Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

Just when I thought this day couldn't get any better (because I had my last final for the semester this morning).. it started SNOWING! I absolutely LOVE snow .. especially as its snowing - it looks soo pretty falling! I love when it actually accumulates and we get a white blanket, but I don't know how likely that is this time, even though it seems to be sticking (but it rained right before) .. so I'm just going to enjoy it as it falls.

Now that finals are over, I have about a month off.. which I am supposed to spend studying for LSATs, but I don't know how likely that is. It's scary to think I only have three semesters left of undergraduate and that law school is so close... and to think that I feel as if I have no free time now - HA!

I haven't had much time to blog recently, but I hope to do a lot of it during my break. At least the Election 2008 cycle forced me, in a way, to take time out to blog.

Friday, December 5, 2008

A Great End to a Great Season and "Bon Jovi Kid"

Last night was the last game of the Rutgers Football 2008 Season, and it was amazing! The weather cooperated mostly, the atmosphere was great, and the game itself was a blowout. At the end of the first half, we were winning against Louisville 49 - 0! The final score turned out to be 63 - 14.

There was this adorable kid (Nicholas) at the game .. who was going crazy and got really into the music during one of the breaks.. and it was sooo cute. Thankfully, the kid's father put it up on YouTube, and I have embedded it below. The video doesn't do this kid justice, but here goes:


In this next clip (Jourdan Brooks being tackled by his hair),you cant almost feel it.. as if it was your own hair:


I can't believe the season is over! I am definitely going to miss the excitement.. for another like nine months!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Alabama County Passes Obama Day

Don't they usually wait until they are dead? the Presidents' in question I mean.. before devoting a holiday to them.

Perry County in the state of Alabama, which overwhelmingly supported Obama in last month's presidential election, has approved the second Monday in November as "The Barack Obama Day." Commissioners passed a measure that would close county offices for the new annual holiday and its roughly 40 workers will get a paid day off.

A little much? I am all for celebrating the historical win for Obama (as I am probably one of his biggest supporters), but this a little weird.

Click here to read the original article.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Thanksgiving

It's been a while since I've had the time to post, but I just wanted to take a little time from my SIX DAY WEEKEND to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and a great time with their friends and family.

... Even though I am definitely one of those people that believe you should count your blessings everyday.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Elisabeth Hasselbeck: Obama Win is "Victory" for the Country

The View's Elisabeth Hasselbeck (the only Republican of the 5 hosts) responds (surprisingly well)to Obama's victory. I have to give credit to Elisabeth for her response.



Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Election 2008 Political Cartoon from XKCD

I got the following political cartoon from XKCD .. and I couldn't agree more.



At least for the first few days you are watching the results and what not.. but it will be really weird after that without a doubt.

Palin Reponds to Election 2008, Remarks about 2012

Palin's remarks on Election 2008 and possibility of a 2012 bid for President. Palin says: "Right now I cannot even imagine running for national office in 2012".


McCain's Concession Speech for Election 2008

You can watch McCain's concession speech here:


Here's the transcript for his speech:

Thank you. Thank you, my friends. Thank you for coming here on this beautiful Arizona evening.


My friends, we have -- we have come to the end of a long journey. The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clearly.


A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Sen. Barack Obama to congratulate him. VideoWatch McCain's speech »


To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.


In a contest as long and difficult as this campaign has been, his success alone commands my respect for his ability and perseverance. But that he managed to do so by inspiring the hopes of so many millions of Americans who had once wrongly believed that they had little at stake or little influence in the election of an American president is something I deeply admire and commend him for achieving.


This is an historic election, and I recognize the special significance it has for African-Americans and for the special pride that must be theirs tonight.


I've always believed that America offers opportunities to all who have the industry and will to seize it. Sen. Obama believes that, too.


But we both recognize that, though we have come a long way from the old injustices that once stained our nation's reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of American citizenship, the memory of them still had the power to wound.


A century ago, President Theodore Roosevelt's invitation of Booker T. Washington to dine at the White House was taken as an outrage in many quarters.


America today is a world away from the cruel and frightful bigotry of that time. There is no better evidence of this than the election of an African-American to the presidency of the United States.


Let there be no reason now for any American to fail to cherish their citizenship in this, the greatest nation on Earth.


Sen. Obama has achieved a great thing for himself and for his country. I applaud him for it, and offer him my sincere sympathy that his beloved grandmother did not live to see this day. Though our faith assures us she is at rest in the presence of her creator and so very proud of the good man she helped raise.


Sen. Obama and I have had and argued our differences, and he has prevailed. No doubt many of those differences remain.


