Mr. President

Photo by Sinfonian, May 22, 2008, Boca Raton, Fla.

November 4, 2008, Chicago, Ill.

Asshole Republican: in this case, it's redundant

Some deranged motherfucker is driving around south Florida these days in a huge pickup truck festooned with sick, deranged right-wing messages.

I spotted this truck (bearing the obligatory 9/11 Florida license plate) last night parked along a residential street in Boca Raton (less than a mile from where Sarah Palin spoke on Monday night), outside a large, ostentatious home with GOP signs all over the front yard:

Sorry the photo quality isn't better (I only had my cell phone with me), but let me transcribe some of the more abhorrent (and less legible) messages for you:

I Miss Reagan

Annoy a Liberal -- Thank a Soldier

Remember 9/11 -- because Democrats have already forgotten

... and the most offensive, most disgusting of all:

I ♥ WATER BOARDING

Okay, Republicans, conservatives, and even undecideds -- I want all of you to understand one thing: anyone who votes for Huggy Bear or for Allen West for Congress (the bizarrely paranoid Republican candidate in Florida's 22nd district) implicitly supports the messages on this truck -- including the pro-torture statement*. Look, wingnuts, you have no right to whine about it. After all, if you can impute to Barack Obama every opinion that Rev. Jeremiah Wright or William Ayers has ever held, every statement they've ever uttered, every position they've ever taken, then it's only fair that you accept -- embrace, even -- the opinions of this driver, whose truck also has huge McCain-Palin and Allen West signs on its sides in addition to the stickers on the tailgate.

Needless to say, Democrats haven't forgotten 9/11. We remember that Drunky McStagger had a chance to act more than a month earlier to stop the tragedy, but did nothing other than assure his aide that "you've covered your ass." And I join my fellow liberals in thanking the soldiers for their service. It's a shame their sacrifice in Iraq has been completely unnecessary. As for missing Reagan, I heard a great analogy this morning on the radio: the so-called Reagan National Airport outside Washington, D.C., is a crappy airport, but 20 years from now, supporters will be saying it was the best ever.

The owner of this vehicle is a sick human being. And I relish the thought of his ... or her? ... dejection when President Obama is inaugurated on January 20 and an enormous Democratic majority sweeps into Congress. Talk about schadenfreude ...

I really hope the truck owner sees this post, because I have one special message directly for that person: Fuck you, asshole.

UPDATE (9:00 pm 10/8/08): I forgot to mention that the driver of the pickup truck is a shitty parker, too. The thing was almost halfway out into the right lane of traffic ...

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* The same holds for those voting for Jeff Atwater for state Senate and Al Lamberti for Broward County Sheriff. Their stickers are on this dumbfuck's truck, too. You own the stupidity, Republicans.

Sarah Palin is coming to Boca

Look out, America's Wang™ ... Sarah America is on her way to Florida after tonight's debate.

Well, not immediately afterward ... but she'll be making a campaign swing through the state on Monday. After rallies in Republican-friendly Clearwater and Fort Myers, she'll attend a more, um, private affair in Boca Raton, which overall probably is less Republican-friendly than money-friendly:

Palin is scheduled to appear [in] Palm Beach County for the money-raising event at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. Contributors who pay $500 can attend a reception with Palin, while those who give $10,000 can attend a "VIP reception" and photo op with the candidate, and those who give $50,000 can attend a private dinner.

After rubbing elbows with the wealthy elite on Monday night, Palin will return to her base Tuesday with visits to Jacksonville and Pensacola, both of which are loaded with frothing-at-the-mouth wingnuts. Perfect for an undereducated governor of a relatively meaningless state (no offense to sentient Alaskans) ...

So the GOP plan is clear, much like it was in 2004 when "loyalty oaths" were required to attend rallies for Drunky McStagger. Keep Sarah away from potentially unfriendly crowds ... unless there's big money involved. Yeah, that's a winning strategy ... when you want to be elected by the people. Dumbasses ...

Well, I don't know whether or not I can get close enough to Sarah on Monday to ask her, say, what it's like to base your foreign policy credentials on being governor of a state that borders Canada and is near Russia. But, at least I know what to wear:


Yeah, I have no pride. What's your point?

Video excerpt from Hillary Clinton at FAU today

Yes, I know the quality sucks. Sorry about that. But here's a video anyway. You might try to muddle through it, as it's only 3½ minutes long.

