When is a 100 Billion not a hundred billion?

It didn't take long. After campaigning on the promise to cut 100 billion dollars from the federal budget the new Republican majority backed down on the first day of the new session. Did they say 100? What they really meant was 30 billion....maybe. They're off to a great start.

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But can they govern

It's one thing to talk about cutting 100 billion from the federal budget but quite another to specify where those cuts are coming from. It will be fun to watch as the 112th congress gets specific. I think we could begin to see a little voters remorse as cuts as high as 30% are proposed. Defense spending has been taken off the table meaning other areas will bear the brunt of the sacrifice. Another fun thing to watch will be the vote on raising the debt ceiling. Between these two items our new congressmen will have the ability to stall our fragile recovery. Double dip recession anyone?

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Obama finally gets mad

The left has been waiting for this for a long time. I've been waiting for this since he took office. The power of the presidency is the power of a bully pulpit, the opportunity to direct and guide public discourse forcing conversations to take place when inaction is the preferred action. Obama shies away from confrontation instead preferring negotiation with an adversary who has stated that their number one goal is to make him a one-term president. His liberal base has been longing to see a little fire. Get mad at obstructionist, go public with the disagreements, force them to take public stands and choose sides. Wall Street or Main Street. It's finally happened- Obama got mad! Only problem is he's mad at his supporters for failing to accept that the tax compromise was the best he could do. He's mad alright. Picking on your base might not be the best move he has right now, but it seems to be all he has - especially since he just sold his balls to the Republicans and put them in charge of the next two years of his Presidency. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

I've really tried to support Obama

I'm getting tired of supporting a President who seems to have forgotten what and who got him elected. Instead of a president who will take the fight to the Republicans and who isn't afraid to use his office as a bully pulpit we have a leader who seems to lack the passion for a good fight! Today Obama announced a wage freeze for federal workers. What's the point? It's a symbolic gesture at best saving 0.05 percent - that's five one hundredths of one percent! He's talking about saving 60 billion over five years when he should be attacking the repubs and their support of Bush era tax cuts for the richest two percent which will cost 750 billion over five years. Who really supports these tax cuts other than some selfish rich folks and their repub puppets? This is a fight Obama can win by calling it exactly what it is - an attack on America's financial future supported by the repubs. Call them out. Man up! - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The problem with public education

Don't get excited. There are too many problems with public education to be addressed in one little blog entry. I have answers, but not all of them. I am a classroom teacher so I have a unique perspective. I see kids daily and talk to kids daily. I'm going to call myself an expert. What I see is a world where we give lip service to the impotance of education, but fail to act in ways that put that declaration into action. We claim education is important but we betray that claim through our actions. My school is a middle class/upper middle class school. Ask students at my school if they get newspapers or magazines at home and the answer is overwhelmingly no. An educated populace is a reading populace and kids don't see their families modeling reading. Kids are kean observers of what adults think is important and what they're observing doesn't convince them that education is important. As an aside.....I asked students three questions today. Do you have a cell phone? Do you sleep with your cell phone? Have you ever texted someone in the middle of the night? Of those students who have cell phones, 75 percent sleep with them and 67 percent text in the middle of the night. How's that for a cultural shift and do you think parents approve of this. - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Defeating Obama

Mitch McConnell has stated that his number one priority is defeating Obama. Here's the problem....if by 2012 we're enjoying a robust recovery, Obama wins against any Republican. If the economy continues to be in the toilet Obama loses (unless he's running against Palin.) Will McConnell and the Republicans put country first or defeating Obama first? What incentive does McConnell have to work with Democrats to get the economy back on track? I personally think gridlock is what Republicans want and the harm done to the American people will mean little to them in their quest to make Obama a one term president.

Giving Christians a bad name

"When we think of heroism in battle, we used the think of our boys storming the beaches of Normandy under withering fire, climbing the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc while enemy soldiers fired straight down on them, and tossing grenades into pill boxes to take out gun emplacements. That kind of heroism has apparently become passe when it comes to awarding the Medal of Honor. We now award it only for preventing casualties, not for inflicting them." The writer? Bryan Fischer head of AFA, a conservative Christian group. My, how Christians have changed. Jesus probably wants his name back!

This is a mandate?

A lot of Republicans have been tossing around the "M" word as in they have a mandate from the American people to fundamentally change the way government works (or doesn't work depending on your point of view.) they should be cautious about that kind of thinking. According to a recent Pew poll only 48 percent of those polled even knew that the Republicans had won control of the House. Who knows what the other 52 percent think but I'm pretty sure that they just want a government that works. By working I think they basically mean that they don't get screwed by their representatves. That their representatives represent their interests and not just the interests of big business, Wall Street, and the rich. My advice to Republicans....you've been in this situation before and screwed it up. Watch out. Voters (and non-voters) are so fickle and vindictive.

If technolgy is the answer, what's the question?

The debate about the future of public education is closely tied to discussions about the use of technology in the classroom. Large amounts of money have been invested in putting computers in classrooms, purchasing mobile labs, smartboards, student pads and outfitting schools with wireless systems. Hardware is a small part of the cost as each computer or network must be loaded with the latest software which requires constant updates and let's not forget virus protection which can cost a school district several hundred thousand dollars each year.

Blue or Red

Yes Virginia, there is hope in 2012. Never read too much into midterm elections with low voter turnout. Virginia, blue in 2010, turned red in 2012. Early polls, however, have Obama beating all Republican opponents including Palin by 11 points. Much can happen in the next two years but Republicans shouldn't count Virginia as a red state just yet.

Dancing with the Tea Party

Let's face this head on. Bristol Palin is not the best dancer on Dancing With The Stars. An argument could be made that she's the worst dancer on the show this year. A lot of people are upset about the travisty of Brandy heading home a step away from the finals and an obviously less talented person sticking around. It's a Tea Party conspiracy according to many people I've spoken to. It could be. I have no way of knowing who's voting, but I do know who's not voting. Most of the same folks who are complaining about the outcome of DWTS admit they don't vote. The crazy and the committed are the ones picking up the phones and voting. This is the 17th ammendment...direct election of our senators. It's the reason we get people like Joe Miller, Christine McDonnell and Sharon Angle running for office even though they don't represent the views of the majority of the population. The problem is they do represent the views of the majority of the folks who drag themselves to the polls or to their telephones in the case of DWTS. The problem isn't the Tea Party. The problem is that vast silent majority of voters who can't find the time or desire to get to the polls and vote. Our silent majority needs to step up and speak out or be content with complaining as our nation (and TV shows) are overtaken by those who are simply more vocal. The choice is ours to make. Now. who are you going to vote for next week on Dancing with the Stars?

