About Politics

poet1b asked:


Even if both candidates are still competing for the nomination?

Let the fight then go underground, and Hillary and Obama should unite to go after McCain together. This will force McCain to compete against two candidates, and force the repub attack machine to try and go after two candidates, greatly undermining both.

Having two democrats competing for the nomination up until the convention could be turned into an asset, instead of a negative. Hillary and Obama working together would unite the party, and a reasonable solution could be agreed upon by the time of the convention.

Are we in this to win?

Gabriel

Galaxie Girl asked:


Just want to know more. I’m not very familiar with the details of what Reagan did to help the economy after first becoming President. In a nutshell, what did Reagan do to stimulate the economy? How does it compare to what Obama is trying to do now?

Darryl

mr.awsome asked:


why is it that about 60% of obama voters know nothing about him ?
and that they voted for him because he is a black american?

it seems to me that obama use jedi mind tricks on his supporters

do you think he will do what he said?

Lloyd

Joanna Steele-Perkins asked:


While most photographs of Michelle Obama, show how attractive, photogenic and elegant she is, the recently published photograph adorning the front page of Vogue Magazine is less than flattering. 

Michelle was also photographed recently reclining on a sofa, presumably at the White House dressed in a beautiful apricot silk top with matching cardigan and tweed skirt in apricot, chocolate and beige.  She was wearing a simple pair of earrings but no other jewellery.  Her shoes were not visible, but I am certain they were simple, stylish and matched her outfit.  She looked relaxed, confident and well-groomed; the height of understated sophistication and dressed in colours that really suit her colouring.   Her dark hair, eyes and lashes, together with her warm brown skin, places her nicely into the “Deep and Warm” colour group.  This means that deep, rich colours with warm or yellow undertones flatter her best.

Unfortunately, whoever dressed her for the photograph on the front page of Vogue Magazine, did not consider this when choosing the fuchsia pink shift dress she is wearing.   This particularly shade of pink, is very strong and very cool.  That is to say it has blue undertones, which is quite wrong for somebody with “warm” colouring.  When I look at this picture, the first thing I see is the dress.  As Coco Chanel once famously said “The badly dressed woman, people remember the clothes.  With a well-dressed woman, they remember the woman”.  

 In nearly every other photograph I have seen of Mrs Obama, she has dressed in simple yet chic, classic items that are in colours that enhance her not detract from her.  In the Vogue photograph, her pose looks unnatural and the combination of a high neckline the way she has been asked to sit, makes her arms look muscular, rather than toned. Although she is clearly a beautiful woman, she does not look her best.  

Not even high profile women, such as Michelle Obama can get it right every time but I feel the body language displayed in the Vogue picture suggests that she is not entirely happy with this particular look.   Perhaps in future, she should follow her own advice and stick to what she feels confident in and therefore comfortable wearing.  



Chad

alexda asked:


Affluent urban professionals are so happy that Obama is our next president! They’re educated and urbane and liberal and they are simply in love with our elected leader, for a change! But now that they’ve finally gotten over their election night party hangovers, they’re starting to realize: whoa, these Democrats might not be so good for our beloved Fashion/ Advertising/ PR/ Entertainment industries, which give us affluent urban professionals our paychecks! After the jump, we take a brief look at how these industries of liberal elites really feel about the prospects of an Obama presidency:

Fashion: Fashionista types are so in the tank. The promise of Obama even lured Anna Wintour out of her Batcave to vote! So where does the huge industry trade group the American Apparel and Footwear Association stand on the issues? Well, they’re against anything that makes unions stronger, obviously. Not good. They’re very upset about China’s domination of the textile manufacturing sector. Obama will presumably push China on some issues, but he’s far from a protectionist. And they don’t want to have to compete with Federal Prisoners for government contracts. When Obama frees the oppressed, that won’t be a problem. Huzzah!

Advertising: Ad people love Obama so much they named him Marketer of the Year! But as Ad Age points out today, the industry is concerned about what the new administration might do on a number issues: Will they endanger direct-to-consumer drug advertising? Will they pass stricter privacy rules that cut back on the ability of marketers to profile people? Will they strengthen the FTC and the FCC to reverse rampant deregulation and media consolidation? The ad industry would not like to see any of those changes, all of which are objectively good for consumers.

