devilishduck | A great speech CAN put food on the table

Politics

A great speech CAN put food on the table

By Joshua Kagi ⋅ February 15, 2008 ⋅ Post a comment

With Hilary Clinton’s situation now dire after losing eight consecutive primary contests, she’s turned up the heat on Barack Obama. Since the American people are really buying into Obama’s populist message of hope, the only way to counter it is this…

“There’s a big difference between us — speeches versus solutions, talk versus action. … Speeches don’t put food on the table. Speeches don’t fill up your tank or fill your prescription or do anything about that stack of bills that keeps you up at night,” Clinton said during a campaign stop in Youngstown, Ohio, on Thursday.

There is some truth to that statement, but what can a great speech do?

Abraham Lincoln, a master of language, gave several messages of hope that inspired a nation to fight on for a good cause in the darkest of times.
Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt inspired two nations to conquer evil.
John F. Kennedy inspired Americans to shoot for the moon, and we did. He inspired us to serve our country and countrymen, and we did.
Martin Luther King Jr. inspired us to dream a great dream, and his voice still echoes and inspires us today.

Just a speech may not put food on the table, as Clinton claims, but what it does do is inspire people to get off their collective asses, and instead work for change.

Obama has said several times that this movement that he has sparked means nothing if the American people stay in their seats. Most know and expect the failures of government. Obama will be no different, he alone can’t change this nation. Yet, he CAN inspire this nation to take care of our poor, our sick, our children, our elderly, our soldiers, and our environment. So, in a round-about way, a great speech can be better than any one single policy a politician has, and CAN put food on the table, help pay that stack of bills, and fill your tank and prescription bottles.

This is not to say that policy isn’t important, but the ability to inspire is what WILL make this nation and this world a better place.

Tags: 2008 election, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

Discussion

43Comments2008-02-15+20%3A07%3A43Joshua+Kagi for “A great speech CAN put food on the table”

Why doesn’t she attack him at his Muslim roots. I am a democrate and all government issues aside, i will not vote for him because of his muslim background. GO BACK TO KENYA!!!!!!!!!

Posted by Shane | February 15, 2008, 2:39 pm

A speech can rally the troops,inspire the workers, take fear out of our hearts and so yes they can make a difference. The key is the speech has to come from someone the audience sees as a leader! Barack Obama is such a person and I am certain he will lead our country to better days. Look forward America not back to the Clinton/Bush years..

Barack Obama as the son of an immigrant father who left his family when he was two years old has overcome incredible odds. He is a man of obvious intellect and integrity. A fresh breeze to do away with the sixteen years of stank in the White House we have suffered through. Yes the Clinton years were better than the Bush ones but should we be proud of Bill? He left and the democrats lost the House of Representatives, the Senate and of course the White House. Not so great a legacy verdad?

Vote for Obama and our country will be viewed with respect again around the world and we will use our treasure for good like education, health care, and Americas infrastructure.

We are spilling blood daily and spending our hard owned cash in massive amounts for a war that should never have been fought. I am a Cuban American U.S. Army Vietnam veteran, my grandfather fought in WW1 and my son fought in Iraq. Barack Obama has it right that our enemies were right were we needed them in Afghanistan and we let them get away and now they are getting stronger regardless of what George W. And his surge b.s. tell you. Guns vs butter plain and simple. We need to vote for change before we are totally broke both financially and morally.

From a mixed racial background to President of the Harvard law review, to community organizer, to U.S. Senator, to President of the United States. This story is the American Dream in real life. Latinos vote for someone of mixed race born to a teen mother who took this start and made all of us immigrant children proud. SI SE PUEDE CON BARACK OBAMA SI SE PUEDE!! YES WE CAN INDEED!!

These are my opinions and I am sticking to them!

RAUL DEJESUS PEDRAZA A Latino who got on the bandwagon way early.

Posted by Raul PEDRAZA | February 15, 2008, 2:43 pm

@ Shane — You’ve obviously read all the propaganda, and if you’re naive enough to stick with what it told you so be it. There are millions of Americans who are smart enough to disregard such reckless smear tactics to more than counter your intolerant viewpoints.

That’s all I’m going to say on that topic. Any other comments telling Obama to go back to Kenya, or along those lines will be deleted. Differing with my opinion is fine, being intolerant isn’t.

@ Raul Pedraza — Thank you for your comment. And thank you so much for your and your families sacrifice for our country in the armed forces. Obama is the American dream, that’s for sure!

Posted by Joshua Kagi | February 15, 2008, 3:09 pm

Well, Joshua, YOU may not want to say more about it, but I will. I will not be offended if you delete my reply.

Shane - go to Snopes.com and check out the validity of the emails touting Obama’s faith background. I would also encourage you to check out all the links you will find referring to his UCC church….then return here and give all of us who read this blog a sincere apology.

As far as your “Go Back to Kenya” remark…it is racist, intolerant, close-minded, bigoted remarks like that that keep our country from progressing from its incredibly racist, intolerant past at the speed in which we should. As the mother of two mixed-race children, I take GREAT GREAT GREAT offense at your remark. In fact, you can define “great offense” as “it makes my blood boil”. You should be completely ashamed of yourself.

Posted by your barb | February 15, 2008, 3:24 pm

Obama donated the largest amount, about $694,000, to those superdelegates campaigns in the past three years, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Clinton donated $195,500.

Posted by al | February 15, 2008, 3:55 pm

If Obama is so much for the people, why hasn’t he publicly or through his website offer his condolences to the families that were affected by the NIU shootings in his state?

Did he forget that he’s still a senator?

He is really shameful. He talks about Hillary being a typical Washington politician, but on his website he gave remorse for Rep. Lantos. How come he couldn’t do the same for the people he is supposed to be representing?

He’s all talk and no action. The proof is in the pudding.

