DISPATCH from longtime Puma PAC activist Bythelake in Strongsville OH, 10/9/08: Good Morning PUMAS! I would have posted last night but as luck would have it the internet was down.
Here’s the scoop….
I WAS A HIT WITH MY “DEMOCRAT FOR MCCAIN/PALIN” sign!
I was interviewed in line, had my picture taken by news-stations, interviewed on radio stations, and, get this, one of the workers for the McCain rally pulled me from the line of thousands of people and escorted me to the front of the line! He said, I want your sign on TV!
The rally was AWESOME! Sarah Palin caught my eye when she came on stage. She waved and thumbs-upped me!
I’m a PUMA star!
First thing when I got in line yesterday a lady came up to me and asked if I would travel with a group of women in Columbus Ohio over a couple of weekends and help them campaign. I gave her my card and told her to call me.
No matter who you are voting for, I would certainly recommend going to a John McCain rally!
Another thing, a van with a trailer pulled in the parking lot and it had two dummies hugging each other, it said, “More of the Same.” I saw them being filmed on TV and I took my sign and went over and stood behind them! The crowd was cheering me on! I had a blast! I’m not afraid to show my support as a democrat for McCain!
I know it gets discouraging sometimes to be a Puma. We’re not Republicans, and most of us don’t really feel like Democrats anymore either. I call myself a Pumacrat now. But then Bythelake goes and lifts all our spirits and reminds us that there are MILLIONS of us out here — all across the country — and we ARE going to change the outcome of this election.
Sometimes I think the MSM is purposely keeping the lid on this thing because they’re afraid of reporting the real truth — that Obama is likely to lose in a LANDSLIDE. They have to keep smiling along, pretending this election is just another horse race. Perhaps that’s the reason for the polls that over-sample Democrats, and the straight-faced absurdity of their reports on Obama’s commanding performance in the debates.
Anyway, McCain’s camp is continuing the attacks. There is a deliberate, DEVELOPING narrative that the Republicans are trying to establish here, Folks. First, the negative ads against Obama insisted that That One is UNREADY. Now, ratcheting it up, they call The Precious TOO RISKY. I was wondering when they would do this. My prediction is the next ads will call him UNFIT & DANGEROUS.
Ever notice how every ad targeted towards men uses the words Performance, Power, and Precision? (It’s true! Look for those words in the ads for cars, razors, housepaint, viagra, beer, EVERYTHING!) Well, obviously, that’s on PURPOSE. And so it is with these attacks on Obama. The ideas the ads want to convey about The Selected are:
UNREADY, UNFIT, UNAMERICAN, and DANGEROUS
I think this one is pretty effective at driving that point home.
What’s John McCain playing at? His unpredicted announcement of a Homeownership Resurgence Plan caught pundits on both the left AND the right by surprise. The left pretended to yawnwhile the right threatened to blow a gasket. Well, none of THAT is surprising. What’s curious to me is WHY did McCain drop such an unexpected policy initiative on voters last night? Seems like a pretty big gamble this late in the game. My hunch is that McCain is betting Republicans are NOT going to bolt the party and vote for Obama at this point. Seems a pretty safe bet to me. Republicans may not love McCain, but can you imagine ANY of your Republican friends voting for That One?
Didn’t think so. If it were Hillary he were facing, McCain might not be so willing to risk his base’s ire. But alas, it is a man McCain faces in November. (No indulging in “what might have been,” Folks — them days is over.) And, of course, the committed Obama voters are NEVER going to vote for McCain. NEVER. Not even if Larry Sinclair, Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright, Tony Rezko, and Louis Farrakhan himself all host a joint press conference in the nude and regale the public with tales of drunken and drugged bestiality involving Barack Obama, a donkey, and a very lonely Acorn. And then burn a flag and make fun of how gullible intellectual white people are.
Ahem. Anyway — I think McCain is risking the Choir by preaching to the Heathens (that’s us, Folks. Us Heathen Racist Pumas!). He’s taking his base for granted and conceding the voters of Obama Nation. The question is, will it work?
