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Much chatter has been generated around the GOP lately. Yes, there is a Presidential race going on that will culminate – granting there is no tie in electoral votes – this coming Tuesday, November 4th. But no, this chatter is not really about the rise of the Republican party to power and the GOP entering the final leg of the Presidential race with a clear lead. The chatter revolves around Governor Sarah Palin of Alaska, a relatively new and inexperienced politician which the McCain camp has chosen as its Vice Presidential running mate.

Whether it’s been reading from notes when drilled about foreign policy during nationally televised debates or the discovery of a $150,000 wardrobe, Sarah Palin has become a diva in more ways than one. Her “outsider” relationship to Real America has been a focus of her qualifications. But her outlandish spending and obvious inexperience has been tearing the Republican party apart, from within.

“She is a person of great ambition, but the question remains: What is the purpose of the ambition? She wants to rise, but what for? It’s unclear whether she is Bushian or Reaganite. She doesn’t think aloud. She just…says things,” conservative columnist Peggy Noonan wrote in a recent Wall Street Journal column.

What are Palin’s real ambitions? Has she conceded this race and is she looking towards 2012? Even if this is the case, is the GOP looking at 2012 within Sarah Palin in mind?

Correspondents within the McCain camp have noticed a divide that Palin has created, saying:

“She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone,” a McCain adviser said. “She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else. Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom.”

We will find out in only a matter of days whether or not the people elect this “diva,” but it became clear once she indulged in the comedic wishes of Saturday Night Live that she no longer was taking this Presidential race seriously. Palin has shifted focus to 2012, trying to keep her image clean and likable for her run in as President in 2012.

Editor’s Note: I have posted videos from CNN political correspondents discussing Palin’s recent actions, both internal and external. The videos are embedded on my other site as they won’t embed properly on WordPress. [Linked]

With the end in sight, Barack Obama is not backing down. Quite to the contrary as Barack is leading the offensive attack to win the Presidency. Purchasing airtime from seven major national news networks this last Wednesday night, Obama aired a 30-minute infomercial on what he offers America, and how America of the past eight years has failed its citizens.

Work hard, study hard, and make something of yourself. That is exactly what Barack Obama is doing, and it is becoming ever more clear that America is recognizing his efforts, sympathizing with his ideals, and aligning themselves in overwhelming support.

This video was not an attack on his opponent, Senator John McCain, it was focused on the issues at hand. Obama made clear where he stands on issues of the economy, of political relations, of the environment. The impact of the new media on society has been ever increasing, and Barack Obama’s informercial was not overkill, it was not repetitive. Obama used his airtime to show the struggles of real Americans, and how the last eight years have failed them. His video included a diverse set of Americans, a great attribute to reach the masses. We are days away from changing America, and this video is a perfect Final Argument for the Presidency. Obama showed himself as an American that cared not about the glory of the White House seat, but cared about changing America, about fixing the economy, about restoring a quality of life that the hard working American citizens deserve.

“I think it is the true ideals and dreams of America to have an African-American president named Barack Obama to be the representation of the United States at a time like this…[Obama] is a man that has great policies, a man that is a great intellectual, who knows what he’s doing,” says Leonardo DiCaprio in an interview on The Huffington Post

Barack Obama is clearly the candidate of choice. He has a clear plan – a plan that will work. He offers America the change that it needs. Obama has used untraditional methods to reach out to Americans, and it appears to be working. Whether it is a televised infomercial or in-game advertising in the popular video game Burnout Paradise, Barack Obama is reaching to a new league of voters. Young voters turnout is expected to be the largest ever, and Obama’s approach is working.

When approached by the video game maker Electronic Arts (EA), the McCain campaign turned down the offer to advertise in the game to compete with Obama’s ads, a huge falter on the McCain camp. In any event, Barack Obama is showing no signs of slowing down, sticking to his hard work ethics and commitment to earning the highest position in this country, Commander in Chief. Obama wants to change this country for the better, he wants to restore order and success to American economic systems and wants to reward hard-working middle class Americans who have been unfairly hurt throughout the last eight years. Watch, if you haven’t, Obama’s informercial, embedded below. See what changes lie ahead if we elect Barack Obama, changes we need.

