Bush's Last Press Conference A Doozy

This morning, President Bush gave his last scheduled press conference. I saw a few minutes of it and wow, he really is just horrible without his prompters (not that those make him look good anyways.) He was not only stubborn, but just plain boastful of some of his exaggerated actions that he took while in office. Among some of his key phrases that will surely make it onto the Daily Show with Jon Stewart:
"Not having weapons of mass destruction was a huge disappointment" - this is surely like a Sarah Palinesque phrase...so he's saying that if there were WMDs that could have potentially killed or injured many people, it would be a good thing?

>>>ABCNews: Bush Holds Final News Conference

"NYT": Iraq War Ends

So boasted the main headline on The New York Times copy I received outside of a subway station. At first, I walked right by, not believing for a second that the NYT would send someone handing out free copies of their paper from a bicycle. However, after my friend showed me the headline, I dashed back to obtain my copy. I could not believe it - I had not even heard a peep from 1010Wins that morning! I then noticed the date: July 4, 2009. And instead of the traditional "All the News That's Fit to Print," it instead had, "All the News We Hope to Print" in the upper left hand corner.

It was a stunt pulled by a group called the "Yes Men," a group

"Impersonating big-time criminals in order to publicly humiliate them. Targets are leaders and big corporations who put profits ahead of everything else."

1.2 million copies were claimed to be printed and distributed by thousands of volunteers. Reportedly, a few unnamed Times journalists had helped the publication. The paper was aimed at the next president to keep his promises regarding issues such as the closing of Guantanamo Bay or the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. However, most of the paper only mentioned "The president" instead of Barack Obama.

As I perused its stories, I found that it was extremely liberal, featuring headlines such as "Bush to Face Charges", "Ex-Secretary Apologizes for W.M.D. Scare", "Maximum Wage Law Succeeds" etc. I actually did wish that most of the laws and events described would happen, since it would definitely bring the United States in line with the policies of a majority of Western nations and to continue making progressive improvements. Yet I also winced at the news stories since I knew that in real life, compromises must be made in order to make progress.

>>>Read the online version of the paper
>>>New York Times description

(Published 11/28/2008)

OBAMA: #44 (3rd Post)

Speeches:
John McCain's concession speech with video
Barack Obama's acceptance speech with video

Random public reactions in NYC following the results:

• Yelling on city streets for the better part of the night, honking
• Egyptian woman, with her young daughter, talking with an acquaintance on the subway: "I have been living here for 33 years...McCain's too old...I'm glad Obama won."
• African-American woman speaking to her husband on bus: "On [Linden?] Blvd. last night, the Bloods and Crips were dancing together!"

New York Times' Electoral & National, State Election Maps

Google's election gadget:


Or run for president yourself and see what states you want to win with Yahoo's customizable election map at their Political Dashboard.

And here's what my dream electoral map for U.S. elections would be like:
Yahoo! News Political Dashboard

OBAMA: #44 (2nd Post)

When Obama mentioned during his acceptance speech at around 12 AM EST in Grant Park, Chicago, Illinois that he received a "gracious" call from McCain, his supporters applauded McCain. What a stunning difference from McCain's supporters during his concession speech. Obama also stated that there were still many obstacles to overcome that may not be resolved within the next year or in a term. He also reached out to Republicans by sympathizing with them that "he needs their help" and that every U.S. resident shares the same ideals. He also described the past 106 years of the U.S. (because there was a 106-year old Black woman voting in Atlanta, Georgia).

Some of his key phrases:
"This victory belongs to you."
"You did this because you understand the enormity of the task before us."
"That's the true genius of America. That it can change."

And some laughs:

(From: Cagle.com)

(Soon to come: complete electoral map, votes, acceptance speech?)

OBAMA: #44

Congratulations BARACK OBAMA on becoming the 44th President of the United States! He will also be the first African-American President in the U.S. The projections were made first by ABC at around 11 PM EST. Right after the projections were made, throngs of supporters in Times Square, NYC, and in Grant Park, Chicago, cheered. Many were in tears. Times Square looked nearly as crowded and ecstatic as on New Year's Eve.

In an ABC poll, 80% of those polled said that race was not a major factor in their voting decision, instead, 63% believed that the economy was the reason.

When John McCain gave his concession speech in Phoenix, Arizona at around 11:20 PM, his supporters booed when McCain first mentioned the name "Obama." McCain took it professionally and signed that he wanted them to stop. I applaud him for finally taking responsibility about the actions of his supporters. However, I still fear that many right-wing Republican conservative extremists, who were clearly upset at his speech by continually booing Obama, may be even more deeply divided from the rest of the country and may now have an even bigger reason to cause hate in this country.

Plus: reactions

• Aunt (before projection): Are you voting just because every other youth is voting? Did you hear in the news that if Obama wins, to watch out for terrorist attacks to "test" Obama? Or from white supremacists?
• Mom in a seemingly disgruntled, "Yeah-he-won-so-what-I-just-don't-plain-like-him" tone.
• Dad: Already? I just went up to take a shower and he won already?
  

VOTE! (for Obama)

This is one of the most important elections of our lifetime and after eight years of lies, deceit, and irresponsible governance by the Bush Administration, it is time for a New and Better strategy.

For the past eight years under George Bush and the Republicans, the United States has appeared as a greedy and carefree nation who only care about the rich and lets the nation's poor live a miserable life.

For the past eight years under George Bush and the Republicans, they have left the developing world to fend for itself and brushed away the actions of vicious military leaders who have committed genocide.

For the past eight years under George Bush and the Republicans, they have ballooned our national debt into the trillions and have caused our youth and future generations to not have an outlook where they will be able to retire and enjoy life.

