Looking to start your holiday shopping today? Well consider some of the more clever Democratic merchandise! These are perfect gifts for your progressive relatives and friends. And you don't even have to get up at 4:00 a.m. and bust some doors to get them.
The Joe Biden Coozy
As The President himself Tweeted, if you need to keep your canned beverage cold, Joe Biden's got you covered. Yes, everyone's favorite #2 in command and The Onion cover boy now graces his own official can holder. Best of all, they're made in the USA! Add some local Texas beer and you've got a gift we can believe in.
Not a drinker, or maybe while working at the Capitol you prefer to hide your booze in a mug? Then the VP's "Cup of Joe" should fix you right up as well.
::
Rock Me Like a Herman Cain Tote Bags
Produced by friend of BOR Christina Gomez, these totes poll higher than the Godfather's Pizza man, and to date no women have alleged sexual harassment against the stylish 100% cotton canvass bag. (Though apparently the pint glass that is also available emblazoned with the logo has retained Gloria Allred.) The white tee is priced at one-nine-nine-nine, which is basically like Herman Cain's tax plan, except it won't raise taxes on the middle class. Ladies can sport the feminine tee, which is so alluring that you'd better stay away from the National Restaurant Association if you don't want to be propositioned before being offered a job!
::
Mitt Romney's Temporary Little Band Aids
In a recent Republican debate, millionaire Mitt Romney said President Obama's proposal to cut payroll taxes for the middle class -- which amounts to about $1500 in extra money for the average American family -- was nothing but a "temporary little Band-Aid."
If you, like Mitt, think $1,500 is pocket change, then for a donation of that amount the DNC will send you your own box of Mitt's Temporary Little Band Aids. As they write on their website, "if you, like Romney, can forgo the money for four months of groceries, seven months of gasoline, or a full year's electricity bill, we're pleased to offer a box of Mitt Romney-brand Temporary Little Band-Aids, helpfully priced by Romney himself at $1,500."
Or, if you're in the 99% like the rest of us, you can apply a lot of pressure and a piece of paper towel until the bleeding stops, possibly some duct tape, and hope you don't need stitches since your insurance charges a huge co-pay for ER visits.
::
Finally, if you want to buy "normal" gifts or something, the TDP has set up a "Shop Blue" program, where a portion of your purchases go back to fund the TDP. There are a huge number of stores available.
So even if you don't enjoy the half-million dollar line of credit Newt Gingrich has at Tiffany's, you can still get your nearest and dearest Democrats a nice gift this year.
(Be sure to check out this awesome graphic as well. - promoted by Karl-Thomas Musselman)
Four years after it endorsed George W. Bush for president, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram has wised up and endorsed Barack Obama for president.
This endorsement represents a healthy contrast to the helter-skelter reasoning the Dallas Morning News presented the week before in its ill-thought-out endorsement of John McCain (which was disgraceful at its base for its failure to address the huge issues presented by McCain's sad choice of Sarah Palin to be his running mate).
Tonight Governor Sarah Palin will debate Senator Joe Biden. Could this Vice Presidential debate have more affect on the election than any other Vice Presidential debate in history?
Day three will be summed up by the aggressive critiques made against John McCain and continued show of unity by every Democrat.
While Bill Clinton continued the tone of unity and called for Hillary Clinton supporters to join him, Chelsea, and Hillary as they campaign for Barack Obama the reality is his speech focused on the failures of this Republican Party.
While they attack Barack Obama for being young, Bill Clinton reminded us, these are the same attacks they used 16 years ago against him. It probably doesn't need to be said, that Bill Clinton served during one of the greatest economies we have ever had. It probably shouldn't be said, but President Clinton put America in high esteem throughout the world.
On the other hand, our country is working harder for less. Our standing through out the world is worse and worse every day.
The reality is, John McCain and George Bush agree 90% of the time. The reality is that our country is not better off today than it was 4 or even 8 years ago.
