I could talk to you for hours. I could show you dozens of videos and hundreds of newspaper articles. I have numbers and charts. But, when all is said and done: You already know what you are going to do. Most of you ain’t going to vote for the Black guy. No how, no way. “He isn’t experienced” right? That is the “Code” for it, right?Why do you think CEO’s get the big bucks? They ain’t so smart. It is because they have an uncanny ability to use not only their intellect but everything at hand, they know how to tap into the right people and the right information, they ask the right questions so they are prepared to make the hard decisions. That is how I look at the Presidency. It is not just the man himself, it is who he surrounds himself with, who his advisors are so he can make an informed decision. Dick Cheney, for instance, has been a key figure in our country’s financial collapse as one of Bush’s key advisors (God help us). I am not even going to touch on Palin here.
Funny, I don’t have children, yet I care more than most of you about leaving a f—ked up planet to YOUR children. The Republicans have made a mess of the environment these past 8 years and they keep adding to the insult, with your support! You are willing to drill for oil offshore to lower your gasoline cost and build nuclear power plants near where your children and your neighbor’s children live. Not to worry, they now have cherry flavored Iodide pills so you can try to save your child's thyroid in case there is a radioactive leak. I don’t have children, so why should I care about Global Warming, that your great, great grandchildren will be living in waterworld? If we continue burning fossil fuel that is the legacy you leave them. I will be long gone and so will my gene pool. The reality is: I do care about YOUR children. Am I stupid or what?
Why should I care if you don’t care about saddling your first generation children with our enormous deficit? Today the deficit is at $9,674,376,879,082.81. (hit read more) In 2000, under Clinton, there was a budget surplus of $230 billion. He reduced the national debt by $360 billion in 3 years - $223 billion in 2000 alone. This represented according to Clinton: “The largest one year debt reduction in the history of the United States.” So much for the Republicans, who once were the fiscally responsible political party - they have morphed into the party of big govenment and big debt.
The dollar has lost all its value, half of you don’t even have health insurance. I have enough money for retirement, I have good health insurance. Why should I care about your retirement, your health insurance and that your house is worth half of what it was? But I do care because it is right and fair to care about your fellow human beings.
So if you want to say stupid things about McCain to me: Don’t. He voted with Bush 95% of the time. He is part of the problem. I look at the deficit and I don’t even know how to read that number: $9,674,401,692,281.09 (it went up while I was writing this) Take your fiscally irresponsible Republicans and all their bullshit (no new taxes, just don't look at the debt) and shove them down your own throat. You deserve them because you are not doing your homework, you are listening to spin and worse, many of you are falling prey to prejudice.
And, here is some advice for everyone: If you want family values: Get a family. The government should NOT BE ABOUT FAMILY VALUES. Keep your bedroom door shut, your reproduction choices private and your daughter’s and son’s sex life to yourself.
Me, I am voting for Obama "the black guy" that some of you are so afraid of. I like his character. He is smart, I believe he will make good choices and surround himself with top notch people...and he is our only hope for change. And, God forbid something happens, I trust Biden to take over. I herewith endorse Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Thank you very much.
45 comments:
I, uh, I didn't see that coming.
Wow.
When you say things like:
"Most of you ain’t going to vote for the Black guy. No how, no way. “He isn’t experienced” right? That is the “Code” for it, right?"
You do an injustice to any moderate democrat who just doesn't like what the guy stands for. I, for instance, am not a big fan of The Redistribution of Wealth, more wasteful social programs, or being overly concerned what the Europeans think of us.
You are typical of most democrats, who could be in a room full of other democrats and when any one claims they aren't sure about voting for Sen. Obama, you look down your nose at them and mutter the phrase "racist" under your breath.
How did this guy become the catalyst for change? What has he done at any level of elected office that leads you to believe he is a change agent?
McCain will win this thing by 5 point because democrats are starting to assemble in their typical circular firing squad.
moderate (although you knew)
debt 9/8/2008 12:55 PM:
$9,675,190,036,650.99
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/
I am shocked! Shocked I tell you that you would make an endoresement of Barack Obama!
