Political Psychology

I have followed Kohlberg's stages of moral development often in looking at politics and conservative morality. Paul Rosenberg writes that for politics I should follow a Kohlberg student Robert Kegan's theories of social maturity, perhaps a less loaded term than morality.

Tags: maturity, morality, politics, conservatives

Texas 2008 Round-Up #8

It's Monday, and exactly one week and one day before the all-important March primary. This week's round-up is compiled by Vince from Capitol Annex.

TXsharon has a broken modem so Bluedaze is suffering but she managed to post about The RRC's approval of Atmos Energy's extravagant spending--bendover Texans. Also read about how Phil King meets Karma in Wise County and hear the horrendous sounds of the Barnett Shale.

Off the Kuff offers his incomplete list of endorsements for the Democratic primaries, and for his birthday rounds up his complete list of candidate interviews.

Gary at Easter Lemming Liberal News has blogged an eventful week or two climaxing with Paul Burka becoming a believer in the Obama Borg - Democrats can take back Texas. Wow.

Over at McBlogger Mayor McSleaze commemorates Kirk Watson's Deer In The Headlights Moment while McBlogger, beverage in hand, watches the Debate and puts the smackdown on wingnuts still drinking the school voucher Kool-Aid

The Texas Cloverleaf makes it back safely from Oklahoma City and discusses the National Stonewall Democrats meeting there, as well as the upcoming LGBT Presidential Town Hall in Dallas on Monday night.

PDiddie at Brains and Eggs had a report on Obama's visit to Houston last Tuesday, and also noted the end of the Fidel Castro era in Cuba. Open Source Dem had part three of his "Texas in Play" series, entitled "Jim Crow Lives".

Hal, who writes Half Empty, went to early vote last Wednesday and has some poll observations and some Fort Bend County stats.

Bill Howell of StoutDemBlog reminds us of some Texas election history that is relevant for this year's Democratic Primary, in Don't Be Confused By Names.

Muse was at the Bill Clinton fundraiser in Houston this week where she fulfilled a lifelong dream to touch him – handshake! She notes that not all college students are for Obama – witness the Daily Texan endorsement for Hillary. And, she receives an email where Obama encourages Republicans to crash the Democratic primary, to vote against the bad, scary Hillary. More Hillary stuff coming this week on musings!

WhosPlayin tries to explain the "Obama Movement", and has a run-down of which Texas blogs are endorsing Clinton or Obama.

Vince at Capitol Annex notes that the Texas Democratic Party has instructed county and precinct officials not to interpret election results for the media or political campaigns, and asks if national Democrats will still respect us (or call or visit) after March 4.

Tags: Texas, liberal news, progressive, blogs, bloggers

America's Water Torture Debate - 100 years ago

Same as it ever was, a rush to Empire leads to torture against insurgents and a debate in America. Ultimately the White House declared victory and the media turned away from unpleasant questions.

Obama

Probabaly the best post about the complexities of Obama is the book review of The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream written before he was a candidate. The current reviews of several books now that he is the candidate and the front runner provides a little more.

Tag: Obama

Holy Sh**!

Paul Burka conversion:

Barack Obama's personality and his message are dominating politics nationwide. The last candidate to stir this kind of feeling was Ronald Reagan in 1980 and before him Bobby Kennedy in 1968. Veteran political observers like me can roll our eyes over someone running for president on a platform of "Hope" and "Change," but nothing is so powerful as an idea, even a vague one, whose time has come. Obama is riding the whirlwind, and if he can make the moment last until November, it is going to sweep out the Republicans, even in Texas. These numbers are so overwhelming, and the fifteen counties have such a large fraction of the state's registered voters -- 7,815,906 of 12,607,466, or 62% -- that what happens in other 239 counties is unlikely to alter the trend. These numbers have made me a believer. Rick Noriega could defeat John Cornyn. The Democrats can win a majority in the Texas House of Representatives. The consummate irony is that George W. Bush, who made Texas a Republican state on his way in to the presidency, may make it a Democratic state on his way out.

Wow, just the other day I had a post, and comment, criticizing Paul Burka's coverage of the Democratic debate.

Viva Obama! A lot of interesting posts because of things happening this week, this month - you do read them all - right? Burka's assimilation into the Obama Borg collective and his prediction that Democrats can take back Texas is the unexpected topping. Experienced Houston Chronicle political columnist Rick Casey has also just already called the Texas primary election - for Obama.

Vote early, We are going to have enough work on our hands the fourth for the less smart people who don't. Just come back at 7 PM to caucus.

Tags: Texas, Paul Burka, election, primary, Obama, Clinton, Democrats

Portrait of the Last Days of a Campaign

Unlike the Republicans, Democrats face reality but soldier on as Hillary is doing.

