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Posts Tagged ‘2008 Election’

Who Would Jesus Vote For? Barack Obama!

This is a hard post for me to write because from the very beginning I was a strong Clinton supporter. I proudly defended her to all my friends, readers, and family. I made the arguments that her experience, positions, and long history of fighting for health care, working class families, and womens rights make her an excellent Democratic nominee. As recently as last month I felt compelled to write about how she should not drop out despite the media’s incessant calls for it.

Today I am not backing off of those positions, nor am I ever going to suggest that any candidate should bow to pressure to drop out of the race. Hillary has earned the right to campaign and pursue the presidency all the way to the convention if that is her choice. If the blogs or media or whoever has a problem with that so what.

However I have been gradually convinced that despite Hillary’s many many positives Obama is the better candidate to receive the parties nomination. This decision isn’t based upon policies or experience as I still feel that Clinton wins in those categories. Instead its based upon something much simpler but vastly more important. Character.

I’m not necessarily talking about personal character as I still strongly feel that both candidates have impeccably strong characters. Instead I am referring to the character of their campaigns and how they affect the progressive movement. I have always felt that no movement can ever be about one single battle and the decision has to be not who can be elected but who can help build the progressive movement. Obama’s campaign is the clear winner by that criteria.

It also does not help that in order to sell the myth of “electability” Clinton consistently works to ostracize parts of the Democratic party. 4 or 8 years in the White House will not be enough time to fix the damage caused by George Bush. So to achieve the long term comprehensive success the progressive movement needs to fix this nation we need to bring liberals, progressives, and moderates together. Sorry Hillary but statements like this are exactly what we don’t need.

“I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on,” she said in an interview with USA TODAY. As evidence, Clinton cited an Associated Press article “that found how Sen. Obama’s support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me”

(h/t Bloggernista)

So today, for these reasons and many others, I am formally announcing my support for Barack Obama. At this point we will be moving on and focusing on the general election against serial flip-flopper John McCain. I wish Hillary Clinton the best of luck and will always support her as she will no doubt continue fighting for the progressive ideals she has devoted her life to.

William ~ WWJV4.com

McCain vs McCain: Border Security

Well, the Sun came up this morning so as we have grown accustomed to in these situations John McCain is back on the attack against his rival John McCain. The fierce fight between the maverick John McCain of the sometimes not so distant past and conservative lapdog and Bush’s boy toy of 2008 has been a virtual bloodbath to this point.

The current battle over immigration and border security started back in 2006 and as always John McCain found himself on the opposite side of the issue as that of John McCain. John McCain, in accordance with his unabated man love for George W. Bush, had adopted Bush’s position that comprehensive immigration reform was needed.

“Our nation’s immigration system is broken. And without comprehensive immigration reform, our nation’s security will remain vulnerable. That is why we must act.”

John McCain in 2006

His rival John McCain however ran on a harder anti-immigrant position last year. While many people will argue that John McCain was simply pandering to the racists and bigots that make up a large part of the Republican base this is just a wild guess.

[I] have pledged that it would be among my highest priorities to secure our borders first, and only after we achieved widespread consensus that our borders are secure, would we address other aspects of the problem in a way that defends the rule of law and does not encourage another wave of illegal immigration.

John McCain in 2007 refuting the words of John McCain in 2006

Recently John McCain has responded to his rival, John McCains, attack on his lenient immigration and border security policy by saying …

“We get in this kind of a circular firing squad on immigration reform in the Congress of the United States, and the lesson I learned from it is we’ve got to have comprehensive immigration reform.”

John McCain in 2008 Defends himself against John McCain’s Smear Tactics

This furious debate back and forth over the past 2 years between john McCain and John McCain is growing even more heated and the media has finally caught on. Watch this short video about the brutal back and forth between the two men. It’s hard to tell John McCain from John McCain but if you listen to the context I think you can distinguish between them.

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Clearly the reporter is also confused about which John McCain was which and she even seems to make the common mistake that they are both the same person. I fully understand this and will admit to making the same mistake when I was younger. What finally clued me in was the realization that the paradox created by so many opposing views within one person would be fatal.

It would be simpler for the Democrats to win in November if they were only facing one opponent. However by their deception the Republicans have found a way to field two candidates, both named John McCain, who together represent both sides of nearly every position. If John McCain ever stops fighting against John McCain the results could be devastating for the Democrats.

(h/t to The Carpetbagger Report and Think Progress)

William ~ WWJV4.com

Google Election Results Map

Categorized: Politics

The Google Election Map below is just super cool and fun to play with. Even better you just might learn something while your at it.

Obama Hits Back on Gas Tax Holiday

McCain and Clinton both proposed different versions of a gas tax holiday over the summer. As a lower middle class American I understand the pressure that high fuel prices put on families. Recently we payed 40$ for half a tank of gas because we needed to make it to payday. So I sympathize with those who are willing to support anything that promises relief.

While I wish our problems would be helped by something as simple as a tax holiday, the reality is this will only make the problem worse. So I applaud Senator Obama for having the personal courage to stand by the right decision in the face of public pressure. Like any great leader Obama understands that what is easy and comforting is not always best.

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Thanks to MyDD for pointing me to this great video.

Since I am not an economist, and the few classes I have taken on economics made me never want to be, I am providing a small selection of articles about the gas tax. If you doubt what Obama is saying about the gas tax then please read these.

William ~ WWJV4.com

Slattery Campaign Email

I just wanted to pass on a campaign email I received for Jim Slattery (D-KS). As I wrote about the other Day JIm Slattery has officially launched his Senate bid for Pat Roberts seat. At WWJV4 we will be supporting Slattery as much as possible so look for more campaign announcements and news.

Dear Friend,

Yesterday I announced my candidacy for the United States Senate. It was an honor to have our governor, Kathleen Sebelius, introduce me and come out strong in support of my campaign. To view the video of my announcement click on this link: Slattery Announcement.

Unfortunately, Pat Roberts chose to open his campaign by airing a negative radio ad in which he made cheap personal attacks. This is a clear sign he is worried about the competitive campaign I intend to run. Pat Roberts has no desire to take responsibility for the breathtaking incompetence and indifference of our political leadership in Washington, D.C.

I am determined to focus on the issues that truly affect Kansans. Our country’s economy is unstable, gas prices are soaring, and we are engaged in a needless war in Iraq.

I need your help now and through November to bring Kansas common-sense back to the United States Senate. There are three ways you can help:

1. Join my E-mail List. You can do so by visiting my website www.slatteryforsenate.com

2. Make a monetary donation. The reality of modern politics is that my campaign will need money to respond to Pat Roberts’ negative ads. Any amount you can give is valuable and appreciated. Donate online now by clicking here: Contribute!

3. Forward this e-mail to five friends. Invite them to view my announcement and join our campaign.

Rarely is the contrast on the key issues as clear as it is between Pat Roberts and myself. I look forward to seeing you in person and hearing your ideas as I campaign across the state in the coming months!

Thanks for your friendship,

Signature
Jim Slattery

I have to say that while I am excited about the Slattery campaign I am a little concerned about this email. There were several errors, broken links, and usability problems and overall it feels rushed. I’m sure that this is just part of the growing pains of a new campaign so they get a pass with this one.

I strongly recommend getting as involved with this campaign as possible because Jim Slattery is the type of politiican that can bring the needed changes to both Kansas and Washington. If you live outside Kansas then get involved in your local politics. Democrats cannot afford to sit back and wait for someone else to make the needed changes anymore.

Thanks,
William ~ WWJV4.com