Blog For Arizona

We really dodged a bullet there

Crossposted from Democratic Diva 2/26/2014

So Brewer vetoed the very bad no good Center for Arizona Policy bill, with the attention of the world on her, and of course we must all contact her and thank her, for Republicans must be praised effusively like good doggies who haven’t soiled the rug on those rare occasions they do the right thing. Personally, I’d be embarrassed if people’s expectations of me were that low but, then again, I’m just one of those adults in the room.

We really did dodge a bullet and at risk of sounding cynical, I’m glad the focus was on LGBT discrimination from a purely tactical standpoint in addition to the moral and human rights ones. Having it framed as targeting LGBT citizens was what brought the fiercely negative reaction in the media and the organized business community around to kill it. But make no mistake, this was also very much an anti-choice bill. CAP spokesman Aaron Baer cited Hobby Lobby in a TV interview as an example for why SB1062 was needed. Had contraception access been the main public focus – and I bet CAP wishes like hell it had – there’s a good chance the bill would have been quietly signed into law with nary a peep from the Chamber of Commerce crowd because sluts.

The obvious, and only, way to put the brakes on all this dumb shit is to elect more pro-choice Democrats.

 

PDA sponsors 'People's Inauguration' in DC on Jan 19: Watch live streaming

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) is hosting Progressive Central: The People's Inauguration on January 19 in Washington DC. 

Progressive pundits and politicians from around the country-- including our own Congressman Raul Grijalva-- will be there. If you're like me and will be in Tucson tomorrow, check out the live streaming of Progressive Central on the PDA home page, beginning at 8 a.m. (Eastern Time).  Bisbee's own Loneprotestor will be in DC-- so look for video from her on this blog. I attended Progressive Central in Charlotte while attending the Democratic National Convention, and it was inspiring. More details from after the jump.

Abortion: What happens when a 'pro-choice' blogger debates a 'pro-life' protester? (video)

by Pamela Powers Hannley

With the Republican Congress and the state legislatures (including Arizona's) passing anti-woman laws that ranged from the absurd to the vindictive, I can't understand why any woman in the US would vote Republican in this election. 

The impressive War on Women backlash may be one reason why most campaigning Republicans--except Todd "legitimate rape" Akin--are trying to forget anti-woman maddess that swept through their party in the spring. (After all, they don't want to lose all of the women's vote.)

None the less, the War on Women and the assault on women's reproductive rights continue-- at least in the religious right wing of the Republican Party.

The Democratic Party's platform includes strong pro-choice language. Consequently, at the recent Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, a small band of anti-abortion protesters demonstrated in front of the convention center daily. Mostly, the demonstrators were old white men (surprise, surprise), but on one particular day a handful of young women joined them (to lend some credibility?).

You might say that "the devil made me do it," but with video rolling, I engaged one of the protesters in a heated, street-level debate about abortion, choice, access to contraception, sex education, "legitimate rape", fetus personhood, the morning after pill, and forcing underage girls to have a rapist's baby. 

Surprisingly, we found some consensus. We both believe...

- Abortion is a very difficult choice.

- Abortion should be a last resort, not a routine birth control method.

- Rape is rape, and there's no such thing as protection from pregnancy when a woman is raped.

- Abstinence only education is "unrealistic." Contraception and sex education should be provided to young girls in order to prevent unwanted pregnancy. She didn't want the contraception to be free, but she was somewhat more enlightened and reasonable than most Congressmen. 

- Vaginal ultrasound should be an option, if the woman wants one. (On the tape, she seems incredulous when I tell her about some of the legislation that has passed.)

Of course, the big differences between us were that:

- I believe every woman should have the right to choose, and she wants the government to dictate what citizens do;

- She believes that a fetus is a person from the moment of contraception, and I don't. She also believes that "right to life" doesn't apply to "criminals". (So, the death penalty is OK, but not abortion.) 

What I came away with is that much of the anti-woman legislation passed by Arizona and other states is too extreme even for a deeply religious woman who is vehemently opposed to abortion.

Watch the video after the jump.

Blogging the DNC2012: The inside scoop from the Tucson Progressive

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Want the inside scoop on blogging the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte? The parties? The people? The protests? The politics?

Check out my interview on The Lou Show.

If you want to hear my pearls of wisdom in person, come to the Laughing Liberally Tucson Comedy Showcase on Tuesday, September 18 at Casa Vincente. The show starts at 7 p.m.

Here I am with Arianna Huffington, a very gracious lady, and Krzystzof Piotrowski, another Huffington Post Off the Bus blogger, at the Huffington Post Oasis at the DNC. You can hear my interview and see part of his video after the jump.

Unable to attend President's speech, Obama fans fill the streets of Charlotte (videos)

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Thousands of people crowded the sidewalks of Charlotte on the last night of the Democratic National Convention. Originally scheduled for the Bank of America Stadium, which holds 73,000 people, President Barack Obama's speech was moved indoors to the Time Warner Arena, a much smaller venue. The official reason for moving the venue was projected rainy weather, which had plagued the convention off and on all week.

Pundits are reporting that the venue was changed because Democrats could not fill the stadium, but hundreds-- if not thousands-- of people milled about on Charlotte's sidewalks or watched speeches at the outdoor MSNBC stage or inside bars, restaurants, and the convention center.

The street scene was carnival-like with dozens of vendors selling t-shirts, buttons, American flags, programs, and other Obama memorabilia. Although thousands of disappointed but amicable Obama fans, plus police, pedicabs, and a handful of protesters filled the area outside of the arena, the aura was peaceful and friendly, as it had been all week.

Watch videos of the street scenes in Charlotte, after the jump.

President Barack Obama: We don't turn back - We leave no one behind

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

President Barack Obama delivered an inspirational speech designed to inspire and turn out the coalition of voters who turned out to support him four years ago. This is a choice election: to go forward, or to go backward to "Bushonomics" and the failed faith based supply-side "trickle down" GOP economics that nearly destroyed our economy and left economic devastation in its wake. The choice is clear. Transcript: President Obama's Convention Speech:

This is the choice we now face. This is what the election comes down to. Over and over, we've been told by our opponents that bigger tax cuts and fewer regulations are the only way, that since government can't do everything, it should do almost nothing. If you can't afford health insurance, hope that you don't get sick. (Murmurs of disapproval.) If a company releases toxic pollution into the air your children breathe, well, that's the price of progress. If you can't afford to start a business or go to college, take my opponent's advice and borrow money from your parents. (Laughter, mixed cheers and boos, applause.)

You know what, that's not who we are. That's not what this country is about. As Americans, we believe we are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights, rights that no man or government can take away. We insist on personal responsibility, and we celebrate individual initiative. We're not entitled to success. We have to earn it. We honor the strivers, the dreamers, the risk- takers, the entrepreneurs who have always been the driving force behind our free enterprise system, the greatest engine of growth and prosperity that the world's ever known.

But we also believe in something called citizenship — (cheers, applause) — citizenship, a word at the very heart of our founding, a word at the very essence of our democracy, the idea that this country only works when we accept certain obligations to one another and to future generations.

* * *

Vice President Joe Biden: It's never been a good bet to bet against the American people

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Vice President Joe Biden delivered a hearfelt, sometimes emotional speech that choked him up and brought tears to his eyes when he spoke about those who have given their lives in service to their country in the U.S. Armed Forces.

The media villagers love to fault Joe Biden for his occasional gaffes, but the man is genuine and wears his heart on his sleeve. I would bet that most, if not all, of the media villagers who like to torment Joe Biden have never experienced the tragedies in their lives that Joe Biden has suffered and survived. It is why he is so empathetic to the families of wounded warriors and fallen service men and women. Military families appreciate Joe Biden and his wife Jill, who works with wounded warriors and veterans. The overpaid malicious media villagers, most of whom have no military service, can go f#%k themselves.

Here is a short snippet from Joe Biden's speech to the convention. Transcript: Vice President Biden's Convention Speech:

You know, I told you the outset the choice is stark, two different visions, two different value sets. But at its core, the difference is able to reduced (sic) to be a fundamental difference. You see, you, we, most Americans have incredible faith in the decency and hard work of the American people. And we know what has made this country. It's the American people. (Cheers, applause.)

