At a downtown Juneau “convention watch party,” supporters of President Barack Obama watched as he accepted his party’s nomination at the Democratic National Convention in distant Charlotte, N.C., Thursday evening.
More than 25 people gathered at T.K. Maguire’s to watch the convention speeches of the president and Vice President Joe Biden. Clipboards inviting attendees to sign up to volunteer for the Obama campaign were passed around.
“We need your name and email address, as well as the best way to contact you,” Nancy Courtney, the watch party’s organizer, announced during a lull between Biden’s speech and Obama’s speech.
Mayoral candidate Cheryl Jebe also put in an appearance, entering the lounge just as Obama stepped out onto stage on the three flat-screen televisions arranged around the room.
The speech was well received, with many lines drawing applause and cheers at T.K. Maguire’s. The energy level dropped for a minute or two after a technical problem caused the video and audio of Obama’s address to freeze temporarily, but by the time the president wrapped up a few minutes later, the group of mostly seniors was back to whooping and cheering for their candidate of choice.
“I loved it,” said retired teacher Nancy Slook. “I thought he was right on in so many ways.” She ticked off several points of the speech, including Obama’s defense of the automotive industry bailout, his remarks on military veterans and his education plan, that resonated with her.
Jebe said she is not a Democrat and her vote remains up for grabs this November, but she offered praise for the address.
“I thought it was a very positive, uplifting speech, and I look forward to hearing more,” said Jebe.
National polls and surveys of swing states suggest Obama has a narrow lead over rival Mitt Romney, the Republican ex-governor of Massachusetts, but nearly everyone seems to agree this will be a close presidential election.
Yet Alaska, which has not lent its three electoral votes to a Democrat since President Lyndon B. Johnson carried the state in 1964, does not look to be in play at all.
“It’s not even in the realm of consideration,” said Jerry McBeath, professor of political science at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, several hours before the convention speech Thursday. “Obama will not be Alaska’s favorite candidate.”
And so, with Alaska looking like a lock for Romney, Obama supporters in the state are looking Outside.
“We’re calling local people to build our volunteer base, and we’re also starting to make persuasion calls to Nevada,” Courtney told attendees.
Obama won Nevada in 2008, but the state was carried by President George W. Bush in 2004. It is considered a battleground state this year.
After the speech, Courtney seemed, as one of Obama’s favorite expressions goes, “fired up and ready to go.”
“The Obama campaign is alive and well in Alaska,” Courtney declared, to cheers from the audience. “We are reaching out to the swing states, and we will change and make this election happen. We will reelect President Obama.”
Who wins Alaska may be a foregone conclusion, and who wins the election is too early to say. But Slook said that for her part, she is looking forward to getting involved.
“I’m going to do whatever I can, and I’m really excited to volunteer,” Slook said. “This is the first time I’ve ever done anything for a campaign. And I felt really energized by the Obama campaign, and that’s why I’m here tonight.”
• Contact reporter Mark D. Miller at 523-2279 or at mark.d.miller@juneauempire.com.
Comments (131)
Add commentSG, You are right to chastise
SG,
You are right to chastise Bandit. He made a gross generalization without any facts.
Chessy,
Please provide some facts that substantiate Clintons claim that …“the way the far right that now controls their party seems to hate our president and a lot of other Democrats.”
Please define “far right”
Please find a quote from one of these “far right” party leaders saying they “hate” the President and a lot of other Democrats.
Oh yeah and one Clinton knows very well…Please define “is”
(Bill Clinton) "It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. If the--if he--if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not--that is one thing. If it means there is none, that was a completely true statement....Now, if someone had asked me on that day, are you having any kind of sexual relations with Ms. Lewinsky, that is, asked me a question in the present tense, I would have said no. And it would have been completely true."
Chessy, So if you dont hold
Chessy,
So if you dont hold the President accountable for anything then how do you give him credit for anything?
akjim,
it's one thing for youtube videos to show up with ridiculous, unaffiliated propaganda.
