Trick or treat

I just answered the door wearing an Obama shirt, and the kids all yelled, "Gobama!!!"

:-)

Getting Out The Vote

I am knocking on doors for Obama this weekend. Join me?

16 years of the Dow

Let's look back at the Dow Jones Industrials average for the last sixteen years: 1992-2000, when Bill Clinton was president, and 2000-now, with George W. Bush.

When Clinton was sworn in, the Dow was trading at around 3200. When he left office, it was almost up to 11,000. Today it closed at 9325.

That's up about 243% for Clinton, and down about 15% for Bush.

Hmm. Those damn "socialists" in the Democratic party!

Headline of the day

Babies are OK after light drinking in pregnancy

I just haven't figured out how they snuck the bottle in there! ;-)

Reminds me of this brandy...

Quote for the day

Ken Duberstein, one of President Reagan's chiefs of staff, has endorsed Obama. Why? Sarah Palin.

I think it has very much undermined the whole question of John McCain’s judgment. You know what most Americans I think realized is that you don’t offer a job, let alone the vice presidency, to a person after one job interview. Even at McDonald’s, you’re interviewed three times before you get a job.

More on early voting totals in Nevada

From Jon Ralston:

The figures are nothing short of astonishing as early voting comes to an end today. By the time the last voting machine is wheeled away and put into storage until Tuesday, more than 400,000 voters in Clark County will have cast ballots at polling places or by mail before more thoughtful, patient voters do their duty next week. That is about half the active voters in Southern Nevada, where close to 70 percent of the total state vote will come from when all is said and done.

Through Wednesday, Democrats enjoyed a nearly 20 percentage point lead in number of voters in Southern Nevada. And even more ominous for the Republicans: They were losing by a nearly 10 percentage point margin in previously GOP-held Washoe County. With those kinds of numbers, it would seem that even their Democrat-averse friends in the 15 counties in the state’s midsection can’t save the Republicans.

Early voting ends today in Nevada, but there's still time to be one of the cool kids. Find out where here. ;-)

Don't speak for me, Sarah Palin

Love it:

(Video link)

And if you're in an operatic mood, here's another uplifting music video. :-)

More NO ON PROP 8

(Video link)

Despite the Mormon Church's donation of $20 million to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign in California, the No campaign appears to be finally gaining some momentum. And if we are successful in preventing the pro-Prop. 8 people from amending the California constitution to eliminate the right of gays and lesbians to marry, it will be because of people like my friend Antonio who has been working tirelessly with the No campaign.

Here's an email he sent me this morning:

I am extremely heartened that in the last several weeks many individuals - including everyone from celebrities like Samuel L. Jackson and Eric McCormack to politicians like Dianne Feinstein and Arnold Swarzenegger - have all taken a stand for equal rights and are united in opposition to Proposition 8! [Add Bill Clinton to the list. - Michael]

Nearly every major newspaper in California, and a broad range of groups and leaders extending across party lines, and representing teachers, nurses, seniors, business and labor, oppose Proposition 8. Proposition 8 would write discrimination into the California Constitution.

As a gay man, defeating Proposition 8 is *the* most important issue on the ballot for me this November.

Proposition 8 is NOT about protecting children or preserving the sanctity of heterosexual marriage. Parents are free to determine how their children are educated under California law - marriage is NOT taught in public schools in California, and parents are free to "opt out" of sex education should they see fit. Churches would NOT be forced to perform same-sex marriages.

A "NO VOTE" on Proposition 8 would preserve the separation of church and state that is so vital to American jurisprudence. We are all entitled to exercise the same fundamental rights regardless of our religion, our sexuality, or our personal beliefs.

As we head into the final days of the campaign, I appeal to you one last time to please give anything you can to the "No on 8" campaign!

The "Yes on 8" campaign is extremely well-funded and the side that reaches the most people may very well have the edge, regardless of what the facts are - namely, that PROPOSITION 8 WOULD ELIMINATE RIGHTS. IT'S UNFAIR AND IT'S WRONG.

1. You can be sure your contribution will be used to defeat Proposition 8 by donating now at:

www.noonprop8.com/donate
www.hrc.org/BayAreaNoOn8
www.actblue.com/page/acequalityforall
http://www.honorpac.org/

2. Volunteers are needed on election day to defeat Prop 8.

If you live out of state, you can call voters from home using your phone, an internet connection and "No on 8"s automated dialer service.

Sign up now at www.noonprop8.com/v. And please email your contacts to ask them to volunteer, too!

3. Email your contacts and make sure they know the truth - that PROP 8 WOULD ELIMINATE RIGHTS, AND UNFAIRLY SINGLE OUT PEOPLE FOR UNEQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE LAW.

4. On election day, text, email or call your friends and family to ensure they go to the polls and vote (if they haven't already voted early or by mail). Turnout is absolutely key in this election, and it is important that complacency not set in!!!

With your help, we will preserve EQUALITY FOR ALL on Nov 4!

If you contribute by midnight tonight, your much needed dollars will be doubled.

Towleroad has a bunch of information and video here.

Antioxidant supplementation: more evidence against it

The National Cancer Institute has cancelled a large multi-year study which sought to determine if vitamin E and/or selenium could reduce the incidence of risk of prostate cancer.

Why? Because no benefit was showing up. More importantly, a slightly higher incidence of the cancer was being observed in men taking just the vitamin E supplements.

This reinforces earlier research which has found similar results with other antioxidants. I wrote a paper about this for one of my biology courses last spring; here's an earlier post on the topic.

Obama vs. McCain: legislative records

McCain has an ad out talking about Obama's "present" votes in the Illinois legislature. But guess what? McCain has abstained from Senate votes 64% of the time since January 2007!!!

Here's a comparison of their recent votes from OpenCongress. And here's a previous post on their legislative records.

Al Gore: every vote matters

Gore: "Elections matter. Every vote matters."

(Video link)

Is McCain an Obamacon?

After villifying Obama for weeks, McCain now touts Obama's praise for McCain's work on global warming.

