Check out this great song tribute to President Obama from PlanitSound.com productions. It's a great song that captures the beauty, spirit and hopes of President Obama's acceptance speech.
Berlin will be ready for whatever happens Thursday, with street traffic beginning to be blocked from the venue starting tomorrow. Seven hundred police officers will be on duty, and the city will be prepared for anywhere from ten thousand to a million onlookers. I don't expect a crowd of that size --- Obama's not going to compete with the size crowds European soccer championships receive --- but many will come out of curiousity.
It's hard to know what to expect. There's a possibility for some death penalty protesters --- a hot topic in Europe, which covers American executions closely and where Obama's statement on the recent Supreme Court ruling was headline news.
As for the choice of venue: The Victory Column, whose meaning shifted even while it was being built, ended up commemorating in 1873 a rapid series of three wars in which Prussia defeated each of its neighbors in turn --- Denmark, Austria, and then even more spectacularly, France --- in order to form, for the first time, a unified Germany.
But this historical significance is easily exaggerated, and the association with Prussia isn't pressing for most German onlookers. As with most public monuments, the Column has remained open to reinterpretation by new generations, just as the Brandenburg Gate evolved into a symbol of German unity and American solidarity only centuries after being built.
Most recently, the Column has served as the backdrop for Berlin's most popular mass festivals. The rave-music-themed "Love Parade" and celebrations following soccer championships are examples. And this is another reason the site is compelling. By far, this is the broadest, most accessible venue in Berlin, with the maximum ability to host crowds. The park surrounding the Column is comparable to Central Park in New York.
In the end, it's not the venue I would have chosen, but there's a clear view of the Brandenburg Gate, allowing the minimum amount of re-packaging so shortly before the event. We'll see what happens.
...when I am so thankful Obama is running for President. Not to sound like I'm complaining because I know its tough times for EVERYONE right now, but summer session tuition is killing me. Bright Futures doesn't cover summer sessions. I have yet to find another job. Everyone seems to SAY they are hiring but no one actually hires. So I need to dip into my savings so that I can pay for my tuition AND car payment. With that said I feel so relieved when Obama talks about giving students a $4,000 credit for education in exchange for volunteering. And McCain has no plan. When times are like this I don't see how people don't see the clear choice.
I don't know if any of you know about this site, other Obama supporters showed it to me. But there is a guy who is like a genius with baseball stats and he has been working with election stats now for a while and was predicting results in the primaries that were pretty accurate. Some of you might already know but I just thought I would share just in case. Here is the site:
Can we win in November without money? Obviously not. Money is a form of energy, a measurement, a convenient way to facilitate exchange.
I knew the Obama campaign would be in an enviable position money-wise. My thought was that we "wouldn't have to worry" about money, which is fantastic.
If each of Obama's donors gave him a modest $250, he'd have $375 million to spend during the two-month general election sprint. That’s $186 million a month; $47 million a week.
During the same September to Nov. 4th period, McCain will have about $85 million to spend since he has decided to take taxpayer money to help finance his campaign activities.
The Republican National Committee, which is charged with closing the gap between McCain and Obama, has $40 million in cash. Obama raised almost as much — $31 million – from just his small donors in the month of February. His total for the month, $57 million, exceeded the RNC's cash balance.
Obama has more than 1.5 million donors; McCain has a few hundred thousand. If just a million of Obama’s donors sent him the maximum donation, $2,300, he could raise $2.3 billion.
<!--end headline--> <!--begin body-->
That's billion . . . with a "B".
The last paragraph of the post is when I had to confess my gross under-estimation of the Movement we're all a part of . . . had to pick my jaw up off the floor . . . then get a paper towel to wipe the saliva drooling out of my mouth . . . [Emphasis mine alone]
Two quick observations: (1) Obama is going to be able to use that money to make random red states like Kansas and Idaho competitive enough that McCain has to put time, energy, and money into winning them. That's a huge advantage. (2) Obama could have enough money to finance every Democratic congressional race in the country. Certainly every key Senate race. He could essentially buy himself a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority in the Senate.
"ABERDEEN, S.D. (AP) — Barack Obama has resigned his 20 year membership in the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago in the aftermath of inflammatory remarks by his longtime pastor the Rev. Jeremiah Wright and more recent fiery remarks at the church by another minister."
More information will be forthcoming later on this afternoon at a news conference.
I doubt if you did, but if by chance you missed Senator Obama's major speech entitled "A More Perfect Union" you really must see it. The full text and YouTube is here.
