The media keeps trying to paint McCain as being a copyright violator by the songs his campaign has played, but McCain is not directly behind the choice in the songs and in every case so far the campaign bought the rights to use the songs and were nice enough to not use them upon finding out the thoughts of the artists behind them. Obama continues to use the service of Shepard Fairey even though artists have demanded him to stop and to be clear on his position with the Orphan Works bill. Obama has been silent. He won’t answer!

How is it out of touch to stand against Obama and Shepard Fairey when dozens of art organizations have spoken out against artists like Shepard Fairey and the potential of the Orphan Works bill being passed. Seems to me that the Obama campaign is out of touch with the needs of the creative community and that certain people in the creative community are going along with it just because they can’t put their politics aside in order to honestly support the rights of artists.

You want truth?
http://lgwilliams.com/obama/obama_poster_challenge2.html

I thought all the college educated (“elitist”) folks were for Obama–? McCain has the UN-educated, uninformed vote in his corner, buddy. Let’s be clear.

What a wonderful graphic to greet me upon my visit to “chilkootmarketing”. God staying Issac’s hand? Do you not realize that we are done with this creepy religious right/government hybrid. And what the hell does Issac have to do with that rambling, unsourced, illogical statement? Is Obama “Issac”? Is McCain Issac? Are you God?

Folks have wised-up thanks to Iraq. This isn’t the sixties anymore, ya’ll. Opposing a war does NOT in any way mean not supporting the troops or a strong military. If we were actually fighting a war to defend our freedoms, the article would have a point, but WE ARE NOT DEFENDING THE UNITED STATES IN IRAQ. By the way: “Democrat for McCain” my ass, Jim. I’m an independent and I can smell a right wing neocon from a mile. I’ve been defending my centrist views for too long, and unless you are a racist, you are definitely NOT a Democrat.

I would love to hear some examples (based in fact, not conjecture and outright falsehoods) of Obama’s “impetuous” takes on “very important issues”. And what exactly are you talking about when you say “physical attributes”? McCains age? Obama’s race? His large ears? What specifically should bother Obama’s conscience? Lot’s of inflammatory charges, absolutely no facts: It’s the neocon way.

Ah, the ignorance and superficiality of youth, eh Jim? Crazy kids don’t know what’s good for ‘em, do they? You’re going to have to do better than “Obama is a rascal, McCain is old and wise! He was a POW, therefore he is the best choice for president…Come to us, ye disgruntled Hillary supporters”. All they need is a wrinkled, jaded hand to guide them, right? Give me a break. Seniors are seniors, but they’re not mentally handicapped, and women know McCain is against everything from family planning programs to accessible mammograms…not to mention the whole voting against the equal pay measures:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=213&sid=1392352

The fact that this is the first post since FEBRUARY, and it is out of the blue, leads me to believe that this is the blogging equivalent of spam email from right wing morons. I say “keep it up”: the more you folks flail, the more ridiculous and desperate you look.

I thank McCain for his service to his country. I’m sorry he endured years in a POW camp. Many of our soldiers did/do. Many did not (and DO not) come back at all. But a good soldier, and a good American knows NOT TO WASTE LIVES ON UNJUST WARS. The blood of our soldiers in Iraq, and the blood of the thousands of innocent Iraqi men women and children (not combatants–civilians like you and me and our children) are on the hands of ALL those who supported Bush in his lies that got us into the war.

In every way: foreign policy, healthcare, the economy, homeland security, ethics…McCain falls short. The more he panders to Hillary’s supporters, the more desperate and Janus-like he becomes.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0608/McCain_mingles_with_Clinton_supporters.html#comments

Troll on, big guy! But since you’re obviously a God-fearing man, I will remind you of Exodus 20:16…the ten commandments. #9: “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”

And Exodus 23:1 “You shall not bear a false report; do not join your hand with a wicked man to be a malicious witness.”

But like most neocons, I’m sure you’re fond of pointing out the “Godlessness” in others, but fail to follow the rules yourself. Didn’t Jesus say something about taking the plank out of your OWN eye…? But what do I know, impetuous 38 year old that I am?

I also believe that websites like the one listed below could ultimately determine why more and more Democrats will defect to John McCain’s camp.

