According to information in New York Times story today, Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean has to be a major-league incompetent to have messed up the organization of the August Convention to this extent:

With the Denver convention less than two months away, problems range from the serious -- upwardly spiraling costs on key contracts still being negotiated -- to the mundane, like the reluctance of local caterers to participate because of stringent rules on what delegates will be eating, down to the color of the food. At last count, plans to renovate the inside of the Pepsi Center for the Democrats are $6 million over budget, which may force convention planners to scale back on their original design or increase their fund-raising goals.

The convention is being organized by the Democratic National Committee, which is run by Howard Dean, with his chief of staff, the Rev. Leah D. Daughtry, leading the effort. Only in the last month has the Obama campaign been able to take over management of the convention planning with the candidate claiming the nomination, and his aides are increasingly frustrated, as the event nears, at organizers who they believe spent too freely, planned too slowly and underestimated actual costs.

( . . . )

And then there is the food: A 28-page contract requested by Denver organizers that caterers provide food in "at least three of the following five colors: red, green, yellow, blue/purple and white." Garnishes could not be counted toward the colors. No fried foods would be allowed. Organic and locally grown foods were mandated, and each plate had to be 50 percent fruits and vegetables. As a result, caterers are shying away.  New York Times

Barack Obama is already taking over some essential decisions, like deciding to give his acceptance speech at an arena three times the size of the one chosen by the DNC.  In similar situations, I haven't had the balls to just sideline everyone who's contributing to the chaos and start from scratch.  But, that's what Barack Obama needs to do, and he needs to do it quickly.  

He's not responsible for the chaos that reigned before he won the nomination, but everyone will hold him responsible for the Convention itself.  Like a general taking over a battlefield strategy, Obama needs to arrive, put his people in the essential roles, and announce a plan that can win the battle.  He has to do so in a way that leaves incompetent and impractical people feeling special about the contribution they've made.

During this primary, Hillary supporters have been disrespected, made fun of, shamed, labeled as divisive, racist, called names that range from typical white people to a part of the electorate that the new Democratic coalition no longer needs.

Now we are being made to feel that if we don't fall in line and vote for the DNC insiders choice for President, we may lose the election for them. We'll lose the opportunity to appoint Democratic judges to the Supreme Court, lose our homes, our uteruses, schools will close, the Iran War will last for 100 years and we will be taken over by aliens. The sky will fall.

Who says so? The Main Stream Media, Donna Brazile, Howard Dean, the DNC, Kerry, Kennedy, Richardson Donald Duck, The Three Stooges, Betty Boop, Felix the Cat, John Wayne, Henny Penny and any other man, woman or child that doesn't fall in line with the Party.

                                                barack and al, detroit, michigan

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                                    al gore's endorsement for barack obama, detroit, michigan

"When a disaster strikes -- a Katrina, a shooting, or a six-alarm blaze -- its city hall we lean on, its city hall we call first, and city hall we depend on to get us through tough times. Because whether its a small town or a big city, the government that people count on most is the one thats closest to the people." -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama

This was part of a statement that Barack Obama made to the United States Conference of Mayors in Miami, Florida.

It was ironic that John McCain chose to visit Iowa, when the Governor of Iowa asked him not to.

But what was more ironic is that as the folks in the ravaged midwest come to terms of what happened, it will be this that will anger many:

"I know that Sen. McCain felt as strongly as I did," Obama said, "feeling enormous sympathy for the victims of the recent flooding. I'm sure they appreciated the sentiment, but they probably would have appreciated it even more if Sen. McCain hadn't opposed legislation to fund levees and flood control programs, which he considers pork."

This is politics folks.  Pure and simple.  McCain voted against this bill that would have sent federal dollars for restoration of dams and levees.  Maybe, McCain forgot that he did vote against this bill, but showed up for the photo-op anyway.

The bill funded hundreds of projects -- such as dams, sewage plants and beach restoration -- that are important to local communities and their representatives. It also included money for the hurricane-hit Gulf Coast and for Florida Everglades restoration efforts.

I don't know about you, but I am tired of this government not spending the appropriate money for something called, maintenance and repair on the infrastructure of this country.  Ask these folks flooded out how they feel about it, or the folks in Minnesota when a bridge just up and collasped on them, or Katrina victims STILL trying to get their lives back in order.

This country sure knows how to send money to Iraq in a snap, but for just the ordinary things like maintenance and repair, the Bush Administration will call it pork barrel spending in a minute, with McCain going right along with Bush.

