in a telephone conversation with a friend, she said Obama needed to say something in his acceptance speech about protecting Social Security as is, saying something nice about atheists, and something about women's rights.

I would suggest he say something nice about Hilllary except I don't think he can do it without being condescending.

Speaking for myself, I would like to hear him say he is going to do something about violence against women in the military.

There is NOTHING that will convince me to vote for Obama. There are too many deal-breakers. The biggest being that he's hardly held a full-time job; he's got the resume of a 27 year old and I don't know who will be his Cheney.

The issue for me (and I AM interested in whether this concerns Obama insiders) is whether I show up to vote at all. I'm so pissed at the Kansas Democrats who endorsed him -- or if they didn't endorse him didn't speak up against the outrage of this primary season -- that I JUST MIGHT not vote at all.

What happens in the swing states if people like me who can't vote Republican decide to Punish Everyone?

and nothing works for me. My attitude is I don't want the Obama wing to take over the party and do to the Party what Bush and Rove did to the RNC. I don't see coalition building, I see power grabbing. I therefore, frankly, want them to lose. No one should have that much power. The power he is garnering along with "the Movement" and the Axelrod techniques, makes me very uncomfortable.

I am only giving to Emily's list and I was a substantial DNC and Dem overall contributor. I do not want the Chicago mob to do to the DNC what the Texans did. Simple.

First, what I don't want - a big speech on sexism. Given his leveraging it and dogwhistling it during the primary, I already know he knows a great deal about sexism. But then I'm one who thought his race speech sucked.

What would impress me? Working with the DNC to revamp the nominating system - no more caucuses, primaries only (preferably closed) and if they stick with proportional representation, split it by state instead of CD. Also, the DNC is supposed to take up the primary schedule, have them actually fix it this time. To prove he's serious, have the DNC try to get it done in time to present it to the convention. And while we're talking about the convention, to the extent the talk about the DNC forcing Hillary's name off the ballot is true, he should say that won't happen. Taking the first viable woman candidate off the ballot would send a fucking lousy signal and reinforce every negative thing he did this campaign.

Announce that he realizes that he was right back in 2004 when he said he wouldn't be ready for the Oval Office in 2008, and urge the party to get behind the single best qualified person to be President in America today -- Hillary Clinton.

I'll even settle for him supporting Gore for the nomination, rather than Clinton.

The fact is that there is nothing that he can PROMISE that will make a difference, because he can't PROMISE to be something he is not -- a person with the knowledge, experience, and temperament to be President.

He could go back and fight telecom immunity now that he's the "head" of the party.

So the nomination reform makes me feel better about the party and the FISA better about Obama's policies.

And both could be done before I vote. Actions are what I care about. Promises from a politician - any politician - are for suckers.

VL...

you can now stop pretending to have anything to do with PUMA.

Our votes are not for sale -- and you're efforts to negotiate a price for them is anti-thetical to what PUMA is all about.

I don't know whether to be grateful that his campaign has ignored an entire piece of the American demographic, and thus revealed its true nature...or to wish fervently that he had at least pandered to my concerns. I include the entire campaign in these suggestions as I feel like I would get along fine with the candidate one-on-one...but his advisors are blind to my ilk.
Hillary as VP would seal the deal, but I don't expect it. The VP candidate will matter tremendously to me, however. There are several that would help his cause with me.
A few things I'd really like to see:
1)LESS CONCILIATION on far-out GOP ideas, this includes courting the religious rightwing
2) Acknowledgment that the candidate is indeed middle-aged.
3) FORMAL PLANS NOT VAGUE HINTS about what he will do in office on a wide range of issues: women's rights, workers' rights, the military, a war timetable, the economy, higher education costs, the Supreme Court, restoring civil liberties, rescinding the Executive Orders, banning of torture and prosecution of those who did it and those who enabled it, excellent healthcare for everyone, the environmental crisis. Hope is not a plan.
4) STOP taking long-term Dems for granted. There are many simple things he could do this that would help. Don't assume
5)Hmmm, to be ingnored or to be condescended to? Get a grip. Condescend to me and I won't like you very much. /understatement

A not-so-gentle reminder: 18 million votes are at stake.

