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Sep
24
Carnival of Ohio Politics #135 posted
Filed Under Blogging, Carnivals, Ohio, Politics | Comments Off
I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a wacky day and it’s getting wackier. Luckily, the gilded voices of the Ohio political blogosphere kept a nice bubble around me for much of the day (that and the Alka Seltzer Cold Plus I’m still consuming) and I can now give you a link to the Carnival of Ohio Politics #135.
Thanks again to the readers and contributors – now, go forth and blog some more. 
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:02 pm September 24th, 2008 in Blogging, Carnivals, Ohio, Politics | Comments Off
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Sep
24
[video] Israelis for Obama [warning: tearjerker]
Filed Under Barack Obama, Israel, Jewish, Voting, WH2008 | 12 Comments
Well, it was for me. Best. Vote Obama. Video. Ever. The views of Israel make me want to go back, though.
See more at Jewish Alliance for Change.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:52 am September 24th, 2008 in Barack Obama, Israel, Jewish, Voting, WH2008 | 12 Comments
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Sep
24
Campbell Brown to McCain camp: Stop the sexist treatment of Palin
Filed Under Barack Obama, Gender, Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Sexism, Vice President, WCPN/SOI, Women | 10 Comments
You go girl (I wrote about the sexist treatment of Palin by the McCain camp in my post, “FRAGILE! McCain campaign handles Palin’s exposure with care and sexism” more than two weeks ago):
Sure puts the screws to Katie Couric.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:57 am September 24th, 2008 in Barack Obama, Gender, Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Sexism, Vice President, WCPN/SOI, Women | 10 Comments
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Sep
23
Reason #43 to VOTE FOR Obama/Biden
Filed Under 57ReasonsObamaBiden, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin, WH2008 | 7 Comments
Because the Obama/Biden ticket has earned the moniker of being the “greener” ticket.
The Daily Green, which has the tagline, “the consumers guide to the green revolution,” posted this entry about how the League of Conservation Voters endorsed Barack Obama:
because of his record-setting plans for a clean energy future and his proven record as an environmental champion. As the party conventions highlight the differences between Senators Obama and McCain, LCV presents the Top Ten Energy and Environmental reasons why every American should vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden on November 4:
- Look to the future
Senator Obama offers the most comprehensive energy plan of any Presidential nominee in history, it will end our dependence on foreign oil and create as many as 5,000,000 jobs. Senator McCain’s plan continues the Bush Administration’s policy of appeasement to Big Oil, does nothing to reduce our dependence on oil, and isn’t as good as Paris Hilton’s.- You pollute, you pay
Obama and Biden support plan to make polluters pay for pollution credits and to clean up toxic waste. McCain wants us to foot the bill for clean-up and to give polluters billions in tax breaks and subsidies.- Keeping us healthy
Obama and Biden have fought to keep our air and water clean. McCain has voted against clean water ten times and voted six times to make it harder for states and the EPA to keep our air clean.- Listening to the scientists
The Nobel Prize-winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that America must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 in order to avoid the worst effects of global warming. Obama’s plan will reach that goal. McCain’s plan falls far short.- The record speaks for itself
Senator Barack Obama earned a lifetime environmental voting score of 86%. Senator Biden earned an 83%. Senator John McCain earned a 24% score.- Decisions are made by those who show up
In the last two years, John McCain missed EVERY SINGLE major vote on energy. One vital 2007 bill, to move billions of dollars in tax credits from the oil industry to wind, solar and other clean energy sources, failed by one vote: John McCain’s. Obama and Biden, also running for President, voted for it.- Saving money at the pump
Obama proposes to double the fuel efficiency of our cars in 18 years, reducing our oil consumption by at least 35% or 10 millions barrels per day. McCain voted against increasing fuel efficiency in 2003 and 2005. He missed the 2007 vote. Presumably, he ran out of gas.- We’re not alone
For more than 20 years, Joe Biden has been at the forefront of the fight against global warming. In 1986, he offered the first Senate bill to fight global warming pollution. Since then, he has been the Senate’s strongest voice for making America the international leader in reducing global warming pollution and exporting clean technology.- Higher standards
To create millions of new jobs, we must boost production of renewable electricity. Obama plans create 25% of our electricity from clean energy by 2025. McCain opposes any national renewable energy standard.- Judge him by his friends
Senator McCain accepted more than $2 million from the oil and gas industry, more than half of that since he changed his position on offshore drilling last month. His forthcoming plan to open America’s playgrounds and sandboxes to drilling is expected to net another $1.2 million.