Here is a transcript of what Sen. Clinton said in this video as well as I could make it out and remember. I think it's good enough to get the gist of what she said in this excerpt. And, again, the money shot is the last sentence ...

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... then Barack Obama is your candidate. If you care about ending the Bush Administration's “war on science,” which has substituted ideology for evidence, then Barack Obama is your candidate. And if you care about raising the minimum wage, improving the quality of our schools, rebuilding the economy, opening the doors to college for more young people, ending the war in Iraq, and restoring [unintelligible] around the world.

And certainly, if you care about protecting a woman's right to choose and preventing the Supreme Court from becoming even more of a too old, right-wing ideology, then Barack Obama is your candidate and must be our president!

We cannot afford four more years of the same. I am proud to be a senator from New York. I work hard for all New Yorkers ... even for those of you who left New York for what will be just a temporary sojourn [from] the mother ship. But I need a president who will work with me, who will be there for the people I care about, that I love and fight for every single day.

Those of you who were with me in my campaign – we were fighting for the mother with a young daughter, juggling work and school, who told me, “I'm doing it all to better myself for her. I'd like to have just a little bit of help.” We were fighting for the woman who grabbed my hand and said, “What are you going to do to help me with health care? I hold three jobs – I cannot afford health care, and I have a prior condition, and I go without.” We were fighting for the young man in a Marine Corps T-shirt who waited months for medical care from the ... VA, who said, “I want you to take care of my buddies over there, while they're still there, and bring 'em home with honor. And then, please, help take care of me, because I'm not getting the medical assistance that I need. We were fighting for everyone who lost their jobs and lost their health care, who were despairing about the budgets that they saw shrinking in their family checkbooks, who felt invisible to their president. And that's who we are fighting for today.

Anyone who supported me has much more in common with Senator Obama than with Senator McCain.

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Are you listening, PUMAs?

More pictures from today's Hillary Clinton appearance at FAU

The FAU arena was transformed into a political rally -- good thing school colors are red, white, and blue! (Okay, and silver too ...)

Eventually the press area filled up quite nicely.

The inveterate blogger practices his craft.
(Oh, that just sounds silly ...)
Here I am, typing. (That's better.)

Sometimes you take whatever space you can get -- even if it's across the gym -- so long as it's unobtrusive (and near a plug).

It's almost time for Sen. Clinton to enter.

Sen. Clinton waves during her introduction by state Sen. Nan Rich.

Another look at Sen. Rich and Sen. Clinton.

(Special thanks to CP, who served as photographer for many of these shots -- at least all the good ones.)

Sucky video still to come ...

UPDATE (7:34 pm 8/21/08): Video now is posted above.

Hillary Update #6: program is starting

The room is filling up very well now. There was never really a line to get in (as I had anticipated), but the arrivals have been steady since the doors opened around 12:10 this afternoon.

Now the bleachers are almost full and they're having to add extra folding chairs to the seating in front of the podium. This is gonna be good and loud, I think.

The program is beginning ... I have lots of photos but I'll have to put them up later.

Hillary Update #5: musical interlude

It's always interesting to hear what music they play at political rallies. So far today, except for the occasional interloper like Nickelback or Santana/Rob Thomas, we're going retro with a bunch of '70s and '80s hits:

How Long Has This Been Going On?
Tempted (Squeeze)
3 A.M. (Matchbox Twenty)

Hmmm ... do you think they're paying attention to the lyrics?

Hillary Update #4: more pictures

The room is beginning to fill up -- we're about an hour from the scheduled start of the event, and they opened the doors about 25 minutes earlier than planned. I hope it's a capacity crowd, but I'm not counting on it.

A little early for the press to show up, too.

UPDATE (12:45 pm 8/21/08): I've seen the wife of the FAU president, but not the president, Frank Brogan, himself. Brogan was Jeb! Bush's lieutenant governor. I assume he'll be here, of course, and possibly introducing Sen. Clinton.

Hillary Update #2

This is fun. I was in the media room (by myself) and the cops asked me to leave so they could send the (bomb-sniffing) dog through. I asked if I could leave my stuff in the room until they were done and they said, sure.

So, I'm in the main arena now and, thanks to having worked at FAU before, I'm on their wireless Internet, too. So far so good ... :)

UPDATE (11:32 am 8/21/08): Just back in the arena after everyone was asked to leave for the bomb sweep. They're doing the sound check now ... I'll get some pictures up momentarily.