A shame.

                                       michelle, the dress, on the view

polls

Rasmussen: Obama pulls ahead in Virginia; Nevada Poll; Kansas Poll; Ohio PPP Poll; ABC/Washington Post Poll; SUSA Minnesota Poll; Mason-Dixon Virginia Poll; Rasmussen Oregon Poll; SUSA Kentucky Poll; Pope Institute North Carolina Poll; Reuters National Poll; Quinnipiac OH, FL and PA Poll; Alaska Rasmussen Poll; PPP Virginia Poll; Rasmussen Ohio Poll; ARG Florida Poll; SUSA Wisconsin Poll; Rasmussen Florida Poll;  Georgia Insider Advantage Poll; Newsweek National Poll; Rasmussen New Hampshire Poll; Obama best Democratic Candidate in years, per Electorial-Vote.com

Bill, Jim, Caroline? Readers Pick Obama VP
Obama's Decision Threatens Public Financing System
Obama returns Chicago to center stage
Axelrod Visits Senate Democrats
GOP Recycles Hillary Attacks On Obama Again -- This Time On Campaign Finance
With money, Obama to try to widen the battleground

                       
                                       barack's announcement to forego public financing

Without public funding, sky's the limit for Obama
AP-Ipsos poll: Most say US on wrong track
Obama gets AFSCME endorsement
Obama e-mail list makes Dems salivate
Obama Revives Kennedy-Era Excitement for Democrats Mikva, Minow

                       
                                         obama's economic roundtable with governors

National Push by Obama on Ads and Turnout

Senator Barack Obama is drawing up plans for extensive advertising and voter-turnout drives across the nation, hoping to capitalize on his expected fund-raising advantage over Senator John McCain to force Republicans to compete in states they have not had to defend in decades.

With his decision to give up public financing and the spending limits that go with it, Mr. Obama has added several seasoned hands to his advertising team, a harbinger of a multifaceted television campaign that people inside and outside Obama headquarters said would grow well beyond its already large presence in 18 states.

Future commercials could run on big national showcases like the Olympics in August and smaller cable networks like MTV and Black Entertainment Television that appeal to specific demographic and interest groups.

He is also dispatching paid staff members to all states, an unusual move by the standards of modern presidential campaigns where the fight is often contained to contested territories.  New York Times

Ready to Attack Obama, But Geez...NO MONEY by icebergslim
Obama opts out of public financing by kos
Obama Calls Muslim Women Barred from Stage by Valhalla
Obama's First General Election Ad by dansac
Obama & Kerry deal Halliburton major blow; Prez OKs closing KBR tax loophole by beachmom
An Epic Primary Season for Democrats by Maureen

obama at the united states conference of mayors in miami, florida

audio/video

Barack on Jimmy Kimmel; Michelle on The View; Barack at Foreign Policy Summit; Barack with nation's governors for an Economic Conference; Obama on Pop Culture; Obama on Offshore Drilling; Obama Expresses 'Deep Disappointment' in McCain's Silence on Wife Attacks; Polls Try to Frame Ever-Changing Political Landscape; Why the Obama Campaign Has Six Pollsters; Dissecting McCain's Vulnerabilities in the Fall; Obama Pins Hopes on Fundraising Power; Obama Puts Early Focus on Michigan; Week in Review: Campaign Finance, Wiretapping

Obama, Clinton to join forces at fundraiser
'Straight Talk Express' often reverses course
Huckabee Says Demonizing Obama `Fatal Mistake' for Republicans
Obama meets with national security advisers

barack with anna burger, the chairwoman of "change to win," and john sweeney, president of the afl-cio

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Barack Obama: Lay Off My Family
Obama Campaigns on Capitol Hill
Obama Announces Senior Working Group on National Security
Obama's Campaign Tightens Control of Image and Access
Obama camp sketches new electoral path
Women voters lining up behind Obama
Why the Christian right fears Obama

                         
                                            barack and chairman howard dean, dnc

shoutouts

Amtrak Has Too Few Usable Train Cars Left by bink; What's for Dinner: the Great Barbecue Edition by Asinus Asinum Fricat; This is a bus... by JeffLieber; What conservative bloggers taught me about flood relief by desmoinesdem; Obama To Opt Out Of Public Financing by slinkerwink; WaPo: General Accuses WH of War Crimes by abundance; How to Transform the US From a Debt to an Equity Economy by bonddad; Obama Responds to McCain Campaign Charge that he has "A September 10th Mindset" by TomP; "McCain Democrat" leader outed as racist by kat68; I got your back Barack! by Deoliver47; You Are Falling for the Right Wing's Trap. by kath25