Public Relations: Lots of CEOs of major PR firms were totally in the tank for Obama, including big ole Democrat Richard Edelman, and Michael Kempner of MWW, who was at the Chicago Obama rally personally, palling around with Oprah! But PR firms are worried about a lot of the same communications and media law issues that the ad industry is worried about. Media consolidation could be considered good for corporate PR practitioners, because it narrows down the number of channels they have to deal with and gives them greater leverage. Net neutrality, which Obama probably will support, is a toss up. Political flacks will make their money no matter what, just on different issues. Mainly the PR industry would like Obama to fix the economy so they don’t, you know, lose all their clients. The biggest loser in all of PR since the election, obviously, is this guy.

Entertainment: Hollywood liberals are so sickeningly in the tank we won’t even bother listing dozens and dozens of examples in order to support our assertion! Why not drive your Prius over to Leonardo DiCaprio’s house and talk about it with him? So then, what does the MPAA, the trade group that rules Hollywood, care about politically? Well they won’t stop talking about “piracy” of movies, for one, which is getting really tiresome and is unlikely to be a matter of great interest to a President mired in two wars. Besides that ridiculous obsession, they basically want free flow of trade to enable them to spread their sinful pictures to all corners of the globe, filling their coffers in the process. So Hollywood types should get along okay with the Obama administration.

Until the new taxes come down.

for more imformation, please visit www.cantonfootwear.org



Vernon

Laura Cosse’ asked:


Daniel Pipes has regurgitated the highly disputed March 16th article printed in the Los Angeles Times to once again bring Senator Barak Obama’s religious history into the spotlight. The following is an excerpt from his article which appeared the Frontpagemag.com website on Dec. 26, 2007:

Summarized, available evidence suggests Obama was born a Muslim to a non-practicing Muslim father and for some years had a reasonably Muslim upbringing under the auspices of his Indonesian step-father. At some point, he converted to Christianity. It appears false to state, as Obama does, “I’ve always been a Christian” and “I’ve never practiced Islam.” The campaign appears to be either ignorant or fabricating when it states that “Obama never prayed in a mosque.”

As a red-blooded American Muslim it makes my blood boil to see that being Muslim today is seen as something un-American and un-holy. Muslims are the new communists as far as these right-wing, conservative people are concerned. This is nothing but a propaganda smear campaign against Senator Obama and Islam meant to put fear in the hearts of American citizens who know little or nothing about Islam and what it teaches.

Let’s look at some facts. First off, Senator Obama denies that he is a Muslim. I think we have to take his word on that since no God fearing Muslim would ever deny his religion for fear that God would then deny him on the Day of Judgment.

Second, according to the family of Obama’s late step-father, he was a non-practicing Muslim who loved women and alcohol. In fact, he died of several health complications, one of which was a deteriorated liver from excessive alcohol consumption, hardly the image of a pious Muslim.

Third, Senator Obama did spend time in a Muslim country and undoubtedly had many Muslim friends growing up. He has been to a mosque and even learned about Islam for two hours each week at school. I think that this gives him qualifications far superior to any other candidate we see today when it comes to International politics and getting a handle on the war in Iraq and the complete meltdown in the Middle East we are witnessing today. We need a candidate that has a basic understanding of Islam and Muslims. We need a politician who knows more about Islam than what was shown on FOX News.

It is interesting to note that Daniel Pipes, the author of the above mentioned article, is reportedly advising Rudy Giuliani on his campaign for president. It is clear that the radical right wing will continue to use ugly smear campaign tactics and tell tall tales until the very bitter end. Save democracy, vote Democrat.



Jeremy

mike martin asked:


Most political campaign art is just propaganda, usually boring and forgettable. When Shepard Fairey got word that the Obama campaign would welcome his work, the guerrilla marketing genius went to work on creating a new phenomenon. He set out to create something iconic, something more than just the average political campaign poster. He wanted to create THE poster for the 2008 Democratic party. Something hip and “right now”, that would make its way onto the walls of college dorms across the country.”

I wanted strong. I wanted wise, but not intimidating,” Shepard Fairey says of the appearance of his limited edition Obama posters, which have sold well more than 80, 000 copies since their release, and have been copied all across the internet, as people try to jump on the Obama / Fairey phenomenon.Shepard Fairey is a skater punk, turned CEO. He gained fame in 1989 at the Rhode Island School of Design, when he created the Obey Giant campaign, by slapping “Andre the Giant Has a Posse” posters and stickers on any and every available surface, creating a viral marketing campaign before it was the “in” thing to do.