Posted by Jonathan | February 15, 2008, 4:24 pm

Obama’s Misleading Ad

Update, Feb. 15: This section was added after our original item was posted.

The Obama campaign released a new ad Feb. 14 in Wisconsin called “Debate,” quoting Bill Clinton’s first Secretary of Labor, Robert Reich, as saying Obama’s plan covers “more people” than Clinton’s. We find the ad misleading and, in one respect, false

Posted by FELIPE | February 15, 2008, 4:28 pm

Obama donated the largest amount, about $694,000, to those superdelegates campaigns in the past three years, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Clinton donated $195,500. Yeah lets have americans vote lol. Obama you are full of false hopes and lies

Posted by FELIPE | February 15, 2008, 4:34 pm

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/theyve_got_you_covered.html

Check this website out……….Obama is lying and everything is starting to come out………

Posted by FELIPE | February 15, 2008, 4:35 pm

Last week my cousins in california recorded one of obamas speaches during a stomp in california. They loved him so much and they voted for him, all 3 of them. NOW THEY ACTUALLY WENT BACK AND WATCH THAT STOMP THAT THEY RECORDED, AND SAW AND HEARD THE SAME THING I SAW AND HEARD……. HE TALKED ABOUT UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE, AND HOW IT WOULD COVER ALL AMERICANS, AND DURING A DEBATE HILLARY AND EDWARDS ARGUED WITH HIM, BECAUSE HE WAS AGAINST UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE.HUMM FLIP FLOP,THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE CONTRADICTED HIMSELF WELL I TOLD THEM THAT’S THEY SAME REASON WHY I JUMPED SHIP BECAUSE THIS MAN WILL DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES TO BECOME PRESIDENT. MAYBE EVERYONE THAT GOES TO AN OBAMA RALLY/STOMP, MAYBE YOU SHOULD RECORD OBAMA AND SEE HOW MANY TIMES HE ACTUALLY CONTRADICTS HIMSELF AND CHANGES POSITONS…………….

Posted by FELIPE | February 15, 2008, 4:43 pm

THESE ARE ALL FACTS AND I AM THINKING ABOUT POSTIN IT ON YOUTBE SOON, WELL I TOLD MY COUSINS TO POST IT ON YOU TUBE AND MAKE SURE AMERICANS HEAR WHAT THIS LIAR IS SAYING DURING HIS STOMPS. IT’S FUNNY HOW AMERICANS ARE SO BLIND AND BRAINWASHED MY SOMEONE WHO KEEPS CHANGING POSTIONS AND CONTRADICTS HIMSELF ALOT…………

Posted by FELIPE | February 15, 2008, 4:46 pm

BEAWARE OF OBAMA, HE IS ABOUT FALSE HOPES. lOOK AT THIS Obama donated the largest amount, about $694,000, to those superdelegates campaigns in the past three years, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. Clinton donated $195,500. Yeah lets have americans vote lol. Obama you are full of false hopes and lies

Posted by FELIPE | February 15, 2008, 4:47 pm

WHAT ALSO MAKES ME SICK, IS THAT HE DID NOT EVEN MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT SHOOTINGS IN HIS OWN STATE, HUMMM WAIT A MINUTE MY POINT IS PROVEN FROM WHAT I SAID BEFORE. HIS STATE IS A MESS, HE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT HIS OWN STATE OR HIS OWN PEOPLE. HE IS A LIAR AND WILL DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES TO BECOME PRESIDENT……..

Posted by FELIPE | February 15, 2008, 4:55 pm

In response to the deluge of anti-Obama rantings, I must ask the poster, do you feel Obama is personally responsible for the deaths of six people by an unstable young man just because he happens to be a senator of the state in which a terrible incident occurred? If not, then sit down and shut the hell up about his absence, as far as we currently know, about an apology or even the ridiculous insinuation of Obama being at fault because the incident occurred in his state. Any individual who can come to that unfounded conclusion should refrain from speaking in public for their own dignity.

Posted by Suzie | February 15, 2008, 5:48 pm

I would like to address Shane on what he emailed about Barak being a Muslim and Johnathon that Barak didn’t address the people in his home state after the NIU shootings. Shane I am from Canada and even I know that Barak is not a Muslim. Your comments are slanderous and hateful. Johnathon I saw news coverage of Barak talking about the shootings and offering the President the use of his office and resources to deal with the what ever has to be done for the people affected. If this kind of accusations were being made in Canada Apologizes would have to be made. I didn’t read all of the comments on the blog so if either or both of you have apologized then I am apologize for these comments of mine. Slandering a person’s reputation is a very serious matter. If you don’t post my comments I will understand.

Posted by Bev | February 15, 2008, 6:15 pm

I was just looking at Hilary Clinton’s web site. She claims that she has worked to get better teachers during her time as a Senator. If this is true then she has to also take some of the blame if Educational standards in Illinois are so low. We have to remember that Washington was being run by the Republicans the last 8 years. If U.S. politics is anything like the politics in Canada then the party that has the majority controls what is done and what isn’t and the party in the minority is basically powerless except to critize and complain about the party in power. So if any demoncrat managed to get any bill passed I imagin is a miracle and to be sure it won’t have anything near what the democrats wanted. Bev from Canada.

