OpEdNews » Why is This Election So Unnervingly Close?

Support OEN
With Your
Tax-Deductible Donation

Tags for This Article:

Populum Tag Cloud Control Panel
	Fine tune your search to access content

Articles	Links
Diaries	Products
Events	All

All time
Last 6 mos
Last month
Last week
Last 24 hrs

From:
Month Day Year

To:
Month Day Year

Alphabet Popularity	Count ON Count OFF
This Level	Sub-levels

Tag(s): Change; Elections And Campaigns; FISA; Fear; Independent; McCain-John; Media Progressive; Nader-Ralph; Obama-Barack; Polls; (more...) Progressive Problems; Progressive Values - Issues; Thinking (less...)
Add to My Group

August 20, 2008 at 10:43:00

Why is This Election So Unnervingly Close?

by Kevin Gosztola Page 1 of 3 page(s)

www.opednews.com

SAVE FAVORITES

VIEW FAVORITES

View Ratings | Rate It

In less than a week, I will be in Denver at the Democratic National Convention participating in events that will take place outside the Pepsi Center. As I prepare to head to where the political epicenter of American politics will be next week, I have formulated a series of articles. The series is titled, "The Right, the Left, and Your Prized Candidate." The third in the series is as follows.

The base that coalesced behind Obama earlier in this election providing a burst of energy that ultimately boosted Obama’s campaign to the top has become extraordinarily limp lately. Whether this is indicative of the character of the progressive movement and its leaders or not, the moral fortitude to put forth an agenda that makes Obama more different than McCain is necessary.

Too many seek refuge by having conversations that amount to “Nobody But Obama” and “Elect McCain and Get Nuclear War” while Bush finishes out his imperial presidency and Obama and McCain evangelize their positions (or lack of) to the people through the television set.

This risk-free talk gets the people engaged in these discussions nowhere closer to achieving their goal---electing Obama---and is counter to electing Obama in November. Nothing of what said challenges the state of American politics at all, which is what must be challenged if we are to ignite a progressive movement.

Do we need progressives to reawaken (or for some awaken) and go to work before this election over?

Consider how close this election is.

Reuters reported recently, “an average of recent polls gave Obama a 4.2 percentage point lead over McCain, close to the statistical margin of error, according to the Real Clear Politics Web site.” And, “Obama's eight-point lead in June has all but evaporated, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center, which said that 46 percent of voters now favored the Illinois senator over 43 percent for McCain.”

With high gas prices, a housing crisis, rising food prices, job losses, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and stark public disapproval of George W. Bush, there is no acceptable reason for this election to be close.

The same Reuters article highlights a prediction that this election should be a “blowout” done by political scientist Alan Abramowitz of Emory University in Atlanta. He suggests this based on “a model used to track presidential election results back to World War Two that looks at political fundamentals such as second quarter economic growth during an election year.”

If it is supposed to be a “blowout” for Obama (and based on the 2006 midterm elections, it should be), than what is going wrong?

"I don't know where he stands. He may be good. He may not be. But it's hard to tell because he is not specific enough," said Bob Grover, an independent voter in Miami Beach, Florida.

All that elevating rhetoric involving hope and change is not paying off because voters like Mr. Grover have no idea what to make of Barack Obama. And, in such a time of insecurity, voters like Mr. Grover will go with a clear, concise (although hawkish) presidential candidate every time.

A recent poll by the Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg suggests that “more voters believe that McCain has the experience to be president” and “more than a third have concerns about Obama's patriotism.”

The poll further highlights the state of affairs reporting that it found “Obama's favorability rating has dropped from 59 percent in June to 48 percent, and his negative rating has risen from 27 percent to 35 percent during the same period. McCain's favorability numbers have barely shifted, according to the poll.”

Gallup.com’s Jeff Jones offers an explanation for this close election that may be attributed to these results:

“…when an incumbent is not running, the election is arguably more forward-looking, and how the country is doing matters less than voters' projections as to how the two major candidates would do as president if elected. If so, then candidate-specific factors such as experience and policy positions (where candidates want the country to go) should matter more than voters' perceptions of how the country is doing or how the incumbent president or his party has performed (where the country has been).”
1 | 2 | 3

Kevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral system, its military-industrial complex, its foreign policy of American exceptionalism, its media which has become the Fourth Branch of government,etc.)
His ambitions have him currently organizing and raising money for a Chicago Conference for Media Reform in April or May of 2009. It will be organized by college students to promote youth involvement in media reform and justice. Those interested in attending or helping with the organization of the program should contact him.