Unfortunately, there is little about Obama that a website like the one below says that can be refuted…that is, unless you’ve flunked Philosphy 101 in college,or never got to college in the first place.

Check it out: http://www.chilkootmarketing.com/index.htm

What can be done?

Sooner or later all of us will have to reckon with our conscience and higher intellectual powers and when this occures we will invariably be forced to choose between either ‘principle’ or the physical attributes of the other candidate.

Which candidate is traveling down the wrong road on critical issues?

Which do you think will win out, come November? ‘

‘Higher principles’ or the ‘physical’ attributes of a particular candidate?

Predictably, older voters will vote in favor of ‘principle’… obviously, because they are more concerned about what happens after death and the legacy they will leave behind.

In contrast, the younger voters, since they have more time left in life to recant, are more likely to be reckless and procrastinate with any decision in favor of principle, and will likely vote in favor of ‘idealism’…

…and these are the young and youthful voters that Obama appeals to and also why a lot of us older folks see Obama as ‘the Pied Piper of the niave’.

However, (which is the next question that begs itself): ‘When does Barack’s own conscience begin to bother him?’

Personally, I think Obama needs to start thinking about what he can do to ‘remake’ his image if he wants to win this election.

I’m not sure that he’ll want to be that person he’s beginning to look like against John McCain…who today represents everything that America stands for.

BUT, if Obama thinks he can win going the way he’s headed, then let him go for it.

But, as for me and many like me who sit on the fence until election time in November, we’ll still be thinking about having to live with ourselves long after this election is over in November and maybe these are the thoughts that the new young voters haven’t entertained yet…

…and, there’s still a lot that can happen between now and November…

…and, this probably means that Obama faces a huge political swamp ahead…one that he has created for himself by being too impetuous on some very important issues…

…which has already gotten him into trouble with some of the very wise old parents of the younger generation.

- Jim Carder

I am not as strong. I get pissed-off.

Of COURSE the photo is not a bad thing in and of itself, as a previous post points out. But the ideas behind the photo being circulated are so nefarious on so many levels (which Mrs. Clinton denies involvement in, to be fair to her personally, but it is HER campaign). It is an attempt to appeal to the basest of human emotion in her voters–fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of association with terrorism, fear of African Americans and a reminder of how different they are from us “whites”. It was an attempt to tap into the ugliest part of the human soul, and to gain access to the voters in Ohio & Texas who still have misgivings about African Americans. (By the by: I am from the midwest, and grew-up in Southern Illinois, and believe me, this is a very real and very prevalent attitude among even Democrats. It is the “good black, bad black” syndrome. You’ll hear statements like “Not ALL blacks are bad”. Point being, racism is better than it has been, but it has a long way to go).

In a response from one of her supporters in Ohio, an African American woman, she kept referring to the outfit as “his native clothing”. Yes, of course she ‘misspoke’, obviously he was not born in Somalia or Kenya or any other African nation, but she keeps going back to it, reinforcing the notion that Somalia (Africa) is his “native land”:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/180147.php

Innocent or not, this is where it truly get shady: In true Machiavellian fashion, the Clinton camp let this story run ALL DAY, before deflecting, and then spinning with:

“If Barack Obama’s campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed.”

Now, if nothing is afoot, wouldn’t you simply say something to the effect of: “We had absolutely nothing to do with it. We see the intent behind the move and find it abhorrent”? No, they suggest that the Obama campaign is divisive by saying the photo is divisive!! What kind of schoolyard crap is this?

Politically speaking, who suggested it was a good idea to take he campaign to this new low, even after it’s been proven that when she takes the high-road she wins?

I know I’m going on and on, but it’s worth pointing out to those who feel that the use of someone’s skin color is a tactic reserved for the far right.

