Politico and Huffington Post are both reporting that President Barack Obama (R-IL)  will file registration papers with the Federal Election Committee next week. Sources state that Obama could raise a whopping billion dollars.  Amazing how politics has become a huge part of the American economy, making us stop and question whether “consumerism” President or American Idol President really works for the country.  Pay to Play politics at its best!  The President will base his election campaign in Chicago which will include David Axlerod and Jim Messena.

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What in the world is happening with Donald Trump?   Is he really throwing his hat in the ring to run for the Presidency on the Republican Ticket or is he simply trying to boost the ratings of his show,  ”Celebrity Apprentice”?   Nobody seems to have an answer to that. However, what they do have an answer to is the fact that his “birther” reincarnation is a bit odd and dodgy.   He seems to have hopped on the Tea Party Express, but will the Tea Party remember that Trump himself (or at least in 2000 when he ran as a Reform Candidate for President) was in support of Universal Health Care? He has been a Democrat, an Independent, and now a Republican.   So, very confusing!   However, one thing I am not confused about is the possibility of him replacing Charlie Sheen on “2 1/2 Men” — he seems to be filled with Tiger Blood and Adonis DNA!  I guess he could, after all, be winning!

Unemployment Is Down… But Here Is the Bad News — Yahoo
Cooperation in Congress?  It’s In Our Constitutional DNA — David E. Skaggs
Donald Trump Is Getting Weirder — Gail Collins
Feeling Betrayed, A Furious Tea Party Shakes It’s Fist At Both Political Parties — David Firestone
Finding Madame President — Washington Post

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As the world watches Egypt erupt in turmoil, there are several stories that are not being told.   The most important one is that there is an Egypt lurking in the shadows of every nation.  Now, simple minded and the arrogant alike think that this is not possible in the Western World — but I beg to differ that it is!   It might be advantageous for us as voters, and as a country to look at the deep underpinnings of the Egyptian crisis and note the similarities.

For years, Egypt has suffered through very high unemployment rates, which has made life a “literal” hell for its citizens.   For years, many have been virtually under employed and living day by day.   For the last 3 years (and possibly longer), in the United States unemployment has been above 9%.  The stinging defeat of the Democrats in November, was partially because the Democratic leadership did not seem to address the unemployment issue in a more timely manner.   This came only 2 years after the voting public kicked out the Republican leadership for basically the same thing!   In many other Western Countries including Canada, England, and Italy unemployment numbers are climbing, yet the quality of its governmental leadership seems to be declining.

At the same time, voters are turning to other resources to “vent” and “discuss” their frustrations.  Twitter and Facebook have become mainstays of popular communication.  Virtually any subject including unemployment and other political hot button issues can be discussed by the masses.   What would happen in one of the Western Countries if 10% of active Twitter uses began to rise up and demand change?   What would happen if the same happened on Facebook?   Let’s not forget the social oriented blogs such as Daily Caller and Huffington Post, which combine news and political content with a very well oiled social media machine!  In essence, a western revolution is occurring, yet done so in status updates and tweets.

Each time we go into a voting box, we vote to create a better world for ourselves and those we love.   If our leaders are not doing the jobs they were elected to do, we must put party lines and partisan politics aside.  We must replace each and every politician until they realize that their job is the will of their constituency.  Until then, we are in our own Egypt, and we must break free!

The White House’s Plan to Push Mubarak Out of Egypt — Elspeth Reeve
The Reality of Virtual Power — Joseph S. Nye
China, Twitter and 20 Year Olds Vs. The Pyramids — Thomas L Freidman
Why Israel Fears a Free Egypt — Aaron David Miller
Staying In the Shadow of The Gipper — Karen Tumulty

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Elspeth Reeve writes a great op-ed breaking down the current conditions of Congress.   I find it rather alarming and I am dumbfounded that the members of Congress are not taking a good look at these numbers.   According to the Gallop Poll, Congress has an 83% disapproval rating.   This means that only 17% of the country approves of the policies and legislation that Congress is currently taking.

So, I am watching C-Span right now, and the debate over repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”.   The conversation is very alarming, and I wonder whether or not these congressman even know what they are saying.  Rep Boyer (R-IN) is comparing gays in the military to obese people, and believes that the military has restrictions for a reason.   Is this the “medical” definition of the past declaring homosexuality a “mental disorder”.   Clearly, he has not checked the latest version of the DSM.

