« Election Central Saturday Roundup | Home | Election Central Labor Day Roundup »

Election Central Sunday Roundup

Hillary To Skip Rogue Primaries
Hillary Clinton's campaign has now pledged to avoid primaries that violate the Democratic National Committee's official calendar, such as Florida and Michigan. “We believe Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina play a unique and special role in the nominating process,” said campaign manager Patti Solis Doyle. With Hillary joining Dodd, Biden, Richardson, Obama and Edwards, the top six Democrats have now promised to boycott rogue primaries.

Tim Johnson Returning To The Senate
Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD), who has been absent from the Senate since his near-fatal brain hemorrhage in December and subsequent rehabilitation, will return to the Senate this Wednesday. “The senator wants to run full days as much as he possibly can, but there will be a natural transition period back into being back here in the office,” said spokeswoman Julianne Fisher. “It’s just a matter of adjusting things.”

Schumer: Dems Can Win Idaho
Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY), chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said that Democrats can win the Idaho seat of GOP Senator Larry Craig, whose resignation takes effect September 30. "Democrats can win in Idaho, and we intend to run a competitive race," Schumer said. It has been widely reported that Republican Governor Butch Otter will appoint Lt. Governor Jim Risch to the seat. Former Democratic Congressman Larry LaRocco is currently in the race. And even without the Idaho seat in play, Republicans are very pessimistic about 2008 Senate races.

Biden Campaign Offers "Adopt-An-Ad" Fundraising Pitch
Joe Biden's campaign is putting forward an interesting fundraising pitch to supporters, asking for money in terms of what a particular dollar amount can buy in Iowa TV time. For example, $100 pays for an ad during Meet The Press in the Sioux City market, $300 buys an ad during the Late Show With David Letterman for Des Moines, and $600 buys a commercial during the evening news in Cedar Rapids.

Richardson Calls For College Loan Forgiveness With National Service
Bill Richardson proposed yesterday that the federal government should forgive a portion of college loans in exchange for a year national service: "As part of your college loan structure _ in other words we'll pay them off, if you give your country one year of national service: work in a forest, clean up a forest ... work in a hospital, go in the military, go in the Peace Corps, go in Vista."

Hunter Wins Texas Straw Poll
Underdog GOP candidate Congressman Duncan Hunter won the Texas Republican straw poll yesterday, with 534 votes out of about 1,300 cast. Fred Thompson was second with 266 votes, and Ron Paul was third with 217 votes. The top-tier candidates did not participate.


111 Comments

| Leave a comment
user-pic

I'm no fan of Clintonian politics, yet is that really the only and fairest shot of her you could find? The photographer really went out of his way to find the shadows under the eyebrows, the stress lines, the unpleasant expression like she's thinking, "who's this clown and what does he want?"

Now my sense of reform does go to a Constitutional amendment that all media and television photography be done with ZERO makeup, ZERO set directors and ZERO artificial lighting -- if people had to look at our politicians and presenters and situations as they really are, they might no be so easily hypnotized.

But both male and female politicians and pundits are presented with artful makeup, clever-yet-idiotic set directors and flattering lighting. I myself watched the David Letterman top ten clip with her twice, just to try figure out what was different about her appearance ... I think she was just flat-out tired and resigned to having to go through with something she didn't take seriously. Also her face was wider in the cheeks than usual, a little water-bloating at a certain time of the month perhaps or just a long day with pre-packaged foods.

All in all, it was more human face of Hillary ... and although I do want to drive a stake through the heart of Clintonian politics and the dithering Dems in Congress and to see 40 million Americans in the streets screaming about our impending attack on Iran -- which if it occurs will most likely complete the certainty that our futures, and all our grandchildren's futures, will be incredibly poor and painful --

yet if you're going to make editorial decisions to run the least-flattering shot of her, then PLEASE do it to everyone else as well and begin the discussion of importance of makeup and art direction in the creation of the television hypnosis that has so greatly contributed to the coming destruction of the nation I once loved.

Today is really sad. The sun shines brightly and the city is quiet: but I can see the destruction of our dreams coming from every angle. Yet here we sit, completely powerless to affect either the corrupt media or the corrupt politicians who conspired to kill our democracy, and the individual felonious actions my rage suggests to me would only result in my own embarrassment, physical pain and financial ruin. What a piece of crap "the American Dream" has turned out to be.

user-pic

Man, we're not even into 2008 yet, and the "Presidential campaign" is already a big drag. The media is discussing personalities and spin -- he said, she said. The only candidates discussing anything of substance are the trailing Democratic candidates. Hillary and Obama play it conservatively, trying not to say anything that will wipe them out of the race.