These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.


I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.


Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans. And please believe me when I say no association has ever meant more to me than that.


It is natural. It's natural, tonight, to feel some disappointment. But tomorrow, we must move beyond it and work together to get our country moving again.


We fought -- we fought as hard as we could. And though we fell short, the failure is mine, not yours.


I am so deeply grateful to all of you for the great honor of your support and for all you have done for me. I wish the outcome had been different, my friends.


The road was a difficult one from the outset, but your support and friendship never wavered. I cannot adequately express how deeply indebted I am to you.


I'm especially grateful to my wife, Cindy, my children, my dear mother and all my family, and to the many old and dear friends who have stood by my side through the many ups and downs of this long campaign.


I have always been a fortunate man, and never more so for the love and encouragement you have given me.


You know, campaigns are often harder on a candidate's family than on the candidate, and that's been true in this campaign.


All I can offer in compensation is my love and gratitude and the promise of more peaceful years ahead.


I am also -- I am also, of course, very thankful to Gov. Sarah Palin, one of the best campaigners I've ever seen, and an impressive new voice in our party for reform and the principles that have always been our greatest strength, her husband Todd and their five beautiful children for their tireless dedication to our cause, and the courage and grace they showed in the rough and tumble of a presidential campaign.


We can all look forward with great interest to her future service to Alaska, the Republican Party and our country.


To all my campaign comrades, from Rick Davis and Steve Schmidt and Mark Salter, to every last volunteer who fought so hard and valiantly, month after month, in what at times seemed to be the most challenged campaign in modern times, thank you so much. A lost election will never mean more to me than the privilege of your faith and friendship.


I don't know -- I don't know what more we could have done to try to win this election. I'll leave that to others to determine. Every candidate makes mistakes, and I'm sure I made my share of them. But I won't spend a moment of the future regretting what might have been.


This campaign was and will remain the great honor of my life, and my heart is filled with nothing but gratitude for the experience and to the American people for giving me a fair hearing before deciding that Sen. Obama and my old friend Sen. Joe Biden should have the honor of leading us for the next four years.


I would not -- I would not be an American worthy of the name should I regret a fate that has allowed me the extraordinary privilege of serving this country for a half a century.


Today, I was a candidate for the highest office in the country I love so much. And tonight, I remain her servant. That is blessing enough for anyone, and I thank the people of Arizona for it.


Tonight -- tonight, more than any night, I hold in my heart nothing but love for this country and for all its citizens, whether they supported me or Sen. Obama -- whether they supported me or Sen. Obama.


I wish Godspeed to the man who was my former opponent and will be my president. And I call on all Americans, as I have often in this campaign, to not despair of our present difficulties, but to believe, always, in the promise and greatness of America, because nothing is inevitable here.


Americans never quit. We never surrender.


We never hide from history. We make history.


Thank you, and God bless you, and God bless America. Thank you all very much.

Barack Obama's President-Elect Victory Speech

Obama's victory speech from tonight:



Here's the transcript from Obama's Speech:

Hello, Chicago.

If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.

It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.

We are, and always will be, the United States of America.

It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.

It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this date in this election at this defining moment change has come to America.

A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sen. McCain.

Sen. McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. And he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader.

I congratulate him; I congratulate Gov. Palin for all that they've achieved. And I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.

I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart, and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden.

And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady Michelle Obama.

Sasha and Malia I love you both more than you can imagine. And you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the new White House.

And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother's watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight. I know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my sister Maya, my sister Alma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given me. I am grateful to them.

And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe, the unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best -- the best political campaign, I think, in the history of the United States of America.

To my chief strategist David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way.

To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.

But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. It belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. It began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause.

It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep.

It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people, and for the people has not perished from the Earth.

This is your victory.

And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you didn't do it for me.

You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime -- two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century.

Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.

There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after the children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.

There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.

The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.

I promise you, we as a people will get there.

There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president. And we know the government can't solve every problem.

But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night.

This victory alone is not the change we seek. It is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.

It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice.

So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other.

Let us remember that, if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers.

In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.

Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House, a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity.

Those are values that we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress.

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.

That's the true genius of America: that America can change. Our union can be perfected. What we've already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She's a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old.

She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons -- because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin.

And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America -- the heartache and the hope; the struggle and the progress; the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed: Yes we can.

At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

When there was despair in the dust bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We Shall Overcome." Yes we can.

A man touched down on the moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination.

And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen, and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

Yes we can.

America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there is so much more to do. So tonight, let us ask ourselves -- if our children should live to see the next century; if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment.

