Voices without Votes » Michael van der Galien, Editor-in-Chief

Obama, Socialist

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:00:19 +0000

In the comment section of my post about Barack Obama having been a member of the socialist New Party, some argued that, perhaps, he became a ‘member’ without actually doing anything for it. The fact of the matter is, however, that this is not correct.

If Obama was a member he signed a contract with the New Party.

ACORN Already Guilty of Voter Fraud

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:00:10 +0000

Far-left organization ACORN - which has close ties to Barack Obama and the Democratic Party in general - has been accused by Missouri officials of submitting questionable (read: duplicate and even downright fake) voter-registration forms.

ACORN was already accused of trying to commit fraud in other states for the November 4 elections as well.

U.S. Government May Take Ownership in Banks

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:30:33 +0000

The United States Treasury Department was reported on Monday as considering taking ownership stakes in many American banks in order to restore confidence in the financial markets.

U.S. Congress approved a bailout bill last week Friday, but this did not have the effect lawmakers and government officials hoped.

Barack Obama: Better Days Ahead - Video

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:30:45 +0000

“I’m here to tell you,” Senator Barack Obama said on Wednesday, “that better days are ahead.” He spoke in front of a huge crowd in Indiana, and delivered yet again a speech that inspires to many.

“Here in America our destiny is not written for us,” Obama said to a cheering crowd, “it is written by us. We make the decision about how we are going to move forward.”

“Indiana, that is who we are, and that is the country we need to be right now, and that’s why I’m running for president of the United States of America,” the Democratic nominee for president and junior senator for Illinois went on to say.

The crowd reacted passionately, chanting “Obama, Obama, Obama.” Obama had to tell them to stop cheering for a moment, because he had more to say.

He then started praising America, and told his audience that although “it won’t be easy, it won’t happen overnight, but there’s no reason that we can’t steer out of this crisis and make this century another American century. I know we can,” he went on to say, “but I need your help.”

The crowd responded by changing “yes we can, yes we can, yes we can.”

Obama then said that creating a new American century, however, will take a new leadership. He used this point to criticize his opponent John McCain, both directly and indirectly.

“In last night’s debate John McCain and I each had the opportunity to make the case for change… All that we heard from Senator McCain, however, was more of the same Bush economics that led us into this mess in the first place,” Obama said.

“Take health care, we were both asked whether we believe that health care should finally be the right of every American.”

“I believe it should.

“But Senator McCain didn’t say that. And when you look at his radical health care plan you can see why,” Obama added.

“He talks about giving every family a $5000 credit to buy health care. But he did not mention last night that he will also tax your benefits for the first time in history.

“It’s an old Washington game,” Obama said, “it’s called the bait-and-switch.”

“Senator McCain didn’t tell us,” Obama went on to say, “that his plan would cause 20 million Americans to lose their health insurance from their employer. Or how the U.S. chamber of commerce, which is generally not a big supporter of Democratic candidates, said it would be a disaster for businesses. He didn’t mention how it would deregulate the insurance industry so they don’t have to cover things like mammograms or vacinations or maternity care. He thinks we wouldn’t notice these things.

“Well, I’ve got news for John McCain: we notice. We know better.”

The speech was indicative of Barack Obama’s tremendous speaking skills, and his way of mixing negative emotions, even downright fear, with positive ones. It is a complex message when you try to analyze it. On the one hand there is hope, on the other there is incredible negativity about where the United States is now, where it was in the past, and even downright fear of where it will go if Obama loses this election.

Although complex, the mix of hope and fear does succeed in inspiring many and getting them up to their feet. It gives the audience the impression to be part of a major, life even destiny changing movement, speerheaded by Barack Obama.

