Advice to Obama: Less Generalizations, More Specifics

Alright, I’m gonna switch gears a little bit, because I’ve had this on my mind for a while now.

I think we can all agree that Barack Obama is finally attacking McCain in an effective and honest way that informs voters of his faults. Throughout this and the past two presidential elections, the Republican smear-laden campaigns have too often overpowered the other side’s voice, resulting in eight years of the Bush administration. And now, it’s good to see Obama finally fight back in a way that will actually wake some people up.

However, something is still missing. Barack Obama hasn’t really given specific evidence of the who, what, when, where, and why that is found in his ads and speeches. He frequently speaks of the lobbyists in McCain’s campaign, not to mention the “voting with Bush 90% of the time” stuff. But if this is constantly said and not backed up (and it can be backed up), some people are left questioning the truth of what’s being said. Politicians don’t have the best track record of telling the truth, for good reason. Therefore, Obama needs to dig deeper, in a way that reveals the flaws of his opponent without compromising his own integrity. And trust me, it’s not that difficult.

Who are the lobbyists? What are their names? How are they affiliated with the failed policies of the Republican party?

What are specific incidents of John McCain voting with Bush? What unpopular policies are McCain for that will make the next four years like the last eight if he’s elected? How does his position on the economy, abortion, the war in Iraq, etc contradict his newer promise of “change”?

While these questions have been answered in some ads, Obama is found many times speaking too generally. He needs to give names, dates and specific policies, so that voters don’t doubt what he’s saying. There are too many people who are on the fence right now, and in order to really convince them, they need cold hard evidence. Keep playing videos of McCain boasting that he voted with Bush. Use his quotes of promising change against him by showing how much John McCain has changed: from someone who could have been considered a maverick, to a George W. Bush clone. His inconsistencies are crucial right now, and this is Obama’s opportunity to take advantage of them.

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ETA: Just one of the many, many people who attended a rally in Alaska.

Nice. (Thanks, mudflats.)

ATTENTION BLACK QUEENS: what are your staples?

do you have any must-have, absolutely necessary hair care products? bq wants to know what they are. all black queen members are asked to compose a list of four products at most. preferably, each product should be a shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer, and/or hair styling product, but it’s okay if you don’t have four staples. may be you have a favorite conditioner and moisturizer that you could never live without. or, perhaps you only consider one product to be a necessity. that’s fine, as long as you don’t go over the four product limit. we’re just looking for what’s on the very top of your hair care regime.

why? think of black queen staples as an allure-esque reader’s choice type of thing. i’m curious about which products are the most popular among our community, and i think that future black queen newbies can also benefit from this. one of the most common questions in the message board is: where do i start? if these newly natural members are aware of the most popular products in bq, they will be introduced to products and brand names that are more likely to suit their needs. this is also a way to get current members involved, and who knows? it may teach us a thing or two about products we’ve never heard of.

submission is easy. you can list your favorite products as a comment to this blog entry*, you can email me, or you can respond to the message board thread that i started. for more information on how to submit your staples, click here. if you’re not a member and want to get involved, feel free to join our group. (it’s free, and fun!) i’ll announce a deadline around the end of the month, depending on how many entries i’ve received. so open up your bathroom cabinet, and get cracking!!

*this is meant for black queen members only, but i will accept entries from blackQueen:press readers, and/or new members of the group. while no one is excluded from entering their hair care staples, we ask that you are somehow involved with the group or blog if you choose to submit a list.

the verdict: auromere

remember when i tried auromere’s tulsi-neem soap for the first time? i just thought i’d give a quick update on how well it’s been working after two months: it’s great! the neem soap definitely helps with controlling dandruff and itch.

i’ve been using it sporadically (usually when i notice more itchiness than normal), and sometimes i’ll massage the soap on my scalp with my regular shampoos (elucence moisture benefits / dr. bronner’s castile soap). i have also tried a sample of auromere’s neem plus 5 shampoo, which did a good job clarifying my hair without completely stripping it. i’d definitely suggest either the soap or the shampoo, but if you want an effective cleanse, go for the shampoo. i’ll be sticking with the soap, because its moisturizing properties are working well with my dry scalp.

one3snapshot.com

check these out:

(ahem: also notice what has been added to my “to-buy” list…)

these designs are beyond amazing, and i just had to share. i learned of them from afrobella (who is also beyond amazing). check her out here, and make sure you go to one3snapshot.com for more info on their designs and t-shirts.

side dish: new product reviews and my final update for the does it really work challenge coming soon!