Presidential Election 2008: How Democracy Will Be Won
Elena Ong
November 05, 2008
Presidential Election Day 2008. It is unlike any other presidential election in US history.
In 2000, 105 Million Americans voted. In 2004, 120 Million Americans voted. In 2008, 135+ Million Americans will vote.
But this election is not just about record turnout. This election is about re-defining and transforming the political landscape.
This election is about implementing a 50-state strategy to elect the President of the United States.
Today is Election Day and the polls suggest Barack Obama is leading by landslide, with the potential of winning the US Presidency with 338 Electoral College votes to McCain´s 200: http://www.politico.com/convention/swingstate.html.
But no one is taking this election for granted. There are too many things that could go wrong – the Bradley effect, the Palin effect, the "Caging" effect, and other things that could affect vote turnout and vote count.
The amazing thing is the energy. Obama supporters are fired up, and they are ready for change. I have never seen so many people so eager to contact voters, so hungry to knock on doors, and so passionate about protecting the vote. And it is because they want something different than the status quo. America's organizers and America's voters are hungry for change. That's why Obama supporters are disciplined and staying focused on turning-out voters and/or protecting the vote in the 14 states in play. They know that "Winning the East" could come at the expense of "Losing the West" and that´s not the way the US Presidency is going to be won. This Presidential Election 2008 is not a "sprint to win," this election is about "lifting all boats" (i.e., "energizing all stakeholders/potential votes") to actualize (not just the promise of) a New American Dream.
So while the nation begins it´s 2008 Presidential Countdown, this is how the US Presidency could be won: (Obama Leaning in Bold; McCain Leaning in Italics): http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/#data.
COUNTDOWN TO PRESIDENTIAL VICTORY
Electoral Obama McCain
College
3 PM PT / 6 PM ET:
IN 11 46% 48%
4 – 4:30 PM PT / 7 - 7:30 PM ET:
VA 13 50% 46%
NH 04 53% 42%
OH 20 49% 46%
NC 15 48% 48%
GA 15 46% 50%
5 PM PT / 8 PM ET:
FL 27 49% 47%
PA 21 51% 44%
MO 11 48% 49%
6 PM PT / 9 PM ET:
CO 09 51% 45%
NM 05 50% 43%
AZ 10 46% 49%
7 PM PT / 10 PM ET:
NV 05 50% 43%
MT 03 45% 49%
OBAMA SUPPORTERS ARE PASSIONATE. OBAMA SUPPORTERS ARE ENERGIZED. AND IT´S ABOUT PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP AND VALUES. OBAMA SUPPORTERS KNOW WHY THEY SUPPORT OBAMA OVER MC CAIN.
1. VISION & LEADERSHIP TO CHANGE WASHINGTON & RESTORE FISCAL DISCIPLINE
Make government more effective by leading by principle, ethics reform, transparency & accountability, not by poll numbers and calculated tactics.
Reinstate Pay-As-You-Go budget rules to restore fiscal discipline in Congress, penalize companies that abuse the tax code, and cut wasteful pork barrel spending.
Repeal Bush tax cuts for the wealthy
Lead through principled dialogue, not by pitting Red America against Blue America
2. PRINCIPLED VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA´S ECONOMY AND IMPROVE AMERICA´S QUALITY OF LIFE
Make Tax System More Fair & Efficient
Provide Immediate Tax Relief: $1000 Emergency Energy Rebate
Repeal Bush Tax Cuts for Wealthy
Cut Taxes for 95% of Americans: Calculate Tax Savings at www.barackobama.com
Implement $500 - $1000 "Make Work Pay" American Opportunity Tax Credit
Eliminate Taxes for seniors making less than $50,000/year
Protect Housing by providing a 10% Universal Mortgage Credit for < $50,000/year Homeowners
Exercise Principled Economic Development
Fight for Fair Trade & Employment: Enforce Ethics & Accountability of NAFTA/CAFTA
Support Labor & Job Development/Fair Pay/Benefits: Increase Min Wage to $9.50/hour by 2009
Oversee Financial Markets & crack down on Market Manipulation/Predatory Lending
Provide New Small Business Health Tax Credit to Lower Health Care Costs
Invest $250 Million/year in the National Network of Public-Private Business Incubators
Invest $150 Billion over 10 years to create 5 Million Green Collar/Clean Energy Jobs
Double Funding for R&D & Manufacturing Extension Partnerships
Infuse $60 Billion over 10 years to finance National Infrastructure Investment Bank
Support Economic Development in Low-Income Communities
Give Every Child a World Class Education to Compete in the Global Economy
Launch a Children´s First Agenda (Zero to Five Education)
Improve K-12 by reforming/funding No Child Left Behind
Create American Opportunity Tax Credit to make Community College Education Affordable
Reclaim the American Dream for Women & Their Families
Expand Job Access & End Pay/Hiring Discrimination
Protect & Defend a Woman´s Right to Choose & Freedom for Domestic Violence
Expand Flex-time, require 7 paid sick days/year and encourage states to adopt paid leave
Expand quality Child Care, After-school opportunities, and child/dependent care tax credit
Fully fund the Community Development Block Grant to increase Affordable Housing
Strengthen Economic Opportunities & Economic Security for Seniors
Reform corporate bankruptcy laws to protect workers and retirees.
