[AGL] Fw: Electablility Watch Update 8-19, by Ricki Lieberman

[Frances Morey]

Ghett-folk,
This extraordinary woman's newsletter has been coming out since June 3 with all the news that isn't found in the MSM. It's all documented--the poll figures are up to the minute. From her perch overlooking Central Park West she has become a lightening rod for information and a conduit for news of interest to those of us who supported, and still support, Hillary Clinton. 
 
I went to a delegate-send-off gathering last night. HRC's delegates from Austin are spirited and hopeful that the Super Delegates will wake up to the painful reality of very possibly losing this election to the least electable Republican ever nominated in this the most winable Democratic election year ever.
 
Things are very scary, given the demise of two former HRC Super Delegates this week. What kind of "disgruntled person hell bent on revenge" has to show up with the name of his victim printed on a post-it note?
 
Another friend and lifelong Texas Democrat sent me word about the Bradley Factor--also unsettling. Has to do with polling and reality...
 
Best,
Frances

 




 

---------- Forwarded message ----------From: Ricki Lieberman Aug 19, 2008 7:47 PM
Subject: SUSPENDING, NOT ENDING (72)       To: Ricki Lieberman <rrlieberma at gmail.com>
 


ELECTABILITY WATCH (EW)
 

Rasmussen:    Obama 45%, McCain 42%
Gallup:             Obama 45%, McCain 44%


All,
Do we want to win or not? That's the question. For the next week, it is all about November, not Mile High Stadium.

And Hillary IS NOT releasing her delegates!
GO GO GO!
RIcki
1. Coleman Bell reports, "I just called Gov. Rendell's office, and the young lady who answered the phone seemed genuinely happy to get a call saying  'thank you'  Having worked directly with the public myself, I know how important those calls can be and I encourage everyone to contime them!"  
And Barbara Bassett, "Just spoke to Governor Rendells office. I spoke with a female and said I just wanted to thank the Governor for his continued support of Senator Clinton. Would he please try and talk some sense into our party leaders. She said she would give him the message and "he is committed to HIllary" She also said his office took hundreds of Thank you calls. !!!!  GO GO GO"
A friend from the Midwest writes: I have been able to talk on the phone with two pledged delegates of Hillary. Both were enthusiastic and said they were just "waiting" to hear something from Hillary.  One has signed the nominating petition and the other will as well.

Roger Ryan from Ga. writes, "The day Hillary Clinton re- announces "I'm in to win" is the day McCain loses.  The day it becomes clear Hillary Clinton is not going to do this is the day McCain wins..  It's just a matter if you want a Democrat in the White House or not!   The nomination of Hillary Clinton will turn the USA blue like everyone thought at the start of 2007.  This is reality the Democratic Party must face and make happen in Denver for a November win."
2. ELECTABILITY: WARNING DEMOCRATS: THE REAL CLEAR POLITICS ELECTORAL MAP GOES RED:
At the end of primaries June 3, 2008: 
Obama 276 McCain 238 Ties 24 
Clinton 327 McCain 194 Ties 17 

As of August 19, 2008
McCain 274  Obama 264
2.5 ELECTABILITY: Poll Shows Obama's Lead Is Slipping in New York  ROSS GOLDBERG, http://www.nysun.com/new-york/poll-obamas-new-york-advantage-deteriorating/84109/   The presidential race is tightening in New York State, where Senator Obama's lead has slipped by 10 points since June...In the 2004 election, the Democrat, Senator Kerry, defeated President Bush in New York by a 19-point margin.
New York (Obama + 8 )
08/11 - 08/14
Obama - 47%
McCain - 39%

New York (Obama +18 )
07/17 - 07/29
Obama - 44%
McCain - 26%
ALSO - "The Obama campaign has made no significant headway among former Clinton backers over the past two months. The voting preferences of Clinton's supporters are virtually identical to earlier polls in June and July."  http://pewresearch.org/pubs/924/presidential-race-draws-even

