My letter to FactCheck.org editor Lori Robertson on Obama and Oil Industry
Title: "Factcheck" On Obama and Oil Industry Is Pure Bullshit
Dear Editor,
I read your writers' article that claims to be a fact check on Senator Barack Obama and the oil industry. This crap you had your writers issue is the biggest -- well near biggest -- bunch of bullshit I've ever read.
If you look at the millions of donors to any political campaign who are employed, say, with bars or restaurants or how about strip clubs, you could say "Senator X has the support of the bar and porn industry" which of course would be total crap because the formal organizations and PACs of those industries may not have even taken a position. Moreover, an employee can and often does take a position opposite that of the company itself. You should know this; if you admit you do, then such a statement automatically negates the legitimacy of your work.
To then "use" -- which is what you've done -- a persons employment as the basis for a smear-job is totally unprofessional and unethical. In point of fact you've proven nothing at all -- except that you have a bias against Senator Obama.
Correct this -- please.
Thanks,
-- Zennie Abraham, Jr. Chairman and CEO http://www.sportsbusinesssims.com Sports Business Simulations 510-387-9809 SBS Online Marketing at http://www.sbson.com
Gov. Bill Richardson v. James Carville A Warning To Superdelegates
In a timely op-ed in the Monday Washington Post, New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson reveals that is call to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton to report that he'd endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President was "heated" but did not give more details.
Richardson was writing to report his displeasure with the "personal" attacks Clinton supporter and CNN Commentator James Carville has exacted on him after Richardson endorsed Obama.
In words he did not back away from, Carville compared Richardson to Judas for the act of backing Obama. But in his op-ed, Richardson hit a home-run of a point: neither the Clintons nor their backers and supporters leveled such attacks on Richardson when he opposed Sen. Clinton in the Presidential campaign race.
In all, in my view, this episode has revealed the worst aspects of the Clinton campaign. While Carville says it's personal because of the jobs Richardson had done for President Clinton, the simple fact is that there are a number of elected officials who owe some "debt" to the Clintons. I don't know who has "paid their debt" but it's got to give any Superdelegate in that position pause to see how Richardson was treated by the Clinton Campaign.
This could cause more undeclared Superdelegates to go for Obama over the next few weeks.
"Virgle" sounds and reads like a great project. The founders of Google and the founder of Virgin want to collonize Mars. But my take on this, after some thought, is why the hell should we focus on taking our fucked-up act to Mars?
Why can't Larry and Sergey focus on problems right here at home and in the U.S.A?
We've got an economy that's a mess. High crime rates. Homeless people abound. And yet, these guys, these billionaires want to go off and start a Mars Colony. They want you to make a YouTube video and explain why you want to go to Mars. Heck, I'm going to explain why we should not go to Mars, at least not now.
I think it's a waste of great time, money, and energy that could be applied to more worthwhile projects right here at home.
I also don't like they they get to chose who goes. Why? Because it's there project? Will there be any Black folks beyond the estimated one percent who work for Google? I wonder.
NFL ANNOUNCES NATIONALLY TELEVISED PRIMETIME KICKOFF WEEKEND GAMES
The NFL announced today its 2008 Kickoff Weekend national primetime television schedule, including a Monday night doubleheader.
In a tradition that began in 2004, the Super Bowl champion annually hosts the NFL Thursday night season kickoff the following year. This September 4 at 7:00 PM ET on NBC, the Super Bowl XLII champion New York Giants will host their NFC East-rival Washington Redskins and their new head coach JIM ZORN. Kickoff will be 90 minutes earlier than the start time of the traditional season opener due to the Republican National Convention, which NBC News will cover following the conclusion of the game.
The Sunday night primetime game (8:15 PM ET) on NBC will feature a rematch of Super Bowl XLI as the Indianapolis Colts host the Chicago Bears. The game marks the first regular-season game at Lucas Oil Stadium.
On Monday night, September 8, ESPN will host a Monday Night Football doubleheader featuring two critical division matchups. The first game (7:00 PM ET) will send the Minnesota Vikings to Green Bay to visit the NFC North titlist Packers. The MNF nightcap (10:15 PM ET) will be an AFC West battle as the Oakland Raiders host the Denver Broncos.
The announcement of these national primetime TV games was made Monday by NFL Commissioner ROGER GOODELL at the NFL Annual Meeting in Palm Beach, Florida.
The rest of the 2008 regular-season schedule will be completed and announced in April.
