Happy Halloween!

And now, I present to you...my Barack O' Lantern!

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Defining Race In The (Potential) Era Of Obama

Just yesterday during my 'Race, Ethnicity, Class, & Gender in American Cities' graduate course, I brought up the exact discussion that New York Times columnist Nick Kristof wrote about on his blog today, regarding the issue of referring to Barack Obama as 'black' or 'biracial'.

Assuming Obama wins the presidential election, I think the public dialogue surrounding this particular topic will grow over the next several months, as the intersection of race and national political representation will have advanced to a new level (not to mention global political representation, as Obama would represent the first ever non-white leader of a western democracy).

My individual perspective is that the issue of racial identification is far from black and white (pun heavily intended), with personal, biological, historical, and societal components all shaping the way individuals and collective groups racially identify themselves. Barack Obama may personally identify most strongly as black, white, or biracial (based on his life experiences), while biologically he is biracial, historically he would likely be considered black, and our present society (in terms of the descriptive narrative of his public life and professional career) has largely characterized him as black. Again, a very complex, multifaceted discussion that I think we'll be talking about a lot more over the coming months and possibly even years.
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BREAKING: Joe The Plumber Is...Missing!?

Sorry Senator McCain, but he's busy recording his country music album right now. In a related story, exactly how many morons does it take
to run the McCain campaign (into the ground, that is)?

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I Approve This Message

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Keep Cool With Obama

America, we are on the verge of electing the coolest president ever.
Suck on that, Calvin Coolidge.

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What Immigration Issue?

Remember how issues surrounding immigration, whether about driver's licenses or state border fences or xenophobic mass deportation plans, were all the rage during the primary election season? And, remember how political pundits fell over themselves to declare the immigration issue the probable hot topic for the general election season?

Yeeeahhh, not quite.

The immigration issue didn't come up once in any of the general election debates, the candidates haven't raised the issue in any remotely significant way over the past five months, and the media hasn't reported on any major aspect of the issue just the same. Not only has the immigration issue not been a major issue of this general election season, it quite possibly has been the least mentioned issue of any of the tradition election issue topics.

Why, you ask? Here's a few contributing reasons, by my estimation: first, particularly over the past two months, the economy has trumped everything; second, there haven't been any major immigration-related issues recently (there just haven't been any "dangerous" Mexican immigrant-related incidences for Lou Dobbs and Bill O'Reilly to foam at the mouth over); third, the entire stock of "divisive cultural issues" has plummeted this campaign season, with all the hope and positive messages coming from the Obama campaign, forcing other campaigns (read: Hillary, McCain) to take heat for going overtly negative.

To a lesser degree, most of this can also be said about the Iraq War issue, however I think much of the silence pertaining to the war issue has a great deal to do with a country that has largely decided where they stand on that issue: they want out ASAP.
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Ready For Obama

This single Obama campaign ad currently running involves more substance than the entirety of the McCain campaign over the past two months. Just one of the many demonstrable reasons why Obama is currently winning.

Only a few more days until we find out what exactly Obama will be discussing with his 30-minute advertisement blocks on major TV networks. My guess: one part biography (think Democratic Convention-style), one part substance (like the above ad), and two parts campaign retrospective (to get his supporters fired up for the final stretch).

Stay tuned.
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8 Years Later

Ok, this is THE funniest election related video I have seen thus far (not to mention the perfect message at the end). By half way through, I had tears in my eyes I was laughing so hard. Yes, the reference is dated, but that is exactly why it works. Brilliant!

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'Lost' Season 5 Trailer......Ahhhhhhhh!!!!!!

LOST Season Five Official Trailer #1 - video powered by Metacafe

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The Vet Who Did Not Vet

Creative, smart, funny...perfect.

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I Survived Midterms

To celebrate, I've made a Wordle of my nine page midterm exam from my 'Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Gender in American Cities' course.

A sad waste of time, really (the Wordle, not the exam...just in case my grad school professor somehow made it to this blog...welcome Professor!), but a mentally cleansing welcome into my post-midterm state of euphoria.

Terrific.

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Some Of The Worst This Country Has To Offer

'Ashley Todd Fake Mutilation Exposed'

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Barack Rolls Up His Sleeves

One of my favorite videos of the campaign thus far.

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Our Thoughts With Mrs. Madelyn Payne Dunham

The next few days are likely to be personally tough for the family of Barack Obama. The thoughts of myself and my wife are with the family and friends of Mrs. Payne Dunham, and our hope is for the swift return of her health so that she may continue to share in what must be a uniquely overwhelming sense of pride for the historic endeavors of her grandson.

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A Good Weekend

Colin Powell didn't just endorse Barack Obama on Sunday, he extensively criticized the questionable operating procedures of the McCain campaign. From the VP choice of Palin to baseless Ayers accusations to a flailing economic response, Powell spoke more than pointedly about the observable fall of his longtime friend John McCain. A very powerful political moment this was.