3. THE AUDACITY OF RESUME-PADDING, OR, WHY OBAMA MAKES THINGS UP,  Abraham Katsman and Kory Bardash

One of the knocks on Barack Obama is that his résumé is, so to speak, paper-thin. But that is not entirely accurate. Obama, in fact, has 
held some major job titles which are noteworthy all by themselves: 
United States Senator, Lecturer at the University of Chicago Law 
School, Harvard Law Review President-each of these titles puts him in 
rarefied company. Tack on a few Illinois State Senate terms, and his resume actually appears solid. 
Yet, in spite of these prestigious 
positions, Obama has increasingly resorted to making claims of 
accomplishment that are so patently inflated that even his cheerleaders at CNN and the New York Times are taking notice. 
Why? 

It seems that Obama recognizes that while his résumé titles are impressive, his actual accomplishments are weak. It's as if he were 
jockeying to be the next company CEO with little to show for his 
prior high-profile management positions. So, he does what anyone else 
does who has spent years coasting on charisma without doing any heavy 
work: he pads his résumé–stretching the truth here, stealing credit 
there, and creating the illusion of achievement during his 
lackadaisical, undistinguished tenure in previous jobs. 


A few examples? Take Obama's first general election ad. We are told 
that Obama "passed laws" that "extended healthcare for wounded troops 
who'd been neglected," with a citation at the bottom to only one 
Senate bill: The 2008 Defense Authorization Bill, which passed the 
Senate by a 91-3 vote. Six Senators did not vote-including Obama. Nor 
is there evidence that he contributed to its passage in any material 
way. So, his claim to have "passed laws" amounts to citing a bill 
that was largely unopposed, that he didn't vote for, and whose 
passage he didn't impact. Even his hometown Chicago Tribune caught 
this false claim. It's classic résumé-padding–falsely taking credit 
for the work of others. 


Or take one of Obama's standard lines: his claim of "twenty years of 
public service."  As pundit Michael Medved has pointed out, the 
numbers don't add up. Shall we count? Three years in the US Senate 
(two of which he's spent running for President), plus seven years in 
the Illinois State Senate (a part-time gig, during which time he also 
served as a law professor) equals, at most, ten. Even if we 
generously throw in his three years as a "community organizer" 
(whatever that means, let's count it as public service), that still 
adds up to just thirteen. 

Obama's other activities since 1985 have included Harvard Law School, writing two autobiographies (including several months writing in 
Bali), prestigious summer law firm jobs, three years as an associate 
at a Chicago law firm, and twelve years part-time on the University 
of Chicago Law School faculty. As Medved notes, it takes quite the ego to consider any of those
 stints "public service." Which of them 
is Obama including? 


Obama made yet another inflated boast last month during his visit to 
Israel. At his press conference in Hamas rocket-bombarded Sderot, 
Obama talked up "his" efforts to protect Israel from Iran: 

"Just this past week, we passed out of the US Senate Banking 
Committee - which is my committee - a bill to call for divestment 
from Iran as way of ratcheting up the pressure to ensure that they 
don't obtain a nuclear weapon." (Emphasis added.) 

Nice try. But as even CNN noted, Obama is not even on that committee. 

That is one peculiar "mistake" to simply have made by accident. 
Again, his claiming credit for the work of others just looks like 
clumsy, transparent résumé embellishment. 

Would someone with Obama's stellar list of job titles resort to 
making stuff up? He seems to think he has to. In spite of the many 
impressive positions he's held, he's done almost nothing with them. 
If he wants to claim specific, relevant accomplishments, his only 
resort is to stretching the truth. 

Look at his record: he's now completed over half of a Senate term; 
yet, is there even one signature issue he has taken hold of, other than his own presidential run? 
Similarly, as the New York Times 
recently pointed out, Obama spent twelve years on the University of 
Chicago Law School faculty–singularly famous for its intellectual 
ferment and incubator of scholarship–and produced not even a single scholarly paper. He was President of Harvard Law Review, but wrote 
nothing himself. Even as a state legislator for seven years-or 
community organizer for three years, there is little that shows his 
imprint. OK, to be fair, he did write two books. About himself. 