Posted by Bev | February 15, 2008, 6:31 pm

THATS HOW WE GOT GEORGE BUSH! MEDIA SPIN. SO BEFORE ANYMORE AMERICANS DRINK THEIR JONES’ COOL-AID - TRUTH

THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE VOTES THAT BARACK OBAMA DID NOT VOTE YES OR NO ON, LETS START GETTING SOME HONESTY AT CNN!
Members of Congress / Barack Obama / Missed Votes
Vote 27: S 1200: Coburn Amdt. 4032; To protect rape and sexual assault victims from HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Not Voting
2/14/08 Vote 26: S 1200: Coburn Amdt. No. 4036; To prioritize scarce resources to basic medical services for Indians. Not Voting
2/14/08 Vote 25: S 1200: Coburn Amdt. No. 4034; To allow tribal members to make their own health care choices. Not Voting
2/14/08 Vote 24: S 1200: Dorgan Amdt. 4082; Of a perfecting nature. Not Voting
2/13/08 Vote 23: S 1200: Tester Amdt. 4020; To express the sense of Congress regarding law enforcement and methamphetamine issues in Indian country. Not Voting
2/13/08 Vote 22: H R 2082: HR 2082 Conference Report ; Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Not Voting
2/13/08 Vote 21: On the Cloture Motion: Motion To Invoke Cloture On The Conference Report To Accompany H.R. 2082; Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Not Voting
2/12/08 Vote 20: S 2248: S.2248 as Amended; FISA Amendments Act of 2007
Not Voting Yes
2/7/08 Vote 12: S 2248: Feingold Amdt. No. 3913; To prohibit reverse targeting and protect the rights of Americans who are communicating with people abroad. Not voting
2/7/08 Vote 11: S 2248: Feingold Amdt. No. 3915 ; To place flexible limits on the use of information obtained using unlawful procedures. Not Voting
2/7/08 Vote 10: H R 5140: H.R. 5140 As Amended; Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 Not Voting
2/7/08 Vote 9: H R 5140: Reid Amdt. No. 4010; To revise the eligibility criteria for the 2008 recovery rebates for individuals. Not Voting
2/5/08 Vote 6: On the Motion: Motion to Instruct Sgt. At Arms; Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 Not Voting
2/4/08 Vote 5: On the Cloture Motion: Motion To Invoke Cloture On The Motion To Proceed To Consider H.R. 5140; Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act of 2008 Not Voting
1/24/08 Vote 2: S 2248: Motion to Table Committee on the Judiciary Reported Substitute Amendment, as Modified, to S.2248; FISA Amendments Act of 2007
Not Voting
1/22/08 Vote 1: H R 4986: H.R.4986; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 Not Voting
12/18/07 Vote 442: On the Nomination: Confirmation John Daniel Tinder, of Indiana, to be U.S. Circuit Judge Not Voting
12/18/07 Vote 441: On the Motion: Reid Motion to Concur in House Amdt. No. 1 to Senate Amdt. to H.R. 2764; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008
Not Voting
12/18/07 Vote 440: On the Motion: Reid Motion to Concur in House Amdt. No. 1 to Senate Amdt. To H.R. 2764, with an Amdt. No. 3877; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting
12/18/07 Vote 439: On the Motion: McConnell Motion to Concur in House Amdt. No. 2 to the Senate Amdt. to H.R. 2764, with an Amdt. No. 3874; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting Yes No
12/18/07 Vote 438: H R 2764: Levin Amdt. No. 3876; To express the sense of Congress on the transition of the missions of United States Forces in Iraq to a more limited set of missions as specified by the President on September 13, 2007. Not Voting
12/18/07 Vote 437: H R 2764: Feingold Amdt. No. 3875; To provide for the safe redeployment of United States troops from Iraq. Not Voting
12/18/07 Vote 436: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Reid motion to Concur in the House Amdts. to the Senate Amdt. to H.R. 2764; Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting
12/17/07 Vote 435: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider S. 2248; FISA Amendments Act of 2007 Not Voting
12/14/07 Vote 434: H R 2419: H.R. 2419 as Amended; Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 Not Voting
12/14/07 Vote 433: H R 1585: H.R. 1585 Conference Report; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008
Not Voting
12/14/07 Vote 432: S 2338: S. 2338 as Amended; FHA Modernization Act of 2007
Not Voting
12/13/07 Vote 431: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Harkin Amdt. No. 3500 to H.R. 2419; In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting
12/13/07 Vote 430: On the Motion: Motion to Concur in the Amendment of the House to the Amendment of the Senate to the Text of H.R. 6, with an Amendment; Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007 Not Voting
12/13/07 Vote 429: H R 2419: Craig Amdt. No. 3640; To prohibit the involuntary acquisition of farmland and grazing land by Federal, State, and local governments for parks, open space, or similar purposes.
Not Voting
12/13/07 Vote 428: H R 2419: Brown Amdt. No. 3819; To increase funding for critical Farm Bill programs and improve crop insurance. Not Voting
12/13/07 Vote 427: H R 2419: Tester Amdt. No. 3666; To modify the provisions relating to unlawful practices under the Packers and Stockyards Act. Not Voting
12/13/07 Vote 426: H R 2419: Klobuchar Amdt. No. 3810; To improve the adjusted gross income limitation and use the savings to provide additional funding for certain programs and reduce the Federal deficit. Not Voting
12/12/07 Vote 423: H R 2419: Sessions Amdt. No. 3596 As Modified; To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to establish a pilot program under which agricultural producers may establish and contribute to tax-exempt farm savings accounts in lieu of obtaining federally subsidized crop insurance or noninsured crop assistance, to provide for contributions to such accounts by the Secretary of Agriculture, to specify the situations in which amounts may be paid to producers from such accounts, and to limit the total amount of such distributions to a producer during a taxable year, and for other purposes. Not Voting
12/12/07 Vote 422: H R 2419: Gregg Amdt. No. 3673; To improve women’s access to heath care services in rural areas and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services. Not Voting
12/12/07 Vote 421: H R 2419: Alexander Amdt.; No. 3553; To limit the tax credit for small wind energy property expenditures to property placed in service in connection with a farm or rural small business. Not Voting
12/12/07 Vote 420: H R 2419: Alexander Amdt. No. 3551; To increase funding for the Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems, with an offset. Not Voting No No
12/12/07 Vote 419: H R 2419: Gregg Amdt. No. 3672; To strike a provision relating to market loss assistance for asparagus producers. Not Voting
12/12/07 Vote 418: H R 2419: Gregg Amdt. No. 3671; To strike the section requiring the establishment of a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. Not Voting
12/11/07 Vote 417: H R 2419: Lugar Amdt. No. 3711; Relative to traditional payments and loans. Not Voting
12/6/07 Vote 415: H R 3996: H.R. 3996 as Amended; Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007 Not Voting
12/6/07 Vote 414: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to H.R. 3996; Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007 Not Voting
12/4/07 Vote 413: H R 3688: H.R. 3688; United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act Not Voting
11/14/07 Vote 409: H R 1429: H.R.1429 Conference Report; Head Start for School Readiness Act Not Voting
11/13/07 Vote 408: On the Nomination: Confirmation Robert M. Dow Jr., of Illinois, to be U.S. District Judge Not Voting
11/8/07 Vote 407: On the Nomination: Confirmation Michael B. Mukasey of New York, to be Attorney General Not Voting
11/8/07 Vote 406: H R 1495: Shall H.R. 1495 Pass, the Objections of the President of the United States to the Contrary Notwithstanding?; Water Resources Development Act of 2007 Not Voting
11/7/07 Vote 405: On the Motion: Motion to Recede and Amend the Bill; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting
11/7/07 Vote 404: On the Motion: Motion to Waive Rule XXVIII, Paragraph 3, Re: H.R. 3043 Conference Report; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting
11/1/07 Vote 403: H R 3963: H.R.3963; Support for Injured Servicemembers Act Not Voting
11/1/07 Vote 402: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on H.R.3963; Support for Injured Servicemembers Act
Not Voting

