The Political Voices of Women

Michelle Obama Biography…

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I think Michelle Obama did a nice job with her speech. Especially, since she is not a politician, and she was following Senator Ted Kennedy. Here is a video of Michelle Obama’s full speech…



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If you ask me…This satellite cameo of Obama with the kids, is priceless. What do you think?



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So, now you’ve seen it for yourself. Here is some reaction by other bloggers…

From Women’s Voices for Change…

History met hope tonight, to borrow words from Michelle Obama’s stunning address in which she posited herself as American everywoman, a hardworking wife whose most important and cherished role is to be as good a parent to her daughters as her parents were to her. With her mother in the audience and her two young daughters beside her, she gesticulated with hands and arms as she spoke to suggest that while she is Princeton and Harvard, she possesses a common touch. To those who thought that she was somehow too exotic, too removed, and somehow threatening, to appeal to ordinary Americans, she dispelled qualms never mentioning race, and celebrating the achievement of Hillary Clinton this week when America celebrates the 88th anniversary of American women gaining the franchise.

From Reno and it’s Discontents…

I think most of us can agree that Michelle Obama gave a fabulous speech tonight. She managed to hail Hillary Clinton and talk about all women in a way that was celebratory. However, what I’m most interested in are the reactions from the Right of Center bloggers included in the National Journal Bloggers Poll with me. We were polled yesterday on whether we felt Michelle Obama would hurt or help Barack Obama’s campaign. Well, first of all, its really kind of a ridiculous question, but it does show us clearly how low our public discourse on this election has gone.

From Pamela at Democratic Daily…

I thought it was awesome. I was incredibly impressed. She’s grown a lot on the campaign trail. Tonight’s from Michelle Obama speech was honest, from the heart and very moving.

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Senator Ted Kennedy gave a powerful, inspiring, and courageous speech tonight at The Democratic National Convention. And, just in case you missed it…

—Here is some of what other bloggers are saying about Ted Kennedy’s speech. What did you think?

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The Democratic National Convention begins today, and the latest poll numbers are being spun by the media as proof that Hillary supporters are not on board with Obama. How much weight do you think these polls really carry?

From where I sit…The media (not Hillary or Hillary supporters) are responsible for any real or imaginary riff in the Democratic Party. In a nutshell, it goes like this – Build her up, knock her down, and then suggest she bail-out before all the votes are counted. The trouble is, media manipulation does affect actual outcomes, and the Republicans are champions at media manipulation. A perfect example is the Bush administration, and how they learned very quickly, that the media couldn’t change lies into truth, but they could change lies into the perception of truth. Unfortunately for democracy, perception trumps truth every time. So, not surprisingly, the McCain campaign is using all the latest media hoopla to their benefit. Will it work? What do you think? Here is the latest from around the web.

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Oil and gas companies want you to believe that alternative sources of power (such as wind and solar), are not cost effective. They want you to believe that renewable power will be more costly for the consumer. And, in today’s bad economy, that can be quite troubling for most of us. But now, the truth is being revealed, in Colorado of all places.

From The Washington Post…

In Colorado — a state historically known for natural gas and fights over drilling — wind and solar power are fast becoming prominent parts of the energy mix. Wind capacity has quadrupled in the past 18 months, according to Gov. Bill Ritter (D), and Xcel has become the largest provider of wind power in the nation.

The politics and economics of energy are shifting here in ways that foretell debates across the country as states create renewable-energy mandates and the federal government moves toward limiting carbon emissions. One advocate calls Colorado “ground zero” for the looming battle over energy.

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Ten years ago, Xcel began offering wind-generated electricity, but it was a niche market for eco-conscious customers willing to pay extra. That changed in a significant way after 2004, when Xcel lost the referendum fight.

After legislative efforts failed, proponents of renewable energy turned to the ballot that year. The initiative, Amendment 37, required the state’s biggest utilities to generate 10 percent of their electricity from renewable sources. Advocates found themselves facing off against Xcel, which said it feared for its bottom line.