For all his glowing job titles, Obama has never gotten much done. Is 
it any wonder that his spokesmen respond with sweeping generalities 
when asked what Obama has actually accomplished relevant to the 
presidency? 

Obama has held several serious positions from which a serious man 
could have made a serious impact. But Obama made none. He remains a 
man of proven charisma, but unproven skill–and not for lack of 
opportunity. He's treated his offices as if they were high school 
student council positions-fun to run for, fun to win, affirmations of 
popularity, heady recognition from superiors, good resume-builders 
for stepping up to the next position of power, and…well, that's about 
it-actual accomplishments are not expected; heavy lifting is never on 
the agenda. 


Obama's record of accomplishment is thin not because of lack of 
opportunity, but in spite of it. For twenty years, Obama has walked 
the floors of the most prestigious institutions in the nation, but has left no footprints other than those from his runs for whatever 
office came next. 


It's been said that some people want to be President so they can do 
something; and some want to be President so they can be something. 
Obama has accomplished nothing noteworthy despite the golden opportunities and positions he's had; why should we believe he'd be a
different man in the White House? 

No company would hire anyone with Obama's empty track record, pattern of underachievement and padded résumé to be CEO. Is America really 
ready to hire him as President? 

Most of this is familiar material to us here. But it can't be 
repeated enough. 

... our watchdog media will never tell us about Mr. Obama's
lack of credentials.
Grace Wessel comments:  There is more that could be added to this article of non-accomplishments of Barack Obama.  For example, when he was in the Illinois State Senate, besides writing his book, he also wrote many letters to city and state officials on Antoin (Tony) Rezko's behalf, on his state senate letterhead, that netted Rezko $14,000,000 in taxpayer monies that were intended for low income housing. 
4. Do you want to win or not?  SD letter from PJ KEMP
It is more important that a Democrat sit in the White House, even if it means Mile High Stadium sits empty for a night!!!
 
It appears that Obama has reversed himself again and is now asking for soft money to pay for what he thinks will be his coronation in Denver. How can he lose!  His campaign has been one of DNC and  RBC  fraud planned from the very beginning of this campaign period.  Intimidation, caucus fraud, delegate theft, delegate purchase, coercion, and breath taking lies are now accepted practice.
 
www.lynettelong.com/CAUCUSFRAUD/ You know about it if you are up to date on politics, and I am quiet sure all of youare. Sadly, some of you may have even participated in it.  Trust is gone and Obama can not seal the deal.  That leaves John McCain as the next President.  Down ticket candidates are in jeopardy; no money and a damaged Democratic brand.  Republicans are looking better.
 
You can change this "dooms day scenario."  Vote for the most electable candidate, Hillary Clinton.  If you want to win in November, elect Hillary as the nominee.  If you have read any of my e-mails, you know she can take the swing states, get the most Electoral College votes and bring it home for Democrats.   Do you want to win or not?
 
Thanks to all of you that did not take part in the fraud, etc, resisted the intimidation, and plan to act with honor and courage to select the most electable candidate, Hillary Clinton.
 
5. SD LETTER from sisters in NC and NY



Dear Super Delegate:
We are writing to you as participants in the Electability Watch. Thank you for your willingness to read our letter and to consider our point of view. 
Our request. It is our belief that when you attend the Convention in Denver you and other Super Delegates can set right some of the things that have gone wrong within our party this election year. As supporters of Hillary Rodam Clinton (HRC) who traveled, phoned and worked locally on her behalf, we know that she reached the hearts and minds of this country. That's how she garnered 18 million votes. We are writing to you today, because we know our party and our country need HRC more now than when she suspended, not ended, her campaign under pressure from the DNC leadership in June.
Had the unprecedented, divisive tactics of the DNC leadership yielded a presumptive nominee who went on to gain in statue and regard among the broad base of Americans, whose campaign was building in support and momentum over these many weeks while he has basked in the limelight of media attention -- we may be willing to remain silent and find ways to "get over" our disappointment that HRC was pushed aside by the party leadership. But, in this situation, where we watch as the Republicans gain steadily in the polls and battle back from a failed administration to come within reach of the White House again, we need to ask you to go to Denver and put our party back in the forefront of this race. Please do what you only can do, vote for the electable candidate, HRC.
 
