hburgnews.com

Comment from Jeremy Aldrich
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:08 pm

Thanks for confirming this, Emmy!

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:21 pm

How many socialist authors and readers of this blog will be there to bow down at Obama’s feet?

Hey, on another note: if Obama’s grandmother is, in fact, dying (not from having been thrown under the bus by her grandson back in March of this year), how come Michelle-My-Belle and the two great grandchildren didn’t travel to Hawaii to say goodbye?

How come people have stopped fainting at Obama rallies?

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:31 pm

Yay!! I missed Michelle in Charlottesville, and I will DEFINITELY be at this one! :)

This is so great. Finally, a bunch of us can go out and support him and combat anyone that thinks our area is a Republican “stronghold” in this election.

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:36 pm

You’re going to “combat” us?

How’s that work? Hand out money to people in the streets?

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:39 pm

“How many socialist authors and readers of this blog will be there to bow down at Obama’s feet?”

More than enough to pack the place, but probably too many to really allow for proper bowing.

Where’s that eyeroll smiley when you need it?

Comment from Jeremy Aldrich
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:40 pm

Come now, Dave, I think you know very well that the “socialism” argument is a losing one for those opposed to Obama, as McCain and Palin seem eager to use the public kitty to pay for a variety of for-the-good-of-society programs like buying up mortgages, paying for more special education, and advancing alternative energy sources, all while magically implementing a spending freeze and reducing taxes across the board. Even Libertarian candidate Bob Barr hasn’t put forth any proposals to get rid of current “socialist” (according to your standard for criticism) programs like the Interstate Highway System, Social Security, and the large menu of “socialist” services provided to veterans.

Pingback from -of barak in the burg « the state
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:40 pm

[...] -of barak in the burg Saturday, 25 October 2008, 15:40 Filed under: Uncategorized from hburg news: This has probably shown up on some other blogs already, so I apologize for the delay. Jeremy [...]

Comment from Del
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:51 pm

I’d really like a McCain/Palin supporter who is screaming about “socialism” to explain to me why Palin’s $46 billion dollar proposal yesterday for special needs children isn’t “socialism.”

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:53 pm

Haha no, I just mean combat the opinion by filling up the location with a crowd since some people I’ve talked to seem to think there are few Obama supporters in the Valley.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:54 pm

Emmy - LOL

Comment from Draegn88
Time: October 25, 2008, 4:11 pm

“Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 3:39 pm

“How many socialist authors and readers of this blog will be there to bow down at Obama’s feet?”

More than enough to pack the place, but probably too many to really allow for proper bowing. ”

More than likely it will be the stupid MTV fed, blacks are cool, vote Obama or be a racist, JMU students. The same liberal mindset that existed when I attended that shithole of a university. Yet in the end everyone I knew became a conservative republican.

So let them have their multicult day in the sun. When they finish and start those high paying jobs that they worked so hard to earn, they’ll drop this “spreading the wealth” around crap as human nature, aka greed sets in.

Comment from Mike
Time: October 25, 2008, 4:19 pm

Jebus, this thread reeks of wall to wall troll. And in one hour, no less.

On a lighter note:
Hurray! Obama is coming to town!

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 25, 2008, 4:19 pm

JMU students…as far as the females go, I’ve been better street walkers in DC than some of them dress….they’ve got the brains, many of them, of a street walker as well.

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 25, 2008, 4:23 pm

I hope we have massive quantities of germicide for the cleanup…I always feel like I need a shower to clean up if there are too many Dems around in one place.

Comment from Josh
Time: October 25, 2008, 4:28 pm

According to Richmond Times-Dispatch: doors open 3:15, event starts 5:15.

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-25-0081.html

Comment from seth
Time: October 25, 2008, 4:42 pm

come on dave, this is a big deal for our town whether he’s your guy or not. your comments only serve to make other republicans look incapable of appreciating the historical signifigance this has for our city and state (read dumb if you prefer).

anybody know when the last time a presidential candidate came to harrisonburg was? i’d guess that it’s probably never happened, but i don’t know.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 5:04 pm

“More than likely it will be the stupid MTV fed, blacks are cool, vote Obama or be a racist, JMU students.” - That is incredibly offensive.