	Contact Author
	Contact Editor
	View Other Articles by Author

Bookmark this page: (what's this?)

(More...)

17 comments

Brent Turner is an election integrity activist. He has founded numerous activist groups- He is an Oxford graduate currently living in California.
Brent TurnerBrent Turner is an election integrity activist. He has founded numerous activist groups- He is an Oxford graduate currently living in California.

Don't ask- Don't tell

The election is not that close- But the pockets of the pollsters are fat fat fat. America is not as whipped as the pollsters pretend- But it is a nice set up for vote fraud- BT

by Brent Turner (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 94 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 11:36:56 AM

Kevin Zeese is Executive Director of the Campaign for Fresh Air and Clean Politics (www.FreshAirCleanPolitics.net) whose projects include Voters for Peace (www.VotersForPeace.US., True Vote (www.TrueVote.US and www.TrueVoteMD.org) and Climate Security (www.GlobalClimateSecurity.org). He is also president of Common Sense for Drug Policy (www.csdp.org).
Kevin ZeeseKevin Zeese is Executive Director of the Campaign for Fresh Air and Clean Politics (www.FreshAirCleanPolitics.net) whose projects include Voters for Peace (www.VotersForPeace.US., True Vote (www.TrueVote.US and www.TrueVoteMD.org) and Climate Security (www.GlobalClimateSecurity.org). He is also president of Common Sense for Drug Policy (www.csdp.org).

Obama defines his campaign not progressives

Kevin

Your article expects progressives to define the Obama campaign, but that is for the Obama campaign to do. And, they have taken the tac of running to the center and assuming progressives have nowhere to go when there is both the Nader and McKinney campaign out there -- as well as staying home and not voting.

The Democrats always tend to run away from their base hoping that will get them the center but instead they accomplish two negatives. First, they turn off their base -- which your article talks about. And, second, they turn off swing voters because they come across as standing for nothing and being wishy-washy. It is a lose-lose approach that for some reason Democratic political campaigns always seem to take while Republicans take the approach of turning on their base and showing they stand for something.

If Obama took more progressive positions on issues where American voters support them, e.g. single payer health care, living wage and really ending the Iraq war (not the partial withdrawal he advocates), he would taking positions supported by super majority of Americans, but he is taking another approach.

Don't blame progressives blame Obama and his handlers.

KZ
Executive Director, VotersforPeace.US

by Kevin Zeese (85 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 45 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 12:42:57 PM

Kevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Kevin GosztolaKevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Getting a Bit Too Rational

Your article expects progressives to define the Obama campaign, but that is for the Obama campaign to do. And, they have taken the tac of running to the center and assuming progressives have nowhere to go when there is both the Nader and McKinney campaign out there -- as well as staying home and not voting.

Yes, that does sound crazy to expect progressives outside the campaign to define it. But, what's even more crazy is thinking you can define it afterwards when he is in office. It being his agenda.

What's crazier than that---Progressives not being progressives when presidential elections come around.

You at Voters for Peace know too well. When peace has not been put on the agenda by the two most prominent parties, Americans do not go to find it being promoted by a less prominent campaign.

Alas, I cannot just point out what's wrong and let it go. My articles have been to offer a way out for some people suffering from massive illusions that could have dire effects for this nation.

by Kevin Gosztola (230 articles, 127 quicklinks, 72 diaries, 895 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 3:12:46 PM

Male, 50, Texas. White with white hair (for 20 years)
Write, read, and draw.
Topics include science, art, history, language, philisophy, the odd and unusual. SiFi/Goth/Lovecraft
Recovering from a medical episode that nearly killed me in 2006. Still being treated.
An autodidact and graduated High School but not college.
Not good with people. I have poor emotional intelligence.
nightgauntMale, 50, Texas. White with white hair (for 20 years)
Write, read, and draw.
Topics include science, art, history, language, philisophy, the odd and unusual. SiFi/Goth/Lovecraft
Recovering from a medical episode that nearly killed me in 2006. Still being treated.
An autodidact and graduated High School but not college.
Not good with people. I have poor emotional intelligence.