(Video link)

I guess Obama's judgment isn't so bad after all!

It's up to you

A grassroots video from Ohio:

(Video link)

What are you doing between now and Tuesday?

Dave Matthews for Barack Obama

(Video link)

Nate Silver looks at Nevada

Nate Silver over at one of my favorite polling sites, FiveThirtyEight, is profiling each of the 50 states with respect to the election. Here's his post on Nevada.

Don't look back!

Bush is there, in your rearview mirror...

Friends don't let friends vote for McCain-Palin!

(Video link)

Amazing...

A 109 year old Texas woman, the daughter of a man born into slavery, has cast her early ballot for Barack Obama.

Read more here.

Something's happening in America

(Video link)

John McCain has a new base

So get this: the McCain campaign reported an attendance of 6000 at McCain's morning rally in Defiance, Ohio. But it turns out that 4000 of the total were *school kids* that McCain had bussed in.

One person not in attendance (though McCain expected him): Joe the plumber (aka Sam the country-western singer).

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/30/1616435.aspx

Sarah Palin's medical records

A week ago Wednesday, Sarah Palin agreed to release her medical records. The campaign said they'd be available early this week. So... it's Thursday?

Where the heck are they? Methinks someone is running down the clock...

But if she plans to run in 2012, she better get used to the idea of sharing this stuff!

(Video link)

Bill and Obama campaign together in Florida

Here's the first ten minutes of President Bill Clinton urging voters to support Obama (as Obama looks on):

(Video link)

"Barack Obama represents Ameria's future." -- Bill Clinton

From the New York Times:

Six days before Election Day, the two men made their first joint campaign appearance of the season, striding onto the stage alone together. In the eyes of hopeful Democrats, it carried the air of a torch-passing – absent any of the bitterness from the long presidential primary – as they wore wide smiles and heaped praise onto one another. Mr. Clinton delivered a spirited argument for the Democratic ticket, offering four distinct reasons to support Mr. Obama on Election Day next week: his philosophy, his policies, his ability to make a decision and his ability to bring change to people’s lives.

AL AND TIPPER GORE will be campaigning for Obama in Florida today as well.

Obama returns to Nevada on Saturday

Obama will be in Henderson on Saturday, emphasizing the importance of Nevada in this election.

Details from the Las Vegas Sun:

The campaign announced today that Obama will hold a rally Saturday on the football field of Coronado High School, 1001 Coronado Drive, in Henderson. Doors will open at 7 a.m., although the program's start time wasn't immediately available.

This will be Obama's 20th trip to Nevada during the presidential race.

No on California Proposition 8 needs $$$ badly

The Yes on Eight folks are raising more money than the No on Eight folks in California. And since I want to keep my options open--meaning I may want to get married in California someday--I just made a contribution to the NO campaign.

I urge you to do so as well. Contribute here. More info here.

ELLEN DEGENERES contributed $100,000 to the campaign, btw.

(Video link)

Watch out, Joe!

Joe Sam the plumber country-western singer is putting himself at risk... if the country-western album he hopes to record soon is a hit, he may miss out on his Obama tax cut!

Bill and Hillary say "get to work!"

(Video link)

OMG

Obama's 30 minute ad just ended.

I'm speechless.

UPDATE

Here's a link to Obama's Plan for Change.

Interesting find (times two)

1. One thousand years ago, people in the Andes were enjoying psychedelic trips.

2. Those drug tests that use hair are really, really good. (Forewarned is forearmed!)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27441890/

McCain misfires

So if John McCain thinks that Obama is a socialist (aka "re-distributor" lol) because he wants to cut taxes for 95% of Americans but not for the most wealthy, then what would you call McCain's plan to use taxpayer money to buy up people's mortgages???

AND TODAY ON LARRY KING, McCain said that he'd feel totally confident if the U.S. were attacked while he was on a plane out over the Pacific and Sarah Palin had to handle the crisis.

Hahahahahahahahahaha...

Generation We

Times are changing... the new generation of youth will soon outnumber the baby boomers. Andrew Sullivan comments on the coming post-boomer era.

(Video link)

Looking around at life in America, it's clear we need change.

Nevada early voting update

From CNN:

Election officials in Nevada only report party registration for Clark and Washoe counties, where the major cities of Las Vegas and Reno are located. There, early voters have been trending heavily Democratic: 161,463 to 90,017.

The two counties account for about 90 percent of the state's population, and Democratic turnout is currently about 75 percent higher than turnout for Republicans, according to The Early Voting Center.

A CNN composite of several Nevada voter opinion polls released Tuesday showed Obama leading McCain by 7 percentage points -- 50 to 43 percent.

And from the Las Vegas Review-Journal:

An important part of the Obama campaign's outreach to Latinos is clarifying how voting works, she said: making sure they understand that filling out a registration form is not the same as casting a vote, that early votes count just like votes on Election Day, and that they cannot vote over the phone.

Deceptive phone calls targeting Hispanic Obama supporters in Nevada have tried to trick them into "voting" by phone and not going to the polls.

Early voting turnout continues to be high overall. Through the end of voting Monday, more than 334,000 voters had cast ballots statewide, including 242,000 in Clark County and 59,000 in Washoe County. Statewide turnout is up to 29 percent, according to the secretary of state's office.

In the urban counties, Democrats continue to turn out at higher rates than Republicans. In Clark County, 54 percent of those who voted through Monday were Democrats, 29 percent Republicans. In Washoe County, 51 percent of voters through Monday were Democrats, while 33 percent were Republicans.

Partisan statistics were not available for the 15 rural counties, home to less than 15 percent of the electorate, which tend to be heavily Republican.

HOWEVER: In Nevada, Latino and young voters are not voting early in unusually high numbers... so we've still got some work to do!

VOTE!

McCain's top economic advisor says, "Avoid McCain's health plan!"

Well, something close to that.

McCain's top economic advisor, Douglas Holtz-Eakin was once a reputable economist but now seems to just be an oracle of talking points.

He was on CNN yesterday and asked about the risk of young, healthy workers leaving their companies' health plans in order to take advantage of McCain's proposed $5000 credit for purchasing healthcare.

