My Voting Strategy: Integrity

I’ve been a Democrat since Adlai Stevenson, the first Presidential candidate I can remember, ran against Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, and lost. He had been Illinois’ 31st Governor, and was later the 5th US Ambassador to the UN during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. I remember him as a hopeful, staunch negotiator with integrity, who was unafraid to take a stand.

Democrats were always the inclusive, big tent Party, which is what I liked. Even when I had to hold my nose and vote, because they were too conservative for me, I pulled the lever for the straight ticket. Over the years I volunteered at the polls, registered voters, and worked for the Party during presidential campaign years. I was a moveon.org member from their beginnings in Berkeley, CA, where I lived during the late 1960s and again from 1993-2007.

As a perennial, idealistic baby boomer with hippy roots, and after a lifetime of controversy, I’m coming to terms with what seems to be my l-lot in life: I get in trouble for expressing my mind and trying to walk my talk. I don’t seem to make the most pragmatic point A to point B choices, perhaps because I’ve used my gut and intuition to guide me. That’s how I became an artist as a child and later a fifteen-year resident of a large Utopian-style commune, whose mottoes were: “Question authority,” and “Out to save the world!”

We chose a collective lifestyle and worked hard on all levels to pursue our ideals. Therefore, if someone makes a similar promise, I take it seriously. I married out of my religion and culture over my parents’ and grandparents’ objections. I became a healer and a body-centered practitioner, and in this election cycle, a blogger and a PUMA. It’s not an easy path, the warrior path. A teacher of mine said that once you declare a path, obstacles will come up to meet and challenge you along your journey.

I make choices based on:

• my assessments and those of others
• coherence between what I see, hear, notice, and feel
• my personal goals and standards
• what I want to have happen in the world
• what and how I am being promised or am promising
• if and how the promise has potential to be fulfilled, and if it is or not

Making promises is the politicians’ stock-in-trade, not just during the election cycle, but throughout their political life. Politicians make verbal, written, and implied promises from their particular point of view, to their political party, constituents, colleagues, and families—based in a broader promise to uphold the Constitution and laws of the land. Sometimes, the interests of the aforementioned parties collide.

To make a promise is a profound act. Within each promise lies the possibility and vulnerability of trust, and the hope of a desire fulfilled. —Jen Cohen, Leadership Coach

When someone keeps a promise, they are in integrity. When someone breaks a promise, it breaches trust, and unless re-negotiated or acknowledged, the promise-breaker is out of integrity. According to wikipedia’s scientifically-oriented definition, “Integrity comprises perceived consistency of actions, values, methods, measures and principles.” In my book, living in integrity means you walk your talk within truthful, ethical guidelines, and have inner and outer coherence or congruity.

The PUMA and Just Say No Deal movement happened because of a collective zeitgeist. A bunch of people saw something at the same time and could not remain silent. They saw that the Big Tent Party was out of integrity. For me it began in January ’08 with the blatant disrespect and misogyny directed toward Hillary Clinton by the DNC, the Democratic candidates, and the mainstream media. I was alarmed, wrote an email to friends and colleagues, got back some kool-aid replies, and in defiance learned how to create a blog and started publishing Lady Boomer NYC.

Obama’s promise was to create a new kind of politics. Instead we were handed: sexism, ageism, class-ism, misogyny, race-baiting, caucus and voter registration fraud, threats, intimidation, mean-spirited sniping directed toward the Clintons and their supporters, and . . . last but not least, over-turning and subverting the will of 18 million Hillary Clinton voters with sham rulings, votes, and procedures at the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee Meeting and the Democratic National Convention.

If a guy goes a-courtin’, and he isn’t trying his darnedest to impress a gal and her folks, do you think he’ll start after he gets her? Progressives barely flinched when Obama reversed his positions on: NAFTA, Israel, FISA, DC gun laws, Iraq, Iran, and preconditions for meeting with rogue nation leaders. There was a promise for honesty and to root out crooked financial dealings, yet we saw Democrats like Dodd, Frank, and Obama receive large donations from the mortgage and banking industries. Obama raised over $500,000,000 during his campaign to make the Democratic Party over in his image, spending millions on slick branding and product placement. He broke his signed pledge to take public financing. Does that sound like someone who’s concerned with your money?

