Aug 29 2008
Aug 5 2008
Benen provides some context…
The first major general-election “contrast” ad from the Obama campaign emphasized a fairly straightforward tagline: “After one president in the pocket of big oil, we can’t afford another.”
As if on cue, we’re learning quite a bit about John McCain’s generous benefactors from the oil industry.
…
To be sure, if — and at this point, it’s only an “if” — Hess played fast and loose with campaign finance law to “help” lower-level employees back the candidate willing to do the oil industry’s bidding from the White House, it doesn’t necessarily mean McCain’s campaign broke the law. It just means it took some legally dubious contributions.
It would, however, reinforce the notion that Big Oil has picked their guy in this presidential race, and are attempting to buy John McCain. If Obama’s message is that we can’t afford another president in Big Oil’s back pocket, suspicious oil-industry fundraising only helps make the argument more compelling.
Jul 11 2008
Vermont’s Obama campaign staff will be holding organizing meetings around the state over the next few weeks, some in conjunction with County Dem meetings.
In keeping with the 50 State Strategy, focus is not solely on helping Barack Obama, but on building a strong volunteer base to help elect all Democratic candidates.
Join Obama for America Vermont staff and local Obama supporters as we
discuss how to help elect Barack Obama and the rest of the Democratic
ticket. Learn how to get involved, pick up Obama gear, and become a part of
our historic movement and campaign for change! If you have any questions,
feel free to contact Morganne at 802-651-7151 or mpollie@barackobama.comMonday, July 14th
Windsor County Democrats Meeting
Damon Hall
1 Queechee Rd, Hartland
7PM
Online signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gr4kWednesday, July 16th
Rutland County for Obama Organizational Meeting
Fox Room of the Rutland Free Library
10 Court St, Rutland
7PM
Online signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gr27Thursday, July 17th
Chittenden County for Obama Organizational Meeting
Fletcher Free Library
235 College St, Burlington
7PM
Online signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4grh7Monday, July 21st
Addison County for Obama Organizational Meeting
Carol’s Hungry Mind Café
24 Merchants Row, Middlebury
7PM
Online Signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gr3lMonday, July 21st
Lamoille County Democrats Meeting
Hyde Park Clerk’s Office
344 VT Rte 15 W, Hyde Park
7PM
Online Signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gr54Wednesday, July 23rd
Washington County for Obama Organizational Meeting
Kellogg-Hubbard Free Library
135 Main St, Montpelier
7PM
Online Signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gvvzMonday, July 28th
Bennington County for Obama Organizational Meeting
Bennington Free Library
101 Silver St, Bennington
7PM
Online Signup: http://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/4gr5r
Jul 1 2008
For the little Swede in all of us…
Jun 23 2008
“I don’t like words that hide the truth. I don’t like words that conceal reality. I don’t like euphemisms, or euphemistic language. And American English is loaded with euphemisms. Cause Americans have a lot of trouble dealing with reality. Americans have trouble facing the truth, so they invent the kind of a soft language to protect themselves from it, and it gets worse with every generation. For some reason, it just keeps getting worse. I’ll give you an example of that.
There’s a condition in combat. Most people know about it. It’s when a fighting person’s nervous system has been stressed to it’s absolute peak and maximum. Can’t take anymore input. The nervous system has either (click) snapped or is about to snap. In the first world war, that condition was called shell shock. Simple, honest, direct language. Two syllables, shell shock. Almost sounds like the guns themselves. That was seventy years ago.
Then a whole generation went by and the second world war came along and very same combat condition was called battle fatigue. Four syllables now. Takes a little longer to say. Doesn’t seem to hurt as much. Fatigue is a nicer word than shock. Shell shock! Battle fatigue.
Then we had the war in Korea, 1950. Madison avenue was riding high by that time, and the very same combat condition was called operational exhaustion. Hey, were up to eight syllables now! And the humanity has been squeezed completely out of the phrase. It’s totally sterile now. Operational exhaustion. Sounds like something that might happen to your car.
Then of course, came the war in Viet Nam, which has only been over for about sixteen or seventeen years, and thanks to the lies and deceits surrounding that war, I guess it’s no surprise that the very same condition was called post-traumatic stress disorder. Still eight syllables, but we’ve added a hyphen! And the pain is completely buried under jargon. Post-traumatic stress disorder. I’ll bet you if we’d of still been calling it shell shock, some of those Viet Nam veterans might have gotten the attention they needed at the time. I’ll betcha. I’ll betcha.”
– George Carlin, ~ 1990
Jun 4 2008
Barack Obama’s victory speech in St. Paul…
May 29 2008
Pretty much captures the entire spirit of the ‘08 primary campaign…
Is it over yet?