You can read more about the LCV here. I didn’t realize it’s been around since 1969.
On November 4, vote for Obama/Biden.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:16 am September 23rd, 2008 in 57ReasonsObamaBiden, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin, WH2008 | 7 Comments
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Sep
22
Israel: Two steps forward, one attack back
Filed Under Foreign Affairs, Israel, Jewish, Politics | 7 Comments
Someone sent me this article earlier today and I thought, yes! That’s what I saw – this is what must happen:
Zionism needs to do more to integrate Israeli Arabs in the Jewish state, Arnold Eisen, the chancellor of The Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan, has told The Jerusalem Post.
“The time has come for Israel to imagine a role in the Jewish state not only for Jews, but for non-Jews as well,” Eisen said in a telephone interview from New York.
“I want a Zionism that does not depend on negation of the Diaspora, that is not messianic, that imagines a place for non-Jews in the Jewish state.
“Zionist theoreticians spoke mainly about Jews and I think that it is time to go beyond that in the name of a Jewish state, and create a role for minorities in the Jewish state,” he said.
Eisen spoke a day after the JTS, the flagship educational institutional organization of the Conservative Movement, hosted a conference titled, “Why Israeli Arab issues are so important to Israel’s future as a Jewish state.”
I felt so in sync for once with a leader of the movement to which my synagogue belongs.
And then, less than an hour ago, I saw a tweet from someone I know through the Haveil Havalim Jewish Blogging carnival that said something about being thankful her husband was okay. I thought this might by the reason why:
An Arab resident of east Jerusalem rammed his vehicle into a group of soldiers at a central Jerusalem thoroughfare late Monday night, wounding fifteen people, before being shot dead by an off-duty IDF officer, police and rescue officials said.
It was the third such attack in the city in as many months.
The attack took place at the city’s Kikar Tzahal near Jaffa Gate. Two of the casualties were in moderate condition, the rest were lightly hurt.
The assailant, who was driving a BMW, crashed into a group of off-duty soldiers on the sidewalk, where his car came to a grinding halt.
Jerusalem police chief Aharon Franco said that the attacker was shot dead “within seconds” by an off-duty IDF officer who was touring the city with his unit.
He added that there was no intelligence information ahead of the attack, but noted that Jerusalem was under heavy security alert due to Ramadan.
The status of East Jerusalem Arabs vis of vis being Israeli or under the Palestinian Authority is complicated, to say the least. While I believe that they are Israeli Arabs, it’s not clear to me that the JTS official meant East Jerusalem – though it doesn’t indicate that he doesn’t either.
So it is in the Middle East.
NB: Here’s a view toward the Jaffa Gate at about midnight on August 9, Tisha B’av. If you were to go to the right down the street in the photo, just in front of the people, you could walk to several roads that lead into East Jerusalem. Also, if you followed that road around to the left, further down, you would also be going into East Jerusalem, with most of it to your right.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:03 pm September 22nd, 2008 in Foreign Affairs, Israel, Jewish, Politics | 7 Comments
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Sep
22
Every Woman Counts poll released today
Filed Under Barack Obama, Cindy McCain, Jill Biden, Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin | 2 Comments
MarketWatch has the full press release here – no link yet at LifeTime.
According to the survey, neither Barack Obama/Joe Biden nor John McCain/Sarah Palin has secured a clear majority of women, the voting bloc that has decided every presidential election since 1968, and is poised to pick the next Oval Office holder. Obama/Biden garnered 47% to McCain/Palin’s 45%. With less than two months to go until Election Day, 7% of women are firmly undecided.
Women are Split Between the Two Tickets on Key Presidential Attributes:
– Readiness to Lead the Country: McCain/Palin edged out Obama/Biden by four percentage points, 47% to 43%. McCain/Palin won this measure among White women by 19 points, while Obama/Biden won Blacks by an 81 point margin.
– Will Help Middle Class the Most: Obama/Biden led McCain/Palin 57% to 32%. The margin was greatest among 18-34 year-olds (75% to 20%), while 35-44 year-olds favored the Democratic ticket by only two statistically insignificant points (47% to 45%). White women favored Obama/Biden by ten points.