Once Bill Clinton was done praising Barack Obama's experience and letting the country know what is on the line. The Republican Party that pushes more for less. More work, less pay. More war, less support for our veterans. More drilling, less relief at the pump. Or Democrats, who want a better tomorrow, today.
Where President Clinton left off, Senator John Kerry picked up. His "flub" signaled the tone of his entire speech. He confused George Bush with John McCain in his points about the failed Republican leadership. He reminded us all why he was once our nominee for President. While he was too cerebral at times in 2004, tonight, he was the attack dog a leader in the Senate needs to be. He stood on stage declaring that John McCain's attack on the middle class is a clear sign that we would be giving corporate interest and lobbyist 4 more years of Bush/Cheney politics.
Kerry made the point, "When we choose a commander-in-chief this November, we are electing judgment and character, not years in the Senate or years on this earth." That is the aggressive campaign we must run this cycle. That is the point we need to make.
While Kerry discussed veterans issues a little, Chet Edwards went full force on veterans issues.
After arriving in Denver for the Democratic National Convention, Congressman Chet Edwards (D-Waco) told Ken Herman of the Statesman that he thought the scandal involving former U.S. Senator John Edwards hurt his chances to become Barack Obama's running mate.
"I would have to think that a bumper sticker that said 'Obama/The Other Edwards' might have been a bit difficult," Edwards said Sunday after arriving in Denver for the Democratic convention.
Chet Edwards (not related to the former North Carolina senator) said he was notified Aug. 10 that he was on Obama's short list "and there was a possible plan to have my name released to the public" in the days that followed.
That was the same time that details began to emerge about John Edwards' affair with a former aide in his unsuccessful presidential campaign.
"I'll let you juxtapose the date of the John Edwards exposé with when they were about to release my name," Chet Edwards said.
Chet Edwards indicated no bitterness about the timing or toward John Edwards.
"It's really not productive for me to speculate" about how big a role the John Edwards situation played in the selection process. "I'll leave it to you to draw whatever judgment you want. It probably wouldn't be off base if you said something about that time period is exactly when another Edwards name jumped on the front page of every newspaper in America."
While the scandal did complicate the prospects for an Obama/(Chet) Edwards ticket, I do not think it was the deciding factor.
Edwards, who thinks Biden was a great choice, doesn't really seem to either. However, there is no doubt it was an additional hurdle for a darkhorse VP hopeful like Chet Edwards, who is not well-known outside of his congressional district.
When Obama told him "several days ago" that he would not be selected, there was no mention of any reason for the decision, according to Chet Edwards, who said the selection of Delaware Sen. Joe Biden was "the perfect choice."
...
"When I knew this was getting serious was June 30 when I was driving to Dallas from Waco," he said. "My cell phone rang and he said, 'This is Barack Obama. How are you doing?' Frankly, I thought it was one of my prankster friends kidding me."
While it surprised many to see Chet Edwards make the "short list," we will never know what might have happened had he not shared a surname with a certain former senator from North Carolina.
Update 11:33pm: It is now official, according to CNN and Politico. The ticket: Obama-Biden. The Obama campaign will announce the selection to supporters in (the long awaited) text message later Saturday.
Update 11:13pm: ABC News is reporting that Secret Service agents have been dispatched to Delaware to begin protecting Joe Biden. It seems more and more likely that Biden is the pick.
The AP is reporting that both Evan Bayh and Tim Kaine have been told that they will not be Barack Obama's running mate.
Though Chet Edwards had been said to be a finalist, Chris Cilliza believes that most of the talk in the coming hours will focus on Sens. Joe Biden and Jack Reed.
It is starting to look like Biden has gone from merely the conventional wisdom to the likely choice. We should know very soon. Keep your cell phones on.
This may be your last chance to make a prediction. Do you think our own Chet Edwards has a chance? Or will Obama pick a senator like Biden or Reed?
The convention is less than two weeks away and the tension is mounting. Who will Barack Obama select to be his running mate? It is starting to look like George W. Bush's congressman, Chet Edwards, is more and more likely.