His response:

"Why would they leave?" he said. "What they are getting from their employer is way better than what they could get with the credit."

Vote flipping

I heard an interesting discussion of voting issues this morning (10/29) on NPR. Radio Times' Marty Moss-Coane was talking to Lawrence Norden, director of the voting technology project at the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law.

One of the topics that came up was "vote flipping" with electronic voting machines. Norden noted that all touchscreen voting machines need to be calibrated so that a touch on the screen correctly registers a vote for the right candidate. His organization has contacted states using these machines to recommend that they be re-calibrated daily since they become less accurate with use.

He also had this advice for voters: if you have this problem while voting, make sure to inform poll workers, even if you are able to resolve the problem yourself by touching a different part of the screen to correctly select your candidate. The next voter might not be as savvy.

You can download the podcast (mp3) here.

ALSO, IF YOU HAVE PROBLEMS AT THE POLLS:

Contact VOTE FOR CHANGE or the ACLU at 877-523-2792.

Some voters are actually receiving calls telling them they can vote by phone! Despicable!

In defense of progressive taxation

One of Andrew Sullivan's readers emailed him an argument in support of progressive taxation.

It reminded me of something I first said in college: namely, that the reason higher taxes for the rich are justified is that those with money are best equipped to participate in the country's economic and financial system and thus make more money.

Since a significant portion of tax revenues are spent maintaining an environment where the free market can thrive, it's only fair that those who benefit most from that system provide more in return to support it.

Check out Sullivan's reader's email here.

"Conserve more and use less"

Right now Sarah Palin is giving what has been billed as an "energy policy speech," but for a speech about energy, she sure is talking about Barack Obama a lot!

It sounds a lot like her stump speech to me, lol.

She did make one recommendation of note: "Conserve more and use less."

Nice, Sarah. :-)

For someone who attended the National Clean Energy Summit, her "policy speech" was a big yawn.

MEANWHILE, the Obama campaign has released this ad:

(Video link)

Getting out the youth vote

My stats professor is conducting an informal survey of his 18 to 24 year old students.

So far, 27% of them have voted early here in Las Vegas. :-)

Thank you, DiFi

I've always had a soft spot for former SF mayor and current California Senator Dianne Feinstein. The No on Prop 8 campaign has just released a new ad featuring the senator.

Prop 8 would amend the California constitution to define marriage as only between a man and a woman. In her ad, Feinstein says, "No matter how you feel about marriage, vote against discrimination and vote 'no' on 8."

(Video link)

Thanks, Charlie

Just heard on MSNBC that Republican Florida Governor Charlie Crist has extended early voting hours from eight hours to twelve hours a day, an effort to deal with the record turnout.

Obama in the rain

I saw Obama speaking in the rain this morning on MSNBC. But I didn't catch him from this angle.

Watch Obama Wednesday night

His thirty minute address will be at 8pm Eastern Time on NBC, CBS, Univision, BET, FOX and MSNBC.

Are you better off?

(Video link)

In his "closing argument" speech earlier this week, Obama highlighted something that I've observed over these past long eight years:

That is why what we have lost in these last eight years cannot be measured by lost wages or bigger trade deficits alone. What has also been lost is the idea that in this American story, each of us has a role to play. Each of us has a responsibility to work hard and look after ourselves and our families, and each of us has a responsibility to our fellow citizens. That’s what’s been lost these last eight years – our sense of common purpose; of higher purpose. And that’s what we need to restore right now.

Yes, government must lead the way on energy independence, but each of us must do our part to make our homes and our businesses more efficient. Yes, we must provide more ladders to success for young men who fall into lives of crime and despair. But all of us must do our part as parents to turn off the television and read to our children and take responsibility for providing the love and guidance they need. Yes, we can argue and debate our positions passionately, but at this defining moment, all of us must summon the strength and grace to bridge our differences and unite in common effort – black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American; Democrat and Republican, young and old, rich and poor, gay and straight, disabled or not.

In his speech, Obama highlighted some of the false choices that the Republicans would like you to believe exist:

We don’t have to choose between allowing our financial system to collapse and spending billions of taxpayer dollars to bail out Wall Street banks. As President, I will ensure that the financial rescue plan helps stop foreclosures and protects your money instead of enriching CEOs. And I will put in place the common-sense regulations I’ve been calling for throughout this campaign so that Wall Street can never cause a crisis like this again....

The choice in this election isn’t between tax cuts and no tax cuts. It’s about whether you believe we should only reward wealth, or whether we should also reward the work and workers who create it. I will give a tax break to 95% of Americans who work every day and get taxes taken out of their paychecks every week. I’ll eliminate income taxes for seniors making under $50,000 and give homeowners and working parents more of a break. And I’ll help pay for this by asking the folks who are making more than $250,000 a year to go back to the tax rate they were paying in the 1990s....

When it comes to jobs, the choice in this election is not between putting up a wall around America or allowing every job to disappear overseas. The truth is, we won’t be able to bring back every job that we’ve lost, but that doesn’t mean we should follow John McCain’s plan to keep giving tax breaks to corporations that send American jobs overseas. I will end those breaks as President, and I will give American businesses a $3,000 tax credit for every job they create right here in the United States of America. I’ll eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses and start-up companies that are the engine of job creation in this country....

When it comes to health care, we don’t have to choose between a government-run health care system and the unaffordable one we have now. If you already have health insurance, the only thing that will change under my plan is that we will lower premiums. If you don’t have health insurance, you’ll be able to get the same kind of health insurance that Members of Congress get for themselves....

When it comes to giving every child a world-class education so they can compete in this global economy for the jobs of the 21st century, the choice is not between more money and more reform – because our schools need both. As President, I will invest in early childhood education, recruit an army of new teachers, pay them more, and give them more support. But I will also demand higher standards and more accountability from our teachers and our schools....

