Progressive Democrat Issue 187

VERY bad week for John McCain.

A new poll shows Obama is getting 44% of white voters, much better than any Democratic presidential candidate since Jimmy Carter in 1976. That alone could be the end of McCain's chances.

Colin Powell, Scott McClellan, Indiana Sen. Richard G. Lugar, Linwood Holton (former Governor of Virginia), Charles Fried (one of McCain's OWN campaign advisor), William H. Donaldson, Lincoln Chafee, Paul O'Neill, Ben Bernanke, Rear Admiral John Hutson, Susan Eisenhower and Julie Nixon Eisenhower, CC Goldwater, Christopher Buckley (yes...the names Nixon, Eisenhower, Buckley and Goldwater are THOSE families) are notable Republicans and conservatives who have enthusiastically endorsed Barack Obama. Given the number of swing states represented here (like Indiana and Virginia) these endorsements collectively could swing quite a few voters.

As of today, Obama leads 134-52 in newspaper endorsements across the country. At least 28 papers have switched to Obama from Bush in 2004, with just four switching from Kerry to McCain. These changes include some quite stunning switches, including the Stockton Record (which hasn't endorsed a Democrat in 72 years) and the Chicago Tribune (never endorsed a Democrat before, I believe) and the Houston Chronicle. Many people pay attention to their local newspapers so this also will help Obama's edge.

Then there are increasing reports that McCain and Palin are blaming eachother for their ticket's problems. In fact, most people on McCain's campaign are reportedly blaming Palin, particularly since the revelations that the highest paid member of the McCain/Palin campaign is Palin's makeup artist and that their campaign, according to their OWN records, spent $150,000 on her wardrobe. But let's keep one thing in mind. McCain chose Palin to be his running mate. That choice reflects HIS judgement. The one and only person to blame for McCain's woes is McCain himself. Remember the "buck stops here?" I guess McCain has never heard that quote before.

Speaking of McCain embarrassments, John McCain's brother, Joe McCain, just hates Northern Virginia. Sometime back he alienated many Virginians by calling the whole North of the state "communist." He has now compounded THAT insult by actually calling 911 to complain about a traffic jam. When the operator expressed amazement that he was so abusing the 911 system, Joe McCain said "Fuck you," and hung up. Wow...disregard for the law and common decency as well. But it does't stop there. The 911 system called the number back (confirming it was Joe McCain's phone in the process) to inform him that he was violating the law by abusing the 911 system. Joe McCain CALLED AGAIN to complain about being "read the riot act" over his breaking the law. Yikes! Seems the infamous family temper runs in the family!

Then there was the racist hoax in Pennsylvania where a McCain campaign worker (who had publically admitted to lying to voters to get them to register Republican) claimed to have been attacked, sexually assaulted, and maimed by a black Obama supporter. I personally suspect the woman may be mentally unstable and may well deserve some sympathy. But the McCain campaign, led by his Pennsylvania communications director and the right wing bloggers, exploited the story to incite racist fears against Obama. The whole thing had been made up. It was a lie from start to finish and McCain's campaign eagerly used it in the most disgusting of ways. The local law enforcement handled the matter well, not taking the story at face value and recognizing some inconsistencies, realized pretty quickly that the woman was making it all up. It is sad that McCain's campaign was so eager to incite racist fears. But fortunately America isn't buying it this time.

The list goes on. McCain had an abyssmal week. Obama politically fared better, though the illness of his grandmother of course is a personal tragedy. I hope she can live long enough to see her grandson elected President of the United States.

Here is this week's newsletter:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

CONSERVATIVE NEWSPAPERS ENDORSE BARACK OBAMA: two eloquent endorsements of Obama out of many out there

What YOU can do NOW to win this Election: things you can do from home to win in three key states

COLORADO FOCUS

NORTH CAROLINA FOCUS

OHIO FOCUS

MINNESOTA FOCUS

NEVADA FOCUS

FLORIDA FOCUS

GEORGIA FOCUS

VIRGINIA FOCUS

PENNSYLVANIA FOCUS

NEW JERSEY FOCUS

OREGON FOCUS

NEW YORK FOCUS

CALIFORNIA FOCUS

WASHINGTON FOCUS

MICHIGAN FOCUS

WISCONSIN FOCUS

IOWA FOCUS

ARIZONA FOCUS

ILLINOIS FOCUS

ALASKA FOCUS

TEXAS FOCUS