This is our time, to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope. And where we are met with cynicism and doubts and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

President Obama!

Barack Obama officially wins Election 2008 to become the 44th President of the United States!

I, along with millions and millions of people, just witnessed history in the making.

Live Blogging - Election 2008

Thursday November 6th; Obama wins North Carolina! Final Electoral College numbers: Obama 364 - McCain 174.

Wednesday November 5th; 9:02 AM - McCain is the "apparent" winner of Missouri. Obama 349 - McCain 174.

From whats left over - Obama wins Indiana. McCain wins Montana and Alaska. Obama 349 - McCain 163. North Carolina and Missouri are still too close to call ! Not that it matters anymore, but I still want to know.

11:25 PM - McCain wins Arizona. Obama 338 - McCain 157.

11:22 PM - Obama wins Hawaii, California, Washington, Nevada and Oregon. McCain wins Idaho, South Dakota, and Nebraska. Obama 338 - McCain 147.

11:16 PM - Obama wins Florida. Obama 256 - McCain 125.

11:11 PM - Obama wins Colorado. Obama 229 - McCain 135.

11:00 PM - MSNBC and CNN announce Obama as President-elect!!!!!!

10:58 PM - Obama wins Virginia. Obama 220 - McCain 135.

10:09 PM - McCain wins Mississippi. Obama 207 - McCain 135.

10:00 PM - Obama wins Iowa. McCain wins Utah and Kansas. Obama 207- McCain 129. Nebraska and South Dakota are still too early to call.

9:55 PM - McCain wins Texas. :( Obama 200 - McCain 118.

With a definite Obama win for California, Oregon and Washington -- we will be at at least +3 in electoral votes. We now unofficially have the first African American President-elect.

9:31 PM - Obama wins New Mexico. Obama 200 McCain - 84.

9:26 PM - McCain wins Louisiana. :( Obama 195 - McCain 84.

9:23 PM - McCain wins West Virginia. :( Obama 195 - McCain 75.

9:22 PM - Obama wins OHIO. Obama 195 - McCain 70. No republican has gone on to become president if they lost Ohio. Woohoo! AND Ohio is a red state that Obama flipped!

9:07 PM - McCain wins Arkansas. :( Obama 175 - McCain 70.

9 PM - Obama wins Rhode Island, Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
McCain wins Wyoming, and North Dakota. North Dakota is the first toss up to be called.

Texas, Colorado, South Dakota, Nebraka, Ohio are too early to call. Arizona is too early to be called. :) Florida and North Carolina are still to chose to call.
175 - 64. McCain needs to go 7 - 0 in order to have a chance to win.

8:36 PM - McCain wins Georgia. :( 103 - 58.

8:33 PM - McCain wins Alabama. :(

8:30 PM - Arkansas is too early to call.

8 PM - Obama wins PENNSYLVANIA, Illinois, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Delaware, District of Columbia. :)

McCain wins Tennessee, Oklahoma. :(

Missouri, Alabama, Mississipi is too close to call. Whoever has won Missouri in the past, has usually won the presidency.

Obama 103; McCain 34

7:46 PM - McCain wins South Carolina. :(

7:30 PM - polls close in North Carolina, Ohio, West Virginia, but cannot project as it is "too early to call".

7 PM - McCain wins Kentucky, Obama wins Vermont. Unable to call Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina, and Virginia.

McCain 8; Obama 3

How about CNN's holograms, huh? Pretty neat.

Hyder Election Headquarters

o we are having our own little election party at our house -- and here's a picture of the Hyder Election Headquarters:


Dixville Notch, New Hampshire Votes

Woohoo!

In Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, 100 percent of registered voters -- all 21 of them -- cast their ballots just after midnight in the first moments of Tuesday morning. For the first time in 40 years, the town voted Democratic in the presidential election, 15 to 6.

On a side note, record numbers of people have already cast ballots in early voting. As of Monday, more than 24 million voters had voted. Election experts predicted more than a third of the electorate would have voted before the polls opened on Election Day.

I'm Fired Up ... He's Ready to Go

I've been saving this shirt to wear for election day and i think this shirt says it all, in my opinion:

The front of the shirt:The back of the shirt:

Monday, November 3, 2008

"Let the Issues be the Issue"

So I saw this earlier on the news and thought it was great.


The caption says it all: "Let the issues be the issue" and not a race election based on the races of the candidates.

With One Day Left

With one day left , I urge you to exercise your right to vote in the election! Not only is the presidency at stake, but local elections are too.