And when it comes to keeping this country safe, we don’t have to choose between retreating from the world and fighting a war without end in Iraq. It’s time to stop spending $10 billion a month in Iraq while the Iraqi government sits on a huge surplus. As President, I will end this war by asking the Iraqi government to step up, and finally finish the fight against bin Laden and the al Qaeda terrorists who attacked us on 9/11. I will never hesitate to defend this nation, but I will only send our troops into harm's way with a clear mission and a sacred commitment to give them the equipment they need in battle and the care and benefits they deserve when they come home....

Full transcript here.

Campaign news

Here's a fact check from the Washington Post about McCain's latest attempt to twist Obama's words around:

In other words, Obama says pretty much the opposite of what the McCain camp says he said. Contrary to the spin put on his remarks by McCain economics adviser Douglas Holtz-Eakin, he does not express "regret" that the Supreme Court has not been more "radical." Nor does he describe the Court's refusal to take up economic redistribution questions as a "tragedy." He uses the word "tragedy" to refer not to the Supreme Court, but to the civil rights movement:

One of the tragedies of the civil rights movement was that the civil rights movement became so court focused, I think, there was a tendency to lose track of the political and organizing activities on the ground that are able to bring about the coalitions of power through which you bring about redistributive change.

Holtz-Eakin "read a different interview to the one I heard," said Dennis Hutchinson, a University of Chicago law professor who joined Obama in the panel discussion. "Obama said that redistribution of wealth issues need to be decided by legislatures, not by the courts. That is what a progressive income tax is all about."

AND HERE'S A HILARIOUS JOE BIDEN INTERVIEW... do you think that maybe this reporter isn't voting for Barack Obama? :-)

The (full) closing argument

Here is the full speech that Obama delivered in Canton, Ohio, on Monday:

(Video link)

Someone has been practicing his Spanish!

(Video link)

"In one week"

Obama makes his closing argument in Canton, Ohio. I heard the last half of the speech while sitting in my car in a Von's parking lot. Read it here...

And here are the final few minutes of the speech:

(Video link)

Make sure you get a chance to watch the whole thing... earlier in the speech Obama talks about the choices we have to make in this election. As he said, it's not about choosing between extreme positions on the issues: there's a middle way.

Obama's closing argument: advance copy

Marc Ambinder has a early release copy of the "closing argument" speech that Obama plans to give today in Canton, Ohio.

And don't forget about Obama's half hour of airtime on Wednesday during which he plans to make a final appeal for support from the American people.

Complacency watch: it's not over

Gallup reminds us that late "come from behind" victories are not unprecedented in presidential races.

How did McCain's campaign get to where it is today?

A fascinating read on the ups and downs--and internal whoopsy-do's--of McCain's campaign over the last few months.

Palin's pipeline

A natural gas pipeline from Alaska to the lower 48 is a great idea. Palin might be given some credit for it...

Except for the fact that it looks like she rigged the bidding process to benefit a company to which her administration had ties and committed Alaska to subsidize the project by half a billion dollars. Just a few years before there had been offers from pipeline companies to do the work without any taxpayer money.

And despite Palin's hype, there's no guarantee that the pipeline will be built.

Now that's straight talk you can count on.

Violating voters' rights in North Carolina

These anti-Obama protesters outside an early voting polling place are clearing violating federal law:

No person, whether acting under color of law or otherwise, shall intimidate, threaten, coerce, or attempt to intimidate, threaten, or coerce any other person for the purpose of interfering with the right of such other person to vote or to vote as he may choose, or of causing such other person to vote for, or not to vote for, any candidate for the office of President, Vice President, presidential elector, Member of the Senate, or Member of the House of Representatives, Delegates or Commissioners from the Territories or possessions, at any general, special, or primary election held solely or in part for the purpose of selecting or electing any such candidate.

(Video link)

Over 100,000 in Denver today

Check out this crowd in Denver today:

Now... don't get complacent. Vote!

Obama adds to his Spanish-language website

Read about it here; check it out here. Do you know any Spanish-speaking voters who haven't voted yet?

¡Sí, se puede!

The ninth day of early voting in Nevada

And the line is out the door at this polling place.

Early HIV treatment

After years of controversy about the respective benefits of treating patients who test positive for HIV immediately or delaying treatment until T cell counts fall to a critical level, the latest research finds that early treatment significantly reduces the chances of death in the subsequent few years.

The Anchorage Daily news speaks: no Palin

The Anchorage Daily News, Sarah Palin's hometown newspaper, has endorsed Obama for president:

Sen. McCain describes himself as a maverick, by which he seems to mean that he spent 25 years trying unsuccessfully to persuade his own party to follow his bipartisan, centrist lead. Sadly, maverick John McCain didn't show up for the campaign. Instead we have candidate McCain, who embraces the extreme Republican orthodoxy he once resisted and cynically asks Americans to buy for another four years.

It is Sen. Obama who truly promises fundamental change in Washington. You need look no further than the guilt-by-association lies and sound-bite distortions of the degenerating McCain campaign to see how readily he embraces the divisive, fear-mongering tactics of Karl Rove. And while Sen. McCain points to the fragile success of the troop surge in stabilizing conditions in Iraq, it is also plain that he was fundamentally wrong about the more crucial early decisions. Contrary to his assurances, we were not greeted as liberators; it was not a short, easy war; and Americans -- not Iraqi oil -- have had to pay for it. It was Sen. Obama who more clearly saw the danger ahead.

The unqualified endorsement of Sen. Obama by a seasoned, respected soldier and diplomat like Gen. Colin Powell, a Republican icon, should reassure all Americans that the Democratic candidate will pass muster as commander in chief....

Gov. Palin has shown the country why she has been so successful in her young political career. Passionate, charismatic and indefatigable, she draws huge crowds and sows excitement in her wake. She has made it clear she's a force to be reckoned with, and you can be sure politicians and political professionals across the country have taken note. Her future, in Alaska and on the national stage, seems certain to be played out in the limelight.

Yet despite her formidable gifts, few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time.

In a separate article, the Daily News questions Palin's "Christian nationalistic" beliefs and her connections to a church that believes in fighting witchcraft.

