Carroll County Times: Shedding light on candidate myths by Ann McFeathers

Carroll County Times: Shedding light on candidate myths by Ann McFeathers

Shedding light on candidate myths

By Ann McFeatters, White House Watch

Tuesday, September 09, 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn.

So, it's up to us, folks

The balloons are popped, the fireworks are spent, grand acceptance speeches have been made. The elaborate Hollywood-type sets have been struck, the flags and strange hats are packed away, the country music CDs silenced. The conventions are over.

As good citizens who want to make our votes count, we must sort through the verbiage, spin, disinformation, wild promises, clever attacks, innuendo, sexism, racism, classism and religiosity to pick the next president and vice president on the basis of substance, critical issues, vision, quality of experience and gut instinct.

This will not be easy.

Because of the unpopular war in Iraq and the weak economy, both blamed on President Bush, Barack Obama should be ahead in the polls. He's not. Statistically, he and John McCain start the general election campaign about even.

No astute person denies that Democrats will gain House and Senate seats, but it's impossible to say whether McCain or Obama will win. Flat predictions are based on emotion, gut feelings or wishful thinking. Swing voters are still deciding.

This is my scorecard of the smokescreens and false arguments we should avoid from both parties:

Read the rest of her column here: Shedding light on candidate myths

Scripps Howard New Service columnist Ann McFeatters has covered every national political convention since 1976. E-mail her at amcfeatters@ nationalpress.com.

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/09/09/news/opinion/opinion/opinion514.txt

20080909 Shedding light on candidate myths by Ann McFeathers

Recent columns by Susan Reimer

Recent columns by Susan Reimer

September 8,2008

Hard to choose sides in the Mommy Wars
September 8, 2008
I was grousing to my husband about my crazy-quilt days - planning a bridal shower, helping my daughter sort through the benefits program offered by her employer, swapping out cars at the repair shop, not to mention showing up at the office - and instead of offering to pitch in, he said:

Gloves came off when column came out
September 5, 2008
On Monday, I wrote a column criticizing the McCain campaign for what I saw as a cynical attempt to gather in unhappy women voters by naming Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin his vice presidential candidate and for exploiting the poignant story of her youngest child to appease the Republican Party's pro-life base.

A woman — but why this woman?
September 1, 2008
So. This is what being pandered to feels like.

Watching the convention is like seeing a bad divorce
August 25, 2008
The Democratic National Convention that begins today in Denver looks to me less like the coronation of Barack Obama than a soap opera wedding. The kind everyone tunes in to for the fireworks.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/nation/politics/bal-columnist-reimer,0,964061.columnist

20080908 Recent columns by Susan Reimer

Republican National Convention blog posts on the Carroll County Times by Larry Helminiak September 1-7, 2008

Republican National Convention blog posts on the Carroll County Times by Larry Helminiak September 1-7, 2008

Carroll County Times: 2008 Political Conventions

Sept. 7: After the convention

Sept. 5: Final day
Friday, September 5, 2008 9:30 AM EDT

Sept. 4: A giant line drawn in the sand, and you have to decide which side you stand on
Thursday, September 4, 2008 1:27 PM EDT

Sept. 3: Speeches of the day
Wednesday, September 3, 2008 11:44 AM EDT

Sept. 2: Demonstrators in Minneapolis
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 11:03 AM EDT

Sept. 1: Day one at the Republican Convention
Tuesday, September 2, 2008 9:06 AM EDT

People Helminiak-Larry

20080907 RNC blog posts on the CCT by Larry Helminiak

Related: AK Gov. Sarah Palin videos on Kevin Dayhoff YouTube web page
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
Good site for McCain/Palin info
Kevin Dayhoff YouTube web page
November 2008 US presidential election
September 1-4 2008 Republican National Convention

Carroll County Times convention blog by Larry Helminiak: Sept 7, 2008 – After the convention

Carroll County Times convention blog by Larry Helminiak: Sept 7, 2008 – After the convention

Talk about the issues…

Sept. 7: After the convention By Larry Helminiak Sunday, September 07, 2008

When I arrived home from the Republican National Convention, my answering machine was filled with requests for lawn signs and bumper stickers. If you’ve ever run for public office, you know how difficult it is to get people to display your name on their lawn or bumper. Getting asked to supply them is almost unheard of. And these are not “party-regulars.” These are people who have never been involved before.

[…]

The political fever seems to have started on Wednesday night with the speech by Sarah Palin. But the icing on the cake was when John McCain said Republicans were also guilty of overspending and growing government too much. That is the message they have been waiting to hear.

[…]

Read the entire post by Mr. Helminiak here: After the convention By Larry Helminiak Sunday, September 07, 2008

20080907 After the convention by Larry Helminiak

Gloves came off when column came out by Susan Reimer

Gloves came off when column came out by Susan Reimer

Susan Reimer baltimoresun.com September 5, 2008

On Monday, I wrote a column criticizing the McCain campaign for what I saw as a cynical attempt to gather in unhappy women voters by naming Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin his vice presidential candidate and for exploiting the poignant story of her youngest child to appease the Republican Party's pro-life base.

And then the storm began.

More than 8,200 comments were posted to the column on The Baltimore Sun's Web site. I received more than 700 personal e-mails and about 50 phone calls.

