Culpeper, VA: Time to decide

Matt Frei makes his final visit to the town of Culpeper in Virginia, a 'swing state'.

He speaks to the voters who he has been in touch with for the past year, to find out what issues will decide their vote.

— Full BBC Video Report —

Issue #1

Barack Obama outlines the major points of his economic plan.

Temperament Unbecoming A President

From: The Huffington Post - A Must Read

Appearing on CNN's Late Edition on Sunday, Sen. Barbara Boxer argued that McCain's hot-streak is a legitimate campaign issue that should dissuade voters from electing him commander in chief.

Full Story — McCain Pushed Woman in a Wheelchair

The Fanatical Constituent Awakening

I think the reason I'm most concerned about the GOP nomination of Gov. Sarah Palin is the awakening of the fanatical constituency that helped elect George W in 2000 and 2004.

Three months before she was thrust into the national political spotlight, Gov. Sarah Palin was asked to handle a much smaller task: addressing the graduating class of commission students at her one-time church, Wasilla Assembly of God.

Her speech in June provides as much insight into her policy leanings as anything uncovered since she was asked to be John McCain's running mate.

Speaking before the Pentecostal church, Palin painted the current war in Iraq as a messianic affair in which the United States could act out the will of the Lord.

—Full Story

The very thought of this GOP Patty Hearst being just one step away from the button scares the daylights out of me. Her lack of knowledge of national and world history is most alarming. The Christian/Hillbilly mindset that has now been awakened by this nomination gives this Democrat pause and an even more determination to ensure that the Obama/Binden ticket wins this November.

We do not need another 4 years of fanatical policies running this great country of ours. We see what the last eight years have wrought, surely there are enough US citizens that can defeat this repressive governmental mindset that has been given to us by the GOP these last 8 years.

The Republicans have their VP pick

So, McSame has selected Sarah Palin from Alaska; A gun-toten', baby-makin' Anita Bryant.

There is never a fruit pie when you need one!

The Democratic Party Convention

After watching all four nights of the convention, I have only one question.

What happened to the Super Delegates?

After all the hoopla during the primaries, not a word, mention or concern about all those Super Delegates that might throw a monkey wrench into the whole arena.

The Democratic Party Convention: 3rd Night

All the excitement continued on this third night of the DNC. The night's theme was regarding the United States as it relates to the national stage.

What I got out of it was seeing the Democrat past, present and future. One of my pre-Clinton speech favorites came from that tough old broad, Madeline Albright, who I have always loved. Speeches from the future of the party that impressed me came from Patrick Murphy, who freshly from tours in Iraq, joined the Democrat party and was joined on stage by former members of our military. These fine men and women need better resources after defending our country; resources that were shot down by the Republicans, including John McCain.

The second newcomer that we should keep an eye on is Capt. Bo Biden, Joe Biden's son. He is currently a Captain in the Army reserves, whose unit is being deployed for one year to Iraq. He is also the Attorney General for Delaware. His unit will deploy in October.

From the past, a great speech from Bill Clinton, which brought down the house and a powerful speech from John Kerry rounded out the evening before the nomination and acclimation to make Job Biden the Democrat Vice President candidate.

Joe Biden's speech touched on all points of the Obama/Biden ticket. The night ended with a surprise appearance of Barrack himself.

I'm looking forward to tonight.

The Democratic Party Convention: 2nd Night

I feel for the millions that are missing this convention by watching it on network and cable stations. They are not experiencing the impact that the last eight years have had on the speakers that the DNC chose to speak tonight. The topic tonight were kitchen table issues that are close to every American.

There was more substance at the convention podium than what the network and cable stations showed and its direction came to the final impact of Hillery Clinton's speech.

The speech was the highlight of the evening, this support of Barrack and Joe and their desire to work for the American people. A Unity speech of all unity speeches. In the audience was a very emotional Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama and Joe Biden with his wife.

As you may know, Barrack is on the campaign trail, primarily because the Republicans decided not to keep with tradition by keeping a low profile while the other party is having their convention. He is out there fighting to get elected and start helping all those of us who are in the 99% of the population who don't have 7 homes to go to.

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At this point, I must condem one cable network news station for their absolute disregard of truth in reporting. That network is CNN.

At 4:00 am this morning, I flipped on CNN in hopes that they had gotten off of their one-news-story day only to find them talking through the 7:00pm-8:00pm time slot at the convention complaining that the convention so far had no direction. That it was slow and had not meaning. It brought me to tears, and is why I did not blog this 2nd night until I had slept on it for awhile.

For while the pundits were complaining about the convention, those of us watching C-SPAN heard directly from every-day people like us. People who had lost their jobs and couldn't find another one, or had to work 2 and 3 jobs just to cover expenses. It is one thing to hear a politician talk about the people they have met. It is quite another to see an average American, with no speaking experience, and only a pain in their heart and will power, to stand in front of a crowd of people, a lot of them talking, and speak what is on their mind.

