Obama on the Daily Show

Not long after his "infomercial" played around the country, Obama linked up with John Stewart on the Daily Show. As would be expected from the Daily Show, Barack's appearance was fun to watch. In addition to the humor, Obama discussed a few topics of the campaign trail and a few of the issues facing our country. He also impressed upon the audience his intentions if elected.

URL: http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=189761

Obama speaks to the nation

Barack Obama has thirty minutes of prime time television, including the lead-in to the World Series tonight. (By the way, if you've been seeing the smears or are yourself angry that Obama "delayed" the World Series to speak to the nation with this, then you should probably read the Daily Kos post "A Swing and a Miss" by Scout Finch.)

Embedded and linked below you'll find the video which was shown on seven major channels and in many places on the internet. In the 30 minute spot, Obama visits families across America and addresses the struggles they face.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtREqAmLsoA

Even if you don't watch all of it, at least try to view the beginning [YouTube] and the end [YouTube] of it. I hope you see that Barack Obama is a man who cares where we go and how we get there, a man who can bring our country together.

Sit, Walk, Run, and Fly

Rosa sat so Martin could walk.
Martin walked so Obama could run.
Obama runs so our children can fly.

This came from a story on NPR

I have shamelessly copied EXACTLY what you see here from a post I just saw in the DemConWatch Blog. Specifically, this post [DemConWatch] because I think this statement needs to be read and spread.

Generation We

Remember what I said about placing your "Vote for Tomorrow"? What about when I told you to think about future generations when I pointed out "what is in the power of a vote"?

Well, the next in line of those future generations is speaking out. Listen to what they have to say.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vknHKTy1MLY

Happy Halloween! Creepy Pet Store

In the modern creepy Halloween traditions, I present to you this video of a rather unusual sort of Pet store.

URL: http://vimeo.com/2000382

In his own way, British artist Banksy has provided a bit of commentary on our societal relationship with animals. Giving credit where it is due, I came across this video while sifting through my feed items today, a post from Treehugger happened to catch my eye.

Wassup in 2008?

Remember the "Wassup" Budweiser ad back in 2000?
Well, let's check back in with the dudes and see where they are now, eight years later.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qq8Uc5BFogE

Colin Powell endorses Obama on Meet the Press

Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama took place on Meet the Press today.

He explains his opinion in detail on camera and focuses in on why he came to the conclusion of voting for Obama. It's a significant discussion, as he touches on a great deal of concerns felt by Republicans, Democrats, and independents.

I am very impressed that he made his decision with such care and consideration. You can watch the video of his endorsement in a couple of locations.

YouTube:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz49wFWgSR8

OR

MSNBC Video site
(There's a short ad before the MSNBC video, but the quality is much higher than the YouTube version.)

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27265490#27265490

Courage and sacrifice

To the many soldiers -- both past and present -- who continue to face each day with courage and sacrifice: Thank you.

Army Sergeant Erik Schei, this one is posted for you.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h12mEegemI0

For more information and to check facts on this ad: http://www.tomudall.com/PDF/HumbledFactSheet.pdf [PDF]

2008 Presidential Election Current Standings

Election Day is nearly upon us, so with that in mind I have created a Google Spreadsheet similar to the ones I created in February for the primaries.

USA Presidential Election 2008

Like the spreadsheets created in February, this one could be called somewhat overly detailed. Within it you can see the current poll standings state-by-state for the two major candidates. Also, you can see how many states they are projected to win based on those polls. Finally, when the tallies come in on November 4th, you'll be able to view the winners for both popular and electoral votes.

While we are all looking forward with excitement to what is to come, it is also fun to take a look back at where we have been. So, on that note, I'd like to show you a video that gives you a behind-the-scenes at the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCeNPAaGVVY

One final note, I want everyone to keep their energy and their hope. We can do this. Yes We Can! [INDY Blog]

Obama Wins Scholastic News Election Poll

This was just fun to see: Obama Wins Scholastic News Election Poll [scholastic.com]

It's official. At least for the kids! The Scholastic Presidential Election Poll results are in: Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama won with 57 percent of the vote, to 39 percent for Republican nominee Senator John McCain.
....
Since 1940, the results of the student vote have mirrored the outcome of the general election all but twice: In 1948, kids voted for Thomas E. Dewey over Harry S. Truman. In 1960, more students voted for Richard M. Nixon than for John F. Kennedy. In 2000, a majority of student voters chose George W. Bush, mirroring the Electoral College result, but not the result of the popular vote.
....
So why is a kid poll important? And does it mean anything come November 4? Kid Reporter Lya Ferreyra knows.