10/31/07 Vote 401: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider H.R.3963; Support for Injured Servicemembers Act Not Voting
10/30/07 Vote 400: S 294: S.294 as Amended; Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 Not Voting
10/30/07 Vote 399: S 294: DeMint Amdt. No.3467; To require Amtrak to disclose the Federal subsidy of every ticket sold for transportation on Amtrak. Not Voting
10/30/07 Vote 398: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on S.294; Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2007 Not Voting
10/30/07 Vote 397: S 294: Coburn Amdt. No.3474; To require Amtrak to regularly report to Congress on the profits or losses relating to the provision of food and beverage service and to limit such service on Amtrak rail lines that incur losses. Not Voting
10/25/07 Vote 396: S 294: Sununu Amdt. No. 3456 as Modified; To remove the limitation on the number of Amtrak routes available for competitive bid. Not Voting
10/25/07 Vote 395: S 294: Sununu Amdt. No. 3453; To prohibit Federal subsidies in excess of specified amounts on any Amtrak train route. Not Voting
10/23/07 Vote 391: H R 3043: H.R. 3043 as Amended; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting
10/23/07 Vote 390: On the Motion: McConnell Motion to Commit H.R. 3043 to the Committee on Appropriations, with Instructions; Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting
10/23/07 Vote 389: H R 3043: Bingaman Amdt. No. 3440 as Modified; Of a perfecting nature. Not Voting
10/23/07 Vote 388: H R 3043: Ensign Amdt. No. 3352; To prohibit the use of funds to process claims based on illegal work for purposes of receiving Social Security benefits. Not Voting
10/23/07 Vote 387: H R 3043: Ensign Amdt. No. 3342; To prohibit the use of funds to administer Social Security benefit payments under a totalization agreement with Mexico. Not Voting
10/23/07 Vote 386: H R 3043: Cardin Amdt. No. 3400; To provide support to Iraqis and Afghans who arrives in the United States under the Special Immigrant Visa program. Not Voting
10/23/07 Vote 385: H R 3043: Motion To Table DeMint Amdt. 3387; To replace non-competitive earmarks for the AFL-CIO with competitive grants. Not Voting
10/23/07 Vote 384: H R 3043: Motion To Table Coburn Amdt. No. 3358; To require Congress to provide health care for all children in the U.S. before funding special interest pork projects. Not Voting
10/23/07 Vote 383: H R 3043: Enzi Amdt. No. 3437; To prohibit the use of funds to modify certain HIV/AIDS funding formulas. Not Voting
10/22/07 Vote 382: H R 3043: Menendez Amdt. No. 3347 as Modified; To provide funding for the activities under the Patient Navigator Outreach and Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2005. Not Voting
10/22/07 Vote 381: H R 3043: Motion to Table Allard Amdt. No. 3369; To reduce the total amount appropriated to any program that is rated ineffective by the Office of Management and Budget through the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART). Not Voting
10/18/07 Vote 380: H R 3043: Sessions Amdt. No.3373; To increase the amount of funds available for the Office of Labor Management Standards. Not Voting
10/18/07 Vote 379: H R 3043: Vitter Amdt. No.3330; To prohibit the provision of funds to grantees who perform abortions. Not Voting
10/18/07 Vote 378: H R 3043: Reid Amdt. No.3395; To clarify the application of current law. Not Voting
10/18/07 Vote 377: H R 3043: Motion to Table Coburn Amdt. No.3321; To provide additional care for pregnant women, mothers, and infants by eliminating a $1,000,000 earmark for a museum dedicated to Woodstock. Not Voting
10/18/07 Vote 376: H R 3043: Brown Amdt. No.3348; To provide funding for the Underground Railroad Educational and Cultural Program. Not Voting
10/18/07 Vote 375: H R 3043: Byrd Amdt. No.3362; To increase funding for the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Not Voting
10/18/07 Vote 374: H R 3043: Harkin Amdt. No.3368; To provide funding for activities to reduce infections from methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and related infections. Not Voting
10/18/07 Vote 373: H R 3043: DeMint Amdt. No.3338; To provide a limitation on funds with respect to the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service. Not Voting
10/16/07 Vote 372: H R 3093: H.R. 3093, As Amended; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting
10/16/07 Vote 371: On the Motion: Motion to Commit H.R.3093 to the Committee on Appropriations, with Instructions; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008 Not Voting
10/16/07 Vote 370: H R 3093: Motion to Table Vitter Amdt. No.3277; To prohibit funds from being used in contravention of section 642(a) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. Not Voting
10/16/07 Vote 369: H R 3093: Motion to Table Dole Amdt. No.3313; To set aside $75,000,000 of the funds appropriated under the heading State and Local Law Enforcement Assistance for activities that support State and local law enforcement agencies in their efforts to assist the Federal Government’s enforcement of immigration laws. Not Voting
10/16/07 Vote 368: H R 3093: Motion to Table Thune Amdt. No.3317; To provide, in a fiscally responsible manner, additional funding for United States attorneys to prosecute violent crimes in Indian country. Not Voting
10/16/07 Vote 367: H R 3093: Motion to Table Ensign Amdt. No.3295; To increase funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program and offset the increase by reducing NASA funding. Not Voting
10/16/07 Vote 366: H R 3093: Ensign Amdt. No. 3294; To increase funding for the United States Marshals Service to ensure full funding for the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006 and offset the increase by reducing funding for the Advanced Technology Program. Not Voting
10/16/07 Vote 365: H R 3093: DeMint Amdt. No.3289; To prevent Federal employees from purchasing unnecessary first-class or premium-class airline tickets at taxpayers? expense. Not Voting
10/15/07 Vote 364: H R 3093: Brown Amdt. No. 3260 as Modified; To prohibit the use of any funds made available in this Act in a manner that is inconsistent with the trade remedy laws of the United States, and for other purposes. Not Voting
10/4/07 Vote 363: H R 3093: Motion to Table Coburn Amdt. No. 3243; To provide $1,680,000 to investigate and prosecute unsolved civil rights crimes in a fiscally responsible manner by prioritizing spending. Not Voting
10/3/07 Vote 362: H R 3222: Feingold Amdt. No. 3164; To safely redeploy United States troops from Iraq. Not Voting
10/3/07 Vote 361: H R 3222: Graham Amdt. No. 3117; To improve the security of United States borders. Not Voting
10/2/07 Vote 360: H R 3222: Motion to Table Boxer Amdt. No. 3126 as Modified; To prohibit waivers for enlistment in the Armed Forces of individuals with certain felony offenses. Not Voting
10/1/07 Vote 359: H R 1585: H.R. 1585 as Amended; National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 Not Voting
10/1/07 Vote 358: H R 1585: Kennedy Amdt. No. 3058; To provide for certain public-private competition requirements. Not Voting
9/27/07 Vote 357: On the Cloture Motion: Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Levin Amdt. No.2011 (Subst.) to H.R.1585; In the nature of a substitute. Not Voting
9/27/07 Vote 356: H R 1585: Coburn Amdt. No. 2196; To eliminate wasteful spending and improve the management of counter-drug intelligence. Not Voting
9/27/07 Vote 355: H J RES 52: H. J. Res. 52; A joint resolution making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2008, and for other purposes. Not Voting
9/27/07 Vote 354: H J RES 43: H.J.Res.43; A joint resolution increasing the statutory limit on the public debt. Not Voting
9/27/07 Vote 353: On the Motion: Motion to Concur in the Amendments of the House to the Amendments of the Senate to H.R.976; Support for Injured Servicemembers Act Not Voting
9/26/07 Vote 349: H R 1585: Kyl Amdt. No. 3017 as Modified; To express the sense of the Senate regarding Iran. Not Voting
9/26/07 Vote 348: H R 1585: Biden Amdt. No. 2997 as Modified; To express the sense of Congress on federalism in Iraq. Not Voting
9/24/07 Vote 347: H R 1495: H.R.1495 Conference Report; Water Resources Development Act of 2007 Not Voting