The column was mentioned by Rush Limbaugh and Brit Hume. Matt Drudge's hugely popular Web site, Drudge Report, posted a link to it. Fox News and every shock jock from here to San Francisco called and asked me to appear on the air to defend myself.

[…]

Many criticized me for writing that by choosing Palin, who gave birth this spring to a child she knew to have Down syndrome, the Republican Party was exploiting her decision to keep her child - that the party was trading on her story.

In no way did I suggest that she should not have carried her child to term. Or that she did not love him and count him as a blessing to her family. Or that she made the decision out of anything but her own strong beliefs, a strength that was clearly on display during her speech Wednesday night.

[…]

Among the first to respond was my 30-year-old nephew, Bill, a Republican as conservative as his father and so politically aware that he was predicting Palin would be McCain's choice before it happened.

Bill made the excellent point that the Republican Party was not reaching out to me with the Palin pick. It was reaching out to him.

"I don't want to vote for old white guys, either," Bill said. "With this pick, a woman and young, the party is letting me know that there is a place in it for me."

Others wrote to say that if I was going to question the depth of Palin's professional resume, Obama's experience deserved the same scrutiny. That is more than a fair point.

[…]

Read her entire column here: Gloves came off when column came out

Related links

Susan Reimer: A woman — but why this woman?

Palin's political reputation is a work in progress

Palin transferred 5 times before '87 college graduation

McCain calls for change

Analysis: McCain plays to strengths as patriot, underdog

Obama campaigns in Pa., says Republicans ignore economy concerns

Riot police block anti-war protest

Day 4 at the RNC Photos

Caption Call: Write a funny caption for this delegate's "Unity" hat

Candidate McCain Photos

Alaska Governor Sarah Palin Photos

Sarah Palin through the years Photos

The Palin Family Photos

Campaign photo galleries
Including candid candidates, life on the campaign trail and more

Convention Chronicle: A blog from the conventions

Video: The latest on the presidential race

Contributions: Who's giving money to whom?

Complete coverage: Race for the White House

Barack Obama

Photos
Quiz

Videos

More news

John McCain

Photos

Quiz

Videos

More news

20080905 Gloves came off when column came out by Susan Reimer

Carroll County Times convention blog by Larry Helminiak: Sept. 2: Demonstrators in Minneapolis By Larry Helminiak

Carroll County Times convention blog by Larry Helminiak: Sept. 2: Demonstrators in Minneapolis By Larry Helminiak

Talk about the issues…

Sept. 2: Demonstrators in Minneapolis By Larry Helminiak

When you get within a mile of the Excel Center, you start to see the protesters. Police are everywhere. As we board the bus at the hotel, the front seat is occupied by a special policeman, armed to the teeth, and brought in for this event.

Newly installed fences outside the building block all access. If you don’t have a pass to get into the hall, you don’t get within a block of the Convention Center.

It is clear that many people have come to Minneapolis to protest. What is not clear is what they are protesting. Most seem to have come just to BE a protester, and don’t know what they are protesting about.

[…]

Read Mr. Helminiak’s entire post here: Sept. 2: Demonstrators in Minneapolis By Larry Helminiak

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/talk/conventions/

Carroll County Times convention blog: Sept. 1: Day one at the Republican Convention By Larry Helminiak

Carroll County Times convention blog: Sept. 1: Day one at the Republican Convention By Larry Helminiak

Sept. 1: Day one at the Republican Convention By Larry Helminiak

Day one of the Republican Convention was supposed to last from 2:30 til 10:00 pm, with a list of speakers from President Bush on down. Everything was changed because of Hurricane Gustov. Republican governors of Florida, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas stayed home to manage the potential damage in their states. They were introduced by First Lady Laura Bush and appeared on closed circuit TV at the convention. Even President Bush and Vice President Chaney went to the Gulf States instead of the convention.

[…]

Read Mr. Helminiak’s entire post here: Sept. 1: Day one at the Republican Convention By Larry Helminiak

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/talk/conventions/

20080901 Day one at the Republican Convention By Larry Helminiak

20080902 Carroll County Times editorial: Steele gets moment in spotlight

Carroll County Times editorial: Steele gets moment in spotlight

Related: People Steele-Michael
AK Gov. Sarah Palin videos on Kevin Dayhoff YouTube web page
Alaska Governor Sarah Palin
Good site for McCain/Palin info
Kevin Dayhoff YouTube web page
November 2008 US presidential election
September 1-4 2008 Republican National Convention

Editorial for Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Steele gets moment in spotlight

Former Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele's planned address at the Republican national Convention this evening provides an opportunity to spotlight a state political figure who helped end a Democratic lock on the Maryland governor's mansion.

The election of Robert Ehrlich as governor and Steele as lieutenant governor in 2002 ended 34 years of Democratic control of that office.

[…]

As a Republican in a heavily democratic state, Steele faces many challenges as he tries to advance through the party ranks. But his work as a partner to Ehrlich, and his work with the party since the 2006 election, put him in a class of up-and-comers that the party would do well to continue to encourage.

