AlterNet Blogs

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Michelle Obama Rallies Women for Barack
Posted by Adele M. Stan, The Media Consortium on August 28, 2008 at 5:00 PM.

DENVER--Today's meeting of the Democratic Women's Caucus featured a surprise guest: Michelle Obama.

The potential first lady is making a concerted effort, it seems, to reach out to the different women's constituency groups in the Democratic party, including those closely allied with Hillary Clinton. (Earlier this week, Michelle Obama spoke to a gathering sponsored by Emily's List, the organization that bundles donations to fund pro-choice candidates.)

In today's remarks, Ms. Obama offered Hillary Clinton some major props, saying, "Thanks to her, my husband is a better candidate." The ballroom full of women echoed with cheers and applause. "Thanks to her," Michelle Obama continued, "his campaign is a better campaign. And thanks to her, my daughters -- and all of our daughters -- have the freedom to dream bigger dreams..."

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Michelle Obama Rallies Women for Barack
Posted by Adele M. Stan, The Media Consortium on August 28, 2008 at 5:00 PM.

DENVER--Today's meeting of the Democratic Women's Caucus featured a surprise guest: Michelle Obama.

The potential first lady is making a concerted effort, it seems, to reach out to the different women's constituency groups in the Democratic party, including those closely allied with Hillary Clinton. (Earlier this week, Michelle Obama spoke to a gathering sponsored by Emily's List, the organization that bundles donations to fund pro-choice candidates.)

In today's remarks, Ms. Obama offered Hillary Clinton some major props, saying, "Thanks to her, my husband is a better candidate." The ballroom full of women echoed with cheers and applause. "Thanks to her," Michelle Obama continued, "his campaign is a better campaign. And thanks to her, my daughters -- and all of our daughters -- have the freedom to dream bigger dreams..."

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Michelle Obama Rallies Women for Barack
Posted by Adele M. Stan, The Media Consortium on August 28, 2008 at 5:00 PM.

DENVER--Today's meeting of the Democratic Women's Caucus featured a surprise guest: Michelle Obama.

The potential first lady is making a concerted effort, it seems, to reach out to the different women's constituency groups in the Democratic party, including those closely allied with Hillary Clinton. (Earlier this week, Michelle Obama spoke to a gathering sponsored by Emily's List, the organization that bundles donations to fund pro-choice candidates.)

In today's remarks, Ms. Obama offered Hillary Clinton some major props, saying, "Thanks to her, my husband is a better candidate." The ballroom full of women echoed with cheers and applause. "Thanks to her," Michelle Obama continued, "his campaign is a better campaign. And thanks to her, my daughters -- and all of our daughters -- have the freedom to dream bigger dreams..."

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Poll-Watch: Big Convention Bounce for Obama?
Posted by Joshua Holland, AlterNet on August 28, 2008 at 4:21 PM.

As Steve M. over at No More Mister Nice Blog points out, there's been quit a bit of hand-wringing about the degree to which the Democratic Convention is moving Obama's campaign forward. But according to Gallup's daily tracking poll, the head-to-head numbers have swung 8 points in Obama's favor in the past 3 days, and the senator now leads by 6 points nationwide.

(click for larger version)

Of course, we'll have to wait until we get some data collected after Obama's speech tonight to see what the real effect is. And we'll have to see who McCain picks as VP -- probably later this evening -- before we know how the dust will settle.

Rasmussen's tracking poll over the same period shows a more modest one-point bump, giving Obama an insignificant lead over McCain (they're tied when "leaners" are included).

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Poll-Watch: Big Convention Bounce for Obama?
Posted by Joshua Holland, AlterNet on August 28, 2008 at 4:21 PM.

As Steve M. over at No More Mister Nice Blog points out, there's been quit a bit of hand-wringing about the degree to which the Democratic Convention is moving Obama's campaign forward. But according to Gallup's daily tracking poll, the head-to-head numbers have swung 8 points in Obama's favor in the past 3 days, and the senator now leads by 6 points nationwide.

(click for larger version)

Of course, we'll have to wait until we get some data collected after Obama's speech tonight to see what the real effect is. And we'll have to see who McCain picks as VP -- probably later this evening -- before we know how the dust will settle.

Rasmussen's tracking poll over the same period shows a more modest one-point bump, giving Obama an insignificant lead over McCain (they're tied when "leaners" are included).

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Protesting in the Name of Democracy in the Mile High City
Posted by Linda Milazzo, CODEPINK Women for Peace: Action Blog on August 28, 2008 at 4:01 PM.