I've spotted representatives from the Wexler campaign so far, as well as a number of media types.

Hillary Update #1

Well, I am inside the FAU Arena in preparation for today's appearance by Hillary Clinton, and I've set up shop in the media room. I wonder how long they'll let me stay here ...

The gym is being readied and volunteers and staff are arriving. The event is scheduled to start at 1:30 pm, so I have a nice long wait. But have laptop, will blog ...

I believe tickets still are available. You can print out your own ticket and join me this afternoon in Boca Raton.

UPDATE (10:29 am 8/21/08): I'm beginning to wish I'd worn a jacket and tie; I wore my Obama '08 T-shirt and shorts, thinking I'd have to wait outside. Now that I'm inside, I probably would look more official (and therefore more like I belong here) if I'd dressed the part. Oh well ...

Eternal Insanity of the Republican Mind

On Monday's Blast Off! Radio, we took a walk on the dark side and considered the characteristics of the Republican mind. We talked about hate, selfishness, bigotry, and solving problems with violence, among other things.

Today in Boca Raton, I saw a car that displayed all of these "qualities" and then some. It was an older model SUV driven by a white guy in his 40s -- yeah, pretty much the quintessential ignorant wingnut. The least controversial stickers on this car were the standard-issue McCain decals on the back and the dashboard. But the real treat was the message delivered by the other stickers:

GEORGE W. BUSH
Is Saving Your Ass
Whether You Like It Or Not

Save the baby seals
Club a liberal instead

LIBERALS
The Other White Meat

The last time I saw so much stupidity in one place at one time, I was watching the GOP presidential debates last spring.

No, seriously, this guy clearly believes several things:

1. Drunky McStagger somehow has been a positive influence on America, despite his insatiable warmongering, dismal economic policies, and racist, misogynistic governance.

2. It's perfectly acceptable to use physical violence on other people, so long as they're dirty fucking hippies.

3. Cannibalism is cool.

Okay, I'm not sure about that last one, but still, the level of idiocy that is required just to believe these things, let alone display them on one's vehicle, suggests that perhaps Florida's driver licensing criteria need to be made more stringent in order to keep such extraordinary mental incompetents off our streets.

Because anyone who thinks Drunky is "saving [our] ass" is really too stupid to breathe.

Boca Raton ♥ Huggy Bear?

Driving in downtown Boca Raton this morning, I see that the Huggy Bear partisans have been out in force lately. Palmetto Park Road, the main east-west artery through Boca, is festooned with "McCAIN" yard signs all along the commercial district between Federal Highway and the Intracoastal.

I wouldn't have expected Boca to be very Huggy-friendly, despite its reputation as an upscale, higher-income community. And, indeed, a few signs on the road hardly defines a town as Huggy Bear territory.

But I know one thing: if I were a business owner and someone put a GOP campaign sign in front of my place, I'd have it out of there faster than you can say "dessicated, goiter-ridden near-corpse."

More Obama video

Here's another video I took on Thursday in Boca Raton. It's a good bit shorter (2:35), but it comes from his prepared remarks, which you may have seen on television. In this excerpt, Sen. Obama describes his commitment to Israel and his appreciation for and understanding of the Jewish community. Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.), who introduced Sen. Obama at the event, can be seen seated behind the Senator.

Hopefully this will shut up idiots like Michael Gerson, who don't know what the hell they're talking about.



UPDATE (9:56 am 5/25/08): In light of his appearance this morning on ABC's "This Week," I should post this picture from Thursday that I forgot to add, of Obama senior adviser David Axelrod. As noted during the liveblogging, I met him before the event and chatted with him for a minute ... even told him that I was a member of the Florida Progressive Coalition. Hey, anything for a plug, right?

Obamarama: postscript #2 VIDEO

Here is a video I made (it's strictly amateur, so sorry for the shakiness) from Sen. Obama's "town hall" meeting yesterday in Boca Raton. In it, the senator responds to an audience member's question about getting American troops out of Iraq and reducing Iranian influence in the Middle East. He then concludes his remarks by addressing some of the attacks on his character (e.g., e-mails going around about him being a Muslim) and on his support for Israel.

It's 9:12 in length, but I believe it's worth seeing, or at least hearing, in its entirety. It gives you an idea of the man's vision but also his sense of humor and his humanity. Enjoy.