[…]

Read the entire editorial here: Steele gets moment in spotlight

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/09/05/news/opinion/editorial/editorial527.txt

20080902 Carroll County Times editorial: Steele gets moment in spotlight

April Rose handles the administrative details for the Maryland delegation at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis St. Paul

April Rose handles the administrative details for the Maryland delegation at the Republican National Convention in Minneapolis St. Paul

September 1, 2008

This is the first national convention I have attended for either party; so perhaps I have nothing with which to compare my current experience here at the Republican National Convention.

Then again, maybe I could draw from experiences from past Maryland Municipal League conferences and other national conferences for my wife’s work. All of which are well organized.

The Republican National Convention and the coordination with the Minneapolis St. Paul city officials, appeared from my level of participation, to go like clockwork.

It was well organized and coordinated and everyone was very nice. There were reports that there were 10,000 volunteers for the event and every one of them was wonderfully pleasant.

I was especially impressed with how well the activities of the Maryland delegation were coordinated and organized. Much of the credit goes to Chris Cavey, Don Murphy, Justin Ready and Jim Pelura – and April Rose, from Carroll County, who seemed to handle the administrative details with extraordinary efficiency.

In the series of pictures above April Rose is handing out credentials and taking care of questions, requests, and other assorted administrative details. It seemed like she was everywhere – perhaps her twin was helping.

20080901 April Rose handles the administrative details

A Message for Hollywood by Carmen Amedori

A Message for Hollywood by Carmen Amedori

Dateline: Sunday (August 31, 2008) in the lobby of the Embassy Suites St. Paul.

[…]

Many of the top-name speakers have cancelled their appearances at the convention due to the storm. President George W. Bush, who was supposed to speak Monday, will not be in attendance. We are told that the business of the day will be conducted on Monday, but we will be out of the Xcel Center by 5 p.m.

[…]

Del. Tony O’Donnell and I head back to Minneapolis for a premier of the movie “An American Carol,” a satire on certain ultra-liberal documentary films.

The main character was a filmmaker named Michael Malone, who was associated with the liberal advocacy group “Mooveahead.org” It starred Jon Voight, Kelsey Grammer and many other high-profile conservative actors, with a guest appearance by Bill O’Reilly. The release date is Oct. 3, and I urge all to make it a blockbuster sending the Hollywood elite a strong message on the possible unintended damage that can be inflicted by making films that strike to the heart of our servicemen and -women while at war.

[…]

Read former Maryland State Delegate Carmen Amedori’s entire post here: A Message for Hollywood by Carmen Amedori

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/specialevents/blog/2008/09/a_message_for_hollywood_1.html#comments

-- Carmen Amedori

Posted by baltimoresun.com on September 1, 2008 12:22 PM

*****

Carmen Amedori, Republican

Carmen Amedori, 52, is a resident of Westminster and was a state delegate representing Carroll County from 1998 to 2004, when she was appointed by then-Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. to serve on the Maryland Parole Commission.

A native of Baltimore and graduate of Villa Julie College, Amedori worked as a paralegal and journalist while raising two daughters, before entering the world of politics.

She was one of the few elected officials in Maryland who supported John McCain when he ran for president in 2000, and was an alternate delegate at that year's convention.

Her backing has not wavered, and this year, Amedori is the Western Maryland regional director for McCain. She has also been cleared to be a surrogate — meaning she has the blessing to speak on McCain’s behalf when called upon.

Art Movies An American Carol

20080901 A Message for Hollywood by Carmen Amedori

Best Shoes at the Republican National Convention

Best Shoes at the Republican National Convention

September 1, 2008

On opening day, I ran across one of the 10,000 volunteers, who was quite proud of her shoes. Everyone at the convention was extremely nice – even the security and the police officers.

20080901 Best Shoes at convention

Signage and banners at Republican National Convention

September 1, 2008

Signage and banners at the September 1-4, 2008 Republican National Convention at the Xcel Center in Minneapolis St. Paul, Minnesota

20080901 Signage and banners at Republican National Convention

Chris Cavey gives us a glimpse at the upcoming Republican National Convention in his most recent Tentacle column

Chris Cavey gives us a glimpse at the upcoming Republican National Convention in his most recent Tentacle column

August 28, 2008

On To St. Paul

Chris Cavey

By the time this article is posted I will be crammed into one of the cheap seats of a popular domestic airline. At o-dark thirty when the fares are cheap, with my knees against the seat in front of me and my shoulder pressed against the person in seat 19B, I’ll be winging my way to the Twin Cities for the 2008 Republican National Convention.

The reason for my early Thursday journey is my position on the Republican National Committee’s Credentials Committee….

[…]

By Sunday afternoon, however, the entire Maryland delegation will be on the ground in St. Paul. After some in-house check-in and credentialing, it will be off to Minneapolis for an “all states pep-rally” at the Minneapolis Convention Center. There we’ll have our official delegation picture taken for all posterity to enjoy.

The Republican National Convention is actually a two-week ordeal. Just as I traveled to Minnesota early, so will all members of the five standing committees. The week before is where the work is accomplished. Committee meetings about things like rules, platform and credentials are ironed out and prepared before the voting body arrives for a short four days.