His Obey Giant campaign created a niche market for his rebel style of artwork and graphic design. He has since created artwork for movies and music (Led Zeppelin “Mothership” album cover). At 38 with boyish good locks, he still routinely appears at functions in a simple outfit of jeans and a t shirt.He has done political work in the past. In 2000 he helped campaign for Ralph Nader and in 2004 he depicted George W. Bush as a smiling vampire. In 2008 he again threw his hat in the political arena when he decided that he wanted to campaign for Barack Obama. Because of his somewhat rebellious past, Fairey took a more cautious approach, because of the fact that he did not want to cause political harm to the Obama campaign. However the Obama campaign was all for it and asked that Fairey go ahead with his plans, much to Fairey’s surprise.

To create the poster, Fairey grabbed a “political looking” picture of Obama off of the internet. He then simplified the picture into a series of bold lines and geometry, using the a patriotic red, white, and blue palette, and stamping the posters with the words HOPE, CHANGE, and PROGRESS. The pictures became a cultural phenomenon and can now be found on the internet for a much higher price than Fairey’s original intended price of the orignal 950 or so prints. That have become a sort of collector’s item to Obama supporters and art enthusiasts alike.

Fairey promises that he has more tricks up his sleeve, but we can only wait and see what he has in store for us next.



Monica

Monika Nagy asked:


She’ll be our nation’s First Lady in just a few weeks. But she’s also a mom raising two young daughters. Does that mean that Michelle Obama — the parent — has a more difficult task than most of us? What will she need to teach her kids about money, and the realities of money management?

Beyond the “fish bowl” effect of the presidential mansion and lifestyle, Mrs. Obama must shelter her young children from the media and from an eager public clamoring to know every move the First Family makes. Yes, the Obamas are in a position to give their daughters everything. But is that wise? Good parents want to provide the best to their kids — but we realize that by providing everything to our kids (without them worrying about anything or learning to economize) they may grow up without appreciating what they have. They may never understand the value of a dollar or how to navigate difficult financial times like we’re facing now.

We all know of spoiled celebrity kids that make millions. However, without knowing about the realities of money, these privileged youth can end up in clinics for depression or substance abuse. Clearly having an abundance of money and possessions does not bring these kids happiness.

It will be a huge task for Mrs. Obama to come up with ways to teach Malia, age 10, and Sasha, age 7, about the value of the dollar in such a plush environment. I am a Certified Credit Analyst with children the same ages as Michelle Obama’s. As do millions of families in America, however, we live in a normal but comfortable environment. Teaching kids about money management has been a big task for me — so I take my hat off to Mrs. O. As I said in my book “GIVE YOURSELF THE CREDIT YOU DESERVE,” delayed gratification and money management are two of the most important pillars to raising children to happy adulthood.

Let’s look at these tips and truths related to raising financially-responsible kids:

1. Mommy’s (or Daddy’s) money is not your money!

No matter where our kids grow up, they need to understand that Mommy’s money is not their money. This must be taught early, so children will know how to live within a budget. Moms can, and should, establish an allowance. I believe that by age 10 a child should receive between $20-$50 on a regular basis, unless you are one of the super-wealthy going to expensive places where they will need more. Using this method, moms can create a whine-free private life! I do not buy ANYTHING for my children outside of the basic necessities of life (food, needed clothing, and school items). My kids have their own allowance and they have to buy toys, treats, or non-essential school or clothing items from their allowance. The future first lady can establish an appropriate allowance for her two girls to teach them about the value of a dollar. Even affluent parents are dealing with today’ s financial challenges.

2. Give kids the freedom to choose… and to fail.

I give my children the freedom to choose to get what th ey want. This might lead to them not having enough, or any, money by the end of the month. Some people think that this system is harsh — but my kids love it. Chris became the best shopper, because he found stores for used games and electronics. He even ch ecks out which flour has more fiber and costs fewer dollars per pound. I believe this technique would work not only for kids living in an average household, but for the presidential offspring, too. Even in that fish bowl White House lifestyle, the Obama kids can shop online. Parents may contribute to the shipping charges from the family budget, so the children don’t feel they are disadvantaged.

