MOMocrats

The 2008 Farm Bill: Food & Fuel

I'm no policy analyst, but I do eat and I try to give my child as many organic foods as we can afford, starting with organic milk (at $3.19 $3.49 $3.99!! a half gallon). For a lot of moms, organic milk is the "gateway drug", so to speak, that leads to more organic food in the overall family diet.

And I try to keep up with all the movements that have made me more politically aware about food, and eating: slow food, the organic food movement, locavores/eating locally (aka the 100-mile diet). It's our family's way of trying to eat more nutritiously, support local farmers, reward the use of fertilizers and insect control by means other than dangerous pesticides, and reduce the carbon footprint (miles traveled, for one) of the way our food gets produced.

Where individual consumer habits intersect with policy is the government's USDA Farm Bill (final version of the bill posted here, a summary of commentary here).

BREAKING NEWS: Edwards endorses Obama

John Edwards—the reason MOMocrats was started back in September of last year—will endorse Barack Obama tonight.

Read it here.

Mother's Day Weekend at the Missouri Democratic Convention

Last Friday, May 9th my husband and I, who were both elected state-level Obama delegates at our township caucus, drove to Columbia, Missouri for the Missouri State Democratic Convention.

May 9th was my son's fourth birthday, and I had a hard time leaving him behind, even though we'd already had a party for him one day early. But, I've become so involved in the political process this year for my son, because I worry about his future if our society continues down its current path. I skipped out on his fourth birthday because I don't want him signing up to be drafted for the war in Iraq on his eighteenth. Because I don't want him struggling to afford housing or health care on his thirtieth. Because I don't want him lacking access to clean water or affordable food on his fortieth.

Of course, it's hard to explain all that to a kid on his fourth birthday. So I still felt a little guilty.

It turns out, though, that I wasn't the only one with our children's future at the forefront of my thoughts at the Convention over Mother's Day weekend.

Go Read It: Racist Incidents Give Some Obama Campaigners Pause

You seldom--almost never--hear about racist incidents targeting the various Obama state or local headquarters. But they happen. And it's been a real education for the hard-working and dedicated volunteers of all races who do the on-the-ground work of ringing doorbells and making calls to voters on behalf of the Obama campaign.

For those local and regional campaign staffers, it's been an eye-opening experience to see and hear just what your fellow Americans feel emboldened to say about our possible first president who happens to be biracial African/European American. And of course, what won't get said, but just hangs in the air as "a funny feeling."

Does It Matter to You How West Virginia Votes?

It's another Primary Day in America!

Come on, you know you're excited to see what happens in West Virginia!

OK, so even with the all-day coverage, there probably aren't many people who are all that interested.  There's some serious election fatigue going on.

But I'm wondering today, what does it say if Hillary Clinton wins the West Virginia Democratic primary by the huge landslide that the pundits are predicting?

Whether we like it or not, I think that's a question that needs answering.

Many are eager to believe that we're a country not divided -- that there are more things that join us than separate us.  But a major landslide for Hillary Clinton in the state where my grandfather was born would say to me we have a much longer way to go before we're ready to join hands and sing in a spirit of harmony and peace.

Everyone got a good laugh out of SNL's Clinton parody about her supporters being racists.  And I have no doubt there's going to be a lot of insinuation about that for West Virginia voters.

But how about if we back up and think about why certain pockets of the nation are overwhelmingly for Clinton and others have been landslides for Obama.  Leave aside the easy, gut reaction that Clinton supporters are racists and Obama fans are enlightened progressives.  If we continue on that road, John McCain will surely be the next POTUS.

Real understanding and analysis shouldn't be that hard to find.  I know that doesn't make for good comedy or quick soundbites, but it sure as hell would create a stronger Democratic party.

So tonight, I'd love to hear Chris Matthews, Keith Olbermann, Anderson Cooper and Wolf Blitzer come up with some real political analysis. 

Come on guys -- it's not rocket science.  Surely you can find someone to talk about the real underlying currents of this election season.  Race and gender are the easy issues to talk about.  Dig a little deeper -- what you find could be pretty interesting.