At the very core of patriotism is the desire to preserve and enhance democracy. For true patriots - those who take their love of nation beyond the confines of their cushy sofas and wide screen TVs - there are no limits to their efforts to hold leaders accountable to uphold the Constitution and safeguard its inherent freedoms. Thus, for the past three days that I've been in Denver - in the hotbed of this mecca of "this is what democracy looks like," I've witnessed the GOOD and the NOT so good.

The GOOD are the thousands of Americans who have traveled from every part of this country to engage in actions to spread their personal messages of democracy: peace above conflict, government's responsibility to provide for its citizens, and an immediate stop to the constant rape of our resources and our once fine name by those who base success on the depth of their fortunes rather than the depth of their humanity.

This week, in addition to the official Democratic delegates attending the Convention INSIDE the Pepsi Center, where thankfully many progressive delegates - most members of Progressive Democrats of America - are pushing social values to end the corporatism that has left millions unemployed and homeless, and millions more verging on joining them - there are thousands of activists of ALL AGES and all socio-economic backgrounds who have joined the fray. These activist patriots are working OUTSIDE the Pepsi Center to push socio-political agendas more in line with what MOST Americans want and NEED today - universal single-payer healthcare, high standard public education, affordable housing, food safety, safeguarding the environmental, ending the military and prison industrial complexes, AND MORE!

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Protesting in the Name of Democracy in the Mile High City
Posted by Linda Milazzo, CODEPINK Women for Peace: Action Blog on August 28, 2008 at 4:01 PM.

At the very core of patriotism is the desire to preserve and enhance democracy. For true patriots - those who take their love of nation beyond the confines of their cushy sofas and wide screen TVs - there are no limits to their efforts to hold leaders accountable to uphold the Constitution and safeguard its inherent freedoms. Thus, for the past three days that I've been in Denver - in the hotbed of this mecca of "this is what democracy looks like," I've witnessed the GOOD and the NOT so good.

The GOOD are the thousands of Americans who have traveled from every part of this country to engage in actions to spread their personal messages of democracy: peace above conflict, government's responsibility to provide for its citizens, and an immediate stop to the constant rape of our resources and our once fine name by those who base success on the depth of their fortunes rather than the depth of their humanity.

This week, in addition to the official Democratic delegates attending the Convention INSIDE the Pepsi Center, where thankfully many progressive delegates - most members of Progressive Democrats of America - are pushing social values to end the corporatism that has left millions unemployed and homeless, and millions more verging on joining them - there are thousands of activists of ALL AGES and all socio-economic backgrounds who have joined the fray. These activist patriots are working OUTSIDE the Pepsi Center to push socio-political agendas more in line with what MOST Americans want and NEED today - universal single-payer healthcare, high standard public education, affordable housing, food safety, safeguarding the environmental, ending the military and prison industrial complexes, AND MORE!

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Is the Love Affair Over? McCain Gets Combative With Reporters
Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly on August 28, 2008 at 2:54 PM.

John McCain became a media darling by offering extraordinary access to campaign reporters. The candidate and the journalists would spend hours hanging out on a bus, enjoying the gabfests, on and off the record, about any subject that came to mind. The media ate it up, and rewarded McCain with the kind of fawning, sycophantic coverage most politicians can only dream of.

Asked during the primaries if he'd maintain his signature style if he got the Republican nomination, McCain told reporters, "You think I could survive if I didn't? We'd never be forgiven." McCain even had a sofa installed on his plane, in order to make his chats with the media more relaxed.

That was, of course, before Karl Rove's team took over the McCain campaign operation. Howard Kurtz recently had a good item detailing the remarkably curtailed access the senator now offers reporters, and the ways in which McCain replaced "straight talk" with stale talking points. To see just how dramatic a transformation this has been, take a minute to read this fascinating interview between McCain and Time's James Carney and Michael Scherer:

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Is the Love Affair Over? McCain Gets Combative With Reporters
Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly on August 28, 2008 at 2:54 PM.

John McCain became a media darling by offering extraordinary access to campaign reporters. The candidate and the journalists would spend hours hanging out on a bus, enjoying the gabfests, on and off the record, about any subject that came to mind. The media ate it up, and rewarded McCain with the kind of fawning, sycophantic coverage most politicians can only dream of.

Asked during the primaries if he'd maintain his signature style if he got the Republican nomination, McCain told reporters, "You think I could survive if I didn't? We'd never be forgiven." McCain even had a sofa installed on his plane, in order to make his chats with the media more relaxed.

