Category: Democratic News

Debate 2: Tom Brokaw Treats Obama as the Hired Help

Posted on by TL

The second Presidential Debate is still in progress, about 55 minutes in.

Look, we all know Tom Brokaw favors John McCain, but he has repeatedly scolded Senator Obama so far as if he was talking to the hired help.  The most obvious was a few minutes ago when he reminded Barack that there are lights on stage that tell the speakers when to stop.  Barack laughed politely in response.

Senator McCain is talking right now.  I’m looking at a red light.  McCain has talked well past the red light.  McCain stops.  Nothing from Brokaw.  Instead, another softball lob to McCain about health care.

Barack is talking about health care. Brokaw is trying to interrupt him, “Senator, we have to move on now.”

Does Brokaw have a book coming out about McCain?

ADDENDUM: 1 hour 23 minutes in, Brokaw thanks McCain for speaking, invites Obama to respond by saying, “Senator Obama, we’re winding down so we have to keep track of the time.”

Now Senator Obama is concluding his remarks, and Brokaw just cut him off again.  McCain consistently gets a free pass.

Horrible.

Jerry Weller Bails on Bailout

Posted on by TL

Congressman Jerry Weller made a decision last week and bailed on the most critical economic crisis the United States has faces since, perhaps, the Great Depression.

The Illinois Republican Congressman was the only member of the House of Representatives to cast no vote on the $700 billion bailout, according to the Sun-Times.

That’s right, Weller was the only one of 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives to miss the vote.

A spokesman cited “a commitment to his family” as the reason for missing the vote.

Come on.

Republicans don’t deserve this seat.

In fact, State Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson might have to warm this seat up herself come November.  It’s gone cold.

O.J. Simpson Guilty on All 12 Counts

Posted on by TL

O.J. Simpson in courtHe stood stoic and silent as the verdicts were read.

O.J. Simpson was just found guilt on all 12 counts relating to charges of armed robbery and kidnapping.

As I continue to watch MSNBC, O.J. is now being handcuffed and led from the courtroom.

Wow.  That is an incredible sight.  No slow moving chase.  It all ends in a whimper.

From the New York Times:

Mr. Simpson faced 12 charges stemming from a September 2007 confrontation in a casino hotel room in which he and five cohorts departed with hundreds of items of sports memorabilia.

The items were in the possession of two memorabilia dealers, Bruce L. Fromong and Alfred Beardsley, who were led to believe a prospective buyer was coming to browse the goods. Instead, Mr. Simpson and his group burst into the room and, according to several witnesses, at least one gun was brandished.

O.J. won’t be hosting any parties for the jurors on this one.

The judge denied all post-verdict motions by Simpson’s attorney.

O.J. is going away.

Biden and Palin – Good Work, Joe

Posted on by TL

Joe Biden answered questions.  Sarah Palin avoided them.

That about says it all.

Senator Biden was the only one to show a human face, choking up briefly:

“The notion that, somehow, because I’m a man, I don’t know what it’s like to raise two kids alone, I don’t know what it’s like to have a child you’re not sure is going to make it,” Mr. Biden said. “I understand as well as, with all due respect, the governor or anybody else, what it’s like for those people sitting around that kitchen table. And guess what? They’re looking for help.”

Gov. Palin responded by talking policy, ignoring Biden’s remarks.  Instead, she botched names:

Although Ms. Palin name-dropped several times, presumably to show fluency in foreign affairs, she did not always drop the right name. At one point, she referred to the top American commander in Afghanistan, Gen. David D. McKiernan, as “McClellan.”

Biden took some pointed shots at John McCain:

Mr. Biden replied by linking Mr. McCain with Mr. Bush more crisply than he had done previously in the debate.

“The issue is how different is John McCain’s policy going to be than George Bush’s,” Mr. Biden said. “I haven’t heard how his policy is going to be different on Iran than George Bush’s. I haven’t heard how his policy is going to be different with Israel than George Bush’s. I haven’t heard how his policy in Afghanistan is going to be different than George Bush’s. I haven’t heard how his policy in Pakistan is going to be different than George Bush’s.

“It may be, but so far it is the same as George Bush’s,” he said.

Mr. Biden also turned tougher in the final half-hour after Ms. Palin had, several times, referred to Mr. McCain as a “maverick.”

“He’s not been a maverick when it comes to education — he has not supported tax cuts and significant changes for people being able to send their kids to college,” Mr. Biden said. “He’s not been a maverick on the war. He’s not been a maverick on virtually anything that generally affects the things that people really talk about.”

The last lines referenced must have been tough for Biden.  He genuinely respects McCain, but I have no doubt that he believes what he said.  John McCain is no maverick.

Palin also opined that the Constitution of the United States actually gives more power to the vice president.

Barack Obama is the true maverick waiting in the wings.

Now that the sideshow is over, we can return our focus the two central figures in this election: Barack Obama and John McCain.

We still question McCain’s judgment in choosing Palin.  In the event of the “unthinkable,” would she serve us well as Commander-in-Chief?

Not at all — No way, no how, no McCain, no Palin.  Once in office, they would both forget the poor and middle class, seizing more and more power like Mussolini at a garage sale.

I’d rather have Tina Fey in the Oval Office.

Senator Obama, sir, our country awaits your innauguration.

Vote “NO” on Palin

Posted on by TL

For what it’s worth, people on the left and right are all in a tizzy about a completely unscientific poll running on the PBS web site.  So, have fun, I’m passing on to you to vote NO to Palin.

