Ripper McCord has asked me to post this for him because the TPM interface will not fully load the blog page for him.

John McCain has declared war on our joy.

His war on the American psyche started with his "Celebrity" series of ads and the insidious charge designed to destroy the very notion of support for Obama. He might as well have dropped napalm on our hearts and minds.

We tend to think Obama is the target of those nasty GOP ads, but make no mistake: McCain is targeting us just as much. He understands that we—you and I—are Obama's real strength.

And the McCain campaign of demoralizing us continues. His choice of Palin is intended to energize his base, yes, but it's also meant to enrage us with its blatant flimsiness. His recent barrage of lies and phony controversies have the effect of taking voters from Obama, true, but that onslaught also has the effect of robbing Obama of something more important: our joy.

McCain is conducting his campaign as if he were fighting the Vietnam conflict all over again. And in his troubled military mind, we are the Viet Cong. Let him think so. The VC won that conflict.

Don't let McCain and the Far Right destroy our morale. Remember that we are the majority in this country. Remember that our cause is not merely just; it is vital to the future of human life—perhaps all life—on this planet. And we can win this with guerrilla tactics and lots of hard work. And however much withering fire he might train on our resolve, McCain cannot stand against us if we are united in our purpose.

So let the massive crowds assemble again. Let us listen to the stirring anthem by will.i.am and know unashamedly that we are, truly, the change we have been waiting for all our lives.

Let us fortify our hearts with good cheer and laughter. Let us release the power of our shared dream. Let us nurture hope. And most of all, let us be joyous again. Oh, my good fellow Americans, let us be joyous!

Yes we can. Yes we will.


Feel free to re-post this anywhere.  Please recommend.

The Seattle Times has a front-page story today entitled "Inside Palin's turbulent first year as mayor."  It's at http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008163431_palin070.html.  The article deserves national attention.

The story draws from three boxes of documents from the wrongful termination suit filed in federal court by Irl Stambaugh, the police chief in Wasilla, AK, fired by recently elected mayor Sarah Palin.

In addition to recounting what led up to Stambaugh's termination, the article describes Palin's campaign for mayor, which brought partisan politics and ideology into what had previously been a nonpartisan elected office. 

From The Seattle Times:

A Palin campaign ad displayed the slogan, "Positively Sarah." "Endorsed by the NRA," it said. The ad encouraged people to vote for "Conservative, More Efficient Government," and called Palin "ENERGETIC ... DETERMINED ... POSITIVE."

The ad pictured Palin with four state lawmakers — all Republicans, pledging their support. More than 100 other supporters were also listed, including the owners of the Mug Shot Saloon and the Wasilla Bar, two taverns that stayed open until 4 or 5 a.m.

To Stein, the three-term mayor, this campaign had unusual overtones, raising issues that had no bearing on local government. He would marvel at how abortion became an issue — he was labeled pro-abortion — and how some people noted that his wife's last name differed from his. He later noted how Palin's backers included what he called the "Liquor Cabinet" and Wasilla's religious conservatives.

Ideology didn't end with the campaign, however: 

Afterward, a TV station called her Wasilla's "first Christian mayor." This prompted a letter from Stein, saying: "Really?" He listed eight previous mayors, all Christian, and added: "With a name like 'Stein' some suspected that I must be a non-Christian, have non-Christian blood or at least have sympathized with a non-Christian sometime in my career. I'm proud of such a reputation but I, my family and forbearers are of the Christian persuasion, too."