Portrait of a winning campaign in Texas - Obama defends liberal label in Austin. Woos Young Latinos at UT.

Latest EV analysis - Democrats clearly should go with Obama.

The Real McCain

Often not a pretty sight. Campaign Finance Reformer Has the Most Lobbyists Raising Campaign Money.

When it comes to disclosing how much lobbyists are raising for his presidential campaign, however, the group found that McCain has fallen short, even by standards set by the Bush/Cheney 2004 campaign which voluntarily disclosed on its Web site the names of bundlers who raised at least $100,000 and $200,000.

McCain scores zero on the environment and many recent McCain video moments.

McCain as a liar with many connections to lobbyists.

In journalism, it’s a safe bet that if you write a story with the suggestion that a prominent male politician is bedding an attractive female lobbyist, whatever other point you hoped to make will be overlooked.

Tags: John McCain, loser, election, 2008

I Can't Argue with Logic Like This

This just goes to show that Obama only wins in states that hold contested elections. Sure, he wins big in caucus states, he wins big in primary states, he wins big when turnout is low, and he wins big with record-high turnout. But what the Obama-worshipping media is overlooking is that in each of the 25 state contests Obama has won so far, his name appeared on the ballot. It's time to stop giving Obama a pass on this critical issue.

Remember, if Hillary Clinton wins the Democratic nomination, Barack Obama's name will not be on the ballot in November. And only Hillary Clinton has demonstrated that she can win when Obama's name is not on the ballot. In fact, she's undefeated in contests where Obama is not on the ballot, making her clearly the more electable general-election candidate. - Rhubarbs.

I've pointed out before

Most of the right-wing chicken-hawks don't know anything about the military or war but scream like their personal privates are on fire upon any criticism of our glorious leader and his military commanders and the men at war.

The mighty fighting Keyboard Kommandos have put down their G.I. Joe dolls and sprung into action yet again defending the purity and strength combat readiness of the modern G.I.s after Obama related what an Army captain told him about the lack of men and equipment in Afghanistan. I like pointing to former Republicans like John Cole for some of these rebuttals. We are all getting tired of this stuff.

I just made a comment on a righty blogger site, oops - this other comment here, asking if smears and gossip and rumors are the only thing keeping the easily gullible the right wing base pulling the R lever since Clinton? I shouldn't pick on her, she is actually one of the more sensible. Didn't even get into her buying into, yet again, the latest "the terrorists are going to kill us unless the Democrats give the President right now exactly what he wants." The true facts are here. I just pointed out the big lies about Kerry, the Clintons and Obama some of her commenters credulously believe. Most of the GOP in Texas want to take on Obama, there isn't a risk they might somehow get Clinton and think his inexperience will be key. I would prefer he have 4-6 more years of seasoning but sometimes Great Communicators arise and sweep all before them.

I am glad Pelosi had the balls, figuratively, to go on vacation, unlike Reid and Rockerfeller who sold theirs to the phone companies. Reid especially should be condemned for showing more respect and deference to Republicans than to fellow Democrats in pushing another civil liberties ending/corporate handout like the current FISA bill through the Senate.

I keep wondering about Hillary Clinton as the next Senate Majority Leader. Would she be any better than Reid? I think Hillary might be best as either just a Senator or VP or President. She would be tough on the war on terror, which is good, but too large corporation favoring, which is bad, but immeasurably better than McCain.

Tags: Republican, fear!, bloggers, politics

Viva Obama! Viva Obama!

A candidate fighting for our nation
It doesn't matter if you're from San Antonio
It doesn't matter if you're from Corpus Christi
From Dallas, from the Valley, from Houston or from El Paso
What matters is that we vote for Obama
Because his struggle is also our struggle, and today we urgently need a change
Let's unite with our great friend
Viva Obama! Viva Obama!
Families united and safe and even with a health care plan

Viva Obama! Viva Obama!
A candidate fighting for our nation

Over 10% of US Mortgages Underwater

Glug, glug.

Lies, Lobbyists, Campaign Stuck in Financial Limbo

It has just gotten much worse for McCain. Read the above link.

Howard Dean hammers it home. Dean email:

John McCain literally has a lobbyist for "corporate interests and foreign governments" working from the "Straight Talk Express."

He can deny the sex part, which he did poorly considering he had two months to prepare, but everything else about the supposed "straight-shooter" is going down the tubes.

Newsweek headlines the lie.

He has even accepted public financing he no longer wants for his campaign and has no way right now to rescind his decision to take the money his name is associated with. I will like to see how this plays out over the next few months. After attacking Washington lobbyists for years he now has to defend them. And a campaign co-chair just gets indicted.

