Happy Birthday, Mr. McCain

Yesterday morning, as I was sitting in the restaurant of my Denver hotel putting the finishing touches on my blog entry for the day, someone said, “McCain picked his VP.” I momentarily sat there ready to hear a familiar name, vaguely equivalent to getting confirmation of a foregone conclusion. A Romney, a Pawlenty, even a Lieberman. When I heard “Governor Palin from Alaska,” I thought it was a joke. In an amusing moment sitting there with several other delegates up early to have breakfast and get on with their day, I thought to myself that I couldn’t pick the governor of Alaska out of a line-up of two!

When I exited the restaurant, I needed to get official word from someone I knew or the news. I realize now that I could have just turned my computer back on and verified it for myself, but I was already running several minutes late to catch my shuttle to the airport. I hadn’t taken more than five steps from the restaurant toward the front desk when I heard someone in the packed lobby telling a friend about McCain’s VP pick. So it was true. But Sarah Palin? Who the hell is Sarah Palin? He could have chosen Barney Smith of Indiana, who got off one of the most memorable lines at the Democratic Convention. I would bet at this point that millions more know this previously unknown person than Governor Palin. If you didn’t see it, here’s the link to that great moment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IuAVw_v3br8

When I got on the SuperShuttle for my ride to the airport, the only thing anyone was talking about was McCain’s new VP selection. Everyone on that bus had the same reaction. “What?” “Who?” The woman sitting directly behind me, a delegate from Buffalo, New York, told me that as a woman, she was very insulted, that there were so many highly qualified Republican women to pick from, a Kay Bailey Hutchinson, an Elizabeth Dole to name but a few, and he chose someone with seemingly very little local experience and apparently zero national or international exposure. This woman thought that he was simply pandering to the supposedly disgruntled women who were Clinton supporters looking for a woman to support, and this would be that woman. “Not her,” she said.

It is pretty common knowledge that John McCain, who turned 72 yesterday, needed to pick a vice-presidential candidate who had rather significant national and international experience and is prepared to ascend to the presidency should something happen to McCain, which is a distinct possibility given his relatively old age for a president of the US. McCain’s selection of Palin is not just another demonstration of McCain’s lack of judgment; it sadly makes what is already an unacceptable choice for president completely impossible with a vice-president who is woefully unprepared to become the president.

When I got on the plane, once again filled with delegates and others who were returning from the DNC and heading home to their families and their normal lives, the VP choice was on everybody’s mind. The gentleman directly across from me asked me if I had heard the news. The woman behind him joined in with her critique and comment. Several others that were within earshot chimed in. McCain had accomplished one thing. He got us all talking about his selection. If his plan was to get our attention focused away from the Democratic convention, he is temporarily successful, but in the long run, this is nothing more than a stunt. And an ill-advised one at that.

I was thinking this morning that if McCain wanted to really shake things up, divert the country’s attention away from the most spectacular and monumental DNC in modern American history, that he should have chosen his wife, Mrs. McCain. Like Sarah Palin, she is a former beauty pageant contender. Like Sarah Palin, Cindy McCain has dealt with trying to balance a rather sizable budget and make serious policy decisions on where that funding should go. Cindy McCain is a wife and mother, and once even brought home an orphan baby from Bangladesh, a heroic act that surprised her husband, who had no idea that the baby was coming home with his wife.

Yes, even Mrs. McCain would have been a wiser choice than Mrs. Palin. The one stark difference between the two women is that Cindy McCain has traveled the world helping to bring awareness and raise money for underprivileged children in many blighted areas, whereas Sarah Palin is from a state that is huge in physical size, but tiny in population or importance (except for its oil industry…hey, wait a minute!!).

The ironic aspect of this selection is that it removes the ability for John McCain, his supporters and pundits to criticize Barack for his inexperience and lack of exposure to foreign policy. To be completely serious, Sarah Palin, a two-term mayor of a small town in Alaska and first term governor does not deal with issues facing Americans on a national and international stage. Howard Fineman said last night on Countdown with Keith Olbermann that Sarah Palin makes Barack Obama look like John Adams. If I were a Republican supporter of McCain’s candidacy, I would just be flummoxed to witness the very poor decisions being made by McCain and his handlers, this one setting a new record for ineptness and a true sense of pure desperation.

Having just been at an event that was life altering, I was sitting on the plane flight home perusing a couple of newspapers for all the news of the convention, the campaigns and anything and everything fit for a political junkie like myself. I came across this quote in an article written about McCain’s potential VP choice, obviously written the day before McCain’s historic and questionable selection. The article said: “Obama aids are preparing for the GOP vice-presidential pick. It won’t make a lick of difference to struggling American families who John McCain chooses to be the next Dick Cheney if he continues to insist on being the next George Bush., Obama spokesman Hari Sevugan said. Ken Duberstein, former chief of staff to President Reagan, said, ‘McCain needs to pick a running mate whom Americans can automatically see as presidential material. McCain should also have been looking for a ‘strong partnership and chemistry’ with his vice-presidential candidate. He needs to be viewed by the American people as credible, Duberstein said. This is not the time for on-the-job training.’”

So Happy Birthday, Senator McCain. On your 72nd birthday, you have actually provided us, the American people, with the real gift. You had the choice of Romney, Pawlenty, Crist and several other prominent governors who are from large states that have a national presence, a national following and are from states much more representative of the trials, tribulations and daily issues that affect all Americans. Sarah Palin seems like a fine woman, one who is rising in stature in the State of Alaska and one who is just beginning a career on a statewide basis after holding office in a tiny hamlet in Alaska that is a far cry from resembling any other part of this country that is dealing with issues of race, poverty, crime, rising home foreclosures and dozens of other big city and big state issues that test the character of a leader, but also prepare a candidate to deal issues that will be part of their everyday life as vice-president.

As Palin’s first act as the presumptive vice-presidential nominee, making her first official speech, and with John McCain proudly standing at her side, she committed her first flip-flop by claiming that she stood up against Senator Ted Stevens’ bridge to nowhere, but unfortunately for her credibility, she had previously come out publicly in full support of its construction. I will make this prediction: This will not be her only one.

Oh, What a Night!

As I walked out of Invesco Field at Mile High last night attempting to find a bus back to the hotel that we’d never find (more on that later), I was lost in thought, trying to find the words that would even come close to characterizing my experience of being one of the privileged few to get to see it live and in person. And then it came to me…Imagine the end of your favorite musical, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, you’re standing screaming at the top of your lungs because you just witnessed something wonderful. Imagine you’re at your hometown team’s stadium and it’s the bottom of the ninth and your favorite player hits a grand slam to win the game to put them in the playoffs. Yeah, that’s pretty good – okay. Really good, but this was better!
I just emailed my fabulous cousin Shelley, who has been so supportive and loving with her kind words, that outside of the miracle of my loving wife, children and grandchildren, this was it. I still can’t believe that I got to be there, and I now realize that I was there for you, for everyone who couldn’t be here. I met so many of the California delegation, and we’re all here because we’ve worked hard for the Obama campaign, but there are hundreds if not thousands who could have easily been here, as well. But in my Congressional district, one man got to be an Obama delegate, and I am that man. I have been so blessed, but as I told my friend and fellow Obama campaigner who has also been so kind to keep in touch with her support, I am here representing everyone who couldn’t be here.
This convention went off without a hitch, and each day had something new to offer, but last night’s extravaganza before a packed stadium in Denver was the pinnacle. Al Gore wowed the crowd with the speech of his life. Like me, he is so respected and admired by so many, and his presence on that stage was not just symbolic; it was historic. With a spectacular and touching tribute to Martin Luther King’s legacy and speeches earlier in the day by Reverend King’s son and daughter, a large line-up of military generals and other military leadership standing on stage demonstrating support for Obama, and with a smattering of entertainment thrown for good measure, including Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and Jennifer Hudson completely wowing the crowd, it just got better and better. I feel confident that if Barack came out and asked 80,000 people to make 100 calls from their seat before they left the stadium, everyone would have done just that.
I have got to get to the airport. It is now 8:45 AM Denver time, and I am leaving four hours early for my flight. Yikes! But with thousands heading out of town on the same day, it is necessary. Thank you again to all who have been here to support me, keep in contact with me and let me know you’re out there. It has meant a lot! And I will put more thoughts together when I have a chance. Thank you also to John Scott and Green 960 AM Radio in San Francisco for linking this blog on their website.
Next stop, San Francisco. Let’s get to work and get Barack over the top. It’s going to be a bumpy road, and I feel confident that if we get everyone out to vote, particularly people of color, women and young people, that will be enough to get Barack into the White House.
Bye for now!

It Feels Mighty Good to be a Democrat

Tonight was the night that we’ve all been waiting for. Tonight was just what the doctor ordered. After a night yesterday when the Democratic Party seemed to become unified behind Barack Obama, tonight was proof positive. As the roll call procedure progressed, it became increasingly obvious that the hall filled with thousands of delegates from the United States and its territories were uniting behind Barack Obama. The momentum was building when all eyes turned to the New York delegation where Hillary Clinton with New York Senator Charles Schumer at her side ceded this race to Barack Obama by releasing all of her delegates to Senator Obama.