Posted by LASS | February 15, 2008, 7:17 pm

LASS, it’s obvious that you’ve never worked for or closely observed congress — either at the state or national level. Missed votes are a common occurrence for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

You can argue that Obama should have resigned his post if he was to run for higher office. I’d agree that, that’d be in the best interest of the country. But first off that means that Clinton, McCain, Biden, Dodd, Kucinich, Richardson, Paul, and Hunter also should have all resigned their current government responsibilities while running for President. Secondly, Obama (and I’d argue most of the others as well) has done far more good for this country while campaigning then any or all of those votes would have added up to. Lastly, Clinton and McCain have also missed a similar amount of votes in the same span of time, so to single out Obama is trivial and ignorant at best.

Posted by Joshua Kagi | February 15, 2008, 7:44 pm

Hillary is ahead in a the polls conducted. real clear politics website posts all polls for each state. Everyone knows that Obama is starting to sound like a broken record. My friends kid got caught with a joint in scholl and after being repremanded on the dangers of drugs the kid said, ” My life won’t get ruined look at Obama he did coke and weed and he turned out okay.” I could’nt believe he said that in defense of his actions. That’s pretty sad and unfair to parents that trying to sway their children from that particular lifestyle.

Posted by Mary Esther Salinas | February 15, 2008, 8:40 pm

Mary, no offense to your particular viewpoints, but do you really think an adolescent smoking pot is really going to ruin his life? He’s a kid, he’ll learn, and odds are he’s going to be just fine. Blaming Obama for a kid smoking pot and talking back is a little beside the point don’t you think?

Did Obama put that joint in the kids hand? Probably not. Maybe the kid and the parents should take responsibility for their actions, instead of you using it as a tool to bash Obama.