I do have children and my biggest fear is that government run by elitists thinkers like you will render them dependent on every activity of their life.
Remember to stay civil on the comments and speak to the issues.... I did not say anything bad about McCain/Palin in my post, I cited McCain's voting record.
I am more scared of McPalin than Bush-Cheney...armagaddon is upon us and I don't think Obambi can pull us back from the brink. If the dumbocrats lose this one they deserve to be dissolved as a party.
Instead of listening to the candidates, most comments so for deal in fear and spin. The country has 2 wars, hugh debts, sinking housing values, rising costs of living, and very little from McCain about solving these problems. Please address these problems instead of the smoke and mirror responses.
It's funny that people who want to defend the undefensible - trillion dollar debt, an invasion of a sovereign nation under false pretenses, 4000+ of our soldiers killed in the name of oil, the highest rate of foreclosure and predatory lending under the "watchful eye" of the Bush administration that has caused a financial institution collapse (remember Neal Bush and the Savings and Loans debacle of the 80's, this is more of the same), billion dollar bailout of the same predatory institutions by the government with OUR tax dollars, $4+ per gallon, inflation, unemployment, underemployment, stolen elections and lack of confidence in "one man/woman, one vote", lack of access to health care by the working class, horrible education that is creating a new generation of undereducated, boob-tube addicted cheap labor for the corporate and military complex, bigotry toward anybody "different" i.e. brown/black/yellow skinned people, a polluted overbuilt environment, invasion of personal privacy and erosion of women's reproductive rights (have you seen The Handmaid's Tale??!) and illegal listening to our conversations - always spit out the same words and spin from the extreme right. Dare I say more?
Vote for Obama/Biden or face a corporate dictatorship in the US. We're not that far from it!
Anonymous wants to know since when did Obama become an agent of change. I'd say when he passed on the high paying law firms and concentrated in the communities was a good start. Now the republicans vocally deride and sneer at his community activism - all the while waiving their "SERVICE" signs in the air. Has anonymous even looked into voting records - or does he/she only listen to the spin out there. Obama has passed ethics reform in Illinois and at teh federal level, co-sponsored bills with republicans (contrary to what we heard at he McCain camp about him never reaching out to repubs) to open government spending for the public to view, has been sounding the alert to the now realized mortgage lending crisis for years, and stood up at the the democratic convention four years ago to criticize a war that a majority of his audience and colleagues just voted to support - a war that the majoirty now sees for what it was -a mistake at best, an outright lie for some including myself. DO THE HOMEWORK.
I am glad you brought up the black issue. It is something the press doesn't quite know what to do with. I think the person above who called you an elitist did not even hear what you said. You spoke sincerely. Thank you.
I didn't know voting "Present" equaled sweeping ethics reform in Illinois.
m
Read Pat Buchanan today:
"Positive polaization has been achieved. The Republican party has been united and invigorated...."The issues upon which the base loves to fight --- the Culture War and Right to Live are back on the table."
That is so horrible...happy that we are polarized????
And then he said:
"US Troops have crossed into Pakistan..."
And this ultra conservative said about this:
"Have we just thrown a rock into the biggest hornet's nest on Earth."
I am a proud Republican who cares more about the throwing of the rock than I do about right to life issues, that is why I can't vote for McCain. We need to get out of the hornet's nest.
Yes, I will hold my nose and vote for the black guy too.
Mr. Obama’s aides and some allies dispute the characterization that a present vote is tantamount to ducking an issue. They said Mr. Obama cast 4,000 votes in the Illinois Senate and used the present vote to protest bills that he believed had been drafted unconstitutionally or as part of a broader legislative strategy.
-------
Present Votes Are an Accepted Legislative Strategy in the Illinois Senate
January 21, 2008
Obama Was Praised for Standing Up on Tough Issues-- Because His Senate Seat Was Not Vulnerable, He Used His Position To Help More Vulnerable Senators Do The Right Thing. Zorn wrote, "Obama, however, was in a safe district and never faced a serious challenge for his legislative seat. He had no need to shy from hard-line stands on gun control and abortion rights. He actually took such stands frequently and is now highly praised by advocates for both causes.