(somebody already asked me this a while back)

Words matter and, of course, the language we use in discussing misogyny reflects our cultural attitudes: misogyny is seen as nothing more than bad manners because the basic human rights of women and girls are considered nothing more than technicalities. For his words to count, he must consistently take this "controversial" (read: just and principled) stand against blowback.

Call it out for what it is: bigotry. Have Obama insist that we, as a country, treat this intolerance and hatred seriously (on par with racism or antisemitism). Recognize that words like "b****" and "c***" are not common foul language, but slurs whose sole point is to dehumanize and demonize a group of people in order to justify their oppression.

Show the real-world implications of a society accepting, even glorifying, misogyny by highlighting the plight of women and girls throughout the world, whether they're facing the Taleban, the feminization of the AIDS epidemic, or the global rape slave trade. Lastly, vow to include gender as a factor in hate crimes legislation (think: the gender-based massacre of little Amish girls in October 2006 as a hate crime).

Oh, and have Obama specifically spurn those who see him as a "bros before hos" candidate. I hate that damn phrase.

I won't hold my breath though.

He can publicly push for Clinton as Majority Leader of the Senate as consolation of his not picking her as VP (which I hope he does NOT do). In other words, a concrete move which gives the "not Obama" wing of the party real power. I believe the party is so in the tank for him that they will throw Reid under the bus if he wishes it be so.

Promises about "what he will do to appease the little lady (ladies) won't do since Obama's words mean nothing to me, but I would vote for him if I knew there was a real check on his power. Not to be all "Hillarian", it is just a pure political calculation that Clinton is the only person with the force to be that check. And he knows it, which is why I seriously doubt he will ever willingly allow her to be in any position of real authority.

So, vastleft, if you would tell them that we need concrete actions to show we aren't getting thrown under the bus, I've just given you one positve example (actions) and one negative example (lip service).

-----------------------------

Around these parts we call cucumber slices circle bites

Having a split government is a good thing. Especially when the CIC isn't the right one for the job, considering his lack of judgment, adolescent personality, passive aggressive tendencies and the horrible company he's been comfortable keeping for 20+ years.

I'm curious though. How is it that you have gotten this opportunity to speak to Obama insiders? Specifically, have they sought you out? That would be a little creepy, no?

wow, that sums it all up. People voted for Hillary because they liked her specific answers to their concerns. So he needs to say something specific to convince at least some of the 18 million that he is not a con-artist.

Oh, and he could promise to reappoint Patrick Fitzgerald.

If BHO decides to adopt Hillary's health care plan and put her in charge of enacting this plan, then he's got my support. Right now he just has my vote, and barely so. If he pulls any more pissy Solis moves he's really pushing his luck with not just me but a lot of people who are barely leaning towards him.

Specifically, Legalize It.

(I'm being difficult knowing full well he won't do that so...)

HR 676 is infinitely superior to what she was suggesting, and once Hillary decides something is the right course of action, nothing can disuade her.

Frankly, I didn't want to elect Clinton because of her vote on the war, patriot act, and many other things. And she has been even worse on FISA than Obama.

I understand that at the mention of Hillary's name at last nights event there was booing. Well, there is no possibility of picking up those 18 million votes as long as that goes on. So maybe it is time, past time, for Obama to think about the Frankenstein he has created before it turns on him.

Ed Rendell that "We don't need the people. We just need the checks."

http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/el...

Rendell, who plans to campaign on Obama's behalf and raise money for him, said tonight's event in Philadelphia is a joint fundraiser for Obama and the cash-strapped Democratic National Committee.