Obama, McCain see purple in Minnesota
Obama to visit Iraq, Afghanistan
Barack Obama on Economics: 'We're Going Through a Big Shift'
Obama rebukes McCain camp on terrorism criticism
Senator Barack Obama Says He Wants to Make College Affordable
McCain Disses Bush -- But Mac Isn't as Green As He Says
Obama criticizes McCain on offshore drilling

                                     

icebergslim's last word:  barack obama

While many are up in arms over FISA, something else happened this week, "Barack Declared Independence."

Barack Obama opted out of public financing. A first for any major candidate.

This decision is important on many levels.  First, there will be grumbling from the other side of flip/flopping and Barack did, but for a good cause, to run a campaign independent of the shackles on your feet with public financing.  I don't expect this to stick because most of the general public is not interested in how campaigns are financed.  They just don't care.  Maybe in another year or years to come, but not this year with the economy crumbling and gas prices looking at folks to hit five dollars a gallon, soon, it is a non-issue.

But what this does mean?  It means that not only is Barack independent, but the Democratic Party, as a whole, is independent.  We are free to raise the amount of money needed to fund all 50 states through November, along with helping to raise money for all the congressional and senate races riding this independent wave, as well.

I hope you fully understand what is at stake here.  While some are complaining about FISA, we need to raise massive amounts of money for Barack, the DNC Convention, and the whole Democratic Party.  This burden is not only on Barack, but all of us.

Along with this, Barack and Michelle Obama must fundraise, Barack has to go overseas, Barack has to go to Iraq and Afghanistan, Barack has to run the Democratic Convention, Barack has to complete a platform, all in about two months.  One word, "Wow."

A good friend told me today that she did not like that Barack only raised 22M for May, for her a huge drop off.  That is worrisome to her.  I told her it did not bother me, but now I have to sit back and look at all I just wrote above and completely state, "this is a lot of stuff to complete on a promise of ordinary voters to fund."  It is.

So, while you are angry, you need to sit back and look at what we need to do and complete as a party.  I will be the first to state that having the primary go to the end did not help us with timing.  Many just became tired of it and disconnected, well it is time to reconnect and that starts with donating to the Obama for America Campaign.

See, I understand the current beef about FISA, warranted and duly noted, but the large picture is too big and the stakes too high to stop now.  There are many reading this that have a son or daughter or loved one in Iraq; somebody has lost their job; a family is wondering how to save their home; someone may not have gas money to go to work tomorrow; many are skimping on food because of costs; some teenager is crying right now because they cannot go to college, even though they had good grades; folks got the credit card companies calling constantly because they can't afford the payments and this list is endless.  Yes, endless because I know some people who are affected on this list.  So, see FISA right now is not an issue, but change and new direction in this country is.

We need to stand together, not apart now.  I am hoping this bill is shoved until after November when it can be readdressed, but no matter what happens we need to move forward, together.

Folks, we have a laundry list of items to accomplish and time is not on our side.

It starts here.  Donate to Obama for America.  Because if we don't get him elected in November and increase Democrats in congress, there will be more than whining for the next four years, but some serious weeping as well.

well another week has flown by and michelle obama was the star, no doubt.  i don't know why the press is giving her a bum rap, but the woman is not only accomplished and lovely but puts her family first.  al rodgers got me hooked on the slideshows, but he is numero uno in that department.  a true, inspiration.  as the summer is coming along, many of us are busy with families, getting ready for vacations, or just coping with LIFE.  remember, we came from absolutely nothing and look where we are.  keep involved, focus, donate and remember to focus on obama and not the drama...

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Tip the Obama Jar, Here
Get Involved Here
For Inspiration:  Yes.We.Can!!!

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icebergslim1047 (at) gmail (dot) com
cross-posted @This Week With Barack Obama

As talked about in another thread, I figured this needed some expanding today. Howard Dean came out in support of the accusiation that the media has been using sexist biases in this campaign, from CBS News:

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/06/02/ politics/horserace/entry4146386.shtml

There has been an enormous amount of sexism in this campaign on the part of the media, including the mainstream media...there have been major networks that have featured numerous outrageous comments that if the words were reversed and they were about race, the people would have been fired....What you don't get over is deep wounds that have been inflicted on somebody because they happen to be a woman running for president of the United States.