Our perspective. We are sisters and life-long Democrats from a black family in the South. We count within our nuclear family a professor, teacher's assistant, journalist, lawyer, city services manager, financier, urban "farmer" and more than one long-term United States Postal Service employee. When extended by in-laws and off-spring we represent a cross-section of today's America, with white and Asian-Americans among our extended "kin" and multi-racial folks among the next generation, reminiscent of their multi-racial ancestors.
Therefore, we believe that we speak from the core of American experience. Both of us grew up during the era of desegregation and civil rights. We were among those bussed from school to school to dismantle the structure of white privilege that choked many communities. Lucky to have been among the well-educated in our predominately black community and challenged when sent to school among whites at an early age, we learned to de-construct the politics of race and privilege. 
Now residents of two states, NC and NY, we supported our candidate until she suspended, not ended, her campaign in June. We were honored to be among those black people who promoted her agenda for all Americans and could bear witness to her stellar record of working for people of color, women, and the poor and weak among us, especially children. 
 
Our concerns. We also watched with dismay as Barak Hussein Obama (BHO) was thrust forward by the Party leadership, despite his short-comings as a candidate. But more, we are appalled that a candidate whose rhetoric of fairness and change could allow his opponent's votes and delegates to be stolen, profit from the shenanigans and attempt to ride the wave of deception through the DNC Convention, putting the Democrats' success at risk in November. 
 
Here's what we know for sure -- as people dedicated to democratic ideals, as citizens of color familiar with the injustices of America's past and of how racism and reverse racism diminish our society, as women convinced of the promise of America despite set-backs and as baby boomers who have learned that goals will not be achieved unless ideals are matched with practical know-how:
o    The selection of BHO by the DNC leadership as the presumptive nominee, reflects the practices of an era prior to the Civil Rights Movement, during which a job applicant or candidate's resumé was systematically ignored in favor of superficial qualifications such as the personal attributes of race, gender and privilege. How do we put aside HRC's 18 million voters, 35 years of public service, managerial experience, record of effectiveness as a policy-maker and intimate knowledge of global affairs? How do we put aside such a candidate in favor of an inexperienced, untried newcomer whose personal attributes just happen to fit the diversity "flavor of the day" for political "correctness" and historical significance? If we stick with a failing candidate based on superficial criteria, we hearken back to the era when form superseded substance and to our peril, engage again in the politics of race & gender that our party has fought so valiantly to
 overturn.
o      Martin Luther King (MLK) advocated that people be judged by the content of their character rather than by the color of their skin. Our presumptive nominee seems to have been selected using criteria that are contrary to MLK's belief. BHO only appears to be the "perfect" candidate when selected by the DNC leadership based largely on his multi-racial status and the symbolic idealism of racial progress. To do this, ignores disturbing evidence about the "content of his character": the company he keeps, his "Chicago-style" politics and waffling on the issues.
o      By allowing the will of the people to be put aside, the DNC leadership denounced core democratic values and compromised the integrity the Democratic Party. We, who have been loyal Democrats, cannot stand by and let this happen without protest. Five states (NH, NV, SC, MI and FL) broke the DNC's primary timing rules, but only two big states that HRC was sure to win, Michigan and Florida were penalized. It is one thing for the Republicans to ignore the popular vote of Democrats seeking to elect Al Gore, but quite a different matter for the DNC leadership to ignore the will of 18 million voters seeking to send the electable candidate, HRC, into the general election. This nominating process with divisive rule changes, fraudulent political strategy and campaign tactics (see Dr. Lynette Long's careful work on the campaign discrepancies) has put BHO's candidacy on a weak foundation. A house built on "sand" will not endure the impending political
 storm that the Democratic nominee will confront in the general election. But a house built on a rock solid foundation of the popular vote, a broad political base and bi-partisan appeal will deliver a Democratic chief executive again to the White House.
In consideration of the concerns that we have raised here, we trust that you will think deeply about your voting decision at the Democratic convention and focus on electability. As Super Delegates seeing the bigger picture, you are in a position to deliver the nominee with the best chance of winning the general election in November. Senator Hillary Rodam Clinton is that candidate.