As I mentioned at the outset, four years ago we were hit hard. You saw — you saw your retirement accounts drain, the equity in your homes vanish, jobs lost around the line. But what did you do as Americans? What you've always done. You didn't lose faith. You fought back. You didn't give up; you got up. (Cheers, applause.) You're the ones, the American people, you're the ones. You're the reason why we are still better-positioned than any country in the world to lead the 21st century. (Cheers, applause.) You never quit on America. And you deserve a president who will never quit on you. (Cheers, applause.)

Jennifer Granholm: Romney's cars get the elevator, and the workers get the shaft

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm, "where the trees are just the right height," went old school and delivered a barn burner of a speech on President Obama's rescue of the auto industry that had the convention hall rocking before the main speakers of the night. I've never seen her so fired up, she was really feeling it from the delegates.

"Now sure, sure, Mitt Romney loves our lakes and our trees. He loves our cars so much they even have their own elevator. But the people who design and build and sell those cars? Well, in Romney's world the cars get the elevator and the workers get the shaft! You know what I'm saying" (wink).

Granholm brilliantly led a recitation of auto jobs saved in each of the 'battleground" states that brought the convention hall to its feet to a chant of "USA! USA! USA!"

"In your car and on your ballot the 'D' is for drive forward, the 'R' is for reverse. In this election we are driving forward, not back."

Video below the fold.

Rep. John Lewis: People died for the right to vote, we have come too far together to ever turn back

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Civil Rights Movement hero Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) addressed the convention on voting rights. "My dear friends, your vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful, nonviolent tool we have to create a more perfect union." Lewis went on to describe the literacy tests and poll taxes that are now unconstitutional.

"Today it is unbelievable that there are Republican officials who are trying to stop some people from voting. They are changing the rules, cutting polling hours and imposing requirements intended to suppress the vote . . . that's not right, that's not fair, and that is not just."

"I've seen this before. I've lived this before. Too many people struggled, suffered and died to make it possible for every American to exercise their right to vote. We have come too far together to ever turn back. So Democrats we must not be silent. We must stand up, speak up and speak out. We must march to the polls like never ever before. We must come together and exercise our sacred right."

Video below the fold.

Gabrielle Giffords leads the Pledge of Allegiance at DNC Convention

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords led the Pledge of Allegiance at the DNC Convention on Thursday. She received the longest sustained applause of any nonspeaker at either party's convention. The emotional moment moved many convention delegates to tears. Go Gabby!

Video below the fold.

James Taylor jokes about the empty chair at DNC Convention

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

North Carolina native son and five-time Grammy Award winner James Taylor opened the evening with crowd favorite “Carolina On My Mind.” As he took the stage, Taylor joked about the stool set on the stage for him. James Taylor makes 'empty chair' joke - POLITICO:

“I know it’s an empty chair. It makes you nervous, doesn’t it?” Taylor said after he walked on the stage. “It’s alright, I’m gonna sit on it. I’m not gonna talk to it.”

After the final refrain, Taylor smiled and said, “You know, I’ve been watching the coverage, and I’ve got to say, there’s something; I don’t get it. I mean, I’m an old white guy, and I love Barack Obama,” Taylor said to cheers from the crowd.

Video below the fold.

Obama Campaign web video: 'Promises Kept'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

In advance of President Obama's convention speech tonight, the Obama campaign unveiled a web video this morning called "Promises Kept." It features promises from his acceptance speech four years ago, highlighting Obama's follow-through.

Video below the fold.

Cristina Saralegui addresses DREAMERS at the DNC Convention

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Cristina Saralegui, the Latina Oprah, was introduced by a DREAMER, Benita Veliz from San Antonio, Texas, an honor student and valdectorian of her high school class at the age of 16, and a college graduate at the age of 20.

Cristina Saralegui's talk show had 100 million viewers in 40 countries. She addressed the need for comprehensive immigration reform, and passage of the DREAM Act. She has never endorsed a political candidate in the past, but she has endorsed President Barack Obama for his efforts towards immigration reform.

Video below the fold.

President Bill Clinton: The Fact-Checker-In-Chief debunks the GOPropaganda big lies

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The "Big Dog" delivered a virtuoso performance on Wednesday night. President Bill Clinton was the Fact-Checker-In-Chief, point-by-point debunking the GOPropaganda "big lies" upon which the "Galt - Gekko 2012" campaign is built, as well as the fallacy of the disproved and discredited faith based supply-side "trickle down" GOP economics.

Bill Clinton was both professor, explaining how policies work in clearly understandable terms, and prosecutor, sorting through the weight of the evidence and making his closing argument to the jury. He wielded folksy humor and mockery like a stilleto knife. By the time Clinton finished, the "Galt - Gekko 2012" campaign and the GOP were decimated in the dust.

This was a tutorial to Democrats -- and the feckless media villagers -- on how to respond to the Big Lie GOPropaganda campaign. Bill Clinton's speech will be studied in political science classes for years to come.

There is a wealth of material that can be used from Bill Clinton's speech. You can expect to see clips from this speech used in 30 second and one minute ads in the near future. Here are some of the highlights. DNC 2012: Bill Clinton’s speech at the Democratic National Convention (Full transcript):

Philosophy of Governance

Now, folks, in Tampa a few days ago, we heard a lot of talk all about how the president and the Democrats don’t really believe in free enterprise and individual initiative, how we want everybody to be dependent on the government, how bad we are for the economy. This Republican narrative, this alternative universe says that every one of us in this room who amounts to anything, we’re all completely self-made. One of the greatest chairmen the Democratic Party ever had, Bob Strauss, used to say that every politician wants every voter to believe he was born in a log cabin he built himself. But, as Strauss then admitted, it ain’t so.

We Democrats, we think the country works better with a strong middle class, with real opportunities for poor folks to work their way into it, with a relentless focus on the future, with business and government actually working together to promote growth and broadly shared prosperity. You see, we believe that “We’re all in this together” is a far better philosophy than “You’re on your own.”

So who’s right? Well, since 1961, for 52 years now, the Republicans have held the White House 28 years, the Democrats 24. In those 52 years, our private economy has produced 66 million private- sector jobs. So what’s the job score? Republicans: twenty-four million. Democrats: forty-two. [See Democratic presidents are better for job creation.]

Code Pink To Dems: Stop Drone Warfare, Bust Up Big Banks

by Pamela Powers Hannley

I knew when I saw that hot pink bra on the sidewalk, I knew that Code Pink must be nearby. 

Code Pink, the women-initiated peace and social justice group, protested the War on Women at the Republican National Convention. Their message for President Barack Obama and Democrats targets the military-industrial complex.

At the People's Convention, sponsored by Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin spoke against war-- particularly drone warfare-- and called for Congress and the President to make dramatic cuts to the military budget.

Benjamin, author of Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control, is a highly vocal peace activist.

At the PDA event, she said that there are strong, powerful men like Arizona Senator John McCain, who are standing up against cuts to the military budget, which are scheduled to go into effect due to sequestration.

But where is the movement to protect Pel Grants, Medicaid, and other social programs? she asked. According to Benjamin, the US could cut the military budget by 80% and still have the largest military in the world.

"Slash the Pentagon and put that money into life-affirming activitieis, which is what the people on the planet need," Benjamin demanded.

Attacking the other sector of the military-industrial complex, Benjamin and other Code Pink protesters wore pink bras on the outside of their clothes and shouted "Bust up the banks" in front of Bank of America, which is headquartered in Charlotte, host city of the Democratic National Convention.

Video after the jump.

Undocumented protesters arrested outside of Democratic Convention

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Ten undocumented protesters from Arizona were arrested late Tuesday afternoon outside of the Time Warner Arena in uptown Charlotte, as Democratic National Convention delegates watched.

Chanting in Spanish and English, the protesters-- surrounded by media and conventioneers with smart phone cameras-- quickly marched toward the arena where First Lady Michelle Obama was scheduled to speak.

As throngs of convention delegates bustled down the sidewalk, the small band of Latinos laid a large yellow mat decorated with butterflies in the middle of the intersection and sat in protest of US immigration policies. Just as quickly, they were surrounded by police on foot and on bicycles. Although it was difficult for passersby to see them, we could hear their stories and feel the passion. 

