Rick Sanchez Catches McCain Spokesman Mike Goldfarb Lying

I'm starting to like this Sanchez guy. He's sick of McCain's $hit.
Seems Goldfarb was full of BS and could not answer a direct question from Rick. He was so full of it, I could see his cheeks grow with garbage as Goldfarb was interviewed.
Goldfarb came off as the "golden farce" if he was supposed to represent the GOP. They need another 'goldfinger" out there.
Again, Way to Go Rick!!
CNN's Rick Sanchez calls Goldfarb out for the hypocrisy of hyping a sinister connection between Obama and a guy that McCain funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars to, and from there, Goldfarb goes right off the rails, refusing to answer Sanchez's questions with anything other than intimations. Repeatedly asked to name a second anti-Semite that Obama allegedly "pals around with," Goldfarb does nothing but issue hollow, Page Six-style intimations.

What a gutless wonder. And here I'd been led to believe that this campaign took its cues from some kind of war hero.

McCain Camp Busses In School Kids To Fill Crowd

The crowd was bussed in from the local schools
since NO ONE showed up at his event....including Joe the tax-dodging fake plumber
All the parents of the kids that are Obama supporters or undecideds should complain to the school board and media about this! hell any parent should complain. esp taking a child off school grounds without parents permission

Shi$t!!! American Express to cut 7,000 jobs

NEW YORK – In a stark acknowledgment of the tough times ahead in the credit card industry, American Express Co. said Thursday that it plans to cut 7,000 jobs, or about 10 percent of its worldwide work force, in an effort to slash costs by $1.8 billion in 2009.

The New York-based credit card issuer said it is also suspending management level salary increases next year and instituting a hiring freeze.

The job cuts will be across various business units, but will primarily focus on management positions, the company said.

Additionally, American Express said it plans to scale back investments in technology and marketing and business development, and streamline costs associated with some rewards programs. The company also expects to cut expenses for consulting and other professional services, travel and entertainment and general overhead.

As a result, American Express plans to take a restructuring charge of between $240 million and $290 million in the fourth quarter.

The company has been gearing up for a big restructuring for some time, first announcing in July that it planned to reduce overall costs and staffing levels, and take a related charge during the second half of the year.

"We've been engaged for the past few months in an intensive, companywide review of priorities and staffing levels," said Kenneth I. Chenault, chairman and chief executive, in a statement. "The re-engineering program we announced today will help us to manage through one of the most challenging economic environments we've seen in many decades. It will also put us in position to ramp up investment spending as economic conditions improve so that we can take advantage of the substantial opportunities that will be available to us over the medium to long term."

Last week, American Express reported a better-than-expected 24 percent decline in third-quarter profit. But the report echoed recent results from JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citigroup Inc. and Capital One Financial Corp. showing that the credit card environment is worsening as cardholders have trouble paying off debt and pull back their spending.

Even a company like American Express, which prides itself on catering to a more well-heeled clientele, is not immune.

The company's customers tend to be more affluent than those of other card companies, but they are more heavily concentrated in California and Florida, where the slumping housing market is taking a toll. American Express also has a higher percentage of small-business customers, and small businesses tend to miss payments more than individuals, executives have said.

"Cardmember spending is likely to remain soft," Chenault said in a statement last week. "Loan growth will be restrained, in part because of the steps we are taking to reduce credit risks, and credit indicators are likely to reflect the continued downturn in the economy and throughout the housing sector."

American Express has been able to finance its operations amid the tight credit markets, but the efforts have been tougher and more costly.

Shares rose $1.23, or 4.9 percent, to $26.44 in morning trading. Shares have traded between $20.50 and $61.55 in the past 12 months.

"Vote However You Like" Video By Ron Clark Academy Students

Great song and wonderful performance! Congratulations kids!
Please do stay involved as you are growing up in the political process and be active all your lives in your communities. As citizens it is our civic duty to be.
You have already contributed to the political process by your positive message at your young age! (More than most people I encountered and you must be proud!)
All the best....



LIVE VERSION WITH INTERVIEW

McCain Must Really be proud of his supporters!!

How sad that this is what Republican rallies look like...and how horrifying that these people live in our backyard and are raising children. If I was McCain, I would be so embarassed and horrified that my supporters act like Nazis spewing hatred and ignorance. Like Bill Maher says, "the country is too stupid to be ruled". And these people call themselves Christians. How sad for America...this is reminiscent of the pre-civil rights era.

Top 10 Sex Fantasies for Women

Fantasy is a normal, healthy part of sex for men and women. In fact, many specialists claim that a rich fantasy life leads to better sex.What's She Thinking?1. Fantasizing About Your Current PartnerAs with men, this is the number one sex fantasy for most women: things you've done, or would like to do, to your partner. It seems that the available flesh-and-blood is often more of a turn-on than the

Stop Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation, or "PE" means coming to quickly. This is a problem suffered by many men. It is in fact the most common sexual problem, with 30 - 40% of all men suffering it. This is an article about how to stop premature ejaculation.1. Don't have too much foreplay. If you want to have quite a bit of intercourse before ejaculation, it's best not to turn on the person too much before

Eliminate Your Body Odor

Are you plagued by body odor that seems to pop up during the most inopportune times? Below are steps and tips on how to eliminate that body odor.1. Be sure to shower or bathe every morning. Use proper body cleansing agents such as shower gel. Wash everything completely. If you live in a desert or other water-starved area, a sponge bath for just the "smelly" areas should suffice.2. Apply

Public Computer Safety Tips

With spying software, a criminal can grab your passwords and usernames. Ultimately, you could lose your money or have your identity stolen. That should tell you enough to be wary of public PC terminals.Here are five things to consider when you sit down in front of a strange computer:1.Check for spy programs.Download X-Cleaner spyware remover from Xblock.com. Put it on a floppy disk. If the public

Teen gets time for grandma in 'gangster rap' video

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – A Florida teenager has been sentenced to 18 months in juvenile detention for coaxing his senile grandmother into holding a gun and threatening to shoot "all the pigs" in a homemade "gangster rap" video.

Eighteen-year-old Michael Alfinez pleaded guilty Tuesday to elder abuse charges. His family has said the case was a misunderstanding.

The 85-year-old grandmother can be seen in the video holding a handgun, wearing a black mask and threatening to shoot "all the pigs."

Alfinez was arrested in April after authorities seized the tape during a routine traffic stop. Alfinez and others also could be seen in the video shooting a pistol around town.

Alfinez also pleaded guilty to charges of firing out of a moving vehicle and into a building.

N-Word Shouted at Palin Rally

Yup!!!This pretty much sums up the John McCain& Sarah Palin campaign supporters. you have to either be dumb, deaf, blind, or all of the above to still support these Hate makers


Anylize version

West Virginia Vote Flipping Caught On Tape (VIDEO)

PLEASE PEOPLE KEEP AN EYE OUT ON YOUR VOTING MACHINE AND DON'T LEAVE THE BOOTH IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU THE REPUBLICANS ARE RIGGING THE ELECTION!!!

In this disturbing video, the potential problems voting machines could cause on Election Day is seen in stark light.

PEOPLE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE WATCH YOUR VOTING MACHINES!!!!!!

