Consequences of Republicanism

Rev. Wright Who?

2008-05-11T09:52:00.001-05:00

Tags: Rev. Wright, Obama, McCain, John McCain, Ron Parsley

Beginning of the End for Clinton?

2008-04-27T09:21:00.003-05:00

Despite most analysts concluding that Obama's lead is nearly insurmountable, the mainstream media have continued to cover the Democratic contest as if it were too close to call. I wonder if we are finally seeing the beginning of the end for the Clinton campaign. It appears that her campaign donors are fleeing in droves to the Obama campaign.

Tags: Obama, Clinton, politics, campaign, Democratic, media

An Early Anti-McCain Ad

2008-04-18T14:42:00.000-05:00

Tags: McCain, John McCain, election 2008, 2008 election

Obama Is No Elitist

2008-04-13T09:23:00.000-05:00

Barack Obama is coming under fire, not by Bosnian snipers, but by those who misinterpret his recent comments as elitist. Could Obama be too smart to be electable, and what would this say about America? In examining his recent statement, I see little evidence of elitism. However, I do see the logical misstep his critics are making to claim elitism.

Here is Obama's statement:

"You go into these small towns in Pennsylvania and, like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them," he said. "And it’s not surprising, then, they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations," he added.

It is fairly clear to me that he is suggesting that years of dire economic conditions spawn bitterness among those who bear the brunt of these conditions. How is this controversial? Anyone with a high school education should have some familiarity with the correlation between dire economic conditions and conservatism. Again and again, we have seen that prolonged periods of economic instability open the door to rampant nationalism, anti-immigration sentiment, militarism, isolationism, and the like.

But what about the "guns or religion" which seems to be the core of this particular manufactured controversy? I believe Obama is associating political neglect and abysmal economic conditions with increased susceptibility to right-wing politics. Guns (both in opposition to sensible gun control and in the larger sense of national militarism), a particular brand of religion, anti-immigrant attitudes, and xenophobia are all components of contemporary Republicanism. have made people increasingly susceptible to Republican manipulation. What he is saying is that economic and political neglect allow the conservatives to persuade people to vote against their self-interest.

Obama's critics are twisting logic to make his statements sound elitist. Quite simply, they are asking us to believe that Obama thinks that people oppose gun control or are religious because they are economically disenfranchised or bitter. This is clearly not what he is saying. Obama would be the first to acknowledge that attitudes toward gun control and religion are shaped by many factors. Just because economic and political neglect can lead these attitudes does not mean that everyone with these attitudes must be unemployed, bitter, and the like.

H/T to Why Don't You Blog?

Tags: Barack Obama, politics, Obama, elitism, elitist, economics, conservatism, nationalism, immigration, militarism, isolationism, gun control, religion, Republicanism

What You Should Know About John McCain

2008-04-11T10:04:00.003-05:00

Bligbi has a great post titled "10 things you should know about John McCain." See how many of the facts you knew and how many were new to you. Like Bligbi, I've heard some Democrats threatening to vote for McCain if their preferred Democratic candidate loses the race for the party's nomination. I confess that this same thought once crossed my mind, but I now think it would be a big mistake. America cannot afford a McCain presidency. Too much is at stake.

Tags: John McCain, election 2008, 2008 election, election, politics, Democratic, vote, America, McCain

McCain Enjoys Free Pass

2008-04-03T06:19:00.000-05:00

The longer the Democratic nominee remains undecided, the better John McCain's chances look for becoming the next President. It is not so much a question of time to campaign against him because there will still be ample time for an effective campaign after the Democratic convention. Rather, it is a question of the damage done to both Clinton and Obama during their contest and what appears to be a widening split within the party that McCain supporters cannot help but enjoy.

It wasn't that long ago that progressives were celebrating a number of good Democratic candidates while Republicans were squabbling over which of their choices was the lesser of many evils. At that time, a McCain presidency seemed like an impossible scenario. McCain is deeply flawed in so many ways, and seemed to have little support among members of his own party.