Tomorrow is definitely going to by an exciting day.. and I can't wait! :)

On a much sadder side note, Barack Obama's maternal grandmother Madelyn Payne Dunham passed away today after a long battle with cancer. In a joint statement that was released, Obama and his sister Maya Soetoro-Ng said:

She was the cornerstone of our family, and a woman of extraordinary accomplishment, strength, and humility,"

"She was the person who encouraged and allowed us to take chances. She was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and left this world with the knowledge that her impact on all of us was meaningful and enduring. Our debt to her is beyond measure."

Obama and Soetoro-Ng asked that donations be made for the search for a cure for cancer in lieu of flowers

Thursday, October 30, 2008

McCain Stood Up By "Joe the Plumber"

And it gets even better - almost too good to be true.

"Joe the Plumber" didn't even show up to the rally he was supposed to be at with McCain. McCain's aides that "he decided not to come" and may show up later in the day, but when CNN's Mary Snow talked to Joe, he said:


it was "news to him" that he was supposed to be at the McCain rally. Wurzelbacher [AKA "Joe the Plumber"] said nobody from the McCain campaign confirmed he was attending the event and called the incident a "miscommunication."
He also told Snow that he had no plans to meet with up with McCain later.

When CNN contacted him a second time, Wurzelbacher said the campaign only called him to confirm after the event in question already took place and that he would now try to meet up with McCain later in the day.

Here's the original article.

Decision '08

Using this "Decision '08" Widget, you can watch the 2008 presidential results roll in and get real-time election results on Nov. 4! You can see the electoral vote count and the congressional balance of power with the national U.S. map or choose a state and see how individual counties are voting. As soon as either McCain or Obama is declared the winner, you’ll know!



Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Obama's 30 Minute Ad

Today, Obama's 30 minute ad aired tonight on a few of the major news channels.
If you missed it, here it is:


Less than 6 days until the most historic/exciting election in our lifetime.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Moving Day!

Tomorrow is Moving day! We sold our house in Edison and are moving to Piscataway for a year or so as we look for a permanent home.

All the packing and work involved has me exhausted... its especially hard with exams and school work to keep up with! :( Packing like the worst chore ever ( at least for me) because you have to unpack everything too!

So far when ever we have moved, we have moved to a different country ... so it's weird moving and staying so close at the same time. Being closer to college will definitely make things easier.

I am definitely going to miss this house though... as its full of memories (not all of them good).

Top good memories from this house:
1. High school graduation!
2. Starting College.
3. Family memories (and get-togethers).
3. Going to a law program in D.C.

Not so good memories:
1. Fire.
2. Dad's heart attack.
3. Car accident.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Even Palin Wants You to Vote Democrat

I got this from my brother, Faraz and I also saw it on the Newsweek blog:



For those of you who are unaware, the donkey is the symbol for the democratic party (and the elephant is for the republican party).

So maybe Palin is smarter than we think she is.. after all, she is not-so-subtlety showing her support for the democrats herself. :)

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Powell Endorses Obama

Republican, and Former Secretary of State, Colin Powell officially endorsed Barack Obama on Meet the Press this weekend.

On Meet the Press, Powell said, "I think he is a transformational figure, he is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama".

Obama responded to the endorsement and said "I have been honored to have the benefit of his wisdom and counsel from time to time over the last few years, but today, I am beyond honored and deeply humbled to have the support of General Colin Powell".

Thursday, October 16, 2008

McCain and Obama Provide Some Laughs at Al Smith Dinner

Tonight, John McCain and Barack Obama spoke at the annual Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, which is a charity event organized by the Catholic Archdiocese of New York for the benefit of needy children. Both candidates were pretty funny. It was the last (scheduled) face-to-face meet between the two candidates. If you missed the event, you can watch it below:

Part One of John McCain's Speech:


Part Two of John McCain's Speech:


Part One of Barack Obama's Speech:


Part Two of Barack Obama's Speech:


My favorite part: addressing his greatest weakness, Obama says: "maybe I'm a little too awesome".

"Joe the Plumber" Has No Plumbing License

Too good to be true? The [Toledo] Blade reports that Joe Wurzelbacher - or "Joe the Plumber" as we now know him has said he doesn't even have a plumbing license and that he doesn't need one because he works for someone else - Newell Plumbing & Heating Co. Wurzelbacher said he works under Al Newell’s license, but according to Ohio building regulations, he must maintain his own license to do plumbing work. Furthermore, he is also not registered to operate as a plumber in Ohio, which means he’s not a plumber.