On a related note, when I was at JMU 5 years ago, it appeared more of the students were conservative than liberal. And in survey statistics posted in comments on this blog at a past date, it looked fairly evenly split. I do wonder how many students vs “townies” would be there. I expect it to be a lot of both.

I was on the Obama website just before I came here and saw the update above from the Richmond Dispatch and I didn’t see the link for RSVP. Does anyone else see it? I can’t find it. Maybe it will show up later.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 5:05 pm

“anybody know when the last time a presidential candidate came to harrisonburg was?”

I was thinking the same thing - I’ll go look.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 5:11 pm

I’m having trouble finding info on any from previous elections historically, seth. There’s so much info from this election, all of my search terms lead to Obama, McCain, Clinton campaign stops!

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 5:11 pm

I can’t find it, but it is on the press credentials list. I’ll wait a bit and if it doesn’t show up I’ll e-mail the man I’ve been speaking with and see if he can point us to it!

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 5:12 pm

I’d also like to hear from those who have already seen him speak about what time we should get in line to be able to get in.

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 5:17 pm

Here it is! Found it on Facebook!

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/harrisonburgBO

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 5:31 pm

Thanks, Emmy!

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:03 pm

I know they said not to bring bags, but does anyone know if we can bring signs, etc. or can you only use what’s handed out at the event?

Comment from Evan
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:11 pm

No signs. They hand out signs depending on how they want the scene to look (near the stage gets the bulk, behind the media sections gets few if any). At least that’s how it’s worked covering his events in the past.

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:12 pm

Evan do you have any idea how far in advance we should be in line based on other events? I don’t want to risk missing this!

Comment from Evan
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:19 pm

It all depends on how much of a rush there is… but based on the student population I would probably say an hour or two before gates open, at least. No definite way of knowing though.

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:20 pm

That’s what I was afraid of. I plan on being there very early.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:22 pm

I’m so glad I have a flexible job. Looks like I’ll be spending the day there :) gladly! This is a huge deal for the ‘burg, the valley, and JMU.

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:23 pm

Same here Renee I hope it isn’t raining or insanely cold!

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:32 pm

Yeah! I’m so looking forward to this! As of now, it’s supposed to be 49 and partly sunny with 20% chance of rain, so it’s looking OK. My bets are that the Convo will be filled to overflowing, and I’m planning to get there early. Whoever in the Obama campaign decided to come here is a genius :)

Comment from Lowell
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:40 pm

I believe the last time a presidential candidate stopped in Harrisonburg was in the ’60s. Richard Nixon.

Comment from Frank J Witt
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:53 pm

Lowell, please call me if you are going, I would enjoy your company. I want to be there

1-540-476-0275

Thank man…will you wife be joining us?

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:55 pm

I hadn’t thought of it before, but do you think one of us HBurgNews bloggers could get a press pass? How do those work?

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:55 pm

Look for me in line guys! I’ll be wearing my pink ObamaMama t-shirt and all of my buttons!

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:56 pm

I actually thought about that Renee ;) Don’t know if they’d give us one.

Comment from K
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:56 pm

Has anyone successfully RSVPed, as requested? On the website, I see a button to RSVP for each event, but for the 28th the JMU event isn’t listed.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:56 pm

Lowell,
Dare I say “President Presumptive?” On another note, Frank J Witt enjoying a Dem’s company?

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 6:57 pm

I put in a request at the link in the announcement above just to see what happens.

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:00 pm

Try this link K…

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/harrisonburgBO

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:06 pm

Emmy, I will look for you! I’m planning to make a shirt or something. We seem to agree pretty often on this site, and it would be nice to put a face with the name :)

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:07 pm

Agreed! Let me know what you come up with and I’ll look for you!