Anyone Who Thinks A Present Vote Is A "Duck" Doesn't Understand How the Process Works. "There is a presumption, if one is not familiar with the mechanics of the General Assembly, that a present vote is a "duck." Pam Sutherland, the CEO and President of Illinois Planned Parenthood said of Hull argument: "I think it's not well-based…I think it's somebody who doesn't understand how the legislative process works."
Criticizing Present Votes Indicates "You Don't Have A Great Understanding Of The Process." "'Criticizing Obama on the basis of 'present' votes indicates you don't have a great understanding of the process,' said Thom Mannard, director of the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence."
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x4152798
sorry: I sent my last post too soon here is the rest to "m" :
Voting Present in the State Legislature is Used as A Signal to the Other Party, Not As a Way to Duck the Issue. "An aspect of Obama's State Senate voting record that is drawing attention is his "present" votes. A present vote is a third option to an up or down "yes" or "no" that is used with great frequency in the Illinois General Assembly. It has many varied and nuanced meanings that, in the context of the actual bills, border on boring. It's most important use is as a signal – to the other party, to the governor, to the sponsor -- to show a willingness to compromise on the issue if not the exact bill, to show disapproval for one aspect of the bill, to question the constitutionality of the bill, to strengthen the bill.
As I have read today's column and comments, I realize just how polarizing politics can be. The reality is we all have reasons for picking our favorite candidate and they are valid ones for us. They are not the same issues, they are OUR issues. Like the Genius, I care about the environment, kids, schools and the national debt and I have no kids, just many nieces and nephews, brothers and sisters. I will vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden because I care about these things and the next appointments to the Supreme Court, because I care how much colleges will cost, because I care that more blacks and hispanics go to war than guys like John McCain, because I care that the economy is tanking and I cannot count on the Social Security system for my retirement. So thanks for the post. Go Obama/Biden. help us retire the national debt and rebuild this great nation.
Call me Truly Blue
It seems that we are all hard wired for our sexual preference, convictions and politics.
It does not look like too many of us will be switching to the other side in most cases.
In order to not offend anyone I have come up with a new theory.
Our mayor is only permitted two terms in office.
I think our governor is only permitted two terms.
I know that our President is only permitted two terms.
And if that was not the law than I suspect that many Americans would be pleased to once again elect Bill Clinton even with all of his faults.
So my new theory is Political Party Term Limits.
I know it is not in the Constitution and it need not be.
But I think that all of us citizens should not allow any political party to remain in control of our country for more then two terms.
I believe that all politicians and both parties get complacent after eight years.
Most marriages run out of steam after seven years.
Cars are out of warranty in five years.
I wish that our Miami-Dade County Commissioners had term limits, so that we do not have deal with Natacha Seijas and some of her fellow Commissioners
for the rest of our lives.
Our country is pretty much divided into half Republicans and half Democrats and more often then not the independent voters decide an election.
So I say that those Americans that really love our country should just not allow any political party, no matter how beneficial they have been for your own financial bottom line, to stay in power for more then two terms.
No matter if you are a supporter of McCain over Obama or visa-versa, in the very best interest of our country it is important that the party that has been in the leadership position for two terms needs to be dismissed by us voters. - Harry Emilio Gottlieb
I'm with you 100% - Obama is the right guy for the job and Biden is a terrific VP. They should run circles around McPalin during the debates.
Would you think voting "Present" on an issue was viable if it were able to be used when voting on Moving the UDB?
m
I applaud you, Genius, because you articulate my fears and the fears of millions of Americans.
You speak to the rage and powerlessness of those who don't accept bigotry, racism, greed, war, lies, destruction of the environment, governmental control of our bodies and massive debt (bought with the blood of each and every dead soldier).