But Hillary and Obama, as "centrists", are singing to the Republican tune. They are not challenging the Republicans' assertions that we HAVE to fight the terrorists "over there"; that we have to take aggressive military action against Iran; that the situation is so dangerous that we have to suspend major elements of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights; that we have to have a very strong military capability, with over 10,000 nuclear weapons; that we cannot afford social security or medicare; that a "for profit" health care system is the only way to go. Why?

The country is in advanced stages of economic and military decline. We only appear to be maintaining our prestige and leadership; in reality the country is bankrupt and living beyond its means. Wall Street is demanding that the Fed cut interest rates to "save" the housing market, yet 30 year mortgages are currently a little over 6%. How can there be a problem in housing when 30 year mortgages are only 6.25%?

The huge military establishment actually works against our security. We are LESS secure due to our meddling in the Middle East. Our aggressive military posture is a lighting rod for attacks on home soil by terrorists; and the response is to Mexican trucks to travel freely in the U.S. The so-called "Free Trade" agreements are pauperizing a large segment of our people.

Who is really discussing these issues? The Media, the Republicans and their counterparts, the "Centrist" Democrats, the corporations, Wall Street, are all part of the problem. They conspire to keep the discussion away from the real issues. Watch them pounce on any candidate who dares attack these issues head-on, such as Edwards, Gravel, Kucinich, Richardson.

Should anyone be worried?

user-pic

I'm worried that anyone thinks Obama is a centrist. I mean, what? Have you been following the campaing at all? Have you done any research into the candidates at all? Have you looked at the policy proposals they've outlined? Have you looked at their history?

The suggestion that Obama is a centrist strikes me as...well...completely devoid of any substance.

And no, I do not think someone who makes it a point to say, "yes, we are committed to the success of rebuilding Afghanistand and yes, we want to catch the people who destroyed the WTC" is buying Republican frames, either (which is basically what Obama has said re: the Middle East). If anything, that's the opposite of Republican frames, which have been to de-empahsize both Afghanistan and Osama Bin Laden in favor of fear mongering re: Iraq.

user-pic

During the first debate the candidates were asked what they would do as President if the country were attacked. Hillary said she would "retaliate" (after finding out who was responsible) and got great accolades. Obama focused on first responders and helping the victims. His response was judged by the media as "weak"

So later he came up with a proposal to invade Pakistan, if necessary, to take out Osama bin Laden. For this he got pounded, and rightfully so. I see this as his attempt to portray himself as a "centrist" candidate, rather than focus on why the Islamists are out to get us in the first place. (Meddling in the affairs of the Middle East, supporting the Saudi regime, etc.)

I also find his support of a bill to give huge subsidies to the coal industry for coal gasification, etc. In view of the threat of global warming, we should instead be working to develop alternative, sustainable energy sources, such as solar power, wind power, etc.

I emailed his campaign about the coal issue several times, and all I got were requests for money.


Al

user-pic

Seriously, that picture of Hillary is totally wrong. She has a million of them, I'm sure a little google action can produce a much better one,

user-pic

I think she looks great. What's with you guys.

user-pic

Seems to me that this not campaigning in 'rogue' states only benefits the leader in the national polls. Should those 'rogue' states hold their primaries early anyway, no one benefits politically but HRClinton.

user-pic

"I see this as his attempt to portray himself as a "centrist" candidate, rather than focus on why the Islamists are out to get us in the first place. (Meddling in the affairs of the Middle East, supporting the Saudi regime, etc.)"

Man, did you even read the speech where Obama talked about taking action against Pakistan (IF we had actionable intel and IF Pakistan refused to act)?:

"The solution in Afghanistan is not just military -- it is political and economic. As President, I would increase our non-military aid by $1 billion. These resources should fund projects at the local level to impact ordinary Afghans, including the development of alternative livelihoods for poppy farmers. And we must seek better performance from the Afghan government, and support that performance through tough anti-corruption safeguards on aid, and increased international support to develop the rule of law across the country."

"And Pakistan needs more than F-16s to combat extremism. As the Pakistani government increases investment in secular education to counter radical madrasas, my Administration will increase America's commitment. We must help Pakistan invest in the provinces along the Afghan border, so that the extremists' program of hate is met with one of hope. And we must not turn a blind eye to elections that are neither free nor fair -- our goal is not simply an ally in Pakistan, it is a democratic ally."

"But America must be about more than taking out terrorists and locking up weapons, or else new terrorists will rise up to take the place of every one we capture or kill. That is why the third step in my strategy will be drying up the rising well of support for extremism.

