Front Pages

This web site has the front pages from 735 newspaper from 67 countries from November 5, 2008, the day after Obama won the election. It seems that the whole world was celebrating with us. http://www.newseum.org/todaysfrontpages/default_archive.asp?fpArchive=110508

A Landslide

I really need to leave this state. I just heard on MSNBC that 23% of Texans think Obama is a Muslim. I can't believe that, with all the news on TV, almost 25% of the people still think this. I guess these are the same stupid people who still believe Iraq had something to do with 911. The Republicans are of course happy to spread lies. So many of them are truly despicable people. If you don't believe this look at the ad Elizabeth Dole is running against her opponent Kay Hagen in North Carolina. I don't want to put her ad here but you can see Hagen's response to the ad in the post below. The good thing is that so much of the negative advertising by the R's is backfiring. I hope the [expletive] lose every race.
I voted this afternoon. There were several hundred people in line ahead of me but the line moved pretty fast because there were so many booths. I went to the polling place on West Gray.

I'm really pleased with Obama's choice of Biden as his VP. While I think Hillary would have been a wonderful President or VP there would have been too much drama with BC's continuing bad behavior. Hillary supporters who are looking for someone to blame for her failure to obtain the nomination or to be offered the VP spot should look no further than her husband. He did more damage to her campaign than anyone else. BC was a wonderful president and the work he is doing with his foundation is also wonderful. I just wish he could have put his wife first for once in his life and helped her instead of hurting her during her campaign. The same goes for Edwards.

I have no idea whether anyone can undo the damage Bush has done to our country or to the rest of the world but if anyone can it's the democrats, not McCain.

The Daily Kos has some maps on the state of the presidential race based on the latest poll numbers: http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/8/1/12401/40833

Calle Vienna has an interesting post on the McCain ad that compares Obama to Paris and Britney: http://michilines.wordpress.com/
It seems that the Hiltons are not very happy about Paris appearing in the ad as they are big McCain supporters. Poor McCain can't seem to get anything right.

Obama is proposing a $1,000 emergency rebate check funded by a windfalls profit tax on big oil. I wonder how long it will take McCain to steal this idea.

Michelle Obama's Shortbread Cookies

In the last 4 presidential elections, readers of Family Circle Magazine have successfully predicted who the winner will be based on the winning recipe submitted by the spouses of the candidates. This year Cindy McCain has submitted a recipe for Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies and Michell Obama has submitted a recipe for Shortbread cookies. Because I'm an Obama supporter I'll include her recipe here. If you want to see McCain's you can go to the Family Circle Magazine website http://www.familycircle.com/

You can also register and vote on your favorite and look at recipes from past campaigns

Michelle Obama's Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients
1-1/2 cups (3 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1-1/2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons Amaretto (almond liqueur)
1 teaspoon each orange and lemon zest
3 cups cake flour (not self-rising)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 beaten egg white
Chopped nuts or dried fruit (optional)

Directions
1. Heat oven to 325 degree F. Line a 17 x 12 x 1-inch baking pan with nonstick foil. In large bowl, cream together butter and 1-1/2 cups of the sugar.
2. Slowly add egg yolks, and beat well until smooth. Beat in Amaretto and zest.
3. Stir in flour and salt until combined.
4. Spread dough evenly into prepared pan, flattening as smoothly as possible.
5. Brush top of dough with egg white; sprinkle with nuts or fruit (if using) and with remaining 2 tablespoons sugar.
6. Bake at 325 degree F for 25 minutes or until brown, turn off oven and allow cookies to sit in oven (with door ajar) for 15 minutes. Cut while slightly warm.

Latest Poll Numbers

These numbers were taken from polls conducted by NBC News and the Wall Street Journal and reported last night on Countdown with Keith Olberman.



Overall Obama is leading McCain 47% to 41%.

Obama is also leading in all of these groups:

Independents 41 to 36

Blue Collar 47 to 42

Catholics 47 to 40

Women 52 to 33

Latinos 62 to 28



I'm feeling hopeful. It will be so wonderful to have an intelligent, articulate person in the White House.

Pennsylvania [hearts] Barack

From the Booman Tribune.