More of the same

The Democrats showcase a bevy of McCain surrogates who can't point to a difference between McCain and Bush when it comes to their economic policies:

Video and more on the comparison here.

AND THE OBAMA CAMPAIGN released this new ad today:

(Video link)

KVBC calls Jon Porter on his lousy, negative campaign

Congressman Jon Porter likes to slam Dina Titus in his ads but doesn't talk much about his own record. KVBC brings it up here.

Warm hands, warm heart

Scientists find a surprising link between the brain's processing of physiological and psychological experiences:

The bigger message is that very subtle cues from our environment can significantly influence behavior and feelings, said lead researcher Dr. Lawrence Williams, who conducted the study while completing his psychology graduate degree at Yale.

Physical and psychological concepts "are much more closely aligned in the mind than we have previously appreciated," said Williams, now at the University of Colorado.

Indeed, other research has found that the same brain region that processes physical temperature changes, called the insula, also processes feelings of trust and empathy associated with social warmth.

"Parts of the brain that we know process physical attributes, whether it's motor movements or physical pain -- the same circuitry more and more is seen with more mental qualities," said Dr. Caroline Zink of the National Institute of Mental Health, which funded the new research. "It's very interesting from a neuroscientist's perspective that there are those similarities."

The whole concept of social warmth is learned in infancy, Williams said. He pointed to a classic psychology study that found attachment and affection were more dependent on hugs and cuddles that happen to be physically warm than on merely ensuring a baby is fed.

Michelle Obama gave today's weekly Democratic radio address

Transcript and a cute photo of Obama here, audio of Michelle's address here.

Discord in McCain-Palin land

Oh, my. From CNN:

Several McCain advisers have suggested to CNN that they have become increasingly frustrated with what one aide described as Palin "going rogue."

A Palin associate, however, said the candidate is simply trying to "bust free" of what she believes was a damaging and mismanaged roll-out.

McCain sources say Palin has gone off-message several times, and they privately wonder whether the incidents were deliberate. They cited an instance in which she labeled robocalls -- recorded messages often used to attack a candidate's opponent -- "irritating" even as the campaign defended their use. Also, they pointed to her telling reporters she disagreed with the campaign's decision to pull out of Michigan.

A second McCain source says she appears to be looking out for herself more than the McCain campaign.

"She is a diva. She takes no advice from anyone," said this McCain adviser. "She does not have any relationships of trust with any of us, her family or anyone else.

"Also, she is playing for her own future and sees herself as the next leader of the party. Remember: Divas trust only unto themselves, as they see themselves as the beginning and end of all wisdom."

A Palin associate defended her, saying that she is "not good at process questions" and that her comments on Michigan and the robocalls were answers to process questions....

The Politico reported Saturday on Palin's frustration, specifically with McCain advisers Nicolle Wallace and Steve Schmidt. They helped decide to limit Palin's initial press contact to high-profile interviews with Charlie Gibson of ABC and Katie Couric of CBS, which all McCain sources admit were highly damaging.

In response, Wallace e-mailed CNN the same quote she gave the Politico: "If people want to throw me under the bus, my personal belief is that the most honorable thing to do is to lie there."

But two sources, one Palin associate and one McCain adviser, defended the decision to keep her press interaction limited after she was picked, both saying flatly that she was not ready and that the missteps could have been a lot worse.

They insisted that she needed time to be briefed on national and international issues and on McCain's record.

"Her lack of fundamental understanding of some key issues was dramatic," said another McCain source with direct knowledge of the process to prepare Palin after she was picked. The source said it was probably the "hardest" to get her "up to speed than any candidate in history."

Schmitt came to the back of the plane Saturday to deliver a statement to traveling reporters: "Unnamed sources with their own agenda will say what they want, but from Gov. Palin down, we have one agenda, and that's to win on Election Day."

Yet another senior McCain adviser lamented the public recriminations.

"This is what happens with a campaign that's behind; it brings out the worst in people, finger-pointing and scapegoating," this senior adviser said.

My fourth opportunity to see Obama

But the most difficulty in getting close!

Here are Obama's remarks as reported by the Las Vegas Sun:

This country and the dream it represents are being tested in a way that we haven’t seen in nearly a century. And future generations will judge ours by how we respond to this test. Will they say that this was a time when America lost its way and its purpose? When we allowed the same divisions and fear tactics and our own petty differences to plunge this country into a dark and painful recession?

Or will they say that this was another one of those moments when America overcame? When we battled back from adversity by recognizing that common stake that we have in each other’s success?

This is one of those moments. I realize you’re cynical and fed up with politics. I understand that you’re disappointed and even angry with your leaders. You have every right to be. But despite all of this, I ask of you what’s been asked of the American people in times of trial and turmoil throughout our history. I ask you to believe – to believe in yourselves, in each other, and in the future we can build together.

Together, we cannot fail. Not now. Not when we have a crisis to solve and an economy to save. Not when there are so many Americans without jobs and without homes. Not when there are families who can’t afford to see a doctor, or send their child to college, or pay their bills at the end of the month. Not when there is a generation that is counting on us to give them the same opportunities and the same chances that we had for ourselves.

We can do this. Americans have done this before. Some of us had grandparents or parents who said maybe I can't go to college but my child can; maybe I can't have my own business but my child can. I may have to rent, but maybe my children will have a home they can call their own. I may not have a lot of money but maybe my child will run for Senate. I might live in a small village but maybe someday my son can be president of the United States of America.

Now it falls to us. Together, we cannot fail. And I need you to make it happen. If you want the next four years looking like the last eight, then I am not your candidate. But if you want real change – if you want an economy that rewards work, and that works for Main Street and Wall Street; if you want tax relief for the middle class and millions of new jobs; if you want health care you can afford and education that helps your kids compete; then I ask you to knock on some doors, make some calls, talk to your neighbors, and give me your vote. In Nevada, you can vote early right here, and right now. To find out how, just go to voteforchange.com. And if you stand with me in ten days, I promise you – we will win Nevada, we will win this election, and then you and I – together – will change this country and change this world. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless America.

Nevada for Change

My man...

