Technically, It's in the Details
Thu Jun 12, 2008 at 10:31:04 PM PDT
I've come to appreciate Obama's web team's success. The website design is clean, navigation simple and intuitive, and pages are balanced with white space and info. Even more, the tech team mirrors the proactive attention to detail that the more public campaign seeks to promote.
As if to mirror McCain's technical confounditude, the McCain tech team has shown it too can be behind the times, demonstrating the lack of attention to detail which causes the McCain campaign to appear inept, confused, deprecated, and not very user-friendly. I found a cannonical example of this a few hours ago.
As a bit of intro, a partner and I maintain an AOL Instant Messenger bot called ObamaBuddy (he's online 24/7, also in the AOL AIM Bot Gallery). Our way of helping elect Senator Obama in November, the unofficial bot has bits of information on the issues, polls, and a few links, and 'talks' to dozens of potential volunteers every day.
Yes I Did: A Cynic Buys In
Wed Mar 19, 2008 at 01:40:17 PM PDT
I sit on the sidelines in politics. Not in my views, not in how I discuss politics with my friends and family: I'm a vocal commentator of our political times when I'm with those who value my opinion, and sometimes even with those who don't. I haven't posted a DKos diary in many, many months, greatly because I felt I had little new to offer the site that wasn't already better said by more critical thinkers, more prosaic authors. I'm a registered unaffiliated voter in NC who is very liberal on both social and international issues, but who has long been disgusted by the sly, wink-wink politics of the old-school Dems. I'll vote for them, but I don't have to like that they fall short of many of the ideals I hold dear.
No, I rail from the sidelines to my friends, my family, about the injustices, dirty practices, and radical unfairness, often driven by diaries I've read here, often supported by the endless and tireless fact checking and typically reasoned, passionate debates herein. I write LTEs, I contact my elected officials, I do the small things on the backend that you never see, and frankly, you never will. Until today, however, I had never given one cent to any politician. Ever.
Why I Am For Impeachment UPDATED
Thu Oct 19, 2006 at 05:48:58 PM PDT
Erskine Bowles (NC) campaign stop
Thu Jul 29, 2004 at 10:14:24 AM PDT
Just got back from Morehead City where Bowles stopped this morning for about an hour. He talked about port security, a big issue in the NC down east and coastal areas. He also touched on the pathetic medicare bill, and advocated for health care for all citizens. Making it clear that he would be his own Senator, he made sure everyone understood that he would not simply vote for legislation because it was a Dem bill.
Check out a pic of me with Bowles
here. (more
here.)
Bowles was full of energy, (Bowles blog here) and was much more charismatic than I remember him from his last campaign run. Instead of a stiff bureaucrat, he came off as an intelligent and genuine person, and was gracious enough to talk to everyone who had a word for him. He emphasized that he was quite happy to have a good lead in this race, but wanted to instill a sense of continued purpose in GOTV efforts for November.
Follow-up on Farrell's ACT ad
Wed Jul 28, 2004 at 02:35:19 PM PDT
If you didn't catch
cvcobb01's diary entry, check it out for Will Ferrell's ACT ad, doing his perfected Bush impression.
That brings me to an important prediction. Following the success of anti-Bush movie F9-11, I foresee a Bush satire movie starting in 2005 regardless of who wins the race. Think of "That's My Bush" with humor. Ferrell would obviously play Bush, what about the rest of the team?
Flip-flopping: Demand it! w/ poll
Wed Jul 28, 2004 at 01:42:28 PM PDT
I'm listening to Randi Rhodes interview George McGovern, the 1972 Democratic nominee for President, and he threw out an excellent sound bite. Discussing the moronic assertion that Kerry, or any politician for that matter, is somehow less qualified to be in public service simply due to changing positions on issues, McGovern offered that this instead demonstrated a positive trait.
"I'm wiser today than I was yesterday" is the statement McGovern says Kerry and others are making when they choose to change a stance on an issue. I must agree, and in fact, this is what I have been arguing for years.
Dynamic, not static, is our world.
NC Sen Candidate Bowles/Eaton for Congress info
Mon Jul 26, 2004 at 12:57:58 PM PDT
The
Bowles for Senate campaign will be stopping in Morehead City on Thursday. The bus will be showing up to support local Congressional candidate
Roger Eaton, the Democratic challenger to Freedom Fries Jones.
The rally will take place at 8AM on the 29th of July at the Dem County HQ (3025 Bridges Street). If anyone can attend, PLEASE do so. Roger needs your support, as does Bowles. We cannot lose a Dem seat in the Senate this year (Bowles is running for Edward's seat), and Eaton needs significant Dem interest to make his race a tight one.
Besides, there will be a free continental breakfast. Free food : good. Come out an support both campaigns on Thursday, and get everyone you know to come with you.
One Fucked Up Election Year.
Thu Jul 22, 2004 at 07:51:51 PM PDT
Man, can it get any wierder?
Vernon Robinson won the GOP primary in the NC-6, but didn't get enough votes to win outright, and thus will face a run-off against Virginia Foxx in August. Robinson, if you aren't familiar with his campaign, is the campaigner behind this racist ad. (You may need to open link in a new window to get it to work) Robinson's been officially endorsed by Jesse Helms. His agenda is that of the right-wing neo-cons.
Did I remind you that Vernon Robinson is black?
Post NC primary ...er... post. w/ Poll
Thu Jul 22, 2004 at 02:05:03 PM PDT
It was certainly a hot one passing out fliers on Tuesday. Roger Eaton's brochures are well-designed, and for a change, actually spell out information useful for voters. The slick design is eye-catching, and I noted quite a few people actually stopping to read them details.