Oh, and by the way...the Obama campaign received over $150 million in donations from more than 600,000 new donors in the month of September. Wow, just wow.

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Fired Up In Missouri

It's just like a McCain-Palin rally......except with about ten times more people and a whole lot less hateful, bigoted rhetoric.

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Wahhhh!

Hey Walhberg, the sketch was hilarious, so quit being a big baby
about it......and say hi to your mother for me.

[UPDATE (10/19, 12:01am) : Nice job with the SNL sketch Walhberg, that's more like it. Nice to see your publicist has a brain and decided to turn your lemons into lemonade.]
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Powerful

Gotcha Media

"Even I can't stomach all the bullshit I just said!"

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Three For Three

According to a growing range of post-debate public opinion polling conducted tonight, Barack Obama has been confirmed as the overwhelming winner of all three presidential debates (in addition to the confirmed win of Joe Biden in the vice presidential debate).

I can't say I'm all that surprised at such an outcome, as I've been on the record as early as June, when the nominees of each party were solidified, that Obama's campaigning and debating prowess would easily overwhelm the comparatively feeble campaigning and debating abilities of McCain during the heat of the intense general election season.

Regardless, this is truly an amazing electoral reality that is unfolding before our eyes this year, and not one that will easily be forgotten in the tome of American politics.
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Final Presidential Debate Reaction

Some reaction points regarding tonight's final presidential debate:

-->Regarding overall debate performance, Obama earned a B and McCain earned a B-. Considering McCain needed to earn an A+ for himself and for Obama to earn an F for himself, this was an exceedingly unsuccessful night for McCain.

-->Obama started the debate a bit sluggishly, particularly with the set of initial economic attacks levied by McCain (even though much of what McCain was throwing out were distorted and/or false statements). However, as the debate progressed Obama gained a more efficient energy in responding to the debate topics. It's clear that the Obama debate strategy was not one of hitting home runs, but rather one of making sure he steadily maintains his lead in the ball game.

-->Compared to the past two debates, McCain did better on discussing his own policy points (in a favorable light for his conservative base, of course, which is the group of voters McCain least needs to persuade at this point), however his tone throughout the debate was easily the worst of the three presidential debates. McCain came off as increasingly angry, petty, and disrespectful regarding not only his debate opponent but regarding some of the debate topics that were discussed (mocking a woman's "health" pertaining to the issue of abortion is never a wise choice...ever); I expect that the post debate polls will once again reflect a strong reaction to McCain's overtly negative tone throughout tonight's debate. Moreover, how did McCain expect to win the argument over which campaign has been more negative by giving a debate performance involving such profuse negativity?

-->The much anticipated character attack issue came and went, and when all was said and done, McCain came out looking very, very small. Obama was able to, once again, effectively explain away any and all of the character attacks levied against him, while McCain could only sit and mumble confusingly about topics that the majority of the American people couldn't care less about.

-"Joe the Plumber", meet Saturday Night Live.

-Bob Schieffer did a fairly good job in stimulating debate between the two candidates, probably a better job compared to the previous debate moderators. However, the mainstream media's obsession with moral equivalency was despicably given center stage, once again, by Schieffer attempting to equate the Obama campaign describing the McCain campaign as "erratic" to the McCain campaign accusing Obama of "palling around with terrorists." This kind of intellectual dishonesty by the mainstream media is simply unacceptable.
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Yes We Carve!

Best. idea. ever.

When my wife and I carve our Barack O' Lantern next week, I promise to post it up here, regardless of how good or (more likely) bad it turns out.

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McCain Bin Lyin'

Earth to McCain: lying is clearly not the answer to
your campaign's incitement of hateful rhetoric.

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Barack Obama At West Philadelphia Rally Today!

As you can see in this video from my digital camera, my wife and I schlepped down to West Philadelphia to see Barack Obama at his final stop on a Saturday campaign tour of the greater Philadelphia area.

It. Was. Amazing.

[Click here for another short video of Obama talking about change, and here for a video of him telling a humorous campaign anecdote about pie.]

*** photos to follow shortly ***

Connecticut Officially Forgiven For Lieberman

'Gay Marriage Is Ruled Legal In Connecticut'

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Breaking: Dow Drops Under 8600 Level

And McCain-Palin spend the day continuing to push their hateful, fearful, despicable smear campaign.

Is there really any wonder why they are so glaringly losing this election?
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Town Hall Presidential Debate Reaction

Some reaction points regarding tonight's town hall presidential debate:

-->Regarding overall debate performance, Obama earned an A and McCain earned a C. Obama was the distinct winner of this presidential debate, which comes as an interesting occurrence considering McCain has been the one begging Obama to engage in town hall events throughout this general election season.