But in a sign of the urgency to raise campaign cash, Rendell said Obama didn't want to reschedule tonight's fundraiser, even though the governor warned him that many Philadelphia donors were headed to the New Jersey shore for the weekend. Rendell said Obama told him: "We don't need the people. We just need the checks."

Uh, you think Rendell was pretty PO'd to relate that little tidbit to the press?

Has the Obama campaign done a WORM on this yet?

I am feeling so NOT supportive of this candidate.

People, people who need people,
Are the luckiet people in the world....

Sorry, there is nothing he can do to win my vote. That ship has long sailed.

He has no experience or qualifications that would even entice me to give him a second look. His arrogance is driving me further from the scene. His vote stealing and caucus arm wrestling along with his questionable ties to the Chicago machine have completely turned me off.

The church and Rev. Wright and associates have made me fearful. Why would I vote for him? This man is an empty vessel pushed along by an accommodating media and dirty tactics.

Not sure if you really want or intend to pass this along but you asked.

via Craig Crawford--
" " I would have to hire the vetter to vet the vetters."

Obama's cavalier response utterly contradicted his campaign's supposed crusade for reform. Not only did those words come across as tone deaf to the very ethical issues that he has raised in this election, but his remarks sounded like the ethical relativism we so often hear from the Washington business-as-usual crowd that Obama claims to be running against." -- http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/200...

Why is it that with Johnson--as with Wright and Rezko and so many others associated with you-- you never admit a mistake?

And why is it you are choosing DC insiders like Johnson to begin with for such important tasks when everyday you speak of the broken system in DC? (Clinton's pick to vet VPs became Chief of Staff, and Cheney became VP himself)

...

the more I think of it, the more I think that a promise to reapoint Patrick Fitzgerald would go a long way to reassure poeple.

Why is it that so many people have absolutely false and mistaken impressions about what you'll do as President? And what will you do to be clear about it?

see this-- "But once the former first lady quit the race, Authenreith switched allegiance to Barack Obama, mainly because she thinks that he -- unlike Republican John McCain -- will push for universal healthcare." -- http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-...

As Paul Krugman put it "the world wants to be deceived so let it be deceived" and not just by Bush.

Or as Bob Somerby would say, we've become a country that makes shit up.

I appreciate what you are trying to do and think it is good for the country. But that is just me.

I respect your position and appreciate your efforts, since apparently some of us, including me, are in the "bargaining" phase now. Although I'm not going to say these "Obama Insiders" are placating you, count me skeptical. Which is why ACTIONS, not WORDS or PROMISES are what I require. I'm certain we will be hearing lots of WORDS and PROMISES as the reality of how deep a fucking hole they dug sinks in.

Apparently Paul and some others are in "no sale" mode. I respect that also greatly.

I'm always for sale though, even if I don't come cheap.

Oh, BTW, you could also tell them that we aren't happy with Obama taking over the DNC and moving it to Chicago to become more thoroughly corrupted than it already is, and we would like to see Dean, Brazille, and Pelosi dumped as well as Reid for Clinton.

Those would also be good gestures on his part. Pass that along too please.

-----------------------------

Around these parts we call cucumber slices circle bites

... thank you very much. I will read them in detail and will do my best to carry the message to those who would listen. My opportunities to do that may not be grand or immediate, but I'm trying to find ways to get that message through.

And to those who can express their "hell, no, we won't go" messages without vilifying me for being honest about my vote plans and being active in trying to make the vaunted leverage a reality, thank you for your honest opinions, as well. If you're not budging, you're not budging. It's your vote after all, and after this primary campaign, I can't begrudge your seeking alternative paths to a progressive future. I may debate you, but I won't begrudge you.

[I'll say "most of us" and "we" here, working on the assumption that I'm a reasonable proxy for the Hillary supporters to whom Obama wishes to appeal; with the exception that, being male, I'm not part of the dry pussy demographic.]