Wearing my candidate's shirt. :-D

A sea of people...

Waiting for Obama in Las Vegas.

Obama: "Defining Moment"

I am proud to have voted for this man:

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Palin gave her deposition Friday

Imagine: a candidate for vice president being deposed in an ethics investigation just 12 days before the election.

Sad but true...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27363638/

The New York Times endorses Obama

No surprise, but here is an excerpt from their endorsement:

This politics of fear, division and character assassination helped Mr. Bush drive Mr. McCain from the 2000 Republican primaries and defeat Senator John Kerry in 2004. It has been the dominant theme of his failed presidency.

The nation’s problems are simply too grave to be reduced to slashing “robo-calls” and negative ads. This country needs sensible leadership, compassionate leadership, honest leadership and strong leadership. Barack Obama has shown that he has all of those qualities.

Obama visits his grandmother in Hawaii

Taking a couple of days off from campaigning, Obama flew to Hawaii to visit his gravely ill grandmother who still lives in the apartment that Obama shared with his grandparents as a teenager. From the New York Times:

Thursday night’s visit to Mrs. Dunham, who will turn 86 on Sunday, lasted a little more than an hour. Mr. Obama then returned on Friday to her 10th-floor apartment, where he lived from the age of 10. Also present was his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, who lives in Hawaii. The apartment was flooded with flowers and good wishes from strangers who wrote that they had come to know her from his first book, “Dreams From My Father.”

As a light morning mist fell, the sandal-clad senator took a brief walk around his old neighborhood, a pair of sunglasses covering his eyes.

Family friends in Hawaii say Mrs. Dunham is suffering from cancer, among other ailments, but Obama advisers, told by the senator not to release any details of her condition, declined to confirm or deny those reports. She is known, however, to suffer from osteoporosis and poor eyesight.

“One of the things I wanted to make sure of is that I had a chance to sit down with her and talk to her,” Mr. Obama said Friday on the ABC News television program “Good Morning America.” “She’s still alert and she’s still got all her faculties, and I want to make sure that — that I don’t miss that opportunity right now.”

“She is getting a sense of long-deserved recognition at — towards the end of her life,” he added.

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Michael Pollan on NPR's Science Friday

If you are interested in eating healthy and/or curious about how your food ends up on your plate, I highly recommend a couple of Michael Pollan's books, The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food.

Pollan recently had an open letter to the next president in the New York Times. Today on NPR's Science Friday, he talks about how we can move from our current industrial-style of farming to a modern methods of polyculture farming that can work on the scale necessary to feed billions of people but with drastically reduced amounts of artificial fertilizer and pesticides.

Blast from the past

God bless you, Richie Cunningham:

See more Ron Howard videos at Funny or Die

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Thanks, Jack.

Campaign videos

Enjoy :-)

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"Get ready to change the world"

I just saw this slideshow posted over at the Daily Dish... watch it (and listen, there's an audio track that you must hear).

AND AS A BONUS, here's video of Obama in Richmond, Virginia, yesterday. He reminds us that there are no "real" parts of America:

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Palin has fans in Russia

OMG too frickin' funny!

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Don't forget to vote!

You don't want this to happen to you!

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Obama returns to Vegas

Obama is flying to Hawaii today to visit his maternal grandmother; she's got a broken hip and isn't doing well.

He'll be stopping in Vegas on Saturday as he returns to the campaign trail. It will probably be his last visit before the election... come out and see him! He'll be at Bonanza High School which is right across from my college.

Early Vote for Change Rally
with Barack Obama

Bonanza High School (Judy K. Cameron Stadium)
6665 Del Rey Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89146

Saturday, October 25th
Gates Open: 12:00 p.m.
Program Begins: 3:00 p.m.

Outsourcing our future

Don't talk to me about moving capital to where it can be used most "efficiently." A country's first priority has to be that it can feed itself... and that its workers can feed their families.

Companies that outsource jobs to other countries solely to maximize their profits threaten America's future.

Obama talked about outsourcing in Indiana today.

Better to work the kinks out now...

Than on election day.

Alan Greenspan is shocked!

I am somewhat shocked myself, but only because Greenspan is now admitting to be "shocked" that one of his fundamental economic assumptions has been proved wrong. Namely, that companies (banks, in particular) are motivated by profit to take risks that are detrimental to their shareholders and the economy as a whole.

And the right thinks people like Obama are naive!

Know your voting rights

Turnout is heavy in early voting across the nation, and lines are expected to be long on election day.

Make sure you know your rights... don't let anyone prevent you from casting your ballot.

UPDATE: More from the ACLU.

Obama's Dreams from My Father

I have been a strong Obama supporter for eleven months, yet I have to admit that I've never read his books.

After dinner, Victor and I stopped by a Barnes & Noble. And after browsing for half an hour, I found a copy of Obama's Dreams from My Father (published in 1995).

I flipped the book open and read a story from Obama's community organizing years. He planned a bus trip for a group of impoverished parents who wanted to meet with the head of the Chicago public housing authority to try to learn if their apartments were contaminated with asbestos. At the meeting, Obama ended up saying nothing: it was the parents who found their voice and demanded an answer.

I read these words and cried:

I changed as a result of that bus trip, in a fundamental way. It was the sort of change that's important not because it alters your concrete circumstances in some way (wealth, security, fame) but because it hints at what might be possible and therefore spurs you on, beyond the immediate exhiliration, beyond any subsequent disappointments, to retrieve that thing that you once, ever so briefly, held in your hand. That bus ride kept me going, I think. Maybe it still does.

Too big to fail?

Maybe just too big period.

I heard a great commentary from Robert Reich on NPR today:

We seem to have forgotten that the original purpose of antitrust law was also to prevent companies from becoming too powerful. Too powerful in that so many other companies depended on them, so many jobs turned on them and so many consumers or investors or depositors needed them, that the economy as a whole would be endangered if they failed. Too powerful in that they could wield inordinate political influence of a sort that might gain them extra favors from Washington.