Comment from K
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:09 pm

Thanks for the link, Emmy. It worked.

Comment from Breslau
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:11 pm

“More than likely it will be the stupid MTV fed, blacks are cool, vote Obama or be a racist, JMU students. The same liberal mindset that existed when I attended that shithole of a university.”

“JMU students…as far as the females go, I’ve been better street walkers in DC than some of them dress….they’ve got the brains, many of them, of a street walker as well.”

“I hope we have massive quantities of germicide for the cleanup…I always feel like I need a shower to clean up if there are too many Dems around in one place.”

What hatred. These are the nation’s wounds of years–beyond Bush II–of extremely partisan politics. We can’t take anymore. Let’s be civil at least on the site. Come on now.

Comment from rachel
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:16 pm

If space is available on a first-come, first-served basis, why is an RSVP strongly encouraged?

Comment from Frank J Witt
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:20 pm

Valley, let me tell you how much I Love Lowell and Diane. They have helped us send over 2000 pounds of supplies to the troops of ours. They have NEVER batted an eye over our “differences” I LOVE what the 7G “kids” did and always will appreciate their work. We will always have a different view, but when people like Lowell will sit at the post office for hours on end to help us out, I don’t give a damn who he supports, I will stand next to him and his wife. You all need to learn something from them.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:24 pm

Renee,
This is directly from Obama’s website.

“For security reasons, do not bring bags and please limit personal items. No signs or banners permitted.”

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:29 pm

Frank,
Well said. I couldn’t agree more. It’s just awesome to see people respectfully agree to disagree. Can you imagine how much this great country good achieve if eveyone could do this? More importantly, the sky didn’t fall and the horns of Gabriel didn’t blow! :-)

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:42 pm

Rachel, I’m going to assume its so they have an idea of what they’ll be dealing with.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:45 pm

Rachel,
So the organizers can get an idea of the numbers of folks who will attend. In Leesburg they expected 10,000, and got 35,000, which sort of overwhelmed them.

Comment from Deona Landes Houff
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:47 pm

But doesn’t the Convo center only hold 6,000? Is it possible that if 20,000 respond, they’ll move it to Bridgeforth?

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:49 pm

I asked about the stadium and they were worried about weather. I’m sure its a safety concern too. I think its going to be a matter of spending half the day in line if you want to be one of the lucky ones in the building.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:53 pm

I think the Convo Center can hold about 10,000. Obviously the best thing to do is get there early!

Comment from Christa
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:58 pm

Frank, well said and I agree with you 100%. I have never understood why some people dislike one another because of their politics. Emmy and I are GOOD friends and she is VERY liberal and I am VERY conservative. It’s what makes things interesting. There are no better people in this county than Lowell and Dianne. I love them both…their girls too!

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 7:58 pm

I think 10,000 is about right.

On a side note, I just got a text from the campaign about the event.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 25, 2008, 8:03 pm

This is a great time to be an intelligent, compassionate prgressive!

Comment from Deona Landes Houff
Time: October 25, 2008, 8:03 pm

Convo Center holds 7,612 according to JMU’s Web site. In Salem, they just moved Monday’s Palin rally from the 8,000-seat Civic Center to a 20,000-seat stadium. Could not this happen in Hburg? Or are they concerned about keeping the football field in good condition for Saturday’s homecoming game? I heard earlier today that football practice had been moved, but I don’t know how reliable the source is or from where to where practice had been moved. Is is possible that Bridgeforth has been reserved and they’re just not saying so. If it’s at the stadium, I and many other parents will take our kids out of school to stand in line for this once-in-a-lifetime event. But if’s at the Convo Center, and you have to get in line at 6 a.m. to get in, we’ll probably not even try to go. Bummer.