Photo Credit: xGray – Flickr

With only days remaining until American’s go to the polls in what are expected to be record breaking numbers, both candidates are stepping up their game. Barack Obama has certainly used his campaign funds effectively, making his cause known, and his resolutions within reach. Carrying a significant lead into the final week of campaigning, Barack Obama has seen recent success in key battleground states. Colorado and Nevada are now both expected to award their electoral votes to Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama. Florida is also leaning Obama. So what has Obama’s opponent been up to?

Senator John McCain has been losing ground and stumbling. The demise of his campaign likely leads back to his selection of Governor Sarah Palin as his Vice Presidential pick. But in a rally this morning in the key battleground state of Ohio, McCain faltered. During his speech, McCain relayed to his audience that they were joined by the now infamous Joe the Plumber. And he took a moment to seek Joe out in the crowd – only to find Joe was not in attendance. The McCain aids were unable to get word to McCain in time that Joe would not be attending, and as a result, McCain suffered an embarrassing slip up.

Perhaps McCain’s only “celebrity” act, Joe the Plumber represents an opposition to Barack Obama’s tax policies, and has given media attention to Senator John McCain. And he didn’t even show, what’s that tell you? Embarrassing, especially after all the time McCain has spent building up Joe the Plumber as a symbol of his appeal with middle class voters. You decide, but it seems like McCain’s hopes to be the President of the United States of America will be dashed once again.

Making prime-time news once again was Barack Obama last night on The Colbert Report, where Stephen Colbert himself made his endorsement public, and offered some suggestions to Obama’s running mate, Senator John McCain:

There are plenty of things out there that you can endorse, but not support. (Like the Constitution) No, I am voting for John McCain. He may be in an uphill struggle in these final days, but I believe he can still win! He just needs to do something to prove he has the judgement to lead and knows where this country wants to go. You know what – I’ve got it. Senator McCain, you need to endorse Barack Obama. And that, would make you a Maverick. And that’s the Word.

As Colbert pointed out, prominent Republicans have been flocking to Obama’s campaign. The American media (sans the ultra right wing FOX News) has predominately backed Barack Obama. We are seeing key battleground states align their allegiance to Obama. The State of Nevada has just switched to a probable Obama state on CNN’s Electoral Map from a likely McCain nomination.

As discussed by CNN’s John King, much of the recent success Barack Obama has seen in the tough battleground and toss up states is due to grassroots systems organizing support efforts. Nevada has seen a large influx of Latino support as a result of door to door campaigning by ordinary citizens concerned with the future of this country. In 2004, there were 9 million registered Latino voters. Fast forwarding to today, there are 12 million, the largest increase in registrations amongst the Latino demographic in recent history.

Citizens, irregardless of skin color, ethnicity, and religion have seen what the last eight years have done to this country, and have had enough. Gone are the days of a budget surplus under the Clinton administration, gone are the days of a stable economy. The percentages of new voters is astronomical this election, and will prove to be a crucial element to the outcome of this election.

I’ll leave you for now with a couple videos, and a quote from Yosemite Sam, who, like Stephen Colbert, endorsed Senator Barack Obama last night…

Consarnit! This lily-livered rackin’ frackin’ varmint would restore America’s image on the world stage. Kablam. Pow. – Yosemite Sam, October 28th, 2008

Editor’s Note: I have posted the videos on my other site as it won’t embed properly on WordPress. [Linked]

In the first embedded video, CNN’s John King explains recent changes to projected electoral votes in key battleground and toss up states.

And embedded below the first video is a video clip from last night’s episode of The Colbert Report, airtime which Colbert reached out to viewers to publicly endorse Barack Obama.

Photo Credit: Times Union Blog

With the economy in shambles, for the past seven years we have seen gasoline prices rise uncontrollably, and somewhat unexplainably at the pumps. It’s been no secret that oil prices are in large part based upon speculation and future forecasting. It’s also been no secret that when barrels of oil are sold at rising prices, those rises are exponentially reflected at the pumps almost immediately – though the gas you are pumping was sold and refined on average of a few weeks prior. It takes a minimum of two weeks, and sometimes up to two months, for a barrel of oil to reach the pumps once it is purchased on the international market. But why then do we as consumers see a rise at the pumps almost instantaneously? And why has there not been any oversight into this matter?

Oil conglomerates such as ExxonMobil, Shell, and virtually every other oil company in America today have seen record profits. As each previous quarter ends, and a new quarter begins, we continue to hear of record profit earnings during quarterly earnings conference calls. And this last quarter proved to be no exception.