6. Sharon Morgante writes to Delegates and Super Delegates: 
It's been 8 weeks of reading, listening, observing, researching and verifying information throughout this Electability WATCH and now we are days away from the Convention.
The polls speak for themselves.  Sure you can say, "who believes them", or "everyone knows they don't reveal the "true" result, etc……but ALL of THEM ???
What is so difficult to realize.  The DNC ----Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi and Donna Brazille---have made a mistake.  Senator Obama is not The One we have been waiting for and God certainly hasn't sent him to us, the trio listed above has.
Senator Hillary Clinton is the Electable Candidate that represents the "will" of this country and the voters. The Caucus fraud and manipulations, the abhorring treatment of Senator Clinton throughout the primaries from the media and her OWN party, the strong arming of delegates and officials to keep her out of the convention---when does it end??
It ends at the convention with an OPEN, HONEST roll call vote and a new beginning in November.  There must be NO coronation, only a true vote for the MOST ELECTABLE, the MOST QUALIFIED who can beat the pants off John McCain in November.  OUR CHOICE, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
The DNC have shot themselves in the foot. While the GOP sits back and watches the DNC implode, knowing the "selected" nominee was chosen based on charisma, not accomplishments.
His resume is thin, and his accomplishments are invisible, some would say padded/not true.  Senator Obama has held many prestigious titles throughout his life, but has left no legacy of accomplishments behind.
Vote for Senator Clinton on the first ballot, and together we will put her in the White House as our next president!

Respectfully,    


7. FAXES FOR REPS WHO TOOK $ FROM PELOSI PAC AND ENDORSED BO, ALTHO THEIR DISTRICTS/STATES VOTED FOR CLINTON:
Rep. Baron Hill: 202-226-6886
Rep. Carol Shea-Porter: 202-225-5822
Sen. Jeff Bingaman: 202-224-2852
Sen. Frank Lautenberg: 202-228-4054
Rep. Ron Klein: 202-225-8398
Rep. Joe Donnelly: 202-226-6798
Rep. Gerald McNerney: 202-225-4060
Rep. Jason Altmire: 202-226-2274
Rep. Niki Tsongas: 202-226-0771
Rep. Dennis Cardoza: 202-225-0891
Rep. Gabriella Giffords: 202-225-0378
Rep. Jim Costa: 202-225-9308
Rep. Zack Space: 202-225-3394
Rep. Charlie Wilson: 202-225-5907
Rep. Jay Rockefeller: 202-224-7665

FROM NN to these SDs: We know exactly how much money you received from The Hope Fund and Pac to the Future, as well as by what margin your constituents supported Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton over Barack Obama.  The people that elected you are also aware that they live in a state in which HillaryClinton won by big margins and they expect their voices and votes to be counted properly by elected representatives such as yourself.  Against the will of these people who elected you, you endorsed Barack Obama. 
Your constituents, and the American public, will hold you accountable for the choice you make in Denver.  You have a duty and a responsibility to represent your constituents.  Will you give voice to your constituents by voting for Hillary in Denver? 
Please have courage and do what is right at the Convention in Denver by voting for Senator Hillary Clinton.  The people of your district and state are depending on you, as is the rest of the country.  Nancy Pelosi tells people in Congress to vote based on three C's: Constituents, Constitution, and Conscience.  When you cast your vote as a superdelegate, remember these three C's, and especially your constituents, without whom you would not hold the awesome position you do today. 
This is the most important election we have seen in decades.  Please make the right choice.