How times have changed! As increasing numbers of Republicans are uniting behind McCain and the Republican attack machine has a luxury of time, we Democrats are bogged down in what once would have seemed trivial. The differences in policy between Obama and Clinton are still fairly minor. Any hope of real political change vanished with Kucinich, and we are left deciding on grounds other than policy.

I'm not suggesting that our decision is trivial. I decided to support Obama after Kucinich and Edwards left the race, but I've never had even the slightest inclination to support Clinton. Her campaign tactics have merely strengthened my largely unfavorable impressions of her. I think she should leave the race and work to repair the damage she has done to the party.

At the same time, I want to make sure that the Democrats remain focused on the real issue - Iraq. We must remember that McCain is the opponent that most matters. His free pass has lasted long enough.

Tags: Democratic nominee, McCain, campaign, convention, Democratic, Clinton, Obama, Republican, Democrat, Kucinich, Edwards, Iraq, Iraq war, war, election 2008, 2008 election

Clinton vs. Obama: The Numbers Are Clear

2008-03-15T15:28:00.000-05:00

There is an excellent summary of the primary numbers so far at The Carpetbagger Report showing how unlikely it is that Clinton can catch up and then overtake Obama before the convention. Considering these data, it strikes me that it is time to start calling on Clinton to exit the race...unless...

There is one reason I think it might make sense for Hillary Clinton to stay in the race for the Democratic nomination until the bitter end. If Clinton truly believes (as her campaign tactics suggest) that John McCain would be a better president than Barack Obama, then she should stay in the race. Otherwise, it is time to get out before doing any more damage to the party. Obama would have to be crazy to pick her as VP, for she would add little to the ticket that would benefit him.

Could Clinton actually prefer McCain to Obama? This seems unlikely, but I see no other reason why her continued presence should be viewed as anything but destructive.

Tags: primary, Clinton, Obama, politics, nomination, McCain

Edwards' Departure Discouraging

2008-01-30T13:43:00.000-06:00

Corporate media knocked off Dennis Kucinich by refusing to cover his campaign at all, and now they've eliminated John Edwards by continuing to make the Democratic nomination about Clinton vs. Obama. I am disappointed to see Edwards go. He was my second choice after Kucinich from the beginning, and I think his presence gave progressive issues a voice in the process. I'm not sure where to go now. Frankly, I'm not sure I can support either Clinton or Obama. Worse, I am far from convinced that either can win a general election against John McCain.

Clinton represents the right-wing of the Democratic party. I don't know if I could bring myself to vote for her at all. It would seem like too much of a defeat for democratic ideals. If she ends up being the nominee, I think I'd vote for whichever candidate the Green Party runs. I am not sure about this yet, but it is how I'm leaning at the moment. Some might see this as equivalent to voting Republican, but I would regard it as a protect vote to to communicate that I do not support the increasingly conservative positions of the Democratic party.

As for Obama, he seems to be strong on style and weak on substance. I am still trying to figure out what he stands for besides "hope." I applaud his idealism, but I need to be convinced that he has a plan. I like hearing him talk about the need for change, but I have virtually no idea what sort of change he envisions. I'd also like to hear far less about his faith. I feel to see how superstition is a strength. I may reach the point where I could vote for him, but I'm not there yet.

For now, I suppose I must count myself among the undecided. At least I'm not alone.

Tags: John Edwards, Clinton, Obama, politics, election, election 2008, 2008 election, media, undecided

Media Excluding Edwards From Race

2008-01-28T08:17:00.000-06:00

First America's corporate-owned media killed the Presidential campaign of Dennis Kucinich by excluding him from debates, denying him the coverage of the so-called frontrunners, and even removing polls that showed him leading the race. We saw the result quite clearly. Now it appears they are doing the same to John Edwards. The American people are supposed to have a voice in who represents us, but we are being denied such a voice to a degree I never thought possible in a democracy.

Dear reader, I am thoroughly confused about why this is being allowed to happen. I understand that the corporations which own the major media networks are playing to their self-interest by opposing meaningful change and supporting the status quo which clearly favors them. This is no mystery, and I think many of my fellow citizens understand this too, at least on some level. What baffles me is how a people who value freedom can stand idly by and allow this to happen.