Maybe the biggest irony today is that Washington policymakers who are funneling taxpayer dollars to these too-big-to-fail companies are simultaneously pushing them to consolidate into even bigger companies. They've prodded Bank of America to take over Merrill Lynch and Countrywide. JPMorgan to acquire Washington Mutual and Bear Stearns. And now they're urging General Motors to absorb Chrysler.

Bette Midler gets out the gay vote for Obama in Vegas

The Divine Miss M held an event for Obama at Krave nightclub in Las Vegas on Monday. I'm a bad gay and a bad Democrat... I forgot to go! :-(

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McCain the "socialist"

Here's John McCain defending a progressive tax scheme where the rich pay more:

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Now McCain and Palin are calling Obama a socialist for supporting the same thing!

Now that's straight talk you can count on! (Don't tell Joe the Plumber!!!)

Remember New Hampshire!

After Obama's surprise victory in the Iowa caucuses last January, he had a strong lead in the New Hampshire polls, and everyone thought the Democrat primaries were all but over.

Then he lost New Hampshire, and his long battle with Hillary Clinton began.

Obama may look like he has a comfortable lead again in the polls, but in politics, anything can happen.

Now is no time for complacency! Make a difference in this campaign. And vote!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27315660/

McCain's irony

I've heard a few of McCain's rallies on television and the radio. He shouts, "We're Americans, we never hide from history, we *make* history!" and I can't help but think of Obama's historic candidacy.

And when I see the McCain-Palin "Change is Coming" logo at the end of their TV ads, I smile. It certainly is!

Palin and the gays

Sarah Palin supports a federal ban on gay marriage.

Now that's one bridge to nowhere to which I'll give a great big "Thanks, but no thanks!"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27285822/

McCain once supported progressive taxes!

McCain and Palin are having a grand old time calling Obama's support for a progressive tax scheme "socialism."

Problem is... McCain defended progressive taxation eight years ago when he was last running for president. At an October 2000 townhall meeting, McCain said there was nothing wrong with people who have reached a certain comfort level paying more in taxes.

MSNBC has video:

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/10/21/1577609.aspx

Obama to visit his ailing grandmother

Obama is cancelling planned campaign stops later this week to make an unscheduled trip to Hawaii to visit his sick grandmother. Her condition is described as "very serious."

My thoughts are with them both...

Bullwinkle: No Palin, no how

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Obama: "Race will tighten"

This morning on the Today Show, Obama cautioned all of us who support to him to not get complacent. While the polls look good two weeks before election day, he warned that the race is far from over and expects the race to tighten:

“That's what happens at the end of campaigns,” the Illinois Democrat said. “Even when there are substantial leads. And in each of these battleground states, you've got a lot of close races. One of the messages that I've had to my team is that we don't let up. We do not let up.”

“You know, you remember we had those big leads. We had gotten 11 wins in a row against Senator Clinton. I think there was this sense of, ‘OK, things are kind of working out,’ and thought that we could just ride momentum. And we ended up getting our head handed to us.”

More from Politico.

So... don't stop now! Keep being persuasive with your undecided friends and family members. Keep (or start) volunteering your time.

And most of all, VOTE! If you can vote early, do it!

Bill Clinton rallies Obama supporters in Vegas

From the Las Vegas Sun:

“We are picking someone to restore the fundamentals of the credit and banking industry in America, to bring back the American dream, to fix a broken health care system, to bring our troops home from Iraq, and to restore America’s standing in the world,” Clinton said. “If that’s the job, I don’t think it’s close on who we ought to hire.”

He noted his respect for McCain, as he has throughout the campaign, but said Obama “is talking about getting the show on the road again.” He said Obama had passed his first two presidential tests: one, by picking Sen. Joe Biden as his running mate, and two, by his reaction to and understanding of the financial crisis.

“In fairness, both candidates did the right thing. They wanted to try and make it right,” Clinton said of the financial crisis. “But you saw the last two debates. Who understood it better?”

He said Obama’s careful study of the issue and his willingness to support an unpopular idea showed good judgment and leadership. “When you have to make a decision in an emergency, way more than half the time the right thing to do will not be popular in the moment,” Clinton said. “You have to be willing to be judged in the long run.”

On health care, Clinton said Obama’s plan would lead to more people being covered, allow affordable access to the congressional health plan, and include tax credits for small businesses that can’t afford to provide their employees with insurance. McCain’s plan, he said, would “drive more people into buying their own health insurance,” which he said could cover more people in the short term but was grossly inefficient and would ultimately lead to “millions more who won’t have health care.”

“Our plan is better,” Clinton said. “On this issue alone, for economic, health care and moral reasons, Barack Obama should be the next president.”

He implored the crowd to make the case for Obama to everyone they knew. “All you have to do, to have an enormous victory on Election Day, is remind people,” Clinton said. “You can’t lose this election unless people forget what it’s about ... You keep putting it out there and we’ll have a great victory.”

The article also notes heavy turnout on Nevada's first day of early voting:

On Saturday, the first day of early voting, more than 25,000 people cast ballots, shattering the previous record of 14,204 set in 2004. Democrats outnumbered Republicans by a nearly 3-to-1 margin.

Now we just need a visit from Colin Powell! ;-)

"Cold political calculation"

That's how McCain describes the addition of Sarah Palin to his ticket. Oh, my... heaven help the rest of us!

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More on McCain's robocalls

Even Fox News is calling McCain on them (and they quote a 2000 McCain statement in which he said he would never use such tactics):

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And despite what McCain said in the interview, Obama did, in fact, reject John Lewis' comparison of McCain's campaign rallies to those of George Wallace:

Senator Obama does not believe that John McCain or his policy criticism is in any way comparable to George Wallace or his segregationist policies. But John Lewis was right to condemn some of the hateful rhetoric that John McCain himself personally rebuked just last night, as well as the baseless and profoundly irresponsible charges from his own running mate that the Democratic nominee for President of the United States ‘pals around with terrorists.’ As Barack Obama has said himself, the last thing we need from either party is the kind of angry, divisive rhetoric that tears us apart at a time of crisis when we desperately need to come together. That is the kind of campaign Senator Obama will continue to run in the weeks ahead.