Obama is hurting himself by playing to the right wing.

Why else would he be showing his true colors and losing to the ultimate right wing monkey in the name of McCain the McSame. Obama just looks and sounds better in the way he talks. Not in his pro-war positions. Expand the military by 100,000; move more troops into Afghanistan, threaten Iran and Pakistan. Single payer health care? No. What was that difference again that is so stark between them? It seems it is the packaging not what they contain that are different.

by nightgaunt (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 244 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 12:55:53 PM

Faculty member at University of Kentucky. Teacher, Researcher, social activist. Political independent who believes in better government, not necessarily smaller or larger government.
Peter WedlundFaculty member at University of Kentucky. Teacher, Researcher, social activist. Political independent who believes in better government, not necessarily smaller or larger government.

Why does the election look close?

If McCain can win the election with an unpopular war, a poor economy, rising prices and an unpopular sitting Republican President it speaks volumes about what is wrong with America. The Obama camp just needs to point out some of the glaring problems with the McCain view of America.

First, McCain's "arrogance of power" is exactly like Bush's. His, "let's go get 'um" and his "let's win this war" shows a total lack of understanding of how people in the "real world" live. This might appeal to the very Conservative Right, but I would hope the majority of Americans can see this attitude is exactly what got us into Iraq in the first place. If unchanged, this policy will get us into an Iranian or Russian or some other conflict.

Second, McCain's attitude toward education is let's have vouchers. This assumes the primary problem with our educational system is the "lack of competition". It is a typical Conservative Right answer to a complex problem -- "let's increase competition." Problem is, there is no research evidence to support a lack of competition in education is the primary problem for why Johnny can't read and write. Most western nations embrace the same type of monopolistic public education we have, they just do a better job than us at educating their kids. Competition isn't the problem, never was but its sounds like is a simple enough solution.

Third, McCain's answer to the economy is less government, more tax breaks for the well to do and rebates to everyone else. We have a failing infrastructure, we have a failing health care system, we have become a declining economic power that is growing ever more indebted to other nations and we can't get our balance of trade back into the black or control our own spending. Poor regulation of business is what has contributed to the excesses that took place during this Republican Administration. McCain's answer is, "hey let's continue on course, we're doing great".

Republicans talk about "gun control, banning abortion, winning the war and simple solutions to complex problems like vouchers to fix education, tax cuts to stimulate business, health care rebates to fix rising health care costs".

I sure hope Americans are smart enough to look closely before they vote. Who knows, maybe they are not. Either way it tells me a lot about the future for this country. It remains hard for me to see how the vast majority of Americans couldn't see the real issues if they are actually informed of what their vote means for the future of America.

by Peter Wedlund (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 183 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 1:30:02 PM

Kevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Kevin GosztolaKevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name

1...2...3

First, Obama is just as arrogant about American power as Bush and McCain. From the cited Mike Whitney article in my piece:

Obama has "lamented the failure of the Bush administration to issue “a call to service” and “a call for shared sacrifice....There is no challenge greater than the defense of our nation and our values,” said Obama. We “need to ease the burden on our troops, while meeting the challenges of the 21st century," which, according to Obama, will require an "increase US ground forces by 65,000 soldiers and 27,000 Marines.'" ("Obama continues lurch to the right on Iraq war and militarism" Bill Van Auken)

Second, a couple minutes of dialogue with people like McCain and Obama would support vouchers too.

Third, the issue isn't who they would offer tax breaks to but that they would even think to offer tax breaks at all.

How are we going to pay for this "war on terror"? Oh, that's right. I'm supposed to put it on my credit card with an astronomical interest rate and make monthly payments until I keel over and die while working my job in the burgeoning service industry of America.

by Kevin Gosztola (230 articles, 127 quicklinks, 72 diaries, 895 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 3:26:53 PM

Currently I'm a cartoonist and contributing writer for The New Orleans Levee. For those wishing to view my work you can see my latest at: nolevee.com
Mr MCurrently I'm a cartoonist and contributing writer for The New Orleans Levee. For those wishing to view my work you can see my latest at: nolevee.com

Step right up folks, there's plenty of seats ...