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 8:22 pm

I don’t know Deona, perhaps they are reserving the stadium in case of a higher turnout. I’d love it if they did that because then I’d have a better shot at seeing him. The guys I talked to today did not give me any indication that they’d be using the stadium, but I suppose that’s not something they’d really tell me. I’d love it if enough people RSVP’d and they moved it to the stadium.

Comment from republitarian
Time: October 25, 2008, 9:04 pm

You can always get press credentials if you’re a member of the media….that way you don’t have to stand in line……

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 9:38 pm

I sure hope they have a backup plan at a larger location, because I know people will come from all around to attend this, and on top of the thousands of JMU students that can camp out there all day, I hope they put it in a big enough place that everyone that wants to get in can.

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 25, 2008, 9:42 pm

Yeah, please…the last time Obama drew 20,000 was back in the summer when everyone was fainting at his rallies…

http://my.barackobama.com/page/s/harrisonburgBO

(Remember what I wrote about taking showers when I’m around crowds of Dems? One couldn’t have written a better URL to support my statement).

Comment from K
Time: October 25, 2008, 9:46 pm

Does anyone have good information about the process of early voting? Where does one go? Are there rules about qualifying for early voting? For example, I believe I read that a registered voter may only vote early if he or she would qualify for voting by absentee ballot? Any insights?

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 9:46 pm

Dave, he just drew 30,000+ in Loudoun County in the last week.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 9:52 pm

K, I heard that though there’s no official “early voting” in Harrisonburg, there are places where you can fill out an absentee ballot in person. Hold on, let me find a link….

Here we go:
1) In Person
An application completed in person shall be made not less than three days prior to the election in which the applicant offers to vote and completed only in the office of the local general registrar. The applicant shall sign the application in the presence of a registrar or the secretary of the electoral board.
http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/Absentee_Voting/Index.html

I believe the correct place to go would be the Municipal Building downtown:
City Municipal Building
345 South Main St.
Harrisonburg, VA 22801

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 25, 2008, 9:56 pm

We get it Dave, you don’t like Obama. You don’t like Democrats. You don’t like liberals. We’re all clear on that. You disappear for long periods of time and then come here only to be negative. You’re allowed to do that, but don’t you ever get tired of being so grouchy. I’d be happy for you if you were going to see Barr.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 25, 2008, 9:59 pm

Briggman,
You do understand how foolish you look here, right? You sound like a whinny kid. You must be hating life. Isn’t there some sort of hate spew going on over at your website(s) that are more of your liking?

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 25, 2008, 10:00 pm

Thanks Renee

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 25, 2008, 10:14 pm

I think Barack Obama is a gifted speaker…even a dynamic speaker.

What I don’t get is how a bunch of people who I consider to be fairly-well informed, if not fairly-well educated, could vote for a man who associates freely with domestic terrorists, espouses nothing but socialist policies, attended church for 20 years under a minister who espoused black liberation theology…

I mean, come on…out of a 40 minute or so speech, Obama fills the air with 8 minutes of ahs…the kind of ahs you get when there’s nothing moving around through the grey matter between one’s ears.

Our rights and freedoms have greatly eroded under the dunce we have in the White House…the national debt now exceeds $11 billion…in large part because the Democrats in charge of both the House and Senate banking committees killed any hope of regulating Fannie & Freddie…and you people want a community organizer who was in the U.S. Senate a grand total of 143 days before he announced his campaign for president?

You don’t get a lot more stupid than to want to vote in McCain…but, in my opinion, voting for Obama qualifies.

You know, you people ought to be thinking about what happens to this country should the polling data be as accurate as it has been and Obama loses…

Large numbers of the people you will have stood beside at the poles will likely be trying to kill YOU. (Read: James Carville, Paul Begala, etc.)…we will have riots…and I hope I won’t be in a position to say “Told you so.”

This is the FIRST election since I began voting in 1984 that for the good of the country, I’m going to be unable to vote for the candidate I believe would act in the best interest of the country…this year, I have to vote for the lesser of two evils: McCain-Palin…because this country will swing back so far right in the event of an Obama election that people like Mark Obenshain and Bob McDonnell would feel right at home at all levels of government and we’ll be just as bad off.

