President george bush jr. resigned today in disgrace. Not because he was booed while throwing out the first pitch (America's Pastime, indeed), but because of the commencement of impeachment proceedings in the House of Reprensatives. The articles of impeachment presented by Congressmen Waxman, Conyers, and Kucinich read like a laundry list. On top of which sits "Lying and knowingly misleading the American Public into an Invasion of the soveriegn nation of Iraq." Vice president cheney could not be reached for comment, as he has moved back to his Wyoming ranch after an existing heart condition became aggravated. His waning health has most in Washington thinking his resignation is imminent, which would leave Speaker Pelosi at the helm in the Oval Office. Let's hope she'll do more with that power than she has as Speaker.
In future presidents news, Senator Hillary Clinton, after being declared the loser in the Texas primary/caucus and her direct connection to the "vast right wing conspiracy" was exposed, announced that "for the sake of the Party" she is ending her bid for the Democratic Nomination for President of the United States of America. And after the recent disqualification of Senator John McCain from the race for breaking campaign finance laws. It is simply a matter of time and formality until Senator Barack Obama is sworn in as President number 44.
In economic news, the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of the victims of the predatory lending schemes of large investment banks like Bear Stern, who recently received government welfare in the form of Billions of Dollars in loans and assurances, causing a renewed confidence among average citizens, investors, and consumers in the United States of America's economic policies. And after the UN, NATO, and a host of nations around the world agreed to work with Our New Leadership in fixing the problems of security, infrastructure, unemployment, and government development in Iraq, Oil prices have, after six years of almost steady increase, finally begun to come down.
Oh and one more thing...
APRIL FOOLS!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
After 5 years of getting things wrong.
In January of 2007, the failure-in-chief announced and deployed his "surge", or as the more honest like to call it, his troop "escalation" in Iraq. 20,000+ troops were added to Our 132,000 troops already stationed there. By Summertime, violence in Iraq was starting to ease a little, after a short spike of course, but the escalation was only one part of the reason. In August of 2007, muqtada al sadr's mahdi army declared a six month, self imposed cease fire. It's hard to remember al sadr among all of the Public Enemy No. 1's, rationales for war, and definitions of victory constantly thrown at the American public when it comes to Iraq. The mahdi army (a Shiite militia) has recently taken to "civil disobedience". They have shut down sections of Baghdad and Basra and are marching by the thousands for Our Exit and the disbandment of Prime Minister Maliki's government in Iraq. This "disobedience" is turning uglier and uglier by the day, making a Shia civil war a rising issue once again. An issue We should want no part of. A Maliki issued 72 hour "crackdown" ultimatum seems to have done little good to quell the resurgence of the mahdi army. We'll have to see where this leads, but the signs are not good. A major oil pipeline just south of Basra, Iraq was bombed, sending crude prices even higher. Remember when We were told Iraqi oil would pay for the invasion? Why are so many still listening, without question, to "people" that got it so WRONG in the first place? Maybe we should be listening to voices that know something about Iraq, like these men who actually lived there.
The recent rise in bombings and killings in Iraq is not a result of al qaeda (who was not there before we were) as john mcwhat the hell is going on and his little buddy bush would like Us to believe. The republican, bill clinton continues to Promote as "an honorable man" who "loves this country" (more than Barack by implication), whose "lifetime of experience " hillary continues to tout, thinks Shiite dominated and Governed Iran is training militant Sunnis it has been warring with for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. I know, it was a "senior moment". He "misspoke". You know, like she did about her Bosnia trip or her effect on the Northern Ireland peace proccess. But I'm not going to talk about their "gaffes", or the one candidate who hasn't made a major one yet, in this Ink. This one is about the War We are in, in Iraq. A war we are in because of men like john mccain. A war we are in because of faith based, politically safe, votes made by elected officials, like hillary clinton. A War that was started on false pretenses, both known and unknown, Five Years Ago. A war that has cost 4,000+ Americans their lives and has injured over 29,000. A war that has cost $500,000,000,000.00+. A war that has killed an unknown number of Iraqi civilians. We don't count them. How many Iraqis was saddam hanged for killing?
Military leaders recently took the chickenhawk-in-chief behind closed doors at the Pentagon to tell him of the strains on military forces. A situation that has been talked about and predicted for years now. When the military thins it becomes harder to deal with other conflicts as they arise or as they already exist in places like Afghanistan. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel (who wouldn't be a bad choice for Secretary of Defense, or even Vice President) recently called the disgrace-in-chief's latest speech, on the "undeniable" success in Iraq, "another episode of 'Alice in Wonderland" where "What's up is down, and what's down is up." And in what some might call a major combat operation, the United States military dropped bombs on Basra today. Of course we all know "major combat operations ended" on May 1, 2003. President Make Believe told us so. Why should anyone listen to what this incompetent has to say? He has been wrong and has Wronged the American public and American Ideals with every decision he has made, foreign or domestic. It's time for a new style of leadership. It's time for new policies and new ways of forming them. It's time for the United States government to agree with its people and admit that Iraq was a mistake and to pull out, at least enough to let the people of Iraq, and hopefully the world george thumbed his nose at in 2003, clean up the mess this Invasion has made. I can only Hope the damage caused to Our country and theirs is not irreversible.
UPDATE:
I guess we shouldn't "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" just yet. After a week's worth of renewed violence in Basra (the City that England "secured" and left to the Iraqi Security forces) claimed 400 lives, a "peace deal" was struck to quell the violence. That deal, between mahdi militia leader al sadr and Iraqi prime minister maliki took place in... Iran. I thought president ahmadinejad arriving Iraq to fanfare (sweets and flowers), in the daylight, and with a smaller security detail than any American diplomat showed who holds more power since Our invasion, but Iran negotiating the "peace deal" for the nation bushco. is trying to build? Well thought plan PNAC. Well thought out plan.
The recent rise in bombings and killings in Iraq is not a result of al qaeda (who was not there before we were) as john mcwhat the hell is going on and his little buddy bush would like Us to believe. The republican, bill clinton continues to Promote as "an honorable man" who "loves this country" (more than Barack by implication), whose "lifetime of experience " hillary continues to tout, thinks Shiite dominated and Governed Iran is training militant Sunnis it has been warring with for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. I know, it was a "senior moment". He "misspoke". You know, like she did about her Bosnia trip or her effect on the Northern Ireland peace proccess. But I'm not going to talk about their "gaffes", or the one candidate who hasn't made a major one yet, in this Ink. This one is about the War We are in, in Iraq. A war we are in because of men like john mccain. A war we are in because of faith based, politically safe, votes made by elected officials, like hillary clinton. A War that was started on false pretenses, both known and unknown, Five Years Ago. A war that has cost 4,000+ Americans their lives and has injured over 29,000. A war that has cost $500,000,000,000.00+. A war that has killed an unknown number of Iraqi civilians. We don't count them. How many Iraqis was saddam hanged for killing?
Military leaders recently took the chickenhawk-in-chief behind closed doors at the Pentagon to tell him of the strains on military forces. A situation that has been talked about and predicted for years now. When the military thins it becomes harder to deal with other conflicts as they arise or as they already exist in places like Afghanistan. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel (who wouldn't be a bad choice for Secretary of Defense, or even Vice President) recently called the disgrace-in-chief's latest speech, on the "undeniable" success in Iraq, "another episode of 'Alice in Wonderland" where "What's up is down, and what's down is up." And in what some might call a major combat operation, the United States military dropped bombs on Basra today. Of course we all know "major combat operations ended" on May 1, 2003. President Make Believe told us so. Why should anyone listen to what this incompetent has to say? He has been wrong and has Wronged the American public and American Ideals with every decision he has made, foreign or domestic. It's time for a new style of leadership. It's time for new policies and new ways of forming them. It's time for the United States government to agree with its people and admit that Iraq was a mistake and to pull out, at least enough to let the people of Iraq, and hopefully the world george thumbed his nose at in 2003, clean up the mess this Invasion has made. I can only Hope the damage caused to Our country and theirs is not irreversible.
UPDATE:
I guess we shouldn't "Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb Iran" just yet. After a week's worth of renewed violence in Basra (the City that England "secured" and left to the Iraqi Security forces) claimed 400 lives, a "peace deal" was struck to quell the violence. That deal, between mahdi militia leader al sadr and Iraqi prime minister maliki took place in... Iran. I thought president ahmadinejad arriving Iraq to fanfare (sweets and flowers), in the daylight, and with a smaller security detail than any American diplomat showed who holds more power since Our invasion, but Iran negotiating the "peace deal" for the nation bushco. is trying to build? Well thought plan PNAC. Well thought out plan.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Racialism, questions, and timing.
Senator Barack Obama, who has recently been endorsed by several "experienced" military big wigs, and more comically, one Tracy Morgan, responded to critics who have been equating him to his former pastor, and more specifically to that pastor's words. One would have thought that his "vehement" condemnation of the statements in question would have been enough. In the reactionary, all or nothing, with us or against us, political system we live with, it was not. So what did the Senator do? Did he run from his church and join Bob Jones University, like say a mccain would? No. Did he play the victim and fire nasty shots back at his critics, like say a clinton would? No. He gave a speech. (Big surprise, I know.) But to read the speech, is to see someone who thinks beyond the rhetoric. Obama spoke to the reasons behind the anger of blacks And the reasons behind the anger of whites. Not just the tit for tat argument we've had since Martin Luther King Jr. And President Lyndon B. Johnson came together on "Civil Rights" legislation. Race Is still an issue in America. It is an issue we should not forget, dismiss nor give up on. The only way to move forward is together. Even if it means working with some unsavory characters. Here's some initial pundit reaction to the speech.
I do have a couple of quick questions (one related) for the mcold campaign. 1. Is it Legal to Campaign for president as part of a tax payer funded "congressional delegation" to the Middle East? And not to get all clintonian, but 2. Does mccain denounce and reject the Support of pastor hagee who has said the Catholic Church is "the Great Whore" and the devastation of Katrina was because of the gays?
Not to leave anyone out, here's one for the gentle lady from New York. Is sending your email list a message saying, in highlighted bold text "You've let every little girl in America know that she can be anything she wants to be." playing the "gender card"? I know that question is very un-Obama, but I had to.