This is not about which candidate I support. Those of you hoping for a Clinton or Obama victory should be equally outraged. Even if the situation appears to favor your candidate now, there is no guarantee it will do so in the general election or in the next Presidential election. Besides, has it ever occurred to you that the media may be propelling Clinton and Obama ahead of all challengers precisely because they suspect that this will make for an easier Republican win in November?

This is about choice - the American people should be able to vote for the individual they support for President and not simply the limited options the media pushes on them. This is about freedom - the freedom we all learned was the cornerstone of American democracy and a freedom which has been eroding during the current administration. The people are supposed to decide the election, not the media.

So what can we do? Honestly, I'm not sure, but I will tell you one thing I am going to do. I am going to contact each of the major media networks and express my outrage over what they are doing, first to Kucinich and now to Edwards. Regardless of whether you support Edwards, I hope you will agree that he deserves equal coverage and that you will join me in protecting our democracy.

Tags: politics, America, media, Dennis Kucinich, John Edwards, election, 2008 election, election 2008, democracy, vote, choice, freedom, Clinton, Obama, Republican

Kucinich Drops Out

2008-01-24T15:38:00.000-06:00

It appears that Dennis Kucinich is dropping out of the 2008 Presidential race. An announcement is expected tomorrow.

Tags: politics, election 2008, 2008 election, Dennis Kucinich

Mike Huckabee is a Theocrat

2008-01-16T05:52:00.000-06:00

According to Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee at a recent rally (reported by The Raw Story):

"I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution," Huckabee told a Michigan audience on Monday. "But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that's what we need to do -- to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view."

Ladies and gentlemen, we have a genuine theocrat seeking the Republican nomination...in America...in 2008.

H/Ts to Atheist Rants, Bay of Fundie, Deep Thoughts, God is for Suckers, Pharyngula, and Unorthodox Atheism

Tags: Mike Huckabee, theocrat, theocracy, Constitution, politics, Republican, election 2008, 2008 election, religion

Kucinich: Cast The Courageous Vote

2008-01-06T07:55:00.000-06:00

Democratic Presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich is raising money to get a new campaign ad on TV. In the ad, which I have embedded below, he reminds all progressive voters that "a courageous vote is the only vote worth casting." I agree, and I hope you will join me in making sure as many people as possible see this ad.

Tags: politics, Dennis Kucinich, Kucinich, election 2008, 2008 election, progressive, America, campaign ad, vote

Kucinich Buries Competition in Nationwide Poll of Independents

2008-01-05T10:11:00.000-06:00

Fresh off his impressive poll results in Virginia, Dennis Kucinich scored another impressive victory, this time in a nationwide poll of Independent voters. According to the campaign, Kucinich received nearly 77% of the 80,000 votes cast for Democratic candidates by self-described Independents at http://www.independentprimary.com.

From the Kucinich campaign,

This is the latest in a string of exceptionally strong finishes by Kucinich in national on-line polls. Last month, he topped all other candidates in 47 of 50 states in a poll sponsored by Democracy for America (DFA), in which he received almost 32% of the 150,000-plus votes cast -- more than Edwards and Senator Barack Obama combined. In that poll, Kucinich won both Iowa and New Hampshire. In a survey by the 90,000-member Progressive Democrats of America, Kucinich took 41% of the vote nationwide. And, in a poll conducted by the progressive The Nation magazine, he won with 35% of the vote. Obama came in second with 24%, and Edwards was third with 13%.

Tags: politics, election 2008, 2008 election, Dennis Kucinich, Kucinich, Virginia, Democratic, poll, Edwards, Obama, New Hampshire

Christian Extremism Triumphs In Iowa

2008-01-04T06:46:00.000-06:00

This is the man who won the Republican vote in Iowa. He is willing to ignore the science on homosexuality when it conflicts with his faith. He intends to ban abortion and punish medical professionals involved in them. In 2008, many Americans actually agree with the bigotry he espouses.

Tags: Republican, Iowa, homosexuality, science, faith, abortion, Huckabee

Will The Media Decide Your Vote?