Read Mr. Cavey’s entire column here: On To St. Paul

20080828 SDOSM Cavey TT On to St Paul

This week in The Tentacle

20080820 This week in The Tentacle

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A Civil Affair at Saddleback
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Last Saturday I took a two-hour break from total Olympics immersion therapy to watch Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum on the presidency.

Emergency Room Retrofit
Tom McLaughlin
Throughout the past few years, there has been a blasting of the Canadian healthcare system. Many conservatives point to the “awful” conditions up north as an example of what can happen if the government gets involved.

From the desk of The Publisher!
John W. Ashbury

In yesterday’s column by Roy Meachum, the last name of the president of France was misspelled. It should be Sarkozy. The Tentacle regrets the error.


Tuesday, August 19, 2008
No Sabers to Rattle
Roy Meachum
A chance encounter. While Pushkin and I were taking a downtown stroll, an impossibly young captain out of the Point four years and returned recently from the Middle East. His USMA graduate-father along and a pretty wife; she wanted to talk to the pleased English pointer. She and Pushki retreated just beyond the conversational range.

Passing on Pollsters
Norman M. Covert
My son assures me that I should feel no guilt in hanging up on telemarketers. It is not alright, he says, to listen to pre-recorded messages about my car’s warranty, or Part D Medicare insurance and such. In that state of mind, I should have “passed” on a recent political phone call that probably verged on the sophomoric.


Monday, August 18, 2008
Summer Thoughts
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
I became a grandfather back in January. It's almost as great as everyone has ever said. I describe it this way: It's all of the love you had for your own children, without the crushing burden of responsibility!

Counting Students
Steven R. Berryman
The argument continues: Let’s count the children who are from families that are not paying into Frederick County Public Schools so that we can get our arms around the problem of looming budget deficits.


Friday, August 15, 2008
Evil Demagogue
Roy Meachum
The evil in John "Lennie" Thompson's soul became public when he prolonged a hearing past midnight; he knowingly kept children up who wanted to sleep. But their mothers desperately needed a school and a place to worship. But they were only Muslims and mostly foreign-born. They were, however, legal residents.


O’Malley Seeking Gold!
Katie Nash
Gov. Martin O’Malley should take a lesson from Baltimore super swimmer Michael Phelps. The governor is drowning and there is no life saver in sight.


Thursday, August 14, 2008
A Prime Rib Sandwich
Joan McIntyre
Do the terms Generation X or Y, or Baby Boomers mean a thing to you? Didn't mean much to me until I realized I could be the poster child for the thing they call The Sandwich Generation.

National Pride: Just Wonderful
Chris Cavey
Almost everyone who has laid finger to keyboard has written about the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; however, the story for me is viewing the quadrennial bubbling of national pride and knowing its juxtaposition with local heroes.


Wednesday, August 13, 2008
They shoot dogs, don’t they?
Kevin E. Dayhoff
In Prince Georges County on the evening of July 30, the home of the Berwyn Heights’ Mayor Cheye Calvo was the scene of a home invasion.


Beer Olympics
Tom McLaughlin
They’re back! After watching the March Past during the opening of the games in Peking (old spelling), I settled in to watch some of the sports. And wonders of wonders who did I see? Those two great representatives of American dirty old men, Misty May and Kerri Walsh. They were playing the great American sport – beach volleyball.


Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Media Furies
Roy Meachum
The Bruce Ivins tragedy starkly revealed the trashy shape of America's media. Print and electronic alike, they have become modern versions of Greek playwright Aeschylus's Eumenides; the Furies of ancient Rome, they resound still in the Yiddish phrase: Kein eine horah. "Not one listening" is a prayerful cautionary against the 40,000 beasties that always hover waiting to strike all those who earn praise.


Perception Often Worse Than Truth
Farrell Keough
Perceptions are a tricky thing. There are times in life when a person can feel so strongly about a situation they are willing to suffer the consequences of people believing they are either wrong or have some nefarious intent.


Monday, August 11, 2008
Hanging it up…
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
…a stethoscope, that is. On August 8, Dr. Wayne Allgaier snapped the closure on his leather medical kit for the last time. Last Friday, he hung the stethoscope up for the last time.


T. Boone & Slim Pickens
Steven R. Berryman
What does a famous Texas oil baron do to ensure some personal legacy at age 80? He becomes an alternative energy activist, and starts a web site with a link to his own MySpace page, of course!


They’re Not Just Athletes…
Derek Shackelford
Last Friday the 2008 Summer Olympics games opened in Beijing, China, where the government has come under scrutiny because of proclaimed human rights violations. The air quality – to some degree – has been deemed unhealthy. The government has been criticized for neglect of some of its citizens and the economic disparity is widely known. And its capital punishment policy has been questioned.

This week in The Tentacle

20080820 This week in The Tentacle

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
A Civil Affair at Saddleback
Kevin E. Dayhoff
Last Saturday I took a two-hour break from total Olympics immersion therapy to watch Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Civil Forum on the presidency.

Emergency Room Retrofit
Tom McLaughlin
Throughout the past few years, there has been a blasting of the Canadian healthcare system. Many conservatives point to the “awful” conditions up north as an example of what can happen if the government gets involved.