Voters this election cycle are braving many challenges. Lines have been long for early voting in some states, some voters face rigorous identification standards, and there’s even a dress code for voters in some states.

Being certain your vote is accurately recorded is the final hurdle to participating in what is shaping up to be an unprecedented level of voter interest and turnout in the presidential election; some callers to CNN’s voter hotline are reporting problems with this important final step in the voting process.

A caller from Beaumont, Texas reports that his mother, who he accompanied to the polls, had problems assuring the electronic touch screen machine was accurately recording her preference for Sen. Barack Obama. “She went to punch the selection for Obama and it flipped to McCain,” the caller said. “They need to do something about this. They need to separate the names. Put ‘em apart, pretty much. Side-by-side instead of stacked on top of one another. This issue needs to be addressed,” said the

RETHUG ARE GETTING NASTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIRST OF ALL VOTING DAY IS NOV THE 4TH NOT THE 5TH THE BOTTOM FEEDERS ARE TRYING TO FOOL PEOPLE. VOTE ON THE 4TH!!!!!!!!!! VOTE ON THE 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH 4TH !!!!!!

As the election nears, examples of political dirty tricks are emerging with greater frequency.

On Tuesday, the Virginia Pilot reported that a phony Board of Elections flier was circulating the state "advising Republicans to vote on Nov. 4 and Democrats on Nov. 5." Voting, of course, is on the 4th only, creating fear among neutral observers and the Obama campaign that people were simply going to miss the opportunity to go to the polls.

Earlier this month, meanwhile, an anonymous flier was circulating in predominantly African-American neighborhoods in Philadelphia telling voters they could be arrested at the polls if they show up to vote with outstanding arrest warrants or unpaid parking tickets. This is also untrue.

Dirty tricks and phony fliers represent the dark underside of nearly every election. And certainly, when it comes to the current contest, these tactics started long ago. Last March, as Time Magazine noted, a letter was being sent around Colorado, warning that out-of-state students could not register if their parents claimed them as dependents in another state." One of the more common falsities making its way through email chains has warned voters in some states (updated below) that they will be turned away from the polls if they wore paraphernalia demonstrating their support for one particular candidate.

UPDATE: Several readers have pointed out that, in fact, several states do prohibit passive electioneering (buttons, t-shirts, etc.) in polling places. In Texas, for example, the law is as follows:

[A] person may not wear a badge, insignia, emblem, or other similar communicative device relating to a candidate, measure, or political party appearing on the ballot, or to the conduct of the election, in the polling place or within 100 feet of any outside door through which a voter may enter the building in which the polling place is located.

Dominicans in Puerto Rico allege police brutality

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Dominican immigrants face police brutality, discrimination and other rights abuses on a daily basis in Puerto Rico, a Dominican diplomat said Sunday on the island, where many migrants come seeking jobs or a path to the U.S. mainland.

The number of abuses has risen as more migrants cross the 80-mile (30-kilometer) strait from the Dominican Republic to the more affluent U.S. territory, Dominican Vice Consul Franklin Grullon told The Associated Press.

"I don't believe it's the policy of government institutions, but it could be that some of the officers have something against immigrants," said Grullon, who plans to take his concerns to Puerto Rico's attorney general.

Fifteen recent cases of police beating Dominican migrants were outlined in a report the consulate submitted to Puerto Rico's Senate this month.

Police detained victims on the street and took them to federal authorities for deportation, even though they are not tasked with enforcing immigration laws, Grullon said.

The Puerto Rican Police Department insists it tolerates no abuse. Spokesman Stephen Alvarez said Dominican community groups have publicized similar complaints in the past without providing evidence.

Still, nine island police officers have been indicted since July on unrelated abuse charges, including allegedly beating suspects, and more than a dozen have been accused of planting drugs on low-income residents they then arrested.

On Saturday, dozens of people marched through colonial Old San Juan in a protest organized by a Dominican rights group to denounce police brutality.

Jose Rodriguez, a spokesman for the group, accused police of illegally raiding poor neighborhoods across the capital in search of undocumented migrants.

Puerto Rico's Dominican population has grown dramatically to more than 80,000, and is now the largest foreign-born group on the island of 4 million.

New arrivals work low-paying jobs in construction, coffee-picking and domestic service or use Puerto Rico as a stepping stone to the U.S. mainland.

Still, migration has slowed in recent years with the island's economy, while the Dominican Republic has recovered from a banking crisis that drove many into poverty.

Obama Assassination Plot Disrupted By ATF

Hopefully Sarah Palin reads about it and realizes racism is a form of domestic terrorism.




WASHINGTON — Federal agents have broken up a plot to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama and shoot or decapitate 102 black people in a Tennessee murder spree, the ATF said Monday.

In court records unsealed Monday, federal agents said they disrupted plans to rob a gun store and target a predominantly African-American high school by two neo-Nazi skinheads. Agents said the skinheads did not identify the school by name.

Jim Cavanaugh, special agent in charge of the Nashville field office for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the two men planned to shoot 88 black people and decapitate another 14. The numbers 88 and 14 are symbolic in the white supremacist community.

The men also sought to go on a national killing spree, with Obama as its final target, Cavanaugh told The Associated Press.

"They said that would be their last, final act _ that they would attempt to kill Sen. Obama," Cavanaugh said. "They didn't believe they would be able to do it, but that they would get killed trying."

An Obama spokeswoman traveling with the senator in Pennsylvania had no immediate comment.

The men, Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman 18, of West Helena, Ark., are being held without bond. Agents seized a rifle, a sawed-off shotgun and three pistols from the men when they were arrested. Authorities alleged the two men were preparing to break into a gun shop to steal more.

Attorney Joe Byrd, who has been hired to represent Cowart, did not immediately return a call seeking comment Monday.

Cowart and Schlesselman are charged with possessing an unregistered firearm, conspiring to steal firearms from a federally licensed gun dealer, and threatening a candidate for president.

The investigation is continuing, and more charges are possible, Cavanaugh said.

This undated photo obtained from a MySpace webpage shows Daniel Cowart, 20 of Bells, Tenn. holding a weapon. Federal agents have broken up a plot to assassinate Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. and shoot or decapitate 102 black people in a Tennessee murder spree, the ATF said Monday Oct. 27, 2008. In court records unsealed Monday, federal agents said they disrupted plans to rob a gun store and target a predominantly African-American high school by two neo-Nazi skinheads. The men, Daniel Cowart, 20, of Bells, Tenn., and Paul Schlesselman 18, of West Helena, Ark., are being held without bond. (AP Photo)

Fox News VP: If McCain Worker Story is a Hoax His Campaign is 'Over'

It has drawn wide local and national--even political attention, with some of the candidates for president/vice president weighing in or even calling -- but now the Ashley Todd story seems to be falling apart. Police in Pittsburgh are relating "inconsistencies" in her story -- to say the least -- and have given the worker for John McCain a polygraph. She had claimed that an Obama fan carved a "B" into her face.

And now John Moody, executive vice president at Fox News, has commented on his blog that "this incident could become a watershed event in the 11 days before the election. If Ms. Todd's allegations are proven accurate, some voters may revisit their support for Senator Obama, not because they are racists (with due respect to Rep. John Murtha), but because they suddenly feel they do not know enough about the Democratic nominee.