Anyone that watched the third presidential dabate last night noticed how many times "Joe the Plumber" was brought up by McCain. McCain kept bringing using "Joe the Plumber" as an example in the debate of someone who wants to buy a plumbing business would be hurt by Barack Obama's tax plans, even though Obama's plan would tax less than McCain's in reality.

Another fact check by CNN showed that a recent study indicated that 100% of McCain's ads had been "advertisements attacking Barack Obama", which McCain denied last night at debate

I really wanted to blog about my thoughts about each of the debates - but time just didn't allow for that. 18 days until the election! I am definitely going to miss the excitement of the election season - it's been like no other.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

"Joe the Plumber" and his 15 Minutes of Fame?

I'm signed up to receive breaking news from both CNN and MSNBC, and I literally just got a Breaking News alert from MSNBC alerting me like fifteen minutes ago (after the debate) that "Man now known as Joe the Plumber (25 deb mentions) has gone 2 sleep". Um, do I care? A little absurd don't you think. I've seen many insanely weird and pointless breaking news messages before.. but this has to top the list by far.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

"Gossip Girl" Stars in Political Ad

Stars from "Gossip Girl" star in an ad made by Moveon.org in support for Barack Obama ... well actually it's more of an ad AGAINST John McCain. The ad runs along the theme of the famous anti-drug ad's that everyone has seen. This ad urges the viewers to "talk to their parents" about the consequences of voting for John McCain.

You can watch the ad below:


Monday, October 13, 2008

Palin Mistakes Fans for Protesters at VA Rally

So who is keeping track of everything absurd Sarah Palin has done in the short time since she has been in the spotlight? I know, I know.. it is too many to keep track of, but here's another one that I read on CNN!

So apparently Sarah Palin mistook some of her own fans for protesters at a rally.
Many people in the crowd could not hear Palin speak, so they began chanting "Louder! Louder!" and the chant grew, and some people were pointing up to the sky, as to signal to Palin to speak louder. Palin, being the genius she is, stopped and looked toward the commotion and said: "I hope those protesters have the courage and honor to give veterans thanks for their right to protest." Some people in the crowd even tried shouting to her what was really being said, but she couldn't hear them either I guess.

I am sure the McCain campaign is ecstatic to hear Palin messed up again.

I Support

Haven't posted for almost three weeks now because I have simply no free time with classes and whatnot, but I found this on Yahoo! Political Pulse and thought I'd share it quickly (from class; right before an exam! :/) because it's pretty neat. (Click on "See Who's Winning" for latest polls and to even put this badge on your own website or blog).





Saturday, September 27, 2008

First Presidential Candidate Debate

Yesterday was the first of three (at least I hope there still will be three) presidential debates. I would call it as a draw, simply because neither candidate did outstanding. One big turnoff for me was that Obama kept saying McCain is "absolutely right" and I "agree" with McCain over and over again - I understand that is Obama works, but come on - it was a debate.. you should be showing how you differ and what not.

McCain continuously smirking at almost everything Obama said portrayed him as immature and was definitely not appreciated by those watching - especially to the independent voters. Also, the fact the McCain didn't mention middle class even once in the debate was quite showing.

Next up: V.P. Candidates debate on Thursday between Biden and Palin.

Thursday, September 25, 2008

McCain Attempts to Cancel V.P. Debate Altogether

Tell me you didn't see this coming : McCain's excuse attempt to delay tomorrow's first presidential candidate debate was actually an effort to cancel the V.P's debate! McCain wants to delay the debate from tomorrow.. cancel the V.P. debate.. and in place of the V.P debate, hold the debate originally slotted for tomorrow. The first thought that came to my mind yesterday afternoon when I heard McCain wanted to delay tomorrow's debate was that he'd doing this as a part of a bigger deceitful plan to cancel the V.P debate and surprise surprise I am right - I am sure many other people caught on fast enough as well.

The article also insists that McCain simply won't go to the debate Friday if there's no deal on the bailout. Is McCain personally going to fix our economic problems? - oh please! If anything, the debate is that much more important to see what the two of them have to say about such issues. McCain simply realizes how unprepared Palin really is and he's still trying to keep her from incriminating themselves any further - but the general public is not that stupid (or at least I would hope so).

Sunday, September 21, 2008

McCain's Just Like Us Huh

So McCain's just like us huh.. McCain and his campaign have been trying to instill how ordinary McCain is in the American population and of course another crazy fact comes out against McCain. So not only does he have so many houses that he can't remember how many in total he has, now we find out McCain owns 13 cars! 13! And of course let's not forget the fact that McCain believes one would need to make over 5 million dollars in a year to be considered rich. Oh yeah, he's just like the average American.