Basically, as I said, I'll tepidly vote for Obama because Republicans torture animals and Democrats don't. I realize that's a pretty low baseline, but that's where we are.

The Obama operatives should also understand that it's going to be very difficult to communicate through the press, since the press openly rooted for Hillary's defeat and we don't listen to them anymore, or through speeches, since we've already heard the speeches, and we don't listen the speeches any more either. We've heard it all. Basically, as Hillary supporters, we're looking for concrete proposals or actions for which we can hold Obama accountable, and ASAP. Boring bullet points about policy, in other words.

Now, I regard Obama as "legitimate enough," despite the RBC breaking its own rules to steal votes from Michigan voters. The SDs decided; and here we are. Anglachel makes the following point about the legitimate exercise of power which the Obama campaign would do well to heed:

You gain legitimacy by being willing to risk power. This is the root cause of Obama's failure to be a unifying figure even as he preaches Unity. Obama would have lost some power in relation to Clinton early on by being willing to seat Florida and revote Michigan (I have said before that had he agreed to an immediate MI revote he would have won that state), but he would have gained an immeasurable amount of legitimacy with the voters, which would be paying off now. Clinging to a formal numbers count and defending that as the measure of victory rather than leaping for the chance to be affirmed by the voters is may garner a party nomination, but it makes Obama look like a beleagured dictator bleating about how he won an election that everyone knows was dirty and compromised.

Unity is power to quell dissent, legitimacy is power under conditions of dissent.

That said, my thoughts. I think most of these conditions will be impossible for Obama to meet, but I'm not playing the hard-to-get game.

First, a few personal remarks:

1. Stop being an asshole.*

2. Stop your supporters from behaving like assholes, by booing when Hillary's name is mentioned, swarming and trolling sites, and generally demeaning Hillary supporters and giving the foily among us every reason to think that Axelrod's running an Astroturf operation on the blogosphere. And if he is, defund it immediately. The OFB don't need to be paid to hate us, believe me.

Party machinery:

1. Immediately and explicitly support the abolition of the caucus system in favor of true, secret ballot primary elections. We took note that immediately upon becoming presumptive nominee, you confirmed HoHo as DNC Chair, and imposed your (fake, easily evaded) corporate contributions policy on the party, but did nothing about the undemocratic and much abused primary caucus system.

2. Stop with the "unitary" party. Anybody who's been paying attention over the last eight years has to be concerned with the consolidation of power in Bush's unitary executive. Therefore, moving the DNC to Chicago and folding it into your campaign -- I wonder how the people who bought HoHo's "DNC bonds" feel about that -- as well as making all 527 money go through your campaign makes a lot of people very antsy. Why not cancel the Chicago move? And forcing your social networking tactics on all of us for this registration drive -- that isn't for Democrats, but you -- gives me the creeps. I live in a small town. What if your database throws out the name of the guy to contact me, he comes to my house and starts screaming at me because Hillary killed Vince Foster, and he's my building inspector? I guess I should just shut up and write the check?

Campaign issues:

1. The RFK smear. The Obama campaign's final -- we hope -- smear of Hillary, the RFK matter, was vile and grotesque. Somebody must pay for this, and be seen to pay, with a formal and explicit firing. I suggest David Axelrod, but an underling will do. And none that "over-zealous" crap the Republicans use, either. You need to say this was wrong, and admit your fault.

2. Hillary Hate. Maybe the way to frame the problem is that you've made the Democratic Party a hostile work environment for Hillary supporters (and most of us, I think, believe that's by design). I really don't have time to deal with people who get red-faced and start shouting because Hillary killed Vince Foster, and unfortunately, I've experienced that sort of thing often -- by my anti-social standards -- from Obama supporters. I don't know how to tell you how to fix this, but I do know that a single exhortation to be nice won't cut it.

3. The misogny. Frankly, I don't know how to tell you to fix this, or what the metric would be; it's a community norm with you guys. Speeches won't cut it, because at this point it's all "Honey, I've changed!" Unfortunately for you, with issues like this, if you believed there was a problem, you would have dealt with it before you needed our votes.

