Terri Hallenbeck seems shocked and horrified that political parties track which citizens vote, which ones (based on polling data and personal references) are likely to be sympathetic to their views, and which ones are most likely to tell their candidates to go to hell. Gimme a freaking break. I guess she had to write something about the Democratic Party reorganization meeting, since the rumors of a floor challenge to Chair Ian Carleton never materialized, and there was no further gossip on candidates for Governor.
Baruth continues to lead on the Vermont Yankee issue. It seems every star is starting to align against its re-licensing, as opponents apparently have enough momentum that Entergy and the Governor are taking notice. Time to start planning for a post-yankee energy future now.
If you’re not scared about the future yet, read this post from Alex at Rip & Read. Here’s a sample:
The report, according to the article by Arthur Max, postulates that a shift in the world’s climate will give rise to bitter and bloody conflicts for water resorces, a scrabble for land, as sea levels rise, increased immigration to the United States (and conservatives, take note, these immigrants will NOT be coming because we offer political freedom- but because they want our water and our dry land- it’s your worst xenophobic nightmare come to life), and a proliferation of new diseases born of malnutrition, and nasty diseases able to expand their range…imagine, the return of malaria to Pennsylvania…won’t that be fun?
Tongue somewhat-in-cheek (or perhaps not), Minor Heresies is concerned about the spiraling cost of, er, non-perscription drugs, and waxes analytical about its impact on aging baby-boomers and the prospect of Canadian marijuana “reimportation” given local crackdowns. Why should the political class in Vermont care?
Let me address political time-servers and aspirants directly, in words that even a campaign consultant can understand. These boomers have a political conscience. You know and I know that anyone with a political conscience would have to be completely stoned to vote for you. They won’t be, if the price of marijuana is not brought under control.
Heh.
Update: iBrattleboro surpasses 10 million pages viewed!!!!! That’s pretty good for a citizen journo site dedeicated only to Brattleboro topics. Chris Grotke has the story. Go iBrattleboro!!!!
The Barre/Montpelier Times Argus today looks at Governor Douglas's re-election outlook through the lens of a potential Pollina campaign, following his announcement-that-wasn't-an-announcement at the Progressive Party's reorganization. The early sign is that the media's extended endorsement of Jim Douglas that we have all come to expect is starting early:
Douglas continues to test the patience of the liberal electorate of Vermont, though there is no sign yet that erosion of support among the moderate middle has become a serious threat.
Unfortunately, this is the modus operandum for the Vermont media in all things gubernatorially electoral (say that 10 times really fast). The obvious way to interpret those numbers is that, while the moderate & independent voters still like Douglas, they are no longer automatically concluding that he is the right man for the job.
But such an obvious conclusion goes against the conventional wisdom, and you don't defy conventional wisdom, lest you lose standing among your peers. As a result, ignore the numbers and fall back on the mantra: Douglas is unbeatable, everybody except the far left wackos love him, the election is just a formality, why bother. Saying anything different is tantamount to going out on a limb.
And it's in this way that the media has made Douglas's re-election such an inevitability: they don't check into the process when Douglas is, predictably, 30 points ahead in internal polling early in the election season – preferring instead to laugh off the opposition. By not checking in, they leave that opposition futily twisting in the wind, looking for coverage. By the time the media actually engages, its relatively late in the process, the numbers haven't budged, so the new mantra is simply “look at how far ahead Douglas is so late in the process.” It's self-fulfilling and self-reinforcing, and the above quote, coming as it does this early and in the face of common sense, indicates just how determined the media will continue to be in this myopic narrative they're so comfortable promoting.
The trick, therefore, is for any campaign to work hard enough, early enough under the radar to start those polls creeping up in other ways. If that traditional 30 point lead that Douglas carries come summertime – when the press actually decides to start looking seriously at the election that's only a few months away – can be wittled down to 20 or tighter, the press might do a bit of a double-take and break open the narrative of inevitability that keeps them so dismissive of the Governor's challenges.
But the clock is ticking. Sure, it may be traditionally early for a formal campaign announcement, but the reality is that, in the last two cycles, we already knew for months before this time who the candidate was going to be, and their fundraising and organizational efforts were already well underway.
In other words, time's very much a-wasting, no matter what the “hear-no-evil, see-no-evil” crowd may suggest.
December 1, 2007 – Des Moines, IA, Brown & Black Forum
December 1, 2007 – Des Moines, IA, Heartland Presidential Forum
December 4, 2007 – Des Moines, IA, NPR News/Iowa Public Radio Debate
December 10, 2007 – Los Angeles, California, CBS
December 13, 2007 – Johnston, Iowa, Des Moines Register Democratic Debate
January 15, 2008 – Las Vegas, Nevada
January 31, 2008 – California
In the space of an hour this weekend, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York and Barack Obama of Illinois, using some of their most pointed and forceful rhetoric of the campaign, framed the choice for Democrats deciding their party’s presidential nomination.