The Houston Chronicle endorses Obama

Their first Democratic presidential pick since 1964:

McCain has an illustrious record of service to America, first as a pilot taken prisoner by the North Vietnamese, and then with a distinguished Senate career. To his credit, he has broken with his own party in the past to fight for campaign reform, oppose the sanctioning of torture and acknowledge the threat of human-induced global warming. However, in his bid for the presidency, he has aligned himself with a more conservative political base and disappointed moderates.

Perhaps the worst mistake McCain made in his campaign for the White House was the choice of the inexperienced and inflammatory Palin as his vice-presidential running mate. Had he selected a moderate, experienced Republican lawmaker such as Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison with a strong appeal to independents, the Chronicle's choice for an endorsement would have been far more difficult.

In comments to the Chronicle editorial board during his Texas primary fight against Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama explained why he believed he would be the best choice for president.

"More than any other candidate, I could bridge some of the partisan, racial and religious divides in this country that prevent us from getting things done," said Obama. "I believe that I could attract independents and some disillusioned Republicans into a working majority to bring about change on critical issues."

Back in the spring, Obama's sentiments seemed more a hope than reality. Since then, we have watched him grow in the roles of candidate and leader, maintaining grace under fire without resorting to political expediency. He is by far the best choice to deliver the changes that Americans demand.

More newspaper endorsements here and here.

More from Powell

Colin Powell answered questions from reporters after his Meet the Press interview. He speaks about recent Republican descriptions of Obama's tax plan as "socialism" as well as the divisive nature of McCain's campaigning:

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AND FOR THE RECORD, here's the definition of socialism:

Any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods

It's hard to see how changing tax rates would meet this definition. And given that a Republican administration has just chosen to take a $150 million ownership stake in U.S. banks, these conservative pundits might first get out some Windex to clean their own glass houses...

Political junkies: a summary of early voting laws

Check it out, provide by Reed College.

No on California Proposition 8

Donations before midnight tonight will be matched by philanthropist Steve Bing.

Protect marriage rights for gays and lesbians in California... donate here.

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The Las Vegas Sun endorses Obama

Full endorsement here:

Of special interest to Nevadans are the candidates’ views on the Yucca Mountain project.

If you liked George Bush, who made the decision to make Yucca Mountain the nation’s high-level nuclear waste dump, just 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, then you’ll love McCain.

McCain can be counted on to tout his enthusiastic support for nuclear power and, with it, his gung-ho support for the Yucca Mountain project. He has voted for it previously and has supported it wholeheartedly on the campaign trail.

In contrast, Obama is opposed to Yucca Mountain — he doesn’t believe it is either safe or smart — and that opposition is critical now. The next president may be the only person who can stop the radioactive trucks and trains from coming to Nevada.

Last, it also is instructive how both Obama and McCain have run their campaigns. McCain has been erratic while Obama has displayed a cool confidence despite the McCain campaign’s efforts to rattle him with over-the-top negative attacks.

With respect to being erratic, last month McCain decided to temporarily suspend his campaign and go back to Washington, ostensibly to help bring about a compromise on a financial bailout bill Congress was working on.

All that did, however, was increase the partisan divisions on the legislation and help lead House Republicans to derail the budding compromise. It wasn’t until after McCain left Washington, and took his traveling circus with him, that Congress was able to fashion an agreement with the president. In many ways, McCain’s failed stunt came to symbolize his campaign.

Biden in Las Vegas

Joe Biden spoke in Henderson yesterday; more on his visit here and here. (Note that the video below of Biden responding to McCain's robocalls was recorded in Henderson.)

Haven't seen anything more on Bill Clinton's expected visit to Vegas today...

Tax cut calculator

Here's a quick and easy way to see what kind of tax cut you would get from the Obama and McCain tax plans.

I was running errands yesterday and listened to a McCain rally on CNN (I've got Sirius satellite radio in my car). Two things stood out to me:

1. McCain sure is working his Joe the Plumber angle for all it's worth, and it sounds to me like he's finally found a way of talking about the economy that works for him.
2. Almost every claim he made about Obama's plans were the exact opposite of what Obama has said--repeatedly--that he would do if elected president. Just outright lies and distortions. That's all it was, nothing else. He's just saying the opposite of what Obama's plans are and hope that he get away with it because there's so little time left...

COLIN POWELL ENDORSES BARACK OBAMA

This morning on Meet the Press, Colin Powell endorsed Barack Obama!!!

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Powell expressed some disappointment with John McCain's campaign as well as concern that McCain has been uncertain on the economy. He also stated that he doesn't believe Palin is ready to be VP.

On the other hand, Powell praised Obama for expressing the steadiness, intellect, and judgment to be president during this economic crisis.

Powell also takes his party to task for their handling of the issue of Obama's faith. He notes that senior Republican leaders have made references to Obama's being a Muslim and that the appropriate response is, "No, he's not a Muslim, he's a Christian."

But this is where Powell really got me because I haven't heard anyone say this:

Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in America? The answer's "No," that's not America. Is there something wrong with some seven year old Muslim-American kid believing he or she could be president?

Powell went on to talk about a picture he saw of a mother visiting the grave of her son, an American soldier who died in Iraq. On the top of the headstone was the crescent and star of the Islamic faith. He noted that the soldier was born in New Jersey and was 14 years old when the 9/11 attacks occurred. He enlisted as soon as he was old enough.

UPDATE: Marc Ambinder has some post-interview quotes from Powell here.

Those McCain robocalls

The McCain campaign is sponsoring robocalls in battleground states to try to smear Obama with the charge that Obama has worked with terrorists.

The facts: in the 90s Obama served on the board of a community organization that was working to improve education. So did Bill Ayers, a 60s radical who indeed committed acts of terrorism. But the board was set up by Reaganites and a number of Republicans were also on the board.

Obama was eight years old when Ayers committed his crimes.

Video and more on the robocalls here; more about the facts on Obama and Ayers here.

Joe Biden responds:

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