It saddens me that in making these integrity calls and various decisions as a result, some friends seem to be very upset with me. They think I’ve turned into a Republican or can’t understand what happened to me. Me—I’m keeping my promise to make my own decisions and follow my inner guides, same as always. Scarier still, is that for the first time since Reagan was elected, my mom and I agree about politics; and now I only watch FOX News!

Hillary Clinton was the integrity candidate, and the Democratic leadership took away my potential to vote for the candidate who won the primaries, and whom I considered to be the most electable, responsible person to lead this country. In justifying the means for the ends, the Democratic Party and Obama failed in their promise for a new kind of politics. Therefore, I am casting my vote as a protest against them and their steamroll to power.

For the first time in my life, I will vote for a Republican at the top of the ticket, and for down-ticket Democrats. I will not write-in Hillary’s name, because I don’t want her to be held responsible if Obama fails. I’m in a blue state, so it won’t count in the end, but I am making a statement and voting for someone whom I think can and will lead well: John McCain. In the past, he has acted with integrity in taking stands for immigration and campaign finance reform, and against torture of war prisoners. I don’t agree with everything Palin stands for, but she has been  running a state with an $11 billion budget and 24,000 employees, was running a household, and sharing her life with her five kids and husband. They look happy and healthy. Pretty good management skills, I’d say.

Whoever wins the Presidency, on the following day, November 5, we will have our work of reforming the primary, caucus, and electoral college systems ahead of us, plus a lot more. We expect to have a Democratic majority in Congress, so Roe v. Wade are fine. This isn’t about a Republican victory, it’s about a protest vote. I’ve had to break ranks with my peers and do what I feel is right instead of following external pressure. I haven’t been part of the group campaigning for McCain/Palin, but I’ve tried to write about what I’ve observed, and be a voice for PUMA and a source of information and inspiration for voters.

Although Hillary requests that we follow her lead in voting straight Democratic ticket, and would object to this choice, many PUMAs cannot. We honor her immense contributions and profound service, especially in the face of adversity. We must do what keeps us in integrity and continue our work. We’ve made a damned good beginning!

Your determination to keep going, often in the face of enormous obstacles . . . you taught me so much.

To my supporters, to my champions, to my sisterhood of the traveling pantsuits, from the bottom of my heart, thank you, because you never gave in, and you never gave up. Together we made history. . . .

And even in the darkest moments, that is what Americans have done: we have found the faith to keep going.

My mother was born before women could vote, my daughter got to vote for her mother for President. This is the story of America, of women and men who defy the odds and never give up.

So how do we give this country back to them? By following the example of a brave New Yorker, a woman who risked her life to bring slaves to freedom along the underground railroad.

On that path to freedom, Harriet Tubman had one piece of advice:

‘If you hear the dogs, keep going. If you see the torches in the woods, keep going. If they’re shouting after you, keep going. Don’t ever stop, keep going. If you want a taste of freedom, keep going.’

And even in the darkest moments. That is what Americans have done. We have found the faith to keep going.

—Hillary Rodham Clinton, August 26, 2008 Speech, Democratic National Convention

While we wait for a Voting Strategy post, SUSA reported what would happen in this election

IT’s not just going to be PUMAs saying “I told you so”.  From the ever reliable SUSA:

McCain 510 Electoral Votes, Obama 28 … How the Map Looked Exactly 2 Years Ago

SurveyUSA Breaking News – 17 hours ago

Exactly two years ago, SurveyUSA completed interviews with 600 voters in every state (30,000 total interviews), asking them how they would vote in a 2008 Presidential Election between John McCain and Barack Obama. Based on those interviews, SurveyUSA was able to report that:

In November 2006, Obama carried …

1. His home state of Illinois.
2. His birth state of Hawaii.
3. The District of Columbia.

In November 2006, Obama got 28 total electoral votes.

In November 2006, John McCain carried 48 states, and rolled up 510 electoral votes.

How far has Barack Obama come in 24 months?

We’ll know for sure Tuesday night.

And for any PUMA that feels sad, please know that to do the right thing takes courage and conviction.   Do not reward the Obama Campaign and the 2008 DNC with tears.  Reward them by voting against him.

What we are doing today reminds me of Murder on the Orient Express, and Samuel Rachett is the 2008 DNC. Your dagger is your vote – so go VOTE!