Clinton gave a strong speech at the Jefferson-Jackson dinner late Saturday. But Obama, criticized for occasional lackluster performances, delivered one of his most focused and powerful addresses.
In the view of many watching, he emerged as the oratorical winner at the biggest Democratic political event in Iowa before the state’s January caucuses.
His candidacy, Obama said, could produce a new Democratic majority capable of breaking the gridlock and polarization that have plagued Washington for a decade or more.
“The same old Washington textbook campaigns just won’t do it in this election,” he said. Seattle Times
November 19, 2007 – Meet the Candidate, Barack Obama, Clarion, IA
November 19, 2007 – Town Hall Meeting with Barack, Fort Dodge, IA
November 20, 2007 – Meet the Candidate, Barack Obama, Alton, NH
November 20, 2007 – Meet the Candidate, Barack Obama, Conway, NH
November 20, 2007 – Meet the Candidate, Barack Obama, Laconia, NH
November 20, 2007 – Michelle Obama, Orangeburg, SC
November 20, 2007 – Michelle Obama, Columbia, SC
November 30, 2007 – Barack Obama and Former Sec of Navy, Richard Danzig, Washington, D.C.
December 2, 2007 – Countdown to Change, Boston, MA
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? Why It’s Barack Obama Obama Shows Off Organizational Strength at JJ Dinner Transcriptof Obama Apperance on Meet the Press
obama on meet the press with tim russert, november 11, 2007, des moines, ia
Democrat Barack Obama said Sunday that if elected he will push to increase the amount of income that is taxed to provide monthly Social Security benefits.
Obama and other Democratic presidential candidates previously have signaled support for this idea.
But during an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Obama said subjecting more of a person’s income to the payroll tax is the option he would push for if elected president.
He objected to benefit cuts or a higher retirement age.
“I think the best way to approach this is to adjust the cap on the payroll tax so that people like myself are paying a little bit more and people who are in need are protected,” the Illinois senator said.
“That is the option that I will be pushing forward.”
Currently, only the first $97,500 of a person’s annual income is taxed. The amount is scheduled to rise to $102,000 next year. more
Democratic Caucus Goers Pick Obama, Edwards as JJ Winners
Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Scott Brennan called it “the most successful Jefferson Jackson Dinner in history,” but it was more successful for some candidates than for others.
After discussions with party insiders and people in attendance, the early consensus seemed to be that the candidates who have generally polled in the top three — Hillary Clinton, John Edwards and Barack Obama — all did well, with Edwards and Obama excelling in particular. Among the other three candidates — Joe Biden, Chris Dodd and Bill Richardson — the crowd seemed to be moved the most by Dodd and Biden, but not enough to significantly affect their chances in January, interviews Saturday night suggested. Candace Opstvedt of Story City was an undecided caucus-goer, but not any longer.
“I am definitely leaning toward Barack after tonight,” she said after the long night of speeches and Democratic fundraising, including an auction. Undecided caucus-goer Jordan Oster, a Drake University student and a Des Moines native, thought Obama and Edwards made a definite impression on the crowd.
“It is yet to be seen if tonight can be considered a moment of shakeup, but I think it really goes to show that Edwards and Obama cemented their importance in the race,” he said. “Neither made direct reference to Senator Clinton, but without mistake many references were aimed her way.”
Oster said he thought Biden, Dodd and Richardson did well, but didn’t stand out. Iowapolitics.com
Can Obama Rock the Nomination?
What kind of question is THIS??? One word, yes. He showed it last Saturday night, at the JJ Dinner. The debate performance is now past and will forever be plagued with innuendo. He is stronger than ever in Iowa. And if people are fed UP, with partisian politics, gridlock, the same old thing. Then you know for sure, what time it is. It is change time.
youtube interview
Will Obama Turn Out Young Voters inIowa All TiedUp in Iowa Obama PhotoBlogLebanon, NH Obamaon Net Neutrality
UAW Region 4, Endorses Obama
UAW Region 4 Delegates Throw Support to Obama’s Campaign for PresidentDUBUQUE – Delegates of United Auto Workers Region 4, which includes 30,000 members and retirees in Iowa, voted today to support Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. The group announced its overwhelming support at the close of a weeklong conference where seven of the major Democratic presidential candidates addressed the group earlier this week.