2008-01-03T06:09:00.000-06:00

Who decides who the so-called front runners are in the presidential race? Are national polls meaningful when the media focuses on certain candidates while ignoring others? Does it bother you to see unconventional candidates such as Dennis Kucinich or Ron Paul largely ignored while the media pushes "safe" candidates who are likely to change very little about the status quo?

I certainly haven't forgotten about this, and I recommend you remember it too.

H/T to Freethought Weekly

Tags: politics, election 2008, 2008 election, Dennis Kucinich, Ron Paul, media, ABC News

Kucinich Wins Virginia Democratic Party Straw Poll

2008-01-01T19:33:00.000-06:00

As reported by AfterDowningStreet.com, Dennis Kucinich has won the Virginia Democratic Party's online presidential primary straw poll. This is great news which highlights the impressive grassroots support Kucinich has mustered in spite of being largely ignored by the mainstream media.

Ron Paul Does Not Accept Evolution

2007-12-30T10:46:00.001-06:00

As we head toward the 2008 election, Ron Paul is probably the most popular Republican candidate if one focuses on grassroots support on the Internet. This is quite an accomplishment, even if the mainstream media continues to ignore him (and Dennis Kucinich). Unfortunately, it appears that Ron Paul does not accept evolution, raising serious questions about the effects a Paul presidency would have on America's scientific prowess. This is a serious problem of which Paul supporters should be aware.

H/Ts to Deep Thoughts and The Information Paradox

Tags: Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich, election 2008, 2008 election, politics, evolution, science, education, America, Republican, media

Democrats, Look at the Candidates' Records

2007-12-29T10:06:00.000-06:00

People determine which candidate to support in many different ways. I've known some who vote for the person they'd most like to have a beer with and others who actually vote for the person they consider to be most attractive. Sadly, voting is not always the rational process it should be. If we consider which candidate best represents our position on the issues and examine the records of each candidate, the decision of who to support becomes fairly obvious. Except of course, that the media has been so successful in pushing the candidates who seem to represent the least change from the status quo.

Tags: politics, Democrats, Dennis Kucinich, election 2008, 2008 election, voting

Kucinich Money Bomb Falls Short

2007-12-18T06:06:00.000-06:00

According to December152007.com, the December 15 money bomb for Dennis Kucinich fell far short of the goal. Instead of raising $10,000,000, the effort brought in only $131,400 from approximately 1,592 donors.

While this can (and probably will) be viewed as a massive failure, evidence of eroding support for Kucinich, etc., it is worth noting that this had to be the most poorly advertised fundraising effort in history. Simply put, virtually nobody knew about this money bomb. Instead of vigorously promoting it for weeks, many of us first learned about it only a couple days in advance. Others first heard about it via e-mail on December 15th. This was no way to do a successful fundraising campaign.

Tags: Kucinich, Dennis Kucinich, money bomb, fundraising, campaign, politics, election 2008, 2008 election

Today Is The Kucinich "Money Bomb"

2007-12-15T11:50:00.000-06:00

To donate, go here and click "contribute" on the top of the page. Kucinich needs our support today, and this video will explain why we need him.

Tags: Dennis Kucinich, Kucinich, money bomb, politics

Kucinich "Money Bomb" 12/15

2007-12-11T05:41:00.000-06:00

Calling all Kucinich supporters, this election is not over yet (despite what the mainstream news coverage would have us believe). Now is the time to get our guy back on the map. A Kucinich "money bomb" is planned for December 15, 2007. I have included the full press release below, and it can be found here as well. Even if he does not end up wining the Democratic nomination, there is little doubt that he has had a positive influence on the other campaigns and that his voice should be heard.

PRESS RELEASE

DENNIS KUCINICH GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION AIMS TO SHATTER ONE-DAY FUNDRAISING RECORD WITH $10,000,000 DECEMBER 15TH

“Money Bombs” the key to successful campaigning for bold candidates.

Los Angeles, Ca. (December 3, 2007) – Grassroots supporters of Dennis Kucinich have organized an ambitious $10,000,000 one-day fundraiser “Money Bomb” designed to shatter the previous record of $4,200,000. Kucinich supporters are mobilizing for December 15th, the date of the first Kucinich Money Bomb.