I DO have children, and I read the news, watch the spin, have seen the lies, hypocrisy and distortion of the republican machine. I fear for the future.
8 years ago I cried at election time. This time, be sure, I will blame every one of you who vote for the people who would have your children, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, lovers, friends, die for oil and monetary gain.
They say respect truly means trusting in the ability of another. I'm terrified of the ability of this nation to vote for what has integrity, what will move us toward grace and peace. Call me a pessimist, and you would be right. At 36, I've learned one thing- ignorance and hate are so powerful, they allow others to believe that the huge, disgusting, pink elephant in the middle of the room carefully pin-tucked by bigotry, racism and hate, in the colors of democracy, really means hope.
I have hope- as tiny as it is, and I cradle it in the palms of my hands, the same way other peoples, throughout history, have sought to propagate the tender roots of peace and freedom even when peace and freedom was a long-forgotten dream.
You know who you are- you only need to look back at your ancestors and ask, what is the right path? Women, Africans, Jews, Mexicans, Native Peoples of America, Hispanics, Asian Peoples, so many more, and yes, even the White European...your foremothers and fathers are speaking to you. All you have to do is listen.
Bless us all,
JennyAnn
Sad to see so many reactionaries still out denying the political equivalent of the earth revolving around the sun. But maybe that's to be expected in a declining empire. We'd rather hold fast to an imaginary notion than try to move forward, however hesitatingly.
A well-done endorsement.
Party term limits-what a concept.
Not-a-Moderate:
Last night, a legislative member explained voting 'Present' is voting against an item. It is my understanding if you vote 'Present', it allows you to further clarify the issue. Just because our legislators do not vote on issues using the same mechanisms, doesn't mean that they are better other states.
If the Present vote is a "no" vote, then I guess it does not matter on the UDB; it is very unlikely going to be used anyhow.
That's a BS response. Voting present is just a way not to piss off either side. I'm pretty sure I understand Legislative Procedure better than anyone else on this blog.
Just like I don't have to explain to you about flipping burgers, you don't need to explain legislative procedure to me.
m
Not a moderate:
Maybe in Miami Dade...but the rest of the country isn't us, there you indeed would be flipping burgers for other smug people.
you only need to look back at your ancestors and ask, what is the right path?
If I go look back at my ancestors that would most likely tell me to stay on a path of faith, family and country, but that is probably not the answer you were seeking.
Based on some of the comments it looks like the GOP will always fool some of the people all of the time. McCain's strategy is based on misstating Obama's positions and leaving the dual impressions that Obama lacks experience (and will raise taxes)and that he, McCain is ready on day one (and will lower taxes). We've just suffered through a nauseatingly inept 8 years of a Bush Republican Administration. McCain is asking for another leap of faith with voters. He's a DUD. We'll reap what we sow. He will be worse than Bush. He's no smarter than W and he's a worse politician. He cannot even use a computer and he chooses a running mate that wants creationism taught in schools. Is that what we need for our future? Another pair of flat earthers? Wake up America. Grow up America. Don't get fooled again by the same people who brought us the last 8 years. Stop repeating talking points as if they are gospel. You are being manipulated...again. Exactly what is it that frightens you so about Obama's intelligence?
These republician talking points of Obama voting present while a legislator in IL is again not addressing the real issues the county is facing. Why not try to have a real discussion of the issues instead of "I know more about government and am always right".
The real fact is that the USA is in a downward spiral and the next administration needs to improve the economy, end the dependence on fossil fuel, and stop our debtor nation status.
You should vote for who you feel understands these issues and has reasonable plans to address our situation.
The fact that the Obama sheep think he has answers based on his record of doing nothing is scary. He has zero accomplishments and screwed up his This Week interview yesterday with George S. Check it out, I'm not saying it, they are his words. A bit Freudian though.
That's a BS response. Voting present is just a way not to piss off either side. I'm pretty sure I understand Legislative Procedure better than anyone else on this blog.
Just like I don't have to explain to you about flipping burgers, you don't need to explain legislative procedure to me.
m
What makes you so special that I don't have to explain legislative procedure to you? Tell me, please?
