Barack Obama's State of the Union Transcript Jan 27, 2010

Barack Obama's State of the Union Transcript Jan 27, 2010

Do Democrats like Democracy?

Local attorney and Hollister judge Randy Anglen forwarded a petition this week to persuade Superdelegates to follow the will of the people when selecting a Democratic presidential nominee.

Foreign nationals have a hard time understanding the delegate process. Allow me to sum it up. Here, in America, your vote may or may not count depending on the integrity of delegates. Delegates are representatives of the people who get to vote. Instead of voting for a president - you vote to have a delegate elected who actually casts deciding votes. Some states require delegates to follow the will of the people through statute. By default its a question of moral fortitude - which varies by individual and demands a functioning moral compass.

Appointing delegates is a painstaking process. Because the process is so important, delegates are chosen based on their loyalty to individuals and the party. We're eight months away from an October surprise and the elongated election process ensures the democratic party has plenty of opportunities to error - which seems to be a pattern every time Democrats have a sure thing. In fact, thats why the Suuperdelegate process was birthed - to ensure the radical factions of the party don't appoint a Democrat with little chance of winning a general election. Unlike years past, both remaining Democrat contenders have a good shot of winning the presidency. Both poll ahead of their potential Republican rival.

Delegates are chosen on the basis of friendship and loyalty. Remember that guy you bailed out of jail? Since he owes you - put him on your list of delegates should you ever make a bid for president. Multiply this by a few thousand and you have a better understating of the delegate process than most Americans - who actually think their vote counts.

Superdelegates are Democrats who have shown political prowess and electability. The list of superdelegates is composed of sitting Democratic governors, senators, congressmen and Dems that have achieved status through a vote of the people in the past.

The question is, will they vote for the candidate a majority of Democrats want to see elected? Click on the link above to view the current Superdelegate count and background of the people who will choose who the next Democratic presidential candidate will be - regardless of how the people actually vote.

My memory of Tom Lantos

Tom Lantos led the most fascinating political event I've ever witnessed in my life. A political animal by nature, I've studied and watched movement action and government debate since the early days of my youth.
A few years ago I watched a live broadcast of the Congressman from California took on the top technical leaders in the United States begging, "I don't know how you can sleep at night".
Mindful of the Nazi concentration camps he escaped twice from in his youth, the Hungarian native pounded the CEO's of Microsoft, Google, Yahoo, AOL and Cisco took the stand while Lantos forced the tech giants to confess their sins against democracy and freedom worldwide.
Perhaps the most surprising was Google, the third giant to succumb to censorship in a perverse fashion (Microsoft and Yahoo were first to compromise human liberty vying for a chunk of the Chinese market). The Chinese government never officially told Google to censor words such as Democracy and Freedom - not through a list of outlaw conocepts provided by the government but rather censorship based on the values they felt the Chinese government wouldn't appreciate. It took Western minds to implement suppression of speech and notions of unalienable right for the current Chinese regime.
The technical infrastructure was provided by Cisco giving a network interface to local Chinese police agencies, enabling them to control Internet communication and initiate arrests at a local level. Yahoo turned in a journalist to the Chinese government because of his philosophical dissent to China's regime. The reporter was arrested - possibly executed - through companies and technologies Made in America.
One horror story revealed to testimony to Congress involved a man who was severely beaten - inches from death - and being bound while all of his equipment was taken by the Chinese government. After details of the incident were revealed we learned the man who was nearly killed for speaking against the Chinese Government lived in Atlanta at the time of the incident.
Lantos reminded me that democracy was alive, that their was evil in the world that needed to be combated. He was a reminder of hope having survived rule from the two largest genocidal governments the world has ever seen (Nazi Germany 11 million and Lenin/Stalin Soviet Union 15 million).
A quorum of the greatest technical leaders of our day dropped their heads - convicted - apologizing - having served against the interests of freedom - having helped create cogs for the machinery of oppression.
Mr. Lantos was a survivor, a hero, a man who stood by his beliefs, a champion for democracy, freedom and human rights. He reminded us about the necessity of endurance when all seemed to be lost and for a moment served as our national conscience as our country's top technical leadership lost theirs.