“Our goal is ambitious,” said William Scott Hunter, the organizer of December152007.com, “but it has to be in order to have the impact Kucinich deserves. In America, candidates are considered ‘electable’ or ‘unelectable’ based on their bank accounts. It’s pretty hard to argue that a guy who can raise $10,000,000 in one day is unelectable.”

December152007.com is all about grassroots support. Hunter says he would prefer to collect money from individual donors, rather than corporate interests. “We want our fundraising to come from Americans, not special interests. Dennis isn’t going to get elected by corporations – he’s going to get elected by people.” With all of the focus on big money, Hunter wants to focus attention on the voters. “A corporation can coordinate the bundling of contributions totaling amounts much larger than what the average American can match – but there’s one thing they can’t contribute: votes. We like to think that each of our donations comes with the most important contribution: a vote.”

With people signing up around the clock, Kucinich’s Money Bomb is shaping up to be more successful than Democratic front-runner Barack Obama’s, whose recent attempt raised a paltry $4,600. “Kucinich is the real deal – a Democrat who will lead and put Americans first. There’s a reason he’s been winning poll after poll after poll.”

December152007.com looks to capitalize on Kucinich’s popularity at social news sites such as Digg.com and Reddit.com, where thousands of supporters get their news. “If we succeed, it will be because of the excellent infrastructure that Kucinich supporters have built on sites like Reddit and MySpace,” says Hunter. “The key is to get the word out. If you want change in Washington, Dennis is your candidate. He’s only a long shot if you let him be.”

The date, December 15th, is symbolic. December 15th, 1791 was the date that the Bill of Rights became law. In the current political climate, where the Constitution is treated as a nuisance by our elected leaders, there is no better time to reflect on the meaning and significance of that precious document. “We need a leader who respects our tradition of laws – Dennis’ voting record, policies and statements consistently show his commitment to true American values,” said Hunter.

December152007.com plans to build support through mailing lists and social networks in the next two weeks. When the big day comes, it will be as simple as logging onto the site for an easy guide to making a contribution. “We’ve seen in the past how Money Bombs can affect morale and news coverage. Overnight, Ron Paul went from nowhere to a front-runner in the Republican election. Dennis already has the politics for victory – now he just needs the money and the exposure.”

For more information regarding December152007.com, contact William Scott Hunter directly via email (info@december152007.com).

About December152007.com:
December152007.com is a grassroots site dedicated to raising $10,000,000 for Dennis Kucinich’s 2008 Presidential campaign.

About Dennis Kucinich:
Dennis Kucinich is the only democrat running for President who has voted against authorizing the war in Iraq and against funding its continuation. He is the only candidate for President with a plan for a Universal, single-payer, not-for-profit healthcare system. He was awarded the Gandhi Peace Award in 2003.

Tags: Dennis Kucinich, money bomb, politics, election 2008, 2008 election

America to Mitt, Bigotry Not American Value

2007-12-08T14:27:00.000-06:00

Bravo to The Washington Post for calling attention to Mitt Romney's bigotry toward the reality-based community. By declaring, "Freedom requires religion, just as religion requires freedom," Romney suggested that millions of American atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, freethinkers, etc. may not have a place in his America. Now his campaign refuses to respond to requests to clarify this possibility.

Mr. Romney, I agree that your religious beliefs should not disqualify you to be President, however, I'm not so sure about your intolerance toward those of us exercising our freedom from religion.

Tags: politics, religion, Mitt Romney, Romney, speech, bigotry, intolerance, freedom, America, election 2008, 2008 election, church and state

Undecided? Find The Best Candidate For You

2007-11-18T09:58:00.000-06:00

Still not sure which candidate best fits your values and priorities? Here is another survey you can try to see who you match best. I ended up matching Kucinich the best. Not exactly a surprise since I've already decided to support him, but it was interesting to see a new survey reflect similar results as previous ones I completed months ago.