More details and video after the jump.

First Lady Michelle Obama owns the convention

 

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

First Lady Michelle Obama owned the convention last night with a brilliantly written emotive speech that connected on an emotional level with the delegates in the hall and viewers at home. This was a masterful speech that will be remembered as one of the great convention speeches, certainly by a First Lady.

And let's not forget that Michelle Obama is a skilled attorney. She deftly destroyed the narcissistic GOP meme of their convention, which took the words of President Obama out of context, to assert that "we built it" (all by ourselves). Transcript: Michelle Obama's Convention Speech: 

Like so many American families, our families weren't asking for much.

They didn't begrudge anyone else's success or care that others had much more than they did...in fact, they admired it.

They simply believed in that fundamental American promise that, even if you don't start out with much, if you work hard and do what you're supposed to do, then you should be able to build a decent life for yourself and an even better life for your kids and grandkids.

That's how they raised us...that's what we learned from their example.

We learned about dignity and decency – that how hard you work matters more than how much you make...that helping others means more than just getting ahead yourself.

We learned about honesty and integrity – that the truth matters...that you don't take shortcuts or play by your own set of rules...and success doesn't count unless you earn it fair and square.

We learned about gratitude and humility – that so many people had a hand in our success, from the teachers who inspired us to the janitors who kept our school clean...and we were taught to value everyone's contribution and treat everyone with respect.

Those are the values Barack and I – and so many of you – are trying to pass on to our own children.

That's who we are.

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro delivers the Keynote Address

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, a rising star in the Democratic Party, is the first Latino to deliver the Keynote Address at the DNC National Convention. And boy howdy, did he deliver a speech! Mayor Castro rocked the house and he did it with a confident smile. Transcript of Julian Castro’s remarks at the Democratic National Convention:

Now, like many of you, I watched last week’s Republican convention. They told a few stories of individual success. We all celebrate individual success. But the question is, how do we multiply that success? The answer is President Barack Obama.

Mitt Romney, quite simply, doesn’t get it. A few months ago he visited a university in Ohio and gave the students there a little entrepreneurial advice. “Start a business,” he said. But how? “Borrow money if you have to from your parents,” he told them. Gee, why didn’t I think of that? Some people are lucky enough to borrow money from their parents, but that shouldn’t determine whether you can pursue your dreams. I don’t think Gov. Romney meant any harm. I think he’s a good guy. He just has no idea how good he’s had it.

We know that in our free market economy some will prosper more than others. What we don’t accept is the idea that some folks won’t even get a chance. And the thing is, Mitt Romney and the Republican Party are perfectly comfortable with that America. In fact, that’s exactly what they’re promising us.

The Romney-Ryan budget doesn’t just cut public education, cut Medicare, cut transportation and cut job training.

It doesn’t just pummel the middle class — it dismantles it. It dismantles what generations before have built to ensure that everybody can enter and stay in the middle class. When it comes to getting the middle class back to work, Mitt Romney says, “No.” When it comes to respecting women’s rights, Mitt Romney says, “No.” When it comes to letting people marry whomever they love, Mitt Romney says, “No.” When it comes to expanding access to good health care, Mitt Romney says, “No.”

Actually, Mitt Romney said, “Yes,” and now he says, “No.” Gov. Romney has undergone an extreme makeover, and it ain’t pretty. So here’s what we’re going to say to Mitt Romney. We’re going to say, “No.”

Gov. Deval Patrick: 'In Massachusetts, we know Mitt Romney'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick focused his convention speech on his predecessor's record in Massachusetts, something that Willard "Mittens" Romney rarely talks about. "In Massachusetts, we know Mitt Romney." 2012 Democratic National Convention: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by The Honorable Deval Patrick, Governor of Massachusett:

In Massachusetts, we know Mitt Romney. By the time he left office, Massachusetts was 47th in the nation in job creation—during better economic times—and household income in our state was declining. He cut education deeper than anywhere else in America. Roads and bridges were crumbling. Business taxes were up, and business confidence was down. Our clean energy potential was stalled. And we had a structural budget deficit. Mitt Romney talks a lot about all the things he's fixed. I can tell you that Massachusetts wasn't one of them. He's a fine fellow and a great salesman, but as governor he was more interested in having the job than doing it.

When I came to office, we set out on a different course: investing in ourselves and our future. And today Massachusetts leads the nation in economic competitiveness, student achievement, health care coverage, life sciences and biotech, energy efficiency and veterans' services. Today, with the help of the Obama administration, we are rebuilding our roads and bridges and expanding broadband access. Today we're out of the deficit hole Mr. Romney left, and we've achieved the highest bond rating in our history. Today—with labor at the table—we've made the reforms in our pension and benefits systems, our schools, our transportation system and more that Mr. Romney only talked about. And today in Massachusetts, you can also marry whomever you love. We have much more still to do. But we are on a better track because we placed our faith not in trickle-down fantasies and divisive rhetoric but in our values and common sense.

Gov. Patrick then rallied the troops with an impassioned plea to Democrats to work their hearts out:

If we want to win elections in November and keep our country moving forward, if we want to earn the privilege to lead, it's time for Democrats to stiffen our backbone and stand up for what we believe. Quit waiting for pundits or polls or super PACs to tell us who the next president or senator or congressman is going to be. We're Americans.

We shape our own future. Let's start by standing up for President Barack Obama.

Video below the fold.

Gov. Ted Strickland goes old school on Mitt Romney

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Former Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio went old school on Willard "Mittens" Romney in his convention speech on Tuesday night. 2012 Democratic National Convention: Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by The Honorable Ted... -- CHARLOTTE, Sept. 4, 2012:

Now, Mitt Romney, he lives by a different code. To him, American workers are just numbers on a spreadsheet.

To him, all profits are created equal, whether made on our shores or off. That's why companies Romney invested in were dubbed "outsourcing pioneers." Our nation was built by pioneers—pioneers who accepted untold risks in pursuit of freedom, not by pioneers seeking offshore profits at the expense of American workers here at home.

Mitt Romney proudly wrote an op-ed entitled, "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt." If he had had his way, devastation would have cascaded from Michigan to Ohio and across the nation. Mitt Romney never saw the point of building something when he could profit from tearing it down. If Mitt was Santa Claus, he'd fire the reindeer and outsource the elves.

Mitt Romney has so little economic patriotism that even his money needs a passport. It summers on the beaches of the Cayman Islands and winters on the slopes of the Swiss Alps. In Matthew, chapter 6, verse 21, the scriptures teach us that where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. My friends, any man who aspires to be our president should keep both his treasure and his heart in the United States of America. And it's well past time for Mitt Romney to come clean with the American people.

On what he's saying about the president's policy for welfare to work, he's lying. Simple as that. On his tax returns, he's hiding. You have to wonder, just what is so embarrassing that he's gone to such great lengths to bury the truth? Whatever he's doing to avoid taxes, can it possibly be worse than the Romney-Ryan tax plan that would have sliced Mitt's total tax rate to less than one percent?

Predictably, the "civility cops" among the concern trolls of the D.C. media villagers clutched their pearls and got their panties in a twist over Strickland's speech. They have no knowledge or appreciation for American history or political traditions. Strickland's speech was actually quite mild in comparison to convention speeches back in the day.

Video below the fold.

Charlotte: Teeming With DNC Fever

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Hot, muggy Charlotte was teeming with DNC fever on Sunday night. Although the Democratic National Convention doesn't start until Tuesday, many of delegates, journalists, politicians, and protesters are already in town.

Consequently, barricades and police were everywhere. In addition to police on foot, stationed at strategic places -- like in front of the US Court House-- there were swarms of 20 or so bicycle cops cruising the streets.

Fellow Huff Post citizen journalist Krzysztof Piotrowski and I ventured to town (from our hotel in South Carolina!) in search of the Occupy to Free Bradley Manning Dance at Frazier Park. Even after tweeting, e-mailing, and calling the protest organizers, we didn't find them. After about a one-mile trek, we did find the park and about 50 police on bicycles or motorcycles. Maybe they were looking for the dance also? Such is the life of a citizen journalist.

