Posts Tagged obama
The Obama O, made from gum wrappers
I strictly ration my gum, and always have some with me (Don’t ask for it though) so I soon amassed a pretty hefty collection. It totaled about 30 pieces of normal aluminum plus Five’s red, blue and green wrappers. I realized the potential of these wrappers. I could create…art.
First I had to figure out what to make. It would have to be a simple image with not too many colors. The Obama O-bingo. Wrigleys wrappers for white, Flare red, Cobalt blue and Rain green letters.
How I converted the Obama logo into a 3-color pixelated was pretty sophisticated. I’m pretty sure I applied some saturation layers, created a grid, then created three duplicate layers of one individual square to replace squares with the right color. One square equaled one half of a wrapper.
I spent about 45 minutes figuring out how to draw the gird but eventually got it on the two pieces of posterboard, along with the gum wrappers. I had to chew more Big Red, and finished it up with “2008” made with Rain green.
Eventually my art was finished. This was my masterpiece. You know the Obama poster that says “Hope” underneath? Mine was cool like that. What to do with it though?
Great idea-frame it and put it in the nearest Obama HQ. One opens in my county tomorrow morning.
Click for bigger images…
More Obama art:
Lincoln-Obama fusion
Add comment July 19, 2008
6/4 News
Obama makes history
Barack Obama addressed a roaring crowd yesterday as he declared himself the Democratic presidential candidate after passing the 2,118 delegate threshold. Obama weathered an improbable 17-month long campaign against once likely nominee Hillary Clinton. He praised the New York senator for her hard work and tenacity, as she pledged to unify the party without actually stating she was dropping out.
Obama’s delegate total kicked off the general election, as Republican presumptive nominee John McCain admitted either candidate would bring change. “But the choice is between the right change and the wrong change, between going forward and going backward.”
Obama responded quickly with a similar tone, attacking McCain for supporting Bush’s policies.
“It’s not change when John McCain decided to stand with George Bush 95 percent of the time, as he did in the Senate last year. It’s not change when he offers four more years of Bush economic policies that have failed to create well-paying jobs. … And it’s not change when he promises to continue a policy in Iraq that asks everything of our brave young men and women in uniform and nothing of Iraqi politicians.”
The first-term Illinois senator addressed 17,000 fans in a St. Paul stadium, where the GOP convention will be held in September. The historic campaign kicked off with a surprising Iowa victory on January 3. That began a firefight between the two popular candidates, Obama standing for change and Clinton standing for experience. Obama attracted the support of blacks, younger voters, more liberals and more well-off voters while Clinton was popular among Hispanics, working-class and women.
Clinton stopped shorting of formally ending her campaign as she spoke in New York. She admitted she was open to vice-president during a conference call with a New Mexico representative.
There are mixed numbers about the strength of this “dream ticket.” Critics said he needs Hispanic, southern and female support and point to candidates like New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, Nebraskan Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, Virginia Senator Jim Webb and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano.
Add comment June 4, 2008
It’s finally over
The exhausting, drawn-out Democratic Presidential primary has come to an end. After 54 contests and 35,000,000 votes, we finally have an unofficial candidate.
I say unofficial because Clinton hasn’t dropped out yet. What do you expect? A candidate this stubborn and egotistical doesn’t admit defeat easily. Sure, she will. But it’ll take some time, just like it took her time to realize the primary election wasn’t going to be a cakewalk.
The funny thing is that Obama was mathematically guaranteed the nomination by early March. But it kept going. Reverend Wright was brought up. Hillary slammed him to talking about “guns and religion.” Of course, Hillary and her husband haven’t exactly been grassroots for the past sixteen years.
Well now it’s assured. Every time she lost a front, she changed it. First it depended on delegates, then superdelegates, then popular vote. Every time she lost, she changed the goal post. Now Obama has won every front, and there’s nothing she can do.
I don’t think he’ll pick her as vice-president. There are a lot of people that don’t like Hillary Clinton. The kind of people that don’t like Barack Obama wouldn’t vote for him just because he has Clinton on his ticket. During this season, when one candidate loses, his supporters say they won’t support the other candidate. They always do.
So Barack Obama, don’t pick Hillary. Pick Bill Richardson. He’s a governor of a Hispanic state and Hispanic himself, he’s older, and has been Governor, UN Ambassador, Energy Secretary and Representative.
No one can top a beard like that.
Another pick, I think, is Chuck Hagel. Obama could fulfill his promise of reaching across the aisle by picking this Vietnam vet, former VA secretary under Raegan and Nebraska Senator. Hagel has said this will be his last term as Senator.
