This is the first time that I see Barack Obama in a Town Hall setting. Wow! He really knows how to turn on the charm. Is this is a prerequisite for all Democratic candidates?

Baratunde got to ask a question to Obama! He asked about his position on coal and renewable energy and,quite frankly, I am more impressed by Baratunde's framing of the question than Barack's answer.

I have to my left Carla from Loded Orygun. She is seriously liveblogging this so I suggest to mozie on down to her blog. She's doing a better job than I am

Obama believes the new attorney general has to review all the decisions and policies but into place by the Bush Administration. So many have been put into place by executive fiat that only the new president can get rid of them.

So I am thinking what question to ask. Should I ask about Roe v. Wade? Should I ask about digital civil rights? Or should I ask about the ongoing militarization of immigration?

OBAMAISMS
"If someone attacks you, you hit back swiftly, you hit back decisevely, you hit back truthfully."

"The Attorney General is not the President's lawyer. The Attorney General is the people's lawyer."

"This is a starting point : I believe in science. I believe in evidence. I believe in facts. I think it is a good starting point for where our science policies should be."
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The height of this trip is finally, FINALLY! getting to meet Pam Spaulding, Terrance Heath, Maegan Ortiz, sherillyn iffil, and that conservative blogger who drives me insane yet also makes me go, "Uh-hmm, go girl", LaShawn Barber.

That's the thrill of coming to these things. Meeting the bloggers I haven't met yet. The candidates? ..... meh.

Anyhow, this is going to be our open chat room. Enjoy!

I'm going to skip the SOTUA parties and just down my own mojitos at home while covering the State of the Union Address. I was invited to a private chat party, but this being the internets and me being a multi-tasker, I can also host my own chat party.

The fun thing about the chatrooms we have here is that they are archivable. So all I have to do is cut-and-paste the highlights on a blog post after we're done tearing down the Shrub.

Who's in?
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Location

Hola culturekitchenettes, it's the blogdiva reporting live from New York City's only urban country club -- complete with crack head caddies -- the Partk Avenue Country Club. Grock! How I hate that name.

I am here thanks to the coordinating efforts of New American Majority, Drinking LIberally, Democracy for New York, DL21C and other grassroots organizations working here in the city for either the Democratic or Working Families parties. Anybody that's anybody in the political grassroots movement here in New York City is here, waiting and cheering (or booing) as the results come in.

Here's a little podcast I've tried to extrude from the manic noise enveloping the place. Just wanted to give a little taste of what's happening here.