I’m not sure. I was admittedly intrigued by the idea of a $5,000 health insurance credit (would help my family a LOT) since I know Obama is as committed to UHC as I am to abstinence only sex ed and I also know that the economic landscape of the next four years will make it pretty much impossible for real UHC to pass. So $5 grand a year until 2012 to cut down on our health insurance costs? Hmmm. And now add in an apparently sincere and far-reaching plan to include the working class in the COLOSSAL BILLIONAIREs’ BAILOUT of 2008?
I’m intrigued. As a Puma with no candidate in the race, watching this game play out from the sidelines has at least some benefits. What do you all think?
DAILY UPDATE 10/8/08
LISTEN TONIGHT TO “THE LION’S SHARE” WITH SHERI, RIVERDAUGHTER, AND MURPHY AT 8PM EASTERN. WE’LL BE DISCUSSING LAST NIGHT’S DEBATE (BRIEFLY!), ACORN FRAUD IN NEVADA, AND CHECKING IN WITH REAL DEMS ABOUT THEIR ACTIONS ON THE GROUND IN PA AND OH. LISTENERS ENCOURAGED TO CALL IN AT 347-539-5420. LISTEN LIVE HERE!
1. Check out Puma PAC’s DAILY ALERT for today — all the links and info you need to get busy, HERE!
2.Real Democrats is organizing a bus tour through Ohio next weekend and they need our help! WHEN: Thursday, October 16th. Participants will meet in Columbus, OH. October 17th: Bus will leave promptly at 8:30 am Friday, morning. October 17-19: We will stop all along the way at fall festivals, shopping centers and any place Ohioans congregate– and talk to people and pass out flyers. We will travel throughout Ohio, Friday, Saturday and Sunday (we will return to Columbus by 5 pm). We will stay overnight at motels in target destinations and share rooms to control costs. We need money for gas for the motor coach, signs for the bus and flyers. If you want to contribute in any amount:www.RealDemocratsUSA.org If you want to join the bus–contact Paulie at pabeles@RealDemocratsUSA.org
Come for the weekend or come for the day–JUST JOIN US!!! If we can raise enough money we hope to continue every weekend until the election!!!
3. Help Heidi Li get a NObama ad on TV in swing states during the WORLD SERIES! We helped get one on the air in Missouri, and we can do it again! Every small (or large!) donation goes a LONG way. Please help HERE if you can, and THANK you.
4. Get Freddie Brown’s NEW FLYER! Just send an email with your real name and address and blog name to: fred08puma@gmail.com. You’ll get 100 of these beauties in your mailbox in a matter of days! Thanks freddie brown and dwp!
5. Make this video VIRAL. Send it to your mailing lists. Drop the url in comments at the blogs you frequent. Get it out there Puma PAC Ambassadors.
6. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper today. Tell them what you think of Obama’s connections to radical extremists. Post your letter here after you mail it. Use the handy, dandy guide in our ACTION CENTER for links and tips.
7. Join Puma PAC today and be a part of the largest, most organized Citizens Action Network in the Pumasphere. It’s Free, Easy, and Fun! You will receive all of our Super Secret PROWLS, and we NEVER EVER spam you, bug you for money, or share your information. Never, ever. Join us HERE!
8. Contribute if you can to Puma PAC, so we can keep the lights on. Donations accepted HERE, and THANK you!
The inimitable Freddie Brown has designed and printed 20,000 copies of this hard-hitting flyer — full color on top-shelf paper. Freddie is DETERMINED to spread the word far and wide about what REALLY matters in this election. Can you help? Please send an email with your name, address, and blog or puma name to: fred08puma@gmail.com ORprowlnorth@gmail.com
If you want more than 100 flyers please specify. If you live in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Virginia, Michigan, or Wisconsin can you challenge yourself to hand out 200 flyers??
EVENING UPDATE 10/6/08
1. Check out Puma PAC’s DAILY ALERT for today — all the links and info you need to get busy, HERE!
2. Make this video VIRAL. Send it to your mailing lists. Drop the url in comments at the blogs you frequent. Get it out there Puma PAC Ambassadors. Also make this video about the Weather Underground viral. Send it everywhere.