ExxonMobil was pleased to report record third-quarter profits – over $14 billion in PROFIT! The largest American oil company flew past expectations and estimates with a posted net income of $14.83 billion on revenue totaling $137.7 billion in the third quarter. That breaks down to $1,865.69 in net income attained PER SECOND of operation in the third quarter.

During peak demand times, we saw the price of a barrel of oil reach astronomical prices upwards of $145/barrel. It was not until the past few weeks we began to see any sign of relief, as a barrel of oil was trading down in the range of $70-$80 per barrel, and currently sits at roughly $65 a barrel. This translated into gas prices dipping below $3 per gallon for the first time in over a year, and much needed relief for American consumers who have already been suffering because of the waning economy.

What can you be sure of in times like these? Oil companies are making record profits at our expense. This practice of raising the cost of gasoline at the pump just as soon as the cost of a barrel of oil increases translates into instant profit with no overhead. The product has already been shipped, refined, delivered, and pumped into consumers automobiles. The only difference is the electronically changed price per gallon paid at the pump.

There needs to be some kind of oversight into this matter. It only hurts the economy when the oil companies make windfall profits like those seen over the past few years. Demand dramatically decreases, and the travel industry suffers as a result. Less money is spent in worsening economic times such as that which we are living through currently, and rising costs of oil do not help. It has been a welcome sigh of relief being able to fill up my car for $100 again. But in such an unstable market, the oil industry needs some oversight – oversight perhaps the IEA could provide and institute, an organization created after the first oil shock in 1973 as a result of the Arab-Israeli war. The IEA has flexed its power twice since its creation, opening up reserve oil into the supply chain during the Iraqi-Kuwait war as well as during Hurricane Katrina, in efforts to stabilize the cost of gasoline.

Whatever is done, something needs to happen. Someone needs to take total power away from OPEC and create an international oversight committee to regulate such affairs. After all, we are nearing peak oil production and there remains an uncertainty about the future state of oil reliance. More resources MUST be invested in researching, developing, and implementing alternative energy sources. Sure ethanol is cleaner burning than gasoline, but if someone has an E-85 Chevrolet Tahoe in Southern California, they have to commute to either Camp Pendalton or Northern California to fill up using ethanol from an ethanol station. The infrastructure just is not there like it is in energy dependent nations such as Brasil.

This quarters record profits postings from all major oil companies is an outcry – a plea – for regulation.

Editor’s Note: I have posted the relevant 45 second snippet of the above video on my other site as it won’t embed properly on WordPress. [Linked]

Photo Credit: A Guy with a Camera – Flickr

As I was watching TV late last night, I stumbled across a commercial that, in many ways, blew my mind. What started out as a typical fast food restaurant commercial quickly became a very effective political campaign. Without endorsing any particular candidate, Burger King has begun, much like it did leading up to the 2004 election, a commercial campaign – an extension of its HaveItYourWay08 campaign – to encourage Americans to go out to the polls on November 4th and vote.

The ad begins as a hidden camera at the drive through, capturing its customers ordering various items off of the menu, customized to their likings, sans pickles, extra onions, etc. The clincher is clever, and it catches you off guard. This technique turned out to be quite effective. Watching a commercial for a recognized brand name, Burger King grabs the attention of TV viewers without any dedicated airtime. The commercial itself does that job through brand recognition.

But where this commercial is really effective is its integration of the company’s long standing “Have It Your Way” campaign, a slogan which began in the 1970’s and has continued today. Burger King used this slogan to transition from its customers, customers it says have had it their way for years, to a public service announcement, urging Americans to vote. Use your choice to vote and be heard. “We’ve heard you for years. Now America wants to hear your vote.” The ad ends by asking viewers to use your choice on November 4th, and vote.

The American media has become a great outlet for individuals and corporations alike to raise awareness, to educate, and to promote. Blogs and the internet have taken over in recent years, leading to a demise of traditional reporting methods and means, as well as a decline in viewership. The digital video recorder has dramatically decreased commercial audiences, but commercials like these capture audiences. The Internet sparks a buzz in commercial campaigns such as this by Burger King, and the commercials are typically uploaded within days to Internet websites such as YouTube, etc. by individuals participating in the social sphere of the Internet.