And while we’re on race, and heritage, and playing-up ethnic differences, let’s look at the Louis Farrakhan question in the debate last night. The question, at it’s root, is: “are you one of THESE Blacks, or are you a good Black”. For those who think I’m just suffering from “white man’s guilt”, let’s put it this way: I’ll wager Mr. McCain doesn’t get asked any questions about Trent Lott supporting him. Would this be a question posed to Clinton if Farrakhan had announced he was backing her? I don’t think the question was nefarious, but I do think it’s worth noting from a social standpoint. And I do think it’s worth noting that Clinton leaned on the issue in the debate, trying desperately to keep it going. But Mr. Obama burned her once again by not playing along, and at the same time pointing to her weak argument on the use of semantics. Mrs. Clinton needs to brush-up her language skills, or at least buy a Thesaurus. He’s smarter, he’s wiser, and he simply will not take the bait and I love him for it!

End result: How does Mr. Obama deal with it all? With grace and dignity–proving once again that he is the man for the job. In an odd way, I’m glad he’s getting a taste of this on the national level. God knows he’s seen it all already, but now he’s going to see it on the news every other night.

Clinton needs to understand that passive-aggressiveness is NOT a quality that can bring this country together–people who believe real strength lies in the attack show a fundamental misunderstanding of power. I might also add that wisdom is not always a gift gained from experience.

I also want to reiterate that I, as of the end of Nov. ’07, was solidly behind Clinton. It all started to go away with the “I want to be president” attacks before Iowa.

Thanks for letting me rant.

It shows among other things a GREAT TOLERANCE for others, something
no other candidate has shown. It’s my guess that this would stir questions in
the Mid-Eastern world as to what your views are and your stand is or will be,
and make it easier to approach PEACE RESOLUTIONS in a way not
possible before. Embrace your heritage with much INTELLECT, and not
your heart as it is your right to know who you are. What I’ve witnessed in
the past is representatives even Presidents go abroad to these countries and be
hood-winked by the play of words that were exchanged at the time. It seemed
so easy in those times for Mid-Eastern diplomats to say one thing and mean
something else and our representatives would fall for the agreement and then
find that the agreement was intended to be broken. History may have been
paying back for all the broken promises and treaties proposed to the Native
Americans. I think that no one else can relate as well to the turth of
Mid-eastern thoughts and Philosophy, and still hold the integrity of office as
an American as YOU. It could stop the war and cause a laying down of
weapons, unless I am being naive.
All I see at most is a gesture of peace by this photograph, and at the least a
person trying to make himself whole, and balanced …this is what AMERICA
NEEDS…RIGHT??? It does not serve that AMERICAN interest will be
undermined, or done away with. No other candidate or woman at this time in
the race for the OFFICE, the OFFICE of PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED
STATES, can bridge the gap and bring change not only to this country for
good , but to the world also. I hope you will read this in time and feel
encouraged to point out the many other reasons that this photo is not a bad
thing rather than point fingers at those supposedly responsible and thereby
actions as such make it a derogatory thing. I am compelled by truth to write
this and I think truth is good for the soul and mind , and this country could
use a little more as well …GOD BLESS YOU IN YOUR ENDEAVORS.

How can we help Senator Obama win the nomination?
WE MUST TAKE ACTION!!!

In the last week or so, Hillary’s supporters have caught fire. They are working aggressively to get Hillary a win—very hard.

Hillary’s supporters know that this is their last chance. You can bet that they will give the next primaries all they’ve got. The short of this is, if we slack-off one bit, one single iota, they’ll pounce.

The truth is that Barack has not won this thing YET. But the good new is that if we all chip in–TAKE ACTION– we can win this.

So, here are some actions that we can take:

1. Superdelegate: This is one of the easiest ways to provide the most support to the campaign. The campaign is collecting stories from supporters like you and I. Your stories will be combined with others to help persuade undecided superdelegates. Ultimately, this election may turn on who has more superdelegates. Hillary is working hard to lock-in as many superdelegates as possible. In fact, she currently leads in number of superdelegates. Take a moment to chip in.

To help, Go to http://my.barackobama.com/superdelegates

2. Donate: We need to keep fighting Hillary on TV, Radio and everywhere we have to if we intend to win. This requires $$. I read somewhere that the $5M Hillary donated to her campaign is more then the Obama family’s entire net worth. Ladies and gentlemen, we have to pitch in.