The speeches tonight were nothing short of brilliant. If John Kerry had delivered a couple speeches like tonight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MiBBb7DQpI we would be working to re-elect Kerry to his second term. President Clinton dazzled the crowd and reminded this country how a powerful speech was meant to be given. As the torch is passed from the Clinton era to the next generation of leadership, Bill Clinton delivered a speech that was absolutely magnificent. Although the speeches up until then placed the crowd into kind of a euphoric trance, the speech by vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden was still greatly anticipated.

Biden delivered the speech of his life. His emotion filled speech brought tears to my eyes, and for a guy who isn’t prone to crying often, that’s saying something. The theme was national security, and one speech that poignantly delivered that message was given by military hero Major Tammy Duckworth, which struck just the right chord http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6mvMpB2t9Y It was accompanied by a video filled with testimonials and interviews of war veterans from the current war and occupation and of World War II, and it was so tremendously moving. The message came through loud and clear that this country will be guided with the leadership of Barack Obama in a much more thoughtful way with a foreign policy that favors strong diplomacy over reckless military force and a desire to reassert the US as a respected leader on the world stage.

Melissa Etheridge came out early in the evening for one song, but it was an extraordinary moment http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30hwuCYshQU As thousands of people sang and danced together as one, the overwhelming feeling that we are all part of something huge and life-changing was palpable. I have made so many new friends from all over California, and it was so special to share this moment with them. State delegations are a representative cross-section of our society, and it is such a privilege to be with them and get to know so many special and dedicated public servants. If I were so honored, I would serve as a delegate in four years again in a heartbeat. I am having the time of my life.

On a personal note, I am feeling quite satisfied. Three incredible things happened that have really enhanced my experience so much. Even though leaving the convention floor is not only difficult, but risky because one’s seat may be in jeopardy, nature does occasionally call. As I headed up the stairs and on to the main concourse, I heard my name, looked up and there stood a friend of mine from Washington, D.C. who was once the legislative counsel for Congressman Lantos and now in private legal practice. He is in Denver representing a client with Democratic business. I met Jason when I was doing some lobbying in his office and several others during my years of political action related to my profession. We have kept in contact ever since.

My friend Sarah, who until a few weeks was living in the Bay Area working very hard on the Obama campaign, took the plunge and fulfilled a dream by moving to Washington, D.C. to procure a job with a Congressional office. Knowing I was at the DNC, she texted me yesterday to say hello, find out how things were going in Denver and to tell me that she had an interview set up with Senator Klobuchar’s office at the end of the convention. It got me thinking that it would be amazing to be able to talk to somebody from the senator’s office about it. What good fortune it is to have the California delegation sitting right next to Minnesota’s, and how crazy is it that Senator Klobuchar was the one at the microphone as her state announced its votes in the roll call for Barack Obama. Oh, did I mention that she was about fifteen feet from me? You can guess the rest. It was a magical moment, and I was so pleased and proud.

Lastly, a wonderful guy that I met while in Reno, Nevada working on the Obama campaign called me yesterday to say that he was coming to Denver, and knowing that I was here as a delegate, wanted to see if I had time to get together. Well, we did, and he joined me and probably a thousand of my closest friends at a California delegation gala at the Denver Museum of Science and Nature for a truly spectacular affair. He was dazzled by being a small part of the delegate process and I was thrilled to see him and share my extra ticket to the event with him.

This great guy is named Sky Nelson, and I know he won’t mind my mentioning his name because he is quite a talented musician. He has written a song for the Obama campaign, and I know he would be delighted if you’d visit his website and acquaint yourself with his music and message. http://www.skynelson.com/index.cfm?CFID=42298235&CFTOKEN=97418193 I first saw Sky after a long day of canvassing through the streets of Reno sitting in the Reno Obama office sitting there playing the piano, and I said to myself, “Wow! This guy’s good.”

I know that people are busy, but don’t cheat yourself. Go back and listen to the speeches tonight. They are so well worth your time, and if you do – or if you already got to see what I saw in person – you will agree with me that if you are a Democrat, this was a very satisfying and empowering evening. It hasn’t always been a peaches and cream campaign. There has been divisiveness, rancor and some real tough times that have served to temper what has been an amazing ride for Barack Obama and his campaign, but tonight’s strong message of support, admiration and oneness as a party is the perfect way to lead us into the next 68 days of this campaign against John McCain for the presidency.

Oh, I almost forgot. I have also had the pleasure of meeting a gentleman running for Congress from California’s 48th Congressional District, the southern part of Orange County, home to a huge Republican population. Steve Young is a genuinely nice guy, but he is also a candidate in the image of Barack Obama. He has a strong platform of job growth, a fair middle class tax plan, environmental awareness and securing a proper retirement for working families, and his incumbent opponent John Campbell, like John McCain, has voted in lockstep with George W. Bush 95% of the time. If you’re interested in supporting a wonderful candidate for Congress and helping him replace another clone of George Bush, log on to www.steveyoungforcongress.com and give him your support. He is an agent for change and is changing hearts and minds and will provide new leadership in Congress for all the citizens of a majority Republican Orange County.

That’s it for now. Once again, I can’t thank you all enough for your good wishes, your support and encouragement. I want to give a shout-out to my mom, who called me a couple of nights ago to share her excitement with me for my being part of history and that she was watching all of the festivities and that it was such a spectacular event. That meant a lot to me, Mom!

For those of you who are wishing to be a part of this campaign and do more than just watch the proceedings and vote in November, there is a way you can get involved. Log on to www.mybarackobama.com, sign in and press the events button, put in your zip code and find an event that suits you. Even a couple hours a week would be invaluable. I feel strongly that you’ll find donating a little bit of time rewarding, enriching and very empowering.

Onward to Mile High….

A Night of Unity, a Night to Remember

Oh, what a night! I am sure that most of you have seen tonight’s convention or at least saw snippets of it on the news, but suffice it to say that the Democratic party outdid itself. The keynote speech by former Governor Mark Warner set just the right tone, a good mixture of everything great about Barack Obama and a sad reminder of how disastrous a McCain presidency would be. But with the anticipation of Hillary Clinton’s arrival, everyone in the hall knew what we were there to witness tonight.

Well, as we all know, Hillary Clinton hit a grand slam. She touched on all the points and was hitting on all cylinders. The California delegation, 441 strong, has a few more Clinton members than Obama, and these people are for the most part rabid Hillary supporters. More power to them, but there is no doubt, even after witnessing last night’s spectacular presentation and the abundance of adulation of Hillary Clinton, that this convention is all about Barack Obama. I am hopeful that we can now move on in a spirit of unity to nominate Obama and put him in the best position to defeat John McCain and go on to the White House.

As I was watching the hall fill up tonight, I was struck by the air of fellowship, good vibrations and a sense of oneness. Then it hit me! There are 10,000 people that will soon pack this arena and not one Republican, save and except a couple of journalists and possibly some of the employees of the Pepsi Center. No wonder I’m so comfortable and having such a wonderful time. No Republicans! I can’t begin to tell you how incredibly empowering it is to be with thousands of amazing, enlightened and well-informed people from all over this country gathering for one goal, to nominate Barack Obama and radically change this country for the better.

Denver has become a city of sights and sounds. Everywhere one turns, there is a famous person. Politicians, performers, television reporters and anchors walk around in every venue and all locales. While I keep an eye on all the speakers and convention formalities, I am aware that every radio and TV network reporter, cameraman and whatever support staff they have are swarming around the hall like bees. I have been interviewed numerous times now, and it is just a fabulous experience.

If it wasn’t broadcast live, please make certain to watch Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer’s speech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8iatxuU3OU that preceded Senator Clinton’s. It was a barn-burner, and it definitely answered the criticism that the Democratic National Committee received from last light’s softer than expected approach to the Republicans and John McCain. As a matter of fact, there were several really powerful speeches, but Hillary Clinton’s speech was a critical part of this election and a truly magical moment in what has been a campaign season that is filled with ups, downs, surprises and emotions that may not have been present quite like this in any campaign of our lifetimes.

I also have a feeling that some of you may have missed Nancy Pelosi’s speech, and it was a knock ‘em dead call to arms that Barack is the man and John McCain is not. I’ll provide that link, as well. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6a1avwl0cs.

Lastly, I would like to thank all of you for your kind remarks and efforts to get in touch with me to tell me you saw me on TV and that you read my blog or saw me quoted in the newspaper. For those of you that are political junkies like me and like to know what I’m up to, I was in the SF Chronicle yesterday, and I was interviewed by the same reporter today, Carolyn Lockheed, so I may be in there tomorrow, as well. Today I’m supposed to be in the Half Moon Bay Review, and on Monday, there was a wonderful article in the San Mateo Daily Journal that highlighted some of us heading to the convention. These can all be accessed online if you don’t have access to the physical paper.