“There are many talented Democrats in the presidential field this year, but Barack Obama is the leader who will bring the kind of change to Washington that America’s working men and women can believe in,” said UAW Local 442 (Webster City, IA) President Paul Erickson. “For the last two decades, working families have been able to count on Barack Obama to stand up for us and our values. We are supporting him, because we know he’ll do the same thing in the White House.” Time, DemDog
kos, on Obama’s Plan for Open Government StollerLeaning Obama Chris Bowers, Ok, it is Still a Close Campaign Barack Obama and the Illinois Death Penaltyby AdamB
Clinton Camp, Sure Do Not Care About Nor Believe in the Youth Vote
Yep. The Clinton Campaign has to be one of the more out of touch campaigns running. For the Clinton Campaign to tout the inevitability meme, this campaign does not understand what drives the youth. And to totally dis’ them as unimportant is even more laughable. I am sure no dissin’ will be going on in an Iowa barn on January 3rd, if these Facebook Caucus Goers decide to show up. Respect the youth. Respect the ones who are disenfranchised. Respect the lost Democratic Voters who want in again. Just respect the voters. Ok?
shoutouts: food prices up, by bink; i am starting to detest hillary clinton, the british observer; read, dengre; why an edwards fan thinks obama took jefferson-jackson; dl’s take on democrats preferring dems on iran; update on marlboro marine; foreclosures record high
icebergslim’s last word: obama and his supporters advocates.
Barack came from the Iowa JJ Dinner, with a speech that people are still talking about.
Then the debate.
Well, it was a sham. My opinion, as I do not speak or write for Obama Supporters Advocates. But, it was. Then we got the blistering report from an Obama supporter advocate who called them all out in her diary, no stone unturned, not off the beaten path, but blunt and precise. LV Pol Girl’s diary of the events surrounding the debate was simply titled, Las Vegas Disgrace. Was it Pulitzer Prize writing? No. Rhetorical Rhetoric? No. It was four simple paragraphs with an ending sentence that summed it all up what happened in Las Vegas, Nevada, at the CNN Debate. So, simple, that everyone has read this diary, passed it on, shaking their heads. And those that did not want it out had to sit, squirm, and take it.
Then Bob Johnson, comes on the scene. You really don’t know what to expect with him, but he ripped Steny Hoyer a new one with this diary, Hey, Steny… Butt out. I don’t know who Bob supports, but he was absolutely correct in this assessment of Hoyer going after Obama:
Oh, no. Steny thought it best to single out a candidate who he felt was bashing the current frontrunner:
“I’ve been disappointed,” Hoyer, 68, said in an interview on Bloomberg television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt,” scheduled to air tonight. “I think it will hurt the party.”
He took particular exception to Illinois Senator Barack Obama’s assertion in a Las Vegas debate yesterday that Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton hadn’t given “straight answers” on “a host of issues.” Hoyer said that comment is “likely to get used by Republicans” in the general election.
What is this you ask? It is what politicians refer to as, “calling your chits in.” The old, “I helped you, raised money for you, now you need to help me.” In other words, the Clinton Camp needs to dirty up Barack Obama. The Clinton Camp need to reinforce that Obama is inexperienced, not ready. Obama should not challenge, nor question anything on Hillary Clinton. The GOP could use this against her. As if “girlfriend” has already been anointed and appointed.
Then your keepin it real voice of icebergslim, rolls into a Saturday with an aw, hell naw diary on our best friends at CNN. I don’t like to write on the weekends because I am usually compiling ‘This Week’, but when you get articles from NYT and L.A. Times sent to you about the debate, but more importantly how it is all connected up? What are you to do? I had to do what I do best. Clinton News Network = CNN.
Of course, Obama Supporters Advocates then had to read insinuations of a whisper campaign, against our candidate. Remember, it is all about making him dirty. But, we took solace to what Barack said in his statement.
“The item did not identify these ‘agents,’ nor did it reveal the nature of the charge. It was devoid of facts, but heavy on innuendo and insinuation of the sort to which we’ve become all too accustomed in our politics these past two decades. If the purpose of this shameless item was to daunt or discourage me or supporters of our campaign from challenging and changing the politics of Washington, it will fail. In fact, it will only serve to steel our resolve.
That paragraph, for me, said it all about Barack Obama.
It will only serve to steel our resolve.
That is what the other campaigns don’t get. But they will, starting in Iowa.
Yes, we are supporters of Barack Obama, but you are correct in your assessment, we are his ADVOCATES, first.
If you appreciate the weekly Obama Roundup, then Tip My Obama Jar!! Minimum five dollars. This contribution goes directly to the Obama Campaign. We are in the last stretch of fundraising, Quarter 4, it ends December 31st. Remember to make your contribution.
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Lastly, a magnificent diary by femlaw titled, “Obama’s Field of Dreams (California & Iowa Edition)” This is a must read for all. If you don’t understand strategy and Obama’s passion for building from ground up, peep this. After the read, you will get it.
well, barack was in austin, texas telling them to get ready for change. and i am here to ask you, are you ready for it? always, remember to focus on obama, and not the drama….