And finally, one last note on "the spitzer scandal", unless he gets charged and goes to trial. I do not condone governor eliot spitzer's alleged paying of a prostitute to cross state lines and meet him in DC, where still-Senator david vitter used to meet his hookers. But my Real problem was with the incredible hypocrisy of this "white knight" against prostitution, the mob and all things unethical, going to prostitutes. It is a little coincidental, however, that, at the prosecutor's discretion, this enemy of wall street giants was outed as "client #9" the same time the "free market fixes all things" bush administration/Fed decided to give away hundreds of billions of dollars to save Us, or should I say the big banks, from the mortgage bank crisis. $30,000,000,000.00 of which went to save Bear Stearns, helping JP Morgan buy the once wall street giant for $2.00 a share (over 90% below it's value three days before the purchase). It's also interesting to note that it was the "Patriot Act" that was used to catch "terrorist" spitzer. After all the talk of how the rover cabal took down the governor of Alabama, it does lead me to question a few things. But hey, I'm sure the Federal Justice Department acted completely legitimately.
March 19th is the Fifth Anniversary of the United States invasion of Iraq. Scream, Cry, and/or "Pray" accordingly.
I do have a couple of quick questions (one related) for the mcold campaign. 1. Is it Legal to Campaign for president as part of a tax payer funded "congressional delegation" to the Middle East? And not to get all clintonian, but 2. Does mccain denounce and reject the Support of pastor hagee who has said the Catholic Church is "the Great Whore" and the devastation of Katrina was because of the gays?
Not to leave anyone out, here's one for the gentle lady from New York. Is sending your email list a message saying, in highlighted bold text "You've let every little girl in America know that she can be anything she wants to be." playing the "gender card"? I know that question is very un-Obama, but I had to.
And finally, one last note on "the spitzer scandal", unless he gets charged and goes to trial. I do not condone governor eliot spitzer's alleged paying of a prostitute to cross state lines and meet him in DC, where still-Senator david vitter used to meet his hookers. But my Real problem was with the incredible hypocrisy of this "white knight" against prostitution, the mob and all things unethical, going to prostitutes. It is a little coincidental, however, that, at the prosecutor's discretion, this enemy of wall street giants was outed as "client #9" the same time the "free market fixes all things" bush administration/Fed decided to give away hundreds of billions of dollars to save Us, or should I say the big banks, from the mortgage bank crisis. $30,000,000,000.00 of which went to save Bear Stearns, helping JP Morgan buy the once wall street giant for $2.00 a share (over 90% below it's value three days before the purchase). It's also interesting to note that it was the "Patriot Act" that was used to catch "terrorist" spitzer. After all the talk of how the rover cabal took down the governor of Alabama, it does lead me to question a few things. But hey, I'm sure the Federal Justice Department acted completely legitimately.
March 19th is the Fifth Anniversary of the United States invasion of Iraq. Scream, Cry, and/or "Pray" accordingly.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Bullshit (or why I should turn off my computer)
I've been a little angrier, not to mention more vulgar, than usual lately, when it comes to politics. Maybe I need a break or a deep breath. But I just Had to vent my frustrations with all the mounting BULLSHIT seen, read, and heard lately, though it's certainly nothing new.
While speaking (via satellite) to US military and civilian personnel, the embarassment-in-chief had this to say of Our soldiers in Afghanistan. "I must say, I'm a little envious," Bush said. "If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed." "It must be exciting for you ... in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks," This bit of bile raising bullshit came from the chicken hawk who avoided freeing mccain's "gooks" in Vietnam from communism. And skirting his duties in the Texas National Guards "champagne unit" to go campaigning. What planet does this guy live on. He's starting to seem more insulated and out of touch than a third world dictator.
Lil' george's third term, AKA old man mccain, has been running on the idea that the "surge is working". BULLSHIT! Savior/saint Petraeus says "no one" in the U.S. and Iraqi governments "feels that there has been sufficient progress by any means in the area of national reconciliation," or in the provision of basic public services. More troops reduced violence, but for the "surge" to "succeed" it needed to be coupled with political progress. Not only that, but will the reduction in violence, which is starting to swing back up recently, hold without the additional troops? What's the point if it just increases Our, currently open ended, commitment to the country bush pushed us to invade? And here's some more Iraq bullshit, the Pentagon was going to release (before it wasn't) a report stating that, after going through 600,000 documents found in Iraq, There was no link between saddam and al qaeda. But that's old bullshit! Here's some recent bullshit from Johnny "come 26 years ago" (actually it's 7 years if you only count this "new mccain"). He's out there, with others, saying This economy is strong. BULLSHIT! With big investment firms like Bear Stearns being bailed out and the Carlyle Capital group collapsing (and those are only the two most recent negative Economic factors to come out), it's time to Call Bullshit on these "America is always number one", nothing to see here, huge tax cuts for the rich and loopholes for huge corporations "trickle down" to the Americans that need help, Lying sacks of well... bullshit.
But the bullshit isn't only coming from the three terms of bush. The hillary clinton campaign, and no I'm not going to go on and on about the statements made by the former congressperson and vice presidential candidate, who left office to spend more time with her drug dealing son and crooked husband. You know what, on second thought, maybe geraldine was right. Maybe "he [Obama] would not be in this position" if he "was a white man", because, you know, it's so much easier for a black man to get ahead in politics these days. Oh wait, that's BULLSHIT! But wait, there's more bullshit from Camp Clinton, "We believe fundamentally it provides a very test of who can really win the general election," senior clinton advisor mark penn said. "We believe this will again show Hillary is ready to win and Senator Obama really can't win a general election." Aside from the fact that saying things like "Senator Obama really can't win a general election.", camp clinton both sounds like, and is helping, the republicans more than anyone else, the idea that if Obama doesn't win in the Democratic primary in PA or the other "big" states, the Democrats, that voted for hillary, will vote for mccain. States like NY, NJ, and CA will go republican, if the candidate that didn't win their primary is the nominee? BULLSHIT! There's a better chance of Texas going blue, than NY or CA going red. Even the clinton support topping governor of Pennsylvania, who recently said some whites are "not ready to vote for an African American" thinks it's bullshit.
Who's calling them on their bullshit? The liberal, Obama loving, media, whose busy trying to decide if they should run more stories on what Obama's pastor has said? Wait, Pastor??? I thought Barack was muslim? I know, "as far as" hillary "knows" he's not. But seriously, are all the Catholics that attended church services lead by pedophile priests, pedophiles themselves? It's BULLSHIT! "News" reports just continue to repeat lies and spin without saying they are lies and spin. Camp hillary, bushco., or the wackos on the way right come out with some bullshit, and it is simply reported on, if not as fact, at least without correction. To be fair, the media did run the former vice presidential candidate, whose team lost in a huge landslide, out of campaign '08 after giving her interview after interview to spew her ignorance. Lord knows the clintons weren't going to.
What's really important to the "mainstream" media right now is some hooker's myspace page. It's amazing. The reds can yell impeachment the day after a sex scandal breaks (no charges have been filed yet), but when a republican breaks international law, not to mention treaties, when his administartion surveils Us without warrant, or sometimes, reason, when an administration breaks National Security laws, misleads and lies Us into war, hell when a republican Senator is connected with a prostitution ring, impeachment is only for the "crack pots". Liberal media indeed. I call bullshit on the lot of them. BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT!
I think I'll spend my weekend at a wintery beach yelling at the ocean.
While speaking (via satellite) to US military and civilian personnel, the embarassment-in-chief had this to say of Our soldiers in Afghanistan. "I must say, I'm a little envious," Bush said. "If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed." "It must be exciting for you ... in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You're really making history, and thanks," This bit of bile raising bullshit came from the chicken hawk who avoided freeing mccain's "gooks" in Vietnam from communism. And skirting his duties in the Texas National Guards "champagne unit" to go campaigning. What planet does this guy live on. He's starting to seem more insulated and out of touch than a third world dictator.
Lil' george's third term, AKA old man mccain, has been running on the idea that the "surge is working". BULLSHIT! Savior/saint Petraeus says "no one" in the U.S. and Iraqi governments "feels that there has been sufficient progress by any means in the area of national reconciliation," or in the provision of basic public services. More troops reduced violence, but for the "surge" to "succeed" it needed to be coupled with political progress. Not only that, but will the reduction in violence, which is starting to swing back up recently, hold without the additional troops? What's the point if it just increases Our, currently open ended, commitment to the country bush pushed us to invade? And here's some more Iraq bullshit, the Pentagon was going to release (before it wasn't) a report stating that, after going through 600,000 documents found in Iraq, There was no link between saddam and al qaeda. But that's old bullshit! Here's some recent bullshit from Johnny "come 26 years ago" (actually it's 7 years if you only count this "new mccain"). He's out there, with others, saying This economy is strong. BULLSHIT! With big investment firms like Bear Stearns being bailed out and the Carlyle Capital group collapsing (and those are only the two most recent negative Economic factors to come out), it's time to Call Bullshit on these "America is always number one", nothing to see here, huge tax cuts for the rich and loopholes for huge corporations "trickle down" to the Americans that need help, Lying sacks of well... bullshit.
But the bullshit isn't only coming from the three terms of bush. The hillary clinton campaign, and no I'm not going to go on and on about the statements made by the former congressperson and vice presidential candidate, who left office to spend more time with her drug dealing son and crooked husband. You know what, on second thought, maybe geraldine was right. Maybe "he [Obama] would not be in this position" if he "was a white man", because, you know, it's so much easier for a black man to get ahead in politics these days. Oh wait, that's BULLSHIT! But wait, there's more bullshit from Camp Clinton, "We believe fundamentally it provides a very test of who can really win the general election," senior clinton advisor mark penn said. "We believe this will again show Hillary is ready to win and Senator Obama really can't win a general election." Aside from the fact that saying things like "Senator Obama really can't win a general election.", camp clinton both sounds like, and is helping, the republicans more than anyone else, the idea that if Obama doesn't win in the Democratic primary in PA or the other "big" states, the Democrats, that voted for hillary, will vote for mccain. States like NY, NJ, and CA will go republican, if the candidate that didn't win their primary is the nominee? BULLSHIT! There's a better chance of Texas going blue, than NY or CA going red. Even the clinton support topping governor of Pennsylvania, who recently said some whites are "not ready to vote for an African American" thinks it's bullshit.