We could go on and on and on here re-posting all the remarks in newspapers and the blogosphere. Most are downright glowing. Some are not, and wouldn't be under any circumstances. Anyone can search for themselves if they want to read what others are saying. Actually, it'll be hard NOT to find these comments, because essentially the entire planet is now talking about . . . race.
I will confess that this speech did not produce tears or tingling running up my spine, as others have. Many have said they did have this reaction. This is not in the least to suggest I thought the speech was lacking in any way. No, far from it.
What most impresses me at this moment is that for all intents and purposes . . . our nation stood still . . . and waited . . . in anticipation . . . barely able to take a breath . . . till . . . President-in-Waiting Obama spoke.
The run-up was Presidential . . . the speech itself was very Presidential . . . and the reaction was definitely Presidential.
Go ahead . . . check. Check anywhere you want . . . newspapers, radio, television, Internet, around the water cooler . . . What are we all talking about?
When was the last time Bush got this kind of treatment? Been a while, hasn't it? Are the other candidates being afforded this level of treatment and exposure?
This is good for America. We need a President that will speak truth. Senator Barack Obama is not a politician . . . let us refrain from using this word for it is inadequate and a bit derogatory . . . Senator Obama is a true Statesman . . .
In case anyone has any doubts . . . we just witnessed the christening of the next President of the United States.
Here's my concern: as things are going, the Democratic party is becoming more divided. Somewhere around 1/3 of Clinton's voters in the Mississippi primary exit polls said they would never vote for Obama in a general election. (Surprisingly, fewer Obama voters said the same about Clinton.)
The Internet is the kind of place where resentment and anger fuels resentment and anger. We see it in the split between Daily Kos and MyDD. Sure, as an Obama supporter I think the Clinton camp has gone off the rail. But there is definitely anger on our side too.
I think we as the Obama-supporter community need to publicly state:
I will support the Democratic nominee - Clinton or Obama - regardless of who is nominated.
Sure, you may not feel that way, but I'd suggest if not, then you don't say so publicly. Sure, you "shouldn't have to censor yourself", but thinking about this practically - such a sentiment only fuels anger on the other side, and can only lead to more entrenchment against Obama if he is nominated. (As an Obama supporter, I don't want that to happen - and since Obama is more likely to be nominated at this point, we need Clinton supporters more.)
I want Obama supporters to come across as the reasonable bunch - as the ones extending the olive branch and being willing to allow Clinton supporters some dignity even in their candidate's loss.
35 years, that’s an awfully long time to wait for your moment, and then see it taken away by something as simple as “hope”!
She has taken it all, gone through hell and high water, “personal challenges” that most other people would not put-up with, all to get to this point. And now this?! No way, this is her moment, finally, finally, and nothing can take it from here, even if it means that she would burn the village and bring down the tent, she will have her day. So what do you expect? She will throw the kitchen sink and all else at us. She will make us pay for all that she has gone through, and she will not give up.
Are we ready to face her music? Can we change the tune or will we simply dance to hers? Have you noticed how she has already changed the narrative of this race on us? Hope and inspiration are great, but by now the inspired ones are already inspired, and the hopefuls are hoping. That was so January, what is our game-plan for April? Time has come to bring aboard those still on the fence. Simple defense won’t cut it. Going negative and personal won’t do it. But there must be a way to change the game one more time. Going after her record? Why not? It is time to spend all the money we have raised already!
Having gone through Tuesday, many are arguing that Obama should fight Senator Clinton’s “experience argument” by showing that she in fact does not have the experience she is claiming she does.
There are two major flaws with this strategy:
1. Each time Hillary brings up the “Experience” topic, she is subliminally evoking the “Bill” experience in the minds of the audience, essentially saying vote for me, and you’ll get him too. This makes her a “Ghost Target”. No matter how hard you punch at that argument, you won’t hit anything. Bill’s experience is there for all too see (what she is subliminally relying on), but you are instead punching her experience. You are just losing energy hitting air.
2. Even if somehow magically voters realized Hillary’s little psychological play, and stopped giving her credit for Bill’s “Experience”, this strategy will fail with John McCain. He does have experience, and you won’t win on that front the same way.
Do we have a problem? Do we lack ambition? Sure, back in 2007, many thought the name One Million Strong was a bit grand -- maybe even arrogant. But today, it lacks a certain look toward the future.
When do you know you are fully immersed in a campaign? When you dream about arguments and counter-arguments, and actually come up with something you think is valid.
Senator Clinton’s campaign is using Obama’s asset (exceptional ability to galvanize Americans through his moving speeches) and trying to turn that into a liability. In response Senator Obama is peppering his speeches with policy details, and telling people that speeches alone do not solve problems. While this is a valid quick response, but it uses the same frame of mind that Senator Clinton has already established (work not words) and plays defense on that field (yes, we can work too!).