Back in uptown proper, we did find action and parties we couldn't get into behind the barricades. That is where we happened upon Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, who was confronted by reporters asking about campaign finance reform as she left a restaurant.

More photos after the jump.

Photos and commentary from the campaign trail

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Thanks to the Huffington Post Cover the Convention contest, I am currently at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.

For ground level coverage that you will not get from the lame stream media, check out my stories on Huffington Post, Blog for Arizona, Twitter (p2hannley), Facebook, UStream, and YouTube.

Blog for Arizona's "2012 Convention" tab in the top left corner will feature a collection of candid photos from the convention.

 

Convention watch parties/volunteer opportunities

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

A late calendar submission from the Pima County Democratic Party:

Tuesday, September 4th
5:00 pm
Pima County Dem HQ, 4639 E. First St.
HOST: Obama For America
Watch Keynote Speech By Julian Castro:
We will meet other supporters, make phone calls, and then watch the speech together!
RSVP: https://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/latinosforobamaevent/gs4hjz

Thursday, September 6th
5:30 pm
Fox Theater, 17 W. Congress
HOST: Ron Barber For Congress
Join Congressman Ron Barber Tuesday to Watch The President's Acceptance Speech.
More Information: 520-207-0937
RSVP: [email protected] 

Thursday, September 6th
7:30 pm
Grijalva Campaign HQ, 657 W. St. Mary’s Rd. Tucson
HOST: Whole Lot of People For Grijalva
Join Congressman Raul Grijalva and Watch The President's Acceptance Speech. We will gather at 6:30pm. Bring friends, family and your neighbors to watch this historic event. We will provide the finger food and drinks, all that is needed is your company.

Thursday, September 6th
5:00 pm
Pima County Dem HQ, 4639 E. First St.
HOST: Obama For America
Watch POTUS Acceptance Speech
We will meet other supporters, make phone calls, and then watch the speech together!
RSVP: https://my.barackobama.com/page/event/detail/gs4hjp

2012 Democratic National Platform

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The 2012 Democratic National Platform will be approved by convention delegates later today, and has been posted online. The Democratic Party Platform. The platform is captioned "Moving America Forward." Here are the section headings:

• Moving America Forward (Preamble)

• Rebuilding Middle Class Security

  1. Putting Americans Back to Work
  2. The Middle Class Bargain
  3. Cutting Waste, Reducing the Deficit, Asking All to Pay Their Fair Share
  4. Economy Built to Last



• America Works When Everyone Plays by the Same Rules

  1. Wall Street Reform
  2. 21st Century Government: Transparent and Accountable
  3. Lobbying Reform and Campaign Finance Reform



• Greater Together

  1. Strengthening the American Community
  2. Protecting Rights and Freedoms
  3. Ensuring Safety and Quality of Life



• Stronger in the World, Safer and More Secure At Home

  1. Responsibly Ending the War in Iraq
  2. Disrupting, Dismantling, and Defeating Al-Qaeda
  3. Responsibly Ending the War in Afghanistan
  4. Preventing the Spread and Use of Nuclear Weapons
  5. Countering Emerging Threats
  6. Strengthening Alliances, Expanding Partnerships, and Reinvigorating International Institutions
  7. Promoting Global Prosperity and Development
  8. Maintaining the Strongest Military in the World
  9. Advancing Universal Values

You can download a copy of the Platform.pdf.

Here is a quick summary of highlights from the AP. Dem platform a sharp contrast to GOP positions:

Delegates will vote today to adopt the platform, which reflects the president's argument that his work is unfinished and he deserves another four years to complete the job.

The document is a sharp contrast from the Republican blueprint that the GOP adopted at its convention last week. The Republican plan would ban abortion and gay marriage, repeal Obama's health-care overhaul law and shift Medicare into a voucher-style program.

Parade Magazine profile of the Obamas

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Parade Magazine, the Sunday newspaper insert, published a profile of Barack and Michelle Obama today in advance of the DNC National Convention. If you didn't get the Sunday paper, you can read it online. A Conversation With the Obamas. It's your typical Parade fare.

I was most impressed with the photos that accompanied the article. This photo made the cover.

And this photo was inside with the article.

The 2012 GOP Platform

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Last week the RNC mistaklenly posted a draft version of its 2012 GOP Platform to its web site before it had been voted on and approved by the delegates. Politico captured it before it was taken down, and it became a news item.

The "official" 2012 GOP Platform is now online (Download PDF). Here are the section headers:

• A Restoration of Constitutional Order: Congress and the Executive
• Defending Marriage Against An Activist Judiciary
• A Sacred Contract: Defense of Marriage
• Living Within Our Means: A Constitutional Budget
• Federalism and The Tenth Amendment
• The Continuing Importance of Protecting the Electoral College
• Voter Integrity to Ensure Honest Elections
• The First Amendment: The Foresight of Our Founders to Protect Religious Freedom
• The First Amendment: Speech that is Protected
• The Second Amendment: Our Right to Keep and Bear Arms
• The Fourth Amendment: Liberty and Privacy
• The Fifth Amendment: Protecting Private Property
• The Ninth Amendment: Affirming the People’s Rights
• The Sanctity and Dignity of Human Life
• Respect for Our Flag: Symbol of the Constitution
• American Sovereignty in U.S. Courts

No really, those are the section headers. Lots of claims to the Constitution by people who are clearly clueless about the Constitution based upon their selective reading, and who desire a theocracy. Knock yourselves out perusing it.

UPDATE: Ezra Klein: Why you should read the Republican Party platform:

A poll released this week by the Pew Research Center for the People and the Press included an unexpected result: Americans said they were more interested in the party platforms released during the conventions than the speeches. That is to say, forget the pageantry; voters want the cold, hard PDF documents.

Jon Stewart: 'A Fistful of Awesome'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

"And then it happened ... YEESSS! Amidst the tired rhetoric, empty platitudes and overwrought attacks ... "a fistful of awesome" emerged in the night where it spent 12 minutes on the most important night of Mitt Romney's life yelling at a chair. And oh, how the outlaw Josie wailed."

"This is the most joy I've gotten from an old man since Dick Cheney non-fatally shot one in the face."

Video below the fold.

FDR's 1936 Acceptance Speech - What Americans Want to Hear From President Obama

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's nomination acceptance speech for reelection at the Democratic national convention in Philadelphia in 1936 still rings true today. It is what Americans want to hear from President Obama this week. You can read the full transcript here. Franklin D. Roosevelt: Acceptance Speech for the Renomination for the Presidency, Philadelphia, Pa. (Excerpt):

Philadelphia is a good city in which to write American history. This is fitting ground on which to reaffirm the faith of our fathers; to pledge ourselves to restore to the people a wider freedom; to give to 1936 as the founders gave to 1776—an American way of life.

That very word freedom, in itself and of necessity, suggests freedom from some restraining power. In 1776 we sought freedom from the tyranny of a political autocracy—from the eighteenth century royalists who held special privileges from the crown. It was to perpetuate their privilege that they governed without the consent of the governed; that they denied the right of free assembly and free speech; that they restricted the worship of God; that they put the average man's property and the average man's life in pawn to the mercenaries of dynastic power; that they regimented the people.

And so it was to win freedom from the tyranny of political autocracy that the American Revolution was fought. That victory gave the business of governing into the hands of the average man, who won the right with his neighbors to make and order his own destiny through his own Government. Political tyranny was wiped out at Philadelphia on July 4, 1776.

Since that struggle, however, man's inventive genius released new forces in our land which reordered the lives of our people.. The age of machinery, of railroads; of steam and electricity; the telegraph and the radio; mass production, mass distribution—all of these combined to bring forward a new civilization and with it a new problem for those who sought to remain free.

For out of this modern civilization economic royalists carved new dynasties. New kingdoms were built upon concentration of control over material things. Through new uses of corporations, banks and securities, new machinery of industry and agriculture, of labor and capital—all undreamed of by the fathers—the whole structure of modern life was impressed into this royal service.

There was no place among this royalty for our many thousands of small business men and merchants who sought to make a worthy use of the American system of initiative and profit. They were no more free than the worker or the farmer. Even honest and progressive-minded men of wealth, aware of their obligation to their generation, could never know just where they fitted into this dynastic scheme of things.