You probably recall from last week that this doesn't sit well with me. I'm prone to taking the high road, my role model is Barack Obama, but I just can't not comment on the flagrant, disingenuous responses Senator Clinton has advanced to try to disavow her "mis-speaking" with regard to the risks from sniper fire when she went to Tuzla, Bosnia with her daughter.
There was no sniper fire. There was no mis-speaking, either. This was not an oops, slip of the tongue moment, this went on over numerous, well-documented speeches and in response to direct questions. I am chagrined that I had considered her a potentially good President at one point. Senator Clinton's finesse with ear-marks is an endearing quality to her present constituency, I'm certain, but her theft of valor is not something I can condone in a (potential) Commander-in-Chief.
That's why I wrote about Tammi Hetherington, the Army vet who bravely spoke out because she was present that day in Bosnia. I've discussed it with friends during the intervening days. I've followed the story. I've blogged about positive things in the meanwhile, too, such as the amazing engagement of High School students in the south Bronx, who are talking about race and politics, and paying attention...
But today, once of my favorite Obama supporters took the plunge and started blogging at Daily Kos with this very same topic, and that story is so much better presented than my own that I invite you to read Kiku Botura's take on why it matters if somebody claims risks that aren't real. Nevermind, that Senator Clinton's boasting calls into question the judgment of the pilot who set her down and let her deplane, or dismisses the competence and efforts of those tasked with providing her security that day on the ground - that's not the point. The point is that good people do, in fact, act heroically on their oaths under mortal risk in defense of this country. So go read, please, about Marine Captain John McKenna of Brooklyn, NY, born that very day Hillary and Chelsea had their excellent adventure in Bosnia, and tell Kiku I said hi.
The same old divisive, say-anything to get elected politics doesn't work any more. It doesn't get things done, it doesn't solve our problems, and it doesn't lead us to the future our children deserve.
http://zennie2005.blogspot.com/2008/04/president-bill-clinton-hugged-by-hot.html - President Bill Clinton came to the California State Democratic Convention on Sunday, March 30th to give a speech in support of his wife, Senator Hillary Clinton as she works to add more Superdelegates to her side. After an excellent speech, President Clinton came down to the floor to greet the crowd.
As I went over to get a video of his action, and as he made his way toward where I was standing, a Blonde woman bulled past me and got to a place where she was right in front of him and proceeded to give him a hard, long (considering the time), and passionate hug. I have no idea who she was as by the time she did this, I was being pushed by a growing crowd of people behind me who were trying to get closer to Clinton. It was a wild scene.
But the whole sight of the Blonde made me think of the Monica Lewinsky matter. Not because of the hug -- I am sure that happens a lot -- but the way she hugged him, and his response, which was that he not only didn't turn away, but seemed more than a bit "pleased" by the event.
Now, the woman called for her husband "Eric" who was no where to be seen and could not have easily got in to see Bill as it was totally slammed. So maybe she's just an excited fan?
I also note that they continued to talk after the hug. Well check out the video for yourself.
Were it not for Bill's reputation and the fact that he's married to the Senator from New York, Hillary Clinton, the video may not be such a big deal. But I can't change history.
As Obama quickly picks up much needed momentum, the Clinton's hopes are rapidly deflating.
(CNN)—Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama extended his lead nationally over Sen. Hillary Clinton Monday according to the latest national polls.
The Gallup Poll conducted March 27-29 with a margin of error of 3 percentage points shows the Illinois Senator has a 10 point lead over the New York Senator among Democrats, marking the first time since early February Gallup polls have shown either candidate with a double digit lead. In February, Gallup showed Clinton held an 11 percent advantage over Obama.
Last week’s Pew Poll also confirmed Obama had weathered the media storm surrounding the Reverend Wright controversy and maintained his lead.
Despite pressure from some powerful Obama supporters and being behind nationally in the polls, Clinton said the race should not end before all votes had been cast. "I didn't think we believed that in America. I thought we of all people knew how important it was to give everyone a chance to have their voices heard and their votes counted," she said.
Looking to the critical state of Pennsylvania, Clinton holds a 12 percent lead ahead of the state’s April 22 primary, according to the latest CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released earlier this month.Both candidates continue to campaign heavily in the state of Pennsylvania Monday, where there are 158 pledged delegates up for grabs.