Expand Retirement Incentives for Working Families, create automatic workplace pension, and phase –in Bi-Partisan Plan to allow persons making >$250,000/year to contribute 2-4% more to keep Social security sound.
Ensure Affordability of Health Care for America´s Seniors
3. PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
Crackdown on excessive Energy Speculation & enact Windfall Profits Tax to provide $1000 Emergency Energy Rebate
Make US a Leader on Climate Change within UNFCC/Global Energy Forum and implement an Economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050
Invest$50 Billion to establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard to improve fuel economy standards by 4%/year and create a $7,000 tax credit towards purchase of "advanced" vehicles,
Invest $150 Billion over 10 years to create 5 Million Green Collar/Clean Energy jobs to weatherize 1 million homes annually and ensure 10% of electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012
4. PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP TO ACHIEVE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
Improve Individual and Collective Health by Investing in Health Coverage and Health Care Access that Promotes Healthy Living and Prevents High Cost Illness/Disease
Lower Health Costs by $2500 per family
Guarantee Affordable, Accessible Health Coverage for Every American – w guaranteed eligibility, comprehensive benefits, affordable premiums/co-pays/deductibles, tax credits (and not taxes), easy enrollment, portability, choice, quality and efficiency.
5. SECURE AMERICA & RESTORE AMERICA´S STANDING IN THE WORLD
Promote Peace & Responsibly End the War in Iraq
Renew American Diplomacy w/ an Agenda for Hope that fights Global Poverty, strengthens NATO, and prevents a Humanitarian Crisis
Rebuild Trust & Protect America w/ 21st Century Military & Values for a Nuclear Free World
This election could be over in a few hours or end when Alaska´s polls close at 9 PM PT, Tuesday, November 4, 2008, or 1 AM, Wednesday, November 5, 2008.
Worse, it could be a "chad-hanger" and our reason to know why "the caged bird sings."
Because this Presidential Election is unlike any other. It is not about one election. It is about actualizing America´s values, America´s hope and America´s promise – a new American Dream. An enduring legacy for a new democracy, and transcendent change.
In 2000, 105 Million Americans voted. In 2004, 120 Million Americans voted. In 2008, 135+ Million Americans will vote.
But this election is not just about record turnout. This election is about re-defining and transforming the political landscape.
This election is about implementing a 50-state strategy to elect the President of the United States.
Today is Election Day and the polls suggest Barack Obama is leading by landslide, with the potential of winning the US Presidency with 338 Electoral College votes to McCain´s 200: http://www.politico.com/convention/swingstate.html.
But no one is taking this election for granted. There are too many things that could go wrong – the Bradley effect, the Palin effect, the "Caging" effect, and other things that could affect vote turnout and vote count.
The amazing thing is the energy. Obama supporters are fired up, and they are ready for change. I have never seen so many people so eager to contact voters, so hungry to knock on doors, and so passionate about protecting the vote. And it is because they want something different than the status quo. America's organizers and America's voters are hungry for change. That's why Obama supporters are disciplined and staying focused on turning-out voters and/or protecting the vote in the 14 states in play. They know that "Winning the East" could come at the expense of "Losing the West" and that´s not the way the US Presidency is going to be won. This Presidential Election 2008 is not a "sprint to win," this election is about "lifting all boats" (i.e., "energizing all stakeholders/potential votes") to actualize (not just the promise of) a New American Dream.
So while the nation begins it´s 2008 Presidential Countdown, this is how the US Presidency could be won: (Obama Leaning in Bold; McCain Leaning in Italics): http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/maps/obama_vs_mccain/#data.
COUNTDOWN TO PRESIDENTIAL VICTORY
Electoral Obama McCain
College
3 PM PT / 6 PM ET:
IN 11 46% 48%
4 – 4:30 PM PT / 7 - 7:30 PM ET:
VA 13 50% 46%
NH 04 53% 42%
OH 20 49% 46%
NC 15 48% 48%
GA 15 46% 50%
5 PM PT / 8 PM ET:
FL 27 49% 47%
PA 21 51% 44%
MO 11 48% 49%
6 PM PT / 9 PM ET:
CO 09 51% 45%
NM 05 50% 43%
AZ 10 46% 49%
7 PM PT / 10 PM ET:
NV 05 50% 43%
MT 03 45% 49%
OBAMA SUPPORTERS ARE PASSIONATE. OBAMA SUPPORTERS ARE ENERGIZED. AND IT´S ABOUT PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP AND VALUES. OBAMA SUPPORTERS KNOW WHY THEY SUPPORT OBAMA OVER MC CAIN.