DNC Convention preview: Live stream the convention

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

DNCC Announces Unprecedented Livestream Coverage For 2012 Convention

CHARLOTTE, Sept. 2, 2012 -- As part of our effort to make the 2012 Democratic Convention the most open and accessible convention in history, the DNCC announced today that it will provide voters from across the country a new, innovative and unique opportunity to participate in convention programming – which will include user-generated content and the ability to interact with Convention attendees.

From gavel-to-gavel, the entire Convention will be livestreamed on DemConvention.com/live and through the Democratic National Convention Committee Mobile App, connecting viewers in every corner of the country with Convention delegates and speakers in real time.

The entire program will be streamed in Spanish simultaneously.

Millions of Americans will also be participating in more than 4,000 watch parties organized already in neighborhoods across the country. Some of these watch parties will be highlighted as part of Thursday night's programming.

These efforts make this year's convention the first in political history to include comprehensive livestream coverage. 

"We are revolutionizing the way political conventions are done by making Charlotte 2012 more open, accessible and relevant to the American people," OFA Deputy Campaign Manager Stephanie Cutter said. "This is one more innovative and unprecedented way we are engaging every supporter in the President's vision for moving America forward, empowering voters all over the country to get involved with what's happening in North Carolina this week, and growing our organization at the grassroots level."

On Thursday September 6th, the programming will also feature a web-only convention special starting at 8 p.m. ET. Hosted by actor Kal Penn, the Live from Charlotte programming will include interviews with campaign officials and special guests, including Marc Anthony, Elizabeth Banks, Aisha Tyler, Olivia Wilde, Fran Drescher, Zach Braff, and Alexis Bledel.

Later that evening, after President Obama's address, there will be a post-speech program featuring political analysis from political leaders.

###

DNC Convention preview: Spanish-language web page is live

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) announced that the organization’s official Spanish-language webpage is now live on Saturday. The Latino community is an important part of the vibrant and diverse cross-section of America that makes this country great, and this new page allows the DNCC to continue engaging Latinos in the political process.

“From day one, we set out to engage more Americans than ever before, and our digital outreach is just another way that we are delivering on that mission,” said DNCC CEO Steve Kerrigan. “Having a Spanish-language web page ensures that more people can have access to the most open and accessible convention in history.”

The page, available at http://www.demconvention.com/bienvenidos/, will include interactive features that invite Latinos to participate in the discussion as we move forward toward the re-nomination of President Obama. In a video welcome message on the new webpage, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Chairman of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, invites Americans to participate in the convention online and “continue the conversation that the president started with the American people nearly five years ago.”

Video below the fold.

DNC Convention preview: Entertainers announced

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Democratic National Convention Committee announced the full line-up of performers set to take the stage at Time Warner Cable Arena and Bank of America Stadium next week.

“This roster of performances only adds to the excitement building in Charlotte for the historic week ahead of us,” said 2012 Democratic National Convention Chair Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “The tens of thousands who will attend Convention events in person, and all those tuning in across the country, should be ready for quite a show.”

The schedule of performances at the 2012 Democratic National Convention:

Tuesday, September 4 (Time Warner Cable Arena)
DJ Cassidy
Ledisi
Amber Riley (national anthem)

Wednesday, September 5 (Time Warner Cable Arena)
DJ Cassidy
Jessica Sanchez
Branford Marsalis (national anthem)

Thursday, September 6 (Bank of America Stadium)
Foo Fighters
Mary J. Blige
Earth, Wind and Fire
James Taylor
Delta Rae
Inspire the Fire
Marc Anthony (national anthem)

Romney speech ignores our service men and women, veterans, and the war in Afghanistan

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Here is a transcript of the RNC Convention acceptance speech by Willard "Mittens" Romney. Transcript: Mitt Romney's Acceptance Speech.

Go ahead, word search his speech for "troops," "service," "veterans," "Afghanistan." I'll wait.

In his acceptance speech, Willard "Mittens" Romney never mentioned the war in Afghanistan, never acknowledged the service of men and women serving their country in the U.S. Armed Forces, nor our veterans. Not once. Romney mentioned the "military" only once, but in reference to sequestration budget cuts.

If a Democrat did this, there would have been an instantaneous firestorm of howling criticism from the mighty Wurlitzer of the right-wing noise machine. This slight to our Armed Forces and veterans went largely unnoticed by the media villagers and Beltway bloviators in their post-speech commentary.

As Steve Benen notes today in An invisible war:

I think we know what would happen under such a scenario. McCain, Kristol, Krauthammer, Limbaugh, Cheney, et al, would reach an unavoidable conclusion: there's simply no way this Democrat has a credible claim to be Commander in Chief during a time of war.

* * *

When was the last time there was a major-party nominating convention held during a war in which the presidential candidate decided not to mention the conflict or those fighting on our behalf? Has this ever happened?

For that matter, can anyone say with confidence what Romney's position on the war is? Or how he intends to execute this war if he's president in five months?

Are McCain, Kristol, Krauthammer, Limbaugh, Cheney, et al, on board with this?

[Note: Bloody Bill Kristol was not pleased with Romney's failure to mention the troops, veterans, or Afghanistan.]

* * *

If Romney takes the oath of office in January, he'll have tens of thousands of American troops on the ground in Afghanistan. Does anyone have the foggiest idea what he intends to do with those troops and/or how long he intends to keep them there? Does he?

Team Romney fails at convention management

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Modern day conventions are heavily scripted affairs for TV. Every speech is vetted by the campaign and are rehearsed in advance. Nothing occurs at the convention in front of the cameras that has not been previously approved by the campaign. Nothing.

The RNC spent the first three days of the convention keeping the "crazy" aunts and uncles off the stage during prime time, so as not to scare the viewers at home.

But on the biggest night of Willard "Mittens" Romney's political career, Team Romney decided to open network TV coverage with a Vaudeville act by Clint Eastwood, rather than a well-done biographical video about Romney.

Clint Eastwood delivered what appeared to be an ad-libed, rambling and often incoherent comedy shtick, speaking to an invisible President Barack Obama in an empty chair. His act would have earned him the hook at the Apollo Theater.

Thank God he did not bring his orangutan Clyde with him from his movie Every Which Way But Loose (1978), which is what he was riffing from (Eastwood spends most of the movie speaking to Clyde, who of course never responds).

The obvious questions for Team Romney are "Was Clint Eastwood's Vaudeville act vetted and rehearsed in advance? Did Team Romney preapprove the act that aired on network TV?" What was the rehearsal discussion like? "Um, Clint, we think Clyde is a bit too overt. Let's go with the empty chair, much more subtle. Our target audience will get it."

One-third of the audience at home was angered by Clint Eastwood demeaning the office of the presidency (which is a big thing for Republicans when they are in office, not so much when a Democrat is in office). One-third of the audience was left with their mouths agape in shock, wondering "what the f#%k is wrong with Clint?" Team Romney's target audience is bookmarking the video and sharing it with their friends today.

This was a serious failure of convention management by Team Romney. Eastwood distracts from Romney’s moment. People will little remember an unmemorable speech from Willard "Mittens" Romney. The only thing people will remember and that will dominate the news cycle -- not to mention become a staple of late night comedians -- is Clint Eastwood's crazy Vaudeville act.

Sandwiched in between Clint Eastwood's opening act and Romney's acceptance speech was Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) who used his speech not to introduce Romney and sing his praises but rather, like New Jersey Governor Chris Christie did with his Keynote Address, used his speech to introduce himself to voters for the GOP primary in 2016. This was another serious failure of convention management by Team Romney.

Obama reelection spokesman Ben LaBolt mocked the Eastwood performance in a tweet, saying “Referring all questions to Salvador Dali.” (Dude, way too cerebral for a GOP audience to get it).

From the president’s official Twitter account came a "make my day" response: “This seat’s taken,” with an image of Obama seen from the back in a brown leather chair, brass plaque reading “The President.”

The GOP's Flimflam Man goes all in on GOPropaganda lies

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The GOP's alleged boy genius policy wonk, Ayn Rand fanboy Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), gave his vice presidential nominee acceptance speech last night to the GOP convention. I watched his speech. Paul Krugman is correct. Paul Ryan is The Flimflam Man - NYTimes.com.