Who's calling them on their bullshit? The liberal, Obama loving, media, whose busy trying to decide if they should run more stories on what Obama's pastor has said? Wait, Pastor??? I thought Barack was muslim? I know, "as far as" hillary "knows" he's not. But seriously, are all the Catholics that attended church services lead by pedophile priests, pedophiles themselves? It's BULLSHIT! "News" reports just continue to repeat lies and spin without saying they are lies and spin. Camp hillary, bushco., or the wackos on the way right come out with some bullshit, and it is simply reported on, if not as fact, at least without correction. To be fair, the media did run the former vice presidential candidate, whose team lost in a huge landslide, out of campaign '08 after giving her interview after interview to spew her ignorance. Lord knows the clintons weren't going to.
What's really important to the "mainstream" media right now is some hooker's myspace page. It's amazing. The reds can yell impeachment the day after a sex scandal breaks (no charges have been filed yet), but when a republican breaks international law, not to mention treaties, when his administartion surveils Us without warrant, or sometimes, reason, when an administration breaks National Security laws, misleads and lies Us into war, hell when a republican Senator is connected with a prostitution ring, impeachment is only for the "crack pots". Liberal media indeed. I call bullshit on the lot of them. BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT! BULLSHIT!
I think I'll spend my weekend at a wintery beach yelling at the ocean.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The Son of A Bitch-in-Chief
I'm sorry, but this really pissed me off. I really get no pleasure in hating the president of My Country, but with
...and this son of a bitch-in-chief has the balls, the audacity, to sing something like this! It's like joking about WMDs while Americans die looking for them, oh wait he did that too.
It reminds me of a little kid on the playground going nyahnah nah nah nah nah, certainly not the president of the United States. Truly Pathetic.
Here are some other "great moments" from the worst president in history.
Thank you Mr. Letterman.
- American soldiers and Iraqi civilians are still dying in the unnecessary invasion of choice in Iraq.
- Oil and gas prices hitting new records daily.
- Home Foreclosures still on the rise.
- The FBI, and others, admitting to breaking the law in spying on US Citizens without warrants.
- White House officials withholding documents from Congress, being held in contempt of Congress, and "losing emails".
...and this son of a bitch-in-chief has the balls, the audacity, to sing something like this! It's like joking about WMDs while Americans die looking for them, oh wait he did that too.
It reminds me of a little kid on the playground going nyahnah nah nah nah nah, certainly not the president of the United States. Truly Pathetic.
Here are some other "great moments" from the worst president in history.
Thank you Mr. Letterman.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Spin and hypocrisy
My favorite headline from the "clinton bashing" media the day after what they dubbed "super tuesday II" came from CNN. The "world news leader" declared "Clinton Trounces Obama". To be fair, similar headlines were everywhere. Senator Clinton did "trounce" Barack Obama in Rhode Island. She also beat him by 10% in Ohio. In Texas, however, it seems the "hillary hating" media and the Hillary Clinton campaign may have been either shortsighted, unaware of how the Texas Democratic Party (yes there is one) disperses its delegates or maybe (just maybe) they were Spinning last Tuesday into more of a big deal than it was. That way Senator Clinton could continue without much pressure to drop out. Something the "biased against Senator Clinton" media and the Hillary Clinton Campaign both want. Maybe that's why they all kept talking about the "next contest" being in Pennsylvania, leaving out second class states like Wyoming, which Obama won last week, and Mississippi, which he is poised to win today. Oh yeah, and on "super tuesday II" Barack did trounce Hillary in Vermont. I do realize that his 21% trouncing only gave him a net increase of 3 delegates, but Senator Clinton's incredibly trouncing turning point in Ohio only gave her a Whopping gain of 9.
Turns out Senator Clinton wasn't the only one laughing and smiling as the confetti came down for her 10% victory in Ohio (if Obama had confetti at every victory of 10% or more, he'd have had 22 by now, 18 of those victories were by more than 20%). Blabber mouth limbaugh was celebrating on his radio show. Not for mccain clinching the republican nomination, but for the fact that Senator Obama hadn't. Seems he was telling his Texas listeners to go out and vote for Clinton in the "open" voting that allows republicans to vote in the Democratic "Primary". Maybe that's why the caucuses had different results than the straight voting.
Senator Obama's campaign released their fundraising numbers for February last week. The campaign raised $55,000,000.00 from 727,972 donors, including 385,101 new contributors. The Barack Obama for President campaign has received donations from 1.07 Million donors. His campaign currently holds the lead in the Democratic Primary's popular vote, state total, and delegate count, leading the Senator to say this in response to the ClintonS' talk of a "dream ticket". "I don’t know how somebody who’s in second place is offering the vice presidency to someone who’s in first place".
In other political news, the hypocrisy of the righteous seems to have added another chapter with the fall of the "white knight", Eliot Spitzer, in New York. Though the Governor of New York, a democrat, has not been charged with a crime. He has apparently been connected to online hookers. Communications concerning price, transportation, and hotel room info is the evidence released so far released for "client no. 9". A sex scandal has a much longer, and louder, media shelf life than say a crimes against the Constitution story. Spitzer would have to be a republican congressman (see larry or david) to think he'll get over this scandal without resigning.
My first quote from an ass (outside of bush administration "officials"):
"If Obama is the nominee, we [republicans] are doomed," - limbaugh on Feb. 6
Turns out Senator Clinton wasn't the only one laughing and smiling as the confetti came down for her 10% victory in Ohio (if Obama had confetti at every victory of 10% or more, he'd have had 22 by now, 18 of those victories were by more than 20%). Blabber mouth limbaugh was celebrating on his radio show. Not for mccain clinching the republican nomination, but for the fact that Senator Obama hadn't. Seems he was telling his Texas listeners to go out and vote for Clinton in the "open" voting that allows republicans to vote in the Democratic "Primary". Maybe that's why the caucuses had different results than the straight voting.
Senator Obama's campaign released their fundraising numbers for February last week. The campaign raised $55,000,000.00 from 727,972 donors, including 385,101 new contributors. The Barack Obama for President campaign has received donations from 1.07 Million donors. His campaign currently holds the lead in the Democratic Primary's popular vote, state total, and delegate count, leading the Senator to say this in response to the ClintonS' talk of a "dream ticket". "I don’t know how somebody who’s in second place is offering the vice presidency to someone who’s in first place".
In other political news, the hypocrisy of the righteous seems to have added another chapter with the fall of the "white knight", Eliot Spitzer, in New York. Though the Governor of New York, a democrat, has not been charged with a crime. He has apparently been connected to online hookers. Communications concerning price, transportation, and hotel room info is the evidence released so far released for "client no. 9". A sex scandal has a much longer, and louder, media shelf life than say a crimes against the Constitution story. Spitzer would have to be a republican congressman (see larry or david) to think he'll get over this scandal without resigning.
My first quote from an ass (outside of bush administration "officials"):
"If Obama is the nominee, we [republicans] are doomed," - limbaugh on Feb. 6
Monday, March 03, 2008
There's no "end" in quagmire.
Today three bombs killed at least 17 people in Baghdad, which is less than half the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli missiles on Saturday.
The surge in Iraq has made parts of Iraq more secure. Imagine that. More troops equaling more security. The political process isn't making the same progress, though it did recently make some. I mention Iraq, because we are still at war there, as we are in Afghanistan. We also shot missiles into Somalia today in an attempt to kill "a known al Qaeda terrorist". This last military strike is most likely what we'll see more of, if the War in Iraq ever does actually end. Specific strikes on "al qaeda" where they live and train will be a change from invading and occupying a nation for five years (Iraq not Afghanistan) that had little, to nothing, to do with al qaeda until after we arrived. The president of Iran is visiting Iraq and is receiving the "red carpet" treatment in a country whose old tyrant-in-charge was an archenemy of Iran. When will mahmoud ahmadinejad finally thank the neo cons for giving Iran the only clear victory, so far, in their War in Iraq? His nemesis is gone. The, albeit more secular than Iran, shi'a majority in Iraq hold the majority of the seats in the Iraqi government. Not only that, the Iraqi government, whose nation we have spent 4,000+ American lives and $500 Billion to build, has now given him a pulpit to say "the US should get out of Iraq". Well done cheney, rumsfeld, wolfowitz, perle, chalabi and every other bullshit artist that the alcoholic cheerleader-in-chief had "faith" in.
The Mahdi Army, headed by "cleric" moqtada al sadr, has had a cease fire in place since August. Do you think that might have something to do with the reduction of violence since the summer?
The blunders made by the men and woman in charge of Our government, in particular the War in Iraq, have created an impossible situation. Whether intentional or not, allowing the looting of government buildings, libraries, and museums, some of which housed 5000 year old artifacts from Mesopotamia (the land of Babylon), unemploying thousands of low to middle ranking military men, and the slow to fix/lack of improvements to infrastructure essential for Iraqi survival (electricity, water, etc.) has created a situation where military aged, and younger, Iraqi males are angry, desperate, and broke. A situation that certainly makes militias like the mahdi army, and worse, look better to those "left behind" during the "liberation". It also makes it so, in the US military's eyes, every, of age, male Iraqi is a suspect to be detained, and that's not very encouraging to Iraqis either. The fall of the oppressive dictator saddam hussein is seen as an improvement by many in Iraq, but the overall life they have been left with thus far in the US occupation of their Country is not an improvement. Maybe they really did want to greet us with sweets and flowers, but didn't when they saw that we really didn't give a damn about them or their culture. We just wanted saddam, and a big old base/embassy right smack dab in the middle of the region.
The question now is what happens next and when. When, and if, we leave, what will we leave? Will al sadr's "army" come out guns a blazing at the Sunnis? Will the Shi'a rule the government and be allied with Iran's Shi'a theocracy? Will the country, bush is "bringing democracy" to, be forced to fracture into three segregated regions, like Senator Biden has been calling for for years? And the 80 pound gorilla in the room... How long can Our Military sustain these troop levels, with troops having longer and more numerous tours, without a draft?
The atrocious mistakes made in the first weeks of this war have lead to a much longer and more expensive occupation than we were told was estimated by the chicken hawks-in-charge. The anger and desperation that these mistakes caused make it hard to leave without thinking that the violence will erupt upon departure. Some say Our presence is causing more violence than it's preventing. I hope they're right, because we are going to begin Our troop drawdown/redeployment once a Democrat takes the White House. A redeployment based more on attacking al qaeda, and other terrorists, specifically, and not invading nations with tenuous, if any, ties to them.