I was interviewed last night by John Rothmann and Brett Burkhardt of KGO live on the air and have been asked to stop by the KGO table along famed Talk Show Row to get interviewed by Gil Gross, sometime between 2:00 and 4:00 today. And if that’s not enough, I gave an interview to a reporter from one of Holland’s largest newspapers and last night was interviewed by a TV station beaming live back to Denmark. I must admit that my Danish is a bit rusty, but to make up for it, I had one for breakfast this morning while I listened to Barbara Boxer and Senators John Kerry and Claire McCaskill.

Do I sound a bit excited and a bit dazzled? Well, that’s because I am. Oh…my aunt and uncle are traveling in Russia at this very moment and I got a wonderful email from them that they are watching the convention from there and reading my blog. Could life get any better? I think not!

A Morning Breakfast with a Twist

At a breakfast that was devoted to meeting some of the up and coming governors from around the country and a tribute to Edmund G. “Pat” Brown, former governor of the State of California and father of current California Attorney General Jerry Brown, there was an interesting spectacle to spice up the festivities. Upon entering the Sheraton Hotel ballroom, we were given a handout not exactly sanctioned by the Democratic Party. It said: “Why is Gloria Gagged?”

Just as the program began, Attorney/Activist Gloria Allred entered the room fitted with Suffragette style gag and scarf, and as a believer in free speech and recognizing that some Hillary Clinton supporters still feel at this point that their candidate has not received a proper tribute and attribution, I don’t really have a problem with anyone having his or her issues aired, but I did find it a bit comical and somewhat melodramatic that Ms. Allred spent the entire breakfast with a gag stuffed in her mouth and attempting to gather a group of ultra dedicated Hillary supporters after the breakfast.

As I left the room, there was a relatively small group gathered to listen to an impassioned plea from Allred planning something, but whatever it is, it will not overshadow the emotion and atmosphere of this convention. All major high profile leaders in this country, people who came out early for Barack and people that were once strongly in the Clinton camp, are now united behind the Obama-Biden presidential campaign. The theme is unity, and the overall feeling in the room this morning and in the convention hall last night is we are all Democrats, and we have an awesome candidate who we will all work hard to see that he becomes our president.

This morning we were addressed by a few exciting and emerging prominent Democratic governors from key states, David Patterson of New York, Ted Strickland of Ohio and also the governors of West Virginia and Iowa, each with an inspiring message offering support for Barack, and looking forward to each one of their states receiving a boost and an economic injection that will only arrive with the return with a Democratic president. The speeches were good, entertaining and uplifting.

The morning culminated with a spirited tribute to the group of women elected officials that we have in the State of California that were in the room, and the standouts for me were my Congresswoman Jackie Speier, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey of the north Bay Area and Congresswoman Maxine Waters of Los Angeles. It was a fitting tribute to the emergence of the powerful, successful and skilled political women that hold many offices in our diverse state.

After a little get-together with Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher at another hotel, I will meet up with my fellow delegates from CD12, Susan Pfeifer and April Vargas, and we’ll head over to the Pepsi Center for what will most likely be a historic and very memorable night of sights, sounds and one speech better than the other.

A Delegate is a Busy Person

The life of a delegate is hurry up and wait. The California Delegation breakfast this morning started at 8:00, but it really started closer to 9:00, but it did give me an opportunity to schmooze with my fellow Peninsula (SF Bay Area) delegates and see all of the other dedicated delegates from all over the state. I said hello to Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, SF District Attorney Kamala Harris to name but a few of the wonderful people who represent us.

California Delegate Chairman Art Torres got us off to a rousing start, and speeches by people like Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Congressman Mike Honda made us feel welcomed and gave us a glimpse of the days ahead. The ballroom was packed with an excited crowd, with elected officials and press scattered everywhere. It was a great start to a remarkable day.

As I write this, it’s close to midnight Denver time. I have had so many people emailing me and telling me that they’ve read my blog from yesterday that I feel like I better write something before I head off to bed. I am also honored to have progressive talk radio station Green 960 in San Francisco linking my blog on their website. And my wife tells me that she’s sent out my blog site to numerous family and friends, and so whoever you are out there, I feel like I’m here for you. I realize that not everyone gets to experience this, and I don’t take my responsibility or good fortune lightly.

I had a little time in between official activities this afternoon, so after finishing an interview with a reporter from Wick Communications writing for the Half Moon Bay Review, I was off to check out the town. Denver has spared no expense preparing for this event. The entire downtown area has been turned into a kind of DNC Disneyland. Obama gear is for sale everywhere. People are all decked out in Obama finery, and every storefront, restaurant and street sign has some kind of DNC reference on it.

Denver is a lovely city anyway, but they’ve really outdone themselves. I am truly impressed, and there is something related to this convention in every corner of this city. I would imagine that the entire state of Colorado has leant buses, police and everything else to make this event come off without a hitch. My only complaint is that the bus from my hotel to the convention site took about 45 minutes to travel two miles because of the packed streets and security.

Speaking of security, it reminds me of Times Square on New Year’s Eve. The Pepsi Center is locked up tight as a drum. Without a credential, don’t bother knockin’. On the way in, our credentials, IDs and bags were checked at several checkpoints, and I for one am happy. I like to be safe, and this is a good place to feel protected. Inside the Pepsi Center, more than half of this country’s brain trust is walking around.

I did get a chance to hang around at MSNBC’s outdoor studio, about a mile from my hotel. It was fabulous. Andrea Mitchell interviewed people like Vice-President Walter Mondale, Debbie Dingle and Terry McAuliffe. I actually spotted McAuliffe standing right near me waiting for his ride, and I walked up and we had a really good conversation. Before you say that you’re still upset with him for his behavior during the primary, he said some very good things to say on camera and off, and I have decided to take the high road at this convention and acknowledge that we’re all Democrats and we all want the same thing, to elect Barack Obama and defeat John McCain.

Pepsi Center is a spectacular facility, but the crowd that has shown up for Barack Obama is causing the huge building to burst at the seams. We were pre-warned that there wouldn’t be enough seats for every delegate, and that is a fact. You don’t dare disappear for too long or you’ll find another person in your seat. The California delegation is directly adjacent to CNN’s floor studio, and I literally sat twenty feet from Wolf Blitzer, Anderson Cooper, James Carville, Donna Brazile, Gloria Borges and Paul Begala the entire evening. That is a hot spot in the room, I can tell you. And speaking of news celebrities I also saw Sam Donaldson, Charlie Gibson, Katie Couric, Roland Martin, Katty Kay and even Ted Koppel.

The convention decorations are magnificent. I really think they’ve thought of everything, and if you can’t get a close enough look at the speakers, two jumbo screens display all of the activity in huge living color. There is a live band that I think I would actually pay to hear, and the staging, the elaborate layout and the sensational decorations are nothing short of brilliant. Even though we are literally packed in like sardines, it is a room full of love, hope, camaraderie and a feeling of great anticipation. I believe that everyone there believes that Barack Obama will be our next president because he is not only the better candidate, but the best candidate that we’ve had in many generations.

Caroline Kennedy delivered a beautiful speech, culminating with an introduction of her uncle, Senator Ted Kennedy, who gave a very moving and powerful speech to a very warm and receptive crowd. Michelle Obama’s speech to the crowd and to the entire country was extraordinary, really breathtaking. I am not a cryer, but when the Obamas’ two daughters came out at the end of her speech, I had a couple of tears. She was brilliant and set just the right tone for this convention. Other terrific speeches were made by Nancy Pelosi, Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., and Senator Claire McCaskill, who was actually introduced by her three eloquent children.

Even though we were all sitting there for hours, it didn’t really seem like it. There was so much to see and observe, and for a people watcher like me, it was like an addictive drug. I saw Susan Sarandon, Bill Maher, Angela Bassett and dozens of other well-known people, many of whom I actually got to say hello to. In the lobby as I was walking around, I shook Congressman Dennis Kucinich’s hand, who actually told me that he thought the San Mateo County Straw Poll was a great event, and I saw Congressman Barney Frank and numerous members of our local leadership, including Lt. Governor John Garamendi, former State Controller Steve Westly, Congresswoman Barbara Lee and former State Treasurer Phil Angelides.

During the convention, I was interviewed by the San Francisco Chronicle, and on the bus back, I actually spoke for half an hour with a reporter from one of the largest newspapers in Holland. I may never see that newspaper, but it was a great opportunity to share my thoughts with readers from far, far away.

Today’s first day was an outrageously wonderful experience. Oh, we did get to vote for the Democratic platform and make several other procedural votes, but the rest of the time was devoted to speeches by people like Iowa Senator Tom Harkin, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar and more than two dozen other wonderful and terrific speakers. We were handed signs to hold up to welcome several key speakers, including a Kennedy sign for Ted Kennedy, a Michelle sign and a couple of signs to help frame the theme of the moment.

If you watched tonight’s convention telecast, you may have seen more closely the presentations and heard some of the speeches even better than I did, but what you may not have captured is the overpowering feeling of hope in the room, the environment of a shared vision, a overwhelming desire to see change occur in this country, and a palpable realization that every delegate and elected representative is there for one purpose, to elect Barack Obama as the next president of the United States.

I don’t know everything taking place tomorrow or what new sight and sound I’ll come across, but I feel very confident that it will be another day packed with amazing activities that I have never experienced before and may never again, and whatever happens, I’ll do my best to share it with you.