--> This was Obama's best debate performance yet. The eloquence and pitch perfect construction of his answers, involving just the right degree of past, present, and future reflection of the topic at hand, allowed Obama to distinguish himself throughout the course of the debate.

-->McCain's answers seemed a bit muddled at times, and his debate poise was absolutely dreadful. McCain appeared to be somewhat limping around the stage, leaning over and holding onto the back of his chair and the audience railing quite often, breathing heavily into the microphone, etc. McCain's most perplexing behavior was clearly the constant wandering about the stage during the answer periods of Obama, which will likely register with viewers as quite rude and bizarre.

-->When Obama would be critical of McCain's record and policies, it would come off as a clear and measure retort of his opponent. Conversely, when McCain would be critical of Obama's record and policies, it was often obvious that he was engaging in distortion (considering only moments prior, Obama had stated the precise opposite sentiments of what McCain was claiming), and such efforts by McCain came across as snide and tone deaf in a town hall debate setting.

-->Regarding Tom Brokaw as the moderator, it did seem pretty clear that Brokaw generally treated Obama a bit more coldly than McCain. More importantly, however, is that if time is so precious in these debates, then why exactly does Brokaw waste this precious time by asking a question like "Is Russia an evil empire?", and further demanding that the answer be "yes or no"? Clearly, there must have been many, many questions left on the cutting room floor that were far more integral and substantive.
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What Kind Of Politician Would Promote A Campaign Environment Of Such Dangerous Hostility?

John McCain and Sarah Palin have gone from being disgraceful to dangerous. They are stoking the flames of hatred, bigotry, and violence among their supporters, all in an attempt to win an election by destroying everything within their paths (Barack Obama, a free press, rationality).

This damned campaign has forcefully devolved into 'McCain-Palin: Country Last', and they will surely reap the benefits of such rhetoric come November 4th.
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Once Again, Obama Masterfully Demonstrate He's No Gore Or Kerry

As expected, the McCain-Palin campaign have established they plan on throwing out severely distorted character attacks against Barack Obama every day of the remaining 30 days until November 4th. What was not expected, however, was that Obama-Biden would strike back by highlighting the powerfully accurate (and incredibly pertinent) political involvement of John McCain in the Savings and Loan crisis of the late 1980's and the infamous Keating Five.

No amount of winking is going to get you out of this one, my friends.
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The Universe Self-Corrects

'OJ Simpson Guilty Of Armed Robbery, Kidnapping'

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BLOG EXCLUSIVE: Obama and McCain Spotted Canoodling After Presidential Debate

Shocking, no!?

I expect this will hit the mainstream media very soon.

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Post-Vice Presidential Debate Reaction

Some brief reaction points regarding tonight's vice presidential debate:

-->Regarding overall debate performance, Palin earned a C+ and Biden earned an A-.

-->Palin did not have a nuclear meltdown of a performance (although she mispronounced the word 'nuclear' about a dozen times), and Biden didn't make any verbal gaffes.

-->Biden struck an effective tone, showing a calm command of the issues and constantly refocusing the discussion to the deficiencies of the McCain platform, past and present.

-->It was abundantly clear that Palin's debate tactic was to provide answers to questions that were not asked (and, much like McCain in last week's debate, to make assertions that were grounded in exceptionally little fact); this is something viewers have particularly disliked in past debates, so I won't be surprised to see the post-debate survey questions regarding "Did the candidate answer the questions sufficiently?" come up very negatively for Palin.

-->Biden provided some powerful moments during the debate, including the reference to the rhetorical 'Bride to Nowhere' and his emotional discussion of being a single parent and a family man.

-->Palin made quite a few head scratching statements that will be dissected over the next few days, including misstating the name of the commanding general in Afghanistan and advocating an EXPANSION of the powers of the vice presidential office in a post-Cheney era of executive government.

-->Biden started off with little energy, but increased his passion as the debate progressed. Palin was noticeable nervous during many of her answers and used A LOT of folksy language, something I think plays well with some and not so well with others.

-->Gwen Ifill did an average job as the debate moderator, but her attempts to always draw corresponding dichotomies between Biden and Palin within the question prompts was a bit much (for ex., Palin's statement that "I just wish someone could tell me what exactly the Vice President even does!" is in no way, shape, or form comparable to Biden commenting he was not interested in being the Vice President; one comment is about being humble regarding the seeking of the VP slot on a ticket, while the other comment is about a lack of understanding of the duties of the vice presidency).

-->Best pre-debate sign from the crowd outside the debate auditorium: "My Beard Itches!"
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Tonight's VP Debate: The Final Nail In The Coffin That Is The McCain-Palin Presidential Campaign

Fasten your seat belts, ladies and gents.
It's likely to be an enjoyably bumpy ride.
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