Here's the quote from the CNN Political Ticker:
A Newsweek article published on the magazine's Web Site Sunday said registration records show the McCains currently own 13 cars — two of which are foreign-made: a Honda and a Volkswagen. That appears to contradict the Republican presidential nominee's past statements he only buys cars made in America. (Cindy McCain also drives a Lexus and daughter Meghan owns a Toyota Prius, but neither are registered to the McCains.)

Newsweek also reported Barack Obama owns one car: a Ford Escape Hybrid.
I don't know about you.. but I sure don't know any "average" person that owns that many properties or automobiles...who is he trying to fool with his lies?

Click here to read the original article.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

McCain-Palin Campaign Confirms Palin Didn't Go Beyond Iraqi Border

So Palin has been talking about her trip to Iraq (which would have been her only real foreign IF the trip had actually had happened) and we find out that was a lie... and apparently now a re-fueling stop counts as some sort of foreign experience? I don't even know which lie so far is the worst.

Here is the direct excerpt from the CNN Political Ticker:

Sarah Palin did not visit troops in Iraq, a spokesperson for the Republican VP nominee confirmed Saturday, as new details emerged about the extent of the Alaska governor’s foreign travel.

In July of last year, Palin left North America for the first time to visit Alaskan troops stationed in Kuwait. Palin officials originally said her itinerary included U.S. military installations or outposts in Germany and Kuwait, and that she had visited Ireland. An Alaska spokeswoman for Palin had said Iraq was also one of the stops on that trip.

The Boston Globe reported Saturday that Palin visited the Iraqi side of a border crossing — but never journeyed past the checkpoint.

...

Earlier, campaign aides confirmed reports that Palin’s time in Ireland on that trip had actually been a re-fueling stop.

...

"The McCain campaign said Governor Palin opposed the Bridge to Nowhere, but now we know she supported it,” said Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor in a statement. “They said she didn't seek earmarks, but now we know she hired a lobbyist to get millions in pork for her town and her state. They said she visited Iraq, but today we learned that she only stopped at the border. Americans are starting to wonder, is there anything the McCain campaign isn't lying about?”
Click here to read the original article.

Monday, September 8, 2008

Political Cartoon

So I always love reading political cartoons (any comics for that matter) ... and this particular one in Newsweek Magazine that I just read was pretty funny:



Thursday, September 4, 2008

McCain's Choice Helps Obama Instead

CNN's headline as "Palin raises millions -- for Obama" says it all.

After Sarah Palin's speech last night, Obama has raised $10 million in one day, which is a one day record. The funny part is, that the Republican Party announced earlier that it had raised $1 million since Palin's speech in comparison.

Click here to read the original.

No Time

Classes started on Tuesday = no free time (at all) = no time for blogging!

I must catch up on the RNC at least! and I can't believe it's my junior year of undergraduate.. where is the time flying to??

Monday, September 1, 2008

Rutgers Football

Rutgers football season has officially begun!



Friday, August 29, 2008

McCain Chooses V.P.

In an attempt to go after women voters and going on and on about the fact that Obama did not choose Hillary Clinton.. McCain apparently has chosen Sarah Palin - a Governor from Alaska (yeah, I know pretty much nothing about her either). All the major channel news reports are reporting that McCain will use this to advantage and bring home the point that Obama did not choose a women.. and I did - look what that says about me.

McCain will officially reveal/introduce his V.P. pick at a rally later this afternoon (12 noon ET).

And how about the fact that the republicans are considering pushing back the convention? Talk about a convenient excuse.

More to follow after he officially reveals his V.P. candidate...

Edit at 10:44 A.M.: CNN confirms McCain picks Palin as his running mate.
Major news reporters are reporting that just one day after Obama makes history of being the first African American candidate, Palin makes history of being the first Alaskan to be on the candidate... hm, one seems more important. :) Palin is NOT the first women to appear on a major ticket since in 1984 Democratic presidential nominee Walter Mondale chose then-U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro as the Democratic V.P. nominee. I don't think McCain got the memo that choosing just any women would do the job, especially a woman he has only met once!

Either way, it's history in the making. Come this November, we will have either our first African American President or first female Vice President.

Sims 2 Apartment Life

I've had the newly released Sims 2 Apartment Life for about two days now, and I have to say that even though I haven't had a lot of time to play, I like the concepts of apartments a lot. Most, if not all, of the Sims 2 players have been waiting for this forever, but finally it's here.

I am definitely a fan of the Sims as it is, but the new concept is a really nice change.

