thread

msmartin — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 19:00:44 -0000

The MSM is hoodwinking people.