– Will Bring About Change the Country Needs: Obama/Biden were considered the change agents 51% to 37% over McCain/Palin. However, White women, married women and Independents gave McCain/Palin the edge.
– Will Reform the Way Washington Does Business: Obama/Biden had a seven point edge over McCain/Palin, 47% to 40%.
– How Best to Handle Iraq: By identical 14-point margins, each of the major presidential tickets won the message wars on their positions on Iraq. In this split-sampled question, McCain/Palin was deemed best to “win” the war (50%-36%), while Obama/Biden was judged most equipped to “end” it (51%-37%).
– Understanding Women and What is Most Important to Them: In Lifetime’s late July Every Woman Counts poll, Barack Obama handily beat John McCain 52% to 18% with 11% volunteering “neither” to this question. Just six weeks later, and with the addition of Sarah Palin to the Republican ticket, McCain/Palin has dramatically reversed those fortunes, now in a virtual tie with Obama/Biden, 44%-42%.
Too much to pick apart but nothing stuck out as a surprise, even if not representative of my views.
Oh – one thing. There were no questions that elicited or offered any responses related to the First Dude aka Todd Palin – even though we got poll info on Michelle Obama, Cindy McCain and Jill Biden.
What should they have asked, or how might they have framed the questions to include him? Shouldn’t they have? Hmm. I don’t know.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:41 pm September 22nd, 2008 in Barack Obama, Cindy McCain, Jill Biden, Joe Biden, John McCain, Sarah Palin | 2 Comments
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Sep
22
Ecodriving – if I can do it, you can do it
Filed Under Energy, Environment, Politics, Resources, Science, Tech, Transportation | 7 Comments
I’m not known for being the most wasteful person, but I’m also not nearly as conscientious as I should be, and certainly not as conscientious as, if I had to estimate, most of the people I know.
So it’s not surprising to think that I’m dead center of efforts to do better in matters of ecology, economy, energy and environment: I’m politically engaged and I have kids who will hopefully model good behavior (never bad, of course). One such effort that recently made its debut is Ecodrivingusa.com. Given the fact that, just today, a barrel of oil just went from $130 (a $25 dollar jump just today), the matter of reducing how much gas I need to run my car is no roll-your-eye matter. I shlep, a lot and that means I pay, a lot. I’m getting better at carpooling but that’s just not enough, when you just know that there is so much more that any one of us could be doing.
Some folks that have already written about ecodriving include the California blog, Calitics (which juxtaposes how John McCain made fun of Barack Obama’s suggestion about checking your tires air pressure only to have the governator himself suggest the very same). You can also read what the sponsors of ecodrivingusa.com (Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers) have to say at a special post they did at Think Progress. Here’s an excerpt:
Ecodriving is a public education and awareness initiative aimed at providing consumers with tips to show how regular vehicle maintenance combined with simple changes in driving habits can lead to significant improvements in fuel economy and reductions in automobile carbon dioxide emissions. Ecodriving is practiced in other parts of the world and is proven to provide fuel economy improvements as much as 15 to 20 percent. With gas prices at record highs and growing concern over climate change, ecodriving provides direct pocketbook benefits to consumers, and give them tools to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. [emphasis in original]
Now, I learned about this site from a young, hip friend of mine involved in the launch – and if it wasn’t for her, it would very well be something I’d click past. Bad, bad, bad, I know. This is why I feel so lucky that a few cool people from the younger generations have taken pity on me.
But the reality is that I’ve now passed the ecodriving site on to the Mr. Fix-it in my household who maintains the cars. The site is extremely viewer and user-friendly, has fun gadgets on the site (a virtual road test and an ecocalculator ) that help you figure out what you are (and are not) contributing to, and a state and local action outline, including a letter you can send to the governor asking that your state get involved in ecodriving.
And, as I think about the effort, I think: the automakers would much prefer that we keep buying cars than not buying them at all. So, to the extent that we can be made to feel that they aren’t killing our budgets, us or the world around us, if we become ecodrivers, they get to play for time longer, as alternative fuel sources and more ecologically and economically desirable modes of travel develop. I’ll never forget learning in fifth grade social studies: our resources are finite.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:08 pm September 22nd, 2008 in Energy, Environment, Politics, Resources, Science, Tech, Transportation | 7 Comments
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Sep
22
Talking heads say: Obama advisors give sense of security, McCain’s personality makes us fearful
Filed Under Barack Obama, Economy, Government, John McCain, Media, Politics, WH2008 | 3 Comments
This post and the video clip from yesterday’s This Week roundtable (available in full here) are must-read and must-see. When people like George Will, Cokie Roberts (she of the Obama’s going to Hawaii is too foreign and too exotic) and Sam Donaldson are speaking this way about John McCain’s continuing inability to be consistent with his own past actions (hero of deregulation now saying that he would be “the toughest re-regulator”) and to substitute, as Will says, vehemance for coherence, I’d guess that the alarm bells are going off all over the place.