Goodnight from Denver…

Welcome to Obama City

Welcome to Obama City. On your left is an Obama swag stand. On your right is an Obama swag stand. Straight ahead is an Obama swag stand. Some pretty cool stuff, too! As I stepped off the tram from the arrival terminal and entered the main terminal, it was an Obama feast for the eyes. Men and women dressed up in western outfits to direct all arrivers, a welcoming line from every lobby group, special interest concern and people scattered through with signs welcoming Obama delegates from all over the country.

I have been to dozens of conventions all over this country, but never had I gotten on an airplane mostly filled with people all heading to a city to attend the convention or activities surrounding that convention. And unlike most flights, people are energized, talking to others as if they’ve known them for years, and everyone decked out with an Obama shirt, hat or button. It is hard to describe my excitement as I sit on the plane and listen to the conversations flowing around me dripping with anticipation and a promise of the time of their life.

Last week, I had the pleasure and honor of speaking before a group of Obama supporters and voters at a fundraising party in San Carlos, California, and in addition to raising $5500 for the Barack Obama campaign, I had the pleasure of getting to meet most of the attendees. They were a wonderful group of people, and as I sat on the plane thinking about that event and also imagining what is in store for me in the coming week, I casually turned around to peek through the opening in the seats to see who was having the interesting and spirited discussion behind me, and sitting there was one of the lovely couples I met last Sunday at the fundraiser. It is a small world.

Waiting in line for the SuperShuttle with hundreds of my closest new friends was like old home week or like rush week at college, each of us trying to figure out which one of the dozens of shuttles and buses was heading in the direction of our hotel. In my shuttle was delegates from Ohio and North Carolina, and it was fun sharing a couple of stories with them and realizing that we’re all coming to Denver to accomplish something very important, but also to rub elbows with the bigwigs and to have a great time. When we stopped at a red light in the center of downtown, I looked over to my left and saw Senator Carl Levin of Michigan sitting in the passenger seat of his car.

As I approached my hotel, it looked like Obama City Hall. My hotel will be my home for the next six days and for the delegations of both California and New York, and it was a feast for the eyes to walk into a lobby filled with delegates checking in, visiting the Obama swag table (they’re like Starbuck’s coffee stores) and gathering together to meet and greet and reacquaint with each other and share their excitement and thrill to be part of something this big. The lobby is filled with reporters and party officials bustling about.

Once I got into my room, I had to go get something to eat because it was well after noon and I had not eaten since 6:00 AM. As I sat there alone at my table in the lobby restaurant rifling through the two bags stuffed with literature and goodies from the California Democratic Party, a woman at the next table behind me, a delegate from New York, was curious as to what all of that stuff was. As I showed her some of the things and as we started talking to each other about where we were from, I had the opportunity to meet a really fabulous person who is as enthusiastic and as supportive as I am about our candidate, Barack Obama, and about our country and its vast diversity and the promise of better days.

Tonight I have the choice of three equally compelling events, and I will try to present myself at all three. This is the land of opportunity, Obama City, and it is one beautiful place. Tomorrow starts the big festivities, starting with a California delegation breakfast, and in the next few days, I will be in the presence of the vast majority of the Democratic leadership of this country. I can honestly say that this is one of the greatest things that I’ve done in my life, and I am honored and humbled that I get to live this unique privilege, and although I guarantee that I’ll have lots of fun and eat everything that’s not attached to the food tables, I am also here for serious business, and I do take this business very seriously.

I Have Just Been Biden My Time

Not to toot my own horn -- oh, why not? Over the past few weeks, every time I was asked who I think Obama will pick as his VP (and I must have been asked 200 times) I've said Joe Biden. I was even interviewed by KCBS Radio in San Francisco last Saturday and answered Joe Biden. Am I just psychic or just a talented swami? No way. Yes, I may be just a little astute, but in truth, Barack's choice for VP seemed to be clearly leading him toward Joe Biden.

I have always liked Joe Biden. Yes, he shoots from the hip, but his candor is just what Barack Obama needs at this point. The VP slot has traditionally been seen as an attack dog role during the time leading up to the election, but Obama needs someone strong and glib to bolster his populist and progressive message. Although Barack does a spectacular job of delineating his strengths and the bold agenda that he is laying out, his weakness has been getting any accurate representatiions of John McCain's weaknesses and negatives to resonate with the American people. I do believe that Biden will make them stick.

Tom Lantos was my Congressman and I knew him and respected him, so his memorial service that was held in Washington meant a lot to me. During the service, Joe Biden spoke so warmly and eloquently, and his off-the-cuff words were so incredibly moving and touching. His ability to move a crowd, speak from the heart and say it like it is is exactly what will bring additional substance, weight and yes, credibility to the Obama campaign.

This is still an uphill battle. The Obama-Biden ticket is not just running against John McCain and whoever he selects as his running mate, most likely Mitt Romney. They are also running against the Bush-Cheney White House, who still controls much of the spotlight when they demand it, but much more critically, they are truly up against Fox News and the corporate-driven Right Wing media and pundits who will do and say anything to try to prevent a president who will put the American people first and not continue the benefit-rich playing field that has been the stalwart of the Bush-Cheney regime.

Not shockingly, the McCain campaign was ready with a negative Obama-Biden ad this morning, and it is just a sad way to continue to operate a campaign. A candidate can only push the negative attack button so many times, and McCain is really pushing his luck right now. The American people are bright enough to recognize that Biden, who at one time was running for president himself, said some provocative things about Obama in the heat of the battle, but those things were relatively benign, and certainly don't concern me. McCain will also pick on a couple of minor gaffes that plagued Biden over twenty years ago, but the presumed attacks that will stem from that will just be hollow, similar to McCain's overall message.

The selection of Joe Biden shows a tremendous amount about Barack Obama. Instead of feeling threatened by the deep resume and the strong and boisterous personality of a Joe Biden, Obama can instead absorb the strengths and varied positive attributes of Biden and incorporate them into his own long list of accomplishments, and together they make a very formidable team. I am absolutely thrilled with Barack's choice of Joe Biden, and it doesn't bother me at all that I was correct on at least one prediction.

Serving as a Delegate a Tremendous Honor

I don't take what I'm about to do lightly. I am humbled and honored. I am now getting calls from media, getting last-minute calls from family and friends wishing me well, and it is settling in that I am actually going to a Democratic National Convention. Running for delegate and attending the delegate caucus seems like a distant memory. Recognizing that I actually won an election myself seems like a dream, but starting to think about what I'll pack, planning for which events I'll make an appearance at and knowing that I will be rubbing elbows with some of the more famous and important people in this country is actually giving me chills at this moment.

To think that only two short years ago, I told my wife that I was tired of doing nothing but voting every four years. I vowed that I would do more this presidential election. I had no idea that that innocent statement would land me here. I have met so many dedicated, spirited and amazing people along the way that I feel truly blessed by all of them. I can honestly say that I have never known more wonderful, enjoyable and genuine people in my entire life. If one were to judge a candidate by the people that work so hard to support him and truly admre and cherish him, then Barack is the candidate of not just this generation, but of the last three generations.

On a road that is now taking a wild turn toward the Rocky Mountains and to the aptly named Mile High City, there are have been so many spectacular stops along the way. From sitting in a veterinarian's office and finding myself raising my hand at my first meeting, the group's second meeting to volunteer to become the communications director, to helping to organize and ultimately meeting with a couple dozen people at Martin Luther King Center to fan out across San Mateo County to canvass for the first time, to ultimately hosting city meetings in my living room, this has been an amazing ride.

And now I and hundreds of my fellow delegates will go do what will hopefully be the next big step in nominating the next president of the United States. That awesome responsibility is easily the most important thing I've ever done. I feel like I carry each and every one of my friends, family, neighborhood, city and county on my shoulders as I go to Denver to represent every Democrat at the DNC. My task is clear, but the remarkable thing is that I have never been more sure of anything in my life. I have not had one reservation about the man that I will cast a vote for.

Although the convention will be a tremendous event, one filled with pageantry, memorable speeches and the culmination of a dream when an unknown man who would soon become a new senator made the speech that would launch a national political career that would catapult him on to the national stage and into a presidential bid, this road has a lot of traveling yet to go. We must get out the vote. We must register as many voters as is humanly posible. We must train as many volunteers as we can to go out into every community of this country to reach out to every possible voter and make sure that they get the message that we have all received.

This has been a campaign filled with excitement and spirit, but also one with frustration and some resentment. I have never experienced so many triumphant moments, from surprisingly seeing Barack win the Iowa caucus so handily, to watching a candidate who transcends race getting picked apart by bigotry, fear and yes, outright hatred. But at the same time, I have been so moved and inspired watching a man who never gives up, lives up to his word and tells me every day that we are doing the right thing. Along with the hundreds of people I've worked with in three dynamic and vibrant Obama offices in three separate counties, it is my candidate, the next president of the United States, who lifts me up and encourages me to keep carrying his torch each and every day.