1. VISION & LEADERSHIP TO CHANGE WASHINGTON & RESTORE FISCAL DISCIPLINE
Make government more effective by leading by principle, ethics reform, transparency & accountability, not by poll numbers and calculated tactics.
Reinstate Pay-As-You-Go budget rules to restore fiscal discipline in Congress, penalize companies that abuse the tax code, and cut wasteful pork barrel spending.
Repeal Bush tax cuts for the wealthy
Lead through principled dialogue, not by pitting Red America against Blue America
2. PRINCIPLED VALUE-BASED LEADERSHIP TO STRENGTHEN AMERICA´S ECONOMY AND IMPROVE AMERICA´S QUALITY OF LIFE
Make Tax System More Fair & Efficient
Provide Immediate Tax Relief: $1000 Emergency Energy Rebate
Repeal Bush Tax Cuts for Wealthy
Cut Taxes for 95% of Americans: Calculate Tax Savings at www.barackobama.com
Implement $500 - $1000 "Make Work Pay" American Opportunity Tax Credit
Eliminate Taxes for seniors making less than $50,000/year
Protect Housing by providing a 10% Universal Mortgage Credit for < $50,000/year Homeowners
Exercise Principled Economic Development
Fight for Fair Trade & Employment: Enforce Ethics & Accountability of NAFTA/CAFTA
Support Labor & Job Development/Fair Pay/Benefits: Increase Min Wage to $9.50/hour by 2009
Oversee Financial Markets & crack down on Market Manipulation/Predatory Lending
Provide New Small Business Health Tax Credit to Lower Health Care Costs
Invest $250 Million/year in the National Network of Public-Private Business Incubators
Invest $150 Billion over 10 years to create 5 Million Green Collar/Clean Energy Jobs
Double Funding for R&D & Manufacturing Extension Partnerships
Infuse $60 Billion over 10 years to finance National Infrastructure Investment Bank
Support Economic Development in Low-Income Communities
Give Every Child a World Class Education to Compete in the Global Economy
Launch a Children´s First Agenda (Zero to Five Education)
Improve K-12 by reforming/funding No Child Left Behind
Create American Opportunity Tax Credit to make Community College Education Affordable
Reclaim the American Dream for Women & Their Families
Expand Job Access & End Pay/Hiring Discrimination
Protect & Defend a Woman´s Right to Choose & Freedom for Domestic Violence
Expand Flex-time, require 7 paid sick days/year and encourage states to adopt paid leave
Expand quality Child Care, After-school opportunities, and child/dependent care tax credit
Fully fund the Community Development Block Grant to increase Affordable Housing
Strengthen Economic Opportunities & Economic Security for Seniors
Reform corporate bankruptcy laws to protect workers and retirees.
Expand Retirement Incentives for Working Families, create automatic workplace pension, and phase –in Bi-Partisan Plan to allow persons making >$250,000/year to contribute 2-4% more to keep Social security sound.
Ensure Affordability of Health Care for America´s Seniors
3. PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT
Crackdown on excessive Energy Speculation & enact Windfall Profits Tax to provide $1000 Emergency Energy Rebate
Make US a Leader on Climate Change within UNFCC/Global Energy Forum and implement an Economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2050
Invest$50 Billion to establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard to improve fuel economy standards by 4%/year and create a $7,000 tax credit towards purchase of "advanced" vehicles,
Invest $150 Billion over 10 years to create 5 Million Green Collar/Clean Energy jobs to weatherize 1 million homes annually and ensure 10% of electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012
4. PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP TO ACHIEVE HEALTH CARE FOR ALL
Improve Individual and Collective Health by Investing in Health Coverage and Health Care Access that Promotes Healthy Living and Prevents High Cost Illness/Disease
Lower Health Costs by $2500 per family
Guarantee Affordable, Accessible Health Coverage for Every American – w guaranteed eligibility, comprehensive benefits, affordable premiums/co-pays/deductibles, tax credits (and not taxes), easy enrollment, portability, choice, quality and efficiency.
5. SECURE AMERICA & RESTORE AMERICA´S STANDING IN THE WORLD
Promote Peace & Responsibly End the War in Iraq
Renew American Diplomacy w/ an Agenda for Hope that fights Global Poverty, strengthens NATO, and prevents a Humanitarian Crisis
Rebuild Trust & Protect America w/ 21st Century Military & Values for a Nuclear Free World
This election could be over in a few hours or end when Alaska´s polls close at 9 PM PT, Tuesday, November 4, 2008, or 1 AM, Wednesday, November 5, 2008.
Worse, it could be a "chad-hanger" and our reason to know why "the caged bird sings."
Because this Presidential Election is unlike any other. It is not about one election. It is about actualizing America´s values, America´s hope and America´s promise – a new American Dream. An enduring legacy for a new democracy, and transcendent change.
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