Do as I say, not as I do

Michelle Bachmann, darling of the Tea Party, crusader against wasteful spending, Washington outsider proved again that deeds speak louder than words. Ms. Bachmann will be fleecing the taxpayers out of several thousand dollars to move her office approximately thirty feet. Apparently office location on capital hill is a big prestiege thing. Ms. Bachmann gets to move thirty feet to an office the same size as her old office. So, of course, this crusader against wasteful spending is spending in a wasteful manner. Any word from the Tea Party?

sometimes Christians get under my skin. I spend time with a wonderful group of people each Sunday morning. They're a great group as long as we stay away from politics (and yes, I'm friends with lots of Republicans and I'm pretty sure that I'm the most liberal member of my church.) The problem is, I have a hard time divorcing my politics from my religion. God says to care for the poor and the less fortunate. I find that pretty compelling. Unfortunately I think too many of us are willing to overlook the poor because they must be doing something to deserve their fate. Whenever the topic of poverty comes up you can count on someone pointing out that poor people seem to find money for cell phones, video games and other luxuries implying that those people are scamming the rest of us. I don't doubt that there are people receiving public assistance who are cheating the system. My question is do you think that is the rule or the exception? Do you really think every poor person is walking around talking on a Blackberry? As an aside, do you think there are more people scamming the public assistance system or people cheating on the income taxes? How many overstate their charitable contributions to get just a little more on their deductions. My point: Even if there are people scamming the system, that doesn't relieve us of our call to care for the poor and the least of these......does it? 5 myths about welfare: Myth #1: The typical welfare recipient is a black inner city single mother. The Census Bureau's most recent annual poverty report found that urban black mothers constitute less than one out of six of all poor households. Rural white families account for more--one out of five. White surburban families accountfor even more--one out of four. Myth #2: The poor are lazy. Forty percent of poor adults work, although many cannot find full time jobs. Indeed, even when they do they may still be in poverty. Some 11 million jobs in 1991 paid less than $11,500, $2,000 under the official poverty level for a family of four. Of those poor adults who don't work, 90 percent fall into the following categories: 22 percent are disabled, 17 percent are in school, 21 percent are elderly retirees, 31 percent have family responsibilities. Myth #3: Welfare mothers breed welfare daughters. Two long term studies reported by the House Ways and Means Committee in 1992 found that only about one in five daughters of "highly welfare dependent" mothers themselves become highly dependent on welfare. The rest rely on welfare sporadically or not at all. Myth #4: Throwing people off the welfare rolls will eventually improve their lives and save taxpayers money. The most celebrated experiment in welfare reform has occurred in Michigan. Governor Engler completely eliminated his state's $240 million General Assistance(GA) payments to 83,000 childless, able bodied adults.Only 8 percent of these former GA recipients found employment and they earn an average of only $120 a week. Many sell blood for $20 a pint. Over one third lost their homes when the program ended. As one study notes, if only 5 percent of these former GA recipients end up in prison or a state psychiatric institution all the taxpayer savings from ending General Assistance will be lost. Myth #5: Welfare is cheaper than creating well paying public jobs. In his book "Securing the Right to Employment", Philip Harvey calculates that in 1986 we could have achieved full employment by creating l0.4 million public service jobs. He further assumed that the average annual wage would be $13,000. The cost of such a program would have been a daunting $142 billion. But when we deduct from this sum the taxes that would be paid by these new workers and the savings from drastically reduced unemployment insurance payments, welfare , Medicaid, food stamps and other expenditures directly linked to low income and unemployment overall we would have spent $13 billion less. A full employment program, even excluding the social savingsfrom reduced family violence, more stable communities, and less crime, pays for itself in reduced welfare expenditures.

We're Back....

Left Leaning, Right minded took a little break after the Presidnetial election. Obama defeated McCain/Palin and all seemed right with the world....for a little while. The far-right hate and misinformation department went into full swing for the mid-term elections, and we've sat on the side-lines for too long. It's time to start venting a little! There's much to comment on and much to discuss because it's about time the 75% of the population that's not crazy becomes more vocal. In the days ahead please take a look at our thoughts, and feel free to comment. Times change and people move on. Originally, Left Leaning, Right Minded was the work of several editors. Currently, your stuck with my thoughts. I may be recruiting a few good men and women to help with this work, but right now the thoughts, emotions and beliefs are solely the work of one man - me! As an opening thought I'm going to take a litte freedom with a quote: "Growing up Republican I've learned two things. One, Jesus loves me and I'm going to Hell. The second thing I've learned is that sex is the most disgusting, vile, horrible thing you can do so you should save it for the one you love!"

More education myths

The Virginia House and Senate recently completed separate retreats at the end of November.  The retreats were filled with reports of doom and gloom based on the shocking size of the budget hole.  Virginia's budget shortfall has grown to $3.2256 billion and may not be done with it's growth spurt.  It is obvious that no area of Virginia's budget will be safe from cuts.  Staff analyst, Becky Covey, said we have been in a “slow motion recession – probably since the beginning of 2008.” She asserted that, “A deeper recession lasting several quarters in now the likely scenario.”
One of the most interesting pieces of information that came from those meetings is the staff report on Compound Annual Average Growth in programs from FY1998 to FY2110.  Listed were the state programs that increased more than the 5.85% annual growth in revenue.  The following is a list of the programs and their growths:

• Car Tax 14.7%
• Child Support Enforcement 13.9%
• Debt Service 11.0%
• Comprehensive Services Act 10.2%
• Aid to Localities – Police Dept. 9.8%
• Indigent Defense 9.2%
• Medicaid 7.5%
• MHMR Grants to Localities 7.0%
• Student Financial Aid 6.6%
• Total General Fund Budget 6.0%

Why isn't education on the list?  The compound annual average growth of public education’s share of the budget was less than that of the growth of the budget – despite enrollment growth, expansion of pre-school programs, and new burdens on public schools such as NCLB.  Everybody knows that education spending is "out of control."  We continue to throw money at problem schools and continue to get very little return. 
There are things we think we know and we believe these things even when there is little evidence to support our beliefs.  Funding of public schools is one of those areas.
Given the size of the budget hole it is obvious that cuts will have to be made in all areas...including education.  Let's hope that cuts are made in a rational manner.