From the desk of The Publisher!
John W. Ashbury

In yesterday’s column by Roy Meachum, the last name of the president of France was misspelled. It should be Sarkozy. The Tentacle regrets the error.


Tuesday, August 19, 2008
No Sabers to Rattle
Roy Meachum
A chance encounter. While Pushkin and I were taking a downtown stroll, an impossibly young captain out of the Point four years and returned recently from the Middle East. His USMA graduate-father along and a pretty wife; she wanted to talk to the pleased English pointer. She and Pushki retreated just beyond the conversational range.

Passing on Pollsters
Norman M. Covert
My son assures me that I should feel no guilt in hanging up on telemarketers. It is not alright, he says, to listen to pre-recorded messages about my car’s warranty, or Part D Medicare insurance and such. In that state of mind, I should have “passed” on a recent political phone call that probably verged on the sophomoric.


Monday, August 18, 2008
Summer Thoughts
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
I became a grandfather back in January. It's almost as great as everyone has ever said. I describe it this way: It's all of the love you had for your own children, without the crushing burden of responsibility!

Counting Students
Steven R. Berryman
The argument continues: Let’s count the children who are from families that are not paying into Frederick County Public Schools so that we can get our arms around the problem of looming budget deficits.


Friday, August 15, 2008
Evil Demagogue
Roy Meachum
The evil in John "Lennie" Thompson's soul became public when he prolonged a hearing past midnight; he knowingly kept children up who wanted to sleep. But their mothers desperately needed a school and a place to worship. But they were only Muslims and mostly foreign-born. They were, however, legal residents.


O’Malley Seeking Gold!
Katie Nash
Gov. Martin O’Malley should take a lesson from Baltimore super swimmer Michael Phelps. The governor is drowning and there is no life saver in sight.


Thursday, August 14, 2008
A Prime Rib Sandwich
Joan McIntyre
Do the terms Generation X or Y, or Baby Boomers mean a thing to you? Didn't mean much to me until I realized I could be the poster child for the thing they call The Sandwich Generation.

National Pride: Just Wonderful
Chris Cavey
Almost everyone who has laid finger to keyboard has written about the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; however, the story for me is viewing the quadrennial bubbling of national pride and knowing its juxtaposition with local heroes.


Wednesday, August 13, 2008
They shoot dogs, don’t they?
Kevin E. Dayhoff
In Prince Georges County on the evening of July 30, the home of the Berwyn Heights’ Mayor Cheye Calvo was the scene of a home invasion.


Beer Olympics
Tom McLaughlin
They’re back! After watching the March Past during the opening of the games in Peking (old spelling), I settled in to watch some of the sports. And wonders of wonders who did I see? Those two great representatives of American dirty old men, Misty May and Kerri Walsh. They were playing the great American sport – beach volleyball.


Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Media Furies
Roy Meachum
The Bruce Ivins tragedy starkly revealed the trashy shape of America's media. Print and electronic alike, they have become modern versions of Greek playwright Aeschylus's Eumenides; the Furies of ancient Rome, they resound still in the Yiddish phrase: Kein eine horah. "Not one listening" is a prayerful cautionary against the 40,000 beasties that always hover waiting to strike all those who earn praise.


Perception Often Worse Than Truth
Farrell Keough
Perceptions are a tricky thing. There are times in life when a person can feel so strongly about a situation they are willing to suffer the consequences of people believing they are either wrong or have some nefarious intent.


Monday, August 11, 2008
Hanging it up…
Richard B. Weldon Jr.
…a stethoscope, that is. On August 8, Dr. Wayne Allgaier snapped the closure on his leather medical kit for the last time. Last Friday, he hung the stethoscope up for the last time.


T. Boone & Slim Pickens
Steven R. Berryman
What does a famous Texas oil baron do to ensure some personal legacy at age 80? He becomes an alternative energy activist, and starts a web site with a link to his own MySpace page, of course!


They’re Not Just Athletes…
Derek Shackelford
Last Friday the 2008 Summer Olympics games opened in Beijing, China, where the government has come under scrutiny because of proclaimed human rights violations. The air quality – to some degree – has been deemed unhealthy. The government has been criticized for neglect of some of its citizens and the economic disparity is widely known. And its capital punishment policy has been questioned.

"Republican Doesn't Plan Long Speech" by Michael D. Shear

20080809 McCain Does not Plan Long Speech at convention by Michael D. Shear for the Washington Post

"Republican Doesn't Plan Long Speech" by Michael D. Shear

Saturday, August 9, 2008; Page A06

Mark Salter, the top aide and longtime speechwriter for John McCain, has written a "working draft" of the senator's address to the Republican National Convention and is circulating the draft to a very limited number of his aides, sources inside the campaign said.

The speech as written runs roughly 21 minutes, but it could end up being even shorter, because McCain is not a fan of lengthy speeches, aides to the candidate said.

[…]

Read Mr. Shear’s entire piece here: Republican Doesn't Plan Long Speech

____

I’ll be attending and covering the Republican National Convention. I’d like to hear from others who are attending the convention in case there are some ways we can link up and collaborate. These events can be overwhelming and a bit of team work might very well be helpful.