When political organizations sponsor these references, like Fox news, or conservative PACs, then it becomes a theme. This has become a theme, and you can dismiss it as simple political pandering, but it doesn't change the fact that it's the them of the tea party.
The tea party is disrespectful, to the president's face. "You lie!"
The american taliban is a very good descriptor. When you have a fringe organization taking hostage the entire public forum on politics, it's a serious issue. We have shifted to the right dramatically, and it's the neocons doing this.
Foolish is belonging to an organization that dictates the choices women can make.
Foolish is allowing your party to take orders from a fringe movement that considers minority rights as Americans are not as important.
Foolish is believing the entire media industry around the world is a "leftist organization" with socialist motives.
Foolish is brushing off the notion that the tea party is an extreme right wing conspiracy created by corporate elitists disguised as a grass roots libertarian movement.
Foolish is day in and day out blaming everything on liberals. Jim, this is specifically you.
Conservatives and liberals got along for centuries... now, all of a sudden, liberals are anti-american and destroying this nation (Tea Party words, seriously). It's not liberals. It's not moderates. It's the tea party. Forgive us silly liberals for being outraged that you suggest we are destroying this country singlehandedly.
Pres. Barack Obamas
Pres. Barack Obamas speech (the transcript) :
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/2012/president/candidates/obama/2012...
Cheesy, your blind ignorance
Cheesy, your blind ignorance is stunning. Your blind ideology is astonishing. Your blind adherence to all things Obama is simply pitiful. Please show a single instance of "political organizations" on the right using a Hitler theme, or even a single reference. You won't find one. Not one. What you will find is a constant flow from the left of such hate. You spout it yourself. If you want to see foolishness and hate, you merely need to face a shiny object. What a pitiful little person you have become.
"Because we understand that
"Because we understand that this democracy is ours.
We, the people, recognize that we have responsibilities as well as rights; that our destinies are bound together; that a freedom which only asks what’s in it for me, a freedom without a commitment to others, a freedom without love or charity or duty or patriotism, is unworthy of our founding ideals, and those who died in their defense.
As citizens, we understand that America is not about what can be done for us. It’s about what can be done by us, together, through the hard and frustrating but necessary work of self-government."
Pres. Obama
"So you see, the election
"So you see, the election four years ago wasn’t about me. It was about you. My fellow citizens— you were the change.
You’re the reason there’s a little girl with a heart disorder in Phoenix who'll get the surgery she needs because an insurance company can’t limit her coverage. You did that.
You’re the reason a young man in Colorado who never thought he'd be able to afford his dream of earning a medical degree is about to get that chance. You made that possible.
You’re the reason a young immigrant who grew up here and went to school here and pledged allegiance to our flag will no longer be deported from the only country she’s ever called home; why selfless soldiers won’t be kicked out of the military because of who they are or who they love; why thousands of families have finally been able to say to the loved ones who served us so bravely: ‘‘Welcome home.’’
If you turn away now— if you buy into the cynicism that the change we fought for isn’t possible. well, change will not happen. If you give up on the idea that your voice can make a difference, then other voices will fill the void: lobbyists and special interests; the people with the $10 million checks who are trying to buy this election and those who are making it harder for you to vote; Washington politicians who want to decide who you can marry, or control health care choices that women should make for themselves.
Only you can make sure that doesn’t happen. Only you have the power to move us forward."
Pres. Obama
Hey Jim, I found one. First
Hey Jim, I found one. First one that popped on google. There's more, don't worry.
- obama is hitler according to hank williams jr on Fox & Friends in October, 2011.
jim, I get it, you think I'm handicapped. Then again, you think every liberal is handicapped, so I can't get too worked up.
It's amusing that you call me partisan. You, who blames everything on liberals. You, who suggests anyone supporting obama is a jobless welfare abuser.
You're a partisan hack, jim. You are an extremist. You are affiliated with the american taliban. Don't bother lecturing me on politics. You lost that credibility with the first post I ever read of yours. You have no platform to stand on, other than the partisan stage you spout from day in and day out.
Do you ever read your posts, by chance? If I had to guess, I would say a fool is your ghost writer...