Joshua - "There's no way of getting around the fact that McCain routinely, almost constantly, issues categorical denials that are demonstrably false. The very volume and clarity of the bogusness of so many of these statements might even be viewed as his best defense."

Bad news getting to McCain.

Tags: McCain, election 2008, loser

Obama still surging in Texas

How he is doing it in Houston. A fantastic grass roots ground game.

Recalculating the delegate count. The best case for Hillary on March 4 is a tie in delegates awarded. The best case for Obama is that he carries Texas 2-1 after the convention. Matt has the most probable outcome being the tie in delegates on election day which is what I had on the 12th before Obama won Virginia. I still haven't hear how Texas is unlike Virginia aside from a larger Latino vote which makes this competitive for Hillary. I give a slight edge to Obama on primary delegates awarded now and a 2-1 edge in convention delegates.

Is Clinton counting on Latinos to carry her over the top in the general election? She probably loses more conservative votes than she gains following that strategy.

Technorati Tags: Texas, primary, convention, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, 2008, election

Vote for a Vision of the Future

An unusual science fiction, politics and visions of the future poll from SCI-FI network and Direct-TV.

I should have reflected more before I made my choices.

Local Rally for Obama House Party

Rally for Obama House Party (se habla espanol) (Texas 2/23 House Party) Rally and then head out to early vote in Pasadena, Texas. More evidence Obama is getting Latino votes.

I Lambast Burka

I lay into the eccentric Paul Burka from Texas Monthly. I'll also post my comment here for the record.

Paul Burka seems a little out of touch and biased but this has been going on for a number of years. He has written some excellent long articles in Texas Monthly recently but when he reveals opinions perhaps closer to his true self in this blog....

I am thinking specifically of his misjudging Bush and Kinky and now his uneven judging of this debate. His blog title is correct, Paul Burka is right and left and is swerving on down the road missing the sign posts.

Obama won the debate and is the front-runner. He likes Hillary and knows most Democrats also like her and doesn't want to alienate her supporters. Hillary is the policy wonk, like her husband, but is surrounded by bad advisers and doesn't have the overall judgment that Obama keeps displaying.

Obama is short on policy specifics but that is not really the president's job, look at every Republican president. The real job is inspiring people and guiding, not digging deep in the details which will change as the policy gets hashed out and compromised with Congress. A president needs to be a better judge of people and must be stronger on rhetoric and judgment than details - look at Reagan. Obama is ahead on that front.

Hillary is an excellent candidate and person despite the almost 20-year now insanity and propaganda of the right. She is just up against another great communicator.

Texas was clearly for Hillary weeks ago. The way things are going I am not sure she will win the majority of the votes and it is impossible for her to win the majority of the Texas delegates now - both because of the way the primary votes are allocated by senate district and the enthusiasm of supporters need[ed] to take the convention delegates.

I hope that last sentence doesn't come back and bite me. This is politics and anything can happen.

I am doing better on the election clerk front. Now I have three, or perhaps two and a half, and may get my last one needed soon.

Tags: Texas Monthly, Paul Burka, election, politics, primary, Texas, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton

Hillary Claims She Made No Agreement to Not Seat MI and FL Delegates

Interview with Evan Smith of Texas Monthly:

There’s been a lot of talk about what your campaign would do should it get to the convention. Would you commit today to honoring the agreement made earlier not to seat the Michigan and Florida delegations?

Let’s talk about the agreement. The only agreement I entered into was not to campaign in Michigan and Florida. It had nothing to do with not seating the delegates. I think that’s an important distinction. I did not campaign--

The press seems to have missed the distinction if that’s the case. The talk is that you agreed not to seat the delegation.

That’s not the case at all. I signed an agreement not to campaign in Michigan and Florida. Now, the DNC made the determination that they would not seat the delegates, but I was not party to that. I think it’s important for the DNC to ask itself, Is this really in the best interest of our eventual nominee? We do not want to be disenfranchising Michigan and Florida. We have to try to carry both of those states. I’d love to carry Texas, but it’s usually not in the electoral calculation for the Democratic nominee. Florida and Michigan are. Therefore, the people of those two states disregarded adamantly the DNC’s decision that they would not seat the delegates. They came out and voted. If they had been influenced by the DNC, despite the fact that there was very little campaigning, if any, they would have stayed home. But they wanted their voices heard. More than 2 million people came out. I mean, it was record turnout for a primary. Florida, in particular, is sensitive to being disenfranchised because of what happened to them in the last elections. I have said that I would ask my delegates to vote to seat.

So your intention is to press this issue?

Yes, it is. Yes, it is. It’s in large measure because both the voters and elected officials in Michigan and Florida feel so strongly about this. Senator Bill Nelson, of Florida, early on in the process actually sued because he thinks it’s absurd on its face that 1.7 million Democrats who eventually voted would basically be disregarded, and I agree with him about that.