Posted by Joshua Kagi | February 15, 2008, 8:44 pm

Joshua,
Obama has a short resume and all these false ads are being aired to confuse ignorant voters. In his Ad airing in Texas he said his plan covers all Americans and we know that his plan covers children and not the parents. His a liar and hasn’t done one good outcome in the Senate. He voted for the Dick Cheney energy bill that has given Exxon historic profits somewhere from 2,000 dollars a second. He voted against giving gang members the death penalty that were involved in multiple killings. Also, his economic plan revealed was mostly plagerism from Hillary’s plan a long time before he copied her. Same with his speeches that have empty answers. Maybe you should learn to analyze a speech and then you will find that he never speaks of what his going to do. His a joker.

Posted by Mary Esther Salinas | February 15, 2008, 8:51 pm

Mary, in his health care plan every American would benefit. It’s not a universal plan and he clearly states that over and over, but every American would benefit with cheaper costs. If you could find an online version of that commercial I’d appreciate it. I’m sure it’s on his site or YouTube, please link me to it.

As for him not doing one good thing in the Senate that’s your God given right to have that opinion, I strongly disagree. And there were very political reasons to vote for or against any particular piece of legislation. From my personal experience working for a legislator, I know better (and so should the candidates themselves) then to bash a politician for single votes, as opposed to an overall career.

Also, your comment to Bev was intolerant and has been deleted.

Posted by Joshua Kagi | February 15, 2008, 8:59 pm

“What America needs is more slogans!”
“We’re in the slogans business!”

Posted by Nick | February 15, 2008, 9:10 pm

All the Hillary supporters are busy pushing the latest talking points. At least some of them realize that they ARE just talking points.
There are obviously some folks who couldn’t be bothered to listen to the details or research the facts - they just automatically believe the newest (in a long line) of the Clinton slogans: that Obama doesn’t offer any SOLUTIONS, only WORDS. Ms. Clinton, on the other hand, offers SOLUTIONS. Everyone say it together: SOLUTIONS BUSINESS.
It makes one wonder: if words are so cheap, why is the Clinton camp endlessly generating new SLOGANS?
Let me tell you this about the SOLUTIONS BUSINESS: When you are beholden to special interests, those SOLUTIONS lack INTEGRITY. Remember that, ok. INTEGRITY

And, in the midst of partisan warfare and legislative impasse, those SOLUTIONS don’t get IMPLEMENTED. Write that one down. IMPLEMENTED.

Posted by Nick | February 15, 2008, 9:11 pm

ive lived in europe, and i was tired of ppl accusing us american of being racist. They did not belive that americans r good ppl in nature and unted at heart . i think by voting for obama we can finnally put the end to the stupit accusations.
i will be prode to see obama as a president and prove to the world that Americans r above and beyond of color of skins, religion and fat ass.

Posted by jess | February 15, 2008, 9:51 pm

Clintons cheat. thats all i have to say about them.
they do anything to get wat they want

Posted by jess | February 15, 2008, 9:54 pm

Look, they are both likely making promises they can’t or won’t keep. They are both probably guilty of things that either side could point to.

However, can’t we all agree that whatever one of them runs againts McCain will be much better for our country than that man?!

I’m a Hillary supporter, but I also find Obama exciting and would be happy to vote for either one of them.

I’m hopeful we’ll see some change in our country with either one of them and I’m praying that McCain doesn’t manage to pull out an under dog victory!

Posted by Janelle | February 15, 2008, 10:34 pm

Hillary beginning on DAY ONE__IOWA–was __NOT READY__to run the bureaucracy of her own Campaign! A little crying in NH made it better, bringing out the “pity” woman vote. Now after Obama wins Nebraska, Washington state, Louisiana, Maine, Virgiania, Maryland, Washington D.C. and V.I., she has “thrown” out top aide Solis-Doyle (having used up all the Solis-Doyle value on Super Tuesday). The CLINTON strategy to take Obama out on Super Tuesday FAILED !
Do you trust Hillary on Day One to run the bureaucracy and staff of your House, the Government of the United States of America, if she was not ready on Day One _Iowa_with the right strategy to win?

Now, the insurgent Senator Barack Obama got it RIGHT on Day ONE__he has mounted a campaign that has OUT-STRATEGIZED, OUT-ORGANIZED Hillary campaign. And Obama has OUT-GALVANIZED and OUT-MOBILIZED the youth voters and the rest of us! Super Tuesday he was still standing for change we can believe in. AND the day after Super Tuesday, Hillary was whining “poor mouth”__I had to lend my campaign My $50K__while the OBAMA campaign was raking in the money_”Flush”!
FIRE UP! READY TO GO OBAMA ‘08!
P.S. Bill’s campaign manager ‘92 just endorsed Obama. David Wilhelm knows OHIO every inch because he’s a developer. What an asset Wilhelm will be in the Ohio campaign for Obama. He is one of the superdelegates to boot. Wilhelm praises Obama campaign smarts in his endorsement__”I know organizational excellence.”
P.P.S. If you read his book The Audacity of Hope, you will know that Obama has consulted with the Warren Buffet on the economy and the economic classes and education and distribution of wealth. A Leader-President seeks and applies the ideas of all the “experts” he can uncover: He knows it takes more than one brilliant mind__but it takes a brain-trust to address the global economic and national economic problems of the masses of working class and middle class Americans of this 21st Century. We cannot time warp to Prez Bill’s ’90s! And as for Hillary being in the solutions business, not so. In spite of Hillary running under the 35 year old Clinton name brand, Senator Obama has beaten her in eight contests straight!

