Have you seen this world popularity map at The Economist?

If the World could vote, according to the poll conducted online by The Economist, at the time of this posting, Barack Obama would lead John McCain by an eye-popping 9.009 to 228 in The Global Electoral College (GEC).

The GEC is a fictitious construct of the Economist created to show what would happen if the citizens of the world had a say in our U.S. election, based on similar rules as our Electoral College system.

Countries currently shown as strong, or leaning, McCain include: Iraq, Cuba, Sudan, Algeria, The Congo, Namibia, Greece, and Georgia; while Obama is the clear favorite of THE REST OF PLANET EARTH!

**** UPDATE: Obama now leads 9109 to 171, and the Sudan is now a toss-up.

All of this goes to reinforce my feeling that Obama is far more than just a "transformational" candidate, he is the centerpiece of a movement of global reach.

Our mantra of "PEACE" from the late sixties has been supplanted by the "YES WE CAN" of 2008. Where "Hands Across America" was a wonderful couple of weeks (even for people like me that got assigned way the heck out in the boonies), the Obama movement has the chance to really change the long term way we interact with the citizens of all nations and the very planet itself.

So Peace and Love to Gaia and to all my brothers and sisters. YES WE CAN!
(now, get out the VOTE!)

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VOTED? YES
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In the interest of hopefully increasing Voter turn-out, may I offer a suggestion that posters include a simple line at the end of their post indicating whether or not they have already voted. I think this might encourage more early voting. Thanks.

(I don't know if this has already been suggested, if so, please excuse my redundancy.)

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Voted? Yes
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As reported by Jason Linkins at The Huffington Post

Pictures of Palin wearing a VOTE DEMOCRATIC scarf.
Now, that's not where the humor ends. Turns out, the proceeds of this sale go directly to fund ACORN!!!!

As Jason says "Why won't McCain question her on her ties to radical leftist accessories?"

It is so much fun to watch Camp McCain circle the drain. 

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Voted? Yes
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Joe Klein writes a great piece on Obama's strengths and his maturation process over the course of this campaign. From Obama's interactions with General Petraeus, to his handling of the economic crisis, to his debate performances, and more, Very enjoyable read.

Full Story at Time.com

As reported on Politico:

"As a Republican Eagle and a maxed-out contributor to McCain's general campaign, I'd like my money back - he can still have my vote," complained one irate donor on Tuesday.

"I'm not one who says a candidate shouldn't wear fine clothes," he added. "I'd just like to think they were successful enough in the private sector to have afforded their wardrobe with their own money, not the party's or the campaign's, which is really our money as contributors."

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14840.html

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Really not the way the campaign wanted to spend its final 13 days - issuing refund checks and explaining how the 150K spent on personal clothes was technically legal because they only used commingled funds from the joint accounts held between the McCain campaign and the RNC. It's an argument I would love them to make!

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Voted? Yes
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The chairwoman of an Otero County, New Mexico, Republican women's group spewed forth her ugly self critique yesterday in a letter to the editor of The Alamogordo Daily News:

I read in today's paper what a woman wrote explaining why she's a Democrat. Let me tell you why I'm not. I'm a Republican because:

I believe in a sovereign God who sometimes gives us what we deserve.

I believe Muslims are our enemies.

I believe in life. A baby is not just a fetus, but a living being no matter where it resides.

I believe there is a good reason for the death penalty.

I believe in fiscal responsibility, for the government and for us.

I believe the government is way too big and rife with greed and corruption.

I believe in the truth. People believe lies because it's much easier than finding the truth.

I believe in personal responsibility. That includes spanking your children.

I believe American women should raise their own children and American men should be men enough to pay for children they've produced.

I believe a man and woman make marriage. Period.

I believe in America first and foremost and we ought to take care of our own people, our own land, and illegal aliens should go home.

I believe in guns and knowing how to use them properly.

I believe war is a fact of life and we should always win.

I believe in lower taxes. I know how to spend money better than Congress any day of the week.

I believe in voter ID.

I believe there is a moderate and a socialist in this election.
 
I agree with a two-party system, but Obama isn't a messiah or a democrat.

He's a Muslim socialist.  (emphasis added)

If I wanted to compose the canons of why I am NOT a republican, I don't think I could have done a better job. Nice piece of self-indictment, Ms. Stirman.

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Voted? Yes
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Palin's haute couture............$150,000
Palin's make-up.....................$13,200
Endorsement by al-Qaeda....Priceless.

What a way to run a campaign.

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Voted? Yes
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In an effort to show that John McCain connects with the "Regular Joe Class", the campaign has, within the last 24 hours, rolled out four (4) new supporters to presumably stand along side the ubiquitous, "Joe, the Plumber".

Three of these supporters were just now introduced, by name, on "Race for the White House" by FMR. Gov. George Allen (R-VA).

Joe the Plumber, meet:

• Tito, the Builder
• Ron, the Trucker
• Patty, the Small Business Owner
• and, Ken the Carpenter

Since we still have 13 more days to go, at this rate of introduction, and at the rate their poll numbers are again on the decline, I wouldn't be surprised if we were able to be personally introduced to every remaining McCain/Palin supporter before the final vote is cast.

(okay, I'm done snarking)

AP is now reporting:

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Gov. Sarah Palin charged the state for her children to travel with her, including to events where they were not invited, and later amended expense reports to specify that they were on official business.

The charges included costs for hotel and commercial flights for three daughters to join Palin to watch their father in a snowmobile race, and a trip to New York, where the governor attended a five-hour conference and stayed with 17-year-old Bristol for five days and four nights in a luxury hotel.

In all, Palin has charged the state $21,012 for her three daughters' 64 one-way and 12 round-trip commercial flights since she took office in December 2006. In some other cases, she has charged the state for hotel rooms for the girls.

Palin says she is going to Washington to clean up corruption, greed, and the abuse of power. Those are noble ambitions, but my question is, why not start that clean-up in Alaska?.

Video from her interview yesterday at:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/10/21/palin-vp-senate/#more-31016

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Unbelievably ignorant. I guess she assumes as VP she can go into that old senate and get all mavericky on their ass.

Today, Bachmann states:

Despite the way the blogs and the Democratic Party are spinning it, I never called all liberals anti-American, I never questioned Barack Obama's patriotism, and I never asked for some House Un-American Activities Committee witch hunt into my colleagues in Congress. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1008/14777.html

Yet, on Friday, we all heard Bachmann reply to Chris Matthews:

Matthews: "Do you think Barack Obama has anti-American views?"

Bachmann: "Absolutely, I'm very concerned he might have anti-American views."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESdA52S4Dbg (about 2:40 in)

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Amazing!

Russia's permanent mission to the UN has received a letter from U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain asking for financial support of his election campaign, the mission said in a statement on Monday. http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/1008/McCain_camp_hits_up_Russian_ambassador.html?showall

In what appears to me as simply an example of a direct mailing gone awry, John McCain has requested donations from the Russians. It is especially humorous because it comes less than 24 hours after Rick Davis accused Obama of having ties to foreign donors.

I am curious if the Obama camp mentions this fund solicitation gaffe, and if so, in what spirit do they bring it up. I am confident that had the roles been reversed, Rick Davis would have been all over this as proof positive that Obama is secretly a foreign operative. Too funny.