Maybe she won't just fade away.....

In a poll of Republican voters, Rasmussen Reports finds that 91% of Republicans have a favorable view of Sarah Palin. When asked to choose among some of the GOP's top names for their choice for the party's 2012 presidential nominee, 64% say Palin. The next closest contenders are two former governors and unsuccessful challengers for the presidential nomination this year -- Mike Huckabee of Arkansas with 12% support and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts with 11%. Three other sitting governors - Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Charlie Crist of Florida and Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota - all pull low single-digit support. 

An Open Letter to President-Elect Obama

Okay, you've won....now what? "Change we can believe in" now has to become "Change that is real!" "Yes We Can" has become "Yes We Did." But I caution you to be realistic about the mandate that you think you've received. You may have received 349 electorial votes and possibly more as a few states are still undecided, but much of your support may be soft and could easily be peeled away during the next election cycle as the Republicans crank up the "culture war." They won't make the same mistakes twice. America still remains a right of center country. The newest converts to the Democratic party are the weakest. These are folks who may have heard you did well in the debates - they didn't watch them. They don't read papers, magazines or watch the news. They're more likely to quote Rush Limbaugh or Neal Bortz than George Stephanopolus . Actually they're more likely to quote some guy who heard Rush or Neal on the radio. Most Americans don't want bigger government, they just want better government. They'll be satisfied with a competent administration as opposed to the intellectually challenged, knee-jerk, cowboy diplomacy of the last eight years. It may be a global economy, but what matters most to most people is their neighborhood, their job, their faith and their family. Don't ask for too much sacrifice and for heaven's sake stop talking about redistributing the wealth. We know that a progressive tax policy has always been about redistributing the wealth by helping the have-nots and we know that the truth about letting the Bush tax cuts expire means very little in the end, but talk to us about providing a hand up not a hand out! We believed you when you spoke about choosing "Hope" over "Fear." I think most of us want to see you succeed, because if you succeed, we succeed. We want our country's tarnished world reputation shined up a little. We want everyone to have a chance to live a better life and have equal opportunities. We know that the strength of our country is our people, and when we lift up those in need, everyone does better. You have huge challenges in front of you. Our country has huge challenges.....I think you'll find we're up to meeting those challenges if you keep your promises.

Ed Lovell

The sun will come up

As we approach the end of this presidential campaign the overriding thought I have is that the sun will rise on Wednesday morning and the United States of America will still be the greatest country on the earth. This entire campaign has been about change, with both camps promising a new direction for the 80 percent of Americans who are unhappy with our country’s current course. However, the constant drumbeat of change has been accompanied by another chorus of voices……”Be Afraid!” Most of the fear is directed at Barack Obama. Instead of offering a competing vision of the future, the Republican party has chosen to focus instead on making the electorate afraid and questioning their opponent's values, faith and loyalty to American ideals. He’s a socialist, he’s a communist, he “pals around with terrorists.” He’s a Muslim! Their campaign has been about separating our country in the “pro-American” parts and others. It’s become about the “real Virginia” and communist Northern Virginia. Fear has always been the dark part of American politics. It replaces the need to talk specifically about tax plans, plans for economic recovery, help for the middle class and other issues of grave importance.Some of the very worst of the fear mongering has come from the religious conservatives. As a Christian, that saddens me most of all. "Those who desire life and desire to see good days, let them keep their tongues from evil and their lips from speaking deceit; let them turn away from evil and do good; let them seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you." (1 Peter 3:10-15) Regardless of who you support, the direction of our politics should be a concern to all. Our politicians can appeal to our hopeful side or our fearful side. Ronald Reagan did this when he appealed to us to choose hope, not fear. He made us proud to be American and helped us to realize our potential to do good. John Kennedy did the same thing from a different political base. He made us believe in service and in goodness. Both parties can appeal to hope or fear, to our better instincts and to our baser instincts. There are people of faith on both sides who will vote for John McCain and Barack Obama. My hope is that when you cast your vote, it is based on who you think is the best agent of change and not based on a tyranny of fear. The sun will rise on Wednesday morning and we will continue to be the United States of America.

Ed Lovell

What Are You Voting For?

I have not written much recently, the reason is simple, I am tired of this election. I have invested a lot of time and energy working with Veterans for Obama, and I have no regrets at all. I believe in the Democratic process, and believe that on Tuesday Americans will elect the right President to lead this nation during this challenging time. I believe that Americans will elect a President out of hope for a better future, and not out of fear. Fear that has been grown on the basis of mistruths and misleading statements. It is time for Americans to move forward and put the past of the last eight years behind us. It is time to re-strengthen our economy, re-build our military, and work on building up the middle class again. I wish I had more eloquent words to describe why I support Senator Obama, but what it all boils down to is the fact that Senator Obama inspires me. He inspires me to be a better citizen, and a better person. He gives me hope for the future of this country, and makes me believe that America will continue to be the leading power in the global community.

Below is a very powerful video, and illustrates one of the many reasons why I support Senator Obama. Please watch it and carefully consider your choice tomorrow.

Seth Lovell

Newest IAVA Ratings Released

This article is an op-ed that was written for the use of Veterans for Obama.

John McCain is a veteran, this is a fact. John McCain supports veterans, this is simply an opinion, and one not shared by many members of the armed forces. It is vital that Americans understand there is a key difference between simply being a veteran, and supporting veterans. The most recent congressional ratings released by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) show what many veterans already know, John McCain is not as passionate about veterans issues as he would like the American public to believe. The ratings by IAVA, a non-partisan organization committed to bettering the lives of returning veterans, show Senator McCain with a "D" rating, while Senator Barack Obama was awarded a "B" rating.

John McCain has politicized his service and his status as a veteran in hopes of gaining political favor amongst voters. Again and again McCain has pretended to speak for all veterans and all members of the military. What Senator McCain fails to realize is that the American military represents a microcosm of American society. There are Democrats in the military, and there are Republicans. There are rural farm-boys in the military, and there are city-slicker's serving in our armed forces. There are members of the military who believe we need to remain in Iraq indefinitely, and there are those that feel we should leave tomorrow. The only thing every member of the United States military shares in common is their dedication and commitment to the United States of America, and their willingness to accept the call of duty and to sacrifice when called to do so.