His speech was substance free, devoid of any clearly defined policies. At best there were some undefined aspirational goals. The only clearly stated policy was "repeal ObamaCare." Apparently, boy genius did not want to disclose what he would "replace" it with (remember "repeal and replace"?)

Ryan did offer a mish-mash of focus group tested attack lines which have previously been fact checked and found to be false by media fact checkers. As I have posted previously, the "Galt - Gekko 2012" campaign has made a deliberate decision to pursue a Big Lie GOPropaganda campaign. They are saying to the media, "We're going to lie. What are you going to do about it?" This presents a test for the media villagers, who are averse to ever pointing out that someone is blatantly lying.

One thing we know for certain after last night's speech: Paul Ryan is willing to be as much of a shameless shapeshifter and pathological liar as his running mate, Willard "Mittens" Romney. America has never before seen a campaign like this, and it is setting a dangerous precedent.

It was so bad that even the GOPropaganda media arm, FAUX News, was shocked and called out Paul Ryan as a shameless liar. Sally Kohn writes, Paul Ryan’s speech in 3 words | Fox News:

On the other hand, to anyone paying the slightest bit of attention to facts, Ryan’s speech was an apparent attempt to set the world record for the greatest number of blatant lies and misrepresentations slipped into a single political speech. On this measure, while it was  Romney who ran the Olympics, Ryan earned the gold.

The good news is that the Romney-Ryan campaign has likely created dozens of new jobs among the legions of additional fact checkers that media outlets are rushing to hire to sift through the mountain of cow dung that flowed from Ryan’s mouth. Said fact checkers have already condemned certain arguments that Ryan still irresponsibly repeated.

Shorter John McCain: 'Four More Wars!'

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Americans should thank God every day that Barack Obama was elected president in 2008 and not Arizona's angry old man, John McCain.

This Neocon war monger has never met a war he did not like. He still harbors dreams of his PNAC Pax Americana empire in the world imposed by U.S. military intervention and occupation.

The birthday boy delivered his speech to the GOP convention on Wednesday. Shorter version: "Four more wars!"

• No defense budget cuts
• No withdrawal from Afghanistan
• Back to Iraq!
• War with Iran!
• War with Syria!
• F#%king Russians!
• F#%king Chinese!

Video below the fold.

Brewer brain fart: endorses President Barack Obama

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

It's not quite as fun as her 16-second brain fart during the gubernatorial debate, but it serves her right after some of the outrageous comments that Gov. Jan Brewer has made recently.

ABC 15 reports VIDEO: Arizona Governor Jan Brewer endorses President Barack Obama at Republican National Convention:

One day after endorsing GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer gave a live interview to MSNBC, apparently slipping up and endorsing his opponent, President Barack Obama.

The video is so hot on the internet, the Governor's office released a statement to ABC15 Wednesday night saying the Governor misspoke, and she isn't the first official to do so amid the noise and chaos of the crowd.

Video below the fold.

Racist incident at GOP Convention

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

In case you missed this last night, a pair of Republican National Convention delegates decided to demonstrate their racist side towards an African-American CNN camerawoman. CNN initially did not want to report on this story, not wanting to become the news (and fearing a conservative backlash). Other news organizations commented that CNN has an obligation to report on this because it is news. CNN should reveal details of nut-throwing incident.

Today, CNN briefly addressed this ugly incident. Via TalkingPointsMemo, CNN Goes On Air With Story About RNC Incident:

On air this evening, CNN's Wolf Blitzer called attention to the network's earlier report on two Republican National Convention attendees throwing nuts at a black CNN camerawoman and saying, "This is how we feed animals." The attendees were removed from the Tampa Bay Times Forum after the exchange.

Blitzer called the incident "truly shocking" and said it "hit home" for everyone at the network. CNN political analyst Donna Brazile said during the segment she hopes the two attendees have their convention credentials revoked. 

Video below the fold:

Gov. George Wallace in a dress says President Obama is pandering, race-baiting for Latino vote

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Our Gov. George Wallace in a dress, Jan Brewer, can barely contain her contempt for that Black man in the White House, President Obama. Today, Brewer: Obama Pandering, Race-Baiting For Latino Vote:

As Republicans continue their struggle to win over Latino voters, few party members have embodied the party’s image problem with the burgeoning voting bloc more than Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer. Her state’s controversial law, SB 1070, was criticized by many as a facilitator of racial profiling. During her 2010 campaign, Brewer sought to link crime with illegal immigration by alleging that law enforcement had found decapitated bodies in the Arizona desert, despite no such evidence for the claim.

But on Tuesday, Brewer chalked up the GOP’s low standing among Latino voters to pandering on the part of President Barack Obama. Appearing on “POLITICO LIVE” at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., Brewer said Obama has ignored border security in favor of winning more Latino votes.

“He panders to them,” Brewer said. “Look what he’s done: he hasn’t secured the borders.”

* * *

“I think President [sic] Romney believes in the rule of law, and he knows and understands” Brewer said. “When he becomes president, I think we’re going to be able to solve a lot of these issues.”

She also contended that Democratic charges of racism directed at border hawks within the Republican Party are unfair.

“It’s all the time, that we’re race-baiting; it’s all the time, you know, that we’re bigots,” Brewer, who added that Obama is also guilty of race-baiting on the issue.

Uh-huh. Have you got an example, George? "I'm rubber, you're glue" is not an answer, you embarrassment.

WaPo Editorial: GOP incoherence on immigration

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

When the Neocon editorial board of the Washington Post says the GOP platform on immigration is too extreme, maybe Tea-Publicans ought to listen. The GOP’s muddled message on illegal immigration - The Washington Post:

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY’S incoherence on illegal immigration was on vivid display last week in Tampa, where delegates gathered to draft their party’s official platform.

The platform amounts to a declaration of war on the 11 million undocumented immigrants in the country. It embraces laws like those in Arizona and Alabama that are intended to make life so miserable for undocumented workers that they will “self-deport,” in Mitt Romney’s memorable phrase, and it slams the Obama administration for trying to block those measures. The Republican Party would punish cities that look the other way on immigration enforcement and universities that grant in-state tuition rates to undocumented students, in both cases by withholding federal funds.

In addition, the party of free enterprise and small government would force every employer in the country — in many cases against its will — to electronically verify the immigration status of job applicants. At a time when illegal border-crossing from Mexico is at a 40-year low, the GOP would complete the 2,000-mile border fence, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars.

On the other hand, the GOP platform tips its hat to reality by recognizing that the nation needs low-skilled labor and that there is no adequate legal mechanism to supply it. It therefore calls for a guest-worker program.

But how does it make sense to embrace such a program while pressing to deport 11 million immigrants, most of whom have been in this country for more than a decade and in many cases are integral parts of American communities and parents of American citizens? The whole thing amounts to both an acknowledgment that the job market demands low-wage immigrant workers and a rejection of those who came to this country precisely in response to that demand.

To grasp the full absurdity of the GOP’s position, suppose for a moment that the party actually carried out its threat to drive out 11 million illegal immigrants, including 7 million in the job force. Imagine the scope, cost and administrative complexity of the guest-worker program that would then be required to replace them. It’s hard to conceive of a more wide-ranging expansion of government.

The GOP’s contradictions on immigration have been evident for a number of years. In 2000, the party platform called for expanding the migrant-farm-workers program. In 2004, bowing to President George W. Bush’s support for legalizing millions of undocumented immigrants, the party backed a program that would allow migrants to “come out of the shadows and to participate legally in America’s economy” — if only temporarily. Then in 2008, hard-liners slammed the door shut again, pushing through an enforcement-only platform.

[B]y refusing to devise any alternative to deportation for the undocumented immigrants already here, the party remains in thrall to extremists.

'Swiss Miss' sings 'I'm a Romney Girl' (video)

This post is dedicated to the start of the RNC in Tampa. Enjoy...

"I'm a Romney Girl."

