Is Barack Obama Really a Socialist?!?!

At a rally in Raleigh, North Carolina, Barack Obama took another stab at the idea being constantly thrown around lately by practically everyone in the McCain camp, that Obama is a socialist. Obama's comments on this were, "I’m sorry to see my opponent sink so low. Lately, he’s called me a socialist for wanting to roll back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans so we can finally give tax relief to the middle class. By the end of the week, he’ll be accusing me of being a secret communist because I shared my toys in Kindergarten." Haha, that's a great and amusing way to brush off McCain's latest jab!

One Week Away!

So, one week from today, November 4th, the people will finish heading out to the polls and will elect our next President of the United States. It has been a game-changing election in a number of ways. Barack Obama has raised more money than any Presidential candidate ever. He is also the first ever African-American to become one of the top two candidates on the ticket. Sarah Palin is only the second woman to ever get the nomination for VP. If John McCain wins, he will be the oldest person to be elected President of th US. There are so many exciting variables, aside from these that are making this one of the most important and memorable elections in our nation's history. It has really excited so many people who have never before voted, along with those who have long felt disenfranchised and have removed themselves from the political process until now.

We are also approaching a time when our economy is seeing lows and heading towards what many analysts have already named a recession. Layoffs, foreclosures, unemployment, and bank failures have been dramatically on the rise. This is becoming a global phenomenon, with foreign markets also falling greatly and even Iceland's economy crumbling. Consumer confidence has fallen immensely and the retail markets are suffering, preempting even more job losses. This approaching Christmas season is not expected to be anywhere near past levels for the retail sector.

I forget where I was going with this, but one essential point is that if you haven't already sent in your absentee ballot or participated in early voting, get out there on Election Day and let your voice be heard! I think that for once, so many people who felt like their vote wouldn't make a difference are starting to realize that they will. Everybody NEEDS to get out there and vote!

Colin Powell backs a Presidential Candidate

Retired Secretary of State Colin Powell, a well-known Republican, spoke on NBC's Meet The Press this morning with Tom Brokaw. In this meeting, in what is another in the many waves of support for Senator Barack Obama, Powell backed Democratic candidate Obama. Will this push the numbers further in favor of the Obama-Biden campaign? It's tough to say, but I'd say it will likely aid in and be another push for undecideds who might otherwise be leaning more towards John McCain. We can only wait and see at this point...

A Couple of Updates...

Just a couple of random updates because I found out I can post through my BlackBerry when I'm using Opera Mini...

DJ Marty (yup, that's right, the One Man Party)... Well, there is a follow-up coming because the story didn't end where it left off. The everlovin' some-color-eyed DJ caught wind of the article I'd written about him and didn't take it lightly. It came down to threats of different varieties that really make for an interesting chapter two! It'll be coming soon, but I need to get emails off my work computer...

Band stuff is coming along with my new band, "Chico and the Chicano Boys". More on that in the near future.

Debate Number Three

So last night was the third and final Presidential debate between Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. The McCain camp seemed to be promising a vitriolic performance for the last showdown and the elder Senator came out swinging. He had this final evening to hold the large viewing audience and turn the tides from Obama. He threw out Bill Ayers, ACORN, and had a snappy retort to Obama's comparison of him to President Bush (George W.). Senator McCain was on the offensive from the get-go, but was it enough? I'd say no and this morning, the polls seemed to agree, showing Obama as the viewed "winner".

Senator Obama kept a clear head, never got frazzled, and that was more than enough right there. He kept his composure and looked the part of the Presidential one.

The biggest talk of the night had to be Joe the Plumber, a gentleman that Senator Obama encountered and spoke to while campaigning. Joe spoke about wanting to buy the company he's worked for for years and his worries that Obama would tax him heavier. Did talk of Joe the Plumber affect things? Maybe, but I don't think it was to much a degree, if any (for the Presidential candidates). Hopefully, Joe the Plumber has been able to convert his newfound fame into increased business for himself! McCain did say he wanted Joe the Plumber spreading the wealth around after all...

Landslide?

At this point, it appears that Barack Obama has run away in the polls, leaving McCain sputtering and throwing every negative attack and the kitchen sink at him in an attempt to slow his rise. The McCain campaign has moved so far away from the economic issues, at a time when the stock market has had such plunges last week that there was an obscene amount of money lost, especially important to those who are older and closer to retirement that might have had retirement accounts such as 401(k)'s that relied on investments. When the markets are taking a dive, the banking industry has been falling apart, mortgage crises have threatened the American Dream, what has the McCain campaign been focusing on?

"Who is Barack Obama?"

That's become the main focus. From Obama's association to William Ayers, a 1960's anti-war activist, to rehashing stories of Obama's connection to his one-time pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, the McCain campaign would like to dig up any bit of dirt that might be lying in Barack Obama's backyard, while ignoring the mountain in McCain's. The association of McCain to the Keating 5 (which I think is fairly unimportant or at least currently irrelevant, much like William Ayers' past when Obama was a young boy) or the association of Sarah Palin to her own husband, who was a member of a political party set on seceding from the United States, seems to play no role in the "importance of associations".

It is one day before the last Presidential Debate and probably what will be the last chance that Senator McCain has to change the tide. He really will need to step up and make a difference because anything less will not be sufficient. Senator Obama, on the other hand, probably needs only not mess up and remain looking "Presidential" to maintain his lead and keep the flow going. McCain will no doubt be throwing every possible attack and argument up at Obama tomorrow night since this will be close to the final showdown. As we are 3 weeks away from the big election night, there will be little else as influential as the debate tomorrow to change the minds of undecided voters. Hopefully, the debate will not just be filled with angry rhetoric and negative attacks, but some possible solutions to the many many crises that the United States is facing and approaching in the near future. All the negative attacks in the world aren't going to solve any of these...