There is no election. There is a perception of an election.

There are no candidates. There are stooges pretending to be candidates.

There are no polls. There are propaganda networks.

We have no country. We have a prison.

It's all a lie. Every bit of it. It's a waste of time to even follow it.

Obama doesn't matter. McCain doesn't matter. Our government doesn't matter. We don't have a government. We have large criminal organizations that call themselves Republicans and Democrats instead of Genovese and Gambino. I'd rather have the Mafia running things, they're more moral than these cretins that we jokingly call our public servants.

At least none of it matters beyond the point that it falls. That this whole shoddy sham of a corrupt system comes crashing down into it's own putrid puss-filled self.

Criminals running against criminals in a big Dog & Pony Show arranged to keep deluded masses interested in things that are as phony as any illusion David Blaine could pull off.

Think, for Christ sake. Does anyone think it's an accident we have these two clowns running against one another? Do you not think that the same people that fund the both of them don't also own the news outlets, pollsters, delegates, e-voting machines and the State Attorneys that give us this grand show?

It's "unnervingly close" because they tell us it is. It makes the show more interesting and keeps the deluded masses entertained. After all, that's what it's all about, entertainment, right?

by Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 1686 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 3:15:24 PM

Kevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Kevin GosztolaKevin Gosztola goes to Columbia College in Chicago where he is studying film. He hopes to become a documentary filmmaker. He is currently working as a production assistant on a documentary called "Seriously Green" which traces the development of the Green Party throughout the 2008 election. He has a passion for journalism and writes articles or press releases in his spare time. Kevin Gosztola is also a student activist who believes in questioning the way America's systems work(its electoral sys...

to see more of bio, click on member name

That's entertainment folks

And in terms of organizing to do something, despite the fact that I agree with you, so what?

So what do you propose we do then?

I'm not just going to post comments that show me to be coming unglued on a daily basis until I'm buried, cremated, or whatever I opt to do with my remains after I die.

This is madness to the nth degree and I'm not just going to tune into The Daily Show every night and then brush my teeth and go to bed.

by Kevin Gosztola (230 articles, 127 quicklinks, 72 diaries, 895 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 3:18:30 PM

Do what you need to do ...

When faced with tyranny you look back to what others have done. For now, while there still is time, prepare.

There will be a collapse of the economy no matter what happens. Get your money out of paper. Coins, gold, silver.

Food will be scarce. Start now in buying seeds and hand tools. Plant gardens. Electricity too will be hard to come by. Buy non-perishable foods.

You have to realize that everything will become scare, even water.

Get a HAM radio. Internet and other forms of communication will all be near impossible.

If you think I'm being alarmist, think Katrina. I was here. I saw just how fast things deteriorate. When you have people that can murder 3,000 people in broad daylight and get away with it, just how bad can it get? And there was Oklahoma City, Waco and the first WTC bombing before that. We have sick bastards in charge of everything, it's time to quit pretending everything will be alright - its not - it won't be. There is no repairing this system. It's too far gone.

If we didn't hold them accountable for these past crimes what makes anyone think we'll do it now? It's obviously all corrupted. This isn't the first time it's happened. This is Nazi Germany all over again, only this time these maggots have learned how to perfect their fine art of tyranny.

If you have relatives in the country make plans to live with them, cities will become killing zones, especially in the beginning. If you can't get out of the city, make as many friends with your neighbors as you can and form co-ops. Buy guns, ammo and keep them hidden and off the books.

What's coming is not a game. It will be the worst calamity this world has ever seen and it's time anyone with any sense learn from history and acknowledge what's going on.

Good luck - we'll all need it. If you can survive the next few years there might be a chance (a slim one), if we don't blow ourselves up first, or if we don't pollute this poor planet to the point where it will be the rein of cockroaches.

by Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 1686 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 7:49:03 PM

Patricia Ormsby is an environmental and health activist living Fujinomiya, Japan. She obtained her bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1981 and studied Linguistics at the University of Michigan Graduate School before moving to Japan in 1984, where she has worked since as a language teacher and translator of Japanese and Russian technical documents. She hang glides and climbs mountains and has led several ecotours to Siberia, Canada and the United States....

to see more of bio, click on member name
Patricia 0rmsbyPatricia Ormsby is an environmental and health activist living Fujinomiya, Japan. She obtained her bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado in 1981 and studied Linguistics at the University of Michigan Graduate School before moving to Japan in 1984, where she has worked since as a language teacher and translator of Japanese and Russian technical documents. She hang glides and climbs mountains and has led several ecotours to Siberia, Canada and the United States....

to see more of bio, click on member name

Thank you, Mr. M

for the shopping list (scribbling "ham radio license" in tiny notebook). BTW, I agree with you.

by Patricia 0rmsby (3 articles, 5 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 156 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 9:35:30 PM

Life gives us two choices!