Blogs, New Media and You – A WISE Panel Discussion - A panel discussion featuring:
Rebecca Weeks - Real Girls Media Cathy Brooks - Seesmic, Inc. Irina Slutsky - Geek Entertainment TV Christine Kerner - KOFY TV20 Leyla Farah - Cause+Effect PR Paula Storti - Worldwalk Media Stephanie Quilao - Back In Skinny Jeans Patti Mangan - TangoDiva.com
Zennie Abraham - Sports Business Simulations
Monday, March 31, 2008 Time: 5:30pm - 8:30pm Location: Hotel Kabuki Street: 1625 Post Street City/Town: San Francisco, CA
The OBJECTIVE: For each audience member to be at least encouraged to start a website or a blog, use their email signature to connect to them, and link it with several social network pages…and understand how to use this assembly, and the value of what they have personally and professionally.
The secondary objective is pure networking. So the event will be one hour of networking followed by one hour of panel discussion. We open our doors to women who are part of the SF Bay Area New Media Industry to come to this event. There will be a raffle for a prize as well.
WISE members are encouraged to bring friends, and as this is an open recruting meeting, we're inviting you to come and become a member of Women In Sports and Events. See http://www.wisesf.com
We will take questions from the audience that are relevant to the discussion at the time during the talk, and have a Q and A session for general questions afterward.
1. Topic One: What’s a Blog and Why Should I Have One, Versus a Website? a. What’s a blog good for? (Marketing yourself, or your firm, etc.) b. How do I start a blog? (Where does one go? I recommend Blogger.com because it’s free and easy to use; what’s your view? What’s “BlogHer” all about?) c. But I’m not a writer! (Some think that they have to take part of their day to blog; is that true?) d. What are some common blogging mistakes and misuse? e. If I’m starting a blog for my office, what should I avoid doing? 2. Topic Two: Ok. I Have This Blog, And Now I Am To Link It To A Facebook and Linkedin Page? Why? Isn’t That Dangerous? a. What do I need a Linkedin and Facebook Page For? (Business connections; discovering events of interest.) b. Do Successful Business People Use Linkedin and Facebook – or MySpace? (What folks like AOL founder Ted Leonsis get out of Facebook and Linkedin,) c. What are some common ways that people misuse Facebook and Linkedin? 3. I want to start an online community for my office; what do I do? a. How can I use the work-based online community to help my work? b. What are common ways that work-based online communities are misused? 4. Topic Three: I’ve Got A Blog, Facebook, and Linkedin Pages and an online community at work – Now I need YouTube? Can It Help Me? 5. Can I Make Money From All Of This? How? 6. OK. I’m set up with all of this, but I’m not getting a lot of traffic. What do I do? 7. What are “Internet Trolls” and what should I do about them? 8. Questions from the audience.
For non-WISE members, the suggested donation is $20. WISE is a non-profit organization.
There's something about becoming an Obama Supporter than just brings out unbridled passion in some people, and this woman was no exception. She erupted into a fit of joy during an Obama Supporter rally at the California State Democratic Convention, and after explaining that she was a registered Republican who switched to the Democratic Party to vote for and volunteer for Barack Obama.
At the California State Democratic Convention, Congressman Jerry McNerney took a small bit of time to talk with me about the Iraq War and the Presidential Race. He's an uncommitted Superdelegate and as such I tried to get him to explain who he was leaning to and what his criteria were for selection, but he didn't answer that, preferring to focus instead on his reelection campaign.
In what one observer called the "nastiest (convention) floor fight they'd ever seen," Assemblyman Mark Leno won the endorsement floor fight today, Sunday, at the California State Democratic Convention. Now, it's Mark Leno as Democrat versus the Republlican Nation for the right to represent San Francisco in the California Senate.
Meanwhile, the ousted Senator Carol Migden left the general hall in disgrace, after her partner issued an 11th-hour motion to block the vote to block a special motion to seat Mark Leno as challenger to Joe Nation, and after Migden's failed initial motion to nix Leno's endorsements.
Got that?
I've got this entire bit of drama on video and will edit and upload it very soon. Right now, the convention staffers are taking down the chair and cleaning up the exhibit hall.
I just survived the mosh pit of people that were rushing to get close to, see, and in some cases hug former President Bill Clinton. I got the entire speech on video, but given its length I'll post it in segments.
I'm not sure it was a good idea to have Kamila Harris speak before Bill Clinton because, well, she can't match his fire-power. The buzz was that Senator Kennedy was going to be here, but that obviously did not happen.
More on this soon.
The convention itself is not over, just the rock-star moment.