"If the incident turns out to be a hoax, Senator McCain's quest for the presidency is over, forever linked to race-baiting."

He titles his posting: "Moment of Truth." Indeed. Matt Drudge, who had trumpeted the story for nearly 24 hours, just added a new link titled "B...or B.S.?"

It started yesterday afternoon with Drudge screaming at the top of his site this afternoon in red type -- but no siren -- that a Pittsburgh campaign worker for McCain, age 20, had been viciously attacked and the letter "B" carved into her face, presumably by a Barack Obama fan. Her name, it soon emerged, was Ashley Todd and she had come to Pittsburgh from College Station, Texas, to help out.

It started to appear overblown (Drudge downgraded it to smaller, black type) as the police noted that it seemed to be a robbery ($60) and she did not seek medical attention. But later press reports said she would visit a hospital, Sarah Palin and maybe John McCain had reportedly called her and Obama has condemned the alleged assault, although McCain/Obama angle to story not yet confirmed.

Still later, conservative columnist Michelle Malkin, and some others, grew skeptical. For one thing, the "B" was carved a little too lightly and perfectly -- and backward, as if done using a mirror. Smoking Gun probed a too-pat "Twitter" angle and Gawker and Wonkette looked at her MySpace page.

Now police say that evidence from the ATM that she reportedly visited did not match her account. And it turns out she has changed her story, admitting that her assailant did not see a McCain bumper sticker and adding to he raccount a sexual assault and losing consciousness.

UPDATE from AP: "Pittsburgh police say a McCain campaign volunteer who said she was held down by a black man who cut the letter "B" in her face has changed her story. Police spokeswoman Diane Richard says investigators gave the 20-year-old woman a lie-detector test and are "looking at some inconsistencies" in her story.

"Police say bank surveillance footage doesn't show her at an ATM where she says she was attacked. Todd, who is white, now says she was knocked unconscious and doesn't remember being cut. She now says she only discovered the wound later."


UPDATE!!!!

Police say a campaign volunteer confessed to making up a story that a mugger attacked her and cut the letter B in her face after seeing her McCain bumper sticker.


At a news conference this afternoon, officials said they believe that Ashley Todd's injuries were self-inflicted.

Todd, 20, of Texas, is now facing charges for filing a false report to police.

Todd initially told police that she was robbed at an ATM in Bloomfield and that the suspect became enraged and started beating her after seeing her GOP sticker on her car.

Police investigating the alleged attack, however, began to notice some inconsistencies in her story and administered a polygraph test.

Authorities, however, declined to release the results of that test.

Investigators did say that they received photos from the ATM machine and "the photographs were verified as not being the victim making the transaction."

This afternoon, a Pittsburgh police commander told KDKA Investigator Marty Griffin that Todd confessed to making up the story.

Todd told investigators that she didn't remember what happened.

Police say they do not believe any other people were involved; and her friends believed the story about the attack.

WATCH VIDEO VOTE!!!!

Video the Vote

McCain supporter robbed, assaulted yea right!!!!!!!!!

ok a man at the ATM is only going to take $60, that she gave him and she walked away and then he saw her McCain sticker got mad and hit her in the back of the head. well how did her eye get blk? and why did she refuse medical attention if you had a knife carve in your face? wouldn't you be worried about a infection?? yea right and we also read that popo didn't even take pictures of her face! but I see matt druge has one NOW. the whole story is bullcrap if you ask us!.I can't wait for the surveillance camera photos. Also if you look at the letter "B" its craved backwards so that would mean it was done in a mirror. can some say (trying to start shit)




A knife-wielding man robbed a McCain-Palin campaign volunteer and etched a “B” into her face after he saw a McCain bumper sticker on the woman’s car, Pittsburgh police said.

Ashley Todd, 20, of College Station, Texas, was using an ATM at Liberty Avenue and Pearl Street in Bloomfield just before 9 p.m. Wednesday when a man approached her, put a knife to her throat and demanded $60, police said.

Todd handed the man $60 she had in her pocket and stepped away from him, investigators said. The man then noticed the bumper sticker on the woman's car, which was parked in front of the ATM. The man became very angry, made comments to Todd about John McCain and punched her in the back of the head, knocking her to the ground, police said.

"He continued to kick and punch her repeatedly and said he would teach her a lesson for supporting John McCain," said police Chief Nate Harper.

The man then carved the "B" into Todd's right cheek. Todd, who isn't familiar with the area, drove to a friend's house nearby and told her friend she wasn't sure of the exact location where the robbery took place but remembered a green sign above the ATM. The friend called police and the officer met them on Cypress Street in Bloomfield, police said.

Todd's friend offered to drive her back in the direction she came from to look at ATMs until she found the right one, police said. A police officer followed until Todd pointed out a Citizens Bank ATM at Liberty and Pearl, police said.

She declined medical treatment at the scene and said she would go to a hospital today.

Todd declined to comment.

"She is a volunteer for the McCain-Palin campaign," said campaign spokesman Peter Feldman. "Sen. McCain has reached out to her via telephone and has spoken to her and her family,” as has McCain’s running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Feldman said. “Out of respect for her privacy we're not going to comment further."

Democrat Barack Obama's campaign released a statement saying: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the young woman for her to make a speedy recovery, and we hope that the person who perpetrated this crime is swiftly apprehended and brought to justice."

Police described the suspect as black, about 6-foot-4, and said he was wearing dark-colored jeans and a black undershirt.

The ATM has a security camera and investigators are trying to watch the video, police said.

Celebs go to great lengths for Obama

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

Sarah Palin, it's safe to say, has been dominating the "Saturday Night Live" airwaves. Tina Fey's impersonations are instant water-cooler fodder, and Palin's personal appearance boosted SNL to its highest ratings in 14 years. How can the Obama camp match that?

Luckily for Obama, some celebrities are taking extreme measures to show their support for him. It's no surprise to see celebrities lining up for the Democratic ticket, but these stars are going above and beyond the normal call of duty.

First up, we have director Ron Howard resurrecting not one, but two, classic roles that he admits he'd rather leave behind: Opie Taylor from "The Andy Griffith Show," and Richie Cunningham from "Happy Days".

"I've never done this before and I hope to never have to do it again," Howard admits, "but I guess you could say I'm feeling pretty desperate these days."

Howard brings his old TV pals Andy Griffith (Sheriff Andy Taylor) and Henry Winkler (the Fonz) along for the ride. Obama supporter or not, the chance to see the Fonz again, talking it up in front of a classic car, leather jacket and all, makes this video worth a look.

Obama shows off dance moves after Michelle talks 'smack'

Barack Obama lauded his wife Michelle at his evening event for being a better speaker than he is. Apparently she is also a better dancer.

The Democratic presidential nominee taped an appearance for the "Ellen DeGeneres Show" after his rally on a makeshift set behind the press filing tent. DeGeneres told Obama that when Michelle appeared on her show "she was talking some smack" about his dance "moves."

Standing in front of a few rows of supporters, Obama danced to James Brown's "Get Up Offa That Thing" much to the delight of the talk show host.

"Let me tell you that Michelle may be a better dancer. But I'm convinced I'm a better dancer than John McCain," Obama said.

Do not wait until it become too late!