Senator Obama understands the diversity within the military, and understands that the best way to represent the entire organization is to ensure that veterans receive the benefits and care they deserve, and the military is only sent into harm's way out of necessity. He understands that America has a sacred obligation to take care of the men and women returning from war. Senator Obama will ensure that veterans have the health care they need, when they need it. He will fully fund the VA, and increase the services and care currently offered.

Senator Obama also understands that the military is hurting, and that continuing to fight two wars with the current numbers of troops will further put a strain on our military, and will continue to effect retention and recruitment numbers. Senator Obama does not want to partake in a hasty withdraw from Iraq. He wants to responsibly begin to draw down troops in order to put pressure on the Iraqi people to take control. Allowing the Iraqi people this opportunity, and working with military and political leaders within the country will allow for a successful conclusion to this war that has lasted close to six years. Senator Obama will refocus our efforts in Afghanistan, and will remind Americans of the war that was neglected.

Most importantly Senator Obama will work to return our standing on the world stage. He will ensure that never again is the military sent off to war until every option has been exhausted. Senator Obama will work with world leaders, and will always put diplomacy ahead of armed conflict. With Senator Obama as commander-in-chief, men and women in the military can be assured that when they are called to duty it is out of necessity, and not simple choice. Senator Obama has all the qualities to be commander-in-chief, and has shown over and over his dedication and commitment to taking care of our nation's veterans. This commitment is exemplified in the latest IAVA ratings, and should be seriously considered by voters come November 4th.

Every American should appreciate and respect Senator McCain's service in Vietnam. There is no doubt that McCain served his country honorably, and sacrificed a great deal for this country. While his service should be respected, that doesn't mean his record should not be questioned. Veterans who have answered the call to duty deserve better than a "D" rating. Supporting veterans means more than simply supporting war.

Seth Lovell

Obama 72%, McCain 26%

I teach in a middle school in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Definitely not a hotbed of liberal thinking. We are part of what the McCain campaign calls the "real Virginia," not the "CommieLand" of Northern Virginia. Our school participates in an on-line math remediation program that is available nation wide. Schools all over the United States participate in this excellent program. Today, when my students logged in they were given the opportunity to participate in a mock presidential election and to see the nationwide results. I didn't poll my students on their votes, but did see quite a few picking Obama. The current results for this adminttedly unscientific poll has Obama winning 72% to 26%. I think the significance of this can't be understated. Kids hear what their parents are saying and their ideas are usually formed by what they hear at home. What do you think these kids are hearing?

Palin's "Maverick" Title Takes Another Hit

It is being reported that another ethics complaint has been filed against Alaska Governor and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Palin is coming under scrutiny this go around due to the fact that she charged the state travel for her family to events that her family was not invited to. Bristol, Piper and Willow, Palin’s daughters, accrued $32,629 in travel expenses while Palin’s husband Todd raked up $22,174 - all billed to the state for a total of $54,803.00. This investigation may never get off the ground, and if it does it probably won't be resolved until after November 4th. Regardless of when this issue is settled, the timing of the allegation is unfortunate for a campaign that has already been taking hits from the media. These latest allegations come on the heels of the public finding out that Mrs. Palin received $150,000 worth of designer clothes from the RNC for her campaigning needs. On top of these stories concerning Governor Palin, Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was found guilty of fraud on Monday, and there are complaints of squabbling from within the McCain campaign.

All this with just a week left you have to wonder if luck just isn’t on McCain’s side. Or maybe it has nothing to do with luck, maybe it has to do with picking a vice-presidential candidate who is not what she claims. Maybe it has to do with representing the status quo, when the majority of Americans want change. Or maybe the bad luck has to do with focusing on a negative campaign that does not tell Americans why to vote for McCain/Palin, but rather focuses on why not to vote for Senator Obama. Whatever the reason for McCain’s misfortunes whether it be bad luck, or a bad campaign, the reality is the McCain campaign has less then one week left.

Seth Lovell

Humor, or an attempt to influence the election?

A flier claiming to be from the Virginia State Board of Elections has been circulated in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. The flier states, "Due to the larger than expected voter turnout in this years electorial process, an emergency session of the General Assembly has adopted the following emergency regulations to ease the load on local electorial precincts and ensure a fair election." The flier goes on to direct Republicans to vote on November 4 and all Democratic party supporters and independent voters should vote on November 5.

Veteran compares candidates and chooses Obama

This article appeared in the October 27th issue of the Burlington, NC Times News. I wrote this piece and submitted it to the local paper because this is a conservative area and the tone of many letters to the editor makes the assumption that Senator McCain is far superior to Senator Obama when it comes to anything military related:

Six months ago I was in the Al Anbar Province of Iraq as a medic going out on convoy logistics patrols. My unit provided security to Army personnel and civilian contractors transporting supplies across western Iraq. I am proud of my service and time in the military, I love the United States, and I am truly proud to be an American. I am also concerned about the direction of this country and the misconceived notion that Sen. John McCain is the best choice for president when it comes to foreign affairs and veterans' issues. Senator McCain should be commended for his exceptional service to our country and the sacrifices he has made. However, just because he served does not automatically make him the champion of veterans' issues or the best candidate to lead our nation in this trying time. When questioned by a Vietnam veteran at a rally about his support of veterans' issues, he responded by saying, "I have a perfect voting record from organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and all the other veterans' service organizations." This statement was misleading since the VFW and American Legion, both of which I am a member, do not provide records of congressional voting on veterans' issues. Two of the organizations that do, the Disabled American Veterans and the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America both give more favorable ratings to Senator Barack Obama. Most recently Senator McCain's lack of support for veterans was over the updated GI Bill. He was not present on the day of the vote but promised to oppose it. McCain said he would rather increase the benefits to those who re-enlist since we are in need of soldiers. However, the overwhelming sentiment from both sides of the aisle was that if you sacrificed a year of your life to serve our country, you were deserving of an updated benefits package for education assistance. As a veteran who has served and sacrificed, I feel I have earned the right to say to my fellow North Carolinians that Senator Barack Obama is the man we need right now to lead us forward, and I hope you will take the time on Nov. 4 to go out and vote for him.

ELI LOVELL Gibsonville

Doing My Small Part

This past Saturday my wife,Katy, and I went to our local polling location and voted early along with thousands of other North Carolinians. To do so we had to stand in line for over two hours..IN THE RAIN! We felt like we were doing our small part in this ever so important election by braving the weather and the line to vote for Barack Obama. North Carolina is one of many states who offer early voting, and this year is seeing record turn out for this option. Many reports are indicating that minorities are turning out in record numbers for the early voting, and also that registered democrats are showing up in greater numbers then republicans. All of this means very little, but it does point in favor of Obama.