While listening to members blathering on and on (blah blah blah) and pontificating on their belief systems, I realized that the problem is that Congress is not in touch with the fabric of American lives.   They seem to be very isolated in their beliefs and their opinions, which leads me to think that they are either not listening to their constituencies or they simply do not care.  Elected officials are elected to vote the will of their constituency!   So, I am really not bothered when someone in a very deeply conservative area votes conservative — its an honest vote, but what I do take aim at is those that are voting for purposes other than their constituency.   Simply put, we put you in Congress to vote our minds, our opinions, and our hearts — leave yours at the door!

The Most Hated Congress Ever — Elspeth Reeve

Get America Working:  We Need a Movement to Solve a Crisis — Dylan Ratigan
Michael Moore Offers Bail Money For Assange, Lauds Wikileaks — Atlantic Wire
Usurper in Chief — Maureen Dowd
Partying with Lobbyists — Dana Milbanks

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Is the love affair with President Barack Obama truly over?   It is if you read Ted Rall’s latest opinion piece!  Rall writes one of the most scathing critiques of the first two years of the Obama administration, which would be standard if he was a Republican — but Rall is one of the nations most vocal liberal and progressive voices. Unlike many on the left who are still drunk on “yes we can” (although we didn’t and probably won’t), Rall states that Obama has not really changed at all, and opines that maybe we (the electorate) have.   Using descriptors such as “weasel”, “devoid of character”, “toxic”, and revealing that Obama is “as much a right winger as Dubya”, Rall formulates a compelling argument to the progressive community that still supports Obama despite his less than progressive presidential record.  His article is a must read! Thanks Ted.

Obama Was Bad From the Start — Ted Rall
MSNBC Suspends Joe Scarborough:  For Political Donations — Greg Mitchell
Axis of Depression — Paul Krugman
Repeal It. Now. — New York Times Editorial Board
Don’t Touch My Junk — Charles Krauthammer

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We interrupt your regularly scheduled programming…

Oh, how we quickly forget!  Just three days after one of the craziest elections in modern history, we have moved away from the issues of the people once again and back to the game.   What is the game?   At this point, I do not think even Democrats or Republicans know the answer to this quite profound question.   One thing they do know how to do is play it!

On Friday, NBC announced that they had suspended Keith Olbermann without pay.   Is this for real or is this political theater?   The New York Times is claiming that NBC is milking Olbermann’s suspension for PR value.   This Week had this to say about the matter:

Privately, NBC execs have said that they don’t intend to fire Olbermann, and that they see this as “a chance to draw a distinction between the journalistic standards of their news division and the standards of Fox.”

This could very well be a valid point since both Countdown and The Rachel Maddow Show made comments on Keith’s suspension.

Here is Thomas Roberts discussing Keith’s suspension on Countdown.

Here is Rachel Maddow who shows the vast campaign contributions via competitor Fox News.

Oh, the beauty of the game!   Now, can we go back to important issues — like figuring out why more gay people are voting Republican?

– AC
Keith Olbermann’s Suspension:  Did MSNBC Overreact? — Yahoo
The War Has Just Begun — David Shribman
Why Are More Gay People Voting Republican? — John Hudson
Anti Government Voters Offer Little In Way of Solution — Georgie Anne Geyer
The 4 Trillion Dollar Question — New York Times
Would We Be Better Off Under President Hilary Clinton? — Dana Millbank

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Update: 10/29/2010 6:47 PM (We will keep you informed of the latest information)

This afternoon, President Obama did confirm that explosives were found in a FedEx facility in Dubai, as well as an airport in Britain. Obama referred to the packages as a credible terrorist threat against the United States. The packages were found for two places of Jewish worship in Chicago.

Although the attacks look legitimate, we must remind our readers that Al-Qaeda has attempted to influence the elections in the United States in the past, and we should remember to base our votes on our conscience not on our fears.

– AC

Whenever we receive these types of breaking news alerts right before election day it makes me feel rather queasy.   Remember, the infamous 2004 Bin Laden tape right before Election 2004?   The War in Georgia in 2008?   Don’t let ‘the headlines’ deceive you!