At the Emerald Isle spot, I probably only saw a total of 150 people, and managed to get fliers in the hands of 75-100. This, in a district which has about 2000 registered voters. Of course, many of these likely have more than one home, and stay away from the Island during the hot months and tourist season.
I spoke to a couple of die-hard Republicans who will be voting Kerry this year if he can present a reasonable argument. Even if he does not, these people asserted, Bush would not get their votes. The war in Iraq, in particular, was a subject of heated discourse. I listened as one Korean Vet railed against what he called the "murder" of our service members in the name of a personal grudge match between Bush and Saddam. On man told me he had voted Republican in every election over his lifetime (probably about 50-55 yo), but would never vote for Bush. In fact, he is so disgusted with Republicans that he declared he would not vote for a single Republican this year. I talked to him for a long period of time about Roger's campaign against Wacky Walter Jones, and pointed out Roger's strong belief in protecting our military, and seeing them rewarded at a level which better represents the depth of sacrifice these people make. Concurrent receipts, I told him, is a big issue for Eaton, and expect him to push his support for improving the lives of our military men and women in every way possible.
Ala. Doctor Reactivated for Iraq War at 68
Mon Jul 19, 2004 at 06:28:09 PM PDT
Man, they are getting
desperate, and we should be very, very concerned about a draft, no matter what statements are made. Granted, this guy is a specialist likely underrepresented in the current roster of military experts, but jeez, he's 68!
At 68, many people are slowing down. Not John Wicks: He's going to Iraq. Wicks, a psychiatrist, has been called out of military retirement by the Army to fill a shortage of mental health experts needed to help soldiers cope with combat. He could be gone as long as a year.
I'm psyched for Outfoxed
Wed Jul 14, 2004 at 12:50:48 PM PDT
I am looking forward to the movie, for sure, but I just confirmed that Democratic candidate for Congress from NC-3 Roger Eaton and his campaign manager will be attending my House Party. How cool is that? Sorry if this sounds snide or self-promoting, but hey, I've never hosted a Congressional candidate before, so lay off! :) I'll post pics on my
blog during the party.
Its too bad I have such a small place. The event filled up within 5 hours of opening the public sign-up on MoveOn. There isn't another house party within 30 miles, so I'm sure there are lots of people who would like to attend that can't. Maybe I'll host a second party in a couple of weeks.
Anyway, who else is hosting/attending a House Party this weekend? Its a great opportunity to network and meet local people with similar concerns. This year, every little bit helps. Dems must win back the House and the Presidency. The House may be a long shot, but damn if it isn't worth all the effort to try.
PATRIOT stands, dammit
Thu Jul 08, 2004 at 01:52:45 PM PDT
The House voted to
avoid reigning in a few provisions of PATRIOT:
The Republican-led House bowed to a White House veto threat Thursday and stood by the USA Patriot Act, defeating an effort to block the part of the anti-terrorism law that helps the government investigate people's reading habits.
The effort to defy Bush and bridle the law's powers lost by 210-210, with a majority needed to prevail. The amendment appeared on its way to victory as the roll call's normal 15-minute time limit expired, but Republican leaders kept the vote open for about 20 more minutes as they persuaded about 10 Republicans who initially supported the provision to change their votes.
Yet again, the Rethugs use their power position to defeat a decent and fair amendment which would protect private records against illegal searches.
Raise your damn flags, already!!!
Mon Jul 05, 2004 at 08:45:58 AM PDT
Look, it took all of about twenty minutes after Reagan died for every flag in my local area to be lowered to half staff. Now, weeks later, and long after the observed week of mourning, many of the flags are still at half staff.
Even on the 4th of July. Now, I'm no flag expert, but somehow I remember reading that the flag should be flown full on Independence Day. Instead, these morons who were determined to show love for Ronnie have unintentionally insulted our nation.
Traditions are great at keeping people connected to common ideals, but they do no good when people fail to execute them in any meaningful, and comprehensible, manner.
Voting Record Help, Please.
Thu Jul 01, 2004 at 03:29:35 PM PDT
I'm working on finding out more about voting records for Congress members. I know Project Vote Smart, but I was wondering if anyone could suggest any other solid, reliable sources.
Also, are there any decent databases for recovering political quotes or stories on specific candidates (other than LXNX and googling)?
Anything that can be offered might help. I'm specifically looking for info on Walter Jones (R-NC.
Thanks in advance!
Walter Jones wins a Diddly!
Wed Jun 30, 2004 at 06:31:22 PM PDT
MoJo's annual Diddly awards were given out in the most recent issue and, here's a big shocker: Walter Jones got one for his "freedom fries." Oh, its so great to live in the NC-3 district...
From Mother Jones:
Bob Ney and Walter Jones for their menu rewrites. Jones explained his motive: "This isn't a political or publicity stunt. We feel sincere as to what we've done. This isn't going to change the debate or course of the world. It's a gesture just to say to the French, 'Up yours!'"
My meeting with NC-3 candidate Roger Eaton.
Tue Jun 29, 2004 at 06:47:27 PM PDT
I met with Mr. Eaton for two hours today (Tuesday). I have officially joined his campaign, and will be going back to campaign headquarters on Friday to help out Eaton's campaign manager Larry Spell. Any NC-3 people who want to help, please see Eaton's
website.
Excerpts from my blog post:
Roger is pushing his message of accountability in representation. His proposal for monthly "town meetings" is much needed in an era of distanced politics. By allowing citizens to voice concerns personally, they have the opportunity to debate the issues with their representatives in Congress. This personal connection is sorely missing in the 3rd District with incumbent Jones. He also wants to maintain an interactive web site which allows constituents to voice opinions and vote on upcoming legislation in order to maintain a true representative in Congress.