That was, of course, before Karl Rove's team took over the McCain campaign operation. Howard Kurtz recently had a good item detailing the remarkably curtailed access the senator now offers reporters, and the ways in which McCain replaced "straight talk" with stale talking points. To see just how dramatic a transformation this has been, take a minute to read this fascinating interview between McCain and Time's James Carney and Michael Scherer:

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Is the Love Affair Over? McCain Gets Combative With Reporters
Posted by Steve Benen, Washington Monthly on August 28, 2008 at 2:54 PM.

John McCain became a media darling by offering extraordinary access to campaign reporters. The candidate and the journalists would spend hours hanging out on a bus, enjoying the gabfests, on and off the record, about any subject that came to mind. The media ate it up, and rewarded McCain with the kind of fawning, sycophantic coverage most politicians can only dream of.

Asked during the primaries if he'd maintain his signature style if he got the Republican nomination, McCain told reporters, "You think I could survive if I didn't? We'd never be forgiven." McCain even had a sofa installed on his plane, in order to make his chats with the media more relaxed.

That was, of course, before Karl Rove's team took over the McCain campaign operation. Howard Kurtz recently had a good item detailing the remarkably curtailed access the senator now offers reporters, and the ways in which McCain replaced "straight talk" with stale talking points. To see just how dramatic a transformation this has been, take a minute to read this fascinating interview between McCain and Time's James Carney and Michael Scherer:

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

We Mourn the Loss of Del Martin: Hero, Activist, and GLBT Rights Pioneer
Posted by Anna, Feministe on August 28, 2008 at 1:54 PM.

This is some sad news.

Call me sappy (and putting aside my complicated feelings about marriage), but it makes me happy that she got to marry her long term partner before she passed.

Del Martin is best known for co-founding the Daughters of Bilitis, which was the first national lesbian organization in the United States, but was also involved in the National Organization for Women (where she helped combat homophobia within the organization), the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, and, later in her life, in Old Lesbians Organizing for Change.

She also co-authored several books, one of which, Lesbian/Woman, was read outloud to me by my best friend in her bedroom when I was 13 and was trying to figure out what being queer was all about.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

We Mourn the Loss of Del Martin: Hero, Activist, and GLBT Rights Pioneer
Posted by Anna, Feministe on August 28, 2008 at 1:54 PM.

This is some sad news.

Call me sappy (and putting aside my complicated feelings about marriage), but it makes me happy that she got to marry her long term partner before she passed.

Del Martin is best known for co-founding the Daughters of Bilitis, which was the first national lesbian organization in the United States, but was also involved in the National Organization for Women (where she helped combat homophobia within the organization), the Alice B. Toklas Democratic Club, and, later in her life, in Old Lesbians Organizing for Change.

She also co-authored several books, one of which, Lesbian/Woman, was read outloud to me by my best friend in her bedroom when I was 13 and was trying to figure out what being queer was all about.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Carl Pope on Pickens' Plan and the Progressive Response
Posted by Brave New Films, Brave New Films on August 28, 2008 at 1:13 PM.

OurFuture.org asked the Sierra Club's executive director, Carl Pope, about how progressives should respond to Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens' plan for energy independence and political obstruction on energy issues in Washington. Pope also explains harmful natural gas policies that need to be corrected by the next administration. Pope was interviewed after a forum at The Big Tent in Denver during the Democratic National Convention Agust 27, 2008.

(Flip Video courtesy of the Voter Genome Project.)

Courtesy of imishalove

Karl Rove is Running McCain's Campaign; Still Meets With Bush Often
Posted by Matt, Think Progress on August 28, 2008 at 12:51 PM.

Despite the fact that he talks "fairly regularly" with top advisers to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), former Bush political guru insists on denying that he is an informal adviser to McCain's campaign. But in a new article, Time magazine highlights how "dialed in" Rove is with McCain's campaign efforts:

In private, Rove speaks regularly with the McCain campaign, where his former protégé Steve Schmidt is now the manager. He's also dialed in at the Republican National Committee, run by Mike Duncan, another former aide. And he still lunches two or three times a month with President Bush.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »

Karl Rove is Running McCain's Campaign; Still Meets With Bush Often
Posted by Matt, Think Progress on August 28, 2008 at 12:51 PM.

Despite the fact that he talks "fairly regularly" with top advisers to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), former Bush political guru insists on denying that he is an informal adviser to McCain's campaign. But in a new article, Time magazine highlights how "dialed in" Rove is with McCain's campaign efforts:

In private, Rove speaks regularly with the McCain campaign, where his former protégé Steve Schmidt is now the manager. He's also dialed in at the Republican National Committee, run by Mike Duncan, another former aide. And he still lunches two or three times a month with President Bush.

Read the rest of the post on the flip side »