I see that you are extremely arrogant and really need to consider that flipping burgers may be a more honest profession than spinning politicians tales.
In case any of my fellow burger flippers are interested, the 'present' vote is also used in the US Congress and in the UN. It is used as strategy or to express dissatisfaction with the item being voted on. And yes, one can hide behind it to avoid controversy. If you go to this link: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll328.xml, you will see how the vote is recorded.
last anon---please read your comments...and you have the gall to critizize the Pubs. Jesus, that is all you are doing, ripping the R's. You are speculating and planting seeds of deceit.
I love your blog, but can't concur with your decision. Obama's foibles are well-known so there's no need to repeat them. McCain's not perfect either but he's clearly better.
The fix is in. The corperate media is in charge. (Just watch the media). McPalin!!! (more of the same)will win. God help us!
I am a white female voting for Obama. And not because of his race. I don't agree with everything he does; he is a politician and does act like one sometimes (e.g pushing ethanol to the advantage of his home state and region when environmental benefits are questionable). But LORD knows -- what has the party in charge done for all of us lately? I feel that the Country is less secure and more polarized and less able to deal with long term problems. From what I have observed of Obama and his team during the campaign (not even his record) he seeks to have a skill set that would be of more benefit to our Country. LORD knows, "more of the same" for us regular folks isn't really going to cut it. And if McCain dies, Palen becomes President - and that is a scary thought!
lunkhead: What foibles?
Doesn't Obama's tax plan include:
1) no income tax for the elderly making less than $50,000
2) increased child credit
3) tax break for middle class
4) college subsidy for those who do community service
That all sounds good to me.
I love that some fool thinks Obama and Biden will do great in the debates. Obviously he or she doesn't remember that "Speech Obama" is not the same as "Debate Obama." And no one puts their foot in their mouth more -- and has been on the wrong side of more foreign policy votes-- than Draft Dodger Biden.
Put a fork in Obama/Biden. They are are done.
P.S. I loved the "my Muslim faith" comment and all the umms and ahhs from "Interview Obama." Take away his teleprompter and he is like a fish out of water.
I hope Gimleteye will correct the record of all the lies his has wrote/reprinted about Sarah Palin, including the bogus Anne Kilkenny email.
Factcheck.org checked out many of the lies against Palin. Here is their summary.
---
"We've been flooded for the past few days with queries about dubious Internet postings and mass e-mail messages making claims about McCain's running mate, Gov. Palin. We find that many are completely false, or misleading.
Palin did not cut funding for special needs education in Alaska by 62 percent. She didn't cut it at all. In fact, she tripled per-pupil funding over just three years.
She did not demand that books be banned from the Wasilla library. Some of the books on a widely circulated list were not even in print at the time. The librarian has said Palin asked a "What if?" question, but the librarian continued in her job through most of Palin's first term.
She was never a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, a group that wants Alaskans to vote on whether they wish to secede from the United States. She's been registered as a Republican since May 1982.
Palin never endorsed or supported Pat Buchanan for president. She once wore a Buchanan button as a "courtesy" when he visited Wasilla, but shortly afterward she was appointed to co-chair of the campaign of Steve Forbes in the state.
Palin has not pushed for teaching creationism in Alaska's schools. She has said that students should be allowed to "debate both sides" of the evolution question, but she also said creationism "doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."
A few of these claims were included in a chain e-mail by a woman named Anne Kilkenny. We'll be looking into other charges in that e-mail for a future story. For more explanation of the bullet points above, please read the Analysis."
Regurgitating talking points?
We all know now that Man made Global Warmming is a lie. No one has heard from Al Gore in over a year. 2008 has been the coolest year in the past 5. We're heading into a 50 year cooling period.
The american economy is in a tailspin?
6% unemplotment is still considered full employment.
Although 1 million jobs may have been lost, 40 million new jobs were created in America in the last decade. NET GAIN 39 million jobs.
Environment?