That vehemance for coherence thing – so not where a person you’re supposed to see as president, let alone a moderate or independent, should be going. IT’S LIKE TYPING IN ALL CAPS the same thing you just said in little caps: still doesn’t convince anyone about anything. Just makes them think you might be a little adamant, and nutty.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:51 am September 22nd, 2008 in Barack Obama, Economy, Government, John McCain, Media, Politics, WH2008 | 3 Comments
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Sep
22
[updated] Reason #44 to VOTE FOR Obama/Biden
Filed Under 57ReasonsObamaBiden, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain, Politics, Science, WH2008 | 1 Comment
Because Barack Obama’s ideas for how to strengthen our country in regard to multiple science-related issues are specific, achievable and well-targeted.
One way to assess the candidates when it comes to science is now available here: answers to 14 very specific and critical questions asked by the group behind Science Debate 2008 (notice in their righthand sidebar just how much press has now been given to the candidates’ science proposals since the 14 questions and answers were published). I’ve been following Science Debate 2008 since January. When you consider how little focused attention has been given to science-related issues, it’s amazing. The Science Debate website states that they whittled down 3400 questions to the current 14 that have been answered by GOP presidential candidate John McCain and his opponent, Barack Obama.
Last week, the answers from the two candidates were posted side-by-side here. You can also click on any one topic and also view the answers for just one candidate at a time. The topics covered are:
Innovation
Climate Change
Energy
Education
National Security
Pandemics and Biosecurity
Genetics
Stem Cells
Ocean Health
Water
Space
Scientific Integrity
Research
Health
[I'll also plug the Science Debate 2008's convention next month, Innovation 2008, in Minnesota, October 20-21. Among the speakers are our previously own Lawrence Krauss and Ira Flatow - which is enough to entice me to go - but science can be a bit like economics for me and I'm thinking this just can't be a high priority. However, given that it's so science-y, hopefully they'll have livestreams or something. There are some great science bloggers too - hope they do something for or with them.] Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:55 am September 22nd, 2008 in 57ReasonsObamaBiden, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain, Politics, Science, WH2008 | 1 Comment
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Sep
21
A spring 2008 survey by the Pew Research Center’s Pew Global Attitudes Project finds 46% of the Spanish rating Jews unfavorably. More than a third of Russians (34%) and Poles (36%) echo this view. Somewhat fewer, but still significant numbers of the Germans (25%) and French (20%) interviewed also express negative opinions of Jews. These percentages are all higher than obtained in comparable Pew surveys taken in recent years. In a number of countries, the increase has been especially notable between 2006 and 2008.
Great Britain stands out as the only European country included in the survey where there has not been a substantial increase in anti-Semitic attitudes. Just 9% of the British rate Jews unfavorably, which is largely unchanged from recent years. And relatively small percentages in both Australia (11%) and the United States (7%) continue to view Jews unfavorably.
Who, specifically, doesn’t like Jews or Muslims?
A notable parallel between anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish opinion in Western Europe is that both sentiments are most prevalent among the same groups of people. Older people and those with less education are more anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim than are younger people or those with more education. Looking at combined data from France, Germany and Spain – the three Western European countries where unfavorable opinions of Jews are most common – people ages 50 and older express more negative views of both Jews and Muslims than do those younger than 50. Similarly, Europeans who have not attended college are consistently more likely than those who have to hold unfavorable opinions of both groups.
Any parallels to where one is on the political spectrum?
There are some political parallels too. Anti-Muslim and anti-Jewish opinions are most prevalent among Europeans on the political right. For example, among respondents from France, Germany and Spain who place themselves on the political right, 56% express a negative view of Muslims, compared with 42% of those on the left and 45% of those in the center. Similarly, 34% of people on the political right have a negative opinion of Jews, compared with 28% of those on the left and 26% of centrists.