UPDATE:  Carol Diamonds highly recommends you visit the Just Say No Deal front page.

¡Que viva los PUMAs!

In Your Wildest Dreams . . .

[splashcast c KJMA4552XP]

In Your Wildest Dreams . . .

Did you ever think you/we would be here at this time in this election year—refugees from our Party of origin, protesting its candidate? Goes to show, we’re still the rebel’s rebel! Ain’t that the story of my life? If that’s the case, and they do pull it off, I’m concerned for my freedoms. It’s so weird, with Obama, Dean, Pelosi, Reid, Frank, Dodd, orange kool-aid types running things, that I feel just as suppressed as when the far Right was in charge.

Many of our disenchanted were out canvassing or making phone calls as Democrats for McCain/Palin last weekend, and they will continue until the election. Some people stepped up right away. Others have cautiously dipped a toe in with mixed feelings. Some PUMA/Just Say No Deal coalition members say it’s the only way to voice our stand for a just and transparent democracy. They consider McCain/Palin more trustworthy, prudent for the economy, and ethical, although most of us disagree with their stance on reproductive rights and the environment.

The Nature of Palin

In my assessment, Palin was very good-natured about being trashed on SNL right in front of her face twice, first by Tina Fey whom she watched on the monitor, then by Alec Baldwin, who told her she was hotter in person. She looked comfy in her body as she moved and danced, which is always a good sign to me.

In comments broadcast the following Sunday from a taped interview on local TV-9 here in Manhattan, Palin spoke of how you much fun it was to do the show, and how nice the cast and staff were to her. When asked if the jokes about her bothered her, she replied that in deciding to go for the job, you have to be thick skinned, but that it hurt to have her family trashed in the MSM. However, she said that running for office is a group deal; everyone in the family knows they need to be on board and also have thick skins. That strikes me as a pretty healthy, energetic attitude. I guess it bothers me that in order to be considered cool, Governor Palin has to get approval by actor, writer, director, Tina Fey, (wow, she’s accomplished—turnabout) who also belittled her on Letterman the previous evening.

Of course, these days we want our prez to be cewl, which is why we liked Bill (in addition to his being brilliant) when he wore shades and played sax on Arsenio and MTV, and jammed along with the band at his Inauguration Ball. Remember, Bill was a product of the type of school system I grew up in, where they offered orchestra, chorus, art, drama, PE, and square dancing. This system helped round pegs like me fit into square holes, but I digress . . .

Donna, Howard, Remember Us?

Nobama has warned: Democrats, be careful, you can still mess it up, just when it looks like you’ve got it in the bag. However, I’m a bit disheartened these days. With Obama raising a record $150 million in September, and 175,000 turning up in Missouri on Saturday, October 19, you might understand why.

So I got this classic Moody Blues song in my head and checked out the YouTube. Their video is your tacky eighties fare, basically about a girlfriend of a rock star. Don’t miss the choreographed dancin’ in the street. But the lyrics could be anybody wondering about a long lost love, friend, dear one, or someone from whom they’re estranged.

This got me wondering if Howard Dean and Donna Brazille ever think about us? You know those bitter white women, old people, the ones Donna declared they didn’t need, and Howard acted like they could win without. They’ll have to, as far as PUMA and Just Say No Deal-ers are concerned. Playing out the roles in the video, I kept getting hung up with the end—when the band is dragging him away, and he just can’t help it, of course. And the girl is standing watching him go, after having tried to get in touch several times, and she’s now a bored housewife. I just couldn’t wrap my brain around which role fit Howard, Donna, me or us. Neither, I think, because we’re not suckers and they ain’t helpless. But that’s not what’s important. It’s the wildest dreams part that’s on my mind, and upon which I’d like to refocus some energy and attention.

If You Want It

Concurring with riverdaughter about the anger, I think it’s time to bring out the heavy-duty tools—as in prayer and intention! You know about The Secret? Sshhh, don’t tell, but as Norman Vincent Peale and healers believe, “You Can If You Think You Can.” It’s like The Little Engine That Could, right? I saw The Secret the movie, didn’t read the book, hah, but it’s about manifesting your life by feeling, thinking, seeing, and being your intention in every cell of your body. Actually, that’s how I work with chronic pain as a somatic practitioner and hands-on-healer. I put my attention into blending with, then overpowering the sensations of pain with my complete attention, leaving no room in my touch or mind for it to be otherwise. Sometimes it’s a battle, pain can be a stubborn sucker, but I always win.