It’s great to see companies such as Burger King are taking such a vested interest in this upcoming election, one that promises to be perhaps the most important in recent history. In 2004, Burger King launched a similar ad campaign with popular artists such as Snoop Dogg to reach the younger audiences, encouraging a demographic of voters that were newly registered or had never registered to go out on November 4th and vote. The company has heard their voices for years in the customizations of their food orders, and now, Burger King wants America to hear its customers’ voices, to exercise a fundamental right their customers utilize at thousands of restaurants every day, but sadly, a fundamental right which has not been extended to the polls.

“At its core, the Burger King brand promise is all about empowerment and choice, and there is no better time than a national election to reinforce the importance of exercising the ultimate choice—the right to vote,” Burger King vice president of marketing impact Brian Gies said in a statement.

Though nowhere to be found yet on the Internet, many blogs and news sites have already written about this ad, an ad I only saw by chance at one in the morning last night. The blogging community is asking for links, for viewers to upload the video. It will more than likely appear, and when it does, I will embed it on this post. Stay tuned…and watch for the ad on major television networks.

Photo Credit: Word! From the Brothers Four

With the Presidential race coming to a close and elections nearing, where do major corporations, institutions, and news organizations place their allegiances? The majority, both conservative and liberal, have by in large endorsed Senator Barack Obama, a Democrat, but more importantly, a figure of hope, change, and a brighter future. A President for the people, for the country, Obama plans to put “Country First,” a slogan of John McCain, but an actual reality with Obama. The future is becoming clearer, and those in support of McCain are becoming harder and harder to find. His support seems to be flocking away across the nation.

The Anchorage Daily News just came out to endorse Senator Barack Obama, despite their own Governor’s run for Vice President. Their reasoning is simple -

“Sen. Barack Obama, the Democratic nominee, brings far more promise to the office. In a time of grave economic crisis, he displays thoughtful analysis, enlists wise counsel and operates with a cool, steady hand. The same cannot be said of Sen. McCain… Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting [Palin] one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time.”

So who is left to support Senator John McCain? Several established and well respected war generals have publicly offered their support for McCain, but the buck stops there. The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and The Chicago Tribune, a news conglomerate that has not backed a liberal or Democrat in over a hundred years, have all backed Senator Obama. General Colin Powell, a well respected Republican icon, could not muster support for his party’s candidate for reasons similar to the Anchorage Daily News. The light is fading for John McCain, and the finish line is near for Barack Obama, a finish line that will only be the beginning of things to come for this nation, for this world, and for the next President of the United States, Barack Obama.

Below is a featured video entry on the social networking website Digg. The top news article at the time of publishing, the video below is a excellent summary of the Obama plan for the next four years, and beyond…

Photo credit: Editors Weblog

Not to beat this topic to death, but Governor Sarah Palin’s qualifications keep being questioned, and rightfully so. The question was brought up: Wasilla, Alaska – just what DO they DO?

John Stewart’s The Daily Show recently reported on this topic. A show that can actually be quite informative, equivalent to watching a news segment, I was amazed and quite frankly shocked, but not surprised, at how little the Mayor could articulate her position and duties.

Try this one on for size. In a recent report, The Daily Show did a segment on Wasilla, Alaska, the city Governor Sarah Palin used to be a mayor of. The video below speaks for itself, really, in the lack of political knowledge or action that goes on in the town. The current mayor can’t even articulate what she does. Hell, for all we know, the Mayor of Wasilla spends her days looking at Russia from her porch, a sight seeing and foreign policy enriching experience surely taught to her by Governor Sarah Palin. Watch, and be amazed…

I have posted the video on my other site as it won’t embed properly on WordPress. Linked below
For your viewing pleasure…

The Daily Show, some tidbits:

One anchor, five correspondents, zero credibility.

If you’re tired of the stodginess of the evening newscasts and you can’t bear to sit through the spinmeisters and shills on the 24-hour cable news network, don’t miss The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, the nightly half-hour series unburdened by objectivity, journalistic integrity or even accuracy.

The Daily Show takes a reality-based look at news, trends, pop culture, current events, politics, sports and entertainment with an alternative point of view. In each show, anchorman Jon Stewart and a team of correspondents, including Aasif Mandvi, John Oliver, Rob Riggle, Jason Jones and Samantha Bee, comment on the day’s stories, employing actual news footage, taped field pieces, in-studio guests and on-the-spot coverage of important news events.