You can throw up your hands, give in and say I quit, or you can fight! Those are your two choices. When you get to the point where it doesn't matter to you what happens, you get tired trying or you just feel it is hopeless, you quit. You give up and say, they won, I'm through. Otherwise, you learn to think, reason, plan, try and work to change things.

Quitters never win and fighters never quit. It is your choice alone to decide what you are going to be -- a quitter and loser, or a fighter. There is a famous line from "To kill a mockingbird" where Jeb asks his dad, "are you going to win?" and Atticus Finch says, "no." Atticus knew the cards were stacked against him and he had little chance of winning. That wasn't why he was fighting. He was fighting because it was the "right thing to do."

How easily we forget that principles, values, standards and ideals don't mean "only if I win" they mean "not compromising what I believe is important". They can bury you when your dead. Until then you have a choice to stand up for what they believe is right, or quit because the battle ahead may not be in your favor. It is remarkable how few are willing to stand up for what they believe and are all to willing to accept what they don't support simply because the challenge ahead looks too great. That is the time when exceptional people stand up and fight. When exceptional people stand up and are counted as defending what they believe is important. The destiny in the same for us all, the path we take in life and what we do when we are challenged by it is what determines who we really are.

There is an old song that goes, "once there was a silly old ant. Tried to move a rubber tree plant. Now everyone knows an ant can't, move a rubber tree plant." Dreams are not achieved by just hoping they will come true, they are achieved by working to make them come true. Never let go of your dreams. It is the only thing that gives us hope even when all else seems lost. Good luck.

by Peter Wedlund (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 183 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 3:49:13 PM

Who is saying "quit"?

The only thing I'm advocatiing quitting on is this totally corrupt system.

Voting for either one of these phonies is akin to fishing in a swimming pool. There's no "there" there.

To the contrary, rather than quit, I say prepare to fight for your life, because that is exactly what its coming down too.

by Mr M (4 articles, 0 quicklinks, 15 diaries, 1686 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 7:59:25 PM

Author of "The Politics of Extraterrestrials...Connecting the Dots" ISBN 0-9765223-0-6

Sullivan Corollary to Kaluza-Klein theorem, The physics of torque: Mass absorption as a mechanism to access the Fifth dimension for unlimited heat and electricity.

Static field technology: Can be viewed on You Tube
PatrickAuthor of "The Politics of Extraterrestrials...Connecting the Dots" ISBN 0-9765223-0-6

Sullivan Corollary to Kaluza-Klein theorem, The physics of torque: Mass absorption as a mechanism to access the Fifth dimension for unlimited heat and electricity.

Static field technology: Can be viewed on You Tube

Because Obama is a Republican choice to

Obama: The Republican choice

Clinton won the democratic vote in the primary, and Obama won with the Republican crossover voters. Obama and McCain are both the choice of the Republicans.

In a head to head match, Clinton will walk over McCain like the old worn out used up rug; that he is. This is why the Republicans went to such trouble to crossover and vote for Obama. He is likely to lose to McCain; which is the desired result of the Republicans.

The murder of Arkansas Super delegate and Clinton supporter Gwatney first and now the brain hemorrhage of Ohio super delegate for Clinton Tubb Jones second, should give us a few thoughts about how concerned the Republicans are about the chance that Clinton will sweep the convention and select Clinton to be the choice of those who are actually Democrats.

It ain’t over until it’s over.

With either Obama or McCain- the inanity and the insanity, there will be no hope for Peace, only more war. Though Clinton is ‘not all things to all people,’ she is clearly the preferred choice of the mass of the Democratic voters who cast their ballot for her.

She also has independent political power that is genuine and rises from a large segment of the population. Obama- though a nice enough fellow personally, is a hired hand in the employ of the central bankers.