I will hopefully be blogging from either the convention floor or from my hotel room late at night. If you want to follow along and get some of my thoughts, insights, reactions and experiences on a daily basis, you can log on to www.markbrickman.blogspot.com or find me on myBO. My wife tells me that I have finally found an outlet that allows me to express myself and let off some steam, and I can honestly say that if I wasn't able to write my blog every day or so, I'd have probably exploded a long time ago.

So this convention is huge, but it will be just another fun party if we don't get Barack elected president. Let's give it everything we've got. There are only 75 days left until election day. We can all rest on November 10th, but until then, let's go for it. This country desperately needs new leadership. It is time for massive changes, and Barack Obama can deliver those changes. Please join me, my fellow delegates and my hundreds of dedicated volunteer colleagues and let's put everything else on the back burner for a couple more months. We can do this! Let's elect Barack Obama president of the US. This is our time, and if we aren't willing to devote our time to this cause, then when will we?

I am dedicating this blog to my dad, who I sadly lost just after New Year's 2000. On Sunday, the day I leave for Denver, is his birthday. He would be so proud of me right now. He was a staunch Democrat, and one of my fondest memories are of him calling me the night before every election to find out how I was voting. He knew that I had done my homework, and he wanted to discuss his ideas with me. I miss him terribly, and it is for him, my wonderful family, but particularly my lovely grandchildren that I am wishing to make this a better and more prosperous country, a safer world and a place where they can live in peace and where they are free to pursue happiness.

The Convention Must Educate the Low Information Voter

Just like you, I have been watching Democratic and Republican conventions ever since I can remember. And what do we learn? Well, one thing we learn is that other Democrats and Republicans speaking at their respective conventions support their party's candidate and platform. Duh!! I think we get that part, and since I'm a Democrat, I will only speak of that convention.

We have a spectacular convention coming up in Denver, and it should be an entertaining lovefest of the Democratic Party, our candidate Barack Obama and a celebration of our patriotism and love of America. But it will be missing something that seems mandatory at this point to make available to the viewers, and this is a guaranteed huge audience with the maximum exposure to the voting public.

Let's face facts...this is the disinformation age. John McCain and the Republican talking heads and their network participants have distorted almost everything about Barack, from his religion to his tax plan to his energy plan to his foreign policy expertise and agenda. What I am suggesting is probably radical, but I feel that it's the right forum to take advantage of the unfettered media coverage and to speak directly to the American people.

I will be in the convention hall. I am humbled by getting the opportunity to be there to nominate Barack, and I am proud to say that I have been studying our candidate for a year and a half. Although I listen to it, I am not swayed by the lies and misrepresentations of the McCain campaign, but about thirty percent of this country is. It is time for a reorientation of their opinions and this is the place to do it. We will not get another opportunity after this event. Not at a place where the speakers won't be constantly interrupted, contradicted or answered with more lies and deceptions.

I feel pretty strongly about this. I don't want to take away from the pageantry, the majesty and the magic of this week's festivities, but a little Obama 101 won't hurt anyone. It will set a new precedent, and for the first time in my lifetime, we will have pundits saying that people actually learned something at this convention, which they usually predict the opposite and wind up being correct.

What do you think? Let's educate the low information voter. Let's turn them from low info to informed. It can happen. If nothing else, it will put what Obama stands for -- and conversely what McCain stands for, and everything should come out, all the misrepresentations of McCain's own record and what he does or does not stand for -- front and center in the media, and while they're discussing the fabulous speeches, the exuberant crowd, they can discuss for the first time ever at a convention what talking points are being made.

Let's do it! Go Obama!! I'll see you next week.

Turning the Spotlight on McCain's Military Record

In the midst of a presidential campaign filled with so many complex details, for a long time, John McCain's military record and his time as a POW, not to mention his time at the Naval Academy, has been pretty much off-limits, and rightly so. Even the candidate had not made it an issue. But recently it has been coming up more and more, mostly by McCain himself, who is making his military service and several key stories about it front and center in his own definition of who he is and how he'll govern if he becomes president.

This is totally unlike John Kerry, who very rarely, if ever, used his prior military service in any identification of who he was or as a qualification to be president. The irony is that the same people who "outed" Kerry as a supposed turncoat or someone who came back and misrepresentated his service in Vietnam are now touting McCain as a huge war hero and eating up his stories of heroism and his various military experiences as if they were as sweet as chocolate.

I used to feel strongly that McCain military service was an issue that should remain in the background and that he should be recognized and honored for his time wearing the uniform of our country, but I have changed my mind given the fact that I have seen his military service used in his ads, his talks at his events, and most recently in a big way at the event on Saturday night at the Saddleback Church.

There is a website that is dedicated to telling the truth about John McCain's military service and attempts to shed some light on the background stories of McCain's long history of military service before he entered political life. It is very worth a look. I realize that some items within it must be viewed with some skepticism, but much of this site is backed up with verification and documentation, and unlike the Swiftboaters of the Kerry campaign, the people who are speaking out about John McCain and his military service are not being funded by any Left-Wing billionaire.

Finally, I also understand that John McCain has the ability to make his military service record available to the public for review, but refuses to do so. It seems that anyone who is making a huge part of his life a central part of his campaign would like to open up his military records to the American public and media for review and confirmation of the descriptions and accounts of McCain's version of what he went through and verification so that he can discount or refute what is part of the linked website.

Here it is. Please take a moment to check it out. http://www.vietnamveteransagainstmccain.com/

Are We Heading Back to the Cold War?

During one of the most exciting Olympic Games and possibly the most entertaining in history where over two hundred counries are competing, getting along in the spirit of interrnational cooperation and equitable participation, we have just the opposite situation taking place in the real world. In a country that has a less than stellar record of civil rights and where the kinds of freedoms that we in the United States take completely for granted don't exist, athletes from all over the globe have come to fairly and earnestly perform at their highest levels to compete on the international stage.

It would be lovely if the rest of the world operated under the same rules and fairness doctrines that the Olympics does, but that is just a pipe dream at this moment in history. It was be one thing if the more cruel and dictatorial countries were contained by international organizations or the countries in the region around them, but that is not always the case, either. But the United States has traditionally been the moral compass and the country that represented what is right with proper justice, but lately, I'm not as certain as I have been in my half century on this planet.
I have been under no illusion that Russia, the principal player in a region that was once known as the Soviet Union, has kind of been the hibernating bear that seems to have woken up in kind of a bad mood. In what looked like a solid attempt at democracy and a desire to be a responsible and active participant in the international community of nations, Russia is once again showing its might by making quite certain that the entire region knows that its military is potent, prepared and itching for a fight.

What we have been spoon fed in the last week by our mainstream media working in concert with George Bush and John McCainn is that the conflict stems from an unprovoked attack on Georgia by the big bad Russians. John McCain has even described the Country of Georgia as a "good little country," a fledgling democracy that is led by a Columbia educated maverick who, like himself, is just out to protect his people, mind his own business and keep his nose clean. He even said that "we are all Georgians." I really doubt that.

But sadly, McCain's version just isn't accurate. Not by a long shot. Now I don't excuse Russia's aggressive action, but I sincerely feel that it would not have even begun had Georgia not created the original problem by having its own military enter the territory of South Ossetia, disturbing Russia's military guarding the area and generally causing havoc at best and violence against Russian troops and South Ossentian citizens at worst. This is my rudimentary understanding of what has happened in the recent couple of weeks.

The real issue and my rising concern is that John McCain is taking advantage of this regional issue to severely ratchet up the rhetoric. To listen to McCain is to believe that Russia is getting ready to invade many former Soviet satellite countries, namely Poland, Lithuania, and who knows who else. To the best of my knowledge, there are still international organizations, such as the UN, NATO and I'm sure other outfits that oversee incidents between countries that make it unnecessary for the Unites States to go it alone. McCain doesn't seem to remember that or acknowledge that fact.

George W. Bush, McCain's partner and current leader of this country, has used some rather tough words on Russia, as well, along with Secretary of State Rice. Both Bush and McCain have demonstrated a complete lack of understanding of the seriousness and tenuousness of the relationship between Russia and Georgia, and I have no doubt that McCain's foreign advisor, who until recently was on Georgia's payroll, has a lot to do with Georgia's provocation and McCain's current criticism of Russia's activities.

All of this accusatory talk against Russia is so reminiscent of the Cold War days when Richard Nixon and ultimately Ronald Reagan spoke of Russia and the old Soviet Union. Yes, they were bad guys, but in 2008, instead of creating additional animosity, placing blame, pointing fingers and making the Russians the fall guy, maybe it would be better to either stay out of it or at least tell the people of this country the truth of what actually happened.

The truth is that Georgian president Saakashvili isn't such a Boy Scout after all. We would not tolerate his brand of democracy in this country, although the Bush-Cheney regime sometimes seems to be heading that direction. I am afraid that John McCain likes the kind of leader that Saakashvili is. When there are demonstrations and protests in the streets, instead of allowing them their right to speak out, like a democracy is supposed to run, Saakashvili sends in his military to knock some heads around and break it up. He certainly doesn't operate under anything resembling our constitution and Bill of Rights.