This is one Hell of a disgusting mess these men and a woman have created in Iraq and the greater "middle east" region. Iran, Hamas, Hezzbollah have become more powerful, because of the failed and flawed policies of this administration. Policies made by Experienced men, like dick and rummy. I say, try them all for treason for willfully misleading Our Nation to war under false pretenses, or try them at the Hague for invading a sovereign nation without provocation, or not abiding by the Geneva Conventions, or for the bush doctrine of pre-emptive war. The "bush doctrine"... I Hope no one uses it on US?
The surge in Iraq has made parts of Iraq more secure. Imagine that. More troops equaling more security. The political process isn't making the same progress, though it did recently make some. I mention Iraq, because we are still at war there, as we are in Afghanistan. We also shot missiles into Somalia today in an attempt to kill "a known al Qaeda terrorist". This last military strike is most likely what we'll see more of, if the War in Iraq ever does actually end. Specific strikes on "al qaeda" where they live and train will be a change from invading and occupying a nation for five years (Iraq not Afghanistan) that had little, to nothing, to do with al qaeda until after we arrived. The president of Iran is visiting Iraq and is receiving the "red carpet" treatment in a country whose old tyrant-in-charge was an archenemy of Iran. When will mahmoud ahmadinejad finally thank the neo cons for giving Iran the only clear victory, so far, in their War in Iraq? His nemesis is gone. The, albeit more secular than Iran, shi'a majority in Iraq hold the majority of the seats in the Iraqi government. Not only that, the Iraqi government, whose nation we have spent 4,000+ American lives and $500 Billion to build, has now given him a pulpit to say "the US should get out of Iraq". Well done cheney, rumsfeld, wolfowitz, perle, chalabi and every other bullshit artist that the alcoholic cheerleader-in-chief had "faith" in.
The Mahdi Army, headed by "cleric" moqtada al sadr, has had a cease fire in place since August. Do you think that might have something to do with the reduction of violence since the summer?
The blunders made by the men and woman in charge of Our government, in particular the War in Iraq, have created an impossible situation. Whether intentional or not, allowing the looting of government buildings, libraries, and museums, some of which housed 5000 year old artifacts from Mesopotamia (the land of Babylon), unemploying thousands of low to middle ranking military men, and the slow to fix/lack of improvements to infrastructure essential for Iraqi survival (electricity, water, etc.) has created a situation where military aged, and younger, Iraqi males are angry, desperate, and broke. A situation that certainly makes militias like the mahdi army, and worse, look better to those "left behind" during the "liberation". It also makes it so, in the US military's eyes, every, of age, male Iraqi is a suspect to be detained, and that's not very encouraging to Iraqis either. The fall of the oppressive dictator saddam hussein is seen as an improvement by many in Iraq, but the overall life they have been left with thus far in the US occupation of their Country is not an improvement. Maybe they really did want to greet us with sweets and flowers, but didn't when they saw that we really didn't give a damn about them or their culture. We just wanted saddam, and a big old base/embassy right smack dab in the middle of the region.
The question now is what happens next and when. When, and if, we leave, what will we leave? Will al sadr's "army" come out guns a blazing at the Sunnis? Will the Shi'a rule the government and be allied with Iran's Shi'a theocracy? Will the country, bush is "bringing democracy" to, be forced to fracture into three segregated regions, like Senator Biden has been calling for for years? And the 80 pound gorilla in the room... How long can Our Military sustain these troop levels, with troops having longer and more numerous tours, without a draft?
The atrocious mistakes made in the first weeks of this war have lead to a much longer and more expensive occupation than we were told was estimated by the chicken hawks-in-charge. The anger and desperation that these mistakes caused make it hard to leave without thinking that the violence will erupt upon departure. Some say Our presence is causing more violence than it's preventing. I hope they're right, because we are going to begin Our troop drawdown/redeployment once a Democrat takes the White House. A redeployment based more on attacking al qaeda, and other terrorists, specifically, and not invading nations with tenuous, if any, ties to them.
This is one Hell of a disgusting mess these men and a woman have created in Iraq and the greater "middle east" region. Iran, Hamas, Hezzbollah have become more powerful, because of the failed and flawed policies of this administration. Policies made by Experienced men, like dick and rummy. I say, try them all for treason for willfully misleading Our Nation to war under false pretenses, or try them at the Hague for invading a sovereign nation without provocation, or not abiding by the Geneva Conventions, or for the bush doctrine of pre-emptive war. The "bush doctrine"... I Hope no one uses it on US?
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
I couldn't resist (and neither could they)
Just a quick couple of notes on the "campaign" and the insulting, pathetic and pointless stories that go with it. This morning, while walking to work, I noticed the NY Daily News headline "Smear We Go" with a picture of Barack Obama in the native dress of the nomadic people of Somalia. When leaders go to foreign countries, they do, on many occasions, dress like, or in the case of the failure in chief dance with, the native people of that country. Now, aside from the internationally insulting, "look at how silly he's dressed" angle of this, there is the American idea of a terrorist, or should I say anyone in a turban. A lot of people are pointing at the flailing Clinton campaign for putting this out, but would Hillary, or her husband Bill, really want to bring up Somalia? Insulting foreigners, fear of turbans, do as we say not as Our leader does, sounds awfully red to me. Personally, I think this photo of old man mccain is much more damning.
The Green character more hated then the Grinch, Ralph Nader, has once again thrown his hat in the ring for the Presidency of the United States. We all know that his 2 point something % of voters in 2000 was the reason that a three term Congressman, who served nine years in the US Senate, and was Vice President in an administration that oversaw 8 years of peace and prosperity lost to a one term governor, failed oil man, former alcoholic cheerleader, whose biggest accomplishment was having Houston become the most polluted city in the Union. The disgust with Nader must have been why the Dem.s rolled over with a collective "oh well" when the election was stolen. The Nader excuse for the miserable 2000 campaign illustrates a point that makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth when it comes to the party to which I am registered. The Democrats have been pathetic when it comes to taking ownership of the horrible campaign of their "substantive" detail oriented" candidate Al Gore, who has regained my respect since his "alpha male" presidential bid. Ross Perot garnered 18.9% of the popular vote in 1992. I don't remember hearing the reds crying about him costing george h.w. bush the election and certainly not after Eight Years, even with their arch-enemy in chief at the helm. I will not be voting for Presidential Candidate Nader, as I did in 1996 and 2000. But I firmly agree with him when he told tim russert "If the Democrats can't landslide the Republicans this year, they ought to just wrap up, close down, emerge in a different form."
A couple of other things on the internets:
The Green character more hated then the Grinch, Ralph Nader, has once again thrown his hat in the ring for the Presidency of the United States. We all know that his 2 point something % of voters in 2000 was the reason that a three term Congressman, who served nine years in the US Senate, and was Vice President in an administration that oversaw 8 years of peace and prosperity lost to a one term governor, failed oil man, former alcoholic cheerleader, whose biggest accomplishment was having Houston become the most polluted city in the Union. The disgust with Nader must have been why the Dem.s rolled over with a collective "oh well" when the election was stolen. The Nader excuse for the miserable 2000 campaign illustrates a point that makes me throw up a little bit in my mouth when it comes to the party to which I am registered. The Democrats have been pathetic when it comes to taking ownership of the horrible campaign of their "substantive" detail oriented" candidate Al Gore, who has regained my respect since his "alpha male" presidential bid. Ross Perot garnered 18.9% of the popular vote in 1992. I don't remember hearing the reds crying about him costing george h.w. bush the election and certainly not after Eight Years, even with their arch-enemy in chief at the helm. I will not be voting for Presidential Candidate Nader, as I did in 1996 and 2000. But I firmly agree with him when he told tim russert "If the Democrats can't landslide the Republicans this year, they ought to just wrap up, close down, emerge in a different form."
A couple of other things on the internets:
- "Facts" are pointless in political campaigns, especially when they are equated to speculations coupled with "personal assurances" by former front runners. DailyKos has a list of Senator Obama's legislative accomplishments as a US Senator. Not bad for such a "lightweight".
- Frank Rich has a great piece on the candidate who will be able to govern on "day one" and how her campaign shows otherwise.
- Oh Yeah and consumer "confidence plunged, the wholesale inflation rate soared, the number of homes being foreclosed jumped, home prices fell sharply and a report predicts big increases in health care costs."
Friday, February 22, 2008
President George Washington
The General in the Continental Army that brought the Thirteen Colonies freedom and independence from England, First President of the United States, and farmer of hemp, wheat and tobacco, George Washington was born on this date in the year 1732. A courageous, bold, strong leader who, begrudgingly, took the reins of a brand new Nation that he did so much to create.
You can read Washington's speeches here. The Farewell Address is my favorite.
There are more experienced authors and historians from which you can read about the life, times and words of George Washington. I'll leave the research on this larger than life First President of the United States up to you.
Happy Birthday George Washington!
Washington On Dissent:
"If men are to be precluded from offering their sentiments on a matter which may involve the most serious and alarming consequences that can invite the consideration of mankind, reason is of no use to us; the freedom of speech may be taken away, and dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter."
From Washington's address to officers of the Army (15 March 1783)
On Parties, to which he was not affiliated:
"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty."
From Washington's Farewell Address
On the public:
"Promote, then, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge. In proportion as the structure of a government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion should be enlightened."
From Washington's Farewell Address
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Insults, Campaigns, and "Words"
After Barack Obama's 9th straight primary victory in Wisconsin, but before his 10th in Hawaii, Tom Buffenbarger, the president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers had this to say about the Senator's supporters, me included, while introducing Hillary Clinton: “Give me a break! I've got news for all the latte-drinking, Prius- driving, Birkenstock-wearing, trust fund babies crowding in to hear him speak! This guy won't last a round against the Republican attack machine. He's a poet, not a fighter.” Insults like this one, aimed at me, those who wear Birkenstocks and the evil ones that drive hybrids, Piss Me Off and are driving me away! As is comparing supporters of Barack, like myself, to cultists. He is not the savior. He is not divine. His policy plans are not flawless. He IS, however, the first politician to inspire me. He IS the first living politician, whose "words" have brought me to tears. The inspiration and newly found pride I feel is real, and should not be ridiculed or insulted, especially by members of the same "blue team". Now I've made no bones about being an Obama supporter, even before he decided to run for President. Looking back, I've done so without much bile aimed at his opponent, except maybe her judgment on the "Iraq vote". And I have aimed none at her supporters. Why has Hillary Clinton and her supporters gone so negative? As she reinvents her campaign and gives speeches about how unimportant speeches are, I wonder if she is grasping at straws. Her campaign's, flimsy at best, plagiary charges against Obama's quoting past leaders and documents with the words "Just Words!" interspersed between them seems to say Yes. Can I legally type "yes"? Someone must have typed that before. But I digress...