I guess now its time to wait for the release of the Sims 3 February 20, 2009! From the sound of it, the Sims 3 is supposed to be even better and I love its new concepts of being allowed to roam freely through the town and the fact that the other Sims will now age and continue to "live" their lives even when you are not actively playing them.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

DNC

The Democratic National Convention at its best in review:

Monday, Day One:

Jesse Jackson Jr. (from Illinois): He was great! His speech was great and so was his delivery. My favorite part was right at the beginning of his speech:

"On the day President Johnson submitted the Voting Rights Act to Congress, he said, “At times, history and fate meet at a single time in a single place to shape a turning point in man’s unending search for freedom.”


So it was at Lexington and Concord. So it was at Appomattox. So it was in Selma, Alabama. Tonight, I would like to add: and so it shall be in Denver, Colorado, with the nomination of Barack Obama to be President of the United States."
Caroline Kennedy: She's a Kennedy - what can I say? That alone makes her a favorite.

Senator Edward Kennedy's appearance was a great part of tonight's events. A quote to remember from him tonight: "This November the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans... The work begins anew. The hope rises again and the dream lives on". We all wish him well in his recovery.

Michelle Obama being the eloquent speaker she is, was absolutely amazing. She spoke passionately and portrayed her story well. Her energy, enthusiasm and just the way she presents her self says so much about the type of person she is.

She stressed her and Barack Obama's middle-class backgrounds, saying they both:
“were raised with so many of the same values: that you work hard for what you want in life, that your word is your bond and you do what you say you’re going to do, that you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them and even if you don’t agree with them.”
Click here to read her whole speech.

Tuesday, Day Two:

Dennis Kucinich's theme : WAKE UP AMERICA! Kucinich slammed the Bush administration, saying, "If there were an Olympics for misleading, mismanaging and misappropriating, this administration would take the gold. ... We cannot afford another Republican administration." He definitely was energetic and his speech definitely got the crowd going.

Janet Napolitano: The quote to remember from her speech:

"Arizonans are also proud of their political tradition, from Barry Goldwater to Mo Udall to Bruce Babbitt. There’s a pattern here. Barry Goldwater ran for president and he lost. Mo Udall ran for president. He lost. Bruce Babbitt ran for president. And he lost. Speaking for myself, and for at least this coming election, this is one Arizona tradition I’d like to see continue!"
Hillary Clinton: It was of course the anniversary of when women were allowed to vote, so it was historic in more than one way. "No way. No how. No McCain." She did well and her enthusiasm was greatly presented...whether it was real or not. In the end, you do have to give her credit for her campaign as she did amazing. Click here to read what she said.

Wednesday, Day Three:

As the roll call was continuing and came to the State of New York, Hillary Clinton asked to cut the roll call short saying,

"With eyes firmly fixed on the future, and in the spirit of unity with the goal of victory, with faith in our party and our country, let's declare together with one voice right here, right now that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president."
To which, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California asked the crowd which consisted of more than 4400 delegates: "Is there a second?" ... which of course resulted in a roar of approval. Pelosi officially adopted the motion which of course officially ended the competition between Clinton and Obama.

Bill Clinton: Whatever his personal opinion is for real, all that really matters is that he let on his approval for Obama in his speech. He got the crowd going and highlighted some of Obama's positive points and that's all that was really expected of him. Click here to read the transcript of his speech.

Beau Biden: He's the son of Joe Biden, and he was an amazing speaker. He talked a lot about losing his mom and baby sister and what type of father Joe Biden is and about Joe's second wife, Jill. My favorite part from his speech, even though it was all great was after he explained about the deaths and then said:
I was just short of 4 years old. One of my earliest memories was being in that hospital, Dad always at our side. We, not the Senate, were all he cared about.


He decided not to take the oath of office. He said, “Delaware can get another senator, but my boys can’t get another father.” ...So he was sworn in, in the hospital, at my bedside. As a single parent, he decided to be there to put us to bed, to be there when we woke from a bad dream, to make us breakfast, so he’d travel to and from Washington, four hours a day.


Five years later, we married my mom, Jill. They together rebuilt our family. And 36 years later, he still makes that trip. So even though Dad worked in Washington, he’s never been part of Washington. He always sounded like the kid from Scranton, Pennsylvania, he is. And even that is a story of overcoming.
I know I am big on sentimental things, but come on.. anyone with a heart felt how real their family is.

Joseph Biden: I was wary of Biden when I first heard of Biden as the V.P. pick because I didn't know a lot about him and because of his comments (very derogatory .. and even some towards Obama) earlier, but I am definitely warming up to him. Either way, he's a part of the ticket for the democrats back into the White House, so I'll take it.