SHAME ON YOU CNN

Then, a response from only one delegate, who was overwhelmed by Hillery's speech, told the reporter/camera that what she heard was her president talking and that Obama had not proved anything to her. She ended by saying that she would never vote for McCain, but Barrack had two months to convince her and that she would rather not vote at all than to vote for Obama. This clip on CNN has been repeated hourly and is still being repeated. CNN is twisting the message folks. They are not reporting the news. CNN is trying to make your mind up for you.

SHAME, SHAME on you CNN!

Aghast

Full Story

It has been reported that four men were arrested with firearms in Denver last night. They were planning to assassinate Barack Obama on the final night of the convention. I've read this story from several sources, the link above is from the New York Times.

The Democratic Party Convention; First Night

I'm am quite impressed with C-SPAN. I truly enjoyed myself. The uninterrupted coverage made me feel like I was there. C-SPAN has come a long way since I saw it last. It no longer has just a fixed camera, but very nice shots and a pure view of what was going on in the convention hall.

The coverage started at 5:00pm EDST and ended at 11:00. It showed the opening ceremonies, including the color guard from the Navajo Nation to one of the best band/orchestras I've heard in a long time. At first, I thought people were dancing to a recording of Aretha Franklin until the camera zoomed in on the singer. Even I was ready to have a cocktail and join in on the fun.

We got a chance to hear Barack's half sister speak, as well as Michelle's older brother. However, the real shocker and treat was Jesse Jackson, Jr. Mr. Jackson, as passionate as his famous father, was articulate and intriguing as he spoke to a very receptive crowd. I see a great future in the young politician

With each new segment, each with the wonderful and lively music, the hall continued to fill up. Once Mr. Joe Binden and his lovely wife and a rather toned down, incognito-esque Maria Shriver had entered the hall, Caroline Kennedy was introduced. Caroline talked about her "Uncle Teddy" and introduced the DNC's video tribute. After the video, Senator Kennedy was helped on stage and I must say, he looked better than I had thought he would. He may be very sick, but you couldn't tell it. His passion and vigor electrified the entire hall.

The highlight and grand finale was Michelle Obama's speech. She was extremely personable and passionate about her work, family and her husband. Her strength in all she does was very clear in this moving and motivation speech. After her speech, Barack appear via satellite from Kansas City, where he had watched his wife speak. Their two young daughters said hello to their Daddy and he wished them and the audience a very good night and that he would see all of them on Thursday Night.

Now and then, throughout the night, I switched very briefly to CNN to see what they were doing. I realized that they were on a 2-3 minute delay and talking/editorializing through all that was going on, including the speeches. They advertised that if you wanted to hear the speeches without commentary, you could go to CNN.com/politics and watch it on "your laptop." I guess CNN thinks the only computer anyone has is a laptop and that they are not duty-bound as journalists to show the convention "as is."

I'm sticking with C-SPAN for the duration of the Convention. As for the BBCAmerica coverage, they will only be showing the convention during the 10:00-11:00 time slot. I'm disappointed, but not surprised.

A message from Biden to Supporters

Culpeper, VA

I'm very familiar with Culpeper, VA. Just 30 miles from my home town, Fredericksburg, VA, it is where my Grandmother lived for the last 10 years of her life. Before "The Mall" was built, we would go up there to shop at their huge Leggett's (now Belk). We would go eat at one of several quaint eateries, one that had a giant pig out front. My cousin's daughter and her husband bought a home in Culpeper, just prior to their July 3, 2008 wedding.

So, you can imagine my surprise when I turned on the BBC Nightly News to find that they had chosen Culpeper as a town they would report on to "take the temperature" of the nation.

BBC News America will be showing the Democrat Convention. Having recently added Ted Koppel, formally of ABC late night fame, it should be interesting to see how they report it. I had planned to watch the convention on C-SPAN, but being curious, I will try BBC America for the convention. I have been watching more news on BBC America mainly because they actually report news. Imagine that!

BBC News may be found on your local PBS station (check local listings). It can also be seen on BBCAmerica: Monday-Friday 6am-9am; Monday-Friday 7pm-8pm with encore at 10:00; and weekend mornings 6:00am-6:30am.

Click here for the BBC News archived videoed segments about Culpeper.

20-year old speech

After the Obama and Biden speeches that I saw on C-SPAN, I just let the channel stay on and I was treated to a "blast from the past."

It was Ann Richard's speech at the July 1988 Democrat Convention in Atlanta, GA. Listening to her, speaking to a pre-Bush, pre-Clinton audience, the speech, word-for-word could be a speech that we might hear at the convention on Monday night.

Same problems, same economic woes, even a line about the "... greatest national debt in our country's history."

What a shame that as far as Bill Clinton got in his presidency, we are now thrust into a lame-duck Regan Presidential era.

I can only hope that this election does not turn out like that election did.