By Tom Raum and Calvin
By Tom Raum and Calvin Woodward
Associated Press Associated Press
OBAMA: "I'll use the money we're no longer spending on war to pay down our debt and put more people back to work -- rebuilding roads and bridges, schools and runways. After two wars that have cost us thousands of lives and over a trillion dollars, it's time to do some nation-building right here at home."
THE FACTS: The idea of taking war savings to pay for other programs is budgetary sleight of hand, given that the wars were paid for with increased debt. Obama can essentially "pay down our debt," as he said, by borrowing less now that war is ending. But he still must borrow to do the extra "nation-building" he envisions.
OBAMA: "We can help big factories and small businesses double their exports, and if we choose this path, we can create a million new manufacturing jobs in the next four years."
THE FACTS: Obama has claimed an increase of some 500,000 manufacturing jobs over the past 29 months. But this is cherry picking by the president. From the beginning of Obama's term 3 1/2 years ago, manufacturing jobs have declined by more than 500,000, according to the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Manufacturing jobs have been on a steady decline for nearly two decades.
OBAMA: "You can choose a future where we reduce our deficit without wrecking our middle class. Independent analysis shows that my plan would cut our deficits by $4 trillion."
THE FACTS: Three years ago, Obama pledged to cut in half the deficit "we inherited" by the end of his first term, a mark he's set to miss by a wide margin. The deficit when he took office was $1.2 trillion, and the $800 billion stimulus bill Obama signed soon afterward increased the shortfall to over $1.4 trillion. The White House predicts this year's federal budget deficit will end up at $1.2 trillion, marking the fourth consecutive year of trillion dollar-plus red ink.
Obama's new $4 trillion target over 10 years resets the goalposts with some fancy budget footwork. For one thing, it includes $1 trillion in cuts already signed into law. And it assumes that Congress will pass the administration's plan to raise the capital gains tax, boost taxes on households earning over $250,000 a year and impose a minimum 30 percent tax on incomes above $1 million. It also assumes a reduction in the amount of interest the government must pay on its debt.
@cheesy, really, the comments
@cheesy, really, the comments of one person appearing once on a news program is a "political organization?" Do you really want to start the guilt by association theme? Do you have any logic education at all? What a pathetic little person you are, calling anyone who doesn't agree with you names, likening them to murderers and religious extremists. On second thought, don't look in the mirror, what you'd see is depressing beyond belief.
I find it interesting that
I find it interesting that righties spend most of their time complaining about lefties and taking offense at perceived slights, whereas lefties spend most of their time trying to enact workable solutions to real problems.
Perhaps this is the reason the RNC was filled with platitudes, generalizations, and gross mistruths, while the DNC actually had some substance (not enough, but I'll take what I can get).
All this name calling.
Lot a bickering back and forth here. Here's reality for Ya. This says it all, The only headliner the DNC could come up with is Bill, thats it?? Bill?? Next time someone brings up Newt, remind them of who speaks for the Democrat party. Hipocrits!
Chessy… OK… now I see why you
Chessy…
OK… now I see why you are so [filtered word]…you think Hank Williams Jr speaks for all conservatives…Not true…
Just like Rosanne Barr doesn’t speak for all Liberals.
@pp
aside from the generalization, what "leftie" solutions are you talking about? Let's look at the top 3 priorities (largely ignored at the DNC, btw):
1. JOBS; 2. Cuts in deficit spending; 3. Foreign Policy
there is no lefty workable solution to the current state of the economy. 3 1/2 yrs of blame-shifting and throwing darts at ideas has come up empty. The economy must be a bipartisan effort.
@alaskabobc: Clinton is the
@alaskabobc: Clinton is the greatest living president. Newt Gingrich is an ex-house speaker who left in disgrace and has committed far graver sins than not being able to keep it in his pants (though there is that).
jim,really, you have zero credibility.
Here's why:
"Do you have any logic education at all? What a pathetic little person you are, calling anyone who doesn't agree with you names, likening them to murderers and religious extremists. "
What was that, jim? Calling anyone who doesn't agree with you names? Ummm, ok...
