Let's Do This

Welp, we're turning the electricity back on in Salon Sassy.  As you may recall, this blog was started in 2008 so that me and my friends had a place to pour out all of our excitement and anxiety around the Obama v McCain presidential election.  Remember the halcyon days of mocking silly Sarah Palin? The excruciating joy that was election night in Grant Park?  The last 8 years have been great fun and we have seen America expand in such beautiful ways: gay marriage, universal health care, two women added to the supreme court, the Paris agreement, and Hamilton!

Unfortunately, the times have changed and this blog is now meant to serve a much different purpose. We will be meeting here to transmute our anger and fear into action and change and love and peace, in particular to be allies for those most vulnerable to what is coming, to what is already here.

Roll up your sleeves, folks. Post volunteer opportunities, share organizations that need donations, analyze smart reporting on our new world, and bring your own new and crazy ideas and insights and inspiration.

I'll meet you in the arena.

The Elevator Pitch

Via the Maddow Blog (which I highly recommend by the way), comes word that the Obama-Biden camp has a pitch for their campaign:

"Osama bin Laden is dead and General Motors is alive."

Putting aside the question of crowing about another human's death (I'm definitely squeamish about that), I think this pitch could be awfully effective for a couple reasons: 1) It's pithy, memorable, and specific, unlike "Win the Future," 2) The first part is basically "America, Fuck Yeah!" which is always a popular stance, and 3) It highlights accomplishments that are unquestionably the president's.

Mr. Squeaky Clean?

The Washington Monthly (pretty much my only source for news) points to an article on the lack of scandals from the Obama White House. One of the odd things about it is the fact that a White House going two and a half years without a scandal is newsworthy. I guess that since 1977, there's been some sort of White House scandal every 34 months on average.

Given the crazy 24/7 news cycle we have and the hordes of conservative reports/commentators who would just love to drum up something about Barack, it's kind of remarkable. This is politics we're talking about. I believe firmly that Barack is a pretty clean pol but even he has rubbed elbows with the likes of Tony Rezko.

Anyhow, this is great information, especially given that the Repugs often refer to the Obama White House as the most corrupt ever.

The photo that matters

Fascinating article. No time to comment further, but I know I was riveted by (to?) photo.

Obama Brings the Heat

Okay! Mr. President went right after the Ryan budget plan today in his speech. Check out the Washington Monthly review. Now, let's see how the rest of the press covers the speech.

UPDATE: Paul Krugman liked the speech, too. This might be the most positive he's been about Obama since the election.

Please Go on the Attack, Mr. President

And, I'm not talking about Libya. I think that Paul Krugman was absolutely correct in his column today in calling on Obama to start hammering the GOP on their budget proposals instead of immediately giving up concessions in negotiations. I understand that Obama's job of navigating these negotiations to keep the government from shutting down are tricky and I generally give him the benefit of the doubt but the Repugs' proposals are highly unpopular and he should go after them. Urg!

This Budget Crap is Driving Me Crazy

It appears that we're finally about to get our long-expected government shutdown but not after the GOP successfully delay tactics led to significant cuts. Unless something happens in the 11th hour again, I don't think the Dems will agree to the Repugs' latest "compromise." The GOP's latest plan would fund the Defense Department for the rest of the year but everything else for only another week. Plus, it trims another $12 billion and would "prevent both federal and local funds from being used to pay for abortions" in D.C. I like to call their plan "Bombs Not Moms" but I'm worried that they are kind of winning this debate by loudly offering their "compromises" every couple weeks and pointing at the Senate Dems as blocking the process.

Thankfully, Obama is now trying to get involved. Granted, this will probably make a deal less likely as the House Repugs reflexively argue against anything Barack favors. I'm just worried that the Prez won't slam the GOP like he should for their shenanigans.

Re-Election Campaign Officially Underway!

And it begins. The Obama re-election campaign officially kicked-off this weekend.

Obama Finds Another Gear

Yesterday Congress passed another of Obama's reforms: a fix to the federal student loan program that cuts out the private bank middlemen. That simple step will save taxpayers an estimated $61 billion over ten years.

Earlier this week, news started filtering out that Obama's also on the cusp of signing a major nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia. Obviously, this could fail to materialize as many proposed treaties do, but if it comes through Obama will add a major foreign policy coup to his record.

It seems as though the health care break through has given Obama and the Dems incredible momentum. Hopefully they'll keep their stride well through November.

Krugman on Health Care Reform

Paul Krugman has a short post today in which he actually sounds upbeat. He notes that Intrade now has it more likely than not that HRC will pass and finishes with "And I’m impressed by the passion of this guy Obama who’s campaigning for reform. Where was he last year?" Considering how critical he's been of Barack, that's high praise.