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 25, 2008, 10:18 pm

Actually “Valley Progressive”…I don’t want your presidential candidate…sue me…I don’t have have to join in with you and your Obama buddies and your raging erections for this empty shell of a socialist/marxist man.

Mark Warner for Senate, OK…I’m voting for him, Mark Warner for President, yes, I’d vote for him as well.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 25, 2008, 10:27 pm

Briggman,
Again, I repeat, don’t you understand? I’m not going to thake the time or enegy to argue your accusations about Obama. Thry are old, stale and have been debunked as ludicrous weeks ago. I know though that the McCain desperate want to hold on to their hatred so they re-hash tired and false allegations. I know it makes you feel better. This silliness is exactily why McCain lost the election.

The fact is you don’t have to “want” my candidate, you got him. And he will make your life better whether you want it or not.

As for the socialist comment? PLEASE, your current president just pushed thru the biggest socialist package in the HISTORY of the US. So back off.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 11:29 pm

Dave, you said: “What I don’t get is how a bunch of people who I consider to be fairly-well informed, if not fairly-well educated, could vote for [Obama]…”

I’d like to share my 3 main reasons I’m voting for Obama (and there are a LOT more), and yes I consider myself to be a well-educated person:

1. Economy/Healthcare/Small Business - I’ve personally had issues getting individualized health insurance since I work for a small business I co-own, and I have a “pre-existing condition” (which I’m not being treated for and to me should be irrelevant to coverage). The insurance I have is not cheap, and it sucks. We’ve needed major changes in the health care system for a long time since what we get is not worth what we citizens pay into it, to me. There are people struggling with economic and employment issues beyond health care costs, and I think Obama’s plan is better for this country than McCain’s.

2. Education/Science - Our country is sliding in the world in education, scientific output, and technological advances. I think teachers should be paid more and students should be educated better in K-12 public schools. There are solutions to these problems, and I believe Obama is going to implement the right ones. We also need to make sure to fund scientific research so America can generate the newest best technologies as our civilization continues to advance. Solving our educational problems will also lead to solutions in a lot of other areas, too.

3. Foreign Relations - I think a lot of the world doesn’t like America - for many reasons. I think our “doctrine” for the last 8 years has perpetuated, if not inflamed, Anti-American sentiments. I also think there are a lot of places in the world where our country could make a gigantic difference where innocent people are dying, that as a country we are generally ignoring. I think Obama’s approach of being open to discussions with world leaders, on top of his calm and understanding demeanor, will help improve the world’s view of us, as well as move forward in a way that benefits our country and the world. I don’t have confidence in McCain’s foreign policies or how he will interact with other world leaders.

There are many more reasons I don’t like McCain’s policies and many more reasons I do like Obama’s. You can compare each candidate’s stances on the issues for yourself at their own websites:
http://www.barackobama.com/issues
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/

To me, the concerns you raised are all either ignorant or irrelevant. I do believe both major party candidates are good men as individuals, though I think McCain’s positive qualities have been lost in the muck of his campaign lately. I just don’t trust McCain or agree with his policies. Despite your misgivings, I believe Obama to be the more truthful, more caring person of the two, and I trust him to lead us toward a better future, protect our freedoms, keep “we the people” involved in government, and represent us to the world - which is what I look for in a U.S. presidential candidate.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 11:34 pm

You also said, “You know, you people ought to be thinking about what happens to this country should the polling data be as accurate as it has been and Obama loses… Large numbers of the people you will have stood beside at the poles will likely be trying to kill YOU. (Read: James Carville, Paul Begala, etc.)…we will have riots…and I hope I won’t be in a position to say “Told you so.”

And yes, I agree with you that there will be major protests and our country will have a crisis if Obama is way ahead in the electoral vote predictions by every polling organization on election day, then he doesn’t get elected. And I think there should be.