On Sunday I then went to the Obama campaign office in Greensboro and did canvassing for four hours. I was filled with optimism about this campaign as soon as I walked into the Obama office as it was a bustling building full of action. There were probably about 50 volunteers (young and old, black and white) and a number of other people there to get yard signs and bumper stickers. I was given another place to go and meet up with another team of volunteers. I drove to the east side of Greensboro to a residential area where I went to yet another Obama campaign office. There I met a full time staffer and was given some more instructions, my list of addresses, and a packet of campaign material and stickers to hand out. All I was simply doing was connecting with voters on behalf of the NC Democratic Party and The Campaign for Change. I informed them of where they could go to vote, encouraged them to take advantage of the early voting, asked if they needed a ride to go vote, and then asked if they had any questions on any of the local Democratic candidates. I then gave them some informational packets, thanked them for their time, and went on my way to the next house.

Going door to door, like my time at the campaign office, was reason for optimism for Obama supporters. I ran into many registered independents who were quite enthusiastic about Obama, and many of the people I talked with said they were more excited about this upcoming election then they could ever remember being for an election season. To me, that is one of the most important parts of Obama's campaign, optimism and excitement. Even though we're in an economic crisis and involved in two wars, I am excited and optimistic about our country's future, because I am excited and optimistic about who will be taking over the Oval Office.

By Eli Lovell

President Bush Endorses McCain!

Eight days left! The election is coming to an end, and regardless of who wins there is no doubt that George Bush is on his way out. I doubt many people will miss President Bush to much, but we will miss the satire that takes place at his expense. Here is a skit that should get you a few laughs, enjoy!

Seth Lovell

Joe Joe Joe!

We all know Joe Biden, and lately we've been hearing a lot about this Joe the Plumber guy. But also showing up in the news has been Republican presidential nominee John McCain's brother, Joe McCain. Joe McCain has been getting some news coverage, but it hasn't necessarily been good coverage. Joe recently referred to Northern Virginia as "communist" country, and just yesterday decided to call 911 to complain about traffic. Poor John has got enough going on to worry about his younger brother acting like a complete fool. Joe has decided to stop his involvement in the campaign because of these embarassing moments, good decision Joe! The 911 incident was bad enough, but seriously, insulting people in a state that is vital to McCain's chances of winning in November, what were you thinking Joe?

Seth Lovell

Seriously?

What we care about....

Republican strategist Brad Blakeman, responding to a question about how John McCain could square his opposition to wasteful spending with the RNC shelling out over $150,000 on clothes and accessories for Sarah Palin, said that the real outrage is Barack Obama: "taking a 767 campaign plane to go visit Grandma. Forget about the energy that is wasted, what about the hundreds of thousands of dollars to take a private trip when this guy should be humping his bags on a commercial plane or taking a smaller plane. Taking a 767 of campaign money from people who could least afford it is more of an outrage in my opinion." The outrage is the feigned outrage of Mr. Blakeman. Instead of answering the question, he immediately attacks Obama. Does he really want to get into an argument about the spending habits of the candidates? Does he really want to suggest that the two events are similar? The "real outrage" is not spending $150,000 on clothes but a candidate going to see his dying grandmother? It begs the question: are Republicans really that heartless? At the end of day, I don't think voters care much about Palin and her clothes or whether Obama makes a trip to see his grandmother. They care about jobs, health insurance, retirement, their sons and daughters going to war. They care about whether they can afford to send their children to college and whether they'll have enough money to buy medicine and afford food for the table. They care about whether their government cares about people more or big corporations more. They care about who is better suited to make the big decisions that will face the next President and who will guide the economic recovery and who will recover our country's reputation in the world. Unfortunately for McCain, most Americans think that person is Obama and since they can't seem to do anything about that they are only left with their feigned outrage!

Ed Lovell

The Internet and the Death of Rovian Politics

This article first appeared in the Huffington Post on October 20, 2008. Written by Arianna Huffington.

Age has finally become an issue for John McCain. But the problem isn't the candidate's 72 years; it's the antediluvian approach of his campaign.

McCain is running a textbook Rovian race: fear-based, smear-based, anything goes. But it isn't working. The glitch in the well-oiled machine? The Internet.

"We are witnessing the end of Rovian politics," Eric Schmidt, CEO of Google told me. And YouTube, which Google bought in 2006 for $1.65 billion, is one of the causes of its demise. Thanks to YouTube -- and blogging and instant fact-checking and viral emails -- it is getting harder and harder to get away with repeating brazen lies without paying a price, or to run under-the-radar smear campaigns without being exposed. But the McCain campaign hasn't gotten the message, hence the blizzard of racist, alarmist, xenophobic, innuendo-laden accusations being splattered at Obama.

And it seems that the worse McCain is doing in the polls, the more his team is relying on the same gutter tactics. So over the next 15 days, look for the McCain campaign to become even uglier. That's what happens when following Rovian politics is your only strategy -- and Rovian politics isn't working.

McCain has stockpiled his campaign with Rove henchmen, including not one but three of the people responsible for the political mugging inflicted on him in 2000. Just last week he brought on Warren Tompkins in an "unofficial" capacity to see how receptive North Carolina would be to some Rovian slime. After all, it's right next door to South Carolina, where in 2000 Tomkins and his buddies in the Bush campaign spread race-baiting rumors about McCain having an illegitimate black daughter (referring to McCain's adopted Bangladeshi daughter Bridget).

And those disgraceful robo-calls that McCain is running? They were done with the help of Jeff Larson and his firm FLS-Connect -- the same firm that created the robo-calls smearing McCain in 2000.

At the time, McCain's reaction to the attacks on him was: "I believe that there is a special place in hell for people like these."

His reaction now? I have a special place in my campaign for people like these! So the Karl Rove specials keep coming. Obama and Ayers. Obama the Socialist. Obama and ACORN "destroying the fabric of democracy." Palin (herself the manifestation of Rovian decision-making) delineating which parts of "this great nation of ours" are "pro-American." (Interestingly, the sites of the 9/11 attacks didn't make the list.)

