Change You Can Feel Somewhat Ambivalent About

This post is really for the benefit of anyone who reads my blog via RSS (you both know who you are). I am making some changes in my blogging practices and so my feed address is a'changing. This will be the last post at this address. To continue following my madcap, zany adventures with your feed reader, please point instead to http://blog.swatkins.info/rss , and to visit the blog on the Web, it'll just be http://blog.swatkins.info .

Vote for Obama today!

To Obama supporters: Please don't neglect to vote today. Many of the predictions are encouraging, but don't get complacent and think that you don't need to vote. Who knows, you might be in line next to an undecided voter, and you can talk to them about your choice.

To undecided voters: If you really exist, then I encourage you to vote your hopes instead of your fears, and not to let the Repubs scare you with whatever they're trying to scare you with today. All you hear from them are lies, smears, and personal attacks, because they can't stand on the issues alone.

No candidate is perfect, but Obama offers this country the best chance to move in a new, positive direction. Ending the fraudulent war in Iraq, giving tax relief to ordinary Americans instead of to corporate billionaires, and leading our country with intelligence and wisdom instead of continuing the idiocy of the last eight years -- these are only a few of the reasons to VOTE OBAMA.

What to do if you can't volunteer for Obama

There's a very simple way to contribute to this important and historic movement, and help to ensure that Barack Obama is elected over the lying, cheating, morally repugnant faction of Republicans that currently runs that party.

Contribute a small amount of money to the Obama campaign. Even $5 or $10 helps. Here's the thing: the deadline is TODAY. Final decisions about the Obama campaign's ground operation will be based on the financial resources they have on hand as of midnight on Friday (that's Thursday night).

Plus, if you donate $10 or more, you get a cool car magnet. If you donate $20, they'll send you an Obama/Biden t-shirt. So it's a win-win situation.

Soon it will be too late to contribute to the campaign. Do it now while you're thinking about it.

Palin is not qualified to be VP

I'm sorry, but it's more and more clear every day that Sarah Palin is not qualified to be anywhere near the Presidency. Here is the transcript of part of Katie Couric's interview with Sarah Palin:

COURIC: Explain to me why [Alaska's proximity to Russia] enhances your foreign policy credentials.

PALIN: Well, it certainly does, because our, our next door neighbors are foreign countries. They're in the state that I am the executive of. And there in Russia--

COURIC: Have you ever been involved with any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?

PALIN: We have trade missions back and forth. We, we do, it's very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia, as Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where, where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is, from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to, to our state.

Why does this remind me of Miss Teen South Carolina? These are the responses of someone who doesn't know what the hell she is talking about. And actually, I'm not the slightest bit sorry.

How much satisfaction can $5 buy?

Saw this on a listserv today... what a great idea.

"Here's the deal-make a $5 donation to Planned Parenthood. In honor of Sarah Palin. The best part is (1) it's tax-deductible and (2) PP will send a card to Sarah Palin letting her know about your gift. Support a good cause (a necessary cause---PP is fighting for so many important services and issues) and send a message to the McCain/Palin campaign that you think choice is important, health care for women is important, sex and health education are important, etc. Donating $5 never felt so good!

To donate $5: https://secure.ga0.org/02/pp10000_inhonor

And enter Sarah Palin's name and the address of the McCain/Palin campaign.
John McCain 2008
P.O. Box 16118
Arlington, VA 22215"

Can you think of a better use for five dollars?

Edumacation

I found this on a message board and thought I'd share, even though I'm aware that some on the right claim that a lack of education makes one more fit to hold high office. I just don't understand the right's position that ignorance is something of which to be fiercely proud. Ow, my balls!

Obama:
Occidental College (Los Angeles) - 2 years studying Politics and Public Policy.
Columbia University (New York) - B.A. Political Science with a specialization in International Relations.
Harvard Law School - Juris Doctor (J.D.) Magna Cum Laude, Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Law Review.

Biden:
University of Delaware - B.A. in History and a B.A. in Political Science.
Syracuse University College of Law - Juris Doctor (J.D.)

McCain:
United States Naval Academy - Class rank 894 of 899.

Palin:
Hawaii Pacific University - 1 semester - Business Administration.
North Idaho College - 2 semesters - General Studies.
University of Idaho - 2 semesters - Journalism.
Matanuska-Susitna College - 1 semester.
University of Idaho - 3 semesters - B.A. in Journalism.

McCain and Palin are liars

A story at AlterNet lists 20 of the McCain campaign's lies. From the story:

"John McCain is a liar. And so is the woman he now shares the Republican ticket with. Yes, Sarah Palin is a liar, too. Together they are responsible for one of the most inaccurate and misleading presidential campaigns, in a business known for inaccuracy and misdirection. But even by the standards of American politics, the McCain-Palin ticket seems to be in a race with itself to set new standards of low.

This isn't opinion, this is fact. Time and time again, on the campaign trail, in press briefings and in interviews, McCain and Palin flip-flop on the issues, propagate myths they know to be false, and flat-out lie to the American people."

Wish I had done better on this one

42%

I can name that robot

Created by OnePlusYou

I want the t-shirt

Someone writing on John McCain's website made a reference to "the pro-Obama Dungeons & Dragons crowd." I didn't even know there was such a crowd. Seems like somebody would have sent me an e-mail about it at some point. Does anyone have a link to where I can buy the t-shirt? I'd wear that t-shirt.

I think the comment was (somehow) trying to criticize opponents of McCain for perceived slights against McCain's military service, or something?

I'll say it again: I have great respect and humble gratitude towards those citizens who would put themselves in harm's way in service to our country, but doing so doesn't qualify them to be President.

UPDATE: Also, when you look closely, McCain seems kinda dumb.