I have a hundred and one reasons why not John McCain. This is the 3rd diary in a series.  Someone was asking the other day in a comment that we should start doing something like this - so I am!  Follow me below the fold:

So, in my continuing effort to talk about some of the reasons that I refuse to support Senator McCain I'm continuing on.   Now I did get some flack for my first one, but again, like everyone else I am entitled to my opinion and these are merely that .... my opinions.  Follow me below the fold.

There's been some discussion here recently that versus trying to point out why we are supporting Senator Obama we should talk more about why we're not supporting Senator McCain. So, I thought I'd start off with WHY I'm not supporting Senator McCain and see if I can do a series of posts that will continue to point out all of the reasons (and they're numerous!).  Follow me below the fold.

I have to admit that I've had a bad day, so please take this as you will. But, I've read a number of diaries in the last twenty four hours that I have to ask .... are we being activists or are we being arrogant - please follow me below the fold:

I am about to climb up on my soap box and talk about economic situations which are very frightening. Poverty is the number one crisis we are facing in this country today, and I can only see it getting worse.

It used to be that if a family was living 'below the poverty level' then they would be able to qualify for certain programs designed to ease their struggle.  Once upon a time, this wasn't called 'welfare' and didn't have the stigma that it can hold for many today.

I want to make this clear that this diary isn't supposed to be 'hey look at my problem' - I used my numbers only so I'd have a reference point - it's nothing more than that.

The methodology used to calculate "Federal" Poverty levels is deeply flawed.  Follow my reasoning:

There has been a lot of discussion about whether or not the Federal Government should be stepping in and fashioning a bailout on Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE) which are both publicly traded stocks.  

While I feel strongly that we spend too much money bailing out failed banks, investors and more, I have very strong feelings about this particular bail out.

There's a bigger picture here that you might not understand.  Follow me through the Fannie Mae disaster.  Tomorrow I will write a diary similar to this regarding Freddie Mac.

How much do you know about blindness and Braille Literacy in the United States? I've researched this topic and found that it is astounding that in this day and age we have such a high rate of people who are blind who are unable to function simply because they have not been taught braille.  

With many of our newer computer systems it's fortunate that there are systems like JAWS available to help.  But Braille Literacy continues to be a struggle here in the United States (and even more pronounced abroad).

Maybe you can find a way to bring awareness of the need for a braille literacy program into your community. Think about it - there are many tools that are available to you free of charge.  Just think about the difference you can make in someones life!

I really love coming here and reading the wide range of diaries and seeing how people interact online.  It's rather interesting to see some of the wide range of opinions, how comfortable people feel sharing more personal stories and even some who just create a diary to whine about the days pet peeves.  But, I digress. This diary is in fact a peeve, but it's not probably going to be what you think! More below the fold:

I am not what anyone would ever consider a die hard Democrat. In fact I probably have voted Republican as many times as I've voted Democrat. To start this off on a 'good' note, I didn't vote for George Bush (either of them either time), but have voted for Republicans in local elections and did vote for President Regan.

With that out of the way, I'd like to share with you how I came to be supporting Senator Obama.

Several days ago Senator Obama called on all of us to take on the task of volunteering in our communities.  Many of us have no idea of how to even get started on this task and what organizations are out there that can help us meet our community service goals.

Like many of you, I am not particularly interested in participating in additional volunteer activities with my church, nor do I particularly want to get involved in working in a service organization who has significant amounts of their expenses going towards administrative costs.

There are organizations out there that can work for you!

I have spent more years than I can tell you being an active volunteer.  My folks instilled in us as very young children the need to do for others.  They also instilled in us that no matter how bad you think you've got it that things are worse for someone else.   I'm going to introduce you to my 'journey' through volunteering and tell you some of the wonderful things I have discovered as a volunteer.

I have been mostly lurking here since nearly the beginning of the primaries and haven't published too many diaries but I have somethings that are on my mind that I really have to get out there.

Before I start this diary I want to tell you that I've been a registered Independent since 1976 - the first year I was legally able to vote. During that time I've voted both Republican and Democratic.  

I grew up in a family with a Democratic Mom and a Republican Dad. I also grew up in a religiously mixed household with a Protestant Mom and a Catholic Dad (and I wonder why I'm confused).

At any rate, some things have seemed to bloom out of control here many times but usually not worthy of my remarking on them one way or another because I figure like most things in most places 'this too will pass' but I'm not so sure...hence this diary...

I originally wrote this diary on 5/19/08 and I'm starting this diary in the expectation that Senator Obama would be the Democratic nominee, 11 days later on 5/30/08 given that Senator Clinton would have played out most of the primary season, the rules board would have met and settled Florida and Michigan and none of that would have helped Senator Clinton win the nomination of the Democratic Party.

I actually published it originally on 5/31/08 and then took it down for low recs/comments hopefully because my timing was bad and not because the dairy was bad.

With all of that said, I hope you enjoy this diary and the thoughts in it and I'm trying again :)

So, Senator Clinton in an interview is talking about the delegate counts and is once again parroting the bile of her talking head Terry McCauliffe.

I have absolutely NO issue with the contention that Florida/Michigan will/must be seated (outside of the obvious ones that we all share) but at the same time, the delegate math still does not work for Senator Clinton even with the inevitable moving of the goalposts (which must be exhausted by now having formed a new country yesterday).

This is frightening. I have made it a point in all diaries about this election to remain calm, collected and hopefully clear about the points that I'm making.

Unfortunately, I saw some video clips that have caused me some unbelievable gas (well perhaps that's a bad choice of words) but anyway you get my point.

Here is the video clips that I'm having the gas with:

Senator Clinton speaks to the point in this clip:

Howard Wolfson

I have to admit I was slightly heartened to hear James Carville admit that he believes that the nominee of the Democratic Party will be Senator Obama and even went so far to say that once he is the nominee he'll send a check and make his commitment to work for him.  A true democrat (even if I disliked his comments about Senator Richardson).  His quote:  

"I'm for Senator Clinton, but I think the great likelihood is that Obama will be the nominee."

"As soon as I determine when that is, I'll send him a check," he added.

There's so much discussion about the economy and what can be done or proposed to enhance it that I felt that a diary dedicated to the economy might be something that others (besides me) were interested in!).

I'm currently a single woman age 50 and live alone.  I've been through the raising of children and having to provide for them as a single parent.  Between the 'gas tax holiday' and the 'tax incentive checks' and some of the recent media attention on our economy there are some basic, overlooked facts.

Now we all know and anticipate that prices are going to go up, it's just the way it is - I'm grounded in reality whether I want to be or not.  As a grandmother I wonder how my children manage today - especially when compared to when I was bringing them up!

I believe that there is a somewhat defeatist air that is taking over many of Senator Obamas supporters while there is an increasing air of moving forward in Senator Clinton supporters.  Aside from the fact that we're all ready for this to end, we must help keep a positive momentum.

I feel that most of us decided quite a long time ago exactly who we were going to vote for and why we were voting for them.

Please take a moment to remind yourself why you're supporting Senator Obama.