Policy:

1. Social Security. Explicitly take privatization off the table. The "retirement security" language on your site gives me the creeps, because it sounds like creeping privatization, which I am sure that at least some of your advisors advocate.

2. Universal Health Care. Explictly support HR 676. Don't try to punt by mentioning Elizabeth Edwards and saying that you're going to work it out. How do we hold you accountable for that?

3. No retroactive immunity for telcos. As the presumptive nominee, you're the putative leader of the party, so stop the Beltway Dems from selling the country down the river on this one. Here's one place where a speech, on the Senate floor, might actually do some good. NOTE: The only acceptable outcome is to allow the lawsuits to proceed. That rules out both the Bush proposal to let the FISA court suppress the suits, and Jello Jay's proposal to let the regular court system do it.

This is simple, baseline stuff, that might possibly move me, in the aggregate, from tepid to mildly enthusiastic. We'll get to how you could actually govern as a progressive later -- the truth and reconciliation commission, income redistribution, and all that.

NOTE Jeebus, buddy why make it hard for yourself? "We don't need the people, we just need the checks"? WTF? Is that really the frame you want to be reinforcing?

[x] Very tepidly voting for Obama [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.

These have been mentioned, but it's what works for me:

Support single-payer health care.

Work to kill telecom immunity.

Protect Social Security without any privatization shenanigans.

"Assholes get elected because assholes get to vote." - Timbuk 3.

But, yes, stop being an asshole would be an excellent place to start. Still, I'm beginning to think Obama and Axelrod are assholes, so how do you stop being what you are?

In any event, I'm neither a tepid Obama supporter nor a no-way-in-hell Obama non-voter. I'm someone who hates McCain and in theory, if nothing else, would like to cast a vote that would stop him. But when I think about voting for Obama, I feel physically ill, which is usually my body singalling to my brain that something isn't right. So for me, it's not so much that I don't want to hold my nose and vote for the shitty Democrat, I've certainly done it before, it's that I'm not sure I'll physically be able to do it this time.

This is why I probably won't be going to the polls at all in November:

I’m someone who hates McCain and in theory, if nothing else, would like to cast a vote that would stop him. But when I think about voting for Obama, I feel physically ill, which is usually my body singalling to my brain that something isn’t right. So for me, it’s not so much that I don’t want to hold my nose and vote for the shitty Democrat, I’ve certainly done it before, it’s that I’m not sure I’ll physically be able to do it this time.

Nothing. Is nothing good enough for you?

While I'd sooner cut off appendages than vote for a Republican, I can no longer support the national Democratic party with my time, energy, money or votes. I'll still work and donate to local candidates, especially qualified women candidates, but I'm through with the DNC and OINC.
I've pulled a straight D ticket my entire voting life but not this time.
And VL - just as a further aside you can tell Obama's people that my dad - who has pulled a D ticket in every election, local and national, for more than 40 years will also not be voting for Obama. When you've lost a former Sec Treas for his local union then that should indicate something important.

"singalling", seriously?

Although sin + galling does pretty much sum up what I think about the Democratic Party these days and, again, not just because of the nominating process and result.

speak for yourself.

1.) A public apology for the RFK/racism charges by all involved.

2.) A detailed discussion of how a woman with Obama's resume would be able to win a nomination in the past and in the future.

Many more.

Anybody else received your official Obamamail yet? Anybody else sending messages sans cheque back in their postage-paid envelope?

See, Obama doesn’t NEED you to actively support him

Exactly.

According to Rendell, that is precisely how Obama views "The Others" (those who resist his temptation)

Just write the damn check!!!!

I'm going to try and put this as politely has possible:

"Progressives" haven't learned a god damn thing since 2000.

Nothing.