Watch it:

AFRICOM: Reforming Africa

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 15:00:13 +0000

Austin Bay wrote a great column for Real Clear Politics about a reasonably new U.S. initiative in Africa, called AFRICOM. For decades, Africa was the “neglected continent” (words used by former U.S. diplomats active in Africa). That changed under George W. Bush’s leadership, however, with increasingly more attention and focus on Africa, and attempts at limiting the damage done by HIV Aids and other diseases, and by preventing African Muslim countries from becoming terrorist safe havens.

The new approach to Africa became especially important to the White House after 9/11/2001, when the United States were attacked by terrorists supported by the government of third world country, Afghanistan.

The end of McCain

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:00:25 +0000

Regular reader Christine Stanley wrote today that she believes that John McCain was the wrong man for the GOP, at the wrong place at the wrong time. Her view has become, she wrote, that he is simply not enough of an ideologue to offer Americans an alternative to Barack Obama’s plans.

Additionally, she writes:

A Bailout T-Shirt, Just for our Readers

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:49:41 +0000

Well, where is it? Obama? McCain? Anyone?

John McCain, America’s Next Vice President

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:20:24 +0000

What?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPywKOTQZig

McCain Refers to Americans as “My Fellow Prisoners”

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 02:00:15 +0000

In what can be considered evidence that Democrats aren’t the only ones having trouble turning their thoughts into words, almost one month before America will vote for its next president, John McCain referred to American citizens as “my fellow prisoners.”

Giuliani Advises: Step up Attacks

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 15:00:28 +0000

Rudy Giuliani, former Mayor of New York, appeared on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to explain what he thought John McCain would have to do to win yesterday’s debate, first and foremost, and secondly to win the elections in general.

When asked by Andrea Mitchell about something the McCain campaign said - that they have to stop talking about the economy and make other issues the center point of the debate - Giuliani started laughing and said “you can’t get it off the economy.”

On Health Care

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:00:13 +0000

What to do about health care in the United States? Many have argued in recent years, and especially months, that the American health care system is broken and needs fixing. Both John McCain and Barack Obama have come up with a plan that would, both argue, fix most problems. Experts, however, generally believe that both health care plans may solve some issues, but certainly not all, if even most.

MSNBC was kind enough to ask a health care expert, Quint Studer, for his thoughts. The main message: no quick fixes possible.

Harold Ford Jr.: Devote a Year to Service Country

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:00:34 +0000

‘The next president will have an opportunity to create a program for national service. It can be based on the simple, but compelling idea that devoting a year or more to national service, whether military or civilian, should become a countrywide rite of passage, and the common expectation and widespread experience of virtually every young American,’ former Congressman and now chair of the Democratic National Committee Harold Ford Jr. opined for the Tennessean.

‘The plan would be voluntary, not mandatory, and it would be based on carrots, not sticks. Here are a few ideas to consider:

McCain and the Economy: Growth and Recovery

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 21:00:52 +0000

CNBC’s Larry Kudlow offered some valuable advice to Senator John McCain on Tuesday, hours before McCain would debate Senator Barack Obama. Kudlow’s main point is that going after Obama may be important, without it McCain may not be able to win, but that it will not be suffice to win November 4th.

Rather, McCain should talk about the number one issue on the mind of voters. The economy. And he should not just talk about it, he should come up with and a defend an economic plained aimed at recovering the U.S. economy and which, in the end, will result in significant economic growth.

In Latest Ad, McCain Lashes Out at Obama: “Hypo,” “Liar.”

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 23:00:13 +0000

In the latest advertisement video made and published by John McCain’s campaign, Senator Barack Obama is criticized for being a liar and hypocrite.

The ad starts off with a news presentator informing the public that Obama’s campaign “is asking Missouri to target anyone who lies or runs a misleading television ad.”

A voiceover cuts the presentator off, saying “how hypocritical.”

The Center Holds

Aggregated from: PoliGazette — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:43 +0000

A couple of things about this article at Politico:

1. Firstly, I think it’s correct to say that those generally in favor of the bailout plan were centrists

2. Secondly, centrists have a whole lot of potential - they could wield much power in American politics