I think I’ll also plot my candidate support.
Q2 2007: Obama (Thought he was cool)
Q3 2007: Kucinich (Starting Digging)
Q4 2007: Paul (Kucinich can’t win)
Q1 2008: Obama (Paul can’t win)
And here I am. As you can see, I don’t care if they’re Democrats or GOP. Iraq war opposition, good economic policy and stricter foreign policy is what I care about.
Now that all liberals have a common opponent it’s time to throw our weight around. For years pundits have been saying that only a Democrat can win this year. They’re right. He leads in every poll.
YES WE CAN.
Add comment June 4, 2008
6/1 News
Obama leaves church
After months of criticism regarding his fiery pastor Reverend Wright, likely Democratic nominee Barack Obama has left his Chicago church, Trinity United Church of Christ. The issue arose when tapes where discovered of the residing pastor Jeremiah Wright calling the AIDS virus a government attack on African-American people and exclaiming “God damn America.”
The Senator sought to distance himself even more from the pastor after rejecting his endorsement and denouncing his remarks soon after they surfaced. The issue may have resurfaced after a visiting Catholic priest mocked Obama’s opponent Hillary Clinton, accusing her of “white entitlement.” Obama has called the church his own for 16 years and Rev. Wright baptized both his daughters.
Obama has tried to put the remarks behind him, but falling short of disowning his pastor. The pastor’s remarks contradict Obama’s theme of transcending race, and Obama responded with a praised speech on race in America.
Gates warns China of hogging resources
Defense Secretary Robert Gates addressed China’s economic policy on Saturday, calling on China to fairly and diplomatically address the natural resources of that region. Gates struck a more cautious note than former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who criticized China’s military buildup. Last year Gates called for the two countries to “build trust over time.”
He asserted the benefits of openness, whether in regard to trade, resources or the internet. “We should not forget that globalization has permitted our shared rise in wealth over recent decades.” Gates also thanked for China’s cooperation for cooling North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.
Islamic women demand Al-Qaeda admittance
Al-Qaeda was brought to light in a new way when the group’s decision to exclude women was brought to light Saturday. In April Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahri responded to a female’s question of admittance that Al-Qaeda did not allow women. The response has prompted online postings and a petition, called Rabeebat al-Silah or Arabic for “Companion of Weapons.”
“How many times have I wished I were a man … When Sheikh Ayman al-Zawahri said there are no women in al Qaeda, he saddened and hurt me,” the essay reflects.
Add comment June 2, 2008
5/29 News
McCain staff leave Vets for Freedom
Senators Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC) left the independent organization Vets for Freedom after yesterday’s story surfaced about the group’s anti-Obama ads. The group aims to promote victory in Iraq and Afghanistan but McCain’s “Relevant” policy prohibits his campaign staff from being involved in any independent organizations that comment on presidential candidates.
McCain started the policy after his Virginia leader Craig Shirley was discovered to be a paid advisor to a group that attacked Obama also.
News Corp Chairman predicts Obama victory
Rupert Murdoch said at the Wall Street Journal’s All Things Digital conference last night that he thought Obama will win the election.
The Chairman of News Corps and the inventor of conservative media like Fox News called Obama a “rock star.” “I love what he is saying about education.” “He will win in Ohio and the election.” “I am anxious to meet him.”
Murdoch admitted he was a friend of McCain but cast doubt about his economic policy and long career in Congress.
DNC gives Florida and Michigan half of delegates
The Democratic National Committee’s legal team ruled yesterday that Florida and Michigan’s delegates can count for no more than half. The full count would’ve given Senator Clinton a huge boost in the delegate race. Both Clinton and Senator Obama pledged not to campaign in the states since they broke party rules and moved their primary too early. Obama had his name removed from the Michigan ballot.
Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said “We don’t think it’s fair to seat them fully,” but “we’re willing to give some delegates here.”
DNC falling short of convention fundraising
The DNC is having trouble raising money for it’s August convention in Denver. It’s still $15 million short of the roughly $40 million needed for the convention. The party is planning to give corporations a way to underwrite the convention. Many insiders partially blame the prolonged primary race for stealing Democrat donors.
New York to recognize gay marriages and unions from other states
New York Governor David Paterson pushed state agencies yesterday to recognize gay unions and marriages made in other states. Currently California and Massachusetts are the only states to allow gay marriage, while some states like New Jersey allow gay unions. Paterson called the measure “a strong step toward marriage equality.” Former governor Elliot Spitzer failed to get a gay-marriage bill passed last year.