Tags: election 2008, 2008 election, politics, Kucinich, survey

When Electability Trumps Platform

2007-09-17T05:59:00.000-05:00

Democratic primary voters repeatedly indicate that ending the war in Iraq is the central issue as they think ahead to the presidential primaries and the eventual 2008 election. How then do we explain why the most hawkish of the Democratic candidates, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is in the lead?

A recent post at The Carpetbagger Report provides a thought-provoking analysis of this strange situation.

If you look at the poll results, Clinton leads among voters who want U.S. troops withdrawn “as soon as possible,” followed by Obama, and then Edwards. Among Democrats who support more gradual withdrawal plans, Clinton leads, followed by Obama, and then Edwards. Among Dems who want U.S. forces to stay in Iraq “until the war is won,” Clinton leads, followed by Obama, and then Edwards.

It leads me to suspect that the candidates’ positions on Iraq, at this point in the process, don’t matter at all. Clinton is ahead on this issue because she’s ahead overall.

One possibility is that most Democratic primary voters really don't consider getting out of Iraq as high a priority as they say they do. Another possibility is that voters are largely ignorant about candidates' positions on Iraq. The Carpetbagger Report provides evidence to support this possibility, but even this suggests that Iraq may be a relatively low priority. If voters really cared about Iraq, wouldn't we expect them to investigate candidates' positions? Perhaps The Carpetbagger Report is correct to suggest that there reason has little to do with polling results.

My suggestion is that we can explain this apparent disconnect by focusing on the discrepancy between candidates' perceived electability and their position on the issues. When Democratic voters take the time to compare their stand on the issues with that of their candidates, Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) wins big. However, the mainstream media has decided that he cannot win the primaries. In the narrative created by the media, Clinton and Obama (and sometimes Edwards) are the Democratic candidates. None of the others have a chance, and thus do not really matter. I suspect that too many voters have uncritically accepted this narrative.

If I convince myself that none of the candidates who would represent me well are electable, I'm more likely to vote from a "lesser of the evils" mindset. We can all relate to this, but this is a trend that must end if we are ever to achieve meaningful political change in America.

Tags: Hillary Clinton, Dennis Kucinich, Obama, Edwards, politics, election 2008, 2008 election, media, Democratic primary, Democrats

Kucinich Right to Oppose 9/11 Resolution

2007-09-14T07:35:00.000-05:00

The neocon blogs and assorted Fox windbags are going to attack Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) for opposing the September 11 resolution, but he was absolutely correct to do so. What the Republicans don't want you to know is why Kucinich opposed the resolution. Instead, they just want you to think that he's unpatriotic, doesn't support our troops, etc. A typical right-wing distortion of the sort we are used to seeing.

Kucinich opposed the resolution because it was incomplete and dishonest.

“I honor the memory of those who died on September 11 and extend sympathies to their family members and to those who lost their lives trying to save lives,” Kucinich said.

“I support the troops. I believe the best way to honor the memory of those who died on September 11 is to tell the truth of what the Administration did in the wake of September 11. The Bush Administration launched a war against Iraq, conflating the true tragedy of September 11 with lies about weapons of mass destruction.

“On this, the sixth anniversary of September 11, it is important that Congress wake up to the truth and exercise its obligation under the Constitution to save our nation from being destroyed from the lies that took us into Iraq, the lies that keep us there, the lies that are being used to set the stage for war against Iran and the lies that have undermined our basic civil liberties here at home. The September 11 resolution that Congress considers today should have made reference to those matters. It does not, so I cannot support it.

“This Administration long ago politicized the September 11 attacks, distorted it and dishonored it. If Congress really wanted to honor the memory of those who died on September 11, we would cause the full truth to be told to the American people. If Congress really supported our troops we would bring them home and not provide more funding for the war.”

Like most Americans, Kucinich has had enough of Bush's continued attempts to trick us into thinking that his invasion of Iraq was in any way justified by the events of 9/11. He wants us to honor the victims of 9/11 and those who have died in Iraq as they deserve to be honored - without cloaking them in Bush's lies. It is for this administration to come clean with the people they are supposed to represent.

Tags: Dennis Kucinich, Bush, 9/11, Iraq, September 11, politics, Congress, 2008 election, election 2008