“We ended up opposing that amendment. In retrospect, I wish we hadn’t,” said Frank Prager, Xcel’s vice president for environmental policy.

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OK, I posted on the Saddleback Forum yesterday, and I thought that was all I would be doing. But, it seems what was being billed as a “fair” forum (with McCain unable to hear the questions ahead of time, during Obama’s hour), didn’t really go down that way at all. At the time Obama’s interview began, McCain hadn’t even left his hotel yet. What? Didn’t they mention that McCain was placed in a “cone of silence” or something? McCain apparently didn’t even get to Saddleback until a half-hour after he was supposedly in a cone of silence, and was able to hear at least half of the “secret” questions, giving him a huge advantage.

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What do you think? Was the public deceived by this forum? Did John McCain have an advantage over Barack Obama? Here is some of what other bloggers are saying about this.

From News Hounds…

Saturday night, immediately after the Saddleback Forum, FOX News had a panel ready for analysis on the Strategy Room.. Everyone on the panel agreed that John McCain was strong and decisive. In fact, McCain was so quick with his answers that he finished at least 15 minutes ahead of schedule. There may be a reason for McCain’s strong and decisive responses. The New York Times reports that John McCain was not in “a cone of silence” to prevent him from hearing the questions because he was,in fact, caught in traffic while Obama was questioned by Pastor Rick WarrenWarren assured the audience that McCain was unable to hear the questions because he was in a “cone of silence”. The format of the forum depended on the idea that both candidate would be answering the same questions so voters could make a clear comparison. The fact that McCain was able to know the questions beforehand completely negates the premise of the forum idea.

It also raises profound questions about the honesty of John McCain. His campaign is trying to turn it around acting shocked that anyone could accuse John McCain of cheating.

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On Saturday evening, Barack Obama and John McCain, participated in the Leadership and Compassion Forum, that was hosted by Rick Warren at Saddleback Church. [Warren is the author of The Purpose Drive Life.]

During the Saddleback Forum, John McCain and Barack Obama were asked to define what they believe “rich” is.

After totally avoiding the question, McCain gives a sarcastic answer of $5 million…



Here is Barack Obama’s answer to the same question…



Who do you think had the better answer?

Here is how they both responded to the issue of abortion.

Obama: I’m pro-choice, not pro-abortion…



McCain: I will be a pro-life president…



Did you see this forum? What did you think about the responses on abortion? Do you think one candidate did better than the other? Did this forum help you decide who you will be voting for? Let me know in comments.

In Denver, during the Democratic National Convention, there will be a special location for protesters. That’s good, right? This area is being called the “Free Speech Zone.” But, how “free” will this zone be? I guess that depends on how free people will feel being in “caged” locations. Is it just me? Or does it seem odd to have the “free speech area” caged in? Let me know what you think in comments.

Apparently, there is also a warehouse being setup arresting protesters.

Here is an interesting behind the scenes look, at the caged free speech location, and the secret detention center.

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Free Speech at the Democratic National Convention

If there’s one thing the United States stands for, it’s unfettered free speech. It is vital to a functioning democracy. Unfortunately, the increasing use by government and law enforcement officials of “free speech zones” and other stifling tactics to purge dissent has largely undermined the First Amendment’s safeguards for political free speech.For example, President Bush’s Presidential Advance Manual outlines the specific strategies his administration has used to “minimize the demonstrator’s effect.” It includes such Orwellian tactics as selling tickets exclusively to presidential supporters and creating “rally squads” of supporters who will surround and drown out protesters with pro-Bush chants. The manual also discusses the strategy of asking local law enforcement to create a designated protest zone, “preferably not in view of the event site or motorcade route.”

Free speech zones have been employed by both Democrats and Republicans at past political conventions. This year, however, Democrats face the embarrassing possibility that they will be the only party actually caging dissenters. Protesters at the upcoming Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Denver in late August will be corralled into caged “free speech zones” made of chicken wire and chain link fences which are located more than two football fields from the delegates’ entrance. Those who attempt to exercise their First Amendment rights outside this makeshift cage, which is partially obscured by trees and sculptures, will be arrested.