Group prayer can create miracles for its willing recipients. Many people have experienced the power of prayer ease their own or a loved one’s plight. When in dire situations, people may pray for the best possible outcome and the recipient feels at ease, although the result might not be the desired one. I’m no evangelical, but I am ecumenical and believe that no matter what form of prayer or deity one uses as intercessor, it will forward their intention. One might say that the panic-driven recent stock market sell-off, which many observers have remarked is psychological, is a form of prayer or belief working in the mode of fear or negativity. In other words, attention may also be directed negatively and have an affect, as in voodoo. Being a good witch, I always advocate for manifesting for good.

It must be in the zeitgeist, because in her Sunday Late Night Open Thread, riverdaughter played a beautiful video rendition of “Down to the River to Pray.” Earlier in the evening, Heidi Li Feldman, Marc Rubin, and Harriet Christian joined RD, who filled in for Sheri Tag on her “No We Won’t” PURrr show. Recalling all the February HAKA that Obama would beat Hillary according to the numbers, and that there was no way she could win, Heidi Li made the point that this is basically a theme that has been perpetrated upon the American public. It’s like an ad that’s been played often enough over time. She said, “It’s only a self-fulfilling prophesy if you let it,” which reminds me of John Lennon’s, “War is over, if you want it.”

I’m not saying only pray. I’m saying pray and take action. Harriet says: Be pro-active! Do whatever you can to stop Obama. Heidi and Marc say donate to Democrats For Principle Before Party so they can run an ad during the World Series. Murphy invites you to visit PUMA PAC’s Action Center. And last but not least, find out how to join in a variety of activities by visiting Just Say No Deal.

Perchance To Dream

I’ve arrived at my point in a roundabout way, but . . . please use this entry as a way to dream. Listen to the music, take the poll, and comment away about your dreams. You’ll notice that I did not include Hillary as a presidential choice, because I’m asking that you focus on the choices we currently have. We used to dream about some illegality knocking BO out of the race, but in two weeks, with the momentum now, Hillary is just not, well, dare I say, there’s a limit to my band width. Although, of course, you can dream and write her in under “other.” For any interlopers, know that the PUMA McCain choice is a protest vote. Oh, and yes, I question that the options include a Dean/Brazille, et al apology, and, sadly, fair elections.

What is your wildest election dream given our options? Make it happen, people. In its short life to date, isn’t that what our ragtag underfunded coalition has always been about? By paying attention and speaking up, haven’t we actually made a dent in the narrative of this election cycle and the vetting of its candidates? A determined voice that roars like a PUMA. Who knows what we yet can accomplish? In your wildest dreams . . .

Prologue: A New Voice —

From THE JOURNEY by Mary Oliver, 1986

” . . . though the voices around you kept shouting their bad advice . . .”

It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own [. . .]

performed by The Keith Jarrett Trio

When You Wish Upon A Star

Music: Leigh Harline
Lyrics: Ned Washington

When a star is born
They posses a gift or two
One them is this
They have the power
To make a wish come true

When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you

If your heart is in your dream
No request is too extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do

Fate is kind
She brings to those to love
The sweet fulfillment of
Their secret longing

Like a bolt out of the blue
Fate steps in and sees you through
When you wish upon a star
Your dreams come true

[cross-posted from Lady Boomer NYC]

Monday: We are not alone

There are signs of intelligent life.  You just have to know where to look.  You won’t find them on TV.  They’re harder to spot in the nation’s newspapers.  But they’re out there.  They are *us* and people like us.  Our challenge is to find each other and connect.

Sometimes, the most effective technology is the simplest one.  It could be that all we have to do is print some flyers that say nothing more than:

“Don’t like Obama?  Not a racist?  YOU ARE NOT ALONE!”

Put your favorite URL in some tear off strips at the bottom and hang the flyer on your local grocery store bulletin board.