– AC

—

(CNN) — Authorities were responding to reports of suspicious items on cargo flights that landed Friday in Newark, New Jersey, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Planes “were moved to a remote location … out of an abundance of caution,” the Transportation Security Administration said.

In Philadelphia, the fire department’s hazardous material units were responding to an incident involving two aircraft — a UPS plane and a 757 jet with no one aboard, officials said.

Three people aboard one of the planes were scanned with negative results, the Philadelphia Fire Department said.

The type of material that may be involved is not known, officials said.

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President Obama made news on Wednesday, but not for any legislative agenda, policy, or more “change we can (might, maybe, possibly, one day) believes in”, but for his appearance on the Daily Show with John Stewart.   The appearance was to encourage the “younger viewers” who watch the Daily Show and voted heavily for Barack Obama in 2008 to return to vote again on November 2.   However, the appearance was rather odd and left you wondering why Obama was on TV rather than out campaigning for fellow Democrats who are hurting in their republican heavy districts.  It makes you wonder how massive the devastation will be to the Democratic Party on Wednesday morning, and the way we should interpret the results.

David Broder offered this in Thursday’s Washington Post:

What this means to me is that the voters are withholding any real verdict on their party preference. The polling says that the ratings they give the parties individually have rarely been weaker. Large majorities of Republicans express doubts about the GOP. As do large majorities of Democrats about their own party.

Part of the problem appears to be that President Obama has already accepted the fate of next Tuesday’s results, and has looked forward to Election 2012, where his name will appear at the top of the ballot.  On the Daily Show the product that Obama is peddling is his own, which is why Obama was so fervent about defending the legislative record during the current congress, as well as his choices of advisors.  Why else would Obama appear on a TV Show that is ultimately a return home to his “college” base of voters who heard the heavens open, the music of the choir, and the angels appear (thanks Hilary) during the 2008 Presidential Election?  Election 2012 has begun a week early!

The other notable problem has been the inability to deliver a message.   On the Daily Show, Obama stated that some of his legislative victories people do not even know about?  How is that even possible?   The reality is quite sobering when the Republican Party has completely owned the social media messaging, whereas the Democratic Party has rarely used its power to broadcast 24/7 directly to the American people as effectively.  Curiously, the President who won his election based on the power of social media has been eclipsed by a half term Governor from Alaska who tweets about [insert ANY subject] and it becomes breaking news.   So, it makes you wonder how badly the Obama Administration has dropped the ball when it comes to message delivery.

Regardless of the election results, it will be pivotal that the administration begins to control the message once again if it plans to get any legislative measures passed.  Obama needs to not only become more vocal about agenda, but begin to LISTEN to the voters that elected him.  The American people are still waiting for change!  Jon Stewart asked President Obama at the beginning of his show whether or not we were truly the “ones we the people we were waiting for?” Let’s hope for the next generation we were!

The Daily Show Episode:

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Chris Cilliza from the Washington Post gives a very interesting take on the mythology of the October surprise.   Do they really matter?

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I am often disturbed by pieces that opinion writers publish.   At times, I even wonder whether or not they are being paid by political parties, political groups, or politicians themselves because the ideas they express are just “bad sh$t crazy”.   In today’s opinion pieces, Susan Estrich writes about why Harry Reid should win his election in Nevada.  Her reason is interesting:

That is why Reid should win.

It may not be fair, and it’s certainly not her fault, but Reid can do a lot more for the people of Nevada at a time when they need all the help they can get.

He can do that because, if he’s re-elected, the president will owe him.

The President will owe him?  Owe him for what?  Stripped down Wall Street Reform, stripped down Health Care Reform, inability to get the Defense Authorization Bill passed, which has led many gays and lesbians to “sit out” the election?  What exactly has Harry Reid really delivered?  More importantly, shouldn’t President Obama and Harry Reid focus on what they owe to the American people?  This is why we should defend our votes!

After the Midterm Election, Who Will Drive Bi-Partisanship — Christian Science Monitor
For Democrats:  Red Alert in the States — David Paul Kuhn
What Should Happen in Nevada — Susan Estrich
Can’t Keep A Bad Idea Down — Thomas Freidman
Just Say Yes To Pot — Katrina vanden Heuvel

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