There are a lot of people on Mydd who have been trying to argue that the sexism in this primary season was no worse than the racism, that Hillary Clinton's problems were solely of her own making.

Yet, Howard Dean was asked about this very issue on ABC's This week and here's what he had to say:

   

There has been an enormous amount of sexism in this campaign on the part of the media, including the mainstream media.  We'll leave present company excepted, because I think that's true.  But there have been major networks that have featured numerous outrageous comments that if the words were reversed and they were about race, the people would have been fired.

   So that's a big issue.  And there are a lot of women in this country who -- there's two issues here.  One is one candidate is ahead and one is not.  That happens all the time in primaries, and you get over that.  What you don't get over is deep wounds that have been inflicted on somebody because they happen to be a woman running for president of the United States.

Here's the link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washingt on/2008/06/howard-dean-on.html

In our earnest desire to move own, unite the Party and win in November, some think that we can just sweep the sexism of this campaign under the rug.  But its a festering wound.  Even at sites where the Admins have come down decisively in supporting Hillary Clinton's call to support Barack Obama, readers are in rebellion.

Engaging in denial isn't going to work.  Too many women know in their hearts that if any sexist remark made this year had been replaced by a racist remark the effect would have been nuclear.  News outlets would have been google bombed, diarists excoriated and banned.

Yet much of the sexism went unchallenged and still does.  Keith Olbermann's recent attack on Katie Couric is just the most recent example.  The women finally says something of substance and she gets slammed as the "worst person in the world."

Denial isn't going to work.  If Howard Dean can admit it, then so should everyone on Mydd.  We need to take off the bandage and start draining the wound.  Many mea culpas need to be spoke.

This week, the Obama campaign announced that it would be placing paid staff in all 50 states over the next five months.  This is a huge symbolic and strategic move that deserves the support (and, frankly, the awe) of everyone in Democratic politics.

I've seen a couple prominent figures and diarists around the blogosphere suggesting that Obama's move is somehow a vindication of Howard Dean's 50-state strategy.  I respectfully disagree.  I never supported Dean's version of the 50-state strategy and, if anything, Obama's decision has proven to me why Dean's was flawed in the first place.

More on the other side...

From the Desk of those hard working folks at Netroots Nation:

We are thrilled to announce that Gov. Howard Dean will kick off the 2008 Netroots Nation convention as Thursday's evening keynote speaker.

The chairman of the Democratic National Committee and governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003 addressed the Netroots community at the 2006 and 2007 conventions. This year, we're especially proud to recognize his efforts to create an active, effective movement by organizing in every precinct and in every state.

Dean has been one of the most influential forces in the progressive movement. As chairman of the DNC, he has worked to make Democrats competitive in every race, district and state, while integrating national and state party operations and standing up for Democrats' core values.

His belief that every citizen matters, from California to Connecticut, from Alaska to Mississippi, echoes our belief that the voices of all Americans deserve to be heard.

Netroots Nation is July 17-20 in Austin, TX. So if you haven't registered, now's the time!

Click here to register now

I'm proud to be one of the organizers of the conference...

The Netroots Nation staff (formerly YearlyKos) just sent out this email:

We are thrilled to announce that Gov. Howard Dean will kick off the 2008 Netroots Nation convention as Thursday's evening keynote speaker.

The chairman of the Democratic National Committee and governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003 addressed the Netroots community at the 2006 and 2007 conventions. This year, we're especially proud to recognize his efforts to create an active, effective movement by organizing in every precinct and in every state.

Dean has been one of the most influential forces in the progressive movement. As chairman of the DNC, he has worked to make Democrats competitive in every race, district and state, while integrating national and state party operations and standing up for Democrats' core values.

His belief that every citizen matters, from California to Connecticut, from Alaska to Mississippi, echoes our belief that the voices of all Americans deserve to be heard.

Netroots Nation is July 17-20 in Austin, TX. So if you haven't registered, now's the time!

Sweet.

Part of the benefit of holding the convention in Texas will be the opportunity to see firsthand the amazing work local progressive organizers have been doing there over the last few years online and off - despite the lack of national attention. The Texas Netroots are not a force to be...messed with.

More big announcements are around the corner. If you haven't signed up yet, you can get on the train here.