3. Check out the new Vote Puma site – a wonderful new blog in the Pumasphere (be sure to vote in the poll!) and there’s lots of great stuff in the Vote Puma store on the right sidebar — proceeds benefit our political activities. Another great place for Puma stickers, tshirts, and signs is our EMPORIUM!Buy early and often — all proceeds go to Puma PAC political activities.
4. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper today. Tell them what you think of Obama’s connections to radical extremists. Post your letter here after you mail it. Use the handy, dandy guide in our ACTION CENTERfor links and tips.
5. Join Puma PAC today and be a part of the largest, most organized Citizens Action Network in the Pumasphere. It’s Free, Easy, and Fun! You will receive all of our Super Secret PROWLS, and we NEVER EVER spam you, bug you for money, or share your information. Never, ever. Join us HERE!
6. Contribute if you can to Puma PAC, so we can keep the lights on. Donations accepted HERE, and THANK you!
Who would have thought it possible? Aw shucks, but I thought the marvelous markos was the bringer of all that is good and true. Crickets in Boiz World about Hannity’s investigation of Obama’s radical ties. Surprise!
The Boiz only want facts that advance their agenda, their version of reality. Hmm, sound familiar?
That’s what Riverdaughter says anyway. Read her article HERE, it’s quite good as always.
There was an interesting debate at The Confluence last night about just what IS it that makes Obama appealing to his followers. My take on it as that most of the Democrats who will vote for him will do so simply because he has a D after his name — most are under no illusion that he is the One or some sort of transcendent figure. These people are voting AGAINST George Bush in many, many cases — not so much FOR Barack Obama. It’s still an interesting question to ponder, however: Why do so many Americans of average to above-average intelligence seem to find Obama so charismatic and WONDERFUL?
I think it’s that they don’t want to associate with freaks like us. That’s my deep thought for the day.
“The Lady of Shalott is a magical being who lives alone on an island upstream from King Arthur’s Camelot. Her business is to look at the world outside her castle window in a mirror, and to weave what she sees into a tapestry. She is forbidden by the magic to look at the outside world directly. The farmers who live near her island hear her singing and know who she is, but never see her.
The Lady sees ordinary people, loving couples, and knights in pairs reflected in her mirror. One day, she sees the reflection of Sir Lancelot riding alone. Although she knows that it is forbidden, she looks out the window at him. The mirror shatters, the tapestry flies off on the wind, and the Lady feels the power of her curse.
An autumn storm suddenly arises. The lady leaves her castle, finds a boat, writes her name on it, gets into the boat, sets it adrift, and sings her death song as she drifts down the river to Camelot. The locals find the boat and the body, realize who she is, and are saddened. Lancelot prays that God will have mercy on her soul.” [source]
Building here on a comment I left at Riverdaughter’s place a little while ago about the bomb Anglachel threw at Riverdaughter. Puma PAC was mere collateral damage in Anglachel’s beautiful mind, as we were always beneath contempt, but the attack on Riverdaughter really sticks in my craw.
In the context of a political battle, the term “ally” is neither a figurative nor a metaphorical term. It’s the real deal meaning of the word. I stand up beside Riverdaughter because SHE CAN’T DO THIS ALONE. She needs our help; just as sure as we need hers.
This political battle INSIDE the Democratic Party is NOT happening in our heads, on paper, or in a virtual reality. It is happening on the ground — in the real world. In parking lots; at rallies; at family gatherings; at voter registration tables; in classrooms; at water coolers etc, etc.
The final battle will take place in the ballot booth on November 4th — the realest place in the world in a Democratic Society.
The intellectuals who want to believe they can guide the direction and outcome of this civil war had better get out of their own theoretical heads and face the troops.
Anglachel claims to know the minds and hearts of the Trumaniacs in the Democratic Party, but she doesn’t seem to like to look at our faces.
With a Ph.D. in political science I believe I could weave a tapestry of thoughtful political insight similar to Anglachel’s in terms of subtlety and complexity. I could read books of history and studies of social behavior and thread their themes into strands of logical beauty, perhaps even with a twist of rhetorical flair. I don’t know, seeing as I do not have a Ph.D. in political science (or in anything else for that matter — still waiting for that college diploma to clear the Accounts Receivable desk at UMass Lowell). But I bet I COULD love the world from a tower. I bet I COULD recreate an image of reality from the fascinating pictures reflected in the books that I love.