The bottom line is that a future under McCain seems too full of these kinds of problems. I am scared to death of what a President John McCain would say or do, and I don't think he would hesitate for a moment to send troops anywhere to prove his manhood and bring him back to his glory days in the Naval Academy and to quell any demons that he still has for his painful and torturous days in Vietnam.

For my president, I want a level-headed, thoughtful, skilled negotiator who doesn't shoot from the hip, but considers what the circumstances are and what his words mean, looks at all the possibilities and consults with advisors representing many different viewpoints before taking any action that could have such dire consequences on this country and the rest of the world. Barack Obama is the leader we need to face the difficult challenges that lie ahead, and I believe that the last week or so has provided us with more than enough of a glimpse into what a presidency under John McCain would be like.

Was McCain Pandering to the Crowd on Saturday Night?

It has already been well established that John McCain has given new meaning to the word flip-flopping, but McCain's current positions on abortion rights and a review of recent statements and positions is not only relevant, but must be brought to the attention of people who automatically presume that McCain is a man of his word. A quick review of a 1999 CNN interview makes this issue crystal clear http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Trbaufpok8

Frankly, I have always been anti-abortion, but staunchly pro-choice. Like Barack, I do not believe that anyone has a right to interfere with a woman's right to choose for herself whether to have a baby or terminate her pregnancy. I do feel that Barack must refine his response when it comes to the question of when life begins, but I also believe that almost any answer except absolute overturn of Roe v Wade and any other rhetoric that goes along with that position will not satisfy any Christian and/or evangelical crowd.

It is also imperative to point out that John McCain will say anything to an audience at any given time. The relevance is that Barack Obama, like his answers or not, says the same thing in Biloxi, Des Moines, San Francisco or Berlin. Please take a listen to this little video about McCain that points out so many altered or changed positions and compare his past statements with so much of what he said this past Saturday night at Saddleback Church http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W_K4RCisxc&feature=related Sure he makes decisive statements, and he sounds folksy and is an aw shucks kind of guy, but what will he be saying next week? Your guess is as good as mine.

If we're going to be fair, then McCain appearing at any forum where he will be unchallenged or not receiving follow-up questions should have a screen behind him displaying what he has said in the past that contradicts what he's currently saying or at least listing previous positions that he's taken that differ from his current position. It is only fair that unsuspecting audience members be given a fair opportunity to know what McCain stands for, has stood for and possibly will stand for in the future, because all three positions may be diametrically opposed to one another.

In the process of writing this blog, I reviewed about ten other youtube videos and found them interesting, even entertaining because they follow the same theme, which is demonstrating John McCain's hypocrisy, his anger, his tendency to have a steadfast belief no matter what he learns in the interim, and of course the dozens of times on a myriad of issues where he's said one thing and now says another. I must say in the strongest language that I can muster that we (and I mean us and the Obama campaign) must stick to the issues. Although it proves a point to say that McCain needs anger management counseling or that he and his gang are manipulative, conniving and crafty, it gets us off message, and McCain will win that war every time, my friends.

A Very Valuable Article to Read

These days, there is so much to read. Occasionally we come across a gem, and this is one. If you've been frustrated by watching John McCain getting a pass by the media, witnessing him making flip-flopping an Olympic event and generally developing an overall disdain for McCain's swagger that is reminiscent of George W. Bush, then you must read the following article.

It's a little long, but it is chock full of valuable information. I spoke to a group today at a house party in San Carlos, California, and during a Q&A session during the event, it was obvious that McCain's treatment in the media, his overall demeanor and the way he disrespects Barack was on the minds of the engaged and involved gathering of Obama voters.

So please take a couple of minutes to read the following superb article by Frank Rich published today in the NY Times.

August 17, 2008Op-Ed ColumnistThe Candidate We Still Don't Know By FRANK RICHNY TIMES

AS I went on vacation at the end of July, Barack Obama was leading John McCain by three to four percentage points in national polls. When I returned last week he still was. But lo and behold, a whole new plot twist had rolled off the bloviation assembly line in those intervening two weeks: Obama had lost the election!

The poor guy should be winning in a landslide against the despised party of Bush-Cheney, and he's not. He should be passing the 50 percent mark in polls, and he's not. He's been done in by that ad with Britney and Paris and by a new international crisis that allows McCain to again flex his Manchurian Candidate military cred. Let the neocons identify a new battleground for igniting World War III, whether Baghdad or Tehran or Moscow, and McCain gets with the program as if Angela Lansbury has just dealt him the Queen of Hearts.

Obama has also been defeated by racism (again). He can't connect and "close the deal" with ordinary Americans too doltish to comprehend a multicultural biography that includes what Cokie Roberts of ABC News has damned as the "foreign, exotic place" of Hawaii. As The Economist sums up the received wisdom, "lunch-pail Ohio Democrats" find Obama's ideas of change "airy-fairy" and are all asking, "Who on earth is this guy?"

It seems almost churlish to look at some actual facts. No presidential candidate was breaking the 50 percent mark in mid-August polls in 2004 or 2000. Obama's average lead of three to four points is marginally larger than both John Kerry's and Al Gore's leads then (each was winning by one point in Gallup surveys). Obama is also ahead of Ronald Reagan in mid-August 1980 (40 percent to Jimmy Carter's 46). At Pollster.com, which aggregates polls and gauges the electoral count, Obama as of Friday stood at 284 electoral votes, McCain at 169. That means McCain could win all 85 electoral votes in current toss-up states and still lose the election.

Yet surely, we keep hearing, Obama should be running away with the thing. Even Michael Dukakis was beating the first George Bush by 17 percentage points in the summer of 1988. Of course, were Obama ahead by 17 points today, the same prognosticators now fussing over his narrow lead would be predicting that the arrogant and presumptuous Obama was destined to squander that landslide on vacation and tank just like his hapless predecessor.

The truth is we have no idea what will happen in November. But for the sake of argument, let's posit that one thread of the Obama-is-doomed scenario is right: His lead should be huge in a year when the G.O.P. is in such disrepute that at least eight of the party's own senatorial incumbents are skipping their own convention, the fail-safe way to avoid being caught near the Larry Craig Memorial Men's Room at the Twin Cities airport.

So why isn't Obama romping? The obvious answer -- and both the excessively genteel Obama campaign and a too-compliant press bear responsibility for it -- is that the public doesn't know who on earth John McCain is. The most revealing poll this month by far is the Pew Research Center survey finding that 48 percent of Americans feel they're "hearing too much" about Obama. Pew found that only 26 percent feel that way about McCain, and that nearly 4 in 10 Americans feel they hear too little about him. It's past time for that pressing educational need to be met.

What is widely known is the skin-deep, out-of-date McCain image. As this fairy tale has it, the hero who survived the Hanoi Hilton has stood up as rebelliously in Washington as he did to his Vietnamese captors. He strenuously opposed the execution of the Iraq war; he slammed the president's response to Katrina; he fought the "agents of intolerance" of the religious right; he crusaded against the G.O.P. House leader Tom DeLay, the criminal lobbyist Jack Abramoff and their coterie of influence-peddlers.

With the exception of McCain's imprisonment in Vietnam, every aspect of this profile in courage is inaccurate or defunct.

McCain never called for Donald Rumsfeld to be fired and didn't start criticizing the war plan until late August 2003, nearly four months after "Mission Accomplished." By then the growing insurgency was undeniable. On the day Hurricane Katrina hit, McCain laughed it up with the oblivious president at a birthday photo-op in Arizona. McCain didn't get to New Orleans for another six months and didn't sharply express public criticism of the Bush response to the calamity until this April, when he traveled to the Gulf Coast in desperate search of election-year pageantry surrounding him with black extras.

McCain long ago embraced the right's agents of intolerance, even spending months courting the Rev. John Hagee, whose fringe views about Roman Catholics and the Holocaust were known to anyone who can use the Internet. (Once the McCain campaign discovered YouTube, it ditched Hagee.) On Monday McCain is scheduled to appear at an Atlanta fund-raiser being promoted by Ralph Reed, who is not only the former aide de camp to one of the agents of intolerance McCain once vilified (Pat Robertson) but is also the former Abramoff acolyte showcased in McCain's own Senate investigation of Indian casino lobbying.

Though the McCain campaign announced a new no-lobbyists policy three months after The Washington Post's February report that lobbyists were "essentially running" the whole operation, the fact remains that McCain's top officials and fund-raisers have past financial ties to nearly every domestic and foreign flashpoint, from Fannie Mae to Blackwater to Ahmad Chalabi to the government of Georgia. No sooner does McCain flip-flop on oil drilling than a bevy of Hess Oil family members and executives, not to mention a lowly Hess office manager and his wife, each give a maximum $28,500 to the Republican Party.

While reporters at The Post and The New York Times have been vetting McCain, many others give him a free pass. Their default cliché is to present him as the Old Faithful everyone already knows. They routinely salute his "independence," his "maverick image" and his "renegade reputation" -- as the hackneyed script was reiterated by Karl Rove in a Wall Street Journal op-ed column last week. At Talking Points Memo, the essential blog vigilantly pursuing the McCain revelations often ignored elsewhere, Josh Marshall accurately observes that the Republican candidate is "graded on a curve."