For the GOP, Yachts Trump Teachers

If you live in California, what's more important to you -- finding money in the state budget so over 10,000 teachers don't have to be laid off or allowing a multi-million dollar budget loophole for tax-free yachts?

The Courage Campaign has put out the video below to bring attention to this crazy tax advantage for the rich:

 

Need I say more about why we need fewer GOP lawmakers and more Democrats?

MOMocrat Joanne is wondering how much to spend at the grocery store this week, not how to finance a yacht, over at her place, PunditMom.  She wouldn't know where to park one in her neighborhood anyway.

Dreams for My Daughter

This Mother's Day, I'm not thinking so much about me, as about what life will look like when PunditGirl becomes a mother.  I know she's only in second grade, but given the political landscapes today (those with a small 'p' and a capital 'P'), I wonder if things will be different.

As a geeky high school senior, I attended a mock political convention at the local college.  I was already into following politics  -- my social studies project that year was keeping a notebook full of Mo Udall newspaper clips! -- but participating in the mock convention, and knowing that I would vote in my first Presidential election that fall, sealed the deal.

I dreamed about what the world would look like in the decades after that -- fantasizing about women in elective office, women running law firms, women truly taking half the world.

Elizabeth Edwards testifies before US Senate on Funding The Cancer Fight, Healthcare reform

Elizabeth Edwards and Lance Armstrong are backing legislation sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson, R-Texas, that would create a more comprehensive approach to fighting cancer. Both testified before the U.S. Senate today on the importance of cancer research, prevention and treatment funding.

Christine-Modern English

If Obama Jumps the Gun, Does He Really Think That Will Play Well With Hillary Supporters?

I'm not going to dispute the fact that things are not looking good for Hillary Clinton, but until someone bows out or someone has the requisite number of delegates, there's no Democratic nominee.

Apparently Barack Obama doesn't care. 

A variety of stories are reporting that regardless of where things stand on May 20, Obama is planning on proclaiming that he is the Democratic nominee.

At that point, after the Oregon primary, most anticipate that Obama will have won the majority of PLEDGED delegates.  But he will NOT have won the majority of ALL delegates -- odds are many super-delegates will still be uncommitted plus the Democratic National Committee doesn't meet until May 31 to start trying to unravel the mess that is Florida and Michigan.

Uh, dude, there's still a process in this country.  Even if something looks or smells inevitable, you still have to wait until the everyone gets to vote and the process is finished, unless you can convince Hillary to drop out.  And you'd have to be a tad delusional to think that's going to happen any time soon.

You can't be the winner just because you say so.  That's why we have the process in the first place. John Adams and his pals fought a revolution so that no one could "proclaim" to be entitled to any office or political position.

As a country, we don't like people who just take things.  You have to stand in line and wait your turn here in America.  And do you really think that all the Hillary Clinton supporters you're going to need in the fall are really going to appreciate you just announcing that you've won, when the game ain't over?

We know from the media reports that you're not really a patient guy and that you're getting bored with the process.

In Ten Suggestions for Barack Obama, Point number 10 is, "Win This Thing.  Just Win It.  I Don't Care How."  I am totally on board with that at this point.  As a friend said the other day, I'd rather see a rock in the White House before I would vote for John McCain.  But please don't piss off us Hillary supporters by planning your own coronation before the process is finished.

That's just bad form.

After Joanne is done thinking about how the Democrats can just come together and beat John McCain, you can find her ruminating on the political world at PunditMom.

Open Letter to Senator Clinton: Feminism is Not Academic

Clinton Campaign Conference Call, May 7, 2008

3:12, Geoff Garin, chief strategist for the Clinton campaign, discusses gains and losses of white voters and subcategories within that
31:39, Susan Milligan of the Boston Globe, on Clinton's prospects among key segments of the voting population who are not Appalachian whites (i.e., coastal whites and non-whites, New South inhabitants, midwestern whites and nonwhites, voters between 18-35, etc)

Dear Senator Clinton,
Last night as you gave your victory speech in Indiana, I think you finally realized what many have known and felt for a long time. Your campaign is over.

I'm hoping you have the courage to drop out now, quickly, graciously, and magnanimously. And throw all your formidable energy and tenacity into backing Senator Obama, our Democratic Party nominee.