Let’s admit it that we all take part in reducing our world’s life! As we all responsible for the damage and created what so called as global warming, now is never too soon to start to live an eco friendly life!There is one website green-base.com you may take a look as this site has many interesting article news, eco friendly products and services to help you and me to live a new eco friendly

HOTNEWS

Britney Spears lolos dari jerat hukum atas kasus tilang LOS ANGELES — Britney Spears mencetak kemenangan simbolik dalam kasus pengadilannya akibat mengendarai mobil tanpa SIM yang berlaku, Selasa, setelah para juri tak mencapai kata sepakat untuk memberikan keputusan, sehingga mendorong hakim membatalkan tuduhan terhadap penyanyi bermasalah itu. Pada hari ketiga sidang, para juri menghadapi

OHHHH SHIT!!!! Wisconsin GOP Official Denounces McCain Robocalls, Endorses Obama

THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING!! KEEP RUNNING YOUR MOUTH MCcLame

A longtime Republican State Senator in Wisconsin history announced on Tuesday that she would be supporting Barack Obama, in part because of the negative tone of the McCain-Palin campaign and, specifically, the use of "dishonorable" anti-Obama robocalls.

"All of us should be extremely wary of the half truths and outright untruths that have been spread by the recent negative campaigning and shameful automated phone calls," said Barbara Lorman of Fort Atkinson. "While my admiration for Senator Obama has grown with his positive approach to addressing the challenges facing our nation, my disappointment with the McCain campaigned has deepened. The negative tactics are inappropriate, downright dishonorable and have no place in the State of Wisconsin."

In issuing her statement, Lorman became the latest in a growing line of GOP officials who have publicly denounced the recent tone and tactics of the McCain camp. In recent days, Sens. Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Norm Coleman, as well as former Secretary of State Colin Powell, have all been highly critical of the Arizona Republican's efforts to tie Barack Obama to former Weather Underground member Bill Ayers. Lorman is not, obviously, of the same national stature as these other officials. But her place in Wisconsin politics makes her an influential voice in an important swing state.

The fact that she is a lifelong Republican -- she left the Senate in 1994 and, until recently, was the longest woman serving senator in Wisconsin history -- now crossing party lines is also of interest.

"I'm a lifelong Republican, but Senator Obama is the right leader for our country and will deliver the change we need," Lorman said in a statement released by the state's Democratic Party. "After taking a careful look at the qualities of both McCain and Obama and who would be best for our country, I found that Senator Obama's ability to bridge the partisan divide to work toward solid solutions that will get our nation back on the right track meant he is the right choice this November."

OBAMA BABIES!!

Obama Leaving Campaign Trail To Be With His Sick Grandmother

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is canceling nearly all his campaign events Thursday and Friday to fly to Hawaii to visit his suddenly gravely ill 85-year-old grandmother, his communications director said.

Robert Gibbs told reporters aboard Obama's plane that Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Payne Dunham, who helped raise him, was released from the hospital late last week. But he said her health had deteriorated "to the point where her situation is very serious."

Events originally planned for Madison, Wis., and Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday will be replaced with one in Indianapolis before he makes the long flight to Hawaii. On Friday, Obama's wife, Michelle, will sub for Obama at rallies in Akron and Columbus, in Ohio, said campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki. Obama was expected to resume campaigning on Saturday, at an undecided location in the West, she said.

"Senator Obama's grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has always been one of the most important people in his life, along with his mother and his grandfather," Gibbs said. "Recently his grandmother has become ill and in the last few weeks her health has deteriorated to the point where her situation is very serious. It is for that reason that Sen. Obama has decided to change his schedule on Thursday and Friday so that he can see her and spend some time with her."

Citing the family's desire for privacy, Gibbs would not discuss the nature of Dunham's illness. It seemed likely that she was close to death, as Gibbs said that "everyone understands the decision that Sen. Obama is making."

It could be a momentous one in his bid for the White House against Republican John McCain, with Election Day just two weeks away on Nov. 4.

In a campaign ad this year, Obama described his Dunham as the daughter of a Midwest oil company clerk who "taught me values straight from the Kansas heartland" _ things like "accountability and self-reliance. Love of country. Working hard without making excuses. Treating your neighbor as you'd like to be treated."

She's also the "white grandmother" he referred to in a speech on race.

Obama last visited Hawaii in August, when he spent a week on vacation after he had clinched the Democratic presidential nomination.

TR4:THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE OBAMA FAMILY AND Mrs.MADELYN

Obama lawyer calls for internal Justice Department investigation

Obama campaign general counsel Bob Bauer called Monday for a government investigation into whether the White House is working with John McCain’s campaign to raise allegations of voter fraud, telling reporters attorney general Michael Mukasey needed to step in to ensure investigators are "not misused for partisan purposes."

Read: Bauer's Monday letter to Mukasey

A special prosecutor is investigating similar charges against the Justice Department over the controversial dismissals of several U.S. attorneys, including David Yglesias, who said he was fired for resisting pressure to prosecute ACORN, the embattled community group at the center of a sustained Republican campaign alleging voter fraud among supporters of Barack Obama.

Bauer spoke with reporters on a Monday conference call days after news broke that the FBI is taking a closer look at ACORN. Last week, he said the special prosecutor’s mandate should be expanded to include the rising government scrutiny of the community group.

On Monday, he sent a letter to Mukasey saying said that the inspector general needed to investigate, because the prosecutor didn’t have the jurisdiction needed to look into the department’s activities — whether it complied with its own policies.

ACORN has said it registered roughly 1.3 million voters this year, but has come under fire because some of the registrations turned in by contract workers hired by the group have contained false information.

Colin Powell Invokes Image Of Fallen Soldier

Today, Colin Powell officially endorsed Barack Obama for President. But the big news today is that this was not even his most important endorsement of the day. As it turns out, the most important thing endorsed by Colin Powell today was an America that's worth leading and worth fighting for, an America that encapsulates the idea of what some might call a "more perfect union." To that end, Powell invoked a picture to illustrate his point.

"Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no. That's not America. Is there something wrong with a seven-year-old Muslim-American kid believing he or she could be president? Yet I have heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion that he is a Muslim and might have an association with terrorists. This is not the way we should be doing it in America.


I feel particularly strong about this because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who were serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay, was of a mother at Arlington Cemetery and she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone, and it gave his awards - Purple Heart, Bronze Star - showed that he died in Iraq, gave his date of birth, date of death, he was 20 years old. And then at the very top of the head stone, it didn't have a Christian cross. It didn't have a Star of David. It has a crescent and star of the Islamic faith.

And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan. And he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was fourteen years old at the time of 9/11, and he waited until he could serve his country and he gave his life."

This is the picture:

MCCAIN IS A STUPID OLD MAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THIS IS SHOCKING AND IT LOOKS LIKE WALLACE IS THE ONLY ONE FROM FOX FAKE NEWS THAT CALLS PEOPLE OUT!! THERE ARE BETTER NETWORKS FOR HIM TO ON, BESIDES NASTY RACE BAITING FOX FIX NEWS,

On "Fox News Sunday," John McCain defended his use of nasty robocalls against Obama, telling host Chris Wallace that the calls are nothing like the ones used against him in the South Carolina 2000 primary. (In fact, McCain appears to be using the same firm as that smear campaign.) Asked if, in response to bipartisan condemnation, McCain would stop the calls, he replied, "Of course not."