To the delegates at the convention: “Do the right thing; Clinton is the best candidate to prevent McCain from blowing the planet up.” Make Clinton the nominee to end this nightmare sent to us from the central bankers.

by Patrick (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 415 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 4:23:05 PM

The only power we have is the power we give away.
Drew TerryThe only power we have is the power we give away.

TELL-A-VISION

The "election" is close because it gets people to pay attention to the DAILY TELL-A-VISION PROGRAMMING.

News is entertainment. Circuses to go with Bread.

If the election were not made to appear "close" people wouldn't bother to vote. If people didn't vote, they could not maintain the charade of "democracy" that is the foundation of our Constitutional Republic.

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

liberty

1. the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by authority on one's way of life, behavior, or political views

free

1. not under the control or in the power of another; able to act or be done as one wishes.

ORIGIN Old English frēo (adjective), frēon (verb), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch vrij and German frei, from an Indo-European root meaning 'to love,' shared by friend.

THE RIGHT WORD

The Fourth of July is the day on which Americans commemorate their nation's independence, a word that implies the ability to stand alone, without being sustained by anything else.

While independence is usually associated with countries or nations, freedom and liberty more often apply to people.

But unlike freedom, which implies an absence of restraint or compulsion (the freedom to speak openly), liberty implies the power to choose among alternatives rather than merely being unrestrained (the liberty to select their own form of government).

Freedom can also apply to many different types of oppressive influences (freedom from interruption; freedom to leave the room at any time), while liberty often connotes deliverance or release (he gave the slaves their liberty).

Liberty is not freedom, and justice is not free.

by Drew Terry (3 articles, 0 quicklinks, 28 diaries, 124 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 4:25:55 PM

Hater of Nazis above all. Hobbies include activism, military model building, military history, exciting and vital conversation with retired crooks. Retired
John HanksHater of Nazis above all. Hobbies include activism, military model building, military history, exciting and vital conversation with retired crooks. Retired

Crook media gets rich and fixes every big election.

They are betting the farm (including PBS) on making Obama look like McCain. If you can marginalize women and blacks, you win by one useless rich white man. Divide and conquer is still alive and well in bogus land.

by John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1373 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 7:03:06 PM

This was just soooo predictable!

Thank you, Kevin, for your article and efforts. You have my admiration, and I am not giving up. (At least I don't think so.) On the other hand, are progressives really truly punishing Obama for FISA? That would be the day!
I'm sitting over here in Japan, so I am not in the thick of the BS flying around, but I can sure smell it all the way across the Pacific. McCain, from what I can see, is being portrayed as decisive, brave, reliable, strong, etc., and Obama, as a nice guy. Obama thinks he has to move to the right--perhaps because his life is in danger. I'm beginning to think that's what's going wrong with Congress. How else do you explain their unwillingness to even take a serious look at the ongoing glaring criminal enterprise called "the Bush Administration"?
Then the polls start showing McCain taking the lead. Are we to think that Americans are so blind? (Maybe? Again, I'm not in the thick of the BS.) Is this deja vu?
It looks to me like Rockefeller and them have voted, and the winner is... (Gonna hold you breath?)

by Patricia 0rmsby (3 articles, 5 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 156 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 9:54:38 PM

Nature lover, passionate about rights of man, reading, literature, Vedic lover - yoga, Indian traditional music.
Age 49. Just made a film in UK - called SHOOT ON SIGHT.
www.shootonsightthemovie.com
wendynycNature lover, passionate about rights of man, reading, literature, Vedic lover - yoga, Indian traditional music.
Age 49. Just made a film in UK - called SHOOT ON SIGHT.
www.shootonsightthemovie.com

The Fight is for Power

Powerful Interests are making sure they do not lose this election. It is not about McCain or Obama - it is about our telecoms, and our energy cos and our pharmaceutical cos and insurance cos - Wall Street and all those lobbyists wll make sure they get their man into office.

So we the people - continue to get left behind...

Change will only happen if we stop buying products sold by these large corporations and start a satyagraha - non-violent protest - like Gandhi's salt march - that started the independence movement in India.

We have to hit them where it hurts.

by wendynyc (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 43 comments) on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 10:08:03 PM