All the time spent chasing around repubs, when the whole entire time the dems were just as fuckin worthless. (maybe more so, at least repubs do what they do with a sense of fuckin discipline)

Voting for, AKA enabling, Obama is about the worst fuckin thing "Progressives" could possibly do.

Is the writing not on the damn wall already? Has Obama not telegraphed his actions over and over again? Do you refuse to witness what is right in front of your faces?

What is needed (and what I suggested yesterday, without reply) is a complete and total break from the DNC (as currently constituted).

Giving your vote to Obama will result in more dead babies!!!!! (see what I did there CD?? Huh!!??)

I'm beyond disgusted and there is nothing Obama could do at this point to appeal to me. But, I'm kind of a hard core Dem.---loved the idea of sticking up for the invisible people. Loved the FDR, or rather Al Smith, coalition. Loved the idea of swimming upstream. Loved the idea of leveling the playing field so that 'all men are created equal'can actually work. Loved the idea of being our brothers keeper and I know I am being redundant here, but ultimately love the idea of leaving the world better than we found it.

Sorry for the soap box, but I do really care.
My husband said to me last night that he has never heard of a less qualified candidate being run by our party (he sometimes says interesting things), and I have to agree, but it makes me sad.

and I say, nice try -- but I would have no clue to how he could walk it back, make amends and regain a certain minimal level of trust [for a politician, that is], after what has happened.

Why would he want racists and bitter clingers on his team anyway? Nothing about me has changed, why would my support now be appealing or attractive?

There's playing to win, by playing smart or playing dirty. He and the DNC played dirty and I can't give them my respect. Just like I can't respect Bush and republicans. I always believed I was a yellow-dog dem, but maybe my write-in vote for Angela Davis in 1972 should have been a clue.

Now if the dems wish to interpret that at least it's not a vote for McClueless, they shouldn't count on my ability to rein in my anger or desire to punish, not just withhold. [Puh-leeeze, no cutting off my nose to spite my face comments.]

But it should cost them something. And there's only one thing I've got that they care about -- my vote. And I'm entitled to vote while PISSSSTTTT!

Can't wait to see if he gives the finger to McCain behind his back.

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Sigh, delete, if you must.

Corner Stone writes:

PatFitz has done nothing to stop the abuse of Executive power in the WH.

Fitzgerald is currently involved in an investigation of corruption in Chicago/Illinois politics (Rezko investigation). He just got a conviction on multiple counts, and it's likely the governor and other friends of Obama's will be indicted.

Reappointing Fitzgerald would demonstrate that Obama is confident that he is not implicated in the scandal, and that upholding the law is more important than protecting his friends.

This would take integrity and guts, so there's no way Obama will do it.

reappointing PatFitz would be an enourmous confidence builder.

But everyone in the Village hates PatFitz, so I don't see this happening. But anyone with any pull with the Obama organization, speaking only for myself, pledging to reappoint PatFitz would be a huge confidence builder.

preview is our friend

Leverage with the DNC (if it exists) and Democrats to STOP the Obama Nomination. If they can be convinced that Obama is unelectable then MAYBE they could be convinced to nominate the Electable candidate.

(It's the longest of longshots)

The ONLY way I could ever bring myself to consider voting for BO would be for BO to:

1. Publicly apologize for the catty, sexist remarks he made during the primary and for not standing up to the media, specifically calling out MSNBC and the DNC.

2. Publicly apologize for his campaign's use of racism to inflame voters, specifically removing JJ Jr. from the campaign. Publicly admit that claims of racist "dogwhistles" and the resultant "outrage" were the product of his campaign's determination to increase his vote. Publicly chastize the media, specifically MSNBC for it's part in perpetuating these smears.

3. Publicly, and BY NAME, disavow blog communities DKos, TPM, AmericaBlog, DU, etc., for their participation in sexism and race-baiting. Devote blogging resources to police prominent sites so that the campaign can immediately learn of further such conduct and act accordingly.