Most Americans still don't know, as Marshall writes, that on the campaign trail "McCain frequently forgets key elements of policies, gets countries' names wrong, forgets things he's said only hours or days before and is frequently just confused." Most Americans still don't know it is precisely for this reason that the McCain campaign has now shut down the press's previously unfettered access to the candidate on the Straight Talk Express.

To appreciate the discrepancy in what we know about McCain and Obama, merely look at the coverage of the potential first ladies. We have heard too much indeed about Michelle Obama's Princeton thesis, her pay raises at the University of Chicago hospital, her statement about being "proud" of her country and the false rumor of a video of her ranting about "whitey." But we still haven't been inside Cindy McCain's tax returns, all her multiple homes or private plane.

The Los Angeles Times reported in June that Hensley & Company, the enormous beer distributorship she controls, "lobbies regulatory agencies on alcohol issues that involve public health and safety," in opposition to groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving. The McCain campaign told The Times that Mrs. McCain's future role in her beer empire won't be revealed before the election.

Some of those who know McCain best -- Republicans -- are tougher on him than the press is. Rita Hauser, who was a Bush financial chairwoman in New York in 2000 and served on the Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board in the administration's first term, joined other players in the G.O.P. establishment in forming Republicans for Obama last week. Why? The leadership qualities she admires in Obama -- temperament, sustained judgment, the ability to play well with others -- are missing in McCain. "He doesn't listen carefully to people and make reasoned judgments," Hauser told me. "If John says 'I'm going with so and so,' you can't count on that the next morning," she complained, adding, "That's not the man we want for president."

McCain has even prompted alarms from the right's own favorite hit man du jour: Jerome Corsi, who Swift-boated John Kerry as co-author of "Unfit to Command" in 2004 and who is trying to do the same to Obama in his newly minted best seller, "The Obama Nation."
Corsi's writings have been repeatedly promoted by Sean Hannity on Fox News; Corsi's publisher, Mary Matalin, has praised her author's "scholarship." If Republican warriors like Hannity and Matalin think so highly of Corsi's research into Obama, then perhaps we should take seriously Corsi's scholarship about McCain. In recent articles at worldnetdaily.com, Corsi has claimed (among other charges) that the McCain campaign received "strong" financial support from a "group tied to Al Qaeda" and that "McCain's personal fortune traces back to organized crime in Arizona."

As everyone says, polls are meaningless in the summers of election years. Especially this year, when there's one candidate whose real story has yet to be fully told. Copyright 2008 The New York Times Company

Obama Does Beautiful Job in Orange County Church

I had a very interesting afternoon and evening. My wife and I watched the Q&A at Pastor Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in Orange County, California. We watched Barack's sit-down for a one-on-one with Pastor Warren, and were quite satisfied with another terrific performance by Barack. He was calm, engaged, humorous but quite serious about responding to questions on a variety of topics, many of which had religious content or dealt with issues of a personal nature and much less on policy.

We interrupted the two-hour program and went to dinner on the coast to celebrate our anniversary. Thank you very much! Having taped the portion where John McCain answered essentially the same questions from Warren, we really couldn'twait to sit down and witness McCain's performance. I don't think I've yelled at the TV more since the Gore-Bush debates just about eight years ago.

Obama listened politely to the questions and answered them fairly, succinctly and thoughtfully. McCain. on the other hand, anticipated every question and seemed prepared to answer as if he had written the questions. He had obviously heard the questions beforehand. Obama was warned by Warren not to give his standard stump speech as his answers, and he didn't. McCain was given no such admonition, and he should have been, because his presentation was his stump speech.

My lowest grade goes to Pat Buchanan for his comments after the show that Barack looked tortured and gave answers that were essentially all over the place. I told my wife that he must have been watching a different show than I. I am in agreement that McCain did excel at this format, but there is no follow-up question nor challenge to any of McCain's grandiose pronouncements and/or statements that could only be called over the top and grandstanding, and it was tremendously frustrating.

Obama was polite, answered quite thoroughly and gave answers that genuinely reflected his true feelings and I believe encompass the viewpoints of the vast minority of the American people. He expressed himself with warmth, honesty and with a great amount of skill, whereas McCain seemed to take almost every question and turn it into a long-winded opportunity to pander to the obviously partisan crowd and said "my friends" probably eight times. I am not his friend!

This following article does a superb job of accurately covering the events of tonight. If you get a chance to watch these two presentations, see if you agree with me. Obama was quite good tonight. I was proud of him and pleased to enjoy what he had to say, and I honestly felt sad watching McCain and realized that he's very good in this format. It doesn't make him a good choice for president, but on this night, I will acknowledge that he was masterful. But as a final thought, I'll take Obama 100 times out of 100. He is my guy.

Obama slams Thomas, hugs McCainBy MIKE ALLEN 8/16/08 9:14 PM EST Text Size:

The candidates meet at Saddleback Church in California to discuss religion, morals and personal questions.Photo: AP

Asked which justice he wouldn’t have nominated to the Supreme Court, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Saturday night named Justice Clarence Thomas, the court’s only African American. Obama was asked the provocative question by Pastor Rick Warren, the moderator of the “Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency” at the megachurch Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, which is in Orange County, Calif. Thomas was nominated by President George H.W. Bush, the current president’s father. “I don’t think that he was a strong enough jurist or legal thinker at the time, for that elevation, setting aside the fact that I profoundly disagree with his interpretations of a lot of the constitution,” Obama began. The forum went for two hours – the first hour with Obama, based on a coin flip, and the second hour with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.).

In between, they shook hands onstage in their first meeting since they clinched the nomination. Obama reached out and gave McCain a hug. They then waved to the crowd with Warren between them, and McCain flashed his trademark thumbs-up. All three men were tieless. They appeared before a large live audience at the church, and the forum was shown live on Fox News, CNN and MSNBC. Warren said he was going to ask the two “identical” questions so viewers could compare. Warren joked that he would keep McCain in a "cone of silence" during Obama's segment. Obama, just back from a Hawaiian vacation, was quite relaxed. McCain turned solemn early in the interview when he was asked his greatest moral failure. "My greatest moral failing, and I have been a very imperfect person, is the failure of my first marriage," McCain said. "It's my greatest moral failure." On the Supreme Court section, Obama added that he “would not nominate Justice Antonin Scalia, who was nominated by President Ronald Reagan. Scalia and Thomas are the court’s most conservative justices. Obama said of Scalia: “I don’t think there’s any doubt about his intellectual brilliance. … He and I just disagree. You know, he taught at the University of Chicago, as did I, in the law school.” Asked about Chief Justice John Roberts, nominated by President Bush, Obama said: “You know, John Roberts, I have to say, was a tougher question, only because I find him to be a very compelling person, you know, in conversation, individually. “He’s clearly smart – very thoughts. I will tell you that how I’ve seen him operate since he went to the bench confirms the suspicions that I had, and the reason that I voted against him. And I’ll give you one very specific instance, and this is not a stump speech.” Warren had warned Obama against pulling answers from his stump speech. Now, he made a “cut” sign across his throat. “I’m getting the cues,” Obama quipped. “One of the most important jobs of, I believe, the Supreme Court is to guard against the encroachment of the executive branch on the power of the other branches. And I think that he has been a little bit too willing and eager to give an administration – whether it’s mine, or George Bush’s – more power than I think the constitution originally intended.” Two-third of the way into the hour, Warren high-fived Obama for a clever reference to the pastor’s “The Purpose Driven Life,” said to be the best-selling non-fiction book in U.S. history. Warren asked Obama to define rich: “Give me a number.” Obama drew laughter when he briefly hesitated, then quipped: “You know if you’ve got book sales of 25 million … ” Turning serious toward the end, Obama said: “I want people to know me well,” and added that if they do, “they’re going to make a good decision and we’re going to be able to solve the big problems that we face.” Asked what he would tell the American people if he knew there would be no repercussions, Obama said: “Solving big problems —- like, for example, energy – is not going to be easy. Everybody’s going to have to get involved.” The crowd was mixed. Audience members thundered applause when Obama said he believes marriage is the union of a man and a woman. But the crowd also clapped when he said he would not support a constitutional amendment codifying that definition.

Warren and the candidates sat at a spare set, with just two mugs on it. Asked his definition of "rich," McCain tossed off "$5 million," then seemed to recognize comments he had tossed off in the past that had come back to him in ads by the opposition. "I'm sure that comment will be distorted," McCain said. "The point is we want to keep people's taxes low. ... I don't want to raised anybody's taxes." McCain, who in the past has rarely talked about his captivity during the Vietnam War after he crashed as a Navy aviator, spoke of the mistreatment by guards — and of the guard he showed his faith by tracing a cross on the ground. On the justices-he-wouldn't-nominate question, McCain had a near-majority — Justice Bader Ginsburg (nominated by President Bill Clinton), Stephen G. Breyer (Clinton), David Souter (the first President Bush, John Paul Stevens (President Gerald Ford). "This nomination should be based on the criteria of proven record of strictly adhering to the Constitution of the United States of America, and not legislating from the bench," McCain said. McCain named the chief justice and Justice Samuel Alito — President Bush's nominees — as among his favorites. McCain got a huge cheer when he spoke up for charter schools, vouchers and home schooling. "Choice and competition," he said. "Home schooling works."