Posted by Victoria | February 15, 2008, 11:05 pm

Joshua i don’t care if it’s been deleted because i have my own blog. All people have ever done was blame Hillary for everything that Bill did. People blame her for Monica lewinsky, Nafta, she’s being attacked by the white men media, attacked by right wingers. One day when you grow up you’ll understand politics. You say my comment is intolerent but there are many that post intyolrent and false statements about Hillary. The first Ad staing the first job i had was community service for the people. I guess he forgot how he made his first million with Resko, a syrian. You don’t make sense and this blog is a joke. Freedom of speech and he does have connections to the muslims and how the nation of Islam quietly endorsed him. The remaining states will be his losing battle. You shall witness the outcome. I will vote for Mccain instead of Obama because till this day he does’nt say much ado about nothing. Peace and i am sorry for you for being closed minded.

Posted by Mary Esther Salinas | February 16, 2008, 12:06 am

Nick if you study politics, the word folks is considered to be ignorant people. You can read it in a book by Susan Jacoby. That’s what’s wrong in America that people don’t know the origin of a word that originated in the deep south. Have fun blogging and i must go where i can speak to intelectuals rather than ignorants.

Posted by Mary Esther Salinas | February 16, 2008, 12:11 am

Mary, I don’t understand where you get the impression that I’m close minded, or that I wouldn’t support Hillary if she was the nominee. You had an intellectual and respectful approach to this debate until you decided to do some Canadian bashing. Have fun in your corner of the internet.

Posted by Joshua Kagi | February 16, 2008, 12:16 am

FROM THE L.A. TIMES: BLOWBACK
Open letter to Barack Obama

A former Chicago constituent asks her candidate of choice to start talking real politics.
By Sarah M. Miller
February 15, 2008
I’m enclosing my third donation to your campaign because I believe strongly in your candidacy. But please, before you cash my check, consider my concerns:

I’m a University of Chicago graduate student, and I was your constituent when you were a state senator and when you became a U.S. senator. I know your strengths as a genuine progressive with a vision rooted in social justice movements and a trenchant critique of our political system. But I’ve lived in Southern California for the last few years, and as you saw on Feb. 5, a lot of people in California and around the country are unable to see in you what your current constituents do. Please stand up and distinguish yourself!

I hear smart, progressive, well-educated, politically engaged people out here saying - over and over - that you and Sen. Hillary Clinton are essentially the same. Even while giving you an enthusiastic endorsement, the Los Angeles Times recently stated that the two Democratic front-runners are “a hairsbreadth apart” on policy. I believe you are close on major policy issues but far apart on fundamental principles: executive power, financial transparency and ethics, philosophy of foreign diplomacy, commitment to reforming racist aspects of the criminal justice system, commitment to the 1st Amendment and a perspective that comes from community organizing rather than from corporate power and insider politics. My friends tell me, “You must know that from living in Chicago, because I’m not hearing that in the debates or in the campaign speeches.”

Second, these smart progressive people are getting really cynical about the rhetoric of “hope” and “uniting people” when it’s not backed up by substance. And there I have to sympathize with them. Hope is an empty diversion without substantive, original arguments on issues. When will you discuss rebuilding New Orleans? Can you offer creative thinking on the Iraq war as it currently exists, instead of just reminding people you opposed it years ago? Why don’t you demonstrate a respectful, nuanced view of the Middle East instead of referring to the “the terrorists,” as you did in a recent debate? How do you envision the United States’ role in Africa’s many dire problems and conflicts? How do you plan to fix our decrepit infrastructure and invigorate the economy in just and environmentally responsible ways? Will you argue for the value of a well-regulated, domestically produced food supply, favoring produce over commodity crops, for our safety and environmental health? What are your positions on international trade agreements? Do you have creative ideas for generating more affordable housing in our cities? And how will you handle the responsibilities of the presidency when you can’t unite and persuade, as will inevitably happen sometimes?

When I express my support for your candidacy, people ask me these questions, and I can’t answer them on your behalf. When I can’t answer, I wonder if I too should be more skeptical of your visionary-but-vague rhetoric.

It’s too late for me to sway any more California voters than I already did (and I swayed plenty to vote for you). But it’s not too late for you to stand up and do it yourself in the primaries still to come. Please - we need you, yes, but we also need to know why to need you.

With continued commitment to you and your candidacy for president,

Sarah M. Miller

Sarah Miller is a University of Chicago graduate student who currently lives in Silver Lake.

Posted by nurseratchet | February 16, 2008, 12:50 am

Well, Mary, if you happen to pass by on the way to more intellectual quarters, then may I, in turn, recommend a piece for you. It is an essay titled “Presidential Voice,” in the volume “Real Politics” by Jean Bethke Elshtain (who happens to teach at University of Chicago, where I also had the pleasure of studying, Sarah).

Ms. Elshtain’s essay will perhaps open to question your assumptions about the place of rhetoric in democratic politics. In it, she examines and overturns the notions (so central to the Clinton camp’s newest instance of sloganeering) that democratic rhetoric necessarly implies a.)the use of listeners as means to an end; and, b.)the sovereign activity of the speaker over and against the passivity of the listeners. Rather, Elshtain proposes that, in rhetoric, “we are engaged with and in a wonderfully and frustatingly complex series of speech-acts that not only implicate us, or require us, but of which we are in an important if elusive way co-authors” (90).

When it is effective (as it was with FDR, with Kennedy, and with Reagan), rhetoric is like a mirror in which we recognize ourselves. Specifically referring to Kennedy, in comments that I think apply to the situation in which we find ourselves today, Elshtain writes:

“Above all, he constituted us as citizens. We were summoned from our private pursuits to the res publica, the public good, the public “thing.” Again, for all our appropriate skepticism for what we were being summoned for, the point is that Kennedy held up the mirror of specifically civic virtues. We were not private beings in Kennedy’s world, but American citizens…Perhaps, given the desuetude of civic spirit in the years since 1963, the civic parts of ourselves have become so submerged we could not hear were someone to speak the language of civic republicanism. We can, and do, respond as self-interested claimants to our piece of the public pie or as constituted members of subgroups…But perhaps with Kennedy’s death we have, in Cicero’s words, lost one dream of the res publica. Perhaps that mirror is shattered. We will not know until a president once again speaks that language and we either turn a deaf ear or hear and put on our civic robes to take on the public’s business” (89).