I think a more effective approach would be to reframe the argument in favor of Senator Obama and recast his power of oratory as an asset. Senator Obama’s speeches are powerful, they are full of policy details, and even when you read them you can hear his passion coming through. Yes he is passionate, and he is articulate, and he has plans for saving our country; trying to separate the three is like trying to take the cream out of Ice-cream.
It is Senator Clinton’s inability in motivating the youth and overcoming voter apathy in her long career that we should be afraid of, and point out to as a sign on her inability to be a commander in chief.
The best CEOs are the best salespeople for their company. They sell the vision and the message of the company most effectively using the power of words. If she cannot do that, why should she run for the job?
On the other hand, Senator Obama’s power to motivate the youth and quash voter apathy is what can help us turn policy papers into reality.
We do not need to be bashful about it. We like the cream in our ice-cream.
Updated: Business Week has an outstanding article on Obama's economic policies which he plans to outline today in WI. Great source for info on the financial experts on his team
One of the points I make often in my phone calls is to remind potential supporters that an Obama-McCain race could kickstart campaign finance reform as both have agreed to accept federal financing ($85 million) and not raise any private funding.
If you're already a MoveOn.org member, check your email, there's a link to a ballot to vote to endorse a Democratic candidate. If Obama or Clinton get 2/3 of the vote, MoveOn will throw it's weight behind that one candidate going into Super Tuesday. The deadline to vote in 11:00 AM Eastern time Friday. You have to have been a member before noon yesterday in order to vote. So all MoveOn members get out there and Barack the Vote.
Editor's Note (psericks): Throughout 2007, MoveOn conducted weekly samples of its membership, contacting 30,000 members randomly to ask their preference. Here's a graph from early January they produced of member preference over time:
Watching CNN International's coverage of the South Carolina primary (my home state) from Brussels, Belgium last Saturday, I was fascinated with the infectious excitement and envying the people that were there to see it and participate.
Upon learning of Obama's overwhelming victory, CNN analyst and well-known Republican conservation pundit and politician Bill Bennett commented with a big grin on his face,
"This is really bad for our party, as Obama is a much more formidable candidate than Clinton."
"Well then why are you so happy?" asked the CNN correspondent.
Still smiling broadly, he answered, "Because this is an unprecedented moment in history. Obama has succeeded in doing what no man before him has been able to do. He is uniting our country......across all lines of race, gender, age, economics, and party........"
We all know that having race mar the coverage of a potential Obama win in South Carolina can't help us. At best it will tell people that "oh, I guess it wasn't that big of a win" and at worst, it will turn off white voters in other states, including important Feb. 5th states, because Obama may be perceived as the "black candidate". (And I know it's already happening, because I've heard from friends about their families.)
So how does the media create a "black voters voted for Obama" narrative? Solely on exit polling data.
Bottom line? We need black voters in South Carolina to systematically lie to exit pollsters and say they voted for Edwards or Kucinich or even Clinton though they actually voted for Obama. That way we'll decrease the perceived racial advantage that Obama will have in the exit polls, and thereby kill the inevitable "black voters help Obama win in SC" headlines.
This is our best chance to make a South Carolina count in terms of momentum.
The blog diary wars are getting bad at the usual places. What can we do? I don't have any silver bullets, but here's a strategy that I think could be quite effective:
Writing diaries about Obama on topics that nobody can even touch him.
You'll recall that a few months ago, when Obama proposed his technology plan, the entire blogosphere put down its arms for a few days and warmly embraced Obama. Then everyone went back to fighting.
So the question is, how do we combat the notion that "nobody really knows what Obama stands for", but do it in a way that isn't burdensome upon voters?
The answer: 1 page flyers.
The problem is that the campaign has not provided us with any such flyers. Most policy documents are really long, and while they're complete, they're hard to hand out. Also, the "Blueprint for Change" document has a great amount of detail. But people don't want to read something that huge on first glance. And heading into the remaining states, we're going to be dealing less and less with "high information voters".
There was a diary on Daily Kos this morning that did not get the recognition I think that it deserved. It was written by a 19 year old....a 19 year old who also happens to be New Hampshire's youngest State Representative.
Not only did it not get the views I feel it should have (due to the time it went up)...it also has one of the most troll worthy comments I have ever seen attached. Unfortunately, while it did get 8 TRs....6 Clinton supporters uprated it so it is still visible. It is an unworthy mar on an otherwise excellent and uplifting diary.
I don't know what ya'll were doing when you were 19...but, I know that I was not anywhere near as mature or socially aware as repssdp appears to be.