UPDATE (7:59 am 5/23/08): As the full coverage already is scrolling off the front page, readers might miss the earlier parts of the liveblogging. So, if you're interested and for future reference, here's a link to the full Blast Off! coverage from yesterday's event.

UPDATE (9:12 am 5/24/08): I've added another video, a shorter one that comes from Sen. Obama's prepared remarks preceding the Q&A session shown in the video on this post.

Obamarama: postscript #1

I have quite a few pictures to go through, and even a video or two to post. So please bear with me.

But for now, please enjoy this Happy Obama:


I shook his hand. It was cool. (The experience, not his hand.)

More to come ...

UPDATE (8:04 am 5/23/08): Yes, that's a flag pin Sen. Obama is wearing -- with flags of the U.S. and Israel.

UPDATE (10:19 am 5/23/08): If you like the picture, you'll love the video.

Obamarama: additional questions

Question:
We have to bring back the gleam to America. A vote for Barack Obama is a vote for America and Israel.

I'll let another question go ... since that wasn't really a question.

Question (from an "ultra-Republican," my friend says):
Iranians can't wait for another president as good as Jimmy Carter ... because they want to be able to do whatever they want. So what would you tell Ahmedinejad about that, and what about the meeting at Teheran University to discuss the elimination of Israel?

First, I would never do anything to jeopardize the security of Israel. But I would introduce direct diplomacy with Iran, because the policy of not talking with our enemies has not worked. Over the last eight years, Iran has gotten stronger. If you think about it, when Bush took office, Iran was weakened, Iraq was a buffer, Hamas and Hezbollah were threats but not like they are now. Over the last eight years, Iran has become more powerful and has pursued nuclear weapons even more ... Hamas and Hezbollah are stronger, too. "How is it that the Bush-Cheney-McCain policy been good for Israel? I don't see it."

What I would say to any Iranian leader is to have them stop funding nuclear weapons and threatening Israel, and in turn we can help you economically -- there are things we can do ... Iran has to import gasoline ... they are not members of the WTO or in the international economy that would allow them to prosper like, say, India and China have. But if we've initiated direct diplomacy, we have the moral high ground and can enforce sanctions among our allies.

Appeasers?! Israel is talking with Turkey, Egypt, etc ... are they appeasing? No, they are making practical decisions on how to be most secure. The notion that we would operate differently is part of the fear-mongering that has been taking place for the last eight years. If we keep going, we will be isolated and unable to help Israel.

"I've been in a contest with Bill -- with Hillary Clinton ..." [laughter] But the good thing is how Bill Clinton used diplomacy to protect Israel and our other allies. I intend to do the same thing as president of the United States.

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At this point I must stop -- I regret having to do so, but I am nearly out of battery power and am nowhere near a convenient outlet. I will continue to take pictures and notes and complete the posting later today. Thanks for being here ...

Obamarama: even more questions

Question:
Regarding energy policy, how can you get the oil companies to fall in line -- what will make them do essentially what their competitors want?

"We've got to change our energy policy for economic reasons and national security reasons.

"Let's face global warming and collect money from polluters which we can use to increase fuel efficiency in cars ... the fact that we have not increased fuel efficiency is ridiculous. Yes, oil companies' business is oil. But they are benefitting with record profits, not because of investments but because of speculation. They are making money because production is not keeping pace with demand. So we ought to consider a modest windfall profits tax, which they are in a position to pay. But if we don't get our energy policy fixed, we will continue to be in the thrall of autocrats. Look at Bush going to Saudi Arabia -- he couldn't get them to increase production ... we ought to be looking at alternative energy sources right here."

Question:
What should we do about Putin?

"More than Russia, we need to pay attention to China. They are going to be even more of a powerhouse in years to come. Having said that, with Putin, here's what I won't do: I won't look into his eyes and see his soul. [laughter, applause] Russia is not our enemy, but there is an adversarial relationship ... still, we can find common ground. They have an interest in preventing terrorism, as do we ... and they have an interest in making sure Iran doesn't have nuclear weapons (although they like Iran giving us a hard time).

"We have to focus on human rights and political freedom, and a practical relationship that has no illusions on how Putin operates. He has cracked down on democracy and enriched himself and his cronies with unimaginable wealth -- there are more billionaires in Moscow than in any other city in the world. So it's going to be a difficult relationship, but what we have to do is choose the few non-negotiable things -- probably preventing terrorism and keeping Iran -- and other countries -- from getting nuclear weapons."