WALLACE: But Senator back, if I may, back in 2000 when you were the target of robo calls, you called these hate calls and you said--


MCCAIN: They were.

WALLACE: And you said the following: "I promise you I have never and will never have anything to do with that kind of political tactic." Now you've hired the same guy who did the robocalls against you to, reportedly, to do the robocalls against Obama and the Republican Senator Susan Collins, the co-chair of your campaign in Maine, has asked you to stop the robocalls. Will you do that?

MCCAIN: Of course not. These are legitimate and truthful and they are far different than the phone calls that were made about my family and about certain aspects that -- things that this is -- this is dramatically different and either you haven't -- didn't see those things in 2000.

WALLACE: No, I saw them.

MCCAIN: Or you don't know the difference between that and what is a legitimate issue, and that is Senator Obama being truthful with the American people.

BREAKING!!!!!!!!!!!! COLIN POWELL ENDORESES OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell announced Sunday that he will be voting for Sen. Barack Obama, citing the Democrat's "ability to inspire" and the "inclusive nature of his campaign."
"He has both style and substance. I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

"Obama displayed a steadiness. Showed intellectual vigor. He has a definitive way of doing business that will do us well," Powell said.

Powell, a retired U.S. general and a Republican, was once seen as a possible presidential candidate himself.

Powell said he questioned Sen. John McCain's judgment in picking Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate because he doesn't think she is ready to be president.

He also said he was disappointed with some of McCain's campaign tactics, such as bringing up Obama's ties to former 1960s radical Bill Ayers.

Powell served as secretary of state under President Bush from 2001 to 2005.

The notion of a Powell endorsement has been rumored for several months.

On August 13, Powell's office denied a report on Fox by commentator Bill Kristol that Powell had decided to publicly back Obama at the Democratic National Convention.

Several sources said at the time that Powell had not made a decision about a possible endorsement.

"As always, he is holding his cards close and waiting for more information," one adviser told CNN's John King in August.

Powell himself brushed off queries on any potential presidential nod but told ABC News on August 13 that he would not be going to Denver, Colorado, for the convention.

"I do not have time to waste on Bill Kristol's musings," he said. "I am not going to the convention. I have made this clear."

In February, Powell told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he was weighing an endorsement of a Democratic or independent candidate.

"I am keeping my options open at the moment," Powell said.

"I have voted for members of both parties in the course of my adult life. And as I said earlier, I will vote for the candidate I think can do the best job for America, whether that candidate is a Republican, a Democrat or an independent," he added.

Powell has offered praise for Obama, calling him an "exciting person on the political stage."

"He has energized a lot of people in America," said Powell, who briefly weighed his own run for the White House in the mid-1990s. "He has energized a lot of people around the world. And so I think he is worth listening to and seeing what he stands for."






Powell's adviser has said that "he likes and admires John McCain, and that would be a factor in anything he does if he decides to get more involved."

Another source close to Powell said he has known the Republican nominee for more than three decades "and likes him and is looking for a reason to vote for him. He hasn't found it yet."

The former general, who has largely steered clear of politics since leaving the Bush administration, noted that the next president will need to work to restore America's standing in the world.

Powell gave the keynote address at the Republican National Convention in support of George W. Bush in 2000.

"I will ultimately vote for the person I believe brings to the American people the kind of vision the American people want to see for the next four years," he said. "A vision that reaches out to the rest of the world, that starts to restore confidence in America, that starts to restore favorable ratings to America. Frankly, we've lost a lot in recent years."

Powell's adviser also said at the time that the vice presidential picks for both candidates would be a major factor in his decision, both for the quality of each man's running mate and for what sort of "signal that choice sends about the character and judgment of the candidate."

He also said that a Powell decision to back Obama would not be a surprise.

YEA MCCAIN BUT THAT NASTY CAMPAIGN YOUR DOING IS TURNING PEOPLE OFF!!AMERICA WANTS CHANGE!!

ANOTHER RACEIST!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOOK OUT VIRGINANS

Nancy Pfotenhauer, the official spokeswoman for the McCain campaign just gave a live interview on MSNBC where she said that "real Virginians" were voting for John McCain, and the Obama supporters were "people who"d moved in to North Virginia from D.C. in droves."

The commentator called her on the "real Virginians support McCain" remark and she got all flustered. "I'm gonna give you a chance to come down from that ledge..




She's an idiot and a liar. We all know what she's saying.First Palin is talking about real Americans in North Carolina and now this. Its like they are trying to invoke war. So we guess if your not from a certain part of Virgina your not American huh?? WTF?? MAJOR FAIL!

DAYMMMMM!!!!!!!! Obama Rally In St. Louis Draws 100,000

Barack Obama attracted 100,000 people at a Saturday rally here, his biggest crowd ever at a U.S. event.

The crowd assembled under the Gateway Arch on a sunny Saturday afternoon to hear Obama speak about taxes and slam the Republicans on economic issues.

Lt. Samuel Dotson of the St. Louis Police Department confirmed the number of attendees piled into the grassy lawn by the Mississippi River.

To be sure, big crowds don’t always signal a big turnout on Election Day. But Obama’s ability to draw his largest audience yet in a typically red state that just weeks ago looked out of reach, could signal a changing electoral map.

For months Missouri polls put Obama as much as ten percentage points behind Republican John McCain. It was widely believed that McCain’s pick of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate would have won over the state’s conservatives and boosted his chances there. So far, that hasn’t happened.

A Rasmussen poll released on Friday shows Obama leading in Missouri 52% to 46% for McCain.

Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill had harsh words for Palin when she introduced Obama on Saturday. Referring to comments Palin made earlier this week in North Carolina about “pro-America” states, McCaskill said “We have reached a new low in America politics when a candidate dares to say that one part of America is pro-America and another part is anti-America.”

She also took a dig at McCain for selecting a vice presidential nominee with limited experience. “One [candidate] picked one of the strongest candidates for vice president he could’ve picked in the United States and well, the other didn’t.”

Recognizing that big rallies don’t always result in cast ballots, the Obama campaign has dispatched thousands of field organizers and volunteers to Missouri to knock on doors in a statewide get out the vote effort

ITS ABOUT TIME!! NEW YORK TIMES PUT CINDY MCCAIN ON BLAST!!!! LMAO!!!

WE ARE SO GLAD THEY FINALLY PUT THIS 80 YEAR OLD PARIS HILTION LOOK WOMEN ON BLAST

Now considering the trashy behavior in which the McCain-Palin ticket has tried to smear Obama with 1960s radical Bill Ayers, isn't it ironic that they would get so angry about a story that sheds an interesting light on Cindy McCain, and her essentially long distance marriage with the senior senator from Arizona?

SEE NYT ARTICLE HERE

Racist 'N-Word' Robocall Reported In Pennsylvania

According to the election analysis site FiveThirtyEight.com, some Pennsylvanians have complained about a robocall that impersonates Barack Obama and includes racial epithets:

"Over in Indiana, PA and Northern Cambria, PA, volunteers fielded complaints of a massive wave of ugly robocalls both paid for by John McCain's campaign and those paid for by third parties. The third party call was interactive, and purported to be from Barack Obama himself. The call starts out reasonably, and then "Obama" asks what the listener thinks is the most important issue. Whatever the response, "Obama" then launches into a profane and crazed tirade using "n***er" and other shock language.
"tips

James T. Harris can't handle the heat; walks off the set of CNN

James T. Harris stood in front of thousands of people and told Sen. John McCain to "take it to" Sen. Barack Obama and "hit him where it hurts."

