Caringthinkingperson

We finally have campaign reform, everyone with ten bucks and a computer can participate, and there are no tax dollars involved. WHAT MORE DO THEY WANT? posted 06/19/2008 at 16:25:01

Does anyone actually think that $100,000,000.00 Cindy cooks? posted 06/17/2008 at 01:45:01

John, best post yet. So to the point.

"when Barack unleashes all his oratorical powers and smites the transgressors who dare...transgress the sanctity of his marriage. "

Or, when John Ridley unleashes his pen. There are so many of us out here who completely respect and admire Michele Obama, they have no idea what they are up against. Maybe it is better for the rest of us if they remain clueless. It will decidedly have something to do with how thoroughly they will lose. posted 06/13/2008 at 19:50:40

You know, old Chris can make atheism look bad to athetists - and he is one! The only problem with Hitchens is that you have to believe in him in order to appreciate him, and that isn't very atheistic. Catch-in-his-pants-22. posted 06/12/2008 at 00:36:49

Let me see, work for community relations in a major University hospital, or sell booze - I dunno - it is America... maybe we will find out how many alcoholics there are as well as racists in this election. Time to change the poll questions.
How many voters drink Bud?
How many voters would drink more Bud if they could afford it? posted 06/11/2008 at 19:06:53

Scarlet Johansson posted 06/12/2008 at 00:43:14

Finally, a way for America to be sexist and racist at the same time! What more could anyone ask for? posted 06/11/2008 at 19:08:21

Thank you Ms. Walker for your wonderful work. I have to say I actually gave up on Salon a while ago, and now I have another reason. I cannot say this with more emphasis. I am a 51 year old woman. I own my own business, in a completely male dominated field, and I own my own home. I support my 82 year old mother, and I work my ass off to pull it all off.

There is nothing in this world I resent more than other women telling me that I should have any kind of opinion based on gender, or that I would EVER consider a presidential candidate based on gender. As a fully informed, feminist and independant woman there is never a time when I would have voted for Hillary Clinton, and for purely political and well informed reasons.

The healing that needs to occur is women backing off of other women and giving the same kind of respect that they claim to deserve. I have empathy for the dejection of losing, but to suggest that one campaign represents all women is stereotypical, prejudicial, and insulting. It has no relationship to any kind of meritocracy. Isn't that what we worked for - meritocracy? To be valued for what you contribute, not what you look like? posted 06/11/2008 at 04:52:51

bwither - it is a moral failure for someone to not understand that $200K is extremely comfortable - if not outright rich. posted 06/11/2008 at 19:10:59

tea, as indicated by the CAPS that wasn't an echo from inside the head it was very loud yelling....quite another problem, altogether posted 06/09/2008 at 20:01:43

is that red or golden delicious? posted 06/09/2008 at 20:00:50

this is getting too cool. Talk about inclusion! There is no limit to how many people will enjoy empowerment. posted 06/09/2008 at 20:06:24

Obama is clearly the most Christian person who has ever run for office who professes themselves to be Christian. The abhorration that has been posing as Christianity is offensive to anyone who takes those beliefs seriously, and in a truly loving manner. I sure hope the evangelicals wake up. A lot of us have been waiting a long time for them to take their own religion at it's word. posted 06/06/2008 at 15:41:21

Let's put our money where our mouths are! As states gamble on their votes being validated in order to change the hierarchy of early voting primaries, no one is talking about rearranging the primary calendar to reflect a green approach.

What if elections were held by starting in one corner of the country, and working around the country contiguously? This would be determined by estimating the least amount of mileage between all points needing to be covered. Put the idea of advancing transportation reforms within the confines of the campaign itself.

Roll out a couple of states a week, in six months it would be all done. The media would win, as they would have constant coverage unstead of BIG nights in which they get no sleep, and all of the states would get the same amount of attention. You could rotate the staring position of each election cycle, and come out with another variation where you start in the middle and work around.

Am I the only one who has seen this multiple jet cavorting-across-the-country media circus as being totally OBSCENE in terms of how many fossil fuels have been expended? The hell with MIchigan wanting to go first.! We need to convince the Democratic Party to take the concept of a green primary season seriously and change the order in which states participate on this basis alone. posted 06/06/2008 at 15:36:07

Tulka2 - you are so right. The racial fear that has gripped the south, and the Republicam lies that have manipulated the less educated public into ignoring their own self interests is nothing less than tragic. Never before has our divide in education been so pushed to the forefront of the public discourse. It really has no color barrier, but boy does it have an economic one.

We may never know Obama's appeal to the Democrats in the south, not until the general election. With 18% of the white Mississippi vote for Clinton being self-professed Republicans responding to Rush Limbaugh's campaign for chaos the statistics are , at best, skewed. Again, even the other side has been convinced to not follow their own interests as Mississippi voters are now not allowed to cross back over to the Republican roles in order to vote in a very important run-off. Karma..... posted 04/02/2008 at 15:43:01

mengwise36 - you missed my point if you think I am pissed, or that I consider a four year degree an education. Anyone who chooses to adopt clear thinking and not react out of fear or manipulaion is educated. You've really missed the point if you think Senator Obama is not completely for the things you espouse to care about.