Additional findings after the jump. Go to the site for some good graphs. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:40 pm September 21st, 2008 in Jewish, Politics, Religion | Comments Off
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Sep
21
Two live-blogs of Obama call with 900 rabbis, wishing L’shana tovah
Filed Under Barack Obama, Israel, Jewish, Judaism, leadership, Politics, Religion, WH2008 | Comments Off
Here’s a great live-blog, by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg, of the conferene call Senator and Democratic candidate for president Barack Obama had on Wednesday, September 17. Here’s one (by a rabbinical student who supports Obama) of many entries by Jewish bloggers that reveal their feelings about the call and Obama. Here’s Jake Tapper’s take on ABC’s blog, Political Punch (I love that he relies on Rabbi Ruttenberg’s live-blog so much!). And here’s another rabbi’s take as he live-blogs (I think he’s a rabbi from how he phrases the post but I could be wrong):
I have the honor of joining 900 other rabbis from across North America on a conference call with Senator Barack Obama. He is speaking as I write and so want to convey the immediacy of his message. This call was arranged by the Obama Campaign’s Jewish Outreach professionals. One of the arrangers, the New York Board of Rabbis, is trying to get Senator John McCain on a call with rabbis as well.
He was introduced by Rabbi Sam Gordon (Reform), co-chair of Rabbis for Obama and Rabbi Elliot Dorf (Conservative), who presented one of the most moving sermons about the state of our country I ever heard (and certainly on a conference call!)
Jews loved Bill Clinton. I have to say, Obama goes even further. This is a man who knows us and loves us.
…
After 56 minutes, Obama wished us all a Sweet New Year and said that at this critical election in our country’s history, “we’re at a defining moment in our history and we need to get it right.”
That was an historic moment. 900 rabbis signed off.
You can see why it’s difficult for Jews like myself who support Obama and know so many other Jews who support Obama to understand how another Jew can say, “I don’t know how you can support Obama!”
After the jump is the letter authored by Jewish Outreach Coordinators for the Obama campaign, about the conference call. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:18 pm September 21st, 2008 in Barack Obama, Israel, Jewish, Judaism, leadership, Politics, Religion, WH2008 | Comments Off
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Sep
21
Reason #45 to VOTE FOR Obama/Biden
Filed Under 57ReasonsObamaBiden, Barack Obama, Economy, Politics, WH2008 | 3 Comments
Because a survey of over 500 economists concluded that they prefer Barack Obama more than 2:1. And that information was collected before this past week’s financial crises occurred.
The story about the survey is here. Some background:
At considerable personal expense, I [Scott Adams] commissioned a survey of over 500 economists, drawn from a subset of the members of the American Economic Association, a nonpolitical group, some of whose members had agreed in advance to be surveyed on economic questions.
The results do not represent the economic association’s position. The survey was managed by The OSR Group, a respected national public opinion and marketing research company.
And here’s even more background from Adams, so you can decide for yourself just how much to eschew the survey. There are several important notes he mentions that you may want to take into account.
The general result:
Overall, 59 percent of our economists say Obama would be best for the economy long term, with 31 percent picking McCain, and 8 percent saying there would be no difference.
FYI, Greg Mankiw, President Bush’s former head of the Council on Economic Affairs, is the head of the AEA. He’s written several blog posts and op-eds related to this year’s presidential candidates and economics and did a brief post about the survey. Here’s one from this summer in which Mankiw argues that “On the issue of dividend taxation, Barack Obama may be the candidate with the best chance of preserving George Bush’s legacy.”
On November 4, vote for Obama/Biden.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:05 pm September 21st, 2008 in 57ReasonsObamaBiden, Barack Obama, Economy, Politics, WH2008 | 3 Comments
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Sep
21
Palin absent another Sunday news show cycle (update: while also absent from AK)
Filed Under Campaigning, Politics, Sarah Palin, Vice President, WH2008 | 10 Comments
From reading Politico’s rundown, no sign of Alaska Governor and GOP candidate for vice president Sarah Palin again. This is the fourth Sunday since John McCain announced that she would be his running mate.
Added in: The concerns that Alaskans are voicing about the perceived infiltration of the Alaskan government by the McCain campaign is in part why I’m very glad that Ted Strickland refused to consider being Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama’s running mate:
Local residents say they resent the way the campaign of her running mate, GOP presidential nominee John McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, has allegedly co-opted the apparatus of the Alaska statehouse, screening calls from constituents and reporters and advising how to deal with the so-called “Troopergate” investigation, The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday.