But when fellow conservative Shelley Winters, who supports Obama, took it to him and hit it where it hurts, Harris punked out and walked off the set.

Wow, can't take the heat, James?

LOOK AT THE RACIST PEOPLE WE HAVE IN OFFICE!! THESE FOOLS NEED TO BE VOTED OUT!!!!!

GOP Rep. Channels McCarthy: Obama "Very Anti-American," Congressional Witch Hunt Needed. And Pat Buchanan is one racist MF!!



n an television appearance that outraged Democrats are already describing as Joseph McCarthy politics, Minnesota Rep. Michelle Bachmann claimed on Friday that Barack Obama and his wife Michelle held anti-American views and couldn't be trusted in the White House. She even called for the major newspapers of the country to investigate other members of Congress to "find out if they are pro-America or anti-America."

Appearing on MSNBC's Hardball, Bachmann went well off the reservation when it comes to leveling political charges against the Democratic nominee.

"If we look at the collection of friends that Barack Obama has had in his life," she said, "it calls into question what Barack Obama's true beliefs and values and thoughts are. His attitudes, values, and beliefs with Jeremiah Wright on his view of the United States...is negative; Bill Ayers, his negative view of the United States. We have seen one friend after another call into question his judgment -- but also, what it is that Barack Obama really believes?"

Goaded by a Chris Matthews to explain exactly what she was talking about (at one point Bachmann seemed to imply that liberalism was anti-Americanism), the congresswoman waded deeper into the mud.

"Remember it was Michele Obama who said she is only recently proud of her country and so these are very anti-American views," she said. "That's not the way that most Americans feel about our country. Most Americans are wild about America and they are very concerned to have a president who doesn't share those values."


Matthews later pressed her to name a single member of Congress other than Obama who she thought was anti-American. Bachmann, who initially wouldn't budge, called for a major "expose" into the matter.

"What I would say is that the news media should do a penetrating expose and take a look. I wish they would. I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out if they are pro-America or anti-America," she said.

There were additional nuggets here and there. But the whole episode was a sight to behold. It is hard to imagine how this type of message actually helps the McCain campaign. For starters, there has been a relatively respected rule to leave candidate's wives out of campaign attacks. Moreover, there is already a deep resentment towards the severity of the political attacks McCain and his surrogates have launched against Barack Obama. Having a like-minded member of Congress essentially call for a witch hunt within Congress isn't the practical-minded message that the Arizona Republican wants out there.

What makes the incident even more bizarre is that Bachmann is in a close congressional race and just this past week offered warm words to the Illinois Democrat. "If the presidency would somehow go to Barack Obama, I would welcome him to the 6th District as well," she said after a debate. "As a matter of fact, I would put my hand on his shoulder and give him a kiss if he wanted to."

After Bachmann's appearance, Nation editor Katrina vanden Heuvel labeled the comments McCarthyist:

8 Surprising Turn-Ons for Men

As always, men are more complicated than a lot of people give them credit for, and when it comes to turn-ons, the masculine gender has plenty of surprises up their metaphorical sleeve. Here, some of the ways to effectively rev the masculine engine:1. Standing TallDon't get me wrong: it's not that we want a woman who can balance a beer tray on her head. It's what good posture says about her. A

From Friend to Boyfriend

How did I go from the friend zone to the boyfriend zone? Did I subliminally do some mind tricks to convince her that dating me would be a far better experience than the one she was having with her boyfriend? Absolutely not. What I did was I got to know her to get into the boyfriend zone.Here are four tips to help you get a woman to look at you in a different way:1.Don't sell yourself. If you meet

3 Signs That Your Man is Cheating

How do you know if you are dating a cheater? You don't need to be a private eye to suss out these warning signs:1. Revived Interest in Appearance: If your partner suddenly undergoes a makeover of sorts, in which he spends much more time on his appearance, it could mean that he is trying to impress someone new. If he all of the sudden ditches his old khakis and sweats for something more stylish,

Top 10 Eating Tips to Stay Energized All Day

Top 10 Eating Tips to Stay Energized All Day;1. Start the day right. Yes, that means breakfast. Combine a whole grain with fruit, skim dairy, or soy milk, and even add some lean protein to the mix to sustain energy levels throughout the morning. Cooked oatmeal with yogurt and a banana or Lite Mueslix with soy milk and blueberries are good choices.2. Have a mid-morning snack. Combine a protein and

Tom Cruise death report is "erroneous garbage"

Tom Cruise is alive and well, his agent said on Thursday, denying Internet reports that the actor had fallen to his death in New Zealand."This is completely not true. Tom is not in New Zealand nor has he been there recently. This is erroneous and unreliable Internet garbage," Cruise publicist Jeff Raymond told Reuters.Claims that the star of "Top Gun" and "Mission:Impossible" had plunged to death

A `Star Trek' is born: J.J. Abrams gives a glimpse

The director and producer of the new "Star Trek" film, due in 2009, said he was always more of a "Star Wars" guy."All my smart friends liked 'Star Trek.' I preferred a more visceral experience," he tells Entertainment Weekly in its latest issue, on newsstands Friday. Abrams took on the "Star Trek" project in hopes of creating a film "that grabbed me the way 'Star Wars' did," he says.He was also

Nasty MCcain IS SENDING OUT VILE ROBOCALLS

The sound you hear is the McCain campaign going down the toilet.


The McCain-Palin campaign and the Republican National Committee launched a massive robocall campaign on Thursday designed to alarm voters about Barack Obama's past association with former radical Bill Ayers. The committee may be violating state law in the process.

The call begins: "Hello. I'm calling for John McCain and the RNC," before telling recipients that they "need to know that Barack Obama has worked closely with domestic terrorist, Bill Ayers, whose organization bombed the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon, a judge's home, and killed Americans."

More remarkable than the message (coming after a presidential debate in which John McCain said he didn't care about a "washed up terrorist") is the reach of the campaign itself. The Huffington Post received dozens of emails from voters who had either received the call or gotten a voice mail with a recording. Reports came from Ohio, Colorado, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida, Texas, West Virginia, Maine and even Georgia

Several readers in Minnesota also reported receiving the call, which could be a violation of that state's laws. Explains Shaun Dakin, CEO & Founder of the National Political Do Not Contact Registry:

"Most robocalls are supposed to have two things, "paid for by X" and a phone number of the group making the call. Most do that. Now, that being said, there are some states that have their own robocall laws and they are much stricter. Minnesota pretty much bans robocalls entirely unless they are introduced by a human voice. And that pretty much never happens because it defeats the point."

The RNC did not immediately return request for comment. Here's audio of the call:



The majority of responses from the Democratic and independent readers who received the Ayers robocall were sharply (perhaps not surprisingly) negative.
Story continues below
Vic from New Mexico wrote: "l just received [a robocall] from McCain and the RNC, calling Obama a 'terrorist' after McCain's claim last night that he's not running a negative campaign."