The Death of Free Speech at the Democratic National Convention

Surprise, surprise– the “party of change” is afraid of the potential of “free speech.” Protesters at the Democratic National Convention in Denver late August will be relegated to “free speech zones,” because security supersedes freedom in this Orwellian, post 9/11 world. Those not happy with keeping their voices confined to zones where their speech is contained and neutralized will find a newly built home at “Gitmo on Platte,” complete with stun guns and barb wire fences…

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So…What do you think about this? Is this any way for a country that prides itself on freedom, to treat it’s own people? It seems the presumption here, is that protesters are nothing short of criminals. I think this is a very sad commentary on the state of our “so called” free country. What do you think?

Have you heard about the new anti-Obama book? I imagine the people that will buy this book, are the same people that blindly forward emails around, about Obama being a Muslim. Personally, I don’t think this book will hurt Obama in the same way that swiftboaters hurt John Kerry.

But, I guess it really comes down to how the main stream media decides to cover it. Do they allow the lies to be repeated so many times that they take on a life of their own? Or, do they focus on the truth, and refuse to perpetuate the rhetoric? Only time will tell.

What do you think? Can Barack Obama be swifboated? Do you think the Obama campaign is doing enough to debunk this book? What part do you think the media will play in debunking or perpetuating the lies?

And, regardless of whether you support Barack Obama or not…Don’t you think he should win or lose the election based on the truth? Let me know what you think in comments.

Here is an interesting video about the book (and its author)…

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Here is some of what bloggers are saying…

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Will You Be Blogging The Democratic National Convention? I’m attempting to get as many of my ducks in a row as possible, before I begin to blog about the convention. Here is how you can help me, and we can help each other.

If you will be blogging the convention, please leave me your link in the comments of this post. I want to develop a list of bloggers that I (and anyone else) can refer to, for links and stories on the convention. If you are going to the convention, leave me your link. If you are going to be doing a play-by-play from your home, leave me your link. Let me know in comments, how often you will be blogging, and where you will be blogging from.

And, if you are a member of The Political Voices of Women Community…Please cross-post as many of your convention posts as you can to our community blog. I will be using many of them as guest posts for this blog, and may also use some in my convention coverage for The Care2 Election Blog.

It seems I will also be oovooing the convention for Care2, along with Care2 bloggers who will be at the convention. Will you be oovooing? If so, please let me know, maybe we can do something together.

Well, I think that’s it. I look forward to hearing from you.

Hillary Clinton’s name will be placed in nomination at the Democratic National Convention. I think this is a smart move, and possibly the only way to bring Obama and Clinton supporters together. It’s more of a symbolic gesture than anything else, that will honor Hillary Clinton’s historic bid for the White House. I imagine this decision may also contribute to more people wanting to watch the convention from home. And…until the bitter end, I will still hold out hope that Obama makes Hillary his running mate.

Here is some of what is being reported on this around the web…

ABC News’ Kate Snow reports…

A deal has been brokered between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton that will allow Clinton’s name to be placed in nomination at next week’s Democratic nominating convention, sources close to the Clinton camp told ABC News.

“Both sides agree that it is in the best interest of party unity and making sure that everyone’s voice and vote is honored to make sure her name is put into nomination,” a person close the negotiations said. “It’s to honor everyone who worked so hard on both sides.”

Clinton’s Historic Bid To Be Honored…

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will have her name placed into nomination at the Democratic Convention in Denver later this month, people involved in the talks said, and the Obama and Clinton teams are preparing to make a joint announcement about how the question of honoring Clinton’s historic bid has been resolved. It was not immediately clear whether that will include a full roll-call vote or some other mechanism — the arrangements were apparently still being worked out late last night — but people close to Clinton expressed a high degree of satisfaction with how the conversations with the Obama campaign had gone.

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