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart — it’s even better than being informed.

Photo credit: Deprogramming Hour

California Gay Marriage Ban Tops List.

Just when you thought great strides were being made towards improving social acceptance and eliminating discrimination, a proposition named eight came around and shattered what we have worked so hard to achieve.

At its fundamental level, Proposition Eight seeks to “eliminate the rights of same-sex couples to marry,” essentially seeking a reversal of a California Supreme Court ruling which allowed for such marriages in the Constitution of this state.

The campaign for this proposition has evolved the proposition into one of the most lucrative and expensive campaigns in history. Upwards of $60+ million has already been spent on advertising campaigns, an atrocious amount on a proposition that should be shot dead in the water.

Prominent political figures, including the California Superintendent of Schools Jack O’Connel and Senator Dianne Feinstein have been so outraged at this outrageous proposition that they have contributed to the advertising campaign through personal messages.

Senator Feinstein put it well in saying,

“Proposition 8 is not about school or kids. It is about discrimination. And we must always say no to that. No matter how you feel about marriage, vote against discrimination and vote no on eight.”

Regardless of how you feel, Proposition 8 is unfair, unnecessary and wrong. It has nothing to do with schools like its proponents have made it out to be. Marriage is not a required subject of instruction in California Education Standards. All this proposition is is a drastic step to strip people of their fundamental rights pushed by out of state special interest groups that have funneled tens of millions of dollars toward its publicity.

Update: Apple Inc. has released a statement regarding Proposition 8:

Apple is publicly opposing Proposition 8 and making a donation of $100,000 to the No on 8 campaign. Apple was among the first California companies to offer equal rights and benefits to our employees’ same-sex partners, and we strongly believe that a person’s fundamental rights — including the right to marry — should not be affected by their sexual orientation. Apple views this as a civil rights issue, rather than just a political issue, and is therefore speaking out publicly against Proposition 8.

This truly is not just a political issue, but a civil rights issue. Apple joins Google in making a substantial donation to the No on 8 Campaign. This initiative is truly wrong and should be overwhelmingly shot down come November 4th.

Average old Joe. A plumber, a business man, and a recent media phenomenon. Joe Wurzelbacher, better known to the American media as “Joe the Plumber” was, like many Americans, attempting to become politically involved and informed. With an election ballot creeping up on us faster than ever that will determine which direction this country is heading, it is important to stay politically affluent. Attending a site where Barack Obama spoke, “Joe the Plumber” was lucky enough to get some face to face talk time with the Senator, drilling him on questions regarding his plans of action for tax reformation.

The subsequent conversation between the two turned out to carry more weight than just potential tax reformations and restructuring. For several minutes, Senator Obama eloquently and professionally countered Wurzelbacher’s concerns. A businessman who is looking ahead and is seeing his company grow, Joe was concerned that under Obama’s new tax plan, which offers tax relief to workers and their families making under a quarter of a million dollars (thats $250,000) annually, and raises taxes for businesses making more than that amount annually by a few percentage points (from 36% to 39%), he would be taxed more, and wanted the Senators opinion on the matter.

Without hesitation, Obama thanked Wurzelbacher for his concern, but reiterated the larger idea. In a struggling economy, the work force consists in large part of middle class citizens, working nine to five jobs, retail, etc. Under current tax regulations, it is these citizens that are taxed more, these businesses that are taxed higher. Large corporations who have been fortunate enough to see success have seen drastic tax cuts under the conservative Bush administration. But, as Obama explained, 95% of small businesses are categorized under this $250,000 annual cap. And it’s these businesses being hurt the most in a troubling economy. So why not offer up tax cuts to these businesses, which in turn will pump more money into those in need. This 95% will be better off financially because of it, as will our economy, when the money enters into play again.

So, who is this average Joe, and why has he generated such publicity? The American media flocked to his story and bloggers and reporters alike checked him out. Concerned about his plumbing business, Joe is not even a licensed plumber in the state of Ohio where he works and resides. Furthermore, he actually owes back taxes. All of this is besides the fact, however. The real issue resides not with one unlicensed plumber who now has reporters outside his home at all hours, day and night, but with people like him. The average Joe, the average middle class American citizen and small business stand to gain the most from Senator Obama and lose the most from Senator McCain.

Senator Obama’s response to Wurzelbacher’s concerns below:

Photo credit: Boston.com