And, did you hear, Obama is also... black! And he wants to give your money to all the poor black people! McCain didn't come right out and say that, but it's surely what he insinuated in his radio address this weekend: "Barack Obama's tax plan would convert the IRS into a giant welfare agency." Somewhere, Karl Rove is smiling, Richard Nixon's southern strategy is waxing nostalgic, and John McCain's missing moral compass is getting steamed about John Lewis' evocation of the civil rights struggle.

But there is a diamond amidst all this dung: the lack of traction this Rovian politics is getting. It's as if Rove and his political arsonists keep lighting fires, only to see them doused by the powerful information spray the Internet has made possible.

The Internet has enabled the public to get to know candidates in a much fuller and more intimate way than in the old days (i.e. four years ago), when voters got to know them largely through 30-second campaign ads and quick sound bites chosen by TV news producers. Compare that to the way over 6 million viewers (on YouTube alone) were able to watch the entirety of Obama's 37-minute speech on race -- or the thousands of other videos posted by the campaign and its supporters.

Back in the Dark Ages of 2004, when YouTube (and HuffPost, for that matter) didn't exist, a campaign could tell a brazen lie, and the media might call them on it. But if they kept repeating the lie again and again and again, the media would eventually let it go (see the Swiftboating of John Kerry). Traditional media like moving on to the next shiny thing. But bloggers love revisiting a story. So when Palin kept repeating her bridge to nowhere lie, bloggers kept calling her on it. Andrew Sullivan, for one, has made a cottage industry of calling Palin on her lies. And eventually, the truth filtered up and cost McCain credibility with his true base: journalists. The Internet may make it easier to disseminate character smears, but it also makes it much less likely that these smears will stick.

As a result, the McCain campaign's insinuation-laden "Who is Barack Obama?" was rendered more comical than spooky. Who is Barack Obama? The guy we've been watching over and over and over during the last two years. We've seen him. We know him. And we can remind ourselves about him with a quick Google search and a mouse click.

Obama "has shown the same untroubled self-confidence day after day," and "over the past two years, Obama has clearly worn well with voters." Those are the words of David Brooks, who has gotten to know Obama just like the rest of us.

Four years ago, McCain's Rovian race-based appeals to our darker demons might have worked. This year, they are blowing up in McCain's face. And in the face of the entire GOP. Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama as "a transformational figure" was powerful. But even more powerful was his withering indictment of the state of the Republican Party and the cancer of Rovian politics.

It was similar to the diagnosis of Christopher Buckley following his endorsement of Obama: "To paraphrase a real conservative, Ronald Reagan, I haven't left the Republican Party. It left me." There are many other anti-Rove Republicans abandoning their party. I've had several Republican friends tell me privately what Powell and Buckley told the world publicly: that they're voting for Obama. Most of them not because they like Obama, but because they can't stand what Bush, Rove and now McCain and Palin have done to their party. Rovian politics may or may not end up destroying the GOP. But, thanks to the Internet, with a bit of luck it will no longer have the power to befoul our democracy.

McCain Campaign Needs To Push Issues, Not Attacks

This article first appeared in the Staunton Newsleader on October 19, 2008. Written by Seth Lovell.

Kill him!" These were the words yelled at a recent McCain/Palin campaign rally in Florida. It is unclear whether the audience member was directing this comment towards Sen. Barack Obama or Bill Ayers. What is clear is the trend in the McCain/Palin campaign that this comment illustrates: a growing sense of anger and hostility expressed by Republican supporters over the direction of the campaign.

The words "treason" and "terrorist" have also been shouted during recent campaign events. At recent town hall meetings in Wisconsin, McCain supporters passionately urged the Arizona Senator to increase his attacks on Sen. Obama, and as one woman stated, "take the gloves off." Is this the type of campaigning that the all-important swing voters would like to see? Obama is not the only one being targeted by McCain supporter's. Palin's increasing attacks of the media have lead to harsh receptions at campaign events. At a recent event in Florida McCain/Palin supporters greeted the media with shouts and taunts. This unwelcoming treatment is due to the McCain campaign's continual criticism of the media.

The conservative base is angry at what they perceive as continued attacks on Palin, angry at polls showing an increasing gap between McCain and Obama and angry that the majority of Americans are blaming the woes of the economy on President Bush and the Republican Party. Conservatives in America are fearful of not only an Obama win in November, but also increasing gains in both the Senate and House of Representatives for Democrats. The McCain/ Palin campaign is using incendiary language and harsh attacks on Senator Obama to call their supporters to action.

This type of campaigning is having the intended effect on the party base, but the more significant question is what type of effect is it having on independents? It is vital that McCain win over independents in order to triumph in November. Since the 2006 midterm elections, Democrats have seen a significant increase in voter registration, while Republicans have seen a slight drop. With the Obama campaign spending a substantial amount of money on new voter registration, McCain will have to ensure that not only his supporters show up on Nov. 4, but that he gains the support of independent voters as well. Another staggering statistic that is troubling McCain and the Republican Party is the fact that nationwide there are 42 million registered Democrats to only 31 million for the Republican Party.

The American economy is facing unprecedented troubles with consequences on a global scale. The United States military is fighting wars in two countries, with Afghanistan seeing increasing violence and increasing troubles. Jobs are being lost and rising prices are continuing to place a burden on American families. With the election so close, this is not the time to shift the focus away from the issues. In a matter of weeks, America will elect a president who will have the daunting task of determining a new direction for our country that will address these monumental problems.

Bill Ayers is not important. Jeremiah Wright and Charles Keating are not important. What is important is determining the right direction for our country at this crucial time. Recently McCain has made attempts at calming the crowd, and even took the microphone away from a woman that said she knew Obama was an Arab. While McCain attempts to tone down the message emanating from his rallies, the internal message of his campaign and that of the Republican Party continues to be negative. Just recently Virginia made national news with the GOP state chair linking Senator Obama to Osama Bin Laden. This rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible.

An early criticism of Obama by the McCain campaign was that he lacked substance. Obama had fancy rhetoric, but no solutions. Considering all the problems our country is facing, for McCain to be spending so much time and resources attacking Obama's character, it seems McCain is the one lacking substance. The McCain campaign has acknowledged the fact that it is their goal to turn the page on the discussion about the economy, and spend the final weeks focusing on negative attacks aimed at the Obama campaign. This strategy might have worked in the past, but there are too many problems, and a new direction in 2008 is too important for petty name-calling to have any effect.

RNC Shells Out 150K For Palin Fashion

This article first appeared in Politico.com on on October 22, 2008, written by Jeanne Cummings.