Anyhow, from Joe Biden's speech at the convention, my favorite part was:

These are common stories among middle-class people who worked hard and played by the rules on the promise that their tomorrows would be better than their yesterdays.


That promise is the bedrock of America. It defines who we are as a people. And now it’s in jeopardy. I know it. You know it. But John McCain doesn’t get it.


Barack Obama gets it. Like many of us, Barack worked his way up. His is a great American story.
At the end of Biden's speech.. Obama surprised us by showing up.. which like never happens (as the candidate usually waits until the fourth and final day to address the crowd). Too bad the surprise was ruined for me earlier because news reports spoiled it.

Thursday, Day Four:

Al Gore: Gore did his part to talk about the dangers of global warming and I firmly believe Obama needs to pay more attention to that factor as well.. both candidates do actually.

My favorite part of Gore's speech:
Today, we face essentially the same choice we faced in 2000, though it may be even more obvious now, because John McCain, a man who has earned our respect on many levels, is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney White House and promising to actually continue them. The same policies all over again?


Hey, I believe in recycling, but that’s ridiculous.
Barack Obama: It was the anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech. There were like over 90,000 people packed into the Invesco Field to watch Obama's speech. He is such a great speaker and brings people to awe.. and I keep hoping he'll be able to deliver as well.

I don't even know what to use as my favorite part, so I'll do what I thought was the most powerful part in his delivery:

Tonight, I say to the American people, to Democrats and Republicans and Independents across this great land - enough! This moment - this election - is our chance to keep, in the 21st century, the American promise alive. Because next week, in Minnesota, the same party that brought you two terms of George Bush and Dick Cheney will ask this country for a third. And we are here because we love this country too much to let the next four years look like the last eight. On November 4th, we must stand up and say: "Eight is enough."
What an amazing week! Actually what a month - first 16 days of Olympics and then to top it off, the DNC.. too bad it's all downhill from here with school starting on Tuesday.

Sunday, August 24, 2008

Summer '08 Olympics Medal Count


Olympic Medal winners at NBC Olympics.com!

U.S. has more medals overall, but China has a lot more gold medals in the end.

Saturday, August 23, 2008

Obama Officially Announces His V.P Candidate

The long awaited day FINALLY (and I stress on the finally) arrived as Obama officially (and personally) revealed his Vice President candidate: Joe Biden from Delaware.

We definitely didn't first hear the news from his campaign.. even though I did get the news from a text message - but I got it from CNN.

I am not sure what to think of Biden as the V.P. candidate yet, so I definitely have to read up on him before I make an impression. From the looks of it from their first joint rally earlier this afternoon, Biden's enthusiasm definitely matches that of Obama's.

Apparently Biden found out on Thursday that he was picked to be the V.P, so the secret was held for... not even 24 hours.

Anyhow, here are some excerpts from today's rally:

Barack Obama formally announcing Joe Biden as his running mate:

"I’ve searched for a leader to finish this journey alongside me, and to join in me in making Washington work for the American people. I searched for a leader who understands the rising costs confronting working people, and who will always put their dreams first," Obama said. "A leader who sees clearly the challenges facing America in a changing world, with our security and standing set back by eight years of a failed foreign policy. A leader who shares my vision of an open government that calls all citizens – Democrats, Republicans and Independents – to a common purpose. Above all, I searched for a leader who is ready to step in and be President."

"Today, I have come back to Springfield to tell you that I’ve found that leader – a man with a distinguished record and a fundamental decency – Joe Biden. "
Biden:

"President Lincoln once instructed us to be sure to put your feet in the right place and then stand firm," said Biden, a native of Scranton, Pennsylvania, whose working-class roots and foreign policy experience Democrats hope will help Obama. "Today in Springfield I know my feet are in the right place and I'm proud to stand firm with the next president of the United States of America, Barack Obama."
Biden taking a shot at McCain's house gaffe (and a good one, I might add):

Ladies and gentlemen, your kitchen table is like mine. You sit there at night before you put the kids -- after you put the kids to bed and you talk, you talk about what you need. You talk about how much you are worried about being able to pay the bills. Well, ladies and gentlemen, that's not a worry John McCain has to worry about. It's a pretty hard experience. He'll have to figure out which of the seven kitchen tables to sit at.
Click here to read the whole transcript of what Obama said at the rally and click here to read Biden's remarks.

And the V.P is...

"CNN confirms Sen. Barack Obama has chosen Delaware Sen. Joe Biden to be his vice-presidential running mate."

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