The fact is Obama has failed’
The fact is Obama has failed’ period. After several bottles of Pepto-Bismol I watched the DNC convention and I couldn’t help but wonder where I heard those promises before. Then it dawned on me, 2008. The lies are still the same just different day in time. I did like Michelle when she stated how rusted out BO’s car was when they started dating and that he wore shoes half a size to small and his favorite possession was a coffee table he dumpster dove for. However, didn’t he work for a law firm Sidley Austin and she worked for Mayor Richard Daley at that time? Nothing has changed in 4 years, if he couldn’t improve the state this country is in during that time why should we trust him that it will improve in the next 4.
noroadfugitive,
if fox news is considered a news organization, and conservatives do, and they have a guest on who suggests the president is like hitler, then you go ahead and dismiss it as nothing.
By the way, hank aint the only conservative "leader" who thinks obama is like hitler.
A religious leader in the roman catholic church feels the same...
Rush Limbaugh suggesting Obama is "sending out his brownshirts" is making an iconic reference...
And the hitler focus is the most simple of hate themes. The tea party's inception shortly after OBama's term began in 2009 is pretty clear. It's not Republicans. It's the tea party and the power they possess within the Republican party. Most tea partiers aren't haters but when they affiliate themselves with the true party of hate, they toss themselves in with the common theme that resonates within the tea party.
milspec,
you have zero credibility, right along with jim. If you post day in and day out about liberals and their lazyness and their anti-americanness (whatever that is) what are you supposed to post about when the article is actually about liberals?
No one is gonna take you seriously if all you do is relate everything in the news to liberl lazyness. You have no credibility. Zero.
Its a good day today:
Cheesy, I know there’s no lost love between us. But, how did you come up with that rant from my comment. Liberal laziness where did that come from? Even if the facts are thrown in your face you still come up with some sort of crap, and do your best at belittling everyone who doesn’t agree with you. Now, Lat98 always throws as much dislike as he can towards Gov. Parnell when he gets a chance. That’s his opinion and I can respect that, however I’m not going to treat him as you do to others, as far as credibility you need to take a serious look at yourself. It’s amazing how thin skinned you are. If it will make you feel better I can send you a Care Bear. Address needed though.
Grendel,
I agree the economy should be solved with bipartisan support... how does that factor into the Republican's number one goal of making Obama a one-term president? How does a bipartisan decision include a strictly partisan goal like the current republicans'?
I understand refusing to sponsor ill-conceived legislation, but that isn't this issue. Republicans even poo poo their own ideas as soon as democrats accept them... the healthcare mandate, for instance.
There's no door swinging both ways here... politicians unwilling to compromise on anything are useless. We have no place for people like mitch mcconnell in the US government. They have no incentive to pass legislation, and in fact the goal is to prevent productive legislation from passing in order to reach their goal of evicting obama in 2012. That's disgraceful.
milspec,
I was referring to your typical posts...
I only belittle those who deserve i, in case you were wondering.
And it's pointless to argue with this:
"The fact is Obama has failed’ period. After several bottles of Pepto-Bismol I watched the DNC convention and I couldn’t help but wonder where I heard those promises before. Then it dawned on me, 2008. The lies are still the same just different day in time."
The fact is, you wouldn't know a fact if you hit it with your car.
milspec, mind if I refresh your memory,
Milspec, from last week, on an article that had nothing to do with liberals:
"I have to agree AKJim, most likely, those are future BO supporters, besides why work when you have welfare?"
This is why you have zero credibility. You're a partisan hack putz. And you deserve to be belittled.
@cheeesypoof
1. Obama outright declined to work with Republican leadership, even set them up for humiliating & bullying diatribes, and his only "successes" where slipt right down party lines. That's why the GOP wants him gone & will not work with him. HE made it personal;
2. The legislature needs to have bipartisanship to pass the important stuff and the economy is important stuff;
3. The GOP healthcare mandate is passe. how many years ago was it taken out in the backyard and shot?
4. you cant point the finger at McConnell (I'm no fan of) without also kicking Pelosi in the crotch on principle alone. Reid should be put in a small box and poked at with sharp sticks. These 3 are bellwethers of the current state of legislative leadership.