Here are some other nifty ideas on how you can connect with others:

• Check out Murphy’s PUMAPac Action Center for graphics, flyers, postcards, and other ideas on getting the word out to the non-nethead.  Sign up for her Daily Growl for mass action alerts.
• Help Heidi Li and Marc Rubin get more ads on the air.  Visit Democrats for Principle before Party and make a donation.
• Visit JustSayNoDeal’s DailyDos page for events and activities that will get people’s attention. (Note: Some of these activities coordinate with McCain’s campaign so do it only if you feel comfortable with that concept.)
• Meet Harriet Christian in Manhattan on Saturday and Sunday from now until the election.  She is rounding up a posse to go to Scranton, PA to canvass in coordination with Democrat’s for McCain.  If you’re interested, send her an email at hchristian at infnyc dot com.  The buses leave from 31st Street and 8th Ave at 9:00AM.
• Tell your friends to tune into blogtalkradio programs.  There are a wide variety to suit everyone’s taste and you will get to meet a lot of new friends from all over the country.  Tonight, you can Chew the Fat with Ophelia, from The New Agenda tonight at 10PM EST.  Join Amy Siskind and Dr. Violet Socks talk about how women from both sides of the aisle can find common ground, work towards the 30% solution and move women’s issues forward for a better society for all.
  

  Chewing the Fat with Ophelia

The Obama Haka only works if friends and neighbors get discouraged and stay home on election day.  There is an illusion that Obama’s victory is all but assured but that can’t happen if everyone who is angry about the strong armed tactics, intimidation, peer pressure, misogyny and accusations of racism fight back.  There is strength in numbers.  Spread the word.  All you have to do is say, “You are not alone.”

Time is short.

Sound off, Conflucians.  Tell us where you’re from.

Our PUMA Anti-Convention

Lady Boomer NYC as Miss Piggy Puma, courtesy of Gary and Mawm

.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

“So, how’d it go at the Democratic Convention?”

I get that a lot from my family and friends. They know I had been working the entire year to get Hillary Clinton elected President while “raging against the machine,” and that I was going to Denver to protest. I replied,

“Ummm . . . good. . . . I, I wasn’t really at The Convention.

We were like . . . the Anti-Convention!”

Post-Denver, although still mourning for what could have been, most hardcore, grassroots Hillary supporters have moved on — in one way or another. They know, or are deciding, what they will do with their votes and/or their efforts. Will they work for one campaign or other at the top, or just support down-ticket candidates? They are mulling over whether to: vote nothing on top, vote third party, write in Hillary’s name, stay home, or cast a protest vote for John McCain. For most, that would be their first Republican vote ever, and they do not take it lightly. The only reason they would do it is to protest Barack Obama and Democratic Party leaders who subverted the democratic process and 18 million voters.

But I can’t fully move on yet. This story is roiling around inside me, unwilling to be forgotten. One week plus is old news, past prime, but I keep getting these “little messages.” Last week I ran into my neighborhood Brazilian Café and struck up a conversation with husband and wife owners, Marcello and Juliet. I’d been socked away in my “Puma Den” for the last six months, making rich stove top espressos at home on the cheap.

Marcello asked, “I heaven’t seen you for a while. Where have you bean? What have you been doing?”

I hesitated protectively, having lived undercover using my handle for so long that I had to consciously produce my real name in my head before saying it. “Actually, I’ve been doing a lot of writing most of the year, political writing. Do you know what blogs are? I have a blog and contribute to other sites and efforts.”

They continued the conversation as they scurried about their business, “Oh really, and who were you supporting for President?”

My personal self gulped inside my political self having been so underground and divided, “Actually, I was supporting Hillary Clinton, working to get her elected. I still support her and believe she would make the best President.”

They both jumped to attention and gravitated back to the counter to face me, “Really? We’re for her too!”

(See why I can’t stop?) “That’s great,” I cooed, as I came clean, telling them about my blog and links to others, our efforts prior to and during Denver, and our work to ensure a roll call, a floor vote, and a record of the truth about this election.

They pointed out to me, “It’s just like 2000, Gore and Bush!”

“Right!” I answered, “and now from our own. It seems so much worse that way. Did you know that Democrats have a weird gene that makes them eat their own?”

They laughed. We talked about the delegates. They had seen the same things that Puma and Just Say No Deal Coalition members have been uncovering, observing, highlighting, and shouting about all year long: the subversion, bullying, and undemocratic processes. They could not believe when they saw the vote halted and delegates switched. “We voted. We went in and pulled the lever. Why should we even bother?”