Short of super delegates going against the popular Democratic Primary vote, I will vote for Hillary Clinton, if she comes back and becomes the nominee. Her campaign, however, is making that harder and harder for me to do. I'm not saying that she can't make distinctions between herself and Barack. I have no problem with the former first lady comparing her 7 years in the US Senate to his 3. Debating whether or not to talk to Our enemies is fine with me. Discussing the minute differences between their policy plans on health care or the environment and playing up her positives is what her campaign should, and used to, be about. I would love to see a debate about campaigning hard in every State in the
So as I try not to get too "fired up" about the "change" I "can believe in", I have to wonder at what point the Democratic establishment will say "Enough!" and work "with both sides of the aisle" to bring this "horse race" to a close. The new voters on the scene, inspired by Senator Barack Obama's "words", may "turn out" to be more important to the Party than the individual leaders/royalty within it.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
In other news...
The spying on American citizens by Their government, without ever getting a warrant, is now legal according to the United States Senate. They voted to remove from the FISA law the requirement that a warrant, from a special FISA court, must be attained up to 72 hours AFTER the search/spying is executed. The Senate, it seems, has learned that this administration can be trusted to act in the best interest of the American citizenry without any checks or balances. Blank checks to bushco. are what has made this Country so great over the last six plus years. I say six plus instead of seven, because bush was not given a blank check until after the tragedy of September 11th. The bill also grants immunity to telecommunications companies that gave domestic spies private information their customers trusted them with. The companies say they were just following orders from the US Government. Senator Obama voted against immunity, mccain voted for it, and Clinton failed to vote. In "maybe the founding brothers can stop rolling over in their graves for a minute" news, the Senate did vote yes on a bill that "requires the intelligence community to abide by the same standards as articulated in the Army Field Manual and bans waterboarding."
Presidential candidate john mccain (you might have heard he was a prisoner of war) gave the OK to waterboarding prisoners, a "method" the United States of America prosecuted as a war crime in 1947. He voted against the bill banning it, because he thinks that the CIA should not be restricted to the Army Field Manual. Not to come down on the great pander bear, but he was definitely against waterboarding, formerly known as "water torture", before he was for it. Then again he was against bushco.'s tax cuts for the rich, before he was for them. He was against rover, before he was for him. He was against the christian right, or in his words the "agents of intolerance", before he was for them. The flip flops by the "straight talk maverick" seem to have assured the flip flopper-in-chief that his policies will get a third term if his former adversary is in charge. But enough about the imminent runner up, let's get back to other news.
Legalize drugs... for sports stars (and everybody else for that matter). Not that I care too much about overpaid pitchers shooting up performance enhancers, like many of my musical heroes did. I just think there may be more important things for the US Congress to be holding hearings on, like maybe holding someone accountable for the mess that Our Country's in. Or how about hearings on the "buried by the Army" Unclassified report by the RAND Corp. that showed how Bad bushco.'s planning for the war in Iraq was.
And finally in Good News, the Writers' Strike is over. Members of the Writers' Guild of America voted to agree to the terms of a "three-year contract, granting annual pay raises of 3%-3.5% and historic gains in residuals for new-media content" with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers. Finally, I can watch Conan again, without feeling guilty about it. The writers' solidarity, and the solidarity shown by their acting comrades, who refused to act without them or attend events like the Oscars, worked! I'm Proud to be a Union Man!
Possible topics for next time, if I can stop talking about the Democratic primary:
Presidential candidate john mccain (you might have heard he was a prisoner of war) gave the OK to waterboarding prisoners, a "method" the United States of America prosecuted as a war crime in 1947. He voted against the bill banning it, because he thinks that the CIA should not be restricted to the Army Field Manual. Not to come down on the great pander bear, but he was definitely against waterboarding, formerly known as "water torture", before he was for it. Then again he was against bushco.'s tax cuts for the rich, before he was for them. He was against rover, before he was for him. He was against the christian right, or in his words the "agents of intolerance", before he was for them. The flip flops by the "straight talk maverick" seem to have assured the flip flopper-in-chief that his policies will get a third term if his former adversary is in charge. But enough about the imminent runner up, let's get back to other news.
Legalize drugs... for sports stars (and everybody else for that matter). Not that I care too much about overpaid pitchers shooting up performance enhancers, like many of my musical heroes did. I just think there may be more important things for the US Congress to be holding hearings on, like maybe holding someone accountable for the mess that Our Country's in. Or how about hearings on the "buried by the Army" Unclassified report by the RAND Corp. that showed how Bad bushco.'s planning for the war in Iraq was.
And finally in Good News, the Writers' Strike is over. Members of the Writers' Guild of America voted to agree to the terms of a "three-year contract, granting annual pay raises of 3%-3.5% and historic gains in residuals for new-media content" with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers. Finally, I can watch Conan again, without feeling guilty about it. The writers' solidarity, and the solidarity shown by their acting comrades, who refused to act without them or attend events like the Oscars, worked! I'm Proud to be a Union Man!
Possible topics for next time, if I can stop talking about the Democratic primary:
- Why can't oil companies, making the largest profits in US business history, lower gas prices?
- How do former war of choice architects, propagandists, and disgraced world bank presidents still get lucrative work in and out of Our government?
- Where in the world is osama bin laden?
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
I swear I didn't write this speech.
While Candidate Clinton changes her tactics from front runner/imminent nominee to calling herself the "underdog" and chooses the guilliani tactic of "I can't win there, so it doesn't matter. I'll pick a primary down the road", this is the text of what Candidate Obama had to say in Madison, Wisconsin:
Today, the change we seek swept through the Chesapeake and over the Potomac.
We won the state of Maryland. We won the Commonwealth of Virginia. And though we won in Washington D.C., this movement won’t stop until there’s change in Washington. And tonight, we’re on our way.
But we know how much farther we have to go.
We know it takes more than one night – or even one election – to overcome decades of money and the influence; bitter partisanship and petty bickering that’s shut you out, let you down and told you to settle.
We know our road will not be easy.
But we also know that at this moment the cynics can no longer say our hope is false.
We have now won east and west, north and south, and across the heartland of this country we love. We have given young people a reason to believe, and brought folks back to the polls who want to believe again. And we are bringing together Democrats and Independents and Republicans; blacks and whites; Latinos and Asians; small states and big states; Red States and Blue States into a United States of America.
This is the new American majority. This is what change looks like when it happens from the bottom up. And in this election, your voices will be heard.
Because at a time when so many people are struggling to keep up with soaring costs in a sluggish economy, we know that the status quo in Washington just won’t do. Not this time. Not this year. We can’t keep playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expect a different result – because it’s a game that ordinary Americans are losing.
It’s a game where lobbyists write check after check and Exxon turns record profits, while you pay the price at the pump, and our planet is put at risk. That’s what happens when lobbyists set the agenda, and that’s why they won’t drown out your voices anymore when I am President of the United States of America
It’s a game where trade deals like NAFTA ship jobs overseas and force parents to compete with their teenagers to work for minimum wage at Wal-Mart. That’s what happens when the American worker doesn’t have a voice at the negotiating table, when leaders change their positions on trade with the politics of the moment, and that’s why we need a President who will listen to Main Street – not just Wall Street; a President who will stand with workers not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard.
It’s a game where Democrats and Republicans fail to come together year after year after year, while another mother goes without health care for her sick child. That’s why we have to put an end to the division and distraction in Washington, so that we can unite this nation around a common purpose, a higher purpose.
It’s a game where the only way for Democrats to look tough on national security is by talking, and acting and voting like Bush-McCain Republicans, while our troops are sent to fight tour after tour of duty in a war that should’ve never been authorized and should’ve never been waged. That’s what happens when we use 9/11 to scare up votes, and that’s why we need to do more than end a war – we need to end the mindset that got us into war.
That’s the choice in this primary. It’s about whether we choose to play the game, or whether we choose to end it; it’s change that polls well, or change we can believe in; it’s the past versus the future. And when I’m the Democratic nominee for President – that will be the choice in November.
John McCain is an American hero. We honor his service to our nation. But his priorities don’t address the real problems of the American people, because they are bound to the failed policies of the past.
George Bush won’t be on the ballot this November, but his war and his tax cuts for the wealthy will.
When I am the nominee, I will offer a clear choice. John McCain won’t be able to say that I ever supported this war in Iraq, because I opposed it from the beginning. Senator McCain said the other day that we might be mired for a hundred years in Iraq, which is reason enough to not give him four years in the White House.
If we had chosen a different path, the right path, we could have finished the job in Afghanistan, and put more resources into the fight against bin Laden; and instead of spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Baghdad, we could have put that money into our schools and hospitals, our road and bridges – and that’s what the American people need us to do right now.
And I admired Senator McCain when he stood up and said that it offended his “conscience” to support the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy in a time of war; that he couldn’t support a tax cut where “so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate.” But somewhere along the road to the Republican nomination, the Straight Talk Express lost its wheels, because now he’s all for them.
Well I’m not. We can’t keep spending money that we don’t have in a war that we shouldn’t have fought. We can’t keep mortgaging our children’s future on a mountain of debt. We can’t keep driving a wider and wider gap between the few who are rich and the rest who struggle to keep pace. It’s time to turn the page.
We need a new direction in this country. Everywhere I go, I meet Americans who can’t wait another day for change. They’re not just showing up to hear a speech – they need to know that politics can make a difference in their lives, that it’s not too late to reclaim the American Dream.
It’s a dream shared in big cities and small towns; across races, regions and religions – that if you work hard, you can support a family; that if you get sick, there will be health care you can afford; that you can retire with the dignity and security and respect that you have earned; that your kids can get a good education, and young people can go to college even if they’re not rich. That is our common hope. That is the American Dream.
It’s the dream of the father who goes to work before dawn and lies awake at night wondering how he’s going to pay the bills. He needs us to restore fairness to our economy by putting a tax cut into the pockets of working people, and seniors, and struggling homeowners.