5. most importantly, Obama is a idealogue with no intentions of compromise -- that is his track record -- and 4 more yrs of this indecisive, incompetent megalomaniac will take generations to unscrog.
There you go again Cheesy.
There you go again Cheesy. Here is a fact now deal with it.
8.1%
+96,000
368,000 DROPPED OUT
88,921,000 'NOT IN LABOR FORCE'
Now tell all those involved how well your man is doing.
Noroadfugitive - Mitt see's
Noroadfugitive -
Mitt see's Russia as a threat, he wants to attack Iran and he does not want to end the war in Afghanistan. Mitt plans to cut taxes for the wealthy, make cuts to education, research, regulations, and healthcare....
Please explain to me how Mitts vision will help everyone in this country move ahead?
Comment for a different article
I wanted to comment on the Burger article but is seems that is not allowed. I wanted to say that it is a sad day for the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation.
grendel,
1. False. He never declined to work with republicans. They presented their strict guidelines, unwillingness to budge on them, and so obama moved on to those who were listening.
2. Yes, but compromise is required.
3. Mitt Romney's mandate is working just fine...
4. Pelosi didn't mandate the democrats to line up in single file and tell bush to go [filtered word] himself. So, no, I don't have to kick her in the crotch. I'm not a big fan of hers, but I won't compare her liberal antics to mcconell's, then agree they're the same, because they aren't. Political leaders must have principles... right now the republicans' are not productive. Pelosi can stand her ground on policies... mcconnell is standing his ground agains the president. period. That's disgraceful.
5. "most importantly, Obama is a idealogue with no intentions of compromise -- that is his track record -- and 4 more yrs of this indecisive, incompetent megalomaniac will take generations to unscrog."
That's just false. An idealogue? Like allowing bush tax cuts to pass time and again? Like compromising with republicans on healthcare? Like gitmo? Like Iraq? Like Afganistan? Like gay marriage?
And I'm sorry, but indecisive ideologue doesn't make sense.
And Megalomaniac? WTF?!?!?!
How so? The fact that he's president is the only clue that would suggest that... you want a megalomiac, try grover norquist, the republican puppet master.
@cpoof
I'm not going to argue with your 1-4. It is waste of time & patience. Let's do 5:
Yes an idealogue, with a bit of opportunism throw in because he has no principles, which also explains his indecisiveness.
allowing Bush tax cuts to pass. Christmas present. He also made big deal of "giving" every working American $40/pay period by appropriating the $$$ from Social Security. Thanks for the pizza Barak. I'll pay you back when I turn 65. Truth is he would've gotten screwed in the polls because the economy was real bad at the time. Opportunist.
Compromising on healthcare???? Remind me, What were the House & Senate VOTES on that one?
Gitmo -- 1. Opportunist in '08; 2. No plan where to put these cretins because it was an Executive Order -- his idea, no plan; 3. tried to make issue go away because it is embarassing to be so incompetent.
Iraq? Obama GAVE our advantage away. You have absolutely no idea how much we HAD invested in Iraq and now they dont return his phone calls. They laugh at him in public. Do you have any notion what kind of deterent 250,000 well armed and seasoned US servicemen have on mutherscratchers like Iran?? All he had to do was follow the playbook left by GWB after he secured & stabilized the place. Incompetent, and foreign policy hack.
Afghanistan? He changed the mission and now no one there likes us, will like us, and dont trust us. Indecisive, then incompetent.
Gay Marriage?? What are talking about? This opportunistic hack didnt support it in IL Legislature, nor when running for senate, then he was unsure (indecisive) in '08...and WHAT does his support mean? Nichego...
Yes, megalomaniac
I meant to mention this part
very important: these are now the Obama Tax Cuts. Remember that part in his DNC speech -- "I am the president." It is his biscuit, all of it.