3. Stick to your principals no matter what.

Many parents get “soft” and let kids manipulate them by tears. No toy or game is so important! My advice to parents: Do not give in! Instead, teach youngsters how to save for what they want, making a calendar that indicates how many days they have to save to buy the items desired — whether it’s an I-Pod or a designer outfit. This delayed gratification will serve the kids well when they grow up and need to provide their own living. And they all will grow up soon enough! We need to prepare our younger generation to survive outside of our protective bubble. The Obama daughters will also have to face the same challenges as they grow up, in the public eye. So the incoming first lady has a more challenging task than many of us.

4. Needs vs. wants…

One of the most important principals in life is to understand the difference between “I want that fantastic BMW to impress people as I zip around town” vs. ” I need that used Honda to get to work.” This is one of the most important lessons in life. You can be a happy or unhappy person whether you have the beat-up Honda or the flashy BMW. When your children tell you what it is they want (cell phones, MP3 players, fancy clothes, etc.) you need to help them distinguish between their definite needs and their fleeting wants. In my family, Jackie likes gorgeous clothes as any girl does. She needs jeans so I provide that for the Wal-Mart or Target price. If she wants to have designer jeans or one of the celebrity brands, I give her the Wal-Mart price funds and she can add to that, from her own allowance, to pay for the “want factor.” She can shop for the best price and compare the celebrity brands in Wal-Mart to the designer mall prices. It is her choice where she wants to shop and what she wants to buy. No matter where you live you can use these principals with your own children for good “money parenting.”(That would help even you, Mrs. Obama!)

5. Teach them to s-a-v-e.

If you provide your kids with an extra budget for school, including lunch money, it’s a good idea to reward them if they are spending their money wisely. Give them money for a week or for a month yet still take 10 minutes each week to reward them for saving money successfully. Establish a mommy/daddy 401K for them. If they save a dollar (by not purchasing pricey soft drinks from the machine or by packing cheaper lunch from home), match their savings with your mommy 401K. Teaching your children to save money, while rewarding them for their behavior, will help them tremendously in life and enhance their feelings of accomplishment and self esteem. They will learn valuable financial lessons and be much happier by following these principals.

Wherever you live, whether that’s in a small town in Pennsylvania or in the White House on D.C.’s Pennsylvania Avenue, you need to teach your kids about money management and the truth is, life in suburban America offers more realistic circumstances than the future first lady in the White House will be facing. Good luck Mrs. Obama! We know you can do it! And Malia and Sasha will thank you.



Julio

Jackfrost asked:


Obama is being asked in a federal Supreme Court to submit proof that he is a citizen, why waste all of our time and money and not just provide the proof? Why is he asking it to be dismissed? What does he have to hide?

Clara

www.massvisioninc.com asked:


Few accessories come as loaded with meaning as sunglasses. Some make you look sinister, others comical. Some impart a deadly seriousness, others an offbeat ease. Some bestow an iconic cool, others a passé naffness. Should the fine equilibrium between weight of frame and shape of lens be out just one iota, the whole structure is, in the eye of the beholder, compromised. Should the arms be a hair’s breadth too thick, or the pattern of the tortoiseshell a tad too clotted, you might as well go bare-faced. Yet when everything’s right, a pair of shades can deliver the kind of authoritative hit other accoutrements only dream about. So you can be sure the decision as to what eyewear Barack Obama should wear during his US presidential campaign wasn’t left to chance. It simply had to be Ray-Bans.

CELEBRITIES LIKE JACK NICHOLSON AND TOM CRUISE WEAR RAY-BANS

I can’t think of another brand that’s adorned the features of so many stars, celebrities, and public figures. Existentially enigmatic, Ray-Ban Wayfarers were worn in the ‘50s and ‘60s by Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, James Dean, Bob Dylan, John F Kennedy, Andy Warhol, and John Lennon. In the ‘80s, the likes of Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, and Jack Nicholson cloaked their profiles in the style too. In the words of design critic Stephen Bayley, the “distinctive trapezoidal frame spoke a non-verbal language that hinted at unstable dangerousness, but one nicely tempered by the sturdy arms.” Meanwhile, Ray-Ban Aviators have been favored by the likes of Madonna, Tom Cruise, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Hunter S. Thompson, Johnny Knoxville, and Kanye West. For me, the wide expanses of typically reflective lens, two or three times the area of the eye socket, provide the perfect concealment for those of a Garboesque disposition.

On the back of The Blues Brothers, I got my first pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarers back in the ‘80s. Granted, I never carried them off with the same raffish panache as John Belushi. But they screened me from the mundanity of much of my everyday life. And, I like to think, bestowed me with at least a little of their exotic modernism.



Lillian