…
Anchorage Daily News wrote an editorial Saturday reading in part: “Why did the McCain campaign take over the governor’s office? Is it too much to ask that Alaska’s governor speak for herself, directly to Alaskans, about her actions as Alaska’s governor?”
Alaska Democrats, who were instrumental in helping Palin pass several important reforms in her two years as governor, told the Times her partisan actions as a vice presidential nominee have put an effective end to that partnership.
Here’s a link to the ADN editorial that is reference by UPI. It’s titled, “Abdication by Palin: When did the McCain campaign take over the governor’s office?”.
The appropriate question I suppose would be to ask how people in Delaware feel about Senator Joe Biden’s activities. But that’s not really apples to apples since there is still another senator (Thomas Carper (D)) and, as the McCain/Palin campaign likes to tell us, even though it doesn’t sway me much, unlike senators or legislators, governors have executive office duties. I guess in the end its really a matter of how the voters and residents of any one candidate’s state feel.
How would you feel?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:59 am September 21st, 2008 in Campaigning, Politics, Sarah Palin, Vice President, WH2008 | 10 Comments
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Sep
21
Haveil Havalim #183 (Carnival of Jewish Blogging) posted
Filed Under Blogging, Carnivals, Israel, Jewish, Judaism, Voting, Writing | Comments Off
My sympathies go out to Jack, the host of this week’s Haveil Havalim #183 at his blog, Random Thoughts-Do They Have Meaning?. I know how aggravating it is to lose writing, but especially when you are editing a carnival, that requires cutting and pasting and inserting links etc.
Lots happening in Israel and beyond. I highly recommend this carvnival if you want to know about things you might not otherwise ever encounter.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:40 am September 21st, 2008 in Blogging, Carnivals, Israel, Jewish, Judaism, Voting, Writing | Comments Off
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Sep
21
How people I meet are voting, 9/21/08 edition
Filed Under Barack Obama, Campaigning, Elections, Hillary Clinton, Israel, Joe Biden, John McCain, Politics, Sarah Palin, Voting, WH2008 | 2 Comments
I first wrote about this topic on September 6, and then yesterday I wrote a bit more about my experience at the Obama campaign office.
In the meantime, Jeff Hess of Have Coffee Will Write has been posting a blog entry everyday since September 6 called, “Why Vote For Your Candidate…” and at least a few people have taken the time to answer the question.
Now, I’d like to add a few more voices I’ve listened to and debated with.
Late last week, I met, for the first time, two Jews from NE Ohio who not only think that Barack Obama is a Muslim, but they think he wants to or will be happy to let Israel be destroyed. One of these two individuals is a Holocaust survivor who survived being buried alive with others who had been shot dead and, as I listened to this individual express distaste for Obama and admiration of Sarah Palin, I decided that to discuss my impressions of those two candidates would involve more intervention than I could muster and probably wasn’t going to be a productive thing, so I cut my losses and focused on other discussion. This voter had voted for Hillary Clinton in the Ohio primary.
The other individual is a Democrat who is Jewish and also believes that Obama is a Muslim and cares nothing for Israel. This person had voted for Hillary and expressed great disgust when I mentioned that I’d been making calls for Obama. This person told me that it was unimaginable that any Jew could support Obama – and claimed to not know any Jews who supported Obama.
I went silent for a minute. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:14 am September 21st, 2008 in Barack Obama, Campaigning, Elections, Hillary Clinton, Israel, Joe Biden, John McCain, Politics, Sarah Palin, Voting, WH2008 | 2 Comments
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Sep
20
Update on 9/22 San Francisco anti-Iran protest
Filed Under Foreign Affairs, OH17, Ohio, Politics, Voting | 4 Comments
Earlier today, I posted an excerpt of this blog post which contained information about a coalition of individuals and groups in San Francisco who have scheduled a press conference, “to protest the Iranian nuclear threat and the appearance of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad scheduled next week at the United Nations.” The information in the post goes on to say that certain speakers have been confirmed and one of the speakers they list is Ohio State Representative Josh Mandel.
I’ve been contacted by Rep. Mandel’s office and informed that he will not be in San Francisco for that event and is not speaking at that event and I appreciate being called and given that information.