Ali in Missouri wrote: "I have already received two McCain calls. The one yesterday was relatively benign but the one today linked Obama directly to the 'terrorist Bill Ayers,' describing Ayers' violent activities."

Kimberly in Virginia writes: "I would like to feel shocked by the offensive nature of the message, but can't say that I am that surprised, given the Republican tactics of the last month, and the last eight years."

Kirk in Wisconsin emailed: "My guess is it will cost McCain 2 votes for each one he gets."

Multiple readers wrote that they had been receiving robocalls from Republican sources well before the recent wave, and that those calls were mild in comparison. A reader in Colorado said he recently received a call about Obama's association with ACORN. A self-described independent in Colorado said she has been receiving "an average of about 10 calls a week- almost exclusively from Republicans." Others recalled getting calls about Obama and his Hollywood friends.

WTF???????? Inland GOP mailing depicts Obama's face on food stamp

The latest newsletter by an Inland Republican women's group depicts Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama surrounded by a watermelon, ribs and a bucket of fried chicken, prompting outrage in political circles.


This is definately the reason people are turning away from the Republican party.


WE ARE NOT GOING TO POST THE PICTURE OUT OF RESPECT FOR Sen.Obama


CLICK HERE FOR FULL ARTICLE AND PICTURE

Rape Victim Assails Palin On Choice

Women Against McCain-Palin have released this short, emotionally blunt advertisement in which a young woman relates how Sarah Palin's policies could have played out in her life, to her detriment.



"I was raped, and then I got pregnant. Sarah Palin believes the government should be able to force me to carry the pregnancy to term. Sarah Palin believes that the government should make that choice. Not me. Governor Palin, I didn't have a choice about being raped. But I should have a choice about this."

It's a fitting reminder of how McCain and Palin would extend the intrusive hand of government into affairs in which it should hold no sway. I'd also remind you that McCain thinks that the those who are concerned about the health and well-being of women are "extreme." I'd remind you that when McCain and Palin disclosed Palin's daughter's pregnancy, they took pains to state that Bristol "made the decision on her own to keep the baby," which makes no sense, since they do not in any way acknowledge that Bristol's choice in the matter, matters. I'd remind you that Sarah Palin believes that rape victims should bear the cost of investigating their own cases. And I'd remind you that when asked to consider what a rape victim should do, given Sarah Palin's antipathy to her plight, a die-hard McCain/Palin supporter said, "She should die." All of these things are worth remembering.

McCain/Palin supporters let their racist roots show

THIS IS SOME SICK SHIT!! SARAH PALIN IS PUSH THIS CRAP!! WHAT A DANGEROUS WOMEN



It was kind of strange, dintcha think, that John McCain came to the defense of his supporters last night after Barack Obama pointed out that people at McCain/Palin rallies were shouting out "terrorist" and "kill him!" in reference to Obama.

Now an Al Jazeera camera crew caught the honest sentiments of McCain/Palin supporters at an Ohio rally:

“I’m afraid if he wins, the blacks will take over. He’s not a Christian! This is a Christian nation! What is our country gonna end up like?”

“When you got a Negra running for president, you need a first stringer. He’s definitely a second stringer.”

“He seems like a sheep - or a wolf in sheep’s clothing to be honest with you. And I believe Palin - she’s filled with the Holy Spirit, and I believe she’s gonna bring honesty and integrity to the White House.”

“He’s related to a known terrorist, for one.”

“He is friends with a terrorist of this country!”

“He must support terrorists! You know, uh, if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it must be a duck. And that to me is Obama.”

“Just the whole, Muslim thing, and everything, and everybody’s still kinda - a lot of people have forgotten about 9/11, but… I dunno, it’s just kinda… a little unnerving.”

“Obama and his wife, I’m concerned that they could be anti-white. That he might hide that.”

“I don’t like the fact that he thinks us white people are trash… because we’re not!”

Yep, McCain must be so proud.

The rest of us, well ... let's just say those polls should tell the story.



UPDATE: Transcript altered to reflect, as some commenters point out, that the man in the video did not use the actual "N word."

Kangaroos Endangered by Global Warming

Global warming does not necessarily entail only more greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, but also drastic increases in temperatures worldwide. Over the next 50 years or so, the temperature in Australia is predicted to rise by about 2 to 6 degrees Celsius. While this may not seem like much on paper, new ecological studies show that most kangaroo species are endangered by this future shift.One of

Obama: "If I Were Watching Fox News, I Wouldn't Vote For Me"

Fox News has nothing to do with actual journalism. They function as an arm of the Republican party and McCain campaign. Their motto of "fair and balanced" is Rovian propaganda. Since Fox News is not journalism, they should lose their White House press privelages.



Barack Obama in the upcoming New York Times magazine, he squeezes a choice quote out of Obama to get the candidate's true feelings about Fox News (despite his long-delayed appearance on Bill O'Reilly's show).

"I am convinced that if there were no Fox News, I might be two or three points higher in the polls," Obama told me. "If I were watching Fox News, I wouldn't vote for me, right? Because the way I'm portrayed 24/7 is as a freak! I am the latte-sipping, New York Times-reading, Volvo-driving, no-gun-owning, effete, politically correct, arrogant liberal. Who wants somebody like that?"

Did Palin Really Say She Wouldn’t Hire Blacks?

Editor’s note: In a meeting with a group of prominent African-American leaders on April 29, 2008, Alaska governor Sarah Palin allegedly said that she wouldn’t hire blacks in her cabinet or on her staff. This explosive charge—if true—would cast serious doubts on Palin’s fitness for the vice-presidency. NAM contributing editor Earl Ofari Hutchinson examines the accuracy of the claim.

Sarah Palin admittedly hasn’t had much of a track record when it comes to acknowledging—let alone promoting—diversity during her short tenure as Alaska governor. She’s on record with a terse utterance on hate crimes legislation and on cultural diversity. But Palin’s skimpy track record and paucity of words on diversity is relatively tame compared to the far more damaging accusation that’s making the rounds.

On April 29, 14 black leaders in Alaska, including prominent ministers, NAACP officials, and community activists, met with Palin to voice their complaint over minority hiring and job opportunities. During the meeting she allegedly said that she didn’t have to hire any blacks. Even more damning, she purportedly said that she didn’t intend to hire any.

Gwen Alexander, president of the African-American Historical Society of Alaska, initially reported Palin’s quip. This charge is so racially incendiary that it sounded like yet another one of the legion of Palin urban legends that have fueled the cyber gossip mill from the moment Republican presidential contender John McCain put her on his ticket. The charge had to be confirmed or denied. If Governor Palin or any other public official flatly said that they had no intention to hire blacks, that would be politically unpardonable. And for a potential vice-president, it would and should be the kiss of death.

In a phone message to this writer, Megan Stapleton, a Palin spokesperson with the McCain-Palin campaign committee, vehemently denied that Palin ever said that she would not hire blacks. Sharon Leighow, communications spokesperson in the Alaska governor’s office, also disputed the allegation. She said that Palin’s press secretary was part African-American and that two of her senior advisors were Filipino and Korean.

Leighow was also adamant that Palin did not hire staff persons based on color, but solely on talent and skill. As she put it, “Governor Palin is totally color-blind.”