It’s the dream of the woman who told me she works the night shift after a full day of college and still can’t afford health care for a sister who’s ill. She needs us to finally come together to make health care affordable and available for every American.
It’s the dream of the senior I met who lost his pension when the company he gave his life to went bankrupt. He doesn’t need bankruptcy laws that protect banks and big lenders. He needs us to protect pensions, not CEO bonuses; and to do what it takes to make sure that the American people can count on Social Security today, tomorrow and forever.
It’s the dream of the teacher who works at Dunkin Donuts after school just to make ends meet. She needs better pay, and more support, and the freedom to do more than just teach to the test. And if her students want to go on to college, they shouldn’t fear decades of debt. That’s why I’ll make college affordable with an annual $4,000 tax credit if you’re willing to do community service, or national service. We will invest in you, but we’ll ask you to invest in your country.
That is our calling in this campaign. To reaffirm that fundamental belief – I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper – that makes us one people, and one nation. It’s time to stand up and reach for what’s possible, because together, people who love their country can change it.
Now when I start talking like this, some folks tell me that I’ve got my head in the clouds. That I need a reality check. That we’re still offering false hope. But my own story tells me that in the United States of America, there has never been anything false about hope.
I should not be here today. I was not born into money or status. I was born to a teenage mom in Hawaii, and my dad left us when I was two. But my family gave me love, they gave me education, and most of all they gave me hope – hope that in America, no dream is beyond our grasp if we reach for it, and fight for it, and work for it.
Because hope is not blind optimism. I know how hard it will be to make these changes. I know this because I fought on the streets of Chicago as a community organizer to bring jobs to the jobless in the shadow of a shuttered steel plant. I’ve fought in the courts as a civil rights lawyer to make sure people weren’t denied their rights because of what they looked like or where they came from. I’ve fought in the legislature to take power away from lobbyists. I’ve won some of those fights, but I’ve lost some of them too. I’ve seen good legislation die because good intentions weren’t backed by a mandate for change.
The politics of hope does not mean hoping things come easy. Because nothing worthwhile in this country has ever happened unless somebody, somewhere stood up when it was hard; stood up when they were told – no you can’t, and said yes we can.
And where better to affirm our ideals than here in Wisconsin, where a century ago the progressive movement was born. It was rooted in the principle that the voices of the people can speak louder than special interests; that citizens can be connected to their government and to one another; and that all of us share a common destiny, an American Dream.
Yes we can reclaim that dream.
Yes we can heal this nation.
The voices of the American people have carried us a great distance on this improbable journey, but we have much further to go. Now we carry our message to farms and factories across this state, and to the cities and small towns of Ohio, to the open plains deep in the heart of Texas, and all the way to Democratic National Convention in Denver; it’s the same message we had when we were up, and when were down; that out of many, we are one; that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us; and that we can cast off our doubts and fears and cynicism because our dream will not be deferred; our future will not be denied; and our time for change has come.
Today, the change we seek swept through the Chesapeake and over the Potomac.
We won the state of Maryland. We won the Commonwealth of Virginia. And though we won in Washington D.C., this movement won’t stop until there’s change in Washington. And tonight, we’re on our way.
But we know how much farther we have to go.
We know it takes more than one night – or even one election – to overcome decades of money and the influence; bitter partisanship and petty bickering that’s shut you out, let you down and told you to settle.
We know our road will not be easy.
But we also know that at this moment the cynics can no longer say our hope is false.
We have now won east and west, north and south, and across the heartland of this country we love. We have given young people a reason to believe, and brought folks back to the polls who want to believe again. And we are bringing together Democrats and Independents and Republicans; blacks and whites; Latinos and Asians; small states and big states; Red States and Blue States into a United States of America.
This is the new American majority. This is what change looks like when it happens from the bottom up. And in this election, your voices will be heard.
Because at a time when so many people are struggling to keep up with soaring costs in a sluggish economy, we know that the status quo in Washington just won’t do. Not this time. Not this year. We can’t keep playing the same Washington game with the same Washington players and expect a different result – because it’s a game that ordinary Americans are losing.
It’s a game where lobbyists write check after check and Exxon turns record profits, while you pay the price at the pump, and our planet is put at risk. That’s what happens when lobbyists set the agenda, and that’s why they won’t drown out your voices anymore when I am President of the United States of America
It’s a game where trade deals like NAFTA ship jobs overseas and force parents to compete with their teenagers to work for minimum wage at Wal-Mart. That’s what happens when the American worker doesn’t have a voice at the negotiating table, when leaders change their positions on trade with the politics of the moment, and that’s why we need a President who will listen to Main Street – not just Wall Street; a President who will stand with workers not just when it’s easy, but when it’s hard.
It’s a game where Democrats and Republicans fail to come together year after year after year, while another mother goes without health care for her sick child. That’s why we have to put an end to the division and distraction in Washington, so that we can unite this nation around a common purpose, a higher purpose.
It’s a game where the only way for Democrats to look tough on national security is by talking, and acting and voting like Bush-McCain Republicans, while our troops are sent to fight tour after tour of duty in a war that should’ve never been authorized and should’ve never been waged. That’s what happens when we use 9/11 to scare up votes, and that’s why we need to do more than end a war – we need to end the mindset that got us into war.
That’s the choice in this primary. It’s about whether we choose to play the game, or whether we choose to end it; it’s change that polls well, or change we can believe in; it’s the past versus the future. And when I’m the Democratic nominee for President – that will be the choice in November.
John McCain is an American hero. We honor his service to our nation. But his priorities don’t address the real problems of the American people, because they are bound to the failed policies of the past.
George Bush won’t be on the ballot this November, but his war and his tax cuts for the wealthy will.
When I am the nominee, I will offer a clear choice. John McCain won’t be able to say that I ever supported this war in Iraq, because I opposed it from the beginning. Senator McCain said the other day that we might be mired for a hundred years in Iraq, which is reason enough to not give him four years in the White House.
If we had chosen a different path, the right path, we could have finished the job in Afghanistan, and put more resources into the fight against bin Laden; and instead of spending hundreds of billions of dollars in Baghdad, we could have put that money into our schools and hospitals, our road and bridges – and that’s what the American people need us to do right now.
And I admired Senator McCain when he stood up and said that it offended his “conscience” to support the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy in a time of war; that he couldn’t support a tax cut where “so many of the benefits go to the most fortunate.” But somewhere along the road to the Republican nomination, the Straight Talk Express lost its wheels, because now he’s all for them.
Well I’m not. We can’t keep spending money that we don’t have in a war that we shouldn’t have fought. We can’t keep mortgaging our children’s future on a mountain of debt. We can’t keep driving a wider and wider gap between the few who are rich and the rest who struggle to keep pace. It’s time to turn the page.
We need a new direction in this country. Everywhere I go, I meet Americans who can’t wait another day for change. They’re not just showing up to hear a speech – they need to know that politics can make a difference in their lives, that it’s not too late to reclaim the American Dream.
It’s a dream shared in big cities and small towns; across races, regions and religions – that if you work hard, you can support a family; that if you get sick, there will be health care you can afford; that you can retire with the dignity and security and respect that you have earned; that your kids can get a good education, and young people can go to college even if they’re not rich. That is our common hope. That is the American Dream.
It’s the dream of the father who goes to work before dawn and lies awake at night wondering how he’s going to pay the bills. He needs us to restore fairness to our economy by putting a tax cut into the pockets of working people, and seniors, and struggling homeowners.
It’s the dream of the woman who told me she works the night shift after a full day of college and still can’t afford health care for a sister who’s ill. She needs us to finally come together to make health care affordable and available for every American.
It’s the dream of the senior I met who lost his pension when the company he gave his life to went bankrupt. He doesn’t need bankruptcy laws that protect banks and big lenders. He needs us to protect pensions, not CEO bonuses; and to do what it takes to make sure that the American people can count on Social Security today, tomorrow and forever.
It’s the dream of the teacher who works at Dunkin Donuts after school just to make ends meet. She needs better pay, and more support, and the freedom to do more than just teach to the test. And if her students want to go on to college, they shouldn’t fear decades of debt. That’s why I’ll make college affordable with an annual $4,000 tax credit if you’re willing to do community service, or national service. We will invest in you, but we’ll ask you to invest in your country.
That is our calling in this campaign. To reaffirm that fundamental belief – I am my brother’s keeper, I am my sister’s keeper – that makes us one people, and one nation. It’s time to stand up and reach for what’s possible, because together, people who love their country can change it.
Now when I start talking like this, some folks tell me that I’ve got my head in the clouds. That I need a reality check. That we’re still offering false hope. But my own story tells me that in the United States of America, there has never been anything false about hope.
I should not be here today. I was not born into money or status. I was born to a teenage mom in Hawaii, and my dad left us when I was two. But my family gave me love, they gave me education, and most of all they gave me hope – hope that in America, no dream is beyond our grasp if we reach for it, and fight for it, and work for it.
Because hope is not blind optimism. I know how hard it will be to make these changes. I know this because I fought on the streets of Chicago as a community organizer to bring jobs to the jobless in the shadow of a shuttered steel plant. I’ve fought in the courts as a civil rights lawyer to make sure people weren’t denied their rights because of what they looked like or where they came from. I’ve fought in the legislature to take power away from lobbyists. I’ve won some of those fights, but I’ve lost some of them too. I’ve seen good legislation die because good intentions weren’t backed by a mandate for change.
The politics of hope does not mean hoping things come easy. Because nothing worthwhile in this country has ever happened unless somebody, somewhere stood up when it was hard; stood up when they were told – no you can’t, and said yes we can.
And where better to affirm our ideals than here in Wisconsin, where a century ago the progressive movement was born. It was rooted in the principle that the voices of the people can speak louder than special interests; that citizens can be connected to their government and to one another; and that all of us share a common destiny, an American Dream.
Yes we can reclaim that dream.
Yes we can heal this nation.