When you travel to the world's trouble spots as a United States Senator, much of what you see is from a helicopter. So you look out, with the buzz of the rotor in your ear, maybe a door gunner nearby, and you see the refugee camp in Darfur, the flood near Djibouti, the bombed out block in Baghdad. You see thousands of desperate faces.

Al Qaeda's new recruits come from Africa and Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Many come from disaffected communities and disconnected corners of our interconnected world. And it makes you stop and wonder: when those faces look up at an American helicopter, do they feel hope, or do they feel hate?

We know where extremists thrive. In conflict zones that are incubators of resentment and anarchy. In weak states that cannot control their borders or territory, or meet the basic needs of their people. From Africa to central Asia to the Pacific Rim -- nearly 60 countries stand on the brink of conflict or collapse. The extremists encourage the exploitation of these hopeless places on their hate-filled websites.

And we know what the extremists say about us. America is just an occupying Army in Muslim lands, the shadow of a shrouded figure standing on a box at Abu Ghraib, the power behind the throne of a repressive leader. They say we are at war with Islam. That is the whispered line of the extremist who has nothing to offer in this battle of ideas but blame -- blame America, blame progress, blame Jews. And often he offers something along with the hate. A sense of empowerment. Maybe an education at a madrasa, some charity for your family, some basic services in the neighborhood. And then: a mission and a gun.

We know we are not who they say we are. America is at war with terrorists who killed on our soil. We are not at war with Islam. America is a compassionate nation that wants a better future for all people. The vast majority of the world's 1.3 billion Muslims have no use for bin Ladin or his bankrupt ideas. But too often since 9/11, the extremists have defined us, not the other way around.

When I am President, that will change. We will author our own story.

We do need to stand for democracy. And I will. But democracy is about more than a ballot box. America must show -- through deeds as well as words -- that we stand with those who seek a better life. That child looking up at the helicopter must see America and feel hope.

As President, I will make it a focus of my foreign policy to roll back the tide of hopelessness that gives rise to hate. Freedom must mean freedom from fear, not the freedom of anarchy. I will never shrug my shoulders and say -- as Secretary Rumsfeld did -- "Freedom is untidy." I will focus our support on helping nations build independent judicial systems, honest police forces, and financial systems that are transparent and accountable. Freedom must also mean freedom from want, not freedom lost to an empty stomach. So I will make poverty reduction a key part of helping other nations reduce anarchy.

I will double our annual investments to meet these challenges to $50 billion by 2012. And I will support a $2 billion Global Education Fund to counter the radical madrasas -- often funded by money from within Saudi Arabia -- that have filled young minds with messages of hate. We must work for a world where every child, everywhere, is taught to build and not to destroy. And as we lead we will ask for more from our friends in Europe and Asia as well -- more support for our diplomacy, more support for multilateral peacekeeping, and more support to rebuild societies ravaged by conflict.

I will also launch a program of public diplomacy that is a coordinated effort across my Administration, not a small group of political officials at the State Department explaining a misguided war. We will open "America Houses" in cities across the Islamic world, with Internet, libraries, English lessons, stories of America's Muslims and the strength they add to our country, and vocational programs. Through a new " America's Voice Corps" we will recruit, train, and send out into the field talented young Americans who can speak with -- and listen to -- the people who today hear about us only from our enemies.

As President, I will lead this effort. In the first 100 days of my Administration, I will travel to a major Islamic forum and deliver an address to redefine our struggle. I will make clear that we are not at war with Islam, that we will stand with those who are willing to stand up for their future, and that we need their effort to defeat the prophets of hate and violence. I will speak directly to that child who looks up at that helicopter, and my message will be clear: "You matter to us. Your future is our future. And our moment is now."

user-pic

That's a picture of Hillary at the top of the page?!? Damn . . . I thought it was Guliani . . . TPM needs to use a larger font on the photo credits.

user-pic

Richardson is on board with the plans that Kucinich suggested in the first DEM debate . . . At this rate, he might be less Clintonian than than Clinton by the Primaries.

user-pic

Well, at least Duncan Hunter will be able to tell his grandkids he won a couple of straw polls.

Happy Labor Day, EC posters!!

user-pic

Once again, I am quarreling with a headline here at TPM: "Hillary To Skip Rogue Primaries"

A fair reading of the item tells us that ALL SIX of the top Democratic candidates are skipping the "Rogue Primaries."

So, why doesn't the header read: "Six Top Dem Candidates To Skip Rogue Primaries"?

How can we ever hope for fair-play and accuracy from the mainstream press when our beloved TPM won't play fair with Hillary?