Dear Fellow Pennsylvanian,
We live in small towns and rural areas throughout Pennsylvania and we support Barack Obama for President.
A few days ago, Sen. Obama made some comments that his opponents are now using to make him appear as if he is something he is not. Instead of speaking to us honestly about how they intend to solve the problems we are facing, they are playing the same old Washington games that accomplish nothing.
What Sen. Obama said is that over the last 25-30 years, working class people in places like Pennsylvania have been falling behind, and that politicians in Washington haven't been looking out for them. He also said that, as a result, many people have become frustrated, angry and even bitter about all the broken promises.
He was right.
The politicians who are now saying that we shouldn't be frustrated are the ones who are out of touch.
People in the towns and communities we live in have seen their jobs shipped overseas. We've seen our pensions disappear. We've seen our health care costs skyrocket. We've seen everything from the cost of gasoline to a gallon of milk go through the roof.
As our families have struggled to make ends meet and our communities fought to stay intact, how has Washington responded? By giving tax breaks to the wealthy, rewarding corporations who ship jobs overseas, and turning the levers of power over to the lobbyists and special interests.
It's easy to feel a little frustrated when you see these Washington politicians continue to ignore you. But it's not the only emotion we feel. When someone comes along who is untainted by the system in Washington, who doesn't take money from federal lobbyists or special interests and who promises that things can be different, we feel something else--hope.
That's why we're supporting Barack Obama. Others have come along and promised change, but failed to deliver. Sen. Obama is different than the rest. He doesn't take money from the special interests, and he speaks honestly about the issues we are facing.
In addition to supporting his plans for jobs, health care and education, we believe that he can deliver on his promises to ensure economic opportunity for family farmers, to provide support for rural economic development, to promote renewable energy in rural America, to protect the rights of hunters and other law-abiding Americans to purchase, own, transport, and use guns for the purposes of hunting and target shooting, and to preserve open land for hunting and fishing.
Unlike his opponents who have been part of the Washington establishment for decades, Barack Obama understands the struggles we are going through. We welcomed him with open arms as he made his way through small towns and rural areas on his recent bus tour across the state. And we will work day and night from now until the primary on his behalf not only because he has heard our frustrations, but because he speaks to our hope that Washington can actually work for people like us.
Sincerely,
Ted Alter, State College
Westmoreland County Commissioner Tom Bayla, Greensburg
Mayor John Brenner, York
Lloyd Casey, West Chester - President, Pennsylvania Forestry Association
Mayor John Fetterman, Braddock
Mayor Rick Gray, Lancaster
Scott Harrison, Warriors Mark
State Representative Bryan Lentz, Swarthmore
State Senator Sean Logan, Monroeville
Carl Majji, Claysville - Corporal, U.S. Army
Mayor Thomas McMahon, Reading
State Senator Bob Mellow - Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Leader
U.S. Representative Patrick Murphy, Doylestown - U.S. Congressman (PA-08)
Perry County Commissioner Steve Naylor, New Bloomfield
Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien, Dunmore
Fran Rodriquez, Lancaster
State Representative Josh Shapiro, Abington - Deputy Speaker, Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Major General Walter Stewart, Berks County - Former Commander, 28th 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
State Representative Dan Surra, St. Marys
State Representative Thomas Tangretti, Greensburg
Lackawanna County Commissioner Michael Washo, Scranton

Jeremiah Wright

I listened to the "controversial" remarks Wright made and while the timing of some of his statements wasn't the best, I disagree with very little he said. A lot of people I know feel the same way and while we don't feel the 9/11 attacks were justified, the loss of life from them is a fraction of the loss of life the US government has inflicted and is still inflicting around the world. There are an estimated 1 million deaths in Iraq alone, most just ordinary people trying to live their lives. Where is the outrage over this? This country bullies the rest of the world and has been doing so for years. We have interfered in the politics and lives of the people of South America, Central America, and the Middle East causing countless deaths. That's all Wright was pointing out. I understand why Obama had to denounce his comments and why Wright had to step down from Obama's African American Religious Leadership Committee. With all the hatefulness spewing from the Clinton campaign he can't afford to be associated with anyone controversial. I hope this doesn't hurt him in the primaries or in the general election if he is the nominee because it will be hard to cast a ballot for any candidate who voted to authorize Bush's crime against the people of Iraq. I will vote for the democratic nominee but I'm afraid many others won't, especially African Americans, because of the racist remarks made by HRC's campaign. It makes me sad and very afraid we will end up with 4 more years of a republican run country, something we can't afford and the rest of the world doesn't deserve.

Texas Caucus

I voted early and then went to my polling place to caucus last night. Everything was pretty disorganized because it's the first time so many have showed up for this. We all caucused and I decided to stay and see if I could become a delegate. Everybody who stayed became either a delegate or an alternate including me. On March 29th we will all meet downtown and vote again and choose people to go to the convention.. I'm pretty sure I won't be chosen but it will be nice to have the experience anyway.
Sissy Farenthold was there last night and is also one of the delegates from my precinct. For those of you who don't know who she is, here is a little information.
native Texan, graduate of Vassar, one of 3 females in her graduating class from UT Law, ACLU lawyer from 1965-1967, legal aid director Nueces County, ran for several offices and won a seat in the Texas House of Representatives, served with Barbara Jordan as the only 2 women in the legislature at the time, part of the organizing conference for the Texas Women's Political Caucus who then later endorsed her for governor, chair of the National Women's Political Caucus, delegate to the DNC in 1972 and nominated for, and vote on for Vice President of the US at that convention, a first for women, president of Wells College, founder of the Public Leadership Education Network, delegate to the DNC in 1984 and 1988, received the LBJ Lifetime Achievement Award for her service to the Texas Democratic party in 1998, human rights observer in El Salvador, Honduras, South Korea, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Cuba, and the former Soviet Union, and, board chair of the Rothko Chapel. Whew!
What an honor to serve as a delegate with her. The picture is of her.