In addition, I took issue with the information in the blog post that re-states Mandel’s role in Ohio pension divestment actions and asserts that he helped make divestment a requirement on the funds, despite there being no such requirement in Ohio law. I also took issue with Mandel being out of state given the news this week that our jobless rate has climbed to 7.4%.
To the extent the blog post is incorrect (that Mandel won’t be at the protest and that Ohio pension funds are not required to divest but are currently operating under a written agreement with Speaker of the Ohio House Jon Husted), I’ve urged Rep. Mandel’s office to please make contact with the blog author and get the item corrected since, as we know, the Internet has a life of its own once you start googling someone’s name.
What I didn’t ask but am checking on is whether Rep. Mandel is instead going to the New York rally called The Rally to Stop Iran (the one that Hillary Clinton was going to, then Sarah Palin was going to, then Clinton wasn’t and then Palin wasn’t). When I know, I’ll update.
Many thanks to Mandel’s office for contacting me – I’m sorry I forgot to follow up and ask about whether he’s going to NYC for the UN rally.
UPDATE: According to Rep. Mandel’s staff, he will not be at the UN rally either. Thanks again for the assist.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:19 pm September 20th, 2008 in Foreign Affairs, OH17, Ohio, Politics, Voting | 4 Comments
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Sep
20
Urgent bank bailout advice: What we need to do, now
Filed Under Cleveland+, Economy, Government, Ohio, WH2008 | 2 Comments
I’m not someone who sends my stuff out to Ohio bloggers expecting or even hoping that they’ll pick it up. I know better – you just don’t do that unless it’s something that is, to you, critical. And even then, you know sometimes people will post, sometimes not.
So it’s with great urgency and honor that I am linking to and posting part of Clevelander Bill Callahan’s Callahan’s Cleveland Diary entry about the bank bailout. Bill knows what he’s talking about and people in Cleveland and around Ohio, in government and on the street, know that he does too. You’d be well-advised to read what he has written and if you agree and/or it makes sense to you, please – spread the word. (This also is a great example of the value of knowing who to consult – Bill is the best.)
Here’s the post and here’s an excerpt:
Last night we learned that the Chairman of the Federal Reserve and the Secretary of the Treasury want to create a new Resolution Trust Corporation to take billions and billions of dollars worth of “illiquid mortage-related assets” off the hands of the banking industry. They’re going to “work through the weekend” to have the whole plan on Congress’ desk Monday morning.
Today we learn that the bailout they have in mind is going to cost at least “hundreds of billions”, or maybe $500 billion to a trillion, or maybe “an $800 billion fund to purchase so-called failed assets and a separate $400 billion pool at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to insure investors in money-market funds.” And we learned that the Treasury Secretary has started calling it a “troubled asset recovery program”, or TARP, rather than an RTC… which is appropriate, as Calculated Risk points out, because “the TARP is intended to cover all of Wall Street’s sins.”
Outrageous as it sounds, it seems clear that this is going to happen. (Now that it’s been proposed and the Treasury and Fed have said it’s urgently needed, can you imagine the financial-market bloodbath that will ensue if it doesn’t? Not to mention this nonsense.) So communities on the ass end of this crisis, like Cleveland, had better act quickly to make sure the TARP is designed to help recover our troubled assets, too. Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:51 am September 20th, 2008 in Cleveland+, Economy, Government, Ohio, WH2008 | 2 Comments
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Sep
20
Reason #46 to VOTE FOR Obama/Biden
Filed Under 57ReasonsObamaBiden, Barack Obama, Economy, John McCain, Politics, WH2008 | 4 Comments
Because Obama knows when and who to ask for help.
Now, I haven’t always liked the people Obama has chosen to be around him and inform him. Samantha Power is a good example of someone with whom I’m not sympatico.
But during this past financial week, when it became clear that both candidates needed to bone up and figure out what the specifics of a bailout and a rescue and a change of course needed to look like, there was one person that Obama went to that I consider to be a pre-eminent individual in the world of business: Warren Buffett. Buffett’s stock with me went up enormously when he handed over his money to Bill Gates. For philanthropic purposes. It’s always been my dream to direct philanthropic resources but if it’s not going to be me, Bill Gates will do.