The air quality in the United States is better than it was 100 years ago, despite increased industrialization.
In 1910 - 25% of the deaths were caused by waterbourne illnesses. How many are caused by dirty water now?
Despite the increase in foreclosures, more people per capita own their own homes in this country than at any time in history.
Worst time in History?
I'd pin that on Jimmy Carter's adminstration.
Interest Rates on home loans were 18%.
Lines around the block for gasoline.
Unemployment was 11%.
Disco
moderate
Not a moderate...you prove once again you are just that.
Of course I don't agree with what you said but you are not pulling me off message no matter how hard you try (Mr. or Mrs. one step away from flipping hamburgers):
McCain voted with Bush 95% of the time. A vote for McCain is prolonging the Bush administration.
Thank you... Thank you for writing this thoughtful endorsement of Obama. I am so afraid that too many people will continue to buy the R spin.
I can't even believe all the snyde sarcasm and outright mean-ness I heard from the R convention on tv, from all of the speakers, but especially from Palin! If Hillary Clinton ever gave a speech like that they'd be calling her the B word and burning the witch at the stake. I am distraught that I am seemingly in the minority of those who think Palin is a bad idea for women. I'm insulted by the choice and embrace of Palin.
As for McCain, how many issues has he sold out to the extreme right wing on lately? It’s disgusting!
Watch this clip of the Daily Show, (link below) the Sept 3 episode, 1/3 of the way into the show they start a segment contrasting several statements made be Republicans about Palin, about sexism, about qualifications for VP etc. It's hilarious and it will make you nauseous because people are buying the R's BS spin factory.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/index.jhtml?episodeId=184108
Watch the Sept 3 episode - the segment that contrasts republican spin before and after Palin starts 1/3 of the way thru. Why isn't this on the regular news?
IF YOU CARE ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT YOU CAN'T VOTE REPUBLICAN:
http://www.emagazine.com/view/?4345
Mary Gade, a lifelong Republican, was, until May, the Midwestern regional
administrator of the EPA. She told the Chicago Tribune that she was forced to
resign after contentious negotiations with Dow Chemical about cleaning up a
dioxin-contaminated site near the company’s Michigan headquarters. Later, a
federal court mandated cleanup, but Gade was long gone.
Grifo says that for years the UCS has been hearing anecdotes about scientific
tampering and marginalization at the agency, so they sent EPA scientists a
questionnaire to “take the pulse of the agency.” The results were released
earlier this year—and it’s a picture of an EPA, she says, that is coming down
against science, against enforcement and, essentially, against itself.
Of the nearly 1,600 respondents, over half of them cited at least one instance
of political interference in their work over the last five years. Some is to be
expected. PEER, which Ruch describes as “a shelter for battered staff,” has
been fielding complaints from whistleblower public employees at agencies like the EPA and the Department of the Interior for more than a decade. But not
like this, Ruch says.
can'tbefooled said...
Obama is brilliant, is a born leader, has good ideas that seem very sincere, and is intelligent enough to surround himself with experts in different fields. No one person can know everything to be able to rule an immense country like ours, with so many complex problems and issues. He will be an excellent leader, and his priority will be to serve the U.S. and its citizens, unlike the Republicans, who cater to powerful corporations and the very rich with subsidies, tax breaks, and conveniently crafted laws.
McCain’s choice of a V.P. has made the differences very clear between the two platforms: gun-toting close minded and uninformed voters who believe that creationism should be taught in the schools, and who deny that global warming exists, will be voting Republican. (Plus the very, very rich, who stand to be taxed more.)
Anybody with a brain who is informed about the real issues and cares about solving the IMMENSE problems that the Republicans have caused, will vote Democrat. Notice that the McCain camp hasn’t mentioned the economy- our national debt, thanks to the Bush administration, is in the trillions, and it’s owned mainly by the Chinese and the Japanese. Republicans criticize Democrats for excessive spending, but they are the ones that have ruined this country, borrowing money to pay for the war and often not caring to keep track of how the money is spent, or how much waste there has been and how many private companies (like Halliburton, for instance), have profited from Republicans’ lack of accountability.