Friday Roundup--Baby, it's Cold Outside

Dave--thanks for taking over the last few days. Much of the Sassy family is (are?) having a very bad week. But politics can always make me smile...

Now this I can get behind. The new senator from New York?

This, not so much. The new senator from Florida?

I wasn't sure this story had legs when it first came out a week ago but now... The new senator from Pennsylvania?

Recounts, Missing Ballots, and the closest senate election in history. Still no winner.

Very interesting article by Kissinger on Obama's new national security team. I find it so interesting that Barack is receiving such incredible and unlikely support from the Repugs (Brooks, Rove, Kissinger).

PS I just had a chocolate donut. Oh yes I did.

Morning Roundup--Gobble Gobble

This makes me kind of sad but no doubt the MSM is blowing this way out of proportion.

Tim Russert to finally (but not really) be replaced. My pick is David Gregory though it would be cool to have a woman. But no one wants to look at Andrea Mitchell's bizarro face every week and I'm still pissed at Gwen for her "moderating" at the Veep debate.

Not sure how I feel about this, bloggers seem to be a bit concerned.

EJ Dionne is feeling good about Obama's economic team, so I am too.
"Washington often divides the Democratic policy world between progressives and pragmatists. With Obama, as yesterday's news conference showed, it will have to become accustomed to a president who is both. "

Obama slams CEOs (about damn time we got some leadership from the leadership!) and talks about keepin it real at the WH.

Safe travels to everyone heading out of town for Turkey Day.

Morning Roundup: Nothing keeps Sassy down, not even a real job

Nate projects that Franken will win.

Feds bailout Citi and take a stake in the company. Does that mean as taxpayers, since we now have stake in all these companies, we'll get bonuses this year along with the execs?

Obama to name his economic team (which is getting flack for being a bunch of Clinton retreads) this morning and to provide more details on his economic recovery plan. On the morning shows yesterday, Sen Schumer said that Congress expects to have a legislation on Obama's desk on Inauguration Day--a "new new deaL" to the tune of $700B.

This is for Dave: A great little article in Newsweek drawing comparisons between FDR's transition to the presidency and Obama's.

5 who didn't make the cut in the Cabinet. Includes this rationale for giving Richardson a post (which frankly irritated me but I'd forgotten that he was an early supporter):
Bill Richardson, State — New Mexico’s governor and former Clinton U.N. ambassador-cum-Energy secretary dearly wanted State. And Obama owed him big-time, both for his primary endorsement and for Richardson’s now-forgotten decision to swing his delegates to Obama during the Iowa caucuses. If he’s upset, though, his tears will apparently fall on the Cabinet table. He’s reportedly the new Commerce secretary, and was apparently offered Interior too.

Before you freak out...

Nate analyzes the latest polls showing significant (my word) tightening in PA and VA (6 pts in the former, 4 in the latter. FOUR. ) Bridget: can't we strong arm a certain 5' redhead in NVa to vote Obama?


Sassy doesn't like it, not one bit. But Nate says to take a deep breath, and chill the f*** out.

Another Sassy favorite, Chuck Todd, says that McCain can't win even if we wins all the toss-ups. So there.

More news on the Tuesday night celebration in Grant Park.

Also, I was really sorry to hear the news about Dick Durbin's daughter, who passed away yesterday. In Illinois we love Senator Durbin. A good, sweet guy.

The PA Repugs have trotted out Rev. Wright in a brand new ad this weekend. Classy.

From Kos:
Most of you have heard Sarah Palin get punk'd by two Canadian comedians pretending to be French President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The Obama campaign's response?

I'm glad we check out our calls before we hand the phone to Barack Obama.

It'll be nice having the grownups in charge again.

Morning Roundup a little late--Sassy's been busy!

Nate's analysis of yesterday's polls. Money quote is the last sentence.
"If the balance of today's national polls contain better news for McCain, the balance of the state polls show Obama continuing to perform very well in several swing states. Obama now has 15-point lead in New Hampshire according to the Boston Globe / UNH poll, which had generally contained good news for McCain earlier in this cycle. PPP puts Obama up by 9 in Virginia, while two new polls also show him with significant leads in Iowa.
Counteracting the Obama trend sightly are new polls in Wisconsin and Missouri, which show somewhat better numbers for McCain than other recent polls of those states. However, that is not enough to prevent McCain's win percentage from drifting downward to 3.3 percent."

More comforting polling analysis from Rasmussen:

Today is the 31st straight day that Obama’s voter support has stayed between 50% and 52%. During that period, the number voting for McCain has stayed in the 44% to 46% range every day and the gap between the candidates has ranged from four to eight percentage points.