I’m still not sure I fully understand what you’re point is there, though.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 25, 2008, 11:41 pm

[comment deleted for violation of guidelines -- no name-calling]

Comment from Renee
Time: October 25, 2008, 11:53 pm

Yeah, I was attempting to respond without dignifying his remarks, while still intelligently answering his question of how an educated person could vote for Obama. I know everyone has their reasons, so I shared mine. I’d like to hear other local people’s real reasons for voting for their candidate, too.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 26, 2008, 12:07 am

Actually I think your reasons pretty much sums it up, adding to that how badly america needs change even when the scaredy-cats resist it. The operative word here is obviously “educated.”

Comment from Draegn88
Time: October 26, 2008, 12:15 am

Renee, if people riot due to Obama either winning or losing, what do you think Obama’s response will be?

http://www.independent.ie/world-news/police-on-riot-alert-over-fears-obama-could-lose-1508106.html

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/police-prepare-for-unrest-2008-10-21.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/10/22/politics/horserace/entry4539330.shtml

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 26, 2008, 12:42 am

Draegn88,
Don’t you think that some of this is paranoia and some of it is trying to be overly prepared because of the political repercussions that any police force caught offguard would incur?

Comment from Draegn88
Time: October 26, 2008, 1:17 am

Valley,

I think some of it is due to people wanting to cover their assets as they do not know what to expect. If there are riots either celebratory or vindictive will Obama pardon them or condemn them?

Comment from Renee
Time: October 26, 2008, 1:22 am

Draegn88, I’m sure Obama will denounce any riots/violence.

I’m not that worried about it, and it’s not going to affect how I vote. I just pray that everyone that is eligible to vote and registered gets a chance to vote, and that voting machines work well, and that everything goes smoothly on election day so whoever wins or loses, no one can say the election wasn’t fair.

And if Obama is way ahead in the polls that day, then loses, our country will either have to seriously evaluate its voting and registration processes and voting machines, or seriously evaluate any psychological or bias reason that so many people would tell pollers they would vote for Obama, then on election day, not cast that vote.

My hope is that everyone that is registered to vote does vote, that everyone who wants to vote can, and that the votes are counted properly.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 26, 2008, 1:25 am

Draegn,
I see your point. It is sad if that’s truly the case though. Do they really think that his election could cause more chaos than what is going on right now with the economy and stock market? As for Obama’s position, as a man of change and reconciliation, I hardly doubt that he would condone such behavior.

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 26, 2008, 2:33 pm

Of course, it’s Obama and his financial advisors as well as fellow Dems in the House and Senate which caused and profited off of the current financial chaos in the first place, huh, Progressive?

The name Frank Raines mean anything to you? He grabbed $90 million over six year in Fannie Mae…now’s he an advisor to BO.

Comment from David Miller
Time: October 26, 2008, 2:35 pm

Briggman, don’t start with the holyer than thou junk. Who’s McCain’s top advisor and for whom did he work until about a month ago? How much was he paid for “access to McCain”?

Comment from Miguel Luis
Time: October 26, 2008, 2:40 pm

Obama, is not only the best candidate to be president for USA; he is also the man, who will bring the real change for the world. Obama my vote is for you. Because you alway said the thru and i feel you will be the best president for america and for the world. God bless you.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 26, 2008, 3:15 pm

Briggman,
Nice try repeating a McCain smear that was debunked months ago.
The non-partisan fact-check website Snopes.com looked into these smears, and their conclusions about Barack and the Fannie Mae executives shouldn’t be surprising: “None of them has (or apparently ever had) ongoing roles with the campaign as chief economic advisors.”
As for Raines personally, Frank Raines himself even released a statement saying that he is “not an advisor to Barack Obama, nor have I provided his campaign with advice on housing or economic matters.”

Just another republican lie. Not surpisingly you have no problem with your candidate being one of the “Keating Five.”