For the past eight years under George Bush and the Republicans, they have put our children and students behind while students in the rest of the world have far exceeded us in education standards.

For the past eight years under George Bush and the Republicans, they have neglected the environment in order to put money into the oil and gas companies, and have quickened our death by rejecting international proposals to reduce our pollution and clean up our only home.

That is why
This Election Day, let us show ourselves and the world that we DO care about those who are homeless, those without health insurance, and those who have been trampled by the credit and mortgage crisis.

This Election Day, let us vote for the party that gets things done with the future in foresight while learning from our past mistakes.

This Election Day, let us vote for the candidate that will ensure that the United States' standing in the world is not blemished by ill-conceived and ill-planned wars, and that we will make sure our financial systems are amongst the best in the world.

This Election Day, let us choose the one person who will bring our nation together by regaining trust in American consumers and households by reforming our old laws and updating regulations to reflect that of today's society.

This Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, make your voice HEARD.

This Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, CHOOSE a new direction that will better our and our children's futures.

This Tuesday, November 4th, 2008, VOTE for BARACK OBAMA to be the next President of the United States of America! And vote for the Democrats in any other positions as well!

Biden-Taken Out of Context

John McCain and Sarah Palin's recent attacks on Barack Obama regarding his running mate's opinions were taken entirely out of context in order to misinform voters. Joe Biden's statement that there would be

"An international crisis, a generated crisis, to test the mettle of this guy,"

referring to Obama, meant that there would be a situation that would put up resistance to the next President. The fact is, any President will have to be "tested," especially with the current international and generated economic crises (all of the world's markets are in turmoil right now, and were generated by banks, mortgage companies, and other businesses practicing in risky actions.) Many experts are agreeing with Biden's comments, that the current world's state is not in good standing and that even McCain would be tested if he were elected (God forbid). In addition, McCain's remarks on the comments that he would "test them" instead of the other way around simply puts him in a hostile position.

>>> Think Progress: National Security Experts Agree: Biden Was Right; Enemies Likely To ‘Test’ Next President»

Bloomberg: Not Just a Mayor

Michael Bloomberg is not just New York City's widely-loved Mayor, he's a potential economic adviser to the next U.S. President as well. In an open letter published in the October 25th issue of Newsweek, he wrote to the president-elect on how he should tackle the current financial crisis. Some of his key points were:
-Reforming financial institutions and its governance,
-Energizing alternative and clean energy development and construction,
-Strengthening our immigration while allowing competitiveness,
-Investing in better education programs,
-Being tough in their stance and making sure a bipartisan agreement is in place.

The only way we can get out of this recession is by investing in our economy and future. With term limits in NYC extended to three terms recently by the City Council, Bloomberg definitely has what it takes not only to continue as the city's Mayor, but perhaps also as a counsel to the next president of the United States.

Obama for President

In the final 1.5 weeks before Election Day, the more support there is for the next president of the U.S., the better. In case you may not have noticed by now, I just wanted to make it clear that
I am supporting Barack Obama for President.
His policies and ideals will be a breather from the disgraceful past eight years.

Funny how this comes after my publicized endorsement for Bloomberg...but NYC politics are pretty important too.

(From:BarackObama.com)

2008 Presidential Debate #3 Notes

No, I unfortunately did not transcribe the 2nd presidential debate nor the vice-presidential debate. But here are the notes from the last debate.

2008 Third Presidential Debate Notes

Some Transportation Math

Wonder how your transportation system is going to be affected with the next U.S. president? (Assuming that the economy is in better shape.) Take a look at this hilarious but true transportation math.

(From Daily Kos)

What's Black and White and Read All Over?

Apparently, Palin doesn't know the answer to that. In an interview with Katie Couric of CBS' Evening News, she could not name a newspaper she read before she was nominated for the vice-presidency. Watch the awkward video here.


>>>National Post: Video: Palin on newspapers she reads: 'Um, all of them, any of them that have been in front of me'

2008 Presidential Debate #1 Notes

As promised, my notes of the first Presidential debate between Democratic nominee Barack Obama and Republican nominee John McCain held in Mississippi last Friday, September 26th.

2008 First Presidential Debate Notes

Alternate full transcript: http://www.scribd.com/doc/6256195/Presidential-Debate-Transcript

McCain Flip-Flops on Debate

I was going to post about how McCain put Obama in a tight spot earlier this week by "suspending" his presidential campaign to "work" on the bank bailout plan. However, it turns out that McCain relented flip-flopped today, and is on his way to the first presidential debate of 2008 in Mississippi tonight. I will watch it and blog about it soon after.

Historically, tonight's debate is also 150 years after Abraham Lincoln's famous debate with Stephen Douglas.

>>>ABCNews: McCain-Obama debate to go ahead

MoveOn's Research on Palin

Yesterday, I talked about how McCain's choice was a strategic move to gain some of Hillary's bitter supporters. Now, MoveOn.org has come up with some information as to how this very inexperienced conservative and likely to succeed McCain (the Obama camp called her a "heartbeat away" from the presidency) would be a bad choice for America.

>>>MoveOn.org: Who is Sarah Palin?

Another enemy of the U.S.-Whoo hoo!

It turns out that the U.S. has yet another enemy on the horizon: Serbia. Yup, after Kosovo declared their independence earlier this week, with apparent aid from the United States, the Serbians attacked the U.S. embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. But don't worry, President Bush won't be thinking about attacking them-they don't have any oil!
ABCNews-Belgrade's US Embassy Set on Fire

A Memo to Ralph Nader

Dear Ralph Nader,
Upon hearing of your establishment of a presidential exploratory committee, I must say: JUST STOP.