Certainly, Pennsylvania will be key to victory. Women, older voters, and suburban voters will all be necessary to achieve this win ... Chet Edwards would help Sen. Obama win in swing districts like mine and in states like Pennsylvania...
Chet Edwards would provide strong support to the new administration by engaging Members of Congress to pass critical legislation: health care for all Americans; comprehensive energy policy; new tax policy; and an end to war in Iraq, bringing our troops home safely and responsibly..."
Even as national bloggers like Chris Bowers and some inside the progressive community remain skeptical, the likelihood that Edwards maybe the Senator's choice is increasing.
CQ Politics points to an interesting fact, most of the people rumored to be on Obama's short list are slated for speaking times already, and unless they are scheduled to speak twice, the list is either shrinking rapidly or way off base.
As of yesterday, the only rumored candidates not slated to speak in Denver were, Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine, Sen. Evan Bayh, Delaware Sen. Joe Biden, Texas Rep. Chet Edwards, and Gen. Wes Clark. With today's announcement from the DNCC that both Joe Biden and Evan Bayh have been scheduled to speak at the convention on Wednesday, the list of 5 is down to 3.
This late afternoon announcement has led some to think Kaine is on the cusp of being announced as Obama's V.P., but something appears to be off in that assessment.
Virginia is already in play. Mark Warner looks to be the heir apparent to John Warner's vacated seat. Adding Kaine to the ticket doesn't look to get Obama anywhere. Clark would be a solid choice, looking at a geopolitical question, what states will Clark move? Clark will also highlight the fact that Obama's resume is focused on domestic policy. Plus, Clark is the only man in the world with a better title than President-Former Supreme Allied Commander. Why would you go from that to Vice President?
That leaves Rep. Edwards. He is a candidate who is a moderate. He is a Democrat who can win tough elections. He is dynamic and engaging. He appeals to independents and moderate Republicans. He expands the base and puts southern races in play on a state and congressional level. He can campaign in rural areas inside New Mexico, Colorado, Montana, Georgia, Virginia, and Ohio. Not to mention the fact he would force the Republicans and McCain to dump money and resources into protecting Texas (a state Obama has been organizing in since March).
Mr. Edwards, 56, is a moderate, a respected voice on veterans and military issues and well regarded across the political spectrum. Colleagues describe him as a pivot between liberals and Blue Dogs - the bloc of budget cutters and gun rights backers - so he could help Mr. Obama reach swing voters.
As chairman of a subcommittee that controls billions in annual spending, he's already got more clout than most members of Congress. He's one of a dozen "cardinals" who serve under the even more powerful Appropriations Chairman, David Obey of Wisconsin.
Mr. Obey called Mr. Edwards one of the "top five or 10 House members" he knows in either party, "an incredibly nice, decent human being" who is "very, very tough minded. ... He is most definitely not a slashing partisan. He would be a very good salesperson for the president's legislative package."
Simply put, Edwards on the ticket would turn Texas purple in one cycle.
It appears Sen. Biden will join Dodd in withdrawing from the race after their Iowa showing.
Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina appeared headed for second place, relegating Clinton, the former first lady, to a close third. Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut dropped out after his poor showing.
[...]
Among other Democrats, Dodd, Sen. Joseph Biden of Delaware, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson got little to show for their effort. It seemed possible the field would grow even smaller before New Hampshire votes on Tuesday.
This shows the issues with a front loaded calendar. Both Senators had good issues and brought experience to the campaign, especially in the realm of foreign policy.
With only one state down and 49 to go, two highly qualified men have dropped out. Even though neither got much traction, it would have been good to see both in the New Hampshire debate. This specifically benefits Clinton and Edwards who need more time to plead their case after Obama's strong showing.
The real questions are, who will the two men endorse and will they do it before the first primary in New Hampshire.
Tomorrow we will go back to our state focus, but tonight was too interesting not to write about.