I can reached at kdayhoff AT carr Dot org. And you may find me on: Facebook

Please consider putting Republican National Convention in the subject line so that I may discern your e-mail from the enormous amounts of spam I am receiving these days…

Thanks,

Kevin Dayhoff

20080725 Pro National Infrastructure Platforms urged: Rendell, Bloomberg, Schwarzenegger Urge Parties to Adopt Pro-Infrastructure Platforms

20080725 Pro National Infrastructure Platforms urged: Rendell, Bloomberg, Schwarzenegger Urge Parties to Adopt Pro-Infrastructure Platforms

Rendell, Bloomberg, Schwarzenegger Urge Parties to Adopt Pro-Infrastructure Platforms

PRNewswire

Fri Jul 25, 4:48 PM ET

To: TRANSPORTATION EDITORS

Contact: Chuck Ardo of the Pennsylvania Office of the Governor, +1-717-783-1116

Mayors of Minneapolis, Saint Paul Join Coalition on Second of Two-Day Infrastructure Tour

SAINT PAUL, Minn., July 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell, New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, co-chairs of the Building Americas Future coalition, today urged the Republican and Democratic national committees to adopt pro-infrastructure planks in their party platforms when the national party conventions convene in Denver and Minneapolis-Saint Paul.

Americas highways, bridges, tunnels, and mass transit have fallen behind. The same is true for our levees, schools, ports, courthouses and water delivery systems. Our economy and environment are suffering because we cannot move goods and people efficiently - we need a strong federal commitment to tackle this problem, said Governor Schwarzenegger. We have always come together as a nation to solve our biggest problems and I am confident that if both parties make infrastructure a top priority we will rebuild America with the pride and ambition that reflects the unlimited potential of our people.

The principles we are advocating will help our nation be more competitive in the global economy, ensure our environmental sustainability, enhance our citizens quality of life and improve public safety, said Mayor Bloomberg. They are good public policy and make sound business sense. We need to invest more in our infrastructure and those investment decisions need to be based on merit, not politics.

The Association of Civil Engineers estimated the nations total infrastructure shortfall at a staggering $1.6 trillion, Governor Rendell said. If we dont act quickly, that deficit will continue to grow and we will see our infrastructure fall further into disrepair, threatening the lives of our citizens and our ability to move goods to market. With the federal government contributing only 25 percent of infrastructure funding and the rest coming from financially strapped state and local governments, Washington needs to step up its commitment of resources. The time to act is now.

The co-chairs recommended that both parties adopt the coalitions five guiding principles (http://www.investininfrastructure.org/newsroom/BAF%20Statement%20of%20Principles%20-%20Final.pdf) in their platforms. Yesterday in New Orleans, the co-chairs proposed, given the importance of the issue and the growing level of support for federal leadership, a town hall meeting on infrastructure and invited both major parties presidential nominees to participate.

Joining the co-chairs at the press conference today were Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman. The mayors are some of the first state and local elected officials to join Building Americas Future.

As mayors, we know how important basic public infrastructure is to our communities, Mayor Rybak said. Whether it is our streets and highways, mass transit, wastewater, or airport, our ability to make our region competitive for business and a great place to live for our residents depends on the quality of our basic infrastructure our common ground.

We also recognize that only the federal government has the resources to partner with state and local governments to fully fund our regional and national infrastructure priorities, Mayor Coleman said.

Todays event in Minneapolis-Saint Paul caps a two-day infrastructure tour that took Rendell and Bloomberg to New Orleans on Thursday. In an address to the National Conference of State Legislatures, or NCSL, Rendell and Bloomberg unveiled Building Americas Futures statement of principles (http://www.investininfrastructure.org/newsroom/BAF%20Statement%20of%20Principles%20-%20Final.pdf), which will guide policy makers as they chart a new course for national infrastructure policy. The co-chairs also held a press conference announcing that 20 more state legislators from across the country joined the coalition.

In recent weeks, the coalitions leaders addressed the National Governors Association summer meeting in Philadelphia, the U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting in Miami, and the National Association of Counties summer meeting in Kansas City as it continues recruiting state and local elected officials to join its ranks.

State and local elected officials who wish to join Building Americas Future can register at http://www.InvestInInfrastructure.org.

The Rendell administration is committed to creating a first-rate public education system, protecting our most vulnerable citizens and continuing economic investment to support our communities and businesses. To find out more about Governor Rendell's initiatives and to sign up for his weekly newsletter, visit: http://www.governor.state.pa.us.

EDITORS NOTE: The Building Americas Future statement of principles is available at http://www.InvestInInfrastructure.org.

CONTACT:
Chuck Ardo
717-783-1116
SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor

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US transportation and infrastructure, Politics National, President 2008 election, President 2008 election Republican Natl Convention Sept 1 2008

20080623 Obama for change

Barack Obama for change

Because that is all you will have left when he’s done.

June 24, 2008 - - The base idea for this image was passed on to me in an email from “CJ.”

I guess it resonated with me as the presumptive Democrat nominee for president’s conversation so far about economics and taxation is a major concern for me as I ponder the merits of his candidacy of the Oval Office.

At my advanced age I can easily recognize political silliness when I see it and I refuse to be distracted.

Barack Obama appears to be an honorable man who wants to be president and I admire him for his accomplishments.