4. Appoint Hillary to head the DNC. Restore DNC operations to Washington DC. Ensure that Hillary has free reign to make any personnel moves at the DNC she thinks necessary. Ensure (and agree in writing) that Hillary can re-draft Democratic Party primary rules (including banishing caucuses as well as institute closed regional primaries).

This, VL, allows me to at least consider voting for BO. His lack of leadership in watching the Democratic Party abandon every valued principle at the time of a critically important election is a massive threshold issue for me.

"Is there anything that if you heard it or saw it would get you to vote for BHO, instead of holding to your current McCain-leaning / third-party-leaning / abstaining-leaning / or persistent not-sure position?"

No way, nohow, not ever.

Would Clinton want to head the DNC?

How about asking the disgruntled non-Obama supporters what they want, rather than doing so through an Obama-supporter intermediary?

report back on the amenability to accede to any specific demands...specially mine:

Hire Hillary's pre-vetted ecocompetent energy advisors

If for no other reason than to see their reaction. Maybe they'll be able to be reassuring in some way. Or they won't. Either way, more information that doesn't come from our famously free press is a good thing, IMO.

BTW, I think his advisors might be split between wanting to do more to reach out and not thinking it's needed.

There was a Talk Left piece awhile ago that had a quote from Claire McCaskill about how, of course, Obama would be reaching out to Clinton's women supporters. IIRC, this was not long after Axelrod or someone else had basically said they'll fall in line. Of course, they don't all have the same agenda. I suspect Claire McCaskill's statement was driven more by her need to fundraise and win the votes of a lot of those women. She's probably just as worried about her re-election as she is Obama's election (and she can't help but notice Obam has dropped in the polls in Missouri in recent months, following Wright).

Axelrod and some of the other advisors and backers probably don't have such prosaic concrens. There's a party to takeover, damn it!

BTW, I haven't forgotten my Emily's List post but I came back from DC with a wicked cold that's congesting not only my sinuses but my brain, not to mention knocking me out by about 8:30. It's coming, it's just slower than I'd hope. Claire McCaskill, fwiw, not popular with that crowd right now (it seemed to me she was much less popular than some other Emily's List candidates who had endorsed Obama).

over and above my subscription if you can work in the phrase "stop being assholes." There's a $100 if you somehow find a way to tape it and their reaction and put it on You Tube. Heh.

Although one with health insurance (thanks everyone!), while I agree if there's a speech of Obama saying he will stop being an asshole, you definitely deserve $500, it will probably have to be in a couple of payments.

They don't pay me as much as you might think to listen to your phone calls and read your emails.

A miracle.

Thanks for the offer VL - I really do appreciate your sincerity.

As for me - I'm done. I'm not voting and not engaging in speculation or "what ifs".

Wake me when it's over.

is act like he wants a vote from anybody in the traditional Dem base, including me.

He could stand up for GLBT rights.
He could stand up for equal pay for equal work for women and minorities.
He could stand the hell up for unions.
He could promise to restore the Constitution, respect and obey the law.
He could say he'd bring the troops home from Iraq NOW, dammit.
And then he could bleeding well do these things in his first 100 days.

But he's not a competent politician. So he won't. No worries, there.

We can admit that we're killers ... but we're not going to kill today. That's all it takes! Knowing that we're not going to kill today! ~ Captain James T. Kirk, Stardate 3193.0

Nothing will make me vote for Obama. It doesn't matter what he says, because I don't trust a word out of his mouth. It doesn't matter what he does, because I have no power to see to it that he keeps doing it. He burnt his bridges with me right down to the foundation stones.

Someone, Lambert I think, wrote above that we simply have no leverage with Obama. I think that's true. What I hope comes out of PUMA is a sufficiently organized mass of people, women especially, who can exert power the next time up. Withholding our votes or voting for John McCain this time isn't going to get us a decent president, but a show of power by the pissed-off wouldn't come amiss right now.