The voices of the American people have carried us a great distance on this improbable journey, but we have much further to go. Now we carry our message to farms and factories across this state, and to the cities and small towns of Ohio, to the open plains deep in the heart of Texas, and all the way to Democratic National Convention in Denver; it’s the same message we had when we were up, and when were down; that out of many, we are one; that our destiny will not be written for us, but by us; and that we can cast off our doubts and fears and cynicism because our dream will not be deferred; our future will not be denied; and our time for change has come.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln once said "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt." Today , on what would be his 199th birthday, I agree. So instead of giving you some "He was a great man. The civil war was Our bloodiest war, and the great emancipator subverted freedoms and liberties during it." memorial web log, I leave you instead with some of his own words:
Some are quite timely:
"I do not mean to say that this government is charged with the duty of redressing or preventing all the wrongs in the world; but I do think that it is charged with the duty of preventing and redressing all wrongs which are wrongs to itself."
--September 17, 1859 Speech at Cincinnati, Ohio
"What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried?" Lincoln's Cooper Institute Address, February 27, 1860.
"I believe it is an established maxim in morals that he who makes an assertion without knowing whether it is true or false, is guilty of falsehood; and the accidental truth of the assertion, does not justify or excuse him. "
Letter to Allen N Ford (11 August 1846)
Some downright prescient:
“These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert, to fleece the people”
""Allow the President to invade a neighboring nation whenever he shall deem it necessary to repel an invasion, and you allow him to do so whenever he may choose to say he deems it necessary for such purpose, and you allow him to make war at pleasure. Study to see if you can fix any limit to his power in this respect, after having given him so much as you propose. If to-day he should choose to say he thinks it necessary to invade Canada to prevent the British from invading us, how could you stop him? You may say to him, — "I see no probability of the British invading us"; but he will say to you, "Be silent: I see it, if you don't."
The provision of the Constitution giving the war making power to Congress was dictated, as I understand it, by the following reasons: Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object. This our convention understood to be the most oppressive of all kingly oppressions, and they resolved to so frame the Constitution that no one man should hold the power of bringing this oppression upon us. But your view destroys the whole matter, and places our President where kings have always stood."
Letter, while US Congressman, to his friend and law-partner William H. Herndon, opposing the Mexican-American War (15 February 1848)
"I am not a Know-Nothing. That is certain. How could I be? How can any one who abhors the oppression of negroes, be in favor of degrading classes of white people? Our progress in degeneracy appears to me to be pretty rapid. As a nation, we begin by declaring that "all men are created equal." We now practically read it "all men are created equal, except negroes." When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read "all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and catholics." When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty-to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocracy."
On the Know-Nothing Party (anti-immigrant party)
Letter to Joshua F. Speed on August 24, 1855
Some remind Us what is great about this Country:
"What constitutes the bulwark of our own liberty and independence? It is not our frowning battlements, our bristling sea coasts, the guns of our war steamers, or the strength of our gallant and disciplined army. These are not the reliance against the resumption of tyranny in our fair land. All of them may be turned against our liberties, without making us stronger or weaker for the struggle. Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in our bosoms. Our defense is the preservation of the spirit which prizes liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands, every where. "
From a speech at Edwardsville, Illinois on September 11, 1858
"This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it. "
And then there's the downright "Hope Mongering"
"My dream is of a place and a time where America will once again be seen as the last best hope of earth. "
Happy Birthday President Lincoln! You should have your own holiday!
Just a quick note:
Abraham Lincoln's only government "experience" before becoming President was eight years in the Illinois State Legislature and One term (two years) as a member of the US House of Representatives.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
A Tie goes to the Winner.
So all the results from Super Tuesday are still not in, but we do know that Senator Barack Obama won 13 States to Senator Clinton's 9. That is a feat that no one would have predicted a month or even two weeks ago. Obama surprised pundits with wins, all be them narrow, in Connecticut and Missouri. He won in states that previously had Clinton ahead. He won two out the three of yesterday's Southern Primaries. That, and his Big victory over Clinton and Edwards in SC, should quell the "A black man can't win in the South" argument. He also was surprisingly close in states that only a week or two ago had him behind by more than thirty percentage points. Clinton did win big states, like California and Massachusetts, but by less than expected. The State to which she owes her "experience" as Senator, New York, was won by 17%. Obama won his Senatorial home state of Illinois, where he lived before becoming Senator, by 31%. The delegates, which are distributed proportionally by Congressional District, have yet to be fully tabulated. Both sides have claimed a slight delegate lead from Super Tuesday. Super delegates, which are ranking party officials who don't have to vote along with the regular delegates, currently are swaying (stealing?) it for the establishment favored Clinton. Whatever the actual count, this contest is further from over than it was before Super Tuesday.
A month ago, Hillary Clinton was the presumptive, if not imminent, Democratic nominee, who would clinch by, or on, Super Tuesday. That myth is over, and I think the Democratic Party is better for it. Unlike some, I think it's a good thing for these two to continue talking to the Country, taking up the headlines, and honing their points until the convention. And the fact that people are looking at these two candidates and saying they would happily vote for either one of them. Hell, just the fact that many of us are saying We are voting For someone, instead of against, is a pretty damn pleasant change of pace, I think. One does have to wonder if the Clinton campaign is starting to fatigue a little. In January, Obama outraised Clinton $32 Million to $10 million. And Clinton's coughing fit end to an interview on Tuesday doesn't bode well for the physical toll the campaign is taking. Don't get me wrong. She is a Strong and Viable candidate for president, not to mention a Fierce competitor. She is in no way out of this. But it's a dead heat, and she's been in the lead up until now. Senator Obama has the momentum and has more resources on hand. AmericaBlog called last night "Barack's big night". DailyKos called it a "Huge night for Obama". But once again I find myself agreeing with the Rude One. "In Brief: Obama won"
I'll leave you with some interesting number crunching from Time :
Here are the numbers just for the 19 states where both parties had elections yesterday
Obama/Clinton voters: 14,460,149
McCain/Romney/Huckabee voters: 8,367,694
TOTAL DEMOCRATIC VOTES CAST
Clinton: 50.2% (7,347,971)
Obama: 49.8% (7,294,851)
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Happy Super Fat Tuesday!
We've had two days to recover from the Greatest Upset in NFL, and possibly US sports history, last Sunday, as the New Jersey Giants won the Superbowl!!!! Their Parade is going on in New York, as are the Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. The Giants ticker tape celebration culminates at Giants Stadium, where on Monday Senator Barack Obama was joined on stage by Senator Teddy Kennedy and Robert DeNiro. Bobby D?!?!?! That's almost as big a surprise as the Grateful Dead, sans Jerry of course, reuniting for Obama in San Francisco yesterday. Well, anyway...
Today is Super Tuesday. 24 States, including the Great State of New Jersey, are holding their primaries today. It's a tight race on the Democratic side with Senator Obama, who is in the delegate lead right now, pulling up to tie with Senator Clinton in National polls, not to mention in races like California and New Jersey where Clinton used to be up by double digits.
One important note: In New Jersey, citizens who are not affiliated with a party or are registered as INDEPENDENT CAN VOTE, if they declare which party they will be voting for in the primary.
In case you hadn't guessed by now, I voted for Senator Barack Obama. In addition to being amazingly intelligent and writing the best political book I've read that wasn't written by a founding father, he was against this War in Iraq before it started and before it was popular for politicians to do so.
Another, bigger, reason for voting for Obama was that he inspires people to believe that their Country can be great and that they are essential to making it great. The proof of this shows in the youth, who lack luster candidates always blame for not coming out. They are coming out for Barack.
One another thing, which unfortunately has the feel of "who you would like to have a beer with", is that I can see Barack Obama sitting at a table and talking with anyone, friend or foe, ally or enemy, yes man or nay sayer. I do not see Senator Clinton in that same light. She strikes me as much more of "My way or the Highway" type of person. And we've all seen how that attitude works out.
Well that's my two cents. Now go out and vote!
Today is Super Tuesday. 24 States, including the Great State of New Jersey, are holding their primaries today. It's a tight race on the Democratic side with Senator Obama, who is in the delegate lead right now, pulling up to tie with Senator Clinton in National polls, not to mention in races like California and New Jersey where Clinton used to be up by double digits.
One important note: In New Jersey, citizens who are not affiliated with a party or are registered as INDEPENDENT CAN VOTE, if they declare which party they will be voting for in the primary.
In case you hadn't guessed by now, I voted for Senator Barack Obama. In addition to being amazingly intelligent and writing the best political book I've read that wasn't written by a founding father, he was against this War in Iraq before it started and before it was popular for politicians to do so.
Another, bigger, reason for voting for Obama was that he inspires people to believe that their Country can be great and that they are essential to making it great. The proof of this shows in the youth, who lack luster candidates always blame for not coming out. They are coming out for Barack.
One another thing, which unfortunately has the feel of "who you would like to have a beer with", is that I can see Barack Obama sitting at a table and talking with anyone, friend or foe, ally or enemy, yes man or nay sayer. I do not see Senator Clinton in that same light. She strikes me as much more of "My way or the Highway" type of person. And we've all seen how that attitude works out.
Well that's my two cents. Now go out and vote!
Monday, January 21, 2008
Your Old Road Is Rapidly Agin'
Hollywood fred thompson is out. Congressman Dennis Kucinich is out. Senator Barack Obama (295,091 votes) crushed Senators Clinton( 141,128), Edwards ( 93,552), and McCain( 143,224) in SOUTH Carolina. Though there seems to be some surprise that white southerners didn't come out in the same numbers for Barack (in case you missed the Clinton camp's announcement, Obama is black), the fact remains that more Americans came out in this southern state that went for bush twice to vote for Senator Barack Obama than Anyone on Either side, and by a lot. Hillary did win the Nevada primary, but it looks like Barack will bring home more of their delegates. Speaking of delegates, the Clinton camp is trying to bring the delegates back in Michigan and Florida, both of which Candidate Clinton won uncontested. Delegates were stripped from both states by Democratic National Committee because they moved their primaries up in the schedule. Why would she want that? Think she, or should I say They, are getting nervous? This Barack Obama is really starting to catch on with some real "experienced" Democrats. Senator Obama has now been endorsed by Senators John Kerry, Pat Leahy, Ted Kennedy, and former first daughter Caroline Kennedy, in her first ever presidential endorsement.