“I KNOW. How do they do it in Brazil?”

“We vote. It gets recorded. Somebody gets elected. That’s it.”

When Democracy returns to the Democratic party, so will we. Until then, PUMA!

Hey my Conflucians!  Waiting for reports from RiverDaughter, who’s at Denver’s Cheesman Park “The Beautiful Protest and Rise 2008” (see flyer on the right hand column), followed by candlelight vigil and from our PUMAmobile Dynamic Duo, Gary and Mawm – stay tuned!  In the meantime, add your Conflucian snark by captioning these photos and read post below if you like:

PHOTO 1

PHOTO 2

 

PUMAs are having a BALL in Denver!  “WE are the one no was expecting,” as the lovely Darragh Murphy from PUMA PAc states.

Here’s a snippet from the New York Observer:

Clinton’s Wishes Don’t Spoil PUMA’s Fun –by Jason Horowitz  |  August 25, 2008

In a flat, windswept part of Denver known, depending who you ask, as LODO, for lower downtown, or RINO, for River North, where the city’s yellow cab company once had their depot and where office and loft space now sit in the middle of parking lots and tall body-dumping grass, the PUMA women, and a smattering of PUMA men, held a premier of the anti-Obama movie, “The Audacity of Democracy.” Under pink and yellow neon lights at the sleek Fuel Café, the group’s organizers offered a respectable spread of sautéed spinach, prosciutto-wrapped dates, seasoned mushrooms, falafel, mushrooms and assorted salads, including one fattened with steak. The party had a cash bar, but it carried all sorts of top-shelf alcohol served by a handsome wait staff dressed seriously in culinary whites. A large contingent of foreign press, nearly outnumbering the Clinton loyalists, gave the proceedings an even greater air of sophistication.

A reporter from Le Monde interviewed Edwin Paytner, a round man who blogs as Texas Hill Country, for more than a half an hour. Two German reporters flanked Darragh Murphy, the founder of PumaPac, who has accused Obama supporters of killing bunnies as a scare tactic, scribbling her every word into notebooks. A glamorous Italian reporter talked sympathetically to a white-haired woman in a white Hillary t-shirt .

Taku Tsuchiya, a Japanese television reporter explained the intense international scrutiny.

“It’s interesting,” he said, “Because Obama’s popularity is declining right now and they might have something to do with it.”

And yes for those viewing – IT’S NOT about Senator Clinton, it’s about DEMOCRACY.  We’re not bitter dead-enders.  We are about ACTION.  We are the Democratic Base.  We make things happen in the USA, and we come in every color, size, gender, age, physical ability etc. etc. you can think of.    I wrote this yesterday, posting again because – well, it just says what I want to say:

I stand by my Floridian voter’s opinion:  

If a bank robber was caught stealing money and at their trial, they made a plea bargain to give most of the money back – it still doesn’t exculpate them from the crime they committed.  The robber should be punished regardless.  PUMA was formed to protest the DNC’s hijack of Democracy.  We want Democracy back in the Democratic Party, and you will not get our support and votes until our Democratic leaders start acting Democratically again. 

In Florida, our votes are used like toilet paper since 2000, and since the DNC’s leadership mostly ignores its voter base, they thought the best way they can win an election is by copying the Rove playbook.   How about counting our votes and LISTENING to your voters for a change?   Everytime they do listen, Democrats win the General election.  Had Ted Kennedy been the 1980 DNC candidate, Reagan would have never won nor started the Neo-Conservative movement.   I still resent that the Democratic leadership did not fight for Al Gore’s votes in 2000, had they fought like their Democratic voter base asked and pleaded them to, we would not have 8 years of the most destructive presidential administration in this country’s history. 

We put our trust in a party that we thought valued and represented Democracy and that would fight for our votes and for clean and transparent elections processes.   But since they won’t fight for Democracy, we will.

What happened on May 31st, 2008 was a crime against Democracy.  4 delegates and 600,000 votes were STOLEN in order to cushion Obama’s popular vote and delegate pile.   Had Obama won fair and square, if he had a popular vote lead (which Hillary does and Obama doesn’t)  and had won his delegates without the caucus fraud and DNC/RBC fiasco on May 31st, we’d be a united party. 