The way that the Bush administration has handled our ever increasing national debt is equivalent to charging trillions of dollars on a credit card, and just paying some (not all, even) of the HIGH interest on the debt. Bill Clinton inherited a high national debt from Bush the father, and in eight years was able to balance the budget and even create a surplus.
The Democrats came up with very specific ways to make necessary changes during their convention, whereas the Republicans are only talking about personalities and rely exclusively in McCain’s P.O.W. experience- they don’t dare talk about the issues, because they know that their failed policies are the cause of the downfall of this country in the past eight years- economy, environment, fall of the dollar, lack of respect for the Constitution, the housing crisis, unemployment, mortgage debacle, corruption, etc., etc., etc.
Bush and McCain justify everything by mentioning 9/11. What they don’t mention is that Bush was warned of the terrorists’ plans months before 9/11, but he chose to ignore these warnings. The war in Afghanistan was justified, since Bin Laden and Al Qaeda operatives worked in that country. When the CIA acknowledged that they had cornered Bin Laden in Afghanistan, Bush abandoned that front and sent his troops to Iraq, a country that had nothing to do with the 9/11 terrorist attack, nor did it have any weapons of mass destruction.
Senator Bob Graham, who was the head of the Intelligence Committee at the time, wrote a wonderful book that explains the details, “Intelligence Matters”. The CIA had communicated that they didn’t know Bin Laden’s address, but that they knew his zip code- their way of assuring the Bush administration that they were on his trail and close to capturing him, but that they needed more troops. They were surprised when they learned that all the troops were being sent to Iraq for a new and unnecessary war front. Today we still haven’t caught the guy who caused 9/11, and the Taliban is stronger than ever in Afghanistan.
Republicans have the chutzpa to proclaim that they are the ones who can stand strong against terrorism, when they have created more terrorists than ever before with their failed policies.
A vote for McCain is a vote for Bush- McCain has supported Bush 90% of the time. God forbid we get four more years of Hell!
(I had to repost this with paragraphs GOD)
Holy Carniverous Comments!
I just wanted to say I'm with you for Obama. And I have the elitist bumper sticker to prove it ;)
I completly agree wiht you on the cause of helping the children in America grow stronger to make a smaller future country. As the future of our society, I belive we, the young, should bbe focused on just as much as those who are aged and have lived their years. Because naturally, you hope for a family name to live on. You hope that one day a child years and years from now look back and say "Wow. Look at what they did for me. Look at what they did for my ancestors to make my life marvelous." Many people are intimidated by the color of Sen. Obama's skin. I myself have heard osmeone say to me "we are not ready for a black president." Straight forward. Well I question why aren't we? Why does the skin color of this male matter to our country. What if a white male was running in the Democratic side. Would we vote for him even if his ethics were completly misled? Even if what he said would bring America to complete horror? Who cares if this man is black. What I care about is that we have a president who is ready to change America and make us better as humans and as Americans and that we deserve to call our flag the american flag. And cal lourselves Americans. And be able to looka t our past ans smile. Not look at our past, and hope that it will never happen again. Because think about the saying "history unlearned is detined to repeat itself." I fwe have a president not learning enough of our past, not ready toaccept the past, or trying to defeat the past, we wil re-live the past over agian. Because that is what our president told us, and lead us to do.
Kudos to Genius of Despair for endorsing the ticket that is most likely to solve, rather than perpetuate/exacerbate our problems. We are called upon in our time to answer the same question that has always faced humanity; Are we to live in a dictatorship of the privileged few over the enslaved many, or in a society in which every life is valued? For us, the question takes on a more challenging twist, because it goes to our core assumptions: Are we to live in a society of takers or one of givers? In traditional societies (to oversimplify things for a moment), such as those of Indigenous America, social status was always determined by who gave the most to society -- hunted the most buffalo, cultivated the most corn, etc., to feed the most people, or gave the most valuable gifts.
