How Obama won

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The way Sen. Barack Obama ran his campaign was thoroughly discussed in a series of panel discussions and other presentations at “The Obama Effect” conference held October 23-25 at the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Participants included several college professors who have been closely studying the campaign. They discussed the compelling issues and events that surrounded Obama’s ascendancy to becoming the first Black man to be elected president of the United States. First of all, Obama, rather than wait for others to promote him for president, took the initiative himself, noted Heather Harris, a business communication professor at Stevenson University. “He had a wonderful plan, and I am sure he thought about how he was going to run. Continue Reading

How the GOP threw the 2008 presidential election (sort of)

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Barack Obama will soon be inaugurated as the United States’ 44th President, a feat of unparalleled significance in our history. I don’t want to take anything away from this monumental victory, but there is a reason that McCain didn’t win (and it’s not Sarah Palin). After eight years of a Republican administration that devastated so many aspects of our nation (no need to repeat the list), the GOP knew it would be a losing battle trying to put another Republican in the White House. Furthermore, why would they want to? With our economy in dire straights and a foreign policy situation long out of our control (and is tenuously looking to get worse), another Republican president in 2008 would run a tarnished administration from the start. Continue Reading

Si se Pudo!!!!

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Since 2005 Latinos in the United States have endured increased immigration raids, failed attempts at comprehensive immigration reform, vicious rhetoric from anti-immigrant politicians and activists, the sub prime mortgage mess, the economic melt down and increased racist violent incidents against Latinos throughout the country. In 2006 we marched in the millions against anti-immigrant national and local policies. In 2008 we voted. The numbers are not completely in as of this article going to press, but it seems that Latinos accounted for 8% of about 130 million ballots cast. That means that over 10 million Latinos voted in the 2008 election. Continue Reading

Dredging race out of the closet

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by Colette Davidson • 11/7/08 • It didn’t take long for the “Obama effect” to hit France. Just two days after the first African-American was elected president, the French are jumping on the chance to assess their own political makeup. Continue Reading

Bring me home to my new America

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by Colette Davidson • 11/6/08 • I’ve been on the road now for almost ten years – hopping between countries, landing softly in Minneapolis from time to time to rest my wings, then parting again. Each experience brings a new flavor, a new host of challenges that puts the world in perspective. From these voyages, I have learned one thing – I am not proud to be an American. Continue Reading

Minnesota Senate, Congressional, judicial, and school elections

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Here’s a round-up of the past two days of election news stories: • Recount ahead for Minnesota’s Coleman-Franken Senate race• Bachmann, all Congressional incumbents win; Paulsen defeats Madia• Minnesota judicial elections: Incumbents and Gail Chang Bohr, Jane Ranum• Minneapolis: Bates, Davis and Lee win school board seats, both referendums pass• African immigrant citizens challenge GOP challengers, celebrate election day in Minneapolis• Election excitement in North Minneapolis• Pictures at the polls• Full text: Remarks of President-Elect Barack Obama, as prepared for delivery on Election Night, November 4th, 2008, Chicago, Illinois Continue Reading

Pakistan: The other shoe to drop?

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by Colette Davidson • 10/16/08 • Call it a premonition, but I think the Republican party just dropped its bomb. Today, the AP announced that another suspected U.S. led missile strike was carried out on Pakistan in an area known to harbor Al Qaeda and other terrorists. Since August, the U.S. has purportedly been involved with nearly a dozen similar attacks, all of which it neither confirms nor denies. Is today’s bomb any different from the others or could this be a ploy to instill confidence in the U.S. Continue Reading

“Joe the Plumber”?

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That alleged “winner” of the final 2008 presidential debate is Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, a Republican voter. Per various media reports he lived in Arizona and Alaska; is listed in a Toledo, Ohio phone directory as Samuel Wurzelbacher; is falsely registered to vote as Samuel Joseph Worzelbacher; is making much less than $250,000 a year; has a $1,200 Ohio tax lien on his house; isn’t a licensed plumber; and can’t operate or buy a $280,000 plumbing business. The Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases.After being confronted with the fact that Obama’s tax plan would raise taxes on a personal income of over $250,000 and not on a $280,000 business, he agreed “I would, if you believe, I would receive his tax cut.”* Yet “Joe Six-Pack” Palin and “Straight Shooter” McCain are still using “Joe the Plumber” in their campaigns. He claims that when he asked Obama, “I still got a tap dance . Continue Reading

Obama outpost opens in the heart of Rondo

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A critical campaign outpost for Barack Obama’s Presidential campaign opened at 924 Selby Avenue in St. Paul last weekend, Sat., October 4. The location lends itself to several highly important voting groups from the University, Selby, Summit, Grand Ave., and Cathedral Hill neighborhoods, all of which compose the more properly known Rondo neighborhood. The intersection of Selby Ave. and Milton St. Continue Reading