MassEngagement.com

Arizona's terrorist attack

Today America suffered a great tragedy: the shooting and mass killing which took the lives of at least 6 people in Tuscon, Arizona. Among the dead are a nine (9!) year old child, a federal judge, John M. Roll, and a government staffer. Among the wounded, a United States congresswoman, along with about 12 others.

I have to admit. I am a news junkie. My twitter feeds and top visited websites are news related, particularly politically leaning. I was clued in to the shooting this morning in Arizona not too long after it had occurred. I watched as information was scrambled together on-air to compose a somewhat cohesive news report. As time progressed, the gravity of the situation unfolded. A United States Congresswoman, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona, was involved in the shooting. First it was unclear if she was injured. Then it was revealed she had been involved in the shooting. Definitely shot. Med flighted out to trauma hospital. Shot in the back of the head. Dead. Alive. Maybe not dead? No, not dead. Talking on her way to the operating room. Surgery successful, she's going to pull through.

Who was the shooter? White? Black? Brown? Terrorist? No. Not a terrorist apparently, as it turns out he was white, so definitely not a terrorist. Just someone who will in no doubt turn out to be a troubled youth who was a loner and yet, sweet to the neighbors and he would say hi from time to time, but who definitely kept to himself and at times raised a few eyebrows so to speak.

Did you know that Gabrielle Giffords was on Sarah Palin's  hit list? (Okay, it wasn't a "real" hitlist, just a list of Democratic Congress members who needed to be "taken out" in the elections. Marked in the center of the cross-hairs of gun target. So what if Sarah Palin tweeted to her followers "Don't Retreat, RELOAD" she wasn't "really" serious.)

I sat and watched the TV for 3 hours or so, at least, waiting to hear officially the condition that the Congresswoman was in. ( In between checking copious websites and news feed updates). Honestly, I didn't think she was going to make it, but I am THOROUGHLY elated that she managed to survive this horrendous event. During this time, I was reminded exactly what it was to be an American. Not a Democrat. Not a Republican. Not a Liberal. Not a Conservative. AN AMERICAN. (Yes, I hug trees AND believe we need to overhaul the welfare system!..but regardless of that...)

I could not wrap my head around the idea that somebody was capable of such a horrific act as shooting a member of Congress in the back of the head while they were speaking with constituents of their district...the EXACT reason we should praise members of Congress.

I'm bringing my blog back after over two-years of a hiatus because it's events like these that make me sick to stomach and make me, at the same time, proud to be an American and stand-up for what this country was founded for. It's time for the pundits to shut their mouths unless they have something constructive to contribute. It's time for news media to be held accountable for their reporting. It's time for politicians to realize that their words and their actions actually do motivate people for good, or for not so good (Yeah, I'm talking to you Sarah). Those people in positions to influence others need to choose their words more carefully and stop instigating hate and fear and violence. You see what happens when you don't.

My deepest sympathy together with my well-wishes go out to Congresswoman Giffords and her family, as well as to the family members and friends of those killed and injured in today's events. My thoughts, and the thoughts and prayers of millions of Americans, are with you today.

 

Randi Rhodes calls Hillary Clinton a "Fucking Whore"

Nationally syndicated radio host Randi Rhodes called US Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton a "fucking whore" recently on at "An Evening with Randi Rhodes" sponsored by San Francisco radio station GREEN 960AM. Randi goes after Hillary inappropriately at about 2:45. The video of the event can be seen below:

Rhodes went on to criticize Hillary for stating that she's a "whore" because she is stating publicly that pledged delegates are not legally bound to represent any candidate. A fact that Rhodes repeatedly talked about during the 2004 US elections. Rhodes was also supportive of urging delegates to switch their votes to the Democratic side if it came down to it .

It seems that Randi is turning into all of those radio hosts which she has despised over the years, and it's too bad. I used to be a huge supporter of Air America Radio, and Randi Rhodes especially. It just seems counter-productive on her part to alienate progressive listeners by saying these things.

I attempted to confront Rhodes about this today but was not allowed to talk with her on-air after waiting about an hour and a half and being told by staffers that they had no idea what I was talking about. Last time I called-in to Rhodes (to defend Hillary again, mind you) I was put through to her in less than 10 minutes.

Even if you are not a Hillary supporter, you should be outraged that this kind of attack is allowed. Imagine if she said something equally as offensive about Barack Obama's race, would that have been tolerated as well? I seem to believe it wouldn't be.

Poll: McCain will get Hillary's voters, not Obama.

A new Gallup daily tracking poll taken 3/7 through 3/22 finds that 28% of voters who support Clinton in the Democratic primary would vote for McCain if he were pitted against Obama in the general election, while 19% of voters who support Obama in the primary would vote for McCain if he were pitted against Clinton.

On February 1st, 2008, Obama said "I am confident I will get her votes if I'm the nominee. It's not clear she would get the votes I got if she were the nominee."

Perhaps Barack should take a look at what the voters say, and not just believe something because he thinks it to be true. This could really damage the Democratic party if he actually gets the nomination.

Clinton leads in Ohio, tied in Texas

On the eve of this latest super Tuesday, let's see what the most recent polling has to say:

A University of Cincinnati poll out today taken March 1-2 (613 likely voters polled):
Clinton 51, Obama 42.
McCain 53, Huckabee 28, Paul 7

A Suffolk University Poll out today taken March 1-2 (400 likely voters):
Clinton 52, Obama 40

A Rasmussen poll from 3/2 released today (858 likely voters):
Clinton 50, Obama 44

Public Policy Polling conducted March 1-2 (1112 likely voters):
Clinton 51, Obama 42.

A SurveyUSA poll conducted March 1-2 (873 likely voters):
Clinton 54, Obama 44, Undecided 1

Now...onto Texas:

A Public Strategies poll released today (730 likely voters):
Conducted 2/27 - 3/1
Clinton 46, Obama 46.
McCain 56, Hucabee 31, Paul 6

Rasmussen poll released today conducted 3/2  (710 likely voters):
Obama 48, Clinton 47, Undecided 5

Insider Advantage Poll conducted 3/2 (609 likely voters):
Hillary 49, Obama 44, Undecided 7

Public Policy Polling conducted March 1-2 (755 likely voters):
Clinton 50, Obama 44, Undecided 6

SurveyUSA conducted March 1-2 (840 likely voters):
Obama 49, Hillary 48, Undecided 2

 

It looks as though Hillary Clinton has taken a clear front-runner position in Ohio, coming in ahead of Obama in 19 of 20 of the most recent polls done.

Texas, however, is an entirely different story. The race is statistically tied. What matters most tomorrow is turnout. Whoever is best able to motivate their supporters to get to the polls tomorrow will be the winner of the state. We'll all need to tune in tomorrow night to find out what happens!