My heart and prayers go out to him and his family when I hear or read the vicious personal attacks over drivel that ultimately I really don’t give a rat’s backside over. It’s all so boring and an unnecessary distraction of high chair food fight proportions.

I don’t really care what Rev. Wright has said or when he said it. I don’t care about what Senator Obama’s wife said or when she said it.

I’m not fooled by the recent marketing makeover with his appearance on People magazine or Mrs. Obama’s chattiness on “The View.” I have no interest in voting “for the friendly guy next door” to be president.

I care about issues such as who is going to protect us from foreign aggressors. I care about national defense.

I care about the economy. I care about the class warfare being promoted, disguised as taxation policy.

I care about the deleterious affects of our nation’s lack of a coherent energy independence policy.

I care about who has the experience necessary to be president.

I care about who is going to appoint the next several Supreme Court justices.

If I were to have a choice between “a third term for the Bush Administration” or “Jimmy Carter’s second”; I’ll take “Bush’s third term” in a nanosecond.

Although I realize that Republican presumptive presidential nominee John McCain is certainly no George W. Bush and I have not, as yet mistaken Senator Obama for President Jimmy Carter…

Anyway - I played with the base idea for the image; re-arranged it and added to it and voila.

Please cut and paste this image and distribute it widely…

KevinDayhoffNet

www.kevindayhoff.net

20080623 Obama for change

20080619 “Blue Balled” by “Truth through Action”

20080619 “Blue Balled” by “Truth through Action”

“Blue Balled” by “Truth through Action”

A 4 minute and 30 second short film about a young lady who abandons a late night encounter when she discovers her date’s undisclosed secret. The film was shot in Manhattan over two nights in April. (See footnote 1.)

Retrieved June 19, 2008: http://truththroughaction.org/media-gallery/film/blue-balled/

http://youtube.com/watch?v=15zSYa1_7J0

June 19, 2008 - - At my advanced age I can easily recognize political silliness when I see it and I refuse to be distracted.

Nevertheless, from an artist’s point of view – as someone who really enjoys edgy videos and the use of cutting edge art to promote (advertise) a particular agenda, this video is kinda cool. I liked it…

However, the purpose of commercials and advertising is compel and persuade a person, who is not particularly predisposed, to purchase a product – or in this case, vote a certain way.

I can’t imagine this video being persuasive to an independent or least of all a conservative. It seems to be an artistic endeavor in search of meaning. (And I can’t really throw stones at that when I look back at some of my political advocacy in the past…)

This video, with its high production values and artistic accomplishments, is only appealing to the choir – and if anything, may very well persuade an independent or conservative to shy away from the frivolous and superficial values presented.

To state the obvious, I certainly know of few folks who ever utilized a person’s party affiliation in choosing a partner for life – or an evening.

The country is full of husbands and wives who cancel each other’s vote at the voting booth during presidential elections…

Nevertheless, this video is out there in the pop culture overlay that is being promoted by supporters of presumptive Democrat presidential nominee, Barack Obama.

Moreover, in all candor, I’d like to see more of the edgy, artistic approach to political advocacy from both sides of the aisle and I’ll look forward to more of the work of New York filmmakers Joshua Sugarman and Brandon Yankowitz of YaSu Media.

However, one can easily agree with ABC News writers, Susan Donaldson James and Cloe Shasha, when they observed in a thoughtful analysis on June 11 in “Dems Use Edgy Films to Rally Youth Voters”:

“The video, created by the new political organization TruthThroughAction.org, is one more affirmation that the Internet is a central character in the 2008 presidential race.

The blue-leaning nonprofit was founded by New York filmmakers Joshua Sugarman and Brandon Yankowitz of YaSu Media, who are producing a series of short films and online videos. The "527" group is, unlike political action committees, exempt from contribution limits.

[…]

… "Our products have a message but are also entertaining as film projects, and we don't think anybody else is doing the same thing."

Like the "Obama Girl" video, which spread virally last year, "Blue Balled" is intended to rally the indie community and young political activists to support the Democrats in November…

[…]

"I thought it was brilliant," said Andrew Rasiej, co-founder of TechPresident, a group blog that covers how the 2008 presidential candidates use the Web.

"It clearly taps into the fact that the election has captured the imagination of the youth of our country and reinforces a message that any political organization for a candidate would want to associate with -- hip cool and passionate," he told ABCNEWS.com.

"It clearly takes advantage of the atmosphere of young people paying attention to the election and using their language and their medium to convey the message," he said. "It's very shrewd."

[…]

Jeff Everson, an economics major and football player at Middlebury College, was not impressed with the Democrats' video. "I thought that as a political tactic it wasn't effective," said Everson. "But at the same time I found it funny. The concept of this video sort of separates the country, which seems counterproductive."

Everson, a McCain supporter, agrees that the Republicans need to find new ways to reach young voters.

"One of the mistakes that McCain made was not utilizing technology like YouTube," said the 20-year-old. "The Democratic Party has done a better job of encouraging young people to vote."

Whether the message of these clips fits with Barack Obama's strategy is anybody's guess.

A film that includes copious amounts of alcohol, sex and near nudity may not fly with the group of young evangelicals Obama is now targeting.