Lastly, If you truly believe that this economic fiasco is due to the do-nothing Congress of the past two years then you know absolutely nothing about economics and finance.

It began back in the 1980’s when Ronald Reagan embraced Milton Friedman’s concept of Laissez Faire economics and industry deregulation. It continued throughout the 1900’s and 2000’s when BOTH parties, bought and sold by lobbyists, slowly eroded the checks and balances put in place to prevent this sort of thing. The republicans led the way as they made corporate deregulation a platform issue. One of the biggest proponent of deregulation, and contributor to this mess, is Phil Gramm who has been advising and campaigning for McCain.

Comment from David Miller
Time: October 26, 2008, 3:19 pm

Valley, McCain is certainly not Dave’s candidate. He’ll soon point that out. The important thing is that he’ll never debate you in the world of reality. I momentarily forgot that when I posted. Just a heads up, there is no constructive dialogue with him.

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 26, 2008, 3:22 pm

Progressive…you must be new to the Valley…McCain’s not my candidate either…I’m Libertarian…that makes Bob Barr my candidate.

I can’t stand John McCain…and am only voting for him to stop a socialist/marxist from taking the White House.

“do-nothing Congress of the past two years”…what are you, completely ignorant? The Congress has been handled by Senator Harry Reid and Congressman Nancy Pelosi — both Democrats.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 26, 2008, 3:36 pm

My bad. I did know that your candidate was Barr. As for Pelosi and Reid they have only their respective chairs for less than 2 years!

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 26, 2008, 3:38 pm

Thanks for the heads up DM!

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 26, 2008, 3:46 pm

Pelosi and Reid assumed their roles in early JANUARY 2007…

I know it’s tough to take, but facts are facts and the Dems have been running Congress for those two years, or are you saying the “do nothing” Congress was only do nothing in the past two years PRIOR to the dates Pelosi and Reid assumed leadership?

Comment from Draegn88
Time: October 26, 2008, 4:03 pm

Regardless of whoever wins, I feel that in the end the election will be decided in the courts. Be it from ACORN’s voter fraud, Obama’s citizenship issue, complaints about Diebold, etc..

Comment from David Miller
Time: October 26, 2008, 4:19 pm

Whatever, besides the legitimate diebold concerns the rest of your “concerns” are bogus and wasteful of time that could be spent discussing actual voter fraud.

Comment from The Valley Progressive
Time: October 26, 2008, 4:21 pm

Briggman,
Listen, please. They both assumed their chairs on January 4, 2007. Do the math, I said that they hadn’t even held their chairs for 2 years yet. Jan 4, 2007 + 2 years=Jan 4, 2009. Is it jan 4, 2009 yet??? Your last sentence is foolish. To imply that Dems are in control of, or to use your word “handled”, Congress while in the minority is foolish. You’re saying that Dems are in control when they are in the majority and in the minorty. Huh! Why bother to have majority/minorty parties in Congress? The poor republicans never get a chance to run the Governent according to you. This that neocon denial of responsibility that I blog about. Wow..

Draegn, you do know that the FBI is investigating the possiblilty that a rightwing group pulled that fraud stunt and planted it on ACORN, right?

Comment from Renee
Time: October 26, 2008, 4:41 pm

Ugh, Diebold. I have zero confidence in them after a machine at JMU added $1 to my JAC card, then spit the dollar back out, so I got a free dollar’s worth of printer usage. Not that I mind that, but I don’t want the same technology giving free votes to anyone in the election.

I’m a software developer, and I see no reason for the voting machine companies not to open up their code to a neutral examiner for something as vital as a voting machine, or at the very least have extensive 3rd-party testing to expose any glitches before election day. The way they’re allowed to keep it all closed is very worrisome.

Comment from David Miller
Time: October 26, 2008, 4:45 pm

Harvard hacked them, it was easy. There is zero confidence in the machines from anyone with tech ability.

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 26, 2008, 5:07 pm

Just got word that all volunteer shifts for tomorrow have been filled!! 150 people!