There is NOTHING condescending about wanting people to not limit themselves. I would defend to the death everyones right to vote, and to not agree with me. I also would hope that you would open your mind as well. posted 04/02/2008 at 15:10:39

nohat,
thanks for the consideration, but this isn't about naivete - even for those who are. I am in total agreement with you that they are capable of ANYTHING, but something else is afoot. This is about a higher consciousness. As voters we all have the chance to stop the idiocy. And until we believe that it is possible, it will never happen. This is activism. In the end, the money and the more voters will talk to the super-delegates, and the throngs of Democrats just waiting to tell the Clintons to shove it will outnumber those who have been promised grand considerations. It's simple math.

He doesn't have to fight harder, he has to shift the perception of what is worth fighting for. I, for one, believe he is up to it. Don't sell our guy short. He is appealing to the older women who are going to have to vote for him later by being a gentleman. He can't go down to the Clinton's level, because he really is different. His insistance on not "going there" is proof.

Every moment you think Hillary might get away with something is the moment you talk yourself out of the kind of viewpoint that will sway others. We all got a job to do here, and it will require resolve. posted 04/02/2008 at 03:34:48

Matt - you missed the whole point of the "Rocky" reference. Hillary is a fighter, she will fight anyone and anything. She will fight the rules, the press, the powers that be and, if necessary, the voters. Her particular penchant for pugilism is what she thinks blue collar Americans need. After all, they are the ones who have been losing. They need a championship fighter. This may be the largest reason why more educated people prefer Obama. People who are not embroiled in limited thinking know that fighting doesn't work. The harder you push, the more the resistance you attract - the finer points of philosophy that come with worldly experience, and/or reading.

The more disturbing issue is any time someone suggests that Obama and Clinton get together. Hillary isn't backing down. This is her last chance - unless she kneecaps Obama sufficiently to run in four years. Any discussion would begin and end with Barack as veep. This is simply an inappropriate position for someone who is winning. The ironic part of this long drawn out egocentric Clinton exercise is that by the time she is through, Obama will not only be road tested and vetted, but he will have beaten Rocky Balboa. Ultimately even the most fervent Clinton-loving-Obama-haters will respect his resolve. And that is the word - resolve. A much better temperment to run the country with than the most whole-hearted lover of fisticuffs. posted 04/02/2008 at 01:51:31

Alec, thank you -as insiteful as ever. What I find as interesting as the finacial facts from your friend is your portrayal of the psuedo-feminist Democatic elites vieing for a female candidate. Any true feminist does not need the approval of the voting public or the money of a husband to have self worth. What she needs is a clear mind, and her own thoughts. A female candidate for womansake if a far cry from independant thought.

For those of use who are unfettered by assumption, the right candidate is more important than any other consideration. And I, for one, would like the first female President to be someone who has acheived greatness on her own with the kind of qualities Senator Obama as shown. Alec, there are a lot of us out here! We are all very happily voting for Obama, and don't feel the slightest bit ashamed that HIllary Clinton does not represent the virtues of the women's movement. She merely represents herself. I know we can do much better. posted 04/02/2008 at 02:24:50

What is more annoying is that Obama is railed as playing tit-for-tat if he dares to address the Clintons for their hyperbole. You can only run a different campaign if you are free to point out the main difference - consciousness. Whenever Bill wags his finger just say to yourself "pay no attention to he man behind the curtain..." posted 04/01/2008 at 01:52:04

ItfHusseincrazy - I never thought she had the character, I was just willing to leave her the room to show that she had some. Sadly, there isn't that much room. I do think you have to understand those who support her in order to help them get over it. Arguing only gets people more firmly entrenched in their own fears. posted 04/01/2008 at 00:53:51

It has been so sad to see Senator Clinton's character be so closely aligned with the most desparaging aspects of her husband's presidency. At first there was the glimpse of hope that maybe in her accomodating marriage she had held on to a difficult situation in order to come forward later with a higher consciousness. That has been the role of the many older women who identify with her so strongly - subjegating your own personal future for the sake of the marriage. What is lost in the heated emotion of the argument is that if you swallow your pride long enough, you don't know what it looks like. The personal anger at the heart of the most ardent Clinton supporters is from a sacrifice that they were expected to perform from childhood, and expected to break out of as adults. There was no model, and not all of them made their own way. They are literally living it through HIllary. After a lifetime of not living out their dreams they have to watch the actualization of their dreams die - publicly. As a middle-aged woman who has not sacrificed her goals for anyone it is my perogative to make this sad assessment in addition to yours. What is difficult is that we are all going to have to live through the anger, denial, acceptance - the whole nine yards - before the majority of my sisters see their way clear to their actual self interests. posted 04/01/2008 at 00:20:12