Obamarama: more questions

Question:
Since a person is known by the company they keep ... what about a private meeting with a Islamic leader in Dearborn, Mich., and with other such leaders that you have met with. Aside from elected officials, who can you cite as close personal friends who are Jewish who have influenced your viewpoint on Arab-Israeli conflict? [boos, catcalls]

"I think the general question was that there are past associations of mine that are troublesome to the Jewish community, so are there people who will vouch for me? You have to be careful not to come up with 'some of my best friends are Jewish,' but I do have some friends ... [he named several individuals] The irony is that when I was in Chicago, one of the raps on me was that I was too close to the Jewish community!

"Yes, I know Rashid Khalidi. But to pluck out one person whose views may not be in line with the Jewish is a problematic situation. [standing ovation]

I believe in listening to people even when I disagree with them. That does not mean that I won't object to things they may say, but the Jewish community in Chicago knows that I've spoken out against anti-Semitism there ... but part of my job as president is to listen to different points of view. Even if people state anti-black sentiments, I still will listen to them and try to deal with them."

Obamarama: taking questions in town hall meeting

We need to restore a sense of justice in our economic lives and our social lives ... why must senior citizens have to take only half their prescriptions? It's a violation of the spirit of justice. Underpaid teachers, children who can't afford college ... that's a violation of the spirit of justice. Families who can't afford health care ... that's a violation of the spirit of justice.

I just want to make sure that everyone understands that while I am discussing Israel, I want to talk about this country and how we can make America fair for everyone.

Now questions: these questions have not been pre-screened. I want the toughest questions available. "We're gonna go boy-girl-boy-girl, though ..."

Question:
"The first 15 years ... I was all over eastern Europe. I can't stand the hate. Someone told me, 'if Barack Obama would change his name to Barry, I would vote for him!' "

"Let's face it: part of what raises concerns is that you've got a black guy named Barack Obama. My father was from Kenya. 'Barack' means the same as 'Baruch' - one who's blessed. It's the same Semitic root -- the same source. My father was basically agnostic as far as I can tell, and I was raised by my mother, who was from Kansas. I was called 'Barry,' but then I felt it was important to acknowledge my other side and I started going by 'Barack.' Israel has had a prime minister named 'Barak' ... you should be familiar with that name."

Question:
"Please clean up health care ... I'm losing my house, I have a mother with Alzheimer's .... I would like to see common sense come back to government."

"Let me talk about health care ... this is a crisis we've been talking about for decades. We've been talking about universal health care since Harry Truman. We are the only advanced, industrialized nation that doesn't offer universal health care. It's scandalous.

People have a deductible so high that it becomes catastrophic insurance -- insurance for your house, but you never go to the doctor. This is costly, and not only is it bad for the quality of life, but it's costing taxpayers exorbitant amounts of money.

So: if you've got health care already through your employer, you can keep it, and we will work to lower premiums by a catastrophic health care plan. If you don't have it, you can buy into a plan like that we have in Congress, and you can be subsidized if need be. No exclusions for preexisting conditions, and we'll emphasize prevention, which will save money in the system -- up to $150 billion that we then use to provide care for people who don't have it.

Sen. Clinton's plan is a good plan ... the key is how do we get it done? How do we get it past the special interests, the drug companies, the insurance companies? That's why I said I wouldn't take money from federal lobbyists and PACs. But we need to build a coalition that will finally get this done. We can have a legitimate debate about how it will get done, but it's not effective to say that we'll let the market forces determine it.

Medicare: let's negotiate with drug companies for the cheapest possible care."

Obamarama: commitment to Israel

I have a fundamental difference with President Carter, who sat down with Hamas. We cannot negotiate with terrorists ... I want to repeat this, because there's been a lot of rumor-mongering going on. I have said throughout this campaign that we should not negotiate with Hamas and Hezbollah. My opponents are counting on fear because they are not telling the truth.

Iran is clearly the biggest threat to Israel today ... the threat is real and grave. I will work to eliminate that threat, and ending the war in Iraq will give us increased flexibility ... the invasion of Iraq has strengthened Iran's position. The time has come for tough, principled diplomacy to bring an end to threats against Israel and other countries.

To achieve this, we have to offer sticks like economic sanctions, but not take military options off the table. That's why I was a chief sponsor of a bill to encourage divestment from Iran. But we also need carrots ... we must show that we are willing to come to the table. We must exercise diplomacy first, before military action.

(note: these are paraphrases, not exact quotes)