Comment from Renee
Time: October 26, 2008, 9:39 pm

Oops… I was too slow to decide on that. Here’s hoping I get that press pass! Thanks for the update, Emmy.

Comment from Deona Landes Houff
Time: October 27, 2008, 3:52 pm

The DNR is reporting that the rally will NOT move to Bridgeforth; Obama will take a car from Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport to JMU; and I-81 will NOT be blocked off.

Comment from Breslau
Time: October 27, 2008, 3:55 pm

Well, I’ll never get in then.

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 27, 2008, 4:00 pm

Well I hoped they’d change their minds about the stadium. I’m going to give it a try, but if the line is too long when I get there I’ll just come back to work.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 27, 2008, 6:15 pm

Woo hoo - 100 comments! :p

Comment from Draegn88
Time: October 27, 2008, 6:43 pm

Comment from Deona Landes Houff
Time: October 27, 2008, 3:52 pm

The DNR is reporting that the rally will NOT move to Bridgeforth; Obama will take a car from Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport to JMU; and I-81 will NOT be blocked off.

********** FALSE FLAG *********************

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 27, 2008, 7:14 pm

I assume by that you mean that this is what they are telling us, but that isn’t what they are going to do? I kind of thought that might be the case, but wasn’t going to speculate.

Comment from Draegn88
Time: October 27, 2008, 7:20 pm

Yes Emmy. I cannot accept that the Secret Service would give the DNR the intinerary and travel route. So let us hope that others realize this as well.

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 27, 2008, 7:54 pm

I thought the same thing. It seemed a little odd to tell us almost exactly where he’d be traveling.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 27, 2008, 9:04 pm

Yeah, and the “motorcade” would attract a lot of attention on 81 - my bet is they’re going the “back way” or taking a helicopter. I wonder if the press traveling with him gets any protection or if they just get a rental car at the gate? It will be interesting to see the different press reports on this Harrisonburg event. We’ll have to collect the YouTube/News Channels video links and post them here.

Comment from Christa
Time: October 27, 2008, 9:16 pm

Helicopter from SVRA to Bridgeport Stadium. I’d put money on it.

Comment from Dave Briggman
Time: October 27, 2008, 9:32 pm

I think they’ll remove the roof of the Convocation Center so the Messiah may come down directly from heaven and you will all be witness to His Second Coming.

Comment from Renee
Time: October 27, 2008, 9:54 pm

Dave, I’m sure the Messiah could go right through the solid roof, without a problem.

Barack on the other hand, will probably need a door like the rest of us
:)

Comment from Lowell
Time: October 27, 2008, 10:21 pm

Thanks Renee, I somehow believe you’re right…
But dang! Won’t that be cool too!
Democrat candidates cares about the Valley!
Again! After several times of showing us again and again!
The only time Republicans do is at the very last moment when they think they’re in trouble.
Will the McCain Palin team visit at all?..

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 28, 2008, 6:17 am

I have people trying to antagonize me already this morning. I understand that there are people who don’t like Obama and that is their right, but to act like his visit is of no significance is really just sad. No matter who wins this election, if Virginia goes for Obama then the Republican’s are going to have to wake up and take notice. I’m going to enjoy whatever I get today, pray for his safe travel, and ignore everyone else.

Comment from Frank J. Witt
Time: October 28, 2008, 6:51 am

“will probably need a door “, Renee, REALLY, really…my GOD woman.

Emmy, enjoy your day, you have done much for the Democrats and you should enjoy today to its fullest.

Lowell, I didn’t get the call but it’s ok, have to take Ally to PA this evening anyway, last minute changes…

Comment from Emmy
Time: October 28, 2008, 7:51 am

Frank, I hope you realize Renee was just trying to make a joke of Dave’s attempts to rile us up.

I haven’t done near as much for the Democrats as I wish I had or could have, but I am going to enjoy this day. No one can deny the hard work by the local Democrats.