The Republican National Committee has spent more than $150,000 to clothe and accessorize vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin and her family since her surprise pick by John McCain in late August.According to financial disclosure records, the accessorizing began in early September and included bills from Saks Fifth Avenue in St. Louis and New York for a combined $49,425.74.The records also document a couple of big-time shopping trips to Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, including one $75,062.63 spree in early September. The RNC also spent $4,716.49 on hair and makeup through September after reporting no such costs in August.The cash expenditures immediately raised questions among campaign finance experts about their legality under the Federal Election Commission's long-standing advisory opinions on using campaign cash to purchase items for personal use.Politico asked the McCain campaign for comment, explicitly noting the $150,000 in expenses for department store shopping and makeup consultation that were incurred immediately after Palin’s announcement. Pre-September reports do not include similar costs.Spokeswoman Maria Comella declined to answer specific questions about the expenditures, including whether it was necessary to spend that much and whether it amounted to one early investment in Palin or if shopping for the vice presidential nominee was ongoing.“The campaign does not comment on strategic decisions regarding how financial resources available to the campaign are spent," she said.But hours after the story was posted on Politico's website and legal issues were raised, the campaign issued a new statement.

"With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses," said spokeswoman Tracey Schmitt. "It was always the intent that the clothing go to a charitable purpose after the campaign."

The business of primping and dressing on the campaign trail has become fraught with political risk in recent years as voters increasingly see an elite Washington out of touch with their values and lifestyles.

In 2000, Democrat Al Gore took heat for changing his clothing hues. And in 2006, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) was ribbed for two hair styling sessions that cost about $3,000. Then, there was Democrat John Edwards’ $400 hair cuts in 2007 and Republican McCain’s $520 black leather Ferragamo shoes this year.

A review of similar records for the campaign of Democrat Barack Obama and the Democratic National Committee turned up no similar spending.But all the spending by other candidates pales in comparison to the GOP outlay for the Alaska governor whose expensive, designer outfits have been the topic of fashion pages and magazines.What hasn’t been apparent is where the clothes came from – her closet back in Wasilla or from the campaign coffers in Washington.The answer can be found inside the RNC’s September monthly financial disclosure report under “itemized coordinated expenditures.”It’s a report that typically records expenses for direct mail, telephone calls and advertising. Those expenses do show up, but the report also has a new category of spending: “campaign accessories.”September payments were also made to Barney’s New York ($789.72) and Bloomingdale’s New York ($5,102.71).

Macy’s in Minneapolis, another store fortunate enough to be situated in the Twin Cities that hosted last summer’s Republican National Convention, received three separate payments totaling $9,447.71.The entries also show a few purchases at Pacifier, a top notch baby store, and Steiniauf & Stroller Inc., suggesting $295 was spent to accommodate the littlest Palin to join the campaign trail.An additional $4,902.45 was spent in early September at Atelier, a high-class shopping destination for men.

McCain Defends Robocalls

At the onset of the campaign John McCain promised to run "a civil campaign." In 2000 Senator John McCain was a victim of Karl Rove and his negative attacks that forgot the issues, and focused on misleading accusation surrounding John McCain's character. John McCain decried these attacks, and promised never to partake in the type of negative campaigning that caused his 2000 presidential bid to fail.

Now with the polls showing a surge by Obama, and the economy failing, McCain is turning to the negative style of campaigning he supposedly disagrees with. On Fox News Sunday, whose transcript the Obama campaign just sent reporters, McCain was forced to defend himself from the charge of hypocrisy for waves of negative robocalls. It's a mark of how the public fascination with this race has made issues of process — robocalls are a tactic meant to go under the radar — instantly front and center.

WALLACE: But senator, back, if I may, back in 2000 when you were the target of robo calls, you called these hate calls and you said

McCAIN: They were.

WALLACE: And you said the following: "I promise you I have never and will never have anything to do with that kind of political tactic." Now you've hired the same guy who did the robocalls against you to, reportedly, to do the robocalls against Obama, and the Republican Sen. Susan Collins, the co-chair of your campaign in Maine, has asked you to stop the robocalls. Will you do that?

McCAIN: Of course not. These are legitimate and truthful and they are far different than the phone calls that were made about my family and about certain aspects that — things that this is — this is dramatically different and either you haven't — didn't see those things in 2000.

WALLACE: No, I saw them.

McCAIN: Or you don't know the difference between that and what is a legitimate issue, and that is Sen. Obama being truthful with the American people. But let me tell you what else I think you should be talking about and the American people should be talking about. In the debate the other night, I asked Sen. Obama to repudiate a statement made by John Lewis, a man I admire and respect and have written about that connected me and Sarah Palin — WALLACE: This is the congressman, civil rights leader.

MCCAIN: Civil rights leader, American hero. That connected me and Sarah Palin to segregationists, to the campaign of George Wallace, and even alluded to the bombing of a church where four children, four children were killed, and I asked him to repudiate that statement. I have repudiated every statement made by any fringe person in the Republican Party. And it has come up from time to time, and it probably will. The fact that Sen. Obama would not repudiate that statement I think is something the American people will make a judgment about. That robocall is accurate. It’s totally accurate. And there is no comparison between it and the things that were done and said in South Carolina.

Powell Endorses Obama

This article first appeared in Politico.com on October 20, 2008. Written by Mike Allen and Jonathan Martin.