"Not only does [voting in the] poll give kids the experience they will need to vote in the future, but it allows them to have input on who should be the next President of the United States," she said. "It gives kids a voice, which is important, but we won't know the actual outcome until November 4. No one can predict that."

America's "favorite" hockey mom

In case you missed it, Palin dropped the puck at the Philly Flyers' opener this last weekend. The most notable part of her visit? The deafening boos from the crowd as she walked on to the ice.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gd4wQd_gbj8

Better still are the Obama/Biden signs in the field of view of the official photo op.

Vote for tomorrow

Remember what I said when I tried to answer the question of "What is in the power of a vote?".... This video embodies the urgency and emotion of that plea to carefully consider and use your right to vote.


URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYnfhFlS6U8

Strategy vs. Impulse

Your boss comes into your office, you're now tasked with heading up a new division. You've made the big time. You've been given a great responsibility, people have started looking to you to guide them.

Weeks later, an important decision is placed before you. It's something your superiors have placed a great deal of investment in. You're called into a meeting with your boss and a handful of other division heads. The time is at hand to make the call, but you're receiving a bit of push-back from the other divisions. Your boss watches you intently wondering what you plan to do.

How do you respond? Do you consider your words, weigh-out the alternatives? Or do you lash out angrily at the nearest opponent?

Have your answer ready? Well, then it's time to consider this:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAyK-enrF1g

Getting back on track

Hillary Clinton takes us through the emotions which could be felt on November 5th.

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFBv8bgHgfQ

After so much back-and-forth during the primaries, it's refreshing to see her really standing strongly behind Barack Obama.

What is in the power of a vote?

I wanted to cross-post something which I wrote elsewhere. It addresses my overall view of the power held in our right to vote.

Here's a really simple rule of thumb for politics:
Vote for the candidate who you feel will best represent your voice in the office they are running for.

That may mean that you are voting for someone who is not a Republican or a Democrat. What it will mean, though, is that you are voting in a way which you can stand by. If you do not see any candidates you think you can support in that race, write in someone who you can support or get involved in politics yourself.

In the end, you've tried to make your voice heard. That's the best that all of us should strive for. Voting for "the other guy" so as to pick "the lesser of two evils" is just a cop-out for not learning about your choices.

The importance of our right to vote does not sit in our ability to pick which hand is hiding the coin, but rather in our ability to make educated and informed choices (all-be-it, with opportunity costs) for those people we can stand by as individual parts of a larger community.

If you feel so disillusioned by the system and the players currently presented by it, you have two final choices: (1) choose to ignore the system, (2) get involved in it and change it from within. If you don't like the game either stop playing or change the rules.

To repeat the important part of this message:
It is important that as voters we pick the candidate who we each feel will best represent our own voice in the office they are running for.

I have to admit, though, this opinion I hold creates a dilemma because I genuinely fear what decisions would be made by a McCain presidency. It would seem likely that our society would continue to boil over with anger and frustration, emotions we would externalize into wars (fiscal and literal) on an ever increasing number of enemies. It's highly likely that military strategy and fear-mongering would take the driver's seat while the problems felt in the home are dragged behind the vehicle.

Benevolence and kindness are not things which trickle down through monetary riches, they come from within each of us. Whether through faith in a higher power or faith in the power of the human spirit. It's time for us to put down the sword of vengeance and help each other back to our feet. I realize that it is very scary to let go of what you know, to accept that the past is past, but you need to look to the future now.

What gift do you want to give to the next generation? We're still feeling the effects of the decisions made for us before: Vietnam, Desert Storm, even the Cold War. What legacy do you want to leave the generations to come? How do you want your time to be remembered?

Slipping in the mud

You may have noticed that John McCain and Sarah Palin have really ramped up the attack ads on Barack Obama. It seems that we've had to wade through deeper and deeper pits of mud every election. There was a time when certain people felt differently about negative ads....

"I just have to rely on the good judgment of the voters not to buy into these negative attack ads. Sooner or later people are going to figure out that if all you run is negative ads, you don't have much of a vision for the future or you're not ready to articulate it."
-- John McCain, Feb. 2000

That's right, John. Sooner or later people ARE going to figure out that you don't have much of a vision for the future.

Voters, THINK before you vote. Why would you wish more suffering upon your family, friends, children, and grandchildren? McCain will take us into more wars, more financial turmoil, and even more corruption. Your vote can make the difference.

The quote above was found coming from the mouth of John McCain here:

URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHW-RO1_WN0