8. BO'S UNANSWERED BIRTH CERTIFICATE AND CITIZENSHIP ISSUE :  http://texasdarlin.wordpress.com/ 
"I don't know what's more stunning:

1) Obama's utter absence of transparency about such fundamental aspects of his life;
2) His audacity at thinking that it's okay to be non-transparent about such things, that it's okay to withhold such information from the Democratic Delegates;  OR
3) The apparent apathy of DNC members about knowing such things."
9. CONSISTENCY IS THE HOBGOBLIN OF SMALL MINDS:  RESPONSE FROM A SD: 
I do not how you got my email but don't ever email me again! She did not win the primary and I intend on backing our presumptive candidate.
It's because of emails like this that I will never put a Clinton back in office. I will vote for McCain first!
Fuck You.
Sincerely,
William Jelani Cobb, Ph.D.  
Atlanta GA.  William Jelani Cobb, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor of History at Spelman College.  ANYONE THINK HE WILL RECEIVE THE SAME TREATMENT AS DEB IN WISCONSIN???

10. CONVENTION HAPPENINGS:
• Barack Obama Invesco Field convention tickets feature an upside down flag- an international symbol of distress.  Viewers contacted 9NEWS Saturday, questioning the design of the credentials to see Sen. Barack Obama accept the Democratic Party's presidential nomination at INVESCO Field at Mile High, saying that with the stars and blue field in the lower left corner, it looks like an upside down American flag. Published flag etiquette states the stars should always be displayed in the upper left corner. An upside down flag represents an international symbol of extreme distress.  




Matt Chandler with the Obama campaign says the flag is not upside down. He says it is a stylized flag designed to blend the stars on Senator Obama's shirt with the flag blowing in the wind. • Barack Obama's big-money donors are being offered premier seats to his acceptance speech at Invesco Field at Mile High, according to information obtained by The Denver Post.Top fundraisers for the "Obama Victory Fund" were offered club-level seats through the end of Monday for $1,000 apiece. Also, the biggest donors to the Democratic National Convention's host committee and select VIPs are getting ultra-plush suites at Invesco.  The Obama campaign and its partners at the Democratic National Convention Committee have 8,300 club-level seats. If all were purchased, it could mean a cash infusion of $8.3 million.  
•  Fraud at the Roll Call?  Please register your concern by contacting mcnamara at dnc.org.





 
AND FINALLY,


HELPING OUR FRIENDS:


A reminder that there are a candidates for Congress with a critical cash reporting deadline of Thursday
August 21.  These are all candidates who supported Hillary visibly and joyfully, often serving as surrogates for her, and getting grief from the DNC, RNC and others.  Please give as generously as you can before Thursday to 


Eric Massa running against nasty right winger Randy Kuhl in upstate New York http://www.massaforcongress.com
 
TRACEY BROOKS, Hillary's Albany office director, running for an open seat    www.traceybrooks.com. Attached is an invitation to a Manhattan event for Tracey with special guest Geraldine Ferraro


Kirsten Gillibrand is running for re-election against the whole Republican establishment www.KirstenGillibrand.com



"Sam" Bennett running in Allentown PA against an anti-choice Republican https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/entity/18008

Ben Graber is running against Robert Wexler in Florida, one of the villains of the FL primary fiasco  http://www.graberforcongress.com/










                           





-- 
Ricki Lieberman
610 West End Avenue
New York, New York 10024
212.580-5516
 




-- 
Ann L. MacNaughton 

"Always aim high, work hard, and care deeply about what you believe in. When you stumble, keep faith. When you're knocked down, get right back up. And never listen to anyone who says you can't or shouldn't go on." Hillary Clinton
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