Here’s the email:

PBS is polling whether we support Palin and think she’s ready. So far, this PBS poll shows positive support for Palin. Let’s at least set one record straight! It takes @ 2 seconds. The far right has everyone signing on and voting….. we need to counter it. They ask no personal information, just yes, no, maybe.

Here’s the link: http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html

Just click & vote NOW.

Enjoy.

When Illinois Dems Joined the Mile High Club

Posted on by TL

Speaker Michael Madigan hugs Gov. Rod Blagojevich

The image of Governor Blagojevich and Speaker Madigan hugging at the Democratic National Convention was one for the books.  I’ve been reflecting on the Democratic love-fest for over a week now, not quite sure how to respond.  What does any of that mean?  What really happened?  Who started singing Kumbaya first?

According to news reports, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. started things off with an apology to Rep. Bobby Rush.  Carol Marin tells the story:

On Wednesday morning at the breakfast meeting of the Illinois delegation, Rep. Bobby Rush rose to say a few words. Recovering from the aftershocks of radical cancer surgery, he is physically a shadow of his former self. But, like the good Baptist preacher he also is, Rush rose to the occasion, telling delegates the parable of the eagle and the storm.

“I am that eagle,” he declared.

Thanking those who had been supportive, Rush also noted “some who were not there, but that’s all right.”

He gave a nod to forgiveness, but didn’t name names.

Next up was Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. It isn’t clear that Rush was talking about Jackson, but there is no question they’ve been on a rocky road.

Jackson Jr. began his prepared remarks about unity, talking about burying the truckloads of hatchets that weigh down these Democrats.

And then it happened.

Jackson folded his speech in half. Stuck it in his breast pocket. And turned directly to Rush saying, “Bobby, if there is anything that I’ve ever done to offend you, I’m leaving it at this convention. You are my friend . . .”

For a second, every one of us was stunned.

Rush made his way to Jackson, Jackson jumped down from the dais and they hugged.

It was real. And touching.

Marin, arguably the sharpest political journalist in Chicago, said it was real.  If she saw authenticity, then that’s what happened.

Then Jackson apologized to Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed and State Senate Majority Leader Debbie Halvorson.  If these were also sincere, then kudos to Jesse.

Then Daley ran to Jesse.  According to Marin:

“Who else out here has been mad at me I haven’t figured out yet?” Jackson asked.

Mayor Daley jumped up and hugged Jackson. And Jackson was stunned. Tears sprang into his eyes.

And that, too, was real.

Finally, Gov. Blagojevich and House Speaker Madigan embraced, evidence that hell did indeed freeze over.  I’ll take Carol’s word that what she saw was real.

According to Rich Miller, some aides who apparently did not share in the love tried to downplay the loving:

“It’s all theater,” confided one top Blagojevich aide later in the day. A Madigan lieutenant pointed out that Madigan was the one who walked over to Blagojevich at Jackson’s urging and had to practically pry the governor out of his seat. No happy talk could be found.

But could it be that the aides de camp hadn’t gotten the message? That very evening, Madigan and Blagojevich continued their detente by sitting next to each other at the Democratic convention.

Miller posits any photographs of Illinois pols hugging Gov. Blagojevich would be tremendous cannon fodder for Republicans in upcoming elections.  No one wants to be seen with Blagojevich, whose popularity continues to plummet.

So what really happened at the Mile-High City?  Will the love-fest have any impact on policy in Illinois?  Will Gov. Blagojevich finally develop the capacity to treat lawmakers with civility?  Will Halvorson and Jackson exchange Christmas cards come December?  Will Daley and Jackson finally go out for a cold one?

I give Jackson credit.  Some movement toward reconciliation between he and Bobby Rush is welcome indeed.  Rush is an icon in Illinois and national politics, and Jackson is incredibly astute.

For too long, Illinois Democrats have wrangled over nonsense — egos colliding at the expense of the electorate.  If they don’t learn how to play together real soon, then Republicans deserve another crack at leadership.

That would be a shame.  Illinois needs to stay on a progressive track, and that won’t happen under Republican leadership.  Democrats need to dialog with Republican opposition and stop creating their own internal opposition factions.  This is more of a struggle with an obstructionist governor.

Rush and Jackson should meet again publicly, showing the rest of the Illinois Democratic Mile High Club that it was all for real.

The first time took guts.  The next steps will demonstrate character.

ABC Newsbrief: Barack Obama Had Two Fathers

Posted on by TL

There are some very good reasons I don’t watch ABC News any more.  This one is just too funny, and gives me more reason to stay away.

Terry Moran on Nightline:

“To Barack Obama, the son of a black man from Kenya, and a white man from Kansas. Now, no matter what your politics, that is a moment for the history books.”

One for the history books indeed.

GOP Attacks on Ordinary People

Posted on by TL

From Barack Obama:

Why would the Republicans spend a whole night of their convention attacking ordinary people?

With the nation watching, the Republicans mocked, dismissed, and actually laughed out loud at Americans who engage in community service and organizing.

Our convention was different. We gave the stage to everyday Americans who hunger for change and stepped up to make phone calls, knock on doors, and raise money in small amounts in their communities.

You may have missed it, but we also showed the country a video with the faces and voices of those organizers, volunteers, and donors from every corner of the country.

Watch the video and make a donation of $25 or more now to show that in this election, ordinary people will make their voices heard.