Anglachel is a knowledgable person. I’ve read her posts with interest and pleasure — she’s insightful and enlightening, and her writing has helped clarify and frame my own thoughts and convictions.
But honestly? I’ve learned a lot more about what it means to be a Trumaniac from the people here.
What’s it like to be a liberal lesbian living in a redneck Texas town? I don’t know — should I ask Anglachel or TexasTigress?
What’s it like to be a minority who works her fanny off in a successful business that she founded and whose workforce is comprised almost entirely of minorities from a different culture? I don’t know — should I ask Anglachel or FreddieBrown?
What’s it like to be a feminist with a professional career who also happens to be a Hillary supporter and stone, cold blind? I don’t know — should I ask Anglachel or Mary Joe?
What’s it like to be an 86 year old grandpa who tracks down media and government contacts with a grandchild on his lap? I don’t know — should I ask Anglachel or Goalucard?
What’s it like to be a black man in Washington D.C. who supports Hillary to the bitter end and will NOT vote for Obama? I don’t know — should I ask Anglachel or Ario?
You get the picture. As I’ve said before many times, I could go on and on.
But I won’t. I’ll follow Heidi Li’s wise advice and try to shift the terms of the debate AND the battle. Rather than defend ourselves against baseless and reckless insults, let’s DO something.
Help get Heidi Li’s ad on the air. If she can raise another $1,000 she’ll be broadcasting THIS AD immediately. Help her out HERE.
And please try to do everything you can from the list on our Daily Update, below.
Meanwhile, a parting image from my un-credentialed mind. This is another portrait of Lady Shalott, one that depicts her AFTER she faced the REAL world and her mirror cracked. She got into a boat and floated down the river with her eyes WIDE OPEN and her fate SEALED. That’s my pal Riverdaughter in that picture.
1. Check out Puma PAC’s DAILY ALERT for today — all the links and info you need to get busy, HERE!
2. Call your Senators and Reps today and tell them where you stand on the Bailout Bill. Click HERE for contact info.
3. Join Puma PAC today and be a part of the largest, most organized Citizens Action Network in the Pumasphere. It’s Free, Easy, and Fun! You will receive all of our Super Secret PROWLS, and we NEVER EVER spam you, bug you for money, or share your information. Never, ever. Join us HERE!
4. Make Heidi Li’s new Denver Group viral. Send it far and wide. Post links to it everywhere you go on the intertubes. Contribute a few bucks to it if you can. Click HERE to watch the ad and get the link.
5. Contribute if you can to Puma PAC, so we can keep the lights on. Donations accepted HERE, and THANK you!
Senate votes tonight on the Bailout Bill. Tune in and comment here during the debate and vote.
Senate bailout bill
The bill the Senate will vote on Wednesday will include measures that:
Allow Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson to buy up to $700 billion in bad mortgage-related securities and other bad assets
Allow the Treasury Department to modify mortgage terms to help homeowners avoid foreclosure
Permit the government to receive equity in companies it helps so taxpayers get a share of any future profits
Restrict executive pay for companies aided by the program
Create an independent oversight board to oversee the Treasury Department program
Source: Senate Banking Committee
Also, be sure to listen in to The Lion’s Share tonight on Puma United Radio (PURrrr!) at 8pm eastern. Sheri Tagg, Riverdaughter, and I will be discussing all the news of the day and week so far!
1. Join Puma PAC today and be a part of the largest, most organized Citizens Action Network in the Pumasphere. It’s Free, Easy, and Fun! You will receive all of our Super Secret PROWLS, and we NEVER EVER spam you, bug you for money, or share your information. Never, ever. Join us HERE!
2. Make Heidi Li’s new Denver Group viral. Send it far and wide. Post links to it everywhere you go on the intertubes. Contribute a few bucks to it if you can. Click HERE to watch the ad and get the link.
3. Contribute if you can to Puma PAC, so we can keep the lights on. Donations accepted HERE, and THANK you!
(thanks to Billie Jo for the sock puppet graphic!)
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