Basically, I am in agreement with David Brooks and E.J. Dionne in this NPR clip from yesterday: neither Obama or John McCain are economic wonks – but then again, with the exception of Bill Clinton, I don’t recall who the last president was who had a facile understanding, on their own, of economics (of course, we did pretty well under Clinton as I remember but I digress – then again, hmm – oh well – too late this go-round). But, as you hear the two commentators discuss, Obama’s strength is in the people he goes to – and I feel strongly about that when it comes to nearly all the issues.
The connections, the retro-nature, the whiteness of these advisors – all things to learn about, consider and possibly take issue with. But as a general rule, I am 100% more confident in how and who Obama chooses to consult than John McCain.
I will only point to the difference in how and who and why they choose the running mates they did.
On November 4, vote for Obama/Biden.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 11:36 am September 20th, 2008 in 57ReasonsObamaBiden, Barack Obama, Economy, John McCain, Politics, WH2008 | 4 Comments
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Sep
20
The ink is black, the paper is white, together we learn to read and vote?
Filed Under Barack Obama, Campaigning, Democrats, Elections, John McCain, Politics, Poll, Race, Republicans, Sexism, Voting, WH2008 | 5 Comments
More evidence that yes, Virginia, there is still racism in the world. I haven’t read it thoroughly but the impact of prejudice is playing out most seriously among people who vote for or consider themselves Democrats:
The pollsters set out to determine why Obama is locked in a close race with McCain even as the political landscape seems to favor Democrats. President Bush’s unpopularity, the Iraq war and a national sense of economic hard times cut against GOP candidates, as does that fact that Democratic voters outnumber Republicans.
The findings suggest that Obama’s problem is close to home — among his fellow Democrats, particularly non-Hispanic white voters. Just seven in 10 people who call themselves Democrats support Obama, compared to the 85 percent of self-identified Republicans who back McCain.
The survey also focused on the racial attitudes of independent voters because they are likely to decide the election.
Lots of Republicans harbor prejudices, too, but the survey found they weren’t voting against Obama because of his race. Most Republicans wouldn’t vote for any Democrat for president — white, black or brown.
Not all whites are prejudiced. Indeed, more whites say good things about blacks than say bad things, the poll shows. And many whites who see blacks in a negative light are still willing or even eager to vote for Obama.
Please note that the article says, “the survey found they [Republicans] weren’t voting against Obama because of his race. Most Republicans wouldn’t vote for any Democrat for president — white, black or brown.” Read more
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:55 am September 20th, 2008 in Barack Obama, Campaigning, Democrats, Elections, John McCain, Politics, Poll, Race, Republicans, Sexism, Voting, WH2008 | 5 Comments
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Sep
19
RJC’s “message test” on Jews heavily debated by Dems, GOP
Filed Under Barack Obama, Campaigning, Ethics, Jewish, John McCain, Ohio, Politics, Poll, Voting, WH2008 | Comments Off
This post updates this post I wrote earlier this week about the allegations that someone/some group has been conducting push polls of voters who are Jewish. Although Dems and GOP pollsters agree that the poll sponsored by the Republican Jewish Coalition was not a push poll intended to spread negative imagery and ideas about Barack Obama, the debate about its acceptability continues.
An excerpt from a lengthy JTA article:
Democratic pollster Mark Mellman, who was John Kerry’s pollster during the 2004 presidential campaign, said the lengthy list of questions appears to indicate that the survey was designed to test messages and “did not meet the definition of a push poll,” which usually lasts for a much shorter time than a regular survey, since the point is to spread the negative message to as many people as possible.
While clearing the RJC of the push poll claim, Mellman said it appears the organization was testing messages that wouldn’t stand up to scrutiny — and that he wouldn’t test as a pollster.
“There’s a line between basically accurate and basically deceptive,” Mellman said, “and they crossed that line.”
“I test messages, he’s testing lies,” said the executive director of the National Jewish Democratic Council, Ira Forman.
He said that many of the questions that those polled say they were asked started with a “grain of truth” but omitted important context or twisted the meaning of certain facts. Forman said he would not detail the types of messages he tests.
Read the rest for the back and forth. I’d say that if Mellman says he wouldn’t do it, that’s a pretty good sign of how close it was to a push poll. On the other hand, that’s Mark Mellman – so – I don’t know – do some folks think he would do it, or has in the past? I am not that familiar with his history though I know he is very well-known.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 2:23 pm September 19th, 2008 in Barack Obama, Campaigning, Ethics, Jewish, John McCain, Ohio, Politics, Poll, Voting, WH2008 | Comments Off
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