Morally you are pygmies...an appallingly disappointing performance. I think we cannot begin to tell you how disappointing Mr. Yang's and your performance was...attempt to obfuscate and divert...outrageous behavior."

Tom Lantos words to Yahoo delivered to founder Jerry Yang.

Video: Tom Lantos during House Subcommittee Meeting on World Human Rights

Barack Obama Speech in Iowa 4 days bofore Iowa Caucus

(Videography by Darin Codon) The video clip above was shot from a Jr. High School in Des Moines, Iowa just a few hours ago videos photos and commentary on Senator Barack Obama's speech tonight will be posted on Caucus 2008

According to Federal Election Commission data Obama is the Branson area Democratic winner in terms of funding.

Here's my thoughts before hearing him speak tonight:

Live in Des Moines at a middle school which is filling up with spectators in anticipation of Barrack Obama’s arrival.

The crowd may be indicative of Iowa itself – mostly white – mostly middle class – mostly young.

This is it. A victory in Iowa could mean everything for Obama answering the question, “Can Obama gain traction with Mid-West White America.”

Yesterday at Obama’s headquarters, the phone banks were paused by the sound of local residents questioning the Senator’s record of accomplishment on defense, heritage and religious affiliation. Stewards of the phone bank are bombarded with questions about his father, his upbringing – pretty much anything other than the issues supposedly framing the debate about who should be the next President of the United States.

As the battle between Hillary Clinton and Obama continues to heat Edwards may have the opportunity to sneak in – a potential casualty of Obama and Clinton playing king of the hill early in the running.

I’m in the back row waiting for my back up to bring equipment left at the hotel. I’m left with the B roster of equipment and technical issues have dominated more of my time than I could have imagined. Murphy ’s Law is in full effect on this trip.

So far, I haven’t been able to cover what I’ve found to be one of the most interesting elements of the primaries to date – how will religion play into the race for president. But a Lesbian Unitatian ministere named Dee Graham may change all that.

8:50 PM
The press bus has arrived thus Obama is prepping to enter the house. The press platform is full and I’m lucky to have arrived early.

Minuteman Founder Jim Gilchrist on Local Governments and Immigration

At a forum on immigration Jim Gilchrist, the founder of the Minuteman Project encourages local governments to work with the federal government to fight immigration.
Missouri Governor Matt Blunt has chosen immigration as a primary issue while he campaigns for a second term as governor. Democratic hopeful and Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon is promoting a "finders fee" for Missourians who find illegal aliens.

White House Press Pass (5 of 5) Springfield Press

 

 

The series of photos were taken after receiving clearance for a White House Press Pass for an appearance in Springfield by President George Bush accompanied by District 7 Rep. Roy Blunt to support Jim Talent's senate bid, which he lost to Claire McCaskill.
One of the most interesting aspects of the experience was watching the interaction between the television correspondents and the dialogue with their technical support staff. It told volumes about bias, perspective and led to a greater understanding of where the individual media representatives stood in their personal politics.
The first photo is of KY3 political correspondent David Catanese followed by KOLR's David Oliver trying to tune into audio instructions. The bottom two are of an AP reporter who took an incredible shot of Talent handing Bush a Springfield Cardinals jersey (Click this Photo to see the full picture). The bottom shot is of the press platform with a photographer for the Springfield News-Leader in the foreground.

Claire McCaskill Raking in Bucks For 2012 Run

It's never too early to negotiate political favors. The Federal Election Commission reports Claire McCaskill's 2012 coffers are already being filled.
See contribution amounts and contributers at Branson Agent:Claire McCaskill 2012

Image originally posted at Pub Def

Claire McCaskill Slams Bush For Veto of Children's Health Insurance Bill

Senator Claire McCaskill called Bush's veto of the children's health insurance bill that Congress sent him earlier this week a "Dark Day For Children."

The President called the bill a step towards socialized medicine. Missourinet reported from a press conference this afternoon....(Full Story)