However, while the overall levels of support have remained stable, voters have become more certain of their intent. Today, the percentage who say they could still change their mind is down to single digits. Forty-eight percent (48%) are now certain they will vote for Obama while 39% say the same about McCain. One month ago, while Obama enjoyed a five-point lead overall, just 41% of voters were certain they would vote for him. At that time, 39% said the same about McCain (see other recent demographic highlights and trends).

Meanwhile, an Arizona poll for the Democratic strategy firm Project New West shows John McCain ahead by just 4 points there, and a couple of other polls showing a close race in McCain's home state are apparently on the way. In terms of our model, the principal effect of the Arizona polls is really not on the Grand Canyon State itself, where our model remains skeptical of an Obama upset, but rather in terms of its neighbor New Mexico, where our it is now (even) more optimistic about Obama's chances.



Nate also debunks the premise behind an article on Salon about the Bradley effect in the 2006 elections. Basically, the writer (a Repug, sooprize sooprize) cherry-picked the polls he used to make his point that several black candidates lost by larger margins than predicted.

Voter turnout in one county in Florida spurs talk of an upset Obama win.

An interesting article by the NY bureau chief for WaPo about how the rise of Obama is still only an American story.

Obama to give his "closing" speech today in Ohio which will include themes of hope, unity etc. McCain to continue talking trash and generally bitching and moaning.

Morning Roundup

From Obama's speech in VA yesterday:
"If you'll stand with me, then I know that we can win Virginia and we can win this election and we can finally bring the change we need to Washington," Obama told the estimated crowd of 35,000. "I feel like we got a righteous wind at our backs here."

A new TIME Magazine poll shows Obama continuing to hold the lead in Nevada, OH, VA, and NC. He gained the most ground in NC which shows him ahead by 4 points.

Latest poll results from Nate. Says nothing much has changed, Obama only off his peak numbers from a few weeks ago by about a half a point. Time is running out for McCain to close gaps in many key states.

Chuck Todd wonders what the final two weeks of the McCain campaign will bring since they've got nothing to lose. Commentary on the McCain-Palin interview on NBC.

Larry David can't handle the suspense.
"The one concession I've made to maintain some form of sanity is that I've taken to censoring my news, just like the old Soviet Union. The citizenry (me) only gets to read and listen to what I deem appropriate for its health and well-being. Sure, there are times when the system breaks down. Michele Bachmann got through my radar this week, right before bedtime. That's not supposed to happen. That was a lapse in security, and I've had to make some adjustments."

Morning Roundup from Fake America

All the mavericks in the house, put your hands up! Palin exposed for charging family travel expenses to Alaska. One more distraction the McC campaign doesn't need. Plus Palin is now the campaign's top liability according to a new NBC poll (Bush must be relieved). Oh, and one more thing (it's been a while since I dished on Palin) the RNC has spent $150,000 to clothe Palin and her family. If I was Joe Six-Pack, I would not be pleased. But I guess I couldn't be Joe Six Pack since I don't live in the Real America.

Nate explains McCain's recent inching up in the polls as a dead cat bounce (have I told Nate I love him today?). Obama is now ahead by double digits in many polls (14 points in the Pew poll!); pulling ahead in the final stretch. For all you polling geeks (and I mean you, Dave) Nate posted a primer on the 8 daily polls.

Charlie Cook, Bridget's man in Washington (and who doesn't love a guy with a bowl cut hair piece?), and a very well respected pollster says it's no longer a question of whether Barack will win but by how much. He makes a persuasive argument here including that with early voting so widespread, and leaning heavily towards Barack, it makes a comeback that much harder for McCain since his pool of voters gets smaller every day. And how does all this good news make Democrats feel? Doomed.

Barack may appear on SNL on November 1st which will surely piss. McCain. off. since it's right before the election. Barack was supposed to appear on the first new episode in September but couldn't b/c of Hurricane Ike, probably can't appear this weekend because he's going home to visit his grandma (who Sassy is praying she gets to see the day her grandson becomes president. As John said, COME ON, can't the universe just make this happen?). Speaking of "suspending his campaign" for his sick grandma, word on the street is the McC is fuming that Obama gets to do this and everyone is sympathetic to him (instead of disgusted, like when McC did it last month). 236.com imagines other opportunities for Obama to take McCain's wrongs and show him how to do it right:

Obama will be captured and held prisoner in Iraq, except he will escape, free all of his fellow prisoners, and suffer no injuries that make him walk around funny

Someone at his rally will say something incendiary. Obama will stop and say, "That's not right," instantly putting an end to hatred and intolerance in politics

Obama will hear his running mate tell a blatant lie and he will say to his running mate, "That's inaccurate," instantly putting an end to dishonesty in politics

When given the opportunity to have someone with the likability of Rudy Giuliani or Cindy McCain campaign for him, Obama will laugh hysterically

Obama will age gracefully