Former professional Dem media consultant, early in my career. Been on the corp. side (mostly-but a few campaigns in-between) for a couple of decades. Compass: Economic -7.38/Social -7.03
I've been doing this Democratic political "media" thing--along with the advertising and p.r. and corp. communications "thing"--for a long time.
30 years.
So, in this diary, I rant a little...no links...no quotes...just me..."just sayin'...."
WELCOME TO "THE 'CULT' OF IN YOUR FACE!"
I was just watching Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer and David Brooks. And, it was an interesting study of Brooks "talking down" to Obama supporters in a kind of lame-but-paternal manner. In short, if I could take a little license and paraphrase him, he was calling us (Obama supporters) a little cultish, a little too intense; in short he was saying: Lighten up a bit. Stop acting 'cultish.' Stop being the 'ones you've been waiting for,' since that literally/really means: 'You've been waiting for yourself.' (For a moment, I even chuckled at Brooks' comment.)
I understand that. (When you're a vociferous supporter of a cause, whatever it is, it can turn other folks off. Hell, the opposition is now exploiting this depth of support of Obama's supporters versus McCain's supporters, attempting to spin it--more like grossly contort it--into a negative via a satirical t.v. commercial, where they compare Obama with visuals of Charlton Heston in his role as Moses.)
Six days ago I posted a diary entitled: "Four very brave Americans." It was a report about a retired minister and three members of the Des Moines Catholic Workers community who were cited for trespassing as they attempted to conclude a citizen's arrest of Karl Rove while he was delivering a speech at a GOP fundraiser in Des Moines. "Des Moines Catholic Worker: Second Arrest Attempt On Karl Rove In Iowa Leads To 4 Arrests."
As indicated by the title of the story about the matter, instead of arresting Rove, those four very brave Americans were, themselves, arrested for trespassing.
After the first defendent, Mona Shaw, explained to the arraigning judge that they were "...attempting to make a citizen's arrest of Karl Rove," this is what Polk County Fifth Judicial District Associate Judge William Price had to say about the matter: "Well, it's about time."
After following the speculation on Obama's V.P. selection efforts of late, and then reading comments by Jerome (Clinton not V.P.?) and Jeralynn (Is Kaine a Smokescreen for Kathleen Sebelius?) today, I'm going to go out on a limb (wouldn't be the first time; and it won't be the first time if commenters to this diary saw it off, either) and suggest that what Jerome inferred at the very end--in an update--of his post today may be a reality:
"Jeralyn is wondering whether Kaine is a smokescreen for Sebelius. I highly doubt it, but maybe for someone else.
I believe there's a real dark horse--a downright obvious choice and perhaps even a favorite heretofore not focused upon as such--in the Democratic V.P. race...
Reports are beginning to circulate--as "pieces" of information are beginning to paint a possible picture this evening--that Barack Obama may be announcing today that he's chosen Virginia Governor Tim Kaine to join him as the V.P. candidate on the Democratic ticket.
Just in tonight: Governor Kaine has cancelled all scheduled appearances for the balance of the week, starting with the cancellation of an appearance at a rather major Party event in Baltimore Wednesday evening, due to "scheduling problems." The story, from a few hours ago, is available here: "Kaine Cancels Appearance at Baltimore Fundraiser Tomorrow."
On a day when the U.S. government predicted that the budget deficit for our next President's first year in office, 2009, will be just under a half trillion dollars, George W. Bush's former Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill, and former Bush SEC Commissioner William Donaldson announced that they have joined the presumptive Democratic nominee's economic advisory team.
I guess that kind of says it all right there, doesn't it?
Jake Tapper, ABC's senior national correspondent reported it first right here: "Two former Bush Advisers Now Advising Obama, Will Appear at Economic Meeting Today."
In a joint appearance on CBS' Face the Nation this morning with Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE) slammed Senator John McCain's latest presidential campaign ads as both "lying" and "inappropriate."
The McCain ad in question criticizes Senator Obama for not visiting injured American troops recovering at a U.S. medical facility in Landstuhl, Germany.
In yet another comment on the show, when Hagel was asked whom he'd vote for in November, the Republican Senator responded: "I have not decided."
IMHO, four of the bravest Americans this week weren't in Iraq and Afghanistan...they were right here in the U.S., in Iowa: "Des Moines Catholic Worker: Second Arrest Attempt On Karl Rove In Iowa Leads To 4 Arrests."
SECOND ARREST ATTEMPT ON KARL ROVE IN IOWA LEADS TO 4 ARRESTS
Four Iowans were arrested today while attempting to make a Citizens' Arrest of Karl Rove in Des Moines, Iowa. Citing Iowa Code provisions for making Citizen's Arrests as well as citing Federal Statute violations they claimed Rove had violated, the four were stopped at the gate of the Wakonda Country Club in Des Moines where Rove was scheduled to speak at a Republican Fundraiser.
· SD: New Poll Shows Tim Johnson Romping (lowkell)
· Iowa commission takes one small step against CAFOs (desmoinesdem)
· LA-06: Cazayoux's Gittin' It Done! (DailyKingFish)
· Secrets of the American Future Fund (chase martyn)
· Happy Birthday Jerome! (Jonathan Singer)
· Oilmen For Scott Garrett (NJ-5) (Aaron Banks)
· Youth Delegates at DNC Outnumber RNC 15 - 1 (Mike Connery)
· LA-02: James Carter's First Ad (DailyKingFish)
· Clean Coal's Goodie Bag for Dem. Delegates (lowkell)
· Liveblogging Obama Town Hall (fbihop)
· McCain's Goons Throw Birthday Cake In Trash (fbihop)
· IA-04: Would-be independent candidate fails to qualify for ballot (desmoinesdem)