Presidential election

As far back as I can remember, Houston has never mattered in a presidential primary or election. The last few weeks, it's practically impossible to go anywhere without running into one of the candidates or a family member. Last week Bill was at the Fiesta close to where I work and today Bill and Chelsea attended church at Lakewood very close to my house. Osteen thanked BC for his service to the country. He doesn't tell members who he thinks they should vote for but does encourage them to vote. I doubt if too many from Lakewood will vote for Siegler in the DA's race. McCain was at Rice last week and Hillary and Obama have spoken in Houston numerous times in the last month. It's very exciting. I hope we aren't forgotten again when the presidential election comes around.
A person I was talking to the other day said she would love to see Condoleeza Rice run for president. I wonder if other people feel this way. I think Rice belongs in prison with Bush and Dick but I didn't say this. At the very least she has shown pretty poor judgement and we've had enough of that for a lifetime.
Another person pointed out the resemblance between Obama and King Tutankhamun and wondered if Obama would move the capital from DC and change our religion if elected. I think he was joking.
Hillary was on SNL last night and was pretty funny. I wish she would be like that more often. Most of the time I don't find her very likable. I'm sure she is but she doesn't come across that way enough.

Doing my civic duty

I had jury duty yesterday and since I got there a little early, walked across the street and voted.
I didn't get choosen for a jury but had a nice time anyway talking to the people sitting by me. One woman was from Crosby and said how much she liked to read so I asked her if she used the Crosby branch of HCPL. She said she did but that she had read everything in the library that she liked. She didn't know that she could request books from other branches and that she could do it all online. I also told her that a lot of the books she likes are also availabe on CD. She seemed very happy to learn all of this so I suspect the Crosby branch will be seeing a lot more of her.
It's an exciting time in Houston with all the presidential candidates and their families campaigning here. Bill Clinton spoke this morning at the Fiesta very close to where I work. I would have gone before work and heard him if I had known in time, even though I voted for Obama yesterday. McCain will be at Rice sometime this week to speak to the students. Hillary, Chelsea, Barack, and Michelle have all spent a lot of time here the last few weeks.

Obama vs. HRC vs. McCain in the polls

According to a new poll by Time, if the election was held today, Obama would get 48% of the vote to McCains 41%. If HRC is the nominee, she and McCain would each get 46%. Independents prefer Obama over McCain but prefer McCain over HRC which may account for the difference. Democrats prefer Clinton over Obama 48% to 42% and 62% would like HRC to name Obama as her running mate. Only 51% would like Obama to name HRC as his running mate.
I know it's just one poll and polls are often wrong but I'm convinced even more that Obama needs to be the nominee.

Mitt Romney

Mitt Romney withdrew from the presidential race today saying: "In this time of war I simply cannot let my campaign be a part of aiding a surrender to terror. Because I love America, in this time of war I feel I have to now stand aside for our party and for our country."

What a nobel man and what a nobel gesture. He's taking himself out of the race because he would rather support McCain who will keep us in Iraq for years and years to come than have a democrat in the White House.

Barack Obama

My neighbor here at work sent me this link to pictures of Barack and his family: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/070323obama-early-photogallery,0,5458360.photogallery
These pictures show what a diverse background he has.
I wish he had won more states/delegates last night. The upside is that Texas may play a decisive role when we have our primary in March and my vote won't be wasted. I heard this morning that there may be a debate here before the primary which I would love to attend.
According to the people who study these things, as an older white woman I should be suppporting HRC and not Obama. For me it's all about the war. Her vote in congress was wrong and she knew it. She voted that way because she thought it was the best thing for her politically. Even now she won't admit her mistake. I don't want another person in the White House like this.

Al Gore

In case you haven't heard, former Vice President Al Gore won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, a prize he shares with the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. I can't help but think how much better off the world would be if he had actually become president after he won the election in 2000. While I would be happy with any of the current democratic presidential hopefuls I would love to see Gore run in 2008 and think he has the best chance of winning and returning the White House back to the American people. There is a petition you can sign http://www.draftgore.com/ if you feel the same way.