A society of takers is all about who can get paid, and who gets the most, regardless of qualifications or socially redeeming value, at the expense of everyone else, which seems more analogous to cancer in the human body as opposed to free circulation of life to all cells.
Greed not only breeds and exacerbates disparity, but even more inevitably breeds fear and insecurity, with much reallocation of resources to protect the ill-gotten wealth of the few, instead of to address the quality of life of all. It is not healthy.
We just passed the 45th anniversary of the March of Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King's famous speech challenging us all to rise to our higher and more noble callings. We look ahead to the 45th anniversary of the Birmingham church bombing 18 days later, which killed four little girls at Sunday School. Was that supposed to be the triumph of "realism" over "idealism"? With less of the obvious ignominious cowardice involved in that incident, we have intelligent people of good intent still thinking that status-quo old order (that which "Conservatives" wish to conserve) is preferable to the "unrealistic idealism" of those who dare to offer change, because, as the saying goes, "Persisting in the same behavior with the expectations of different outcomes is one definition of mental illness."
Barack Obama is no Dr. M.L. King. He is a product of struggle without having been a participant in it. And, as such, America might even dare to say, "Mission Accomplished." (That has been claimed for far less worthy reasons.) Here is an individual who stands before the nation to be "judged by the content of his character rather than by the color of his skin." He has proven the wisdom of Dr. King and his millions of supporters of all ethnicities, that the nation will be stronger by tapping the potential of ALL of its citizens, without barriers or discrimination to hinder the flowering of their full potential. Here is someone who stands to prove what both Clintons showed: that intelligence and knowledge in the White House is a far better asset to the nation than unthinking puppets of the wealthiest elite, masquerading as populist representatives of some mythical (wishfully) dumbed-down supposed "mainstream" of Americans (not unlike saying that the church bombers spoke for the majority of the country). Obama has neither the track record nor the commitment that would identify him as a true progressive voice, even if his opponents' exaggerations try to portray him as dangerously so -- one of those pointy-headed, "Eastern elite" individuals who looks down his nose on "real" America, with which he is hopelessly out of touch. (Of course, by contrast, McCain/Palin, with their right-wing, serve-the-rich-and-wealth-will-trickle-down-to-the-masses policies and beliefs are so much more in touch with the day-to-day realities of working Americans, like the ones whose sons and daughters have been sent into harm's way to fight the Chicken Hawks' wars.)
The truth is that this election is not really about which potential "leader" will get elected (even though the one degree or less of difference between them is crucial). This election is about the citizens and what we are prepared to do, or to endure, to bring our country back to sanity and health. If Mr. Obama prevails, as so many hope he will, thereby averting four more years of certain disaster, he will tweak the boat's course a little, to avoid that waterfall in the not so far distance, but he won't rock the boat. He will need help from the citizens to do the real heavy rowing that it will take to get the ship of state back on its proper course and away from the sure perils that are out there for the unwary. I will take massive citizen activism to help the president serve the people, rather than the special moneyed interests who have found him pleasing enough to back him generously from the start of his campaign. Only citizen demands, and behavior -- boycotts and the like, when needed -- will empower him to stand up to oil or pharmaceutical companies and, in fact, help them to become more viable by being better corporate citizens. A whole lot easier said than done, but that was the lesson and the legacy of the Civil Rights movement.
I was much moved by hearing Dr. King's Washington speech again, after so many years, and what it meant for the uplift of the HUMAN race. I invite others to share that experience. Likewise, one can Google his famous "Letter from the Birmingham Jail" or the "Breaking the Silence" speech (perhaps his greatest) which led to his assassination exactly a year to the day after delivering it in New York, denouncing the immoral war in Viet Nam. His speeches began by addressing the plight of the "Negro population of America," and now apply to the American population of America, who has witnessed our birthright to real democracy compromised and our human rights eroded, as if "democracy" is merely a joke or a rhetorical line thrown out to suckers while corporate rule by the wealthy few systematically destroys government and its ability to serve the people.
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