Add comment May 29, 2008
Cal Thomas ignoring past 8 years
I stumbled across this gem in the Indy Star this morning…
OBAMA: SEE NO EVIL
By Cal Thomas
Tribune Media Services
Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is the polar opposite of John F. Kennedy.
Judging from recent comments, Obama apparently would pay no price, bear no burden, forsake any hardship, support any foe and oppose any friend that wished to pursue liberty. Kennedy understood that evil exists in the world. He saw it in World War II as his generation defeated the evil that gripped Europe and Japan. And he witnessed it as president when Nikita Khrushchev approved the building of the Berlin Wall and the installation of Soviet missiles in Cuba, acts that flowed from Khrushchev’s perception that the young president was weak and inexperienced.
Obama thinks he can negotiate with evil and transform evil into something else. Initially his foreign policy platform was a naive pledge to meet “unconditionally” with the leaders of Iran, North Korea, Syria, Cuba and other nations dominated by dictators. In recent days he has changed his tune somewhat. He would still meet with the heads of these mini evil empires without preconditions, but “there must be careful preparation. We will set a clear agenda.”
This leads to an important question: On what basis does a free nation negotiate with nations that are not free? Does Obama expect leaders who got where they are by undemocratic, even violent means, to embrace press freedom, religious liberty, political pluralism and rights for women? What would evil leaders demand of him? Any concession given to dictators, who are not known for keeping their promises, would surely result in the United States being taken less seriously and contribute to the undermining of our national security.
In his recent speech to the Israeli Knesset, President Bush pointedly noted that evil cannot be accommodated, negotiated with, pampered, or appeased. It must be opposed and defeated.
Obama’s “strategy” for dealing with evil is the progeny of a secular age that sees everything bad as curable through counseling, good intentions masquerading as wishful thinking and/or pharmaceutical intervention. Prosperity and a sense of entitlement have dulled our senses to what evil looks like. These days, evil is the political party to which you don’t belong and the ideology to which you do not subscribe.
Evil has a definition. Dictionary.com calls it: “morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked.” There is a presumption contained in this definition. It is that a standard exists by which evil (and its opposite, good) may be judged. Too many of us have been taught in government schools and by contemporary culture that such notions belong to another, less sophisticated era. In the Internet age “evil” has become extinct.
Obama’s only foreign policy strategy seems to be diplomacy, not the defeat of evil. Such an approach when not supported by a credible threat of military power is bound to encourage more evil, not less. Obama debunks the value of experience, claiming the experience of President Bush and John McCain got us into the lengthy Iraq War. That war didn’t start in Iraq and it won’t end there, even if our objectives are achieved. Those objectives are closer to being realized than they were a year ago, but Obama and his fellow Democrats cannot acknowledge progress because they are preoccupied with victory at the polls more than victory over evil.
Recently, The Washington Times carried a story by Rowan Scarborough that quoted intelligence officials who believe terrorist attacks could occur in the early month’s of the next president’s administration. Terrorists attacked in February 1993 just two months after Bill Clinton’s Inauguration and again on Sept. 11, 2001, less than eight months after George W. Bush became president.
The central question for voters ought to be this: who do we want in the White House should another terrorist attack occur; one who seeks to negotiate with evil, or one who is a warrior and wants to crush it?
Ah, good old warmongering. No better way to get started in the morning.
First I’ll start off with his lack of sources. Cal Thomas follows in the paths of media pundits by attempting to analyze Obama from one quote. I still don’t see what’s wrong with talking to Iran. Of course, the Neocons might be sore after the Iran bombing option got uncovered.
Next, he says Obama blames McCain’s and Bush’s war decisions…on their experience. We don’t even get a quote for this one, Lord knows what Obama actually said. Obama usually chooses his words pretty carefully, and that doesn’t sound like something he’d say.
Next…what is evil? Well, according to Thomas, it’s “morally wrong or bad; immoral; wicked.” That’s right, now we need to wage war on sluts, lying and obesity too. Just because the almighty US doesn’t agree with someone does not make them evil.
A government can’t fight evil. They can fight threats. Who/what are threats to the US? Bears? Iran? No.
Thomas asks if we want a president who negotiates with evil. Maybe he should ask if we want one that can recognize what’s evil and what’s actually a threat the US can deal with.
The candidate is Barack Obama and the threat is world policing and the eternal warfare state.
Add comment May 28, 2008