As far as I’m concerned, this changes nothing.  We still have an illegitimate candidate that won through illegitimate means.   And PUMA will continue to be a consciousness that lives in all of us here at this little corner of the blogosphere until Democracy is back in the Democratic Party

 

As Carol Diamonds says: PUMA HAKA!

¡Que viva los PUMAs!  (Long live PUMAs!)

Superdelegates also work the oldest profession in the world

UPDATE:  Internet Radio Show Site:  www.plainsradio.com – Listener call in numbers:  888-447-0270   or   806-447-0270 – Will be guests on an internet radio show TONIGHT, Mon 8/18/08, 8pm-10pm Eastern Time.
* POCPUMA.com* NativeAmericansAgainstObama.com* PUMALatinos.com

Democracy, Schmocracy, turning tricks at the Convention is where the money’s at, especially if your john is Madame Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, video courtesy of Dr. Lynette Long & Geeklove:

Awww, don’t you feel for these SuperDelegates, though?  They really think Barack Obama is going to “Pretty Woman” them and drive off in a limo straight to the White House.  After they sold out their constituencies’ votes, SuperDelegates are certain that Obama’s going to marry them with DNC funds for down ticket elections.  Hey SuperSweeties, if you really think that Obama’s Chicago-based DNC will help you fund many of your November re-election campaigns, I got a bridge in Brooklyn to sell you.   PUMA Priestess Alegre at Alegre’s Corner has the scoop, plus ACTION ITEMS.  Democracy should not be replaced by “Quid-pro-quo-ocracy.”

Another action item: WIll Bower, PUMA Chieftan Supreme issued his PUMA Prowl at the suggestion of the fabulous Heidi Li Feldman from The Denver Group and Heidi Li’s Potpourri:

Yes, we’ve been told that Hillary’s name will be placed into nomination…but now we need to help make sure that that actually happens… and that it MATTERS !! 

First, we need to let Hillary know (in a heartfelt and respectful manner) that we want her to retain her delegates… and that we do *not* want her to discourage them from voting for her!: 

http://www.hillpac.com/action/issues/?sc=2498&utm_source=2498&utm_medium=e

Next, we need to contact Phil McNamara (Director of Party Affairs and Delegate Selection) and (respectfully but firmly) “ask” that the delegate voting process be a *fair* and *legitimate* one!:

http://www.demconvention.com/ask-phil

Finally, for more information on these matters, please read Heidi Li Feldman’s latest articles at: /http://heidilipotpourri.blogspot.com

For those staying put during the Demagogue, oops, I mean Democratic Convention, our PUMA Infantry Co-Commanding Cat-Wrangling duo, Gary & Mawm, still need help filling up the PUMAmobile!  Click on Gary & Mawm’s PUMAmobile below to donate to the G & M Excellent Adventure fuel fund – or click HERE. 

 

The next week is going to be filled with activity, every Just Say No Dealer is working furiously to PUMAtize Denver.  Please keep up with the PUMA Prowls at PUMAPac and Just Say No Deal.  

¡Que viva los PUMAs!

(Long live PUMAs!)

The Scratching Post Saturday Night – PUMA Summer Blockbuster!

Don’t forget Meet Me in Denver with Darragh Murphy and Friends with John West and Michell of the 300 Delegates tonight at 9:00 PM EST on NQR!

 The summer blockbuster sleeper hit is finally here!

Run!  Run for your lives!!  PUMAs are everywhere and the Obama favored polls sense the PUMA ATTACK!  Gallup has very sobering numbers to report:

Two Things

Just a heads up about what’s happening this week:

• Tomorrow night, I will be a guest on NO WE WON’T with Sheri Tag on blogtalkradio.  Set your bat channels for 7pm EST.
• Tonight, we will be hosting a cocktail party at the same time that Diane Montavoulos at <a href=”http://justsaynodeal.com”>Just Say No Deal </a>will be giving a cocktail party/interview live with a Japanese TV crew.  And I need a favor from all of you creative types.  We need a new catchy name for the cocktail party.  Diane is taking requests.  My first attempt is the PUMA Watering Hole but I know we can come up with something even more clever, Conflucians.  So, GO!