"Anytime any organization tries something new, there will always be people who don't agree," said filmmaker Sugarman. "What the Democratic Party and anyone involved in politics are starting to realize is that we need a new way to get in touch with people beyond the traditional means of political communication."

The complete article by ABC News writers, Susan Donaldson James and Cloe Shasha, is worth a good read. Please find it here: “Dems Use Edgy Films to Rally Youth Voters.”

Related: View Political Monogamy

Kevin Dayhoff

www.kevindayhoff.net

_____

Footnote 1:

Written and Directed by Josh Sugarman

Presented and Produced by Brandon Yankowitz

Produced by Brigitte Liebowitz

Starring Michelle Galdenzi and Bryan Dechart

Featuring Steven Berrebi and Elo Santana

Music by Shanna Zell and J. Chris Griffin

Crew

Duke Greenhill, 1st AD

Jason Pritzker, 2nd AD

Apryl Richards, Script Supervisor

Mike Bozzo, DP

Joel Knutsen, 1st AC

Ian Swanson, 2nd AC

James Leonzio, Steadicam Operator

Havi Elkaim, Production Designer

KD, Key Hair Stylist

Allison McCrudden, Key Makeup

JD Hartman, Gaffer

Sean Hutcheon, Key Grip

Matt Jensen, Grip

Joshua Hilson, Sound Mix

Alan Tansey, Boom Operator

20080521 Westminster Eagle: Pecoraro makes 'superdelegate' stand in advance of convention

Pecoraro makes 'superdelegate' stand in advance of convention

05/21/08 By Kevin E. Dayhoff

Political and presidential historians are often quick to point out that the Democratic Party is the oldest political party in the Unites States.

However, many folks may not be aware that much of the roots of the party are arguably in Maryland.

The U.S. Democratic Party, and specifically, the Maryland Democratic Party "is among the oldest, continuous existing political organizations in the world," according to a brief history of the Maryland Democratic Party written by Carroll County historian and former Maryland Secretary of State John T. Willis.

Mr. Willis is considered by many to be a nationally known authority on political history -- especially Democratic Party history.

In his historical account he notes that it was on this day in 1827, "that a meeting of Andrew Jackson supporters organized a political structure in the State designed to help one of the national founders of our Party win the PresidencyÉ"

Five years later, on May 21, 1832, the first national political convention of the Democrat Party was held in Baltimore.

According to Willis, it "was held at the Atheneum (and Warfield's Church) É located on the southwest corner of St. Paul and Lexington Streets. Twelve delegates from each county and six delegates from Baltimore City were invited to attend."

From 1832 to 1872, eight of the 12 Democrat party national conventions were held in Baltimore. Considering that two of the main routes to Baltimore, from all points west, travel through Carroll County, an historian's imagination can run wild as to what national political figures may have passed through Carroll in those days.

Fast-forwarding to the present, as the Democratic primaries draw to a close, presidential historians are looking forward to a very busy summer.

However, one portion of the drama of the longest presidential campaign in history may be coming to an anti-climatic finish, as presidential candidate and Illinois Senator Barack Obama seems to be close to a mathematical edge over his rival for the Oval Office, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton.

In one important development that made national news, just last Friday, Westminster Common Councilmember and Democratic National Convention superdelegate Greg Pecoraro endorsed Senator Obama.

The term, "superdelegate" is relatively new in our political lexicon.

It's actually an informal term coined for a credentialed delegate at the presidential convention who is either a party leader or an elected official. For example, Gov. Martin O'Malley is another superdelegate.

They are free to endorse whomever they choose at the national convention.

Mr. Pecoraro's announcement was carried by outlets as far and wide as the Associated Press, Time magazine's political blog, "The Page," as well as the highly entertaining and controversial political blogs "The Daily Kos" and "The Huffington Post."

In a statement released on Obama's Web site, Pecoraro said, "Today, I am very excited to join the large majority of Maryland Democrats who expressed their enthusiasm for Senator Obama's candidacy in our state's presidential primary. Like them, I believe Barack Obama is the right leader for our time."

Pecoraro praised Senator Clinton, too, but ultimately decided: "I strongly believe that Senator Obama offers us the best opportunity we have had for many years to turn away from the politics of division and despair, and look towards an America of opportunity and progress."

Mr. Pecoraro will join Maryland's 99 delegates who will vote at the Democratic National Convention, which will be held this year from Aug. 25 through the 28th in The Pepsi Center in Denver, Colo.

Mathematics has been a preoccupation of many political observers for the past number of months as the numbers involved in the convention are bewildering.

One published account estimates that it will cost approximately $15 million just to prepare The Pepsi Center for the estimated 35,000 folks who are expected to attend. That includes more than 15,000 members of the media.

However, it's the sheer numbers of the delegates that is mind-boggling -- there are 4,048 voting convention delegates attending.

In a phone conversation with Pecoraro the other day, he seemed unfazed. He said he's attended every National Democratic Convention since 1980 except one.

Moreover, he said it's a great honor to be a part of history and that he was looking forward to this year's convention.

He's not the only one. Outside of the summer blockbusters in movie theaters, it might be the best source of suspense we'll see this summer.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster. E-mail him at kdayhoff@carr.org.

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