Change, in policy, is one thing all the Democratic candidates agree on. But there needs to be a change in more than health care, energy, and foreign policies. The way policy, and debate, is formed in Washington needs to change. The politics need to be changed. The team politics of "you're either with us or against us" needs to be replaced with a "what's best for the Country", "greater good" politics. It may seem like a pipe dream now, and this blog would certainly have to change with it, but it is a memo that the Clintons have not yet gotten. Senator Hillary Clinton left South Carolina to the ex president of the United States to campaign in. Bill Clinton is not running for president. Let me repeat that. Bill Clinton is not running for President. We do not elect Couples to run the United States as co-presidents. We elect one American to lead the Executive Branch as president. Former president Bill Clinton has been more active in the politics of this election than any other president has been in an election that is not their own. More than bushie's daddy did in 2000 or 2004. The former president is negative, he is red faced, and he has gotten nasty. His caustic involvement in partisan politics is not completely unlike the current sitting failure bringing partisan politics into every corner of his governance. Don't misunderstand me. I think Senator Clinton would differ in (non-corporate) policy from the monstrosity we have in the White House right now, but her politics are down right rovian. This election is about which candidate will help to bring about a real change in American governance. Recently on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow said this about the three leading Democratic candidates and "change":
Talk of transcending the political divide does not have to mean dropping to your knees and giving in to the other side, like say the Democratic Congress has done for anything they've met opposition to. To be fair that too may be beginning to change with leaders like Senators Dodd and Feinstein, who recently filibustered of the FISA bill. They filibustered the FISA bill, to be voted on again later, because they don't want to let communication corporations off the hook for giving the private information of US citizens to the US government so they could illegally spy on their citizenry. No one person, no matter how high the office, will be able to bring about the change needed on their own, but who gives us the best start or angle on changing the discourse in a positive way.
I leave you with a couple of quotes from members of the Democrats' "Royal Family". And Senator Barack Obama's victory speech in South Carolina.
Change, in policy, is one thing all the Democratic candidates agree on. But there needs to be a change in more than health care, energy, and foreign policies. The way policy, and debate, is formed in Washington needs to change. The politics need to be changed. The team politics of "you're either with us or against us" needs to be replaced with a "what's best for the Country", "greater good" politics. It may seem like a pipe dream now, and this blog would certainly have to change with it, but it is a memo that the Clintons have not yet gotten. Senator Hillary Clinton left South Carolina to the ex president of the United States to campaign in. Bill Clinton is not running for president. Let me repeat that. Bill Clinton is not running for President. We do not elect Couples to run the United States as co-presidents. We elect one American to lead the Executive Branch as president. Former president Bill Clinton has been more active in the politics of this election than any other president has been in an election that is not their own. More than bushie's daddy did in 2000 or 2004. The former president is negative, he is red faced, and he has gotten nasty. His caustic involvement in partisan politics is not completely unlike the current sitting failure bringing partisan politics into every corner of his governance. Don't misunderstand me. I think Senator Clinton would differ in (non-corporate) policy from the monstrosity we have in the White House right now, but her politics are down right rovian. This election is about which candidate will help to bring about a real change in American governance. Recently on Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow said this about the three leading Democratic candidates and "change":
"And I think that Obama and Clinton and Edwards are actually identifying what needs to be changed in three really different ways. I think Hillary Clinton is saying the Republicans and Bush need to be out and Democrats need to be in. I think John Edwards is saying the special interests and the lobbyists need to be out and the people need to be in, in the populist way. And I think that Barack Obama is saying that he needs to be in because he can transcend the differences across the political divide right now."
Talk of transcending the political divide does not have to mean dropping to your knees and giving in to the other side, like say the Democratic Congress has done for anything they've met opposition to. To be fair that too may be beginning to change with leaders like Senators Dodd and Feinstein, who recently filibustered of the FISA bill. They filibustered the FISA bill, to be voted on again later, because they don't want to let communication corporations off the hook for giving the private information of US citizens to the US government so they could illegally spy on their citizenry. No one person, no matter how high the office, will be able to bring about the change needed on their own, but who gives us the best start or angle on changing the discourse in a positive way.
I leave you with a couple of quotes from members of the Democrats' "Royal Family". And Senator Barack Obama's victory speech in South Carolina.
I want a president who understands that his responsibility is to articulate a vision and encourage others to achieve it; who holds himself, and those around him, to the highest ethical standards; who appeals to the hopes of those who still believe in the American Dream, and those around the world who still believe in the American ideal; and who can lift our spirits, and make us believe again that our country needs every one of us to get involved.
I have never had a president who inspired me the way people tell me that my father inspired them. But for the first time, I believe I have found the man who could be that president — not just for me, but for a new generation of Americans.
-Caroline Kennedy on Barack Obama from the NY Times 1/27/8.
"There was another time, when another young candidate was running for president and challenging America to cross a new frontier. He faced criticism from the preceding Democratic president, who was widely respected in the party," , referring to Harry Truman.
"And John Kennedy replied, 'The world is changing. The old ways will not do. ... It is time for a new generation of leadership.
"So it is with Barack Obama,"
Friday, January 18, 2008
Little w's Big trip (It's the Economy, Stupid!)
While 32% georgey was on his FIRST trip to "the Middle East", which was more about shaking sabers at Iran than anything else, he visited Israel (maybe to get images of Iran's "weapons facilities", like the ones colOn powell showed the UN before the invasion and occupation of Iraq). Shrub danced with swords in between his weak and feable pleas for lower oil prices. Now, she's not my favorite Democratic candidate but Senator Clinton said it best during this week's Democratic debate. She said "President Bush is over in the Gulf now begging the Saudis and others to drop the price of oil," "How pathetic." "We should have an energy policy right now, putting people to work in green collar jobs as a way to stave off the recession, moving us towards energy independence." Maybe the oil man-in-chief just wanted to make his arms deal with Saudi Arabia (where rape victims are brutally punished as their rapists go free) in person. To be fair, the incompetent one did say there will be a Palestinian state before he leaves office, one year from now. I'm not one to rush time along, but Come On 2009!
A "robed" bush touring the Middle East is not the biggest issue facing Our Nation right now. Neither is the ongoing primary season, which I unfortunately feel the need to talk about again. And though, I do agree that the ongoing bombing by "them" and Us in Iraq and our staying there until 2018 are a Big stories, the biggest story and latest crisis We are beginning to face is Our economy. The increase in wholesale prices in 2007 was the largest in 26 years. Inflation has seen its biggest increase in 17 years. The jobless rate has risen to 5%, and the economy only added 18,000 jobs in December. Gasoline prices have more than doubled since the little failure took office. Merril Lynch's $14.1 Billion write-down and Citigroup's $9.8 BILLION loss have added to the bail out of "American" companies by foreign companies. The DOW is dropping almost everyday. The value of the Euro is more than double that of the US dollar. The Recession is here. It's getting so bad, even bush is starting to admit it. Remember the surplus? The failure in chief's economic policies have lead to a huge debt and a huge deficit, which doesn't even take into account the neo-conservative republican war in Iraq, where American contractors are gassing American troops. This unnecessary and illegal war and occupation is costing Us $275,000,000.00 per DAY! Ok... deep breaths... count to ten..
How about a primary update? First off, the Democratic Party stripped Michigan of their delegates, which are what Our contestants are competing for, because the Michigan Democratic party insisted on moving their primary up in the schedule. That is why Senators Edwards and Obama were not on the ballet. Senator Clinton, being the only "major" candidate in the race, managed to lose 44% to "uncommitted". And sadly, Congressman Kucinich still only managed to get 3.7%, tying fred "holllywood" thompson. The reds sure have been fun to watch flounder and pander. The flipper won by 9% in the state where he was born and raised and his father was governor, to become the third republican candidate to win in as many "major" primaries that have been held. That's right three primaries, three winners, and Ron Paul beat little napolean rudy in this one. As the NY POST recently headlined "Republican rivals share one bond: All Losers".
I'll leave you with a couple of items to chew on:
1. Grist Magazine has a page up to tell voters how green the candidates are.
2. The Democrats haven't won the "South" since Jimmy Carter ran for president.
3. Senator Barack Obama is a Christian
And the quote of the week comes from Rep. Wexler (D-Fla.) as he called for hearings on the Impeachment on Vice President Cheney:
“In the history of our nation, we have never encountered a moment where the actions of a President or a Vice President have more strongly demanded the use of the power of impeachment,”
A "robed" bush touring the Middle East is not the biggest issue facing Our Nation right now. Neither is the ongoing primary season, which I unfortunately feel the need to talk about again. And though, I do agree that the ongoing bombing by "them" and Us in Iraq and our staying there until 2018 are a Big stories, the biggest story and latest crisis We are beginning to face is Our economy. The increase in wholesale prices in 2007 was the largest in 26 years. Inflation has seen its biggest increase in 17 years. The jobless rate has risen to 5%, and the economy only added 18,000 jobs in December. Gasoline prices have more than doubled since the little failure took office. Merril Lynch's $14.1 Billion write-down and Citigroup's $9.8 BILLION loss have added to the bail out of "American" companies by foreign companies. The DOW is dropping almost everyday. The value of the Euro is more than double that of the US dollar. The Recession is here. It's getting so bad, even bush is starting to admit it. Remember the surplus? The failure in chief's economic policies have lead to a huge debt and a huge deficit, which doesn't even take into account the neo-conservative republican war in Iraq, where American contractors are gassing American troops. This unnecessary and illegal war and occupation is costing Us $275,000,000.00 per DAY! Ok... deep breaths... count to ten..
How about a primary update? First off, the Democratic Party stripped Michigan of their delegates, which are what Our contestants are competing for, because the Michigan Democratic party insisted on moving their primary up in the schedule. That is why Senators Edwards and Obama were not on the ballet. Senator Clinton, being the only "major" candidate in the race, managed to lose 44% to "uncommitted". And sadly, Congressman Kucinich still only managed to get 3.7%, tying fred "holllywood" thompson. The reds sure have been fun to watch flounder and pander. The flipper won by 9% in the state where he was born and raised and his father was governor, to become the third republican candidate to win in as many "major" primaries that have been held. That's right three primaries, three winners, and Ron Paul beat little napolean rudy in this one. As the NY POST recently headlined "Republican rivals share one bond: All Losers".
I'll leave you with a couple of items to chew on:
1. Grist Magazine has a page up to tell voters how green the candidates are.
2. The Democrats haven't won the "South" since Jimmy Carter ran for president.
3. Senator Barack Obama is a Christian
And the quote of the week comes from Rep. Wexler (D-Fla.) as he called for hearings on the Impeachment on Vice President Cheney:
“In the history of our nation, we have never encountered a moment where the actions of a President or a Vice President have more strongly demanded the use of the power of impeachment,”
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