And, yes, I think TPM could find a nicer photo of Hillary, so I have to wonder what message it sends that TPM persists in using an unflattering photo of Hillary.

user-pic

The picture is fine. Senator Clinton loooks like an attractive 60 year old woman. Yes, at a certain age one has wrinkles. Deal with it. What do you want her to do? Airbrush them out.

user-pic

Once again, I am quarreling with a headline here at TPM: "Hillary To Skip Rogue Primaries"

well, the saturday roundup headline was:

Obama And Edwards Pledge To Shun Rogue Primary States

as far as calling obama a "centrist", well, i guess that hasn't been used yet. first he was weak for wanting to talk to iran, then he was a warmonger for wanting to take out al qaeda in pakistan if musharraf wouldn't, then he was weak again for ruling out nukes in aforesaid warmongering.

but that coal thing really sucks. and is something a centrist would do. so your epithet is well taken. to a point.

user-pic

Saying someone"pledges" to so something gives it a positive ring.

Saying someone will "skip" a state's primary sounds like that person is skipping out or evading the primary, which has a negative connotation.

Furthermore, at the time of writing "Hillary To Skip Rogue Primaries," it was clear in the article that the TOP SIX Democrats were not going to be involved in those specific primaries, and THAT should have been the header: "Six Top Dem Candidates To Skip Rogue Primaries"

user-pic

Note to DancingBear: It's generally better to post a short excerpt and a link to an external article than to just copy and paste the entire thing into the comments section of someone's blog. Pasting long clips or entire articles (speeches, whatever) into comments costs our hosts bandwidth and may expose them to copyright issues in some cases, in addition to slowing page loads and causing a lot of extra scrolling for everyone else trying to follow the flow of the comments (especially from a phone).

user-pic

poetry @ September 3, 2007 12:16 PM:

A more accurate headline should have read:

Clinton Finally Pressured into Doing the Right Thing after FIVE Other Candidates Do It Proving that She Can Choose to Do What Is Best for the People when the Corporations Don't Give a Shit about It!

But that would be wordy and sound cruel . . . Truthful, but cruel.

Scroll back through the old Election Central site . . . You will see that each anouncement treats most subject freshly. In this same post Richardson xomes to the same conclusion that Kucinich and Gravel and Ewards did a half a year ago and TPM declared it like it was news. I know that corporate news has failed to remain news-like . . . Over time ALL the variations of TPM have been fair to all the DEM candidates . . .

user-pic

Additionally about the pict . . .

The TPMs subscribes to a photo service and over the last two years there have been unflattering picts as well as flattering picts of just about everyone (exccept Dolittle and Cunningham . . . There are no flattering picts of those two wipes). TPM works hard to maintain a clean copyright service and documents the source on everything. They replace photos as often as their budget allows.

Six or weeks ago the Obama pict with the topic of discussion. Everytime Senator Stevens or his hellspawn gets play, the readers make a gazillion comments about their Looneytunes ties.

If you don't like the picts, scroll to the bottom of this page and contribute to the site . . . Make a note about it being for picts.

user-pic

http://wswrdwbffrfaf.host.com
desk3
[url=http://wswsdwbffrfaf.host.com]desk4[/url]
[link=http://wswadwbffrfaf.host.com]desk6[/link]

user-pic
user-pic
user-pic
user-pic
user-pic
user-pic
user-pic
user-pic
user-pic
user-pic
user-pic

Hey! diazepam

user-pic

remove@sa-art.net

user-pic

remove@sa-art.net

user-pic
user-pic
user-pic
user-pic

Yo! look

user-pic
user-pic
user-pic

Hey! Interesting about phentermine phentermine review Info about phentermine Amazing phentermine facts Interesting about buy viagra buy viagra review Info about buy viagra Amazing buy viagra facts Interesting about xanax xanax review Info about xanax Amazing xanax facts Interesting about valium valium review Info about valium Amazing valium facts Interesting about cialis online cialis online review Info about cialis online Amazing cialis online facts Interesting about buy viagra buy viagra review Info about buy viagra Amazing buy viagra facts Interesting about viagra viagra review Info about viagra Amazing viagra facts Interesting about buy phentermine buy phentermine review Info about buy phentermine Amazing buy phentermine facts Interesting about buy cialis buy cialis review Info about buy cialis Amazing buy cialis facts Interesting about viagra online viagra online review Info about viagra online Amazing viagra online facts

user-pic

Leave a comment

Advertise Liberally
Share
Close Social Web Email

"To" Email Address

Your Name

Your Email Address