Retired Gen. Colin L. Powell, one of the country's most respected Republicans, stunned both parties Sunday by strongly endorsing Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president on NBC's "Meet the Press" and laying out a blistering, detailed critique of the modern GOP. Powell said the election of Obama would "electrify the world." "I think he is a transformational figure," Powell said. "He is a new generation coming ... onto the world stage and on the American stage. And for that reason, I'll be voting for Sen. Barack Obama." As a key reason, Powell said: "I would have difficulty with two more conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, but that's what we'd be looking at in a McCain administration." Powell, once considered likely to be the nation's first African-American presidential nominee, said his decision was not about race. Moderator Tom Brokaw said: "There will be some ... who will say this is an African-American, distinguished American supporting another African-American because of race." Powell, who last year gave Republican John McCain's campaign the maximum $2,300, replied: "If I had only had that in mind, I could have done this six, eight, 10 months ago. I really have been going back and forth between somebody I have the highest respect and regard for, John McCain, and somebody I was getting to know, Barack Obama. And it was only in the last couple of months that I settled on this." "I can't deny that it will be a historic event when an African-American becomes president," Powell continued, speaking live in the studio. "And should that happen, all Americans should be proud — not just African-American, but all Americans — that we have reached this point in our national history where such a thing could happen. It would also not only electrify the country, but electrify the world." Obama communications director Robert Gibbs said the two men spoke for 10 minutes at 10 a.m. and that the candidate thanked Powell for his endorsement and said "he looked forward to taking advantage of his advice in the next two weeks and hopefully over the next four years." Obama spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the campaign had not been told of the endorsement in advance. "We didn’t know until Gen. Powell spoke on 'Meet The Press,'" she said. Powell, making his 30th appearance on "Meet the Press," said he does not plan to campaign for Obama. He led into his endorsement by saying: "We've got two individuals — either one of them could be a good president. But which is the president that we need now — which is the individual that serves the needs of the nation for the next period of time. "And I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities — and you have to take that into account — as well as his substance — he has both style and substance, he has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president." Powell said that he is "troubled" by the direction of the Republican Party, and said he began to doubt McCain when he chose Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate. "Not just small towns have values," he said, responding to one of Palin's signature lines. "She's a very distinguished woman, and she's to be admired," he said. "But at the same, now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president. And so that raised some question in my mind as to the judgment that Sen. McCain made." The endorsement is likely to help Obama convince skeptical centrists that he is ready to handle the challenges of commander in chief, and it undercuts McCain's argument that he is better qualified on national security issues. The Arizona senator, appearing on "Fox News Sunday," sought to minimize the endorsement by noting his support from other former secretaries of state and retired military flag officers. "This doesn’t come as a surprise," McCain said. "But I'm also very pleased to have the endorsement of four former secretaries of state ... and I'm proud to have the endorsement of well over 200 retired generals and admirals. I respect and continue to respect and admire Secretary Powell." While McCain only reiterated his respect for Powell when asked about the move, others in the GOP were more candid. One prominent conservative who knows both McCain and Powell said that for all the secretary of state's criticism of McCain and his praise of Obama, the move had less to do with the two candidates for president than the current occupant of the Oval Office. "Powell cares a lot about his reputation with Washington elites, and he thinks he was badly damaged by his relationship with the Bush administration," said this Republican. "So this is a way to make up for what he regarded as not being treated well by the Bush administration, not being given the due deference he thinks he deserves." And that Powell would make his decision known in the closing weeks of the election, as it becomes increasingly clear that Obama is the favorite, reflects a calculated political move, says this source. "Let's be honest — do we think Powell would be doing this if Obama had been trailing 6 or 7 points in the polls?" the source asked, deeming Powell's endorsement "a profile in conventional wisdom." A friend of the former secretary of state sharply dismissed the idea that Powell's move had anything to do with making up for his service in the Bush years. "Anybody who is making the argument about 'rehabilitation' was not listening to what he had say today," said the friend, suggesting Powell made clear that he was unhappy with the state of the party. "It's absolute horseshit." Rush Limbaugh suggested Powell's move was very much related to Obama's status as the first African-American with a chance to become president. "Secretary Powell says his endorsement is not about race," Limbaugh wrote in an e-mail. "OK, fine. I am now researching his past endorsements to see if I can find all the inexperienced, very liberal, white candidates he has endorsed. I'll let you know what I come up with. "I was also unaware of his dislike for John Roberts, Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy and Antonin Scalia. I guess he also regrets Reagan and Bush making him a four-star and secretary of state and appointing his son to head the FCC. Yes, let's hear it for transformational figures." But others in the party were less dismissive, acknowledging the heft of the respected retired four-star general and the popularity he enjoys across the country. "The Powell endorsement is a big deal," said Scott Reed, Bob Dole's campaign manager in 1996 and a close friend of McCain campaign manager Rick Davis. "It has been bantered about since August and shows both Powell and Obama know how to make an impact in the closing days of a tight campaign." Kevin Madden, a GOP veteran who was the press secretary for Mitt Romney's presidential bid, said that "Colin Powell was a proxy for our party's ability to persuade Democrats and independents to join a center-right coalition of ideas built around economic conservatism and a strong national defense. The endorsement is emblematic of the challenges we face as a party when it comes to winning back these voters." "What that just did in one sound bite — and I assume that sound bite will end up in an ad — is it eliminated the experience factor," said former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Republican, in an appearance on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos." "How are you going to say the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the former national security adviser, former secretary of state was taken in?" Powell, 71, also used his "Meet the Press" appearance to criticize McCain and his campaign for invoking the former domestic terrorist William Ayers. "Sen. McCain says he a washed-up old terrorist — then why does he keep talking about him?" Powell asked. "They're trying to connect [Obama] to some kind of terrorist feelings, and I think that's inappropriate," Powell said. "Now I understand what politics is all about — I know how you can go after one another. And that's good. But I think this goes too far. And I think it has made the McCain campaign look a little narrow. It's not what the American people are looking for. And I look at these kinds of approaches to the campaign, and they trouble me. And the party has moved even further to the right, and Gov. Palin has indicated a further rightward shift." Powell said he has "heard senior members of my own party drop the suggestion [that Obama's] a Muslim and might be associated with terrorists. "This is not the way we should be doing it in America. I feel strongly about this particular point," Powell said. "We have got to stop polarizing ourselves in this way. And John McCain is as nondiscriminatory as anyone I know. But I'm troubled about the fact that within the party, we have these kinds of expressions." Powell, a four-star Army general, was national security adviser to President Ronald Reagan; chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the 1991 Persian Gulf War, when George H.W. Bush was president; and was President George W. Bush’s first secretary of state. Powell has consulted with both Obama and McCain, and the general’s camp had indicated in the past that he would not make an endorsement. Powell said that as he watched McCain, the Republican “was a little unsure as to how to deal with the economic problems that we were having, and almost every day, there was a different approach to the problem, and that concerned me, sensing that he didn't have a complete grasp of the economic problems that we had." Powell said a big job of the new president will be “conveying a new image of American leadership, a new image of America’s role in the world.” “I think what the president has to do is to start using the power of the Oval Office and the power of his personality to convince the American people and to convince the world that America is solid, America is going to move forward … restoring a sense of purpose,” he said. "This Powell endorsement is the nail in the coffin," said one Republican official, speaking anonymously to offer candid thoughts about the party's nominee. "Not just because of him, but the indictment he laid out of the McCain campaign."