The Audacity of Dopes

In an unprecedented move, John McCain assumed the presidency on August 15, 2008. This was apparently necessitated because George W. Bush abdicated his throne. President McCain's first official act was to dispatch two prized members of his newly formed cabinet, known affectionately in the inner circle as Abbott & Costello, to Georgia to demonstrate that McCain means business when he says that we are all Geogians. There is talk of leaving new Georgian citizen, Secretary of State Joe Lieberman, in Tbilisi permanently just in case President Saakashvili makes a misstatement, because as it turns out, Lieberman's main talent is whispering.

There is one positive thing that one cay say about McCain's bold moves in response to Russia's aggressive military reaction to Georgia's provocative move on South Ossetia...he sure can take advantage of a situation that has next to nothing to do with him. Not only that, but he can sure spin a good yarn. To most of this country, including several people I have spoken to recently who don't have time to dig deeply into the news, Georgia, this shining beacon of democracy and brushed with just the hint of innocence, was sitting there pledging allegiance to its flag and encouraging open and unfettered free speech when all of a sudden, that mean neighborhood bully, Russia, decided to attack for no good reason. Those meanies!

It is only a matter of time before President McCain dispatches his elite squad of peacekeepers, the McCainanites, into the region to restore order. In McCain's expert assessment based on reports from Secretary of State Lieberman and Secretary of Defense Lindsay Graham, there is a requirement for a permanent force to restore order in the cities of Tbilisi and Gori. There is no need for the involvement or consultation with NATO, the United Nations or even the current but still resident regime of Bush, Cheney, Rice and the rest of the recently departed US Government.

The really lucky break for McCain is that his chief Georgian envoy, Randy Scheunemann, who until this spring was a lobbyist working directly with Georgia and most likely setting in motion the events that are now unfolding, is able to perform two very important functions: One, giving McCain tremendous insight into a region that he ordinarily would not be that familiar with; and two, giving Georgia exactly what it bought for the $800,000 they paid him, protection, appropriate representation and propulsion on to the world stage, and most importantly, having exclusive access to the next president of the United Stetes, the fabulous President John McCain.
I hope that throne hasn't made its way to the Smithsonian just yet, because we're going to need it.

Oh, and just a prediction. Just in case any of McCain's recent action garners any criticism that he may have overstepped his bounds or that he may be acting just a bit presumptuous, McCain's Right Wing henchmen are busy concocting the story that while in Hawaii this past week, Obama and his team were investigating whether Barack Obama or anyone in his family is related, even remotely, to former Hawaii monarch King Kamehameha, who ruled the Hawaiian Islands in the 18th and 19th centuries. If necessary, a well-placed ad will be released that alleges that Obama will ascend to the throne of Hawaii and plans to reclaim his rightful place as the new King of Honolulu.

There is always a silver lining. Maybe Barack can get me a deal at the Hyatt Regency!

McCain: I've Been to the Mountaintop

There is a growing suspicion that John McCain is in love with the idea of war. He dreams about it. He can taste it. He seems to long for the days when this whole country was involved in a war economy and living with the threat of being incinerated by a nuclear bomb. His recent rhetoric seeming to stir up memories of harsh words and a suspicious if not cold relationship with the old Soviet Union is outrageously scary, and as the details and facts unravel about this skirmish between Russia and Georgia, it seems that McCain is very and inextricably connected with the Bush-Cheney regime along with Condi Rice, Karl Rove and his own personal envoy, former Georgian lobbyist Randy Scheunemann pulling strings in this conflict well before the rest of us knew anything about it.

So John McCain is looking over that mountaintop, and he sees war, a return to the Cold War, a continuation and perpetuation of the Bush doctrine of threaten first, consider sending in troops second and avoid diplomacy and negotiation at all cost. It reminds him of the good old days when the United States was always right, when the rest of the world was scared and respected a strong leader and we truly had a moral imperative. Well, Mr. McCain, this isn't 1945 or 1968 or even 1981. This is a different world, my friend, and the world and our role in it has drastically changed and become way more complicated.

This is a superb blog to read on the same theme http://pundits.thehill.com/2008/08/14/john-mccain-on-russia-angry-bellicose-belligerent-and-extreme/

There is a lot to say about this subject, but I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that not only is the Bush regime going to be generally continued for another four years if McCain is elected, but this man has no problem with violating any pledge or promise, doing exactly what his latest strategist or advisor tells him to do or say, and he only has a very small portion of this country on his mind, namely big business, big oil, the high-end Republilcan elite and any person or entity who brings a lot of money and influence to the McCain fundraising party.

Grassroots Activities Still Pay Dividends

Last night Cynthia and I worked a couple of hours at the San Mateo County Fair, and immediately I was reminded why being in the trenches is the way to go. Within five minutes of being there, at least five groups of people walked by and just couldn't resist smiling broadly, displaying a thumbs up and uttering the word "Obama." Although satisfying, this is the low hanging fruit. The true reward is interacting with the undecided voter or the person who likes Obama, but has never voted for a Democrat.

But before I delve into our experience with a couple of ambivalent voters, I would like to talk about the McCain booth. As we walked into the hall where probably a hundred booths are laid out in several rows, among dozens of vendors selling and displaying everything from lighted rollerskates to roofing, we noticed the McCain booth. As you would expect, it was unattended, and the most unusual feature was one of those rubber Halloween style masks in the form of a McCain head. Sitting there on a table in the middle of a flag display and literature, McCain's head sitting there kind of crumpled and wrinkled reminded me of what someone who was beheaded would look like. I couldn't decide whether this was someone's idea of a great backdrop or whether they were scrambling just to get any McCain material out to fill the tables. In any case, it was creepy and maybe apropos.

As we located the Democratic booth, besides being greeted warmly by several smiling and friendly campaign workers, standing near the back of the booth was a life-sized cardboard cutout of Barack Obama, and during the next two hours, at least half a dozen people asked if he was for sale. I bet you no one was offering to take home the creepy McCain head! Bumper stickers, buttons, t-shirts, Obama literature and voter registration forms were a huge feature, but the human element was the star. Probably three large groups of teenagers made a point of slowly walking by and making their way toward our table to let us know that they love Obama and wish they were old enough to vote for him, and I told them what I tell all young people, which is not to rush getting older; it happens faster than they think and they'll get to be as old as me pretty quickly.

One woman that stands out was a woman of about 60 who identified herself as a school teacher, and as she lingered in front of the booth making vague references to her tepid admiration of Barack, she admitted that she hadn't registered to vote for fear of being called for jury duty. Her statement that she couldn't bear to be separated from her class sounded plausible, but as we talked about Barack, it was obvious to me that this woman was perhaps considering supporting a Democratic for the first time in her life.

We spoke to her about reading Barack's book Dreams From My Father, and as she gently mentioned several standard Republican talking points that can only come from Fox News or someone like Sean Hannity -- which I didn't take as a challenge but more as a request to dispel her of the myths -- she listened very thoughtfully and intently to our responses and actually seemed pleased to find out that there is an alternative way of looking at and perceiving Barack Obama and the profound impact that he'll have on the issues that are important to her.

Although this woman said that she had a voter registration form at home, it seemed that if that were true, it was probably yellowed from old age. She eventually admitted to me that she had retired last year from a long teaching career after thirty years, and upon saying her goodbyes and thank yous, seemed to pause at the display of voter registration forms. She donned a rather wry smile and said, "Well, maybe I'll just take one of these and fill it out at home," and as she walked away, Cynthia, Nadia (a very dedicated Obama office veteran) and I felt like we had made a difference. I have no doubt that this woman will go back to wherever she hangs out and let everyone know what she learned last night.

As we continued on with our evening, this same woman came back to the booth to show my wife a necklace she had purchased from another booth nearby. It seems like she felt that she had made some new friends, and we felt very satisfied that we are spending our time doing something worthwhile.

In every community in every corner of this country, some event like our county fair is taking place. Don't be shy...go see whether you can spend an hour or two hanging out, passing out bumper stickers, greeting potential Obama voters and letting them put a face to this presidential campaign. I promise that you'll feel very good and you will definitely be making a difference.
Oh, by the way, curious people that we are, we just had to pop on by the Republican booth to see whether someone actually showed up to "person" it, and sure enough, there was a woman there. The wrinkled head was still there, too. It was as quiet as a tomb, and the woman was standing there with her paperwork spread in front of her...her work work. This woman had her letters and memos from work in front of her and she was getting her personal work done while she stood there with no one to talk to. We were nice and said hello. After all, we are representatives of Barack Obama every second.

As we turned the corner on the way out of the hall, the lighted rollerskate man called us over and smiling, quietly said, "Did you see the McCain lady there?" We acknowledged that we had, and he said, "Yeah. Nobody goes over there." He added, "I'm voting for Obama, too!" As we exited the building and headed for home, we felt pretty damned good.