http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=4

Open thread - Obama/McCain forum, convention coverage choices (w/poll)

August 16, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

I'm taking a sanity break and watching the Olympics this evening, recording the event to analyze later. It's an open thread to discuss the Saddleback Church forum if you're watching it.

For liveblogging, surf over to Pandagon for Jesse's take, or over to Gina's for her thoughts -- she's using CoverItLive.

11:00: Some recaps from CNN: all you need to know to explain why McCain should not be elected:

McCain said he would have never nominated Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen Breyer, David Souter and John Paul Stevens.

"This nomination should be based on the criteria on a proven record of strictly adhering to the Constitution and not legislating from the bench," McCain added.

The Arizona senator said he was "proud" of President Bush for nominating conservative Justices Samuel Alito and John Roberts to the court.

On the issue of marriage equality, Obama, as usual, tries to have it both ways. What he holds is an irreconcilable, illogical position.

The proposed 2008 Dem platform updates and convention news

August 11, 2008 by PamsHouseBlend

UPDATE (3PM): My rough notes on the call (at least what I was able to listen in to), are below.

UPDATE 2 (Tues 8/12 - 7:30 AM): Thanks to Steve Clemons, here is a copy of a 'near final draft." I think this is a huge, inclusive improvement on the last version.

There was a media briefing today on the approval of the proposed Democratic National Platform, covering some of the issues that were discussed in my earlier post on the initial draft, including:

- What does the proposed Democratic National Platform say about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues?
- How does the proposed 2008 language differ from language offered in 2004?
- What areas will the platform address that it did not in 2004?
- What role did LGBT Democrats play in shaping the proposed platform?

On the call were:
* Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Member of the Democratic Platform Drafting Committee and Co-Chair of the Obama for America LGBT Steering & Advisory Committee.
* Jon Hoadley, Executive Director of the National Stonewall Democrats