But in a phone conversation, Gwen Alexander of the African-American Historical Society of Alaska stuck by her contention that Palin made the racially charged retort. She also charged that Palin did not support or even officially acknowledge the group’s annual Juneteenth Commemoration.

June 19 is celebrated as the date of slave emancipation in Texas. Alaska is one of 13 states that has designated it an official holiday. Other Alaska governors have sent the traditional greetings and acknowledgements to the Society. Alexander says Palin snubbed the group.

The unofficial charge, then, is that Palin is insensitive to the state’s African Americans, and that includes refusing to hire and appoint African Americans. That charge is hotly disputed by Palin’s staff and they cite names and numbers to back it up. But apart from the veracity of the charge and the denial, Palin’s statement that she’s absolutely color-blind when it comes to hiring does set off warning bells.

The color-blind argument strikes at the heart of the continuing debate over what and how far public officials should go to insure that their staffs and their appointments truly represent the broadest diversity possible. Officials must make a concerted outreach effort to make that happen. A color-blind posture more often than not has been nothing but a convenient excuse not to seek out, hire or promote African Americans and other minorities in their administration, no matter how qualified.

Diversity is a major issue this election. It’s implicit in Democratic rival Barack Obama’s White House run. It’s explicit in Ward Connerly’s anti-affirmative initiative on the ballot in three states this November. Obama opposes it. McCain backs it, and so does Palin.

Palin’s commitment to diversity is no small point in Alaska. According to the 2000 Census figures, blacks make up officially about 4 percent of the state population. But those who self-identify as at least part African-American bump up the percentage much higher. When American Indians, Aleuts, Eskimos, and Asians are taken together, minorities make up about one quarter of Alaska’s population. This makes the state one of the most ethnically diverse in the nation. Diversity must be more than a word that an Alaska governor pays campaign lip service to and then ignores.

Palin’s campaign and gubernatorial spokespersons say the charge that she is hostile to blacks and minorities is unfair. That may well be true. But according to those black leaders in Alaska who challenged Palin on her administration’s minority hiring practices, the charge is much deserved.


SOURCE:NEW AMERICA MEDIA

PART II

Why does Sarah Palin have such strained relations with minorities?



While Max Blumenthal was up in Alaska gathering information on Sarah Palin's background, he managed to sit down and interview two of the African-American community leaders in Anchorage who'd had dealings with Palin as governor: Gwen Alexander, the president of the African-American Historical Society of Alaska, and Bishop Dave Thomas, a distinguished black pastor from Anchorage.

As you can see, Palin made clear to them through her refusal to participate in the state's traditional Juneteenth celebration, as well as her refusal to work on their concerns about minority hiring for the gas-pipeline commission and on her staff, that race relations are pretty low on her priority list.

Much of this was reported a few weeks ago by Earl Ofari Hutchinson, but the impact of Palin's behavior comes home here: It's clear that the African American community in Alaska feels thoroughly disenfranchised.

Then there was the news today that Palin's rural adviser has quit because of the governor's shoddy treatment of Alaska Natives. Among other items: Palin appointed a white woman to a game-board seat traditionally held by a Native.

What exactly is Palin's problem with minorities? She's happy to trot them out for photo ops, but her actions on the ground speak much louder.

UPDATE: (Nicole) Uh oh. Palin Advisor quits, citing race problems...this time with the native Alaskan population.

CREDIT: THE DAILY BEAST

106-year-old voter chooses Obama

A 106-year-old American nun living in a convent in Rome could well be the oldest person to vote in the 2008 US Presidential election.

Sister Cecilia Gaudette, who last voted for President Eisenhower in 1952, has registered to vote and says she will vote for Democrat Barack Obama.

Although hard of hearing, she keeps herself informed by reading newspapers and watching TV at the convent.

"I'm encouraged by Senator Obama," she says.

"I've never met him, but he seems to be a good man with a good private life. That's the first thing. Then he must be able to govern," she adds.

Sitting in her modest office in the convent where she has lived for the past 50 years, the diminutive nun appears uninterested in the row inside the American Catholic church over Senator Obama's support for pro-choice policies on abortion.

Asked about her hopes for the US under an Obama presidency, she says: "Peace abroad. I don't worry about the Iraq war because I can't do anything about it. Lord knows how it will end."

"It is very complicated," she said. "Those Eastern people are not like we are."

But despite taking part in the 4 November election, Sister Cecilia does not intend to return to the US.

"I have no plans for the future. I am too old to go back to the US. Life has changed too much."

But she still watches "very important events" on TV. The election comes under this category.

McCain and Palin are racist SOB'S

Mcklan and Palin started this sh*t I know that the crowd was screened and searched before entering that rally and they knew that asshole had the sick doll mcklan and palin are nasty vile pathetic people!!. spreading hate.


Man Holds Monkey Doll With Obama Sticker At Palin Rally


As the crowd cheered at a Sarah Palin rally this morning in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a man in the audience grinned as he held up a stuffed monkey doll with a Barack Obama bumper sticker wrapped across its forehead.

After Palin finished her remarks this morning, the man holding the stuffed monkey seemed to notice that a video camera was pointed at him, at which point he removed the Obama sticker from the doll's head and crumpling it up in his hand. He then handed the doll to a young boy who was watching the rally from his father's shoulders. The boy's parents later told CBS News that they weren't acquainted with the man who gave their son the stuffed monkey.

ALASKA PANEL: SARAH PALIN UNLAWFULLY ABUSED HER POWER AS GOVERNOR

THIS WOMEN NEEDS TO BE DISQUALIFIED FROM THE VP SPOT FOR LYING AND LETTING A CIVILIAN (HER HUSBAND) RUN THIS SCAM FROM HER GOVEREMENT APPOINTED POSITION AND OFFICE

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Sarah Palin unlawfully abused her power as governor by trying to have her former brother-in-law fired as a state trooper, the chief investigator of an Alaska legislative panel concluded Friday. The politically charged inquiry imperiled her reputation as a reformer on John McCain's Republican ticket.

Investigator Stephen Branchflower, in a report to a bipartisan panel that looked into the matter, found Palin in violation of a state ethics law that prohibits public officials from using their office for personal gain.

The inquiry looked into her dismissal of Public Safety Commissioner Walter Monegan, who said he lost his job because he resisted pressure to fire a state trooper involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle with the governor's sister. Palin says Monegan was fired as part of a legitimate budget dispute.

Monegan's firing was lawful, the report found, but Palin let the family grudge influence her decision-making _ even if it was not the sole reason Monegan was dismissed.

"I feel vindicated," Monegan said. "It sounds like they've validated my belief and opinions. And that tells me I'm not totally out in left field."

Branchflower said Palin violated a statute of the Alaska Executive Branch Ethics Act. Lawmakers don't have the authority to sanction her for such a violation, and they gave no indication they would take any action against her.

Under Alaska law, it is up to the state's Personnel Board _ which is conducting its own investigation into the matter _ to decide whether Palin violated state law and, if so, must refer it to the Senate president for disciplinary action. Violations also carry a possible fine of up to $5,000.

Palin attorney Thomas Van Flein disagreed with Branchflower's conclusions. "In order to violate the ethics law, there has to be some personal gain, usually financial. Mr. Branchflower has failed to identify any financial gain," he said.

See report below


DOWNLOAD - Get more Legal Forms