Happy Thanksgiving from Sarah Palin

This video speaks for itself. Happy Thanksgiving!

Obama's takes on Economic Recovery

Barack Obama is taking over the economic recovery plan and turning in the opposite direction. Obama is moving in a direction that was opposed by Bush and the Bush White House. Obama is promoting multi-billion dollar economic stimulus package that the Bush said he would have vetoed (Politico.com). Obama is hoping his solution will create or save about 2.5 million jobs by putting money into infrastructure (politico.com). "People should understand that help is on the way," Obama said on Wednesday. "I hope everybody understands that we are going to be able to get through these difficult times. We just have to make some good choices." (politico.com) Even though Obama has said "there is only one president at a time, that president is George W. Bush, and he will be president until I'm sworn in on Jan. 20," the market seems to be listening to Obama over Bush (politico.com). The stock market had four consective days of gains as Obama laid out his economic plan








For more information:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/16023.html

Weekly You Tube Address

Obama will continue to reach his gigantic online community through a weekly YouTube address. He is attempting to fulfill his promise to be the first "Internet President" (politico.com). The you tube address is part of a larger plan to make the White House more accessible and change communication between the white house and the American people. Obama is attempting to somewhat eliminate the media middleman and make his case directly to the American people (usnews). On November 15 he delivered a radio address and was recorded as he delivered the remarks (usnews). The video was posted to change.gov and picked up by youtube (usnews). "As of yesterday, over a million people had viewed Obama's first YouTube address since his election, which was released on Nov. 15" (politico.com). Obama is the first president to really understand the power of the internet and has the ability to harness it to his advantage.





For more information:

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15971.html

http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/campaign-2008/2008/11/25/for-obama-governing-in-the-age-of-youtube.html

Emanuel Open to GOP Ideas

Barack Obama's new chief executive said the administration would work with Republicans and "welcomes their ideas" on how to resolve the financial crisis (polico.com). Emanuel met with Mitch McConnel (minority leader) for about 30 minutes. He is also going to meet with Mike Pense and Eric Cantor (politico.com). Emanuel said that in the past two weeks he had met with at least 24 Republicans to discuss bipartisan cooperation (politico.com). After his meeting with McConnel Emanuel said that "It's challenging times economically. The middle class is working harder, earning less and paying more. The challenges facing the country require that people of both parties work together to solve those problems" "I told them that I welcome their ideas, be that in their area of education, health care, taxes, energy policy, national security," Emanuel added. "Give us those ideas, because we are formulating what we're going to do in the Obama administration" (politico.com).




http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/1108/Emanuel_on_GOP_We_welcome_their_ideas.html

Vetting Includes Quiz on Guns

Barack Obama's transition team is asking potential appointees detailed questions about gun ownership (politico.com). This is just one aspect of the very lengthy questioner for potential applicants. The National Rifle Association has criticized the questions and one Republican Senator is considering legislation that would make sure no one could be denied employment in the Obama administration based on gun ownership (poltico.com). Obama's transition team would not comment as to why they included the question but one aid did say “The intent of the gun question is to determine legal permitting” (politico.com). The gun question asks “Do you or any members of your immediate family own a gun? If so, provide complete ownership and registration information. Has the registration ever lapsed? Please also describe how and by whom it is used and whether it has been the cause of any personal injuries or property damage” (politico.com). In general gun advocates want Obama to know they are unhappy with this type of question.







http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15835.html

Bill Clinton Transparency

Apparently, Bill Clinton is able and willing to give up his foreign income (poltico.com). Of the $111 million the Clintons have got since Bill Clinton left the white house, a little over $8 million came from foreign sources according to the Clinton's tax return (politico.com). Their foreign income came from President Clinton's speeches and from a "blind trust" (politico.com). If Hillary was to accept the position as Secretary of State she would not be able to receive most outside earning and her husband could as long as she can demonstrate it does not conflict with her job (politico.com). Bill Clinton has agreed to make public all donors to is foundation and clearing future activities with the Obama administration (washingtonpost.com). Neither side as commented on the situation. Bill Clinton said he'd do "whatever they want" with respect to the vetting process and information he'd have to disclose to the Obama administration to help Hillary Clinton become Obama's secretary of state (huffington.com). Clinton also agreed to make his Clinton Global Initiative an organization independent from the Clinton Foundation, and the former president would not participate in future gatherings, the source said. "There's just a concern about foreign governments being involved or it being too closely aligned with him," the source said (washingtonpost.com).







For more information:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15783.html

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15804.html

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/the-trail/2008/11/19/bill_clinton_offers_concession.html?hpid=topnews

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/19/bill-clinton-ill-do-whate_n_144994.html

Prop 8 Passes

The measure that bans same-sex marriage in the state in the form of a constitutional amendment passed with 52.2 percent of the vote in favor to the 47.5 percent of votes against it (sfgate.com).

Prop. 8 supporters won a surprisingly widespread victory Tuesday, winning almost everywhere in the state but in the Bay Area and a few other counties (sfgate.com).

After losing on Tuesday, gay rights supporters filed three lawsuits Wednesday hoping that California's Supreme Court will overturn Proposition 8 (latimes.com). The suits and lawyers argue that the anti-gay-marriage measure was an illegal constitutional revision because it fundamentally altered the guarantee of equal protection (latimes.com). The first suit was filed by ACLU, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Lambda Legal. Santa Clara County and the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles also sued, and Los Angeles lawyer Gloria Allred filed a third suit on behalf of a married lesbian couple (latimes.com). The California Supreme Court voted 4 to 3 on May 15 that a state ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. They also elevated sexual orientation to the constitutional status of race and gender (latimes.com).

Proposition 8 still leads by one half million votes and experts have stated that they do not expect the 3 million uncounted mail and provisional ballots to change the outcome (sfgate.com). "The result shows that this wasn't a partisan issue for people," said Frank Schubert, who ran the Prop. 8 campaign. "People have a strong attachment to traditional marriage, and that's the way they voted" (sfgate.com). Exit polls show that 59 percent of Catholics supported Barack Obama but also voted for Proposition 8 by 64 percent to 36 percent (sfgate.com). The exit poll also showed that 84 percent of people who attend church weekly voted for Proposition 8.

For more information:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/06/BA1313VJQH.DTL

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-gaylegal6-2008nov06,0,5471913.story

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/05/MNH413UTUS.DTL