 

'Optics' are in the eye of the hurricane

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The anti-government party, the party that believes in an ownership society -- "you're on your own" -- is holding its convention in Tampa, Forida as hurricane Isaac is following a storm track eerily similar to hurricane Katrina towards New Orleans, nearly seven years ago to the day. Katrina and the drowning of New Orleans is the enduring symbol of the failure of their philosophy.

As Joan McCarter writes at Daily Kos, Republicans treading stormy waters as convention proceeds:

The RNC avoided the direct hit to Tampa that they most feared, but now they've got an entirely different problem on their hands: optics. How do you stage a celebratory convention full of pageantry and people dressed up in inane costumes when the rest of the nation is focused on the Gulf Coast, with Katrina and the massive failure of the last Republican president still fresh in the nation's collective memory?

* * *

This will also pit the key message of the Republicans—smaller government and austerity to pay for the tax cuts for the wealthy—against the response of President Obama and his administration to the impending disaster.

* * *

Meanwhile, vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan's budget would reduce the funding for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the agency responsible for predicting and tracking storms, by $725 million, endangering nearly 15,000 jobs. NOAA's work is critical to emergency response planning for the whole government.

The Republican Party doesn't believe in a federal government response to natural disasters. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's fight to prevent emergency funding after Hurricane Irene last year proves it, if you needed more proof after Bush's Katrina disaster. But that's the last thing Republicans want highlighted this week. Too bad Mother Nature had other plans for them.

UPDATE: Just how worried are Republicans about these optics? Worried enough to plot out a worst-case scenario, a one-day convention:

One of the worst-case scenarios would be Romney delivering a brief speech declaring the emergency is bigger than politics, shuttering the convention and turning the public’s attention to the Gulf Coast.

"That might not be the worst-case scenario” politically for Romney if he’s seen as putting people ahead of politics, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss convention options.

I think this worst-case scenario should be Plan A at this point. Spike Lee's "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts" (HBO 2006) is the definitive award-winning documentary on hurricane Katrina.

Say a prayer for the residents of the Gulf Coast.

The GOP Platform that John Boehner does not want the public to see

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

As Republican delegates prepare to approve the party’s 2012 platform on Tuesday, a new national poll shows that Americans are more interested in what’s in that document than they are in Mitt Romney’s and Paul Ryan’s acceptance speeches. Tuned-out nation more interested in GOP platform than Romney speech - LA Times:

[T]he document has not been made public. Earlier Monday, in an indication that party platforms may do more harm than good, Republican House Speaker John Boehner suggested that the GOP issue a one-page platform.

Too late. The Republican National Committee quickly pulled down a draft copy of its 2012 platform Friday afternoon after Politico discovered it hidden on the committee’s web site. The RNC has kept the document tightly held, refusing to share earlier drafts with reporters. An apparent staff error led to its posting. The RNC would not confirm to Politico that what was posted Friday is the final platform language, but it matches amendments approved earlier this week by the platform committee.

Think Progress did an analysis of the GOP platform based upon the platform committee deliberations from last week. GOP Approves ‘Most Conservative Platform In Modern History’:

Republican committee members spent Tuesday articulating and affirming the principles they stand for in a draft of the official party platform. Led by Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) and featuring other Tea Party stars like Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), the committee approved a draft of the platform McDonnell said “will reflect the heart and soul of the Republican Party”and one committee member called “the most conservative platform in modern history.”

Here are some highlights:

GOP Convention Preview

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The GOP tent revival prayer meeting and 3-ring circus gets underway in Tampa, Florida next wek.

The Republican National Convention has already had to reshuffle its previously announced schedule due in part to the threat from hurricane Isaac, political maneuvering around Ron Paul delegates, and the networks who were not going to telecast the opening night of the convention on Monday.

Some of the changes: the roll call of state delegates has been moved up to the first night on Monday, rather than Wednesday, to thwart Ron Paul troublemakers who want to stage a floor demonstration (sorry, no network TV losers). Ann Romney has been moved to Tuesday so that she can get network TV coverage of her herculean task to convince "you people" that Willard "Mittens" Romney is really a "warm and fuzzy" nice guy. Yeah, good luck with that Marie Antoinette.

The reshuffled lineup has not yet been announced. Based upon previous press releases, this is the best I can determine as to the list of speakers at the convention, always subject to change:

The "Headliners"

• United States Senator from New Hampshire, Kelly Ayote - she doesn't know who you are either
• Former Alabama Democratic Congressman Artur Davis - This year's version of Sen. Zell Miller (D-GA) - will he also challenge MSNBC's Chris Matthews to a duel?
• Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal - he's also an exorcist! (Google it)
• Florida Congressman Connie Mack, who is running for the Senate - the senile geezers in Florida think they are still voting for his father
• Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell - aka "governor transvaginal ultrasound"
• United States Senator from Ohio Rob Portman - George W. Bush's Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the man who brought you the Bush Great Recession

The Keynote Speaker is a Thanksgiving Day balloon on loan from Macy's, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie -- he comes with his own hot air. I hope they built a lift into the stage so he can just pop up from below; the usual long walk to the podium might just give him a heart attack.

The Convention theme is "A Better Future" -- Republicans want to take you back to the good old days of the 50s -- the 1850s.

To this end, the disgraced former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will host Newt University, a series of public policy workshops for delegates to brush up on culture warrior policy and the Christian Reconstructionist revisionist history behind the GOP platform (to be released on Monday).

No plans have been announced yet for the "Birther King," Donald Trump, but he assures us that his role will be "really huge" -- like his ego.

Arizona's Cracker Contingent led by our George Wallace in a dress governor, Jan Brewer, Secretary of State Ken "Birther" Bennett, and Sheriff Bull Connor Crazy Uncle Joe Arpaio will attend to celebrate Kris Kobach's SB 1070 anti-immigration plank in the GOP platform, a salute to our Cracker Contingent. Crazy Uncle Joe has also been assigned the unenviable task of cleaning up behind the elephants at the Tampa Zoo after a fundraiser.

Tampa welcomes the Republican National Convention

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Too funny. Ruth's List Florida, a pro-choice group that seeks to elect Democratic women to office, says it has paid for this billboard to greet attendees of the Republican National Convention in Tampa. Billboard greets RNC guests: Welcome to Tampa, a city run by Democrats:

The billboard is at the intersection of I-275 and Armenia. Officially, city elections are nonpartisan, but Mayor Bob Buckhorn and council members are registered Democrats.

Those Tea-Publican attendees in Tampa should take the time to thank the good citizens of Tampa for building the Tampa Bay Times Forum venue for the convention with their public tax dollars -- "they built that."

A Marquette University study (pdf) found that the facility "was financed by $66.8 million in revenue bonds from the stadium authority [and] $28.8 million in revenue bonds from the state," while private sources funded roughly a third of the costs. The return of a self-defeating attack:

Republican organizers have announced "We Built It" as the theme for the second day of the party's national convention, hoping to capitalize on a controversial remark by President Obama about the role he feels government has in helping businesses succeed.

* * *

In other words, Republicans hope to embarrass President Obama, who said public institutions and government investments help create a society in which the private sector thrives, and they'll prove their point by exclaiming "We Built It" in an arena largely financed by taxpayers.

Oops.

Sometimes the comedy writes itself.

DNC Convention Preview: Entertainment before Obama speech to feature NC native son James Taylor

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The Democratic National Convention Committee (DNCC) today announced part of the lineup for festivities that will precede President Obama’s nomination acceptance speech at the Bank of America Stadium on Thursday, September 6.

Calling it a “tribute to the dynamic convention host state,” entertainers will include five-time Grammy award winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee James Taylor; local performing arts group and stars of America’s Got Talent, Inspire the Fire; and genre-bending rock band Delta Rae. DNCC Announces James Taylor and Other Hometown Talent for 2012 Democratic National Convention:

“I’m all fired up to take the stage at the Democratic Convention for President Obama right here in North Carolina,” said James Taylor, who penned and performed “Carolina in my Mind” – the iconic song that many people from North Carolina consider to be the state’s unofficial anthem.  “I think it’s so important that he have a second term to keep this country moving forward.”