To chip in, Go to https://donate.barackobama.com/page/contribute/abamt25rn?source=mainnav

Or go to the main page and click the red donate button http://www.barackobama.com/index.php

2. Make some calls: We are targeting 110,000 calls before polls close on Feb 19 (see http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/Cs2k%29). We won the Potomac Primaries because of calls people like you and I made. We have to get back to making calls. For the Potomac primaries, we made 100,000 calls. Let’s do it again. Let’s make 110,000 and win another one for our team. Please, stop by and make some calls. We won’t win if we (you and I) don’t do our part.

go to http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/phonebankmap

3. Call people you know: Many of us have friends in states that have yet to vote. Call them. This may be an opportunity to catch-up with an old friend. Take the opportunity to call them and talk to them about Barack Obama. Tell them why YOU are voting for Barack Obama and ask them not only to vote for Barack Obama but also to get involved locally with the campaign. If you know people in or near states that will be voting in the next few weeks who are already Obama supporters, consider calling them and asking them to get involved in our grassroots effort.

See http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/friend

4. Volunteer: Remember, this is a grassroots campaign. That means we have to step-up during the next few weeks. Those of us who have already stepped-up will have to do it again. We are almost there, but not quite. We have to make sure we make it to the end victorious. Please consider volunteering.
Go here http://action.barackobama.com/page/s/volunteer

5. Personal Fundraising: Consider personal fundraising for Obama. If you have (or create) an account at BarackObama.com, you can start your our personal fundraising drive. You can then solicit others to contribute to the drive for the Obama campaign. This is a great opportunity. Please take advantage of it. This is a great way to help ensure we prevail in the coming primaries.

Go to http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/actioncenter/personalfundraising/

Again, remember. Hillary’s supporters are working 26 (yes, 26) hours—attempting to ensure she win the coming primaries. We have to match their efforts. And to do so, we must redouble our efforts. Every little bit helps.

Please, chip in.

It is all about perception and “mindset” .

Where I’m from (Ireland) we have had our share of violence in our history. When Margaret Thatcher had an aggressive policy with no discussion violence escalated in Northern Ireland. There was wrongful imprisonment, internment without proper trails. Also many ordinary Irish people were treated with suspicion- even our Southern government. It didn’t help that some fanatical Irish Americans were sending guns over with no real understanding of the situation.

It wasn’t until a change in regime with an open and willing diplomatic intent did solutions start to happen.

We will have to see what whoever comes in after the B**h regime will have the courage to have a different attitude. For me, Obama has the best chance, I also think with such a fresh clean slate there has to a chance.

and Jonathan……Obama’s site is the best, too…though i don’t understand the techie stuff

Obama could not win a single Electoral College megastate vital for
any Democratic candidate, with the sole exception of
his own home base of Illinois.

OBAMA TROUNCED IN THE MEGA-STATES

He proudly lists Alaska, Idaho, Kansas, North
Dakota, and Utah. What do these states have in common?
They are states which a Democrat could never win in a
general election.

Delaware is a perfect state for Obama ­ ri h
Volvo-driving, chablis and brie elitists in the
Philadelphia suburbs, but it does not look like
America. Colorado is another Obama state where the
well-off suburban voter can be decisive in a
Democratic primary. True, Obama won Connecticut, which
has some union voters, but it looks like Greenwich,
Cos Cob, and Yale carried the day. Missouri might fall
to Clinton on a recount; in any case, the race was
very close. Minnesota is a special case because of the
Democrat Farmer-Labor Party; this was in any case a
state that went for Mondale, for various reasons ­ not
a good bellwether.

Love your liberty? Why add amendment to the constitution?
Love your liberty? Why support warrantless wiretapping?
And a smoking ban.

Shalom,

— Prof. Leland Milton Goldblatt, Ph.D. ®

http://drgoldblatt.blogspot.com/

http://ajaxian.com/archives/super-tuesday-ajax-endorsements

I just made a new website that some of you might like:

http://yeswecanhas.com/
enjoy

Our govt. and our news media have both been VERY irresponsible in using generalizing language in the wake of 9-11. Generalizing and stereotyping is an easy and effective way of making your enemy appear larger, therefore justifying a larger response/attack. You can fight a focused campaign against “Al-Qaeda”, or you can mount a huge war without limitations against “Muslim Extremists” and all those who support them.

I’m with you–things HAVE to change.