All the best,
Nick

Posted by Nick | February 16, 2008, 8:36 am

Josh, I love you and will respond to ALL of this when I can do so in a way that will allow you to not delete me too.

Posted by your barb | February 16, 2008, 9:16 am

Okay, I’m back. While I was away I was gently reminded that intolerance breeds intolerance, and anger breeds anger, and “judgementalism” breeds “judgementalism”. Soooo, I will not respond to any of the folks who posted here and any of the remarks made that I feel fall into the three aforementioned categories (intolerance, anger, judgementalism). I will also add a fourth category - stupidity (okay, I may still have some anger, intolerance, and judgements floating around, but either way, I won’t give voice to what I feel to be stupid comments either). I will respond to your original post though….

I agree - great speeches can inspire great action. I don’t believe any of the candidates have the corner on the market of being able to deliver on both counts - giving a great speech and spurning people to action. I don’t think any of them would have made it this far if they couldn’t do both of those things. Of course, I have the candidate I am backing. I know why I am backing this candidate and I would hope that everyone who is casting a vote this year would be able to intelligently articulate why they are voting for the candidate of their choice. “Intelligent” can’t be overstated there - if you don’t know why you are voting, then for God’s sake, don’t vote. If you are voting because someone makes a pretty speech, then don’t vote. If you are voting because someone (either your person or the other) is a certain gender or race or faith background, then DON’T VOTE.

I think the record voter turnout we are witnessing is a testament to both the disastrous current administration AND the general population’s (especially the younger generations) inspiration to become involved in the political process. Whatever the motivation (great speeches or the potential for great actions), the number of voters turning out this year is wonderful, in my opinion, and, also in my opinion, a result of candidates (regardless of party affiliation, faith practices, gender, race, or nationality) who are making great speeches, touching people’s hearts with issues that are important to our citizens, inspiring folks to become involved, and making a case for their (the candidates’) ability to back up those words with actions.

My hope for this country that I love would be that, in the year 2008, we would be able to move beyond the issues that folks who fall into those four aforementioned categories want to pigeon-hole us into. This election isn’t about race, it isn’t about gender, it isn’t about political party, and as much as I loved Bill Clinton’s Administration, it isn’t about him either. It also isn’t about whether we have our first female President or our first African American President. Personally, I am ashamed that it has taken us this long to have those choices - and I think that historical aspect of this election is wonderful and fascinating, in addition to long overdue. BUT IT IS NOT WHAT THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT. This election is about the direction we want our country to move in from January 2009 forward. It is about Iraq and Afghanistan. It is about our “position” in the greater world we live in. It is about schools and kids and healthcare and poverty and the environment and the economy. It is about human rights all over the world. It is about peace and social justice. It is about who we want to be as a country, and a resident of this planet. It is about our fellow human beings and our country’s future, both at home and around the world.

Your original post is a great post, Josh, and makes great points about things that we all need to take into consideration. I am embarrassed and appalled at the turn it took from all these folks (who came from where anyway - I’ve never seen them here??), and, quite frankly, it makes me sad and angry that my vote counts the same as many of theirs (see - those issues do truly breed themselves). But it is a founding freedom of our nation so I guess the best I can do is to try to respond intelligently, politely (I said “try”) and sensibly.

I love you Josh, and I appreciate your heart, and the forum here you’ve created because of your love for, and of, our country and its never-perfect processes.

Don’t be too discouraged….on some level, conversation is never in vein.

Posted by your barb | February 16, 2008, 1:20 pm

PS - I just came across this great, applicable (I think) quote…..

In religion and politics, people’s beliefs and convictions are in almost every case gotten at second hand, and without examination.
- Mark Twain

Posted by your barb | February 16, 2008, 1:25 pm

To All: Well apparently it doesn’t matter what anybody wants because Harold Ickes (a Clinton stratigist) has come out and said that the amount of states “won” is illrelevant (read this to mean “the peoples will”) because the superdelegates are going to make the decision and they are going to go with Clinton.
What a country!!!

Posted by Cindy | February 16, 2008, 3:46 pm

And here is something that might help with the Super Delegates “issue”.

http://pol.moveon.org/superdelegates/

Posted by your barb | February 16, 2008, 4:10 pm

Josh the speech and your insight is very good. I like it.

From that beginning point the blog lost focus and devolved into little and unrelated discussions initiated by others about such issues as superdelegates.

There have been superdelagates for a long time. No big deal about them. There have been close Democratic conventions. The superdelates did not turn any tides. The shared campaign funds that they receive are to their benefit no matter who gets elected as President of the USA.

Taking a long view here is helpful. It is very very possible that over the years following, both Obama and Clinton could serve as President of the USA. Getting all upset now about who will be the first President is not so important once a longer view is taken.

Posted by John | February 16, 2008, 5:13 pm

Barack Obama is fresh and charismatic. His speeches are evocative and inspirational. That cannot be denied. But, empty slogans and vague promises can only inspire for so long. At a certain point, the prospect of change must cease to be a prospect and become a reality. As Thoreau said, “There are orators, politicians, and eloquent men by the thousand; but the speaker has not yet opened his mouth to speak who is capable of settling the much-vexed questions of the day. We love eloquence for its own sake, and not for any truth it may utter, or any heroism it may inspire.” Essentially, only time will tell if Obama’s uplifting substance-free words can turn America’s future in a new and unexpected direction. I, for one, am excited to see Obama deliver on the change he so often touted. I just hope that Obama’s vision for America’s is not simply a mirage, never to be attained.

Posted by David- High School Senior PA | February 17, 2008, 11:14 am

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