“Highlighting such amazing talent from North Carolina as part of the entertainment at the convention’s closing event is just one way that convention organizers are working to bring the flavor of North Carolina to all Americans,” said DNCC CEO Steve Kerrigan. “Whether you’re one of the tens of thousands who received community credentials to attend this historic event in person, or tuning in remotely, you will have a taste of the wonderful region that is home to this year’s convention.”

I am sure that James Taylor will lead the stadium audience in a sing-a-long of "Carolina in my Mind" - sure to bring a tear to the eye of Tarheels. (Video below the fold).

DNC Convention Preview: Cristina Saralegui to address convention

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Cristina Saralegui, the popular Latina television host who has been referred to as the “Hispanic Oprah,”  will speak at the Democratic National Convention, according to the DNC and the Obama for America campaign. Cristina Saralegui to speak at Democratic convention:

Saralegui as well as actress Eva Longoria will join a roster of speakers during the three-day event which takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina, September 4th through 6th.

In June, Saralegui publicly endorsed President Barack Obama. “You’ve had our back, and now, with utmost respect and admiration, I have yours.” The Cuban-American television and radio talk show host added that  ”President Obama is a principled man who has worked hard to put healthcare and a good education in the reach of millions of Americans, and believes that everyone who works hard and plays by the rules, should have a fair shot at the American dream.”

Video below the fold.

Democratic & Republican conventions: Occupiers/protesters ready for delegates

by Pamela Powers Hannley

Occupiers in Tampa, Florida and Charlotte, NC are gearing up for the deluge of politicians, dignitaries, convention delegates, journalists, and other protesters who are about to descend upon their cities.

The Republican National Convention (RNC) will be held in Tampa will be August 27-30. The Democratic National Convention (DNC) will be held in Charlotte (AKA Wall Street of the South) from September 3-6.

With their anti-women, anti-any-color-but-white, anti-immigrant, anti-middle class, anti-gay, anti-union... OK... anti-99% agenda, the RNC offers a fertile field for protests from the rest of us. With Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan on the ticket, the Republicans have cemented their place in history as the party of the 1%. 

Occupy Tampa is one of the few Occupations with tents on the ground, and they plan to be camping-- and protesting-- during the RNC.

More hints about what will be happening outside the convention halls, after the jump.

DNC Convention Preview: List of speakers (Updated)

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

The first two days of the 2012 Democratic National Convention, Tuesday, September 4, and Wednesday, September 5, will be held at Time Warner Cable Arena.

The final night of the convention, Thursday, September 6, will be held at Bank of America Stadium.

Former President Jimmy Carter will address the 2012 Democratic National Convention by video at the Time Warner Cable Arena on Tuesday, September 4, in prime time. President Carter’s message will include unique insights about President Obama as a global leader.

First Lady Michelle Obama and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro will speak at the 2012 Democratic National Convention’s opening night, Tuesday, September 4th, in prime time, at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mayor Castro will be the first Latino keynote speaker at a Democratic National Convention.

Massachusetts U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren will speak at the 2012 Democratic National Convention on Wednesday, Sept. 5, from the Time Warner Cable Arena. Warren will speak in primetime, just before former president Bill Clinton, delivers his prime time speech nominating President Barack Obama.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will deliver their acceptance speeches on the final night of the convention, Thursday, September 6, at Bank of America Stadium.

The Democratic National Convention Committee has announced the following additional speakers for the 2012 Democratic National Convention (so far):

• Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
• California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris
• Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper
• Former Virginia Governor Tim Kaine
• U.S. Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts
• Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley
• Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick
• Former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland
• Wisconsin Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin
• Former Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Tammy Duckworth
• Sandra Fluke, Georgetown University Student
• Denise Juneau, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Montana
• Nancy Keenan, President of NARAL Pro-Choice America
• Caroline Kennedy
• Lilly Ledbetter
• Eva Longoria, Obama Campaign Co-Chair
• U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, together with the women of the U.S. Senate
• Cecile Richards, President of Planned Parenthood Action Fund

The DNCC will unveil additional convention program details and speakers in the coming days.

UPDATE 8/24/12: Additional speakers announced to date:

• Newark Mayor Cory Booker
• Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx
• Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm
• Lieutenant General Claudia Kennedy (ret.)
• Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California
• CarMax co-founder and former CEO Austin Ligon
• Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy
• Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter
• Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak
• Costco co-founder and former CEO Jim Sinegal
• Los Angeles Mayor, Democratic Convention Chair Antonio Villaraigosa

Mayor Booker, Lt. General Kennedy and Congresswoman Lee will present the platform on Tuesday, September 4th to the convention.

DNC Convention Preview: Latino Star Power

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro will deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, making him the first Latino to receive the honor. Julian Castro, San Antonio Mayor, To Be First Latino DNC Keynote Speaker:

"As mayor, Julian Castro has worked tirelessly to move San Antonio forward by building its economy from the middle out, not the top down, by putting the city on a path to being a leader in the new energy economy and making innovative investments in education to prepare San Antonio's students for the jobs of the future," said Los Angeles Mayor and Democratic Convention Chair Antonio Villaraigosa in a statement. "That's the same vision forward for the middle class the President has, and it stands in stark contrast to Mitt Romney, who's ready to return us to the same policies that crashed our economy."

* * *

In a video message, Castro, 37, called his role at the convention "an honor I don't take lightly." He recalled watching and being inspired by President Barack Obama's keynote speech at the 2004 convention. That speech catapulted Obama, at the time a state senator from Illinois, onto the national stage.

"We've come so far over the past three and a half years under Obama's leadership," Castro said in the video. "And I know he's not done yet. We've got a lot more work to do."

Video beow the fold.

Tampa Bay gets ready for the GOP

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

Tampa Bay, Florida will be hosting the Republican National Comvention from August 27 to August 30.

There is an urban legend that Tampa Bay is the strip club capital of America. “It’s not true,” said Joe Redner, the owner of the renowned Mons Venus strip club in Tampa Bay.

The Tampa Bay Times has reported there are 20 strip clubs in Tampa and 30 in the Tampa Bay area. Tampa does not have as many strip clubs as New Orleans, Atlanta, Houston, New York, Las Vegas, and Miami.

Nevertheless, Tampa Bay's reputation as the "strip club capital" of America precedes itself, and the New York Times reports today, Strip Clubs in Tampa Are Ready to Cash In on G.O.P. Convention:

Over at the back door of the 2001 Odyssey, a limo-size tent with flaps — especially designed for discretion and camera-shy guests — is ready to go up. Déjà Vu is welcoming extra “talent” from around the country in its V.I.P. rooms.

And Thee DollHouse is all Americana: women plan to slip out of red, white and blue corsets and offer red, white and blue vodka. The headliner that week is expected to bear an uncanny resemblance to a certain ex-governor from a wilderness state, known for her strong jaw and devotion to guns and God.

“She’s a dead ringer for her,” said Warren Colazzo, co-owner of Thee DollHouse. “It’s just a really good gimmick to get publicity.”

As Tampa gears up for the Republican National Convention, the biggest party it has ever held, the city and its businesses are primping and polishing for the August arrival of tens of thousands of visitors. Like it or not — mostly not, for city officials — Tampa’s well-known strip clubs have joined the welcome wagon.

Club owners here say they have schmoozed with their counterparts in former host cities, like Denver, and have been told that revenue pours in during conventions, sometimes quadrupling earnings from a Super Bowl week. As for party affiliation, this is one place where the country’s caustic partisan differences fall away, owners say.

Angelina Spencer, the executive director of the Association of Club Executives, which serves as a trade association for strip clubs, said an informal survey of convention business in New York and Denver had determined that Republicans dropped more money at clubs, by far.

“Hands down, it was Republicans,” she said. “The average was $150 for Republicans and $50 for Democrats.”

As further evidence of the clubs’ nonpartisan appeal, Don Kleinhans, the owner of the 2001 Odyssey, said when the Promise Keepers, a male evangelical group, came to town years ago, business was rollicking.

“We had phenomenal numbers all weekend, and they walked in wearing badges and name tags and weren’t shy at all,” he said.

Yes, the family values in-your-face super-Christians of the GOP will be getting lap dances in the V.I.P. room at Thee Dollhouse from a Sarah Palin look-alike. Maybe FAUX News will cover it. Naw...

h/t Blue Gall for the graphic