The Honeymoon is Over

Yesterday morning, I woke up to the sound of thunder.  Almost immediately launched into a Bob Seeger song, then realized that it wasn’t a very good omen for a week at the beach.  Indeed it wasn’t.  The thunderstorm that passed through my undisclosed location at the shore shook the condo and made my bed vibrate.  The sky brightened in the morning but darkened again in the afternoon as we sat on the beach, towels wrapped around us, lips blue as the temperature plummeted to a balmy 70.  The cocktail party in the evening made up for it.  Lots of goodies and plenty of gin and tonics.  I forgot about the weather. This morning promises to be a bit more summerlike. I will venture back to the shore after renting a bike for Brook for the week.  Everyone is still asleep in the condo so I thought I’d update everyone.

As you can tell by the title, all those personality quirks and shortcomings that we glossed over during the orgasms of infatuation are now clearly in evidence now that the afterglow is wearing off.  It looks like he is the “turns over and goes to sleep kind” who probably wouldn’t retrun calls if he were single.  But now that the Democratic party has married him, they are in a bit of a bind.  He swept them off their feet and it is going to feel really awkward to want to divorce him.  But when even Big Tent Democrat starts writing stuff like this, you know there is a problem.

We tried to tell them that he was no good. Anglachel has a followup to some of her earlier posts and warnings in Classification.  We saw it coming, he only married the party for the connections but it was always the money he was after.  And considering who has been promoting him, the affluent liberals, libertarian Democrats, disaffected former Republicans and the young, are we really surprised he ditched his old lady as soon as he could?

What about an annulment?  Yeah, maybe we could scotch the whole deal in Denver.  No hard feelings, Barack, but we were both drunk in Vegas and we should just go our own ways.  Heidi Li has been gazing at the legal tea leaves and it looks like Obama is trying to force Clinton into some kind of prenup where she agrees to give up all possibility of nominating speeches and roll call votes in Denver in exchange for help paying off her campaign debts.  We can’t let this happen, guys.

Denver is becoming the new operant word.  The Just Say No Deal conference call last night was full of references to Denver.  After a minor hiccup last week, the coalition has come together and Diane is doing a masterful job helping to coordinate all of the moving parts.  We will be rolling out information gradually but there are a few things I’d like to make you aware of:

• The most important thing for all of us right now is spreading the word by any media or means necessary.  You can do your part in any creative way you can think of.  I suggested that PUMAs “mark their territory” in some organic way using natural elements such as sand, grass, shrubbery, or flowers to spell out PUMA.  Print it and let nature take its course.  Murphy is trying to arrange for Aerial ads over the east coast, CA and TX.  She calls them “air raids”.  The ads are pretty reasonable as far as cost goes but PUMApac could still use donations so if you can send a tenspot or a yuppie food stamp, go to PUMApac and make a donation.
• The credentials committee is scheduled to meet sometime in July, we believe it is July 21 in DC but we’re not absolutely sure.  I’m sure that the DNC would like to keep this soiree small and personal, you know, just a few invited guests, very low key.  F^*# that S#$*.  The last thing we want is for it to fade into obscurity.  We want to make sure the whole world is watching. To that end, we may need prot, er, celebrants at the location.  We will let you know what you can do as soon as we pin this sucker down.
• PUMAPac needs publicity.  PUMApac will be working with RiseHillaryRise and it is anticipated, with The Denver Group to hammer out an easy to digest message about what we want to see in Denver.  These groups have been very busy building regional and state organizations.  Honestly, Conflucians, I am astonished at the way this has come together in the past month.  The energy is out there just waiting to be tapped.  There is a whole nation full of discontented Democrats who are ready to eat raw meat over the way Obama was appointed.  Pretty soon, there will be interactive state maps with coordinators for arranging caravans to Denver.  There is imminent opposition research coming from Paulie Abeles group and there will be an 800 number for non netsavvy potential PUMAs.

YOUR job, should you choose to accept it, is to continue with the energy and joy with which you embarked on this course of setting things to right.  Nothing is settled until the balloons drop in Denver and from what Heidi Li writes, it looks like Obama and the DNC are fretting over uncertainty.  That gives me hope.  And even if we do not prevail in Denver, we can make our voices heard in November so that the DNC will never again forget who really calls the shots- the voters.

OK, Conflucians, I hear the condo stirring.  Off to make some coffee.  Ciao, Caros!

PS.  Thanks Kbird, Mawm and Gary for keeping things going in the morning.  I appreciate having something to read.  😉