Video of interview.

I feel that in no case should the leaders, the super-delegates of Michigan and Florida, be seated as they led the effort to ignore the rules of the Democratic National Committee and hold the primaries early after being told their delegates would not be seated.

Meanwhile based on early vote trends Hillary is not as successful in turning out her vote in Texas. Her campaign could be in trouble. I do know that Obama is try to have an organizer in every Texas precinct calling likely Democratic voters. I have a friend who has called hundreds already. UPDATE - more on the Texas numbers.

Another Texas Monthly blogger covered the Texas debate which Hillary lost. Although Burka is biased he is fundamentally correct in that Hillary missed what she needed to do and made some jabs and mistakes that alienated the initially highly supportive crowd. That said Hillary is better at debates with her command of facts and details, her misjudgments about what to do and how far to take things cost her support. Obama won despite debates not being his forte.

ADDED - Why Obama voted present. Fodder for both sides here. Nathan pointed me to this. Did Hillary triumph over bad advice in the debate?

Tags: Democratic Party, Hillary Clinton, delegates, convention, primary, Texas Monthly, 2008, Michigan, Florida

Quick Updates

I was going to do a post about past McCain scandals but a new one has broken out. Note that this looks a lot like how he met and married his present wife while his first wife was in the hospital. There are concerns about the NYT reporting being raised, it looks to me that a lot has been cut out that they couldn't confirm. The NY Times ran with the story, which they have been working on for months and Romney knew it, to beat this story in The New Republic. John McCain owes the NYT a big Thank You, they could have killed his campaign in December when they first had the story and they still today discarded reports about the affair. The story has united the right media behind McCain versus the bad New York Times.

Turning elsewhere. In contrast to the lies you may recieve in emails, here is a video about Obama's early life from his half-sister.

Turnout is running 4 to 10 times four years ago for the Democratic primary. Not so for the Republicans.

Waller County tried to hinder voting for it's black university students, as usual. This is the result.

I strongly urge most people to vote early and come back for the caucus. If you have any kind of problem with your voter registration you have days to get it resolved. Most people are denied the right to vote because they show up at the wrong precinct. Are you sure you know where your precinct voting location will be election day? Most have been combined for the primary sometimes in some unexpected ways. In early voting you can show up anywhere in Harris County. Check HarrisVotes.org for more details on locations and times.

Sign wars, hot and very heavy. In Pasadena, the leaders for Congressional Dristrict 22 are Talton and Sekula Gibbs. Some surprise that with all the money he had saved up ex-Mayor Manlove is not more visible in that ten-person GOP race.

60 Minutes buries critical D0J story about political prosecution of Democrats, opposite the Oscars.

Gitmo lawyers told there will be no one acquited, make sure of that.

Hillary or Obama? - Texas too close to call but I strongly suspect Obama will take more delegates. My conservative Democrat father said he voted for Hillary and doesn't like the "black guy." My Republican step mother says she also voted for Hillary and not for McCain.

UPDATE - McCain's relationships with lobbyists. This was the main thrust of the NYT article as it only reported rumors of a romantic McCain relationship with a lobbyist.

Listening to the radio today I am reminded of attack poodles.

It is hard for green Democrats to go wrong this year with either candidate, although some issues raise flags. Obama might have a slight edge as he might be better for down ticket Democrats in more states. (Although personally, here in Texas underlying racism perhaps seems to have some conservatives who will vote for Clinton and not Obama based on a few conversations I've had.)

Tags: Houston, Pasadena, liberal news, politics, McCain

One of our new corporate business models

Don't shoplift but be accused of it and have to pay legal bills. The WSJ has a report of a Home Depot store customer mistakenly being accused of shop lifting. He showed them the receipt for the previously bought drill bits ($8) but soon received dunning letters for $3,000, later $6,000, from a legal collection agency.

State legislators have encouraged, and in some cases required, stores to file suit against all customers accused of shoplifting and theft.

I worked in retail. This will become another little profit center like third-party, almost worthless, extended warranties.

I had quit going for Home Depot after a credit card scam by some of their employees hit my credit card for almost $1,000 and then later Home Depot's sponsorship of anti-global warming campaigns. Lowe's is a bit better. Hell, even WalMart is getting better with their improving health care and drug programs.

Link from Atrios.

Tags: economy, business, retail, law

Not Being Prepared

A Texas Obama political supporter and spokesman wasn't prepared and can't think of anything Obama has accomplished.

I would have pointed to the Senate ethics bill in which he prevented a much weaker bill.

UPDATE - Class act Texas Senator Watson apologizes for not being prepared and his mind going blank.

Tags: Obama, Texas, Oops